(Image by NEIVANMADE)
With Mark’s permission and indulgence, let’s just dive right in tonight.
Putin is continuing his attempt to break Kharkiv. All of eastern Ukraine is under air raid alert at 7:49 PM EDT/2:49 AM EDT local time in Ukraine with active drone swarm alerts back up over Kharkiv.
‼️UPD The death toll from the russian drone attacks on Kharkiv has risen to three, with 32 other civilians injured, including two children. There may still be others trapped under the rubble.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 6:23 PM
“First responders retrieved fragments of a third body from beneath the rubble after tonight’s Russian drone strike on Kharkiv,” I read in the news.
Fragments… third body… rubble. This is our news, guys.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 6:23 PM
From just eighteen minutes ago:
Russian drones are buzzzzzing outside my window in Kharkiv ‼️ it’s the second attack on our city tonight
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 7:31 PM
One of the injured in today’s russian drone attack on Kharkiv. Russian propaganda will call him a NATO biolab azov mercenary. But he is just a boy.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 6:45 PM
From The Kyiv Independent:
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.
Russia launched a drone attack against the city of Kharkiv late at night on April 3, killing at least three civilians and injuring 32 others, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported.
A Russian drone struck an apartment building in the city’s Novobavarskyi district, Terekhov reported. A large fire broke out at the site following the attack.
The attack killed three people and injured 32 others. A child is among the wounded, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.
A search and rescue operation is underway for any victims who may be trapped under the rubble, Terekhov said.
Kharkiv Oblast, located near Ukraine‘s northeastern border with Russia, is a frequent target of Russian aerial bombardments. Russia regularly launches large-scale missile, drone, and glide bomb attacks against densely populated civilian districts.
Russia continues to attack Ukraine’s residential neighborhoods and civilian infrastructure amid a partial “ceasefire” that is supposed to preclude attacks on energy facilities. Kyiv has presented the U.S. with evidence that Russia has violated the energy ceasefire, Presidential Office Deputy Head Pavlo Palisa said on April 3.
The reporting over the past several weeks, which is part of the maskirovka around potential truces and ceasefires, is that Putin is planning on having Russia undertake a spring offensive up and down that 1,100 mile plus (front) line of contact in eastern Ukraine/western Russia. Trying to reduce the major cities by attacking civilian infrastructure in the population centers in the oblasts closest to the line of contact is clearly part of the Russian theater strategy. These attacks are intended to demoralize through terrorizing the Ukrainian citizenry in these cities, divert resources, stretch and exhaust Ukrainian air defense, all in preparation for the rumored spring offensive. They are also intended to rub Trump’s and the world’s nose in Trump’s impotence regarding Putin and Russia.
Adviser to the Office of the President of Ukraine, Podoliak, commented that the U.S. should respond to Russia’s violation of the “energy truce” and shift from a “carrot” policy to a “stick” policy.
t.me/c/1377735387…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen.
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier tonight. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
Since August of Last Year, Our Units Have Been Fighting on Enemy Territory – One of Ukraine’s Most Significant Achievements in This War – Address by the President
3 April 2025 – 19:10
I wish you health, dear Ukrainians!
Today, two of our regions – Chernihiv and Sumy. A strategic area, the border with Russia.
I began the day in Yahidne – just a few days ago was the anniversary of the village’s liberation from the occupiers. It’s important that many facilities in the village have been restored, new homes are being built, and efforts are being made to preserve the memory of how the Russians held the entire village in the basement of a school. One of the most cynical and inhumane crimes of this war. We will never forget it. I was also in Chernihiv, where I met with representatives of all our communities in the region. Many issues were raised – especially by the communities bordering Russia and suffering virtually constant shelling. Today, we made the decision to allocate additional funds to support all such communities – those along the border with the enemy, as well as frontline communities. Next week, government officials are expected to get this done – tangible additional funding for each of these communities to address their most urgent needs.
Today, I was also in our Sumy region – one of the directions where a lot is at stake. I wanted to be here in person. I wanted to personally thank our warriors: the Air Assault Forces – the 80th Brigade, the 82nd, the Marine Corps – the 36th Brigade – and everyone carrying out missions in the Kursk region, defending our state, defending our Sumy region from the Russians’ unrelenting desire to advance into Ukraine from these directions. I want to thank all our soldiers, all our sergeants, and every one of our officers who are fighting with absolute heroism in these areas. Since August of last year, our units have been fighting on enemy territory – one of Ukraine’s most significant achievements in this war. It is entirely fair to bring the war back to where it came from. Today, we spoke with the commanders of our units in this area – discussed key needs, additional support, equipment supply, drones, operational issues. We are working to defend our positions. We know what the enemy is counting on. In any case, we will defend our state, our independence and our people.
I’m grateful to all our people who are defending their homes, their communities, and their land – our land. Being here, supporting the state and the army, caring for those around you – all of this matters, all of this helps us preserve Ukraine and bring peace closer.
Glory to Ukraine!
He also meant with the heads of the territorial communities in Chernihiv Oblast:
Georgia:
Tonight was Day 127 of the continuous protests for new, free and fair Parliamentary elections and the release of the regime prisoners. #GeorgiaProtests
📷 Giorgi Burjanadze— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 4:33 PM
A student political prisoner, Zviad Tsetskhladze, produces a newspaper in detention. We then distribute it at the protests.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 4:39 PM
1/ According to the April 2 decree of the GD government: “Ukrainian citizens have the right to enter Georgia visa-free and stay for a full 1-year period. Ukrainian citizens who entered and were present in Georgia before February 24, 2025, will have their stay extended until February 24, 2026.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 8:24 AM
2/ In contrast, the previous government decree from April 23, 2024, stated that “Ukrainian citizens have the right to enter Georgia visa-free and stay for a full 3-year period.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 8:24 AM
The EU:
E.U. Prepares Major Penalties Against Elon Musk’s X www.nytimes.com/2025/04/03/t…
— Anthony Michael Kreis (@anthonymkreis.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 6:54 PM
From The NY Times:
European Union regulators are preparing major penalties against Elon Musk’s social media platform X for breaking a landmark law to combat illicit content and disinformation, said four people with knowledge of the plans, a move that is likely to ratchet up tensions with the United States by targeting one of President Trump’s closest advisers.
The penalties are set to include a fine and demands for product changes, said the people, who declined to be identified discussing an ongoing investigation. These are expected to be announced this summer and will be the first issued under a new E.U. law intended to force social media companies to police their services, they said.
European authorities have been weighing how large a fine to issue X as they consider the risks of further antagonizing Mr. Trump amid wider trans-Atlantic disputes over trade, tariffs and the war in Ukraine. The fine could surpass $1 billion, one person said, as regulators seek to make an example of X to deter other companies from violating the law, called the Digital Services Act.
E.U. officials said their investigation into X was progressing independently from tariff negotiations after Mr. Trump announced major new levies this week. The investigation began in 2023 and regulators last year issued a preliminary ruling that X had violated the law.
The E.U. and X could still reach a settlement if the company agrees to changes that satisfy regulators’ concerns, the officials said.
X also faces a second E.U. investigation that is broader and that could lead to further penalties. In that investigation, two people said, E.U. officials are building a case that X’s hands-off approach to policing user-generated content has made it a hub of illegal hate speech, disinformation and other material that is viewed as undercutting democracy across the 27-nation bloc.
“We have always enforced and will continue to enforce our laws fairly and without discrimination toward all companies operating in the E.U., in full compliance with global rules,” a spokesman for the European Commission, the E.U.’s executive branch, said in a statement, declining to comment specifically on X.
X declined to comment.
Officials in Brussels expect Mr. Musk, who has criticized European policies as a form of censorship, to fight any regulation. Last July, after the E.U.’s preliminary findings were released, Mr. Musk said he looked forward to contesting any penalty in “a very public battle in court.”
That could set up a legal confrontation with wide-ranging ramifications. If Mr. Musk refuses to comply with E.U. orders to change his service, it may result in a standoff over how to get X to comply.
The X investigation has been closely watched as the first major attempt to enforce the Digital Services Act, which requires companies to better police their platforms and to provide adequate transparency about how their services work. The law has become a flashpoint in a trans-Atlantic debate about free speech, with Vice President JD Vance in February likening E.U. regulation to digital censorship.
After Mr. Trump was elected, European regulators slowed down the X investigation to assess the potential fallout, one person said. More recently, as trade tensions with the United States intensified, the authorities decided to press ahead.
Last year, European regulators concluded that X was violating the law by refusing to provide data to outside researchers, making it difficult to measure how disinformation and other harmful material spreads on the service. The authorities also believe X has failed to provide adequate transparency about advertisers, or to verify the authenticity of users who pay to have a “verified” account, making the platform more vulnerable to abuse and foreign interference.
The E.U. and X have been in discussions for months over the investigation. After the preliminary judgment against X last year, the company replied with hundreds of points of dispute that regulators have been working through to rebut, two officials said.
E.U. officials said the exact penalty against X would not be decided until closer to a final announcement. Under the Digital Services Act, companies can be fined up to 6 percent of global revenue, though regulators rarely pursue the largest-possible penalty.
Unlike Google, Meta, Apple and Amazon, which are publicly traded, X is owned solely by Mr. Musk. E.U. regulators are considering using a piece of the law that lets them calculate a fine based on revenue that also includes other companies Mr. Musk privately controls, like his rocket maker SpaceX. That increases the potential penalty to well over $1 billion, one person said.
More at the link.
I’d like to highlight this bit:
After Mr. Trump was elected, European regulators slowed down the X investigation to assess the potential fallout, one person said. More recently, as trade tensions with the United States intensified, the authorities decided to press ahead.
Part of the reason that Musk spent a third of a billion dollars to purchase the executive branch of the US government, Trump, and the Republican Party was to be able to use the power of the (administrative) state to short circuit, end, deter, and/or prevent any investigation, prosecution, or any other action to hold him or his companies accountable for his and their ongoing and repeated bad and criminal activities. He spent a third of a billion to ensure that no one, no state, no society could tell him no, could tell him he can’t do something he wants. What he can’t control with that third of a billion is an aggrieved individual or a group of them deciding to come for him. That’s why he increased his security detail from twenty guys to 100. It’s why he had them deputized as special US Marshals so they can carry their firearms in places that don’t allow private security or just the average citizen to carry in their jurisdictions. You know, like DC. It’s why he brings his four year old human shield with him everywhere in the hope that it’ll deter a shooter or a stabber. Musk may be too big to touch because of his ultra-high net worth. He certainly thinks so. But he also has figured out that someone is going to eventually try to reach out and touch him. This is his reality and its ours as well. I expect it will not end well.
🇪🇺 EU countries now supply over 50% of Ukraine’s ammunition needs, says EU official Kaja Kallas.
“Everything is progressing very well. We need to provide aid to Ukraine as quickly as possible. President Zelensky stated that they need €5 billion to secure at least 2 million rounds,” Kallas said.
— NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com) April 3, 2025 at 3:45 AM
From Reuters:
WARSAW, April 3 (Reuters) – European countries are already providing more than half of Ukraine’s ammunition needs, recently put at two million rounds by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Thursday.
“These things are moving very well (…) we need to get the help to Ukraine as fast as possible. President Zelenskiy has said that they need five billion to have at least two million rounds,” Kallas said ahead a of EU defence ministers summit in Warsaw.
“I’m glad to see that we already have different proposals or different countries are coming with their input to this, so we have already over 50% of what is needed,” she added.
The Czech Republic:
⚡️Czech ammunition initiative for Ukraine secures funding until September 2025, Czech FM says.
The initiative, backed by contributions from Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, and other European countries, has significantly boosted Ukraine’s artillery capabilities, Czech FM Jan Lipavsky said.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) April 3, 2025 at 11:04 AM
From The Kyiv Independent:
Czechia’s initiative to provide Ukraine with artillery ammunition has secured funding to continue monthly deliveries until September 2025, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said on April 3, Ukrainian publication European Pravda reported.
The initiative, backed by contributions from Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, and other European countries, has significantly boosted Ukraine’s artillery capabilities, Lipavsky claimed.
The minister said the effort had reduced the effectiveness of Russian artillery “by 500%” and improved the shell ratio from 1-to-10 in Russia’s favor to 1-to-2.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claim.
In 2024, the Czech initiative supplied Ukraine with 1.5 million rounds of ammunition, including 500,000 large-caliber 155mm and 152mm shells. The initiative was launched amid Ukrainian shell shortages, largely caused by delays in U.S. military aid in 2024.
Czechia’s opposition party ANO has vowed to suspend the initiative if it wins the parliamentary elections in October 2025, opposition leader Karel Havlicek said in January.
“We’re not going to continue the munitions initiative. Not at all,” he told the Czech media Respekt.
Prague has been a strong supporter of Ukraine, supplying military aid, leading EU efforts to secure weapons, and hosting tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees.
Czech President Petr Pavel said on March 22 that the country was also ready to contribute troops to a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine.
Denmark:
Denmark has approved the 25th military aid package for Ukraine worth 6.7 billion Danish kroner (approximately 970 million USD), to be provided from 2025 to 2027.
The package includes air defense systems, artillery, and financial support for the Ukrainian Air Force.
www.fmn.dk/da/nyheder/2…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Back to Ukraine.
Two tanks were destroyed by the pilots of the 63rd Brigade’s UAVs! 💥
The first one, which our specialists found, was uniquely impressive – the drone recorded the last shot of the enemy tank.
And the second one was not saved even by a shack on the tower. These russian tin cans will not fire again! 🔥— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Kharkiv:
Putin’s envoy Dmitriev blames ‘unknown forces’ for sabotaging US-Russia ties. That same night, Russia attacks Kharkiv again, killing at least one. Who’s really sabotaging? The ones murdering civilians.
— Maria Avdeeva (@mariainkharkiv.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Kharkiv right now 💔
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 5:17 PM
At least 2 people died in the russian drone attack on Kharkiv tonight.
At least 29 others were injured.
They struck an apartment building. Again.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Kharkiv following the russian drone strike on the city.
Apartment building is on fire, there are 12 injured so far.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Russian occupied Crimea:
The Ukrainian military publication Defense Express revealed satellite images showing progress on Russia’s new flagship, “Ivan Rogov,” under construction in occupied Kerch, Crimea.
en.defence-ua.com/industries/r…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 3:15 PM
New target!!!!!
Andriivka, Donetsk Oblast:
The Armed Forces of Ukraine crushed the occupiers who attempted an assault near Andriivka in Donetsk region.
Losses: 12 units, seven of which were completely destroyed; 18 Putin’s army terrorists were eliminated, and another seven were wounded.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Petrozavodsk, Karelia Oblast:
Russian media report that the Onega Shipbuilding Plant in Petrozavodsk is burning intensely. They claim that a gas cylinder explosion caused a fire in a workshop where fuel containers are stored.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 3, 2025 at 7:07 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
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Open thread!
funlady75
thanks Adam for this comprehensive report. so sad.
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
eclare
Who is Mark, what am I missing?
Gin & Tonic
@eclare: A commenter who stopped by last night to say the food sucks and the portions are too small.
Mea
Thank you Adam. Your daily updates are a must-read but I mentally brace myself each time. So an extra thank you for your persistence.
and the reporting on X and the Europeans being willing to enforce their laws – I hope that sticks. Thank you for including that.
Adam L Silverman
@funlady75: @Jay: You’re both welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@Mea: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@eclare: See the first comment to last night’s update.
eclare
@Gin & Tonic:
Thanks!
eclare
@Adam L Silverman:
Thanks!
Jay
@eclare:
@Gin & Tonic:
And that nobody goes there anymore, because it is too crowded.
Bill Arnold
I read the piece on the construction of one of the Project 23900 class ships, and the Wikipedia article, and still don’t have a clear idea of what the Russians intend to use it for, other than as a Big Ship/Flagship in the Black Sea.
A Neptune sponge and/or drone(or torpedo) target, for sure.
Gin & Tonic
Another interesting tidbit from the past. I have my father’s identity card from post-WWII Austria. Such cards (actually more like a little booklet) were issued to “stateless persons” in the aftermath of the war. There are four pages inside, one each in English, French, German and Russian, with name, date and place of birth, citizenship, marital status, profession, height, eye and hair color, and, most curiously, a category for “face.” The words are visage, gesicht, countenance, and лицо. “Countenance” is not an English word I come across often, but in all four languages the description is “oval.” I’m stuck wondering how helpful a descriptor this was, and what the other possibilities could have been. Keep in mind that the inside front cover of the booklet/”card” contained a photo of the holder.
Plus, knowing my father’s physiognomy as I did, with some reasonably clear genetic traces to the 1230’s or thereabouts, I’m not sure I would have preferred “oval” to “round.”
wjca
If one could be confident of the timing, the optimum would seem to be to wait until the Russians had sunk as much into the construction as possible. Then take it out, and the construction facility with it.
Westyny
Thank you, Adam.
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
Any shite that flows towards the Starlink Snowflake I’m in favour of. Not nice, but true. (I don’t like feeling like that, but the enormity of the damage he’s done and that he’s outright said that Canada is a target kind of demands such a response. I hope we Canadians have disappointed him.😌) Interesting that he’s finally figured out just how much hatred there is for him out there.
Is there nothing that can be done to protect Kharkiv ? This just keeps happening. It’s obvious by now, that the Murder Goblin has a personal vendetta against the city, for getting free from occupation.
Thank you as always Adam.
bjacques
@Gin & Tonic: certainly not if it’s “oval” like that of Gomez Addams (original), Boris Badenov, or Stewie from Family Guy…
Seriously, living in NL, I hope the EU hammers X like the great Nelie Kroes did Microsoft for antitrust violations. Over on the NATO front, I have my doubts about the new(ish) Secretary General Mark Rutte, having endured four of his governments, ended abruptly by his cynical refugee policy. I miss Stoltenberg, but Rutte takes his job seriously and I expect will grow into it, like Ursula von der Leyen has as EU leader.
Thanks as always, Adam.
Sally
@bjacques: I was very disappointed they chose Rutte. He’s “ok”, but I was hoping for Kallas. She is more of a hawk than he is, and I believe her strong voice and clear understanding of ru/putin’s agenda is needed.
I thought they might have chosen Rutte because trump wouldn’t countenance a woman, but it doesn’t make any difference, trump is disrespectful of everyone – ha, gender neutral! Don’t obey in advance!
I hope Rutte is a genius networker and knitting the states together to keep NATO functional. They might need to alter the membership or have a subgroup – JEF is it called? ETA: Joint Expeditionary Force
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam