Just going to do a brief Thursday night update and run through the basics.
The cost:
Nearly 11,000 Ukrainian children from occupied territories were taken to russian “re-education” camps in 2025 for militarization and erasing their identity.
How isn’t that genocide?
Via United24.
— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 12:42 PM
The President of Ukraine met with fighters taking part in the Dobropillia counteroffensive operation.
t.me/c/1377735387…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
We Are Now Conducting One of Our Counteroffensive Operations in the Donetsk Direction – Address by the President
18 September 2025 – 15:43
I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!
Today, I’m in the Donetsk region – Kramatorsk, Slovyansk, our combat brigades – communicating with our warriors. I presented state awards, specifically for their achievements in battle, to the finest of our warriors, those who have excelled most in recent weeks. We are now conducting one of our counteroffensive operations in the Donetsk direction – and our guys are performing brilliantly – in the Pokrovsk and Dobropillia areas. The fighting is intense, but we have inflicted significant losses on the Russians. In effect, our forces are depriving the occupiers of the ability to carry out the full-scale offensive in this direction that they had long planned and relied on. Their first attempt was in the Sumy region; now it’s here – Ukrainian units are delivering results for Ukraine. I thank everyone involved. The operation continues as we planned. This is an important success for Ukraine. I thank the Airborne Forces, assault regiments and battalions, all our infantry, intelligence, and artillery personnel, and National Guard units. I thank everyone who is ensuring the unmanned systems component. Today, Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi delivered the first report on the outcomes. Since the start of the operation, our warriors have already liberated 160 square kilometers, and over 170 square kilometers have been cleared of the occupiers. We have significantly replenished our “exchange fund” – we already have almost 100 Russian prisoners, with more to come. Seven settlements in this direction have already been liberated, and nine more cleared of Russian presence. Any group of occupiers attempting to enter this area is being destroyed by our guys. Russian losses just since the start of this counteroffensive – in the Pokrovsk area alone, in these past weeks – are already more than 2,500, of which over 1,300 Russians have been killed. Ukraine is rightfully defending its positions and its land. And this is a heroic defense. I am proud of our warriors. I am proud of our people. In this war, Ukraine finds protection against every Russian treachery. We are thwarting every Russian plan – plans to destroy our state. Our defense is always active. And we have proven that Ukrainians can achieve the necessary results, achieve them even when many around the world expect results from Russia. It is important that our partners act with dignity – just as our people deserve to be supported. Russia must be forced into peace. And Ukraine can do this – if our army has sufficient strength and sufficient long-range capabilities. And, of course, the world can do this together with us – through strong sanctions against Russia and strong pressure, as strong as our people are. I want to thank everyone who is fighting for Ukraine!
Glory to Ukraine!
Georgia:
Protest outside the translator bureau used by Georgian police. Key “impartial witnesses” in planted drug cases for Russian activists are translators who never attended the searches, threatened detainees, and lack certificates. Protesters chant: “We will not forget false witnesses.”
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Day 295 of daily, nationwide protests in Georgia. Making some noise in the capital city of Tbilisi. 📣
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Rustaveli Avenue is blocked for the 295th day in a row. Protests continue in 8+ cities across Georgia.
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 12:21 PM
When you’ve been protesting for 295 days straight, you take it seriously—every chant, every step, every flag held high. 🇬🇪
I’m proud to see a civic society forming in Georgia. I just hope we won’t all be forced into emigration.
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Regime prisoner Revaz Kiknadze and several others began drawing on white shirts with just a red pen.
“Revolution for Georgia” and other similar calls dominate their drawings.
#GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 7:03 AM
1/6
🆘 Media founder and prominent Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli has been unlawfully imprisoned for 250 days.❌ She is the first journalist in #Georgia to be recognized as a prisoner of conscience since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
#FreeMzia #JournalismIsNotACrime #RepressionInGeorgia
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) September 18, 2025 at 7:43 AM
2/6
⚫ Her case comes amid the rapid decline of media freedom and an escalating crackdown on independent media and civil society in #Georgia.More: freemzia.com
#FreeMzia #JournalismIsNotACrime #GeorgiaProtests #RepressionInGeorgia— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) September 18, 2025 at 7:43 AM
3/6
🔴Against a backdrop of physical attacks & legal repression against media, Amaglobeli was arrested on Jan1 2, after being charged with “attacking police officer” for slapping an officer during a tense night marked by arbitrary arrests of peaceful protesters & reports of violence against detainees— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) September 18, 2025 at 7:43 AM
4/6
⚫ Amaglobeli spent almost seven months in pre-trial detention, with authorities justifying her continued imprisonment on the grounds of a “high risk of reoffending.” During this period, she undertook a 38-day hunger strike and lost most of her eyesight within the first month of detention.— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) September 18, 2025 at 7:43 AM
5/6
⚫ On August 6, Judge Nino Sakhelashvili reclassified the charge to “Resistance, threat, or violence against a protector of public order or other representative of the authorities” and sentenced her to two years in prison.
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) September 18, 2025 at 7:43 AM
6/6
🔴At her final hearing, Amaglobeli rejected the possibility of a plea bargain, declaring that accepting one would be “tantamount to being buried alive.” The case is currently under appeal.
More: freemzia.com
#FreeMzia #JournalismIsNotACrime #GeorgiaProtests #RepressionInGeorgia— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) September 18, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Regime prisoner Revaz Kiknadze and several others began drawing on white shirts with just a red pen.
“Revolution for Georgia” and other similar calls dominate their drawings.
#GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Latvia:
Today in Latvia, remnants of a Russian Gerbera strike drone were found.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 1:42 PM
North Korea:
🔴 South Korea is investigating reports that Russia may have supplied North Korea with nuclear submarine reactor modules.
