Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

This country desperately needs a functioning fourth estate.

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

The desire to stay informed is directly at odds with the need to not be constantly enraged.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

I would try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

Usually wrong but never in doubt

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

“They all knew.”

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

I don’t recall signing up for living in a dystopian sci-fi novel.

Fight for a just cause, love your fellow man, live a good life.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

So many bastards, so little time.

This fight is for everything.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

“But what about the lurkers?”

I am pretty sure these ‘journalists’ were not always such a bootlicking sycophants.

Republicans do not trust women.

People are weird.

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

Let me file that under fuck it.

The “burn-it-down” people are good with that until they become part of the kindling.

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

One of our two political parties is a cult whose leader admires Vladimir Putin.

You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / War for Ukraine Day 650: Air Defense Over Odesa!

War for Ukraine Day 650: Air Defense Over Odesa!

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

Today, a Russian aircraft attempting to strike Odesa region was shot down near Zmiinyi Island – address by the President of Ukraine

5 December 2023 – 21:58

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

A few summaries for this day.

I am grateful to our defenders of the sky – just today a Russian aircraft was shot down in the area of Zmiinyi Island in the Black Sea. The aircraft was attempting to strike Odesa region. Another minus one for the terrorists. And we will continue to “subtract” the terrorists. We are strengthening our air defense, particularly in Odesa region. Gradually. Yet tangibly. I thank every country that helps.

Today I met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, which is one of the countries that support us the most, in particular in the issue of air defense. We discussed what has already been done. Among other things, we discussed the situation in the south of our country – the work of our export corridor, our grain exports. I spoke about the situation on the battlefield – about our capabilities. About the defense packages that are needed. Of course, among other topics, we managed to discuss European integration matters. Ukraine is fulfilling all the necessary requirements, and in the coming days, we expect the Ukrainian Parliament to adopt several crucial European integration bills, which are extremely important. Each deputy’s position will matter, and I am confident it will be rigorously evaluated by our entire society.

And a few of the most emotional moments today.

We are launching a new special initiative for all the Heroes of Ukraine – there are 360 of them since the beginning of the full-scale war. Every warrior and the family of a warrior who has been posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine will receive an apartment from the state. Not years from now, not someday, but now. Today, I had the honor of presenting the first documents for apartments to 21 Heroes of Ukraine. They are servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the State Border Guard Service. Among these 21, nine are fallen heroes. Soon, the state will provide apartments for all Heroes of Ukraine. All of them. Including those who fought before February 24, since 2014, the valiant men. This is fair.

It’s both highly symbolic and profoundly fair, that just before the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which we’ll be celebrating tomorrow, Ukraine is expressing gratitude to all its volunteers. To the thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, even millions of caring Ukrainian men and women who joined the volunteer movement. During Maidan. During ATO. And now, in the time of full-scale war. Those who may feel tired but never give in to weariness. Who are always there to listen and help. Those who sometimes don’t have days off, because they know what the brigades need. Those en route to the frontlines at this very moment. Who, perhaps, is completing another important fundraiser right now. Those who provide vehicles, medical supplies, drones, and all that’s necessary. Speed and attentiveness – qualities the state still needs to learn. I thank each volunteer for being there for Ukraine. I thank all those who help in the frontline cities as well, help the internally displaced persons, the elderly, families with children. Those who contribute to the rehabilitation of the wounded. Those who understand the importance of offering warmth from compassionate hearts and the necessary support to families who have unfortunately lost loved ones in this war. I am thankful to each and every friendly nation’s citizens – who have become like family here because they are also with us, with Ukraine, sharing the need to win this war. To win because it’s about people. About humanity. It’s about how our world should differ from the dreadful times of the past. The light of the human soul must prevail.

Glory to all who fight and work for Ukraine and Ukrainians! Glory to our powerful people!

Glory to Ukraine!

🇺🇸 Busy work program in the USA ahead.
Agenda: support for Ukraine and strengthening of defence cooperation, in particular localization of production jointly with the USA.

Had an important meeting with the heads of the Committees of the House of Representatives of the US Congress @RepMikeRogersAL @RepMcCaul @RepMikeTurner

I emphasized the importance of continuing to support Ukraine in 2024.

Air superiority, air defence, drones, electronic warfare, artillery, and ammunition — our urgent battlefield needs.

I also noted the importance of strengthening sanctions pressure and control. Aggressor is increasing the production of weapons, foremost drones. This means that sanctions are not enough.

