Balloon Juice

Heartening News Out of New York (via Jay Kuo)

by WaterGirl| February 16, 20261:36 pm| 28 Comments

This post is in: Democratic Response to Trump 2.0, Dems Fighting Back, Open Threads, Politics

Really heartening news out of New York. (Jay Kuo)

Last night I was asked to speak on behalf of the Human Rights Campaign at the Stonewall National Monument, the site where the modern day LGBTQ+ civil rights movement first began in 1969.

Stonewall is known the world over because it was here that the people of my community, led by trans and drag queen protesters, finally said “no more” to continued police harassment and brutality. Stonewall was a riot that lasted for days, and it marked a turning point from which we have never looked back.

But our fight is far from over.

This week, the federal government ordered the Pride flag to be taken down from the Stonewall National Monument, citing technical reasons for not allowing it to fly. But we all know what this really was: a targeted attack on our community, just as they did earlier by erasing all mention of trans people from the monument’s own website.

Local and state leaders in New York, along with activists, swung into action. On Thursday, they re-raised the Pride flag in a bold act of defiance.

Then yesterday, the White House doubled down, saying it would move to remove it once more.

Congressional lawmakers, including Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Dan Goldman from New York, then stepped up with a bold and welcome response: legislation authorizing and approving the Pride flag as a nationally recognized one. This would allow it to fly in the spot where it most belongs—at Stonewall—no matter the politics or hate coming out of D.C.

I’ve had differences with Sen. Schumer on other matters, but when it comes to our LGBTQ+ community, of which his own daughter is a member, he has been rock solid: pushing through the Respect for Marriage Act, championing the Equality Act, and now introducing this Pride flag recognition along with Rep. Goldman as his House counterpart.

Click the link to see the remarks from Jay Kuo.

Open thread.

Heartening News Out of New York (via Jay Kuo)Post + Comments (28)

This Land Is Made For You and Me

by WaterGirl| February 16, 202611:48 am| 80 Comments

This post is in: Breathtaking Corruption, Breathtaking Criminality and Lawlessness, Justice, Open Threads, Politics

Robert Reich calls it the squalor of the Epstein Class. That’s definitely a word that needs to be used more often these days.

Here’s how Kentucky Republican Congressman Thomas Massie responded on Sunday, during ABC’s “This Week,” to a question about the Trump regime’s handling of the Epstein files:

“This is about the Epstein class …. They’re billionaires who were friends with these people, and that’s what I’m up against in Washington, D.C. Donald Trump told us that even though he had dinner with these kinds of people, in New York City and West Palm Beach, that he would be transparent. But he’s not. He’s still in with the Epstein class. This is the Epstein administration. And they’re attacking me for trying to get these files released.”

The Epstein Class. Not just the people who cavorted with Jeffrey Epstein or the subset who abused young girls. It’s an interconnected world of hugely rich, prominent, entitled, smug, powerful, self-important (mostly) men. Trump is honorary chairman.

Who’s in the Epstein Class?

The Epstein Class isn’t limited to Trump donors. Bill Clinton is a member (1,192times), as is Larry Summers (5,621 times). So are LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman (3,769 times), Prince Andrew (1,821 times), Bill Gates (6,385 times), and Steve Tisch, co-owner of the New York Giants (429 times).

If not politics, then what connects the members of the Epstein Class? It’s not just riches. Some members are not particularly wealthy, but they’re richlyconnected. They trade on their prominence, on whom they know and who will return their phone calls.

They exchange inside tips on stocks, on the movements of currencies, on IPOs, on new tax-avoidance mechanisms. On getting into exclusive clubs, reservations at chic restaurants, lush hotels, exotic travel.

It’s definitely a club, and we are most definitely not members!

Most members of the Epstein Class have seceded into their own small, self-contained world, disconnected from the rest of society. They fly in one other’s private jets. They entertain at one other’s guest houses and villas. Some exchange tips on how to procure certain drugs or kinky sex or valuable works of art. And, of course, how to accumulate more wealth.

Fuck democracy. Peter Thiel don’t need not stinkin’ democracy!

