That’s the air raid alert map as of 7:20 PM EST/2:20 AM local time in Ukraine. As has been the case for the better part of two weeks, I expect the drones swarms will be followed by missiles and bombs.
I also think that these nightly swarms followed by the missiles and bombs are clearly Russia’s response to Ukraine striking at Russia’s petroleum infrastructure.
I am aware that people are posting on social media that the Trump administration has lifted the conditions and limitations of the Biden administration and given Ukraine permission to use US weapon systems and munitions for long range strikes. I’m not going to say anything else about it until I see it reported by a legitimate news or other credible source.
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
The Teams of Ukraine and the U.S. Have Already Begun Substantive Discussions – Address by the President
4 February 2025 – 19:48
I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!
I held a meeting of the NSDC today.
Government officials – Prime Minister Shmyhal and First Deputy Prime Minister Svyrydenko – reported on support programs for our people – Ukrainian citizens and businesses. eSupport, eOselia, free meals for Ukrainian children in schools, the teacher salary supplement program that started this year, the “Made in Ukraine” program, and other initiatives. No matter how difficult it is, we are finding funds to help all Ukrainians and Ukrainian producers. Nearly thirteen million applications have been submitted for eSupport, and almost thirteen billion hryvnias have been paid directly to Ukrainian families, to our citizens. The number of participants proves the necessity of this program – and the need for similar direct support programs. There are already over five million clients in the National Cashback program – this is also the number that speaks for itself. We are working to expand all effective support formats, and this will be done – I have given the government the relevant instructions. Importantly, we are already prepared for the spring pension indexation, which will take effect on March 1. Today, we also reviewed key issues related to our financial stability and discipline. A significant problem is the imbalance between imports and exports. Imports – and this is not about weapons – far exceed our exports. This is a trend that must be reversed. We need to create far more opportunities for production within Ukraine and support all forms of economic activity in Ukraine. Just as we are already attracting foreign investment in weapons production, government officials must also work on other industries. Additionally, instructions were given to work with partners to increase our resources, shared European resources for ensuring the security of economic activities – this includes various aspects, from humanitarian demining, demining of agricultural lands to enhancing protection for our cities, primarily through air defense.
At today’s NSDC meeting, important reports were presented regarding financial transparency in the country. Recently, leadership changes were made in the Tax Service and Financial Monitoring Service, and there are already first results – results with shadow financial schemes that have finally been stopped. These schemes involved oligarchs, officials, members of parliament, and those who have used or continue to use various funds to conceal money. Billions of hryvnias. The relevant materials have already been handed over to law enforcement agencies. Investigations must be objective, regardless of who is breaking the law. The NSDC has also approved new sanctions. The lists will be published soon. Several strict sanction packages are on the way.
Also today.
A meeting on the development of our Air Force. We are preparing changes. And we are getting ready for French fighter jets with our pilots to start operating in the Ukrainian skies. I met with IAEA Director Grossi. IAEA missions are currently operating in Ukraine – at nuclear power plants – and we agreed that these missions will work more actively at other critical energy infrastructure sites as well. We also spoke with Mr. Grossi about Ukrainians – our citizens, the hostages from Enerhodar whom Russian occupiers have taken. We expect that the IAEA will be actively involved in efforts to secure their release. I am grateful that the IAEA Director has supported Ukraine’s strategy for completing the construction of nuclear power units at the Khmelnytskyi NPP. This project is key to Ukraine’s energy independence and regional energy stability, and it is important that Ukraine’s members of parliament support this project. We spoke in detail about the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP – it is necessary to restore Ukraine’s legitimate control over the plant and resume its proper operation within Ukraine and for Ukraine. We invite our partners to work with us on this matter – this is a mutually beneficial endeavor, this energy will significantly strengthen Europe and make Ukraine’s relations with America much more beneficial for both sides. By the way, our teams have already begun substantive discussions – teams from Ukraine and the United States. Today, Head of the Office Andriy Yermak spoke with Michael Waltz, and we are preparing a schedule of meetings. I also spoke today with the Prime Minister of Australia. The most important topic is new steps to increase pressure on Russia for its war – pressure for the sake of a just peace. We maintain our unity – global unity – and this truly weakens Russia’s ability to continue this insane and criminal aggression, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. I thank everyone who is helping Ukraine!
Glory to all who make our state stronger.
Glory to Ukraine!
Georgia:
On the 24th day of her hunger strike, imprisoned media manager Mzia Amaglobeli has been transferred to Vivamed clinic for medical tests. According to Clinical Director Zurab Chkhaidze, tests revealed “changes”, and she agreed to hospitalization while maintaining her hunger strike.
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) February 4, 2025 at 1:25 PM
At a protest in support of Mzia Amaglobeli near the parliament, policemen knocked down Vancent Khabeishvili, the editor-in-chief of news.on.ge. Footage from TV Pirveli shows another protester falling to the ground with him. Khabeishvili is currently in the hospital.
#TerrorinGeorgia
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Day 69 continuous, large-scale; day 99 overall. The regime is doubling down big time. Some are more angry, some are more depressed. We do understand that stopping is death.
If our partners intend to help us avoid whatever costs can be avoided, now is the time. #GeorgiaProtests— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 12:47 PM
At a protest in support of Mzia Amaglobeli near the parliament, policemen knocked down Vancent Khabeishvili, the editor-in-chief of news.on.ge. Footage from TV Pirveli shows another protester falling to the ground with him. Khabeishvili is currently in the hospital.
#TerrorinGeorgia
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 5:49 AM
How the regime police threw down online media on.ge information editor Vantsent Khabeishvili. Tens of journalists at the back of the Parliament were assaulted by excessive force and not even allowed to protest on a pavement. Vantsent is hospitalized. #terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Let this sink in: the only thing keeping Georgia from Kadyrov’s Chechnya, and keeping Armenia from physical disengagement from democracies is the ongoing protests in Georgia.
The minute we stop, the region is lost for decades at best, and we can forget the Black Sea security.— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 10:28 AM
The regime announces “reorganization” in the Ministry of Defense, liquidates the Civil Service Bureau. Its competences of civil service integrity screening are largely transferred to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, which has long become a repressive tool against parties and CSOs.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Back to Ukraine.
Izium, Kharkiv Oblast:
The Russians committed more war crimes and crimes against humanities again today.
WARNING!! WARNING!! GRAPHIC IMAGERY!! WARNING!! WARNING!!
Russia struck Izum in Kharkiv region with a missile, killing at least 5 people ‼️
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Russia hit central Izyum with ballistic missile, killing at least five people. After mass graves with hundreds of bodies, they’re killing civilians here again – this time at an admin building where people were getting passports. This is what impunity leads to.
— Maria Avdeeva (@mariainkharkiv.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Izium, Kharkiv Oblast
City center, administrative building, paperwork, conversations, the hum of ordinary life.
Then — russian missile, explosion.
Five people killed. Over 40 injured.
In seconds, ordinary life became ruins and pain.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Izum after today’s russian missile attack. At least 5 people died.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 6:39 AM
The number of people injured in the russian missile attack on Izium has risen to 55, including three children.
Among the five killed, two were sisters, aged 18 and 19, one of whom was pregnant.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Another horrific video of search and rescue efforts in Izum after the russian missile attack.
5 people died
38 others got injured— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Borova resident Valentyna Zhalpis arrived with her daughter-in-law, her sister, and a driver to the passport office in Izyum.
“I was sitting in the car, the driver got out to smoke, my daughter-in-law went to the passport office. Just as she arrived, an explosion occurred. Our driver was killed.”🤬— ajit4g.bsky.social (@ajit4g.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Kharkiv:
The Kharkiv Police have released bodycam footage capturing the initial moments following the Russian drone strike on Kharkiv on February 1st.
The footage shows officers rescuing people they can reach from the fire and rubble.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 2:51 PM
The artists are Hanna Stasenko and Slava Leontyev from Kharkiv.
The documentary about them “Porcelain war” is this year’s Oscar nominee
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 5:40 PM
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 5:42 PM
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 5:42 PM
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Pokrovsk:
Warriors of the 5th Separate Assault Brigade took down a large number of enemy paratroopers during an attempted attack in the Pokrovsk direction.
t.me/c/1377735387…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Kyiv:
⚡️Explosions heard in Kyiv.
Residents heard explosions in Kyiv shortly after midnight on Feb. 5, according to local Kyiv Independent reporters. The Air Force warned that Russian Shahed-type attack drones were targeting the region.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) February 4, 2025 at 5:24 PM
The Kursk cross border offensive:
⚡️Ukraine’s strike on Russian command center in Kursk Oblast causes ‘significant losses,’ General Staff says.
The building was severely damaged, and Moscow suffered significant losses among Russian personnel, the General Staff said.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) February 4, 2025 at 2:42 PM
From The Kyiv Independent:
Ukraine’s Air Force carried out a “precision strike” on Feb. 3 at a Russian command post near the village of Novoivanovka in Kursk Oblast, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces reported.
Kyiv launched a limited incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast on Aug. 6, first capturing about 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Russian territory. While Ukraine has reportedly lost around half of that territory since then, fighting continues in the region.
The command post, located in an abandoned building, was used to coordinate Russian troops’ offensive against the Ukrainian army in the Kursk sector of the front line, the statement read.
The building was severely damaged, and Moscow suffered significant losses among Russian personnel, the General Staff said.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.
Earlier on Jan. 31, Ukrainian forces struck another command post of Russia’s Kursk group of forces in the Russian city of Rylsk.
These attacks are part of Ukraine’s broader strategy to weaken Russian operational capabilities by targeting key command centers. The General Staff has emphasized that such strikes aim to reduce Russia’s offensive potential.
⚡️Nearly 8,000 North Korean soldiers still fighting in Kursk Oblast, Budanov says.
Ukraine’s military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov denied reports that North Korean soldiers have not been seen on the front line for weeks.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) February 4, 2025 at 2:31 PM
The Kyiv Independent has the details:
About 8,000 North Korean soldiers are still fighting against Ukraine in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said in an interview with The War Zone magazine published on Feb. 4.
After The New York Times reported on Jan. 30 that North Korean troops had been pulled from the front, a Special Operations Forces spokesperson confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that Ukraine’s special forces had not faced Pyongyang’s soldiers for three weeks.
Budanov denied reports that North Korean soldiers have not been seen on the front line for weeks. However, Budanov noted that the number of North Korean troops has decreased, and Ukraine is trying to establish why.
“We have to wait for some time to see if there are any real changes or if this is just lower activity for a couple of days,” Budanov said.
Up to 12,000 North Korean troops were deployed to Kursk Oblast last fall to support Russian forces in countering a Ukrainian incursion launched in early August 2024.
At least 300 North Korean soldiers have been killed and another 2,700 wounded fighting in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) claimed on Jan. 13
The heavy losses of the North Korean army may be related to its lack of combat experience and the tactic of human waves attacks with a limited amount of equipment, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief added. According to Budanov, North Korean soldiers attack “almost without any combat vehicles.”
Budanov also suggested that the North Korean military is so willing to advance on foot against Ukrainian drones and artillery because of its loyalty to North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. He added that their disregard for personal safety makes Ukraine’s defense more challenging.
That’s enough for tonight.
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KatKapCC
Regarding Trump (potentially, maybe) lifting long-range restrictions…considering how in thrall he is to Putin, I would wonder what “permissions” he gave Russia in concert with that. Like, “I told them they could use long-range missiles, and you can go ahead and nuke them if they do”.
That porcelain artwork is BEAUTIFUL. Amazing what some people are able to create.
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
funlady75
thanks Adam.
Jay
Jay
Link to the Reuter’s expose in the post.
https://nitter.poast.org/IAPonomarenko/status/1886473778630144104#m
Quinerly
Thanks for all you do around here, Adam!
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: I think I covered that Reuters reporting last night.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Jay
@Adam L Silverman:
Srry, tired, first day back, snow here so commute sucked, bunch of no shows, and then HR DEI courses all day, stuff I learned in the early 80’s. Tomorrow is firearm safety which I am supposed to teach, teaching will be fine, but I don’t have high the learning side.
Luckily is two months of 8 to 5, before our first exercise.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: No worries. I’m racking out as I’ve been up since 0330.
Adam L Silverman
@AlaskaReader: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@Quinerly: Thank you for the kind words. You are most welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: @funlady75: You’re both welcome.
Parfigliano
@Jay: They are top level DEMS of course they were unable to see the reality of what was going on and respond accordingly. Just another form of the strongly worded letter.
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
I’m dazzled by the ceramics. There are clips, reviews, & trailers for Porcelain War on YouTube.
Thank you Adam.