(Image by NEIVANMADE)
I’m just going to run through the basics tonights.
The Russians continued their relentless bombardment of civilian targets in Kharkiv and other Ukrainian cities, like Kryvyi Rih, today.
How can anyone not see that Russians have gone completely off the rails? Second drone attack on Kharkiv today—over a dozen explosions. Ballistic strike on Kryvyi Rih kills four. Explosions in Dnipro just minutes ago. They kill and destroy every single day, nonstop.
— Maria Avdeeva (@mariainkharkiv.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Russia once again launched drones at Ukraine overnight. Strikes targeted Kharkiv, Odesa region, and Sumy region. In Sumy and Dnipro regions, power lines were damaged due to the attacks.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Zelensky: “Another round of deliberate strikes and damage to energy facilities – an FPV drone hit a substation in Sumy region, and in Nikopol, Dnipro region, a power line was damaged by artillery fire.”
Unsurprisingly, fascist Russia not adhering to the “energy infrastructure” ceasefire.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Kharkiv tonight…
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 4:25 PM
The man in this photo was one of four civilians killed today in a russian missile strike on Kryvyi Rih.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 11:25 AM
More on all of this after the jump.
President Zelenskyy made a visit to Dnipro today to meet with wounded Ukrainian troops and present them with awards.
During a working trip to Dnipro, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited a medical facility where wounded warriors are undergoing treatment.
The Head of State toured the intensive care unit, anesthesiology, and polytrauma departments. He was briefed on the hospital’s operations during the full-scale war, its modern medical equipment, and the restoration efforts following Russian strikes.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with defenders currently receiving treatment at the facility.
“Thank you for your service and for defending our country. I wish you a speedy recovery,” he said.
The President awarded the Orders “For Courage” III class to the warriors who sustained severe injuries while carrying out combat missions, including in the Donetsk region.
Zelensky visited hospitals in Dnipro where wounded Ukrainian defenders are receiving treatment.
t.me/c/1377735387…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
Today – Dnipro. A Working Trip with Many Different and Substantive Meetings – Address by the President
2 April 2025 – 15:28
I wish you health!
Today – Dnipro. A working trip with many different important meetings. Very substantive. I visited our warriors who are recovering from their wounds. I want to thank our doctors and all the medical professionals who are saving our men, our women, our service members and everyone affected by these Russian attacks. One of the greatest results in saving lives of our people is here – in Dnipro. More than 40,000 wounded, and 96 percent were saved. I want to thank you for this – well done! Thank you to all the doctors, surgeons, and everyone providing support. I had the opportunity to speak with our warriors and present state awards. There are many such heroic men. I wish everyone a speedy recovery!
I spoke with veterans – there is an awesome initiative, Titans.UA. They truly are titans. It’s important that these guys are full of energy, know how to solve problems and don’t forget their brothers-in-arms. Today, specific issues were raised – everything must be resolved. Opportunities for the rehabilitation and development of veterans in small communities must absolutely be created – and building such opportunities based on schools is a great idea voiced by the veterans today. It’s truly important to do everything possible to preserve veterans’ connections with their units, with their brothers-in-arms, and with the Defense Forces as a whole. If some opportunities for veterans to support the army aren’t working because of military bureaucracy – this absolutely needs to be changed. The Ministry of Defense will now take this on, and the Presidential Office will assist as well. It’s important that the Minister for Veterans Affairs also be involved. I’ll speak with everyone. A lot of points were raised – we’ve recorded everything. There were also personal issues discussed – particularly access to medical care – as well as more strategic ones. In Ukraine, we need domestic production of equipment and all the tools our veteran community needs for swift adaptation, for feeling useful. We talked today about rehabilitation through veteran sports – we will continue to support this.
There was also an important meeting today with business representatives from our Dnipro region – which is currently the number one region in terms of contribution to Ukraine’s GDP and in many other economic areas. For this, I would like to thank everyone who is preserving and creating jobs in the region, everyone working for Ukraine and for the benefit of Ukraine. We will continue all government programs that have proven effective. There is still more we can do to support our industry – I’ve instructed government officials to fulfill what the entrepreneurs have asked for today. Ukraine’s results are shared results – the achievements of all those who have chosen Ukraine, who are actively working for Ukraine, and who are ready to do whatever is necessary for Ukraine to endure and achieve its goals. I want to thank you – I thank you all! Thank you, Dnipro! Thank you, Ukraine!
Glory to Ukraine!
Georgia:
More reports from Georgia of detention and mistreatment of protestors.
Elene Khoshtaria has been released but not before being subjected to humiliating and degrading treatment.
The UK govt must get tougher on the actions of the Georgian authorities.
www.reneweuropegroup.eu/news/2025-03…
— James MacCleary MP (@jamesmaccleary.bsky.social) April 1, 2025 at 3:59 PM
If these police officers who assaulted and even tortured opposition leader Elene Khoshtaria are sanctioned immediately, it will have palpable effects on the regime’s security apparatus.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 9:08 AM
1/ The leader of the opposition party “Lelo,” Mamuka Khazaradze, was granted a 50,000-GEL bail as a preventive measure. A criminal case was initiated against him for failing to appear at the GD investigative commission session.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 7:09 AM
2/ A criminal case was also initiated against Khazaradze’s party colleague, Badri Japaridze.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 7:10 AM
3/ The GD single-party parliamentary investigative commission, which is investigating the “crimes of the UNM government,” is headed by Tea Tsulukiani.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 7:10 AM
4/ Other opposition members, including Nika Gvaramia and Zurab Japaridze, have also been summoned to the commission session. Like the former members of the UNM government, they do not intend to participate.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 7:10 AM
The UK has imposed financial sanctions on the key figures of the judicial clan in Georgia, the Chairman of the Tbilisi Court of Appeals Mikheil Chinchaladze (right) and a Member of the High Council of Justice of Georgia Levan Murusidze (left). 1/2
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 9:08 AM
This is amazing news! We are very grateful to the United Kingdom and hope that sanctions against propaganda chief Irakli Rukhadze and at least several illicit businessmen follow, in addition to the dictator himself. 2/2.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 9:08 AM
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Britain:
The United Kingdom will transfer 8 to 10 Puma HC.2 transport helicopters to Ukraine, according to Avions Légendaires. The United Kingdom decommissioned the helicopters on March 31.
www.avionslegendaires.net/2025/04/actu…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Moscow on the Potomac:
Trump’s Ukraine policy is based on fabricated numbers ($350bn). His Russia policy is based on fabricated numbers (majority support for Russia in occupied territory). Why are we surprised that his trade policy is also based on fabricated numbers?
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 6:10 PM
What message is this supposed to send other than one of succour to Russia? Fine if you want European allies to take more of the burden- they get it and are willing to respond. This just reinforces the (quite reasonable) view that the admin doesn’t care what happens to Ukraine.
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 2:43 PM
The EU member states:
🧵 I’ve been reviewing many of the past year’s US & European military & intelligence assessments of how long it would take Russia to rebuild its military capability and the timeline on which any threat to NATO could unfold. A brief thread below which summarises these assessments.
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Norway intel service: “At the earliest, Moscow may be able to fully realise these plans [for military expansion e.g. Karelia] five to ten years after the war in Ukraine is over.” In some areas Russia has “next to no reserves” for the next two years. etterretningstjenesten.no/publikasjone…
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Denmark intel: “no threat” now & “some years” for new units to be ready, but Ru more willing to use force “if it believes…NATO…is unable to maintain its military superiority, does not respond to Ru mil activities or no longer presents a united front.” fe-ddis.dk/globalassets…
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Denmark’s assessment hinges on NATO cohesion: “Russia is likely to remain willing to use military force [when] Russia’s leadership believes it can achieve strategic gains w/out risking a direct military conflict with the US and NATO, esp against neighbouring non-NATO countries”
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Sweden: Russia can’t wage another big war while Ukraine war continues on current scale. But “there are conditions for a quantitative increase in military capability over the course of a few years. Increasing military capability qualitatively will take longer.” forsvarsmakten.se/contentasset…
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Sweden’s intelligence service says the chances of a surprise large military operation “in our vicinity” are “very low” but Russia “could carry out a limited armed attack against any of the Baltic states or against military or civilian state vessels.” forsvarsmakten.se/contentasset…
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Estonian intel: it’ll take Russia 3-4 years to create facilities for new units like 44th Army Corps. Ru lacks pol will to mobilise. But: “sustainability of forming & maintaining new formations over 3-5yr horizon remains uncertain”, influenced by sanctions london.mfa.ee/estonian-for…
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Lithuania: Russian plans entail 30-50% increase in west-facing personnel, weapons & equipment. It is “unlikely” to be up to big war in medium term. But could have enough “to launch a limited military action against one or several NATO countries.” kam.lt/wp-content/u…
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Finnish intel: Ru mil power near Finland unlikely to grow much while Ukr remains war of attrition. Russia “preparing for various hostile operations” but these “do not indicate that any decision has been made” puolustusvoimat.fi/documents/19…
katsaus.supo.fi/documents/62…— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Finnish military intelligence, as an aside, also has a stark assessment of the wider geopolitics: “Russia’s strategic interests are in irreconcilable conflict with the West, and there are no possibilities for improvement in the current situation.” puolustusvoimat.fi/documents/19…
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Germany’s military chief speaking in April 2024. “What we see is a threat in five to eight years…By then, based on our analysis, Russia [will have] reconstituted its own forces to a degree that an attack against NATO soil could be possible” www.reuters.com/world/europe…
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Sweden and Finland (there’s only six skeets, not seven):
They called it the “Ballet of Ukraine”—but it’s a Russian scheme funding the war.
🧵 1/7
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) April 2, 2025 at 5:06 PM
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) April 2, 2025 at 5:06 PM
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) April 2, 2025 at 5:07 PM
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) April 2, 2025 at 5:07 PM
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) April 2, 2025 at 5:07 PM
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) April 2, 2025 at 5:07 PM
NATO:
🗡️ NATO membership for Ukraine is set in stone, Washington summit commitments remain in force, Alliance official says
— Ukrainska Pravda 🇺🇦 (@pravda.ua) April 2, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Back to Ukraine.
⚡️ WAR IN UKRAINE & RUSSIA – APR 2, 2025
■ Engagements, casualties & equipment losses below the 7-day average
■ Visually confirmed: 52 🇷🇺 68 🇺🇦 (🇺🇦 including Kursk) – 30-day ratio 0.9x ⬇
■ 🇷🇺 MLRS strikes stay below average but 100+ airstrikes reported📈 lookerstudio.google.com/s/pw-RR3iEZOA
— Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦 (@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 3:02 AM
“At night, I work in air defense; by day, as a bomber.” – MiG-29 fighter pilot Denfix.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Kryvyi Rih:
Russia struck a business enterprise in Kryvyi Rih with a ballistic missile in broad daylight. Ukrainian media report casualties and injuries.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 1:09 PM
From Ukrainska Pravda:
The North Atlantic Alliance has reaffirmed that NATO’s policy on Ukraine’s future membership remains unchanged.
Source: a NATO official, speaking on condition of anonymity to journalists in Brussels but representing the organisation’s official stance, as reported by European Pravda
Details: The official stressed that NATO does not believe that its view on Ukraine’s membership has changed despite recent remarks by the US leadership.
“Nothing has changed in our relations. Our relationship is still strong; we have strong political engagement and practical cooperation in many areas,” the Alliance said. Moreover, there have been no changes in the previously adopted policy towards Ukraine.
“Allies stated at the Washington summit that Ukraine’s path to NATO is irreversible. This decision remains in force and continues to be a shared NATO policy. For us, Ukraine’s right to choose its alliances and determine its foreign policy course is just as important now as it has always been,” the NATO Secretariat emphasised. NATO Headquarters also stressed that the principle of a state’s right to determine the level of its aspirations in relations with NATO applies not only to Ukraine but to all nations, as it is a fundamental principle of global politics.
Kharkiv:
Explosions number 13 and 14 in Kharkiv‼️
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Imagine living for three years in a city left unprotected against missiles, airstrikes, Shahed drones—and now even vulnerable to a simple Molniya drone.
This is the reality in Kharkiv.
Today, Molniya drone struck a residential building, injuring five people, including a child.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 11:07 AM
Kharkiv. This place was destroyed by a russian drobe only a few days ago. “Lviv croissants – we are working” written on the sheets of paper.
I love our people ❤️— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM
A few days ago
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I can’t begin to convey how emotionally draining, alienating, and soul-crushing it feels to endure bombings for the fourth year. To watch your city being destroyed, to see your people burning in their beds, while the world keeps turning—indifferent enough to let it happen. Or worse,
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 3:21 PM
debating whether we somehow deserve this. There are children here, for goodness’ sake, the elderly—just ordinary people who simply want to live.
There were about 9 explosions in Kharkiv just now. Second attack of the day. Fourth year of this.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Kharkiv after last night’s russian drone attack 💔
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Lyman:
It’s clear that fascist Russia does not want a ceasefire, and is preparing to seize more of democratic Ukraine’s territory. Trump is being played by Putin, who is drawing out “peace talks” to lock in gains and get a respite from attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Chasiv Yar:
🔥🦾 One strike eliminated a branch of the occupants near the town of Chasiv Yar on a rare armored vehicle.
Ukrainian FPV flies aptly to Russian attack aircraft.
They were moving on an unusual vehicle, a RHM-4 chemical defense vehicle designed for reconnaissance of contaminated terrain.— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Ikutsk Oblast, Russia:
Russian Tu-22M3 long-range supersonic missile carrier bomber crashed due to technical malfunction.
It was used to launch Kh-22 cruise missiles against Ukrainian cities.
The aircraft struck a power line and left 210 houses without power in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia.
⤵️📹Mash/Telegram
— Euromaidan Press (@euromaidanpress.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Debris of the Tu-22M3 scattered around the crash site. One pilot died.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 1:30 PM
russians are throwing a pity party over their pricey bomber taking a nosedive. How tragic. 🎻
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Belgorod Oblast, Russia:
Consequences of the strike on the field airfield on March 23, located in Ivnya, Belgorod region (approximately 60 km from the Ukrainian border).
The strike was carried out using M30A2 rockets (equipped with tungsten balls) from the HIMARS MLRS.
t.me/c/1377735387…
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 9:23 AM
From “Kyiv in three days” to a FAB strike on Belgorod region – four years of full-scale war.
Russians are attacking themselves again. This time, they hit a dam near the village of Popivka with an aerial bomb.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 8:40 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
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Open thread!
Friday Night Music Thread
Mark
I don’t post much here, mostly lurk.
These posts with the exact same pictures of people over, and over, empty dialog boxes over and over, arrows over and over, butterflies over and over. Nothing of any value.
I’m out of here.
Adam L Silverman
@Mark: Thanks for stopping by.
Gin & Tonic
Adam, you’ve really been going above and beyond the call of duty with your Georgia coverage for some time now. Thank you.
Adam L Silverman
@Gin & Tonic: You’re welcome.
wjca
Thank you, Adam, as always
Adam L Silverman
@wjca: You’re welcome.
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Slava Ukraine, Heroyam Slava, Patron.
Lyrebird
Thank you for your work, Adam.
The clone-troupe thing is creepy as all get-out. Pales in comparison to the full-scale invasion and ongoing horrors, but still. I pray that liberation comes soon so people can look back and ask what the hell was going on
ETA: I mean, when Venezuela was threatening to invade or annex some of Guyana, they at least made sense. Not that it was a good idea, but sure there is some logic in “hey we are more powerful we will steal your oil fields” etc. I don’t think they bothered setting up sham Guyanese musical troupes to tour around…
Gloria DryGarden
I’m so grateful for the reporting about Europe and NATO.
Gin & Tonic
@Lyrebird: russia has been stealing Ukraine’s history and culture for a thousand years.
Bill Arnold
Re Joshi’s “past year’s US & European military & intelligence assessments of how long it would take Russia to rebuild its military capability and the timeline on which any threat to NATO could unfold.”, thanks, useful thread.
Unrelated, might be of interest to a few. (Warning: has partial screencaps from Goldberg’s reporting, though they don’t appear to be of classified material.)
The equipment that Trump’s national security team should have used (March 30, 2025, Electrospaces.net)
Westyny
Thanks, Adam. The warning about the false Ukraine Ballet is creepy AF. And the intelligent assessments of the Baltic States on Russia’s ability to reconstitute its forces are deeply appreciated.
way2blue
Adam. Thank you as always.
I’ve been assuming Trump will pull out of NATO, and just waiting for him to announce a pretext/fig leaf to justify it. So I’m wondering how difficult it will be to untangle the U.S. components of NATO. If I understood correctly—NATO was specifically constructed to weave the U.S. into the whole defensive structure. In which case will the F-16 episode—in which other NATO countries needed Biden’s permission to give aircraft to Ukraine—be repeated for any/all American materiel? Such that NATO countries would need to shift to non-American weapon systems going forward? Ack.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam