A quick housekeeping note: I know it’s New Year’s Eve or day depending on where you are and everyone has things they do to ring in the new year, even if it’s just hiding from it. So, I’m going to keep tonight’s update to just the basics.
Ukraine started 2025 the way it started 2024 and 2023, with air raid alerts going up over significant portions of the country.
Here’s how 2025 starts for Ukraine
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 5:42 PM
New Year in Kharkiv starts with the air raid alert
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 5:52 PM
Air raid alerts are currently up over northern and central northern Ukraine from Kharkiv to Zhytomyr Oblast as of 7:35 PM EST/2:35 AM local time in Ukraine.
There is, however, some good news year as Ukraine enters 2025.
⚡️4 Ukrainian children return home from Russian-occupied territories.
Ukraine successfully returned 4 children from the Russian-occupied part of Kherson Oblast thanks to the “Bring Kids Back UA” initiative as well as “Save Ukraine,” Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin announced on Dec. 31.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) December 31, 2024 at 5:05 PM
From The Kyiv Independent:
Ukraine successfully returned four children from the Russian-occupied part of Kherson Oblast thanks to the “Bring Kids Back UA” initiative as well as “Save Ukraine,” Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin announced on Dec. 31.
These include two boys and two girls, aged between 3 and 17. “A true New Year’s miracle!” Prokudin said in his statement, adding that “each of them has endured experiences no child should ever face: Russian terror, threats, and interrogations of their relatives.”
Since February 2022, at least 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, “Children of War.”
The Ukrainian Parliament’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, estimates that Russia has unlawfully deported up to 150,000 Ukrainian children, while the Children’s Ombudswoman, Daria Herasymchuk, puts the figure at 200,000–300,000.
Since the beginning of 2024, at least 246 children native to Kherson Oblast have been returned from Russian occupation, Prokudin said.
A Yale School of Public Health study published on Dec. 3 detailed Russia’s systematic program of deporting and forcibly assimilating Ukrainian children.
Under orders from Russian President Vladimir Putin, children were transported via military aircraft in 2022, reclassified in Russian databases as native-born, and subjected to pro-Russian re-education before being adopted into Russian families. Ukrainian children had been transported to at least 21 regions throughout Russia.
But wait, there’s more!
🚀 🚁 For the first time in history! Russian military helicopter was shot down by the Ukrainian sea drone!
«💥 On December 31, 2024, special unit “Group 13” for the first time in the world shot down an air target using a Magura V5 sea drone equipped with missile weapons!…»
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 4:02 AM
/2. ✔️ During the battle in the Black Sea near Cape Tarkhankut of temporarily occupied Crimea, a Russian Mi-8 helicopter was destroyed by the use of R-73 “SeeDragon” missiles.
❗️ Another similar enemy helicopter was hit by fire and was able to reach the airfield.»
t.me/DIUkraine/5127
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 4:02 AM
Here is President Zelenskyy’s New Year’s address. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
New Year’s Greetings from President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy
31 December 2024 – 23:40
Dear People!
Behind me stands Mother Ukraine. Ukraine that stands firmly on its feet, does not bow its head, looks ahead, believes in its future and victory over all the evil that Russia has brought us. Ukraine that is capable of achieving a just peace – having a shield and a sword. Defending its people, its colors, its Independence. Today I address all those who value Ukraine, cherish their state, and lovingly call it “Mine.” I thank you for 2024. Our people who endure all difficulties with dignity. People for whom being citizens of Ukraine is a source of pride. And for me, it is a pride to be the President of such people – Ukrainians who prove that no cruise missile can defeat a nation that has wings.
Throughout this leap year, we have proven it every day. And we saw it yesterday. When we were uplifted with happiness because 189 Ukrainians returned from captivity to their native land. Because they will celebrate the New Year at home. Because we are bringing our people back. 1,358 people this year. 3,956 Ukrainians during this time. And I’m giving not estimates but precise numbers, because each one represents a person, our person, a very important person. And with each return – we bring life back to Ukraine.
And every time this happens, we all cry. It doesn’t matter if it’s a moved mother, or it’s a child who finally has their father back, or the President of Ukraine – we all cry because we are all human, and we have kept the light within us.
And it helped us endure through over 1,000 days. To be brave when it was needed most. To be strong when it was so vital. As did our teachers, our medics, our power engineers, our transport workers, as did all our air defense personnel, mobile fire groups. The guys who brought down 1,310 cruise and ballistic missiles this year, and 7800 Iranian “Shahed” drones. Bravo! We are proud! Thank you! We lived through this year together. We overcame everything 2024 brought together. Victories and setbacks. Joys and challenges. Tears of happiness when we succeeded. And tears of pain when our hearts were wounded.
July. Morning. Okhmatdyt. That’s how weaklings and cowards strike. And we will never forget those children’s eyes. We will never forgive them for this! When evil brings death, our response is a human chain. This is what the strength of Ukrainians looks like. And that unity of ours could be seen from space. God saw it. He saw what kind of people we have. What kind of children we have. And I will never forget those incredibly mature and strong eyes of the boy from Okhmatdyt. How much life is in him, energy and dignity! And how much stronger this child alone is than Putin! How much stronger all our children are than their entire evil. Ukrainian boys and girls who are winning this war, gaining knowledge online and even in underground schools, winning global science competitions, raising funds for our army, and inventing technological solutions that help with our defense. You are a phenomenal generation! This is who we are fighting for. This is who our heroes, our warriors, protect above all. Those who stand firm and carry Independence on their shoulders. Where freedom and valor fight every day – even now, on this New Year’s night. On all our fronts. On all of them. In the east, where it’s extremely, extremely difficult and challenging right now. But we believe, we know: you will stand strong. Our guys will stand strong. Your spirit and courage will stand strong. All the things that helped you not to surrender our Sumy and Kharkiv, our Kherson and our Zaporizhzhia this year. And the Russians wanted it so badly. But instead – you paid the occupiers back, bringing the war back home to Russia. And the one who sowed evil on our land received it on their own. In the Kursk region and in other places where our response, our justice, came this year.
Justice. Just one word, but behind it stand hundreds of thousands of our people. Our defense industry and our science. Whose minds and work have made us stronger, because 30% of everything our guys had on the battlefield this year – all this was made in Ukraine.
And at one of these facilities, I asked a young engineer: “How did you manage to achieve so much? How were these people able to do all of this?” And the young man joked: “They’re not just people, they’re missiles.”
And you know, at that moment, I felt ashamed as a citizen that since the 90s, the state hadn’t noticed such people of ours. And I am proud, when meeting them throughout the year I hear: they are happy to be needed by Ukraine. And that Ukraine is once again building its own, its own missiles. And for the first time, it produces over a million drones in a year. Forcing the enemy to learn Ukrainian. Palianytsia, Peklo, Ruta. Making them tremble at the words Neptune and Sapsan. All these are our missiles. Ukrainian. Hor, Vampire, Kolibri, Kamik, Liutyi, Heavy Shot, Firepoint. All these are our drones. Ukrainian. And all these are our arguments, the arguments for a just peace.
It is achieved only by the strong. And we have proven time and again that we are strong. Our athletes. Oleksandr Khyzhniak, our Tank. Olga Kharlan, Yaroslava Mahuchikh, all our Olympians and Paralympians, for whom we cheered, worried, and screamed with joy and pride when the blue and yellow flag was raised. We took the hits and fought back alongside Oleksandr Usyk. All of this is about something bigger than just sports. It’s about our character. It’s about who we are and what we are capable of. It’s about meanings and symbols. It’s about Sashko’s fights, like Ukraine’s daily battles, showing us: it doesn’t matter how much bigger the enemy is compared to you, what matters is how much bigger your will is. Then it takes the breath away of the whole world! And all the leaders told me frankly: “We’ve never seen anything like this – when a full hall of Notre-Dame de Paris is applauding.” And those were applause for you. For all our people. This is what respect for Ukraine sounds like. This is what Independence is.
It’s when we don’t give up what’s ours. And when we don’t forget our people. Those who are in captivity. And we will fight for every person who, unfortunately, is still there. And we will fight for all those whom Russia has forced into occupation; but couldn’t occupy their Ukrainian hearts. And no matter how many passports evil hands out at gunpoint, our people say: “You are not our kin, you are temporary.” And all those imposed weeds will not take root on our land, will not defeat the natives. I always recall the story about one of our Ukrainian elderly men, whom the occupiers asked: “What time is it?” And he answered: “Time to get off our land.” This is what the inner will is, which simply cannot be occupied. And I turn to all those who carry this will in their hearts on the temporarily occupied territories. Dear Ukrainians! I know you are celebrating the New Year according to our time, and now you hear these words. In our Crimea, in Donbas, in Melitopol, in Mariupol – everywhere where Ukraine is awaited. And where, one day, Ukraine will return to be together. And the only thing that will divide Ukrainians is a generously laid table.
