(Image by NEIVANMADE)
As I type this it is after midnight in Ukraine and Christmas eve is giving way to Christmas day.
The war is not over!
Ukrainian defenders wish you a Merry Christmas.📹: @U24_gov_ua pic.twitter.com/aPfqq6OISJ
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) December 24, 2023
Here’s Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska reading to patients at the Okhmatdyt Children’s Specialized Hospital.
Here is President Zelenskyy’s Christmas address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
Christmas address by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy
24 December 2023 – 17:00
Fellow Ukrainians!
Millions of Ukrainians today are waiting for the first star to appear in the evening sky, heralding the arrival of Christmas. A holiday of many shades. A great church holiday. An important national holiday. A family holiday. Christmas, which is always loved by children and awaited by adults. Christmas, which fills hearts with light. Christmas, which always gives hope.
For the second year now, we have learned another form of it, another dimension. This is Christmas in times of full-scale war. Christmas with a different mood, context, and flavor.
And a family dinner at home is not the same as usual. Because not all of us are at home. And not everyone has a home. And it has become much more important not what dishes are on the table, but what people are at the table. And how precious it is to have them around.
How important it is to stay in touch with those who are not around, who are defending Ukraine now. What a relief it is to see a “double tick” on the screen meaning the message was delivered and read. How crucial it is to get a response from them.
How our gifts, values, and traditions have changed. How today it’s not so much about how we decorate our homes, but rather how we protect them and clean up the mess, sweeping the enemy out of our home. How we rejoice at seeing the first star in the evening sky and not seeing enemy missiles and “Shaheds” in it.
How joyously and sonorously sound the hundreds of our carols, and just three words: “air raid over.”
How our wishes have changed. How children’s wishes have changed. From the simple and usual “I wish for dad to come home early from work” to “I wish for dad to come back.”
For all fathers, husbands, brothers, grandfathers to come back. Mothers, wives, sisters. To return victorious. All those who are meeting the Christmas Eve in the trenches with weapons in their hands, facing the enemy. All our warriors of light. Guardian angels of Ukraine, who prove to us every day: good will prevail, light will prevail, one must have steadfast spirit, and strong faith. Those who prove that miracles do exist. But we have to create them ourselves, obtain them ourselves, make the impossible possible.
Every day we pray for each of them. We pray for an end to the war. We pray for victory.
We will do so today as well. Wherever we are. Wherever we spend Christmas. Today, all Ukrainians are together. We all meet Christmas together. On the same date, as one big family, as one nation, as one united country. And today our common prayer will be stronger than ever. The people’s prayer. Today, it will unite millions of voices – more than ever before. And it will resonate today without a time difference of two weeks. Resonate together with Europe and the world.
And this is a unique prayer. For people, for peace, for justice, a prayer for life. And today it will be heard in different parts of the world, coming from the hearts of different people, in different languages. And even from different denominations. Because this is a prayer for life, and it has no borders.
In troubled times, as we defend our land and our souls, we are making our way to freedom. The way to gaining comprehensive independence, including spiritual one. Freedom of our faith from the ideology of slavery. From a cult that has nothing human or sacred within it. One that brings violence, aggression, hatred. One that takes away security and peace, takes away other people’s lands and human lives. Yet one that will be defeated. By the power of faith, the power of truth, the power of law, the power of justice, the power of our Ukraine.
Right now, I am in the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra. Majestic. Iconic. Ours.
A thousand-year old symbol of Ukrainian history, our culture, religion, Orthodoxy, and all of Eastern Christianity. A proof of our unyielding fortitude, resilience, tough challenges and ability to overcome them. Invariably reviving and growing.
Throughout its history, this place has experienced numerous upheavals and hardships. Profanation, desecration, looting. The Horde, the Nazis, the Soviet times. This place was captured, burned, and destroyed. But no one has ever been able to destroy it completely and forever. The Lavra has always withstood to be reborn again. And after each blow, it not only recovered, but grew bigger and stronger. Because it was and remains a place of power for people. A source of hope and spirit for our people. For everyone who believes. In the victory of truth. The victory of Ukraine.
Christmas Eve is the time of the longest nights of the year. But tomorrow the day starts getting longer, the light starts prevailing. The light is getting stronger. And step by step, day by day, the darkness retreats.