Many don’t particularly believe in democracy; Peter Thiel (recall, he appears2,710 times in the Epstein files) has said he “no longer believes that freedom and democracy are compatible.”

This, to me, is the scariest part.

Many are putting their fortunes into electing people who will do their bidding. Hence, they are politically dangerous.

The Epstein Class is the by-product of an economy that emerged over the last two decades, from which this new elite has siphoned off vast amounts of wealth.

The value of businesses in this new economy isn’t in factories, buildings, or machines. It’s in algorithms, operating systems, standards, brands, and vast, self-reinforcing user networks.

As we learned from Pam Bondi last week, it’s all about the stock prices! That’s not the way most of us live.

Members of the Epstein Class are compensated in shares of stock. As corporate profits have soared, the stock market has roared. As the stock market has roared, the compensation of the Epstein Class has reached the stratosphere.

I thought this was super interesting. Et tu Ro Khanna? Hell hath no fury like the Epstein Class called out with the trust.

When Silicon Valley’s biggest tech proponent in Congress — Rep. Ro Khanna — recently announced his support for a tax on California billionaires, to help fill the void created by Trump’s cuts in Medicare and Medicaid (which, in turn, made way for Trump’s second huge tax cut for the rich), the Epstein Class blew a gasket.

Vinod Khosla, one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent venture capitalists, with a net worth estimated at more than $13 billion (and who’s mentioned 182 times in the Epstein files but is no friend of Trump), called Khanna a “commie comrade.”

He seems nice.

Khosla, by the way, is best known by the public for purchasing 89 acres of California beachfront property in in 2008 for $32.5 million, then trying to block public access to the ocean with a locked gate and signs. Despite losing multiple court rulings, including a 2018 Supreme Court appeal, he carries on with the dispute.

In spite of what the Epstein Class thinks, this land is made for you and me.

This Land Is Made For You and MePost + Comments (80)

Monday Morning Open Thread

by Anne Laurie| February 16, 20267:38 am| 269 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Popular Culture, Proud to Be A Democrat, Republican Stupidity, Show Us on the Doll Where the Invisible Hand Touched You

What a brilliant observation.
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— Anita (@anita1956.bsky.social) February 11, 2026 at 10:24 PM

===

Please keep repeating that we’re in a perfect economy. That will resonate with everyone and ensure election victory.
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— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 11:46 AM

Listening to Trump Admin officials, you’d never guess that the US stock market underperformed the rest of the world in 2025.
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— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 8:16 PM

Donald Trump ran for President saying he would lower costs “on day one.”
What's happened since he took office a year ago? Costs are up, up, up.

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— Elizabeth Warren (@warren.senate.gov) February 15, 2026 at 5:13 PM

Trump can gaslight about a “golden economy” that doesn’t exist, but the American People know the truth: thanks to his stupid tariffs & his Big Ugly Bill, basic necessities have never been more expensive.

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— Rep. Jim McGovern (@repmcgovern.bsky.social) February 14, 2026 at 12:00 PM

show full post on front page

Monday Morning Open ThreadPost + Comments (269)

On The Road – Albatrossity – Some more fishy birds

by WaterGirl| February 16, 20265:00 am| 13 Comments

This post is in: On The Road, Photo Blogging

We are halfway through February and Valentine’s Day has come and gone. Time is so strange these days!

Albatrossity

More piscivores, some of which are dedicated, and some that are merely opportunistic.

Stewart Island, NZDecember 27, 2015

We’ll start off with a couple more cormorants/shags, after introducing some of those last week. This is a Foveaux shag (Leucocarbo stewarti or Mapo in the Maori language). They have a rather restricted range near Stewart Island and the Foveaux Strait (the channel between the South Island and Stewart Island), and number only a thousand or so pairs in the entire population. Click here for larger image.

