We usually write that the USA is just like the bank, not your friend, and that the USA does things that are good for the USA.
Since 2022 in Ukraine, we have seen how the USA has tried to ensure that Russia does not lose and has over time landed in the above two rough simplifications of the situation, first it was Biden at the helm and now it’s Trump.
All sorts of “side-shows” are going on where, for example, people who know what Trump is going to say enter before extreme market movements and enrich themselves enormously.
But what is the rock concert going on behind a lowered stage curtain that controls the overall course of events?
We have already established that the USA is pressing all buttons at once now and that they seem to be in a hurry, everything is happening simultaneously and the planners in the Pentagon are popping omeprazole.
Then there are plenty of corrections and conflicting messages that tend to calm down the markets – the markets influence much of how the USA is forced to adjust, but they adjust in words, not actions.
Something that has been bothering since early in the Iran war is that both the USA and Israel have been fighting against the oil and LNG infrastructure in Iran – I have asked that question several times. It was not a war-technical goal and Hormuz was already closed. In addition, Crown Prince Reza, who hopes to take over, has begged the USA to spare infrastructure that is important to Iran.
It does not affect the war in the least if refineries, oil depots, or LNG facilities are knocked out in Iran – we know from Ukraine that it takes years before such things have an impact.
The SEAD campaign to then unhindered decimate Iran’s robot capacity, start eliminating the leadership, and then the IRGC and Basij’s ability to control the citizens is how you win the war along with a popular uprising.
Since the start of the war, the whole world understood that Johan No.1 was right when he wrote before that Iran’s leadership feels like they are going under in a major fireworks display even if Trump expressed surprise – which could be his version of our “we have been naive” which is politicians’ favorite word to avoid responsibility.
So why did Israel and the USA start targeting soft targets in Iran when they already knew that Iran intended to retaliate?
The answer to that question can reasonably only be that the USA is playing a much bigger game than saving the vulnerable women in Iran, which everyone probably knew, with the focus on China, but perhaps also Europe.
Defending the petrodollar when needed is an old story that is said to have been behind the Libya and Iraq wars – I was a bit too young then to analyze world leaders but now we actually have all the information we need and I can ride a bike without training wheels.
The countries that have sold their oil in yuan and been China’s major trading partners are Iran, Russia, and Venezuela, while Saudi Arabia and the UAE are part of BRIICS and also sell oil in yuan to China.
The largest LNG exporters to China are Qatar and Australia, where Qatar has started selling in yuan to China but also through the dollar system.
What is the “petrodollar” – simpler than you might think.
If Sweden starts printing Swedish kronor heavily, the value of the currency drops and we get inflation, sometimes Sweden experiences capital flight and then we have increased costs for borrowing international currency or buying our national debt as those who buy it want better payment.
If all oil trade is in dollars, the USA can print unlimited dollars without the currency depreciating significantly and the need for borrowing remains constant – just under 80% of currency reserves are USD, 20% EUR, and 3% Yuan.
There may be another factor in this, that countries, by needing to stay on good terms with the USA for its petrodollar dominance, buy a lot of national debt, invest in the USA, bribe representatives, and in other ways oil the machinery so they are not frozen out.
By having all oil trade go through USD, everyone else must stay on good terms with the USA, appease them, and give them advantages is a simplified answer, and it goes far beyond currencies where companies in all sorts of different areas can benefit.
China probably had a fairly simple plan – break the petrodollar so the USA breaks, and they can take over instead, for trade to become yuan when it’s not dollars. Could China have chosen EUR instead, or how?
The BRIICS currency suggests that China didn’t like EUR anyway.
The only group that really just wants to trade without all the crap around it is probably Europe?
China has basically just sat down and copied the USA to become the new USA.
Russia is a bit of a special case here and Ukraine is fighting for its survival so it’s not possible to try to fit the Ukraine puzzle into this puzzle and point out that they are part of some conspiracy because they are fighting against RU oil infrastructure.
In 2025, the USA has spent a lot of time trying to break Ukraine with soft means and I find it hard to believe that Ukraine is now collaborating under the table with the USA.
However, Russia has proposed that they should do all their trade in dollars instead of yuan or BRIICS currency. A significant olive branch to the USA.
By the way, the USA permanently retained control over Iraq’s oil revenues after the Iraq wars. Surely there are many different fees and interest profits we are not aware of, so not just charity.
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/how-us-controls-iraqs-oil-revenues-2026-01-23
How does Syria fit into this because the USA chose to throw the Kurds in Rojava under the bus just as they did with Ukraine for some reason, and in time to fit into the larger events.
I haven’t been able to figure it out, but somewhere there is a puzzle piece with Syria that fits into the puzzle, Turkey is to the north of Syria and Jordan/Israel to the south so they are not the only country with a (possible) oil pipeline into Europe.
And why would the USA want Europe to get more oil/LNG then they would sell less of their own products to us?
Moreover, Saudi has a large oil pipeline to the Red Sea that they can export through.
Because Syria was Russia’s buddy and since the USA and Russia have a special deal about a lot, the USA has gone against a Russian interest for some reason.
It could also have been Israel, but why Israel would prefer to have old ISIS back but now as chief animals in Syria is not entirely clear.
Google AI says this, which is of course nonsense, no one believes that an old ISIS executioner and hardcore Islamist works this way?
“Following his rise to power in early 2025, Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) promised Western powers an inclusive government, protection of minority rights, and the prevention of new refugee outflows”
My conclusion must be that we do not yet have the reason why the USA is making an effort for Syria’s Salani to remain in power – we will see.
So what has the USA achieved by attacking Iran and what is the plan?
-The USA will most likely land in the area around Hormuz and then Kharg Island, which accounts for 90% of Iran’s oil exports. Expect it to be like when you get cockroaches in your house – they are impossible to get rid of.
To make the world a better place and spread democracy, the USA will have a firm grip on Iran’s future exports and decide who can buy them, and only in dollars.
Surely they will charge a good price for it as well.
-Hormuz is also not free to monitor against the enormous future threat posed by (*insert any country*), and a fee per oil tanker imposed by Iran’s IRGC must therefore remain, but now the money goes to the USA instead.
-Qatar, Oman, UAE, and Saudi Arabia have probably learned a damn good lesson and are now in a panic trying to outbid each other on how much they should invest in the USA, I dare not throw around numbers as it’s all hearsay. Trump claims that they pay the USA in cash for the operation – I don’t know, and he is an unreliable source.
The oil and LNG they sold in yuan to China can no longer be sold at all because Iran bombed away their infrastructure.
Middle Eastern countries in general seem to just run around buying friends for a bag of money – Saudi Arabia is furious with Pakistan as they bought a defense alliance with them, but Pakistan yawned and fell asleep when Iran started bombing Saudi Arabia.
-In simplified terms, all countries that are major exporters of LNG and oil to China, and started selling oil and LNG outside the dollar system, have either been invaded or had robots and drones in their oil and LNG infrastructure by 2026. Those who have escaped will soon be asked by the USA at the customs booth at Hormuz if the ship should go to China, and if so, they can turn back or be sunk.
My conclusion is that this is by design, intended by the USA, and that they provoked it by starting to combat the infrastructure in Iran so that Iran would retaliate – if you don’t believe that, present good arguments and we’ll discuss.
In one fell swoop, the USA has gained full control over all major oil exporters to China who also sold in yuan.
All Ukraine needs to do is continue to drone away pumping stations, export ports, and ships, and it will eventually reach zero from Russia as well.
Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan are also important, and there has been some talk about their reluctance to be transit countries before, not entirely up to date there.
China is in a bit of a tight spot.
Europe?
Europe buys its oil from the USA, Norway, and Kazakhstan, so we are not directly affected by this in the same way as many others.
The USA was already the largest LNG exporter to us, along with Qatar and Australia.
What has probably happened is that Europe doesn’t have much choice but to buy oil and LNG from the USA for the foreseeable future, so we have just become compliant and more fearful, a bit like during the Cold War?
We cannot go back and buy from Russia, and the Middle East and North Africa are uncertain. If nothing else, it’s probably best not to anger the USA before we have replenished our LNG reserves by autumn, because if the Red Sea closes again or if a ship is sunk in the Suez Canal, it will be difficult with imports from the east.
My guess is that in the future, Europe will do as we are told, even though we will try to resolve the Ukraine conflict in a way that benefits us.
If we completely yield to the USA and throw Ukraine under the bus because we have shut down our own production, you will hear about it from me for many years to come.
I remember “sell USA” last autumn, how my dollar salary plummeted through 2024-2025 (up to +20% at worst against SEK). Interest rates in the USA started to rise, and then there was poor interest in US government debt because “everyone will dump it.”
This is probably also part of the overall game because the dollar is currently strengthening significantly, and everyone probably wants to buy US government debt again – an old truth that everyone rushes to the safety of the USD in times of crisis, which has proven to be true.
Warren Buffet has his liquid assets in Japanese yen, I wonder if he has reversed them?
In any case, he was not aware of the overall plan.
What will happen to China’s desire to sell off its dollar hoard if no one sells oil and LNG to them in a currency other than the dollar?
We can probably assume that this question is bouncing off the walls in the Chinese meeting rooms right now, where representatives of power sit red-faced and sip their tea spiked with Muay Thai.
Have we reached the goal now – is the USA done with its global “smash-and-grab” coup and can the world return to normal?
First of all, China tried to take advantage of bringing down the USA from the throne because they thought the USA was weak, and this will probably continue as long as China wants it to or they are forced to give up.
Until the turn of 2025/2026, Russia, Iran, and China were responsible for the global escalation before the USA got involved. We were mostly annoyed that the USA didn’t do enough.
China has realized that their technological platform is inferior, they know they have the quantity, and they have had a long purge in the military leadership, but I don’t know if it’s hawks or doves who have been sent to re-education camps.
But I know that throughout the 20th century, China was not far behind the Soviet Union in mass murdering its citizens, and what we have seen of China is a Potemkin facade they want to show outwardly.
Just hearing about their 200,000 to 800,000 strong fleet of fishing vessels that just roam around and vacuum the world’s oceans of fish makes you understand that they are more ruthless than the USA if given the chance. They enter weak countries’ territorial waters, completely deplete their fish stocks, and drag nets across the seabed, destroying all marine life. They recently vacuumed Galapagos.
Or that China accounts for 1/3 of all CO2 emissions in the world, and the largest share of the increase as a single country, just that alone should make Europe’s environmental movements forget the last hydroelectric power plant they haven’t managed to shut down with us yet and direct their anger towards them, which is not done.
Or China’s social experiment with the Uighur minority where they are placed in camps and women are sterilized or impregnated with majority Chinese to try to eradicate the minority group.
I can imagine that China is feeling extremely cornered right now and trying to find a way forward. It’s not just a “multipolar world order” at stake but the entire “Chinese miracle.”
The USA has now risen and steps 2-26 ahead will be to start regaining control over continents, constellations, and countries. American companies and finance are just waiting to once again become number 1 in all tenders instead of Chinese companies.
In order for American companies to achieve this, the world needs to stop buying Chinese products or selling to China because the market is finite.
And if the world stops trading with China, unemployment spreads among the 1.4 billion Chinese who have shown a great ability to express their anger towards the authorities in the past, but also tend to storm banks or mortgage institutions that have behaved poorly and lynched the executives.
The USA is probably not done with China at all, that’s my guess.
It is rumored that Japan’s crash in the 90s is still struggling today by design, and that the USA, Germany, and the UK joined forces – I don’t know.
What I do believe is that we will soon experience a financial crisis similar to 2008-2009 that will shake the markets and countries significantly.
In 2025 and 2026, I feel that the USA has shaken the markets several times with statements, “trade wars,” and then we had January 29, 2026, where everything went down simultaneously and very sharply.
Right now, I sense the markets are worried, and at some point, it will crack, the stock exchanges will drop by 30%, and then another 30% over half a year, leaving everyone exposed.
The strategy for ongoing losses or sour deals is to try to roll them over to the next year and avoid addressing the problem until necessary. Only companies that have been mismanaged urgently go under before the credit dries up, but no one outside the boardrooms and the bribed auditors knows how bad the situation is at different companies until they run out of funds.
In an acute financial crisis, all problems come to the surface, and it’s also an opportunity to air all sorts of other things because now there is something to blame – similar to when my bosses used to leave early in my career, and I could blame all problems on them for three months.