And in the end, darkness will lose. Evil will be defeated. Today, this is our common goal, our common dream, and this is what our common prayer is for today. For our freedom. For our victory. For our Ukraine. For the day when we can all come together at home in a peaceful year of peaceful Christmas. And say to each other: “Christ is born!”
Dear Ukrainians! I extend my Christmas congratulations to all of you! May the light of faith reign in your souls, the light of hope fill your hearts, and love and prosperity fill your homes.
As our ancestors used to say and sing: “Let the sky and the earth bear fruit. Let the sky bear stars, and let the earth bear flowers. God grant it!”
And as we will say today: “Let our Ukraine bear victory and peace. God grant it!”
Congratulations, dear people of Ukraine!
Christ is born! Let us praise Him!
General Zaluzhny’s @CinC_AFU powerful message of hope and resilience:
Dear brothers and sisters!
I congratulate you on the bright holiday of Christmas! All soldiers, sailors, sergeants and officers, all warriors who fight with weapons in their hands so that the world is not… pic.twitter.com/OgcllIRyim
— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) December 24, 2023
General Zaluzhny’s @CinC_AFU powerful message of hope and resilience:
Dear brothers and sisters!
I congratulate you on the bright holiday of Christmas! All soldiers, sailors, sergeants and officers, all warriors who fight with weapons in their hands so that the world is not engulfed in darkness.
Let us honor those who are not with us now, who sacrificed their lives for our country, truth, and freedom during these days.
Christmas is a great holiday of hope and faith. Faith in the victory of light over darkness. Good over evil. I thank every defender, every defender who fights and brings our Victory closer!
Christ is born! Let us praise Him!
Forever in their debt pic.twitter.com/5r0OUD791n
— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) December 24, 2023
For those of you marking Advent on your calendars this season:
Ukrainian Advent Calendar: Day 24
The most "delicious" comes at the very end. Today, we are happy to present to you the Patriot air defense systems.
The Patriots demonstrated incredible effectiveness in defending the Ukrainian sky. The system shoots down even "no-analogue"… pic.twitter.com/QoVaXEU9HR
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) December 24, 2023
Ukrainian Advent Calendar: Day 24
The most “delicious” comes at the very end. Today, we are happy to present to you the Patriot air defense systems.
The Patriots demonstrated incredible effectiveness in defending the Ukrainian sky. The system shoots down even “no-analogue” russian Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.
We thank our American (@DeptofDefense), German (@BMVg_Bundeswehr), and Dutch (@Defensie) partners for your important contribution to the security of Ukrainian cities.
We continue our struggle against russian evil, and we are grateful to everyone who #StandWithUkraine. Together, we are defending the free world. And we will definitely win!
Iceland:
Iceland joins the IT and Demining coalitions!
Also, Iceland announced additional €340,000 in financing through NATO's Comprehensive Assistance Package to purchase medical equipment for Ukraine.
We are grateful to our 🇮🇸 partners.
Through our joint efforts, we will be able…— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) December 24, 2023
Iceland joins the IT and Demining coalitions!
Also, Iceland announced additional €340,000 in financing through NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package to purchase medical equipment for Ukraine.
We are grateful to our 🇮🇸 partners.
Through our joint efforts, we will be able to restore peace in Europe.Ukraine will win!
🇺🇦🤝🇮🇸
Meanwhile in the heart of Free Ukraine pic.twitter.com/wJWKaA9Lrr
— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) December 24, 2023
What do Ukrainian Soldiers want for Christmas? pic.twitter.com/n4aCbWztZO
— Ukraine Territorial Defense Forces (@TDF_UA) December 24, 2023
Ukraine's 72nd Mechanized pic.twitter.com/EZKDBXfKcL
— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) December 24, 2023
Mariupol:
/2. As claimed by other Ukrainian source both Su-34 pilots are 💀💀. No comments from Russian side yet.https://t.co/Mo1DOfJqtH
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) December 24, 2023
As claimed by the Commander of the Air Force of Ukraine Russian Su-34 was shot down just now on the Mariupol direction:
“22.30 🛬 We repulse another attack of the “Shahedes”. Stay in cover!
In the Odesa direction, there was combat work on the Russian Su-30 in the Black Sea – we are studying the information in order to know for sure whether the target was hit or not.
💥 But… it has been confirmed that our anti-aircraft missile system hit the Su-34 fighter-bomber in the direction of Mariupol! It did not return to the airport.
“Eternal flight, brothers!”✨Merry Christmas!”
https://t.me/MykolaOleshchuk/170
The Ukrainians seem to have their Odesa air defense batteries dialed in.
Avdiivka:
Unfortunately, it is impossible to turn off this hell…
The only way to peace for the entire civilized world is to defeat the occupying horde of Russian terrorists
Otherwise, they will not let anyone live in peace— Мисливець за зорями (@small10space) December 23, 2023
Stepove, Avdiivka front:
/2. pic.twitter.com/GdklVHqICU
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) December 24, 2023
Horlivka, Russian occupied Donetsk Oblast:
Strikes reported in Horlivka,Donetsk region. Presumably oil depot is on fire. pic.twitter.com/c0xr6K4dT4
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) December 24, 2023
Krynky, left bank of the Dnipro, Russian occupied Kherson Oblast:
Stopping another attempt by Russians to attack Krynky, Kherson region with a single FPV drone. https://t.co/oYjOI57Pe5 pic.twitter.com/A3ghT6WNqA
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) December 24, 2023
Magyar’s Birds are hunting on Christmas!
Somewhere on the Eastern front:
Targeting of the Russian column by the Adam Tactic Group.
Eastern front. https://t.co/tJalw4qpx4 pic.twitter.com/OvSzTimwZ1— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) December 24, 2023
This is a very accurate assessment of Putin’s intentions:
With all respect to the authors of this article, I believe they have drawn incorrect conclusions. According to their sources, they suggest Putin is ready for a ceasefire, implying he wishes to maintain the current battlefield positions and is seeking an exit strategy. However,… https://t.co/sG7jIh1fPw
— Tatiana Stanovaya (@Stanovaya) December 23, 2023
With all respect to the authors of this article, I believe they have drawn incorrect conclusions. According to their sources, they suggest Putin is ready for a ceasefire, implying he wishes to maintain the current battlefield positions and is seeking an exit strategy. However, from my understanding, this is not the case. Putin’s real aim is not to end the conflict but to halt Ukrainian military resistance, which hinges on the cessation of Western arms supplies. His objective is to confront Ukraine without Western aid, thus moving closer to achieving Kiev’s capitulation. The article’s authors seem to misinterpret Putin’s goals; he has no intention of stopping at the territories Russia has already taken. And the conflict itself is not merely about territorial gains, but about the geopolitical future of Ukraine. I see no indication of his intention to abandon this goal. An important caveat, however, is that his strategy is not to enforce capitulation through large-scale military operations, but rather to create the necessary conditions for it. That’s the underlying reason they need a ceasefire. I explain it in detail in my latest Bulletin, exceptionally accessible for free. https://rpolitik.com/wp-content/uploads/woocommerce_uploads/2023/12/Bulletin-No.-22-130-2023.pdf
This seems to be the first Christmas that Ukraine truly celebrates in the new, western way, on December 24 and 25.
I can see it in the streets of this country right now.
We are truly going West where we belong.
On this Christmas Eve, please remember that Ukraine is fighting… pic.twitter.com/8ptpXI3iXQ
— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) December 24, 2023
This seems to be the first Christmas that Ukraine truly celebrates in the new, western way, on December 24 and 25.
I can see it in the streets of this country right now.
We are truly going West where we belong.
On this Christmas Eve, please remember that Ukraine is fighting for its very existence as a nation.
And please remember that nearly 1 million men and women are now part of the Defense Force of Ukraine resisting the worst European war of annihilation since Adolf Hitler.
And there are tens of thousands of those who have paid the ultimate price.
And there are also millions behind the lines – working, paying taxes, giving jobs, donating millions of dollars to the military to keep the nation afloat.
And we, Ukrainians, also send our regards and gratitude to all people of the West who make all the defense that we get possible.
Without you, Free Ukraine would now be fighting a guerilla war against the genocidal occupation of its entire territory.
Have a merry Christmas.
Let’s hope that, through this dark time, there will be a day when we’ll be able see what John Lennon dreamt about and say:
“Merry Christmas, war is over.”
Christmas is coming, so it's high time for Jingle Bells from 🇺🇦 defenders. pic.twitter.com/zO2inFBa56
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) December 24, 2023
If you’re looking to make donations before the end of 2023:
Hello everyone, unfortunately our fundraiser for drones to Ukraine🇺🇦 slowed down.
I want to ask you to donate towards our goal of $50000 ($17700 collected).