On The Road – Albatrossity – Some more fishy birdsPost + Comments (13)

Late Night Open Thread: Dream Big

by Anne Laurie| February 16, 20264:13 am| 90 Comments

This post is in: Proud to Be A Democrat

When Ds are back in charge, they have to change everything. No moderate half-measures. Just relentless razing of the corrupt institutions that enriched the worst people in the world and propped up fascism.
A few suggestions…

— Greg Pak (@gregpak.net) February 12, 2026 at 8:38 PM

Mr. Pak is a comics writer, so he’s versed in coming up with big, expansive concepts. Figured I’d share this thread so y’all can discuss further:

Destroy the ability of public equity firms to destroy companies and communities. This seems like a good start: www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/pre…

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— Greg Pak (@gregpak.net) February 12, 2026 at 8:39 PM

Ban Kalshi and sports betting and all that scam trash. It’s corrupting garbage and there’s no reason to let those industries survive.

Cancel all government contracts with Elon Musk and his companies. Shut ’em all down.

Remove all government accounts from X.

Take every Trump cabinet member and official to civil court for damages against the populace. Strip them of all their assets and nationalize their companies. Leave them with nothing but whatever UBI and public health benefits are passed for everyone.

Abolish and defund ICE, of course. Eliminate qualified immunity for all law enforcement, federal and local. Only institute “reforms” that include permanent removal of funding as consequences…

Pack the Supreme Court. Impeach all members who lied under oath during their confirmation hearings.

Tax billionaires out of existence. Break up any company that’s “too big to fail.”

Repeal Citizens United…

Strip US reps and senators from the right to trade on the stock market, invest in crypto, or bet/gamble through any platform other then penny stakes kitchen table poker.

Sunday Night Open Thread

by John Cole| February 15, 20269:50 pm| 50 Comments

This post is in: John Cole Presents "This Fucking Old House"

I am so busy I forgot to put up a post, and I don’t have time to write anything because the new episode of a Knight of the Seven Kingdoms drops in 15 minutes and we are HOOKED to this show it really is as good as the best seasons of GoT. Just the pacing, the story, ending every episode on the right note. Plus with all the big Game of Thrones feel and sound. Just great.

So here is a place if you do not want to talk about the misery going on in Ukraine. It’s so fucking depressing to think about.

Sunday Night Open ThreadPost + Comments (50)

War for Ukraine Day 1,452: Ukraine Faces Another Long Deadly Night

by Adam L Silverman| February 15, 20269:12 pm| 13 Comments

This post is in: Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Military, Open Threads, Russia, Silverman on Security, War, War in Ukraine

(Image by NEIVANMADE)

All of eastern and central Ukraine – just over 2/3rds of the country – is under air raid alert at 3:30 AM local time/8:30 PM EST. While there’s no indication of drone swarms or inbound missiles on the air raid alert map as of now, these countrywide alerts are usually indications that one or both of those are coming.

President Zelenskyy sat for an interview with Politico yesterday.

❗️Zelenskyy: “A great mistake is to allow an aggressor to take anything. I do not want to be the president who repeats the same mistakes.”

“This was a great mistake right at the beginning, from 2014. I can even say it was earlier — when they attacked and occupied part of Georgia,

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— 🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 (@militarynewsua.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 10:23 AM

Zelenskyy to Politico:

“We had Budapest Memorandum, that was just security guarantees.

We gave nuclear weapons, and other different weapons, and a lot of jets, etc. Dozens of jets. And we’ve got security guarantees that our sovereignty will be ours, and we will have independence.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 10:20 AM

At the end, we don’t have such weapons and we don’t have security guarantees, because Russia came and nobody attacked Russia. Nobody saved our independence.”

Moral of the story is you need nukes.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 10:20 AM

Zelenskyy:

Europeans made a lot but didn’t put sanctions on nuclear energy, on Rosatom, on people, on their relatives, their children which live in Europe, in the US, study in the universities of Europe, have real estate in the US.

Fuck away to Russia! Go home!

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 10:44 AM

You don’t respect anybody in the US. You don’t respect rules. You don’t respect democracy. You don’t respect Ukraine, Europe, etc.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 10:44 AM

Here’s the video:

Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.

show full post on front page

There Will Be New Support Packages for Ukraine. The Key Priority Is Missiles for Air Defense, for Protection Against Ballistic Missiles – Address by the President

15 February 2026 – 19:46

Fellow Ukrainians!