In 2008, the PIIGS countries suffered and could no longer survive in the free market, so the IMF took over lending to them, which ultimately meant that much of the infrastructure they had built up over decades was sold off at bargain prices.
What citizens in the country experienced was unemployment, inflation, crying colleagues, soaring interest rates, and impossible to sell their house.
Exactly as politicians experienced it, the country then had a creditor who offered to buy your ports for 25% of the pre-crisis value if you also received a large loan that the country needed along with a bribe to you as a decision-maker – all winners according to the IMF, and the decisive politician received a medal from the king.
The PIIGS countries ended up in their acute crisis because their manufacturing could be copied by China, so their exports eroded over time. When the acute phase of the crisis hit, no one wanted to lend them the money they needed because they had long been trying to push the problems forward by living on loans. Interest rates were 25%-30% before the IMF intervened and put a block on the country until it calmed down.
Which region will become the PIIGS2026 is a question that I believe is very important, it should be the USA I feel, considering that their petrodollar was on the verge of being lost, the AI bubble burst, and “Sell USA” has started, but just like in 2008-2009, the likelihood then should be high that they will try to export the problem to someone else?
Since the USA is pressing all buttons at once, both the bomb button and the sell button, and are very stressed, I have the distinct feeling that they are doing just that – trying to pass the ball to someone else.
Will it be Europe or China?
China managed somewhat well during 2008-2009 while we got the PIIGS.
Today, the whole of Europe is like the PIIGS were, that China can copy all our export products and sell them at slightly lower quality but much cheaper?
In addition, we have over 90% of LNG and oil imported to the EU (since Norway is outside the EU).
Now that we have the EU, we have both national government debts, which apparently average over 80% in the EU, and then the EU has a federal debt – but we also have the EUR, which is 20% of reserves against USD -80% and Yuan 3%.
Today, the EU is light years ahead of the EU in 2008 – we cooperate much more.
I think the answer is very simple – whoever gets into an open conflict first will suffer, either it will be the EU if Russia enters the Baltic states or China against the USA.
The markets are so hysterical now that the flight to safety that follows is unmanageable.
The USA also has the ability to directly influence developments through statements, military blockades, or declarations of war. Against Europe, they still need to follow certain rules, but if we were to be without LNG this winter, we would be in a very bad position.
The USA has control over who will be the big loser in this financial crisis – does that seem likely?
Could it be possible that the USA wants both a crashed China they can buy up at bargain prices and a weak and scared Europe that is compliant and buys security from the USA at five times the market price?
Just as the USA has treated Russia since 2022, there is a certain risk that this is the case, BUT it would mean that the USA does not believe it needs Europe’s wholehearted support in an upcoming war with China.
Or is it as simple as the USA, by hastening in 2025-2026, has moved the pieces so that China will economically implode without it turning into a world war?
With some certainty, we can assume that the USA perceives China as such a big threat that they are not interested in coexisting with China on the podium because they believe that China will push them down if given the opportunity.
The USA, just like the bank, is not your friend and does what is good for them – does that sound right?
Don't forget to donate, Ukraine's cause is ours! Support Ukraine!
Thank you for a third post this week! Looking forward to reading
The offensive continues to fade, it still pulsates, but the peak was last week.
Focus on Pokrovsk, Kostantinivka and Huliaipole, where the situation is tense, especially in the first mentioned area.
N Slobozhansky-Kursk 0↘️
S Slobozhansky 2
Kupyansk 1↗️
Lyman 8💥
Slovyansk 4↘️
Kramatorsk 0
Kostjantynivka 23💥↗️
Pokrovsk 42💥💥
Oleksandrivskij 10💥↗️
Huliaipole 22💥↗️
Orikhivsk 3
Prydniprovskij/Dnipro 0
Sum sectors 115↗️
Unlocalized 35↘️
Total 150↘️
👍 It would be nice if Russia’s offensive has already stalled, but I will wait a while longer before I can really trust it, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Now the Russians have gone on the offensive early in the year before, but then there was, among other things, a full focus on Bachmut and warfare in cities is not as sensitive to poor ground conditions.
Russian losses in Ukraine 2026-03-27
SLAVA UKRAINI
Thank you for today’s yellow wall!
Aren’t you exaggerating the dollar currency reserves a bit? It’s well below 60% from what I’ve seen?
The BRICS currency doesn’t exist at all and is unlikely to become a reality for many years. However, BRICS is doing everything to simplify trade between member countries, and the YUAN is what China is striving to dominate.
It is true that the USA is not our friend, but if they are really doing what is good for them (right now), we may not find out until later. I am actually skeptical.
When it comes to oil, it’s not so easy for the USA to increase exports. The USA struggles to get its oil onto the world market, often resulting in local surpluses, which is one of the reasons why WTI oil is cheaper than Brent, despite Brent actually having higher shipping costs.
Currently, the USA is exporting a lot, but they are also importing a lot. This is because many of their refineries are adapted for heavier oil than what is produced in the USA. However, they have difficulty getting their oil out and cannot scale up easily. Fracking means they constantly have to open new wells, making transportation a bottleneck even though they are trying to address it by building pipelines to the larger fields, but this is one of the reasons.
In any case, the USA cannot rapidly increase its exports on a large scale, and if they export more, it will lead to higher prices in the USA and further increase gasoline prices.
Therefore, the war in Iran is not an ideal situation for the USA when it comes to oil. Certainly, some of their oil companies may earn a little extra if they can boost capacity, but for the US economy and consumers, they will be hit just as hard as the rest of the world (maybe even a bit worse, as a slight increase in exports actually leads to even higher prices, so they are doubly affected).
So far, it doesn’t seem like the USA is acting in its best interest in the war against Iran. Of course, it depends on how it ends, but for now, it seems to be the opposite.
I believe as you do. Krasnov is impulsive and does most things in the heat of the moment. Then there are forces behind with their various agendas.
HSB repeated like a mantra in the 90s that “He who is in debt is not free.”
Several European countries are indeed heavily indebted, but so is the federal USA. When Japanese banks started selling US Treasury bonds, it had an immediate effect on interest rates and, as if by magic, an agreement on a trade deal was also reached. The EU and the UK are major lenders to the USA, and it may be appropriate to bring this up.
https://youtu.be/I0djvtzSwS8?is=cvmq5mraV3DG5WoK
AFU reports:
“Russian President Vladimir Putin is asking the country’s oligarchs to donate money to be used for the Russian military efforts in Ukraine, sources told the Financial Times and the Russian independent outlet The Bell. The President is said to have met with some of the country’s leading businessmen on Thursday, according to the reports.
During the meeting, Putin is said to have emphasized that Russia will continue to attack Ukraine until the country has full control over Donbas. The military campaign is taking a toll on the Russian economy, and according to the FT, the Kremlin has implemented several measures to be able to use the money from major corporations for the war.
The Russian economy is also being affected by a significant decrease in income from energy exports. Reuters has previously reported that the regime is considering major cuts due to the strained situation.”
🇮🇷❗️🇺🇸 Iran has heavily damaged multiple U.S. military bases in the Middle East, forcing many American troops to leave and operate from hotels and temporary locations, – NYT Key bases in Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have been hit, with casualties and damaged equipment.”
Iran
Reported already yesterday evening, but repeating in case someone missed it.
“Donald Trump postpones attacks on Iran’s energy facilities by ten days until April 6. He writes this on Truth Social and adds that the move is at the ‘request of the Iranian government’.
More precisely, the deadline is extended to 8:00 p.m. US Eastern Time or 2:00 a.m. on April 7 Swedish time.
‘The talks are ongoing and despite false claims to the contrary from the Fake News media and others, they are going very well,’ writes Trump.
Oil prices have slightly declined after the post.” https://omni.se/trump-skjuter-upp-attacker-igen/a/K88jp7
“US President Donald Trump is considering sending an additional 10,000 soldiers to the Middle East in connection with the war against Iran, sources tell the Wall Street Journal and Axios.
The administration has already sent thousands of soldiers to the region and according to WSJ, the new figure would mean that at least 15,000 American soldiers have been ordered to the conflict area in recent weeks.
The purpose of the reinforcement is said to be to provide Trump with more military options against Iran. Axios writes that more soldiers in the region would signal that the US is seriously considering a ground operation in Iran.”
https://omni.se/kallor-trump-kan-skicka-10000-till-mellanostern/a/2ppmaa
“The USA will soon offer insurance and escort for oil and gas tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, with the aim of increasing passage through the strait. This is according to the American Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, as reported by Bloomberg.
Three weeks ago, Donald Trump made a similar statement on Truth Social but there is still no evidence that ships have managed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz with American assistance.
The Strait of Hormuz has been essentially closed since the USA and Israel started the war against Iran on February 28. This has led to higher oil prices, as a fifth of the world’s oil usually passes through the strait.
Bessent also claims that the traffic through the strait has started to increase and will continue to increase in the coming days.”
https://omni.se/bessent-ska-snart-eskortera-fartyg-genom-hormuzsundet/a/5ppR6b
“Iran will allow a total of ten oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. That’s what Donald Trump said during a government meeting according to AFP.
This is the ”very big present” that is ”worth a tremendous amount of money” that the president talked about earlier this week.
He says that Iran’s move is a sign of goodwill ahead of potential peace talks.”
https://omni.se/trump-presenten-ar-10-skepp-genom-hormuz/a/GxxB8x
“Iran warns that it will attack hotels in the Middle East where American soldiers are staying. Military spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi says on state TV that hotels with Americans will be a legitimate target in the war, AFP reports.
‘Should we just sit still and let the Americans attack us? We must of course strike where they are,’ he says.
State media reports that Iran has sent ‘sharp warnings’ to hotels in, among others, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
Over 3,000 people have been killed since the US and Israel attacked Iran, including over 1,400 civilians, according to the US-based human rights organization HRANA.”
https://omni.se/iran-vi-attackerar-hotell-om-det-bor-amerikaner-dar/a/7ppRq4
I like the feeling here in my plastic bathtub, and in a very humid Abu Dhabi, the sense is that Trump is buying time, I agree with Johan in his yellow wall that “boots on the ground” simply must be what’s happening. Anyway, I don’t think the USA would send the 82nd airborne if it’s not a serious situation, but maybe the US needs to get some more intel and people on the ground before he can proceed, what I guess, Khargön.
On the other hand, we have Trump at one end and Iran at the other, and it’s still unclear who lies the most, Trump just says what he feels, and I think it just gets worse and worse.
But well, I’ll pull up the blanket a bit higher and await Iran’s response to the latest summit in Iran that was sent to the rare hunting grounds.
But regardless of everything, everything is still good here in Abu Dhabi, despite the floods.
Thanks for the yellow walls today Johan, very good and interesting. 👍
Great to hear that the situation is stable! 👍
Oh, are there floods there now? You should put sails on the bathtub and sail around!
It could certainly end up with ground troops, it will be difficult to win for real otherwise, although it also feels like it could just as well end up with a withdrawal if the smallest possible agreement can be reached with Iran.
Iran, of course, also comes with conflicting information, although not at the same high pace as Trump. 😄
Ukrainian force on site – reinforcing USA’s air defense
The mission is to protect the USA and allied countries against Iranian drone attacks.
“Ukraine downed or suppressed 93 of 102 drones launched by Russia overnight, including about 60 Shahed UAVs, with 9 strikes hitting 8 locations and debris reported at 4 sites.”
https://bsky.app/profile/noelreports.com/post/3mhznhd6xpc2x
Considering the movies and images one has seen, one almost thought there wouldn’t be a single tank left.
(Film in the link).
“🔥 First satellite images of the port of Ust Luga after the attack”
https://bsky.app/profile/maks23.bsky.social/post/3mhznbdza4s2e
“❗️Overnight, 🇺🇦Ukrainian kamikaze drones (similar to Shahed) repeatedly attacked two 🇷🇺Russian ports — Ust-Luga and Primorsk — in the Leningrad region. These are two key Russian ports on the Baltic Sea, through which approximately half of Russia’s oil export volume is shipped.”
https://bsky.app/profile/militarynewsua.bsky.social/post/3mhzl3tgngc2n
“❗️View of the fire at the 🇷🇺Ust-Luga port from 🇪🇪Estonia last night after the attack.” https://bsky.app/profile/militarynewsua.bsky.social/post/3mhzmkh56ck2n
“❗️At night, drones attacked the Apatit chemical plant in 🇷🇺Cherepovets. The governor confirmed that 8 drones struck the facility. It is one of the largest producers of phosphorus-containing fertilizers, phosphoric acid, and sulfuric acid in Europe.”
https://bsky.app/profile/militarynewsua.bsky.social/post/3mhzl7uwhxk2n
“💥 Ukraine destroyed a gas station in occupied Vasylivka, Zaporizhia region.”
https://bsky.app/profile/igorsushko.bsky.social/post/3mhze3327ks2w
Now damn it ✊✊💥😡
⚡️Russia auctions off gold deposit in occupied Luhansk. Russia is auctioning off natural resource assets in occupied Ukrainian territories, including a gold deposit in Luhansk Oblast, Reuters reported on March 26, citing auction documents.
Who buys?
A bit more about the refinery that 205 already reported on in yesterday morning’s thread (and a reminder to Johan to add it to the list).
“💥 Russia: At least 7 oil reservoirs damaged at the Kirishi Oil Refinery in last night’s Ukrainian drone strikes.”
https://bsky.app/profile/igorsushko.bsky.social/post/3mhzbtlq7kk2w
“💥 Russia: Ukraine appears to have struck the Kirishi Oil Refinery complex in Leningrad region, 100km southeast of St. Petersburg. No photos/videos available at this time.”
https://bsky.app/profile/igorsushko.bsky.social/post/3mhwpl5fppc2n
Thank you, saw it yesterday and uploaded it 👍
It’s fortunate to be retired. As 205 points out above, this is the third “yellow wall” this week. Sometimes compare Johan’s posts with the former sports editor and columnist of Kvällsposten, Birger Buhre. The best sports journalist in the Swedish press. His columns were magnificent, well-written, and interesting even if you didn’t always agree with him. We used to joke a bit about Birger B. If he had a column in the newspaper, you had to take half a day off to have time to read it. It’s probably the same with Johan’s posts too. But I probably stand on MXT’s side regarding the USA. Trump probably wants to do the best for the USA (and himself personally), but the result turns out the opposite.
Alltså tack för gul vägg👍👍👍
Haha, yes Birger is a good friend 👍👍
Nuclear Power
Then it’s time to get started!
“Large power lines are required to operate a nuclear power plant, and it takes time to install such lines – up to 15 years. That’s according to Eon’s chief of regional networks, Mats Tullgren, speaking to TT.
He says that there are no existing lines for all the new nuclear power plants planned, so they should be built as close to existing main lines as possible. Otherwise, he says, it’s like building a train station without any railway.
– The permitting process is lengthy.
Daniel Gustafsson, responsible for network planning at Svenska Kraftnät, says that new main lines can be built in eight years “if everything goes really well”.”
https://omni.se/ny-karnkraft-kraver-nya-elledningar-kan-ta-15-ar/a/OkkW6l
So, I don’t want to go on a long rant about Sweden and the time it takes for all the permits needed for absolutely everything. This clearly seems to be a “western” thing where everything requires permits that take several years to obtain.
It’s interesting to see how it works when you can skip permits and public procurement, like the repair of E6 after the landslide, where there was a serious problem, it was resolved quickly and efficiently, and I find it difficult to see that it in any way got worse because of it 🤷♂️
We need to improve the power grid and distribution in Sweden, just solve the problem, it’s about critical infrastructure.
The hurricane “Gudrun” is a good example of how Sweden can be effective if one decides to solve a problem quickly.
How they quickly managed to take care of all the storm-felled forest with the help of timber trucks from all over Europe, temporary loading sites for the railway, and shipping ports around the west and east coasts is a good example of things moving swiftly.
I was personally involved a lot in the transportation. A big salute to the King who flew down to the worst affected area in Småland and instilled hope in the forest owners who saw their forest and savings “go up in smoke”. Many said afterwards that the King’s presence had a great impact on those affected.
Gudrun is a textbook example of how Sweden solves problems in a crisis situation.
I would also like to mention the fire at Hässleholm Central. Everyone knows that Hässleholm is a hub and the accident had major consequences for passenger and freight trains throughout southern Sweden. Even Swedish exports via the Bridge, the railway ferries from Ystad and Trelleborg were affected.
Here, the Swedish Transport Administration made a huge effort. The staff worked night and day in three shifts. The traffic resumed much earlier than feared. That’s what can happen when you make a decision. Or as Jockesoft writes: Just solve the problem!
We can if we want to, or have to! 👍
The timber storage in Byholma (which had been a military airbase) became a world attraction. Even people from Australia visited the site.
14 years permit 1 year to build?
Now, however, the opposition has been clear that if they win, it will be completely scrapped, so possibly no-go at all on that
However, the current government is smart and has reversed the decision-making process, now the government decision is the first thing that happens in your application. The political risk is gone. Then the next government has been tied up by economically compensating if they were to sabotage already approved constructions.
Off-Topic, USA
Good that there is someone putting a stop to it.
We’ll see if it goes further to the Supreme Court. Catastrophic if the president can arbitrarily classify companies as security risks just because they disagree, or refuse to agree to anything. Especially not with a president who has powerful friends in several industries that contribute large sums of money to him and who in exchange can easily influence him to help clear away competitors. Trump is corrupt enough already.
“A judge in San Francisco puts a pause on Donald Trump’s decision to classify the AI company Anthropic as a national security risk, according to American media.
Such a label has never been issued against an American company before. It happened after the AI company refused to give the Pentagon free rein to the company’s AI tools out of concern for how they would be used.
Trump’s countermove was an “illegal” reprisal that violates the constitution, writes Judge Rita Lin in her ruling. She believes that everything indicates that the company is being punished for publicly criticizing the government.
“Nothing in the law supports the Orwellian notion that an American company can be labeled as a potential opponent and saboteur of the USA for expressing disagreement with the government,” Rita Lin writes according to the New York Times.”
https://omni.se/domare-pausar-presidentens-bestraffning-av-anthropic/a/2ppqGB
This is a proposal that comes from two senators, one Democrat and one Republican. Of course, it is important that they also receive support for it. Trump, who likes Hungary, will probably do what he can to stop it, but it is a good (and unexpected) initiative.
“❗️The United States is preparing sanctions against Hungarian officials for blocking aid to Ukraine. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat) and Thom Tillis (Republican) will introduce the Block Putin Act, which provides for financial sanctions and visa bans for Hungarian government officials involved in obstructing aid to Kyiv and in the purchase of Russian oil and gas.
The decision on specific names will be made by the US administration. The bill was introduced due to Orbán blocking an EU loan for Ukraine worth €90 billion.”
https://bsky.app/profile/militarynewsua.bsky.social/post/3mhzpsorqkc2n
https://www.ft.com/content/35cdef61-af5d-454e-89ef-27a5ad85b022?syn-25a6b1a6=1
“❗️Ukraine and Saudi Arabia have signed an agreement on defense cooperation, – Zelenskyy. A document has been signed that lays the foundation for future contracts, technological cooperation, and investments, and strengthens Ukraine’s international role as a security donor: “We are ready to share our expertise and our systems. And Saudi Arabia has what Ukraine is interested in. This cooperation can be mutually beneficial.””
https://bsky.app/profile/militarynewsua.bsky.social/post/3mhzqmh7fgs2n
“🇺🇦🇸🇦 Zelensky: We have reached an important Arrangement on defense cooperation. The document was signed ahead of our meeting with Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. It lays the foundation for future contracts, technological cooperation, and investment.
We are ready to share our expertise and systems with Saudi Arabia and to work together to strengthen the protection of lives. Saudi Arabia also has capabilities that are of interest to Ukraine, and this cooperation can be mutually beneficial.”
https://bsky.app/profile/maks23.bsky.social/post/3mhzqmbg4q22h“
NASA fire maps show active fires at the Ust-Luga and Primorsk oil terminals in Russia’s Leningrad region.
They were bombed again last night
A “double tap” with a significant delay!
“The queue for the Kerch Bridge from the Kerch side The bridge has been closed for the second time in a day. Z-pages are writing about the missile threat from Storm Shadow.”
https://bsky.app/profile/beefeaterfella.bsky.social/post/3mhzrabogpc2w
USA. Believes that finding a balance is difficult. They do not want to upset the Europeans to the point where the relationships completely crash. At the same time, the USA is trying, as you describe, to bring Europe under American influence. The actions of supporting Orban and others can best be described as anti-EU and may be an attempt to paralyze Europe.
Antidote? There is probably a really good antidote, and that is for Europe to start acting in what is good for Europe. Not to be blinded by what the USA does and wants. We need to scrap the system that paralyzes EU action and makes it sensitive to saboteurs like Orban. Act economically (we already have free trade agreements with several countries in South America and India. Forget about what the USA thinks and send suitable forces into Ukraine, act as if the USA has left, and if there is anyone who can mock the US peacemakers, it is statements from European leaders. Ignore if the USA wants to strengthen the dollar. Instead, follow up the aforementioned trade agreements with a link to the Euro.
Oil? We have Norway’s, there are countries in Africa, and the Arctic is still untapped. Ignore what the other members of the Arctic Council think and send expeditions to extract oil and minerals reinforced by European naval forces. Moreover, after all, several countries are far ahead in alternative forms of energy, for example, Denmark has more or less made itself self-sufficient since the oil crisis of the 1970s. Maybe we can manage with Norwegian oil.
Yes, I have completely omitted Europe in the discussion.
We do not deploy troops in the Baltics so far, we have shown zero strength.
We have just approved the trade agreement with the USA, by the way.
Trump believes that the strait is open, it just takes a little courage to drive through there.
“Shipping to, from ports of US-Israeli allies prohibited, state media cites Iran’s IRGC
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Friday that shipping “to and from ports of allies and supporters of the Israeli-American enemies” is prohibited through any corridor or to any destination, Iranian state media reported.
The IRGC added that the Strait of Hormuz is closed and any transit through the waterway will face “harsh measures”.”
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/day-28-iran-us-israel-war-live-updates#blogCard5337985e-915d-4009-9402-5945292481d6
Just burned down ships that listened to Trump and tried
What I’ve been saying all along, you can’t trust Trump!
Wasn’t that kind of the essence of today’s post that you disagreed with a bit above?
I have agreed with you that Trump cannot be trusted ever since you realized it yourself.
More doubtful that he does what is best for the USA!
I agree. It is very doubtful whether Trump has the analytical ability to determine what is best for the USA. However, he seems decent at enriching himself and his family.
Drone over Barksdale – now it’s starting to get going as expected.
Hmm, and burns on American raff….
Now Orban’s gang is starting to send the money abroad – he knows it’s over
They take the city treasury and flee to Russia maybe. After all, Putin did ask for alms.
Hear this – don’t forget that the period when the ground is bearing is just a few weeks away.
offensives are coming from both
Looks a bit rainy in MENA?
Drizzle
Well, a little more than that…
Did the gasoline price not go up a bit too quickly?
the old contracts are still in place
Preem refinery in Lysekil would have been good now
As always, prices go up quickly and down slowly.
Normally, with the first rumor, it rises significantly already the same day, then when the oil price has normalized, it drops in about two weeks to about half of the increase.
Great discussion about whether the UAVs have flown through the Baltics or not to spy on Ust Luga and Primorsk.
It IS significant so how can we clarify this?
One reason is said to be that the oblasts on the way there have not received the warnings – how do we see that?
This will be used against the Balts so it would be good to clarify this now.
Where can one see the Russian drone warning map?
Very fun video with Kärrholm who wants chat control
the reporter asks to see his text messages or whatsapp and Kärrholm says no they are private
Kuwait bombs now – new well?
It drowns in the news that a live(?) pistol was fired according to unconfirmed rumors in Beirut.
😂
Your only comment and contribution to the thread today after three o’clock in the afternoon is toppling the internet with its razor-sharp (*insert any word*).
Almost as good as those who wanted a revolt on substack because I mentioned the Green Party in a non-praising manner or MXT who quickly threw in a post before that day. 👍
Seems like you’re feeling a bit thwarted?
You should read all the comments thanking you for your posts one more time, so you can enjoy Mariestad and resist the urge to gobble up the chips in pure frustration!
🫂
(Contribution 2)
I just want to help make sure all the big news gets attention 😳
Ingratitude is the world’s reward! 🫂
Yes, ingratitude is the world’s reward.
“💥🔥 Attack on Russian S-300 launcher while firing at Kharkiv, – Soniashnyk”
“🇺🇦 AFU are pushing east from Aleksandrograd deep into Donbas, and this is starting to look like real penetration
Not just holding lines anymore, they’re moving INTO contested territory and forcing Russian units to fall back under pressure
When advances go this deep, it puts strain on the whole defensive setup, and Ukraine clearly knows how to exploit that right now”
USA fires cruise missiles at an “alarming” rate
The US military has fired over 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles since the American-Israeli war against Iran began, sources tell the Washington Post. Referring to the total arsenal possibly amounting to 4,500 pieces, others say 3,000, the rate of consumption in such a short time is considered “alarming” according to some officials at the Pentagon.
dn
Saw something about only a few hundred Tomahawks being produced per year, if that’s correct one can understand if they start to get worried.
It’s not just alarming, it’s dangerous for the USA and Europe do not have the production.
If this deterrent capability disappears, it’s an imbalance that can motivate China and Russia.
China has the production and they have built up Russia’s production.
Now I’m going to present a long-sought theory that popped into my head. Russia has a large domestic production of shaheds, and actually doesn’t need Iran anymore, and we know that when Russia can no longer benefit from its allies and it’s time to give something back, it’s time to break off the acquaintance.
Imagine if it’s Putin who has given some “hints” to Trump during their conversations, that Iran’s nuclear weapons program is still intact, that they are planning attacks on Israel, and that China is increasing its influence in the Middle East.
Trump conveyed the info to Netanyahu in capital letters, and the operation was underway.
And Putin managed to shift the West’s focus, raise oil prices, and tie up the USA and their air defense, all by having the person Trump trusts more than his own intelligence service plant an idea in Trump’s mind.
A NATO training scenario in the Baltics took an unexpected turn. The opposing force was only ten Ukrainians.
”Last May, NATO invited 10 Ukrainians to act as an opposing force during Hedgehog 2025, one of NATO’s largest exercises in the Baltics. The Ukrainians successfully simulated the destruction of 17 armored vehicles” and conducted 30 strikes in half a day, effectively neutralizing two NATO battalions before dinner. One observing commander summed up the broader implication in three words: “We are finished.” Ominously, the exercise occurred without American forces.”
— warontherocks
How does the US Marine Corps match this? Do we need to call in Ukraine in the next phase of the war 🇮🇷 ?
Yes, who has the cards???? 😄
Russia, which has the same drone capability as Ukraine?
Approximately, but now it was about NATO, right?
So if the USA doesn’t have the cards, the same applies to Europe presumably?
But yes, the USA + Europe are FOUR YEARS BEHIND a war effort that Ukraine TRIED TO HAND TO US.
Why well historians sort out but so it is.
Now the thread and you are very clear that we would crush Russia in case of war so your comment became a bit interesting.
You know what I think and that when the interceptor orders come, the danger is over – but they are not in place.
What makes you think that the USA can easily crush Iran?
Even though Iran has access to the same drones as Russia?
If Iran stockpiles drones with the help of Russia and China, and hires experienced drone pilots, they just have to wait for the perfect timing.
In case of a potential American landing, they can create a bloodbath that the USA cannot prevent. I believe there are many Russian drone operators who would volunteer to hunt Americans.
Ukraine will make a deal with Trump on their terms, they hold the cards.
MXT,
Response to your comments above.
I took the USD currency reserve from Google AI which suggested 80%, but apparently it responds as you ask so now it became 57%.
Where did I write that the BRIICS currency exists?
If I’m completely honest, I think your aversion to Trump obscures a lot of your analytical ability when it comes to the USA in general, you are not over the line yet to hope that the USA loses the war, but when that line is crossed, I will inform you.
There will be a war with China whether the USA wants it or not, so it is never a consequence of what they are doing now, but what you and everyone else have to choose from are two alternatives –
– the petrodollar is dismantled, no one buys US government debt, US companies do not come first – meaning they are treated like anyone else and lose their top spot.
– the USA ensures to maintain petrodollar status with all the benefits it entails.
How does it look right now – are they on the verge of losing petrodollar status or not?
Which countries still say “sell USA”?
I think you misunderstand what the USA is doing, they don’t need to increase anything in oil volumes to gain the advantage over Europe they now have. Selling more is not the main goal – to whom it is sold and in which currency is what they are interested in. And that’s exactly what the USA achieved.
Europe just approved the trade agreement with the USA – was it to put their foot down?
Half of Europe’s fleet is on its way to Hormuz to assist the USA – was it a tit for tat?
Have we heard anything from China at all?
(the latter may not be entirely correct because a countermove from China will only be seen once we haven’t seen it yet).
If you see it without your blinders, other things they have done fit in – like their double play with Russia, for example.
The final puzzle piece is probably the upcoming financial crisis.
If China goes to war, there will be war, but now Trump confirmed (not entirely reliable) that China’s naval missiles underperformed as reported.
If the USA takes Iran’s “oil”, they will probably become “sitting ducks” because Iran doesn’t have much left to lose.
Step two we have not yet reached is popular uprising – then it’s all over.
But if it doesn’t happen, well then the USA must have a buffer zone in Iran and learn the same lesson Ukraine has had to learn – it could be exciting.
MXT,
I took the USD currency reserve from Google AI which suggested 80%, but apparently it responds as one asks because now it became 57%.
Where did I write that the BRIICS currency exists?
To be completely honest, I believe your aversion to Trump clouds a lot of your analytical ability when it comes to the USA in general. You are not yet crossing the line by hoping that the USA loses the war, but when that line is crossed, I will inform you.
There will be a war with China whether the USA wants it or not, so it is never a consequence of what they are doing now, but what you and everyone else have to choose from are two options –
– the petrodollar is dismantled, no one buys US government debt, US companies are not prioritized – meaning they are treated like anyone else and lose their top spot.
– the USA ensures to maintain petrodollar status with all the benefits it entails.
How does it look right now – are they on the way to losing petrodollar status or not?
Which countries still say “sell USA”?
I think you misunderstand what the USA is doing, they don’t need to increase anything in oil volumes to gain the advantage they now have over Europe. Selling more is not the main goal – it’s who it’s sold to and in which currency they are interested in. And the USA just achieved that.
Europe just approved the trade agreement with the USA – was it to put their foot down?
Half of Europe’s fleet is heading towards Hormuz to assist the USA – was it to take a tough stance?
Have we heard anything from China?
(the latter may not be entirely correct as a countermove from China will only be seen once we haven’t seen it yet).
If you see it without your blinders on, other things fit in – like their double play with Russia, for example.
The final puzzle piece is probably the upcoming financial crisis.
If China goes to war, there will be war, but now Trump confirmed (not entirely reliable) what has been said, that China’s anti-ship missiles underperformed.
Hmm. It was probably expected that Europe would give in, even if Trump might have backed down on his threats, the idea that Central Europeans should freeze in darkness in the winter is more frightening than a bad deal with Trump.
If European participation in the Iran war can shorten the Iran war and speed up a regime change, that’s good, but I fear that Trump wants Europe there to be able to withdraw the USA faster. Then Trump can tell his voters that now the USA has won, the cowards in Europe didn’t come until it was over, and now they have to monitor the peace and keep the Hormuz strait open for all those who are on the USA’s side.
If there are problems later, it’s all Europe’s fault, it was calm when the USA left, and they don’t need to wait for help from the USA, it’s not the USA’s war anymore.
About that’s what I’m thinking too. Trump wants to withdraw and leave the war in Europe’s lap.
Since I spent some time yesterday responding to criticism for unfairly portraying the Green Party without reason, I came across some interesting information about hydropower.
This is happening at the same time as nuclear reactors are being shut down, with the sixth one closing on December 30, 2020, leading to soaring electricity prices in the summer of 2021 and even more so in the winter of 2021/2022 due to higher consumption. Various reasons are usually given for this, all concluding that the closed reactors had nothing to do with the soaring prices, which is interesting in itself.
Hydropower was also under scrutiny, with a national plan to tighten regulations and renew permits at shorter intervals.
The national plan estimated that the loss in electricity production could be limited to 1.5TWh.
I’m not sure what the final decision was, but this is how some circles are thinking, focusing only on planned energy.
Of course, there is more – in Portugal, they have a national fixed (SUPER CHEAP) electricity price, but mainly the government has refused Swedish prices despite being entitled to them.
But I find it very difficult to see the logic behind shutting down 6 nuclear reactors and considering a reduction in hydropower on top of that.
I don’t know where the hydropower that was supposed to be shut down was located geographically, but if it was in Norrland, it probably didn’t matter much.
It’s about restoration fanaticism, just as wetlands are to be restored, watercourses are also to be restored as they were “before.” Probably none of those advocating for the pre-hydropower era were around in the 1930s-1950s, or even before the drainage projects in the 1960s.
Now, they haven’t defined to which time it should be restored, but probably to before human intervention, which for our case would mean a two-kilometer ice sheet in the north and tundra landscape all the way down to Paris, for example. That’s what they’re aiming for.
To shut down fossil-free nuclear power and replace it with fossil gas is such a stupid idea, it could only come from Russia.
It is rather the case that other countries are lagging behind in introducing more electricity price areas. The EU is pushing for more countries to do so, especially Germany, which is facing similar problems as Sweden in terms of production in one region and consumption in another.
I’m starting to worry about Europe and that we won’t be able to resist.
We bent over with Iran and became the USA’s b1tch and are now supposed to protect the Strait of Hormuz, which they could have done themselves.
We have approved the trade agreement and Trump said before that if we want LNG, we have to approve it – just that should have been enough for us not to approve it.
The USA does NOT want Ukraine to win the war in the way Ukraine wants.
Zelensky has recently complained that Europe is not even giving money to Ukraine now and they are starting to run out of money for their war material production.
If this fails again this summer because Europe doesn’t dare to clash with the USA/Russia since we have made ourselves dependent on all sorts of things with 100% imports, then I will be sadder than over Dengamles mockery.
We are not there yet, but when things go too well for Ukraine, Russia will propose a ceasefire and then Europe MUST stand by Ukraine’s side, otherwise there might be a ceasefire and then everything will be wasted.
If we can’t even support our friends who are taking all the hits themselves, then we are nothing, right?
In 1940, the whole of Europe was run over after throwing Poland under the bus, not because we had less material and manpower, on the contrary – we had many more soldiers and more modern and more aircraft and tanks but were outclassed.
A bit like the drone weapon we don’t have today that Ukraine has shown us wins wars because it accounts for 80% of the losses.
This is Europe’s last chance and Trump will use all the pressure he has.
You didn’t agree that WW3 had started MXT but Budanov agreed with me so I’m satisfied 👍
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2026/03/27/8027380/
👍👍
The incursions show that the Baltic states’ air defenses may still be unprepared to tackle modern drone threats and raise questions about whether Russia is deliberately redirecting Ukrainian drones to Western states, or whether the incidents can be chalked up as collateral. With Ukraine striking deep into Russia and targeting the Leningrad Oblast along corridors that pass directly over or near the Baltics in particular, more incidents of the Baltic states inadvertently ending up in the crossfire of the war in Ukraine seem likely.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2026/03/27/ukrainian-drones-hit-all-three-baltic-states-did-russia-redirect-them/
That everyone has acted strangely around the drones is clear, here are some alternative explanations for it.
Now Houti is involved in the war and probably the Red Sea will be closed again?
Exciting with everything being sent from China to Europe.
Johan is keeping an eye on whether MXT reaches or exceeds the limit 🇺🇸 🇮🇷
Maybe I will be the first one to be blocked from the site..😱
I think The Old Man ranks higher on the list.
”🔴 Britain has been forced to borrow a warship from Germany to fulfil its Nato obligations after Sir Keir Starmer sent HMS Dragon to the eastern Mediterranean”
🔗: telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/2…
Swedish Gen. Claesson: I drove 3,000 km across Ukraine and met many military leaders. Main conclusion: Ukraine is tired, but it is not a broken country.
Don’t let one-crisis-at-a-time blind us. Ukraine and the Middle East are happening together — and the constraints are shared. https://x.com/mylovanov/status/2037561024790864094?s=46