(Image by NEIVANMADE)
I’m absolutely fried, so I’m just going to run through the basics tonight.
World history is largely a long list of military solutions.
Politicians who say there is “no military solution” to an active conflict are in most cases trying to excuse their inaction.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 5:19 AM
War is politics with other means.
The FIS of Ukraine has reported that Russia is preparing a large-scale information campaign amid ongoing prisoner exchanges.
Putin personally initiated the campaign and is being coordinated by propagandists who will spread manipulative content. The peak of the campaign is expected around June 20.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Air raid alerts for Russian drone swarms and missiles went up over all of Ukraine sometime between 3:00 and 3:30 AM local time in Ukraine/8:00 and 8:30 PM EDT. The air raid alert maps indicate MiG 31Ks, those are the ones that carry the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, are up over western Russia and the western Black Sea.
Russian missiles are already in Ukraine’s skies. Air raid alert across the entire country.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 8:12 PM
❗️Right now, Kyiv is under massive russian drone attack!
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Kyiv right now ‼️ Ukraine is under russian drone attack.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 6:00 PM
The cost:
The girl danced her prom waltz clutching her fallen father’s uniform. 💔
My people don’t deserve to endure all these horrors.
Inaction is complicity.
— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 4:46 PM
This is what three years in russian captivity does to a Ukrainian soldier.
Not a prison — a concentration camp by another name. A machine of humiliation, starvation, and cruelty. Russia didn’t invent this, it inherited it.
This is Gulag 2.0.— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 6:24 AM
There is no daily address from President Zelenskyy today because he and First Lady Zelenska traveled to Vienna today.
He did a joint press conference with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen:
First Lady Zelenska met with Austrian First Lady Doris Schmidauer about ways to support Ukraine:
President Zelenskyy also did a joint press conference with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker.
Georgia:
201st day of protest on Rustaveli Avenue. Protesters waving American flags, calling on the United States to accelerate the adoption of the MEGOBARI Act.
📷Keto Mikadze / Publika
#GeorgiaProtests
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Day 201 of uninterrupted #GeorgiaProtests
“Glory to Georgia! Glory to America!” protesters chant.
@secrubio.govpeeps.us
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 1:52 PM
We definitely need all the help we can get at this point.
The US:
Russia was kicked out of the G8 in March 2014 exactly BECAUSE it launched its war in Ukraine by invading and forcibly annexing Crimea.
— Christopher Miller (@christopherjm.ft.com) June 16, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Oy vey.
The EU and its member states:
🇺🇦 #UkraineSupportTracker: For the 1st time since mid-2022, Europe has surpassed the US in total military aid to Ukraine. This shift comes as US support has stalled, while European countries—especially Nordics & UK—have increased their contributions 👉 ifw-kiel.de/publications…
— Kiel Institute (IfW Kiel) (@kiel.institute) June 16, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Also, the EU and its member states:
EU member states have paid Russia more than €200 billion for fuel since the beginning of the full-scale war – FT 😑
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Back to Ukraine.
Putin taking advantage of switch of world attention to Israel-Iran war to step up attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, says Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. He calls for more energy sanctions on Russia.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Russia mixed their dead with ours🤯
During the latest exchange of fallen soldiers’ remains, Russia didn’t just hand over the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers. They also included the remains of their own soldiers, all mixed together in one batch. Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, reported
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 9:39 AM
From UAWire:
Russia has reportedly returned to Ukraine the bodies of Russian soldiers mixed with Ukrainian ones, a move believed to be aimed at complicating identification processes, said Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, emphasizing the painstaking and emotionally challenging nature of repatriating fallen servicemen.
The return of deceased military personnel, according to Klymenko, is an arduous yet crucial task. He accused Russia of deliberately impeding the identification process by sending back the bodies in a severely mutilated state and mixing Ukrainian bodies with Russian ones. “During the recent repatriations, we received bodies of Russian soldiers mixed with those of Ukrainians. Unfortunately, this is a fact. It may have been done deliberately by the Russians to inflate the number of bodies sent back and overwhelm our experts, while exerting cynical informational pressure. Alternatively, it might reflect their habitual neglect towards their own people. Regardless, we will identify these bodies,” Klymenko stated.
Each repatriation triggers a meticulous procedure involving autopsies, detailed inspection by investigators, DNA testing, and scrutiny of every detail, Klymenko added. “The process is inherently complex and lengthy. Yet, Russia intentionally complicates the identification task. Bodies are returned in extremely disfigured conditions, with body parts in separate bags. There have been instances where remains of a single individual were returned at different stages of repatriation,” Klymenko wrote.
According to him, experts are operating at their maximum capacity. Every examination is thorough and often repeated. The facilities are well-equipped, and the processes are established, but time remains the biggest challenge. “We understand the pain and anticipation of the families. We’re striving to expedite the identification process. However, with each major repatriation, this task becomes more difficult, which might just be Russia’s objective. We cannot afford errors. This isn’t about statistics for us; it’s about people, each of whom deserves dignity and respect,” Klymenko stressed.
