(Image by NEIVANMADE)
Last night Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom asked:
According to Anders Puck Nielsen the whole of the War In Ukraine is devoted to the almost ” mystical ” idea of Russia as a Great Power. I can’t remember correctly, but I think you said something like that. You have on multiple occasions, said that, the Murder Goblin is NOT insane, that he has constructed a reality within which all his actions make perfect sense. I hope I have that right. I would really like to know your thoughts on this.
Yes, I have written about this here before. Russian history, as taught within Russia is heavily mythologized. But that’s nothing new. Catherine the Great commissioned a history of Russian that was basically an attempt to present a duchy with delusions of grandeur as a prosperous and powerful empire. Putin has added to this body of work himself. At some point between 2010 and 2022 he seems to have stopped being able to discriminate between the actual history of Russia and the heavily mythologized version. As a result he became high on his own supply. Putin’s decisions make sense within this heavily mythologized and historically inaccurate context. It is a type of the bounded rationality that Max Weber wrote about a hundred years or so ago.
Yesterday, Trump wrote:
👀
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 23, 2025 at 6:20 AM
The something big was not a truce, ceasefire, armistice or anything else because Putin doesn’t want any of those, unless he can use them to his advantage on the battlefield. Rather, it led to more Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian civilian targets.
Air raid alerts are up for all of north central, northeast, and eastern Ukraine at 10:40 PM EDT/5:40 AM local time in Ukraine. Two hours ago it was even worse:
Our weekend goes like this:
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 8:12 PM
More on this after the jump.
The second part of the thousand for a thousand POW swap did occur today. 307 more Ukrainian POWs were returned home.
307 more Ukrainian defenders are back home. This is the second day of the “1000 for 1000” exchange operation❤️🩹🇺🇦
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 7:29 AM
🇺🇦 307 Ukrainian defenders have returned home. Today is the second day of the 1,000-for-1,000 exchange. Over these two days, 697 Ukrainians, military and civilians, have already been returned.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 6:58 AM
This was the whole point of the Russians choosing the eye-catching “1,000 for 1,000” narrative.
In truth, the Russians are short of troops, and need these ones back so they can throw them back in the meatgrinder.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
Next Week Must Be a Time for Action Aimed at Increasing Pressure on Russia – In Other Words, Aimed at Securing Peace – Address by the President
24 May 2025 – 19:59
Dear Ukrainians!
The main update: we continued the exchange today. Another 307 of our warriors have been returned home – privates and sergeants. Most of them are from the Armed Forces of Ukraine. There are also members of the National Guard and the State Border Guard Service. Of all these people, 273 were taken captive in the Donetsk region, many as far back as 2022; others were captured in the territories of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Luhansk regions. In total, over these two days of exchanges, 697 Ukrainians have returned home.
Tomorrow is the third stage. We are to free a thousand of our people these days. But the task is to bring home absolutely everyone who is currently held in Russia. And this is a joint task for our intelligence services, for our diplomats, for our entire state. Clearly, it’s not an easy task, but it must be accomplished.
I’m grateful to everyone around the world who is helping us. And it’s truly very important for us that our partners – every leader, every state – support us in this difficult work. We don’t stop for even a single day. And of course, I want to thank today all our frontline units, and also our law enforcement officers – everyone who is replenishing Ukraine’s exchange fund. Our active operations always aim, among other things, to enable the exchange of our people held captive.
Also, today, we have reason to acknowledge the work of our air defense units. There was a truly large-scale and vile Russian attack. Ballistic missiles – some were successfully intercepted. There were also 250 drones: mostly Shaheds.
Every night, our forces work to protect lives. And I want to thank everyone helping Ukraine with air defense and delivering air defense systems to us. This truly means real protection for people – here and now.
Throughout the day, emergency efforts continued in Kyiv following the Russian strike. Unfortunately, people were injured, residential buildings and a shopping mall were damaged. Russia fills each day with horror and murder; it’s simply dragging out the war. Yesterday, there was a brutal attack on the Odesa region. Strikes continue every day in the Sumy, Kharkiv, and other regions of ours. All of this demands a response – a strong response from the United States, from Europe, and from everyone in the world who wants this war to end.
Putin has refused to cease fire repeatedly. It gains him nothing, except taking lives every single day. Every day gives new grounds for sanctions against Russia. Every day proves that without pressure on Russia, the war will continue.
Ukraine is ready for any form of diplomacy that delivers real results. We are ready for all steps that can guarantee true security. It is Russia that is not ready for anything. Next week must be a time for action aimed at increasing pressure on Russia – in other words, aimed at securing peace. I thank everyone around the world who stands with us, with Ukraine, with the Ukrainian people.
Glory to Ukraine!
Georgia:
Today, Police had already closed off Rustaveli Avenue near Parliament to prepare for Georgia’s Independence Day on May 26.
So today, protesters blocked another section of the avenue. Police are mobilized.
Day 178 of daily protests in Georgia.
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
JUST IN: One of the leaders of party Lelo, Grigol Gegelia, my friend and colleague, has just been attacked by regime thugs as he exited a shop near his parents’ place. From what I know, they hit him four times in his head and his health needs monitoring. 1/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 7:43 AM
We’d appreciate statements of support for Grigol Gegelia as well as calls for targeted sanctions, regime non-cooperation, and new, free and fair Parliamentary elections.
Grigol is one of the most easy-going, fun and gentle people I know in the Georgian democratic forces.
#terrorinGeorgia 2/2.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 7:43 AM
The character of the struggle in Georgia is likely unique, at least for modern Eastern Europe. Political prisoner Ucha Abashidze just called it a guerrilla social resistance in his latest letter. 1/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 8:25 AM
The regime is hesitant to kill people, unlike in Ukraine in 2014 – they’ve learned their lessons, and Georgia is too small, everyone knows everyone.
Lack of political centralization and “the plan” protracts the process to near-exasperation, but, speaking from the regime’s perspective: 2/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 8:25 AM
1. Nothing they’ve done – and they’ve done more than a lot – stops the continuity of the protest, or the slow but widening social penetration of the protest sentiment;
2. Their consolidation is a condensed crystallization, not an expansion, which would be essential for a successful dictatorship. 3/— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 8:25 AM
And that’s the opportunity created in large part thanks to international sanctions. We need more of those!
3. The regime does not know whom to strike or when and where the next blow comes from. 4/4.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 8:25 AM
The US:
I think that the assessment is accurate. Trump’s isolationism and refusal to provide additional aid or even sell weapons, while offering concessions to Putin have reinforced Putin’s belief that he’s on the right path. Rather than hastening the war’s end, Trump prolonged it.
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Ladies and gentlemen, let me present to you the new U.S. Department of Defense Press Secretary
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Kingsley Wilson became the new DoD Press Secretary USA. She was known for her sharp negative rhetoric against Ukraine, calling Zelenskyy an “entitled midget” and praising Putin.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Back to Ukraine.
Russian planes are in the air, on their way to bomb Ukraine again ‼️
Yet another sleepless night of uncertainty and dread.
This could have been stopped years ago if only Ukraine had been properly armed.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Even as fascist Russia threatens a massive combined missile and drone attack on democratic Ukraine, Ukraine is launching a huge drone attack on Russia. The war will continue to rise in intensity until the West gives Ukraine the support needed to defeat fascist Russia.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Reports of launches of Russian/Iranian Shahed flying bomb drones – not unusual, as fascist Russia attacks democratic Ukraine practically every night. More worryingly, there’s activity on Russian strategic bomber voice coms, say Ukrainian monitors. Big strike may be coming.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 2:46 PM
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Interception of the Shahed kamikaze drone by the Ukrainian Mi-8
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Russian forces are trying to entrench around Veselivka–Zhuravka–Novenke–Basivka, actively using infantry and quad bikes.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Kyiv:
Brutal night for Kyiv and all of Ukraine.
Russia launched massive combined attack on civilians: ballistic missiles, Shaheds, explosions, fires. The sky was burning. Thousands spent the night in bomb shelters, asking each other in the morning: Did we all survive?
1/2— Maria Avdeeva (@mariainkharkiv.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Reading about it is one thing. Hearing the blasts outside your window is something else entirely.
We’ll get through this. Russian terror won’t break us.
But to the rest of the world — are you ready for what Russia brings if it’s not stopped here?— Maria Avdeeva (@mariainkharkiv.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 4:22 AM
The moment one of the Russian drones struck Kyiv tonight 🤬 fuck russia!
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 8:44 PM
A part of a russian Iskander-M missile is just lying around in Kyiv after tonight’s russian attack on the city 🤯
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Russia’s attack on Kyiv last night was just one part of a broader wave of attacks. Other regions also came under fire—including Kharkiv, where Russia continues its daily campaign of destruction, killing civilians and leveling homes without pause.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Kharkiv:
Russian drones in Kharkiv skies right now ‼️ there were a few explosions too
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 6:43 PM
More explosions in Kharkiv ‼️ the city is under the russian drone attack right now
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Sky News: Russia has moved up to 50,000 troops near Kharkiv, including elite VDV. A possible offensive may target Kharkiv, Sumy, or 2022-liberated areas. Analysts say Moscow has a 4-month window before weather worsens and old Soviet gear runs out.
news.sky.com/story/kharki…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Mykolaiv:
Russia struck an apartment building in Mykolaiv destroying two floors
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Pisky, Donetsk Oblast:
A Russian bukhanka suddenly turned into a flaming BBQ grill after meeting a Ukrainian drone near occupied Pisky, Donetsk region.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Donetsk Oblast
Ukrainian FPV drone struck a Russian BMP-2 with infantry in Donetsk Oblast, causing ammo detonation. The vehicle was destroyed, and the crew eliminated.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 6:14 AM
(I think):
Ukrainian drone operators from Madyar’s Birds destroyed a Russian BMP-2 equipped with loose wire to counter drones. It seems the engineering innovation failed to protect the vehicle.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Yelets, Lipetsky Oblast, Russia:
While in Kyiv fascist Russia seems only able to hit apartment blocks, democratic Ukraine’s drones are making precise strikes on military-related plants deep inside Russia: this image shows at least three impacts on Russia’s top war-tech battery plant Energia, in Yelets.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Moscow:
Russian Duma deputy Borodai admitted Russia brutally kills Ukrainians for rejecting the “Russian vision of the future” and “Russian world,” not for alleged “Nazism” or “Donbas defense,” per reports.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Tula Oblast, Russia:
Ukrainian drones hit NAK Azot chemical plant in Tula Oblast, 350 km from Ukraine, producing ammonium nitrate, nitric acid, methanol. PJSC Energia also struck again today, per reports.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) May 24, 2025 at 3:43 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
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Open thread!
Adam L Silverman
I was nodding off as I drafted the update, so I’m going to rack out.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Adam L Silverman
@AlaskaReader: You’re most welcome.
Gin & Tonic
Friends in Kyiv say tonight is as bad as last night, maybe worse.
Adam L Silverman
@Gin & Tonic: Ugh.
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
Thank you for answering my question, Adam. Now get some sleep!😴
Gloria DryGarden
Nodding off, your autocorrect may have hijacked your spelling, and I’m confused,
its, possessive
it’s Contraction, it is.
which did you mean? Or have you made a double entendre?
but don’t wake up for this. Sleep in whatever kind of peace you can have.
Westyny
Thank you. Adam.
Jay
as always thank you Adam