hcrof

Consider that the USA is not the only country in the world. No matter how little you trust your own government how about the governments of most of Europe? 
Even the French and Germans (Evan neutral Switzerland!!), who were very critical of the war in Iraq are fully onboard supporting Ukraine, supplying more aid per capita than the USA. 
That suggests that the war is real and Ukraine is a partner who can be worked with. Remember the Dutch and Germans complaining about corruption during the eurozone crisis? Not so much with Ukraine (although realistically it does exist)

Here is new Russian weapon, which they already used several times - among them two days ago this weapon first time for two years bombed Kahrkiv, One bomb hit the school, the secong hit the ground among residential buildings, causing death of one man and injuring of 16 people.
This is UMPB D-30SN. The ordnance, based of "dumb" FAB-250 (100 kg HE). Wings, guidance system and rocket engine, turned it intu gliding bomb-missile, similar analog of western SDB/GLSDB. This sh...t can be launched both with Su-34 or with Smerch/Tornado-S MLRS. Depending on carrier it can fly on 50-90 km. Declared CEP is 5 m. Guidance - inertial/satellite 

This night Russians conducted next mass missile strike. Again, main targets were power plants. In this time, except thermal plants, Russians targeted two hydro energy plants in Kaniv, Cherkasy oblast and in Chernisvtsi oblast, on Dnister river. Also substations and power infrastructure were attacked in six oblasts. Kuiv wasn't under attack this time. 
Russians again hit Burshtynska thermal power plant with Kinzhal missiles as well as Ladyzhynska thermal power plant in Vinnytska oblast. By assesment, these two largest TPPs are taken out at least on six months or maybe even on year.
Statistic of launches/interceptions:
- 60 Shaheds / 58 shot down
- 21 Kh-101 / 17 shot down
- 4 Iskander-K cruise missiles / 4 shot down
- 3 Kh-47 Kinzhal / no intreceptions
- 2 Iskander-M / no interceptions
- 9 Kh-59 / 5 shot down
 
Debrises of new upgraded  Kh-101 were found after this night. This missile already had two warheads. Main - 450 kg of total weight and secondary in 250 kg of total weight, Secondary warhead has ready-made submunitions of cubic shape. 
 

Pavlo Narozhnyi , the founder of "Reaktivna Poshta" and a military expert, gave an interview to the French publication Le Grand Continent.
 

<areas of COIN involved cerebral cortex begin to spin up, blinking lights, whirring and puffs of dust ensue>
It's pretty clear that ISIS-K wants to recruit more members of ISIS-K in Russia at this stage of the game by committing acts of terrorism that inflame an already quite hostile Russian cultural reaction to Muslims from the Southern fringe of the imperium which then alienates and radicalizes yet more potential recruits. To this end, an attack like that at Crocus also provides a clear signal that Moscow isn't just nasty...but weak, preoccupied completely by the losing war in Ukraine and not prepared to handle what ISIS-K can dish out. 
Russia did actually lean into pretty much what ISIS-K could have hoped for with televised tortures, ear lopping and the like...which is precisely the worst way to equalize both sides in the minds of fence sitters and videos of Russians assaulting random Tajiks are all over the Stans as we speak. What meh there was involved the messaging from the top...which underlined the how out of of touch the Kremlin is. 
All in all, ISIS-K has to feel pretty good about this round. 
 

Intact warhead of shot down in Kyiv 3M22 "Zircon" was found. It's turned out much less, than Russian declared in open sources. Total weight 200 kg and HE weight 80 kg (was claimed 300-400 kg warhead). This may seem insufficint for anti-ship missile, but taking into account Zirkon on final stage of attack dives from 30-40 km alsmost verticaly with 9M speed, the impact of the deck and explosion could pierce the ship through.
A day ago one of experts, who explore this warhead said it may has no more 40 kh of HE and it's type will be determine in further researches. It's unlear, why quantity of HE raised from 40 to 80 kg, probably warhead was opened later and this allowed to determine a mass of HE
 

More satellite images of UKR missile strike on Sevastopol aftermath:
Average intelligense and communication ship "Ivan Khurs" got at least one hit in the deck at the stern area. The second missile exploded close on the pier
Screen from Russian TG says on the sattleite photo of 24rd of March near "Ivan Khurs" stands resque ship "Epron" of 145th resque vessels detachment, but this ship subordinated directly to BSF HQ, which wasn't here on the image of 23rd of March, so "Ivan Khurs" got damages and help of this vessel was needed
 