 

In hindsight, this was a bad idea:

For those keeping Advent calendars this season:

Ukrainian Advent Calendar: Day 5

Today, we extend our big thanks to @DefenceHQ and @Armees_Gouv
for the extremely effective Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG long-range cruise missiles. Ukraine is also grateful to the UK and France for constant military, economic, and political support.

Storm Shadow and SCALP-EG missiles became a great surprise for the occupiers and strong reinforcement for our troops. Ukrainian warriors effectively use missiles and inflict the greatest losses on the enemy.

Guess what Weapon of Victory will be presented tomorrow?

Donbas:

Donbas is cold tonight.
It’s as dusty as always, it smells like soot, medicals, and diesel fuel.

City streets are dark and empty. Not too many lights in windows.
Roads are full of endless streams of trucks, roaring ambulances, and tank transporters rushing in and out.

So much sacrifice and valor are being committed by so many so that ancient Kyiv could hear the coming of Christmas carols tonight.

For those wondering, it appears that Illia Ponomarenko is either doing a tour as a medic or is embedded with a team of medics as a reporter:

Zaporizhzhia Axis:

Avdiivka:

The latest Russian assault against Stepove north of Avdiivka ended like the previous assaults, in a disaster. At least two MT-LBs and around a dozen dead Russians litter the ground. According the source there were even 4 destroyed IFVs and 40 killed Russians.

Source and full video: https://t.me/khornegroup/1123

#Ukraine #Donetsk #Avdiivka

 

“Russian Volunteer Corps” [RDK], fighting alongside Ukrainian forces, took part in the Avdiivka battle in late October. Details of the operation are revealed in the following video.

An assault group from the 1st assault platoon of the RDK conducted a successful assault in the area of the Avdeevka Coke chemical plant.

The group cleared enemy trenches and inflicted losses on the enemy, then transferred the position to the AFU. It is said that ex-Wagner mercenaries were part of the group.

RDK lost one fighter, and 7 were wounded. Russians lost 11 dead and 16 wounded.

https://t.me/russvolcorps/794

Bakhmut:

Donetsk Oblast:

Hlavdiivka, Russian occupied Kherson Oblast:

https://twitter.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1731954408299053290

The Polish-Ukrainian border:

Last night in comments wjca asked:

So, given that, what do you think Biden could constructively (and realistically) do NOW?

The simple answer is that what he and his team are now doing is everything they can realistically do now. My issue is not that President Biden is not a good person, nor that he doesn’t care about Ukraine. Rather it is when they needed to act in a more proactive manner they didn’t. And now they are left with the limited options that we see being pursued. Unfortunately, those limited options are less than optimal.

The Financial Times has the details: (emphasis mine)

Republicans in Congress are piling pressure on Joe Biden to accept new curbs on immigration in exchange for extra funding for Ukraine, as rising tensions on Capitol Hill risk thwarting the US president’s foreign policy goals.

The White House this week warned that in the absence of approval from lawmakers, US aid to Kyiv would dry up by the end of the year, jeopardising Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and making it easier for Vladimir Putin to “prevail” in his war on the country.

Biden has requested about $60bn in funding for Ukraine as part of a $106bn package that includes additional assistance to Israel and US allies in the Indo-Pacific.

But despite the pleas from Biden and many Democrats, Republicans are demanding big concessions from the White House on policies to curb immigration across the border with Mexico.

“We have to effect real policy change at the border, and that is a necessary condition to anything we do going forward,” Mike Johnson, the Republican House Speaker, told reporters on Tuesday.

The White House also needed to answer a number of crucial questions for any negotiations to proceed, Johnson added.

“What is the objective? What is the end game in Ukraine? How are we going to have proper oversight over the funds, the precious treasure of American taxpayers?”

The Speaker’s hardline stance reflects deepening scepticism about help for Ukraine within the base of the Republican party, but even some of the party’s senators who back aid to Kyiv say Biden needs to give ground on immigration.

“Now is the time to pay attention to our own border in addition to these other important international concerns,” Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate, told reporters.

The tougher position of Republican lawmakers came as Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Senate majority leader, was preparing to hold a vote on the $106bn aid package on Wednesday that appeared doomed to fail.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was planning to address senators during a classified closed-door briefing on Tuesday ahead of the vote, but his appearance was cancelled at the last minute.

Two Ukrainian officials close to Zelenskyy confirmed to the Financial Times that the president did not and would not address US Senators on Tuesday, but did not provide an explanation.

Earlier in the day, Schumer blasted the Republican position.

“Our Republican friends are saying they’ll defend democracy only at a price unacceptable to Democrats, and the price is forcing Congress to accept radical immigration policies that come straight from Donald Trump,” he said.

“It could go down as a major turning point where the west didn’t live up to its responsibilities and things turned away from our democracies and our values and towards autocracy.”

The briefing, which included appearances by senior Biden administration officials, broke up early and in acrimony as lawmakers clashed over the legislation.

“I’m not a big fan of political theatre. What I saw inside that briefing looked like an exercise in political theatre,” Chris Murphy, the Democratic senator from Connecticut, told NBC.

Olivia Dalton, the deputy White House press secretary, told reporters flying with Biden to Massachusetts for a series of re-election fundraisers that the administration still believed “there can be and must be a path forward that delivers on not just our promises to Ukraine but our vital national security interests”.

More at the link.

The much trumpeted briefing for the senators accomplished nothing. Nothing will move in the house.

Right now Putin feels emboldened. He sees what is going on in Washington DC and Brussels and thinks his strategy is working. Which is why he’s taking hard line positions like this:

Putin’s overarching strategy right now is to buy time. He needs time for the appropriated funds to support Ukraine to run out in the US, which will be at the end of this month. He needs time for Orban and his other catspaws in the EU to derail already agreed to, as well as additional EU funding for Ukraine and Ukraine’s ascension into the EU. He needs time for the refugee crises he’s helping to create to make space for his neo-Fascist allies in the EU member states to leverage increased refugees to come to power. The longer Putin can drag the war out, the closer he comes to winning. The longer it takes for the US, the EU, and the EU member states to actually get Ukraine what it needs to win, not merely to survive, the closer Putin comes to victory. Moreover, this victory is an abject lesson for everyone else in the world that the US, the EU, and NATO cannot be relied upon. That when they say “we are with you to the end,” what they mean is “we are with you as long we can keep fractious coalitions together and short attention spans focused, then you are on your own.”

Establishing a long term US funding stream to ensure Ukraine has the material, equipment, and money it needs to win is only hard now because a decision was made to not do it when it would be easier if not easy. That decision was strategic malpractice. And as a result, it gives the truth to Putin’s lies and puts Ukraine and Ukrainians are at risk.

From The Atlantic:

Putin backs far-right and extremist movements in Europe, provides thugs to support African dictatorships, and colludes with China, Iran, Venezuela, and other autocracies. From the beginning, Putin hoped the war would demonstrate that American power and American alliances can be defeated, not only in Ukraine but everywhere else. He still does, and for this purpose the war remains useful to him.

The fighting creates food shortages in Africa, thereby generating more unrest and more demand for Russian mercenaries. The war stokes discontent in Europe as well, giving pro-Russian parties a boost. Americans and Europeans view turmoil in country after country as a series of isolated conflicts, but Putin doesn’t think that Ukraine and the Middle East belong to different, competing spheres. On the contrary, since the conflict in Gaza erupted, he has intensified his relationship with Iran, invited leaders of Hamas to Moscow, and attacked Israel because of its links with the U.S., hoping that the spread of violence will decrease Western support for Ukraine. Iranian drones have terrorized Ukrainian cities; Iran, in turn, distributes Russian weapons to its proxies. Hezbollah is thought to have Russian anti-ship missiles that it could use against U.S. warships in the Mediterranean at any minute.

Much more at the link!

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

There are no new Patron tweets or videos tonight. Here is some adjacent material from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.

Open thread!

Reader Interactions

32Comments

  1. 1.

    Alison Rose

    The light of the human soul must prevail.

    Indeed. As opposed to the swirling black void where putin’s soul should be.

    Even though I don’t know if it’ll move the needle, I was glad to see Umerov and Yermak there. I don’t know, they’re both kind of imposing dudes. Maybe they need to go full-on goon on the House GOPers, who all seem like a bunch of pansy ass babies, considering they think mothers and toddlers with brown skin and accents are the scariest things on the planet.

    Sorry. I’m in a mood.

    Thank you as always, Adam.

  2. 2.

    dimmsdale

    Thanks as always for your commentary, Adam. As disheartening as your dispatches have been lately, they must be even more disheartening to put together, knowing as you do the depth of what you call strategic malpractice.

    I’d also like to tip my cap to your commenters; there’s a great deal of subject matter expertise here on any given night, and I consider myself fortunate to be able to avail myself of it.

    Do you think Biden’s security team recognizes how much they’ve screwed up? Do you think they’ve learned anything–or at least, anything that would give them more wisdom later on?

  5. 5.

    Omnes Omnibus

    Since I am pissing off people on this site today, I may as well jump in here. I still think that a Ukraine funding bill will get through Congress. It won’t be what everyone wants, but it will get pushed through.

  8. 8.

    Old School

    @Omnes Omnibus: I agree.  When is the last time Congress has passed anything without a deadline staring it in the face?  It’s extremely frustrating to watch, but that’s just the way it seems to have to be.

  11. 11.

    Another Scott

    @Omnes Omnibus: +1

    Aaron Fritschner
    @Fritschner
    5h

    Senate Republicans’ decision to condition Ukraine funding on passing major legislation on the most toxic and difficult policy area in American politics was such an obvious blunder. The outcome they are acting furious about now was by far the most likely and it’s their own doing.

    Dec 5, 2023 · 9:11 PM UTC

    We’ll see what happens.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  16. 16.

    BR

    This quote is what happens when members of congress have only learned talking points and never think about what they mean:

    bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67585902

    “The United States is going to run in excess of a $2.5 trillion deficit this year,” Republican Congressman Matt Rosendale of Montana told BBC World Tonight’s James Coomarasamy on Tuesday.

    “So why should the people of the United States borrow money from China to give it up to Ukraine? That is not in our best interests.”

    If he thought for even a second about it it’d be clear that getting free (for now) money from China to fund Ukraine, which is currently at war with an ally of China, is a win-win for the US.

  18. 18.

    Yutsano

    @BR: ​It’s even sadder that he doesn’t know who the number one debt holder of the United States is.
    Hint: The People’s Republic of China is number three on the list.

  19. 19.

    strange visitor (from another planet)

    @BR: the congressman from montana is clearly the common fucking clay of the new west.. the fucking money is spent in AMERICA, where the fucking WEAPONS are built.

    how did we get surrounded by so many stupid people?

  21. 21.

    frosty

    @Yutsano: We’re still there if you put it in quotes. But don’t try searching for it in Duck Duck Go. With quotes, nothing comes up. Without quotes, yikes!

  22. 22.

    way2blue

    This crop of Republicans think governing is no more than taking hostages (e.g., Ukraine) and demanding ransoms (e.g., proformative border legislation).  Biden’s people need to spread the word about where the requested funding will be spent.  Go to each of the states whose factories are manufacturing materiel for Ukraine.  And spell it out ad infinitum.  Back the scofflaws into a corner where they have no choice but to do right .

  23. 23.

    Sally

    It has been my observation that republicans like to talk about immigration reform. But their major supporters and donors don’t want it implemented. Those fruit and veg don’t pick themselves. Chickens don’t shed their feathers and jump into plastic bags alone.
    Republican economies come to a standstill when there is a shortage of (preferably illegal) immigrants to be their indentured servants. I’ve seen it in Ga under bush the even lesser. Maybe Dems could neuter them by adding legislation to prosecute employers of undocumented migrants. You know, really put some bite into immigration reform. But I don’t know if that’s too tricky.

  26. 26.

    Jay

    John Sweeney
    @johnsweeneyroar
    15h
    The facts are as follows:
    On November 22nd the Guildhall News Agency, based in Ukraine, reported that the leader of the blockade is Rafal Mekler, owner of his own truck company and member of the pro-Russian umbrella political grouping, the “Confederation of Freedom and Independence”. A key party boss is Janusz Korvyn-Mikke aka JKM. He is a bit of a fascist and then some. JKM believes that democracy is “the most stupid form of government ever conceived”. He is in favour of wife-beating: “If you cannot resolve conflict with your wife in any way, if you cannot convince her, then, unfortunately, you have to use physical force.” And hates women: “I am against voting rights for women. This is biology. A woman at the age of 55, when oestrogen stops working, reaches the age when she can finally vote.”
    JKM hates Muslims, saying that they should be kept out of Europe and “if need be, oppose them militarily”.
    JKM hates the ancient enemy of the far right: “Jews are now powerful because they had pogroms,” he said. “As a result of pogroms, the strongest and the most gifted survived. This is a warning to anti-Semites: That is why Jews are powerful, because they had pogroms. There are even theories that rabbis deliberately provoke pogroms precisely so that Jews survive and then there is natural selection.” He has gone on to say that there is no written proof that Adolf Hitler was aware of the Holocaust. Perhaps he should read Mein Kamf.
    And, of course, JKM is Moscow’s man. When Russia illegally occupied Crimea in 2014, he cheered them on. In 2015 he visited Crimea as a guest of the local Russian quisling. At the start of the big war in spring 2022, the Kremlin’s lie factory said that the massacre at Bucha was a fabrication; JKM echoed this dark fairy story. JKM has snow on his boots.
    The leaders of the Polish truckers blocking Ukraine have another pin-up in the “Confederation of Freedom and Independence”, Grzegorz Braun. He is another far-right populist, the only Polish MP to vote against a resolution condemning Russia for the Bucha massacre. Some of Braun’s pals know people who fight with the Russian killing machine. The organisers of the blockade met Braun on November 16.

