First off, congratulations to Joelle and John. May they have many happy years together.
Russian fighters had to be intercepted in both Europe and the US today.
Hungarian o.O
Hungarian Gripens intercepted russian fighter jets over Baltics.
This is… unexpected.— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 1:44 PM
🇺🇸✈️ U.S. fighter jets scrambled to intercept Russian military aircraft near Alaska. Two Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers and two Su-35 fighter jets flew in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, which is international airspace bordering U.S. and Canadian airspace, — CBS News
— Savchenko Volodymyr (@savchenkoua.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 8:41 AM
You failed the test <3
— Mira of Kyiv 🇺🇦 (@reshetz.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 2:56 PM
The only Russian fighters or bombers that were actually shot down, however, were by the Ukrainians:
The Ukrainian Air Force reports the downing of a Russian Su-34.
At around 04:00 on September 25, 2025 a Russian Su-34 aircraft was shot down while carrying out strikes on the city of Zaporizhzhia.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Earlier today, Ukrainian authorities announced the downing of a Russian Su-34.
Now, a Russian propaganda blogger with ties to the aviation community has confirmed it.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Probe for mush…
President Zelenskyy did not make an address today.
First Lady Zelenska participated in a special event on Ukrainian studies. Video below, English write up after the jump.
American Universities Joined the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies – Olena Zelenska
25 September 2025 – 14:41
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, took part in a special event, “Ukrainian Studies Now: Building Global Alliances,” dedicated to the first anniversary of the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies.
“Ukrainian Studies today is not just about the past. It is a way to understand the modern world, its dynamics, and its challenges. Over the past year, we have seen that the demand for studying Ukraine is not decreasing – it is only growing. Knowledge is what helps dispel myths and counter disinformation,” Olena Zelenska emphasized.
During the event, memoranda were signed to mark the joining of Arizona State University, Columbia University, and the Shevchenko Scientific Society in the U.S. to the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies. Memoranda were also exchanged with the University of Notre Dame and Manor College.
The First Lady expressed her gratitude to the educational institutions, the Ukrainian Embassy, and everyone involved for their cooperation.
The event also included a panel discussion on “How Academic Diplomacy Changes Global Perceptions of Ukraine,” featuring scholars and experts from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine.
“In times of fakes and disinformation, in a world flooded with informational ‘fast food,’ it is extremely important to learn facts not only from online clips, but from original sources and scholarly works – carefully, deeply, and thoroughly. Like any knowledge, this enriches all participants. Those who learn more about Ukraine’s path will better understand themselves, their country, and the world,” Olena Zelenska noted.
The Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies was launched last year with the support of the First Lady of Ukraine. Over the past year, the coalition has brought together around 100 universities worldwide, 15 of which have already become official members. Participants include institutions from Finland, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Austria, Canada, Korea, Italy, Japan, and the United States. The coalition works on creating joint educational courses, supporting academic exchanges, and opening Ukrainian studies centers, shaping a new understanding of Ukraine in the world.
Georgia:
Day 302 of uninterrupted, nationwide protests in Georgia. Rustaveli Avenue is blocked again. ✅ 🇬🇪🇺🇦
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Today on Rustaveli Avenue there are more UK and German flags than usual. Both ambassadors have been summoned by GD. As part of its ongoing smear campaign against the EU, GD accuses these countries of “violating the Vienna Convention” and “encouraging the radical agenda.” 🇬🇧🇩🇪🇺🇦
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Georgian Dream has summoned the UK Ambassador to Georgia, Gareth Ward, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Gareth Ward did not make any comments to the media.
On September 24, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, summoned the German Ambassador, Peter Fischer.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 3:59 AM
🟥This time, the #UK Ambassador has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Gareth Ward, the United Kingdom’s Ambassador to #Georgia, is already at the Ministry for the meeting.
The Ambassador did not make any comments to the media before entering.— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) September 25, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Every time we receive support from our partners (such as sanctions announcement), their respective flags show up prominently at the protest that evening.
Today, 🇩🇪 and the 🇬🇧 are prominent in support of @Diplo_Peter and @GarethWardUK @UKinGeorgia ✊🏻
#GeorgiaProtests Day 302.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 1:36 PM
And, well, the flag of Ukraine is always there prominently, of course! ✊🏻 🇺🇦
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Today’s protests are so fundamentally heavier in spirit than last year’s Russian law protests that I have a very hard time realizing it’s only a difference of, like, fifteen months.
I guess that’s a natural progression if we want a successful outcome.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 6:59 PM
In New York, on the sidelines of the UN, Georgian Dream FM Maka Bochorishvili met with Belarus FM Maxim Ryzhenkov.
Per Belarus MFA, talks focused on deepening trade, economic, humanitarian & cultural ties.
Ryzhenkov also met FMs of Ghana, Uganda & Venezuela.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 10:09 AM
I’m absolutely sure that the Georgian Dream cannot last for too long. They just don’t have what it takes to stabilize a dictatorship.
However, the following weeks will most likely determine whether taking our country back is a short-term possibility.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Somebody desecrated the memorial to Georgians fallen in Ukraine, itself located at the Heroes Memorial.
No one detained or identified.
Days ago, they conducted a special operation in western Georgia to seize the student girl who wrote “Russian Dream” on a GD campaign banner.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 4:43 AM
The regime continues to face obstacles wherever it goes. School teachers in Khashuri criticize the campaigning local GD guy for a new school that just vanished despite money having been allocated.
The suited-up GD, completely out of touch, told one lady “You aren’t even a teacher!”
📷 Mozaika
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 7:13 AM
A bomb threat forced the Supreme Court to evacuate. Yesterday, the same happened at the Tbilisi City Court.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 7:21 AM
BEHOLD, people! We have the first-ever GD-supportive gathering in the 11 months of protests!
As you know, it’s crucial for regimes to rally the public for supportive gatherings to project dominance and power. Yet, the Georgian Dream has had none. 1/3
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Moreover, they couldn’t even bring out their party-affiliated people to light up the Christmas tree in December, to which they had attributed a stabilizing importance. 2/3
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 9:40 AM
And now, just a bunch of Glovo delivery guys drive around with GD party flags.
The world has seen so much, and people still refer to the UNM’s “barely filled stadium” just before their 2012 loss,
BUT WHAT ON EARTH IS THIS DISGRACE! I almost feel bad for them. 3/3.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 9:40 AM
I’m in a very deep shock, I can’t even laugh at this.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 9:47 AM
October 4 will be a significant milestone in Georgia one way or another.
On the one hand, it’s the sham local elections where some opposition parties decided to participate. It will be rigged, and participants know it too. The police will of course be on high alert patrolling precincts. 1/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 10:05 AM
In the meantime, some groups have announced a “peaceful revolution” on that evening (unrelated to any concerns regarding local elections rigging because no one cares about it to begin with). 2/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 10:05 AM
There are countless rumors regarding who’s behind that process, whether there are regime defections incoming, and whether there are enough skilled people to protect the protesters if the regime resorts to a crackdown. 3/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 10:05 AM
There are countless rumors regarding who’s behind that process, whether there are regime defections incoming, and whether there are enough skilled people to protect the protesters if the regime resorts to a crackdown. 3/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 10:05 AM
I don’t know much about what’s happening around the date & it’s driving me crazy, but in any case, the grand gathering has penetrated everyone’s minds in Georgia, there’s a palpable mix of confusion, hope, anger, fear and determination, and the GD is visibly weaker than ever.
#GeorgiaProtests 4/4.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 10:05 AM
It was rumoured that the regime has a shortage in manpower and resorted to the Special State Protection Service in preparation for the grand October 4 rally.
I didn’t necessarily believe it until the Service suddenly announced recruitment for the protection of important buildings.
Gosh…
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Looks like things are accelerating in Georgia.
The US:
First ladies. I rarely see Melania smile.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 12:47 PM
The EU:
European officials fear Trump is preparing to blame them for Ukraine failure on.ft.com/4o8McBZ
— Financial Times (@financialtimes.com) September 25, 2025 at 12:17 AM
From The Financial Times:
European officials fear Donald Trump’s latest rhetoric on Ukraine aims to set them an impossible mission that will allow the US president to shift blame away from Washington if Kyiv falters in the war or runs short of cash.
After months of pressing Ukraine to settle with Moscow and give up Russian-occupied territory, the US president stunned European capitals on Tuesday by declaring on social media that Kyiv could “fight and win” all its land “with the help of the EU”.
While Trump’s new stance was welcomed in some quarters, several European officials concluded he was handing them responsibility for Ukraine’s defence with expectations that Europe would find hard to meet.
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Thursday warned publicly that Trump’s “surprising optimism” disguised “a promise of reduced US involvement and a shift of responsibility for ending the war to Europe”. He added on X: “Better truth than illusions.”
Trump has also called on the EU to halt purchases of Russian oil and hit China and India with tariffs — steps that Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, a Trump ally, has long said he would block.
“This is the start of a blame game,” one official said of Trump’s abrupt change of heart. “The US knew that the China and India tariffs would be impossible” for the EU to accept.
Trump “is building the off ramp” so he can blame Europe when and if he needs to, a European government aide said. The shift was “spectacular” and “generally good”, but Trump was “setting a very high bar”, a German official noted.
Carlo Masala, international affairs professor at Bundeswehr University Munich, said “Trump wants to avoid that, after nine months in power, this war becomes his war too” and no longer just “Biden’s war”.
One European official noted Trump’s “Good luck to all!” sign-off on his Truth Social post as tantamount to a handover note.
Another European official said: “Everyone sees he is disengaging.”
After a bilateral meeting with Trump in New York on Tuesday, Emmanuel Macron, president of France, put a more positive gloss on the US leader’s statement, describing it as “very correct”.
“If we back Ukraine completely in this situation, the Russian economy is suffering, so there is an opportunity for a good future,” Macron added.
But EU leaders have concluded Trump is no longer a reliable ally, officials said.
Denmark:
🇩🇰 BREAKING: Denmark has once again closed Aalborg Air Base and Aalborg Airport after unidentified drones were detected in its airspace.
Commercial flights are being diverted.
— Conflict Dispatch (@conflictdispatch.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Unidentified drones were spotted overnight near four airports in Denmark.
The UAVs were seen around Aalborg Airport, as well as in Esbjerg, Sønderborg, and Vojens. They were active between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., but attempts to bring them down were unsuccessful.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Syria:
Ukraine and Syria have signed a document on the restoration of diplomatic relations, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced after a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Back to Ukraine.
🇺🇦❤️ As part of the initiative of the President of Ukraine Bring Kids Back UA, 17 Ukrainian children and adolescents were rescued from the temporarily occupied territories.
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 5:29 PM
“What is new in Trump’s statements made today or what do they mean for us? Absolutely nothing,” said Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a Ukrainian MP. “And what should we expect next? Also nothing.”
On the Ukrainian and Russian reactions to Trump’s messages.
w/ @maxseddon.bsky.social
on.ft.com/3IdFawr— Christopher Miller (@christopherjm.ft.com) September 24, 2025 at 7:43 AM
From The Financial Times:
Ukrainians were left unconvinced by the about-turn in President Donald Trump’s rhetoric at the UN, seeing no concrete military or economic support behind his warm words.
After months of insisting that Ukraine must surrender territory to Russia in exchange for peace, Trump met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and appeared to dramatically reverse course. Kyiv, he wrote on social media, was “in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form”.
But the words struck Ukrainian politicians, soldiers and analysts as hollow.
“What is new in Trump’s statements made today or what do they mean for us? Absolutely nothing,” said Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a Ukrainian MP with the opposition Holos party. “And what should we expect next? Also nothing.”
Just last month, Trump had hosted Vladimir Putin in Alaska and appeared to side with the Russian president, abandoning his push for a ceasefire and instead arguing that Ukraine would need to give up land and capitulate to Moscow.
Even Zelenskyy was a “little bit” surprised by the volte-face, he told Fox News on Tuesday.
“I think we have a better relation than before,” he said, speculating that “maybe time” had helped. “I think the fact that Putin was lying to President Trump so many times also made a difference.”
But Ukrainian political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko warned: “Let’s not rush to conclusions just yet. Trump is Trump, and we have seen his mood swings and shifts in political positions more than once.”
With no new promises of sanctions, Ukrainian soldiers felt little reassurance from Trump’s barbs about Russia looking like a “paper tiger” that was in “BIG” economic trouble.
“Please, let’s not get euphoric just because Trump said that Russia’s economy is collapsing and screwed. He’s already said plenty of things in public, so his words carry no weight,” wrote Oleksandr, a senior lieutenant and war blogger who goes by his first name in keeping with military protocol.
Russia’s biggest economic challenge, Oleksandr said, was Ukraine’s deep-strike drone campaign that had targeted Russia’s energy infrastructure and dented its fuel exports. “Everything else is fiction,” he wrote.
But Trump’s comments on Russia’s economy did prompt a rare rebuke from Moscow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told RBC radio that Russia was “in no way a tiger, but more associated with a bear, and there is no such thing as a paper bear”. “Russia is a real bear . . . there is nothing paper about it,” he added.
Peskov acknowledged that western sanctions had created “certain points of tension” but said the economy had largely remained stable and could support its war effort. “We are doing this for our country’s present and its future for many generations to come,” he said.
More at the link.
Crimea is Ukraine 🇺🇦
— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 3:38 PM
This is Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces commander and this image is from his unit’s official account
— Mira of Kyiv 🇺🇦 (@reshetz.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Russian occupied Luhansk:
Last night USF struck several key gas distribution stations in the occupied Luhansk region of Ukraine:
🔥 Shchastia Gas Distribution Station;
🔥 Sievierodonetsk Gas Distribution Station;
🔥 Novopskov Gas Distribution Station.The strikes were carried out by the 14th USF Regiment
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Russian occupied Crimea:
Attack on Russia and occupied Crimea!
DroneBomber 🤩🤩🤩— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Ukrainian intelligence operatives destroyed two Russian An-26 aircraft in Crimea 👏
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 6:03 AM
🔥Two Russian An-26 transport aircraft, surface radar station along with the MR-10M1 “Mys M1” coastal radar targeted by the “Prymary” unit in Crimea during another raid.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 2:22 AM
/2. One of the Russian An-26 destroyed during the drone raid on Kacha military airfield in Crimea. An-26, 30 Blue, RF-46878. Illustrative image dated 2023. (44.77009, 33.57114)
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 3:02 AM
In occupied Crimea, people wait for hours in line for gasoline. Fuel is so scarce that even tiny deliveries to gas stations feel like a celebration. Yet the “gas station country” still insists everything is just fine.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 7:41 AM
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant:
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been in blackout for the second day.
The only line that supplied the plant with power from the Ukrainian energy system was damaged as a result of Russian shelling.
energoatom.com.ua/en/news/na-z…
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Kupyansk, Kharkiv Oblast:
Soldiers of the occupying army are trying to reach Kupiansk in small groups and hide within the urban landscape.
Drone operators from the 10th Army Corps are working to prevent Russian forces from crossing the fields toward the outskirts of Kupiansk.
t.me/c/2862528297…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Kherson Oblast:
Russia is shelling Kherson with North Korean JU-90 cluster munitions, reports Defense Express. Found in coastal areas, JU-90s are low-quality copies of the U.S. M42. Many fail to detonate, creating deadly hazards for civilians.
defence-ua.com/news/rf_viko…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Moscow:
Another Russian official has been found dead in Moscow.
The body of Alexander Fedotov, former chairman of the St. Petersburg Committee for Transport Infrastructure. Russians claim he committed suicide. He was discovered yesterday under the windows of the Sheraton Hotel at Sheremetyevo Airport.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 10:03 AM
This is why I have a one story house with no windows.
Bashkortostan Russia:
Satellite imagery of the Russian Salavat oil refinery after yesterday’s Ukrainian drone attack. ELOU AVT-6 with the yearly capacity of 6 mln tons of oil per year was severely hit.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 7:06 AM
/2. During the previous attack ELOU AVT-4 unit with the yearly capacity of 4 mln tons burned down.
Therefore, this Russian plant must completely stop oil refining until repairs are made.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 7:06 AM
/3. In same manner as AVT-4, AVT-6 at the Salavat oil refinery was also fully covered in large anti-drone structures.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Krasnodar Krai, Russia:
Russia, Krasnodar Krai, Belorechensk. Overnight, the “EuroChem-Belorechensk Mineral Fertilizers” plant was attacked. Local residents reported hearing explosions at the facility.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Afipsky Oil Refinery, in Russia is Booming 💥
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Ukrainian sanctions in action 🔥
(Afipsky refinery, Russia)
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 8:39 PM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron skeets or videos tonight. Here is some adjacent material.
😻 Apparently, he has already agreed with the local grannies that he will entertain them with his presence in exchange for exclusive rights to the best spots for a siesta. Who else can so elegantly turn a city bench into a personal bed and still look completely justified?
Odesa 🇺🇦— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) September 25, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Open thread!
Aziz, light!
Thank you, Adam.
Adam L Silverman
@Aziz, light!: You’re welcome.
Carlo Graziani
I wonder whether the current crop of Ukrainian long-range drones can threaten repair crews in follow-on attacks on oil facilities. Which, in my opinion, would constitute completely legitimate target selection in this war.
Adam L Silverman
@Carlo Graziani: Those would be covered under dual use targeting criteria.
That said, I’m not sure Ukraine wants to start doing double taps similar to what Russia does on Ukrainian emergency services.
The Pale Scot
Adam, what do u think about all the high brass (800)being pulled to DC for a “meeting” Sounds like a Red Wedding scenario to me
Or,
Putin does shit, China does shit etc
cain
Totally agreed with Adam’s criticism of Biden. We are seeing the outcome of his foreign policy here. Thanks Adam for this update.
Carlo Graziani
@Adam L Silverman: I would make a distinction between Russian double taps on civilian terror targets and (hypothetical) Ukrainian double taps on bona fide strategic targets.
Unlike endangered emergency response crews in Ukraine, the repair crews at Russian refineries and pipelines are not intervening to save lives endangered by the original strikes. Russian repair crews are at the same risk as the regular facility operations personnel. To the extent that they represent valuable assets for the protection/repair of Russian oil facilities, they should be regarded as legitimate targets, no less than the operations staff. Who, let’s be brutally honest, are also obviously targets of the Oil Plan.
Chetan Murthy
@Carlo Graziani: I sure don’t know jack about this stuff, but it seems like it makes more sense to wait until RU -almost- gets things repaired, and -then- hit the refinery. That is to say, the machinery and the -parts- ought to be more valuable than the personnel, I’d think. The goal is to keep as much capacity offline as possible, after all.
But Idunno, could be getting it all bass-ackards.
Adam L Silverman
@The Pale Scot: It won’t be that. Most likely Hegseth wants to roll out the new National defense strategy draft with them. Because it is going to emphasize turning the military inward for domestic homeland defense and deemphasize everything else we’ve been doing.
Adam L Silverman
@cain: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@Carlo Graziani: I get the distinction, you get the distinction, the Ukrainians get the distinction, but the last thing the Ukrainians want to do is provide anyone an opportunity to ignore the distinction and use it against the Ukrainians. Because the Russians will do this. More importantly, Trump and Vance will do this.
Peke Daddy
@Adam L Silverman: Defend the homeland from the people?
Chetan Murthy
@Peke Daddy: Shades of Bertholt Brecht!
Adam L Silverman
@Peke Daddy: I have no idea. I’ve thankfully not been asked to review the draft strategy.
Westyny
Thank you, Adam.
YY_Sima Qian
Some of the European technocrats are still in denial.
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
YY_Sima Qian
@The Pale Scot:
@Adam L Silverman:
I think Hegseth is just flexing. There is zero need to have all of these GOFOs to fly in to Virginia just to witness the roll out of the NSS in person.
Adam L Silverman
@Westyny: @AlaskaReader: @Jay: You’re all most welcome.
Jay
Video at link,
nitter.poast.org/wartranslated/status/1970798961385525629#
Funny that,……………………..
newrepublic.com/post/200827/ice-5-year-old-autistic-girl-arrest-dad
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: I included that in last night’s update. Above the jump. It was even in the title of the post.
Traveller
Nothing makes me smile bigger than seeing another, (and more!), Russian Refiners burning, blown up or destroyed. I have so many smiles of late my cheeks are hurting….this has also begun to make its way into the mainstream press….:
From CNN:
The ban on exports is the latest attempt by the Kremlin to deal with the shortages. Moscow first barred some exports of gasoline in March, then extended the ban to all major producers in July.
Snip
The situation is so bad that the Russian-imposed governor of the occupied Crimea went as far as admitting the real reason behind the shortages, blaming it on “reduced production” at Russian oil refineries, albeit without mentioning the real reason for this – the war that Russia has been waging on Ukraine.
Videos and images shared on social media show long lines of cars waiting at the few gas stations that still have supplies.
I wish I had more on this…state to state contracts canceled, something, but this will have to do for the time being…all in all, still good news. Best Wishes, Traveller
Traveller
What the heck, here is an addition that people may not have seen:
A
cumulative tally of Refinery loss:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NfYoI5Qv2XO0I9wDOoJTqe8Y6PRIgESAm3MLQKFUFWA/edit?gid=0#gid=0
And the latest explosions:
reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1nqmhq2/ukrainian_longrange_attack_uavs_hit_the_afipsky/
PS Oil people tell me that multiple strikes are necessary to actually take out an entire refinery….which are very large and stretch out over long distances.
Jay
@Adam L Silverman:
Yea, ICE must have seen it because they took inspiration from it.
bjacques
@Chetan Murthy: I’ve always been a fan of The Rise And Fall Of The City Of Mahagonny. More like MAGAgonny, amirite?
And I like your idea better, of just bombing Russian cat crackers when they’re about to come back online. Pity The Oil Drum blog isn’t still around. They’d be all over this.
Aziz, light!
The Ukrainians know implicitly that Trump’s words on any given day have no substance. Why can’t the rest of the world grasp that simple fact? Way too much effort is spent parsing his excretions in the vain hope that a clue has finally penetrated his feeble brain.
Nettoyeur
@Adam L Silverman: I grew up during the Cold War and spent a significant part of my 50 year scientific/engineering carreer working on intl projects with and in the USSR, Japan, France, Australia, Germany…I thought the basis of the post-WWII US natl security strategy was Forward Defense, precisely because that keeps wars away from the US mainland. That’s why we have naval and air bases around the globe, rapid heavy lift capability, special ops, , and LOTS of radar and comms installations from Greenland to Australia. Are we now just going put all our assets in civil war style forts in the South and wait for the Russians, Chinese, and assorted terror groups to do a Pearl Harbor on us?
hotshoe
@Traveller:
I’m curious about whether the Russian people in Crimea and Russian-allied former Ukrainians in Crimea can relocate to actual Russia.
Is it possible?
Would it be better?
Not quite so vulnerable to the long thin supply lines from “the mainland”?
I know I’ve seen info lately about the strain on Russian economy, higher gas prices everywhere, etc …but if I were given the choice between stress and unemployment in downtown Oakland or on Alcatraz, I’m sure I would move to Oakland.
Do they have choices?
Paul in KY
@YY_Sima Qian: It has to be something more unusual than a NSS rollout/change. I’m very uneasy about this.