Welcome back to The Restricted Handling Podcast! In this episode, we’re diving straight into the storm swirling around Russia, China, North Korea, and the war in Ukraine — and it’s a wild ride.

Putin is in Beijing trying to play statesman, insisting any “peace talks” must happen in Moscow. Kyiv says no way, calling it a trap. Meanwhile, Putin’s standing shoulder to shoulder with Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un at China’s massive military parade, projecting strength like it’s the 1980s Soviet days all over again. Kim promised to do “everything possible” for Moscow, sending troops, shells, and plenty of loyalty. Xi keeps smiling, balancing sanctions risk, while also signing a flashy new gas pipeline deal — the so-called Power of Siberia 2 — that could shift global energy flows for decades.

But the real fireworks aren’t just at parades. Ukraine is striking deep into Russia with swarms of kamikaze drones, crippling refineries and knocking out up to 20% of Moscow’s oil refining capacity. That means rationing, shortages, and gas lines across Russia. Soviet flashbacks are real: queues at the pump, crumbling infrastructure, and a leader who says he’s in control while the cracks keep widening.

Europe isn’t just watching — they’re planning. France and Britain are spearheading a “coalition of the willing” to put troops in postwar Ukraine. Think reassurance forces, rebuilding missions, no-fly zone enforcement, and turning Ukraine into what EU leaders call a “steel porcupine.” The U.S. role? Air defense, ISR, and backing from the skies — Trump has ruled out boots on the ground but made clear America will still be part of the equation.

On the battlefield, Kupiansk has become a propaganda fight, with Russia staging flag videos while Ukraine shreds infiltrators in the grey zone. Russian assaults continue near Pokrovsk and Kostyantynivka, and Moscow just launched another massive drone and missile wave against Ukraine’s energy grid. Poland scrambled F-35s, reminding everyone this war is never far from NATO’s borders.

And let’s not forget the cyber fight. The U.S. State Department just dropped a $10 million bounty on three FSB officers tied to major hacks against energy, nuclear, and telecom sectors. Call them Berserk Bear, Dragonfly, or whatever codename you like — they’re the sharp end of Russia’s digital war.

This episode packs it all: Putin’s stunts, Kim’s loyalty pledge, Xi’s pipeline play, Ukraine’s drone blitz, Europe’s big step, and America’s struggle to lock down a deal. Strap in — this is The Restricted Handling Podcast and today’s intel hits harder than a Shahed swarm.