Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

Glad to see john eastman going through some things.

Republicans choose power over democracy, every day.

Days Since JD Vance Insulted Women Across America: Zero

Republicans would impeach Biden if he bit into a whole Kit Kat rather than breaking the sections apart.

Can we lighten up on the doomsday scenarios?

Dead end MAGA boomers crying about Talyor Swift being a Dem is my kind of music. Turn it up.

This blog will pay for itself.

Tick tock motherfuckers!

“Joe Biden deserved better than he got from some folks in his own party.”

Let us savor the impending downfall of lawless scoundrels who richly deserve the trouble barreling their way.

I am pretty sure Katy Tur wasn’t always such a bootlicking sycophant.

Another missed opportunity for Jamie Dimon to just shut the fuck up.

Come on, man.

Stamping your little feets and demanding that they see how important you are? Not working anymore.

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

“Can i answer the question? No you can not!”

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires republicans to act in good faith.

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

Donald Trump, welcome to your everything, everywhere, all at once.

This has so much WTF written all over it that it is hard to comprehend.

Fight for a just cause, love your fellow man, live a good life.

T R E 4 5 O N

You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / War for Ukraine Day 651: Just a Brief Wednesday Night Update

War for Ukraine Day 651: Just a Brief Wednesday Night Update

by | 19 Comments

This post is in: , , , , , , ,

Graphic by NEIVANMADE of a Russian bomb with a "Z" symbol on it crashing through the roof of the Ukrainian Postal Service delivery hub. "Everyone Is a Target" and "Stop Russia" are written in the space between the destroyed roof and the fins of the bomb.

(Image by NEIVANMADE)

Quick housekeeping note: This has been a very busy week. I’m somewhere between almost and deep fried. So tonight’s update will just be a briefer one than usual, as will tomorrow night’s.

The United States announced a new package of weapons and equipment for Ukraine valued at up to $175 million.

We are grateful for your unwavering support. This is a great congratulation to our warriors on Armed Forces Day.

Capabilities provided in today’s package include air defense munitions, additional ammunition for HIMARS, artillery ammunition, High-speed Anti-Radiation Missiles, anti-armor missiles, small arms ammunition, demolition munitions for obstacle clearing, equipment to protect critical national infrastructure, and spare parts, ancillary equipment, services, training, and transportation.

Together, we are stronger!
🇺🇦🤝🇺🇸

Unless the Biden administration and the Democratic caucuses in both chambers of Congress can make something happen in the next week or so, this is going to be one of the last packages of US aid to Ukraine:

The Russians opened up on Ukraine again overnight:

russian terrorism shall not pass!

Overnight, the Ukrainian Air Forces shot down 41 out of 48 “Shahed” kamikaze drones in our sky.

Also yesterday, warriors of the Air Command “South” destroyed a russian SU-24M bomber near Zmiinyi Island.

Glory to Ukrainian defenders!

📹: The Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Mykola Oleshchuk

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

Ukraine will fight for its own interests and for the fair interests of every free nation – address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

6 December 2023 – 22:09

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today was a long and very meaningful day. The Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. My congratulations, warriors! Thank you for your strength and courage. I thank everyone who defends Ukraine, our national interests and the interests of our society. All of us in Ukraine are grateful.

I honored our warriors with state awards. The day before, I signed several decrees on the occasion of the Day of the Armed Forces – in total, more than 700 warriors were honored. All of them are worthy.

I visited a military hospital to thank the doctors and support the guys recovering from wounds. And I am grateful and proud of all the military doctors of Ukraine, all our combat medics, all the nurses who save the lives of the wounded warriors and bring them back to life after heavy attacks by the occupier.

Today I also visited Okhmatdyt – on the occasion of St. Nicholas Day. And it is symbolic that according to the updated calendar, two holidays now coincide – the Day of our Armed Forces, the basis of defense, and St. Nicholas Day. Life itself shows that the dreams of our children, the security of Ukrainian families, and the culture of the Ukrainian people are possible only on the foundation of the mighty and respected Armed Forces of Ukraine, and their results – together with all the Defense and Security Forces of our country. It is important that the strength of our warriors truly returns security to our people, our children, and Ukrainian cities.

Today, the First Lady of Ukraine and her team visited two special schools in Zhytomyr region – the Superhero Schools. In total, there are 11 such schools already. These are state institutions under the patronage of Olena, which are established at children’s hospitals. Sometimes children need to be treated in a hospital for months, undergo long rehabilitation. And for them not to lose out on education, there are schools and special teachers in hospitals that allow children to undergo treatment and study at the same time. It is important for this initiative to expand, for new educational institutions to be opened in the regions. I am grateful to everyone who helps with the work of the Superhero Schools and who, on days like today, helps create a real holiday for all children of Ukraine – no matter where they are.

Today we also had a lot of international work. We managed to return to Ukraine eight more Ukrainian children who were deported to Russia from our temporarily occupied territory. I am grateful to the State of Qatar for its effective mediation and to Dmytro Lubinets, the Ombudsman, and the entire team that is working on this issue.

Our Ukrainian delegation, including Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, Head of the Office Andriy Yermak, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, is actively working in Washington. There were important meetings, particularly in the U.S. Congress, and with representatives of President Biden’s administration. Secretary of Defense Austin, Secretary of State Blinken. The work is highly active, and as a result, we have good, necessary signals for Ukraine. And also a new package of American assistance, military support. I am grateful to the United States for their support!

I took part in a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders. It is already a tradition that Ukraine is represented at such summits. I thanked Japan and Mr. Prime Minister Kishida for the productive and principled Japanese presidency of the Group of Seven. Next year Italy will be holding the presidency, and we are already discussing with Giorgia, Mrs. Prime Minister of Italy, the priorities of the Italian presidency. It was important for me to thank each of the G7 leaders for their personal leadership. There is a new powerful statement of the Group of Seven, in particular, in support of Ukraine. Many important things for our country, for our people, are included in the statement.

Today I also addressed the participants of the conference in Washington, DC, dedicated to our joint work with America on defense production. It is very important that our agreements with President Biden are gradually being implemented. Minister for Strategic Industries Kamyshin has had a lot of meetings in Washington these days. But that’s not all… I would also like to recognize the work of Ukrainian law enforcers and Prosecutor General Kostin with their partners in America. These are important steps – the United States has indicted four Russian military personnel suspected of committing a war crime – torturing a U.S. citizen. For Ukraine, it is crucial that every crime committed by the Russian occupiers is thoroughly investigated and given a lawful and fair legal process, leading to an appropriate verdict. And our institutions, together with our partners, are actively working on this.

One more thing. I held a meeting with international relations officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office. We are preparing a vigorous continuation of December and an active beginning of the next year. Ukraine will fight for its own interests, for the fair interests of every free nation. Because when we can defend ourselves, it strengthens everyone else in the world who, like us in Ukraine, values freedom and the international order.

I thank everyone who is fighting and working for Ukraine! Glory to the Armed Forces of Ukraine! And may the memory of all Ukrainian heroes of different times who fought and gave their lives to keep Ukraine alive remain bright.

Glory to Ukraine!

Together with my colleagues, met with @SpeakerJohnson. We discussed the situation on the frontlines and urgent needs of Ukraine.

I am grateful to the Congress for its bipartisan support of Ukraine. We expect help and support to remain unwavering.

The victory of Ukraine serves both Ukrainian and American national interests.

Unfortunately, Minister of Defense Umerov’s effort are unlikely to make a difference:

Never thought I’d see the day when American politicians sold out democracy, sold out Europe – all for the sake of petty internal politics. Thank God these people weren’t in power during WW2, or we’d all be speaking German. While they squabble, Ukrainians are dying & Putin’s rejoicing.

For those of you marking Advent on your calendar’s this season:

Ukrainian Advent Calendar: Day 6.

Today, we would like to say «Vielen Dank» to our German friends @BMVg_Bundeswehr for their unwavering support in our fight for freedom. We are grateful for Marder IFVs and all the military support provided to Ukraine.

Marder is one of the best IFVs in service with our defense forces. This machine both saves the lives of Ukrainian soldiers and forces enemies from their positions.

More weapons of victory are coming soon. Stay tuned!

#StandWithUkraine #UAMoDAdvent

Today is also Ukrainian Armed Forces Day.

Kyiv:

The cost!

A monument to the Hero of Ukraine Oleksandr Matsievsky was opened in Kyiv

📹 : Ukrinform

Avdiivka:

Russian occupied Donetsk Oblast:

Lyman/Kreminna Axis:

Russian occupied Luhansk:

Near Moscow:

Here’s the details from The Financial Times:

A former Ukraine lawmaker who had been charged with treason was assassinated on Wednesday near Moscow in an operation carried out by Ukrainian security service agents, according to officials.

Ilya Kiva, 46, a proponent of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and longtime opponent of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, fled to Russia last year after facing treason charges and being stripped of his mandate as a member of the Ukrainian parliament.

When Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine on February 24 2022, Kiva wrote on social media that “the Ukrainian people need liberation” and that “Ukrainians, Belarusians [and] Russians are one people”.

Two Ukrainian officials with direct knowledge of the killing told the Financial Times that the SBU security service had carried out the operation.

“The liquidation of a top traitor, collaborator and propagandist Ilya Kiva is a special operation of the SBU,” one of the officials said. Kiva had been killed with “small arms”, the official added.

The killing is the latest in a series of assassinations against Ukrainian defectors and Russians involved in Moscow’s invasion, and come at the same time as attacks deep inside Russia believed to have been carried out by the SBU.

While the agency’s policy is not to take credit for the strikes, it has on some occasions claimed responsibility, as it did with the October attack on Russia’s illegally built bridge connecting the country to occupied Crimea.

Kiva, a political chameleon known for his gruff voice and quarrelsome demeanour, started as a member of the Ukrainian far-right, moved on to being a police official and unsuccessfully ran for president in 2019 as a member of the Socialist Party of Ukraine.

An avid social media user noted for his violent and graphic posts, he frequently published anti-Ukrainian propaganda, calling Kyiv’s leadership “Nazis” and demanding Zelenskyy resign.

In an interview with Russian television prior to the invasion, he alleged that his country was “enslaved and brought to its knees by the west, permeated by Nazism, and it has no future. Ukraine needs help. The Ukrainian people need liberation.”

 

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

First, some adjacent material from Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense:

A new video from Patron’s official TikTok:

@patron__dsns

Передаю вітання прямісінько від Святого Миколайчика, ну і від себе❤️ Вірте в чудеса, добро та любов 💫 А я по традиції дарую вам чарівний лизь! 👅 🤭

♬ оригінальний звук – Patron_official

Here’s the machine translation of the caption:

Greetings from St. Nicholas, and from myself ❤️ believe in miracles, goodness and love 💫 And I traditionally give you a magic lick! 👅 🤭

Open thread!

Reader Interactions

19Comments

  1. 1.

    Gin & Tonic

    SBU following the old slogan “reach out and touch someone.” Good.

    Kiva was a particularly nasty piece of work. His last Telegram post included a picture of a Christmas tree with an ornament depicting Zelensky hanging from a noose.

  2. 2.

    RaflW

    From the FTFNYT this evening: “Despite McConnell Legacy Push, Ukraine Funding in Increasing Jeopardy

    The minority leader, who many believe could step down next year, has found himself out of step with many fellow Senate Republicans on the question of keeping money flowing to the U.S. ally.”

    This piece could be framed as the Republican Party lurching far right and deeply isolationist, and away from where the goddam American People are.

    But no. It’s another fucking inside D.C., who’s up/who’s down bit of garbage.

  3. 3.

    Chacal Charles Calthrop

    We need a Ukrainian to do something (not saying what) to at least one MAGA Republican representative. There goes the Republican majority & then Jeffries can get aid to Ukrainian people passed.

    now, please note that I am not saying exactly what the Ukrainians should do to end the Republican majority in the House. I’m leaving it up to them.

  10. 10.

    Chacal Charles Calthrop

    @Adam L Silverman: that’s ok, really I was thinking of cat fishing so that we could be in dead-girl-or-live-boy territory more than anything else. And that’s not ok either!

    meanwhile, thank you Adam for everything as always.

  11. 11.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Chacal Charles Calthrop: I get the frustration, honestly I do. And I appreciate your clarification, but let’s try not to cause trouble for Cole.

    Also, to clarify, the GOP in the house is not one seat away from losing the majority because the Democrats have not picked up any seats. In order for the majority to flip, the Democrats would have to pick up all the empty seats plus at least one if not two more. Its late and I’m not checking or doing the math.

  16. 16.

    Yutsano

    I am absolutely in love with the idea of the Superhero schools for the Ukrainian children in long recoveries. I wonder if there’s a charity set up to support this.

    Also: the hotel gave me two free glasses of vino so I’m in a rather relaxed mood right now.

  19. 19.

    Ryan

    “This framing plays into Russia’s imperial ambitions & erases Ukraine’s sovereign history”

     

    Just like saying “The Ukraine,” frames it as a possession.  Not something we need to do.

Comments are closed.