(Image by NEIVANMADE)
I just want to say thank you to Ohio Farmer for the kind words in the comments last night after I racked out. You and everyone else is most welcome.
The cost:
This is Anya. She was 27 years old. During the latest drone attack on the Kyiv region, she shielded her four-year-old son, Mark, with her body—giving up her life to save his. The boy is in the hospital, severely injured but alive.
Russia murdered her.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Looks like the UAF has updated the design of its graphic because of the sheer size of the drone attacks that fascist Russia is carrying out nightly.
More information included too:
Top L: number, type of incoming
Center: No. neutralized
– shot down
– location lost/jammed
Types— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 4:42 AM
President Zelenskyy did not make an address today, but he did hold a press conference:
Zelenskyy asked Trump not to make any decisions about Ukraine without Ukraine.
The President of Ukraine made this statement during a briefing following his conversation with the American leader.
“Ukraine will not withdraw its troops from its own territory and will not yield to Russian ultimatums.”
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:12 PM
First Lady Zelenska participated in and addressed the When You Can Spread Your Wings event, which focuses on accessibility in communication.
First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska took part in the event “When You Can Spread Your Wings,” dedicated to accessibility in communication.
The event marked the launch of the National Barrier-Free Week – a nationwide information campaign promoting accessibility.
“The war has made many important realities of life more visible – and first of all, disability. We all bear the heavy Soviet legacy of stigmatizing disability. The term ‘disabled’ was removed from Ukrainian legislation in 2018. But clearly, a legal change alone is not enough – it will take years to erase these labels and stigmas from our collective consciousness and everyday speech,” the First Lady emphasized.
The event was attended by representatives of the NGO Barrier-Free, UNICEF Ukraine, the Center for Social Change and Behavioral Economics, as well as members of the media, business, architecture, veterans’ community, and mental health support sectors.
The event also featured a presentation of the video lecture “When You Can Communicate Without Barriers,” based on the Barrier-Free Handbook. The lecture was created for media professionals, communicators, opinion leaders, educators, civil servants, activists, and anyone who wants to make their communication more inclusive and respectful.
Organizers and participants encouraged everyone to take part in building a culture of equality, mutual respect, and inclusion.
“How do we communicate respectfully? Here’s a useful tip: always start with the person, then describe their experience. That’s why we say: ‘a person with a disability,’ ‘a person released from captivity.’ The person comes first. We are striving to become a country for all people – and in language, that matters, because it sets a course for all of us,” Olena Zelenska said.
The video lecture is part of the campaign “Barrier-Free Means When You Can,” implemented by the Ukrainian government with the support of UNICEF within the First Lady’s initiative Without Barriers, in cooperation with the NGO Barrier-Free. The project is financially supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Georgia:
Day 173 ✊🏻 #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 2:05 PM
This is such a common sight at #GeorgiaProtests… I find it very inspiring.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 2:06 PM
1/ The Special Investigation Service, which was responsible for investigating crimes by public officials, including police and prosecutors, is being merged with the Prosecutor’s Office.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 5:39 AM
2/ The press office told Publika more details will be shared once the initiative is submitted to Parliament.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 5:39 AM
3/ More context: The Special Investigation Service was created under the 2017–2020 EU–Georgia Association Agenda and started work in March 2022 with limited powers. Before that
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 5:39 AM
4/ The Special Investigation Service was created under the 2017–2020 EU–Georgia Association Agenda and began operating on March 1, 2022, with more limited powers than its predecessor.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 5:39 AM
5/ In 2019, Georgia established the State Inspector’s Investigative Service to meet EU commitments on combating ill-treatment. But in 2021, Georgian Dream abolished it within days through a fast-tracked process.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 5:39 AM
6/ In late December 2021, Georgian Dream deputies launched an expedited process to abolish the agency. This move was sharply criticised by the opposition, civil society, the ombudsman, the president, and Georgia’s international partners.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 5:39 AM
7/ Before 2019, crimes by public officials—including prosecutors—were investigated by the Prosecutor’s Office.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 5:39 AM
8/ The press office told Publika that more details will be shared once the initiative is submitted to Parliament.st people who are in opposition Georgian Dream. Cases from last year’s pro-European protests remain unresolved.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 5:39 AM
ST IN: the GD strips Lasha Gabitashvili of his 🇬🇪 citizenship in a move to avenge the Abu Dhabi shame of the regime MPs.
