Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

Democrats are back in array!

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

Peak wingnut was a lie.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

I know this must be bad for Joe Biden, I just don’t know how.

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

Never give a known liar the benefit of the doubt.

Meanwhile over at truth Social, the former president is busy confessing to crimes.

Let there be snark.

Shut up, hissy kitty!

It’s pointless to bring up problems that can only be solved with a time machine.

with the Kraken taking a plea, the Cheese stands alone.

Fuck the extremist election deniers. What’s money for if not for keeping them out of office?

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

Happy indictment week to all who celebrate!

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

We’re not going back!

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

An unpunished coup is a training exercise.

Schmidt just says fuck it, opens a tea shop.

Please don’t feed the bears.

You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / War for Ukraine Day 676: Ukraine Has Entered 2024 Bloodied But Unbowed

War for Ukraine Day 676: Ukraine Has Entered 2024 Bloodied But Unbowed

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A screen shot of Nikita Titov's drawing of a Ukrainian yalynka (Christmas and New Year's tree). The tree is black on a white background. Within the tree are white outlines of explosions from Russian attacks and a small child kneeling in the bottom center with its hands over their eyes. The tree is topped with a Ukrainian tryzub (trident).

(Image by Nikita Titov)

Dr. Luba sent me the image above with the following explanation/description:

In Ukraine, in modern times, every home has a “yalynka” for the holidays. We would call them Christmas trees, but in Ukraine, during Stalin’s reign, New Year’s trees were encouraged, and NYD became a major holiday, with gift giving, feasting, etc.

So this seemed apropos

Very apropos, which is why we are starting with it tonight. Thank you Dr. Luba!

Instead of the results of the year, only the obvious truth. Let’s wake up the world!

#neivanmade
#nazva

Here is President Zelenskyy’s New Year address. Video below, English transcript after the jump.

New Year address by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy

31 December 2023 – 23:39

Dear people! Dear Ukraine!

The year 2023 is coming to an end. Another year of our independence. Another year of our fight for independence. Another year of war. War for our land. For our freedom. For each other.

Asking millions of Ukrainians about this year, you will get millions of different answers. Everyone will recall something of their own. Someone close to them. Everyone has something to smile about. Because it worked out. And everyone has something to cry over. Because of losses. Each of us fought, worked, waited, helped, lived and hoped this year. In our own way. Everyone.

But everyone will find something common to all Ukrainians in this year. The major result of the year, its main achievement: Ukraine has become stronger. Ukrainians have become stronger.

676 days ago, we were all challenged. Missiles were flying at us from all sides, and an enemy onslaught was approaching from all directions.

676 days ago, at this very place, I addressed you, Ukrainians, and reported the beginning of a full-scale war. We did not know then what lay ahead. Many did not believe we would last a week. Few believed we would make it through 2022, let alone standing through 2023. And today we are facing 2024.

Ukraine is alive. Ukraine lives. Ukraine fights. Ukraine advances, Ukraine overcomes the path. Ukraine gains. Ukraine works. Ukraine exists. And all together, this is not a New Year’s miracle, not a fairy tale, not magic, but the merit of each of you. Each of the millions of Ukrainians. Everyone who throughout this year, day and night, proved: Ukrainians are stronger!

When, at the beginning of 2023, in January and February, we surmounted, without exaggeration, the most difficult winter in history. When we proved that Ukrainians are tougher than cold and darkness. Stronger than power outages and blackout threats. Ukrainians will cope with any energy shortage as they have no shortage of resilience and courage. We did not fade away in the darkness. The darkness did not engulf us. We defeated the darkness.

Our energy sector withstood. Our country stood strong. It overcame this year. And I want to thank all those who made this possible in the first place.

All our Security and Defense Forces. I am proud of every Ukrainian warrior. As long as you stand, Ukraine stands. I know how courageously and heroically you defend us. All this time. The time of tough, fierce daily battles. From the first minutes of January 1 until now, even on New Year’s Eve, when the Ukrainian warrior fights and cannot afford weakness. You are holding back the evil that has become even greater. But it couldn’t do anything more. Because you fought on every front and every street of ours, in each of our houses. You were strong. You did not surrender a single blue-and-yellow heart. Not a single kilometer of our freedom. It is you. All our warriors. Each and every one who proves: Ukrainians are stronger than evil.

And I want to thank all our people, our strong nation. Everyone who is here today. Everyone whom I want to tell: I am proud of all of you. Every Ukrainian citizen. Every strong person. And I know how difficult it is for everyone today. Everyone who has put their lives on hold. Who postponed everything for after the victory. Everyone who says: “I am working, and this is not a feat, but a duty. I am donating, and this is not a feat, but a norm.” Everyone who works and fights every day because they know that wars do not end by themselves – they are ended. And victory is not received or granted – it is gained.

And to this end, today we have to live by the rule: you either work or you fight. Because we have the world’s largest terrorist organization against us. And it is obvious how much more we have to do, how much more active we have to be, how much stronger our unity and struggle have to be.

This is known to everyone who does not ask themselves daily ‘what can I do?’ but lives by the formula ‘I must do more than I can.’ Because that’s what the word ‘to win’ means. In our language. To overcome yourself, to overpower, to make an extraordinary effort and to do more than it seemed at first glance. Because in reality, each of us is capable of more.

Our heroic people prove this every day. Our heroes. Our medics, saving warriors on the frontline and civilians in peaceful cities and villages. Those who prove: Ukrainians are stronger than pain, wounds, and death. Our firefighters and rescuers, who show that Ukrainians are stronger than fire and rubble. Those who prove: Ukrainians are stronger than any circumstances, stronger than hopelessness. Our teachers, who educate children despite the war. Online, in person or by setting up a school in the Kharkiv subway. Our railway workers, our drivers, communication workers, engineers. Our volunteers, our diplomats, Ukrainian business, everyone who pays taxes and provides jobs to the Ukrainians, everyone who sows, reaps and gives Ukrainians bread, everyone who provides shelter to Ukrainians, everyone who makes shells and ammunition, repairs and builds, restores and revives, works every day, proves every day: Ukrainians are stronger than fatigue. And therefore, Ukrainians are stronger than this war. February 24 convinced us of this.

The war taught us a lot. It showed us a lot. It did a lot to us, changed us.

The war, unfortunately, separated families, took away sons and daughters, and at the same time united us into one big family. And on February 24, we made a choice. And the cold, emotionless truth of the war’s realities is that this choice was different.

Someone stayed here, in Ukraine, someone fled, someone was besieged, someone evacuated their children, someone went to the front, someone rescued others, someone saved their family, someone left and stayed there, and someone left and returned home. To Ukraine.

And these are stories of people, stories of men and women. Those who could not stay at home and went to the front. And those who could no longer stay abroad, somewhere far from home, and returned. After realizing and saying to themselves: “I do care. I am needed. Needed for victory, needed for Ukraine.” Those who proved: I am stronger than fear. Those who proved: I am stronger than doubts. Because I know that one day I will have to ask myself: who am I? To make a choice about who I want to be. A victim or a winner? A refugee or a citizen? And everyone knows the answer. And the answer is Ukraine. Because Ukrainians are stronger together. So it’s time to be together!

And this is the time that all Ukrainians who are now in the temporarily occupied territories are eagerly waiting for. All those who have not lost Ukraine in themselves. Who have not allowed their minds and hearts to be occupied. All those who cherish Ukraine in their children. Cherish our flag. Hold onto the belief in Ukraine’s return. Knowing that all expectations are not in vain. And I want you to feel our gratitude to you for this. And remember: without each and every one of you, Ukraine will be incomplete.

