Ukraine Invasion: Part 47

[MagicFox]

Welcome to thread 47. Thanks as usual to all for the information, guidance and solidarity.

**
Agreed thread guidance:

A. The agreed purpose of the thread is for the sharing of information and commentary on current events

B. If you post a link please tell us where it leads/give a precis of the content

C. Discussion and debate is welcome, but please keep it respectful

Not all of it, though. They did not say that he was not guilty of insurrection, only that he couldn't be kept off the ballot. I was afraid they were going to declare him innocent of insurrection, which was what he was asking them to do.

That means his criminal trial regarding Jan 6 should be able to go ahead as soon as they have declared that he doesn't have absolute immunity for all acts during his presidency including those which had nothing to do with his position as president.

I was afraid they were going to declare him innocent of insurrection, which was what he was asking them to do.

That was an impossible request. The SC doesn't conduct criminal trials, it only reviews them for constitutional errors.

With this lot, I didn't feel confidant of their knowing that, or caring if they did know!

With this lot, I didn't feel confidant of their knowing that, or caring if they did know!

This ruling was unanimous, which is fairly rare. So the liberal and conservative members do agree on basic points of law.

They agreed on kicking it to congress, really.

To be honest I do have an uneasy feeling about being able to remove political rivals from a ballot when they haven’t been found guilty of anything yet. Even if the rival is Trump.

They agreed on kicking it to congress, really.

Well, only in the sense that Congress can amend the Constitution, but it's not easily done.

Apologies here to @MissConductUS, but the republicans in America seem to prefer a lying, misogynistic, unintelligent, dictator wannabe, who has his head up his own arse, to a seemingly sensible woman.

Have they all gone mad?

No apology is needed. Halley has consistently gotten 30-40% of the vote in the republican primaries, but Trump as a former president has a considerable advantage. He's almost running as an incumbent. It's still a very different republican party than it was pre-Trump.

Trump has stupidly been insulting her and her supporters, and he did the same with DeSantis and his supporters. He should be trying to bring them on board, not alienate them. He may lose to Biden if those Republicans decide to stay home on election day rather than come out to vote for him.

Trump seems incapable of not insulting anyone who doesn't do exactly what he wants, and sometimes even then.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/putins-black-sea-fleet-suffers-072244297.html

Seems another patrol boat has been hit.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Tusk: Poland to ask EU to sanction https://kyivindependent.com/poland-plans-to-ask-eu-to-sanction-russian-grain/ Russian, Belarusian agricultural products.

⚡️ Media: Russia’s Sergey Kotov patrol vessel hit near Crimea.https://kyivindependent.com/media-russias-sergey-kotov-patrol-vessel-hit-near-crimea/

⚡️Update: Military intelligence confirms destruction of Russia's Sergey Kotov vessel. kyivindependent.com/media-russias-sergey-kotov-patrol-vessel-hit-near-crimea/ Andrii Yusov, a military intelligence spokesperson, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) on March 5 that the fate of the crew of Sergey Kotov, a Russian patrol vessel supposedly destroyed near Crimea, is being determined.

⚡️ Military intelligence: Russia planned to install air defenses https://kyivindependent.com/military-intelligence-russia-planned-to-install-air-defense-on-sergey-kotov-vessel/ on Sergey Kotov vessel.

⚡️ Media: Russian helicopter destroyedhttps://kyivindependent.com/media-russian-helicopter-was-destroyed-on-sergey-kotov-vessel-board/on Sergey Kotov vessel.

⚡️Supreme Court rules Trump cannot be removed from Colorado ballot.
The state of Colorado cannot remove former President Donald Trump from the primary ballot ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on March 4. https://kyivindependent.com/supreme-court-rules-trump-cannot-be-removed-from-colorado-ballot/

⚡️ Lithuania to join Czech-led ammunition initiative https://kyivindependent.com/lithuania-to-contribute-to-czech-led-ammunition-initiative-for-ukraine/ for Ukraine.

