Trump had thoughts about his meeting with Putin during his press conference earlier today.

“I’ll tell Putin to end the war — he won’t mess with me” sounds a lot like “Peace for our time.” We know how that turned out.

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 2:15 PM

Trump openly admits relying on Viktor Orbán for information on the Russian war in Ukraine, despite Orbán’s ties to Russia and ongoing corruption scandals shaking his top party members and himself personally.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 12:48 PM

Trump: “There will be some changes in land … Russia has taken some very prime territory. They’ve taken largely ocean — in real estate we call it oceanfront property. That’s always the most valuable property.”

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) August 11, 2025 at 11:43 AM

I didn’t say they were good thoughts.

for the second time this briefing, Trump claims he’s “going to Russia” on Friday (he’s actually going to Alaska, which is in the United States)

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) August 11, 2025 at 11:56 AM

I’m sure 49 states are just as good as 50.

Trump’s been hallucinating that Ukraine started Russia’s war of conquest – and itching to do Putin’s bidding – for months, as I wrote in January.
Now, as the Russian house of cards economy is cracking, as long anticipated, Putin needs his pal’s help even more.

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— davidrlurie (@davidrlurie.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 4:31 PM

The worst part of this piece of the interview is his promise to resume normal trade with Russia if a deal is struck.

Since his deal involves handing Russia a chunk of Ukraine, lifting sanctions would let Russia recover, regroup, and devour Ukraine entirely within a few years.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 12:18 PM

Trump’s delusional belief that Ukraine started the war is straight up Russian agitprop. It’s what Putin, his aides, surrogates, catspaws, other Russian officials, and Russian state media, as well as their fellow travelers and useful idiots in Europe, the US, and other parts of the world have been pushing for over three years. Specifically, that Ukraine started the war because President Zelenskyy and his government are all NAZIs, were abusing Russian speaking Ukrainians in Donetsk, Luhansk, Crimea, Kherson, Kharkiv, Sumy, Zaprizhzhia, etc, and Putin just had to invade to clean out the NAZI regime in Kyiv, protect the Russian speaking Ukrainians, and liberate the rest of Ukraine. Once again: NAZI is how Russians refer to anyone who opposes Russia and its interests and that Russia was the real victim of the NAZIs not the Jews, that Zelenskyy is both Jewish and a native Russian speaking Ukrainian, and that no one was abusing Russian speaking Ukrainians. Unfortunately we know that Trump speaks to Putin on his personal cell phone regularly. He did during his first term, he did during the Biden interregnum, and he’s done it during his second term. The result is that he’s been inundated by Putin with Putin’s narrative of the war. Instead of recognizing that Ukraine is trying to fend off a genocidal Russian re-invasion, that Zelenskyy is a an unexpected (and unexpectedly effective) war time president, and that Ukraine is fighting for its national, political, social, economic, and religious survival, Trump believes it is the aggressor and Russia the victim. It also does not help that he’s both historically illiterate and an incurious ignoramus. He has no idea of the history here, has neither the interest nor the ability to overcome that knowledge gap, and, as saw the other day when he declared that the Armenians and Azerbaijanis had been fighting for thirty-five years, just has no idea what he’s talking about.

Which is why we are where we are: Trump telegraphing that he’s going to give significant portions of Ukraine away to Putin at the end of the week. He has no right to do so, but he’s deluded himself into believing he’s the great peacemaker. That he can easily resolve all these conflicts. Which, I’m sure, Putin has encouraged as part of flattering Trump’s enormous ego. Again: Putin needs to create strategic time and space. He needs it to consolidate what Russia’s military actually has captured, he needs it to get out from under the sanctions regime, he needs it to reconstitute his forces once he can get out from under the sanctions, and he needs it so he can then send his troops to try to take the rest of Ukraine and then keep going into the Baltics or Poland or Romania.

The question is not so much what Ukraine will do; they won’t accept or recognize any of this and keeping fighting to the best of their abilities. The question is what Ukraine’s non-US allies and partners – Canada, Britain, the EU member states, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, etc – are both willing and able to do. They no longer have the luxury of time or of believing Trump can be managed or cajoled into doing the right thing. Events have overtaken them and they have to make some hard decisions. Those decisions will determine not just how Ukraine defends itself from Russia’s genocidal re-invasion, but what Europe and the global system look like going forward.

Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.

There Is No Indication Whatsoever That the Russians Have Received Signals to Prepare for a Post-War Situation – Address by the President

11 August 2025 – 20:47

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

The key points for today. I held a Staff meeting – a special meeting focused specifically on the issues raised by our servicemembers. When I visited the Kharkiv and Sumy regions, these were exactly the questions they asked. Regarding pickup trucks and other equipment – the matter has been resolved. The brigades will receive both the necessary funds directly and the ability to purchase exactly the pickup trucks, ATVs, and other equipment they need. Combat brigades will get this opportunity very soon. The government is to make a decision already this week. The funds have also been allocated. A very important point is that we are increasing the funds available to the brigades for procurement. This is direct financing, which will provide more opportunities to meet combat needs. This includes drones and more. We have agreed to change the approach to determining the amount of funding. There will be more funds for each combat brigade – the calculation is as follows: 7 million hryvnias for each battalion engaged in combat missions. Of course, we continue to cut bureaucracy. Writing off property and equipment will become easier. Corps commanders and brigade commanders will be able to process write-offs even faster. I gave instructions to immediately resolve the important issue of the timeframe for presenting state awards to our warriors. Too much time passes between the submission for an award and its presentation. Far too much time. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has already identified which documents and approvals are unnecessary – all will be streamlined. The award documents will also be changed – instead of the old award booklets, there will be new documents that do not need to be filled out by hand. The timeframes must be such that people can truly feel respect for themselves and for their actions in defending our state. Decisions are also being prepared on other fundamental matters. Issues of motivation, personnel, training centers, and communication down to the battalion and company level – all of this has also been worked through. The decisions will be made.

Today, our team delivered a report following meetings in the United Kingdom. Andriy Yermak and Rustem Umerov reported on all important discussions – both public and non-public details. I would like to thank everyone who stands with Ukraine.

Today, there was also a report from the intelligence and military command on what Putin is counting on and what he is actually preparing for, including military preparations. He is definitely not preparing for a ceasefire or an end to the war. Putin is determined only to present a meeting with America as his personal victory and then continue acting exactly as before, applying the same pressure on Ukraine as before. So far, there is no indication whatsoever that the Russians have received signals to prepare for a post-war situation. On the contrary, they are redeploying their troops and forces in ways that suggest preparations for new offensive operations. If someone is preparing for peace, this is not what he does. We continue to keep our partners informed about the real situation on the battlefield, in diplomacy, and in Russia’s planning of further actions.

Today, I have already spoken with the Prime Minister of Canada, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, and the President of Lithuania. Later today, further talks with European friends are planned. I thank everyone for their support. An important conversation took place with the Prime Minister of India. Everyone is united by an understanding of clear facts. First – Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. Second – issues concerning the war against Ukraine must be resolved only with Ukraine’s participation. Third – Russia must take the necessary steps to end this war. So far, Russia has not taken a single step. Today, Prime Minister Modi and I discussed in great detail the possibilities for influencing Russia’s position. I remember how the Prime Minister of India has said more than once that our time is not a time for war. And real steps are needed to make this a reality – peace is needed.

Tomorrow will also be a day of our active communication with partners. At all levels, we continue to engage with the United States of America. The Office team, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and everyone needed for effective work – all are involved. And I thank everyone in Ukraine who firmly supports and strengthens the state’s position and our defense of national interests. We stand strong – all together.

And one more thing.

Today, I want to recognize our warriors – our border guard warriors. Together with all those serving in the Defense Forces, our border guards defend Ukraine on the frontline and, of course, in the border areas – along our state border that is recognized by everyone. The “Hart,” “Steel Border,” and “Forpost” border guard brigades, the units of the Sumy, Kharkiv, Volyn, and Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi border guard detachments. The border guards of the “Pomsta” brigade and the “Phoenix” unit. I thank you for your resilience, for destroying the occupier! Ukraine must achieve its goals, and these goals are just: to protect lives, to defend independence, and to secure a dignified peace for Ukraine. Thank you all.

Glory to Ukraine!

Georgia:

257th day of the #GeorgiaProtests.

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— László Róbert Mézes (@laszlorobertmezes.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 3:47 PM

All the usual Georgian accounts I follow haven’t posted in the past two days. Which could be nothing or it could be everything.

The US:

GEN (ret) Keane is the most senior pro-Trump retired national security professional/senior military leader. He has a very clear eyed take on the upcoming Putin-Trump meeting:

The entire tirade about Russian tanks being stuck in the mud at the beginning of the full-scale invasion is bull, by the way. They moved by highways and streets in columns one by one, which made them an easy target. See “mud” below. 👇

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 11:59 AM

Even the most ardent pro-Kremlin vatniks know how stupid it is to repeat the “Kyiv in 3-4 days” rubbish. And Russia’s army DID come by the highways – and got slaughtered. Video shows a Russian armored column being ambushed in Skybyn, east of Kyiv.

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— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 2:22 PM

This what Russian channels are saying Putin plans to get out of Trump this week:

1/ Russia is reportedly planning to declare the war in Ukraine over after a peace treaty is signed by Trump on 15 August – but the intention appears to be to convince Trump that Ukraine is a recalcitrant warmonger that doesn’t deserve any more aid if it refuses to go along. ⬇️

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— ChrisO_wiki (@chriso-wiki.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM

2/ The Fighterbomber Telegram channel writes:

“There was a series of broadcasts on our federal channels where it was stated in black and white that on August 15, the presidents of the USA and Russia will sign an agreement after which the Special Military Operation will end.

— ChrisO_wiki (@chriso-wiki.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM

3/ “Of course, I would like it to happen, but it seems to me that such statements are a cunning plan.

— ChrisO_wiki (@chriso-wiki.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM

4/ “The plan is simple. We demonstrate to the whole world our desire and wish to end the SMO (of course, taking into account the realities on the ground and actually eliminating the reasons for the beginning of the SMO) and we demonstrate this desire and wish at the highest level possible.

— ChrisO_wiki (@chriso-wiki.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM

5/ “Of course, we have done everything possible to end the war, but Zelensky and his friends are finding a bunch of excuses to continue it, and we are not to blame.

— ChrisO_wiki (@chriso-wiki.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM

6/ “Objectively speaking, if the negotiations result in at least a cessation or reduction of military aid to Ukraine from the United States on a long-term basis, that would already be wonderful.

For us.”

— ChrisO_wiki (@chriso-wiki.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM

7/ If this prediction is accurate, it suggests that Russia aims to trap Ukraine by convincing Trump to sign a peace treaty – without Ukrainian involvement or consent – with terms that are unacceptable to the Ukrainians, then blaming Zelensky when he rejects it.

— ChrisO_wiki (@chriso-wiki.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM

8/ In the aftermath of such a rejection, Russia and anti-Ukraine voices in the US would encourage Trump to see it as a personal insult to himself and urge him to block further aid to Ukraine, including European provision of US weapons.

— ChrisO_wiki (@chriso-wiki.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM

9/ Reports suggest that the US is considering an agreement under which Ukraine would be forced to withdraw from the unoccupied part of the Donetsk region, surrendering its extensive defensive lines, in exchange for Russia agreeing to a ceasefire. /end
bsky.app/profile/chri…

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— ChrisO_wiki (@chriso-wiki.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM

Source:
t.me/bomber_fight…

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— ChrisO_wiki (@chriso-wiki.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 9:30 AM

Chris Owens is an amateur military historian who wrote the history of L. Ron Hubbard’s service in the US Navy.

Russian state media propagandists have already arrived in Alaska to make a news report saying that the American state has “more than 700 toponyms with Russian roots.”

Propagandists keep making hints about taking Alaska back.

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— Anton Gerashchenko (@antongerashchenko.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 9:31 AM

Yay I found Americans that still give a fuck

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— Mira of Kyiv 🇺🇦 (@reshetz.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 3:28 PM

Canada:

From The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation:

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke by phone Monday, reaffirming their agreement that Ukraine must be a party to any discussions about a possible end to the war in that country.

Speaking in advance of the Friday meeting in Alaska between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Carney and Zelenskyy welcomed Trump’s leadership in working toward a lasting peace for Ukraine.

“The two leaders underscored that decisions on the future of Ukraine must be made by Ukrainians [and] international borders cannot be changed by force,” said a statement detailing the discussion that was released by the Prime Minister’s Office.

The statement also said Ukraine’s allies must continue to keep pressure on Russia to end its aggression and that any peace deal must include a “robust and credible” security guarantee.

Trump announced in a social media post on Friday that he would be meeting with Putin in Alaska on Aug. 15.

“I am grateful for Canada’s support for Ukraine and our people,” Zelenskyy said in a social media post after speaking with Carney. “We agreed that no decisions concerning Ukraine’s future and the security of our people can be made without Ukraine’s participation.”

Zelenskyy expressed skepticism that Putin genuinely intends to end his invasion of Ukraine, saying it’s obvious “the Russians simply want to buy time.”

The Ukrainian president said that until his country is invited to the negotiating table and Kyiv is given security guarantees, “sanctions against Russia must remain in force and be constantly strengthened.”

More at the link.

Again, the time of choosing has come. These statements are all factually correct, but all that matters is what Canada and the other allies are actually willing to do if Trump cuts a separate deal with Putin on Friday.

Germany:

⚡️ Germany’s Rheinmetall will double 155mm shell production in Ukraine to 300,000 a year, boosting Kyiv’s self-sufficiency and cutting reliance on foreign supplies.

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— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) August 11, 2025 at 9:18 AM

From United24 Media:

German defense giant Rheinmetall has announced plans to double its 155mm artillery shell production capacity at its plant in Ukraine, which is still under construction. The move is aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s self-sufficiency and reducing dependence on supplies from Western allies in the future, according to the German Aid to Ukraine project report on August 10.

Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger revealed the ambitious plan during the company’s Q2 2025 Conference Call on August 7, confirming that the original production target of 150,000 shells per year will be significantly increased. After an initial ramp-up period of one to two years, the factory will be capable of producing 300,000 155mm shells annually.

The expansion of production is seen as a significant step for Ukraine, which has relied heavily on Western countries for artillery shell supplies during the ongoing war. With local production, Ukraine will not only improve its independence but also reduce the logistical complexities associated with international shipments, German Aid to Ukraine project claims.

However, while the announcement marks a positive development for Ukraine’s defense industry, the project has not been without its challenges. Papperger expressed frustration with the pace of progress. He noted that while construction of a similar plant in Germany had already been completed, the facility in Ukraine is still under construction, despite starting at nearly the same time.

Either way, while Rheinmetall faces setbacks, there is no indication that the completion of the factory will be delayed. Despite the challenges, production is expected to begin next year as initially planned, bringing much-needed artillery shells to Ukraine’s armed forces.

More at the link.

Poland:

“The Russo-Ukrainian war cannot benefit Russia as the aggressor.” – said Polish PM Tusk. Ahead of the Trump-Putin meeting, he stressed the West won’t accept Russia’s terms, territorial issues need Ukraine’s input, and Russia will threaten Europe, including Poland, for many years.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 8:53 AM

Azerbaijan:

Azerbaijan allocates 2 million dollars for humanitarian aid to Ukraine, — President Aliyev signed the decree

These funds are directed to support the Ukrainian energy system, which was damaged due to russian attacks.

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— SAINT JAVELIN (@saintjavelin.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 4:36 AM

Lithuania:

From Gabriel Landsbergis, the former Lithuanian foreign minister:

The shameful plan to betray Ukraine “de facto, but not de jure”

If Ukraine has no choice but to accept “de facto” occupation — that’s because WE failed.

Not because Ukrainians failed, not because some mysterious “shit happened”, but because for years we ignored all the warnings, repeated all the mistakes of history, kicked the can down the road and refused to do what it takes to defend the rules and principles that enable sustainable peace and prosperity. This is on us.

We are the architects of this de facto defeat, so now we are trying to pretend it came out of nowhere and we did the best we could to stop it. In a spectacular display of unbombed westsplaining, Mark Rutte is suggesting that everything will be OK in the long run, like it was OK in the Baltic States after decades of de facto occupation by jolly old Uncle Joe Stalin.

Well, I have shrugged off a lot of dumb hot takes about my country over the last few years, but this one is literally sickening. Rutte is revealing that the latest genius 5D chess move to save Ukraine is to casually throw millions of people into a black hole of oppression, torture, rape, kidnapping, murder and destruction of national identity — “de facto, but not de jure”.

And the proponents of this plan will keep a straight face while they cite the misery of the occupation of the Baltic States as a shining example that Ukraine should happily walk into.

In his FT column, Gideon Rachman says little to fill the gap in Rutte’s world view:

“The Soviet Union’s annexation of the Baltic states after 1940 was never legally recognised by the US and most European countries. But it was a fact of life, until, eventually, the Baltic states regained their independence.”

Yikes, let’s unpack that.

The occupation wasn’t “a fact of life”, it was a fact of death.

“Eventually” was after decades of deportations, killing, grinding terror and violent attempts to turn everybody into russians.

“Regained their independence” was being crushed under Gorbachev’s tanks while western leaders pleaded with us to give up our fight for freedom.

So… this is the path to peace we are supposed to offer to Ukraine with a smile? These are the glorious new security guarantees that will erase the shame of the Budapest Agreement and allow Ukrainians to have faith in the future?

There are even US Ambassadors talking about how countries can “earn” certain territories and therefore presumably “deserve” them. Would it be paranoid of me to wonder if we just opened the door for Russia to “earn” Narva and Vilnius “de facto”?

If Ukraine continues to fight, you will soon hear mumblings that the “stubborn Ukrainians” refuse to comprehend the genius of this “realistic” peace plan that, in reality, would move Putin’s weapons closer to Kyiv.

We will hear more condemnation of Ukraine for daring to complain instead of saying thank you twice. As I wrote recently, I see parallels in Churchill’s abandonment of Eastern Europe to Stalin, and now I see Mark Rutte on TV broadcasting the echoes of that particularly nasty betrayal.

So I would ask all decisionmakers discussing their various technical office-based solutions to also talk to victims of Russia’s aggression and learn a little bit more about the “reality on the ground” that these plans are supposed to be dealing with.

I would suggest talking to the friends and family of Viktoriia Roschyna, a journalist who was recently laid to rest in Kyiv. Her body was returned after two years in Russian hands, her brain and eyes removed. Ask her parents if they recognise the “reality” presented to them in Alaska. Time and time again you will find that the “realistic” proposals being floated for our security appear naive and insulting to anyone who has any experience of living under occupation by Moscow.

We democracies and self-declared allies of Ukraine should be ashamed by our failure to keep Ukrainians safe. We should be determined to change course, not inspired to invent semantic tools that reduce our responsibility, reward the aggressor and erase the victim’s humanity.

When I ask to defend basic principles with honour, am I asking too much?

The difference between de facto and de jure does not matter to a woman being raped in front of her children. She cannot comfort them afterwards by telling them their trauma is de facto, not de jure.

The difference between de facto and de jure matters only to politicians discussing paper agreements that they know will not work and will not be defended. Only in their unbombed minds can their approach be called “realistic”.

Landsbergis has been one of the most, if not the most, clear eyed of any European official in regard to Putin’s intentions and objections for Ukraine and for Europe.

Back to Ukraine.

Donetsk Oblast:

In the past 24 hours, russian attacks on Donetsk Oblast claimed 2 civilian lives and injured 11. Dozens of homes and civilian infrastructure were damaged.

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 6:22 AM

Kharkiv Oblast:

An unexploded aerial bomb was discovered in a field in Kharkiv region. This is what farming looks like when your neighbor is a genocidal maniac.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 4:44 AM

Soledar, Russian occupied Donetsk Oblast:

Air strike on Russian positions in Soledar, Donetsk region. (48.7016086, 38.0658684)

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 8:34 AM

Sumy Oblast:

FPV strike on the Russian infantry during a river crossing.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 4:11 AM

Kupyansk, Kharkiv Oblast:

A “waiting” drone connected via fiber optic cable could have taken the lives of Ukrainian soldiers near Kupiansk, but fighters from the 114th Brigade quickly detected the Russian trap and destroyed it.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) August 11, 2025 at 11:56 AM

Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia:

Instrument-Making Plant in Arzamas, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia, was attacked 😏🔥

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) August 10, 2025 at 10:30 PM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material.

Instead of posting a cute Ukrainian cat for #InternationalCatDay, I want to share the reality of what the Hachiko team faces. After a huge missile strike in Kramatorsk, Alena went to help & met 90 year-old Raya, who miraculously wasn’t hurt, but could only find 2 of her 8 cats.

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— Nate Mook (@natemook.bsky.social) August 8, 2025 at 9:31 PM

Raya couldn’t believe we would give her cat food for free. We will help repair her windows & keep bringing food. Raya used to live with her granddaughter, but she was killed in another Russian bombing last year. 😔

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— Nate Mook (@natemook.bsky.social) August 8, 2025 at 9:31 PM

Open thread!