Also Ukrainian side claimed today in result of attack former UKR large landing ship "Kostiantyn Olshansyi" (Ropuha-class), captured in 2014 during occupation of Crimea, was hit with Neptune missile. Russians suffering of LLS lack after losses about a year ago began to repair this ship, but now it got damages again
On the photo "Kostianntyn Olshanskyi" likely before 2022, stands in Sevastopol

Putin very visibly blamed US in his speech ("by hands of Kyiv regime"- note, Ukraine is only triggerman here) and in Russian imperial psyche it is not disgraceful to be smashed by superior Yanks. In other words, it was planned and executed by CIA- earlier US warnings will only support this line of thinking. They are read as threats rather than genuine information, even if we actually know now they were taken seriously in many places in Russia:
https://twitter.com/PjotrSauer/status/1772268163775840437
I am pretty sure that as time goes by we will see more "evidence" and propagandists in Russia and abroad will gradually work on minds of populace. 1-2 years from now heads of half of them will be in this strange, shadowy place Kremlin loves to be in- "Who knows, it's mysterious matter, everybody lies but most probably it's foreign agents".
Unless more similar acts will follow on behalf of IS-K, and fast, original simple message of islamic terror will be bended, broken and reforged dozen times. Also Kremlin propaganda will be multi-directed like always: Margo Simonyan, Solovyov and other scum will work on Ukraine trace (latter probably soon find out extra lead to UK anyway), Putin will wrestle with heroic geopolitical fight with USA (UA is beyond his dignity), Kadyrov will keep unruly parts of muslims for their faces and perhaps only Lavrov will have new tool to show how Russia suffers from US-sponsored jihadi menace, with wink sended here and there that perhaps they could use it as platform of further cooperation like proper empires should do.
Things will then likely gradually go back to its natural life cycle in Muscovia. Tsar is taking care fo its flock at the Kremlin, evil nazis are in Ukraine, globalists interests kept outside and their domestic opposition assets jailed. Like God commanded.

New sattelite image of Russian large landing shio (claimed it's "Yamal"). GUR today made a statment this ship was under repair on Sevastopol ship-repairing factory and was struck by missile - it penetrated the deck and hull, causing a roll to starboard. On this image we apparently can see this roll and tugs, moving the ship to the dock to avoid her sinking. 
GUR also claimed one of missiles damaged 13th ship-repairig factory in Sevastopol
 

So, now we have details of today's missile strike on Kyiv. Today was a Day of SBU, so Russians obviously decided to shedule the strike for this date. When I wrote about allegedle strike on Kyiv hydro power plant I was wrong - it just features of Kyiv terrain can in this way reflect sounds, that you could think something exploded near you, but indeed it was in other place. Espacillay if explosion took place high in the air. 
So, Russian TG today drowned in extasy how their missiles destroyed buildings of SBU (building of SBU "was filled with personnel"), GUR (hey! They already two times destroyed this building in own reports!), "quarter of dormitories for GUR officers" (and showed a photo of smoke over old Khrushchov time houses - idiots, do they rellay think GUR oficers, elite, live in dormitories with cucroaches?), underground weapon factory and Patriot battery in Zhuliany airport.
All this with two missiles %) 
Real damage here. Both missiles were shot down, but since these were newest hypersonic missiles "Zirkon", their fragments with high kinetic speed flew around the city and fell down in four districts.
Students of Fine Arts and Design univercity have strong angelic protection - a large fragment of missile destroyed their sport hall - nobody was killed. Russians claimed the missile destroyed Civil Defense HQ, deployed in the same building, but as you can see there are no trails of explosion or falme, even windows mostly intcat. Just huge kinectic strike, which ruined old brick building.  

Other large fragment of missile fell down between private houses in SW outskrirt of the city In Zhuliany and makes deep crater (aha! this is "underground factory"! Or Patriot was here?)

And here is fragment of 3M22 "Zirkon" missile. First time it was launced on Kyiv on 6th of Feb. It's unknown either it was just missed or it trajectory was shifted by close Patriot missiles explosion (or it was damaged by SAM), but then it fell down between two malls, accidentally causing damage to underground water pipes, electricity cables and tram ways. 
"Zirkon" overcame the distance between Crimea and Kyiv for 3 minutes. They were launched more likelu with ground launchers, though it was intended as anti-ship missile for Russian frigades "Admiral Gorshkov"-class. It has declared speed 8-9M, the range more 1000 km and 300-400 kg of warhead (probably 150 kg of HE). This missile flies on the height 30-40 km and Russians claim they have maneuver capabilities. Then on approach to the target, the missile dives almost like ballistic and hit.  

 

Well, we can shoot dawn this new wunerwaffe. It's good. But Kyiv now will be under threat of strikes with this weapon and this is bad. After today's atatck 10 citizens were injured, traumatized or just got high strees. But only two of them were hospitalized

I wrote two days ago - Kharkiv lost all substations and their thermal power plant was badly damaged. About 2/3 of the city remained without electricity and half without heating. Today city authorities reported they managed to launch subway and increaese number of houses, plugged to power grids. But heating season will be aborted prematurely (it's lucky on this week the temperature will rise gradually to +17) - this will allow to release energy resources to plug more houses. 
Limitations on elecrtricity consumptions have Kryvyi Rih and Odesa. Yeaterday in Odesa was halted all electricity transport. 
Some troubles there were in Zaporizhzhia oblast. Reportedly one opf two hydro power plants destroyed completely and it repairing (or new-building) will take several years
DTEK company reported on today they temporary lost 50 % of own power generation capabilities (DTEK is owner of mostly thermal power plants), But main generation in Ukriane is nuclear power plants, thermal plants mostly use for cities and oblasts power and heating supply
All other territory of Ukraine didn't encounter with lack of electricity. 
 

Thread about situation with artillery shells in one artilery brigade (main tasks of artillery brigade is long-range firing on Russian reserves, command points, counter-battery fire)
I will not translate all, just some takes:
- situation with shells supply was getting worse after stopping of our offensive and most bad situation was in November 2023 - winter 2024. Often they hadn't work, because was nothing to shoot.
- But even their bad situatin was even better, than in some batteries of other brigades - they hadn't work at all, because whole battery could shoot 15-20 shell for a day, so some aretillery crews were disbanded and moved to infantry   
- in spring situation became to getting better, but anyway they have a lack of long-range HE shells, and esapecially precisiosn ammunition. Most of their ammunition now is DPICM for mid ranges. So their main task now to support infantry in defense and eliminating of enemy assault groups. Almost no counter-battery tasks.
- In conditions of artillery shells deficite, inside arty battalions became to establish FPV teams, which partially substituted a lack of precision ammunnition in close- and mid-range tasks.   
 

Some adequate people in Russia ask - well, you are Tajiks and just made bloody murdering. Your faces are on each police patrol, around the city activated plan of interception. And you... even not wearing other clothes, sit all four in the same car, on which you arrived to make the attack, keeping own passports with you and drive... no, not to Petrovskiy market area, where huge Central Asian migrants getto, where you can just lost for authorities. You drive to Ukraine - through huge Fridays's evening traffic jams on the exits from Moscow, you drive through all these checkpoints, police, SOBR, which already hunting for you, through Rosgvardiya posts on the roads in rears of Russian troops in Bryansk oblast, through deployments of troops, through zero-lline positions, minefields, drones in the air - so even is Ukrainian side "prepared a window", what other Russian forces would be doing? 
And other comment form Russian social media - if you try to escape after terrorist attack to Bryansk oblast almost to Belarusian border and spend about 5 hours for this through Moscow Friday's evening traffic jams - immediatelly communicate with Formula-1, you will get a contract %)   

Really good ISW today, but the most interesting part is quoted above. It quotes several sources about Russian recruiting issues, and highlights several issues that might occur if Russia conducts another mobilization.

Remember plastic is very flammable so not good in combat - you would need a different material. Buildings are BIG and use a lot of material, so 3d printing is not going to beat mass production economically except for some quite specialised use cases. (This is a big subject that I have studied but I don't want to go OT)
I am no expert on Kevlar but in construction carbon fibre is sometimes used - the downsides are that 1) steel offers most of the performance and a fraction of the price and 2) it burns. It ends up used in very specialised cases only. 
The other reason why steel is almost always going to be best in "dynamic situations" is that it fails very gracefully by bending rather than snapping. Modern steels (even low grade construction steel) are really good and really cheap so very difficult to beat, especially if they are surrounded by concrete for fire protection and extra mass. 
Basically the "best" bunker for mass production is likely what we have already seen - factory made reinforced concrete panels, welded together on site then covered in soil. Cheap, quick to assemble and robust (at least for a few years before they start to rust due to sloppy construction)

Interesting. 
 

Ok so if we are trying to build bunkers under active fire from the enemy that does change the equation somewhat. But how bad is it? If you can't even bring in an excavator then it really limits your options and while throwing money at engineering problems often solves them (Kevlar sandbags?) I am not sure Ukraine has that kind of budget! 
If I was in that situation I would be looking to pack something like this, or this on my truck and use it to support a lot of soil as overhead cover in a hand-dug trench. But it won't be nearly as strong as a concrete bunker since a near miss will collapse the walls more easily and a direct hit is game over even for a smaller round. 

UKR jet drone (ersatz-cruise missile) with a speed 432 km/h. The range is unknown. Passed tests today

An article (in Ukrainian) about Russian factory-produced ammunitions for dropping from the drones. Alas, despite we can see alot of UKR droppings, most of them are knee-made ammo from VOGs, grenades, or self-made mini-IEDs (when you trade HE from sappers, put it into energetic can together with bearing balls and detonator). It's separate story, how to deal with army bureaucracy if you are a drone team and have AK-74 without under-barrel grenade launcher you can't legally to get VOGs!
Only in this year firts standrtized factory ammunition went to army, but it to few in present time
https://drone.in.ua/ua/a494021-rossijskie-shtatnye-boepripasy.html

Ok so if we are trying to build bunkers under active fire from the enemy that does change the equation somewhat. But how bad is it? If you can't even bring in an excavator then it really limits your options and while throwing money at engineering problems often solves them (Kevlar sandbags?) I am not sure Ukraine has that kind of budget! 
If I was in that situation I would be looking to pack something like this, or this on my truck and use it to support a lot of soil as overhead cover in a hand-dug trench. But it won't be nearly as strong as a concrete bunker since a near miss will collapse the walls more easily and a direct hit is game over even for a smaller round. 

Remember plastic is very flammable so not good in combat - you would need a different material. Buildings are BIG and use a lot of material, so 3d printing is not going to beat mass production economically except for some quite specialised use cases. (This is a big subject that I have studied but I don't want to go OT)
I am no expert on Kevlar but in construction carbon fibre is sometimes used - the downsides are that 1) steel offers most of the performance and a fraction of the price and 2) it burns. It ends up used in very specialised cases only. 
The other reason why steel is almost always going to be best in "dynamic situations" is that it fails very gracefully by bending rather than snapping. Modern steels (even low grade construction steel) are really good and really cheap so very difficult to beat, especially if they are surrounded by concrete for fire protection and extra mass. 
Basically the "best" bunker for mass production is likely what we have already seen - factory made reinforced concrete panels, welded together on site then covered in soil. Cheap, quick to assemble and robust (at least for a few years before they start to rust due to sloppy construction)

Remember plastic is very flammable so not good in combat - you would need a different material. Buildings are BIG and use a lot of material, so 3d printing is not going to beat mass production economically except for some quite specialised use cases. (This is a big subject that I have studied but I don't want to go OT)
I am no expert on Kevlar but in construction carbon fibre is sometimes used - the downsides are that 1) steel offers most of the performance and a fraction of the price and 2) it burns. It ends up used in very specialised cases only. 
The other reason why steel is almost always going to be best in "dynamic situations" is that it fails very gracefully by bending rather than snapping. Modern steels (even low grade construction steel) are really good and really cheap so very difficult to beat, especially if they are surrounded by concrete for fire protection and extra mass. 
Basically the "best" bunker for mass production is likely what we have already seen - factory made reinforced concrete panels, welded together on site then covered in soil. Cheap, quick to assemble and robust (at least for a few years before they start to rust due to sloppy construction)

The links are broken for me but I am very skeptical about building  bunkers with 3d printing - and I say this as someone who designs structures, sometimes against explosions. If plastics are involved multiply that by 10. 

Fully agree, ref plastics. I think most proper structural 3D printing is focussed on other materials - concrete mostly but I've also seen liquified wood products. 
3D printing is fantastic for shaping a form so its the darling child of modern architects for designing (speaking as a former architect). Engineers, in my experience, are usually a lot more circumspect - not because of ignorance or inability to see the possibilities but simple realities of physics and materials science. 3D printing does many things but not certain things. A gain somewhere (e.g. a hyper-parabolic wall built quickly) has a cost somewhere else (structural integrity under dynamic stress loads).
Everything is a trade-off, physics isn't free.