(Image by NEIVANMADE)
Ukraine’s air defense did yeoman’s work last night/this morning.
Russia launched last night another massive winter attack targeting Ukraine’s energy sector, including gas infrastructure and energy facilities, with over 40 missiles (30 intercepted) and 70 drones, according to President Zelensky.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Ukrainian Air Force successfully intercepted 30 out of 47 russian missiles today.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Twenty-five Ukrainians prisoners were returned to home today:
Welcome home to 25 Ukrainians who returned from russian captivity today ❤️🩹
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 8:12 AM
The Security Service of Ukraine shared exclusive footage of Ukrainians being released from Russian captivity.
This exchange follows a special format for severely ill and injured prisoners of war, who, under the Geneva Convention, are to be returned first.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 11:41 AM
From The Kyiv Independent:
Ukraine managed to bring back 25 Ukrainians from Russian captivity including Azovstal defenders, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Jan. 15.
“Returning our people home is something that Ukraine is constantly working on. And we will not stop until we bring all of our people back,” Zelensky said in a post on Telegram.
The returning Ukrainian POWs were captured during the defense of Mariupol and its Azovstal steel plant, as well as during the defense of other key areas of the front line in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts, Zelensky added.
He said some of those brought back have serious injuries and illnesses.
President Zelenskyy travelled to Poland today to meet with President Duda, Prime Minister Tusk, students, Ukrainian expats living in Poland. It was a busy day. There’s lots of video, but I’m just going to go with the press events with President Duda and Prime Minister Tusk tonight. I’ll work the other videos in throughout the rest of the week.
Here is the joint press availability with President Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Tusk:
And the one with President Zelenskyy and President Duda:
JOINT STATEMENT by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland Donald Tusk
15 January 2025 – 16:28
(January 15, 2025, Warsaw)
We met today in Warsaw, at the beginning of the Polish Presidency in the EU Council, to confirm strategic partnership between Ukraine and Poland as well as to reiterate Polish support for Ukraine to obtain full membership in the European Union.
1. We agree that the security and defence of Europe is our common interest and responsibility. The existing lack of security in Europe is driven primarily by Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine. We will work together to stop the Russian war against Ukraine and to restore a comprehensive, just and lasting peace and security in Europe. Both sides will support and promote the Victory Plan of the President of Ukraine and Ukrainian Peace Formula based on key principles of international law.
2. Poland and Ukraine will work together with European partners to make Europe more secure, stronger, and safer. This will include ensuring proper defence support to Ukraine, including using immobilized Russian frozen assets for Ukraine’s needs, in particular for effective functioning of the Ukraine Assistance Fund under the European Peace Facility.
3. The EU enlargement means the expansion of the security zone in Europe. Poland will facilitate Ukraine’s accession process with the aim of opening cluster 1 “Fundamentals” and – if possible – other negotiating clusters.
4. Poland and Ukraine see an urgent need for strengthening Europe’s defence capabilities, coordinating the respective efforts with NATO allies. We will strive to convince partners that the European Defence Industry Programme should properly reflect Ukraine’s role in the growth of Europe’s defence sector.
5. Acting in cooperation with the United States and other like-minded partners, we will continue efforts aimed at broadening global isolation of Russia and increasing EU sanctions’ pressure on the aggressor-state. We will strengthen coordination in the fight against Russian disinformation and cyberattacks to enhance Europe’s resistance to such hostile actions.
6. Poland will advocate for further EU’s assistance to Ukraine, in particular through stable budgetary funding under both the Ukraine Facility, the EU’s exceptional macro-financial assistance as well as assistance related to restoring energy infrastructure, humanitarian demining and other urgent needs of Ukraine.
7. Europe’s energy independence is one of the pillars of the continent’s overall security. It is crucial to fully cut off Europe’s dependence on Russian energy sources. We cannot rely any longer on the aggressor-state and on the supplier, which uses energy as a tool of warfare. This means that Europe should aim at greater integration and self-sufficiency when it comes to the energy supply. Completion of the EU energy market and closer energy cooperation with Ukraine can increase energy security, diversify energy supplies and reduce energy prices.
8. Emphasizing the importance of Ukraine’s implementation of relevant EU legislation, we will work together, in line with the provisions of the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, on improving, if possible, the movement of people, goods and capital via strengthening connectivity, upgrading the border crossing infrastructure.
9. We will work together on the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine with relevant engagement of the international actors, notably EU Member States and institutions.
10. We will continue constructive dialogue and look for the solutions of the issues related to the Common Agricultural Policy in the light of Ukraine’s integration in the EU Single Market.
11. We welcome the progress in resolving the historical issues and will continue developing constructive historical dialogue based on existing legal framework and the democratic values in the name of the common European future.
12. Poland is ready to share with Ukraine its experience of accession talks with the EU.
Prime Minister Tusk brought some clarity to the Russian plot from last Fall to blow up airplanes leaving from various EU member states.
Russia plans terror attacks ‘in the air’, warns Polish PM
https://www.ft.com/content/b5f5228f-1b75-4e73-a82b-6b72e1932123
— Financial Times (@financialtimes.com) January 15, 2025 at 10:44 AM
From The Financial Times:
Russia plans to sow chaos with attacks on air transport in Poland and elsewhere, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned.
His comments are the latest indication of what security experts charge is a campaign of sabotage and intimidation inspired by Moscow that began last year.
“The latest information can confirm the validity of fears that Russia was planning acts of terrorism in the air not only against Poland,” Tusk told a news conference alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Warsaw on Wednesday.
Moscow has denied involvement in a number of mysterious explosions and breakages that have bedevilled western leaders over the past year.
Experts say that evidence suggests Russia was behind explosions at logistics depots in Europe last summer, which may have been a dry run for terror attacks on cargo flights to the US.
The explosions occurred in depots in Britain, Germany and Poland in July. Tusk did not mention them specifically.
In April, two German-Russian nationals were arrested in Bavaria for allegedly plotting to attack military and logistics sites in Germany on behalf of Russia.
That same month, two men were charged with having started a fire at a warehouse in the UK containing aid shipments for Ukraine. English prosecutors accused them of working for the Russian government.
In October, Germany’s domestic spy chief said a plane narrowly avoided crashing after a parcel destined for its hold burst into flames before the flight in a suspected act of sabotage. Thomas Haldenwang warned of a dramatic increase in “aggressive behaviour” by Russian agents.
Ken McCallum, head of Britain’s MI5 domestic intelligence service, said that same month that the Russian military intelligence (GRU) “in particular is on a sustained mission to generate mayhem on British and European streets: we’ve seen arson, sabotage and more.”
Security experts say that the clear aim of many attacks has been to probe western states’ security in such a way as to prepare for a major attack on a Nato country.
“If you strip out some of the Russian attacks that appear to be random attacks designed to sow fear, the remaining attempts follow a clear pattern,” said Keir Giles, senior fellow at Chatham House and author of the book Russia’s War on Everybody.
“Russia is probing defences and probing the capabilities of European states to respond,” Giles said. The airline plot “demonstrated a clear willingness by Russian intelligence services to carry out attacks that cause mass civilian casualties.” He said it was only through good luck that the devices did not go off while planes were airborne.
More at the link!
Georgia:
Today, President Zourabichvili reiterated that there are no two sides in the Georgian public: it’s simply the regime vs society. 🇬🇪🇪🇺
#GeorgiaProtests— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 12:12 PM
@Zourabichvili_S has joined the mass warning strike.
#GeorgiaProtests
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Day 49 of continuous large-scale protests, day 79 of overall protests against electoral fraud, and the 1st day we successfully went on a first-ever “warning” national strike ✊🏻 #GeorgiaProtests #terrorinGeorgia #NewElectionsforGeorgia
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Striking citizens marched towards Rustaveli Avenue to continue their protest.
#GeorgiaProtests
Day 49
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 9:34 AM
On Dolidze Street, so-called “titushky” attacked the protesters/strikers.
#GeorgiaProtests
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 7:23 AM
The regime will fail to visually identify and arrest this violent person with a baseball bat against participants of a strike. 🤡 #terrorinGeorgia
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Regime thugs with bats terrorize citizens and the participants of the first-ever “warning strike.” This is the second occasion now. Saburtalo, Tbilisi. The Titushky threaten with killing that person. #terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Citizens are blocking the streets.
#GeorgiaProtests
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 6:59 AM
In addition to the first successful economic strike, six universities (four in Tbilisi and two in Batumi) announced sit-in permanent protests today. Another two have already been doing so. #GeorgiaProtests #NewElectionsforGeorgia
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 2:54 PM
The head of the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA), a reputable Tbilisi-based human rights watchdog Nona Kurdovanidze, has alleged that senior police official Irakli Dgebuadze mistreated Mzia Amaghlobeli, a key media manager, following her arrest. 1/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Kurdovanidze made the claims after visiting Amaghlobeli in detention and reporting the incidents to the Special Investigation Service.
“After visiting Mzia Amaghlobeli, we provided detailed information to the Special Investigation Service regarding the improper treatment she was subjected to. 2/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 12:37 PM
This included multiple instances of verbal abuse by senior police officer Dgebuadze, which occurred both in the courtyard of the police station and inside the building,” Kurdovanidze stated.
According to GYLA, Dgebuadze attempted several times to enter the room where Amaghlobeli was being held. 3/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 12:37 PM
On each occasion, other police officers at the scene reportedly intervened to prevent him from entering, thereby avoiding potential physical violence.
“During one such incident, Dgebuadze spat in Amaghlobeli’s face,” Kurdovanidze alleged. 4/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Moreover, under his orders, Amaghlobeli was denied access to water and the restroom for a significant period. These are grave violations that require an immediate investigation,” she added. 5/5.
I copied this post from TV Formula’s Twitter.— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Context: bsky.app/profile/mari…
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Back to Ukraine.
Video of the first recorded interception of a Russian Geran decoy UAV by an FPV drone.
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) January 15, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Kyiv:
People sheltering in Kyiv metro this morning.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Donetsk Oblast:
⚡️Ukraine captures 23 Russian soldiers in Donetsk Oblast.
Ukraine’s Azov Brigade captured 23 Russian soldiers during combat operations in the Toretsk area of Donetsk Oblast, the National Guard of Ukraine reported on Jan. 15.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) January 15, 2025 at 7:15 PM
From The Kyiv Independent:
Ukraine’s Azov Brigade captured 23 Russian soldiers during combat operations in the Toretsk area of Donetsk Oblast, the National Guard of Ukraine reported on Jan. 15.
According to the statement, some Russian troops surrendered willingly, while others were found hiding in basements or captured during assaults. The captives, taken into custody by the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov, are reportedly in satisfactory condition.
The National Guard confirmed that the prisoners would be transferred to the relevant authorities. “We hope they will soon be exchanged for Ukrainian defenders held in captivity,” it said.
Lviv Oblast:
🤯 A massive crater in a Lviv Oblast field – left behind by the explosion of a downed Russian missile
— Ukrainska Pravda 🇺🇦 (@pravda.ua) January 15, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Liski, Voronezh Oblast, Russia:
Russian oil depot in Liski, Voronezh region of Russia, was targeted by drones.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Oil depot in Voronezh region of russia is on fire for some reason 🔥
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Tambov Oblast, Russia:
Emergency services report an attack by unmanned aerial vehicles in the Tambov region. Last night, a distillery in Tambov region was directly targeted by drones.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Regarding the attack on Tambov region, Russians report that UAVs were heading toward the gunpowder plant in the village of Kuzmino-Gat. Between 4 to 8 explosions were heard in the sky over Kotovsk, and explosions were also reported directly in the village.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 5:48 PM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
First, some adjacent material:
The Hachiko Vet Van in eastern Ukraine today on the way to Sviatohirsk! The team just helped 15 cats & dogs in Kramatorsk, where Russia hit with a big missile attack last night (everyone’s okay!). Sviatohirsk was liberated from Russian occupation and has many homeless pets.
— Nate Mook (@natemook.bsky.social) January 14, 2025 at 9:28 PM
And a new video from Patron’s official TikTok!
@patron__dsns Виглядає переконливо?👀 #песпатрон
Here’s the machine translation of the caption:
Looks convincing?👀#песпатрон
Open thread!
Gin & Tonic
To those of us who are aware of Polish-Ukrainian history, the current situation remains remarkable.
Adam L Silverman
@Gin & Tonic:
japa21
Long time since I’ve said this, but “Thanks again, Adam”.
Adam L Silverman
@japa21: You’re most welcome.
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/Gerashchenko_en/status/1879147982425145663#m
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/Mikiashvili_M/status/1879470653188735133#m
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: You’re welcome.
Roberto el oso
@Gin & Tonic: As a Polish-American it’s been extremely gratifying to see this taking place.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam