(Image by NEIVANMADE)
I am home! Special thanks to TaMara, the Great Danes, the cats, and the ducks for the hospitality. I cannot express how appreciative I am of TaMara allowing me to come out, visit, and largely turn off for six days. I have a busy week ahead of me because it is a short week with tomorrow’s Federal holiday, so I’ll try to post some pics of me with the dogs or pics of the ducks as part of this week’s updates. But if I don’t get to them till next weekend, you’ll just have to sit tight.
We’re doing a quick update as I need to go spend time with my own dogs and then rack out.
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
Our troops are advancing, step by step we are moving forward – address by the President of Ukraine
18 June 2023 – 22:31
I wish you health, dear Ukrainians!
This week is coming to an end – a very important week for all of us, for our defense, for our steps forward, for our offensive actions. And it is time to thank all our warriors. Those who have distinguished themselves this week.
The Tavria direction is the toughest. Marines of the 35th separate brigade – thank you! Paratroopers of the “Seventy-ninth” – thank you! The 130th separate reconnaissance separate battalion – thank you! The 68th separate hunting brigade – thank you! The 23rd separate mechanized brigade – thank you! Artillerymen of the 44th brigade – thank you!
I would like to especially mention the company of attack drones of the 47th separate mechanized brigade led by Chief Sergeant Rustam Mustafayev. Thank you for the result, warriors! The crew of the armored demining vehicle of the 70th separate support regiment – Senior Sergeant Mykola Nikandrov and Junior Sergeant Roman Lisin. Well done, guys!
Our National Guard – thank you all! And I would like to particularly mention Senior Sergeant Vasyl Kovylin and Platoon Commander Denys Zeleny, the 4th operational battalion, the 1st presidential brigade of the National Guard. Thank you! The guys are performing tasks in Luhansk region – near Bilohorivka.
Our border guards… I would like to mention the Lutsk and Lviv border guard detachments in particular. Senior Soldier Vasyl Kutsyk, Avdiivka direction, is very effective in repelling attacks. Thank you! Sergeant Vadym Druzhyna, Siversk direction, successfully “subtracts” enemy soldiers and equipment. Thank you!
And of course, our defenders of the sky. Over a week, more than a hundred group air strikes on enemy positions and rear. Thank you, our pilots! Almost three dozen missiles and about fifty attack drones were destroyed in seven days. And I would like to celebrate the defenders of the Kyiv region’s sky, the 96th Kyiv air defense missile brigade of the Air Force… Thank you! All “Kalibrs” and “Kinzhals” were destroyed during these attacks, and thus the lives of our people were saved.
And by the way, I want to say a few things. First of all, no matter who in Russia says that our Patriots have been destroyed, they are still here, they are working, all of them are shooting down Russian missiles. As efficiently as possible. Not a single Patriot has been destroyed!
Secondly, you all saw how the visit of the delegation of African leaders and representatives went – a visit to Ukraine, and then a visit to the terrorist state. The delegation had the opportunity to see who is really interested in peace and who himself embodies war, it was very clear. Everything that was discussed in Ukraine was about the Peace Formula. Point by point. The whole content. Everything that was said in Russia was about war, about how to continue destroying lives. It is obvious that there is no alternative to the Peace Formula. It is good that the world hears and sees this more and more.
Third, as for the terrorist state. Their only concern now should be how to prepare their society, Russian society, to the fact that they will lose everything they are destroying the future of their state for. Russia will lose the occupied territories. There is no and will be no alternative to our steps for de-occupation.
Our troops are advancing, position by position, step by step, we are moving forward
This week, we had Ramstein, and the main thing is the speed of supply. Next week, we will have new important communications with our partners, for the sake of our movement, for the sake of weapons, for the sake of our warriors having everything they need.
I am grateful to everyone who is now in combat, in positions and at combat posts!
I thank everyone who helps!
Glory to Ukraine!
To all men who defend their children's homes, their safe sleep, and their future…
Happy Father’s Day!🎥 @United24media pic.twitter.com/eRgbxeYrmY
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) June 18, 2023
Мій перший день батька в ролі батька) pic.twitter.com/HTzLxfCXf2
— Frodo 🇺🇦 (@OlehBerestovy) June 18, 2023
Here’s the machine translation of the tweet above:
My first father’s day as a father)
A message from the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine:
Thank, you, friends, that you stay with Ukrainian people in this difficult time! Thank for all of you for your prayers and help! Light will win!https://t.co/qIiB2OM5uO pic.twitter.com/FtJnp9gN9y
— Chief Rabbi Of Ukraine Moshe Azman (@RabbiUkraine) June 18, 2023
The US Holocaust Museum has some thoughts on Putin’s anti-Semitic remarks:
Vladimir Putin has repeatedly employed antisemitic lies and distorted the Holocaust to justify his brutal invasion of Ukraine. We condemn his recent remarks denigrating Ukrainian President Zelensky and the Jewish people. https://t.co/62xvucLfnD
— US Holocaust Museum (@HolocaustMuseum) June 17, 2023
The 68th Jaeger Brigade is on the hunt!
A few portraits of the 68 Jaeger Brigade troops who are heavily involved in the counteroffensive. Somewhere in Eastern Ukraine. #Ukraine#counteroffensive pic.twitter.com/m96RYaLtZm
— Paul Conroy (@reflextv) June 18, 2023
Marinka:
#Ukraine The Russian Army sent a T-54/55 VBIED filled with 6 tonnes of TNT at AFU lines near Marinka, Donetsk Oblast.
The attempt failed as the remotely-controlled bomb ran into a mine 100m from the front line, and was then hit by a Ukrainian RPG shot, causing a huge explosion. pic.twitter.com/sXXI57wV7v
— Cᴀʟɪʙʀᴇ Oʙsᴄᴜʀᴀ (@CalibreObscura) June 18, 2023
Ooopsie!
Also, obligatory:
The Kakhovka resevoir:
An updated visual assessment confirms low water level of the Kakhovka Reservoir, specifically in the area surrounding the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and Nikopol. It is evident that the water level in these locations continues to remain consistently low. pic.twitter.com/7htEYW6N4t
— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) June 18, 2023
Rykove, Kherson Oblast:
/2. Rykove, Russian ammunition depot pic.twitter.com/ZUbNdyqzgi
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) June 18, 2023
/4. Consequences of the morning strike on Russian base in Rykovo. Also, according to the source, during the strike, up to 52 Russian servicemen were killed and many were also injured. But there is no confirmation for this yet.https://t.co/lIkcVyv6kY pic.twitter.com/Mp5sWbqsUl
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) June 18, 2023
Russian ammo depo hit in Rykove/Partyzany Kherson region. Great job 🔥 pic.twitter.com/aU0T6FES4g
— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) June 18, 2023
Kherson Oblast:
❗I had never cheated death so many times.
The rashists blew the nova kharkova dam, then actively and knowingly shelled civilians & rescuers on VIDEO for the past 11 days.
Please make sure the world sees this video, tag every news agency/journalist you know. RT/Boost❗#Kherson pic.twitter.com/7tLZNwOZn6— Front Line Kitchen 🇺🇦 (@frontlinekit) June 17, 2023
The rescue operation of Ukrainian citizens surrounded and trapped by water and Russian occupiers on the left bank of the Kherson region. By the Special Security Forces of Ukraine. https://t.co/jarjZA9Nem pic.twitter.com/1DY3gfECjf
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) June 17, 2023
Bilopillia, Sumy Oblast:
4-years-old child and his father, police lieutenant Roman Babenko killed in Bilopillia, Sumy region. They didn’t make it to the shelter when Russian artillery shell killed both.#RussiaIsATerroristState #warcrime pic.twitter.com/c2z6jZNPpU
— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) June 18, 2023
The village of Dovhenke, Kharkiv region, was destroyed by disciples of the "russian world".
The residents all left their homes. The village is deserted, waiting for light and life.
For a brief moment, light returned to this community thanks to the photographer Pavlo Dorohoi.
One… pic.twitter.com/8PF3SFLTp5— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) June 18, 2023
Here’s the rest of the MOD’s tweet:
The village of Dovhenke, Kharkiv region, was destroyed by disciples of the “russian world”. The residents all left their homes. The village is deserted, waiting for light and life. For a brief moment, light returned to this community thanks to the photographer Pavlo Dorohoi. One day, life will surely return.
Yesterday, PoliticoEU published a very powerful column/op-ed by Marian Naiem. Here are some excerpts:
Mariam Naiem is a cultural researcher and writer. She has commented on various aspects of the war for outlets including Al Jazeera, der Spiegel, the Telegraph and others.
“I was rewatching the movie ‘Hunger Games,’ and I couldn’t help but think how it reminds me of my life, our lives as Ukrainians,” a friend wrote to me following yet another night of relentless shelling.
On June 6, a catastrophic event unfolded in Ukraine as the dam in Nova Kakhovka was destroyed. But while some media outlets may refer to this as an “incident,” the ramifications of this event extend far beyond that — it represents an ecological disaster that will haunt the region for decades to come, and it is yet another distressing example of war crimes perpetrated by Russia.
However, the consequences of this tragedy aren’t limited to environmental devastation and violations of international law. For Ukrainians, it has brought forth a profound sense of helplessness, amplifying our realization of injustice and the fragile nature of our allyship with the West and the global community.
Take, for example, the inaction of large human rights organizations and the United Nations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was “shocked” at the lack of support for relief efforts after the disaster. And to add fuel to the fire, the U.N.’s Twitter account celebrated the Russian language on the day of the dam’s destruction, almost as if to convey the message, “Your tragedy is great, but Russian culture is greater.”
“So far, it feels like the world will swallow even an atomic bomb. Because undermining a dam of this size is relatively the same.”
The feeling of futility surrounding our efforts is also reinforced by censorship, through social media’s “unsafe” content policies. These policies, perhaps inadvertently, act as a barrier, limiting the international community’s awareness of the dire situation Ukrainians face every day.
Instagram, for instance, often suppresses content revealing the horrors of the ongoing conflict, or highlighting the perpetrators of violence, leaving users to grapple with frustrating algorithms that prioritize mundane content and relegate urgent pleas for support and justice to obscurity. Meanwhile, in the wake of Elon Musk’s foray into Twitter, an unsettling transformation has taken place, rendering the platform a veritable swamp of bots adorned with coveted blue verification checkmarks, marginalizing ordinary individuals and drowning out their voices in a sea of automated accounts.
Another seemingly subtle but actually far-reaching blow is how Western media’s reporting of the disaster has focused on the uncertainty of who destroyed the dam. Although there is uncertainty, reporting has spotlighted the language of “both sides,” effectively equating the victims and the aggressors, under the guise of false objectivity — all while failing to highlight context and military history. One can deliver objective facts without causing harm to victims of aggression, and this pattern has been another stark reminder that Ukrainians will be doubted as non-objective and biased.
Many Ukrainians now see themselves as unwilling participants in a deadly arena in which a macabre spectacle’s unfolding. To us, it feels as though the world is anticipating yet another tragedy, as if we are simply characters in a dystopian series. Only when faced with a concoction of pandemics, floods, bombings, torture and rape can we receive help and support. And not only this, but we have to repeatedly prove to the audience that we are brave, honest, “civilized” and not wasteful. Prove again and again that no, we are not Nazis — contrary to what Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed. When making a moral case for support, that we are not irrational or too emotional.
It is crucial to emphasize the notable presence of individuals worldwide who express genuine concern for the well-being of Ukrainians, and strongly condemn Russia’s actions. Their unwavering support plays a pivotal role in our ongoing struggle for freedom, each message conveying support an invaluable source of profound gratitude.
More at the link!
That’s enough for tonight!
Your daily Patron!
There’s no new Patron tweets or videos, so here’s some adjacent material from the UAAnimals.Eng Twitter account. Patron partners with the Ukrainian Animals rescue organization.
Chornysh 🐕 was rescued by servicemen. He can't move his hind legs because a fragment is stuck in his back. We evacuated him from Kherson soon after russian destruction of the Kakhovka's HPP. He is in a shelter and will be taken to a vet soon. Fingers crossed he can walk again🤞 pic.twitter.com/aYgDywBQFp
— UAnimals.ENG 🇺🇦 (@UAnimalsENG) June 18, 2023
479 days of full-scale war: we helped 1664 animals in Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Mykolaiv and Kherson. We supported the animals of the Regional Landscape Park "Kramatorsky".
💙PayPal 👉🏻 [email protected]
💛Patreon 👉🏻 https://t.co/cBwIwIgZ7K
Donate now! pic.twitter.com/bSGblflo4N— UAnimals.ENG 🇺🇦 (@UAnimalsENG) June 18, 2023
Inga Sakada, special projects manager at UAnimals, tells a story of an elderly man who had been working Kakhovka’s HPP for 30 years💔
Speaking up about the pain Ukrainian land is experiencing right now is the strength we are capable of. Join #StopEcocideUkraine rallies now! pic.twitter.com/F3vHDy4J8x— UAnimals.ENG 🇺🇦 (@UAnimalsENG) June 16, 2023
We wish every child to be close to their dad. Happy Father's Day! 👶🏼🐣🐯🐱 pic.twitter.com/3hOhIlp3Xp
— UAnimals.ENG 🇺🇦 (@UAnimalsENG) June 18, 2023
Open thread!
Carlo Graziani
Heh. I see what you did there.
Have a restful evening.
Chetan Murthy
A thread by Trent Telenko. He talks about a bunch of things, including something Adam (and G&T) have mentioned: that RU has largely succeeded in convincing the West to frame the entire conflict, the entire *history*, in Russia-friendly terms. Ukraine only exists in terms of its relation to Russia, and Russia’s needs, wants, history, positions, are what matters. Trent talks about this, and about how there are no “good Russian elites” to talk to, b/c they’re complicit in this imperialism.
https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1670579323537899520.html
Some snippets:
Debbie(Aussie)
Thank you Adam. That was difficult.
Adam L Silverman
@Chetan Murthy: Telenko is a 2020 election truther. Which is why I don’t include his stuff in updates.
Chetan Murthy
@Adam L Silverman: oh interesting I did not know that. Thank you for letting me know, I will take more care.
Adam L Silverman
@Chetan Murthy: In the case of this thread I largely agree with him, but.
Alison Rose
That op-ed from Naiem is indeed powerful. Got me choked up for a few reasons. The point about Western media being obsessed with the “who knows who blew the dam” thing…yeah. It gives real “rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic” vibes.
I really like when he speaks so forcefully like this, especially in the wake of the fuckery from the visitors. It’s basically impossible to intimidate a Ukrainian.
I did also like that lovely kaboom in Rykove.
Thank you as always, Adam. Glad you made it home safe.
Chetan Murthy
@Alison Rose: IIRC early in the war, Ms. Naiem wrote a column for one of the newspapers, where she explained that she was an Afghan refugee (or child of refugees, I forget) and grew up in Ukraine. And she talked about how Ukraine accepted her as one of their own.
TheOtherHank
VBIED? Very Big Improvised Explosive Device?
Adam L Silverman
@TheOtherHank: Vehicle Born IED
Chetan Murthy
@Adam L Silverman: I saw a YT vid of the explosion: boy howdy, you can see the pressure wave spread out, just like with thermobaric munitions. Gynormous.
TheOtherHank
@Adam L Silverman:
Thank you for the definition. Yours is correct, but based on the video, I think mine has something going for it as well.
Parfigliano
I still dont get why we let Oligarch children-family set foot in this country for any reason.
Subsole
@Adam L Silverman:
That blast was unreal.
I hope the folks in that trench weren’t too close. Also very, very glad it hit that mine!
I hesitate to ask, but was that thing… How do we know it was remote piloted? I really wouldn’t put it past Russia at tjis point to just send some dudes tokko-charging in.
Adam L Silverman
@TheOtherHank: Either way.
Adam L Silverman
@Subsole: I do not know.
Subsole
@Adam L Silverman:
I mean… that’s nuts.
Just nuts.
Subsole
Also, on a somewhat related note, I really, really wish Joe Rogan and Elon Musk could be forced to go get actual real jobs…Take Bobby’s Stongest Argument for Birth Control, too…
Chetan Murthy
@Parfigliano: For decades we thought that if we treated RU well, they’d eventually become just like us. And even after the Georgia invasion, Obama’s admin continued that delusion, with the “reset”. It was all for naught, but meanwhile rich well-connected RU folks came here, got visas, citizenship, set up businesses, etc. Lots of FSB/SVR/GRU agents among them, lots of oligarchs’ children and nominees.
Ah, well. And now, because “we’re a nation of laws” we can’t fuckin’ kick ’em out.
Jay
@Subsole:
rumour is Chechens,……
Chetan Murthy
@Jay: I find that hard to believe; they never get close to the frontline /s
ETA: and I see no traffic lights in the video.
Mallard Filmore
@Subsole: It was remote operated. The crew jumped out and ran back to their lines.
It reminds me of Argentina pushing bombs out the back door of their airplanes.
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
2 days ago NBC did a fairly long (16 min.) interview between President Zelensky & Richard Engel.I literally just stumbled on it on YouTube by accident. I am stunned, & a little worried that this interview wasn’t better advertised. Or is that just me?
Slightly O.T, but just, the BBC & Dr. Bettany Hughes have just launched a series on the history of Persia/Iran. They usually do good work together.
Citizen Alan
@Chetan Murthy: I blame the Bushies. To a lesser extent, the 90s-era Clintonites, but mainly the Bushies. When the Soviet Union fell, the West had a choice to make. We could do whatever we could to help Russia become a democracy and accept that it might become a Social Democracy in the process. Or would could help Russia to become a capitalist state and accept that it might become a corrupt kleptocracy. The US and the NATO countries chose the latter course, and so here we are.
Chetan Murthy
@Citizen Alan: Ehh, I don’t think it was ever going to become a rule-of-law state, no matter what we did or didn’t do. The men with guns and connections were all crooks, and they intended to keep control. Which they did. Our biggest mistake (which I hope we will not repeat) was not staying hands-off until Russia (or other FSU states) started becoming democracies (as Ukraine, the Baltics, Georgia did) and the helping them with *that* first.
kalakal
@Citizen Alan: Yep. I remember watching in horror at the time, it was so obvious what the result was going to be
Geminid
Yesterday Ukrainian forces made a good hit on a major Russian arms depot in Rykove, southern Kherson Oblast. From German military analyst Tendar:
Rykove is on the rail line connecting Melitopol with a major logistics hub in Crimea. It is also on the M18 highway that runs northeast towards the battle front in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Subsole
@Jay:
@Mallard Filmore:
Thanks both of you.
Crazy that Russia, the artillery people, are using VBIEDs.
Another Scott
ICYMI, … Reuters:
More at the link.
Slava Ukraini!!
Cheers,
Scott.
pieceofpeace
Good to hear you got a good and restful getaway, Adam. Well deserved.
Another Scott
@Alison Rose:
Speaking of the Titanic…
(via Oryx)
:-/
We took a ride on a tourist submarine in Hawaii. Went to 100 feet and sat on the bottom for a few minutes. I wouldn’t want to go any deeper in something run by some tour company…
(The Titanic is 13,000 feet down.)
:-(
Cheers,
Scott.
TooTallTom
Adam, my continued thanks for these updates. I have added several of your frequent Twitter sites as regular places to check for updates, but you continue to provide more information than I can find by myself. In your post, and in comments above, railroads were mentioned. Through previous commentary, you have helped me understand how important railroads are to supply RU forces. Are you expecting a push in a certain direction to disrupt those railroad supply lines?
Feathers
As to Musk parroting Russian talking points, the oligarchs were early and substantial investors in many of Silicon Valley’s largest firms of the 2000s. The Dark Enlightenment may have come naturally to many, but it was also undoubtedly nudged along by Putin’s tastemakers.