I am still fried, which has been exacerbated by assembling something for my mom this evening. So I’m just going to run through the basics tonight as quickly as I can.
All of eastern and most of north and central Ukraine is currently – 10:40 PM EDT/5:40 AM local time in Ukraine – under air raid alert for drone swarms.
Another day, another Russian war crime:
Russian occupiers are receiving orders to kill Ukrainian soldiers who are taken prisoner, according to CNN.
Radio intercepts of conversations between Russian troops indicate that they are being instructed to execute captured Ukrainian servicemen.
t.me/c/1377735387…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 22, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
It Is Clear to the World That It Is Russia’s Fault the War Is Still Ongoing – Address by the President
22 May 2025 – 19:35
I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!
A brief summary of today.
Preparations for a prisoner exchange. Intelligence and the Security Service of Ukraine reported on the lists provided by the Russians – specific details are being worked through. Further meetings will follow.
I held an extended meeting with our military officials: Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi, Chief of the General Staff Hnatov, all intelligence agencies, and the Ministry of Defense. We discussed the situation on our frontline, our prospects, and the activities we are preparing. We also discussed the military foundation for diplomacy – the next technical meeting. We are working to ensure it takes place as soon as possible. Ukraine’s interest is not to prolong the war, but to be prepared for any development. It is clear to the world that it is Russia’s fault the war is still ongoing. Ukraine is ready to take the fastest possible steps – for a real ceasefire and the establishment of a new security architecture. We are doing all the necessary groundwork on our side. What’s needed is a reciprocal readiness from Russia – and it’s not there now. Without global pressure, that won’t change. We are doing our part to maintain that pressure, primarily through our defense and active operations. I want to thank all our warriors for their resilience and real results. Thank you for the long-range capabilities too, guys. Today, I held a meeting with our government officials: the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Deputy Prime Ministers, and the Office team. We discussed the most important economic steps – those that can bring greater long-term stability for our people. Jobs, technological development, and guaranteed social opportunities for our people – these are the three key priorities.
And today, I continued talks with our European partners – support for the negotiation process, support for a ceasefire, support for all our joint formats of work in Europe. Today, I invited Greece, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, and Moldova to take part in the next Ukraine – Southeast Europe Summit. I thank everyone for being ready to make this format of ours even more substantive. Several more talks with our partners are ahead. I want to thank everyone who stands with us, who stands with Ukraine, and who is preparing new defense support packages.
Glory to Ukraine!
Georgia:
Day 176 – Stubbornly persisting! ✊🏻
I do feel like things are slowly but surely going down a culminating spiral. Especially today, with @Zuraja’s arrest. He has always been popular among young people and his popularity is now on a major rise.
#GeorgiaProtests
📷 George Burjanadze
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 22, 2025 at 4:06 PM
The court yard is shut off preventing protesters to enter the territory, and the surroundings are filled with the criminal police, etc.
Zurab’s case will likely set the precedent for the upcoming trials of other opposition leaders.
#terrorinGeorgia 2/2.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 22, 2025 at 6:43 AM
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 22, 2025 at 9:13 AM
🚨 Heavy police presence at Tbilisi City Court as opposition leader Zurab Japaridze faces possible detention for refusing to appear before so-called ‘Tsulukiani’s investigative commission’.
Courtroom packed, citizens removed by police.
#Georgia #GeorgiaProtests— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) May 22, 2025 at 8:13 AM
#Tbilisi City Court now:
Refusing to appear before a parliamentary commission in #Georgia is punishable by fine or up to 1 year in prison.
Ex-Defense Minister Okruashvili was jailed on May 14 for the same.
#GeorgiaProtests— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) May 22, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Zurab Jafaridze, leader of “Girchi-More Freedom”, was arrested in the courtroom for failing to pay bail after skipping a session of the GD-led parliamentary commission. The commission, chaired by Tea Tsulukiani, is tasked with “investigating the crimes of UNM.”
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) May 22, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Back to Ukraine.
Russia already attempted this last year when it launched a limited incursion into Kharkiv Oblast. The effort has since stalled.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) May 22, 2025 at 11:55 AM
🇺🇦🎯 A sniper from Ukraine’s E40 group disabled a Russian MT-LB armored vehicle from a distance of 1.7 km using a Barrett M82A1 rifle.
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) May 20, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Ukrainian monitors warning of high chance of large Russian missile attack on Ukraine, with fascist Russia mustering its fleet of Tu-95 strategic bombers. Meanwhile, Russian airports are in chaos, with delays and cancellations as 485 🇺🇦 drones swoop into Russia over two days.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) May 22, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Ukraine’s new drone strategy — cripple Moscow’s airports, make Russian population ‘pay’ #Ukraine
— AmplifyUkraine 🔱🇺🇦 (@amplifyukraine.eu) May 22, 2025 at 1:50 PM
From The Kyiv Independent:
Hundreds of Ukrainian kamikaze drones have flown towards Moscow in recent weeks.
None appear to have even reached the Russian capital, yet the effect on the city — and the wider country — has been hugely significant.
Ukrainian drones have forced at least 217 temporary airport closures across Russia since Jan. 1, independent Russian outlet Novaya Gazeta Europe reported on May 14, citing data from Russia’s state aviation agency Rosaviatsia.
The figure already surpasses the combined total for all of 2023 and 2024, underscoring Kyiv’s growing ability to put pressure on Russia, even in areas far from the border with Ukraine.
According to Serhii Bratchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Defense Army’s Southern Division, the surge in disruptions reflects a strategic shift in Ukraine’s drone campaign.
“Moscow is the biggest aviation hub in the Russian Federation — flights go everywhere, not only across Russia, but worldwide,” he told the Kyiv Independent.
“This is about the potential disintegration of Russian regions and the weakening of internal control.”
Three nights of Ukrainian drone raids before Russia’s Victory Day on May 9 forced Rosaviatsia to order temporary flight restrictions that disrupted travel plans for at least 60,000 passengers, according to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia.
Just shy of two weeks of calm have been followed by another wave. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that 485 Ukrainian drones had been downed over the past three days, from May 20 to May 22, including 63 over Moscow Oblast.
“The priority direction is clear — Moscow and the surrounding regions,” Bratchuk said.
Bratchuk highlights that due to Russia’s vast geography, air travel is essential for maintaining connectivity, and disruptions in aviation could increase the risk of regional disintegration and public unrest.
“These disruptions are not accidental. They are part of a pressure campaign against logistics, air defense systems, and public morale,” he said.
“The Russian population has to pay for this war. Sleeping in tents at the airport is not the highest price, but it does affect morale.”
Bratchuk also claims there is an economic cost to Russia in having to constantly close its airports.
“Aviation is not a cheap industry, and losses are incurred by airports, by airlines — but it also has a psychological effect on passengers and cargo clients,” he said.
While the economic fallout may be limited for now, Ukraine’s drone campaign is also intended to serve a military purpose beyond financial disruption, Bratchuk said, saying the tactic also forces Russian air defense systems into a constant state of alert.
“Even the smallest aerial target must trigger a full air defense response,” Bratchuk said. “That’s how the system works — for us, for Russia, and for any country.”
Russia’s layered defense network is already under visible strain from Ukraine’s now years-long campaign targeting Russian oil production in an attempt to deprive the Kremlin of money to fund its full-scale invasion, as well as military targets like ammunition dumps.
Targeting Moscow and the surrounding oblast with increasing numbers of drones could spread Russia’s air defenses even thinner.
With Russia’s air defense units forced to react to every aerial threat, Kyiv appears to be testing the limits of the Kremlin’s ability to protect its own territory — a tactic that could lay the groundwork for future strikes with greater precision and deeper penetration.
“Maybe this is one element that would enable our combat drones to strike more effectively at military targets,” Bratchuk said. “As for military targets, strikes will continue to hit military-industrial sites in Russia.
That’s the only strategy. But the priorities now are somewhat different,” Bratchuk concluded.
More at the link.
Russian media report that hundreds of Russians are once again stranded in Moscow airports due to UAV attacks. At Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo, and Domodedovo, dozens of departing flights have been delayed.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 22, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Someone has been reading Sir Rupert and, as a result, has adopted war among the people as a theater strategy for the drone war.
The reason(s):
🚁🇺🇦 Kateryna is the only female combat pilot in the AFU who flies missions on an Mi-8 helicopter, according to a New York Times article.
At the age of 16, she entered the Kharkiv Air Force University, the only woman among 45 men.— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) May 22, 2025 at 12:50 PM
When she was 10 years old and growing up at the air force base where her father was an officer, she was taken for a ride in a Mi-8 helicopter, which inspired her to become a pilot.
Kateryna joined the 18th Army Aviation Brigade in 2023 and has already completed more than 30 combat missions.— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) May 22, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Foreign volunteers in the Ukrainian Armed Forces speak about their motivation to fight on Ukraine’s side.
t.me/c/1377735387…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 22, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Switchblade 600 strikes on Russian TOR, BUK and S-300 air defence systems
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) May 22, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Kostiantynivka:
A Russian glide bomb crashed into a house in Kostiantynivka but failed to detonate 🤯
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 22, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Velykyi Burluk, Kharkiv Oblast:
Russia attacked Velykyi Burluk last night, destroying administrative building.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 22, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Zaporizhzhia:
Russian forces plan to connect the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to their grid soon, says ex-Mariupol mayoral advisor Andriushchenko. They’ve built a distribution hub and compressor station near occupied Mariupol and Berdyansk, with full-scale operation expected in the coming months.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 22, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Lipetsk Oblast, Russia:
In Russia’s Lipetsk Oblast, a drone strike hit a factory in Yelets responsible for producing batteries for UAVs 🔥👀
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 22, 2025 at 7:32 PM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material.
DOG OF WAR:
Today’s dog of war is this little dog who patiently waited while his owner did the shopping. He approved Zoriana’s grocery haul with a bark as she exited the store.
— Tim Mak (@timkmak.bsky.social) May 22, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Open thread!
Westyny
Thank you, Adam.
Adam L Silverman
@Westyny: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
I’m going to rack out before I have an unplanned hard reset.
Everyone is most welcome.
dimmsdale
Many thanks, Adam.
Gloria DryGarden
Thank you! Many posts migrated from blue sky now say post not found, may have been deleted. The war crimes one, some Georgia posts… puzzling that people felt they had to take down their posts.
Adam L Silverman
@Gloria DryGarden: Weird. They’re still showing on Bluesky proper.
Adam L Silverman
@dimmsdale: You’re welcome.
Chetan Murthy
@Adam L Silverman: @Gloria DryGarden: Perhaps there’s something wrong with bsky right now, that’s related to where users are coming from. I don’t know what the network topology of the central bsky service nodes is, so can’t say. But:
(1) I can refresh this post and see the bsky posts
(2) if I click on one of them, after waiting a while I get “Oops! unable to connect. Please check your internet connection and try again” (in a Buesky page, not from my browser)
(3) the same thing happens with bsky posts linked-to from this LG&M page: https://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2025/05/overruling-90-years-of-precedent-except-for-the-fed-in-an-unreasoned-four-paragraph-opinion-for-daddy-trump
If you, Adam, can click on those bsky posts and see them, then that would seem to substantiate that it’s related to the path individual users take to the bsky service.
Adam L Silverman
@Chetan Murthy: I can see them.
Adam L Silverman
And now I am really going to bed.
wjca
If you stop this post of Adam’s from loading while you still see the text (but not the pictures), then click on the date (to open in another tab) you can get to the bsky posts and see them.
Gloria DryGarden
@Chetan Murthy: nope. Some links are showing normally. And 15 are a white box, blue sky logo in corner, text in center says
Post not found, it may have been deleted.
weird. Using same iPad as usual. Each box has no other info, and only links to whatever blue sky page I was last looking at. Most strange.
But I thank you for the tips.
glc
@Gloria DryGarden: Some kind of outage, widespread, but there are various local caches so people get different results.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Jay
As always, thank you Adam.
Gloria DryGarden
4 am est. now it’s working, the bsky links. I hope everyone is sleeping well.