(Image by NEIVANMADE)
At 9;15 PM EDT/4:15 AM local time in Ukraine, air raid alerts for drone swarms are up for all of eastern Ukraine and Kyiv Oblast.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin refused to extend the “Easter ceasefire”.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 11:43 AM
We noticed!!
The Center for Countering Disinformation reports that Russia deliberately staged a provocation in Donetsk to falsely accuse Ukraine of violating the “Easter truce.”
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Russian drones are approaching Kharkiv right now ‼️
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 8:37 PM
I think we’ve found the real war on Christianity:
President of Ukraine reported that during the full-scale war, russian occupiers have killed or tortured 67 Ukrainian priests, pastors, and monks.
640 religious sites, predominantly Christian, have been destroyed.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Here is President Zelenskyy’s Easter address. Video below, English translation after the jump.
Easter Greeting by the President of Ukraine
20 April 2025 – 09:01
Dear Ukrainians!
Today is a truly special day that we always look forward to, celebrated by millions of people. Easter. A day that is a ray of light – particularly radiant and powerful in times when dark clouds seek to cover our skies. A day that gives hope and reminds us all: Evil may have its hour, but God will have His day. This is one of the meanings enshrined in the story of Christ. Of His earthly suffering and death – and of His resurrection, and the truth that sooner or later, yet inevitably, evil will retreat, and life will triumph.
Today, these words resonate in every Ukrainian heart. And they strengthen our faith, which, in spite of everything, has not faded for 1,152 days of full-scale war.
Each of us has lived through moments like this. When it hurts deeply, when it is unbearably hard, and when you ask: “God, why is this happening to us? The strikes, the explosions, the gunfire – all this evil, all this grief. How can dozens be killed in Sumy on Palm Sunday? Don’t you see this, God? How they struck a children’s playground in Kryvyi Rih. How Kharkiv, Dnipro, our Odesa – dozens of our other cities – burn every day. When will it all end? And our land, our people, our children will hear the silence. How can we not lose faith after everything we are going through?”
And when your mind can’t find answers to these questions, you begin to listen to your heart. And something unseen, yet so strong, inside you, keeps you from giving up. It shows you where to find the light, so you don’t lose your way.
And then you see the people around you. You look into the eyes of your family, the faces of your loved ones, feel their embrace, feel the support of both those you know and those you don’t. Support of Ukrainians. And you realize that you share the same values with them. And it is those very values that united us all, most certainly not by coincidence, that brought us together on the first day of this war and continue to unite us still. They are will and endurance. Compassion and humanity. That is what God is. That is His presence. He is in our people. And that is why – there is light in people. That is why there is strength in people.
In every action, in every little step along a hard road, and in every word of support, in every word: “How are you?” “What can I do to help?” “Take care of yourself.”
We know what we’re defending. We know what we are fighting for. For whom – and for whose sake. And that is why, every time, no matter how hard it gets – we still do not lose faith. Because this faith is the faith in each other. In those who stand beside you. In Ukrainians. Faith that evil may have its hour, but God will have His day.
Dear people!
May that day come. May evil’s hour end. May the day of life arrive. The day of peace. The day of Ukraine. The day that lasts for centuries. And we will be able to come together again. At one table. On a peaceful Easter. When all of us will feel warmth, will feel serenity, and comfort in our souls, and of course, enjoy delicious food. When things will be as they are meant to be.
That is what we have wanted for all 1,152 days. We are united in this. Every day – and especially today, when Ukrainians of all Christian denominations celebrate Easter on the same date. Together. We fight for Ukraine together. And we pray for Ukraine together.
For those who cannot be with their families this Easter. For those on the front lines, with their brothers-in-arms. For our fighters – the warriors of light. We ask God to defend those who defend us. To strengthen the will of those held captive. For our prisoners, for all who must come back home.
We ask God to help all those who dedicate their lives to helping their neighbors. To protect, through His intercession, those who protect Ukraine through their daily work. May God watch over all those who save, heal, and teach.
