The main news is the attack at the Crocus City Hall, in Moscow where at least 140 people have died, and ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. However, this is Russia and nothing is ever truly as it seems and photo and video evidence suggests this was a Russia false flag where people were set up to carry out the attack in the name of ISIS.
Zaporizhzhia's Dnipro Hydroelectric Station was targeted by Russian missiles and Kharkiv was hit at the same time leading to the loss of power for millions in Ukraine. Russia carries on targeting energy infrastructure and ports in Ukraine, and Ukraine targets oil refineries in Russia. This can keep going on until there is nothing left to target, is what is the solution? To give Ukraine enough weapons and manpower to defeat Russia to end the war? That is the logical solution but countries don’t want to get involved and become Russia targets.
There is also a divide amongst the NATO countries where some don’t believe that a war is imminent (Spain), while countries that are near to or have a border with Russia (Sweden) urge countries to be prepared for a war with Russia. After all, Sweden and Finland only joined NATO in haste because of the Russian threat.
Day 759 (23 Mar)
On the evening of 22 Mar 2024, a terrorist attack took place at Crocus City Hall (Moscow) while a concert was taking place. Around 140 people died as gun men fired randomly at people. Later on, 4 suspects were apprehended said to be fleeing towards the Ukrainian border. Russia blamed Ukraine, but Ukraine denied any responsibility. ISIS then came forward and claimed responsibility, yet Russia still said Ukraine was behind the attack.
A few days later, photo and video footage emerged showing some people in the venue that were calm and didn’t rush to leave when the attack took place. Facial recognition indicated these were FSB officers who then apprehended the suspects, giving rise to the suggestion that the Kremlin had set up the attack as a false flag and paid ISIS members to carry out the attack.
The US has apparently warned Russia of such attacks, and France had also managed to prevent similar attacks.
US Congress passed a bill to provide $288 million in military aid for the Baltic Security Initiative. This is to help develop the military forces (naval and air) in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania and is part of a 5 year plan through to 2028 as part of a defence cooperation.
The Dnipro Hydroelectric Station in Zaporizhzhia was severely damaged after two direct hits from Russian missiles out of eight. This led to a loss of power for millions, and it will take years to rebuild the station. One person was killed and oil has now leaked into the Dnipro river contaminating the water supply.
Kharkiv was likely to have been attacked with a glide bomb which has a more powerful force. This left the city without power for more than a day.
The Kuibyshev oil refinery in Samara Oblast (Russia) was on fire in what seems to be another Ukrainian target. Another fire occurred at the Novokubyshevsk refinery at the same time.
Ukraine has been using their own domestic Liutyi unmanned aircraft to carry out the strikes in Russia.
KNDS, a tank manufacturer has been given permission (from France and Germany) to establish a branch in Ukraine. This will allow ammunition and spare parts equipment to be produced in Ukraine and a memorandum of understanding will be signed in Paris on 26 April 2024.
Admiral Bauer, the Military Committee Chief for NATO says that NATO is ready for war with Russia, and stated that Ukraine will become a member of NATO when the war is over.
Day 780 (24 Mar)
A Russian missile entered Polish airspace for 39 seconds at 4.23 am before it crossed the border into Ukraine. Poland scrambled fighter jets during the incident and NATO are now considering whether to shoot missiles that enter Polish airspace in future or if they believed the target was in Poland.
The Russian ambassador in Poland was summoned to explain the incident, but he did not show up for the meeting.
Missile attacks occurred across Ukraine including Kyiv. There are missile attacks everyday, but Kyiv always attracts more attention.
Two Russian warships, ‘Yamal’ and ‘Azov’ were struck by Ukrainian forces in Crimea. The main Ukrainian tactics are removing vessels in the Black Sea and to destroy Russian military bases and oil refineries to make up for the lack of weapons and soldiers.
The Lithuanian Prime Minster, Ingrida Šimonytė gave a warning to other countries in Europe:
It is a time of war, but we continue living as if it were a time of peace. Europe freedom depends on Ukrainian who are holding the line. It is our joint responsibility to give Ukraine tools to win. It is the least we can and must do.
Day 781 (25 Mar)
Reports claim that Russia has beguns a ‘arms for oil’ trade with North Korea, which is a violation of UN sanctions.
Day 782 (26 Mar)
The SBU said they had foiled an FSB strike on the Poltava railroad and had arrested two Ukrainians who are Russian collaborators.
This is how much Ukraine lacks equipment, in that they had to use 8,000 cellphones on a pole to help track Shahed drones. Some may say it’s ingenious, but is an indication of how much military assistance Ukraine really needs.
Lukashenko of Belarus visited the Suwalki Gap and talked of how Belarus would fight Poland to obtain a piece of land between Poland and Kaliningrad to create a bridge between Belarus and Kaliningrad.
Protests abating Orban took place in Hungary calling for his resignation and that of the chief prosecutor over a leak that implicates the government in a corruption scandal. Not really a surprise!
Day 783 (27 Mar)
The UN monitoring mission has recorded the execution of 32 Ukrainian prisoners of war, with 60 others stating they were tortured or sexually assaulted.
The Latvian government has auctioned off a plot of land in Riga that used to belong to Russia, but was nationalised. The proceeds will go to a Ukrainian support fund.
The Council of Europe Development Fund has allocated a loan of €100 million to restore homes for those Ukrainians whose homes have been destroyed by the war.
Zelenskyy visits Sumy and meets with troops and visits their fortifications.
The Swedish Foreign Minister, Tobias Billstrom sent a warning to other countries in Europe:
Some NATO countries don't understand urgency of stopping Russia. NATO isn't doing enough for Ukraine and some countries in the alliance. Don't understand that the comfort is here and that we need to deal with it.
Day 784 (28 Mar)
From 3 April, Apple, Google and Samsung Pay will no longer support Russias Mir payment system.
Russia is looking at a new offensive aimed at Kupiansk as Russia builds up troops near the area. Kyiv has dismissed this as a concern, but then again they didn’t think Russia would invade Ukraine.
Intelligence also reports that Russia has created the 44th Army Corps near the Finnish border, raising concerns as to whether an attack on the Baltic states is being planned.
Russia is trying to create a barriers in Sevastopol to block further strikes from Ukraine on their vessels in the Black Sea.
The NATO-Ukraine Council convenes to address the recent Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. What that means is for the allies to supply emergency aid packages and equipment to assist Ukraine. It seems a catch 22 situation, where Ukraine keeps needing aid packages to repair damage and then more damages occurs from further attacks.