A Primer on Ukrainian Special Forces: Beyond Joint

"A Primer on Ukrainian Special Forces: Beyond Joint" by Kevin D. Stringer and Taisiia Vivdych examines the evolution, structure, and operations of Ukrainian special operations forces (SOF), highlighting key distinctions from U.S. and NATO models. Tracing their lineage from Soviet spetsnaz to contemporary formations, it analyzes the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces Command (USOFCOM), State Security Service’s Special Operations Center Alfa (SOCA), Rapid Response Corps (KORD), the 10th Separate Operational Response Unit (DOZOR), Foreign Intelligence Service (SZR) units, and the volunteer Kraken Regiment under the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR). Ukrainian SOF are dispersed across military, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies, creating coordination challenges and requiring careful adaptation of security force assistance (SFA) from Western partners. The article details their roles in wartime operations since 2014, including the 2022 full-scale Russian invasion, emphasizing special reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, and urban combat. The analysis highlights the risks of applying Western organizational templates to Ukraine and the opportunities for NATO and U.S. forces to enhance SFA through a holistic understanding of Ukraine’s SOF ecosphere. Lessons from unconventional units like Kraken offer insights for force generation, recruitment, and innovation in allied SOF structures.

Lazy Varenyky for Masnytsia: Quick Cottage Cheese Recipe in 5 Minutes

Easy lazy varenyky recipe for Masnytsia: with cottage cheese, flour, egg yolks and sugar. A perfect traditional dish for the festive week, ready in minutes.

Young artists from the Donetsk region took part in a children's art exhibition

To mark International Happiness Day, the Donetsk Oblast hosted a regional virtual children’s art exhibition titled “And Happiness Lies in the Simple Word ‘Peace,’” organized by the Donetsk Oblast Educational and Methodological Center for Culture with the support of the Donetsk Oblast State Administration

A longtime pro-Putin blogger published a tirade against the Russian president. Now he’s in a psychiatric hospital.

Ilya Remeslo, a longtime pro-Kremlin blogger known for filing complaints against critics of the Russian authorities, made waves in the country this week when he published a Telegram post titled “Five reasons why I stopped supporting Vladimir Putin.” Days later, he was reported to have been hospitalized at a St. Petersburg psychiatric facility. Here’s what we know about Remeslo’s about-face.

Secret Russian airbase near Moscow expands amid military buildup

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Czech drone facility making weapons for Ukraine set on fire, investigation underway

The facility belongs to Czech defense firm LPP Holding, which manufactures AI drones used on the battlefield in Ukraine. The investigation follows reports that a group protesting Israeli weapons claimed responsibility.

Russian Intelligence targets American messaging app users, FBI says

Hackers linked to Russian intelligence have been targeting messaging app accounts of high-profile U.S. users, FBI Director Kash Patel said on March 20.

Lessons from Ukraine - Jamestown

'Narva is Estonia, Russian propaganda wants to divide us': Estonian FM - News - Ansa.it

"Narva is Estonia. Full stop. We see through attempts to divide us. A resilient society is the strongest defence. Estonia has one". Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna wrote this on X today. (ANSA)