Lithuanian farmers said that it is the influx of Russian grain, not Ukrainian crops, that presents a problem to the EU markets, the Lithuanian National Radio (LRT) reported on March 5. https://kyivindependent.com/lithuanian-farmers-complain-about-russian-grain-not-ukrainian/

DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company, restored electricity supply to 426,000 homes after blackouts caused by Russian attacks in February, DTEK's press service reported on March 4. https://kyivindependent.com/dtek-power-supply-restored-for-over-400-000-ukrainian-homes-in-february/

⚡️Military: Ukraine stalls Russian advances https://kyivindependent.com/military-ukraine-stalls-russian-advances-in-some-areas-near-avdiivka/ in some areas near Avdiivka.

⚡️ Reuters: EU to propose switching European arms industry to 'war economy mode.' https://kyivindependent.com/eu-to-propose-switching-european-defense-industry-to-war-economy-mode/
The European Commission on March 5 will propose ways to boost the European defense industry and shift it to a "war economy mode" in response to Russia's war on Ukraine, Reuters reported, citing EU officials.
European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton will present specific proposals to the bloc's members to jointly buy from European arms companies and increase the production capacities of these firms, according to the officials.

⚡️ Macron to discuss ammunition https://kyivindependent.com/macron-to-discuss-arms-for-ukraine-during-prague-visit/ for Ukraine during Prague visit.

President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Dmytro Hereha as the commander of Ukraine's Support Forces, replacing him with Oleksandr Yakovets, according to his decrees published on March 4. https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-replaces-support-forces-commander/

⚡️Ukraine, Spain start talks https://kyivindependent.com/ukraine-spain-start-talks-on-security-guarantees/ on security guarantees.

⚡️EU Energy Commissioner: Gas imports from Russia fall https://kyivindependent.com/gas-imports-from-russia-fall-by-71-since-2021/ by 71% since 2021.

Turkey's Dortyol oil terminal in the Mediterranean Sea has halted business with Russia as pressure caused by U.S. sanctions mounts, Reuters reported on March 5. https://kyivindependent.com/reuters-turkish-oil-terminal-refuses-russian-imports-amid-us-sanctions/

⚡️Interior Minister: Russian secondary attack kills 2 rescuers, injures 3 more.
https://kyivindependent.com/interior-minister-russian-secondary-attack-kills-2-rescuers-injures-3-more/
A Russian strike on the Kramatorsk district of Donetsk Oblast killed two rescuers and wounded another three while they were putting out a fire caused by an earlier attack, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported on March 4. [double tap again .. so people dare not go to the rescue, and the buildings burn out]

⚡️ Russia claims downing of drones over 2 regions, Belgorod Oblast oil depot allegedly hit. https://kyivindependent.com/russia-claims-it-downed-drones-over-2-regions-amid-belgorod-oblasts-oil-depot-hit-reports/

⚡️France invests https://kyivindependent.com/france-invests-5-million-euros-in-reconstruction-of-chernihiv-oblast/ 5 million euros in reconstruction of Chernihiv Oblast.

⚡️Ukraine’s Health Ministry is starting an inspection of military medical commissions in Kyiv due to increased complaints, Minister Viktor Liashko announced on March 4.
Complaints about the work of Kyiv military medical commissions relate to non-compliance with the electronic queue system, uncomfortable conditions during medical checks, doctors’ negligence, and corruption practices, among other things, Liashko said on Facebook.

⚡️Albania reopens https://kyivindependent.com/albania-reopens-air-base-nato/ communist-era air base after $54 million NATO refurbishment.

⚡️Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson threatens https://kyivindependent.com/russia-threatens-german-journalists/ German journalists with expulsion.

The Communists of Russia party has urged the Russian Federal Security Service and top prosecutors to investigate potential Western intelligence involvement in the 1953 death of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, the Russian state-controlled news agency RIA Novosti reported. https://kyivindependent.com/russian-communists-call-for-investigation-into-wests-possible-role-in-stalins-death/ [lolol]

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦
⚡️ WAR IN

• MAR 5, 2024

■ 🇷🇺 strikes stay below 7-day avg, 🇺🇦 ones slightly above
■ Record weekly equipment losses, vehicle losses also at record 7-day losses
■ Casualties above 1k 3rd day in a row
■ Oryx: 61 🇷🇺 24 🇺🇦 added; 30-day ratio at 2.2x

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

The occupying forces have removed the last experienced pro-Ukrainian specialists from the ZNPP. Maintenance of the station has been entrusted to Russians and local collaborators who have agreed to work there," stated Petro Kotin, Vice Chairman of the board of "Energoatom."
"At the beginning of the year, there were 360 company employees at the NPP; however, access to the station is now closed to them. During February, the occupiers removed the last of our personnel who remained loyal to Ukraine and guaranteed safety at the station," Kotin explained
....
"As a result, they currently have only eight shift chiefs left - individuals directly responsible for nuclear and radiation safety. The nuclear units at the ZNPP have been modernized, with designs significantly different from the Russian ones. Russian personnel cannot reliably operate them."
"In addition, personnel from nearby towns and villages have been recruited, many of whom lack understanding of nuclear power plants," he added.

After the data leak, NATO countries have urged Germany to exercise greater caution with classified information and bolster security measures, according to Bloomberg.
"Such actions might be expected from individuals who have never paid attention during security briefings, but not from military personnel," remarked one of the sources cited by the publication.

Since the beginning of the large-scale war, France has handed over three Milan anti-tank complexes, ten 120 mm mortars and six Mistral MANPADS to the Armed Forces.
According to the analytical portal Military Balance, as of the end of 2021, France had 343 Milan ATGMs, 196 Mistral MANPADS and at least 136 120 mm mortars.

Ukrainian Magura V5 naval drones are already independent from Starlink and will be able to hit air targets as well, — the head of the Directorate General of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov in a conversation with "Ukrainian Pravda".
▫️Now the drone has been significantly improved, in particular, several duplicate communication systems have been provided;
▫️It is planned to deploy air defense equipment and other attack systems on them for all types of targets: land, surface, air;
▫️Work is ongoing to make them less noticeable, in particular, thanks to submersion under water for a short time;
▫️The maritime drone control point is located in Kyiv. After the Russian Iskander attack, one of the drone factories moved underground;
▫️The first demonstration of the drone's capabilities was a training mission on the Dnipro. The first Russian ship — "Ivan Khurs", was damaged in May 2023;
▫️For the first time, operators managed to destroy enemy ships on the night of November 10 — a group of drones hit the high-speed landing craft of the Russians "Serna" and "Akula";
▫️Now drones work in groups of more than five units, which allows you to allocate roles and determine the order of attack;
▫️At first, the operators try to immobilize the target by aiming at the ship's engines. At the second stage, strikes are made at the most vulnerable places of the ship — they are determined during mission planning. In the case of a successful defeat, the following blows are applied to the hole;
▫️The mission can last about two days. All this time the operators are working;
▫️The price of Magura V5 reaches "millions of hryvnias" per unit, but the performance of such drones is ten times higher than this amount.

Over the past few months, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo revealed that Belgium has expelled numerous individuals it identified as Russian diplomats, who were believed to be functioning as outright spies.

Viggo "Aragorn" Mortensen appeared in a T-shirt with a trident at the Glasgow Film Festival.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

🇺🇸US House of Representatives spokesman Mike Johnson has begun talks with congressmen preparing a compromise bill that includes aid for Ukraine, — CNN
This document proposes to allocate more than $10 billion less money to Kyiv ($47.69 billion against the previously planned $60.06 billion).
In addition, the bill includes measures to tighten border controls (a key Republican demand) and revive Trump's "Stay in Mexico" program, under which migrants will have to wait for a decision from an American immigration court outside the United States.

This is how the "Sergei Kotov" looked like.
The DIU showed a video of the Magura V5 drone attack on the Sergei Kotov. https://t.me/liveukrainemedia/18788

A retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel was arrested on Saturday and charged with illegally disclosing classified information about national defense and the Russia-Ukraine war on a dating site
David Franklin Slater, 63, who until recently worked as a civilian employee of the US Air Force at the US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), allegedly communicated with a person posing as a woman living in Ukraine and sent her some classified Pentagon documents about Russia's war in Ukraine. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/air-force-employee-indicted-unlawful-disclosure-classified-national-defense-information

🇵🇱🇺🇦Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland appealed to Polish farmers not to block the border with Ukraine as part of their protests, as it is not the root cause of their problems, but such actions hit Ukraine's defense capabilities.
He noted that previous blockades have already caused significant damage to Ukraine – the economy has lost about UAH 19 billion (~USD 492 million), and this is a serious blow to Ukraine's defense capabilities.
The ambassador emphasized that Polish business, which actively trades with Ukraine and in 2023 exported twice as much to Ukraine as it exported from Ukraine to Poland, is also suffering.