    nitter.net/johnsweeneyroar/status/1732078245418324384#m

  27. 27.

    Jay

    Glasnost Gone
    @GlasnostGone
    22h
    “Working Together For A Safer World.” Today we remember how Putin’s Russia can never be trusted & how #Ukraine was stabbed in the back. OTD in Dec 1994, the “Budapest agreement” was signed.

    In exchange for #Ukraine giving up the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal, the US, Russia & Britain committed “to respect the independence & sovereignty & the existing borders of Ukraine” and “to refrain from the threat or use of force” against the country. Meanwhile Russia’s currently invading Ukraine.

    nitter.net/GlasnostGone/status/1731977776792477884#m

  28. 28.

    ColoradoGuy

    What’s ominous is the democratic nations are making the same mistakes as they did in the 1930’s. The Republicans are isolationist, and some of them are directly funded by overseas fascists. Europe is subverted by fascist cells. The New York Times whistles past the graveyard, oblivious to what is happening in Russia and Germany.

  29. 29.

    Jay

    A tough day for me. Slava sees the news. His guys see the news, Every Ukrainian see the news.

    Rather than normal, asking me what the most efficient HVAC system is for his bombed out lot in Odessa, he’s asking me to research escape routes from Ukraine, if ruZZia wins.

    Slava will stay to the end, but,………………..

  30. 30.

    Manyakitty

    @Omnes Omnibus: JFC, at this point, something is better than nothing, I guess.

    I need to take a break from the news — living in this constant state of black rage is not productive.

  31. 31.

    YY_Sima Qian

    Not sure if they have been posted before, but WaPo published a 2 part deep dive into Ukraine’s summery offensive a couple of days ago: the planning, preparation, training, equipment transfers before the offensive (all of which the US DOD was deeply involved), as well as the difficulties that the Ukrainian Armed Forces encountered as they kicked off the offensive, & the adjustments they have had to make. There had been a lot of disagreements throughout, some of the anonymous quotes supplied border on recrimination. I am sure much of it is media dramatization of normal alliance frictions, made worse when the highly touted & anticipated summer offensive failed to meet expectations in either Kyiv or the capitals of its supporters. However, the reporting does expose questions whether the Ukrainian command diverted too much resources to attacks along the Bakhmut axis, diluting the effort south, & whether US/NATO militaries have any understanding of the battlefield realities that the Ukrainian Armed Forces face. It is also clear that delivery of western equipment & munitions were too few & too tardy to benefit the summer offensive. Anyway, I think it is worth a read, as is John Helin’s response on Twitter.

    Miscalculations, divisions marked offensive planning by U.S., Ukraine
    By Washington Post Staff
    In Ukraine, a war of incremental gains as counteroffensive stalls
    By Washington Post Staff

    & not sure why there are no bylines for the report.

  32. 32.

    wjca

    The simple answer is that what he and his team are now doing is everything they can realistically do now. My issue is not that President Biden is not a good person, nor that he doesn’t care about Ukraine. Rather it is when they needed to act in a more proactive manner they didn’t. And now they are left with the limited options that we see being pursued. Unfortunately, those limited options are less than optimal.

    Thank you very much for the response.  I quite agree that we should have done more sooner.  (Not lease ramping up our production capacity, if only on a contingency.)  And I share your frustration there.

    My issue was that I can’t see what more could be done now.  I was hoping you were aware of something that I (we) could be lobbying for.  Sigh.

Comments are closed.