(Image by NEIVANMADE)
A couple of quick housekeeping notes. First, Rosie is doing fine. She’s got another week off before she starts round three. Thank you all for the good thoughts, well wishes, prayers, and donations.
Second, if you are, might be, could be in the path of Hurricane Beryl start making your preparations now. This includes where you’re going to go if you have to evacuate. Better the be ready and not need to do anything than not be ready and it becomes too late.
The Russians opened up again on Kharkiv today.
About half an hour ago, russian troops struck a residential neighborhood in Kharkiv with a glide bomb. A fire engulfed a post office and seven vehicles. One person is reported dead, and at least seven civilians were injured, including an 8-month-old baby, Governor Syniehubov said
— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) June 30, 2024
And once again they targeted a Nova Poshta facility:
The aftermath of the Russian strike on a Nova Post terminal in Kharkiv. A FAB-500 bomb attacked it.
A civilian object, hit on a Sunday afternoon to increase the number of possible victims. That’s Russia.
📹: Radio Svoboda https://t.co/bbCSGLgWQv pic.twitter.com/zUv7ekOD43
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 30, 2024
Russia hit Nova Poshta terminal in Kharkiv with a guided bomb. Truck driver was killed, another 10 people wounded. Some inside are still missing. One by one, Russia is trying to take out industrial capacities in Kharkiv. pic.twitter.com/EROYPN9SJu
— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) June 30, 2024
Russian attacks on Nova Poshta facilities began right after Nova Poshta began opening more offices throughout the EU back in the late winter/early spring. Screwing up the mail is one way to terrorize Ukrainians, but apparently opening these stores in EU cities and expanding services to Ukrainians in exile from the war, as well as those wishing to support Ukraine by using Nova Poshta services, seems to have really pissed off someone in Moscow.
Kharkiv and the Nova Poshta facility was not the only civilian target that the Russians hit today.
Vilniansk, Zaporzhzhia Oblast:
російські військові вдарили по центру міста Вільнянськ Запорізької області.
Станом на 20:15 загинуло 7 людей, з них 2 дітей. Ще 18 осіб, серед яких 4 дітей – травмовано.
Внаслідок влучань сталося загоряння торгових приміщень, домоволодінь та транспортних засобів. pic.twitter.com/2ezqA7EpgE
— DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) June 29, 2024
Here’s the machine translation:
the Russian military hit the center of the city of Vilniansk, Zaporizhzhia region.
As of 20:15, 7 people died, including 2 children. Another 18 people, including 4 children, were injured.
As a result of the hits, commercial premises, houses and vehicles caught fire.
this is Vilniansk in the suburbs of my homecity Zaporizhzhia. burning kids alive while they were trying to have a normal school graduation ball. name more evil culture than russian 😩@SESU_UA pic.twitter.com/EOKBCbG4uu
— вареничок.eristavi 🇺🇦🏳️🌈 (@maksymeristavi) June 29, 2024
More after the jump.
Last night in comments BSChief asked:
A regular reader of your posts, this is my first time in comments, so apologies if this has been hashed through previously, but do you think there is any chance of North Korean troops fighting with the Russians in Ukraine?
First, thank you for reading. To answer your question, the reporting from earlier in the week is that the DPRK is sending a combat engineering unit to join with the Russians against Ukraine. What we don’t know is what size the unit will be – brigade, battalion, company, platoon, squad to use our nomenclature – and whether they will actually fight or just build something in the rear.
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
Strikes on the Russian Border Areas Helped Protect Lives; So Will Further Decisions – Address by the President
30 June 2024 – 19:52
Dear Ukrainians!
Today in Kharkiv, another strike by a Russian guided bomb hit a postal terminal, an ordinary civilian facility. As of now, there are reports of ten injured. All are being provided with the necessary assistance. Unfortunately, one person died. My condolences to all their loved ones. These bombs are one of the key elements of Putin’s ability to wage war. The sooner the world helps us deal with the Russian combat aircraft launching these bombs, the sooner we can strike – justifiably strike – at Russian military infrastructure, military airfields, the closer we will be to peace. Real peace. The world has enough power to force Russia into peace. And in particular, defending the Kharkiv region from the Russian offensive, we have proven that the determination of our partners truly helps. Strikes on the Russian border areas helped protect lives. So will further decisions – the bold decisions that must be made, that we need and that we are discussing with our partners. In the coming weeks, we will continue our communication to achieve the necessary decisions.
