Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Trump should be leading, not lying.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

Fundamental belief of white supremacy: white people are presumed innocent, minorities are presumed guilty.

Books are my comfort food!

We still have time to mess this up!

There are a lot more evil idiots than evil geniuses.

When you’re in more danger from the IDF than from Russian shelling, that’s really bad.

I might just take the rest of the day off and do even more nothing than usual.

Michigan is a great lesson for Dems everywhere: when you have power…use it!

There are more Russians standing up to Putin than Republicans.

Republicans choose power over democracy, every day.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

Usually wrong but never in doubt

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

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Republicans: The threats are dire, but my tickets are non-refundable!

Polls are now a reliable indicator of what corporate Republicans want us to think.

“What are Republicans afraid of?” Everything.

One of our two political parties is a cult whose leader admires Vladimir Putin.

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

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

There is no right way to do the wrong thing.

You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / War for Ukraine Day 544: A Brief Monday Night Post

War for Ukraine Day 544: A Brief Monday Night Post

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(Image by NEIVANMADE)

It was a very long day. I was up at 5, as usual, and despite being in and out at home since 3:40 PM, I just got home about 1/2 an hour ago and have to be up at 5 again tomorrow. Because that’s when I have to get up. So just a very brief and bare bones update tonight.

Here is President Zelenskyy’s address to the people of Ukraine and Denmark from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.

With our victory and cooperation we will prove that people matter, freedom matters, Europe matters – Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s speech to the public of Ukraine and Denmark

21 August 2023 – 14:55

Thank you!

Thank you, Speaker! It is a great honor to be here! Thank you for everything, great people of Denmark!

Thank you so much!

Hi! Hi, Copenhagen! 

Dear people of Denmark! Dear Mette, Madam Prime Minister! 

I remember how you visited Kyiv, our capital, on the 21st of April 2022.

I will say frankly these were harsh days for Ukraine. For all our people, children, for everybody. At that time, we had already decided everything for ourselves and fought how we could. But then, the world had not yet chosen how to act. And the Ukrainians had not yet known who in the world would actually be with us. As long as it takes and as true allies. Like Denmark! Like each and every one of you. Here, at this square, and in every Danish family, in every home, where you wish us victory in this battle for freedom just as we wish it! I thank you all!

Today, almost a year and a half after your visit to Ukraine, Madam Prime Minister, we can openly say that the majority of the world is like Denmark – now with us. We feel it. It’s a great support for us.

When the first Russian missiles hit our cities, warning the world about the full-scale war in the middle of Europe, the risk was simply insane. The risk that Europe will again lose itself, as it had already happened in our history. It was a risk that tyranny would win again. It was a risk that the culture would lose again.

And the worst thing is that respect, which is the basis of our free and united Europe, could be destroyed. Respect for every nation, for every community, for every person. When Europe is not ruled by respect, dictatorships would dominate Europe. And we saved our Europe from this. Saved together!

What is the price of life? War always raises this question. It is true.

When I spoke to our soldiers on the front lines, they told me about the motivation of Russian occupiers. Russian soldiers are less afraid of being killed in the battle than they are afraid of stopping aggression and returning home. A free person can even hardly imagine that. Imagine what Russia is today, if its people fear their return home more than to be killed at war. This is the worst thing tyranny does to its people – it eliminates the value of life, totally.

We will never allow Ukraine or any other country to become the same territory of disrespect for people, life, and human diversity, as the Russian state has become and wants to make other countries. We have to always remember what stands against us. And until the victory comes, we have to act the way we do with you, Denmark!

When Ukraine needs weapons, you – help. I thank you and the whole of Denmark – all the weapons you’re giving to protect freedom and for F-16s we agreed on. Thank you so much! When Russian missiles hit our power plants last winter to drive Ukraine into blackout and defeat, you helped us to live through winter. When it was needed to accommodate our people, you provided them with very generous opportunities. Thank you very much! Thank you for your attitude to our people, to Ukrainians! To all your families, all your houses, all your people, all your cities! Thank you very much, Denmark! And when I asked you about support for our port city and region of Mykolaiv, which endlessly suffers from the Russian terror – you gave such support without delay… Thank you! Thank all of you!

Dear friends!

Today we are confident that Russia will lose this war. But this is not the only main thing. The main is what we prove with our victory, with our cooperation, what you prove supporting Ukraine. Together we prove that life is a value, that people matter, freedom matters, Europe matters. I’m sure it will be written in history also due to you, being with Ukraine.

