(Image by NEIVANMADE)
A quick housekeeping note: I’m still dealing with the lingering symptoms of the tail end of this sinus infection. So, I’m going to just run through the basics again tonight.
If you want to see what a real reporter does, give this a watch:
I asked Vladimir Putin: “25 years ago Yeltsin handed you power & told you ‘Take care of Russia.’ Do you think you have? In light of significant losses in Ukraine, Ukrainian troops in Kursk region, sanctions, inflation…” Here’s his reply. Producer
@lizashuvalova.bsky.social @bentavener.bsky.social— Steve Rosenberg (@bbcstever.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 1:41 PM
Here’s the full video:
Imagine any reporter on the broadcast networks, the cable news networks, or working for one of the big newspapers or news magazines actually asking a question like that to the President-elect, the Vice President-elect, or the unelected co-President. Never going to happen.
As everyone could’ve and should’ve expected, Putin followed up his delusional, unhinged, and deranged speech and Q&A session yesterday by bombarding civilian targets in Ukraine.
Another brief air alert – threat of Oreshnik launch. The first, demonstrative strike on Dnipro by an Oreshnik missile is now serving what was no doubt its intended purpose – to put the whole of Ukraine on alert, and jangle nerves, with just the threat of the launch of another one.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 5:54 AM
Kyiv this morning after missile attack: 8 missiles, including ballistic Kinzhal and Iskander types. Sickening creatures
— Maria Avdeeva (@mariainkharkiv.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 1:55 AM
Kyiv this morning
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 2:58 PM
A Russian drone just struck an apartment building in Kharkiv a few minutes ago. This was someone’s home‼️
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 3:12 PM
Russian drone pierced the quiet of Kharkiv’s night, striking an apartment building — its shattered walls now mirror the fractures in countless hearts. This war on the innocent is the roar of those who’ve abandoned both honor and humanity.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 4:06 PM
More on these attacks after the jump.
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
Everyday Terror Deserves Ever-Increasing Pressure on the Terrorist: Russia Must Be Held Accountable – Address by the President
20 December 2024 – 19:54
Dear Ukrainians!
I want to thank all leaders, each of our partners who have expressed their support to Ukraine today after another missile strike: ballistic missiles hit Kyiv, people were injured, sadly, a man was killed. My condolences. Some houses were damaged, including St. Nicholas Cathedral. Diplomatic missions have also sustained damage – all of them are located in the same office building. Albania, Argentina, Palestine, North Macedonia, Portugal, Montenegro. Clearly, this Russia’s madness must not be perceived by the world as something routine – everyday terror deserves ever-increasing pressure on the terrorist. Russia must be held accountable, and even if they are led by a completely inadequate person, the pressure on them must make the Russian state feel what reality is and how reality can punish international criminals. More sanctions against Russia are necessary.
I also want to thank all the partners of our state who are responding to this and other Russian shellings by being ready to provide more air defense systems, more weapons that can protect against terrorists. We have now returned from Brussels with new agreements on air defense systems. Germany has also already transferred an additional IRIS-T system – thank you. We will respond to Russia’s attacks on all our other cities as well – today the Russians carried out another barbaric shelling of Kherson. In general, we see the occupier intensifying their activities in the Kherson direction. I would like to thank our units who are defending these positions. They have repelled the attempts of the Russian movements there.
Also today, the Commander-in-Chief briefed me on other frontline directions – the Donetsk region and the Zaporizhzhia direction. Special attention was paid to the combat actions in the Kursk region: more and more North Korean soldiers are being eliminated there. And this is telling that Russia is trying to pass off these North Korean soldiers as representatives of national communities living within Russia itself. This is a complete disrespect from Moscow to the indigenous peoples and even to the Koreans themselves.
And one more thing.
Today, several important meetings were held here in Kyiv. A meeting of the Governments of Ukraine and Lithuania took place. The new Lithuanian Government is in Ukraine for the first time in its entirety, immediately after being appointed, and this is a clear Lithuanian priority for the alliance between our countries; we in Ukraine deeply value this. I also spoke today with the President of the Czech Republic, particularly about how to increase the supply of shells and the production of weapons for our defense. And today, together with our diplomatic team, we finalized the list of new Ukrainian ambassadors. I approved more than 30 decisions. Among them are Nariman Dzhelyal to Türkiye, Alyona Getmanchuk as Ukraine’s representative to NATO, Andrii Melnyk as Ukraine’s representative to the UN, and others. These and other decrees will soon be formalized in accordance with diplomatic procedures.
I thank everyone who is working for Ukraine!
Glory to Ukraine!
President Zelenskyy also presented awards on energy workers day. Here’s the video clip.
And here’s the video of his press conference in Brussels yesterday. It had not yet posted when I was drafting last night’s update.
The US:
FT Exclusive: Donald Trump’s team has told European officials that the incoming US president will demand Nato member states increase defence spending to 5% of GDP, but plans to continue supplying military aid to Ukraine. www.ft.com/content/35f4…
— Financial Times (@financialtimes.com) December 20, 2024 at 12:29 PM
From The Financial Times:
Donald Trump’s team has told European officials that the incoming US president will demand Nato member states increase defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP, but plans to continue supplying military aid to Ukraine.
The US president-elect’s closest foreign policy aides shared his intentions in discussions with senior European officials this month, according to people familiar with the talks, as he firms up his policies towards Europe and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
During his White House campaign, Trump vowed to cut off aid to Ukraine, force Kyiv into immediate peace talks, and leave Nato allies undefended if they failed to spend enough on defence — spooking European capitals.
But in a boost for allies deeply concerned over their ability to support and protect Ukraine without Washington’s backing, Trump now intends to maintain US military supplies to Kyiv after his inauguration, according to three other people briefed on the discussions with western officials.
At the same time Trump is to demand Nato more than double its 2 per cent spending target — which only 23 of the alliance’s 32 members currently meet — to 5 per cent, two people briefed on the conversations said.
One person said they understood that Trump would settle for 3.5 per cent, and that he was planning to explicitly link higher defence spending and the offer of more favourable trading terms with the US. “It’s clear that we are talking about 3 per cent or more for [Nato’s June summit in] The Hague summit,” said another European official briefed on Trump’s thinking.
Nato allies are already in discussions about increasing the target to 3 per cent at that meeting of leaders in June, but many capitals are concerned about the difficult fiscal decisions that would be required to do so.
While Trump still believes Ukraine should never be given membership of Nato, and wants an immediate end to the conflict, the president-elect believed that supplying weapons to Kyiv after a ceasefire would ensure a “peace through strength” outcome, they added.
After 24 hours of meetings with Nato and EU leaders in Brussels this week, Zelenskyy said on Thursday that European pledges to defend Ukraine would “not be sufficient” without US involvement.
More at the link!
The US currently spends about 3.1% of GDP on defense. During the President-elect’s first time the highest it got was 3.4%.
Georgia:
President of #Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, commented on the OSCE/ODIHR final report on Georgia’s 2024 parliamentary elections, stating that “call for concrete action means new elections.”
#GEOElections2024 #GeorgiaProtests— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) December 20, 2024 at 3:32 PM
President Salome Zourabichvili Delivered Speech at Joint Session of Italian Senate’s Foreign Affairs, Defense, and European Affairs Committees
#Georgia #GeorgiaProtests #StandWithGeorgianPeople
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) December 20, 2024 at 3:40 PM
Here’s the full video with English captioning turned on.
Irakli Kobakhidze stated that the US needs de-oligarchization and blamed sanctions on the Interior Minister and others on the “Deep State”.
“It seems there are informal influences behind this decision,” he said.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 5:26 AM
He’s not wrong about the American problem with ultra-high net worth individuals. Doesn’t make him a hypocrite.
“I am both a mom and a dad” — a woman from yesterday’s fathers’ protest march.
#GeorgiaProtests
#TerrorinGeorgia— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 2:40 AM
Ron DeStupid is now very confused.
On patience and some comparative perspective.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 7:03 PM
Last year, days before the then-successful March clashes over the Russian law (Foreign Agents law), we all wondered, quite pessimistically, whether people would even protest it.
Fast-forward the events of the next 21 months…
I’ve learned never to underestimate public reactions.— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 6:00 PM
And Bidzina Ivanishvili is learning that just now 💅🏻
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 6:05 PM
December 20 – #Tbilisi
#GeorgiaProtests: Representatives from the early education sector and the Autism Coalition marched to Rustaveli Avenue from two different routes, demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of all protest-related detainees.
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) December 20, 2024 at 12:26 PM
Day 23. New elections; release the unlawfully detained. #terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests
📷 Givi Ashortia— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 3:29 PM
December 20 – #Batumi
#GeorgiaProtests continue in #Georgia, demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of all protest-related detainees.
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) December 20, 2024 at 12:39 PM
December 20 – #Tbilisi
#GeorgiaProtests: Representatives from the early education sector and the Autism Coalition marched to Rustaveli Avenue from two different routes, demanding new parliamentary elections and the release of all protest-related detainees.
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) December 20, 2024 at 12:26 PM
Day 23. Protest installation at the Parliament that depicts various texts states the OSCE/ODIHR report did not recognize the October 26 elections.
#terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests
📷 Gela Khasaia— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 2:13 PM
Kyiv:
‼️ Russia launched 8 missiles at Kyiv, — KMVA
🚀 The enemy used Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles from MiG-31K and Iskander/KN-23 ballistic missiles.
— MAKS 24 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 3:06 AM
Grim morning in Kyiv as the city wakes to devastation. A massive russian missile attack left one civilian dead, over ten injured, and dozens of buildings damaged.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 5:43 AM
This is not some action movie set. This is my Kyiv after russian missile attack this morning 💔
— Margo Gontar (@margogontar.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 2:21 AM
The aftermath of one of many explosions in Kyiv. At dawn, russian forces attacked Ukraine’s capital with ballistic missiles.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 12:53 AM
It is widely known that to sustain his political survival, Putin requires the blood of Ukrainian civilians every day. This morning, they launched eight ballistic missiles and several dozen drones at Kyiv.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 4:46 AM
Debris from the strikes fell in three districts of the city, cutting off heat to 630 residential buildings, 16 medical facilities, 17 schools, and 13 kindergartens—the sort of numbers that Putin particularly appreciates. The St. Nicholas Church building also suffered damage.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 4:46 AM
Kyiv this morning 💔
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 8:45 AM
A number of embassies have been damaged as a result of the russian morning attack on Kyiv, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported‼️
The building damaged by the Russian strike houses the embassies of Albania, Argentina, Palestine, North Macedonia, Portugal, and Montenegro,
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 8:39 AM
where windows, doors, and ceiling elements have been blown out, said Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgy Tykhy.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 8:39 AM
Kharkiv:
Russian drones struck an apartment building in Kharkiv tonight, injuring at least four people, including a 12-year-old girl. They also destroyed several homes, right in the middle of winter.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 3:40 PM
Pischane Village, Kharkiv Oblast:
A Ukrainian warrior, with the support of drones, single-handedly repelled an assault and eliminated six enemy soldiers using his personal weapon. This took place in the village of Pishchane in the Kharkiv region.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 6:20 AM
Kryvyi Rih:
Rescue teams have released images of the consequences of russian missile attack on the apartment building in Kryvyi Rih.
Three people were injured, two of whom, a 38-year-old man and a 14-year-old girl, were rescued from the rubble.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 19, 2024 at 6:25 PM
Kherson:
🚨🚨🚨Hitting Kyiv w/8 missiles overnight, Russia used the distraction for the worst massive artillery attack on Kherson and a failed attempt to seize Ukraine-controlled area on the occupied territory.
💔2 killed
💔10 injured
🛑60,000 w/o electricity
🛑Fires
🛑Massive damages— Zarina Zabrisky (@zarinazabrisky.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 3:25 AM
🚨Russian sabotage groups tried and failed to seize Ukrainian positions on the east, Russian-occupied bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region.
🚨At 5 am, Russia targeted Kherson with 1,000 shells.
Damaged:
30 high-rises
15 houses
a railway station
police
library
church— Zarina Zabrisky (@zarinazabrisky.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 5:52 PM
Throughout the day, unprecedented attacks continued.
In the evening, Russian military hit Kherson and suburbs with several guided aerial bombs.
🚨Russian propagandists claim that Kherson oncological center was bombed and share a video of the attack.
— Zarina Zabrisky (@zarinazabrisky.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 5:54 PM
Odesa:
Love the Christmas tree in Odesa that has Ukrainian motives as decoration🎄
— Sofia (@sofiaukraini.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 9:11 AM
Petrivka Village, Donetsk Oblast:
Air strike on Russian base in Petrivka village, Donetsk region.
t.me/WarArchive_u…— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 2:51 PM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
First some adjacent material.
Kyiv today, Kryvyi Rih yesterday.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 20, 2024 at 10:31 AM
And a new video from Patron’s official TikTok!
@patron__dsns Вдячний кожному та кожній за найменший донатик у мій фонд ❤️🩹🐾 #песпатрон
Here’s the machine translation of the caption:
I am grateful to everyone and everyone for the smallest touch in my fund ❤️🩹🐾#песпатрон
Open thread!
Villago Delenda Est
Mass bombardment of civilian targets? Is there nothing new under Putin’s sun?
KatKapCC
Forgive me if I trust Trump on this as far as I could throw him.
KatKapCC
@Villago Delenda Est: Ah, but in Putin’s mind, he IS the sun.
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Nukular Biskits
Adam, a strange questions, perhaps:
Do the modern rules of war prohibit countries from actively attempting to eliminate top governing officials of the opposing side?
