A quick housekeeping note: While my schedule has lightened up considerably, I’m still fried and probably not going to be much recovered until I get to rest up over the holiday weekend. So I’m just going to run through the basics again tonight.
Well this happened:
Politico — The U.S. is opposed to including “further support” for Ukraine in a G7 statement that is being hashed out by finance ministers in Canada.
Washington is also reluctant to describe Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine as “illegal” in the text www.politico.eu/newsletter/b…
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Politico has the details:
U.S. OBJECTS TO SUPPORTING UKRAINE IN G7 STATEMENT: The U.S. is opposed to including “further support” for Ukraine in a G7 statement that is being hashed out by finance ministers in Canada. Washington is also reluctant to describe Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine as “illegal” in the text, two officials involved in the negotiations told our colleague Gregorio Sorgi, who has the story fo
Liberal arts: But the idea of Trump running out of patience would be in keeping with his recent change of heart on Ukraine, for example, in which his literary model seems to have switched from “The Art of the Deal” to “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*k.”
I’m shocked. Not only did the U.S. oppose including ‘further support’ in the G7 statement on Ukraine, but it won’t label Russia’s invasion as ‘illegal.’ What kind of insane whitewashing is this?
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 8:33 AM
😐
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
Russian Assault Operations Continue, and Our Forces Maintain All Necessary Combat Activity – Address by the President
21 May 2025 – 21:37
Dear Ukrainians!
Just now, there was an in-depth briefing by Ukraine’s Minister of Defense Umerov and the military commanders regarding the front line and our defense relations with partners. Russian assault operations continue, and our forces maintain all necessary combat activity. The most intense situation remains in the Donetsk region, particularly in the Pokrovsk direction. We are also continuing active operations in the Kursk and Belgorod regions – this is our active and effective defense of the Sumy region, the defense of the Kharkiv region. Since the start of the Kursk operation in August, the Russian army has suffered significant losses – more than 63,000 killed and wounded in that area alone. Our forces have also managed to substantially replenish the exchange fund for Ukraine. The more combat activity is carried out on enemy territory, the more it protects our communities.
Unfortunately, the Russians show no signals of a ceasefire, and they are not yet ready to end the war. Therefore, all our forms of pressure, all our work with partners to put pressure on Russia, are absolutely necessary. Pressure convinces. Pressure on the battlefield. Pressure on the economy – and that is exactly what sanctions are for. Pressure in politics. I want to thank everyone who supports Ukraine.
I want to recognize our warriors now who have distinguished themselves in recent weeks. This is our 14th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine – thank you! Also, the 36th Marine Brigade, also, the 25th Assault Battalion, and the 1st Assault Regiment – thank you all. This is the defense focused specifically on the Pokrovsk direction. I am also grateful for the operations in the Kursk region. I want to thank every soldier of ours, every sergeant and officer, and all our units.
Ukraine’s Defense Minister reported on the details of cooperation with partners regarding new arms supplies. We are also actively working to attract investment into domestic production here in Ukraine. Production will only continue to grow, and this is our long-term security guarantee. I held several international calls today. President of the European Council Costa – I informed him about the talks with the United States and the corresponding agreements with other European partners. We are also thoroughly preparing the negotiation process regarding Ukraine’s accession. On our side, everything is in place specifically for opening the first clusters. I also discussed this with Prime Minister of Poland Tusk – Poland currently holds the EU Presidency, and it is important that this presidency delivers results. I also spoke with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, including about possible formats of meetings and joint work. Together, we are strengthening diplomacy.
And one more critical issue: we are preparing an exchange. Reports come in practically every day. We must free all of our people, absolutely. We are verifying information for every name. We are trying to do everything possible. And we are trying hard.
Glory to Ukraine!
First Lady Zelenska visited a facility that provides supported living services to people with disabilities.
Georgia:
#GeorgiaProtests
Day 175— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Day 175. As Rubio signaled a strong stance against the Georgian Dream regime in response to Joe Wilson’s question at the House, American flags are out prominently again at today’s #GeorgiaProtests. It’s always the case when there are good news from 🇺🇸.
📷 Giorgi Mumladze
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 1:07 PM
May 21 is the Circassian Genocide Remembrance Day.
Proud that Georgia was the first country to call it what it was, and I’m glad that Ukraine has followed recently.
It’s one of the worst fates any nation has ever had. I am so very sorry…
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 3:57 PM
🔴 Georgian Dream-Style FARA with No Limits – What We Know
On May 21, the head of Georgia’s Anti-Corruption Bureau revealed just how broadly the new “foreign agents law” could be applied. Even award money could land someone on the list. (1/2)
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) May 21, 2025 at 10:21 AM
🗣️“A journalist funded by foreign money – regardless of the donor – who engages in political activity must register in FARA,” said Razhden Kuprashvili, head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
🔴Even awards / travel funding count, and hosting a political talk show qualifies as political activity. (2/2)— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) May 21, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Have a look! Apparently, in the ever-expanding definition of a foreign agent, this new wave of crackdown now includes the Georgian Dream requiring Georgians that work at foreign embassies to register themselves as foreign agents…
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 1:43 PM
As you know, the GD regime rolled out a new version of the #RussianLaw on foreign agents, calling it FARA and claiming it’s a direct copy of the American FARA. Well, you decide. 2/
— Anna Gvarishvili (@annagvarish.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Over the past two days, Razhden Kuprashvili, head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau tasked with overseeing the defamatory registry, has been meeting with various social groups. 3/
— Anna Gvarishvili (@annagvarish.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:20 PM
As I wrote earlier today, yesterday he met with embassy representatives and demanded that all their employees register as principals of foreign influence. This is unprecedented. 4/
— Anna Gvarishvili (@annagvarish.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Today, Kuprashvili met with media outlets and civil society organizations. Those present at the meeting report the same thing: the regime refuses to clarify the law, keeping its terms as vague as possible. 5/
— Anna Gvarishvili (@annagvarish.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Key takeaway from these meetings: Kuprashvili stated that the law CAN be applied to ANYONE engaged in ANY form of public discussion. Political and public engagement is defined as broadly as possible. 6/
— Anna Gvarishvili (@annagvarish.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:20 PM
For example, if an IT professional or accountant works remotely and receives money from abroad, the law will apply to them, and they’ll be forced to register as an agent IF they post anything political. Literally anything. 7/
— Anna Gvarishvili (@annagvarish.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:20 PM
The ACB won’t bother to check whether the foreign funds are tied to political activity or completely unrelated to it. If you receive a dime from abroad & have an opinion on anything beyond art (even that’s debatable), you’re required to label your public activities as those of an “agent.” 8/
— Anna Gvarishvili (@annagvarish.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Think that’s all? You haven’t been paying attention. Kuprashvili also claimed they’ll use various methods to force individuals to register in the registry and will launch criminal cases against those who don’t, with penalties of up to 5 years in prison. 9/
— Anna Gvarishvili (@annagvarish.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:20 PM
The Bureau will also monitor bank accounts and deploy spies to track anyone who refuses to register. Registering isn’t just a moral betrayal, it comes with dire consequences. 10/
— Anna Gvarishvili (@annagvarish.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:20 PM
The Bureau will have the right to enter your home or office at any time, demand access to your private digital communications, and the state will gain full access to your personal life, including your sexual history. 11/
— Anna Gvarishvili (@annagvarish.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:20 PM
The ECHR must issue an interim measure to halt this law until Georgian society defeats the regime through #GeorgiaProtests. This isn’t just about media and CSOs anymore. This law can target ANYONE.
Please, help me spread the word. 12/END
— Anna Gvarishvili (@annagvarish.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:20 PM
🚨 2/ US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on GD:
“The goal of the US are for international interests… Is it in our national interest to have an anti-American gov’t governing an important part of the world? If not, we’ll take appropriate actions to impose costs on that gov’t.”
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:06 PM
2/ Rubio responded to Congressman Joe Wilson’s question about the GD’s anti-Western, anti-American government. His full quote:
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:06 PM
3/ “The goal of the US are for international interests, so we will look at that and say, is it in our national interest to have an anti-American government governing an important part of the world? And if not, we’ll take appropriate actions to impose costs on that government”
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:06 PM
4/ “That’s currently under review, and we’re looking for options and additional options. I have no announcement of a specific thing — what we plan to do yet — but I can tell you that that is something that’s being discussed”.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:06 PM
“5/ And again, a great example of why we’re going to look to our regional bureaus and our local office on the ground there to provide its guidance as to what are the measures that the government — the anti-American government — would be most responsive to”.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:06 PM
💢 On May 21, Georgian Dream-appointed PM Irakli Kobakhidze said he hadn’t received a response to his open letter to Donald Trump, calling the silence itself “a significant answer.”
Hours later, US State Secretary Marco Rubio made his first public remarks on #Georgia, responding to Rep. Joe Wilson.⤵️
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) May 21, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Joe Wilson is today what Senator John McCain was for Georgia in the 2000s, and for that, we are forever grateful! 2/2.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Please keep an eye on the upcoming possible arrest of opposition leader Zurab Girchi Japaridze tomorrow, which might also be followed by some other leaders.