Today, at the end of this day and these weeks, I want to thank all our people who invariably arrive at the scene after any Russian strike, conduct rescue operations, clear the rubble, and help the wounded. I am grateful to the entire staff of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and all the employees of public utilities who are helping. I thank the police and medical workers – those who are always on the scene and always with people. Thank you to everyone involved in rescue efforts.I would especially like to mention the guys from the Dnipropetrovsk region: Ihor Sorokin, Andriy Koriaka, Ivan Podoliak from the paramilitary mine rescue squad. Also, rescuers Roman Kurmaiev, Mykhailo Ishychkin, Ihor Hetalo, Vitaliy Tymofeyev, Ivan Svynoboy, Oleh Tokariev, Yevheniy Shapoval. Thank you and all your colleagues in the region! Also, the Donetsk region, which Russia wants to turn into ruins entirely. Today, I would like to commend the rescuers working there who literally save lives every day: Ihor Korzhov, Andriy Lenfira, Oleksandr Kachan, Anton Pavliuchenko, Dmytro Rudenko, Andriy Dolzhenko, Pavlo Zakharov. Thank you, guys, and everyone working with you and helping you!
And one more very important thing. In the weeks following the first Peace Summit, we have not stopped communication with our partners for a single day to secure support for our Summit communiqué. We now have ten more signatures after the Summit from various entities around the world. The world must be represented in the work for peace as broadly as possible, and I thank our team for their active efforts. We also have more details about working in groups on specific security issues, according to the Formula points. Peace has no alternative, and no matter how much Russia tries to expand the war, we will do everything to bring peace back to Ukraine – a just peace.
Thank you to everyone who helps! Thank you to everyone who defends our country and people! Glory to all who fight for Ukraine!
Glory to Ukraine!
This week alone, Russia has used more than 800 guided aerial bombs against Ukraine. Against our cities and communities, against our people, against everything that makes life normal.
Ukraine needs the necessary means to destroy the carriers of these bombs, including Russian… pic.twitter.com/c4pYjSUJZ7
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 30, 2024
This week alone, Russia has used more than 800 guided aerial bombs against Ukraine. Against our cities and communities, against our people, against everything that makes life normal.
Ukraine needs the necessary means to destroy the carriers of these bombs, including Russian combat aircraft, wherever they are. This step is essential.
Clear decisions are needed to help protect our people. Long-range strikes and modern air defense are the foundation for stopping the daily Russian terror. I thank all our partners who understand this
President Zelenskyy sat for an interview with Trudy Rubin of The Philadelphia Inquirer:
Negotiations with Russia can start only after the world works out a settlement plan and agrees it with Ukraine.
This is how Volodymyr Zelenskyy @ZelenskyyUa responded to Trudy Rubin’s @trudyrubin question, a journalist of the Philadelphia Inquirer, on whether direct… pic.twitter.com/HBnm6HUwn6
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 30, 2024
Negotiations with Russia can start only after the world works out a settlement plan and agrees it with Ukraine.
This is how Volodymyr Zelenskyy @ZelenskyyUa
responded to Trudy Rubin’s @trudyrubin
question, a journalist of the Philadelphia Inquirer, on whether direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow are possible.According to Zelenskyy, “countries from different continents”, from Europe and America to Asia and Africa, should take part in the development of the plan.
Here’s more from the interview: (emphasis mine)
KYIV, Ukraine — When President Volodymyr Zelensky walked into the high-ceilinged, ornate conference room in the presidential office building, the exhaustion on his face was so stark I almost felt guilty about taking his time.
Wearing his trademark black T-shirt and olive drab pants, and arriving after a morning of security meetings, he appeared to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. That may literally be the truth: The future of Western democracies rests heavily on what happens to Ukraine.
In a wide-ranging interview last week, Zelensky laid out how Ukraine could still win if the West can lose its fear of Vladimir Putin and recognize the Russian leader’s weakness.
Zelensky defined what victory would mean. And he insisted that direct peace talks with Moscow wouldn’t end the war but would encourage further Russian aggression against Ukraine, Europe — and America.
“It is impossible to help Ukraine with one hand and shake Putin’s hand with the other,” Zelensky insisted. “It will not work.” It is not just a question of the West protecting Ukraine, he stressed. “It is Ukraine which protects all of the democratic countries that Putin will attack further on.”
“The biggest [current] issue is with glide bombs,” Zelensky told me, referring to Moscow’s recent use of thousands of bombs each month that can be released at a great distance from their target, protecting the launching aircraft from antiaircraft defenses. “So you need to search for long-range solutions against their aerodromes where their military aircraft land, which Russia uses to launch glide bombs and missiles.”
If President Joe Biden would let Ukraine use long-range U.S. missiles such as the recently delivered ATACMS to hit those airports in Russia, then the attacks could be prevented, Zelensky said. But so far that permission has not been granted. Ukraine’s innovative, home-produced long-range drones are hitting those airports but don’t have the power of missiles.
Biden recently gave permission for shorter-range U.S. missiles to be used just across the Ukrainian border where Russian troops were massing, which halted the Russian offensive toward Kharkiv.
“But that doesn’t solve our issues,” Zelensky told me. “It is tactical, not strategic.”
I asked Zelensky whether he believed Biden wanted Ukraine to achieve victory.
“Yes,” he answered quickly. “I think that for the United States it is important and for Europe and for many countries. But we can have different ideas toward the word victory.”
“The West wanted to deny Putin the opportunity to fully occupy Ukraine and to put the aggressor in his place. I think for them it is the victory already,” Zelensky said.
“But for us,” he continued, growing emotional, “for the people at the front line who lost their brothers at arms, the civilians who lost their relatives, those who fled abroad but have husbands on the front line — for us, victory is a moment of satisfaction.
“We are grateful that the West did not let Russia occupy us [fully], but we need justice.”
In other words, Zelensky, who still maintains a 60% popularity rating among Ukrainians, must listen to the voices of his people and his soldiers, who won’t accept surrendering one fifth of their land to Russia after all they have suffered. That burden is visible in the lines on his face.
There is much, much more at the link.
Right now, Russia has parked its strategic aviation assets just beyond the range of where Ukraine is allowed to use US weapons. They have removed them from near the border with Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts and placed them outside of the permission distance that the Biden administration has given Ukraine. As I’ve repeatedly written, the Biden administration’s senior nat-sec team’s inability to clearly articulate what it means by victory for the Ukrainians combined with extreme risk aversion has created a situation where Ukraine may not be able to achieve it’s strategic objectives. The current geographic range problem is a prime example. The only weapons that can effectively hit these Russian weapons systems and thereby effectively deter Russia from using them are American. The Russians know what geographic limitations the Biden administration has placed on the Ukrainians in regard to using these weapons and, as a result, have positioned their own weapons systems just out range. Even if enough of these US munitions get to Ukraine it won’t make a difference because the Ukrainians cannot use them effectively.
This is even worse than for want of a nail. The Ukrainians have the nail, they are just not allowed to use it.
The cost:
Iryna can’t eat, thinking about how her sons, marines, are starving in captivity. And 10 people from Olena’s family are fighting in the war. Her brother was killed, her son-in-law was sentenced to life imprisonment in Russia, and her daughter has been in captivity for three… https://t.co/ZWJ9flbT2s pic.twitter.com/WTCJzRY7xB
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 30, 2024
Iryna can’t eat, thinking about how her sons, marines, are starving in captivity. And 10 people from Olena’s family are fighting in the war. Her brother was killed, her son-in-law was sentenced to life imprisonment in Russia, and her daughter has been in captivity for three years. Six-year-old Nastia, the daughter of a missing soldier, is waiting for her father to take her and her mother home.
All of them came to the Red Cross
headquarters in Geneva to find out at least something about their relatives. For eight hours, the Ukrainian women asked the organization’s representatives questions. At this meeting, they stated bluntly: The Red Cross is inactive. The women also organized demonstrations calling for the release of the prisoners.📹: Ty Yak
On the shield: Peter “Hasta La Vista” Fouché
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Pete, our beloved director and founder.
