Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

If you cannot answer whether trump lost the 2020 election, you are unfit for office.

Never forget that he train is barreling down on Trump, even as he dances on the tracks.

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

Let the trolls come, and then ignore them. that’s the worst thing you can do to a troll.

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

An unpunished coup is a training exercise.

Wake up. Grow up. Get in the fight.

Michigan is a great lesson for Dems everywhere: when you have power…use it!

When we show up, we win.

Never give a known liar the benefit of the doubt.

I like you, you’re my kind of trouble.

The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

Well, whatever it is, it’s better than being a Republican.

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

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

Take hopelessness and turn it into resilience.

We need to vote them all out and restore sane Democratic government.

The lights are all blinking red.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

SCOTUS: It’s not “bribery” unless it comes from the Bribery region of France. Otherwise, it’s merely “sparkling malfeasance”.

In short, I come down firmly on all sides of the issue.

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

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

Baby steps, because the Republican Party is full of angry babies.

You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / War for Ukraine Day 763: Kharkiv Once Again in the Crosshairs!

War for Ukraine Day 763: Kharkiv Once Again in the Crosshairs!

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Screen shot of new artwork by NEIVANMADE. The background is black. In the bottom foreground are grey Ukrainian homes and apartment buildings being bombarded by red Russian missiles with the Special Military Operation "Z" symbol on them. Above the missiles, written in red is the word "Ruzzians". Below the buildings being attacked is the statement "Turns Homes Into Graves".

(Image by NEIVANMADE)

Four quick housekeeping notes. First, this is going to be as brief as I can make it tonight as it was a long day. Second, could we possibly not argue with the Jewish commenters about when a swastika is or is not a Nazi or neo-Nazi symbol? As far as I know most Jews know that the Nazis took a symbol used by dozens of religions around the world and perverted it. At the same time we know when it is being used by neo-Nazis or their fellow travelers. Third, nock the eliminationism in the comments off. Even if, in regard to say a religious belief/faith tradition, you think you’re suggesting that it wither away because people just give up on it, there’s no way to make your point that doesn’t sound like you’re calling for mass violence. I really don’t have to bother Cole right now with an explanation of why I’m handing out warnings to stop or you’re going to be banned. Either dial it way back or just don’t post that stuff.

Finally, @darthbluesky.bsky.social has emerged from hibernation and is now back at BlueSky posting. This is not a drill!

After spending most of last night attacking with Shahed drones, Russia spent much of the day bombarding Kharkiv with a new type of kitbashed guided bombs!

More on Kharkiv after the jump.

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

Now the common task is to provide every opportunity for Sumy region to create jobs and ensure social protection – address by the President of Ukraine

27 March 2024 – 18:40

Dear Ukrainians!

Today we are in Sumy region. I’ve been here with the team all day. First, our military. I visited our guys who are recovering from injuries and honored them with state awards. I am immensely grateful to the doctors, nurses, and everyone who helps them recover from their injuries.

The second issue for today is, of course, everything related to the defense of Sumy region, each community, each city. It is especially difficult in the border area, which is subject to constant Russian terror. There is constant shelling, air strikes, and countering enemy subversive groups. I am grateful to all the soldiers, all the commanders of the Armed Forces, the border guards, our police, the National Guard, the Security Service of Ukraine – everyone who is involved. To everyone who protects us. Thank you for not allowing our land to be turned into a zone of Russian presence. Every occupier who dares to come here will be destroyed.

I held a long coordination meeting. We addressed the issues of internal security in the region – from shelters to combating crime – and all the issues of defense. We also discussed the economy and social situation in a very substantive way. Now the common task of the government, regional authorities and community leaders is to provide every opportunity to create jobs here in our Sumy region, to ensure social protection and reliable budget revenues.

For the first time, we held a regional meeting on our new economic policy program “Made in Ukraine.” There is a significant amount of funds for this year – for all regions of our country. Sumy region is guaranteed to receive it as well. There are very specific tasks for government officials, the State Property Fund, the President’s Office and the regional authorities based on the results of the meetings and discussions held here today. There are contracts signed for our defense industry. I am proud that every month more and more companies and developers come up with specific samples of weapons, shells, equipment, demining machines, and many other things that are needed at the front and that will save the lives of our people thanks to the power of technology. In particular, today there are new contracts for automated firing systems, new FPV drones with appropriate dropping systems, and simulators for mobile firing groups that will help shoot down “Shahed” drones more effectively. All this is really needed.

And one more thing. Something that is particularly inspiring.

I met with the students studying at the university here in Sumy region. They obviously want Ukraine to succeed, to win, so that they can live and thrive here, at home, in Ukraine. We will do everything for this.

Ukraine knows how to be strong. Every day we have to add to the confidence of our country and people. And please, always be grateful to those who preserve normal life in our country, in all our communities.

Thank you, Sumy region!

Glory to Ukraine!

🇺🇦🇱🇹 Together with Commander-in-Chief Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi @CinC_AFU, extended our sincere congratulations to Laurynas Kasčiūnas @LKasciunas on his recent appointment as the Minister of Defense of Lithuania.

The video call was also attended by the Lithuanian Chief of Defense Valdemaras Rupšys.
General Syrskyi provided an update on the security situation in Ukraine.

We discussed ways to expand our bilateral defense cooperation and thanked Lithuania for its unwavering support.
Looking forward to hosting Minister Kasčiūnas in Kyiv in the near future.

Hungary:

Viktor Orbán UNDER FIRE in corruption scandal again as thousands came out in Budapest on Tuesday demanding the Hungarian prime minister to resign after former diplomat Péter Magyar released a tape of Justice Minister Judit Varga stating how other government officials caused evidence to be removed from court records to cover up their roles in corrupt business dealings.

We watch closely as we believe in the will and fairness of the Hungarian people tired of 14 years of Fidesz (ruling party) in power.

I’ll be curious to see if anything comes of this.

Poland:

From The Kyiv Independent:

Poland has decided to double its commitment to the Czech-led initiative to purchase artillery shells for Ukraine, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in Riga on March 27, without providing a specific figure.

Czech President Petr Pavel said in February that Prague had identified 500,000 155 mm shells and 300,000 122 mm shells outside of Europe that could be bought and sent to Ukraine after the necessary funds were allocated to the initiative.

Czechia’s foreign minister, Jan Lipavsky, said on March 25 that the initiative may collect as many as 1.5 million rounds.

Speaking at a press conference in Latvia‘s capital alongside his Latvian counterpart, Krisjanis Karins, Sikorski praised relations between Riga and Warsaw as “exemplary,” noting the two countries are both leaders in helping Ukraine to resist Russian aggression.

Commenting on Moscow’s recent uptick in missile and drone attacks against Ukraine, Sikorski said: “It seems to me that some media in the West are not shocked enough by this unprecedented wave of air terrorism against Ukraine.”

Poland’s top diplomat stressed that the U.S. assistance bill for Ukraine, currently stuck in Congress, is “urgently, even desperately needed.”

“If everyone did what Poland and Latvia are doing, Ukraine would be in a much better situation,” Sikorski said.

Poland has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest supporters since the outbreak of the full-scale war, donating some $3.2 billion in military aid and hosting around 1 million Ukrainian refugees.

In the past few months, Polish-Ukrainian relations have been strained somewhat by the ongoing disputes over agricultural trade and intermittent blockades by Polish farmers at Ukraine’s border.

France:

Here’s the machine translation of the tweet:

🇫🇷 The 300 short-range ground-to-air Mistral missiles planned to be delivered at the beginning of 2025 must be delivered in the summer of 2024, indicates the minister @SebLecornu.

The 200 long-range Aster missiles must be delivered in the second half of this year and no longer in 2026 as initially planned.

The ministry @Armees_Gouv expects to receive from #Nexter 55,000 155 mm shells for the guns #CAESAr starting this summer and no longer over several years.

Safran is also concerned. The group will have to deliver 600 guided air-to-ground bombs in 2024 and 1,200 the following year. #BITD

Imagine that, you can put your defense industrial base on a war footing. Who could’ve possibly conceived of such a thing?

Kharkiv:

Kherson Oblast:

Somewhere on the frontline in Ukraine:

Very unique Russian VTS “Ladoga”, military transport vehicle, targeted by FPV drone on the frontline.

It is known that no more than 4-5 similar machines were produced, including a prototype for testing. The Ladoga was built on the basis of the T-80 tank chassis. Designed to operate in conditions with high levels of radiation, chemical or bacteriological contamination. In Chernobyl it was used for radiation reconnaissance.

Perhaps the most unusual thing you notice is the interior of Ladoga, which looks no worse than a business class cabin from the mid-twentieth century. According to some Russian media, Ladoga is used in the Russian military for the “evacuation of senior command personnel”.

https://t.me/ombr_63/520

Somewhere in Russia:

In a newly released media clip, Putin once again dismisses Ukraine’s right to sovereignty by saying that he’s fighting for “his historical lands”.

He says the idea that he’s going to fight with NATO is “complete nonsense designed to racket money from their [NATO] population” due to discrepancy between defence budgets.

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

There are no new Patron tweets or videos tonight. Here is some adjacent material from the Ukrainian MOD:

Open thread!

Reader Interactions

24Comments

  2. 2.

    J. Arthur Crank

    Hmm, corrupt right-wing officials.  You certainly don’t see that everyday.

    Putin saying Ukraine is part of *his* land rather than Russia’s  reminds me of our former president* going on about “his generals”, etc.  We know of course that Russia has no historical claim over Russia, but Putin is taking that one step further.

  4. 4.

    wjca

    @Gin & Tonic:

    Nothing will come of things like this.  Until, abruptly, something does.  If anyone has an even semi-reliable way to forecast when that will be, in Hungary or anywhere else, they have managed to keep it secret.

    Meanwhile, we can go with mindless optimism (“this will be the time!”), mindless pessimism (“nothing will come of anyhting like this.  Ever.”), or follow Adam’s example and wait and see.

  5. 5.

    Jay

    Washington ‘Does Not Encourage or Support’ Ukraine’s Strike Inside Russia: US State Department
    The official statement followed an FT report last week that alleged Washington of relaying wishes to Kyiv not to strike Russian oil refineries ahead of the US presidential election.

    by Kyiv Post | March 27, 2024, 2:42 pm | Comments (6)

    https://www.kyivpost.com/post/30166

  8. 8.

    pieceofpeace

    Adam, thanks.  Nobody interested in Ukraine and reading your columns needs any further, unnecessary aggravation.  What’s all that really about anyway?

  10. 10.

    Adam L Silverman

    @pieceofpeace: Since 7 OCT there’s been a general uptick of aggro directed at some of the commenters who are known to be Jewish. Last night there was a discussion of swastikas in regard to something I posted in the update. It wasn’t rude, nor intended to be, but everyone’s nerves are a bit raw as Israel’s/Bibi’s strategic stupidity drags on in Gaza. We also have a few commenters who are very angry with the Russians, as well as Christian nationalists, and they occasionally get a bit worked up. So it was time for a general reminder without pointing specific fingers.

  12. 12.

    Adam L Silverman

    @wjca: My wait and see is less about whether anything positive comes of this. Rather, it is does Orban just let these folks do their thing or does he do what all authoritarians tend to do and crack down.

  13. 13.

    Roberto el oso

    Re Orban in Hungary. I think that the pro-Putin faction in leadership posts in the Hungarian government have placed themselves in an untenable position. As nominal members of NATO, and more importantly, of the EU, their foot-dragging or outright opposition to support for Ukraine will become more than just an irritant to their neighbors, and the economic and other assistance they depend on from the EU will become a carrot/stick to get them in line.

  16. 16.

    Another Scott

    @Steve in the ATL:

    Let us know if the public hot baths are worth it. (My J was upset with me that I didn’t want to go when we were there.)

    Don’t miss the Terror House!

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  22. 22.

    Traveller

    @Another Scott: The Baths at the Gellert seemed very worthwhile to me, if only for their historical facades. Interestingly, I went online to post a picture with this…and found prices, official prices from official sites, to be wildly different. 29 Euros is Okay, the first link shown was for 44 Euros and maybe not so much.

    More interesting, the wave pool outside might not be open until the fullness of Summer…and it was jumping from the thermal pools to the fun of the wave pool that made  the experience especially worthwhile to me.

    I  was staying atop the Gellert Hill at the Citadel, (fortress), and so these baths were very convenient. But looking now, apparently the Citadel is closed….(hummmm?)…though I would imagine the view from the top of the hill  is still available and also a must go to destination in Budapest.

    There are surely other baths open though; but the Gellert is the only one I am familiar with. Enjoy. Best Wishes, Traveller

  23. 23.

    bjacques

    @Steve in the ATL: Budapest is a beautiful city, or was 25 years ago when I visited it. There’s a garden of discarded Cold War monuments just outside of town. I went to the Hotel Gellaert (sp?) baths. Didn’t manage to get the more famous Sechenyi baths.

    EDIT: Traveller beat me to it!

    Day trips to Szentendrei or Eger if you have time.

    The peanuts they set out at the bar when you’re drinking are not free.

  24. 24.

    Traveller

    @Steve in the ATL: Hummmm…I took another look and not to turn this into a travel place; but I gave very bad advice…even the very famous overlook from Gellert Hill is closed. I saw this posted:
    Mar 2024 • Couples

    Situated in lovely woodland on steep hills overlooking Budapest, this must be a stunning place with old statues and great views. Sadly, it’s all fenced off at the top, which you only learn once you’ve hiked all the way up there – no warnings or advice further down. You can’t get close to it at all, and there are no dates for when it’ll be open again. No bars, cafes, toilets or other facilities anywhere near, so it’s a bit disappointing at the moment and not worth a visit until all the work’s finished.

    Sorry again. Traveller

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