🇫🇷 Emmanuel Macron said https://www.novinky.cz/clanek/zahranicni-evropa-macron-exkluzivne-pro-novinky-cz-a-pravo-vyslani-jednotek-na-ukrajinu-neplanujeme-40462915** that he is not considering sending French troops to Ukraine in the near future, but is open to debate on the topic.

🇺🇦Ukrainian drone manufacturers are already able to produce up to 150 thousand units per month, and by the end of the year Ukraine may reach a total of 2 million drones, said Deputy Minister of Strategic Industry Hanna Hvozdyar

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for the commanders of the Russian Long-Range Aviation and Black Sea Fleet, Sergei Kobylash and Viktor Sokolov, as part of an investigation into potential Russian war crimes in Ukraine committed between October 10, 2022, and March 9, 2023

During the full-scale war, Denmark has provided Ukraine with military aid worth more than its defense budget.
But overall, military aid to Ukraine in 2023 fell by 40% compared to 2022.

A song and formation contest among kindergartners was held in Saransk, Russia
Children performed near the banner with the slogan "Life to the Fatherland, honor to no one." https://t.me/liveukrainemedia/18772

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-4-2024

Key Takeaways:

• Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev promoted Russia’s extensive territorial objectives that expand deep into Ukraine’s territory.
• The Ukrainian Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) reported that unknown actors detonated explosives and severely damaged a Russian railway bridge over the Chapaevka River near Chapaevsk, Samara Oblast on March 4.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly awarded a Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) and Spetsnaz-affiliated Russian milblogger, likely as part of the Kremlin’s longstanding efforts to co-opt milbloggers and make them loyal to the Kremlin.
• The Russian government reportedly hid data on recipients of social support services in 2022, likely to obfuscate casualties suffered in the first year of the war in Ukraine or to cover up the government’s inability to pay promised social support to vulnerable populations.
• The Kremlin is continuing efforts to ensure high voter turnout in the upcoming presidential election to present the guise of legitimacy and widespread popular support among Russian President Vladimir Putin’s domestic electorate.
• Russian authorities continue to exploit the leaked recording of German military officers discussing the theoretical provision of Taurus missiles to Ukraine to deter Western military aid provisions to Ukraine.
• Russian forces recently made confirmed advances near Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Donetsk City amid continued positional engagements along the entire frontline.
• A Russian news aggregator claimed on March 4 that Russian forces replaced Storm-Z convict units with Storm-V units, a mechanism for distributing convicts into the regular Russian military as opposed to keeping them siloed within convict-only units, as was the case with Storm-Z formations.

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️European Commission presents https://kyivindependent.com/european-commission-presents-first-ever-defense-industrial-strategy-at-eu-level/ first-ever defense industrial strategy at EU level.
The European Commission presented the first-ever European Defense Industrial Strategy (EDIS) at the EU level to support the competitiveness and readiness of the bloc's defense industry, the commission's press service announced on March 5.
As part of the strategy, the EU proposes developing closer ties with Ukraine through its participation in the bloc's initiatives to support the defense industry and stimulating cooperation between the EU and Ukrainian defense sectors.

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has been using a Serbian national named Novica Antic to infiltrate EU institutions and spread pro-Kremlin views, Politico reported on March 5, citing Western intelligence briefs they had reviewed. https://kyivindependent.com/politico-russia-uses-serbian-agent-to-infiltrate-eu-institutions-intelligence-says/

⚡️Reuters: France invites https://kyivindependent.com/reuters-france-invites-ukraines-allies-nato-head-for-video-call-on-march-7/ Ukraine's allies, NATO head for video call on March 7.

⚡️German defense minister: Officer in Singapore using insecure line https://kyivindependent.com/german-defense-minister-conversation-leak/ led to Taurus conversation leak.

