A quick housekeeping note: what I thought would be a nice, sedately paced week shifted into high gear today. And no, it was not the coup du jour. So I’m just going to run through the basics tonight so I can go get cleaned up and rack out.
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
Now, in December, We Are Expecting Systems from Several Partners; It is Crucial that This Is Implemented Without Any Delay – Address by the President
3 December 2024 – 19:56
I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!
Today, a lot of work has been done regarding our army – relevant meetings were held.
At the beginning of the day – the Commander-in-Chief reported on the situation, the main tasks that need to be implemented right now, and the difficulties on the frontline. Significant reinforcements are needed in the Donetsk directions. And this includes arms supplies from our partners – it is a direct dependence: the greater our army’s firepower is, the more technological capabilities we have, the more effectively we can destroy Russia’s offensive potential and protect our warriors’ lives. And we are having detailed discussions with our partners on this issue. Moreover, we are working on our own – boosting our production, our Ukrainian defense industry. We will have more long-range capabilities of our own.
Today, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine returned from his working visits abroad. He reported on new agreements and on the implementation of previous ones, especially regarding air defense. Now, in December, we are expecting systems from several partners, plus there are certain things that can be done in January for our air shield. It is crucial that this is implemented without any delay. Winter is a huge temptation for Russian terrorists.
Today, there was also a report on our energy sector. I am grateful to all our repair crews, to every employee of energy companies who are now mitigating the consequences of Russian strikes and protecting the system. This diligent work is very important in every region, at every facility. And they are responsible not only for their specific facility, but for the whole country – for the resilience of our entire state and the protection of all our people. We must do our utmost now at all levels, from the Government and the Ministry of Energy to all our regions and communities.
The day before, a new arms package from the United States of America was announced – as agreed with the President, we are accelerating the delivery. The pace of logistics is increasing, and this is exactly what we need. This package is worth USD 725 million. It includes missiles for air defense systems, artillery, and means to stabilize our positions. Thank you!
I thank everyone who is helping us!
I thank everyone who is defending and strengthening our country’s positions, just as we need them, to achieve peace!
Glory to Ukraine!
Georgia:
Karma is a bitch. #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 3:41 PM
That’s going to leave a mark!
The police, today more in numbers than before, arrest people in groups. Those detained are brutally beaten in detention cars as reported by those released already. It counts as torture really. Water cannons and tear gases are now in use too. Day 6. #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 3:03 PM
It’s reported that tonight there’s unprecedented numbers of police who have all side exit roads of Rustaveli blocked, and that they are vicious in arresting people – throwing them down and kicking them endlessly. #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 2:53 PM
There are various reports that the special forces squads of Zviad Kharazishvili AKA “Khareba” that are responsible for the crackdowns are high on amphetamine. Look at the eyes of this one in the video. Even the President told the French media about this. #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 1:17 PM
Kremlist savages!
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 2:29 PM
In Batumi, they put Bidzina Ivanishvili’s coffin on fire. Believe me, it takes rage for Georgians to do this. And Ivanishvili is absolutely paranoid about anything in any form resembling cursing or witchcraft. #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 12:27 PM
The family of this man, in a critical condition, insists not to allow the propaganda that it was the fireworks, as the regime wants to make it look. It was a gas capsule.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 9:00 AM
1/ The Constitutional Court did not consider the lawsuits filed by the President and the opposition regarding the declaration of the elections as unconstitutional. Two out of nine judges, Teimuraz Tughushi and Giorgi Kverenchkhiladze, expressed dissenting opinions.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 6:49 AM
2/ Salome Zourabichvili filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court on November 19, arguing that the results of the October 26 elections should be annulled due to violations of election universality and vote secrecy.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 6:49 AM
3/ 30 opposition politicians also filed a lawsuit in this regard. These 2 cases were consolidated by the Court.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 6:51 AM
⚡️Abkhaz council votes against ratification of controversial agreement with Russia.
The council of Russian-occupied Abkhazia against a controversial investment agreement with Moscow, which sparked mass protests last month, Interfax reported on Dec. 3.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) December 3, 2024 at 11:24 AM
The Kyiv Independent has the details:
The council of Russian-occupied Abkhazia against a controversial investment agreement with Moscow, which sparked mass protests last month, Interfax reported on Dec. 3.
Twenty-one lawmakers voted against the law, which sought to permit Russians to purchase property in Abkhazia, while two abstained.
Abkhazia is internationally recognized as part of Georgia, but is under illegal occupation by Russian forces, which back the local breakaway leadership.
In late October, representatives of Russia and Abkhazia signed an investment agreement in Moscow.
Soon after, demonstrators in Abkhazia rallied outside the local proxy parliament, denouncing the deal as one-sided and advantageous only to Moscow. Despite the council’s decision to postpone the agreement’s consideration, protesters demanded an immediate vote to reject it.
Aslan Bzhania, president of the breakaway state submitted his letter of resignation on Nov. 19.
Abkhazia has recently drawn attention due to rumors of accelerated construction at the Ochamchire naval base, allegedly being developed by Russia.
Despite satellite imagery showing construction activity, Abkhaz Foreign Minister Sergei Shamba claimed in September that there are “no plans” for a Russian naval base in the occupied region, which lacks a navy of its own.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine would target Russia’s Black Sea Fleet “wherever it is stationed,” hinting at potential strikes on Russian-controlled areas of Georgia, including Abkhazia.
Lithuania:
Denied entry into Lithuania due to their responsibility for human rights abuses:
Bidzina Ivanishvili
Vakhtang Gomelauri
Shalva Bedoidze
Ioseb Chelidze
Aleksandre Darakhvelidze
Giorgi Butkhuzi
Zviad Kharazishvili
Mileri Lagazauri
Mirza Kezevadze
Vaja Siradze
Teimuraz Kupatadze— Gabrielius Landsbergis (@landsbergis.bsky.social) December 2, 2024 at 7:31 AM
My understanding is that the other Baltic states have done the same thing.
The three Baltic States jointly agreed to impose national sanctions against those who suppressed legitimate protests in Georgia. Opponents of democracy and violators of human rights are not welcome in our countries. 🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹🇬🇪
— Gabrielius Landsbergis (@landsbergis.bsky.social) December 1, 2024 at 1:30 PM
My understanding was correct.
Once again Foreign Minister Landsbergis cuts right to the heart of the matter in regard to the events in Georgia:
How many more times are we going to choose to lose to Russia? How many millions of people are we going to abandon to oppression? Why aren’t we making it harder for the Kremlin to sway elections and choke democracies one by one?
— Gabrielius Landsbergis (@landsbergis.bsky.social) November 30, 2024 at 3:17 PM
And in Ukraine:
Did the decision to lift restrictions in Kursk come too late? Yes.
— Gabrielius Landsbergis (@landsbergis.bsky.social) November 27, 2024 at 8:28 AM
The NATO Summit:
⚡️ We must focus on military aid — NATO chief sidesteps question on invitation for Ukraine.
NATO’s two-day ministerial meeting will focus on providing Ukraine with enough military aid to enable it to enter any possible negotiations from a position of strength, Secretary General Mark Rutte said.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) December 3, 2024 at 6:39 AM
Rutte dodged a journalist’s question about whether Ukraine should expect an invitation during the meeting, saying only that “allies agree that the future of Ukraine is in NATO.”
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) December 3, 2024 at 6:39 AM
From The Kyiv Independent:
NATO’s two-day ministerial meeting will focus on providing Ukraine with enough military aid to enable it to enter any possible negotiations from a position of strength, Secretary General Mark Rutte said ahead of the meeting in Brussels on Dec. 3.
Rutte dodged a journalist’s question about whether Ukraine should expect an invitation during the meeting, saying only that “allies agree that the future of Ukraine is in NATO.”
“And during the Washington summit, we agreed on the irreversible path towards NATO,” the secretary general added, referencing the outcomes of the allied meeting in July.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha asked on Nov. 29 that his NATO counterparts issue an invitation for Ukraine during the meeting in Brussels.
Kyiv submitted its application to join NATO in September 2022, and in July 2024, the alliance affirmed Ukraine’s “irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership” — although Ukraine has not received any definitive news about its future accession.
The matter becomes ever more pressing as Kyiv sees the invitation as a key condition for a just and lasting peace. Discussions about possible peace talks next year are mounting as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said he aims to find a quick end to the war and bring both sides to the negotiating table.
“The meeting in the next two days will very much concentrate on how to make sure that Ukraine, whenever it decides to enter into peace talks, will do so from a position of strength,” Rutte said.
“And to get there, it is crucial that more military aid will be pumped into Ukraine.”
Several allies remain opposed to Ukraine’s quick accession to the alliance, including Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary, according to earlier reporting and statements. Reuters reported that an invitation during the upcoming summit was unlikely due to a lack of consensus.
According to an earlier statement by Trump’s pick for a Ukraine peace envoy, Keith Kellogg, Ukraine could temporarily forego NATO aspirations in exchange for alternative security guarantees and arms.
In a statement issued ahead of the meeting and the subsequent Ukraine-NATO Council session on Dec. 3, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry rejected any guarantees that would serve as substitutes for a full NATO membership.
“Having the bitter experience of the Budapest Memorandum behind us, we will not settle for any alternatives, surrogates, or substitutes for Ukraine’s full membership in NATO,” the statement said just two days before the 30th anniversary of the memorandum’s signing.
Last week, President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested ending the “hot phase” of war along Ukraine’s eastern front in exchange for NATO membership, not immediately including occupied territories.
In separate comments on a potential invite on Dec. 1, Zelensky said that the alliance’s Article 5 collective defense principle may not apply to Ukrainian territories facing active combat if Ukraine were to join NATO.
Rutte says Ukraine should postpone any negotiations with Russia until Western allies can send enough weapons for us to push ahead…
Thank you, Mark. It took us only almost three years to come to this conclusion. Maybe in 10 more years, someone will start acting on it.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 3:05 PM
And I know I sound frustrated out of nowhere, but we spent three years with a US president who wasn’t trying to force Ukraine to negotiate, drip-feeding aid instead of helping us win the war. Now, we’ve woken up, when the new US president will likely pressure us into negotiations. We had 3 years!
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 3:28 PM
⚡️ Ukraine won’t accept security guarantees substituting NATO membership.
Ukraine will refuse any kind of “alternatives, surrogates or substitutes” to full NATO membership, according to a Foreign Ministry statement on Dec. 3.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) December 3, 2024 at 3:40 AM
“Having the bitter experience of the Budapest Memorandum behind us, we will not settle for any alternatives, surrogates, or substitutes for Ukraine’s full membership in NATO,” the statement said just two days before the 30th anniversary of the memorandum’s signing.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) December 3, 2024 at 3:41 AM
Today, on the 30th anniversary of the Budapest Memorandum, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that Ukraine will not accept any security guarantees short of full NATO membership, asserting that this is the only effective means to stop Russian blackmail.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 2:53 AM
⚡️Yale study names over 300 Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia.
Yale study names over 300 Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia. Russia has carried out a “systematic, intentional, and widespread” program of forced adoption and Russification of Ukrainian children.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) December 3, 2024 at 3:53 PM
From The Kyiv Independent:
Russia has carried out a “systematic, intentional, and widespread” program of forced adoption and Russification of deported Ukrainian children, according to a study from the Yale School of Public Health published Dec. 3.
Since February 2022, nearly 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted from Russian-occupied territories and sent to other Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine or to Russia itself, according to a Ukrainian national database.
The study reported that Russia’s Aerospace Forces and military aircraft transported multiple groups of children in 2022 under Russian President Vladimir Putin’s orders.
According to researchers, child placement databases in Russia have falsely listed Ukrainian children as if they were born in Russia. Some agencies operating the databases later limited the publicly available data regarding Ukrainian children after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Putin and Russian Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova in March 2023.
Like the ICC, the Yale researchers determined that Putin and Lvova-Belova ordered and facilitated the system of child deportation and forced assimilation into Russian families.
The study also found that children from Ukraine had been transported to at least 21 regions throughout Russia, and after deportation were subjected to pro-Russia re-education before being placed in Russian families.
Psychologists and mental health professionals are involved in the coerced adoption program to help “legitimize” Russia’s human rights abuses with claims that the family placements are medically necessary.
The 314 children identified in the report were all taken from Russian-occupied areas of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts. Over 60 have been naturalized as Russian citizens since their abduction, the study found.
The data gathered in the study will be presented to the ICC as evidence of Russian war crimes.
The western bank of the Oksil River:
⚡️ Ukraine prevents Russia from establishing bridgehead west of Oskil River, military says.
Ukrainian troops managed to fend off Russian forces attempting to establish a foothold on the western side of the Oskil River north of Kupiansk, the General Staff reported on Dec. 3.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) December 3, 2024 at 4:10 AM
Serebryansky Forest:
Fascist Russia doesn’t just destroy Ukrainian cities – this is the Serebryansky Forest, near the front line positions of the soldiers of Ukraine’s 53rd Brigade. This once majestic forest has been reduced to a wasteland of dead, bare tree trunks. Ecocide.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 4:32 AM
The Kursk cross border offensive:
JDAM-ER (GBU-62) air strike on the Russian positions in the Kursk region, Cherkasska Konopelka (51.149343, 35.343372)
t.me/soniah_hub/7…— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 9:39 AM
Ukrainian marines from the 36th Brigade set fire to a column of Russian airborne troops in the Kursk direction.
t.me/c/2232931988…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 9:24 AM
Toretsk:
The operations of the tank battalion of the 12th Special Purpose Brigade “Azov” targeting enemy positions in urban areas and tree lines along the Toretsk direction.
t.me/Pivnenko_NGU…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 12:49 PM
Toretsk, Ukraine.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 6:49 PM
Zaporizhzhia:
Zaporizhzhia direction. Ukrainian soldiers send their regards.
t.me/c/2232931988…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 8:54 AM
Kurakhove:
‘Peaky Blinders’ UAV unit repelled a powerful assault attempt on the village of Maksymivka, south of Kurakhove, this morning. The goal was to encircle the Ukrainian forces in that area using four tanks and six IFVs with dismounts. The convoy was destroyed, including 2 tanks, 2 IFVs, and troops.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 4:00 AM
Kharkiv:
It’s December! The city of Kharkiv is pretty dark and upsettingly empty, but we have a Christmas tram and other decorations that are going to light up soon. For the first time in 3 years, they are installed not only underground but also on the streets.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 3, 2024 at 5:16 PM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
A new video from Patron’s official TikTok:
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Here’s the machine translation of the caption:
We are launching our first dance challenge with Tom! Shoot your dances to this sound and tag me under the video 💓🐾 #песпатрон
Open thread!
Adam L Silverman
I’m going to get cleaned up and rack out.
Everyone is most welcome.
Gin & Tonic
Two of the Bsky posts from publika.ge are repeated – you have post 1, then 3, then 3. 2 is missing.
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Jay
Was the Patron vid a hint at a “Crimean Beach Party”?
Martin
Thank you Adam.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
YY_Sima Qian
On the SK coup attempt, it is thankfully short lived & will end up as a farcical footnote in Korean history. Nonetheless, an important taboo in Korean politics was broken last night, especially given that Yoon must have had some level of support from at least some of the generals (the Army Chief being a prime suspect), & that is very worrisome. In a healthy polity (not even talking about liberal democracy here) should have been zero support from the military to overthrow the political order.
There had been democratic backsliding during previous right wing administrations (of Park Geun-hye & Lee Myung-bak), but declaring martial law for the 1st time in 45 years, & 1st since democratization, is crossing a bright red line.
Members of the Korean left wing had warned for months that declaring martial law was where Yoon would eventually end up, but these admonitions were dismissed as hyperbolic ravings.
YY_Sima Qian
Useful timeline of last night’s events in Seoul, courtesy of the Korea Herald:
Gloria DryGarden
@YY_Sima Qian: short and sweet.
YY_Sima Qian
Colorful commentary from Van Jackson on the SK self-coup, as well as other undercover international events:
Traveller
As smart as you are, YY, you have not answered the most essential question :>}}}
Is it time to buy iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY)???
Best Wishes, Traveller
YY_Sima Qian
@Traveller: Oh, I have seen such facile takes wrt the events in Seoul. I’ve also seen “Blob” members in good standing gripped by moral panic over the prospect of the SK left retaking the Presidency in the next election, & that might spell the end of the US-JPN-SK trilateral mechanism which Yoon had acceded to (& the SK left generally skeptical of) against NK, & to a lesser extent the PRC.
These are the times when you find out who actually values what among the U.S. elites.
Traveller
I know that this thread is kind of past…yet I’d like to thank you for your serious answer…to my joke.y question. I was trying to add a little fun…all we usually say is very serious…I was just having fun.
But at the same time, Not really funny at all. And I may buy South Korea, tariffs risk not withstanding.
Your serious answer really gave me issues to think about…so a very belated thank you.
Best Wishes, Traveller