(Image by NEIVANMADE)
This is Sofia Yavorska, who had a deep love for books, she was killed by a russian missile in Poltava today.
On February 1st, Sofia, along with her parents, were killed in their home in Poltava when it was struck by a russian Kh-22 missile. The library that Sofia loved shared the news.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 6:58 PM
That’s it. That’s the fucking update. Everything else tonight is just details.
Almost all of eastern and central Ukraine is back under air raid alert at 8:00 PM EST/3:00 AM local time in Ukraine. Right now it’s drone swarms, but as we’ve seen the last several nights, Russia follows them with ballistic missiles.
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
There Must Be No Ways Left to Supply Russia with Critical Components for Its Defense Industry; Any Violation of Sanctions Must Be Considered Complicity in the War – Address by the President
1 February 2025 – 20:05
Dear Ukrainians!
Currently, efforts are still underway in Poltava after last night’s strike. As of now, 17 people are known to have been affected. All of them have received assistance. Twenty-two people have been rescued. More people are still being searched for under the rubble. At the moment, the list of fatalities, tragically, includes 8 names. My condolences to their families and loved ones.
In total, last night alone, the Russians launched 165 missiles and drones – of various types. In addition to the Poltava region, the Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk regions were also hit.
Odesa is recovering from yesterday’s strikes on the city center. Museums, the philharmonic, many historic buildings, and a famous Odesa hotel were damaged. Not only Ukrainians, but even Norwegian diplomats working in Ukraine were caught under attack in Odesa.
We must always be absolutely honest about this Russian terror: they wouldn’t be able to cause such damage so intensely and literally every night on their own. Every Russian “Shahed” drone, every Russian missile – these are components made in other countries. One hundred and sixty-five strike units in one Russian night strike – all these Iskanders, Kalibr missiles and other means of killing – mean hundreds or even thousands of components from other countries. European countries, China, and even America.
Without such critical components, Russia will have no ability to destroy the lives of other nations. Therefore, it is critical that sanctions be truly strong and impossible to circumvent under any circumstances. There must be no ways left to supply Russia with critical components for its defense industry. Any violation of sanctions must be considered complicity in the war, and those who help destroy lives must be held accountable.
And I certainly want to thank today our Ukrainian rescuers, doctors, all medical workers, our volunteers – all those who are helping. In the Kharkiv region, Sumy and all the communities of the region, Chernihiv, Poltava and the region, Cherkasy, Kyiv, Donetsk regions, the communities of our south: Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Kherson, our Odesa regions as well – and in every place where missiles and “Shahed” drones pose a threat night and day, in every place where lives must be saved. I thank everyone who is always on call, always helping. And of course – our mobile fire groups, all air defense units, our combat aircraft involved in the defense of our skies. Thank you!
Now we are working to attract more resources and partners to strengthen the Ukrainian air shield. Protection against shelling is an absolute priority. Much more needs to be done, but every one of our partners in the world who helps us with this is a life saver. And this is what everyone in the world should be thinking about now: about lives, about cooperation, about putting pressure on the aggressor and about bringing real peace closer. Peace that Russia will not grant. Peace that they can only be pressured into. And we will do it!
Glory to Ukraine!
Georgia:
Protest in Tbilisi
#GeorgiaProtests
Day 66— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Demonstrations continue in Batumi
#GeorgiaProtests
Day 66— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 12:52 PM
‼️ Crushing dissent is beginning to acquire new scales in Georgia.
🔴 There’s said to be a list of 150 people who need to be jailed or forced out of Georgia, according to Ivanishvili’s former ally and ex-Co-Investment Fund Head Giorgi Bachiashvili; 1/— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 7:10 AM
🔴 Roads of international importance have been added to the list of strategic locations, meaning that closing them is now a criminal penalty rather than administrative. This was done on January 31, two days before the announced February 2 blockage of the Tbilisi city entrance (east-west highway); 2/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 7:10 AM
🔴 Politician Givi Targamadze states he has info that the Criminal Police Head Teimuraz Kupatadze instructed to plant drugs in the pockets of street protesters;
🔴 Currently, the homes of FB self-organized community “Daitove” admins Nancy Woland (pseudonym) and Ilia Ghlonti are being searched, 3/— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 7:10 AM
and so is the home of former unlawfully detained protester Isako Devidze.
Daitove” is the group that coordinates ideas and plans protests in Georgia.
This will only get worse. We need all international help we can get NOW until it’s too late, and primarily it’s sanctions. 4/4.— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 7:10 AM
🟥Ahead of the planned protest blocking the capital, police in #Tbilisi are raiding activists’ and citizens’ homes.
🟥Authorities cite an ongoing investigation into organized group violence and coordinated actions.
🟥On January 31, GD criminalized blocking international highways.
#GeorgiaProtests— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) February 1, 2025 at 8:57 AM
“Either you come with us voluntarily, or we’ll have to do dirty stuff,” the regime police threatened Nancy Woland (pseudonym), one of the admins of the self-organized Facebook group. This was a threat of something being planted in her home. Her lawyer says. #terrorinGeorgia
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Activist Nancy Woland, the creator of the FB group ‘Daitove,’ which has almost 300K members and is the related to the protests, says that the police came to her and are planning to conduct a search forcibly and without a lawyer.
#GeorgiaProtests
#TerrorinGeorgia— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 5:32 AM
The police have finished searching Nancy, but they remain standing in the hallway. They are neither locking the apartment door nor allowing a neutral witness or a lawyer to leave. Lawyer called 112 to report that he and others were being illegally deprived of their liberty.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 8:16 AM
The lawyer says that police a few branded masks and blankets from Nancy Woland’s home. After the search was completed, an unknown person broke into the apartment and stole the phone of Nancy’s mother, who was filming the post-search situation in the house.
#TerrorinGeorgia
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 7:55 AM
📌GD’s Shalva Papuashvili is now targeting @publikage.bsky.social.
❌On FB, Papuashvili shared Publika’s informational card about the planned rally, calling it “advertising a criminal offense.”
✅Publika condemns his statement as an attempt to pressure its editorial independence.
#RepressionInGeorgia— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) February 1, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Regime police in Georgia are looters, on top of it all. While raiding Isako Dolidze’s home today, who was later detained (again), they took GEL2000 (USD700) which the family took as a loan for his mother’s surgery.
People gathered funds for her in 23 minutes. #terrorinGeorgia— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Apologies, made a mistake in a rush: his name is Isako Devidze.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 10:45 AM
According to the lawyer, police officers physically assaulted Isako Devidze multiple times.
The lawyer stated, ‘For four hours, they questioned him: Who is supposed to block the road? What will happen at the rally tomorrow? What training have you undergone?’
#TerrorinGeorgia
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Isalo Devidze is on a hunger strike.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Civilian-dressed persons have just kidnapped activist Daniel Bulkashvili, who had recently left a 12-day unlawful detention. It’s likely that they were regime policemen. Meanwhile, protests continue in Tbilisi, Batumi, and beyond. #terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 10:46 AM
The several-hour interrogation of “Daitove” team member Ilia Glonti has ended. According to him, all the questions were about a @publikage.bsky.social news cart he shared on Facebook, which announced the February 2 road blockade protest.
#GeorgiaProtests
#TerrorinGeorgia— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Activist and self-organized Facebook community “Daitove” admin Ilia Ghlonti’s home was searched and he was detained, later released, over a Facebook status by Publika media regarding tomorrow’s highway blockage that he shared. 1/2
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 1:42 PM
My friend Mirian Berulava, a harmless and very kind spirit, is nowhere to be seen yet after he was summoned by the regime police, evidently over his post that we need tractors and big cars to block the Tbilisi entrance highway tomorrow. #terrorinGeorgia 2/2.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 1:42 PM
@netgazeti.org director, journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli had her 21st day of the hunger strike in unlawful detention today. This is what they require from her. #terrorinGeorgia
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Georgians seem to be at the cusp of wanting the regime to collapse internally, as was the priority in January, and preparing themselves for the idea that the regime will need to be removed, albeit in a non-violent effort. Each day there are no sanctions from abroad poses new risks for public safety.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Lot of that sentiment going around.
Back to Ukraine.
And thus Ukraine endured 1/3 of the 3rd winter of war during which Russia tried to plunge it into the cold and dark with strategic missile attacks; the third winter that many were again saying Ukraine would not survive.
— Illia Ponomarenko (@ioponomarenko.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 1:22 PM
A Russian attack overnight struck Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing emergency power shutdowns in 7 regions today, said energy minister & Ukrenergo. A Russian missile also hit a residential building in Poltava, killing 2 people. An attack in Kharkiv killed 1.
www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/202…— Christopher Miller (@christopherjm.ft.com) February 1, 2025 at 2:27 AM
From Ukrainska Pravda:
Due to a Russian missile attack on the morning of 1 February, emergency power outages are being introduced in seven Ukrainian oblasts.
Source: press service for Ukrenergo, Ukraine’s state-owned electricity transmission operator
Details: In particular, the restrictions are applied in Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.
Update: On his Facebook, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko added that preventive restrictions were being applied in the country.
“In connection with the attack, the electricity transmission operator is urgently applying preventive restrictions,” Halushchenko said.
Background: On the early morning of 1 February, an air-raid warning was issued across Ukraine.
Poltava:
WARNING!! WARNING!! GRAPHIC CONTENT!! WARNING!! WARNING!!
The death toll in Poltava has risen to 9 after tonight’s Russian missile strike on an apartment building in the city.
17 others got injured, including 4 children.
Search and rescue efforts continue.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 2:58 PM
11.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 5:19 PM
UPD Poltava. The death toll from the russian missile attack has risen to five, with 14 other civilians injured. Rescue efforts are ongoing.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Hell on earth. Poltava right now. Terror is russia’s strategy.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 1:50 AM
The death toll in Poltava has risen to 8 after tonight’s Russian missile strike on an apartment building in the city. Search and rescue efforts continue.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Poltava today, after russian missile attack on the city.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Poltava today, after the russian missile attack on the city.
The apartment building is partially destroyed. At least 6 people have been killed and 16 others injured. The number is likely to rise.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Kharkiv:
Moment of this morning’s russian drone attack in Kharkiv region.
Turn the sound on.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 12:42 PM
At least one woman died, and 20 households were ruined or damaged in today’s Russian missile attack on Kharkiv.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 4:11 AM
What was a home at sunset lay in ruins by dawn. Russian Shahed drone struck a house in Kharkiv, killing a woman and injuring four more.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Explosion in Kharkiv ‼️ the city is under russian drone attack right now ‼️
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 4:55 PM
There is a fire in the city after the russian drone strike, and more drones are coming.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Zaporizhzhia:
Between 00:50 and 01:40 last night, russia struck Zaporizhzhia with 16 drones, according to the State Emergency Service. Just imagine — 16 attacks in under an hour.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Kherson:
Anti-Drone unit of the 124th TD Brigade which you helped to provide with all necessary equipment for intercepting Russian UAVs. The unit is currently operating on Kherson direction.
Also support the ongoing campaign to help more Ukrainian units. Campaign link: www.help99.co/patches/spec…
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 6:56 AM
20% of the campaigns goal (72,250€) – secured thanks to your support ✅
Campaign link::https://www.help99.co/patches/special-kherson-cat-11th-nafo-campaign— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) January 31, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Sudzha, Kursk Oblast, Russia:
Russia carried out a KAB strike on a boarding school in Sudzha, where only civilians were present. Around 100 people, mainly elderly, are trapped under the rubble. This is a deliberate war crime. A rescue operation is underway.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 2:49 PM
#Ukraine says around 100 Russian civilians have been buried under rubble after a missile attack on #Sudzha in the part of #Kursk occupied by Kyiv’s forces.
#Russia demolished a school in the town.
Ukraine troops say they are trying to help the local population.— Tim White (@twmcltd.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 2:07 PM
As President #Zelenskyy says, it’s just #Russia doing what Russia does. Repeatedly.
#RussiaIsATerroristState
— Tim White (@twmcltd.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 4:04 PM
⚡️Russia strikes nursing home in Kursk region’s Sudzha, Ukraine’s General Staff reports.
“At the time of the attack, dozens of local residents were inside the building preparing to evacuate,” Ukraine’s military said on Feb. 1, adding that nearly 95 people could be trapped under the rubble.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) February 1, 2025 at 3:03 PM
From The Kyiv Independent:
A Russian strike targeted a nursing home in the Ukrainian-captured town of Sudzha in Russia’s Kursk Oblast on Feb. 1, the Ukrainian military alleged.
The building, which served as a shelter, primarily housed elderly residents.
At least four people were killed in the attack, while 84 people have been rescued. Four of them were injured and remain in critical condition. Search and rescue operations are ongoing as more people could be trapped under the rubble.
The Kyiv Independent could not immediately verify these claims.
“At the time of the attack, dozens of local residents were inside the building preparing to evacuate,” Ukraine’s General Staff said. “The Russians knew that the building housed mainly civilians – local residents, including women and children. Everything possible is being done to rescue the survivors.”
Officials have yet to confirm casualties, but emergency crews have been dispatched to the scene.
Ukraine’s Air Force said that a Russian plane targeted the building with a KAB guided aerial bomb and published screenshots purporting to show the bomb’s flight path. The screenshots are from the Virage Tablet system, an automated software program the Air Force uses to track aerial threats.
There is “indisputable evidence” that Russia carried out the airstrike against Sudzha, the Air Force said.
The Air Force also said that attacks on civilians, including their own, are a “trademark” of Russian warfare.
On Jan. 11, Russian forces carried out a double airstrike on the same nursing home in Sudzha. The attack, which took place on the evening of Jan. 11, left one woman with severe arm injuries, who died later in the morning of Jan. 12, Ukrainian military spokesperson Oleksii Dmytrashkivskyi said.
Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale operation in Kursk Oblast in early August, allegedly capturing up to 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Russian soil. Since then, Russia has deployed reinforcements — including North Korean soldiers — in the area and reportedly retook around half of the lost territory.
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material.
Surgery is stressful, so the Hachiko team now gives cats a stuffed animal to keep them company while they recover. This is Knopa 🐈⬛ and Busya 🐈 after their surgeries in our Vet Van!
— Nate Mook (@natemook.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Open thread!
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
funlady75
thanks Adam, for Sophia article….
BretH
And no one in the US besides us here will know about this because of “other news”. I’m sick at heart.
Adam L Silverman
@BretH: We do what we can. Every little bit helps.
Bupalos
Just checking in to let Adam know his updates always matter. I rarely miss them and rarely comment. For me it’s just often really hard to engage with because of a sense of powerlessness…and I guess shame.
it’s really hard to come to grips with the reality that 2022 USA couldn’t make up it’s mind that it wanted Ukraine to win. That reality is a very… maturing thought. A thought that ages you instantly. And the face you’ve led with here… makes me so sad to be counted among the aged. I so want to apologize to her. And of course we can’t.
There are so many more faces that depend on us finding a little more. We have to find a little more.
tokyocali (formerly tokyo ex-pat)
Thank you, Adam, for taking the time to educate us on what’s happening and for not allowing us to forget the atrocities that the Ukrainian people face every single day.
Gloria DryGarden
Thank you for the fucking update, and the details, Adam.
Presudent Z us amazing , how he continues to cheerlead, and negotiate and encourage and strategize and bolster morale, and hold the intentions of Ukrainian sovereignty. Every day, for years..
And you Adam, you bring us the human side of this war so it’s not just numbers, so we stand in some vague state of partial empathy with the heartbreak of this stupid war. Every day, for the duration. You’re amazing, too.
I’m saving that drawing by Sophia
(Thumbtack pin emoji)
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Nukular Biskits
Flyby.
Skimmed through but as always, thanks for the good work, Adam.
scav
All the rest is details.
YY_Sima Qian
OT: Just some of the natsec fall out from Trumpian misrule
MomSense
Devastated. Little Sofia should be skipping up the steps of her library.
karensky
@Adam L Silverman: Many thanks, Adam. You must have so much going on at work. I just “followed” SpecialKhersonCat on Bluesky. I have leaned a lot from that Cat. Be well.
Anonymous At Work
Adam (as always thank you for these updates),
For tomorrow’s/Sunday’s posting: https://www.yahoo.com/news/west-seeing-kim-jong-uns-090101699.html
Talk about a person learning all the wrong lessons. The 11,000 “loaners” aren’t coming back to teach lessons in modern warfare; they are dying in bullet-sponge wave attacks that show how (relatively) useless the North Korean army’s manpower advantage is (“relatively” because having more bodies than the other side has bullets is literally an overwhelming advantage). The advantage it does bring is frog-boiling escalation of Putin’s Axis of Evil against the West.
PS: I read day-after and try to throw in a few things but my schedule is screwed up, sorry.
Gloria DryGarden
@YY_Sima Qian: right?