And today we are celebrating the New Year together. According to our time. And at exactly midnight we will sing our anthem – the anthem of Ukraine together. With love for Ukraine. And this love is stronger than the occupation. This love for Ukraine is the driving force that the invaders fear. And Crimea, Donbas, Luhansk region, Berdyansk, Melitopol, Mariupol – all ours – know this: the enemies truly fear you a lot. Not international organizations with political appeals, but the Ukrainian spirit of Ukrainian people who have proven, are proving, and will prove that we are stronger. Stronger than captivity. Stronger than the enemy. Stronger than this war. Because that’s the kind of people we are.

And such people inspire the whole world – you can see that. And such a state is welcome in the European family. This is evidenced by the decision to open negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU. A decision that others have been pursuing for decades. A decision that was once hard to believe, about which skeptics claimed: “This is not fast, not tomorrow, almost impossible. Do not hope, do not believe, do not expect.” But Ukraine of 2023 is determined, resolute, consistent, decisive, and persistent. Ukrainians are stronger than any blockades and vetoes, disbelief or skepticism. A country that is implementing extremely difficult and necessary reforms and changes during the war. And as a result, a country that is now awaited in the European Union. And these are not just words – these are official decisions, official documents. And this process will definitely have a logical conclusion – full-fledged membership in strong Europe. A powerful one. From Lisbon to Luhansk.

And this is a historic victory. There have been many such diplomatic victories this year. And all of them were not easy for us. The Ukrainian Peace Formula, which has already been endorsed by 80 countries. Security guarantees for Ukraine, which have already been acceded to by three dozen countries. The “grain corridor” that we were told of: “You will never make it without Russia.” We were blocked and blackmailed, but we found a way out. We did, and our corridor is functioning, and by today, it has handled nearly 13 million tons of Ukrainian grain. This year, Ukrainians proved that we are stronger than lies, stronger than PSYOP. Stronger than despair, discord, and despondency. By maintaining international support for Ukraine. And multiplying it. By opening new directions, new prospects for Ukraine. Having held 120 meetings at the level of leaders this year alone, which brought us 156 defense support packages alone. Proving once again that Ukrainians are stronger than any intrigues, any attempts to diminish global solidarity, to undermine the coalition of our allies. Instead, it has grown. The coalition of “Patriots”, the air coalition, the tank coalition.

And I would like to thank every country that has joined the coalition to return Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. And I thank all our partners for the fact that this year we already have Patriots, IRIS-T, HIMARS, NASAMS, Hawk, Abrams, Leopards and many more. And our pilots are already mastering F-16 jets, and we will definitely see them in our skies. So that our enemies can certainly see what our real wrath is.

And next year, the enemy will feel the wrath of domestic production. Our weapons, our equipment, artillery, our shells, our drones, our naval “greetings” to the enemy and at least a million Ukrainian FPV drones. All of which we will generously use. On land, in the sky and, of course, at sea. Our Black Sea. And this year, the enemy felt like never before: he has no place there. And our actions in the Black Sea have become a dark chapter in the history of the ruscists’ fleet.

This can be officially “confirmed” by their large landing ships, missile-armed and patrol corvettes on the bottom of the sea. And our Zmiinyi (Snake Island) is now without their snakes and tricolor.

Fellow Ukrainians!

This year, Ukraine has overcome 6,000 air alerts. Almost every night, it woke up to sirens and went down to the shelter to protect its children from enemy missiles and drones. Our air defense forces worked every night and every day, heroically defending the Ukrainian skies. So that we could hear the ‘all clear’ call 6 thousand times. And go up 6 thousand times. Go upstairs. Look up into the sky and prove once again that Ukrainians are stronger than terror.

And no matter how many missiles the enemy fires, no matter how many shellings and attacks – vile, ruthless, massive – the enemy carries out in an attempt to break Ukrainians, intimidate them, knock Ukraine down, drive them underground, we will still rise. Because the one who brings hell to our land will one day see it from his own window.

676 days ago, I addressed you from this office, from my workplace.

