Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Battle won, war still ongoing.

I’m pretty sure there’s only one Jack Smith.

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

Ah, the different things are different argument.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

Consistently wrong since 2002

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

Nothing worth doing is easy.

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

Let there be snark.

“Squeaker” McCarthy

Republicans want to make it harder to vote and easier for them to cheat.

I didn’t have alien invasion on my 2023 BINGO card.

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

Republicans do not pay their debts.

“That’s what the insurrection act is for!”

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

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

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you don’t.

You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / War for Ukraine Day 512: The Bombardments Continue

War for Ukraine Day 512: The Bombardments Continue

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(Image by NEIVANMADE)

The Russians continued to bombard Odesa last night.

They also opened up on civilian targets in several other cities, which we’ll cover after the jump.

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

 

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

First, I would like to thank everyone who helps our people and our cities overcome the consequences of Russian strikes. Odesa and the region, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Zhytomyr region, Kharkiv… border regions, Donetsk region…

I thank all the rescuers, doctors, nurses, volunteers, police, local authorities… I thank everyone who works for the sake of people and Ukraine. The victims of Russian strikes are being provided with the necessary assistance. Again and again, I thank the employees of our ports and transport infrastructure in general who are doing everything to preserve Ukraine’s export potential and our access to the global economy.

In just four days of this week, since Monday, Russian terrorists have already used almost 70 missiles of various types, almost 90 “Shaheds” against our state, and to a significant extent – against Odesa and Odesa region, Mykolaiv, our other southern cities and communities.

Of course, our warriors managed to shoot down some of the enemy missiles and drones, and I thank each of our defenders of the sky for this… But unfortunately, the capacity of Ukrainian air defense is not yet enough to protect the entire Ukrainian sky… We are working with our partners as actively as possible to obtain additional air defense systems that can provide peace and security to our Odesa and all other cities and communities of our country.

Today I would like to thank several states that have tightened sanctions against Russian entities, various entities that in one way or another help Russia wage this inhuman aggression. I thank the United States, Canada, and the European Union. Hundreds of new sanctions objectives have been successfully implemented. Russia and everyone in this world who dares to help terrorists must feel the ever-increasing sanctions pressure – whether they are individuals, companies or countries.

Today, the National Bank of Ukraine has made an important decision regarding the financial institution operating in our country and owned by Russian oligarchs – they are under sanctions in various jurisdictions… The NSDC sanctions were applied. And now it will be right for the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to immediately consider the relevant proposals of the National Bank of Ukraine and support them in relation to this financial institution. In the interests of depositors, for the sake of financial stability and basic justice.

Today, I also spoke with Prime Minister Shmyhal about another issue that should be considered, in particular, through the prism of justice. Budget expenditures. In times of war like this, the maximum state attention, and therefore state resources, should be spent on defense. This is an obvious thing. And every project that can be implemented at the expense of extra-budgetary resources should be implemented at the expense of extra-budgetary resources. This applies to various areas, including culture. Museums, cultural centers, symbols, TV series – all of this is important, but now there are other priorities. Find extra-budgetary funds. Not state funds. So, I suggested two steps to the Prime Minister. The first is to find extra-budgetary funds for projects that are really needed now. There are people in the world who can help. Second, I asked the Prime Minister to consider replacing the Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.

I would also like to appeal to all local authorities in our country: people should feel that budget resources are used fairly and properly. Everyone understands what we are talking about. Paving stones, city decorations, and fountains can wait till after the victory.

And one more thing.

We continue our work to mobilize the world to protect food security and normal life. Today, for the first time in the history of relations between our countries, I spoke with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, in particular, about Russia’s attempt to destroy our grain exports. Today, about 20 million people in Ethiopia are on the verge of famine. This is one of the most critical situations in the world. Last year, Ukrainian exports saved the lives of at least one million Ethiopians – that’s how much food we managed to send to this country, almost 300 thousand tons. And if it wasn’t for the Russian aggression, we could have saved many more lives and provided much more security. I am confident that this year we can do it – all together, the whole world. No one in the world is interested in allowing Russia to destroy the global food market. And by the way, we have already started preparing for the UN Security Council meeting scheduled for tomorrow, which is dedicated to this very issue, food security. I am grateful to everyone in the world who helps!

Glory to our warriors! Glory to everyone who fights for freedom and human lives!

Glory to Ukraine!

 

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has issued a statement regarding Russia’s announcement that it will treat all civilian vessels sailing towards Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea as military targets. Here is the machine translation into English:

Ministry of Defense of Ukraine ✔
!!️Statement of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

the Russian federation has drastically violated the universal right to free shipping for the whole world and deliberately undermines food security by dooming to the hunger of millions of people.

Openly threatening civilian ships carrying food from Ukrainian ports by firing rockets and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in peaceful cities, deliberately creating a military threat on trade routes, the Kremlin has turned the Black Sea into a danger zone, primarily for Russian ships and ships bound for the Black Sea waters in the direction of the rf seaports and Ukrainian seaports, located in the temporarily occupied Russian territory of Ukraine. Responsibility for all risks lies entirely with the Russian leadership.

The fate of the cruiser « Moscow» proves that the Defense Forces of Ukraine have the necessary means to repel Russian aggression at sea.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine warns that from 00:00 on July 21, 2023, all vessels traveling in the Black Sea waters in the direction of seaports of the Russian Federation and Ukrainian seaports, located in the temporarily occupied Russian territory of Ukraine, can be considered by Ukraine as carrying military cargo with all the relevant risks.

In addition, shipping in the areas of the Northeast Black Sea and the Kerch-Enical Strait of Ukraine is prohibited as dangerous, from 05:00 on July 20, 2023. Relevant navigation information for seafarers has already been published.

Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

Odesa:

May 16: russia attacked Kyiv with Kinzhal missiles while Chinese envoy Li Hui was visiting the Ukrainian capital;
July 19: russia destroyed 60,000 tons of Ukrainian grain, some of which was supposed to have been exported to the PRC;
July 20: the building of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China, located in the middle of a residential area, was damaged as a result of a russian missile and drone attack on Odesa.
A brief chronicle of a friendship with no limits.

Seminivka, Chernihiv:

 

Mykolaiv:

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

And a new video of Patron’s birthday party from his official TikTok!

@patron__dsns

З Днем народження мене! 🥳🎈

♬ As It Was hs – ash

Here is the machine translation of the caption:

Happy birthday to me! 🥳🎈

Open thread!

Reader Interactions

45Comments

  1. 1.

    japa21

    Happy Birthday Patron, and may you have many more.

    I have no further words to say about Putin.

  2. 2.

    Geminid

    I think the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense can back up its threat to Russian shipping. Ukraine definitely has sea drones, like the ones that attacked Sevastopol. The hit on the Kerch Bridge may have been carried out by one that sailed around Crimea. Ukraine also has been developing submersible drones.

    A freighter or tanker is a soft target, and Ukraine just has to score one good hit to drive up shipping insurance rates. One of the many Greek-owned supertankers sailing east to pick up oil from Russian ports would make a good target. Ukraine has already named some of the owners as enablers of Russian terrorism.

  3. 3.

    Bill Arnold

    @Geminid:

    One of the many Greek-owned supertankers sailing east to pick up oil from Russian ports would make a good target.

    Empty, so no major oil spill.

  5. 5.

    Mallard Filmore

    Hi Adam, this YouTube video might tweak your academic interest:
    link: https://youtu.be/65it0Slapwk?t=536
    title: “Record Temperatures in the North Atlantic”

    but the video link above starts at the section “Online Hate Groups Behave like Non-Linear Fluids”

  7. 7.

    Geminid

    @Bill Arnold: Yes, one sailing east to pick up oil, not one sailing west with a load.

    A Ukraining sea drone is not going to do but so much damage to a super tanker anyway. It might not not even slow it down. But insurance companies would jack up rates, and the tanker owners would join the many other “stakeholders” pressing Putin to reenter the Grain Initiative.

    I’d pick on a Greek-owned tanker because Greek shipping companies have made out like bandits hauling Russian oil since this war began. They have skirted EU requirements too. Last January there was a regular oil tanker convention in the Gulf of Latakiia, off the southern Peloponnese coast.They basically were laundering Russian oil by transferring it from tanker to tanker.

  8. 8.

    NutmegAgain

    @BC in Illinois: Well fuck him sideways with a rusty farm implement. Not my electoral district, but a list of these actively anti-Ukraine SOBs in the next congressional contest would be great.

  9. 9.

    trollhattan

    @Geminid: Fuck it. Ukraine hires a crapton of Somali pirates, gives them speedboats, ladders and such, and they hijack the tankers, full. As many as they can.

    I seriously could not believe how they’re able to board gigantic cargo ships underway in the open sea, from tiny surface craft, even after the owners began manning them with armed guards. It’s boggling.

  10. 10.

    trollhattan

    @BC in Illinois: Is that a special-needs way of saying Ukraine forced Russia to invade Ukraine because Russia is so afraid of Ukraine invading Russia?

    Wonder if the check cleared?

  12. 12.

    Alison Rose

    @BC in Illinois: Well, shit, if it’s a war “against russia” then Ukraine has some really bad maps.

    Comer can go fuck himself, ideally with a cactus that’s been dipped in habanero pepper sauce.

    I’m pretty convinced by now that putin doesn’t want to just destroy Ukraine, he wants to destroy literally everything and everyone in the world who isn’t 1) russia, or 2) slurping russia’s ass 24/7. People say that putin can go to hell, but at this point, I doubt Satan wants anything to do with him.

    Thank you as always, Adam.

  13. 13.

    Geminid

    @trollhattan: I think the problem of Somali pirates has abated for some years now. They have probably gone on to other ventures. And they could succeed only because Western navies did not just strafe them from warplanes or helicopters. The ship guards were under strict rules of engagement also. The Russians would not be so reticent.

    And this is not an emergency. It was last November, when Russia suspended the deal and Turkiye backed them down. Then, shipments were only in their tenth week after a hiatus of 5 months. Now Ukraine has been shipping grain and oil seed for over 7 months.

    A prolonged halt would cause a lot of trouble, but I think Putin will rejoin the deal within the next 2 weeks, even without the threat of Somali pirates.

    If Putin doesn’t, there is always Plan B: NATO protection of grain convoys, with Turkiye taking the lead. Erdogan won’t do this yet for political reasons. He wants a resumption of the deal, and I think he’ll get it.

  14. 14.

    Roger Moore

    @trollhattan:

    I seriously could not believe how they’re able to board gigantic cargo ships underway in the open sea, from tiny surface craft, even after the owners began manning them with armed guards. It’s boggling.

    Piracy is an interesting business.  The key is the sailors have very little stake in their employers’ operation.  The pirates just have to cultivate a reputation for treating sailors leniently if they don’t fight back and harshly if they do, and it will be hard for the shippers to get anyone to fight to protect their cargo.

  17. 17.

    Jay

    For those using Nitter as a work around, around the Bird site, many accounts are only showing twits from 2022.

  18. 18.

    Feathers

    The sporting world proves again to be utterly corrupt. The International Gymnastics Federation has voted to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to apply to be allowed to compete in international events as “neutral athletes.” They have been competing under a neutral flag for nearly a decade now, without any change in attitude or doping practices. Or invading Ukraine. Which they did twice, immediately after the Winter Olympics both times.

  22. 22.

    Cameron

    @BC in Illinois: “Let’s lure them in!  That way we’ll have all the depleted uranium shell fragments and unexploded cluster bombs on our own soil!”  A cunning plan indeed!

  23. 23.

    Geminid

    Things are really booming in Crimea! All the more need for the 19 helpful pointers published in Russian media a couple days ago after the strike on the Kerch Bridge. They are for Russian tourists who want to return home by way of the the scenic overland route:

    2. Refuel your car and withdraw cash. Buy plenty of drinking water. [Note: Bandits and soldiers always accept cash!]

    6. On the way you will meet military checkpoints. Do everything the servicemen say. Do not be rude, do not push your rights [see note at 2].

    8. A perfectly smooth road has been built from Crimea to Rostov region.

    9. In Melitopol in the city center you can have a delicious lunch and withdraw cash [see note at 2].

    10. Your way is through Melitopol…then Mariupol and Taganrog. It is 400km, 5 or 6 hour drive.

    13. Do not drive at night.

    14. Insurance policies are not valid there.

    15. The road is safe, but be vigilant all times.

    16. Do not stop outside of checkpoints and rest areas.

    17. Medical assistance can be sought from military and police [see note at 2].

    18. Do not go into fields and forests.

    19. Be polite and calm. Everything is built on mutual trust and patience in the special military operation zone.

     

  24. 24.

    Adam L Silverman

    @japa21: If you have not done so already, please check the email you use to comment here. I sent you a message this AM.

  25. 25.

    Elizabelle

    Happy birthday, Patron.  That is a happening little party. Everyone looks good in the hats.

  26. 26.

    Gin & Tonic

    The russian fascist (and Kremlin-endorsed) pop star Shaman released a new single entitled “Мой бой.” In English, that would be “My struggle.” I’ll leave translations into other languages as an exercise.

  27. 27.

    Another Scott

    KyivIndependent.com:

    Ukraine will receive F-16 fighter jets before the end of the year, John Kirby, US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, said in an interview with Fox News.

    “Most likely, the F-16s will arrive in Ukraine before the end of the year. However, we do not believe that F-16s alone can alter the situation on the battlefield,” Kirby said.

    He added that Ukraine has an immediate need for a greater quantity of artillery munitions.

    A week ago, Lieutenant General Douglas Sims said that conditions for a transfer of F-16s are not “ideal.” He stressed that Russians still have air defense capability, hinting that the number of jets that can arrive will not change the course of the counteroffensive.

    At the Vilnius NATO summit, Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov signed a memorandum with 11 countries outlining the F-16 training terms for Ukrainian pilots.

    […]

    Slava Ukraini!!

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  28. 28.

    Chetan Murthy

    @Another Scott: today on Dennis Davydov’s podcast he mentioned that the company that will conduct the training in Romania for Ukrainian pilots is currently advertising for personnel of all kinds trainers maintainers etc to staff that base.  What a farce, what a shambles.

  29. 29.

    Jinchi

    @Geminid: ​
     One of the many Greek-owned supertankers sailing east to pick up oil from Russian ports would make a good target.

    Ukraine will do itself no favors if it starts targeting 3rd party merchant ships. Save the drones for military targets.

  30. 30.

    Feathers

    @Jay: Apparently there will be some assertion that they are not involved in the war, but what that will be hasn’t been determined. At least in figure skating, there have been many coaches and officials denouncing the idea that the athletes will have to be neutral. Previously they were representing the Russian Olympic Committee. We’ll see if not being able to use the name Russia will make a difference to Putin et al.

  32. 32.

    Carlo Graziani

    In addition, shipping in the areas of the Northeast Black Sea and the Kerch-Enical Strait of Ukraine is prohibited as dangerous, from 05:00 on July 20, 2023.

    I think the Ukrainians may have just announced that they have drone naval minelaying units heading for Novorossyisk.

  33. 33.

    Carlo Graziani

    @Gin & Tonic: Nice. These guys have no self-awareness. An author of a reboot of Mein Kampf blithely expounds on his support for the War To Extirpate Ukrainian Nazis.

  35. 35.

    Geminid

     

     

    @Chetan Murthy: Lockheed Martin subcontractor Draken International is hiring people to staff a training center at the 86th Borcea airbase in Romania, but they will not be training pilots on their 12 F-16s until later this year. A class of 10-12 Ukrainian pilots and 30 some technicians will start training at Skydstrop Air Base in Denmark next month and move to Romania when the center is ready.

    Maybe Mr. Davidoff did not tell you that, but he could have since The New Voice of Ukraine reported this July 18, based on statements from the Lockheed official in charge overall.

  37. 37.

    Geminid

     

     

    @Jinchi: Well, I don’t think Ukraine’s going gunning for Greek tankers anytime soon. But they made the threat, and it tracks the one Russia made against them. If Russia ends up attacking a ship bound for Ukraine I expect Ukraine will retaliate in kind.

    But like I’ve said, I think the Grain Initiative will be resumed before too long.

  38. 38.

    Chetan Murthy

    @Geminid: Somewhere tonight I read that the problem is: repairing the port facilities at Chornomorsk will take a year; during that time, once the grain corridor is reactivated, RU will mainly benefit, b/c they have working port facilities.

  39. 39.

    Geminid

    @Chetan Murthy: Sounds like Russia has gained an advantage that they can pocket if and when they return to the Graine Initiative. But Ukraine may be able to get those facilities up and running sooner than in a year.

  40. 40.

    smintheus

    There’s a Russian propagandist at this wikipedia page who’s been excluding info about a controversy that blew up around another Putin propagandist, the Italian street muralist “Jorit”. The painter got caught bullshitting about a mural he put up in Mariupol that blamed all the civilian deaths there on NATO rather than Russia. There used to be a mural like it that put the blame on Russia, but the Russian invaders covered that mural up and commissioned this alternate reality mural in its place. So WP being wikipedia, the editorial busy bodies are siding with the concern troll Putin propagandist who keeps deleting most of the relevant info (though pretty much everyone in Italy now knows the details). This is a small something that a few decent people weighing in against the troll could reverse.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorit

  42. 42.

    Shalimar

    @Chetan Murthy: The horrible part is that NATO is forcing them to punch through those defenses.  We already know where Russia’s defenses are tissue-paper thin: in Russia.  A good military strategy would be to attack Rostov and the other Russian cities in the rear and force retreat.

  43. 43.

    Geminid

    @Shalimar: This is not a realistic solution. Even if NATO wasn’t preventing such a move, geography, logistical requirements, and the Russian Air Force would prevent a Ukrainian column attacking east from Kharkiv and then south behind Luhansk and Donetz Oblasts from ever getting to Rostov.

    I wouldn’t bother pointing this out except you are saying that NATO is making the AFU attack fortified lines when it’s just not so.

  44. 44.

    Geminid

    Noel Reports says that Russian war criminal and milblogger Igor Girkin has been arrested.

  45. 45.

    Chris T.

    The grain deal, as putin sees it: If you don’t meet all of our demands, we’ll shell cities, destroy grain terminals, and sink ships. Does anyone really still expect that it is possible to negotiate security guarantees with this thug?

    “Nice human race you’ve got there. Shame if something were to happen to it…”

Comments are closed.