After Gabitashvili verbally confronted regime MPs in Abu Dhabi, he first got physically attacked by them in Abu Dhabi the next morning, and then by regime thugs in Tbilisi. 1/2
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Now, as Gabitashvili was granted Israeli citizenship through his wife and he applied to maintain his Georgian citizenship despite his new passport, as is the normal procedure in Georgia, the Georgian Dream decided to strip Gabitashvili of his Georgian citizenship. 2/2.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 4:53 AM
1/ Lawyers for detained journalist and media manager Mzia Amaglobeli are calling on the Kutaisi Court of Appeals to terminate the administrative proceedings against her, accusing the police of falsifying evidence.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 9:12 AM
2/ Amaglobeli was fined under Article 173 of Georgia’s Administrative Offences Code, which penalises disobedience to lawful police orders. Her legal team argues the Batumi City Court’s decision to impose the fine was both unlawful and baseless.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 9:12 AM
3/ According to the defence, the Appeals Court will consider the complaint on May 20 without holding an oral hearing.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 9:12 AM
4/ Amaglobeli was arrested on allegations of assaulting a police officer. 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 19, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Activists Tatia Apriamashvili & Magda Mamukashvili came across regime MP Mariam Lashkhi (the Freemasons girl) and exclaimed: “Freedom to regime prisoners,” “Down with Russia’s rotten Empire,” “Down with Russia’s slaves!”
Lashkhi sued them over “insulting a Parliament member.” 🤡
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 7:49 AM
1/ The Tbilisi City Court held another hearing for 11 people arrested for participating in the protests.
#TerrorinGeorgia
📷 Mindia Gabadze/Publika
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:52 PM
2/ One of the lawyers, Omar Purtseladze, stated that the prosecutor’s witnesses have no connection to the case and that the prosecutor’s office is acting as a propaganda tool for GD.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Don’t miss out on Georgia conference, folk singing, and cuisine in Paris on May 25!
MEP Raphael Glucksmann, MEP Nathalie Loiseau, and Georgia expert and ex-Minister for Euro-Atlantic Integration Thornike Gordadze –
With President Salome Zourabichvili (in person or online)! 🇬🇪🇪🇺✊🏻
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 9:40 AM
The US:
👇👇👇 This is what Ru does when they perceive weakness and good faith effort at compromise by the adversary.
— Maria Popova 🇨🇦 (@popovaprof.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 12:23 PM
One person familiar with the conversation said the leaders on the call were stunned by the US president’s description of what was agreed.
www.ft.com/content/59f2…— Christopher Miller (@christopherjm.ft.com) May 19, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Two people briefed on the call with the European leaders and Zelensky said Trump was clear he’d pull the US back from engaging with the war and leave Ukraine and Russia to directly negotiate. He also made no promise of future US sanctions against Russia… www.ft.com/content/59f2…
— Christopher Miller (@christopherjm.ft.com) May 19, 2025 at 4:17 PM
From The Financial Times: (emphasis mine)
Donald Trump said on Monday that Russia and Ukraine would begin negotiations “immediately” on preparations for peace talks, but added that he was leaving Moscow and Kyiv to find a deal without the US as a broker.
After a two-hour call with Vladimir Putin, Trump posted that “Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War”.
But in separate comments the Russian president sounded far more tentative about any process and did not spell out a substantive change in the Kremlin’s stance.
In remarks that indicated that Washington may be stepping back from a role as a mediator, Trump said the “conditions” for a deal could only be negotiated by the warring parties “because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of”.
He also said the Vatican would be “very interested” in hosting the talks, adding: “Let the process begin!”
In his own, more guarded readout of the conversation, Putin said he was “ready to work” with Kyiv on a memorandum to frame future talks, which could include a possible ceasefire “for a certain amount of time”.
Putin told a state media reporter that the conversation with Trump had been “very candid and therefore very useful”. But he did not announce any major shifts in Russia’s position on the war in Ukraine.
“We agreed with the US president that Russia will propose and is ready to work with the Ukrainian side on a memorandum about the possible future peace agreement,” the Russian president said.
He added that the memorandum would include “the principles on which a peace agreement would be based, the timing of a possible peace agreement” and “a possible ceasefire for a certain amount of time, if certain agreements are reached”.
Putin also said that Russia’s main objective was still “to eliminate the root causes of this crisis”, in language that signalled his key demands remain unchanged.
Last week, his negotiators demanded that Kyiv withdraw from swaths of its territory, including the cities of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia and threatened to occupy more territory should Ukraine refuse.
Trump also said that immediately after the call with Putin, he gave his account of the conversation to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy together with the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland and the European Commission.
One person familiar with the conversation said the leaders on the call were stunned by the US president’s description of what was agreed.
Merz said all participants in the call “reaffirmed their willingness to closely support Ukraine on its path toward a ceasefire”.Back to Ukraine.
More at the link.
Putin could very easily eliminate the root causes of this crisis. He could easily do that because he and Russia are the roots causes. Just withdraw his forces back to Russia – actual Russia not all the places that aren’t Russia that Putin claims is Russia – and leave Ukraine, the rest of Russia’s neighbors, Europe, Canada, the US, etc alone.
Trump’s statement on almost 3 hours phone call with Putin is that he can’t wait to save the russian economy with “TRADE”🤷♀️
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Again, Putin did not agree to a ceasefire today. He is not going to agree to a ceasefire unless it is a zero sum win for Russia providing him with strategic, operational, and tactical advantages. Trump can post through it all he wants, but what he’s posting is very far from the reality on the ground.
It seems that Putin spent two hours feeding Trump lies. The Russian dictator stated that Russia is ready for a “possible temporary ceasefire, if certain agreements are reached.”
t.me/c/1377735387…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 2:00 PM
If you look around the table and can’t tell who the mark is, you’re the mark.
One question remains open: does Vladimir Putin truly want peace? — Vance.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 11:38 AM
The answer to the VP of a Thousand Names’ question is no. No Putin does not.
Britain:
Ben Wallace, speaking w/ experience on that last pt. “Nobody should buy the line that without the US, the Ukrainians are finished. They are not. They know how to fight…& the “vital” intelligence they get on the battlefield is not all American. It isn’t” www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05…
— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 2:36 PM
The Telegraph has the details:
The 1991 book Trumped by John O Donnell, one of Donald Trump’s casino bosses, tells us a lot about how the US President does business.
One of the standout observations is that Donald Trump never, ever, takes responsibility for any failures and never sticks around long enough for his deals to be exposed as the hollow shells they usually turn out to be. So we shouldn’t be surprised that Biden gets blamed for Trump’s Taliban deal or that Zelensky is blamed for not capitulating to Putin.
Ukraine, in the President’s eyes, was a mineral deal – nothing more and nothing less. It wasn’t about global politics, Western values or Nato security. Now he’s got that deal it is becoming clear he’s on the move.
It’s also clear to Putin. From day one of this US Presidency, Putin has known whose side Donald Trump is on.
The latest twist has been Trump bullying President Zelensky to meet Putin. Putin, like the coward he is, did not show. Result: Trump does nothing. Well not quite nothing – the US is blocking Zelensky from coming to the Nato summit in Holland next month.
It really wouldn’t have surprised me if Donald Trump had gone to the Moscow Victory day last week, which looked like something from “despots r us”.
What happens next is the key question. Europe and Ukraine need to start preparing to go it alone. Nobody should buy the line that without the US, the Ukrainians are finished. They are not. They know how to fight. They know how to innovate. And the “vital” intelligence they get on the battlefield is not all American. It isn’t.
So if we in Europe resolve to replace Uncle Sam we can: if we really want to and if we are prepared to make our own sacrifices.
We should also be realistic about what this new American administration means for our security. I have no doubt that at some stage the US President will recognise the 2014 borders imposed on Ukraine by the Russian invasion of that year.
More at the link.
Australia:
ABC News reports that Australia has begun supplying a batch of decommissioned Abrams tanks to Ukraine, despite dissatisfaction from some U.S. officials.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 4:46 AM
From the Australian Broadcasting Corporation:
American officials remain privately frustrated over Australia’s decision to donate retired Abrams tanks to Ukraine, even as the vehicles finally begin the long sea journey to the battleground.
During an overnight meeting in Rome, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after he confirmed the fleet of second-hand M1A1 vehicles was on the way.
The ABC has confirmed that the process of loading the first of the 49 vehicles onto a cargo ship began recently, but the government will not discuss their current location or expected arrival date in Europe for “security reasons”.
Before the shipping process could begin, Australia had to wait for Washington’s approval to export the US-made tanks to a third country, which was granted despite American officials remaining privately frustrated about the donation.
“Last year, even before Donald Trump returned as president, we warned the Australians that sending these Abrams tanks would be complicated, and once they finally get to the battlefield the Ukrainians will find them difficult to sustain,” one US official told the ABC, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Last month an Australian Defence official said there were some concerns that sending the large tanks to Ukraine was not the best way to provide military assistance to the war-torn country.
“We are starting to doubt if the Ukrainians actually want these vehicles. The tank roof is the weakest point of the Abrams and this is a drone war,” the official said.
Defence Minister Richard Marles on Monday declined to say whether US officials have expressed any concerns about the donation.
“We’ve been working very closely with Ukraine, very closely with the United States, to see this shipment occur and to see the tanks be on their way,” he told reporters in Melbourne.
“The first tranche has been on their way now for some time but I’m not going to go into the specific details of that.”
More at the link.
Back to Ukraine.
Tatarigami and his Frontelligence Insight Team have a new assessment out:
Through the Optics of War: An analysis of leaked confidential data from Russia’s military-industrial complex by Frontelligence Insight — from thermal scopes and laser anti-UAV programs to Chinese import schemes and production bottlenecks in the optoelectronic sector. 🧵Thread:
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
2/ Rostec is a state-owned conglomerate that includes much of Russia’s military-industrial complex. One of its key holdings, Shvabe, specializes in optical-electronic technologies for military and dual-use applications. The original files were obtained by the 256 Cyber-Assault Division
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
3/ In February 2024, Polyus Scientific Research Institute, part of Shvabe Holding, was tasked with advancing laser technologies to counter UAVs. This includes developing materials like active elements under a program focused on high-power lasers, running through 2033.
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
4/ Similarly, in 2022, JSC High-Precision Systems and JSC Research Institute “Polyus” were assigned to propose the development of a counter-UAV laser system, potentially integrated with the Pantsir-S1.
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
5/ In May 2024, company VOMZ, in collaboration with Shvabe, were tasked with assessing the integration of UAVs into tank fire control systems. The goal is to improve reconnaissance and target engagement at extended ranges (up to 15 km), including from concealed firing positions
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
6/ Concealed/Closed-position firing allows a tank to engage targets without direct line of sight, using its main gun similarly to artillery. This enables fire support at extended ranges while keeping the tank hidden from view and out of reach of conventional anti-tank weapons.
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
7/ Our team assumes that Russia will continue attempts to integrate various UAV systems in fire control systems across various platforms – not just tanks, in future modernization efforts aiming to increase both the range and accuracy.
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
8/ Military plant Krasnogorsky Zavod (KMZ) was participating in OPS-28M production: an electro-optical surveillance and targeting system used on Mi-28NM helicopters. However, an August 2024 report noted that the quality of the supplied OPS-28M units was unsatisfactory.
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
9/ JSC State Institute of Applied Optics was tasked with import substitution of the Catherine-XP-PCS thermal imaging camera in the T-90M fire control system. But how is Russia handling import substitution? Achieving this appears difficult — if not impossible — without China
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
10/ According to data from the 256th Cyber Assault Unit shared by @informnapalm.bsky.social
, the company “YUMAK” supplied CNC machines from Chinese firms Push Ningjiang Machine Tool Co and Tianjin No.1 Machine Tool Works to “Zenit-Investprom,” a part of Shvabe holding— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
11/ One internal company document, which included a detailed task list, also contained a roster of various firms within the holding, along with their assigned task. Among them, one name stood out: Shvabe Opto-Electronics, based in Shenzhen, China.
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
12/ According to Trademo export-import data, Shvabe in Shenzhen has consistently supplied components to the Ural Optical and Mechanical Plant and JSC Novosibirsk Instrument-Making Plant—both sanctioned by the West, including the US
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
13/ Last but not least is the issue of production expansion. As previously mentioned, the company from Shvabe Holding called “Zenit-Investprom” has acquired Chinese industrial equipment to support manufacturing efforts of Rostec.