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) September 18, 2025 at 8:38 AM
The Unification Church (the Moonies) was alleged to have sold Russian submarines to the North Koreans back in the 90s via a Japanese front company that they had set up. Those were diesel boats.
The US:
👀 Trump: If Europe did something with respect to China, I think China would probably maybe force an end to the war in Ukraine.
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Back to Ukraine.
Ukraine could be making 200+ of these per month by the start of 2026. Flamingos are huge: not stealthy, but fired in enough numbers a Flamingo or two will get through.
More support for Ukraine and more rigorous sanctions on fascist Russia could swing the balance in the air war.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Lancet interception by two drone operators. That’s what you call a ‘fragsteal’
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 3:50 PM
A NATO representative told Ukrainian media that part of the military equipment under the PURL program has already arrived in Ukraine.
This involves supplying weapons from U.S. stockpiles at the expense of NATO member states. So far, four packages worth about $2 billion have been funded under PURL.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Today, repatriation measures took place. 1,000 bodies, which the Russian side claims belong to Ukrainian servicemen, were returned to Ukraine. Identification of the repatriated bodies will be carried out in the near future.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Kostiantynivka:
Russian bombing of Kostiantynivka killed five civilians.
No empty promise could have saved them. No amount of concern will save others.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 1:22 PM
The Russian army dropped a FAB-250 bomb with a UMPK on a residential area in Kostyantynivka. As a result of the attack, 5 people were killed. Four apartment buildings were damaged.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Mariupol:
Google has updated its maps. Now you can see the full, unfiltered scale of the devastation in Mariupol.
It’s especially striking: an invisible employment center next to a vanished school, sitting in a completely empty field. Just 3.5 years ago, that place overflowed with life.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Zaporizhzhia Oblast:
On Aug 30 near Voskresenka, Zaporizhzhia region, unknown persons set dry grass ablaze near the 35th Army command post. The fire spread to buildings and dugouts; smoke and gas filled the post, leaving 18 Russian officers dead.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Kyiv:
Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz arrived in Kyiv with delegations from the Defense Ministry and Armed Forces. He will discuss military cooperation, further support for Ukraine, and the security situation amid Russian aggression.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 3:10 AM
❗️Massive Shahed UAVs attack on Kyiv rn!
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Donetsk Oblast:
✈️💣 Ukrainian aviation destroyed a dam in the Myrnohrad direction with AASM HAMMER bomb, – Soniashnyk
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 11:39 AM
The Republic of Bashkortostan, Russia:
Fresh kinetic sanctions on fascist Russia’s oil industry imposed by democratic Ukraine: Drones strike Gazprom Neftokhim oil refinery in Salavat, Bashkortostan – 1,300 km from nearest Ukrainian-controlled territory. Geoloc: 53.413454, 55.884912
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 4:11 AM
I love how they built these iron nets on this oil refinery to protect from drones, and they didn’t help at all 😁
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Volgograd Oblast:
Special Operations Forces struck the Volgograd oil refinery last night, disrupting operations. As the largest fuel producer in Russia’s Southern Federal District, it processes 15.7M tons annually – 5.6% of Russia’s total. Preliminary reports confirm the refinery has been halted.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Rostov Oblast, Russia:
The head of the Center for the Study of Occupation, Petro Andriushchenko, reports that unknown good people set fire to an electrical substation in Dugino, Rostov region, and it burned to the ground.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 3:02 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material.
🦖👀
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) September 18, 2025 at 4:43 PM
What?
Open thread!
Another Scott
Relatedly, … Phys.org:
Much more at the link.
Slava Ukrani!!
Best wishes,
Scott.
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
Frist?
I don’t know if it’s ATESH or special ops, but there are suddenly a lot of “unknown ‘ people joining the anti-Russian activities.
Saw a video on the International Legion. Volunteers are still coming and they make an impact.
Thank you Adam. You’re still a voice I depend upon.
Gin & Tonic
@Another Scott: While the quotes from that article sound nice, and in fact to a large degree align with the subject of my son’s master’s thesis some years back (i.e. decentralization) the journal’s name sticks in my craw: “Post-Soviet.” People, the USSR ceased to exist 35 years ago. How long is it reasonable to expect to see this formulation – “former Soviet republic of X?” A good portion of Ukraine’s legislature does not have a hammer and sickle on their birth certificate; people born after the collapse of the USSR are now middle-aged. We are halfway to the point where it will have been longer without the USSR than with it. Give it up, for chrissake.
Adam L Silverman
@Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom: You’re welcome. Thank you for the kind words.
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: You’re welcome.
Westyny
Thank you, Adam.
Adam L Silverman
@Westyny: You’re welcome.
Jay
No links, but for those interested in things that go boom.
Ukraine has recovered a bunch of ruZZian denotators from ruZZian artillary shells that don’t go “boom”. They were made between 1932 and 1939, in Germany, part of the “secret” parts of the Soviet/German/Nazi alliance before and during the dissection of Poland and Operation Barbarossa.
Part 2, Ukraine has a new proximity fuse. It’s basically the PM1, anti armour/ anti personnel fuse, miniaturized down to the size of a SIM card, rather than an apple sized fuse system. It has three sensors, magnetic, motion and location. It’s time delayed, so it can be set, it’s time limited, so it self disarms. They use it on anti-vehicle mines, (soft skinned), anti personnel booby traps and on drones, so if ruZZian EW takes down a drone of theirs, it’s now a bomb, not a drone that can be repurposed.
AJ of the Mustard Search and Rescue Team
Thank you Adam.