Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

And we’re all out of bubblegum.

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

The media handbook says “controversial” is the most negative description that can be used for a Republican.

Dear media: perhaps we ought to let Donald Trump speak for himself!

Second rate reporter says what?

This blog will pay for itself.

President Biden is doing good where he can, and getting it done.

Bark louder, little dog.

Maybe you would prefer that we take Joelle’s side in ALL CAPS?

Take hopelessness and turn it into resilience.

The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

Republican obstruction dressed up as bipartisanship. Again.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

The willow is too close to the house.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

Elections aren’t won by handwringing, cowering, and/or bashing your own candidates.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

… gradually, and then suddenly.

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.

“Let’s not pretend [Trump] wants to engage in high-minded discourse.”

This must be what justice looks like, not vengeful, just peaceful exuberance.

You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / War for Ukraine Day 626: On the 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month the Guns in Europe Are Not Silent!

War for Ukraine Day 626: On the 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month the Guns in Europe Are Not Silent!

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A calipraphic representation of a Remembrance Day poppy by Satwinder Sehmi. The poppy is drawn with the words to the poem In Flanders Field.

(Image by Satwinder Sehmi)

As we approach the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month here on the east coast of the US the guns in Europe are not silent. They have not been silent in Europe since April 2014 when Putin working through Igor “Girkin” Strelkov and his Black Sea Cossacks and Russian Spetznatz “Little Green Men” operating out of uniform first invaded Ukraine. They have not been silent since February 2022 when Putin decided to re-invade under the belief that he could take Kyiv in three days; kill, capture, and replace the Ukrainian national, Kyiv Oblast, and City of Kyiv officials; install his own quislings; and have them publicly sign letters of both military surrender and surrender of national sovereignty to Russia. While Putin failed in that objective, the war grinds on. One day Ukraine’s war of defense against Russia’s genocidal re-invasion will end. Eventually, someone will write poems about those who died in the fields of Kherson and the sunflowers that now grow there in long golden and green rows. Someone will write a song about those who perished in the woods of Donetsk and Luhansk and the banks of the Dnipro rather than the fields of France and Belgium. Instead of a weary Aussie speaking to the tombstone of a young Irish fusilier, it will be someone from somewhere else speaking to the tombstone of Juice or DaVinci or someone who fell defending their home whose name didn’t make it into the news. And as night follows day it will all begin again somewhere else. Trenches will be dug, guns will be fired, blood and treasure will be lost.

Glory to the Warriors of Ukraine! 🇺🇦💪

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

Our defense and security forces will respond to the Russian army’s strikes on Kherson and the villages of Kherson region – address by the President of Ukraine

11 November 2023 – 20:44

Dear Ukrainians!

Before the end of this day, a few important things should be said. First – about our Kherson. Today marks the anniversary of the liberation of the city, and I am grateful to everyone who remembers how the people of Kherson resisted the occupiers, awaited the return of the Ukrainian flag, and welcomed our soldiers. I thank everyone who today honored the memory of those who gave their lives for Kherson and for our entire state to be free. It is crucial to remember who and how fought for Ukraine, who and how saved lives and our country. I thank all journalists who remind us of this, and every person who preserves the memory of the liberation of Kherson and the bravery of its residents.

On the eve, I signed a decree on state awards for soldiers and civilians who distinguished themselves there – in the defense of Kherson. Those who fought for the state. Those who assisted in resistance. Those who saved and continue to save lives. And those who are as courageous as the world now knows the courage of Ukrainians. Alongside our soldiers, the decree also honors local government officials. These are people who did not abandon their communities, helped defend against occupiers, assisted in resistance. They treated and continue to treat, organized assistance for those who could not take care of themselves, saved children from deportation, and rescued people from Russian terror. They are saving lives even now, under constant bombings and in the face of ongoing attacks. I thank all of you for your courage and dedication to your work and Ukraine. Thanks to each and every one who stays and works right there – in the communities along the front line.

Of course, our security and defense forces will respond to the Russian army’s strikes on Kherson and the villages of Kherson region, just as it always happens. This week has shown that in the Black Sea, in the territory of Crimea, and anywhere else, we will reach the occupier. Glory to all our guys who are bringing justice back to Ukraine in this way!

Secondly, there’s something important to say today. I spoke today with President Duda of Poland. A good conversation. I congratulated Andrzej and all Poles on the Independence Day of Poland. This day is as important for Poland as it is for us, Ukrainians. The history of our nations is intertwined, and in this, it reflects the restoration of independence in our states and how we now take care to protect it. Ukraine and Poland must stand together so that our people are always free. I thank Andrzej for his kind words today about Ukraine and Ukrainians. Thank you for the extremely valuable support that Poland provides to our state and people.

And one more thing.

We continue the evacuation of Ukrainian citizens from the Gaza sector. This work has been ongoing literally all day. The number of those successfully rescued changes almost every hour. Already 214 of our people. We are also assisting citizens of Moldova. We expect this number to increase. I thank Defense Intelligence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ukrainian embassies in the region, and all those who are helping us with this work.

