From 4 hours ago:
⚡️Explosions sound in Kyiv.
Following an air raid alert and warnings of drone attacks, Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said that air defense was working in the city.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) January 12, 2024
Air raid alert in Kyiv now, coming shortly after Rishi Sunak’s departure from the Ukrainian capital. Explosions from defense systems audible on the outskirts of the city, as another Russian aerial attack is underway.
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) January 12, 2024
Sirens in Kyiv. Telegram channels report Shahed drones en route…
— Mark MacKinnon (@markmackinnon) January 12, 2024
Right now – 9:30 PM EST – the air alert tracker for Ukraine is clear except for the northwestern corner of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Russian occupied Luhansk Oblast and Russian occupied Crimea. The former is under artillery fire alert and the latter two are under the usual 24/7 air raid alerts.
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
We shape a model of security agreements for our time – address of the President of Ukraine
12 January 2024 – 20:09
I wish you good health, dear Ukrainians!
This day has already entered the history of our state: today, we have an agreement with the UK, a security agreement that we have been working on for a long time. It is the first bilateral agreement implementing the G7 basic understanding of security commitments for Ukraine, our defense, our security growth. Various aspects. Direct annual support. We have secured the financial support for this year – GBP 2.5 billion. And overall, during the ten-year agreement period there will be a substantial amount of support every year. It includes weapons. And support for our defense sector. Our intelligence. Sanctions against Russia. Work on Russian assets. Protection against Russian cyber attacks – everything related to modern technologies. It is indeed a very serious and modern agreement.
Many have heard about exemplary security agreements of the 20th century between the United States and Israel and some other similar agreements. Now, we have shaped such a model for our time – something that gives us confidence now, while we defend ourselves from Russian aggression, and establishes our strong security positions throughout the period until Ukraine joins NATO.
Our key security goal is the Alliance. And now, based on this agreement with the UK, we are working with other partners on bilateral agreements. Nearly 30 states have already joined the G7basic understanding. I am grateful to every state, every leader who is already working with us on security. To all those who will join us this year. And, of course, I thank the UK and personally Prime Minister Sunak for being first and your leadership.
Today in Kyiv, I met U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker. We discussed in detail the steps needed for our resilience. We are eagerly awaiting the decision of Congress regarding further support for Ukraine – support that matters not only to us but also to every state whose stability depends on the strength of international law. We must win this battle, and I thank everyone in America – everyone who helps us preserve freedom.
We discussed preparations for the Davos summit with Ms. Pritzker. There will be an important meeting on the Peace Formula, many talks on the economic strengthening of Ukraine, our recovery, and our defense partnerships with leading countries and companies. This year should bring concrete results for Ukraine’s defense industry – and it will. Our arsenal will become stronger.
And, of course, I want to thank all our friends in the Baltic States – the three visits were very fruitful. Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia. There are decisions regarding weapons for our warriors, regarding economic support for Ukraine. Support for our relations with the European Union. Our movement towards NATO. I would also like to thank our partners for supporting our vision regarding Russian assets. Everything that Russia and its affiliates have brought into global jurisdictions must be identified, frozen, and later used to protect against Russian actions. We must make this a global rule: whoever destroys must pay the highest price for the ruins.
I thank everyone in the world who is helping! Thank you to all who fight and work for Ukraine! I am proud of our people! It is thanks to the strength of our people that world leaders take notice of Ukraine and want to see Ukraine as their partner. As their ally. We must all be worthy of the potential that Ukraine has.
Glory to Ukraine!
And here’s the video of the joint press conference with PM Sunak:
Today, the UK announced the largest package of defense aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the war valued at £ 2.5 billion.
The capabilities of this package includes additional equipment for air defense, anti-tank weapons, long-range missiles, and thousands of shells. The UK…
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) January 12, 2024
Today, the UK announced the largest package of defense aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the war valued at £ 2.5 billion.
The capabilities of this package includes additional equipment for air defense, anti-tank weapons, long-range missiles, and thousands of shells. The UK will also allocate £ 200 million for the production of various drones for the Ukrainian military: reconnaissance drones, long-range attack drones, as well as FPV drones.
Ukraine and the UK also signed a security agreement.
We are grateful to our British friends for their staunch support.
That’s an extremely important contribution to our victory!
🇺🇦🤝🇬🇧
@DefenceHQ
The cost:
От і все. Спочивай, Макс, там більше нема болю, війни, холоду.
Шо буде завтра я не розумію pic.twitter.com/rffYE5Yafb— Салон у Кітті (@ayn_Sutton) January 12, 2024
That’s all. Rest in peace, Max, there is no more pain, no more war, no more cold.