Link to donate 🔗: https://t.co/bOsniXwE6N
I would also like to note that an anonymous donor reached out to me, and said… pic.twitter.com/9ihWRim1tO
— ✙🍒 Constantine 🍒✙ (@Teoyaomiquu) December 24, 2023
Hello everyone, unfortunately our fundraiser for drones to Ukraine🇺🇦 slowed down.
I want to ask you to donate towards our goal of $50000 ($17700 collected).
Link to donate 🔗: https://paypal.com/pools/c/908gET9WPq
I would also like to note that an anonymous donor reached out to me, and said he will match 30000 USD for @LibertyUkraineF if we reach the goal by the end of the year, December 31st.
✅Donations are tax deductible, so you can get a tax credit before the end of the year.
🦀Some of the drones will go the 26th Brigade, so they shared a video of how Krabs can get stuck in the mud, and how much toil it takes to get them out.If you can’t donate, but would like to support the fundraiser, please like, comment and RT this tweet will greatly help as we..
Thank you, and Merry Christmas. Slava Ukraini
Christmas HIMARS ❄️🎄https://t.co/aEgyyDzGcC pic.twitter.com/BVhHtauK29
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) December 24, 2023
Obligatory:
🎄Christmas video from the 406th Artillery Brigadehttps://t.co/lwJJI6nl5X pic.twitter.com/r2daUar7Mk
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) December 24, 2023
Here’s the description from 406th separate artillery brigade:
Dear friends!
Soldiers of the 406th separate artillery brigade wish all Ukrainians a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!We wish you to bring peace, prosperity and harmony to your home. May all your deeds be kind and wise, each step be decisive and courageous, and may luck and professional success always be on your life’s path.
May 2024 bring prosperity and Ukraine’s victory to your homes!
Together to Victory! Glory to Ukraine!The author of the idea is Viktor Kryvonosov;
Lyrics by Denys Astafiev;
Filming and direction – Vladyslav Stepanov, Mykhailo Savytskyi;
The song was performed by Stanislav Nikitchenko.
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
First, some adjacent material from United24 Media:
❤️🩹A police crew, together with volunteers,rescued two puppies from the frontline village of Berdychi, Donetsk region.
Puppies were found in an abandoned house during one of the humanitarian aid deliveries. Now the animal volunteers are looking for loving owners for the puppies. pic.twitter.com/uWNvQ9fdYg
— UNITED24media (@United24media) December 24, 2023
There are no new Patron tweets posted today, but this is his Christmas appeal from last Tuesday:
All I want for Christmas — it is our Victory and to feed all the abandoned animals. To save injured sappers.
I appreciate your help ❤️
If you can continue — here’s the link to my PayPalhttps://t.co/qcp08D9QxD pic.twitter.com/mzgruO1qB9— Patron (@PatronDsns) December 19, 2023
And a new video – a teaser – from Patron’s official TikTok!
@patron__dsns Я до вас з тааааакою новиною!😱 Нова серія мультику виходить вже 25 грудня!❤️🔥 Тому ставте дзвіночки та до зустрічі у понеділок на YouTube, Megogo і ПЛЮСПЛЮС 😌✨ #песпатрон #песпатронмультфільм
Here’s the machine translation of the caption:
I come to you with such great news! 😱 A new episode of the cartoon is coming out on December 25! ❤️🔥 So ring the bell and see you on Monday on YouTube, Megogo and PLUSPLUS 😌 ✨ #песпатрон #песпатронмультфільм
A very merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate the holiday!
Open thread!
Alison Rose
I do hope all of the Ukrainian soldiers are able to have a few moments of light tonight or tomorrow, something to lift their spirits if only momentarily. It’s horrid to think of gremlins in the kremlin celebrating in their fancy homes with their families while Ukrainians are in dugouts and trenches, separated from their loved ones, who are home without them and listening to air raid sirens.
Thank you as always, Adam.
J. Arthur Crank
Thanks for the post. I hope you can get a break soon.
As for Putin wanting a ceasefire, he can always stop firing anytime he wants and go back home. I did not click on that NYT link because life is too short.
Chris T.
Aha! Russia is behind the War on Christmas!
Alison Rose
@J. Arthur Crank: Yeah, a lot of people have noted, in response to all the gullible articles being written, that putin could have a cease-fire at any damn moment if he actually wanted one (which he doesn’t). Pull your orcs back across the real border, leave Ukraine the fuck alone, et voilà!