Today, I also held a meeting with international experts regarding negotiations and meetings that can strengthen Ukraine – both our defense and international attention to Ukraine. Every day we add strength to the state.

Glory to our soldiers! Glory to our strong people!

Glory to Ukraine!

Good news out of Germany!

Germany is going to double (!) the planned military help for Ukraine for the coming year. Instead of 4 billions of Euro, Germany will send 8 billions of Euro, making it by far the 2nd largest contributor of all military aid to Ukraine.

That’s impressive.

Source: https://bild.de/politik/ausland/politik/vier-milliarden-mehr-ampel-verdoppelt-militaerhilfe-fuer-die-ukraine-86060636.bild.html

#Germany #Ukraine

Kyiv:

Avdiivka:

The situation in Avdiivka is basically the same. Russians rush into the kill zones, getting smashed to pieces, and so on, rinse and repeat. Those dismounting Russian troops had the uncommon opportunity to be transported into their demise.

Anti tank weapons play a very prominent role in this engagement, similar to the early stages of this war back in February/March 2022.

Source of video: https://t.me/operativnoZSU/122794

#Ukraine #Donetsk #Avdiivka

Donetsk Oblast:

The city of Kherson:

On this day a year ago, jubilant crowds were welcoming the return of Ukraine’s armed forces in Kherson.
The only regional capital captured by Russia after 02/24 was liberated following a two month long battle on the Dnipro west bank.
That was arguably the biggest Ukrainian success since the Battle of Kyiv.
And god that was one hell of a day!
🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

Parts of Kherson Oblast are still occupied by the Russians.

 

 

Not sure where in Ukraine this is, but: INCOMING!

Also, YIKES!!!!

Obligatory:

535.gif

Ryazan, Russia:

Katsov, Tambov Oblast, Russia:

Last night in Katovsk, Tambov Region, in Russia, near a gunpowder factory a series of explosions occurred.

Today, GRU representative Andrii Yusov commented that a train derailed, adding that good people over there were just celebrating the anniversary of Kherson’s liberation.

Source of video: https://t.me/operativnoZSU/122737

#Russia #Tambov #Ukraine

 

You know, it’s so telling that in the eyes of Musk and the likes of him everyone must file for “negotiations”, “concessions”, “compromises for peace”, an impossible surrender – Ukraine, the West, anyone – but never Putin and never Russia, the aggressor that unleashed this war.
The Kremlin owes no one nothing, apparently.

Before anyone askes, I am aware – as in I’ve read – The Washington Post‘s new reporting that Ukraine was responsible for blowing up the NordStream 2 pipeline. I’m not going to post on it yet as I want to see what subsequent reporting says. And there’s a very good reason for that. The WaPo reporting indicates that the Ukrainian colonel responsible for planning and overseeing the bombing was arrested in June 2020 and has been in jail ever since. Yet the pipeline was bombed three months later. Is it possible that a Ukrainian colonel was able to run a team of Ukrainian saboteurs from his prison cell who blew up the NordStream 2 pipeline three months after he was incarcerated? Sure. Is it probable? I’m not so sure. Additionally, the reporting is based on materials leaked by Airman Jack Teixeira and posted on his Discord channels. WaPo claims these materials are a CIA assessment. I find it hard to believe that the systems Teixeira had access to included CIA assessments. So I want to wait a bit and see what further reporting kicks lose.

Since it’s Veterans Day, this is obligatory:

Your daily Patron!

And a new video from Patron’s official TikTok!

@patron__dsns

Дякую вам за ці геніальні шедеври🔥 Автори: @VILNUI @Дар’я через апостроф @sexnesc @пухнастий звір | гітаристка 🎸 @Monrote @audi tt @софійка песпатрон

♬ оригінальний звук – Patron_official

Here’s the machine translation of the caption:

Thank you for these brilliant masterpieces 🔥 Authors: @VILNUI@Дар’я через апостроф@sexnesc@пухнастий звір | гітаристка 🎸@Monrote@audi tt@софійка#песпатрон

Open thread!

Reader Interactions

35Comments

  2. 2.

    oldster

    “They have not been silent since February 2021 when Putin decided to re-invade under the belief that he could take Kyiv in three days”

    Crazy as it seems, I believe that took place in Feb. 2022, not 2021.

    It’s been a long 21 months

  5. 5.

    Alison Rose

    And as night follows day it will all begin again somewhere else. Trenches will be dug, guns will be fired, blood and treasure will be lost.

    Got me a little misty over here, Adam.

    Sure would be interesting to go back in time to Germany in the late 40s and tell them that in about 75 years, they’d be the ones in Europe putting in the most aid to another nation to help them defeat an evil genocidal maniac. Not that I’d want to make that trip, but one of you gentiles can.

    I’d posted last year on FB, and reposted today, a news video from Kherson with a man celebrating the day, and it was so moving. Wish I could find it on YouTube or something so you could hear his voice, but he said:

    We are liberated, that we are free. Because now we have no electricity in the city, no water, no central supply heating, no mobile connection, no internet connection…but we have no russians, and I am extremely happy of that. We can survive anything. But we are free!

    🍉🍉🍉

    ETA: Found it on Twitter!

    Thank you as always, Adam.

  6. 6.

    Omnes Omnibus

    And I can’t help but wonder, no Willie McBride,
    Do all those who lie here, know why they died?
    Did you really believe them when they told you ‘The Cause?’
    You really believe that this war would end wars?
    The suffering, the sorrow, the glory, the shame,
    The killing, the dying, it was all done in vain,
    For Willie McBride, it all happened again,
    And again, and again, and again, and again!

  7. 7.

    Chetan Murthy

    @Alison Rose: I saw a documentary where a team from some Ukrainian news channel goes back to Kherson some months later, to interview people who were involved in the resistance.  There were some icky scenes of torture chambers and jails where the orcs held Ukrainians and tortured them, which was … ugh.  But they also interviewed a lot of Ukrainians who resisted, and talked about the small ways they did that.  And they interviewed this very guy you’re talking about.  It turns out, the news channels chose him mostly b/c he spoke English and was right there.  He wasn’t anybody special (he told the interviewers) — just a guy who was there and spoke English. And of course, spoke for all the residents of Kherson at that moment.

    And of course, he still felt the same way, as in that clip from a year ago.

  9. 9.

    Gin & Tonic

    Glad you’re holding off on that WaPo story. If Isabel Khurshudyan reported that it was raining, I’d go outside to check.

  10. 10.

    Gin & Tonic

    The liberation of Kherson is bittersweet. My nephew was among the troops who entered the town carrying Ukrainian flags. My good friend T was killed just before it was liberated.

  14. 14.

    Ohio Mom

    @Adam L Silverman: I often think all of these posts could eventually be turned into a book. I think future historians would appreciate it.

    And I say make it into a book because books last centuries and the internet? Sites get taken down, links break, search engines can be useless.

  21. 21.

    Bill Arnold

    @Adam L Silverman:
    FWIW, some spot checking of recent posts suggests that the internet archive has archives of most or all of them. I just archived today’s, but have not done any others. With the internet archive chrome plugin, on an alt browser.

  25. 25.

    Adam L Silverman

    @piratedan: I see that.

    I included that info in an update post a while back, but it was easy to miss.

    BettyC, Levenson, TaMara, M4, and Cole are all over there. As are Omnes and SoonerGrunt. Don’t know about any of the other front pagers.

  26. 26.

    piratedan

    @Adam L Silverman: understood, I keep trying to make sure that I keep my jackals and lizards on my short list, as many of you cast a wider net than I do and it’s always good to keep up to date.

     

    In case anyone needs one, I do have some bsky invites if anyone has a need.

  27. 27.

    Adam L Silverman

    @piratedan: I have about five as well. If anyone wants one just email me at my blog email. You’ll find that under the contact a front pager tool.

  31. 31.

    Torrey

    @Adam L Silverman: ​
      Don’t count on that. I think they’d pass on the bazillion pieces of paper, of course, but an electronic copy would definitely be of value. When Ferguson MO erupted after the killing of Michael Brown, some university librarians got to work archiving the Tweets that recorded the events and reactions to them in real time. The collection has, as I understand it, been useful for current research and will be a resource for a very long time to come. I am quite sure your posts, as the daily reactions of an expert in the field curating information and communicating it to an audience of interested people, most of whom are non-experts, would be a valuable resource in several different areas.

  32. 32.

    frosty

    Somehow, for me, bagpipes seem the most appropriate instrument on these occasions, regardless of whether the dead are Scottish or not.

  33. 33.

    ColoradoGuy

    I second the suggestion to archive all of the Adam Silverman’s Ukraine posts, with the Xitter links replaced by screenshots. With the on-going active destruction of Xitter by a fascist-friendly billionaire, those links will disappear first.

  34. 34.

    Bill Arnold

    A couple of recent New Yorker pieces (short/mid length) on the Israel/Hamas war, both worth a Sunday read. The Chotiner interview is, as usual, especially effective:
    The Extreme Ambitions of West Bank Settlers – A leader of the settlement movement on expanding into Gaza, and her vision for the Jewish state. (Isaac Chotiner, November 11, 2023)
    A fragment of the interview with an Israeli religious supremacist woman:

    Isaac Chotiner: I was trying to understand where Palestinians who live in the West Bank should go.
    Daniella Weiss: Why should they go? Why should they go?
    Isaac Chotiner: They should stay where they are, you’re saying?
    Daniella Weiss: They should accept the fact that in the Land of Israel there is only one sovereign. This is the issue. So let’s not confuse things. We the Jews are the sovereigns in the state of Israel and in the Land of Israel. They have to accept it.

    Inside the Israeli Crackdown on Speech – Since the October 7th attack, Palestinians and peace activists in Israel have increasingly been targeted by employers, universities, government authorities, and right-wing mobs. (Masha Gessen, November 8, 2023)

    Watched the 1970 Italian movie “The Garden of the Finzi-Continis” (English subtitles) last night. Among many other things, it illustrates how Fascism can sneak up on and take over an intelligent but unwary polity.

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