Adam L Silverman
@Nukular Biskits: I’m not an IHL expert, however, in my experience if the top governing officials are legitimate military targets – eg they are actually directing the war, making final targeting approval for at least some targets, things like that – then they should be targetable. Now there’s supposed to be a whole bunch of other considerations that going into target selection, development, adjudication, deconfliction, and, ultimately approval. But yes, they should be targetable in some way.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: You’re welcome.
Nukular Biskits
@Adam L Silverman:
As a layman, I have to wonder if Ukraine has contemplated (or actually attempted) to target Putin.
Given their actions against top military commanders, I’d be surprised they have not.
Parfigliano
@Adam L Silverman: How convenient the people prosecuting/waging a war are largely off limits. I call shenanigans.
Adam L Silverman
@Nukular Biskits: I would expect there’s a contingency plan or discussion for one. The issue is always if you achieve the desired effect, in this case the elimination of Putin, what comes next? How has the strategic environment been changed? What are the new challenges and threats, let alone opportunities? Is Putin replaced by Patrushev or someone even worse we’re not tracking that doubles down so as not to be seen as weak and immediately surrendering? Would this include waging kinetic war on other states besides Ukraine? Does Russia fragment along ethnic lines? What’s the plan for dealing with that.
You want to make sure that tactical success doesn’t lead to strategic failure.
Adam L Silverman
@Parfigliano: They’re not off limits, but it’s complicated.
Gin & Tonic
My dear wife has a good friend who was in Kyiv for meetings, staying at the Holiday Inn on one if the blocks that was hit. She heard the sirens and went to the shelter. After the all clear she went back to her room and found it had no windows. She posted some pics, but I can’t link without providing identifying info.
The hotel staff managed to make breakfast for all the guests, somehow.
Adam L Silverman
@Gin & Tonic: Glad she is okay.
Chetan Murthy
@Adam L Silverman: And then there’s the blowback of a -failed- attempt (that is detected).
Jay
@Gin & Tonic:
Glad she is okay.
Jay
@Adam L Silverman:
ruZZia sent Spetnaz teams in to Kiev to try to “behead” the Government of Ukraine.
So I am sure that the GUR and Budanov have been gaming out a response.
The “big issue” is that Bunker Boy has multiple doubles who do “public” appearances, such as they are, staged with hand picked acolytes.
He’s always wearing body armour and doesn’t even trust his own Generals and Ministers to be close to him, they are always at the end of a very, very long table.
And of course, every time the SHTF, like with the Wagner episode, he retreats into one of his many, highly secure Bunkers, not to be seen in public for days and weeks, not even making Zoom calls.
Nukular Biskits
@Adam L Silverman:
Good points.
I wonder how many Ukrainian military leaders have run through “game theory”.
frosty
Agreed. There are so many variables, especially inside the opaque Kremlin, that eliminating the top echelon could backfire badly.
Better to have your (non)NATO allies support you with all the weapons and ammunition you need to win the war.
//snark. I weep. I need to call Rep Smucker (R) again and make sure he’s still supporting Ukraine.
frosty
If this is how the rich and powerful live, I’ll stick to way less than rich with no power and enjoy life, friends, Happy Hours, lunches, and my family.
Fucking idiots.
wjca
If Ukraine wins the war, or even just like it is on the road to do so, somebody/group inside the Kremlin is going to take down Putin (manifold body doubles notwithstanding). I just don’t see a way he survives losing his war.
SC54HI
The video of Putin “answering” Rosenberg’s excellent questions was unreal.
This is why I try to read your posts every day. Thank you, Adam.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
YY_Sima Qian
Final resolution might be in sight for this particular episode (gift link):
The article also goes into some detail on the complications of international maritime law in such situation, which explains why the PRC authorities (the ship being PRC flagged) has such a prominent role here & why the European authorities have had to conduct weeks of secret negotiations to gain access to the freighter.
Of course, if the freighter is Liberian or Panamanian or Russian flagged, the European authorities might not have treaded so carefully, which is probably why Russian intelligence would want to leverage PRC flagged vessels to carry out such grey zone attacks.
YY_Sima Qian
Trump’s demands on Europe are damaging on multiple fronts. Increasing defense spending to 5%, at a time of stressed budgets & stagnant economies, will crowd out social welfare & domestic investment. Insisting the Europeans to buy expensive U.S. oil & LNG will further undermine the competitiveness of European industry, which is already weighed down by high energy costs. All of that will undermine the economic sustainability & socio/political cohesion in Europe, further erode the credibility of the European establishment. Now Trump ally Musk is openly backing the European far right to take advantage. All of these work toward the same end, make Europe Fascist.