More at the link.
🦾 The damaged Roshel Senator pulls our Ukrainian soldiers from the front line even on three wheels.
— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 9:35 AM
🇺🇦 At the last moment, Ukrainian Armed Forces soldiers shoot down an enemy fiber-optic FPV flying straight toward their pickup truck.
Guardian angels are with you, guys! Be careful and good luck hunting orcs! 💥— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 7:16 AM
JDAM air strike on Russian base by MiG-29 t.me/soniah_hub/1…
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Moment of the interception of the Russian Orlan filmed from the side.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Kyiv:
Large explosions in Kyiv – Ukrainian capital under attack by multiple Russian/Iranian Shahed drones coming from many directions at once. Russian strategic bombers also in the air – cruise missile launches possible later, and launch of ballistic missiles could come at any time.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Anti-aircraft fire in Kyiv. Multiple Shaheds circling the city, some flying over – heard a couple in my part of western Kyiv. Hit to top floor of a high-rise residential building, injured reported. Large fires also reported in city.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Smoke and fire in Kyiv sky.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Drone situation as of a short time ago – Large numbers of Shaheds continuing to circle Kyiv then sweep in to attack.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Telegram monitors: 30 Shaheds heading for Kyiv, 8 Shaheds over city just now. Hearing the sound of them, and anti-aircraft fire, regularly here in western Kyiv. Nine reported injured in Sviatoshinsky district of city alone. Student dorm hit by debris. Tu-160 bombers also in air.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Drone situation in Kyiv.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Kalibr cruise missiles launched from Black Sea, MiG-31K(s) in the air – launch of Kinzhal aeroballistic missile(s), reports of ballistic missile launches from Voronezh in fascist Russia.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Estimated arrival times of Kalibr cruise missiles.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Nothing survived. An enemy drone crashed in the middle of a residential area in the Dniprovskyi district of Kyiv.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Kupyansk:
Russia strikes kupiansk again, casualties reported.
On June 16th, at approximately 3:40 PM, the Russian army carried out an airstrike on a residential area in Kupiansk.
The attack hit multi-story apartment buildings, causing fires to break out in apartments.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 1:58 PM
A man and a woman sustained blast injuries. Preliminary reports suggest at least three civilians may have been killed.
Emergency services are facing difficulties accessing the site due to the risk of new attacks. Information is still being verified.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Kostyantynivka, Donetsk Oblast:
Kostyantynivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine.
It was a city of almost 70.000 people until Russia came to “liberate” it from life itself.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Alabuga, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia:
More Ukrainian ingenuity: Attack gliders. With good lift conditions, gliders can travel 500km or more.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Kaliningrad:
Russia is modernizing its nuclear bases near the EU, according to the Swedish outlet SVT.
One such base is located in Kaliningrad, just 270 kilometers from Sweden, and in recent years, five Russian nuclear facilities have been built or upgraded near the Swedish border.
www.svt.se/nyheter/utri…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Oryol, Oryol Oblast, Russia:
Russian media report that the Russian city of Oryol was attacked overnight by unidentified drones. According to local residents, they heard explosions and allegedly saw flashes near an oil depot. Russian authorities claim that 11 UAVs were shot down.
t.me/c/1377735387…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 10:11 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron skeets or videos tonight. Here is some adjacent material.
💙💛 This talisman guardian, attached to a carbine, has become a symbol of unbreakable spirit and silent prayer for peace that warms the heart for the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Open thread!
lifeinthebonusround – No Kings + Pride – Boston
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
YY_Sima Qian
Thanks Adam!
If the U.S. gets involved in the Israeli-Iranian War, & the “mission” (unclear what it is) is sure to creep toward attempting regime change that either ends in a nuclear Iran or a failed state (which suits Bibi just fine), there will be a lot less U.S. aid going to Ukraine for a long while, & even less attention.
The EU/UK/France/Germany have been utterly feckless & hypocritical on Israel-Gaza & Israel-Iran (not that any of the other great powers are better, but they haven’t been giving Israel cover & military aid). The EU has been better on Ukraine, but the rhetorics are out of proportion to the actual materiel delivered.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: @AlaskaReader: @YY_Sima Qian: You’re welcome.
wjca
Thanks, Adam
Adam L Silverman
@wjca: You’re welcome too.
Adam L Silverman
I’ve got to rack out.
Jay
@Adam L Silverman:
Have a good rest, Adam.
Mr. Bemused Senior
[of course] Thanks, and bless you, Adam.
@wjca:
Question for you: do you remember a post on ObWi that linked some Russian press release at the beginning of the Ukraine invasion? It purported to describe the quick victory and the warm welcome from ordinary Ukranians. I can’t find it now.
Westyny
Thank you, Adam.
Andrya
@Mr. Bemused Senior: Did you mean this? link
And, of course, thanks to Adam.
Mr. Bemused Senior
@Andrya: yes, thanks!