This is not a good look!

Absolutely shameful: Witkoff breaks Russian dictator Putin’s diplomatic isolation from the Free World. His handshake with the murderous Kremlin tyrant is like a symbol of Washington’s abdication of its position as leader of the West.

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— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 4:45 AM

One of these people has at least thought about Ukraine for some time. The other doesn’t understand basic facts about his brief.

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— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 6:19 PM

The cost:

⚡️Pavlo Ivanov, a 26-year-old Ukrainian F-16 pilot, was killed during a combat mission on April 12, Ukraine’s Air Force reported.

President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condolences, and Ivanov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.

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— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) April 12, 2025 at 12:17 PM

From The Kyiv Independent:

Pavlo Ivanov, a 26-year-old Ukrainian F-16 pilot, was killed during a combat mission on April 12, Ukraine’s Air Force reported.

The Air Force praised Ivanov’s dedication and bravery in a statement on Telegram.

“Ukrainian pilots are working to the fullest extent of their human and technical capabilities, risking their lives every time they carry out a combat mission. Pavlo was one of them!” the post said.

An interdepartmental commission has launched an investigation into the circumstances of the incident, according to the statement.

President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condolences on X, and said that the response will be “strong and precise.”

Ivanov was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine, according to the website of the president.

“For personal courage and heroism, demonstrated in the protection of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and selfless service to the Ukrainian people, I decree to award the title of Hero of Ukraine with the award of the “Golden Star” order to Ivanov Pavlo Ivanovych,” the official statement from Zelensky said.

F-16s are used in both offensive and defensive operations. The aircraft have been used for intercepting Russian missiles and drones during aerial strikes against Ukraine. They can also be deployed to launch missiles and bombs at Russian positions along the front line.

Ivanov’s death marks the second F-16 pilot loss for Ukraine since receiving these jets, following Oleksii Mes’s death last August.

There is no daily address today from President Zelenskyy. I don’t know if it’s because he’s celebrating Passover or traveling.

Georgia:

“An enemy of one’s own nation will not go unpunished” — 136th day of non-stop protest in Tbilisi.

#GeorgiaProtests

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 1:40 PM

In response to the regime’s increasing Russian narratives of history, protest has been going on today since much earlier than routinely. #GeorgiaProtests

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 11:34 AM

“Not only could this war have been avoided, but the Saakashvili regime started it,” stated Irakli Kobakhidze today about Russia’s invasion of Georgia in August 2008.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 9:59 AM

“Russia started the war in 2008” — protesters state in response to Georgian Dream members who, like the Russians, blame Georgia and the UNM government for Russia’s invasion of Georgia in 2008. Police try to prevent the blockage of Rustaveli.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 9:57 AM

1/ ‘Futilely sacrificed for someone’s PR stunt’ — that’s how the chairman of Georgian Dream’s investigative commission Tea Tsulukiani refers to a national hero Giorgi Antsukhelidze, who fought in the Russia–Georgia war and was tortured to death.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 8:09 AM

2/ “To put it simply — why isn’t Giorgi Antsukhelidze home today? I have the right to ask that question. Who can forbid me from asking it? We are asking it — every child needs their parent at home, not futilely sacrificed for someone’s PR”, [..]

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 8:09 AM

3/ said Tsulukiani to the public broadcaster, clarifying that she was referring to former President Mikheil Saakashvili.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 8:09 AM

4/ More context: Junior Sergeant Giorgi Antsukhelidze was captured by Russian forces during the August 2008 war and was missing until November. Later, a genetic test of 10 bodies recovered from occupied Tskhinvali confirmed he was one of them.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 8:09 AM

5/ In January 2009, a video surfaced showing Antsukhelidze surrounded by occupiers, who kicked him in the head and back. Despite being forced to kiss the ground, the 23-year-old hero was not broken. He was eventually beaten to death by Ossetian separatists.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 8:09 AM

6/ In recognition of his bravery, Antsukhelidze was posthumously awarded the Order of Vakhtang Gorgasali in 2009, the “Medal for Devotion to the Homeland” by the Ministry of Defence in 2011, and granted National Hero status by President Mikheil Saakashvili in 2013.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 8:09 AM

Estonia:

“Either this week or next, we will deliver 10,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition.” – said Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur. He also added that Estonia will deliver 750,000 food packages for Ukrainian soldiers.

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 10:47 AM

Back to Ukraine.

Russian forces are now packing the warheads of their ‘Shahed’ drones with these ball bearings to maximize casualties.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 11:08 AM

“Everything that reaches the front line – doesn’t come back.” – Fighters of the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade continue to reduce the number of Russians.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 10:28 AM

Pokrovsk:

Lavrov said today that Russia cares more about people than territories. Meanwhile street burials are appearing in Pokrovsk – totally devastated just like other cities that Russia supposedly ‘cared’ about

Photos: libkos

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— Maria Avdeeva (@mariainkharkiv.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 3:02 PM

Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast:

Kharkiv Regional prosecutor’s office published a photo of the aftermath of today’s russian glide bomb attack on Kupiansk. At least 4 people got injured in this attack.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 2:45 PM

From The Kyiv Independent:

Editor’s note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russian forces struck a private residence in Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast, with a glide bomb on April 12, injuring four civilians and potentially trapping others beneath the rubble.

Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported that the attack occurred around 6:20 p.m. local time during ongoing heavy shelling of the city.

The injured civilians include a 25-year-old woman, a 26-year-old man, and two women aged 52 and 73, according to Syniehubov’s statement on Telegram.

Preliminary reports indicate that at least three more individuals may still be trapped under the debris.

Kharkiv Oblast in Ukraine‘s northeast is a regular target of Russian missile, drone, and glide bomb attacks.

Kupiansk is located only 2 kilometers (1.5 miles) from the current front line. Divided by the Oskil River, Kupiansk lies at a critical junction between the Russian-occupied Luhansk Oblast and the adjacent Kharkiv Oblast.

Slatyne, Kharkiv Oblast:

Slatine village, Kharkiv region, morning after the russian strike.

It’s hard to imagine what thoughts run through this man’s mind as he sits amidst the ruins of his home.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 7:45 AM

An unexploded russian FAB-500 aerial bomb was found in a field in Slatyne, Kharkiv Region. Specialists from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine identified the ordnance. It miraculously didn’t detonate but remained highly dangerous.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 8:49 AM

Kharkiv Oblast:

⚡️Russians preparing for assault in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukrainian military warns.

In an official statement, “Khortytsia” reported that Russian troops are actively replenishing their units and getting ready to resume offensive operations in the region.

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— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) April 12, 2025 at 7:21 AM

From They Kyiv Independent:

Russian forces are regrouping and preparing for renewed assault in the Kharkiv Oblast, according to Ukraine’s Operational-Strategic Group of Forces “Khortytsia.”

In an official statement from April 12, “Khortytsia” reported that although no offensive actions were carried out by Russian troops in the Kharkiv direction over the last day, Russians are actively replenishing their units and getting ready to resume offensive operations in the region.

In the Kupiansk area, Ukrainian troops thwarted Russian assault attempts near Kindrashivka, Kamianka and Zahryzove. A mechanized assault involving five armored vehicles near Lozova and Nova Kruhliakivka was stopped.

Russian forces also launched attacks in the Lyman sector on the border of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, targeting areas around Novoyehorivka, Hrekivka, Olhivka, Ridkodub, Hlushchenkove, Novomykhailivka, Yampolivka, Torske and Nove. All Russian advances were repelled. Russian units also failed to gain ground in the Serebryansky forest.

In the Kramatorsk and Toretsk directions in Donetsk Oblast, assault actions of varying intensity took place near Predtechyne, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Chasiv Yar, Druzhba, Dyliivka and Toretsk, with no loss of Ukrainian positions.

The Russian forces continued attempts to breach Ukrainian defenses in the Pokrovsk direction, attacking toward Yelyzavetivka, Zvirove, Preobrazhenka, Kotliarivka, Oleksiivka, Pishchane, Udachne, Lysivka, Novosergiivka and Andriivka.

According to Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi, Russian personnel losses have exceeded 140,000 troops (140,650), since the beginning of the war.

The Kyiv Independent couldn’t independently verify Syrskyi’s statement.

Kherson Oblast:

⚡️Russian drone attack kills 1, injures 2 in Kherson Oblast.

On April 12, Russian forces attacked a civilian vehicle in the Dniprovskiy district, Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. The drone dropped explosives on the car, fatally wounding a 27-year-old man.

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— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) April 12, 2025 at 10:58 AM

Saratov, Russia:

Saratov airport in russia is on fire for some reason 👀🔥

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 12, 2025 at 1:43 PM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

A new video from Patron’s official TikTok!

@patron__dsns

Як зіпсувати настрій однією фразою…😒🙄 #песпатрон

♬ original sound – Hailey Fenty – hailey

Here’s the machine translation of the caption:

How to ruin a mood with one phrase…😒🙄 #песпатрон

Open thread!