VeniceRiley
Can the NYT get dumber? Unfortunately, the answer is always YES.
Parfigliano
Dead Russian soldiers are the best Russian soldiers. If the West was serious Putin’s Ukraine dreams would have been buried shortly after starting this special operation.
Jay
https://nitter.net/Tendar/status/1738923201864815041#m
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
Well that cheered me up! And boy did I need it! If Ukrainian defenders can find something to celebrate, I guess I can at least try.
By the way, you do know the ultimate Christmas movie 🎥 is “Tokyo Godfathers” don’t you?
I usually put what little I can towards humanitarian aid, like World Central Kitchen. Or the Ukrainian Shelter taking caring of abandoned animals. Maybe it’s time for a drone?
Thanks for all you do, Adam. Hope you finally get some rest.
Adam L Silverman
@Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom: Thank you for the kind words. You are most welcome.
It is unlikely I will get anything resembling restfulness any time soon.
wombat probability cloud
Thank you Adam, as always. Hope you have a peaceful night.
In last night’s post, you said, “And while a Lend-Lease bill was passed for Ukraine, without a supplemental appropriation, there’s no money for the program. Because there’s no money to replace whatever would be lent or leased.”
Just imagine if they dared to apply confiscated Russian funds for that (I know, I know, and I’d like a pony, too). Is there any law mandating that money put into the lend-lease coffers has to originate from a congressional appropriation?
Lyrebird
@Adam L Silverman: Let me join the chorus thanking you for sharing your insights and updates here. Sorry to hear you don’t anticipate R&R on the horizon.
That DefenceU video is amazing. If I were hip I could say something about “all the feels” etc etc etc.
Adam L Silverman
@wombat probability cloud: You’re most welcome.
The issue is that anything we lend or lease has to be backfilled in inventory. Even if it is a brand new weapon system or type of munition to replace something we’re phasing out. So if there’s no appropriation for the news equipment and/or material, they won’t send anything. This is an issue with the current draw down authorization. There’s several billion left under that legislation, but there’s no appropriated funding left to replace what we’d send via another round of draw down. So nothing is going to be sent.
Adam L Silverman
@Lyrebird: You are also most welcome.
It’s been an incredibly fucked up three months. I’m doing what I can to have it defucked by February, but a lot is out of my control. Which is itself part of the problem.
wombat probability cloud
@Adam L Silverman: Acknowledging that this isn’t more than a thought experiment, what I was trying to ask is if confiscated funds could be used to pay for the backfill of inventory. Thanks.
Adam L Silverman
@wombat probability cloud: Most likely not. The funds still technically belong to their rightful owners. Russia and/or Russian nationals. Until either a court rules that they could be repurposed this way or Congress passes a law allowing that to happen, then those funds will simply remain frozen.
planetjanet
Thank you, Adam for your work. That first video from Defense of Ukraine was very powerful and emotional and real. I do hope you take care of yourself and wish you peace. One silly question, who is the DJ in the HIMARS video? I am guessing it is some politico.
Adam L Silverman
@planetjanet: Thank you for the kind words. You are also most welcome.
The DJ is the Russian ambassador to the international trade federation that is located in Vienna. He decided to get into it with one of the NAFO guys on Twitter and they invoked NAFO Article V, hit him with the SuperBonker 9,000, and drove him off of social media for like a month.
wjca
I have always thought of a new day, including Christmas, starting at midnight. Certainly that’s how we do New Year’s Day. However I’m aware that others do things diffetently. For example, Jewish practice starts a new day once three stars are visible after sunset. (Or would be, absent sky glow.)
Does Ukraine, or Eastern Orthodox Europe, follow that starting at sunset practice? Or is this just a glimmer of Zelenskyy being Jewish himself?
Adam L Silverman
@Lyrebird: @planetjanet: It is not a matter of not taking care of myself. Back at the end of September/beginning of October I took a job in a place I really wanted to live doing something I really like doing. It went poof because of a client side problem – they didn’t actually have the funds for the new program I was supposed to build and run for them – while I had begun the relocation. Now I’m stuck doing a job I don’t want to do in a place I don’t want to be. And to top it all off I’m burned out. Which is why I was looking forward to moving well away from here.
So now I’m trying to find a something where I’m no longer doing natsec work and that gets me the hell out of Floriduh. Because I’m burned out and not where I want to be living.
As I wrote it has been a fucked up three months.
If anyone knows of anyone who could use someone who produces excellent strategic assessments, policy analysis, and things like that, please feel free to push them my way.
Adam L Silverman
@wjca: I think its one part the star over Bethlehem and one part Jewish holidays start when there are three visible stars in the evening sky. But G&T or Dr. Luba may know better.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Adam L Silverman
@AlaskaReader: You’re welcome.
Traveller
My Eve of Christmas Eve pales in comparison to the heroism of Ukrainian Soldiers, but they might elicit a laugh…and besides, I need an excuse to wish everyone here, Adam of course, but everyone that reads and posts a Fine and Happy Holidays!
There was a moderately sized party going on at one of my Apartments when the kitchen light went out where my tenant was cooking for all their guests.
I received a frantic call for a quick repair since they couldn’t see to cook. Of course, I ran upstairs to hopefully fix the situation but considering it was an old fluorescent light bar, we considered it wise to run on down to Home Depot and buy something new that was in fact, LED, though I did not know that until I was checking out. Back at the apartment, I came to more fully realize how uncomfortable I am ceiling high on a paint ladder. Also, holding your arms up pulling out screws and fixtures is more tiring than I thought.
I had electric power at the light switch, I had power coming out of a ceiling junction box, or at least I thought so, but it must have been only because I had stretched the wiring when testing the current and so I went ahead with the installation process, audience of party goers included, as it grew increasingly dark with the approach of night.
Alas, while completing the wiring, red and blue and yellow sparks with great popping sounds flew out of the ceiling box, plunging the entire apartment into darkness. There were suitably awed “Ooohs and aahs,” as sparks flew and the lights went out. Then there was the foolishness of me trying to descend shakily from the ladder in the dark…none of this does a good Christmas Carol make.
What I ultimately did was set aside all this disassembly and I put up a Tiffany table lamp in their kitchen so that they could complete their cooking and continue the party after I got the main switch box working again. Voila, there was light to include their temporarily darkened Christmas tree. People were relieved my foolishness was coming to an end.
I taped everything off with electrical tape and put in calls to my electrician for I suppose, at the earliest, Tuesday.
It is best that I do not do electrical work. But good wishes and happiness for everyone here. Thanks for this continuing education of me. A fine Christmas present indeed! Traveller
Bill Arnold
@Adam L Silverman:
I’d add that you have an amazing work ethic.
Adam L Silverman
@Traveller: Glad you did not electrocute yourself!
Adam L Silverman
@Bill Arnold: Thank you.
Bill Arnold
Many thanks for that answer last night.
(Not going to let go of this chew toy until it is in complete shreds.)
What about the sale of surplus/obsolete ammunition, that does not need to be backfilled? E.g. two relevant parts of the US Code seem to be §2778. Control of arms exports and imports, which is long and complicated but seems to grant the President a lot of discretion, and this, which gives the Secretary of the Army some authority. (Bold is mine; some maybe-flexible bits. Dunno about Christine Wormuth.)
§7687. Sale of excess, obsolete, or unserviceable ammunition and ammunition components
Might be stretching “public interest”.
Timill
@Bill Arnold:
Let them sue. In the meantime, the ammo will be in Ukraine.
Lyrebird
@Adam L Silverman: Thanks for the explanations, and ouch, that does not sound like an enjoyable situation at all.
Wishing you a great opening in 2024!
ETA: just checking, are strategic assessments & policy analysis some of the things you really like doing?
dr. luba
@Adam L Silverman: Sorry, just saw this now. Many holidays begin on the eve or are celebrated on the eve–Kupalo, St. Andrews night, etc. Xmas is no exception.
Folks are supposed to fast until the first star is seen; only then can Sviat Vechir (Holy Night) proceed, with its ritual dinner or pagan origin.
Adam L Silverman
@Lyrebird: Yes. I just need to stop doing them for natsec. I need to do something else. So unless you know someone who needs a baker for their shop to make the day’s worth of cookies, cupcakes, cakes, baklava, brownies, pies, mousse, etc, then doing research intense strategy and policy work is probably where I’m going to have to plug in. But if you have something else in mind, shoot me an email.
dr. luba
@Adam L Silverman: About tonight, a few things I have written in my FB groups:
Most of our (Ukrainian) customs date back to antiquity, to the pagan era of our history. Although christian backstories have been created for some of our customs, truth be told, they predate the arrival of christianity to our land.
Sviat Vechir (now Xmas Eve) is one of those ancient rituals. It is a continuation of old pagan traditions which were adopted by the church when it couldn’t wipe them out. Kylymnyk notes that this night was not only the night when our dead ancestors came in from the cold to celebrate with us (they winter in the didukh, which is brought into the house this night), but also the night when the gods came to visit.
The didukh was brought into the house on Sviat Vechir; it was a sheaf formed of grain from the family’s fields, first, last, or best depending on local tradition. Ukrainians once believed the spirits of dead family members did not leave, but lived out in the fields and helped to grow the crops. In the winter they would come in, and live in the didukh. When the didukh was brought into the house, all of the family’s ancestors came with it.
Dazhboh came to see how people had used the gifts he gave them the last year, of good weather and fertility. Veles, the god who protected livestock, came to see how the livestock had been treated.
For Dazhboh, people wanted to show off their bountiful harvest; the food served that night should include a bit of everything the household/farm had produced that year: grains, vegetables, fruit, honey.
For Veles, the people wanted to show how well they had treated their animals. The animals themselves were given special foods that day, nicely groomed, and prayed for, so that when Veles questioned them, they would praise their master. And, of course, no meat or poultry were served that night, nor any animal products like milk or cheese. (Fish was OK because it was wild caught, and not farmed.)
Тhe number of dishes served varied throughout Ukraine; it could be 7, 12, 17, or some other number. Twelve was probably the most common, and they symbolized the 12 months of the year.
And bear in mind that the only two mandatory dishes were uzvar and kutia. Both are made from the simplest ingredients, which date back to, according to ethnographers, our hunter-gatherer days: grain, honey, poppy seeds, nuts and dried fruit.
An empty space was left at the table for the ancestors. Uzvar and kutia were left in the pokut, the corner with the family icons, for the ancestors to partake of. And other food would be left out, overnight, so they could enjoy it, too.
…….the meal would begin only after the first star was sighted. The meal always began with kutia, a mixture of grain (usually wheat), honey and poppyseeds.
Our ancestors believed that kutia was the food of the gods (uzvar was the drink of the gods). It is an ancient food–Khvedir Vovk, the Ukrainian ethnographer, believed it came to us from the neolithic era. Its component parts–grain (wheat or barley), honey and poppy seeds–are foods that were eaten by our ancestors at the dawn of history, when agriculture was first being established.
Kutia was prepared three times, all on “Eves”–Sviat Vechir (the eve of Rizdvo), the eve of the old New Year (January 13, Shchedryi vechir), and on the eve of Yordan (Vodokhreshchenia). They were known as Bahata kutia, Shchedra kutia, and Holodna kutia (rich, generous, and hungry kutia).
Kutia is one of the two “Mandatory” dishes for Sviat Vechir (uzvar being the other). A jar would be placed in the “corner” of the house where the icons were kept, and should remain there until the old New Year. On Sviat Vechir children often took servings of kutia to their godparents (and sometimes other relatives).
The ritual character of the dish is emphasized by the old custom, in which the head of the family approached the window, or went out into the courtyard with the kutia and, turning to the frost, invited him three times to come in to dinner with his family. When frost does join them, he is advised not to appear, do not do evil to the crops, etc.: “Frost, frost, come eat kutia with us, but if you do not come, do not come to the rye, wheat and all the pashnytsia.”
Kutia was served, usually first, and everyone shared. It was usually used to foretell a plentiful harvest and family happiness; a spoonful would be thrown at the ceiling–the more that stuck, the more bees and honey there would be. After dinner a portion was left on the table with everyone’s spoons stuck in it; this portion was for the souls of the deceased, and it was left overnight. If, in the morning, someone’s spoon was found turned upside down, that person was supposed to die in the next year.
Lyrebird
@dr. luba: Thank you Dr. Luba, that’s really interesting! I would’ve thought that kasha came before wheat, but apparently it came later.
way2blue
Thank you Adam. N.B., there’s a rural Austrian tradition to cleanse the rooms of your home of bad spirits with frankincense this time of year (Rauhnächte). If only we could do the same in Ukraine.
wjca
@dr. luba:
Thank you so much for all this.
Rest assured that Ukrainians are far from the only ones who had their traditions coopted, and sometimes repurposed. After all, that’s why Christmas is celebrated at the Winter Solstice. Rather than in the fall, right after the harvest (which is when the sheep would be in the fields, grazing on the stubble). Solstice was just too big a deal not to be replaced with something.