(The ravine at Babyn Yar)
Today is the 84th anniversary of the Babyn Yar massacre.
Today, Ukraine commemorates the Babyn Yar massacre – one of WWII’s darkest chapters.
In Sept 1941, Nazis executed tens of thousands, mainly Kyiv’s Jews, along with Roma, POWs, and civilians.
Babyn Yar stands as a symbol of Holocaust horrors. We remember to prevent history from repeating.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Here is the press release I was sent by email from the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center:
Amid War in Ukraine, Historic Discovery at Babyn Yar
Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center Finds Over 1,000 Previously Unidentified Babyn Yar Victims
Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center Finds Over 1,000 Previously Unidentified Babyn Yar Victims
On 84th anniversary of the massacre, names read aloud at the massacre site for the first time; new discoveries made possible through unprecedented archival access and digitization during wartime
KYIV, Ukraine – September 29, 2025 – On the 84th anniversary of the Babyn Yar massacre, the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center (BYHMC) revealed today the names of more than 1,000 newly identified victims, read aloud for the first time in a ceremony at the massacre site that included the Jewish Kaddish memorial prayer. Despite the ongoing war in Ukraine and the difficult security conditions, researchers have restored the names of 1,031 individuals whose fate was previously unknown.
The discovery is part of a wider progress report presented by BYHMC. As of today, the museum’s database contains 29,671 names of victims, enriched with details such as ages, addresses, relatives, professions, and circumstances of death. Among the more than 1,000 newly identified names are victims as young as nine months old and as old as 102, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the massacre. Since the war began, more than 2,000 existing records have also been updated and corrected.
Babyn Yar is the largest killing site outside the Nazi camps – the blood-soaked ravine in Kyiv where, on September 29–30, 1941, on the eve of Yom Kippur, 33,771 Jews were murdered in just two days. Over the two years of German occupation, about 100,000 people, including Jewish families, Roma, and Ukrainian political prisoners, were murdered there by the Germans and their local collaborators. Babyn Yar became the largest mass grave in Europe and a symbol of the “Holocaust by Bullets.” The massacre is regarded as the beginning of the “Final Solution” in the Soviet Union, carried out not with gas chambers but through direct gunfire and extraordinary brutality. During the Soviet era, memory of the massacre was suppressed, and Jewish victims were not mentioned by name.
The new discoveries were made possible in part thanks to the opening of archival sources in Ukraine that had been closed for 75 years. During the war, the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center scanned about 7 million documents, creating a digital archive of 8 million items – the largest in Eastern Europe.
Among the newly discovered materials are applications to adopt children orphaned after their parents were murdered at Babyn Yar, petitions by citizens seeking legal recognition of relatives’ deaths for inheritance, remarriage, or financial support, and birth certificates from the 1920s and 1930s that helped identify children murdered alongside their parents. One striking case is a 1946 legal file detailing the plea of Zindel Kravetsky, who sought recognition of the deaths of his wife and three children – 8-year-old Aron, 6-year-old Zoya, and 4-year-old Vova – all murdered at Babyn Yar. Another record documents Rakhil Meirovna Kravets, born in 1863, who fled Korosten to Kyiv at the outbreak of the war, only to be murdered in the killing ravine.
Since the war began, 300,000 people, including international leaders and Ukrainian citizens, have visited the Babyn Yar memorial site. Approximately 600 educational tours have been conducted, underscoring the growing commitment to remembrance even during wartime.
Natan Sharansky, Chairman of the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center, said: “Memory is a moral weapon against denial, oblivion, and distortion. The war in Ukraine is an ideological war no less than a war over territory. There is a blatant attempt to undermine history and even erase it. Every name we succeed in restoring to existence contributes to Holocaust commemoration and advances justice and dignity for its victims. I salute the work of our researchers, who continue tirelessly under fire. Precisely in times of war, the obligation to defend the truth is doubled.”
Today, September 29, 2025, the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center and the International March of the Living held a memorial event at the National Library in Jerusalem marking the anniversary of the massacre. At the event, the newly uncovered names of victims were revealed, followed by a discussion titled “Memory Under Attack,” focusing on the challenges and importance of Holocaust research and commemoration.
Speakers at the event will include Minister Zeev Elkin, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Israel Yevgen Korniychuk, Natan Sharansky, Chairman of the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center, Sallai Meridor, Chairman of the National Library, Dani Dayan, Chairman of Yad Vashem, Yigal Cohen, CEO of the Ghetto Fighters’ House Museum, Prof. Dina Porat, Chief Historian of Yad Vashem, Revital Yakin Krakowsky, CEO of March of the Living Israel, and Dr. Yohai Ben Gedalia, CEO of the Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People at the National Library. The event was opened with an exhibition featuring items from Ukraine’s Jewish community before the war.
Revital Yakin Krakowsky, CEO of March of the Living Israel, added: “Babyn Yar, the symbol of the ‘Holocaust by Bullets,’ tells the story of more than 2 million Jews who were shot and thrown into mass graves across Eastern Europe. On this day, we bring their story, honor their memory, and pray for an end to the war in Ukraine. We hope to march in Kyiv at the Babyn Yar memorial site next year, which will mark 85 years since the massacre.”
This is not an endorsement of either the March of the Living program overall, it’s Israeli portion, nor Israel. Nor is it a commentary on what Israel is doing in Gaza or the West Bank, which is unacceptable from both a human and a Jewish perspective.
Last night Carlo Graziano was considering the Ukrainian strike on the Russian manufacturing plant:
The HIMARS strike hypothesis on Belgorod power infrastructure makes sense to me. The range seems right, and almost all Ukrainian drone strikes seem focused on oil/gas targets at the moment.
Except for that strike at the electro-technical manufacturing plant in Karachev. That seems new. It’s an economic target rather than a strictly military target, so it seems in line with the theory animating the Oil Plan attacks, but it is a departure from those attacks. I wonder whether the Ukrainians are generating target lists working from some economic model of the Russian supply chains that is broader than just oil supply. If so, we may see more such attacks on Russian industrial infrastructure in the weeks ahead
ETA: On reflection, the Ukrainian long-range drone campaign really got going in early August, but their development and manufacturing schedules must have been in place for at least a year before that. So they have had a lot of time to ponder and plan the best use of those offensive resources as they come on-line. It is entirely possible the the Oil Plan is only the first phase of an economic offensive that is scheduled to develop and grow with increasing Ukrainian drone capabilities and production rates.
As we saw with Operation Spider Web, Ukraine appears to have a named operation with different phases to strike relevant Russian targets using a variety of means. I expect that what we’ve been seeing with the petroleum industry strikes are lines of effort within that phase of the overall named operation. As for the manufacturing plant in Karachev, it may not be part of a different phase within the named operation. Rather, since it is a legitimate dual use target, it may simply be high up on the Ukrainian Joint Integrated Prioritized Target List (JIPTL pronounced jiptil, though I once heard a Navy captain call it the jipitil), was nominated, the Ukrainian commander decided that it could be hit cleanly, and approved the strike. We’ll have to wait and see if more targets like this start being hit before we will have a better idea if there is a phase of the named operation to strike these types of targets.
“There will be no safe place for Russia — Ukrainian weapons can reach any military targets on its territory, said Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister.” – Sybiha, during his speech at the Warsaw Security Forum.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 10:42 AM
President Zelenskyy participated in the Warsaw Security Forum today.
Here’s the video with English closed captioning turned on.
And here is his address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
We Are Planning Contracts and Production to Ensure That Our Arsenals Are Sufficiently Supplied – Address by the President
29 September 2025 – 21:07
Fellow Ukrainians!
I held a Technology Staff meeting. Manufacturers of our weapons – long-range weapons – were there. The key issue was production volumes. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and other government officials, our Defense and Security Forces, and all the major Ukrainian drone and missile producers took part in today’s discussion. This is the format that works best – when everyone is involved in the same conversation, everyone whom it truly concerns is involved in preparing important decisions, everyone has the chance to provide real information, and no one has the opportunity to lie. There were indeed differences in the assessments of our production potential and the actual capacity of the companies – yesterday and today I spoke in detail with our manufacturers. And afterward, all those responsible on the state’s side for contracts and for financing were present. We need to maximize production, and Ukraine’s manufacturing capacity is still far from fully utilized. We are directing Ukrainian funding so that every company capable of delivering quality results receives an order and can fully carry it out. Partners are helping us with financing, especially for drones. This is important and tangible, and I thank you for it. The task of the Ministry of Defense and all involved institutions is to ensure that manufacturers receive as many orders as they can realistically fulfill.
At today’s Staff meeting, reports were presented on our long-range needs in the near term, through the end of the year, and over the longer horizon. The accuracy of our warriors helps defend the entire country. We are planning contracts and production to ensure that our arsenals are sufficiently supplied. We are also working on exports – controlled exports of certain types of our weapons where we have a surplus – which can truly provide Ukraine with additional funds to produce the items that are in short supply and urgently needed at the front today, as well as those that have proven most effective in striking deep inside Russian territory. Agreements have already been reached on four export destinations: the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. We will be preparing the relevant deals.
We also spoke separately with the military about the operational situation, and the Commander-in-Chief delivered his report. The Dobropillia counteroffensive operation continues. I want to thank all our units involved for their effectiveness. As of the beginning of this day, our forces have liberated more than 174 square kilometers since the start of the operation, and more than 194 square kilometers have been cleared of Russian sabotage groups. Russian losses in this operation alone amount to nearly 3,200, the majority of them irrecoverable. Reports were delivered on the situation in Kupyansk, on the situation in the Kharkiv border areas, and in the areas at the junction of the Donetsk and Dnipro regions. The situation there is difficult, but it is important that Ukrainian warriors – our units – are doing everything necessary to defend their positions. Thank you for this. I also want to single out our guys today who shot down a Russian military helicopter with an FPV drone – this achievement inspired many Ukrainians. The crew of the FPV Unmanned Systems Battalion of the 59th Separate Assault Brigade – thank you, guys!
I spoke with President Sandu and congratulated her on the parliamentary election victory. These are historic elections – Moldova managed to achieve much more than simply defending itself against the destabilization Russia is fomenting. Moldova won the chance to be in Europe, and that means good economic and social prospects.
Today, I also took part in the work of the Warsaw Security Forum. And although it was online, it was quite productive. In Europe, our challenges are shared, and we must respond together. Sanctions against Russia are important – we expect the 19th package. We also need support for our defense and for building common defense tools – we need a joint defense of Europe’s eastern flank against Russian drones and missiles. A major support could also be limiting Russia’s destructive activity at sea. If tankers used by Russia are indeed being used to launch drones that are troubling Europe, then it is clearly time to close the Baltic Sea and other seas to these tankers. What matters is to act strongly. Russia understands nothing else. Russians must know where the borders are and where the line is. I thank everyone who is helping us!
Glory to Ukraine!
Georgia:
Day 306 of #GeorgiaProtests. In Tbilisi, the flags of Moldova and Ukraine were flown alongside the Georgian and EU flags. 🇬🇪🇲🇩🇺🇦🇪🇺
Photos by MOSE
— Katie Shoshiashvili (@kshoshiashvili.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 2:19 PM
A Georgian court has ordered ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili and former SSPS head Temur Janashia to repay nearly 9M GEL to the state budget over misuse of public funds.
Saakashvili is already serving an 8-year prison sentence in connection with the case.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 9:14 AM
The regime in Georgia continues their new tactic of family property seizure threats.
After Droa party member Natia Letodiani’s case, another Droa member Shushana Matsaberidze’s family is targeted. 1/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Shushana’s family lives in Khobi, Western Georgia. Shushana lives in Tbilisi. She owns no property whatsoever and all her accounts are already frozen.
Shushana refuses to yield to the terror and pay anything despite a one-month warrant to do so. 2/
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Can you just imagine how desperate the Georgian Dream is to suffocate the #GeorgiaProtests?
#terrorinGeorgia 3/3.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 9:45 AM
“As long as Moldova’s in CIS, it would be hard to congratulate them – we’ll wait until they leave the CIS, and then we’ll review the issue of congratulating them [on the elections].”
– GD Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 5:08 PM
🇬🇪✊🏻🇲🇩 #Moldova #MaiaSandu
— ⚫️🐦⬛ 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@theskyisnotblue.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Hungary:
“Ukraine is not an independent country. It is supported by the West. We give it weapons. Ukraine should not behave as if it is sovereign.” – Orbán.
Translation and full video:
t.me/c/1443468027…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Orban fpv footage 4k ultra hd
— Mira of Kyiv 🇺🇦 (@reshetz.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Poland is surely on its own wave but h*ngary is one of the biggest eu beneficiaries while contributing nothing
— Mira of Kyiv 🇺🇦 (@reshetz.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 12:26 PM
The EU:
🇵🇱🇪🇺 Europe must realize that it is already at war, — Tusk
The biggest and most important task of our leaders today is to make other people, the entire Western, transatlantic community, realize: this is a war. We did not want this, it is sometimes strange — a new type of war, but still a war.
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Would’ve been nice if they’d realized this when Putin actually started waging war on them about ten years ago or so. Or when he declared it at the Munich Security Conference in 2007.
Denmark:
🇺🇦🇩🇰Ukraine sends military to Denmark to boost country’s drone defenses.
Amid growing drone threats, Ukrainian specialists have arrived in Denmark for joint exercises. Together with Danish forces, they will train to counter UAVs, share experience, and strengthen air security. t.me/GeneralStaff…
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Romania:
🇷🇴 Today, fragments of a Russian drones were discovered in Tulcea County, Romania. Based on photo and video published by Romanian media, at least two Russian drones violated Romanian airspace and crashed on the country’s territory.
One is a “Delta” reconnaissance/decoy drone.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 1:55 PM
/2. The second, shown in the video, is a Shahed-type kamikaze drone.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 1:57 PM
The US:
In this one, Kellogg confirms what Zelenskyy previously hinted in his Axios interview: the old Western weapon use restrictions are gone.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 8:44 AM
I don’t think this means the US restrictions have been removed. I think it means that the US disapproval for Ukrainian strikes deep into Russia imposed by the Biden administration has gone by the wayside, as long as the Ukrainians use their own home grown weapons systems and munitions.
Back to Ukraine.
As I was just saying:
Ukraine’s own “long-range” weapons systems are coming into use, altering the strategic balance in the air war. Sustained strikes on fascist Russia’s military-industrial complex could start to alter the balance in the ground war in Ukraine’s favor as well.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 6:19 AM
‼️ There will be no victory over Ukraine, we need to get out of the war, – Girkin-Strelkov
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 3:29 PM
It is important to remember that Girkin is the Black Sea Cossack that served in Russia’s successful attempt to carve a piece out of Moldova – now doing business as the organized crime statelet known as Transnistria – and was one of the leaders of Russia’s subversion and initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014.
I’m going to kill some civilians tonight because I can’t make Ukrainian army surrender. Also because cos you let me.
— Darth Putin (@darthputinkgb.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 2:14 PM
The last part is funny because it’s true.
Full video of a russian Mi-28 attack helicopter getting absolutely wrecked by a Ukrainian FPV drone 😍
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 6:30 AM
A beautiful sight of a falling Russian Mi-8, shot down today by FPV drone.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 9:34 AM
“Smile, you’re on Candid Camera!”
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 5:24 AM
👀 nice!
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 11:13 AM
The next time someone tells you that russia is “fighting to save Christianity,” show them these Ukrainian churches bombed by the invaders.
— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Birds of Magyar unit blows up buildings with Russians.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Interceptor drone chases Russia Lancet loitering munition
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Kharkiv:
Russian FPV drone struck a civilian car carrying a family in Kharkiv Oblast. The father was killed. His wife and 14-year-old daughter were injured.
#HumanSafari #Ukraine— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Russian occupied Crimea:
Something is on fire in occupied Feodosiya. Allegedly oil depot 👀
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Kherson:
Kherson was hit again today. As it is every day. Russia hunts civilians for sport, calling it a “human safari,” or a “Kherson safari.” Today, they killed a man.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Kyiv:
The moment of yesterday’s strike on a kindergarten in one of Kyiv’s districts.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Dobropillia:
“As a result of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ counteroffensive near Dobropillia, approximately 175 square kilometers have already been liberated.” -Syrskyi.
www.facebook.com/CinCAFofUkra…
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Karachev, Bryansk Oblast, Russia:
The Ukrainian Navy reported that a missile strike was carried out against the Russian “Elektrodetal” plant in Karachev. Four missiles were launched from a distance of 240 km. (115 km from the border). Statement came from the Navy, it indicates that the strike was carried out with Neptune missiles.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Samara Oblast, Russia:
Russian oil refinery in Samara covered with an extreme amount of anti drone structures.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Russia:
Putin signed a decree launching the autumn conscription, with 135,000 people expected to be drafted.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 8:03 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
A new Patron video!
@patron__dsns У кого так само, зізнавайтесь?😅 #песпатрон
Here’s the machine translation of the caption:
Who has the same, admit it?😅#песпатрон
Open thread!
patrick II
Is Putin making the same mistake Hitler made in WW II by using weapons on civilians that he could use on military targets?
Gin & Tonic
The Patron video is funny: first scene says “Dad says: why do we need a dog?” then every scene after that says “Also Dad:” And the caption then says, loosely, “In whose [household] is it the same way? Admit it.”
Oh, and Girkin/Strelkov is, if you’re not aware, currently in prison.
Adam L Silverman
@Gin & Tonic: I am very aware.
Adam L Silverman
@patrick II: Most likely a different mistake.
Gin & Tonic
@Adam L Silverman: Sorry, that came out wrong. I know you’re aware, but other readers may not be, and that’s to whom that comment was directed.
Adam L Silverman
@Gin & Tonic: No worries.
Adam L Silverman
Gonna go get the grime off. Maybe watch a movie.
CindyH
Thanks as always
patrick II
@Adam L Silverman:
I don’t know how to phrase this differently, so I hope you don’t mind me trying again.
In WWII Hitler was upset when a British Bomber, supposedly accidently, dropped some bombs on the city of Berlin. Hitler then started terror bombing London and not targeting military targets as much as he should have — particularly the British air force which stayed strong enough to “win” the Battle of Britain. So, Putin is terror bombing much of Ukraine, and I see all of those missiles and drones being spent, and in my very un-military mind, wonder if most shouldn’t be aimed at the Ukrainian military. But perhaps they don’t have the targets or the particular type of weapons aren’t as useful for that purpose.
That is as good as I can explain my confusion. thanks in advance if you are still around.
BigJimSlade
Shostakovich’s 13th Symphony, Babi Yar (I probably posted this last time it was mentioned, but here it is again):
youtube.com/watch?v=BEyDiOon0jg
Doug R
More meat for the grinder
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
Carlo Graziani
Hm, interesting then. The Belgorod strike on electrical infrastructure was HIMARS. The Karachev industrial plant was hit by a Neptune. So in fact, neither of these targets was hit by the drone program, which still appears to be entirely focused on oil targets.
Perhaps the current drone warhead sizes are suitable for wrecking petroleum targets, but not yet other industrial infrastructure?
Adam L Silverman
@patrick II: I’m tracking. I don’t think the situations are analogous. Putin is attacking civilian targets not because a stray Ukrainian attack got through, but because once the three days to Kyiv plan failed, the strategy shifted to doing whatever was necessary to retake Ukraine. Part of that is attacking civilian targets to both try to deprive (of food, energy, basic essential services) and to terrorize the Ukrainians into submission, as well as to leverage the terror and deprivation to ethnically cleanse chunks of Ukraine that Russia can then occupy and Putin can claim.
Yes, the Blitz on London was an air campaign of terror, but it began for different reasons and was undertaken in a different manner.
Adam L Silverman
@BigJimSlade: Thanks.
Adam L Silverman
@AlaskaReader: You’re welcome.
Jay
As always, thank you, Adam.
Moreso for bringing up Babi Yar.
Jay
bbc.com/news/world-europe-60588885
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: You’re welcome.
patrick II
@Adam L Silverman:
Despite the different origins, is it a good strategy to throw all of those munitions at civilian targets rather than military targets? Is there some significant diminishing return on sending missiles/drones at Ukraine’s military?
Or does bombing civilian targets have a bigger impact than I have considered?
And thanks for your reply, and it should be clear I am a complete novice at military strategy.
Adam L Silverman
@patrick II: No because the Ukrainians have clearly demonstrated their social resilience to this set of tactics.
The problem is that Putin, as well as the most senior people around him, are working within their own context. Within that bounded rationality, this makes sense to them. It is a good idea to them. So they’ll keep doing it until something forces them to stop.
patrick II
@Adam L Silverman:
Ahhh…. we agree then that trying to terrorize people who are determined not to suffer as they have in the past under Russian/Soviet rule may not be the best use of Putin’s military resources. What I think I am reading is a significant difference in motivation: Hitler driven by revenge, and Putin operating in his own bubble.
After this, I’ll leave you alone. Thanks for your replies.
Westyny
Thank you, Adam.
Jay
@patrick II:
Terrorism of the Civil Population coupled with “divide and conquer” worked for ruZZia in the Second Chechen War, worked in Georgia, (to an extent), worked, (same caveat) in Syria, worked (again, same caveat) in Libya,
Does not work in Ukraine.
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
@BigJimSlade: Thank you. I didn’t know about this.
Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom
Babyn Yar was hit from the air in 2022 and nothing happened. That was pretty telling.
On September 30th 1938 the infamous Munich Agreement was signed. Now we know Neville Chamberlain was trying to buy time for Britain to rearm and prepare for the war that so many saw coming. But at the time and since, Chamberlain came in for an avalanche of criticism and insult. That’s telling too. Prophecy is a much neglected art.
Thank you Adam. Tzom kal.
HeiSokoly
Chamberlain trying to buy time for Britain is revisionist history, promoted by Merkel of all people in 2022 to justify throwing Ukraine under the bus for years. The Conservatives were praising Hitler and Mussolini and fascism generally long before Munich (“Hurrah for the Blackshirts!” by Lord Rothermere wasn’t the only such offense) which was hardly the first instance of German aggression—remember Spain? and Chamberlain was no political newbie, but the former Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1931 on.
He thought that he would be remembered by history for saving the British economy afterwards, and even after Poland was invaded still refused to put the country on a full war footing because he thought that would be more harmful to the economy—which is what he would have been doing from 1938 on, if he really had underbused Czechoslovakia in order to buy them time to ramp up.
He also did nothing to counter Oswald Mosley and the BUF, who were holding pro-Nazi “peace rallies” in 1939, in spite of the fact that British intelligence feared they would help the Germans. There is a reason he was finished after Dunkirk, and he insisted to the end he had never made any mistakes:
”[I]t was the hope of doing something to improve the conditions of life for the poorer people that brought me at past middle life into politics, and it is some satisfaction to me that I was able to carry out some part of my ambition even though its permanency may be challenged by the destruction of war. For the rest I regret nothing that I have done & I can see nothing undone that I ought to have done.”
Parallels to the current disaster of NATO paralysis and useless of the UN worse than the League of Nations are even stronger, in other words.
HeiSokoly
The New York Times also spent from 1921 on insisting that Hitler and Mussolini were brilliant men who didn’t mean their violent election rhetoric, all the way past 1938,—as President Zelenskyy alluded to on May 25, 2022 when he called out both them and Henry Kissinger—up to October 6, 1939 when they ran with “Belligerence Not Expected” of Hitler upcoming speech on the ongoing invasion of Poland…which he then claimed British and French aggression had forced Germany to start, exactly as we hear now from Moscow.
HeiSokoly
The NYT was also promoting white supremacy and Great Replacement Theory in the Twenties by endorsing Harvard eugenicist and Klansman Lothrop Stoddard, who first influenced, then supported, the Reich. So the fact that they were publishing puff pieces on Hitler in late August 1939 (“HERR HITLER AT HOME IN THE CLOUDS; High up on his favorite mountain he finds time for politics, solitude and frequent official parties”) is not terribly surprising after all.
(Nor is their terrible judgment in 2001 and since—they never met an authoritarian they didn’t support if there was big money involved, and that includes Moscow’s, past and present.)