There are no words that can do Pete’s life justice. No words or phrases that could ever encapsulate how much he meant to all of… pic.twitter.com/acrtrtkcDV
— Project Konstantin (@KonstantinTeam) June 30, 2024
On the shield: Peter “Hasta La Vista” Fouché
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of Pete, our beloved director and founder.
There are no words that can do Pete’s life justice. No words or phrases that could ever encapsulate how much he meant to all of us.
Pete’s unwavering dedication, endless compassion, and relentless commitment to Ukraine and her people have left an everlasting impact on the countless lives he touched.
His heroism knew no bounds. He was actively involved in saving more than 200 wounded Ukrainian soldiers, evacuating civilians from the most dangerous frontline cities, as well as bringing humanitarian aid to people in those towns and cities.
Pete’s bravery and selflessness in the face of danger were nothing short of extraordinary, and his actions will forever be etched in our hearts.
Pete was more than a leader; he was a beacon of hope, a true hero, and a friend to all.
His wisdom, compassion, and faith in God inspired us every day.His death feels like the worst nightmare: the kind of nightmare where you wish you could wake up, but then we wake up and realise that it wasn’t just nightmare.
We will honour Pete’s memory by continuing the work he was so passionate about, carrying forward his legacy of courage and kindness, of fighting for what is right, and of speaking up in the face of injustice.
Rest in peace, Peter. We know that our Heavenly Father has welcomed you into His arms.
Your heroism and contributions will never be forgotten and we will make sure that it was not in vain.
The reason:
Glory to our Defenders! pic.twitter.com/kHi6lgeGDa
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 30, 2024
Want to help with the “wedding” drone? Donate here: https://t.co/xMu5b2lBze
You can also check out @dzygaspaw‘s demining efforts here: https://t.co/6m0Jv9D0e1 pic.twitter.com/DT1kIlTGFV
— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) June 30, 2024
Here’s an update on the search and rescue operations in Dnipro:
Дніпро: вже другу добу рятувальники продовжують шукати людей, які ймовірно перебувають під завалами
Наразі вважаються зниклими безвісті ще 2 людини.
За час робіт розібрано та вивезено 480 т будівельних конструкцій та сміття.
Психологи ДСНС надали необхідну допомогу 47 людям. pic.twitter.com/5UY4syjI4X
— DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) June 30, 2024
Here’s the machine translation:
Dnipro: for the second day, rescuers continue to search for people who are probably under the rubble
Currently, 2 more people are considered missing.
During the works, 480 tons of construction structures and garbage were dismantled and removed.
Psychologists of the State Emergency Service provided the necessary assistance to 47 people.
Kyiv:
Сьогодні ввечері ворог здійснив чергову атаку на Київ. Попередньо, падіння уламків зафіксовано у Оболонському районі міста.
Сталася часткова руйнація балконів на 6 та 7 поверсі. Також існує загроза руйнації балкону на 8 поверсі багатоповерхівки.
Попередньо, без жертв. pic.twitter.com/Pj2hXI04xV
— DSNS.GOV.UA (@SESU_UA) June 30, 2024
Tonight, the enemy launched another attack on Kyiv. Previously, the fall of debris was recorded in the Obolon district of the city.
The balconies on the 6th and 7th floors were partially destroyed. There is also a threat of destruction of the balcony on the 8th floor of the high-rise building.
In advance, without victims.
10 residents were evacuated from a residential building in Kyiv that was hit by the remains of a shot down Russian missile – Kyiv mayor.
Five people needed medical help. One elderly lady was taken to the hospital.
Rescuers were able to take a cat out. He was terrified. https://t.co/9wAOt5xSBx pic.twitter.com/4BtMpSkxfZ
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 30, 2024
Residents of the damaged building were trying to put the fire out themselves, to help the fire fighters. https://t.co/9wAOt5xSBx pic.twitter.com/mpBEbsoNjN
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) June 30, 2024
Novomykhailivka front:
79th Brigade repelling Russian attacks in the Novomykhailivka area. As said, 7 Russian IFVs were destroyed. https://t.co/kJD2QJTuAT pic.twitter.com/VSFoLyS5kQ
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) June 30, 2024
Not quite sure where in Ukraine this is:
Mr. HIMARS destroyed a russian «Zala» and «Lancet» UAVs crew.
📹: 58th Mechanized Brigade pic.twitter.com/cr0iXjkVff
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) June 30, 2024
Obligatory!
Russia:
Russian media report about the alleged downing of 36 UAVs during the repulse of a Ukrainian drone attack across six regions. Specifically, 15 drones were downed in the Kursk region, 9 in the Lipetsk region, 4 in the Voronezh region, 4 in the Bryansk region, 2 in the Oryol region,… pic.twitter.com/9BgJeh8zDF
— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) June 30, 2024
Russian media report about the alleged downing of 36 UAVs during the repulse of a Ukrainian drone attack across six regions. Specifically, 15 drones were downed in the Kursk region, 9 in the Lipetsk region, 4 in the Voronezh region, 4 in the Bryansk region, 2 in the Oryol region, and 2 in the Bilhorod region.
Additionally, a fire broke out in Nizhny Novgorod at a waste disposal production site, affecting an area of 500 square meters.
That’s enough for tonight.
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Open thread!
Bill Arnold
Did anyone else see that wedding drone tweet and instantly wonder if the drone was (symbolically) red?
ETA yeah, the symbolism is a bit broken; just a bit surprised(introspective) at the insta-thought.
Villago Delenda Est
I don’t know if Russian media can be trusted to accurately tell us the weather anywhere in Russia, let alone the assertion that they shot down x drones in y region.
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Bill Arnold
@Villago Delenda Est:
Yeah, media outlets currently allowed in Russia have almost no information value.
themoscowtimes acquitted itself during the COVID-19 pandemic by reporting excess deaths (using Rosstat death stats) vs official Russian COVID-19 deaths during the height of the pandemic. They differed by a factor of 3-4, continuously. For a month or two stretch, the official Russian daily COVID-19 death stats had essentially no variation, which was even more insulting.
But they (the website) are, it appears, hosted in the Netherlands. (They were blocked by internet filters in 2022 in Russia.)
There are a few other outlets run outside Russia that are interesting.
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/albafella1/status/1807403182059885018#m
Manyakitty
@Jay: fascinating. Just this minute, I’m watching a panel about the Russian defense industry on C-SPAN and they said Russian law forbids women from certain jobs that may interfere with fertility. Seems like ‘sausage meat’ would be on that list. (Not arguing, just a funny timing thing)
Wombat Probability Cloud
Thank you, Adam. Here every evening but rarely comment. Glad the pups are doing well.
Villago Delenda Est
@Manyakitty: Not surprising, as Russia has a serious shortage of pure Russian cannon fodder. They’ve as much “race” conscious as the Nazis were.
Manyakitty
@Villago Delenda Est: aha. That makes sense.
It’s a panel from CSIS and it includes Dara Massicot, I think is pretty smart.
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/GlasnostGone?cursor=DAABCgABGRXWH_g__9MKAAIZFPobVtYAJggAAwAAAAIAAA
Jay
@Manyakitty:
That is a fairly recent ruZZian law to deal with their declining birthrate.
The ruZZian POW on the other hand, is a ruZZian convict, who took the amnesty and the money to go to the SMO.
Normally, women in the SMO are used as sex slaves, maids, prostitutes, kitchen workers, sometimes medical staff. To become a “meatcube”, either her Commander was very desperate for donations to the meat grinder, or she managed to really piss off her Commander.
ruZZia is desperately trying to recruit “meat” in South America, East Asia and Africa, to the point in Africa, the “Africa Korps”, (Wagner) is kidnapping children, not just to work in their illegal mines, farms and forestry, but to also force their fathers and older brothers to “take contracts” to fight in Ukraine.
Manyakitty
@Jay: awful.
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
Both the International Red Cross& Amnesty international have been utterly useless,whether in Ukraine, Russia & Gaza. Don’t get me started on the Olympics!
Thank you Adam. Glad to hear Rosie is still doing well.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
wjca
Thanks as always, Adam
YY_Sima Qian
I don’t have words any more.