(Image by NEIVANMADE)
Two quick housekeeping notes. First, I am going to keep tonight’s update very brief for obvious reasons.
Second, before anyone asks, yes, I saw the clips of what Musk did. Those gestures are definitely NAZI salutes. They are not a symptom of Asperbergers or being on the spectrum or whatever other bullshit is being promoted to try to gaslight everyone. That’s all I have to say about that.
History has had extremely dark times when humankind had all reasons to be ashamed and terrified of itself… but I’m trying really hard to recall a time when so many things around were such a grave insult to basic human intellectual capabilities.
— Illia Ponomarenko (@ioponomarenko.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 5:41 PM
I mean, the world’s richest man doing the Nazi salute at the U.S. presidential inauguration ceremony… there’s something fundamentally wrong about this world right now.
— Illia Ponomarenko (@ioponomarenko.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Right now, 9:22 PM EST/4:22 AM local time in Ukraine, all of eastern and central Ukraine, from north to south, is under air raid alert with the exception of Chernihiv Oblast. The alert maps are showing drones, but it is important to remember that the drone swarms are often used to try to overwhelm Ukrainian air defense so that the missiles and bombs can get through.
This was last night’s Ukrainian air defense tally:
On the eve of Trump’s inauguration, fascist Russia makes huge drone attack against democratic Ukraine: of 141 drones, 93 Iranian/Russian Shahed attack drones shot down, 47 decoy drones’ location lost (two flew back to Russia). Shostka in Sumy Oblast came under Russian ballistic missile attack.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
Ukrainians Are Ready to Work Together with Americans to Achieve Peace, True Peace – Address by the President
20 January 2025 – 20:42
I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!
Today, the Security Service of Ukraine, the State Bureau of Investigation, the National Police, and the Prosecutor’s Office are also doing a good job of ensuring justice in Ukraine, particularly in military affairs. Wealthy draft officers, situations like those in the Kharkiv region when the Russian army attempted to occupy our land and advance on Kharkiv again, and criminal errors in brigade management – all these issues require thorough investigation and just responses. I thank law enforcers for today’s efforts, and it is essential for people to feel that no status or past achievements can override the rule of law.
I held a meeting of the Staff today – many issues were discussed, including our domestic production and equipment repairs. Our defense industry, our defense production, is an absolute priority.
Today, the Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas visited Ukraine. We discussed further cooperation between our states and our nations. I am grateful for the support of all Lithuanians, all our friends. I would like to thank Gitanas, the President of Lithuania. And I am confident that the kind of unity we have between our countries, between Ukraine and Lithuania, is exactly what all of Europe needs now – so that we can achieve security for ourselves and for everyone in Europe. Right now, there is a good opportunity for this.The inauguration of the new President of the United States, Donald Trump. He is a strong person. I wish President Trump and all of America success. Ukrainians are ready to work together with Americans to achieve peace, true peace. This is an opportunity that must be seized.
Glory to Ukraine!
Georgia:
#GeorgiaProtests
Day 54
📷Basti Mgaloblishvili/@Publika_ge
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Today was day 54 of large-scale, continuous protests, and day 84 overall.
More importantly, today was the day, January 20, about which the illegitimate, puppet PM said it was impossible for protests to last until. 🤡 #GeorgiaProtests— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 1:05 PM
I took a photo of this elderly couple near the Parliament. They’re probably over 75. Late at night, in the freezing cold, they stood hand in hand with the Georgian flag, protesting against the tyrannical regime—together, caring for each other, and thinking about the future of the youth.
— Ani (@anieliashvili.bsky.social) January 19, 2025 at 9:50 AM
This man stands every day on Rustaveli at a protest rally, holding a banner, and each day the message is different. Today’s message is: “To our European friends – don’t leave Georgia in Russia”.
#GeorgiaProtests
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 12:28 PM
JUST IN: @netgazeti.org director Mzia Amaghlobeli, jailed and degraded by Irakli Dgebuadze the Batumi Police Head, announces a hunger strike. #terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 7:35 AM
🟥 The CEO of independent media outlets Batumelebi & Netgazeti has been refusing food in prison in protest.
🔴 Her lawyers and Batumelebi’s editor-in-chief held a press conference, calling the case politically motivated and her detention unlawful.
#GeorgiaProtests
#ReporessionInGeorgia— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) January 20, 2025 at 6:37 AM
🔴”Fight while there is still time. Fight wherever you are, in every corner of this land, beyond its borders, villages and cities, streets and lecture halls, workplaces, and public squares.
Be brave. Protect and strengthen one another,” Mzia Amaglobeli, in a prison letter.
#GeorgiaProtests— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) January 20, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Protesters in Tbilisi and Batumi rallied today in support of Mzia Amaglobeli, the jailed founder of “Batumelebi.” They demand the suspension of Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze and call for Mzia’s release by replacing her pretrial detention with an alternative measure.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 4:31 AM
“In 2025, we must deal the decisive blow to the radicals in our country and finish with the fascism” – illegitimate PM Kobakhidze.
Massive repressions coming. #terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 3:47 AM
JUST IN: the regime begins purging universities in Georgia!
Illegitimate PM Kobakhidze announces a 4-year-long special “government” commission effort to “fundamentally reform” the university system. He states that the current system was modeled by the previous government for themselves, 1/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 3:04 AM
that the majority of Tbilisi State University professors are political appointees and that there is no place for politics at universities. Kobakhidze also added that the reform would likely meet the same protest from the public as the “Foreign Agents” law did.
#terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests 2/2.— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Back to Ukraine.
Here’s the Russian butcher’s bill for just last week:
Russia launched nearly 550 drones, 60 missiles, over 660 aerial bombs against Ukraine in a week, Zelensky says #Ukraine
Russian forces launched around 550 attack drones, nearly 60 missiles of various types, and more than 660 aerial bombs against Ukraine during the past week, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on Jan. 20.
Russia launched a mass aerial attack against Ukraine on Jan. 15, targeting Lviv, Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Khmelnytskyi oblasts. On Jan. 18, Russia attacked Kyiv with missiles, killing three people, and injuring three others.
Over the week, the Ukrainian military shot down 33 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and 311 attack drones, according to Zelensky. Another 136 drones used in daily attacks on infrastructure “did not reach their targets,” the president added.
“I am very grateful to all our soldiers, military aviation, anti-aircraft gunners, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups. But the task remains unchanged — continue strengthening our skies’ protection,” Zelensky said.
“More Patriot (air defenses) for Ukraine means more protection of life. More long-range capability for Ukraine means more guarantees that the Russian war will be stopped,” he added.
Ukraine has lobbied international partners for more air defense capabilities in the wake of intensifying Russian strikes targeting civilian and energy infrastructure.
Ukraine is also reportedly working on developing its own air defense systems, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said in an interview with the Ukrainian news outlet TSN on Jan. 19.
The Kursk cross border offensive:
Ukrainian Forces repelled a large mechanised assault by the occupiers’ army in the Kursk operational zone, destroying 3 tanks, 7 IFVs, and several dozen personnel. The bloody and fiery carousel was orchestrated by combined units of the 47th and 82nd Brigades using artillery, drones, and small arms
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Full video: t.me/brygada47/1168
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 2:04 PM
The drone flew in to check the Kursk ammunition depot and joined the party.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Zolochiv, Kharkiv Oblast:
Yesterday, Russia launched three guided aerial bombs on Zolochiv in the Kharkiv region, destroying several households and injuring a 14-year-old girl and an elderly woman.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Antonivka, Kherson Oblast:
🆘 “this is what happened to our house, we fed all the abandoned animals till now, the house is uninhabitable, thank God, everyone survived….. 6 cats, 7 dogs, 5 people. Help us to evacuate” – Inna
Kherson. Antonivka. The road of death.
Russian drones hit all rescue cars.
— Zarina Zabrisky (@zarinazabrisky.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 8:02 AM
I first met Inna in October 2023. She was pregnant with twins but lost one baby due to the guided aerial bomb attacks on her house. Since then, the family has been through hell. Now, they are stuck in a ruined house where no one can drive. euromaidanpress.com/2023/10/06/w…
— Zarina Zabrisky (@zarinazabrisky.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Pokrovsk:
Russians have been shelling Pokrovsk all day.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Smolensk Oblast, Russia:
Smolensk, Russia – witness captures a moment drone crashes into a building/facility.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Smolensk – witness captures moment russian air defence missile takes out an unidentified drone.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 6:39 PM
According to reports, UAVs physically sanctioned an aviation plant in Smolensk — an aircraft and missile manufacturer. The plant is already under EU and US sanctions and produces Kh-59 missiles.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Kazan, Russia:
Video of what appears to be a drone flying in the direction of aircraft factory followed by large explosion in Kazan, Russia early on Jan. 20. Drone may have hit the factory, KAPO-Kompozit (КАПО-Композит) or its nearby oil depot.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Geolocation of factory: 55.868513,49.112231
Video filmed from: 55.859090, 49.105464
Oil deport circled in red.
Source: t.me/exilenova_pl…— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Liski, Russia:
/4. Fifth day, Russian oil depot in Liski is still burning
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Major Russian channels confirm a new fire at the oil refinery in the city of Liski, Voronezh region, following a UAV strike. The ineffective air defense system remains powerless against Ukraine’s slow-moving drones.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 2:50 PM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material.
Today’s Cat of Conflict is a cute red furry cat Nastia and her sister saw in their village in the Vinnytsia region.
— Tim Mak (@timkmak.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Feeding station in action today. The Hachiko team keeps 125 of these refilled across the front lines of Ukraine each week. Super simple—but they work!
— Nate Mook (@natemook.bsky.social) January 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Open thread!
Adam L Silverman
Everyone is welcome.
I’m going to bed.
John S.
Thanks for all you do putting these threads together… 1,062 posts and counting. The mind boggles.
Adam L Silverman
@John S.: You’re welcome.
Thank you for the kind words.
KatKapCC
Thank you, Adam. The willful denial of the truth about what Musk did has been enraging. No one is less deserving of any benefit of the doubt than he is.
Quinerly
Thank you for your posts.
And thank you for weighing in on Musk.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Jay
As always, Thank You, Adam.
Wombat Probability Cloud
Likewise, thank you Adam, and rest well.
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/GlushkoDenys/status/1881286163912089755#m
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/IAPonomarenko/status/1881358463441191024#m
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/Gerashchenko_en/status/1881289183983292792#m
Quinerly
@Jay:
Thanks for posting this.
Sally
I think what scares me about the western response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine is the parallels with the beginning of WWII. There is considerable discussion here and elsewhere about the similarities of theses years with the build up of the nazis in the ’30’s. But the parallels with the German invasion of Sudetenland, and then Poland, are terrifying. The talk of the French and British allies of Poland saying “don’t mobilise, that will provoke Germany”. And “well, Sudetenland is primarily German anyway, so maybe they have a point”. Like “eastern Ukraine is so “Russian” (not), so maybe they have a point”. What, none of these people had/have any right to self determination? The Ukranians, in eastern Ukraine and Crimea, have spoken in numerous elections and have clearly indicated that they want to be Ukraine, not Russia.
When the French finally marched into Germany potentially giving the war a second front, they stopped because they thought Germany was invincible. The Poles were begging the RAF to flatten the German airfields, they refused because it might provoke the germans to retaliate by bombing Britain. It’s the same war, even the words are the same – if those allies had stormed Germany in 1939, the war would probably have been far shorter and less lethal. The Germans were apparently terrified of a second, western, front. The French were quite strong at that point. Everyone was so scared of what might happen, that it did.
The appalling devastation of Poland, the genocide of the Polish people, not only jewish Poles, is the same as the attitude of Russians invading Ukraine. Hitler was telling his people for years, the Poles are not fully human, they do not deserve to live. The land has to be disinfected and repopulated by Germans. Even in the first days and weeks of the war, when little resistance had been felt by German soldiers, and certainly no atrocities committed against them, the sadism was astonishing. Bucha everywhere.
There were Germans who were shocked, and worked against this regime. Even German senior officers. They were incredibly brave, and usually “disappeared”. Just as there are Russian citizens who are prepared to risk their lives to protest this war. Incredibly brave.
I am so scared of this moment.
We aren’t even asleep (Chris Clark’s The Sleepwalkers). We are awake to what is happening. We have seen this, merely 90 years ago.
I am so scared.
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
@Jay: Gods be thanked!😁 TBH, I’m surprised that he hasn’t been given citizenship by now, if only honorary. The man sold his house to go to Ukraine to help.
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
@Jay: I wish Ukraine &Moldova had, between them, the forces to force Transnistria to cease to exist. Yes, I realise that’s simplistic, that it will probably create other problems. I still wish it could happen.
Gloria DryGarden
@Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom: How would that help? Does that article mean they want to buy gas from Moldova, and pass it on to Russ, to help them?
Forgive me if this is a stupid question. The complexities get rather convoluted for me. And I thought Transnistria didn’t have independent nation status, though I don’t know what limits that causes.
Jay
@Gloria DryGarden:
Transnistria “bought” gas from ruZZia that was shipped via Ukrainian pipelines. The transhipment treaty expired at the end of 2024 and Ukraine shut the pipelines down.
Moldova offered to replace the ruZZian gas, Transnistria refused a deal, as they were sure that ruZZia would save them. RuZZia did not save them, even after they went to Moscow and begged.
Then, after a month of blackouts and frozen homes, they accepted the deal from Moldova.