Behind me then was a painting – a landscape of the Ukrainian land. Today, behind me are the chevrons of our warriors. And each of them speaks of our land, our sky, all of our Ukraine, our people, what we have accomplished and what we will achieve. They speak of everyone fallen. And everyone who is fighting. And everyone who will live on this land. And will be proud to be Ukrainian. Because the whole world will know: Ukrainians are stronger!

I wish everyone who has already found themselves in our common cause to always have those who will lend a shoulder and will not let you down in life. I wish everyone who is still hesitating to make a bold choice next year – to defend their own country, to work for it, to help it, to find themselves in their own country, because this is the only place on earth where we can all say that we are at home.

And just like last December 31, today we say: “We do not know for certain what the new year will bring us.” But this year we can add: “Whatever it brings, we will be stronger.”

And now I want to say the words that were considered banal before the war, but during the war they are priceless.

I wish you, your families, your loved ones, and all your dear ones warmth and good health.

To those who have a dear heart, may they live long. To those who have lost them, may they remain in your hearts.

To loved ones – time. As much time as possible.

To children – fulfillment of your wishes.

To all people – human happiness.

And to our Ukraine – victory and peace.

Happy New Year, Ukrainians! 

Happy New Year, Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!

The Ukrainian New Year is not only a time for greetings, but also for action.

Not only for wishes, but also for doing everything possible to make them come true.

We, the Ukrainians, understand better than anybody else that a better future does not come by itself, but only because we defend each of our tomorrows.

Our New Year will be what we make it.

The New Year’s miracle, but also the year-round miracle, is all of you: dedicated, responsible, caring, and effective.

Olena @ZelenskaUA and I wish the people who defend a free and secure future life and vigour, not only for themselves, but for the whole world.

 

🎄🇺🇦 See you soon

Kyiv:

“We thought Russian attacks might hinder us, but we decided to go anyway, to sing in the metro if needed” says Lyudmyla from Velyka Dymerka, who came to Kyiv to raise funds for AFU.

These people endured occupation, have their dearest in the trenches, and despite everything, gathered for Malanka. I wish all of us to preserve this resilience, not lose unity, and find some peace in the coming year 🫶🏻🎄

Zaporizhzhia Oblast:

Left bank of the Dnipro, Russian occupied Kherson Oblast:

Stepove, Avdiivka front:

Kharkiv:

Russian occupied Donetsk Oblast:

At around 00:00, the “Donbass Palace” (lol) hotel in Donetsk was shelled, resulting in the deaths of Russian “military correspondents”, as reported by the Russian propagandist Sladkov. Judging by the commentary, the losses are quite sensitive – we’re most likely to find out the victims soon.

As of now, 4 people are confirmed dead.

Here’s the full screen grab of Dmitri’s translation:

Screen shot of Dmitri's English translation of a Russian statement regarding the attack on the Donbas Palace Hotel in Russian occupied Donetsk Oblast.

I don’t trust anything Russian propagandists says, so we’ll have to wait and see what the actual details about who was actually responsible and how many were killed or wounded surrounding this are. Especially as Russia clearly targeted a hotel in Kharkiv yesterday where the foreign news media was staying as they report on the war. And that this Russian targeting – of locations where the foreign news media stays and/or works – is a regular and recurring aspect of Russia’s targeting in their genocidal re-invasion of Ukraine.

Sevastopol, Russian occupied Crimea:

Kherson Oblast:

Most of all, I want to thank you for supporting this channel and Ukraine in the outgoing 2023 year. In 2023, you helped: to provide a team of volunteer doctors with an ambulance; to help Kherson rescuers with motors for boats when the Kakhovka dam was blown up; to provide various Ukrainian units with dozens of reconnaissance drones; Ukrainian units also were provided with six pickup trucks thanks to your help. And in the new 2024 year, our FPV drones will appear at the front for the first time.

❤️What I want to say is that without your support I would not have even dreamed that I would be able to support Ukrainian defenders as I do now!

🫶Thank you everyone for being with Ukraine in 2023 and see you in the new year!!

🛸P.S: If you would like to help complete the last this years Special Kherson Cat & @69thSB campaign to provide more FPV drones to 79th Brigade – https://help99.co/patches/special-kherson-cat-5th-patches-campaign-christmas-edition

☕️ Or if you would like to support me personally and make a small New Year’s gift on buymeacoffee – https://buymeacoffee.com/JrQlUcbEk4

More from Prague, Czechia:

Here’s the letter:

Screen shot of the Czech ambassador to the UN's response to Russian's attempt to summon them for a meeting.

Russia and Russian occupied and held portions of Ukraine:

I have now done two of these New Years’ posts while Ukraine has been at war defending itself against Russia’s genocidal re-invasion. What I would very much like for 2024 is to not have to do a third.

That is enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

And a new video from Patron’s official TikTok!

@patron__dsns

З Новим роком!❤️🐾 #песпатрон

♬ оригинальный звук – 🇺🇦

Here’s the machine translation of the caption:

Happy New Year! ❤️🐾 #песпатрон

Happy New Year to those who celebrate that. I DO NOT because I DO NOT believe things will get any better next year as they have not any other year, so please DO NOT wish me a happy 2024 in the comments.

Open thread!

Reader Interactions

26Comments

  7. 7.

    Bex

    I watched Zelenskyy’s New Years address with Ukrainian subtitles even though I don’t speak or read the language.  So what?  He still hit it out of the park.  I wish Ukraine and Zelenskyy a great 2024, and this quote from Winston Churchill:  “It’s the courage to continue that counts.”

  8. 8.

    Alison Rose

    I won’t wish a Happy New Year, but rather a Better New Year, which I admit is a low bar, but…Це життя. And to Ukraine, I will wish (using Google Translate so this is probably not perfect): Рік перемоги для України і поразки для ворога.

    Zelenskyy’s address was wonderful, as always. The few brief clips of him making his address at the beginning of the war are a bit surreal. First, seeing him in a suit jacket, but also, he looks ten years younger. Probably feels so to him, too.

    Thank you as always, Adam. Your tireless work on these updates is more valuable than I can put into words.

  10. 10.

    Andrya

    Only one thing matters- pressure Pres. Biden with everything we’ve got to do the emergency thing to release arms for Ukraine in spite of the damned Republicans.  Nothing else matters.  Also pressure your Democratic senators/congresscritters to pressure Biden.

    I won’t wish you a happy new year, since you asked us not to, but I will say thanks.

  13. 13.

    Another Scott

    @Andrya: If only it worked that way.

    The “emergency thing” with Israel is an emergency arms sale and bypasses some Congressional oversight processes normally present in arms sales.

    The big program transferring arms to Ukraine comes from presidendential drawdown authorities from Congress.  It’s not a sale and it’s not the same process.

    Does a similar arms sales process now exist for Ukraine? Good question. I don’t know. We have had one in the past, but at a much smaller scale than Ukraine needs now.:

    Third Party Transfers (TPT)

    In advance of Russia’s invasion and after the outbreak of war in February 2022, the United States approved Third Party Transfers from 14 NATO Allies and close partners to provide U.S.-origin equipment from their inventories for use by Ukrainian forces.  Deliveries to date include almost 12,000 anti-armor systems of all types; more than 1,550 anti-air missiles; radars; night vision devices; machine guns; rifles and ammunition; and body armor.  The contributions from our partners and Allies are vital and appreciated.

    Foreign Military Sales

    The United States has $595.9 million in active government-to-government sales cases with Ukraine under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) system.  FMS sales notified to Congress are listed on the DSCA website, and significant prior sales include the: 2022 sale of non-standard artillery ammunition;  2018 sale of 210 Javelin anti-armor missiles, which first provided Ukraine with a critical anti-armor capability; the 2019 sale of 150 additional Javelins; and the 2020 Mark VI patrol boats sale.  The Javelin sales were funded by a mixture of State Department FMF funds and Ukrainian national funds.

    Direct Commercial Sales

    From 2015 through 2020, the United States also authorized the permanent export of over $274 million in defense articles and services to Ukraine via Direct Commercial Sales (DCS).  The top categories of DCS exports to Ukraine during that period were Category III: Ammunition and Ordnance ($88 million); Category XII: Fire Control, Laser, Imaging, and Guidance Equipment, ($69 million); and Category XI: Military Electronics ($22 million).

    Border Security

    Since 2017, the Department of State’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation has provided over $34.8 million in Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining, and Related Programs support to Ukraine through the Export Control and Border Security (EXBS) Program. The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS) has been a primary recipient of EXBS assistance. EXBS also provided assistance to Ukraine Customs and export control and sanctions authorities. Until Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, a major focus of EXBS efforts was the development of SBGS’s Maritime Border Guard operational and sustainment capabilities to replace capabilities lost during Russia’s unlawful annexation of Crimea and introduce modernized equipment, training, and procedures. EXBS also provided advisory and equipment assistance for SBGS land border elements. Following Russia’s further invasion in February 2022, EXBS transitioned to providing non-lethal assistance and continued advisory support to the SBGS and other government partners. In addition, EXBS is also providing $6.9 million in regional NADR funding to support sanctions and export control implementation to respond to Russia’s aggression.

    Much more at the link.

    Biden’s Supplemental request for Ukraine, Israel, the Far East, and the US border is much, much larger than the programs above.

    Starting up a new FY24 “lend-lease” program may help as well, but there must be restrictions somewhere else about completely emptying out DoD warehouses or there wouldn’t need to be “drawdown authority”, right? This stuff has lots and lots of moving parts…

    HTH a little. Corrections welcome.

    Slava Ukraini!!

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  16. 16.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Another Scott: The issue, as I’ve repeatedly explained, is not that we do not have an authorization for Lend-Lease or draw down for Ukraine. The problem is there is no appropriation to replace what we would be sending them under Lend-Lease, draw down, or both. Until/unless that appropriation passes, we won’t send them anything because we have no funding to replace what we’re sending. Either with the same thing or with the next generation of weapon systems and munitions.

  19. 19.

    YY_Sima Qian

    @Adam L Silverman: The US/EU could provide economic aid (either in the form of grants or nominal interest loans), & Ukraine can use that aid to purchase US/EU weaponry. Then it becomes a sale, rather than drawing down existing stock.

  20. 20.

    Adam L Silverman

    @YY_Sima Qian: The US requires congressional authorization and appropriation to provide the money or to issue the loans and further congressional authorization to approve the sales. The Democratic senators are already pushing back on the two emergency authorization waivers for Israel and Ron Johnson has stated he’s managed to sidetrack the border security negotiations for Ukraine aid deal till at least 18 January 2024. And that he’s lined up at least 14 other GOP senators to prevent it.

  21. 21.

    YY_Sima Qian

    @Adam L Silverman: Thanks for the explanation. Just to make sure I understand correctly, some Dem Senators are looking to slow the emergency sale of arms to Israel (a good thing IMO), while Ron Johnson is looking to delay/derail the aid to Ukraine (definitely bad)?

  22. 22.

    Adam L Silverman

    @YY_Sima Qian: Kane and Van Hollen issued statements admonishing Biden for the two waivers for Israel that bypassed Congress. Johnson has already delayed it until the GOP Senate caucus meeting he called for in mid January 2024. He is trying to completely derail it. He has 14 other GOP senators lined up so far.

  24. 24.

    way2blue

    Adam.  May your New Year’s wish come true.  Thank you yet again for your evening posts.  They’ve convinced me that all the enlightened, new world order–put in place after WWII–means little w/o the military wherewithal to back it up & the resolve to use it when ‘speaking softly’ no longer works.  May our political leaders step up in the year ahead.  And crush this reversion to the before times.

    p.s.  The ‘Yalynka’ photo of Zelenskyy & his wife is lovely.  Both clear eyed & stoic.

Comments are closed.