I don’t know what will happen tomorrow
Avdiivka front:
/2. Presumably this is the T-90M after it was abandoned by the crew. https://t.co/rCLtDL7ToT
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) January 13, 2024
Bradley IFV of the 47th Brigade of Ukraine engages in a battle with Russian T-90M, Avdiivka front. (Bradley is in foreground while T-90M is in the middle of the village). At the end of the video it’s visible that tank most likely received significant damage as the crew cannot control the turret rotation. Video speed x5.
https://t.me/WarArchive_ua/9564
A Bradley in Ukrainan hands brutally taking out a Russian T-90…
Western aid to the Ukrainan military gives excellent results and it can absolutely realistically bring this war to an end on the free world’s terms (which is – a long-lasting peace in Europe).
Significant…
— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) January 13, 2024
A Bradley in Ukrainan hands brutally taking out a Russian T-90…
Western aid to the Ukrainan military gives excellent results and it can absolutely realistically bring this war to an end on the free world’s terms (which is – a long-lasting peace in Europe).
Significant quantities and timely deliveries are necessary. Self-imposed weakness, procrastination, and endless deliberations do not work.
Resisting and combating the evil does.
Sumy Oblast:
⚡️Russian forces shell Sumy Oblast 260 times in one day.
Russian forces shelled Sumy Oblast 260 times, firing at 12 communities along the border on Jan. 12, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported.https://t.co/6KRYOnUtuJ
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) January 12, 2024
From The Kyiv Independent:
Russian forces shelled Sumy Oblast 260 times, firing at 12 communities along the border on Jan. 12, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported.
The Russian military fired on the communities of Bilopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Myropillia, Znob-Novhorodske, Svesy, Esman, Khotin, Krasnopillia, Druzhbiv, Seredyna-Buda, Shalyhyne, and Yunakivka. Throughout the day, Russian assailed the border communities with mortar and artillery attacks, while dropping mines onto two settlements.
No casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure were reported.
The town of Seredyna-Buda, with a pre-war population of about 7,000 residents, experienced the most intense attacks with 45 explosions recorded in the area. The community is located directly on the Ukraine-Russia border.
Shelling is a daily occurrence for the communities near Ukraine’s northeastern border with Russia. Residents in the region’s vulnerable border settlements experience multiple attacks per day.
Russian occupied Donetsk Oblast:
/2. Bylina was destroyed in Donetsk.
48.059552, 37.765683https://t.co/KSvRk4BfJy pic.twitter.com/VkyoJFBgEh— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) January 12, 2024
Kupyansk front:
A tank and a Swedish CV-90 support Ukrainian infantry during the assault on Russian positions. Video by the 14th Brigade. Kupyansk front. pic.twitter.com/HwsDjORu7o
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) January 12, 2024
Here’s some good news about the preservation of Ukrainian art and its history. First tweet/quote tweet from the thread, the rest from the Thread Reader App:
In 2022, russians destroyed a museum of famous Ukrainian genius Maria #Prymachenko. Fortunately, courageous local residents saved her paintings, some of which show the haunting realities of horrible war she personally endured in her time. #UkrainianArt https://t.co/f5c47lRuAa
— Oksana Markarova (@OMarkarova) January 13, 2024
❌She was uneducated and had no art education ✅ She studied for four years in the school, which was typical for peasants. She had no academic art education, but her mum taught her embroidery and 🇺🇦 traditional art. In Kyiv she graduated from Masters of Folk Art School.❌She painted only naive animals and flowers. ✅ Her works were about different topics – the trauma of war, the cold war and nuclear terror, the Chornobyl catastrophe, alcohol addiction, Ukrainian songs, etc.
“May be cursed nuclear war”, 1989❌She never left her village. ✅She studied in Kyiv where the Central Experimental Studios of Folk Art and then (after the Second World War) she visited the city for the openings of her exhibitions, and to visit friends (like Alla Horska, Lidia Orel, etc). But she never left 🇺🇦❌She was rich because she was famous. ✅She had many exhibitions even abroad, but she lived very modestly in the village. Serhiy Parajanov remembers that Prymachenko asked to gift her cement because it was hard to find everything.❌We know everything about her. ✅There are not so many researchers about her and her art. That’s why there are still so many myths about Prymachenko and she’s still considered as just a naive artist, but she was so much more than that.❌Russian war on Ukraine doesn’t affect her heritage. ✅Unfortunately in February 2022 museum in Ivankiv where many of her works (as well as ceramics, and embroidery) were destroyed. About 15 works were saved by courageous museum workers. For example this “Blue Bull”, 1947Maria Prymachenko Family Foundation wants to build a new museum in her native village Bolotnya (can you imagine there is still no museum of Prymachenko?). You can support them and buy clothes with her works – ukrainianbeasts.comAnd of course, if you want to know more – here is a book with my article about Prymachenko and why she is so important for Ukrainian art through the years, they are shipping worldwide. rodovid.net/product/298/ma…
Some lucky book publisher who understands the importance of this and cares about Ukraine and its contribution to the art world should pick this up and put it out in English. https://t.co/F8vnYJAKyk
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) January 12, 2024
Forgot to tell you – I’m writing a book about Prymachenko ❤️✨
I’ve already signed a contract and started the research.
