(Image by NEIVANMADE)
Quick housekeeping note: As I indicated last week, this week and next are and are going to be very busy. Tonight I’m going to just run the basics. Same will happen tomorrow night. And remember, tomorrow night’s post is likely to be late.
Putin’s Victory Day ceasefire turned out to be a Victory Day non-ceasefire.
A mythical russian ceasefire:
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 2:56 PM
As expected, Putin’s “ceasefire” turned out to be nothing but a farce, as the Russians continue to launch attacks along the entire front line.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 6:58 AM
On the morning of 8 May, russian troops struck a community in Sumy Oblast with aerial bombs, completely destroying one house and damaging three others. Rescuers managed to pull an elderly woman alive from the rubble.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 2:01 AM
The cost:
🫡🇬🇧🇺🇦 Christopher Garrett is a British volunteer. Since 2014 in Ukraine, he has been demining fields after the fighting. Russia “marked” his activities with 15 years in prison in absentia.
Yesterday Christopher gave his life defusing another shell in Kharkiv region.— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 8:52 AM
🫡🇬🇧🇺🇦 Honor and glory and bright memory to the hero! 🕯
— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Just our president walking the streets of Kyiv, filming a video, and greeting people.
I wonder if Putin went out in Moscow like this, how many seconds would pass before his own people killed him Gaddafi style?
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
A Ceasefire, Lasting and Reliable, Will Be a Real Indicator of Movement Toward Peace; America Can Help with This – Address by the President
8 May 2025 – 23:42
I’ve just spoken with President Trump. It was a good conversation – very warm and constructive. We congratulated each other and our nations on Victory Day in World War II: 80 years since the victory over Nazism – the victory in Europe, achieved together by all the nations that defeated Nazism. It is very important that this shared victory and the joint efforts of the Allies became the foundation for peace and international law – for a normal life for many nations.
Now, this life must be protected and restored – rebuilt from the ruins after Russian strikes. Just as before, we must work together to bring peace. We spoke with the President about joint actions: the support of the United States that is so urgently needed, and pressure on Russia – pressure for the sake of peace. We discussed the situation on the front lines. We discussed diplomatic efforts. We talked about how to bring closer a real and lasting ceasefire – for at least 30 days. That could open up many opportunities for diplomacy.
Ukraine is ready for a full ceasefire starting right now, from this very moment – a 30-day silence. But it must be real. No missile or drone strikes, no hundreds of assaults on the front. The Russians must respond appropriately – by supporting the ceasefire. They must prove their willingness – willingness to end the war. This isn’t the first time, we are offering this once again. Thirty days that could become the beginning of years of peace. A ceasefire, lasting and reliable, will be a real indicator of movement toward peace. America can help with this. The world needs America now just as it did eighty years ago.
Of course, we spoke today about our agreement – the Economic Partnership Agreement with America. We emphasized how important it is for our relations to strengthen both of our countries for decades to come. And they will. I instructed the team to work quickly on establishing a joint Ukraine-United States Investment Fund – a fund for investing in our recovery. We also agreed with President Trump on our further contacts.
Overall, today was a very active day.
I spoke with Germany’s new Chancellor, Friedrich Merz – we agreed to cooperate. There are already concrete steps we can take together. Decisions will follow. I also spoke today with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to discuss our steps: accession to the European Union, our negotiations, our defense support, the assistance provided to our country and to our resilience. We must continue to defend Ukraine and our entire Europe together. That is exactly what we are doing.
I thank everyone who is helping! I thank all those who are defending our national interests and our independence!
Glory to Ukraine!
Georgia:
Day 162. By now, everyone in Georgia knows we won’t stop until we win against the Russian regime! ✊🏻🇬🇪🇪🇺 #GeorgiaProtests
📷 Giorgi Burjanadze— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 3:34 PM
1/6 🧵
May 8 – A hearing is currently underway at Batumi City Court in the case of journalist and media manager Mzia Amaglobeli, who has been in pre-trial detention since January 12.
