Buckle up — today’s episode of The Restricted Handling Podcast is a ride through one of the most chaotic 24 hours yet in the Russia-Ukraine saga. From Putin’s latest saber-rattling to Europe’s high-stakes money fight, we’re unpacking every explosive update with the perfect mix of energy, insight, and attitude.

Vladimir Putin just took the stage in Moscow and went full “old-school empire.” He’s reaffirming his war goals — total domination of Ukraine — and promising to “liberate historical lands.” His defense minister backed it up with battlefield bragging that sounds more like wishful thinking than victory math. We’re breaking down what that means for the front lines, why Russia’s war strategy looks more 1916 than 2025, and how their hypersonic weapons flex might be more bluster than breakthrough.

Meanwhile in Brussels, the European Union is in a political knife fight over what to do with more than €210 billion in frozen Russian assets. Should they use Putin’s piggy bank to bankroll Ukraine’s survival? Germany, France, and Poland say yes — “money today or blood tomorrow.” But Belgium’s still holding the cards, fearing it’ll be stuck with Moscow’s legal revenge bill. We’ve got the full story on the “reparations loan” plan, the behind-the-scenes pressure campaign, and how the Kremlin’s cyber thugs are literally trying to intimidate Belgian officials into backing off.

It doesn’t stop there. Russia’s hybrid war machine is buzzing across Europe — from armed “shadow fleet” tankers in the Baltic to spy devices on passenger ferries in France. And on top of that, GRU hackers are back at it, sneaking into Western infrastructure with the digital equivalent of a crowbar and a fake ID. If you thought cyberwarfare was just keyboard drama, think again — this one’s already hitting power grids and transport systems.

Ukraine isn’t standing still either. Kyiv’s long-range drone strikes have smashed oil refineries, depots, and even a tanker deep inside Russian territory. We’ll tell you how Ukraine’s new Flamingo cruise missile — with its 3,000-kilometer range and jet-black finish — is giving Moscow heartburn and how Ukraine’s defense industry is quietly becoming a tech powerhouse.

We’ll also dive into the Miami peace talks (yes, Miami), where Trump’s envoys and Putin’s man are testing how far this “90% done” deal can go before someone flips the table.

From trench warfare to cyber sabotage, oil fires to diplomacy in paradise — this episode has it all.