I’m already back in Kyiv after two very intense days at the Munich Security Conference. There were many meetings, and most importantly – there will be new support packages for Ukraine. The key priority is missiles for air defense, for protection against ballistic missiles. This has been issue number one throughout this entire winter, as you know. That is why we discussed it in Munich with virtually every leader who can truly help us. Also with Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State. We hope the agreements will work as needed. Air defense is a daily necessity.

Thanks again to Germany – we now have a new strike-drone production line, and we will continue expanding these efforts: joint development, joint production, pan-European programs, and financial instruments. Today, there is no leader in Europe who is not talking about the need for significantly greater European independence, much greater European self-reliance, and much greater autonomous strength for all of Europe. This is now one of the main trends. We are proposing concrete steps, concrete projects that make Europe stronger.

Next week we expect meetings and work aimed at new energy packages. This concerns both recovery after strikes and the necessary equipment. I want to thank everyone who is already helping.

Several more cold days lie ahead, and everyone has already seen how the Russians exploit this. Please take care of yourselves and heed air raid alerts. We are in constant contact with all partners, emphasizing that each such threat, each such risk, only worsens the overall prospects for ending the war.

Trilateral meetings are expected this week. The Ukrainian delegation has the necessary framework for the discussion. Yesterday we coordinated with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Ukraine will always be constructive. The American side knows this. But Ukrainians need to see real progress on security so there’s real trust – trust both in diplomacy and in possible results. Overall, it is precisely the security issue that holds the key to ending the war. Security guarantees for Ukraine are necessary; this is the key priority.

And one more point. We are preparing a new sanctions package targeting Russian individuals who work for the war and put sport at the service of war. The documents are already prepared; this Ukrainian sanctions package should be a signal to others around the world – a signal that one cannot simply turn a blind eye to support for aggression. When Ukrainians at the Olympics are forbidden to even mention the victims of Russian aggression, that is clearly a global rollback of justice. We will restore justice. The sanctions decree will be issued soon.

Glory to Ukraine!

Georgia:

THIS!👇🏻

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 2:45 PM

We are the self declared successor state. Which is why Russia, not Ukrainians & Belarusians, beat the Nazis.

So for that, we are USSR. But when it comes to soviet crimes, we are not the USSR.

Think of it as the Soviet Schroedinger’s Union.

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— Darth Putin (@darthputinkgb.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 11:58 AM

Georgian students and other protesters have gathered in front of the Deda Ena (“Mother Tongue”) monument.

Students have protested daily since Georgian Dream imposed new rules dictating which programs state universities are allowed to offer and how many students they can admit. 1/2

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 6:59 AM

This is an unconstitutional interference in academic independence that risks weakening education and tightening government control over universities.

Day 445 of daily, nationwide protests in Georgia. 2/2

— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 6:59 AM

The US via Moscow:

OTD in 2022 Edward Snowden continued his chain of thoughts about how journalistic credibility was instrumentalized for disinformation.

Your Prez will now explain the various ways it was clear that this was a very stupid thing to say…/

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— Darth Putin (@darthputinkgb.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 8:29 AM

“Questioning official claims without evidence”. Edward appears to have assumed there was no evidence Russia would invade Ukraine. Given invading & taking territory is an invasion, we were in fact debating whether Russia would invade more, not whether we would actually invade in the first place. /

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— Darth Putin (@darthputinkgb.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 8:29 AM

On July 12 2021 your Prez wrote & published 7000 words about how Ukraine should not exist. Linking the Russian troop deployments to this is something that the reasonable people he mentions could do.

Why he was not able/clever enough to do this is a question.

— Darth Putin (@darthputinkgb.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 8:29 AM

On Dec 15 2021 Russia gave list of demands to the USA, limiting NATO allowing new members, banning military support to Ukraine & various other limits on sovereignty of several countries.

Failure to comply would lead to a “military-technical response” from Russia.

— Darth Putin (@darthputinkgb.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 8:29 AM

In this light, we can easily argue that Edward’s either did not know what he was talking about when he suggested claims of an invasion were amplified “without evidence”.

Or he isn’t smart enough to link the facts. Perhaps he really thinks Russia become so large by being peaceful.

— Darth Putin (@darthputinkgb.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 8:29 AM

Prez has never heard anyone explain why exposing how democracies spy on dictatorships that invade people is bad, yet not exposing how dictatorships spy on democracies they threaten to invade is good.

Greenwald disappears into a puff of anti imperialism at the question.

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— Darth Putin (@darthputinkgb.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 12:02 PM

The Munich Security Conference:

Major statements from Munich yesterday:

🇺🇦: Europe needs Ukraine in NATO, Ukraine’s army is strongest in Europe
🇬🇧: Peace is becoming fragile due to warning signs from Russia, Europe must strengthen defence to reduce US dependency
🇩🇪: US actions have damaged NATO

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— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 2:09 AM

Shinjiro Koizumi, the Japanese Minister of Defense in Munich:

More than 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia. And Russia has sent North Korean soldiers to Ukraine. Then they are learning a new way of fighting with drones, AI, and cyberspace, and in all domains with conventional .

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 7:11 AM

weapons. Then getting back to North Korea, we need to think about what they are using it for and who they are using it against. So that’s why I said Ukraine is not a distant problem.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 7:11 AM

Only one thing will determine the war’s outcome: who cracks first – @radek-sikorski.bsky.social

He said Ukrainians are holding, Russia’s economy is cracking, and Putin will not tolerate Ukraine as an independent nation.

That’s why we will never surrender: surrender means the end of Ukraine.

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— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 2:50 AM

Kaja Kallas in Munich:

“The greatest threat Russia presents right now is that it gains more at the negotiation table than it has achieved on the battlefield.”

Exactly. For a year, the USA has been pressuring Ukraine to surrender in a war it hasn’t lost, and those

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 7:17 AM

efforts are likely to intensify before the midterms.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 7:17 AM

Hillary Clinton: “Give the Ukrainians Tomahawks, give them more missiles for their Patriots, allow them to inflict more damage beyond the border into Russia.

That’s when they actually started thinking about coming to the negotiating table—when Ukraine was able to reach targets inside Russia.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 1:15 PM

Apparently, it’s not enough pain for Putin to have hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers killed and injured.

Inflict pain on the refineries, inflict pain on the missile sites—inflict the kind of pain that will actually create the conditions for a better negotiation.”

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 1:15 PM

The Winter Olympics:

Three‑time U.S. champion and 2008 World bronze medalist in figure skating and commentator at the 2026 Olympics Johnny Weir showed his support for Ukraine by wearing a vyshyvanka (traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt).

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM

The vyshyvanka Johnny chose to wear on air was gifted to him by Mykhailo Medunytsia, a skater from Odesa who now lives in the United States and works as a coach at the Johnny Weir Skating Academy.

❤️‍🩹

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM

The US:

Anne Applebaum: “Steve Witkoff has no experience with Russia or diplomacy. I fear he imagines a US-Russia pact where he, his son, Trump’s family or their circle benefit personally

It’s disturbing that American foreign policy conducted not for the US, allies or world peace, but for private interests

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 5:43 PM

Putin knows Trump is vulnerable to such deals – that’s why he keeps suggesting them.

Witkoff and Trump’s entourage behave like Russians: capture the state, use it for personal wealth.”

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 5:43 PM

Back to Ukraine:

“You had a bad week?
In captivity, they have bad years.”

Be the voice of the Ukrainian prisoners of war — russian captivity kills.

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— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 11:11 AM

Yana Shelemba, a Ukrainian MMA fighter from Kharkiv, has become a 3-time European champion by winning the gold medal in the 61.2 kg weight category at the European Championship in Belgrade, Serbia:

“For me, every tournament is not just a competition, but an opportunity to prove

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 12:35 PM

that Ukrainian athletes are strong in spirit and unbreakable. I stepped into each fight thinking about my country, my university, and the people who support me. This gold is our shared victory.”

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 12:35 PM

Russian 2S19 Msta-S 152mm self-propelled gun with an open hatch was found hidden at a Russian base by drone operators of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 5:53 AM

Russia fired around 1,300 drones, 1,200 guided bombs and 50 missiles at Ukraine in a week Zelensky said. Energy remains the main target.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 3:42 AM

Kharkiv:

This is a Russian drone, able to kill dozens at a time with its payload, casually flying over Kharkiv, the second-largest city in Ukraine, today

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 8:05 AM

Kharkiv, day, traffic, and russian drones 🤯

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 8:09 AM

Kyiv:

Patriot air defense system in Kyiv intercepting Russian Iskander ballistic missiles on February 12.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 5:21 AM

Myrnohrad, Donetsk Oblast:

Russia keeps pushing to encircle Myrnograd from the north the 79th Tavria Assault Brigade reports. Ukrainian drone recon spots most groups on approach and takes them out. Small infantry teams remain the occupiers’ only option bleeding manpower fast.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 4:57 AM

Russian state media are scrubbing reports on “capturing southern Myrnograd” despite the Defense Ministry declaring the whole city taken in December. War bloggers increasingly slam commanders for claiming towns too early, pointing to what happened in Kupiansk.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 9:44 AM

Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast:

Ukrainian drone operators from the 425th Skelia Brigade hunted occupiers in Pokrovsk.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 7:55 AM

Kupyansk, Kharkiv Oblast:

Ukrainian fighters sweeping buildings and shelters for Russian occupiers in Kupiansk, Kharkiv region.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 6:29 AM

Moscow, Russia:

Mysterious drones attacking Moscow 👀

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 9:37 AM

Air defenses engaging over Moscow region after alerts were raised across several northern Russian regions.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 9:50 AM

Belgorod Oblast, Russia:

Something interesting happened in russian Belgorod 🔥

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 5:10 PM

Russia’s Belgorod under missile fire again right now with explosions near the thermal power plant.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 2:43 PM

Krasnodar Krai, Russia:

Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed hits on the Tamanneftegaz oil terminal in Krasnodar region and a Pantsir-S1 near Kacha in occupied Crimea. Strikes also targeted an artillery repair unit in Donetsk and troops in Zaporizhzhia.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 6:23 AM

One of Russia’s largest oil export ports, the Port of Taman, was attacked overnight.

The Governor of Krasnodar Krai, confirmed that as a result of a strike by Ukrainian drones, four fuel storage tanks are currently on fire.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 4:44 AM

Overnight drones hit at least two targets in Russia’s Krasnodar region Oko Gora reports. An oil tank caught fire at Temryuk port and a fuel depot near Yurovka was struck. Explosions also heard in Sochi.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 5:07 AM

Bryansk Oblast, Russia:

Bryansk under drone attack with reports of several hits on the Novobryanskaya 750kV substation. The city is without power.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 15, 2026 at 1:18 PM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material.

It’s Caturday, so the dogs of Ukraine know to let the cats eat first. 😸 This is in Sloviansk in the Donetsk region, which is under frequent attack. Putin wants Ukraine to hand over this area, but the Hachiko team is still here helping the pets!

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— Nate Mook (@natemook.bsky.social) February 14, 2026 at 11:04 AM

Open thread!

War for Ukraine Day 1,452: Ukraine Faces Another Long Deadly NightPost + Comments (13)

“A king is only a king if we bow down.” – Rev. William Barber

I’m starting to think Jesus may have made a mistake saving people with no questions asked.

Jack be nimble, jack be quick, hurry up and indict this prick.

Every one of the “Roberts Six” lied to get on the court.

You passed on an opportunity to be offended? What are you even doing here?

Marge, god is saying you’re stupid.

The desire to stay informed is directly at odds with the need to not be constantly enraged.

You know it’s bad when the Project 2025 people have to create training videos on “How To Be Normal”.

So very ready.

The words do not have to be perfect.

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

You are so fucked. Still, I wish you the best of luck.

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

Weird. Rome has an American Pope and America has a Russian President.

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

Fear and negativity are contagious, but so is courage!

I have other things to bitch about but those will have to wait.

Petty moves from a petty man.

Trumpflation is an intolerable hardship for every American, and it’s Trump’s fault.

Just because you believe it, that does not make it true.

🎶 Those boots were made for mockin’ 🎵

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

People really shouldn’t expect the government to help after they watched the GOP drown it in a bathtub.