Adam L Silverman

Dear Ukrainians!

This year began on February 24. Without prefaces and preludes. Sharply. Early. At 4 o’clock.

It was dark. It was loud. It was hard for many and scary for some. 311 days have passed. It can still be dark, loud, and complicated for us. But we will definitely never be afraid again. And we’ll never be ashamed.

It was our year. Year of Ukraine. Year of Ukrainians.

We woke up on February 24. Into another life. Being another people. Another Ukrainians. The first missiles finally destroyed the labyrinth of illusions. We saw who was who. What friends and enemy are capable of, and most importantly, what we are capable of.

On February 24, millions of us made a choice. Not a white flag, but a blue and yellow flag. Not escaping, but meeting. Meeting the enemy. Resisting and fighting.

The explosions on February 24 stunned us. Since then we have not heard everything. And we don’t listen to everyone. We were told: you have no other option but to surrender. We say: we have no other option than to win.

On February 24, we began to create our victory. From many bricks – hundreds of other victories.

We have overcome the panic. We did not run away but united. We have overcome doubts, despair, and fear. We believed in ourselves and in our strength. The Armed Forces of Ukraine. Intelligence. National Guard. SBU. Special Operations Forces. Border guards. Territorial defense forces. Air defense forces. The police. The State Emergency Service. All our defense and security forces. I am proud of you all, our warriors!

This year can be called a year of losses for Ukraine, for the whole of Europe, and the whole world. But it’s wrong. We shouldn’t say that.

We haven’t lost anything. It was taken from us. Ukraine did not lose its sons and daughters – they were taken away by murderers. Ukrainians did not lose their homes – they were destroyed by terrorists. We did not lose our lands – they were occupied by invaders. The world did not lose peace – Russia destroyed it.

This year has struck our hearts. We’ve cried out all the tears. All the prayers have been yelled. 311 days. We have something to say about every minute. But most of the words are superfluous. They are not needed. No explanations or decorations are needed. Silence is needed to hear. Pauses are needed to realize.

The morning of February 24.

Hostomel. Bucha. Irpin. Borodianka. Kharkiv.
Mriya.

Kramatorsk Station. Toy.

Chernihiv.

Mariupol. Drama Theater. The word “Children” written.

Olenivka.

Odesa. Multi-story building. Girl. Three months old.

Vilniansk. Maternity hospital. Baby. Two days old.

Azovstal.

It’s impossible to forget. And it’s impossible to forgive. But it’s possible to win.

We stood on our feet because there was something that kept us going. Our spirit.

Defense of Kyiv.

Kharkiv.

Mykolaiv.

Chornobayivka.

Snake Island.

HIMARS.

Antonivsky Bridge.

“Cotton” pops.

Crimean Bridge.

Neptune.

Cruiser Moskva.

Russian warship.

Izyum, Balakliya and Kupyansk.

Kherson.

And we pray that there will be Kreminna and Svatove, Melitopol, all of Donbas, Crimea.

We fight and will continue to fight. For the sake of the main word: “victory.”

It will be for sure. We are approaching it for 311 days.

We gave it a lot of strength. But at the moment, when it seems that you can’t go any further, remember that we have already passed with you.

I want to say to all of you: Ukrainians, you are incredible! See what we have done and what we are doing!

How our soldiers have been smashing this “second army of the world” since the first days.

How our people stopped their equipment and infantry columns.

How an old man used his hands to stop a tank.

How a woman knocked down a drone with a jar of tomatoes.

How enemy tanks, armored personnel carriers, helicopters, shells were stolen during the occupation.

How we fundraised for Shahed hunters, naval drones, armored vehicles, ambulance vehicles and Bayraktar drones in several hours.

How we withstood all threats, shelling, cluster bombs, cruise missiles, darkness and cold.

How we supported each other and the state.

Everyone is important in war.

Who holds a weapon, the steering wheel of a car, the helm of a ship or plane, a scalpel, or a pointer.

Everyone who is behind a laptop, who drives a combine harvester, a train.

Who is at a roadblock and a power plant.

Journalists and diplomats, utility workers and rescuers.

All. Who is working. Studying at a university or school. And even those who are just learning to walk.

All this is for their sake. Our children. Our people. Our country.

There are no small matters in a great war. There are no unnecessary ones. Each of us is a fighter. Each of us is a front. Each of us is the basis of the defense.

We fight as one team – the whole country, all our regions. I admire you all. I want to thank every invincible region of Ukraine.

Kharkiv. Mutilated but unconquered. You proved to the enemy that being close territorially does not mean being close in mind. Kharkiv is a Ukrainian city. The hero city.

Invincible Mykolaiv. Heroically withstands all blows. The city on a wave that overcomes all storms.

Sumy city and the region. You were one of the first to feel the full-scale invasion of the invaders. Sumy region became a bone in their throat for them. Ordinary people made Molotov cocktails, burned enemy columns, took the first prisoners. Sumy region is a force.

Dnipro. The support and reliable rear of our front. You received people, you got the lives of wounded soldiers back. Despite constant barrages, Dnipro lives on.

Odesa. Sunny and friendly, now a fortress. World fortress. Which defends us and which defends the world. Feeds it by sending millions of tonnes of salvation by sea every day. Because it is Odesa Mama.

Kherson! You are heroic people! You have been under occupation for more than eight months. No news. No communication. Separated from Ukraine.

Thousands of you took part in actions against the ruscists. You did not know whether we saw it in Ukraine or knew about it. The occupiers lied to you that Ukraine abandoned you and would not fight for you. But you believed and waited despite everything. The face of Kherson is cut by fragments of shells, but the main thing is that we welcome the New Year free and together under blue and yellow flags. And therefore, we will restore everything, rebuild everything. Just like Chernihiv and Zaporizhzhia, and Kramatorsk, and Bakhmut.

Those that became a refuge for millions of Ukrainians: Rivne, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Vinnytsia. I thank you! Those who receive and transfer millions of tonnes of aid from Europe and the world: Lviv, Uzhgorod, Chernivtsi, Lutsk. Thank you! Those who accept the evacuation of businesses, enterprises, universities: Khmelnytsky, Zhytomyr, Kropyvnytsky, Poltava, Cherkasy. Thank you!

And those who are waiting for Ukraine. And will wait. Donbas, Luhansk region, Crimea. Thanks to you, our warriors!

And, of course, Kyiv region and the city are our heart, which always beats thanks to you, all our Ukrainians!

We are all one family. One Ukraine.

This is the year when Ukraine changed the world. And the world discovered Ukraine. We were told to surrender. We chose a counterattack! We were told to make concessions and compromises. We are joining the European Union and NATO.

The world heard Ukraine. European Parliament, Bundestag, the UK Parliament, Knesset, the US Congress.

The world felt Ukraine. Ukraine in the media. In the hearts of people. At the top of Google search.

The world saw Ukraine. On the main squares in Toronto, New York, London, Warsaw, Florence, Sydney, and other cities.

Ukrainians surprise. Ukrainians are applauded. Ukrainians inspire.

Is there anything that can scare us? No. Is there anyone who can stop us? No.

Because we are all together.

It is what we are fighting for. One for each other.

The best salute for us is at the warehouses of the occupiers. The best gift is the numbers in the report of the General Staff.

We do not know for sure what the new year 2023 will bring us. But ready for anything.

New achievements? We will be happy. New hits? We will be steadfast. Continuation of the fight? We will fight. And when we win, we will hug.

Dear Ukrainians!

A few minutes remain until the New Year. I want to wish all of us one thing – victory. And that’s the main thing. One wish for all Ukrainians.

Let this year be the year of return. The return of our people. Soldiers – to their families. Prisoners – to their homes. Immigrants – to their Ukraine.

Return of our lands. And the temporarily occupied will become forever free.

Return to normal life. To happy moments without curfew. To earthly joys without air alerts.

The return of what has been stolen from us. The childhood of our children, the peaceful old age of our parents.

So that grandchildren come to visit their grandparents during the holidays. To eat watermelons in Kherson. And the cherry in Melitopol.

So that our cities are free. Our friends are faithful.

And so that our main figure and main success appeared in reports near the figure of 100,000 destroyed enemies, thousands of units of destroyed Russian equipment – it is 603,628 square kilometers. The area of independent Ukraine, as it was since 1991. As it will always be.

May the New Year bring all this. We are ready to fight for it. That’s why each of us is here. I’m here. We are here. You are here. Everyone is here. We are all Ukraine.

Glory to Ukraine!

Happy New Year!

And a message from Ukrainian Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov:

2023 should be the victorious year.
My official address to Santa Claus. pic.twitter.com/QBiiXPQ5qv

— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) December 31, 2022

With each new missile attack on civilian infrastructure, more and more Ukrainians believe in the need for struggle until the complete collapse of the putin’s regime.
So what is the point of russian missile terror?
They kill, rape, loot, destroy only because this is their nature

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) December 31, 2022

Today's massive missile attack on the center of 🇺🇦 capital was necessary for the kremlin only so that against the backdrop of constant defeats, putin's belligerent New Year's address sounded at least a bit more credible.
This terrorist attack was not aimed at any military targets pic.twitter.com/RdnVbXOv6S

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) December 31, 2022

If anyone was wondering, here’s Putin’s rant:

Putin’s New Year’s address is a bleak tirade justifying his invasion of Ukraine. He rants about “traitors,” “western lies,” “neo-Nazis,” plots to “split Russia apart,” and the conquest of Russia’s “historical territories.” Imagine watching this over your babushka’s olivier salad pic.twitter.com/nFrbZAhKCs

— max seddon (@maxseddon) December 31, 2022

Here’s former NAVDEVGRU Squadron Leader Chuck Pfarrer’s most recent assessments of the situations in Kherson, Svatove and Kremenna, and Bakhmut:

KHERSON /1440 UTC 31 DEC/ The cross-river reconnaissance and targeting missions of UKR Partisans and Special Operations Forces bore fruit this week in a spectacular series of precision strike missions in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts. pic.twitter.com/Hua08hQSUI

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) December 31, 2022

SVATOVE – KREMENNA / 1745 UTC 31 DEC/ On 31 DEC, UKR forces are reported to have perused retreating RU units as far as Zmiivka. RU losses in the last 48 hours included several infantry fighting vehicles, as well as two newly deployed T-90 main battle tanks. pic.twitter.com/mc6vwzrKT4

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) December 31, 2022

BAKHMUT AXIS /1815 UTC 31 DEC / RU has resumed heavy attacks against the eastern and southern suburbs. UKR forces are in contact near Bakhmutse, Podhorodne, east of the O-0507 cut-off in the industrial area and west of Andriivka. pic.twitter.com/iOMT9iHzOE

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) December 31, 2022

I found this cute little buddy in the ruins of Bakhmut the other day. I took it home and washed it clean, so it’s now my talisman of hope.
Happy new year to you guys! 🎅 Thank you for your support of Ukraine. Let’s all hope 2023 is the year of peace of us all 🎄 pic.twitter.com/bnkWe9bNd1

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) December 31, 2022

The Ukrainians were able to arrange for another 140 Ukrainian POWs to be returned:

140 Ukrainians are coming home from Russian captivity today

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) December 31, 2022

1596 Ukrainians have been returned from russian captivity since the beginning of the large-scale war.
140 of them were exchanged today.
Ukrainian authorities will continue their efforts to return all our people.

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) December 31, 2022

In the wee hours, commenter NobodySpecial asked:

Adam, thank you for the update. I confess that I’m worried about Bakhmut collapsing under the pressure. How likely is a Russian breakthrough, do you estimate?

As always, you and everyone else is most welcome. To answer your question, from all the news reporting I’ve seen I don’t think the Russians will be able to take Bakhmut without something really significant happening. First, we need to keep in mind that this is largely to almost exclusively a Wagner operation, not a Russian military one. Two, whatever agreement Prigozhin had with the Russian MOD to keep his mercenaries supplied with ammunition is clearly not working any better than the rest of the Russian logistics operation. This is why you may have seen the videos last week of the Wagner bubbas cursing out and demeaning Defense Minister Shoigu and Chief of Defense Staff Gerasimov. These were followed by Prigozhin actually going to that Wagner post in Donbas to meet with the mercenaries that made that video and then making his own snide remarks about Shoigu and Gerasimov. Third, the Ukrainians have decided that they are going to prevent Wagner/the Russians take Bakhmut. Given Ukrainian resolve and past performance, I think this makes it more likely that Ukraine will prevail in Bakhmut. I think what it is going to look like is what it has looked like for a while, which is almost a frozen tactical battlespace where gains are measured by meters. It is going to be slow going and grinding, but I expect that the Ukrainians will eventually do more grinding than Wagner and the Russians can withstand.

That said, Prigozhin really, really, really needs to be able to take Bakhmut, even if its just for a day or two. He needs this because the whole point of his having Wagner try to take it is to prove that as the Russian military gets pushed out of location after location in the Donbas and other Russian occupied areas of Ukraine, his mercenaries can actually take and hold something. To a certain extent this is grinding up your personal to achieve a strategic communication effect. It is wasteful, it is callous, it shows a striking disregard by Prigozhin for the well being of his own personnel, but it is key to his larger project. And that project is promoting himself as the one patriotic Russian with an effective military/paramilitary force. We’re watching the intro course in how to become a warlord.

That’s enough for New Year’s Eve.

Your daily Patron!

Patron brings us news of one very specific Ukrainian POW:

Breaking news! Do you remember I told you about the pitbull from Azov? He was returned to Ukraine! 🔥 He survived the terrible months of captivity, but now he is safe.Thanks to everyone involved 🫶🏻 pic.twitter.com/tGL6SThZh5

— Patron (@PatronDsns) December 31, 2022

And Patron’s New Year’s greetings:

Happy New Year! Happy Victory Year. Glory to Ukraine! Thank you, all Ukrainian friends ❤️🎊 pic.twitter.com/s6O15dH0MK

— Patron (@PatronDsns) December 31, 2022

Here is a new video from Patron’s official TikTok:

@patron__dsns

Усім новорічний лизь, мої любі!🎄✨

♬ оригінальний звук – uaculture

The caption machine translates as:

Happy New Year to everyone, my dears!🎄✨

Open thread!

A happy and healthy New Year to all of you and your families!

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

First of all, I want to thank our Air Forces servicemen, Ukrainian air defense, which successfully repelled another Russian attack today.

54 missiles and 11 attack drones were shot down.

Our warriors all over Ukraine distinguished themselves, and I thank all our Air Commands: Center, South, East and West.

And especially we are grateful to the warriors of the 96th Kyiv, 160th Odesa, 208th Kherson anti-aircraft missile brigades, whose results are the best today.

Unfortunately, there were several hits. Our power engineers and repair crews are doing everything to make Ukrainians feel the consequences of the terrorists’ strike as little as possible. And I thank everyone who is working to restore energy supply.

As of this evening, there are power outages in most regions of Ukraine. It is especially difficult in Kyiv region and the capital, Lviv region, Odesa and the region, Kherson and the region, Vinnytsia region and Zakarpattia.

But this is nothing compared to what could have happened, if it was not for our heroic anti-aircraft troops and air defense.

With each such missile strike, Russia is only driving itself deeper into a dead end. They have fewer and fewer missiles. Instead, the status of the biggest terrorist in the world will have consequences for Russia and its citizens for a long time. And each missile only confirms that all this must end with a tribunal. And that is exactly what will happen.

And despite all the strikes, the state works every day. The Office, the Cabinet of Ministers – everyone is working.

In particular, today I had two large meetings, economic and defense. We are working to ensure that our defenders have more opportunities, more weapons, more drones.

The situation on the frontline remained without significant changes over the last day.

The most acute situation is in Bakhmut, Soledar, over the entire line in the Donetsk region. The enemy has not abandoned the insane idea to capture the Donetsk region… Now they set themselves a task – for the New Year.

I am grateful to all our guys who have been proving to the occupiers for months that it is us who  will set and achieve goals on our land.

I am grateful to everyone who defends the Ukrainian Donbas! To all who defend our Kharkiv region! To all who keep our south! Who protect our border…

And, by the way, I thank those border guards who, together with all the defense forces, are fighting the enemy at the front. I thank the warriors of Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi and Mukachevo border guard detachments.

Dear Ukrainians! 

There are two days left in this year. Perhaps, the enemy will try once again to make us celebrate the New Year in darkness. Perhaps, the occupiers are planning to make us suffer with the next strikes at our cities.

But no matter what they plan, we know one thing about ourselves: we will endure. For sure. We will drive them out. No doubts about that. And they will face punishment for this terrible war. The maximum punishment.

I thank everyone who defends our state! I thank everyone who fights for our independence!

Glory to Ukraine!

Here is former NAVDEVGRU Squadron Leader Chuck Pfarrer’s most recent assessments of the situations in Izium and Bakhmut:

IZIUM AXIS/ 1800 UTC 29 DEC/ RU is attempting to reduce pressure on Svatove with a series of attacks west of the urban area. Staging from the salient near the Andriivka reservoir, RU launched a number of company-sized attacks between Kryvoshyivka and Andriivka pic.twitter.com/OUUUjhba7I

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) December 29, 2022

BAKHMUT AXIS /2050 UTC 29 DEC/ After a lull, RU has resumed piecemeal attacks against the eastern suburbs. UKR forces are in contact near Podhorodne, north of the M-03 / T-13-02 intersection, and east of the O-0507 cut-off in the industrial area. pic.twitter.com/c6lWlvk5oA

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) December 29, 2022

For the last time, DougJ, stay out of my lane!!!

CLUELESS: The NYT says UKR’s 'hard line’ position is an obstacle to peace. Let me review: In 2014 Russia launched an unprovoked invasion of Luhansk, Donetsk & Crimea. In 2022 RU invaded again, destroying dozens of UKR cities. Kyiv wants RU to leave Ukraine. Is that unreasonable? pic.twitter.com/ddXKOVqSuK

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) December 29, 2022

I kid, I kid!

Ukrainska Pravda did an interview with one of the Ukrainian Air Force fighter pilots. Dmitri at WarTranslated translated it into English. Here’s a bit of the interview:

Interview with a well-known Ukrainian pilot Vadym Voroshylov with a call sign “Karaya”.

(Yevhen Rudenko): Vadym, when I first saw you in the media, I remembered the Russian pilot captured in Chernihiv. He was so… chubby. Is it the enemy’s problem with physique, or is it my stereotype about aviators who supposedly all have to be athletes?

 

(Vadym): (Smiles). It was Krasnoyartsev. I would not say that they have such a problem. But, indeed, we already have a new concept of flight personnel training. After 2014, the emphasis is more on young people as the main force of strike aviation. From the statistics of aircraft shootdowns, from those militaries who we captured, we see that these are… I can’t even say “boys” – adult men. We must understand: the younger a person is, the faster the brain works. It is very important in aviation.

 

 

(I): Some Russian pilots who were captured tried to convince that they did not know about the bombing of residential buildings because they were working according to the coordinates provided to them. Is it possible to believe this?

 

(V): I do not believe it at all. They have ordinary navigation systems like Garmin, touristic, in various modifications. Perhaps their public accepts propaganda (that Russian aviation does not hit peaceful targets – remark), but our society is quite literate. You do not need to be an aviator to understand: if a person enters latitude and longitude in a tourist navigator, they clearly see what is there. Of course, if the coordinate is entered within a certain settlement, it is immediately clear that you are working on the settlement. They do it like railway lines, as people say. This is an ordinary aircraft bomb, which has just a flight trajectory, and the accuracy of bombing depends on a bunch of factors, ranging from the skills of the pilot to meteorological conditions. Therefore, I do not believe in this legend.

(I): What is considered an accurate strike with low-precision weapons?

(V): I can say roughly: according to the standards, the enemy’s bombing is considered “excellent” if it is within plus or minus 50 meters. In urban conditions, even this is a huge error.

(I): Let’s imagine a hypothetical situation: you are ordered to bomb targets within residential areas. What will you do?

(V): We have already discussed this with our sworn brothers. Firstly, I do not want to talk about it hypothetically because it is impossible in theory. Our military and political leadership will not allow it. If we look at it more abstractly, the pilot and navigator in the Su-34 (the downed plane of Krasnoyartsev – UP) always see the target’s location, at least through navigation. Yes, they are given a task to perform. But no one will fire them, and no one will put them in prison if they drop bombs, for example, in an open field, at a distance of a kilometer or two from residential buildings, with overflight or underflight. It will just be a “mistake in piloting technique and poor training” – that’s all! So that’s all there is to it. But such an option could be considered if they were people. They fully and completely understand what they are doing. This is their traditional scorched earth tactic. This is what they have done before in Ichkeria, in Georgia, in Syria.

(I): How did you formulate your attitude toward the enemy? Is there something like respect for their pilots?

(V): We treat them not as a specific, living person but as air targets. They turn only into dry figures in the daily summary of the General Staff (losses of the Russian army – remark), no more.

Of course, there were cases of respect for enemy pilots in history, but a long time ago, in the First World War. Then there were more noble relations, if I may say so.

Back then, they declared war, signed the act of war, and then went to their positions. Now the enemy has been saying for several months that he was not going to attack, and then insidiously attacked peaceful cities of Ukraine in the morning.

(I): Is there something that most distinguishes our pilots from the enemy?

(V): There is a lot to say, but I will only say that we perform such tasks that technically were not even considered at the design stage of our aircraft.

We have very limited technical capabilities, but we do everything to destroy the enemy. We try to work effectively in more extreme conditions and are absolutely ready for anything.

The enemy, having an advantage, works as it is written in the textbooks on tactical and fire training. We use more modern methods, which are not written in any textbook of any country in the world.

(I): So, NATO pilots will have something to learn from ours after this war?

(V): Yes (smiles).

(I): Is it playing a cruel joke with the Russians that they have so much equipment? Do they act, as they say, “at ease” or not?

(V): You are right. But do not underestimate the enemy. He is dangerous. I have a negative attitude to the statements that there are some “chmony” and the rest. No! This is the enemy. They have a significant advantage in aircraft and ground air defense. They know how to work and learn from this war, just like we do.

When we talk about comfortable conditions for the enemy, we mean the ability of their fighter aircraft to operate without entering our air defense zone. But when they get into this zone, every time in the reports from the General Staff you see pluses opposite the destroyed air targets.

(I): Is there anything surprising among them? Maybe some specific types of aircraft?

(V): Yes, but not aircraft. It should be understood that a plane is more of a platform, a carrier of aviation means of destruction and that it is these means that can give an advantage in the air.

Recently, the Russians have developed long-range air-to-air missiles R-37M. We can say that this is their newest weapon, although it is a Soviet development, which they have modernized. Their declared range of air targets is very serious – up to 400 kilometers. In fact, we see smaller figures, but this means of destruction is still very dangerous.

However, we constantly analyze air battles with these missiles and find methods to combat them.

Much, much, much more at the link!

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

Here’s a new video from Patron’s official TikTok!

@patron__dsns

Лінк на мій ютуб у шапці профілю!🐾 #песпатрон #патрондснс

♬ son original – lou

The caption machine translates as:

Link to my YouTube in the profile header!🐾 #PatrontheDog #PatronDSNS

Well you know what that means!

Here’s the link to Patron’s official YouTube page. So far the only video is the trailer, which I posted last night, for Patron’s soon to debut cartoon series:

Open thread!

I wish you health, dear Ukrainians!

Today – so it turned out – is the day of summing up this year and plans for the next year.

I held a meeting with officials specializing in international relations regarding events and plans for January.

I met with the Minister of Defense of France who arrived in Ukraine. We discussed cooperation over the year, the reconstruction of our country and another step in strengthening our air defense. Thank you, France!

I met with government officials and heads of parliamentary committees. We discussed the solutions that are being prepared.

Today, I also delivered the annual Message to the Verkhovna Rada on the external and internal situation of Ukraine. About how we all – all Ukrainians – changed the world this year and what we will do next year.

Probably, you could already see the highlights of all these events in the news, or you will see them.

I would like to add one more thing to everything that was done and said today. Add something non-political.

No matter what is happening and what is on your mind, support each other. Necessarily.

Please take the time to say kind words to those close to you. Even if these are not people close to you – just to other Ukrainians.

Please find an opportunity and a moment to thank for the work, to praise for this or that effort, for the care.

And if a person is in such a difficult situation, at such a difficult time, remains alone and for some reason does not have relatives, please ask if he or she needs help. Or just help without even asking.

If you know that a person is waiting for a son or daughter from the war, please pay attention: say hello, listen, help.

Hug your family more often. Tell your friends more often how much you appreciate them. Support colleagues more often. Thank your parents more often. Rejoice with children more often.

Do not forget to call when relatives are waiting, even just to hear: how are you? Do not forget to write messages to friends and acquaintances at least sometimes – you should not lose contact now.

And please don’t forget to say thank you when you’ve been helped. Please try to support those who fight for our country.

Our attention to others, when it may be lacking from one of our relatives – for various reasons, our words that can warm those around us when events are too cold, and our care for each other when circumstances are challenging – all this is also our common defense.

We have not lost our humanity even though we have gone through terrible months. And we will not lose it even though there is also a difficult year ahead. We will reach victory. And we have to do it really together.

Take care of Ukraine, appreciate each other and do everything to help our warriors!

Every day – until victory.

Glory to all our people! 

Glory to Ukraine!

Here’s former NAVDEVGRU Squadron Leader Chuck Pfarrer’s most recent assessments of the situations in Kremenna and Bakhmut:

KREMENNA AXIS /1800 UTC 28 DEC/ W of Kremenna, UKR forces are reported to be in contact with RU units at Dibrova & Kuzmyne. Elements of UKR's 140th Marine Recon Battalion and the 111th Territorial Defense Brigade are reported to be closing on the villages from the south and west. pic.twitter.com/X5RtFnww6T

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) December 28, 2022

BAKHMUT AXIS/ 1345 UTC 28 DEC/ RU forces have consolidated gains made in the villages of Ivangrad and Opytne. SW of Opytne, slight advances were also registered by RU attacks north up the T-05-13 HWY axis. pic.twitter.com/egP8t29poa

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) December 28, 2022

Speaking of Bakhmut, The Kyiv Independent‘s Illia Ponomarenko is reporting from there:

Greetings from Bakhmut.
So few are saving the world for so many in this dead city.
I’ll show you. pic.twitter.com/pT0efsELJy

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) December 28, 2022

Bakhmut today pic.twitter.com/tcUNy3aqsw

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) December 28, 2022

We have some clarification regarding the Ukrainians killed in action attempting a sabotage mission in Bryansk, Russia. They were not Ukrainian Special Operations, nor were they regular Ukrainian forces:

From what I can see of the incidents and some of the IDs given, these guys don't seem to be formally Ukrainian SSO but were part of a different unit. (Plenty of other Ukrainian forces which would carry out this kind of work)

— Cᴀʟɪʙʀᴇ Oʙsᴄᴜʀᴀ (@CalibreObscura) December 26, 2022

One of the Ukrainians killed in Bryansk, Maxim "Nepipivo" ("Don't Drink Beer"), was apparently in St. Mary's Battalion before it disbanded in 2016.

— Aric Toler (@AricToler) December 26, 2022

Bratstvo is a far-right movement that operates military, political, and civic wings — basically a smaller (but older) Azov.

Much like Azov, they have virtually no electoral support, but they have an outsized influence in other facets of the public sphere.

— Aric Toler (@AricToler) December 26, 2022

That doesn’t discount the dangerous mission they undertook or the sacrifice they made to try to accomplish it.

Nine for mortal men doomed to die…

On the second day of Christmas, Vladimir Putin gave leaders at the CIS summit nine golden rings

No word of the seven swans a-swimming, etchttps://t.co/rlRT3u7IRW pic.twitter.com/7eaRPY1ftC

— max seddon (@maxseddon) December 27, 2022

Can the dying CIS be saved with the help of rings?
Can the USSR be brought back from the dead by genocide?
Despite all the atrocities, the corpse of the USSR cannot be resurrected.
Neither the blood of the innocent nor black magic will save the Witch-king of Angmar & his master.

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) December 27, 2022

TaMara’s comment when I sent the first tweet to her:

Jesus.. and they’re hideous

Tom Levenson’s when I sent it to him:

I don’t think the writers for this season are trying at all.

No reply yet from Cole.

That’s enough for tonight.

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— Patron (@PatronDsns) December 28, 2022

You know what this means? Balloon Juice strategic film series guided discussion of the Patron cartoon!

The new video at Patron’s official TikTok is the trailer above:

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Open thread!

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

I held a meeting of the Staff today – the 44th of this year already. The topic is clear. First of all, it is Bakhmut, Kreminna and Donbas in general. Possible actions of the enemy in the eastern direction and our actions.

We listened to the commanders, decided on steps for the near future. We continue to prepare the defense and security forces of Ukraine for the next year. It must be a crucial year. We understand the risks in the winter, we understand what we have to do in the spring, and therefore we understand what results the entire defense and security sector must demonstrate.

The supply of ammunition and the repair of military equipment was discussed separately.

By the way, I want to thank our specialists, all our partners, everyone involved in the relevant work. We managed to establish a system to not only return repaired equipment to the battlefield, but also to take trophy equipment from the battlefield and put it at the service of our country.

This is a very important result of the year, everyone involved did a great job.

I spoke today with the Prime Minister of Italy. I thanked for the support already provided and for the new support.

Mrs. Meloni said that the issue of air defense for Ukraine is currently under consideration and we have coordinated our steps. I believe that Italian support will allow us to strengthen the defense of the Ukrainian sky.

Of course, we also discussed our diplomatic plans for the coming months. And also the winter threats, which I am sure we will overcome together.

I held a meeting today regarding the work of the banking system and our cooperation with the IMF. We must provide even more opportunities for Ukrainians in the coming year and guarantee the strength of our banking and financial systems.

I also spoke with the head of the world’s largest investment fund, BlackRock. I received another confirmation that the business of the developed world believes in our victory and is ready to invest in our reconstruction. Specialists of this company are already helping Ukraine to structure the Fund for the reconstruction of our state. And we are already preparing to participate in the World Economic Forum in Davos. The position and prospects of Ukraine will be presented there.

In general, this week will be important for Ukraine from a political point of view. We are entering the next year and must retain a common understanding of our national goals. Of course, this is the liberation of our land from the enemy, as well as the restoration of Ukraine, the return of our people home, the further rapprochement of our state with key partners, the opening of new opportunities for Ukraine in the world – these are all tasks for the near future. And not only for the state, but also for each and every one of us. Soon I will present my view on the implementation of these tasks in the annual Message to the Verkhovna Rada on the external and internal situation of Ukraine.

I want this Message to be not a report, but our conversation about the coming year.

Thank you to everyone who works for Ukraine!

Thank you to everyone who fights for our independence!

Thank you to all the units of our defense forces, which bring the defeat of the enemy closer!

Glory to Ukraine!

Here is former NAVDEVGRU Squadron Leader Chuck Pfarrer’s most recent assessments of the situations in Kherson, Bakhmut, and Izium:

KHERSON AXIS / 1900 UTC 27 DEC/ UKR SOF / Partisans identified a RU barracks/HQ area in the occupied city of Novobilozerka. A precision strike by UKR artillery is reported to have killed 100 RU personnel, including 15 employees of the Russian FSB. pic.twitter.com/2RWqGXifjf

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) December 27, 2022

BAKHMUT AXIS /1945 UTC 27 DEC/ RU is reported to have staged counter attacks at Ivangrad and Opytne. Late breaking information indicates that Wagner Group mercenaries are operating to the east of the T-05-13 HWY and have possibly erased UKR gains staged on 25-26 DEC. pic.twitter.com/7Zq20M0xHr

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) December 27, 2022

IZIUM AXIS /1420 UTC 27 DEC/ Fighting ongoing north of Svatove along the H-26 HWY. UKR forces repulsed a RU attack on Novoselivske; a RU probe at the village of Stelmakhivka was also broken up. The interdiction of the H-26 /railway from the N increases pressure on Svatove. pic.twitter.com/yWUtb4ONvh

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) December 27, 2022

Speaking of war crimes: Kherson.

Kherson news channels report that russians have shelled a maternity ward in the local hospital. russia is again fighting with women and babies. @SecBlinken, this is pure terrorism. russia has to be designated state sponsor of terrorism
H/t @grntmedia pic.twitter.com/72PBnJ6nvf

— Olena Halushka (@OlenaHalushka) December 27, 2022

Also, Bakhmut:

Why do they call that area of Bakhmut the plane district, you might ask? Because there’s a Soviet MiG stuck in the ground nearby. My 📸 from August 2022, left; from summer 2010, right. The Russians started heavily shelling this district + nearby Ivanivske village in recent weeks. pic.twitter.com/5ybKsoLJ5v

— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) December 27, 2022

There is reporting that a small team of four Ukrainian soldiers who had crossed the border into Russia on a sabotage mission in Bryansk were killed in action. The Kyiv Post has the details:

A group of Ukrainian soldiers were killed while carrying out a mission inside the Russian Federation, the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) has claimed.

 Issuing a statement on Telegram Monday, Dec. 26, the FSB reported that four Ukrainian fighters were killed during an attempt to enter Russian territory, stating that their deaths had been caused by the group “falling into a minefield.”

 The four servicemen are: Maksym Mykhaylov, Taras Karpyuk, Bohdan Lyagov, and group commander Yuriy Horovets, who went by the call sign “Svyatosha.”

 Confirming their deaths, Ukrainian soldier and political analyst Yevhen Karas shared his memories of the fallen group on Telegram.

More details at the link.

That’s enough for today.

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There is neither a new tweet, nor a new video on Patron’s official accounts today. So you’ll have to make do with this:

Brothers in arms on an observation post. pic.twitter.com/UfeYMYFzci

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) December 27, 2022

Open thread!

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

A brief report on today – another day of another week of our resistance.

First. The frontline. Bakhmut, Kreminna and other areas in Donbas, which now require maximum strength and concentration.

The situation there is difficult, acute. The occupiers are using all the resources available to them – and these are significant resources – to squeeze out at least some advance.

And I thank all our guys who hold their positions firmly, stand strong, and who nevertheless find opportunities not only to not lose anything, but also to drive the occupiers out, to “subtract” them.

Today I want to celebrate the 10th separate mountain assault brigade for capturing the occupiers in the Donetsk region. It is very important. This will enable us to release more Ukrainians.

I will also celebrate the 80th and 95th separate airborne assault brigades for the successful destruction of the enemy force in the Lyman direction. Well done, guys! The more the occupiers lose, the more time we all gain for Ukraine.

Second. Energy sector.

I want to thank all the workers of the energy companies, all the repair crews for the fact that this Saturday and Sunday – on Christmas Eve and Christmas – it was possible to give people more energy.

Of course, deficits remain. Shutdowns continue. As of this evening, about 9 million people are disconnected in various regions of Ukraine. But the number and duration of outages is still gradually decreasing. I am thankful to each and everyone who made this result possible.

Today I held a special meeting with government officials regarding the situation in the energy and infrastructure spheres. We are preparing for the next year – and not only for the winter months. There are threats that we have to eliminate. There are steps that need to be taken. And the state will definitely take them.

Third. Today I held an extended meeting on the results of the visit to the USA and the implementation of the agreements.

We will not waste time. We will quickly implement everything that was agreed upon in Washington. As much as possible.

And one more thing. Today I spoke with the Prime Minister of India. Next year, it will be India that will preside over the G20. I wished Mr. Modi a fruitful presidency, and fruitful not for someone in particular, but for everyone in the world who values peace.

India can be more active in efforts to end aggression, so I hope we can do more together for global stability in the coming year.

Thank you to everyone who works for Ukraine regardless of whether it’s a holiday, a weekend, or a weekday! Thank you to everyone who fights for Ukraine!

Thank you to everyone who helps our country!

And please don’t forget to be prepared for Russian missile attacks or provocations. Air defense is preparing, the state is preparing, and everyone must prepare. Please pay attention to the sirens.

Glory to Ukraine!

Here’s former NAVDEVGRU Squadron Leader Chuck Pfarrer’s most recent assessments regarding the situations in Kherson, Izium, Bakhmut, and Kremenna:

KHERSON AXIS/1315 26 DEC/ RU artillery and (MLRS) continue a campaign of revenge shelling against the city of Kherson. On 24 DEC, RU artillery deliberately targeted market areas of Kherson city, killing eight civilians during preparations for Christmas. pic.twitter.com/Rx3tDwm2Xz

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) December 26, 2022

IZIUM AXIS/1430 UTC 26 DEC/ North of Svatove, UKR forces have advanced across the H-26 HWY at Krokhmalne and then again from Kryvoshyivka to Kuzemivka. The interdiction of the H-26 and the rail from the north increases pressure on Svatove. pic.twitter.com/LlGigXmjLM

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) December 26, 2022

BAKHMUT /1640 UTC 26 DEC/ @Vijesti11111 reports that the UKR Sheck Mansour Battalion, the 71st Jaeger Brigade and the Georgian Legion are engaged at Optyne and Ivangrad. UKR has captured RU positions E of the T-05-13 HWY. pic.twitter.com/7gCRQsjkBO

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) December 26, 2022

KREMENNA AXIS/ 2200 UTC 26 DEC/ West of the P-66 HWY a RU assault on the village of Nevske was repelled by UKR on 25-26 DEC. This follows an aborted RU assault on Makiivka earlier. RU forces conducted fire missions on UKR positions in Dibrova. pic.twitter.com/qyyW2jvpBq

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) December 26, 2022

There’s also reporting that a former Russian senior military leader and a Russian oligarch have both contracted windowitis.

Here’s the update on the second Ukrainian strike on the Engels air base in Russia.

Happy Russian Air Defense Day!!
The Engles airfield has been hit.
AGAIN.

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) December 26, 2022

ENGLES AIRFIELD DAMAGE: @YAmzallagh reports that RU telegram channels have admitted to 17 dead, 50 wounded and 5 Russian strategic bombers and other aircraft heavily damaged in Ukraine's 2nd attack on the base. The video shows the moment of the attack. https://t.co/Du7wmsNiNL

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) December 26, 2022

It’s been well documented that Prigozhin does not think very highly of Russia’s military leadership; especially Gerasimov and Shoigu. So this really isn’t that surprising:

Wagner mercenaries call Russian MoD's Chief of Staff "piece of shit" on camera. "You are a piece of shit ..where are the shells? We have no shells anymore here [at Bahmut]".
Prigozhin says he has "nothing to say about this video", essentially endorsing the attack on Gerassimov. pic.twitter.com/wObdezaHmZ

— Christo Grozev (@christogrozev) December 26, 2022

I’m rooting for injuries!

Some people in Ukraine celebrate #Christmas today. Some decided not to celebrate. But we have a choice. And we should remember whom we should thank for this choice.#ThanksToZSU pic.twitter.com/GFVvYvLrkx

— Alexander Kamyshin (@AKamyshin) December 25, 2022

An underdog who wins against the bad guys. This is the kind of story we all enjoy.
Dedicated to all the die hards on the front line.
Ukraine will win!
Yippee Ki-Yay…! pic.twitter.com/JaZzqlOZA7

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) December 26, 2022

I meant to include parts of the following thread last night, but we were running long as it was, so:

Celebrating Christmas on Jan 7th, along with Eastern Orthodox Church and Russian adherents, has been tradition.

But this year many are celebrating on Dec 25, and the West, as a political point.

For e.g., the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces:https://t.co/TSsB015iAD

— Tim Mak (@timkmak) December 25, 2022

"People came to me and said, Rabbi, so many Jews have left here. Is there a future for this synagogue, the community, the country?" Wolff told us.

— Tim Mak (@timkmak) December 25, 2022

Wolff explains why he's expanding his synagogue in a time of war:

"God will hear us and bring war to an end in this country. And people will come back because we show them that we believe there is a future."

— Tim Mak (@timkmak) December 25, 2022

Wolff told a story that showed just how deeply connected Odesa is to its Jewish traditions.

Wolff and some of his assistants have bolted battery-powered menorahs to the top of their cars pic.twitter.com/gYehWdM8sN

— Tim Mak (@timkmak) December 25, 2022

Spotted in Kyiv, two of my favorite things: pic.twitter.com/buuLtLP6U7

— Tim Mak (@timkmak) December 25, 2022

Do click across and give the whole thread a read, it’s worth the three or four minutes!

The Times of Israel has an interesting article about the Mariupol Defenders:

You shall not pass. The fellowship of the steel

A true story of the Mariupol siege and its heroic defenders

I was waiting for an arrival of a delayed flight from Warsaw in the heart of Ben Gurion Airport. People around eagerly awaited their beloved ones from abroad. Everything around was the usual airport routine. But we were waiting for extraordinary guests from Ukraine – Lt. Illia Samoilenko (Special Operations Detachment “Azov”) and Yulia Fedosiuk (deputy head of The Association of Azovstal Defenders Families). This is their first joint mission abroad as representatives of both military and civil parts of the Azovstal defenders movement. I would also say that this is a very symbolic and significant visit to Israel that shatters the myths of Russian propaganda about the “Azov” regiment.

“Azov” vs Propaganda

Since 2014 Russian propaganda has been working on creating the myth about “Ukrainian Neo-nazis” in military uniform, which was supposed to legitimize their full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russian media has extensively demonized ” Azov, ” which poisoned people’s consciousness worldwide. Sadly, some international journalists were covertly exploited by Russians, leading to several articles and investigations whose only sources were “unnamed whistleblowers.” Other journalists, naming themselves independent investigators, can not even figure out the difference between the “Azov” regiment and the political party created by the veterans of this unit. It looks like someone is writing an article about Likud, claiming it’s a logical continuation of The Irgun. From my point of view is better to read and analyze local researchers than try to focus on and quote some “Instagram investigators.” E.g., Michael Colborne is known in the western media but is not experienced enough and qualified for such research due to the lack of sources and understanding of Ukraine’s political and military processes.

Nevertheless, I can not deny that some of the far-right activists from Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus joined the unit in 2014 (when it was founded). According to my sources, among “Azov” veterans and acting soldiers, most of those who shared the far-right ideology left the unit back in 2015. Most of these radical adventurists who tried to bring intolerance ideology into the newly arranged battalion were originally from Russia, claiming they were fighting against Putin’s regime in Ukraine.

However, these shady people disappeared less than a year after joining the unit for unknown reasons. Leaving only a trace of the unpleasant stories they created for the media through their appearance in the battalion (at that time). Knowing the methodology of Russian propaganda very well, I would assume that these people were “moles” in the regiment. Their main task was to damage the reputation of the newly created unit, and they did this very well. As Illia Samoilenko told me once: “They (Russians) only can do two things well. They can lie good, and they can intimidate.” Since 2017 new commander of the regiment Denys Prokopenko (“Redis”), has organized a strict set of measures to implement NATO standards in unit training, hierarchy, ideology, and methodology of warfare.

In conclusion to these arguments, I would like to quote Vyacheslav Likhachev (Ph.D. in history, journalist, political scientist, and social activist). Mr. Likhachev has been monitoring right-wing movements, xenophobia, and antisemitism for over 20 years in Ukraine. His fundamental researches provide the most profound and balanced understanding of Ukraine’s ongoing respect for human rights.

“Firstly, the radical far-right background of some of the founders of “Azov” is true. However, this was not reflected in the activities of “Azov” in any way. E.g., there was a large Jewish community in Mariupol, a functioning synagogue, which in eight years never encountered any problems with any “Azov” fighter. The situation is similar with the Muslim and Greek communities. The biggest danger for the ethnic communities of Mariupol and all local residents was the Russians’ indiscriminate use of heavy weapons against civilian infrastructure. But the fact that the founder of “Azov,” Andriy Biletskyi, continued to exploit the name of the regiment for years while creating new political projects of a nationalist direction further confused the outside observers.

Secondly, Russian propaganda does not neglect lies and makes an impressive picture. This picture is virtual, but do not underestimate Russian propaganda. It is systematic, professional, and convincing, especially in Western society, which is not used to such blatant lies. Western culture tends to abandon the black-and-white vision of the world and consider more complex models. It is typical for them to look for the truth somewhere in the middle between polar points of view. And the truth, as Adam Michnyk said, does not lie in the middle, it lies where it lies.”

Jews within the ranks of the “Azov” regiment

Considering that many people still believe in Russian propaganda, I decided to share 3 stories of Jewish “Azov” soldiers I contacted personally.

Those three stories and much, much more after the link!

That’s enough for tonight.

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