I’m sure that we will win because truth is on our side. All our people are waiting for this moment. It will be a common victory of truth, of democracy, of our nations. Thank you very much for your support! After the victory we’ll come to you! Maybe, it’s not traditional to hear it from the President but I want to say it. Yes, we will come to you, sit together somewhere and we’ll say “Skål.”

Jeg takker jer Danmark!

Слава Україні!

And here is his address from late last night/early this morning. Video followed by the English transcript.

We are completing a historic visit to the Nordic countries with much-needed agreements – address by the President of Ukraine

21 August 2023 – 18:10

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

We are completing this visit to the Nordic countries. Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark. Without exaggeration, this is a historic visit for Ukraine.

Crucial agreements with Sweden. In particular, defense agreements. We will produce CV-90, powerful combat vehicles, in Ukraine. Our warriors are very satisfied with these vehicles.

Mr. Kristersson, the entire Government of Sweden, all Swedish people… Thank you!

The Netherlands – as always, productive. This time, particularly. We can get 42 F-16 jets for Ukraine. We will get them.

I thank you, Mark, Prime Minister, your entire team, and the people of the Netherlands!

Denmark – 19 more F-16s, plus we are expanding our training. Thank you, Denmark! Dear Mette, Madam Prime Minister, the entire government team… Folketing! Thank you very much!

It was an honor for me to address the Danish Parliament. I thank the powerful people of Denmark. Our common priority – of all Europeans – is that all peoples on all continents can equally enjoy a secure life. The more stability there is in the world, the more stability there is in our European home.

In all three countries, we discussed new defense support packages for the warriors, political cooperation and Peace Formula. I would like to express special gratitude to Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark for supporting the Peace Formula. Peace is always the result of joint efforts, it is always security in all spheres of life. And we will achieve it: for Ukraine, for the world. Russia will not be able to undermine global security.

Separately, I would like to thank the United States of America for supporting our freedom and our aviation coalition.

The F-16 is an aircraft made by the United States. It is very important that President Biden, his team… especially through the efforts of his National Security Advisor Sullivan, both parties of the US Congress, millions and millions of Americans support us in the battle for freedom, for independence, for our people… Thank you, America!

The work of politicians is unity. More unity. More power. When unity grows stronger, even things that seemed fantastic to someone before become possible.

Ukraine will have F-16s. We are not stopping. We will be giving more strength to our country.

Glory to Ukraine!

Klischiivka:

Bakhmut:

Kharkiv:

Robotyne:

Amidst russia’s attempt to downplay Robotyne as a negligible village in what seems like a damage control attempt, they often emphasize the size of the settlement or its population. They conveniently overlook mentioning the actual scale of allocated resources to keep that village, a crucial aspect surpassing the village’s mere physicality on a map.

I’ll refrain from asserting that russian lines are on the brink of collapse and their forces defeated – it’s unfortunate that their units successfully executed a tactical retreat, averting encirclement and potential neutralization. The effectiveness of minefields, fortifications, anti-tank trenches, and similar engineering obstacles becomes significant only when they are adequately manned and remain under fire control.

Unfortunately, their retreat affords them the opportunity to maintain the presence of manned trenches and supervised minefields. However, the exact count and resource availability involved remains uncertain. Considering the available open-source loss data, it’s apparent that Russian forces are experiencing a continued degradation of troops, potentially necessitating the deployment of supplementary troops to rectify the deteriorating situation.

If russians were to pursue this as their next move, the remaining question pertains to whether Ukraine has the necessary forces to build upon the achieved success – a question to which I currently lack an answer.

Nonetheless, this stands as an important development, and russia’s attempt to undermine its significance only serves as evidence that things aren’t so great as russians want to portray.

Chernihiv:

Moscow:

That’s all I’ve got for tonight. Should be back to a more normal update tomorrow evening.

Your daily Patron!

There are no new Patron tweets or videos tonight, so here’s some adjacent material.

Open thread!

Reader Interactions

18Comments

  3. 3.

    Alison Rose

    God, that Telegram post about Sophia is fucking repugnant. Soulless monsters, the lot of ’em. And they can’t even be original in their cruelty, but have to nearly plagiarize, which doesn’t surprise me.

    It was lovely, however, to see that wonderful reception for Zelenskyy in Denmark. Especially in comparison to putin who has an ICC warrant hanging over his head should he choose to slither out of the kremlin into a country where the leaders don’t dream about fluffing him.

    I don’t know why, but the name Mr. Kristersson sounds like the name of a cartoon hamster who wears a monocle and runs a bookshop in a Swedish children’s movie.

    Thank you as always, Adam. Knowing the unforgiving schedule you’re under and all the other demands on your time, we’re very fortunate that you continue to bring us these updates every day.

  4. 4.

    Gin & Tonic

    @Alison Rose: Perhaps z_g can correct me, but I don’t think Tatarigami’s translation is optimal – it is absolutely direct plagiarism. The Telegram post was written by someone who knows English well enough to know the source.

  6. 6.

    zhena gogolia

    @Gin & Tonic: Yeah, it’s direct plagiarism. It’s not usually translated into Russian exactly that way, but obviously there’s always more than one way to translate anything. It’s Hemingway.

    ETA: Sick assholes.

  7. 7.

    Jay

    I was reading a couple of interesting threads today on the “Serovkin” lines.

    It was pointed out that they are blocking lines, (minefields, tank traps, etc) with preplanned arty and other weapons sited not only on the blocking lines, but empty “pass through” zones. The idea is that the UA will try to attack through the pass through zones and get slaughtered.

    How ever, the lines are not fully manned.

    Retreating Ruzzian’s have to pass through the same zones in good order with good communications, all with the hope that the UA has not mapped those zones out and can target them.

    And Ruzzia is counting on those retreating RU troops to man those lines.

  8. 8.

    NutmegAgain

    @zhena gogolia: Yep. Legend has it he (Hemingway) wrote it as his entry in a contest. The original: “For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.”  Just poignant as hell and pierces right through. And then some monster thinks it’s a great description for real life. Not enough detestation around for those people, really. Sickening.

  9. 9.

    Geminid

    Swedish Prime Minister Kristersson said today that Sweden has no plans to send Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine. He said Sweden needs them, especially with its Nato membership not yet finalized.

  10. 10.

    Jay

    @Geminid:

    UA pilots are training/evaluating Gripen’s, according to multiple sources.

    Sweden will not be donating Gripen’s to Ukraine according to multiple sources, but has not ruled out the sale of new builds.

  11. 11.

    wjca

    Then again, as long as the Swedes are training the pilots, no need to provide free intel on when/if the planes for them might be passed along.

  12. 12.

    YY_Sima Qian

    Do any one know the success rate of Ukrainian air defenses against the Islander MRBMs? The Patriot PAC3 batteries seem to do very well against the air launcher Kinzhals, which are supposedly based on the Iskander, but I can’t find many reports of interception of Iskanders.

  13. 13.

    Jay

    @YY_Sima Qian:

    During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia launched several Iskander missiles over their border into Ukraine as part of their assault.[51] Here, these missiles demonstrated a previously unknown capability that employed decoys to confuse air defense systems. It is believed this technology was kept a closely guarded secret, and not included on Iskander missiles exported outside of Russia.[52] Up from 23 April 2022, Russia deployed more units equipped with Iskander-M to the Belgorod Oblast as close as 60 km from the border of Ukraine.[53] Ukraine said in March 2023 that it is unable to shoot down Iskander-M missiles, however, on May 29th, Ukraine claimed to have destroyed 11 Iskander missiles[54][55]

  15. 15.

    Jay

    @YY_Sima Qian:

    During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia launched several Iskander missiles over their border into Ukraine as part of their assault.[51] Here, these missiles demonstrated a previously unknown capability that employed decoys to confuse air defense systems. It is believed this technology was kept a closely guarded secret, and not included on Iskander missiles exported outside of Russia.[52] Up from 23 April 2022, Russia deployed more units equipped with Iskander-M to the Belgorod Oblast as close as 60 km from the border of Ukraine.[53] Ukraine said in March 2023 that it is unable to shoot down Iskander-M missiles, however, on May 29th, Ukraine claimed to have destroyed 11 Iskander missiles[54][55]

  16. 16.

    Anoniminous

    @Jay: ​
     
    Leave open lanes so you can maneuver and using troops that are falling back to fill out the defense works are straight out of the book defense tactics. Not having enough people on the secondary line is very ………… Russian.

  18. 18.

    YY_Sima Qian

    @Jay: Thanks! Presumably they were shot down by the Patriot PAC3 systems that Ukraine did not have last year.

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