Czech President Petr Pavel said that he is in favor of looking for new ways to support Ukraine, including potentially sending troops for "non-combat engagement," Czech media reported on March 5. https://kyivindependent.com/czech-president-reportedly-calls-to-continue-discussion-on-sending-western-troops-to-ukraine/

⚡️Moldova's intelligence agency warned that Russia will seek to destabilize the country as it prepares for the presidential election and a referendum on EU membership, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported on March 5.
Alexandru Musteata, the head of the Moldovan intelligence agency (SIS), said that the SIS possesses "certain information" about Russia's destabilization campaign in the next two years designed to compromise Chisinau's European integration and draw the country back into the Kremlin's orbit. https://kyivindependent.com/moldova-warns-of-russian-interference-in-elections-eu-accession/

⚡️US Under Secretary Victoria Nuland https://kyivindependent.com/us-under-secretary-victoria-nuland-to-step-down/ to step down.
Victoria Nuland, the third-ranking American diplomat known for her strong backing of Ukraine, will resign from her position as under secretary of state for political affairs in the upcoming weeks, the U.S. State Department announced on March 5.

⚡️ Polish farmers stage general strike in Warsaw.
Polish farmers, agrarian workers, foresters, and hunters staged a general strike in Warsaw on March 6 in protest against Ukrainian agricultural imports and EU environmental policies. kyivindependent.com/polish-farmers-stage-general-strike-in-warsaw/

Argentina's President Javier Milei may visit Kyiv this June as part of a broader European tour in a sign of support for Ukraine, the Infobae news portal reported on March 5. https://kyivindependent.com/media-argentinas-president-plans-visit-to-kyiv-in-june/

⚡️ EU Commission proposes changes https://kyivindependent.com/eu-commission-proposes-updates-to-road-transport-agreement-with-ukraine/ to transport deal with Ukraine based on 'lessons learned.'
The European Commission on March 5 proposed to prolong a road transport agreement with Ukraine and Moldova while introducing additional measures to the Ukraine deal "based on lessons learned."

An Estonian arms dealer sold laser target markers destined for the Ukrainian military at an inflated price, allegedly making millions of euros at the expense of the German taxpayers, according to an investigation by Estonian newspaper Ekspress published on March 5. https://kyivindependent.com/investigation-estonian-arms-dealer-sold-target-markers-to-ukraine-for-inflated-price/

⚡️Military intelligence: Over 50 crew members evacuated https://kyivindependent.com/military-intelligence-over-50-crew-members-evacuated-from-russias-sergey-kotov-vessel-7-killed/ from Russia's Sergey Kotov vessel, 7 killed.

⚡️ Energy minister rules out deals https://kyivindependent.com/energy-minister-rules-out-transiting-russian-gas-through-ukraine/ on transiting Russian gas through Ukraine.
Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko ruled out any commercial deals that would allow Russian gas to flow through Ukraine after the current contract expires in December 2024.

⚡️US State Department to impose https://kyivindependent.com/us-state-department-to-impose-new-sanctions-on-russian-entities-who-violate-nonproliferation-act/ new sanctions on Wagner, Russian air force.

President Volodymyr Zelensky and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis are expected to meet in Odesa on March 6, Kathimerini and several other Greek media outlets wrote, citing unnamed sources. https://kyivindependent.com/media-zelensky-meets-with-greek-pm-in-odesa/

⚡️ Latvian government approves list of banned agricultural goods https://kyivindependent.com/latvian-government-approves-list-of-banned-agricultural-goods-from-russia-belarus/ from Russia, Belarus.

⚡️ Parliamentary committee backs bill https://kyivindependent.com/parliamentary-committee-backs-bill-on-banning-russia-linked-ukrainian-orthodox-church-for-final-vote/ on banning Moscow-linked church ahead of final vote.

The losses are huge, day after day. Russia is slowly advancing, but at a huge price.
The thought does scuttle across my mind - is Ukraine reporting them honestly, since they are so high for so long?

Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦

• MAR 6, 2024

■ 🇷🇺 strikes, engagements & settlements under fire go up ■ Record equipment losses; vehicle losses at a record height, record weekly artillery losses ■ 'Sergei Kotov' the 3rd naval loss of 2024 ■ Casualties make top 10 list

@MissConductUS d'you have any idea what the implications or consequences of Victoria Nuland stepping down might be?

@DancesWithDucks

The losses are huge, day after day. Russia is slowly advancing, but at a huge price.
The thought does scuttle across my mind - is Ukraine reporting them honestly, since they are so high for so long?

I suspect Ukraine are trying to be honest but it's not a precise art...

The bigger worry is it has looked for a long time now as if Putin doesn't care at all about casualty numbers, has the means of driving the poor bloody infantry forwards regardless of costs ( remember a year plus back when all the talk was of morale collapsing? well if it ever did, it made no obvious difference) and he can still top the numbers up.....which sounds much like what Stalin did in WW2.

yes, it's been said he is generally relying on human waves, that seems to have happened at Avdiivka, and crypto - mobilization is going on in strength so he does have the numbers. There are more Russians and military hardware in Ukraine now than at the beginning of the invasion, apparently.

Morale did collapse but got up again after a proportion of the refusers got shot / hung / left to die in pits ....

The hardware losses have been so huge too though. Hundreds and perhaps into four figures in the last weeks - even for Russia, that's got to hurt. They can't replace them with new machines that fast and they have to run out of the un-mothballed ones eventually!

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

Ukraine is ready to accept restrictions on its trade with the European Union in order to defuse a sharp political dispute with Poland. At the same time, Kyiv calls on the EU to ban the import of Russian agricultural products, which still come through Belarus and the Baltic states.

🇭🇺New Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok officially takes office.
After being elected, Sulyok took the oath of office and, according to the constitution, assumed office on the eighth day following the announcement of the election results in case of early termination of the former president's powers.

French President Macron supports a Czech plan to supply 800,000 artillery shells to Ukraine to help it withstand a full-scale Russian invasion.
As for where to get the funds to finance the Czech plan, Macron suggested that it could be "bilateral mobilization, cooperation with third parties, bilateral financing."

This is what the Shahed UAV assembly shop looks like in Russia.
These UAVs belong to the conditional modification of "Geran-K", that is, Russian-made Shaheda. https://t.me/United24media/19322

The United States government has tightened sanctions against the Russian Federation. Several entities that are directly or indirectly linked to the Kremlin have been subject to restrictions.
Sanctions were imposed against:
▫️Russian Aerospace Forces;
▫️PMC Wagner;
▫️Russian individual Pavel Shevelin;
▫️LLC Eltekhnord;
▫️DPRK individual Rim Yong Hyok.
It is stated that the above-mentioned entities and individuals have violated national legislation on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in relation to Iran.

Students are systematically taught hacking in Russian universities — The Security Service of Ukraine.
“No other country in the world has a systematic way of teaching people to be hackers. Russia has started in universities and will eventually reach schools," explained Vitiuk, head of the SSU's cybersecurity department.
He added that investments in Russian cyberattacks reach billions of rubles. And the amount continues to grow.
According to Vitiuk, over the past two years of the war, the SSU managed to record and repel 9,000 cyberattacks — 4,500 for each year, respectively.

This night, air defense forces destroyed 38 attack UAVs of the enemy, — the Air Force.
In total, the Russian occupation forces attacked with five S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles and 42 attack drones.

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

First Lady Olena Zelenska declined https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/03/05/state-of-the-union-olena-zelenska-yulia-navalnaya/ an invitation to attend Joe Biden's address to the nation because they wanted her to sit next to the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Yulia
According to WP, "the image of the women, each a symbol of resistance to Russian President Putin, was to provide a powerful backdrop for President Biden's speech to a joint session of Congress."

In the Kursk oblast of Russia, a fuel and lubricant warehouse caught fire after a drone attack
Another drone attempted to attack the Baltimore military airfield in Voronezh, and two more drones attacked an oil depot in the Annino municipal district.
According to Russian media, the drones were destroyed, but the wreckage fell into a tank and onto the territory of the oil depot.

⚡️Ukrainian intelligence says that 27 sailors were wounded in the attack on the Russian patrol ship Sergey Kotov, not 6 as previously reported. Seven Russians are believed to be dead.

Cats continue to hold the line🫡

A Ukrainian rally in Donetsk on March 5, 2014

Russian warships mysteriously disappear her

Haley has dropped out of the running.

Trump v Biden now.

God.

The big question is whether or not she endorses him, which I think is unlikely. Her supporters are now the key swing vote in the election.

Fingers crossed and prayers sent up....

Minimal, I'd think. She may have stepped down simply because she was passed over for a higher-level post. I think Biden's policies towards Ukraine have been framed or influenced more by Blinken and the national security team.