Strap in for today’s edition of The Restricted Handling Podcast, where we cut through the noise and bring you the sharpest updates from the frontlines of global security. In this episode, “RH 9.30.25 | Russia, Tomahawks, Drones & Moldova,” we’re breaking down the latest from Europe, Washington, and beyond—with just enough energy to keep it entertaining while we cover some very serious business.
First up: Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz has dropped the hammer, declaring Europe “no longer at peace” with Russia. That’s not diplomatic code—it’s a reality check for NATO and the EU. We’ll talk about Germany’s new troop deployments in Lithuania, the EU’s plan to unlock frozen Russian assets, and what this all means for Europe’s ability to stand tall against Moscow.
Then we pivot to Washington, where the hot-button issue is whether Ukraine gets Tomahawk cruise missiles. These long-range, precision-guided weapons could give Kyiv the ability to strike deep into Russia, even Moscow itself. Vice President JD Vance says Trump is weighing the decision, while Special Envoy Keith Kellogg says the green light’s already on. Meanwhile, the Kremlin is warning, posturing, and threatening to send its own missiles to Venezuela. Is this more bluff than bite? We’ll walk you through the details.
But it’s not just missiles—it’s drones, drones, drones. Russia’s buzzing NATO skies from Norway to Denmark to Romania. Airports shut down, air defenses go up, and Denmark even mobilized hundreds of reservists in secret. NATO responded by deploying the German frigate FGS Hamburg and U.S. P-8 Poseidon sub-hunters to the Baltic. Ukraine, always the innovator under fire, is offering to build a joint regional “air shield” to help allies learn from its own success at shooting down nightly swarms.
And don’t miss what’s happening in Moldova. The pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity just won big in elections, and the Kremlin isn’t happy. Russian-backed politicians are crying fraud, protests are being staged, and the infamous Matryoshka botnet is churning out disinformation at full tilt. It’s classic Moscow playbook: destabilize and delegitimize before Moldova can lock into the EU.
All of this sits against the backdrop of Putin’s latest moves: drafting 135,000 more conscripts, slashing veteran benefits while pumping billions into propaganda, and pushing youth indoctrination programs that look straight out of the Soviet Union. Add in the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant crisis—six days without external power—and you’ve got one of the most volatile security environments Europe has faced in decades.
It’s global security, geopolitics, and military maneuvering—explained with energy, clarity, and just enough punch to keep you hooked. If you want to know what’s really going down, this is the episode you don’t want to miss.
