(Image by NEIVANMADE)
The cost:
Today, June 25th, at approximately 3:40 AM, the Russian army carried out an airstrike on the village of Vodyane in Kharkiv region. A guided aerial bomb struck a private residential area, killing a 49-year-old woman. Her husband, also 49, was injured and hospitalized.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Liudmyla Melezhyk was the woman killed in the airstrike on Vodyane in Kharkiv region today. Her husband, Ivan, is currently under medical supervision at a hospital in Kharkiv.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 7:37 AM
This day was meant to be a celebration.
She dreamed her dad would see her in a graduation dress. Instead, she stood by his grave. Her father died defending #Ukraine.
russia takes away the dearest people and most precious moments from Ukrainian children. This should never happen
U24 GOV UA / Insta
— Eugene McParland 🇺🇦 (@eugenemcparland.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Here’s last night’s Ukrainian air defense tally:
Attacks of less than 100 Russian/Iranian flying bombs drones are considered small in Ukraine now.
Last night 52 of 71 drones were neutralized (either shot down, jammed or location lost) – 73%. Of the ones unaccounted for, it’s unknown how many were live bombs, decoys or recon.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 2:51 AM
President Zelenskyy addressed the parliament of the representatives of the PACE member states in Strausbourg today.
Georgia:
Six of Georgia’s 9 main opposition leaders are in jail. Giorgi Gakharia, the seventh, has likely fled. Of the two women—both mothers of minors—Khoshtaria was briefly jailed and mistreated; prosecutors demanded her arrest again today. Bokuchava’s husband was kidnapped.
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Judge Arsen Kalatozishvili has sentenced poet Zviad Ratiani to pretrial detention. The prosecutor’s office requested the detention, while Ratiani’s lawyer petitioned for a 10,000-GEL bail.
Zviad Ratiani is accused of assaulting a police officer. He faces a prison sentence of 4 to 7 years.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 10:51 AM
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Just to illustrate how petty the Georgian Dream regime is: Irakli Okruashvili is a former Defense Minister, and he also fought in the Battle of Kyiv;
They jailed him first for non-cooperation with the Stalin-era “Parliamentaty Commission” that investigates anything pro-Western basically. 1/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 5:01 AM
He’s already in jail.
And now they dig up a case of 2 years ago when he verbally insulted his neighbour and are going to prosecute him over that too. 2/2.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 5:01 AM
July-August will be a sweeping crackdown on remaining democratic politicians and CSOs in Georgia, and the timely adoption of the MEGOBARI Act could save hundreds, encourage the entire nation.
There are very few nations as pro-American by default as Georgians.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 12:40 PM
NATO:
👀
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Is it possible to die of second-hand shame?
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 9:29 AM
The US:
“The summit rests on what Trump decides,” said one of the officials. “We are all just sat here waiting for him to tell us if he will defend Europe.” @henryjfoy.ft.com and Steff Chávez @financialtimes.com
on.ft.com/46954L5
— Christopher Miller (@christopherjm.ft.com) June 25, 2025 at 3:30 AM
From The Financial Times:
Donald Trump has reassured Nato allies he is “with them all the way”, after spooking European capitals with his suggestion that the military alliance’s mutual defence pact was open to interpretation.
The US president met his 31 Nato allies in The Hague on Wednesday at a summit dedicated to their pledge to increase national defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP in exchange for securing Trump’s support to maintain America’s protection if their countries are attacked.
Asked about his commitment to Nato after he arrived at the summit, Trump said: “We’re with them all the way.”
“Nato is going to become very strong with us,” Trump said alongside the alliance’s secretary-general Mark Rutte ahead of a formal session that adopted the 5 per cent spending pledge by 2035 — something Trump had demanded.
Trump’s positive rhetoric suggested Rutte’s ploy to focus the gathering on increased defence spending and lavish the US president with praise had succeeded. The Nato official’s strategy also seemingly papered over concerns among European capitals over the scale of the fiscal pressure it will place on their budgets.
A joint statement agreed by the 32 allies said they “reaffirm our ironclad commitment to collective defence” and would “submit annual plans showing a credible, incremental path” to the 5 per cent target. A review of the spending goal would take place in 2029.
The communiqué contains just one reference to Russia, citing the “long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security” and one sentence referencing “enduring sovereign commitments to provide support to Ukraine”.
That marks a striking change in tone from an alliance that was formed to defend against Moscow and has spent the past three years focusing on supporting Kyiv, and reflects Trump’s scepticism of Russia as an adversary and his lukewarm stance towards Ukraine.
Trump’s affirmation of support for Nato came after he sparked alarm on his way to The Hague by telling reporters aboard Air Force One that Washington’s commitment to Nato’s Article 5, which refers to its mutual defence pact, “depends on your definition”.
Trump said there were “numerous definitions” of Article 5. “I’m committed to being their friends. I’m going to give you an exact definition when I get there.”
Rutte has strained to make the summit Trump-friendly, reducing it to a two-and-a-half hour discussion and praising him repeatedly.
“For too long, one ally, the United States, carried too much of the burden,” Rutte said as he opened the summit. “That changes today . . . Dear Donald, you made this change possible.”
Rutte also referred to Trump’s use of an expletive when he scolded Israel and Iran for alleged breaches of a US-brokered ceasefire on Tuesday, saying: “Daddy has to sometimes use strong language.”
More at the link.
US will have to raise defense spending by 1.6% to meet new NATO 5% target. US currently lags Poland and Estonia in defense spending as percentage of GDP.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Awkward!
Shot:
When a Ukrainian journalist asked whether the U.S. was ready to sell Patriot systems to Ukraine given that Russia has been relentlessly bombing us,Trump, praised the Patriot system, explained they needed them for themselves and for Israel, and… wished her good luck.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Germany:
Chaser:
According to a publication on the website of the German Ministry of Defence, the German government is supporting #Ukraine with additional MIM-104 Patriot missiles, which will be delivered in the near future. Norway is apparently supporting this project.
1/4
— German Aid to Ukraine (@deaidua.org) June 25, 2025 at 8:25 AM
I’m currently lacking numerous details, which I’m hoping to provide later, as the publication indicates Pistorius said it at a press conference. However, the MoD didn’t publish any MP3 file for me to listen to yet.
2/4
— German Aid to Ukraine (@deaidua.org) June 25, 2025 at 8:25 AM
I have a theory that it might have to do with the relaunch of the IAAD initiative, now called EAAD initiative. When Germany first launched the IAAD initiative, Norway financed Patriot missiles alongside other countries from Bundeswehr stocks for Ukraine. So they might have just done it again.
3/4
— German Aid to Ukraine (@deaidua.org) June 25, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Again, just a theory of mine. I’ll get back to you as soon as I have additional information to share! This shouldn’t take too long.
4/4
— German Aid to Ukraine (@deaidua.org) June 25, 2025 at 8:25 AM
The EU:
Chaser to the chaser:
Kaja Kallas:the EU has secured 80% of 2 million ammunition rounds pledged to #Ukraine.
“While all eyes are on what is happening in Iran and in the Middle East, there are people dying in #Kyiv, because Russia keeps bombing Ukraine every single day. So we have to keep up the pressure on Russia.
— Anton Gerashchenko (@antongerashchenko.bsky.social) June 24, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Norway:
🇳🇴🇺🇦 Norway is allocating 6.5 billion Norwegian kroner (nearly $640 million USD) to purchase drones and related technologies for Ukraine. Drones will be purchased from Ukrainian and European manufacturers, the Norwegian government announced on June 24.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Belarus:
After a high-level U.S. visit to Belarus led to the release of 14 prisoners, observers have been left wondering what autocrat Alexander Lukashenko may have secured in return.
— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) June 25, 2025 at 4:12 PM
From The Kyiv Independent:
After a high-level U.S. visit to Belarus led to the release of 14 prisoners, observers have been left wondering what autocrat Alexander Lukashenko may have secured in return.
U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg’s visit to Minsk on June 21 marked the highest-level diplomatic contact the isolated regime of Alexander Lukashenko had with the U.S. in years.
The trip was also marked by the freeing by the Lukashenko regime of 14 prisoners, including one of the most notable of Lukashenko’s political opponents — Siarhei Tsikhanouski.
With the released prisoners in the spotlight, both parties to the negotiations were vague regarding the results of the meeting. But members of the Belarusian opposition in exile and political analysts all agreed Lukashenko was seeking some form of international legitimacy, as well as sanctions relief.
“For Lukashenko, the visit is a fairly strong legitimizing step,” said Lesia Rudnik, the director of an exiled independent Belarusian think tank, the Center for New Ideas.
“I believe we’re at the beginning of a dialogue … but I think we’ll see a rather slow development of the situation.”
Lukashenko has been ostracized by the West over his support for Russia’s war against Ukraine and brutal suppression of freedoms in Belarus. His international contacts have been limited to China, Vietnam, Iran, and African states that have minimal trade turnover with Belarus, and, increasingly, local Russian officials. The only Western nations that have thus far broken the diplomatic freeze are Russia-sympathetic EU states Hungary and Slovakia.
As for the U.S., analysts suggest Washington could have been looking to deter deeper Belarusian involvement in the war, while also possibly securing a foreign policy win for Trump amid stalled peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.
More at the link.
Back to Ukraine.
Launches of different Ukrainian long range kamikaze drones – Aeroprakt A-22, UJ-26, UJ-22 and other.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 4:37 PM
GBU62 air strike by MiG-29 on the Russian base.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Ukrainian-made guided aerial bomb system, which converts conventional 500kg bombs into precision weapons with an extended range of up to 60km — with future versions expected to reach 80 to 100 kilometers.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Kharkiv:
For the third night in a row, Kharkiv is under attack by russian Shahed drones. Seven drones struck the city the day before yesterday. Seven more came last night. And now — the sound of Shaheds fills the skies again.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Air defense is working…
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Russia continues to erase towns and villages across the Kharkiv region with glide bombs and drones. Today, they killed a 60-year-old man and destroyed around 10 homes.
just as they do every single day.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Kharkiv following last night’s Russian drone attack
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Kupyansk:
Volunteers are sharing images of the devastation after a Russian guided aerial bomb struck near an apartment block in Kupyansk.
They are pleading with residents to leave, cautioning that the enemy will obliterate what little is left of the city.
They are right 😞
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Odesa:
A 16yo teen saved his friend from the rubble after a russian missile hit their school in Odesa region.
Mark Avetikian, though injured himself, dug his friend Maksym out with bare hands. Mark is a student and a boxing champion. Both boys are now in hospital. Let’s wish them a speedy recovery
Sho_Tam_— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Nizhny Novgorod, Russia:
Something is on fire at the “Zarya” plant in Dzerzhinsk, Nizhny Novgorod region of the Russian Federation.
The plant specializes in machinery manufacturing for the chemical, oil and gas processing, and nuclear industries.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia:
It is reported that a warhead depot is on fire and detonating in Chita, Velikaya Tura, located in the Zabaykalsky Krai of Russia. A firefighting train and small aircraft have been deployed to extinguish the blaze.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 25, 2025 at 8:37 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
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AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
YY_Sima Qian
Increasing defense spending as % of GDP is all well & good, but a lot more effort has to be put into reducing the costs of inputs & cost of product development/production, through growing economy of scale, “good enough” specification, streamlined product development, & more competition. Otherwise, it will just lead to price inflation of platforms, weapons & munitions, w/o improving the physical outcomes, at least not in proportion to the increase in investment.
Furthermore, as I’ve said several times before, national security Keynesianism coupled w/ austerity for the rest of the economy & treading water on investing for the industries of the future (see Germany), is a recipe for heightened domestic discontent, further disaffection from the establishment, & greater vulnerability to reactionaries taking power. The end result may well be handing a more powerful national security state apparatus to the reactionaries, to be used for their nefarious ends.
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
YY_Sima Qian
On the obsequious note by Mark Rutte:
Adam L Silverman
@AlaskaReader: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: You’re welcome.
Chetan Murthy
@YY_Sima Qian: I’m not sure I’d characterize it the way Luck did. The unvarnished truth is that the rest of NATO is looking at Trump and asking: “are you going to defend us?” and they -know- that it’s up to him, and he’s a mercurial sonofabitch. So they must do whatever it takes to keep him sweet. Yes, they also need to build their independent military capacity. But not keeping him sweet for as long as possible would be -malpractice-, and perhaps really, really costly.
I don’t envy Rutte, but in his place, I would have done exactly the same.
ETA: they also know that NATO lacks critical capabilities that only the US can provide today. They need to build those for themselves, but in the meantime, they’re over a barrel.
YY_Sima Qian
@Chetan Murthy: Luck wrote in a different tweet (that I now can’t find, because X‘s search function is worthless) along the lines of: if your nth dimension chess move to influence Trump is making you look like a feckless chump, you are probably doing it wrong. Urula van der Leyen has been trying a different tack: let’s work together to beat the PRC economy & industry, so the US will continue to protect Europe.
Neither approach is likely to work, that is just not how Trump thinks, but at least VDL kept her dignity. Fawning obsequiousness buys time measured in days in Trump 2.0, as Trump senses weakness & thus will be inclined to squeeze harder. Better to take the Japanese’ firm approach under Ishiba (& not the flattery of Shinzo Abe during Trump 1.0). Japan is no less dependent on the US for its security than Europe.
Trump is a bully, he will only respect & fear (to the extent he can feel such emotions) another strongman/woman figure who can put him in his place.
wjca
Likewise. It’s a thankless job. But, in the real world, it’s the only way to keep Trump at least temporarily on side.
Chetan Murthy
@wjca: that said, I do understand what YY is saying: you need to keep Trump onside, and maybe groveling isn’t the wisest way to do it. Perhaps VdL is better at it, b/c she’s had to navigate gaping asshole male egos her entire life? Idunno. But I’d separate the -how- of keeping Trump onside, from the fact that you -must- keep him onside, and that he’s a sonofabitch.
So one way or the other, it’ll involve some unpleasant manipulation. Sigh. Time was, we had -allies-.
ETA: it is a fair cop to say that “I would have done exactly the same” because I’m terrible at “human systems engineering”. Which is why it’s good I’ve never been in a position where I needed to manage human relationships. B/c I’m -shit- at that.
YY_Sima Qian
@wjca:
@Chetan Murthy:
Let’s not forget the whole rationale for MAGA insisting on allies spending 5% of GDP on defense is so that they can buy more American weapons/munitions to revitalize US industry, & the US can then leave the defense of Europe to the Europeans (who would still be dependent on US tech. & ware), so that the US can focus solely on the threat MAGA in theory really cares about – the PRC.
Anyone thinks Trump is committed to defend Europe in the mean time, even if NATO countries commit to ramp up to 5% over time, should a crisis w/ Russia develop? & there is no evidence that the US is planning to spend 5% of GDP itself.
NATO countries are in theory sovereign entities, they can make the decisions themselves how much to increase defense spending & how fast.
Chetan Murthy
@YY_Sima Qian: I’m sure hoping that NATO countries will be buying non-American. Either EU, or Canada, or SK/JP. Poland is a good leading indicator to me: they bought a ton of SK tanks, b/c they’re good and not gold-plated. Norway and UA are developing new anti-air missiles. And I hope that list goes on and on and on.
I want our allies to have a robust defense.
Jay
@YY_Sima Qian:
@Chetan Murthy:
Canada’s 3.5 % increase is going to CDN MFG’s, Europe, Australia and South Korea.
Chetan Murthy
@Jay: A-FUCKIN-men.
YY_Sima Qian
@Chetan Murthy: How much do you want to bet that Trump will then try to extort NATO countries to buy US weapons/platforms, if they want US protection? He’s already mused about that in the 1st term.
Chetan Murthy
@YY_Sima Qian: ugh. that is obviously a red line that the other NATO countries must not cross. I do not envy them.
ETA: Erm, I mean, a red line that they must not allow Trump to drag them over.
Redshift
@wjca: Yeah, as cringe-worthy as Rutte’s statements may be, if we’re stuck with a president who’s irrational and easily manipulated, I approve of our friends realizing they need to try to manipulate him.
Westyny
Thank you, Adam.
YY_Sima Qian
OT: Worth reading in full:
bjacques
After living under Rutte’s high-handed heading of four coalition governments the past 14 years which he ended abruptly in a pet over rejection of his cynical immigration policies, it chaps my ass to hear his Zhdanovian praise of Trump, however necessary it may be.
Thanks, Mark. Now we’ll count the days when Trump says “5%? I meant 7%, payable to Trump Tanks LLC!”
(3.5% is a big ask but could be doable if the other 1.5% were spent on physical and social infrastructure touted (with some justification) as defense-adjacent. It would have to be financed by more taxes on the rich and better enforcement — good luck with that in NL.)
Whatever it takes I guess. Zelenskyy has to butter Trump up too, but he seems a lot less cringe and somewhat more effective at it. Maybe because Zelenskyy’s approach is respect for Trump as a fellow player, vs. Rutte’s abject fawning from someone without any real power? Looking back at Stoltenberg, I’d say he at least understood the SecGen position’s soft power, which I don’t think Rutte really does.
Sally
I had believed Kallas should have got the NATO SecGen position. I feared Rutte would be milquetoast. Kallas is much more clear eyed about Russia and a better communicator than Rutte. I know why she didn’t get it, but I disagreed and disagree.
i can only admire the skill of the women like Kallas and van der Leyen in dealing with these awful men. I guess they have had plenty of practice.
Sally
@YY_Sima Qian: Interesting.