I believe that it has been agreed to seize the interest on the Russian funds, but banks are resisting the seizure of the capital, ans that may take years to decide. It was originally envisaged to use the interest for Ukrainian reconstruction, but it is now being argued that Ukraine needs it now for weapons.

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/internatio...6638963_4.html

France to deliver 78 Caesar artillery units to Ukraine shortly and increase shell deliveries to 80,000.

https://apnews.com/article/france-uk...70660cc1753b77

Russian bomb production.

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Ukrainian version of the Lancet tested.

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Let’s hope there’s some careless smokers in that bomb factory.

Unguided? Freefall? Target overflight required?

​​​​​​​Unguided bombs that make large holes. WW2 all over again.

Seen articles elsewhere saying that these FAB-3000 glide bombs, don't actually glide that well (compared to the glide kits fitted to FAB-500, FAB-1000's etc) and so will need to be dropped closer to the target............and it seems unlikely that they can fit under a Su-34, which means they are likely getting stocks ready for when they think they have suppressed enough Ukraine AD (they are two Patriot launchers down now after that Iskanker strike) so as to be able to safely use Tu-22M's loaded up with these things......

#BREAKING

Polish Lieutenant General Jaroslaw Gromadzinski, a commander of Eurocorps, a joint military group of some EU and NATO states, has been removed from his post after a counter-intelligence investigation found proof of his work for Russia.

He was responsible for NATO military supplies to Ukraine.

Link (in Polish): https://www.gov.pl/web/obrona-narodowa/komunikat-mon14

Google translation:

Statement of the Ministry of National DefenseMarch 28, 2024

The Military Counterintelligence Service initiated inspection proceedings regarding the personal security clearance of Lieutenant General Jarosław Gromadziński in connection with obtaining new information about the officer.

Therefore, a decision was made to dismiss Lieutenant General Gromadziński from his position as Eurocorps commander and his immediate return to the country.

This decision is made in accordance with the Homeland Defense Act of March 11, 2022, Art. 199, section 2. with the following content: "A professional soldier may be dismissed from his official position in the event of: 1) the needs of the Armed Forces; 2) initiation of inspection verification proceedings referred to in the provisions of the Act of August 5, 2010 on the protection of classified information (Journal of Laws of 2023, items 756, 1030 and 1532) and section 3. with the following text: "In the case referred to in section 1 and section 2 point 1, a professional soldier is appointed to an equivalent or higher service position or transferred to his disposal. The possibility of being appointed to a higher position does not apply to a soldier dismissed from his official position in the case referred to in section 1 point 3".

To ensure the continuity of the functioning of the Eurocorps Command, another officer will be immediately appointed to the position held by Lieutenant General Jarosław Gromadziński.

Janusz Sejmej
Spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense

AP: https://apnews.com/article/poland-eu...224255852ddd4d

Poland dismisses the Eurocorps reaction unit commander who faces a counterintelligence investigation
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https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/...network-a84656

Czechs Bust Major Russian Propaganda Network

Czech intelligence has busted a Moscow-financed network that spread Russian propaganda and wielded influence across Europe, including in the European Parliament, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Wednesday.

The group used the Prague-based Voice of Europe news site to spread information seeking to discourage the European Union from sending aid to Ukraine, which has been battling a Russian invasion since February 2022.

Fiala said the Czech Security Information Service (BIS) discovered that the pro-Russian network was indulging in activities that "would have a serious impact on the security of the Czech Republic and the EU."

"This group sought to carry out operations and activities on EU territory aimed against the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine," Fiala told reporters. "The group's activity... also reaches the European Parliament," he said, refusing to disclose further details.

Czech authorities have sanctioned some of those involved but the Voice of Europe continues to publish articles.

The BIS said the network was financed from Russia and operating on Czech territory. "The BIS operation unveiled how Russia is wielding influence on the territory of EU member states and how it is trying to affect political processes in our countries," it said on X, formerly Twitter.

Fiala's government has added the Voice of Europe and two pro-Kremlin Ukrainian politicians — Viktor Medvedchuk and Artyom Marchevsky — to its sanctions list in relation to the network's activities.

The Denik N daily said the news site had published statements by politicians demanding the EU halt aid to Ukraine. Some European politicians cooperating with the news site were paid from Russian funds that in some cases also covered their 2024 EU election campaign, the daily adds.

The payments targeted politicians from Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands and Poland, Denik N said, citing a Czech foreign ministry source.

It singled out the far-right German party Alternative for Germany (AfD) as being involved.

Marchevsky was in charge of Voice of Europe content and communication with politicians, the daily said.

An EU and NATO member of 10.9 million people, the Czech Republic has provided substantial military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the Russian invasion.

Errrmm, The Belarussian Army would struggle with the Polish Boarder Police. They even wouldn't have to wake up the Army for that. I don't know what Lukashenka is smoking but it must be good stuff.

Like the JDAM they have a guidance-system

"he FAB–UMPK combination likely was first introduced on the Sukhoi Su-34 Fullback, with the aircraft often seen in footage carrying four wing-kit equipped FAB-500 bombs. The UMPK kit includes satellite navigation and an inertial-measurement unit for guidance. The UMPK glide bomb may have a range of around 40 kilometres when released from medium altitude. Recent videos also suggest Russia has integrated the kit with the heavier FAB-1500 bomb and the RBK-500 cluster munition."

https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis...-air-defences/

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe...ne-2024-03-26/

France might requisition arms producers to speed up production to help Ukraine

PARIS, March 26 (Reuters) - French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Tuesday he was prepared to use his powers to requisition industrial capacities or impose priorities to weapon makers to speed up production of arms and shells needed on the battlefield in Ukraine and elsewhere.

"These questions ... are clearly on the table", Lecornu told a news conference, adding stocks and production lines were particularly strained with regard to anti-air missiles and artillery shells.

Lecornu said he could requisition stocks or tell companies to give priority to certain orders, citing Aster missiles produced by MBDA as a potential case for such a move.
Foreign demand for French-produced arms was high, especially for anti-defence, artillery and radar systems exposed in Ukraine, Lecornu said, but the country's defence industry is struggling to keep up.

"We have missed out on certain contracts with Eastern Europe countries for whom the criterion of delivery deadlines is more important than the price," Lecornu said.

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/30172

France Doubles Down on Weapons to Ukraine, Top Official Says Russia Leaves No Option but Arms Build-Up

Update on the fronts

Russian ICBM out for a drive..

Yesterday Russia hit my native Kharkiv using the new aerial bomb "UMPB D-30 SN" for the first time. One person was killed, dozens injured, four kids among them. The youngest injured child was three months old - Kharkiv authorities.

Unlike conventional glide bombs, the "UMPB D-30 SN" has a threefold increased range, is an analogue of the American GBU-39/B SDB and has a range of up to 90 kilometers.

What does this mean for Kharkiv and other Ukrainian territories? Basically, it means that if our Allies do not provide us with at least 8 Patriot systems, then Kharkiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and other cities close to the combat lines will get attacked with massive Russian aviation strikes that will use such long-range glide bombs.

The only effective countermeasure is destroying the Russian carrier aircraft as they get ready to launch the glide bombs 80-90 km away from their targets. This can only be done by Patriot systems that have already proven themselves highly effective in destroying Russian military aircraft.

Otherwise, we are facing an enormous increase of threats to civilians population of these cities as Russia will make new Mariupols out of them.

https://www.armedconflicts.com/UMPB-D-30SN-t276985
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The remains of an arms depot hit by Himars

Russia has apparently modified a version of the aerial FAB 250 glide bomb to be fired from a ground based Tornado S rocket launcher.