I know that all our people will be at this table. Those who are now abroad but have kept Ukraine in their hearts. So today, in the first minute of the New Year, in Warsaw, New York, or Buenos Aires, “Shche ne vmerla…” will sound. In Berlin, Prague or Tokyo, people will say today: “Glory to Ukraine!” And the world will respond: “Glory to the Heroes!” Because Ukraine is not alone. Because we have our friends with us. Since the first minutes of this war, America has stood with Ukraine. I believe that America will also stand with Ukraine in the first minutes of peace.
I remember my conversation with Joe Biden after the Russian invasion. I remember my conversation with Donald Trump after he was elected. All the conversations with Congressmen, Senators, ordinary Americans, with all those who support us in the US, in Europe, and around the world – in those many and varied conversations, there was always unity on the main point: Putin cannot win. Ukraine will prevail.
I thank all Americans for proving these words with deeds. I have no doubt that the new American President is willing and capable of achieving peace and ending Putin’s aggression. He understands that the first is impossible without the second. Because this is not a street fight where you have to calm down both sides. This is the full-scale aggression of a mad state against a civilized one. And I believe that we, together with the United States, are capable of exerting that force. Of compelling Russia into a just peace. That means not forgetting, and not erasing everything Russia has done. Bucha, Olenivka, Avdiivka, all our destroyed towns and villages. This is why a truly just peace cannot be based on the principle of “let’s start with a clean slate.” Because the score is not 0:0. The score is thousands, thousands of Ukrainians whose lives Russia has stolen.
And today, the heart of Ukraine is covered with scars. These are the names of our fallen heroes. May God protect every family in the world from experiencing such losses. I would not wish any leader in the world to experience these feelings – the moment you hand over awards posthumously. You see the eyes of a mother, a wife, or a child of a warrior who gave their life for Ukraine, and you hear them say: “Please, let it all not be in vain.” Thousands of our guys and girls have not faded into oblivion. They are with us, they are by our side, always, they are watching over us from the heavens. And we have no right to let them down, and we cannot betray their feat and memory.
And every day in the coming year, I, and all of us, must fight for a Ukraine that is strong enough. Because only such a Ukraine is respected and heard. Both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.
I thank everyone who has stood by us this year. Our partners, allies, friends, leaders. Leaders indeed, not because it is customary to call them that, but because they prove their leadership by their actions. Those who were not afraid to come to Ukraine, knowing how valuable it is to see us standing shoulder to shoulder. With whom, despite the distance and time difference, we worked together, found solutions and achieved results. Patriots, IRIS-Ts, NASAMS and ATACMS systems, F-16s, SCALPs, Storm Shadows. The Czech initiative and a million shells. The Danish model and hundreds of millions in our domestic production. 27 security agreements and 40 billion to support our army. The European Union and 50 billion to support our economy. The G7 and the decision on 50 billion dollars of frozen Russian assets. This is our great international work. This is our great international victory. I thank our partners, thank you for this; I thank our team. The Army, the Government, the Office, the Parliament, the regions, the communities, the volunteers. All those who strengthen our country from within and care about people.
I thank everyone thanks to whom Ukraine is standing and will stand. It will overcome its path to peace, to a strong Ukraine. And to a European Ukraine. And these are not just words, but a reality that began this June with the opening of negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU. And this is a historic result. And this path is irreversible. And Ukraine will be in the European Union. And one day Ukraine will be in NATO and will strengthen the Alliance. It will strengthen the stability of the world. The unity of Europe, which determines the destiny of every nation on the continent. And this unity must be respected by all. By both Budapest and Bratislava. I know the Hungarian and Slovak peoples are actually with us, with Ukraine, with Ukrainians, on the side of truth. The authorities of these countries should also acknowledge the truth. There is no need to be afraid of Ukraine being in Europe. We must do everything to prevent Russia from being in Europe. Its tanks, its missiles, and the evil it will surely spread further if Ukraine does not withstand. If Russia shakes your hand today, it does not mean that tomorrow, it will not start killing you with the same hand. Because Russians are afraid of the free people. Of what they are not familiar with. They are afraid of freedom. They were born under Putin, went to school under Putin, joined the army under Putin and are dying for his sick ideas.
And that is why it is so crucial today to support all peoples who defend freedom. Those who refuse to give it up in Chișinău. Those who are fighting for their future in Tbilisi. And I am sure that the day will come when we will all say: “Long Live Belarus!”
Dear Ukrainians!
May 2025 be our year. The year of Ukraine. We know that peace will not be given to us as a gift. But we will do everything to stop Russia and end the war. This is what each of us wishes for.
Behind all of us stands Mother Ukraine. And she deserves to live in peace. I wish this to all of us. And as the President of Ukraine, as well as a citizen, I will do everything to achieve it in the coming year. Knowing that I will not be alone. I know that you stand shoulder to shoulder with me – millions of Ukrainians. Strong. Free. Beautiful. Independent.
Happy New Year, dear people!
Happy New Year, Ukraine!
Glory to Ukraine!
Georgia:
During the New Year’s Eve protest, demonstrators brought an effigy of oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili with a ‘One-Way Ticket to Moscow,’
#GeorgiaProtests
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) December 31, 2024 at 5:54 PM
00:02, January 1, 2025. Protest New Year’s with banned fireworks in Tbilisi, Georgia. Please look at the amount of people on the horizon at the end of the video. Even more will join after they’ve marked the midnight at home. Our victory & freedom year has come!
#GeorgiaProtests— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 4:04 PM
New Year’s Protest on Rustaveli Avenue
#GeorgiaProtests Day 34
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 3:08 PM
Families of the regime prisoners and some protesters were out for the New Year’s at the prison. #GeorgiaProtests #terrorinGeorgia #NewElectionsforGeorgia
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 5:28 PM
For years, the only reason the regime kept winning was a lack of general clarity about their true nature. But now there’s nothing for us to look forward to anymore other than full victory.
And we are determined to achieve just that.
New Year’s #GeorgiaProtests
📷 Ezz Gaber— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 5:28 PM
@Zourabichvili_S wished citizens a Happy New Year alongside those who were dismissed from public service in recent days for protesting against the actions of GD. The number of such individuals is several dozen.
#GeorgiaProtests
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 2:51 PM
January 1 – #Tbilisi
President Salome Zourabichvili joined the New Year’s Eve #GeorgiaProtests on Rustaveli Ave. She walked along the length of the festive Supra, greeting people and engaging with the crowd. Her presence was warmly welcomed, with cheers of ‘Thank you, President!’
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) December 31, 2024 at 4:16 PM
The President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili is here with us now, receiving endless gratitude and support!
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 4:07 PM
#Batumi welcomed 2025 with ongoing #GeorgiaProtests
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) December 31, 2024 at 5:43 PM
A New Year’s feast is being set up on Rustaveli Avenue – today’s protest rally is titled “The Magical New Year’s Night on Rustaveli.”
#GeorgianProtests
Day 34— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 2:28 PM
A New Year’s feast is being set up on Rustaveli Avenue – today’s protest rally is titled “The Magical New Year’s Night on Rustaveli.”
#GeorgianProtests
Day 34— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 2:34 PM
Georgians are setting up New Year’s protest feast on Rustaveli Avenue. #GeorgiaProtests #terrorinGeorgia #NewElectionsforGeorgia
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 2:35 PM
⭕ “Fire to oligarchy” – citizens hung a protest banner from the Narikala Fortress wall.
#GeorgiaProtests
Day 34— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 1:55 AM
Back to Ukraine.
In 2025 you have decisions to make. Ones you could’ve taken in 2022 but now cost more and aren’t going to get cheaper
— Darth Putin (@darthputinkgb.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 12:41 PM
The reason of the strategic inflation is simple. It’s this guy’s strategic malpractice and incompetence, as well as that of the rest of Biden’s senior natsec team.
An embarrassment of a puff piece on the man responsible for US’ dithering “escalation management” in the war on Ukraine and the equally cringy self-promotion still found in the print version of @foreignaffairs.com published after 7 Oct.
Last minute reputation washing hagiography
wapo.st/3ZQ0lJC
— Toomas Hendrik Ilves (@ilvestoomas.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 2:29 PM
This is almost as bad as Blinken’s break his arm to pat himself on the back essay in Foreign Affairs last month. Simply, Sullivan failed ! He’s the exemplar of someone serving the same senior leader for too long, strategic malpractice, & strategic incompetence. The anchor of the worst senior natsec team in the US since the Bush 43 folks. All the wrong makes, models, & types for the current geostrategic moment. The US, our allies and partners, and the world is less safe and secure than at any moment in the past fifty years because of Biden, Sullivan, Austin, Blinken, Burns, Haynes, Garland, Wray, Kahl, and the rest.
Happy New Year from Ukraine, wherever in the world you are.
Let there be light!
— Illia Ponomarenko (@ioponomarenko.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 2:00 PM
The last day of the year… Thank you all for believing in what is honestly right in good faith.
In today’s world, it’s a huge deal.
Thank you, dear friends🇺🇦.
— Illia Ponomarenko (@ioponomarenko.bsky.social) December 30, 2024 at 6:58 PM
Thank you for your incredible support! See you in 2025!
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 4:44 PM
Number of air alerts by Ukrainian oblast in 2024. Donetsk and Kharkiv on the front lines top the list, but oblasts like Sumy and Poltava are also high up, as Russian missiles and drones often fly over them on their way west. Kyiv has had 509 alerts, lasting a combined total of 22 days.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 4:38 AM
Kyiv and Sumy Oblasts:
🎄Early morning of the New Year’s Eve, Russia launches a ballistic missile and Shahid drone attack on Ukraine.
⚫️In the Sumy region, Shostka, 12 high rises hit.
⚫️Kyiv and region hit by Iskanders and 6 guided missiles.
Shahid drone attack is ongoing.
📹 Pravda Gerashcenko Tg
— Zarina Zabrisky (@zarinazabrisky.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 3:45 AM
⚡️Russian attacks damage homes and infrastructure in Kyiv and Sumy oblasts ahead of New Year.
Russian missile and drone attacks injured at least one person and damaged residential buildings and infrastructure in Kyiv and Sumy oblasts on Dec. 31.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) December 31, 2024 at 6:51 AM
From The Kyiv Independent:
Russian missile and drone attacks injured at least one person and damaged residential buildings and infrastructure in Kyiv and Sumy oblasts on Dec. 31.
Russian troops launched 21 missiles, including six Iskander ballistic missiles and one Kinzhal aeroballistic missile, and 40 drones overnight on Dec. 30-31.
A woman in Kyiv Oblast was concussed after falling debris damaged the roof of a house and smashed its windows, according to the regional military administration.
In the capital, missile wreckage fell onto the roof of a home in the Darnitskyi district. No casualties or damages were reported.
Russian attacks also damaged infrastructure in the town of Shostka, Sumy Oblast, according to local government head Mykola Noha. While no fatalities have been recorded so far, the strikes damaged 12 residential buildings, two educational institutions, three boiler houses, a healthcare clinic, a dormitory, as well as other facilities.
The damages and losses are still being clarified, Noha said.
During the mass attack, Ukraine downed six missiles and 16 drones, Ukraine’s Air Force said. A further 24 drones were decoys that failed to reach their target.
Russia has not slowed down its attacks on Ukraine over the festive period. President Volodymr Zelenksy said on Dec. 29 that Moscow had escalated its aerial assaults on Ukraine during the holiday season.
On Dec. 25, Russia conducted a large-scale Christmas attack, firing 78 missiles and 106 drones against multiple cities.
Russian occupied Crimea:
Official Telegram channel of the Security Service of Ukraine. The Crimean Bridge👀
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 9:39 AM
Kharkiv:
Light spills like liquid courage across the wounded streets of Kharkiv, a quiet promise etched into the darkness: we will endure.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 11:33 AM
The “Starry Sky” is shining again in Kharkiv for New Year’s, and I want to cry because of how much those lights mean to me. They are from the past life, before the horrors of war. Today, we redeem a bit of ourselves back ❤️🩹
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 11:34 AM
Kherson:
🚨Kherson main street: a public bus hit by a Russian drone this morning.
Last night, drone hit the old town (set garbage bins on fire).
Russia Tg channel: “Kherson. Today our people congratulated [racial slur for Ukrainians]. …Santa Claus has a long list and plenty of gifts.”
— Zarina Zabrisky (@zarinazabrisky.bsky.social) December 31, 2024 at 4:03 AM
Yartsevo, Smolensk Oblast:
Russian oil depot in Yartsevo, Smolensk region of Russia, burns after drone attack. (55.0700693, 32.6645458)
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 30, 2024 at 9:37 PM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
A new video from Patron’s official TikTok!
@patron__dsns З Новим Роком!❤️🐾
Here’s the machine translation of the caption:
Happy New Year!❤️🐾
Happy New Year!
And open thread!
KatKapCC
The NYE address from Zelensky is really wonderful. He is an incredible public speaker in whatever circumstances (and I believe I heard that he writes his own speeches, or at least most of them). I really encourage folks to watch the whole thing. Here is an FB link to the version with English captions if you’d prefer that to reading along in the transcript. I especially like the way he brings Trump into it, by sort of putting him on the hot seat. A bit of “Okay pal, you talked the talk, so put up or shut up now” but in very diplomatic language.
Adam L Silverman
@KatKapCC: I posted the YouTube video with English captions turned on above the jump in this post.
KatKapCC
@Adam L Silverman: Oh, I know! But sometimes YouTube’s auto-generated captions aren’t all that accurate, in my experience. The FB one has captions from…well, someone on his social media team, I suppose.
Nukular Biskits
Okay, my language tonight is a little coarser than usual, but isn’t this a fucking war crime?
Grrrrrrrrrrrr. Had I only the power.
Anyway, Adam, thank you for all you do. I wish you weren’t doing it, though, if that makes sense.
Nukular Biskits
@KatKapCC:
Zelensky was (is?) a comedian and it’s been my experience that the funniest guys/gals were usually some of the most intelligent and gifted orators.
Adam L Silverman
@KatKapCC: Okay, now I’m tracking.
KatKapCC
@Nukular Biskits: It should be…but for some reason, it seems like war crimes committed by Russia get nothing more than a “tsk tsk” from most of the world.
Gin & Tonic
@Nukular Biskits: So is bombing hospitals. So is castrating prisoners of war.
Nukular Biskits
@Gin & Tonic @KatKapCC
And the official policy of the US regarding these egregious violations of both the Geneva Convention and basic human rights has been … I’m not fucking sure.
While I continue to support the Biden Administration overall, I agree with Adam 10000% (and I apologize if I’m putting words in his mouth) that our response to Russian aggression in and against Ukraine has been generally too little, too late. All in the name of “avoiding escalation”.
And, with modifications, this applies to the current gov’t of Israel as well (i.e., the official US responses to IDF bombing/shelling hospitals in Gaza is <crickets chirping>.
CCL
Thank you Adam, I try to read every night to bear witness, but must confess it’s harder some nights than others.
Adam L Silverman
@Nukular Biskits: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@CCL: You’re welcome and I understand.
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/IAPonomarenko/status/1874184317900865821#m
StringOnAStick
I realize now that I was seeing the Georgian flag frequently along the route of the Tour de France this year. I wish they success at keeping their country out of Russian hands, as I do the Ukrainians as well.
lashonharangue
Thanks Adam and I hope 2025 is the last year you have to do these posts.
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/wartranslated/status/1874104974877094227#m
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
MagdaInBlack
Thank you, Adam, for all your hard work all year.
YY_Sima Qian
@Adam L Silverman: Very late to this thread, but Biden’s natsec team can’t be worse than Trump’s, even the one in the 1st couple of years of Trump’s 1st term. Heaven knows I have levied plenty of criticism at Biden’s team, but at least they are competent crises managers, even if they do little to alleviate (& often exacerbate) the broader dynamics that precipitate crises. Can’t say the same about Trump’s team, & the 2nd term is set to be much worse
OTOH, I saw a quote attributed to Sullivan floating around X, which asserted that Biden thinks in terms of decades, while everyone criticizing him & his team think in terms of months & years (I am paraphrasing). They can’t be that obtuse & tone deaf…
Geminid
@AlaskaReader: Happy New Year. I hope it will be a happy one for us all.