The book will be in Ukrainian, but if you are interested in English version – let me know.
One of my favourite idillic works of Prymachenko
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
And here’s the songhttps://t.co/JwL2nNFW5P
— Patron (@PatronDsns) January 12, 2024
Open thread!
Tom Levenson
That music video is…
Well, it’s damn dusty in here.
Alison Rose
Ooh, I really like Prymachenko’s work. The bold colors and rounded lines and such are all very appealing.
Was very glad to see the news from the UK. I know it doesn’t replace what the US ought to be doing, but it’s still good to see them doing what they can. I know Sunak is, let’s say, not perfect, but I’m glad he is continuing the country’s support for Ukraine. (It was also the one thing about Boris that I’d count as a plus.)
Thank you as always, Adam.
YY_Sima Qian
While quite welcome at a time when the material support from the US especially is sputtering, frankly I question the sustainability of the UK’s support, given the state of its economy, the Tories defunding all kinds of social welfare services, & other reactionary domestic policies in general. At some point things will come to a head.
I get the sense that the successive Tory governments just want to maintain the UK’s pretense of a globally relevant & influential power, in wake of Brexit, even as the foundations of the country is collapsing under their feet.
Andrya
To add a bit about the art destruction issue- Ukraine inherited incredible gold jewelry from the Scythians (an Iranian-speaking people who lived in Ukraine in the first millennium BCE). Needless to say, the russians looted everything they could get their hands on both in 2014 and during the current war (link). Fortunately, due to russian pervasive corruption, some of the 2014 loot was sold abroad where it could be recovered (link) and, in 2014, some of the Scythian gold from Crimea was on loan to a Dutch museum to the russians could not get to it (link).
As always, thanks for doing this, Adam.
YY_Sima Qian
It’s clear that, should Russia manage to subjugate Ukraine, it will mostly definitely carry out cultural genocide to erase the Ukrainians as a distinct people. I am not one to throw around the term “genocide” freely, & in fact I have found the term so grossly overused in recent decades to morally posture or otherwise gain advantage in political & geopolitical arguments such that it is in danger of losing meaning in common discourse. There is also no internationally agreed upon legal definition of cultural genocide, which is why it is not a prosecutable crime under international law (AFAIK). However, regardless how one might reasonably define cultural genocide, what Putin is doing & has demonstrated intent to do qualify.
Yarrow
Thank you, Adam. Good for the UK. Glad they’re stepping up.
That artwork is amazing. Thank you for sharing it.
Gin & Tonic
@YY_Sima Qian: Russia has been attempting to erase Ukrainians as a distinct people for centuries.
YY_Sima Qian
OT, Huffington Post is reporting that the Biden Administration’s plans for the “Day After” in Gaza is more of the same regional strategy from before Oct. 7 promoted by Brett McGurk, but only faster! IMHO, that seems to be detached from reality, as other Administration officials have made plain (albeit anonymously).
Then there is the interview of NSC Spokesman John Kirby, by Isaac Chotiner in the New Yorker. There was so much dissembling & gaslighting in there that it managed to piss me off.
YY_Sima Qian
@Gin & Tonic: Quite right, this is merely the latest iteration. However, parts of the modern world might frown upon such attempts, especially carried out through force of arms. In centuries past, it was par for the course.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Redshift
The copy of the Patron book in English I bought as a Christmas present for Ms Redshift arrived today! I’ve gotten no updates on where it was since it arrived the the US the or four weeks ago. If it had gotten lost, well, then I made a donation to Patron’s fund for sappers, and I was okay with that. But it’s here, and it’s great!
dr. luba
The Prymachenko book shown above is lovely. I got my copy last month; haven’t had a chance to read it yet, but the paintings are wonderful.
I’ve been a fan for years. For the last couple of years, I’ve been posting one of her paintings on my FB feed daily.
Ten years ago it was discovered that the Finnish firm Marimekko had plagiarized her work for their textile designs, and then FinnAir painted this image on their Airbuses.
Jesse
Thank you, Adam.
AJ of the Mustard Search and Rescue Team
Thank you so much for these Adam. I know a lot of us read them religiously.
Origuy
Another Scott
@Origuy:
KyivIndependent.com:
Hmm…
Slava Ukraini!!
Cheers,
Scott.