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
14/ Further investigation into Zenit-Investprom revealed extensive correspondence with Zavod No. 9—which can be translated as “Factory No. 9” — a facility known for producing towed artillery pieces such as the D-30 howitzers, as well as tank guns, including the newer T-90 models
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
15/ Given that some requested equipment for expansion —like the laser heat-strengthening system—is designed for metalwork, and considering the factory produces barrels for tanks and artillery, Russia likely tries to expand its barrel production
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
16/ While the deadline for Zenit-Investprom’s part of the project was 2023/12/31, in April 2024 Zavod#9 sent a letter demanding proof of completed work. The letter stated that no documentation had been received and called for comprehensive action within three days
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
17/ Despite production delays, quality issues, and sanctions, Russia is making a certain progress in manufacturing and deploying updated technologies. The key shift since the pre-war period is integrating battlefield experience into mass production plans
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
18/ Barring severe economic collapse or major defeat, if Russia spends several years building and stockpiling equipment while leveraging Chinese industry and Western parts, its future military will be more modern and technologically advanced than during the 2022 invasion.
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
19/ The full investigation, containing extensive data, is available on our website. Please follow the link for more information and access to the files referenced in this report
frontelligence.substack.com/p/through-th…
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
20/ Thank you for reading. It takes considerable time and effort to sift through tens of thousands of records to find and interpret valuable data. We haven’t asked for support in a while, so we kindly invite you to consider financially supporting our work
buymeacoffee.com/frontelligence
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
The very first published footage of the STING anti-Shahed drone in action. Developed by @wildhornets.bsky.social
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 9:13 AM
4xSDB air strike on Russian hangars with trucks and BMP t.me/soniah_hub/1…
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Sumy:
Following a Russian strike in the Sumy region, nearly 21,000 households are without electricity, and 10,500 are without gas supply, according to the Regional Military Administration.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Kharkiv:
You know you’re a traumatized Kharkiv resident when all local news go “don’t worry, it’s just thunder.” A reassurance that reveals the city’s scars.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 10:21 AM
The Black Sea:
The SBU, using naval drones and FPVs launched from them, destroyed a Russian radar and warehouses on gas platforms in the Black Sea
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Vasylkiv, Kyiv Oblast:
Vasylkiv endured eight hours of true hell on the night of May 18.
As a result of the Shahed drone attack, an entire family was affected: a 27-year-old woman was killed, and her 4-year-old son, grandmother, and grandfather were injured.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 19, 2025 at 5:39 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
A new official Patron video:
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♬ Ladyfingers by Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass – Mieze Katz
Open thread!
Gin & Tonic
It’s mea culpa time. A month or so ago I made some comments here harshly critical of US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink, who’d made public comments in which it seemed she’d toed the Trump line. I also suggested it was vanishingly uncommon for career FSO/FSE’s to resign on matters of principle. As it turns out, I’d sorely mis-judged her. Ambassador Brink has not only stepped down, but in recent days has made a point of very publicly commenting on her many and strong disagreements with Trump/Rubio policy on Ukraine.
It has also not escaped my attention that the last two US Ambassadors to Ukraine, who have had their careers dead-ended by the MAGAts, are both women.
Jay
As always, thank you, Adam.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: You’re welcome.
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/wartranslated/status/1924490322479874421#m
funlady75
thanks Adam for this important info…
Baud
Thank you for your tireless perseverance in covering this invasion.
Jay
https://nitter.poast.org/olex_scherba/status/1924442096326295953#m
Adam L Silverman
@funlady75: @Baud: You’re welcome.
Also, I’m still fried.
Westyny
Thank you, Adam.
Adam L Silverman
@Westyny: You’re welcome.
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
I welcome Madame Zelenska’s dedication to accessibility. ♿ I wish that determination was present in Canada and other Western countries, where accessibility is still a huge struggle despite laws that are supposed to forbid it.
I have nothing to say about the diplomatic charade currently going on. I still don’t want a ceasefire because the Russian economy is continuing to fall apart. The sooner the better.
Thank you Adam. Hope you get some rest soon.
Aziz, light!
Thank you, Adam.
Trump doesn’t care about murdered Ukrainian children, but is heartsick about the fate of Putin’s meat cubes. Also, the whole messy business is holding up the construction of Trump Tower Moscow.
Every other country in the world should tell the United States to go fuck itself.
Ohio farmer
I have should have added 2 things…. I don’t always understand what the hell is actually going on in this battle….esp the way all the allies of Ukraine have dragged their feet at almost every opportunity…. And
when I want to sound smart about this war…. I just repeat as much of what you have written as I can remember
thanks again
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam