The Ukrainians are continuing to both liberate portions of Kherson and celebrate doing so.
The moment a grandmother kneels before her grandson soldier who’d been fighting for Kherson liberation. pic.twitter.com/f6JkBiPmMD
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) November 12, 2022
We will never abandon those who are caught in the jaws of a monster. We will fight for each and every one of our beautiful-as-the-universe people. pic.twitter.com/Gh31K0RFWY
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) November 12, 2022
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump:
War for Ukraine Day 262: The Jubilation Over the Liberation of Kherson ContinuesPost + Comments (79)
Dear Ukrainians, I wish you health!
Today we all feel enthusiastic together. I don’t know if we have at least one person who hasn’t watched the video of our Kherson people greeting the Ukrainian defenders.
Months of Russian occupation, months of the mockery of our people, months of stories that Russia is supposedly there forever… And still, there is a sea of Ukrainian flags on the streets. People did not even think of refusing Ukraine. And the world sees it now. It sees what it means when Ukrainians meet their own people. It sees what the unity of Ukrainians means. And it sees why we should liberate our entire land from the invaders.
We will see many more such greetings. In those cities and villages that are still under occupation. We don’t forget anyone, we won’t leave anyone. Thanks to our defense operations and diplomacy, we will definitely reach our state border – all sections of the internationally recognized border of Ukraine.
As of this evening, the defense forces have won back control in more than 60 settlements of Kherson region, the police have started taking stabilization measures. Stabilization measures are also ongoing in Kherson itself.
Everywhere in the liberated territory, our bomb-disposal experts have a lot of work to do. Almost 2,000 explosive items have already been removed – mines, trip wires, and unexploded ammunition.
Before fleeing from Kherson, the occupiers destroyed all critical infrastructure – communication, water supply, heat, electricity… Ruscists everywhere have the same goal – mockery of people as much as possible. But we will restore everything. Believe me. Although it takes time for this, it is already clear to everyone that the outcome will be ours, the Ukrainian one.
It is very important now to tell all Kherson residents to be careful and not try to independently check any buildings and objects left by the occupiers. Please, if you have a connection with the townspeople, be sure to pass this on to them.
There are ten groups of bomb-disposal experts working in Kherson, the police are working, and there are various units of the defense forces. Today, unfortunately, one of our sappers was injured during demining of the administrative building. Therefore, please, dear citizens of Kherson, be careful and inform the police or rescuers about any suspicious objects you see.
The same concerns residents of other settlements in the liberated territory. Please remain vigilant of your own safety. It is very important.
Separately, today I want to address all our military personnel who are in other areas of the front, to all those who take care of our security at the borders, to all those who defend Ukraine in the air and at sea, to all those who work for defense in the rear regions.
This success of ours in the south became possible thanks to the fact that all our defenders honorably perform their tasks. The words of thanks that our defenders in Kherson region are hearing now are words of thanks to all of you. To everyone who fights for Ukraine, who works for our victory and who, at their level, helps and achieves the results our state needs.
And especially these are words of thanks to those who endure the Russian attacks on Donetsk region – it’s just hell there. There are extremely brutal battles there every day. But our units defend themselves bravely, withstand the terrible pressure of the occupiers, and maintain our defense lines. It is very important. Thanks to the strong defense there, in Donetsk region, we can conduct offensive operations in other directions. I thank all our soldiers who defend Ukraine in these particularly tough battles. Pavlivka, Maryinka, Pervomaiske, Avdiyivka…
The first and second battalions of the 36th Separate Brigade of Marines, the 79th Separate Assault Brigade, the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade, the 68th Separate Hunter Brigade, the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade, the 56th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade and the 55th Zaporizka Sich Separate Artillery Brigade, which supports everyone there… Thank you, soldiers, for your courage, for your bravery!
And I join the thanks and wishes that have already been heard from the people of Kherson by our fighters of the 28th and 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigades and the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade, our intelligence officers, our fighters of the Special Operations Forces and national guardsmen. Well done. Thank you all for the brilliant performance of tasks for the liberation of Kherson!
It will be the same in Henichesk and Melitopol. We will also come to all our cities and villages of Donbas. We will definitely see how people with Ukrainian flags, which they keep there, will meet the Ukrainian forces in Crimea, and there will be hundreds of them on the streets on the day of liberation.
I thank everyone who fights and works for Ukrainian victory! I’m thankful to everyone in the world who helps us so much!
Eternal glory to all those who gave their lives for their native Ukraine!
Glory to Ukraine!
Here is former NAVDEVGRU Squadron Leader Chuck Pfarrer’s most recent assessment of the situation in Kherson:
NOTE: Banzinou @Banzinou_ has reported that the helicopter reported captured at Kherson Airport is actually an abandoned UKR Mi-9 that has been in RU possession since 2016. It had been repainted in Russian markings. Many thanks for the clarification.
— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) November 12, 2022
New @Maxar 🛰️images reveal "significant" damage to several bridges and a dam near Kherson, where Russian forces retreated this week.
Here: The Nova Kakhovka dam with with what Maxar says are "sections of the northern extent of the dam and sluice gates deliberately destroyed." pic.twitter.com/a9aE9EKds1
— Ben Watson (@natsecwatson) November 11, 2022
As I predicted based on his statements to Shoigu, Surovikin blew the dam!
Grandma stole some ammunition from russians and gave it to Ukrainian soldiers who liberated her village in #Kherson region. On this video she says „Beat that kacaps!” (kacaps – slur name for russians in Ukrainian, but not only, language). pic.twitter.com/2Cw8CJ2NWJ
— Svitlana Khytrenko Ї 🇺🇦🌻 (@s_khytrenko) November 12, 2022
It will take at least a few weeks to unwrap all the generous gifts that the russian occupiers thoughtfully left for the #UAarmy in the Kherson region… This pleasant work is only just getting started… pic.twitter.com/zMfYN9MZym
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) November 12, 2022
Ukrainian soldier shows a babusiya pictures of destroyed russian equipment near Kherson.
“How beautiful!” – the woman responds. pic.twitter.com/mnhjJDxusB
— Saint Javelin (@saintjavelin) November 12, 2022
Big liberation of Paris energy pic.twitter.com/Z7vRgeAhLA
— Adam Rawnsley (@arawnsley) November 12, 2022
I was going to stop posting videos from Kherson but can’t resist with this one. Especially the poster at the end. pic.twitter.com/Z6mJgaoyTp
— Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) November 12, 2022
These people are nuts. And you can’t negotiate with nuts!
You thought protests are banned in Russia? Not this one in central Moscow. “Nuke Washington” because “we will end up in paradise and they will just die.” Imperial delirium tremens. pic.twitter.com/HBuHesx8qC
— Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) November 12, 2022
The Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Foundation has released a new video report/documentary on General Surovikin:
2/16 Today we released our brand new investigation about the main face of Putin’s war in Ukraine. This decorated general is well-known for his cruelty and ruthlessness. Now he shall be known for his corruption as well. pic.twitter.com/zXDYGuHlKX
— Maria Pevchikh (@pevchikh) November 10, 2022
Gin&Tonic sent me the link to this thread by USAID Administrator Power:
Amid much debate about where the U.S. stands on whether or not Ukraine should negotiate. In Air Force One press gaggle, National Security Advisor @JakeSullivan46 just gave detailed comments on @POTUS position. Highly recommend reading in full:
— Samantha Power (@PowerUSAID) November 12, 2022
— Samantha Power (@PowerUSAID) November 12, 2022
— Samantha Power (@PowerUSAID) November 12, 2022
As I’ve noted repeatedly I’m not a huge fan of Sullivan. I think he’s far, far too cautious. But these statements to the press gaggle on Air Force One are spot on! He nailed it.
Break
Before we get to what you’re all really here for – Patron – I want to address the mess I and several others made of the comments on Thursday night/Friday morning. I’m not going to get into who wrote what when. I just want to say I’m not upset with anyone over what happened and since I’m sure I pissed some of you off I apologize for snapping at a couple of our regular commenters. No one has to accept the apology, and I’m not going to make any excuses or provide any rationalizations for my comments, but I did just want to take a moment and 1) not let this linger, 2) make it very clear that anyone who feels like they can’t comment who had been is welcome to come back and continue to comment, 3) and since the updates are mine, take responsibility for letting things get out of hand on Thursday night/Friday morning – I should’ve just gone to bed. I want to especially apologize for snapping at Another Scott.
I think that’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
We start with Patron bringing us sad, though not unexpected news. Krym was unable to recover from the effect of shell shock and died today:
The dog Krym(Crimea), about whom I wrote recently (sitting on the ruins of the house where his family died), also died today. I am very sorry that this war is taking so many lives. Please think about him today. And all of the souls who passed away. Illustration @0lga.art (Inst) pic.twitter.com/ZjAvTDQ414
— Patron (@PatronDsns) November 12, 2022
He was a the most faithful of dogs. May he and his humans meet on the far side of the rainbow bridge!
And a new, and fortunately not sad, video from Patron’s official TikTok:
@patron__dsns Усім кавуновий лизь!👅🍉 #славаукраїні #славазсу #песпатрон
♬ Jazz masterpiece “As time goes by” covered by a Jazz violinist by profession(962408) – ricca
The caption machine translates as:
Watermelon lick everyone!👅🍉 #SlavaUkraini #Celebrate #PatrontheDog
Open thread!