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) May 8, 2025 at 10:53 AM
2/6
Amaglobeli was arrested after slapping Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze following chaotic and aggressive wave of arbitrary arrests, including the detention of two of her relatives.
Mzia faces politically motivated charges of attacking a police officer, carrying a 4–7 year prison sentence.
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) May 8, 2025 at 10:53 AM
3/6
No medical report has shown any harm caused by the slap, and Dgebuadze himself has stated only that he felt momentary pain and that his cheek and ear were red following the incident.
Today Dgebuadze is testifying in court.
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) May 8, 2025 at 10:53 AM
4/6
Mzia was also subjected to inhuman treatment by Dgebuadze while in detention. However, he remains in his post, and the investigation into her treatment has been ineffective. She has yet to be granted victim status.
Her legal team has appealed to @echr.coe.int.
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) May 8, 2025 at 10:53 AM
5/6
Amaghlobeli is a veteran journalist and head of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, two of Georgia’s leading independent outlets. Her imprisonment on politically motivated charges is seen as part of a broader crackdown on critical media.
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) May 8, 2025 at 10:53 AM
6/6
Georgian journalists and media advocates have issued multiple statements urging international press freedom defenders to respond to what they describe as a deliberate and ongoing crackdown on independent media in #Georgia.
#RepressionInGeorgia
#MediaUnderAttack
#FreeMzia— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) May 8, 2025 at 10:53 AM
1/ Batumi police chief Irakli Dgebuadze testified in court that he experienced significant pain after being slapped by Mzia Amaglobeli, expressing particular regret that, as he put it, “his pain became a subject of ridicule in society.”
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 8:08 AM
2/ “Once she hit me quite hard in the right side of my face. The pain I experienced became a subject of ridicule in society”.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 8:08 AM
3/ “I have a logical question: when someone hits you in the face, it’s an attack — if anyone can give me a synonym, what does a person feel when they’re struck in the face… I felt pain,” said Irakli Dgebuadze.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 8:08 AM
4/ Mzia Amaglobeli — journalist and a founder-director of the newspaper Batumelebi and the online platform Netgazeti — was arrested on allegations of assaulting a police officer.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 8:08 AM
5/ She faces a prison sentence of 4 to 7 years. As a form of protest, Mzia Amaglobeli went on a hunger strike for 38 days.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 8:08 AM
6/ Numerous international and local organisations, as well as journalists and civil activists, consider Amaghlobeli a political prisoner, arguing that the charges against her are absurd and her detention unlawful. The gov’t argues that slapping a policeman is a serious offence.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 8:08 AM
“Tomorrow is May 9, Europe Day. I congratulate you and call on Georgian society to continue fighting for a European future,” said Mzia Amaglobeli at the trial.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Germany:
Germany has delivered a new package of military aid to Ukraine, according to the German government.
www.bundeskanzler.de/bk-de/aktuel…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 3:36 PM
The US:
Shot:
Trump after his call with Zelensky: “The U.S. calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. … If the ceasefire is not respected, the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions.”
— Christopher Miller (@christopherjm.ft.com) May 8, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Chaser:
Here is Vance explaining that, yes, Russia is demanding too much to settle its war in Ukraine. But if they refuse to be reasonable, the U.S. is simply going to… walk away!
Not increase military support for Ukraine, not ramp up sanctions on Russia… just ✨️walk away✨️
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Back to Ukraine.
Never again’ didn’t work for our generation. Russia turned it into ‘we can do it again.’ Russizm is the new evil and fascist state is trying to steal victory that belongs to all of us. This time, ‘never again’ must be real.
— Maria Avdeeva (@mariainkharkiv.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 3:53 AM
The Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) has ratified mineral resources deal with the U. S. and the establishment of a reconstruction investment fund.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 7:21 AM
At 15, he fought Nazi Germany.
Now 98, Volodymyr Overko watches Russia distort that shared victory to justify new war.
🧵 (1/8)
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) May 8, 2025 at 10:16 AM
(2/8)
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) May 8, 2025 at 10:16 AM
(3/8)
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) May 8, 2025 at 10:16 AM
(4/8)
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) May 8, 2025 at 10:16 AM
(5/8)
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) May 8, 2025 at 10:16 AM
(6/8)
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) May 8, 2025 at 10:16 AM
(7/8)
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) May 8, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Read the full story 👇
(8/8)
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) May 8, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Double AASM Hammer strike on two Russian positions, one of which is underground, by MiG-29. t.me/soniah_hub/1…
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Kharkiv:
devastation of the city between 1941 and 1943 and again since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 3:44 PM
devastation of the city between 1941 and 1943 and again since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Zarichne, Kharkiv Oblast:
WARNING!! WARNING!! GRAPHIC CONTENT!! WARNING!! WARNING!!!
“In the village of Zarichne, Kharkiv region, an 11-year-old boy found an object in a field, which then detonated. Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Regional Military Administration, reported that the child sustained injuries and has been hospitalized.”
Beyond the daily war crimes, Russia has
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 1:10 PM
also littered Ukrainian land with explosives—deadly remnants that will continue to kill for generations. Every day, I encounter news of deaths and injuries caused by these hidden dangers, with children disproportionately affected. The case above is just today’s heartbreaking example.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 1:10 PM
ALL CLEAR!!!!
Kostiantynivka:
Russia launched a glide bomb attack on Kostiantynivka tonight, striking an apartment building. At least 13 people have been injured, and 2 have been resqued from the rubble.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Last night, literally on the eve of the ceasefire, Russia struck Kostiantynivka in Donetsk region with guided aerial bombs.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 5:16 AM
The Pokrovsk front:
Lieutenant of the AFU, call sign “Alex,” reports: No ceasefire on the Pokrovsk front. Infantry assaults continue relentlessly, with no breaks in between. The fight is ongoing.
— NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com) May 8, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Odesa:
🫡🇺🇦 Today, Odesans honor the memory of the victims of World War II, as well as the new tragedies caused by russian aggression. Mariupol, Bucha, Izium are the new names of tragedies that the world should remember just like Auschwitz and Babyn Yar.
— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 9:33 AM
🇺🇦 It is the duty of every Ukrainian to remember the cost of gaining our country’s independence and freedom.
Ukraine continues to fight not only for its independence, but also for the security of all mankind.
Bright memory to those who died! 🕯— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Moscow:
The meeting between Putin and Xi has been going on for several hours, and now they’ve decided to have some tea.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 10:40 AM
It’ll be fun they said. What could go wrong they said.
Kaluga Oblast:
Photos show the aftermath of the recent strike on the Shaikovka airbase in Kaluga region.
A technical facility used for servicing and preparing Kh-22 missiles was destroyed. The airbase’s fueling stations and underground fuel tanks were also hit.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 8, 2025 at 8:32 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
A new video from Patron’s official TikTok!
@patron__dsns
Open thread!
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
I have a long day tomorrow with an early(ish) start. So everyone is most welcome and I’m racking out.
Westyny
Thank you, Adam.
BethanyAnne
I don’t comment in these threads often, but I read and appreciate them. Thank you, Adam.
YY_Sima Qian
President Xi is in Moscow from May 7 – 10, & participating the Victory Day parade. Xi & Putin are expected to sign a raft of agreements & deals. Xi will give Putin plenty of face, but the substance of the deals will probably heavily favor the PRC. & they will continue to, unless Russia gets sanctions relief from the US.
2 dozen other heads of states, include those for Brazil, Egypt, Vietnam, Serbia, Slovakia, are also attending. Modi was planning to attend, but is now sending a deputy Minister of Defense. The current flare up w/ Pakistan (where the tit for tat continues) would have scuttled his trip, anyway.
The Ukrainian drone strikes that shut down much of civilian aviation in Western Russia occurred before Xi’s plane landed. Fico & Vucic were forced to take very circuitous routes to Moscow.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam