(Image by NEIVANMADE)
I’m still feeling bleh, so I’m just going to run through the basics again tonight.
It’s 2;25 AM local time in Ukraine/7:25 PM EDT and the air raid alerts are now back up for Kharkiv Oblast. Odesa Oblast has been under air raid alert for a while tonight/this morning. Both are for drone swarms.
The reason:
While Kharkiv was under russian attack last night, Ukrainian rescuers shielded a woman, her child, and their pet with their own bodies💔
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 5:08 AM
The cost:
Fascist Russia’s nightly Blitz air raids against Ukrainian cities continue. The Kremlin still rejects Kyiv’s call for an unconditional ceasefire. 38 days until Sept 2 Trump deadline to Putin to agree peace deal. No sign Putin will comply.
kyivindependent.com/9-killed-61-…— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Daily life in Ukraine: russia attacked Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions again. Civilians killed and injured. Homes, infrastructure, and businesses destroyed. Rescuers among the wounded.
— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Here’s President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
Now Is the Moment When Pressure Needs to Be Put On Russia, So Strong That Next Year There Is No War – Address by the President
26 July 2025 – 21:29
I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!
The most important updates. First – the military. Today, several reports have already been made regarding our frontlines and our operations. The Armed Forces, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the intelligence agencies – I thank everyone for their long-range effectiveness. Everyone can see that Ukrainian drones are hitting their targets.
There was a report by General Syrskyi, with a lot of attention specifically on the Pokrovsk direction. There are successful actions by our units in the Sumy region. Thank you! They are eliminating the occupiers in the border areas. This is crucial.
Today, unfortunately, there were numerous Russian strikes on our cities and our communities: Sumy – including Ukrainian energy infrastructure, as well as Dnipro, Kharkiv, Kherson region, and Donetsk region. Wherever needed, rescuers from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and all relevant services respond immediately. I thank you all for your promptness. We will respond to every Russian strike.
There were important reports from our intelligence agencies, including one from the Foreign Intelligence Service on the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia and Russia-affiliated entities. The enemy’s losses – economic losses – are truly being felt. And they will be felt even more. I want to thank everyone in the world who is helping.
Now is precisely the moment when pressure needs to be put on Russia, so strong that next year there is no war. They must realize that they will not be able to wait it out. Sanctions must effectively strip Russia of its potential. We are working to achieve this.
I also had a discussion with the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine. Also, our diplomacy maintains a daily rhythm of work, with a lot of communication with partners these days.
I instructed the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council to be more active in attracting external funding for drones. I also instructed government officials and the Minister of Defense of Ukraine to more actively review all our agreements we have with our partners – the ones we must implement fully, but which, unfortunately, are currently still only partially being carried out. I expect the relevant reports this week.
And one more thing. There is a government decision to support universities in the frontline regions and border cities – in the Sumy region, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv. Additional funding – UAH 300 million – is being allocated specifically for these difficult conditions, for the educational institutions that preserve our student communities, our student groups, that continue to teach against all odds. Great job! It is extremely important to preserve Ukrainian educational centres. Karazin University, and many others. We will continue to support you.
I also signed a decree today regarding the Shevchenko Prize – this is a step toward expanding the award. There have been many discussions with experts and the cultural community. The Prize Committee has done a great job. So, starting next year, the Shevchenko Prize may also be awarded – apart from traditional nominations – for Ukrainian photography. And now, in the conditions of war, it is so important to capture all the emotions and all the prowess of our people.
A new category for curatorial work has also been added, as well as one for contemporary design – and there is truly a lot of our powerful Ukrainian graphic design, fonts, and more; all this deserves our particular attention. We also broadened the usual literature and music nominations of the Shevchenko Prize. And we will continue looking for ways to thank those among our people who preserve Ukrainian cultural heritage. This will be a special format, and before Ukraine’s Independence Day, together with the cultural community and all experts, we will find the necessary solutions. I thank everybody standing with us, with Ukraine!
Glory to Ukraine!
Georgia:
For the 241st consecutive day, Rustaveli Avenue is blocked in Tbilisi, Georgia. Protests continue in 8+ cities. 🇬🇪
We aren’t handing our country over to a Russian oligarch.
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Today family members of imprisoned protesters distributed the second edition of the newspaper “letters from political prisoners to the Georgian citizens” on Eliava market in Tbilisi. The newspaper contains letters from family members as well.
— Mariam Nikuradze (@mariamnikuradze.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Georgians took to the highway to greet the NATO and Ukrainian military.
They have Georgian, US, EU, NATO and Ukrainian flags, among others. 🇬🇪🇪🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦
We belong with the Euro-Atlantic world.
Agile Spirit 2025.
Day 241 of #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 8:13 AM
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 1:46 PM
India:
🇮🇳‼️ Indian company Ideal Detonators Private Ltd has confirmed that it has supplied the explosive octogen (HMX) to Russia. The export is worth at least $1.4 million.
In response to Reuters inquiry, company said that “the explosive was intended for industrial purposes and is for civilian use only.”
— The Ukrainian Review (@theukrainianreview.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Lithuania:
Lithuania plans to contribute up to €30 million toward the purchase of US-made Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine, according to Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė. The move comes as several European countries discuss joint efforts to supply Patriots to Ukraine.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Germany:
Germany has already delivered three Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine and is discussing further deliveries with Washington, according to the Washington Post. In total, Germany has agreed to provide five such systems.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 9:26 AM
On Tuesday or Wednesday Spiegel reported that Germany wouldn’t deliver one Patriot battery for a year, Yesterday we got reporting from The Telegraph that one had been delivered. Now The Washington Post says Germany has delivered. At this rate, by Monday Germany will have delivered nine Patriot batteries and in a month it’ll be like 500 of them or something.
NATO:
Tusk says NATO has warned Poland that Russia could be ready for war with the EU as early as 2027.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 7:25 AM
There’s your actual pacing threat.
Back to Ukraine.
When it comes to the results of Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russia, one of the most asked questions is why Ukrainian drone strikes cause damage that often appears insufficient. The answer lies largely in engineering trade-offs: the balance between range and payload. Thread 🧵:
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 7:26 AM
2/ Drones that fly far have to allocate a lot of their weight and space to fuel/batteries, which leaves less room for explosives. Long range also creates aerodynamic issues – to carry more fuel, drones needs to be bigger, which makes them heavier, slower, easier to intercept
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 7:26 AM
3/ Advanced materials and engineering could help mitigate these limitations, but such solutions often dramatically increase costs and reduce scalability, which are critical factors in a war of attrition. And even high-end drones remain vulnerable to simple and cheap air defense
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 7:26 AM
4/ Russia, by contrast, have a certain geographic advantage here. Targets like Kyiv or Kharkiv are close to border and fall within range of drones with heavier payloads and shorter flight distances. As a result, Russian drones can prioritize impact over “endurance”.
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 7:26 AM
5/ In Ukraine’s case, achieving sufficiently destructive effects would require medium-range ballistic or cruise missiles. But developing and producing such systems is far more complex and expensive than assembling drones.
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 7:26 AM
6/ Iran, for example, spent more than a decade building its “own” MRBM program. For Ukraine, developing and scaling missile production in wartime conditions, when Russia can hit any facility across the country is a major industrial and logistical limitation.
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 7:26 AM
7/ On a more optimistic note, Ukraine has made significant progress. Compared to 2023 and 2024, it has taken a major leap, not just in designing long-range drones, but also in scaling production to the point where strikes inside Russia are now almost a daily occurrence.
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 7:26 AM
8/ Ukrainians have also advanced in hybrid propulsion, improved explosive mixtures that boost impact even with smaller warheads. Work continues on flight path optimization and other refinements, but such progress takes time – a resource increasingly scarce for Ukraine.
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Frontelligence Insight estimates that by the end of June 2025, Russian combat fatalities may have reached, or even surpassed, 250,000. The projection is based on a synthetic estimation model that extrapolates from regionally confirmed, by-name casualty records.
🧵Thread:— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) July 25, 2025 at 12:36 PM
2/ The team drew on confirmed casualty data compiled by Idel.Realities and Baikal Stories, tallying losses by region of origin and comparing them to each region’s working-age male population (defined as ages 16 to 60). The analysis covered 17 Russian regions.
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) July 25, 2025 at 12:36 PM
F-16 of the Ukrainian Air Force is heading to repel an enemy attack with a full complement of air-to-air missiles. t.me/AIRTEAM_UA
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 1:12 PM
A drone with a fuselage shape unknown to me was also hit.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Unknown previously unseen jet drone found on the Russian territory.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 11:57 AM
A unique moment: a Ukrainian UAV from the 47th Brigade’s recon unit crossed paths with a Ukrainian helicopter somewhere over Ukraine.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Kharkiv:
Yet another night in Kharkiv is shrouded in horror and explosions, as russia attacks the city with drones.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Oh, fuck off already! More explosions in Kharkiv ‼️
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Midnight in Kharkiv. Drones buzz overhead, air defenses shooting, explosions shake our city.
How’s your Saturday night?
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 5:12 PM
4 guided aerial bombs
2 ballistic missiles
15 dronesStruck Kharkiv last night during over 3 hours long Russian attack.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Kharkiv came under a massive overnight attack. Between 00:10 and 3:00, russia targeted civilian enterprises with guided bombs, Iskander missiles, and over 10 Shahed drones. Four people were injured, including emergency workers. Nearby apartment buildings were damaged by the blast wave.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 4:59 AM
In last night’s attack, russians destroyed a district heating plant in Kharkiv that supplied heat to approximately 53,000 residents.
The facility was hit twice. Fortunately, no staff members were injured.
It won’t be possible to restore the heating plant before the cold season.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Kharkiv after last night’s russian attack.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Sumy:
❗️Russia targeted the regional administration in Sumy with a drone strike
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Oleksiivka, Sumy Oblast:
According to Russian sources, heavy fighting has erupted for the village of Oleksiivka in the Sumy region, currently still occupied by Russian forces. Russian sources complain that the situation is deteriorating due to the arrival of a significant amount of Ukrainian forces.
— NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com) July 26, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Dnipro:
Horrific moment of russian strike on Dnipro last night
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 7:24 AM
A 21-year-old woman has died in a Dnipro hospital following a russian attack on the city, according to the Regional Military Administration.
In total, 3 people have been killed and six injured in Dnipro and its surrounding district last night.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Kam’yanske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast:
Footage from a destroyed Epicenter-K home goods, DIY construction materials and groceries hypermarket in Kam’yanske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Fascist Russia struck the hypermarket overnight on July 25-26 during its latest Blitz air raid on democratic Ukraine.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 4:01 AM
More footage from Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk region, shows a shopping center destroyed by a Russian strike.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast:
🇺🇦💔 This is what Chasiv Yar looks like now.
A town in the Bakhmut district of Donetsk region.— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Kyiv:
Protests day 4
— Mira of Kyiv 🇺🇦 (@reshetz.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Kupyansk, Kharkiv Oblast:
Ukraine reports killing Russian colonel leading assaults in Kharkiv Oblast #Ukraine
— AmplifyUkraine 🔱🇺🇦 (@amplifyukraine.eu) July 26, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Ukrainian forces have killed Colonel Lebedev, commander of Russia’s 83rd Motorized Rifle Regiment, in the Kupyansk sector, according to the Khortytsia command.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 2:12 PM
From The Kyiv Independent:
Ukraine’s Khortytsia group of forces reported on July 26 that Russian Colonel Lebedev, commander of the 83rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 69th Motorized Rifle Division, had been killed.
According to operational data, Lebedev was leading assault operations in the Velykyi Burluk area of Kharkiv Oblast. No other information was available at the time of the publication.
This reported fatality adds to a significant and growing toll of Russian military personnel killed in Ukraine.
The independent Russian media outlet Mediazona, in collaboration with the BBC Russian service, has confirmed the identities of 119,154 Russian military personnel killed in the war as of July 17. This latest update saw 2,436 additional Russian military personnel confirmed killed since the start of July.
Journalists compiling this data caution that the actual figures are likely considerably higher, as their verified information stems from public sources such as obituaries, family posts, memorial events, regional media reports, and statements from local authorities. The publications began releasing a comprehensive list of identified casualties in February, marking three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The confirmed death toll includes a breakdown of various categories of personnel: 32,100 volunteers, 17,800 recruited prisoners, and 13,000 mobilized soldiers. Additionally, nearly 5,400 officers have been confirmed among the deceased.
Russia has lost approximately 1,048,330 troops in Ukraine since the start of its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ General Staff reported on July 26.
Pokrovsk:
The entire Russian column was destroyed. Ukrainian artillery and drone units from the 155th Mechanized Brigade repelled an enemy assault near Pokrovsk.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Pokrovsk from a Russian drone’s perspective.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Amavir airfield, Krasnodar Krai, Russia:
A Su-27UB aircraft was destroyed at Russia’s Armavir airfield, as reported by the GUR 😍🔥
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Su-27UB military aircraft was set on fire by saboteurs at the Armavir airbase in Russia
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Stavropol, Russia:
Still from video of Ukrainian “mini-Shahed” type drone used in attack on electronics plants in Stavropol, SW Russia early morning July 26. Extended delta wing with side vertical stabilizers, “canard” foreplanes, and rear propeller.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 12:51 AM
A Ukrainian “Liutyi” drone is seen striking the “Signal” electronics plant in Stavropol, SW Russia, early on July 26. The plant, which supplies the Russian military, was also struck by a 🇺🇦 “Shahed”-type drone. Another electronics factory in the city, “Stilsoft”, was also hit.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Russian Signal plant in Stavropol was also targeted by new Ukrainian drones which visually resemble Shahed/Harop
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 3:30 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here is a Ukrainian bird perched on a Ukrainian drone.
A bird perched on the propeller of a Ukrainian FPV drone lying in ambush.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) July 26, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Open thread!
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Jay
nitter.poast.org/Gerashchenko_en/status/1949058721960603745#m
In Mariupol, the ruZZians water the greenscaping they have installed around the fancy new building they use to “sell” stolen Ukrainian homes to ruZZians, daily, while the Ukrainian residents remaining, get foul water once a week if lucky.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: You’re welcome.
Gin & Tonic
Interesting to see a Gadsden flag in Kyiv.
Jay
bsky.app/profile/antongerashchenko.bsky.social/post/3luut4p3xik2c
funlady75
thank you Adam….
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Adam L Silverman
@Gin & Tonic: I was wondering if anyone else would notice that.
Adam L Silverman
@funlady75: @AlaskaReader: You’re welcome.
West of the Rockies
Go to hell, India
(Well, their government anyway.)
Chetan Murthy
It is a great disappointment to see India supporting Russia this way. A great, great disappointment, and I cannot gainsay your sentiment even one whit.
I haven’t set foot in India since I was 14, but I remember back then (and, I’m guessing even today) the elites of India -all- want to send their children to be educated and have careers in the West. They rely on the West for India’s economic success, and yet ….. well, they seem to think it’s perfectly fine to support our main geopolitical adversary in his bloodthirsty war.
And all of that, knowing full well that he wouldn’t bat an eyelash at a bloody invasion of India if the stars were aligned. He’s not their -ally-, or their -friend-, he’s just a business partner. It’s disgusting.
West of the Rockies
@Chetan Murthy:
Well said. India is not its government, and nor, I hope, are we. But I can see why people around the world might say, Go to hell, America(n government).
I wish every misfortune upon Trump, Putin, Netanyahu, Orbin, Modi, and other deserving despots.
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
An armed uprising of some sort is taking place in Iran.
Thailand seems to have taken control of parts of Cambodia, in what was previously the DMZ. In return, Cambodia tried a false flag operation, by bombing parts of Laos and claiming it was Thailand’s fault. Or maybe it was just an accident because the Cambodia Armed Forces don’t appear to be the best trained troops. Anyway, it didn’t work.
Why hasn’t more been made of the report that the Starlink Snowflake ❄ sabotaged Ukraine in 2022? This was so egregious, surely some notice needs to be taken.
Thank you Adam. Hope you get some rest this weekend.
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
@West of the Rockies: Amen!
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
@West of the Rockies: Cosign!
Chetan Murthy
Atrios had it right: eschatonblog.com/2025/07/musk-committed-little-light-treason.html
“Musk Committed A Little Light Treason“
Bill Arnold
@West of the Rockies:
Here’s wikipedia on HMX:
HMX (octogen)
Also for a few niche civilian usages, notably oil drilling.
Andrya
@Chetan Murthy: @Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom:
Whether or not Musk gets legal consequences, it is urgent, as soon as feasible, to develop replacement technology for Starlink and all Musk technologies. The country cannot tolerate a defense contractor with the power, and the willingness, to overrule the foreign policy of the government.
Adam, hope you feel better tomorrow!
Bupalos
I can’t.
After the Zelensky betrayal it became more visceral. After Ukrainians actually established that they are now the beating heart of democracy…
Ukraine is where world history is decided.
If there is a center of the world, it’s Ukraine.
Westyny
Thank you, Adam. Hope you feel better soon!