Post by his party member Tinatin Bolokadze.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Spain:
❗️Andriy Portnov, ex-aide to ousted Ukrainian President Yanukovych , was shot dead in Madrid.
Portnov fled Ukraine after the 2014 revolution and later resurfaced in Europe. He was considered as a traitor for his role in backing Moscow-aligned politics and supporting Russian narratives.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 6:03 AM
/2. After Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, authorities launched multiple investigations against him, including charges of treason. www.reuters.com/world/europe…
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 6:03 AM
/3. The first footage from the scene of Portnov’s murder.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 6:07 AM
The US:
Rubio is unable to call Putin a war criminal after bombed hospitals, churches, playgrounds, destroyed cities, uncovered mass graves and torture chambers, the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for mass abduction of children, the Kakhovka dam destruction, and God knows what else.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:11 PM
This perfectly illustrates where we are. You need to talk and trade with Putin, looking at the war crimes but choosing not to see—just like after Crimea and Donbas, just like after Georgia and Syria. Always, as long as it’s others who pay the price of ignorance.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:11 PM
We are where we always were: letting us rot for you to live unbothered.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Back to Ukraine.
Ukraine launches two big waves of drones against fascist Russia tonight, plus a smaller wave towards Ukraine’s Russian-occupied Crimea. Moscow airports suffered disruption earlier due to drone activity. Map created by t.me/dronbomber using Russian sources.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Night hunt for Shaheds.
The video from the cockpit of a MiG-29 fighter shows the destruction of an enemy Shahed-type attack drone by a pilot with the call sign “Yellowtail.”
He has over a hundred combat sorties to his name.— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi, Kharkiv Oblast:
One man died in the russian attack on Kupiansk- Vuzlovyi in the Kharkiv region, and two women were injured.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Kharkiv:
Russian drones are approaching Kharkiv right now ‼️ air raid alert in the city⚠️
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Explosion in Kharkiv ‼️ the city is under the russian drone attack right now!
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Donetsk Oblast (I think):
A Russian infantryman was mid-poop when a Birds of Magyar FPV drone ruined his moment.c
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast:
Russians spread false claims that their troops had reached Dnipropetrovsk’s border, which Ukraine denied. DeepState identified one Russian from a widely shared photo – all have since been eliminated.
One might say: to see Dnipropetrovsk and die.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Moscow:
Lavrov dismissed calls for a ceasefire with Ukraine.
He claimed the West “tricked” Russia in 2014 with a “coup” in Kyiv, during the Minsk agreements, and again in 2022 by allegedly preventing Ukraine from signing a peace deal, casting Russia as the perpetual victim in its narrative.— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 10:14 AM
“The USSR ‘still exists,’ and the war in Ukraine is an ‘internal process,’ stated Putin’s advisor Kobyakov. According to him, the legal procedure for the dissolution of the Soviet Union ‘was violated.'”
He fails to grasp that Russia itself acknowledged Ukraine’s internationally
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:22 PM
recognized borders, pledged to uphold and protect them, and then flagrantly violated both international law and its own commitments by launching an invasion.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Oryol Oblast, Russia:
Ukrainian drones targeted Russian territory last night.
The strike hit a key microelectronics plant in the Oryol region, whose products are used in communication systems, command and control, electronic warfare, and simulators for tanks and missile systems.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 21, 2025 at 8:07 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
Here’s a new(ish) – as in I haven’t posted it here before – from Patron’s official YouTube channel for his official cartoon.
Open thread!
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Jay
DJTdiot lifting sanctions and opening trade with ruZZia should be a hoot.
Companies and persons who trade with ruZZia are subject to multiple sanctions from the ROW.
Many Corporations and CEO’s know that, DJTdiot apparently does not.
funlady75
thanks Adam…..rest this weekend.
Westyny
Thank you, Adam. Get some rest.
db11
Thanks Adam. Rarely comment but have missed less than a handful of these updates since you first started writing them three years ago.
Appreciate the depth and consistency of your commitment to chronicling the events and dynamics of this terrible war.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
MountainBoy
Still following your posts every night Adam.
Thank you for your efforts to keep us (some of us, but not enough of us) aware of what is actually happening in Ukraine, sad as it is.
I truly hope you may take some time off over the coming days for recovery.
All the best!
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
Thank you Adam.
tokyocali (formerly tokyo ex-pat)
Thank you, Adam. I really appreciate these posts.