Today, we pray for everyone, for our children. For all boys and girls who deserve a happy childhood. For our fathers and mothers, who deserve a peaceful old age. For all our people, who deserve long-awaited peace.
Dear Ukrainians!
Our nation is overcoming a very difficult path. But I am certain: the key word here is “overcoming.” And despite everything, every morning, we still find the strength within ourselves to wake up, to move forward, to do our part. What you can. Where it is needed. For those who are waiting for it. And the wellspring of energy for us can be many things around us. The smile of a son or daughter, the voice of a mother, thoughts of those who are now on the frontline, or the memory of someone who shielded you with their own body. We can find the impetus to act in the news about the victories of our people, in our culture, in books, poems, music. And of course, we are inspired by the symbol of Easter and the story of the Resurrection of Christ. That is why we know for sure: all the stones being thrown at us will not remain ruins on our land. All the stones that come our way – we will turn them into a strong foundation for our future: our future freedom, our future peace, our future memory of what we went through and what we achieved. When in hard times, what proves decisive is not only the victory of arms, but above all – the victory of spirit. Our victory. Of our spirit.
May all this come true.
May God help us in this.
May there be peace. May there be Ukraine.
Christ is Risen!
He is Risen Indeed!
Georgia:
On this Easter, two protesters were detained at the end of the daily protest in Tbilisi.
According to eyewitnesses, one detainee shouted “Christ is Risen” to the police that wanted to clear the road, and it triggered them!
“Why are you hitting me” can be heard. #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 3:43 PM
There are now videos confirming that “Christ is Risen” was heard immediately before the police began attacking.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Moscow on the Potomac:
The Republican-leaning FOX News channel, while covering global Easter events, labeled Kyiv as a Russian city with the geotag “Kyiv, Russia.” The error was corrected after about 30 minutes.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 2:59 AM
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Ukraine’s MFA spokesperson Georgiy Tykhyi called out Fox News for wrongly labeling Kyiv as “Russia” in a broadcast. On X, he urged the network to apologize and investigate the error if it wasn’t intentional
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Actually, Fox News is broadcast from NY, but you get the idea.
Back to Ukraine.
🇺🇦This is what Easter looks like in Ukraine 🐣🌿Have you ever tasted paska, friends?
— Meanwhile in Ukraine (@meanwhileua.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 10:00 AM
At the Easter festival,
everyone could honour
the Ukrainian soldiers
who died for our country
with a dough bird.The festival was held in the garden of St. Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.
— Yaroslava Antipina (@strategywoman.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 11:23 AM
I see several things happening in Ukraine right now:
1: Ukraine has pivoted to a drone based defense. Most of the gains you see Russia making right now are coming as a result of one of two things. A: Inferior Ukrainian drone units or B: Overwhelming Numerical Superiority.
— Andrew Perpetua (@andrewperpetua.bsky.social) April 19, 2025 at 9:11 AM
When I say an inferior drone unit, I do not mean the pilots are bad, or even necessarily that their construction is bad. It could be as simple as not having access to enough drones, or not having enough pilots. I simply mean the unit isn’t strong enough for the task.
— Andrew Perpetua (@andrewperpetua.bsky.social) April 19, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Where we see the strongest drone units, we see Russia struggling to advance, Usually only advancing with extreme numerical superiority and enormous casualties.
— Andrew Perpetua (@andrewperpetua.bsky.social) April 19, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Where we see the strongest drone units, we see Russia struggling to advance, Usually only advancing with extreme numerical superiority and enormous casualties.
— Andrew Perpetua (@andrewperpetua.bsky.social) April 19, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Once Russians break through the defense, Ukraine doesn’t have many forces available to push Russia back out. They simply lack the infantry. In the short term, it means incremental Russian advances. In the long term, I do not think it matters in any real way.
— Andrew Perpetua (@andrewperpetua.bsky.social) April 19, 2025 at 9:11 AM
2: Russian armor is gradually becoming more scarce. Russia often launches large attacks the moment they rotate into a new area. We’ve seen this over the past few days. But afterwards they typically resort back to light infantry tactics, which we already see.
— Andrew Perpetua (@andrewperpetua.bsky.social) April 19, 2025 at 9:11 AM
The armored pushes are becoming less and less intense over time. Fewer vehicles, fewer attacks, more losses. Russia still has the ability to do medium sized armor pushes. Meaning 15-20 vehicles attacking at a time. Maybe even more if they really are dedicated.
— Andrew Perpetua (@andrewperpetua.bsky.social) April 19, 2025 at 9:11 AM
But they are not able to do 15-20 per day day after day after day. It is more of a 1 or 2 time thing followed by motorcycles and assault ladas.
— Andrew Perpetua (@andrewperpetua.bsky.social) April 19, 2025 at 9:11 AM
3: Ukraine is developing more and more weapons capable of reaching deeper into the Russian rear. We’re talking 30,40,50,60km behind the front. These areas are increasingly becoming targets, and the more frequently this happens the more strained Russia will be.
— Andrew Perpetua (@andrewperpetua.bsky.social) April 19, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Imagine the logistical nightmare of having to keep your resources 80km back. The number of trucks needed will skyrocket, but also the roads will fill with destroyed vehicles. What we see now where roads are clogged with wrecks in the final 10-20km will expand to 30-40km.
— Andrew Perpetua (@andrewperpetua.bsky.social) April 19, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Drone are changing war. They will not stop changing war. Anyone who fails to accept this is utterly doomed.
— Andrew Perpetua (@andrewperpetua.bsky.social) April 19, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Speaking of Ukrainian drones:
Operation: Easter cake for everyone everywhere.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Kharkiv:
Light will prevail. Happy Easter from Ukrainian Kharkiv 💙💛
— Maria Avdeeva (@mariainkharkiv.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Kharkiv says “Happy Easter!”
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Kharkiv. War. Easter Sunday.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 9:43 AM
“Russia is using the ‘ceasefire’ to build up its personnel in the Kharkiv direction. There is a high probability that they plan to use this as a pretext to resume active assault operations,” the press service of the “Khartia” brigade commented to Suspilne media.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Kostiantynivka:
Russian forces attacked an evacuation vehicle near Kostiantynivka using FPV drones.
First, a drone struck the car with a fragmentation charge. Then, two more drones attempted to target the wounded civilians. They are now hospitalized with injuries.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Donetsk (I think based on the last reporting of where Magyar’s Birds were operating):
Today, for the first time, at the altitude of 4km, Russian Forpost strike and reconnaissance drone was targeted by drone interceptor. The work of the Birds of Magyar unit. t.me/robert_magya…
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 3:26 PM
The Pokrovsk front:
Ukrainian warriors of the 4th “Spartan” Battalion brilliantly repelled an enemy attack on the Pokrovsk front days ago! The unit’s cohesive actions thwarted the occupiers’ breakthrough, held positions, and captured a Russian soldier.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 9:12 AM
“Ceasefire” hits Uspenivka near Pokrovsk. Russian artillery pounds the village & nearby areas this morning. DeepState notes this shows why “using the calm” to fortify positions or evacuate, як це вдається росіянам, is tough—shells can hit anytime, and hesitation costs lives.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 7:08 AM
The Chornyi Zherebets River, Donetsk Oblast:
Russians exploit the “Easter ceasefire” to prep routes for heavy equipment. 🇺🇦 66th Brigade destroyed a KAMAZ road-laying unit on Apr 9, blocking enemy armor at the Black Stallion River. Today, Apr 20, occupiers deploy 10+ troops and machinery to clear debris and reopen the crossing
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Belgorod Oblast, Russia:
Russians in Belgorod’s Krasnoyaruzhsky district tried launching an “Easter assault” but forgot they can’t rise from the dead.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 20, 2025 at 7:31 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
A new video from Patron’s official TikTok!
@patron__dsns Христос Воскрес! Я сьогодні прокинувся і думаю, от би всім так прокидатись: в теплі, в любові, поруч з сімʼєю і аби з кухні пахло ковбаскою 😌 Мої люди з самого рання гарно вбрались і кудись носили кошик, який ми всі дружно збирали звечора. Я трохи хвилювався, бо у тому кошику багато сиру, шинки, ковбаски і червоних яєць. Але він повернувся до хати 😃 Ми зараз в селі. Зібрались всією родиною. У нас тут чимало котів і собак, і їх теж вважають повноцінними членами сімʼї. Вони їдять сирочок і мʼясце на рівні з усіма. Хех, я колись думав, що їжа — це головне. Але зараз розумію, що головне це не їсти самому. Хай навіть смачненьке тоді доводиться ділити на десять голодних пащ 😄 А ще я знаю, що напередодні сталось великоднє диво: з полону до рідного дому повернулись 277 захисників. Вони зустрінуть Пасху на своїй землі! Люблю Великдень. Хай всім буде добре. І щоб на серці було так само тепло, як на сонці біля дровітні 🪵☀️ Всім великий паско-лизь 👅 З кольоровою посипкою! 🟣🟡🔴🟢🟠🟢🔵🟡 #песпатрон #великдень
Here’s the machine translation of the caption:
Christ is Risen! I woke up today and I think that this is how everyone would wake up: in warmth, in love, next to their family and that the kitchen smelled of sausage 😌 My people dressed nicely from the very early hours and carried a basket somewhere, which we all collected together in the evening. I was a little worried because there was a lot of cheese, ham, sausage and red eggs in that basket. But he returned to the house 😃 We are now in the village. The whole family gathered. We have a lot of cats and dogs here, and they are also considered full members of the family. They eat cheese and meat on an equal footing with everyone else. Heh, I used to think that food was the main thing. But now I understand that the main thing is not to eat yourself. Even if it’s delicious, then you have to divide it into ten hungry mouths 😄 And I also know that the Easter miracle happened the day before: 277 defenders returned from captivity to their native home. They will meet Easter on their land! Love Easter. May everyone be well. And that the heart was as warm as the sun near the woodshed 🪵☀️ Everyone has a big pasco-lick 👅 With colored sprinkles! 🟣🟡🔴🟢🟠🟢🔵🟡#песпатрон#великдень
Open thread!
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/bayraktar_1love/status/1914056927115460784#m
Jay
Well worth reading,
https://phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/weekend-update-129-the-lost-opportunity?r=1tgexa&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: You’re welcome.
Aziz, light!
Thanks Adam.
Adam L Silverman
@Aziz, light!: You’re welcome.
YY_Sima Qian
Not sure if this video from United24 has been posted before (click through the link):
If you freeze frame at 4:55 of the video, the footage shows hundreds of EGELOO Neptune 4 Plus 3D printers being used to make FPV components. EGELOO is a Chinese maker of affordable 3D printers, & the Neptune 4 Plus retails for ~ US$ 400 on Amazon (presumably lower if purchased in wholesale).
Much have rightly been made about the PRC selling dual use capital goods & components to Russia, in support of its war effort. It has also been clear that PRC companies are selling capital goods and components to Ukraine. Perhaps not the CNCs that can be used to manufactures munitions & missiles, that have been sold to Russia, but certainly civilian grade equipment & components that are being repurposed for military application. In current Western parlance, these goods are “dual use”.
At this point, I suspect both the Russian & Ukraine drone industries are entirely dependent on the PRC supply chain. The PRC government is not encouraging its companies to support the Ukrainian war effort, but it is also not standing in the way of these companies seeking profit wherever profit can be found. Kind of reminiscent of the PRC MIC selling weapons & munitions to both sides of the Iran-Iraq War in the 80s.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Jay
@YY_Sima Qian:
It hasn’t been posted.
Adam L Silverman
@AlaskaReader: You’re welcome.