The best thing for us is to be capable of producing advanced weapons to guarantee Ukraine’s security, and we will do so – address by the President

25 September 2023 – 21:42

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today Defense Minister Umerov delivered an important report: the first American-made Abrams tanks are already in Ukraine. We are preparing them to reinforce our actions against the occupiers. And it will be a significant reinforcement.

We are also working to get all the other weapons capabilities we need. This includes F16s – we are preparing pilots and infrastructure. This also includes long-range weapons – we are doing our utmost to enable Ukraine to do more to liberate its territory. The same goes for air defense. To cover the entire territory of our country, we need more systems than we currently have.

The best thing for us is to be able to produce air defense and other advanced weapons. This is the only way. To guarantee Ukraine’s security. And we will produce, we will build all the necessary production facilities step by step.

And, by the way, we see a very clear interest of the world in working with us to build a new defense force not only for Ukraine, but also for our partners. For our world as a whole – a rules-based world that will not tolerate the aggression and terror that Russia is trying to make the norm.

Today, Minister for Strategic Industries Kamyshin reported on the preparation of the first Defense Industries Forum: there are already more than 160 companies that will participate. 26 countries. Different parts of the world: America, Asia, Europe, Australia. Manufacturers of a full range of weapons. We will bend every effort to unite the world to create a new and powerful arsenal for Ukraine and all defenders of international law.

Today, I also held meetings on the results of my visit to the United States and Canada, as well as meetings with the leaders of partner countries on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. All the agreements we have reached, all the prospects for Ukraine – everything must be implemented as soon as possible. For each of the areas, we are appointing a specific official who will be responsible for the implementation of the agreements. Defense, political cooperation, strengthening and purging of institutions, energy sector, recovery.

I would like to pay special attention to Penny Pritzker, the newly appointed U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Recovery. This is a very important appointment. It is a clear symbol of America’s confidence in Ukraine’s future. I had a meeting with Mrs. Pritzker in New York, and she was also in Washington for expanded talks with President Biden. The atmosphere is productive. And it is important for us to ensure that the Special Representative can start working with Ukraine and in Ukraine as soon as possible.

I also held a meeting with government officials and the Office on our grain exports. We coordinated further steps and noted the results achieved. First: The European Commission endorsed the roadmap for mutual monitoring of grain exports. This is completely rational. Second, we are gradually removing emotions from this topic on most issues. Work with our neighbors can and should become fully constructive, and Ukraine is doing everything for this. Third, I am grateful to those of our partners who have prevented violations of EU trade rules and the Association Agreement. We expect the same constructive cooperation as with Bulgaria and Romania from other neighboring countries. The European Union is a space for mutual understanding and cooperation. This is how it should be.

And one more thing.

I would like to thank all our Air Force servicemen, all our anti-aircraft gunners, and servicemen of mobile fire groups who repel Russian missile and drone attacks every day and night.

During just one attack against Ukraine last night, the enemy used 33 strike weapons – “Shaheds” and missiles. Most of them were launched against Odesa and the region. Most of them were shot down. Unfortunately, not all of them. Unfortunately, there were hits. But 30 targets out of 33 were neutralized. It is important to bear in mind that each neutralized target means saved lives.

And we will retaliate against Russia for every strike against our cities and villages, against every Ukrainian community. For Odesa, for Beryslav and Kherson, for Donetsk, Kharkiv and Sumy regions. For all our regions. I thank everyone who rescues people after the occupiers’ attacks! I thank everyone in the world who helps us defend Ukraine!

Glory to our warriors! 

Glory to all who work for the sake of the state! 

Glory to Ukraine!

The Abrams have arrived in Ukraine:

Abrams, welcome to 🇺🇦!

— Rustem Umerov (@rustem_umerov) September 25, 2023

The first batch of Abrams tanks was delivered to Ukraine on Saturday – New York Timeshttps://t.co/CyoVnvD5n9 pic.twitter.com/eQyV8oJu3I

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 25, 2023

When President Zelenskyy addressed Canada’s parliament a naturalized Ukrainian-Canadian citizen who fought in World War II was present in parliament and recognized by the Speaker of Parliament for fighting against the Soviets and Russia. The problem was that this World War II veteran had fought in the 14th Waffen Division also known as the Waffen SS-Galician Division. The Times of Israel has details: (emphasis mine)

TORONTO (AP) — The speaker of Canada’s House of Commons apologized Sunday for recognizing a man who fought in a Nazi military unit during World War II.

Just after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered an address in the House of Commons on Friday, Canadian lawmakers gave 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka a standing ovation when Speaker Anthony Rota drew attention to him. Rota introduced Hunka as a Canadian and Ukrainian war hero who fought for the First Ukrainian Division.

The First Ukrainian Division was a voluntary unit commanded by the Nazis that was also known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division or the SS 14th Waffen Division. It was responsible for “mass murder” and “crimes against humanity during the Holocaust,” according to Canada’s Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center.

“In my remarks following the address of the President of Ukraine, I recognized an individual in the gallery. I have subsequently become aware of more information which causes me to regret my decision to do so,” Rota said in a statement.

He added that his fellow Parliament members and the Ukraine delegation were not aware of his plan to recognize Hunka. Rota noted Hunka, a Ukrainian immigrant, is from his district.

“I particularly want to extend my deepest apologies to Jewish communities in Canada and around the world. I accept full responsibility for my action,” Rota said.

Hunka could not be immediately reached for comment.

Canadian lawmakers cheered and Zelensky raised his fist in acknowledgement as Hunka saluted from the gallery during two separate standing ovations. Rota called him a “Ukrainian hero and a Canadian hero, and we thank him for all his service.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office said in a statement that Rota had apologized and accepted full responsibility for issuing the invitation to Hunka and for the recognition in Parliament.

“This was the right thing to do,” Trudeau’s statement said. “No advance notice was provided to the Prime Minister’s Office, nor the Ukrainian delegation, about the invitation or the recognition.”

That did not stop the leader of the opposition, Pierre Poilievre, from slamming an “error in judgment.”

The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies issued a statement Sunday saying the speaker’s adulatory remarks ignored “the horrific fact that Hunka served in the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, a Nazi military unit whose crimes against humanity during the Holocaust are well-documented… [It] was responsible for the mass murder of innocent civilians with a level of brutality and malice that is unimaginable.”

The Jewish advocacy group called the incident “shocking” and “incredibly disturbing.”

“An apology is owed to every Holocaust survivor and veteran of the Second World War who fought the Nazis, and an explanation must be provided as to how this individual entered the hallowed halls of Canadian Parliament and received recognition from the Speaker of the House and a standing ovation,” it said in a statement.

B’nai Brith Canada’s CEO, Michael Mostyn, said it was outrageous that Parliament honored a former member of a Nazi unit, saying Ukrainian “ultra-nationalist ideologues” who volunteered for the Galicia Division “dreamed of an ethnically homogenous Ukrainian state and endorsed the idea of ethnic cleansing.”

“We understand an apology is forthcoming. We expect a meaningful apology. Parliament owes an apology to all Canadians for this outrage, and a detailed explanation as to how this could possibly have taken place at the center of Canadian democracy,” Mostyn said before Rota issued his statement.

Members of Parliament from all parties rose to applaud Hunka. A spokesperson for the opposition Conservative party said the party was not aware of his history at the time.

Apparently no one else did either. And, even worse, no one properly vetted this guy.

Here is Speaker Rota’s letter of apology:

And his verbal apology today:

Canada’s opposition leader, who also, as The Times of Israel reported, gave Hunka a standing ovation, is trying to leverage this for his own and his party’s political advantage. The Globe & Mail has details:

Question Period was dominated Monday by exchanges over the Speaker of the House of Commons publicly honouring a Ukrainian-Canadian man visiting the Commons as a Second World War hero, even though the man served in a Nazi SS unit during the war.

Anthony Rota, the Speaker, presided over Monday’s session in the Commons even though he has been at the centre of the controversy and apologized in writing and verbally for Friday’s incident after a speech to Parliament by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Pierre Poilievre, the federal Conservative leader and leader of the official opposition, pressed for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take responsibility for the incident, although Mr. Rota has said the situation was entirely his fault.

Karina Gould, the government house leader, said she was extremely disappointed with the situation, but noted, speaking to Mr. Rota, that it was the Speaker’s call – ”and yours alone” – to allow the individual into the galleries. “It’s something we are all very disappointed by.”

She added, “As a descendant of Jewish Holocaust survivors , I am personally very hurt by the fact that this chamber recognized this individual and I am sure that everyone feels the same way in this chamber.”

On Monday, Mr. Poilievre said the prime minister was responsible for security and vetting anyone who comes in contact with a foreign leader, particularly one at war, and that he should apologize.

Mr. Trudeau was not present in the Commons for Question Period on Monday. Aside from private meetings, the only commitment on his agenda for the day was a meeting with British Columbia Premier David Eby, who is visiting the nation’s capital.

Ms. Gould asked Mr. Poilievre not to politicize the situation, focusing on Mr. Rota in her response.

“He knows just as well as everyone else in this chamber that the decision to invite this individual was yours, Mr. Speaker, and yours alone, that you did not inform the government or the Ukrainian delegation that you were inviting him or that you would recognize him. You made that public yesterday. The leader of the opposition knows that. I would ask that he sticks to the facts.”

Earlier Monday, the Bloc Québécois joined NDP’s calls for the resignation of Mr. Rota, backing the NDP calls for Mr. Rota to go over the situation.

Hours after the NDP House Leader Peter Julian on Monday said Anthony Rota should quit, Yves-François Blanchet, Leader of the Bloc, backed the Speaker’s exit.

“The Bloc Québécois can only note, on the one hand, the damage caused by the Speaker’s error, and on the other hand, the loss of confidence in the House that it needs to carry out its function,” Mr. Blanchet said in a statement.

“Therefore, we call on the Speaker of the House to act responsibly and relinquish his office.”

The Prime Minister’s Office has said that Mr. Hunka was a guest selected independently by the Speaker and that “no advance notice was provided to the Prime Minister’s Office, nor the Ukrainian delegation, about the invitation or recognition.”

Outside the Commons on Monday, Mr. Julian said the NDP will talk to other parties to see where they stand on the fate of the Speaker. He declined to specifically respond to a journalist’s question about the other parties not calling for Mr. Rota’s resignation.

The NDP house leader said the caucus is not working, at this point, on a motion calling for the Speaker to step down but that “this is a very serious situation. We’re not going to play games with this.”

Responding to Conservative criticism of the government, Mr. Julian said it is his understanding that the Speaker chooses guests in the gallery: “I don’t believe that is something that goes through the government.”

The Kremlin is also trying to leverage this screw up for its own advantage too! The Jerusalem Post has the details.

The Kremlin said on Monday it was “outrageous” that a Ukrainian man who served in one of Adolf Hitler’s Waffen SS units during World War Two had been presented to Canada’s parliament last week as a hero.

Yaroslav Hunka, 98, received two standing ovations from Canadian lawmakers in the House of Commons lower chamber during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday. The speaker, Anthony Rota, apologized in the House on Monday for formally recognizing Hunka but did not heed calls to resign.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the episode showed a careless disregard for historical truth, and that the memory of Nazi crimes must be preserved.

“Such sloppiness of memory is outrageous,” Peskov told reporters. “Many Western countries, including Canada, have raised a young generation that does not know who fought whom or what happened during the Second World War. And they know nothing about the threat of fascism.”

The episode plays into the narrative promoted by Russian President Vladimir Putin that he sent his army into Ukraine last year to “demilitarize and denazify” the country, a European democracy whose Jewish president lost family members in the Holocaust.

Earlier this month Putin stressed the part that “local nationalists and anti-Semites” had played in the murder of 1.5 million Jews in Ukraine during the Holocaust and said “this has a direct relation to the present day.”

Peskov told reporters that Russia was waging an “irreconcilable fight” against fascism that was “trying to find its feet in the center of Europe, in Ukraine.”

The tankies, vatniks, and useful idiots have been out in force on social media over this for the past several days.

Here is Illia Ponomarenko’s take”

So, lemme make the situation clear:
– The Canadian House speaker makes a poorly thought out and ad hoc decision to give greetings to an old Ukrainian-Canadian man in the hall in the presence of Ukraine’s president
– this old man suddenly appears to have had history with the… pic.twitter.com/HeaJmXOGen

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) September 25, 2023

So, lemme make the situation clear:
– The Canadian House speaker makes a poorly thought out and ad hoc decision to give greetings to an old Ukrainian-Canadian man in the hall in the presence of Ukraine’s president
– this old man suddenly appears to have had history with the Waffen-SS during WWII
– the Canadian speaker naturally offers apologies for the scandal and the awkward situation.
Meanwhile, advocates of the most devastating European war since WWII waged by Russia:
“GOTCHA!!!! So Ukraine is a Nazi nation here!! We told ya! Here’s why Ukraine must be exterminated to ashes and annexed by Russia!”

My take as a Jewish American national security professional sitting here trying to finish the update before breaking my Yom Kippur fast is that Speaker Rota made a stupid mistake. Beyond that there is no there there. And anyone, from Canadian opposition leaders to American politicians or commentators to the usual blue checkmark group on Twitter, need to think real hard about whether they really want to take the Kremlin’s side on this given what we know of first the Soviet Union’s and now Russia’s alternative history of World War II. They won’t of course, but they should.

One final point on this because I’m sure someone – not here – will eventually start calling for this nonagenerian’s prosecution for war crimes: DON’T!! The guy is in his 90s, what meaningful result are you going to get from making his final years miserable? None, none whatsoever. I’m not soft on NAZIs or war criminals, but at some point there is a difference between justice balanced with mercy and revenge. Deuteronomy 16:20 commands Jews that “Justice, justice shall you pursue,” not vengeance. At this point having the history of his activities in World War II broadcast to the entire world, let alone his neighbors, is enough punishment for the 98 year old Mr. Hunka. He has to live his remaining years with the memory of what he did and did not do. And he has to live them with everyone he knows knowing about it. That’s more than enough punishment.

Verbove and Novoprokopivka:

From recent video geoconfirmations, it's clear that the UAF are actively operating near Verbove and Novoprokopivka. Satellite analysis, based on observable landscape changes, supports it and shows fire shifting toward both Verbove and the southern part of Novoprokopivka🧵Thread: pic.twitter.com/heEwrZOK6L

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) September 25, 2023

3/ For a clearer grasp of the tactical situation, terrain understanding is key. The landscape is primarily flat with slight elevations shown on this map. Remember, these elevations are relative to the overall flat terrain, and the red color doesn't always show dominant hills. pic.twitter.com/3NdUtNJ7Hr

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) September 25, 2023

5/ I want to emphasize that russian defense has not collapsed. Despite enduring substantial losses and being compelled to retreat, they still maintained control over their forces and afforded organized retreat, continuing to present a formidable challenge to our forces.

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) September 25, 2023

7/ I kindly request your support through likes, follows, and shares of the first message in the thread. Recent satellite imagery and the integration of new elevation and 3D tools depend on your generous contributions via the Buy Me a Coffee account linked to my profile. Thank you

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) September 25, 2023

No, I do not expect a quick advance thereafter. This can be confirmed by statements from officials who say that it will roll over to the winter period

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) September 25, 2023

So far russians are being pushed further, but pushing and breakthrough are different things, and breakthrough exploitation is a whole different story. There are still minefields ahead

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) September 25, 2023

They are weakened and decimated, but it's not like our forces have grown and added in ammo and manpower

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) September 25, 2023

No, the ammo situation isn't great, and the coming numbers are much lower than required for advances. Russians also modify and adapt to our tactics, no need to assume that they don't. The situation remains difficult despite serious progress, no need to play down their defenses

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) September 25, 2023

Russia occupied Sevastopol:

An air raid alert sounds in Sevastopol and the rest of Crimea. Russian air defense activity is also reported. Russian sources claim that Crimea is under Storm Shadow attack. It is also reported that Russians allegedly scrambled military aircrafts and helicopters to avoid being… pic.twitter.com/g39TbH3Sxb

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 25, 2023

After the attack on the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol, 34 officers died, among them the commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, Victor Sokolov. Another 105 were injured. – according to the Special Operations Forces of Ukrainehttps://t.co/J4yVGpnT9C pic.twitter.com/J0QjjVzGEm

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 25, 2023

Commander of the Black Sea Fleet was killed as a result of attack on the HQ in Sevastopol as reported by SOF. Additionally, 33 Russian officers were killed, and 105 more injured. They say more will follow. pic.twitter.com/ELcWgHLuuy

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) September 25, 2023

Sorokyne/Krasnodon, Russian occupied Luhansk:

/1. Explosions/ammunition detonation is reported in Russian controlled Sorokyne (Krasnodon), Luhansk region. pic.twitter.com/rOsfUgJ0d1

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 25, 2023

/3. Another video of explosion in Sorokyne (Krasnodon) pic.twitter.com/OB9ijdGLQr

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 25, 2023

Chkalovski air base, Moscow Oblast, Russia:

Ruslan Leviev, a founder of Conflict Intelligence Team, has said that they do have a footage that confirms the recent sabotage on the Russian Chkalovski air base, near Moscow. However they are not able to publicly reveal it because of safety issues.
P.S: Not long ago, CIT also… https://t.co/XceVKP3L0t pic.twitter.com/MKi8QEZ333

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 25, 2023

Ruslan Leviev, a founder of Conflict Intelligence Team, has said that they do have a footage that confirms the recent sabotage on the Russian Chkalovski air base, near Moscow. However they are not able to publicly reveal it because of safety issues. P.S: Not long ago, CIT also published unique footage of the damage to the Russian submarine Rostov-on-Don. https://youtube.com/watch?v=gisw33oESMI&si=yXKwpw5lJzMI4C_r

Bryansk air base, Bryansk Oblast, Russia:

As I understand it, the cause of incident in Khalino military airfield looked something similar to what we can see on todays photo from Bryansk:
Today a UAV fell in Bryansk, on the photos the Russian military and the FSB are picking up and inspecting parts of the fallen drone.… https://t.co/8qftjiywLh pic.twitter.com/VYogy2yrXG

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 25, 2023

As I understand it, the cause of incident in Khalino military airfield looked something similar to what we can see on todays photo from Bryansk: Today a UAV fell in Bryansk, on the photos the Russian military and the FSB are picking up and inspecting parts of the fallen drone. Unfortunately in this case, unlike Khalino, the FSB and officers were not injured.

Khalino air base, Kursk Oblast, Russia:

More information about yesterday’s Khalino military airfield incident. As per Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine:
At the airfield "Khalino" in the Kursk region, a Ukrainian drone was landed by Russian electronic warfare systems on the runway. When the leadership of the… https://t.co/DPgNOr4OSx

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 25, 2023

More information about yesterday’s Khalino military airfield incident. As per Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine:
At the airfield “Khalino” in the Kursk region, a Ukrainian drone was landed by Russian electronic warfare systems on the runway. When the leadership of the aviation regiment and FSB officers arrived for closer inspection drone exploded. As claimed, the following were killed or injured during the explosion:
→ commander of the 14th aviation regiment;
→ one of his deputies;
→ a group of aviator officers;
→ a representative of the FSB military counterintelligence;
→ airport employees.
More details: https://news.liga.net/ua/politics/news/na-rossiyskom-aerodrome-halino-ukrainskiy-dron-udaril-po-rukovodstvu-aviapolka-gur

For you naval drone enthusiasts:

New underwater drone Marichka. Can’t wait to see Marichka hunting for Russian ships pic.twitter.com/Tez4kvd7y6

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) September 25, 2023

That’s enough for tonight. Not least because I really NEED to eat something and rehydrate as I’ve not eaten anything since about 7 PM last night and have had less than 6 ounces of water or any other beverage today.

Obligatory:

Your daily Patron!

There is a new slide show at Patron’s official TikTok. Those don’t embed here, so click across if you want to see it.

Open thread!

It was a very productive week, we have a lot of good defense and other decisions – address by the President of Ukraine

24 September 2023 – 21:07

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

It was a productive week. Very productive. We have many good defense and other decisions.

Defense packages. From the United States – including artillery, necessary shells, HIMARS munitions, air defense missiles, additional air defense systems, tactical vehicles. And some other types of weapons that will prove themselves on the battlefield. From Canada, we have a decision on long-term defense support worth half a billion U.S. dollars. In particular, these are medevac vehicles, which are very much needed at the front. We have agreed on their production and supply.

There is a historic decision by the United States to jointly produce weapons and defense systems. In particular, air defense. This is something that was an absolute fantasy until recently. But it will become a reality. We will make it a reality. Everyone who works for the state. And this is the new quality of Ukraine’s defense industry – much more powerful. And this is also the economy. Protection for our cities. Enterprises, new jobs for both our peoples – for Ukrainians and Americans. We have a clear perspective of a new resilience of Ukraine that will prevent the recurrence of Russian aggression – this is what we have already agreed on. I am grateful to President Biden, his entire team, and everyone in America who values freedom and supports Ukraine.

I held very important meetings in Washington, in Congress – both parties, both houses. There were a lot of questions, a lot of dialog. Equally sincere answers, absolute frankness and sincere understanding. And we specifically requested a format of meetings and communication in Congress that would allow for the most detailed conversation. This resulted in more trust, and I heard that support for Ukraine will persist.

In general, many morally robust and important positions were voiced at different levels in the United States – from the top level to all those involved in negotiations with the Ukrainian delegation. The same is true for Canada. There is a clear unity. There are new sanctions against Russia, and there will be even more sanctions pressure.

We have reached economic agreements with both governments and businesses. There is a decision on a free trade area with Canada. A memorandum on energy cooperation was signed in Washington. An agreement was reached in Ottawa to rebuild Kakhovka HPP and reconstruct Kaniv HPP. There is an obvious interest of large companies in the U.S. and Canada to work in Ukraine.

At the level of the Ministry of Strategic Industries, there is mutual understanding with defense companies. And there is a very important mutual understanding at the level of societies – at the level of ordinary people who really care about Ukraine and really wish us victory and all Ukrainians protection from Russian terror. When ordinary people in America say they pray for Ukraine, it is truly touching and makes our relations stronger.

Separately, I would like to thank the Government of Canada for its readiness to allocate funding for the Holodomor Genocide Museum, for the completion of this museum. It is symbolic that Canada will be the one to support Ukraine in preserving its historical memory. Thank you, Canada!

We have agreements of the First Lady of Ukraine regarding support for the rehabilitation of veterans, there is a corresponding Ukrainian-Canadian medical partnership. Olena is expanding access of Ukrainian culture to the world’s leading museums, and now there is an agreement with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Olena also had important meetings and speeches on the sidelines of the UN, in particular, regarding the protection of Ukrainian children during the war.

This year, Ukraine presented to the UN a vision of reforming the key UN institution – the Security Council. The Security Council is currently not able at all to stop aggression and actually restore peace because of the obsolete veto system, when there is no restriction on the aggressor’s abuse of the veto. This needs to be changed, and in general, all nations that respect other nations and peace should be given more rights and opportunities in the UN. I am sure the world supports this Ukrainian position.

And of course, this week was also fruitful in terms of bilateral meetings with the leaders of other countries. Thank you all for your support! And for your willingness to work with Ukraine. Yes, this is a different scope of cooperation. Different areas. But this is a clear recognition that Ukraine has a future. Its own future. Powerful and free.

And our warriors. I am extremely grateful. I am proud of you! This week, there are grounds to praise the brigades fighting both in the east and in the south. 5th separate assault brigade and 80th separate airborne assault brigade. Thank you for your fortitude in the battles near Klishchiivka! 93rd separate mechanized brigade. Guys, thank you! 15th operational brigade of the National Guard and 71st separate hunting brigade – thank you for the true Ukrainian power in the battles near Verbove… 116th separate mechanized brigade – well done, guys!

Thank you to everyone who is fighting for Ukraine, who is on combat posts, in combat missions! Thank you to everyone who helps! Every week brings Ukraine more strength and opportunities. Hence, every week brings our victory closer.

Glory to Ukraine!

The cost:

Maryna is Ukraine's first child to be fitted with a pediatric prosthesis.
In May 2022, a Russian missile struck the house in which she lived with her parents in the Kherson region. The child's leg was amputated above the knee at a hospital in Kryvyi Rih.
Today, 6-year-old Marina… pic.twitter.com/IoZ2zKsBim

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 24, 2023

Maryna is Ukraine’s first child to be fitted with a pediatric prosthesis.
In May 2022, a Russian missile struck the house in which she lived with her parents in the Kherson region. The child’s leg was amputated above the knee at a hospital in Kryvyi Rih.
Today, 6-year-old Marina is already learning how to ride a bicycle.

🎥: The Kyiv Institute of Rehabilitation

Tokmak:

A GMLRS missile launched from a HIMARS struck a russian observation post between the villages of Ilchenkove and Solodka Balka in the Tokmak direction. pic.twitter.com/xUxt3aEjOH

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 24, 2023

Obligatory:

Kherson:

KHERSON AXIS /0130 UTC 22 SEP/ Ukrainian FPV drone destroyed a Russian high speed patrol boat on the Konka River. UKR precision strike munition targeted a Russian HQ element concealed at Oleshky fire dept building. pic.twitter.com/GJlqHOv5yr

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) September 24, 2023

Podil:

War is intertwined with civilian life everywhere in Ukraine. Zaporizhzhia Avenger mural in Podil depicts Roman Holomba, the hero of Ukraine who took down 7 Russian planes and a missile with Igla MANPADS. pic.twitter.com/3wh0BF1zyn

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) September 24, 2023

Russian occupied Sevastopol:

To counter Ukrainian naval drones, Russia has placed layers of barriers, nets, and barges at the entrance to Sevastopol harbor in Crimea. pic.twitter.com/tB1mb5wxlM

— Brady Africk (@bradyafr) September 24, 2023

Russia’s Rybar channel, connected to the military, says two Ukrainian Neptune missiles today hit Sevastopol piers where warships “slated to be written off” were moored. Degree of damage unclear. pic.twitter.com/XnYbJ0z9i7

— Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) September 23, 2023

Khalino air base, Kursk Oblast, Russia:

Today there were reports about drone attack on Kursk. Specifically on the FSB building and at the oil refinery near the Khalino airfield. A comment from a Russian source associated with Russian military aviation appeared, which looks to be connected to those events :
“Something… pic.twitter.com/RGhH7RlkEp

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 24, 2023

Khalino is the home of the Russian air force’s 14th Regiment, which is equipped with Su-30SM multi-role jet fighters. Pictures below are from Google maps. https://t.co/g4ylpxpFuw pic.twitter.com/vtpC4sq2Y8

— Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) September 24, 2023

 

Somewhere in Ukraine:

The best delivery service ever.
FPV drones of the joint tactical group "Adam" deliver gifts to the occupiers directly to their dugouts. pic.twitter.com/tolEAP3kGK

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 24, 2023

That’s me, I’m  a giver.

What?

For you training enthusiasts:

"It took us about two hours to more or less learn the Black Hawk. Then we got into it and immediately flew.

When I showed what I could do with it, the American instructors were shocked," said the first pilot of the UH-60A Black Hawk, call sign "Maestro".… pic.twitter.com/kaCXicwstt

— Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦 In Ukraine | News, Updates (@Heroiam_Slava) September 22, 2023

Tymofiy Mylovanov brings us new details regarding the Ukrainian-Polish grain dispute.

There are signs of de-escalation between Poland and Ukraine on the grain issue. Polish president Duda shifts the narratives: there are special grain corridors for transit of the Ukrainian grain, the EU commission was wrong not to extend their decision 1/ pic.twitter.com/JWDC9s2QzG

— Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) September 24, 2023

While maintaining the ban on Ukrainian grain in Poland to protect the farmers and also talking about other benefits for them, Duda advocates for increased transit of Ukrainian grain to countries in Africa and Asia that require food security. 3/

— Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) September 24, 2023

The president of Poland has to balance domestic agricultural interests ahead of the election with geopolitical pragmatism and support of Ukraine 5/

— Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) September 24, 2023

Ukraine was insulted by the ban, the fact that Poland defied the EU decision not to extend the ban, and by the rhetoric about “Ukraine being a drawling man” and “Poland doesn’t supply weapons to Ukraine anymore”

Good that this all is coming to an end. 7X

— Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) September 24, 2023

Several days ago Russian state controlled TV announced the premier of Tucker Carlson’s TV show on their network.

It looks increasingly like Tucker Carlson is going to have his own dubbed show on Russian state TV's rolling news channel

The same trailer as two weeks ago is now being shown on Rossiya 24 with the added caption of "at the weekend" (my own screengrab) https://t.co/ozJPqHyraD pic.twitter.com/wapqAxnp7k

— Francis Scarr (@francis_scarr) September 22, 2023

When asked for comment, Carlson said that this was not true.

We now have some clarification of what is going on.

Russian state TV is going ahead with its apparently pirated Tucker Carlson show despite him saying they are doing it “without my knowledge or approval.” Tucker tells me it’s “kind of funny actually.” https://t.co/1j7IYDOfpR

— max seddon (@maxseddon) September 24, 2023

It does, however, tell us something important about what Russia thinks of the misinformation, disinformation, and agitprop that Carlson is still injecting into the American information environment and how they think that benefits Russian strategic objectives.

That’s enough for tonight.

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Open thread!

Unity helps us all become stronger, reinforce freedom and move towards victory – Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting with representatives of the Canadian community

23 September 2023 – 13:48

During a working visit to Canada, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska, together with Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, met with Canadian parliamentarians, representatives of political, business and expert circles, academia and the Ukrainian community.

“Слава Україні! I am so proud to hear it in Canada. These words unite the whole Canada, all the people, all communities and cities. Слава Україні! This is how unity sounds. I am proud that we achieved unity like this. It is so inspiring!” the Head of State noted.

According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, unity helps us all become stronger, reinforce freedom and move towards victory, which will surely come.

“I am so proud that Ukraine inspires, that Ukrainians inspire and so do Canadian Ukrainians. I thank you – all of you – that you are active. You let others feel Ukraine’s vibe, the vibe of “Слава Україні” – the vibe of people who never surrender,” the President addressed the Ukrainian community in Canada.

The Head of State thanked the grandparents of Canadians of Ukrainian descent who saved the Ukrainian identity and contributed to making Canada a great country. He expressed confidence that Canada would never lose Ukrainian energy.

“You are helping to protect Ukraine even now, when we are defending and will definitely defend our independence. You help volunteers. You have sheltered our people. Canada trains our warriors. Canada gives weapons to Ukraine to move forward, to push back Russia. And I thank you for this – thank you all!” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.

He expressed confidence that one day both nations would celebrate Ukraine’s victory in unity.

“Bullets and bombs can cause a lot of damage, but they can never take away the sense of community. I felt it when I was in Kyiv during the war. I feel it here in Canada. Because Canadians and Ukrainians have had a special bond for generations. So many Canadians of Ukrainian descent helped build our country, and now Canada and Canadians will help rebuild Ukraine for generations to come,” said Justin Trudeau.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Olena Zelenska also spoke with the participants of the event.

The two also did a joint press conference late yesterday. That video is below.

O Canada!

🇨🇦 Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau announced additional 650 million CAD for assistance to Ukraine over 3 years on armored vehicles, inсluding evacuation vehicles.

🇨🇦 will also send instructors to train 🇺🇦 pilots on the F16.

Grateful to our Canadian friends for always standing by.

— Rustem Umerov (@rustem_umerov) September 23, 2023

Today, the Minister of National Defence, Bill Blair, and the Ukrainian Defence Minister, Rustem Umerov, held a bilateral meeting in Ottawa to discuss defence relations between Canada and Ukraine. They also met with the CDS Gen Wayne Eyre and Parliamentarians. pic.twitter.com/sKeEyZB25k

— National Defence (@NationalDefence) September 22, 2023

For full disclosure, Wayne was one of my students at USAWC in Seminar 12. He’s good people.

The Drive‘s The Warzone did an interview with Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, Commanding General of Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR/HUR). Let’s start with LTG Budanov’s assessment of what is going on with the ATACMs, followed by some proper excerpts:

Great scoop by @haltman
Regarding ATACMS, Budanov says, "So let's wait for the official announcements to be made…but I can say conditionally that if it's 100 missiles, this won’t change the situation." https://t.co/4ugoFTx2uZ pic.twitter.com/0GVuWk9L5x

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) September 22, 2023

Here are some excerpts:

Budanov, who reached out to me last week asking if I wanted to meet up with him during an otherwise secret trip to D.C., is now one of the world’s most famous sitting generals. He is the architect of the constant asymmetrical operations against Ukraine’s great foe, Russia, and has become the subject of numerous stories, including interviews with The War Zone, and ubiquitous memes (more on that later).

A top target of Russia, it is no longer safe for him to meet in a crowded hotel lobby, so I agree to meet him in his room. Outside his door stands a burly man dressed in black, clearly security.

“Do you have a gun?” I am asked.

“No, I am a journalist,” I respond and with that, I am waived in.

Budanov greets me with a smile and a handshake. Unlike our last encounter, he is dressed not in his uniform, but in a dark blue suit, blue shirt and salmon-colored tie.

At his request, out of concern for his security, we agree to hold the interview until after his journey to the U.S. is finally revealed through very public visits to the Pentagon and White House with his president, new defense secretary and their contingents.

Our exclusive conversation, reported in full, has been lightly edited for clarity and context.

TWZ: It’s been a while since we actually saw each other. Is this the first time you’ve been back in Washington D.C. since?

KB: Yes

TWZ: What brings you to Washington? Who you meeting with and what goals do you have for this visit? Have US officials asked you for any advice or insights?

KB: My current visit is not actually mine. It’s part of a presidential visit and I’m assisting him on this trip. And surely there are meetings waiting for me with military leaders of this country as part of the presidential delegation.

At his request, out of concern for his security, we agree to hold the interview until after his journey to the U.S. is finally revealed through very public visits to the Pentagon and White House with his president, new defense secretary and their contingents.

Our exclusive conversation, reported in full, has been lightly edited for clarity and context.

TWZ: It’s been a while since we actually saw each other. Is this the first time you’ve been back in Washington D.C. since?

KB: Yes

TWZ: What brings you to Washington? Who you meeting with and what goals do you have for this visit? Have US officials asked you for any advice or insights?

KB: My current visit is not actually mine. It’s part of a presidential visit and I’m assisting him on this trip. And surely there are meetings waiting for me with military leaders of this country as part of the presidential delegation.

TWZ: I want to talk a little bit about the ongoing counteroffensive. I know that you’re not the general in charge of land forces, but as the eyes and ears of the Ukrainian military, what’s your assessment? Do you still believe that Ukraine will retake Crimea this year or will a counteroffensive push on until next year?

KB: Our counteroffensive operation started at the beginning of summer and is still ongoing. It hasn’t stopped. And as you’ve rightly said I’m not the commander-in-chief of the General Staff. That is why questions about the tempo or progress of the counteroffensive operation should be addressed to the General Staff. But speaking of Crimea, you could not have missed that since the middle of August, there’s been a certain intensification going on with regard to Crimea, and that might indirectly give you a hint about the answer to your question.

So first of all, the fact itself is that we’re engaging the military infrastructure and military targets in occupied Crimea and the occupier’s infrastructure. If we’re going deeper into strikes against the air defense system, it’s more complicated here. First of all, the air defense systems themselves are very costly equipment and it takes a lot of time to produce those and Russian flags those systems because all this inventory is currently engaged in fighting against Ukraine and also in protection of Moscow. They’ve taken away air defenses from everywhere else.

That is why, naturally, when we engage in another and another air defense battalion of the Russian military, they need to think about where they can pull those systems from and where are they able to tolerate less defenses in other places.

The second point in engaging defenses is that we’re making those holes in the overall air defense coverage. Those holes are exploited for other things. Also, we’re depleting their air defense missile stocks because those are not limitless. And from the political standpoint, we’re also demonstrating the obvious inability of Russian air defense systems, which respectively makes them less lucrative on the world arms markets.

TWZ: And this is part of a coordinated campaign, it’s not just Crimea, right? You’re doing this inside Russia, with the strikes on air bases and other targets and on Moscow?

KB: Let’s put it like this, we have never confirmed [attacks on Moscow] officially (Budanov laughs) and I will be keeping that stance. But I can share my opinion about those strikes. All the above-mentioned factors clearly coincide with the strikes inside Russia. Especially when we’re talking about the obviously decreasing demand for Russian weapons because when the whole world sees that some drones are attacking Moscow, nobody wants to buy Russian air defense systems any longer. And that is very painful for them. And it links back to additional factors which are absent when we’re discussing Crimea.

One side note. There’s a completely opposite situation in terms of demand on weapon systems. There’s a very high demand on Ukrainian drones now. We can’t sell those now because all of them are used for warfighting, but after the war ends, this will have a lot of meaning.

Now speaking about the strikes deep into Russia, including Moscow, that are conducted by someone. There is a social side of it. Because now the Russian population and especially large Russian businesses really start to feel the impact of war. Because before that, it was just a war going on on TV. Yes, it did have some financial impact on big players, but smaller ones weren’t even touched. But demonstrative strikes, such as strikes against Moscow city – the skyscraper district in Moscow – demonstrates to everyone that now it touches upon them.

Besides that, it undermines the belief of the population in an all-powerful Russian regime that is the strongest one in the world. They start asking those logical questions, like: “where’s our air defenses that are supposed to protect us?” And they start blaming their authorities for that, for stealing all the money. The next aspect is strikes against critical military infrastructure. It includes oil refineries that supply fuel to the warfighting as well as the factories and plants that produce components for military equipment. So that’s the overall picture.

TWZ: Talk to me about the sabotage attack on Chkalovsky Air Field, located less than 20 miles from Moscow.

KB: Those were activities of sabotage groups.

TWZ: Are they connected to you?

KB: Of course all of those [groups] are in some kind of connection with us.

TWZ: Did you suggest that attack? Orchestrate it? Plan it?

KB: Of course. We’re assisting them, let’s put it that way.

TWZ: Did you select the target and help them figure out how to enter the base and blow up the planes?

KB: Let’s skip that one.

TWZ: What effect is being able to breach such a secure base having in Russia?

KB: The explanation here is the same because it was an attack conducted in a secure area actually inside Moscow because that airfield is within the greater Moscow [region]. It demonstrates the obvious inability of the regime to protect even its most critical and secure infrastructure. And if we’re talking about airframes, of course, Russia has a lot of those but some of them, such as the Il-20, are not in big numbers available.

TWZ: Can you talk about how this will progress into the winter? When we first met and I asked if you were concerned about fighting in the cold, you said, ‘It’s no problem.’ So does this pending weather concern you?

KB: It’s not a problem at all. And as everyone saw last time, it’s not a problem to fight in winter for both sides – for us and for Russians. It’s not a pleasant thing to do, but it’s not a big deal. There’s one very important nuance that makes a difference between current warfighting and the previous periods of fighting. Currently, all main instances of fighting are done on foot without using any materiel. This is linked to the high saturation of artillery systems on the forefront and also portable anti-tank weapons. And that’s true for both sides. Those [armored] systems are not enough to create a gap in the orbits of the enemy  – to create a powerful breakthrough as in classic doctrine. But it is well enough to deter any attempt of the enemy of any side to conduct that breakthrough with materiel and convoys.

Also, there’s a high level of saturation with both anti-personnel and anti-tank minefields. Anti-tank mines are making a lot of difference because when such a mine goes off on their wheels, it completely destroys the wheels and that piece of materiel is not able to move any further. Damage done to a piece of equipment is minimal but it still cannot move any longer. Those anti-tank mines are a big problem for those tracked vehicles. And a new feature that hasn’t been observed anywhere before is the high number of FPV [First Person Video] suicide drones on both sides which are able to engage practically any piece of equipment.

All of those above-mentioned factors reduced the possibility of using armored equipment in practically all of the main directions to the minimum. Now that hardware is only used for evacuation or to swiftly transport infantry teams to a particular spot but it doesn’t take part in the fighting.

TWZ: Are you confident that’s going to happen? Let me step back to the situation in June near Malaya Tokmachka where there were a number of armored vehicles were destroyed.

KB: Actually there wasn’t that much materiel that was destroyed. There was a lot of damaged materiel. And by now it’s repaired. The number of those that were destroyed was not that high. But it’s the very example we’ve just talked about. So if if we just deploy some battalion tank group into the battlefield somewhere, just as long as it gets under the range of artillery it will get hit.

I will share two other examples on the enemy side. Similar situations could be observed during Russian attempts to attack Vuhledar last winter. The same thing happened. They went on attack in combat convoys and there were dozens of pieces of equipment that just didn’t get through. And by the way, what is peculiar about that specific operation was that it was commanded personally by Gen. [Sergei] Gerasimov, and when all that equipment was destroyed, he blamed everyone around him and just left the frontline.

I’ll provide you with one more different example. It’s about how Wagner units advanced. When they did manage to take Bakhmut [on May 21], they were not using armored vehicles. They were only using artillery support to infantry actions on foot. So practically they were just using infantry.

Much more at the link!

Oleshki, Kherson Oblast:

Strike on the Russian base on the territory of the former fire station in Oleshki, Kherson region. 09.21.2023.
https://t.co/GPtIsRHJmL pic.twitter.com/N45dL0MI1y

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 23, 2023

Russian occupied Sevastopol:

Morning in Sevastopol be like: pic.twitter.com/TMVV9n2haZ

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) September 23, 2023

/2. Second air-raid siren during today’s morning in Sevastopol is reported pic.twitter.com/HNMIaIrJhW

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 23, 2023

Verbove, Zaporzhzhia Oblast:

CNN has the details:

The general leading Ukraine’s counteroffensive along the southern front line says his forces have broken through in Verbove – and predicts an even bigger breakthrough to come.

“On the left flank [near Verbove] we have a breakthrough and we continue to advance further,” Oleksandr Tarnavsky told CNN Senior International Correspondent Frederik Pleitgen during an interview on Friday, though he conceded his troops were moving slower than anticipated.

“Not as fast as it was expected, not like in the movies about the Second World War,” he said. “The main thing is not to lose this initiative (that we have). And, well, not to lose it in practice, with actions.”

The general’s claim is the latest indication by Ukrainian officials that inroads are being made on the southern front in the war with Russia.

Ukrainian forces claimed in recent weeks to have penetrated the “first line” of Russian strongholds in the Zaporizhzia region, in a sign that Kyiv was edging closer to Moscow’s sprawling network of fortified trenches along the southern front.

Russian-appointed officials in occupied Zaporizhzhia have given a different picture of the fighting. CNN is unable to verify the battlefield reports of either side. However, open-source analysis of available video suggests that some Ukrainian units have crossed through an important line of Russian defenses near the village of Verbove.

Ukraine’s long-term goal is to break Russia’s “land bridge,” which links territory it holds in the east with annexed Crimea.

At the beginning of September Ukrainian forces said they had taken the village of Robotyne and were pushing east toward the village of Novoprokopivka. Soldiers said they expected battles for control of high ground to the south and east of the village as they approached the next layer of Russian defenses. Verbove is a few miles east from Robotyne.

However, Tarnavsky told CNN he believed the big breakthrough of the counteroffensive would be if Ukraine could take Tokmak, a strategic hub for Russia, which is its first major target in its fight in the south.

CNN reported earlier this week that the Ukrainian forces were still some 20 kilometers from Tokmak, struggling to break through the multiple layers of Russian defenses.

“I believe yes [there will be a big breakthrough],” Tarnavsky said. “I think it will happen after Tokmak. At the moment (the Russians) are relying on the depth of their defensive line there.”

Rather than the ‘Surovikin line’ – a defensive line built on the orders of former General Sergey Surovikin, while he was in charge of Russian forces in Ukraine – Tarnavsky says the bigger issues are the “crossroads, tree lines and minefields between the tree lines.”

“[There’s] a combination of small harmful enemy defense groups that currently are planted very precisely and competently,” he said. “But the actions of our fighters force them to slowly pull back when they face our assault squads.”

The general conceded that for the counteroffensive to be a success, Ukrainian forces need to at least reach the city of Tokmak.

“Tokmak is the minimum goal,” he said. “The overall objective is to get to our state borders.”

More at the link!

Hang in there, bro.

📷@UAarmy_animals pic.twitter.com/m6LZlZ3yzW

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 23, 2023

That’s enough for tonight.

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Hi 👋🏻 from my SES sappers team and me 🙂 pic.twitter.com/0pd96Privu

— Patron (@PatronDsns) September 23, 2023

Open thread!

 

This Russian aggression must end with our victory – speech by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the solemn session of the Parliament of Canada

23 September 2023 – 00:22

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen! 

Canada!

Before I start I just want to remind one thing. This thing is very important to understand both Ukraine and Canada. And what we are up to, what we need to do. To do together.

1983. The City of Edmonton. Its history is closely linked to the destiny of Ukraine and Ukrainian Canadian community.

That year in Edmonton the first monument to the victims of Holodomor was built in the world. Thank you so much! Was built to remember the genocide against the Ukrainian people. The genocide ordered and perpetrated by Moscow.

The first ever Holodomor monument in the world. At that time Ukraine did not yet have memorials commemorating the victims of genocide of Ukrainians. Because Ukraine was under Moscow’s control back then.

This fall will mark the 40th anniversary since that first and very important commemoration of the victims of Holodomor. A lot has changed since then. Ukraine gained independence. Ukraine is restoring its own historic memory. Dozens of other countries – their parliaments, their governments have already recognised Holodomor as a genocide of the Ukrainian people. This year alone there have been 11 of such recognitions. And I am sure that the world – the whole world – will recognise the truth about Holodomor.

But there is something that has not changed either in 40 years since the monument in Edmonton was built or in 90 years since the Holodomor. Moscow now as always is bent on controlling Ukraine and makes use of all available means to do that including genocide. It is genocide – what Russian occupiers are doing to Ukraine.

And when we want to win, when we call-on the world to support us, it is not just about an ordinary conflict. It is about saving lives of millions of people.

Literally physical salvation. Ordinary women and men, children… Our families. Whole communities. Entire cities… Russia’s destruction of Mariupol or Volnovakha or Bakhmut or any other city or village in Ukraine must not go unpunished. Life and justice must prevail – everywhere in Ukraine, for all Ukrainians.

This Russian aggression must end with our victory, so that Russia will never bring back genocide to Ukraine and will never even try to do so. Moscow must lose – once and for all. And it will lose!

Dear speakers! The whole Parliament of Canada!

Dear Justin, Mr. Prime Minister! Ladies and gentlemen of the government! 

Dear representatives of all the communities and cities! 

All citizens of Canada!

In my opinion, one of the most sterling qualities of your country is that justice is not an empty word for Canada.

Another extremely important fact about you is that you never, ever make a political bet on hatred and enmity. You are always on the bright side of history.

During the First World War, and in the time between those terrible wars, and during the Second World War, and during the Cold War, you always defended freedom. You have always defended justice.

I had no doubt that you would choose the side of freedom and justice when Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine. Thank you.

But it is never enough only to choose the right side.

You also need to be able to be a leader on this side. And you do. You are a leader. I thank you for that, Canada!

Thank you for your political support for Ukraine. This is truly support of a leader. And it is global in scale.

Because when you are fighting for something, when you are fighting for good in human nature, the false neutrality looks obviously immoral.

When one sees true leaders, all others who are afraid to be real, to speak out, to fight – have only two options. To change or to be looked down.

I thank you, Canada, for being a real example of leadership and honesty for so many around the world – an example that inspires others to defend life.

Canada’s support for Ukraine with weapons and equipment has allowed us to save thousands of lives. This includes air defense systems, armored vehicles, artillery shells, and very significant assistance in demining. Thank you!

Canada’s leadership in sanctions against Russia for this war and terror really encourages others in the world to follow your lead.

I am especially grateful for your extremely strong, 100 percent leadership support of the Ukrainian movement to NATO.

For your strong participation in training our soldiers. It is very important. It is already a tradition – that Canada trains those who defend the world. Thousands and thousands of pilots during the Second World War. Thousands and thousands of Ukrainians now. This is what makes victory strong and indispensable – training. Thank you for this!

Thank you for your economic support. For helping Ukraine to get rid of its dependence on Russian nuclear fuel. This is progress not only for us.

Ukraine and Canada, together with their partners and friends, are demonstrating to everyone that it is quite realistic to completely cut-off our ties with dubious Russian nuclear technologies.

In addition to the purely technological danger, the Russian nuclear industry also serves Moscow’s political expansion. Russia uses nuclear technology, and the construction of nuclear power plants, like gas and oil, for political attacks against the sovereignty of other nations. Russia is trying to break the sovereignty of others through its manipulation of energy resources… all energy resources. So, the more nations are free from Russian energy resources, the sooner energy in the world will once again become just an energy resource, not a weapon against sovereignties.

Another important area of our cooperation. Literally justice.

Today, in talks with Justin, with Mr. Prime Minister, we discussed the Canadian initiative for the G7 to step-up efforts to confiscate Russian assets. Those funds that Russia and its henchmen use to pay for the war should be used to fairly compensate for the damage caused by war and terror.

Active and global work is also required to bring Russia to justice for the crime of aggression itself and for absolutely all crimes from this aggression – all deaths, every deportation of every child and adult. Every life needs to be protected. Every attacked nation needs justice to rule.

The world needs it too.

So that other potential aggressors can see that war ends in verdicts for the aggressor.

I urge you, Canada, to extend your ability to lead to other countries, especially in this matter – of justice, of prosecuting the aggression, of compensation for aggression, of making the aggressor feel how strong justice is.

And most of all, I would like to thank you, Canada, for the purely human thing – for making Ukrainians feel at home when they are here, in Canada. Thank you.

This is not just a legacy of history. This is a legacy of character.

The Ukrainian Canadian community is about millions of Ukrainian destinies that have become the destiny of Canada with all its diversity of communities.

Freedom-loving. Courage. Our special inner call for justice. The ability of our people to share comfort wherever they go, to build and create not to ruin or humiliate.

Ukrainian flags in Canada are a part of everyday life as absolute trust to Canada in Ukraine. In fact, such proximity provides many answers, including answers to questions about this war.

Can we give up? No.

Can we betray the good in human nature? No.

Can we agree to evil? No.

Can we allow our identity to be erased? No.

Ukraine and Canada are the same – we stand and we fight for life.

Ukraine, not genocide, will be victorious in this war. People will be the winners, not the Kremlin. Freedom will be the winner. Justice will be the winner. You can know this for sure about us, because you know for sure about yourself that you would never submit to evil.

Je te remercie, Canada!

And may one day soon a monument be built in Edmonton as in other cities of the world and in the cities of Ukraine to honor the victory of our people in this war. Our common victory with you.

With you – the people of Canada, with all your communities, with all your legacy, the legacy of good.

Ladies and gentlemen! 

Today me and my beautiful First Lady had the honor of meeting with Governor General of Canada Honourable Mary Simon. She taught me a word from her mother tongue – “ajuinnata”. She said the meaning of this word is – don’t give-up, stay strong against all odds. And so shall it be.

Ajuinnata Canada! Ajuinnata Ukraine!

Слава Україні!

In my today’s address to the Parliament of Canada I emphasized that what Russian occupiers are doing to Ukraine is genocide. And when we want to win, when we call on the world to support us, it’s not just about an ordinary conflict. It’s about saving lives of millions of people. pic.twitter.com/lWzl8YIDf9

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 22, 2023

Before they left DC for Canada, First Lady Zelenska made an address at Georgetown University. The subject of her remarks are applicable not only to Ukraine’s fight to defend itself against Russia’s genocidal re-invasion. Video below, followed by an English description of her remarks.

To prevent universities and libraries from burning anywhere in the world, evil and aggression must be punished – Olena Zelenska during her visit to Georgetown University

22 September 2023 – 16:03

As part of the visit to the United States, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Pentagon Memorial in Washington, D.C., in honor of the 184 victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the U.S. Department of Defense headquarters.

“We in Ukraine understand this pain well, because our country is experiencing daily terror against peaceful cities, homes, hospitals and community centers by Russia. We know how important it is to stop this evil so that no one else dies. Ukraine stands with the United States. The United States stands with Ukraine,” the President’s wife said.

In addition, Olena Zelenska visited Georgetown University. It is the oldest university in Washington, D.C., and the oldest Catholic university in the United States. It was founded in 1789.

Among the alumni are 12 heads of state, including the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton. In addition to Bill Clinton, Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service has been graduated by former Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė, former European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky, former White House spokesman Ned Price, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst, and other high-ranking officials.

In 2022, Ukrainian students founded the Ukrainian Club at Georgetown University. It has 50 members, 20 of whom are ethnic Ukrainians.

The university administration maintains friendly relations with the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States. In particular, on the first anniversary of the start of full-scale Russian aggression, the university hoisted the Ukrainian flag on its main administrative building.

Olena Zelenska thanked the leadership of the institution and students for their solidarity with Ukraine in the fight against the invader. The President’s wife noted: “In Ukraine, the school year began with air raids, with a risk to the lives of educators and students. People often ask: “What is Ukraine defending, what is it fighting for?” Actually, it is for this very thing. For young people to be able to study and live in their country in peace, not to die under bombs on their streets, and for teachers to be able to teach. I believe that with the support of all caring people in the world, future leaders like the Georgetown University students I met today, it will happen,” she said.

The First Lady also opened a Ukrainian bookshelf at the university, donating books on the history of literature and more. Thus, the United States became the 40th country to participate in the First Lady’s Ukrainian Bookshelf project, which has already donated 47,000 Ukrainian books to libraries around the world.

“Information about Ukraine comes not only from the news, but also from books, from our literature, history, philosophy – primary sources for long and thoughtful reading and understanding. For those who want to know more about us from us. Today I am pleased to open a shelf at the friendly Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where there are always many Ukrainian events and meetings. The future leaders of the United States and the free world study here, and their awareness is important not only for them, but also for the entire international community,” Olena Zelenska emphasized.

Here’s some more context for First Lady Zelenska’s remarks.

I agree with how genius Timothy Snyder put it: most people in the West are well aware that russia is committing genocide in Ukraine, but many remain deeply reluctant to say so as this would oblige them to intervene more decisively while also explaining their earlier inaction

— Olena Halushka (@OlenaHalushka) September 21, 2023

It is important to keep that context in mind as libraries and librarians are under both rhetorical and actual threat here in the US. It is necessary to recognize that the revisionist and genocidal ideology that drives the enemy that Ukraine faces is not confined to that theater of operation, just as it isn’t confined to Putin and Russians.

The cost:

This is Max, a war veteran and a member of the "Litai" project. He is learning how to be a drone operator.
Max lost both legs and an arm, but has not lost his will, courage, or willingness to fight as long even one enemy remains on Ukrainian territory.
The "Litai" project… pic.twitter.com/P0EA73WIe8

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 22, 2023

This little girl is very brave. Maryna is 6 y.o. Last year she lost her leg in a Russian attack on the Kherson region. She became the first child in Ukraine to have received a children’s prosthesis #StopRussia #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/T7KPUBr32p

— Mariana Betsa (@Mariana_Betsa) September 21, 2023

More from Sevastopol:

Incoming Storm Shadow/SCALP on the Russian Black Sea Fleet headquarters.https://t.co/OGoBPZDNlQ pic.twitter.com/E9IJ5MzexX

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 22, 2023

/2. Video without watermark pic.twitter.com/SyioQD3pXX

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 22, 2023

/9. Reportedly, the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol is still on fire. pic.twitter.com/pmiKxCPBM7

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 22, 2023

Romanchuk is in charge of Russian forces in Zaporizhzhia where the main thrust of Ukraine’s counteroffensive is occurring. This suggests that it wasn’t just a strike on the Black Sea Fleet HQ, but timed to target key senior leaders during a meeting. https://t.co/VKN3vhSyJv

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) September 22, 2023

3/ https://t.co/H9OYFQQHPi

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) September 22, 2023

Moscow via Russian occupied Sevastopol:

Far from declaring WWIII, Kremlin propagandists are simply ignoring today’s landmark Ukrainian attack on Sevastopol. This should be a lesson for all advocates of appeasement. Putin is not cornered – he can retreat from Ukraine and change the narrative whenever he chooses pic.twitter.com/6lO1rgndji

— Business Ukraine mag (@Biz_Ukraine_Mag) September 22, 2023

Here’s Illia Ponomarenko’s take:

You know, folks, I'm old enough to remember the hysteria of bloodthirst that Russian propaganda was ravaging following a hilariously phony "Ukrainian attack" against a condemned hut in the middle of a forest somewhere in Russia.

It was days before the full-scale invasion as…

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) September 22, 2023

You know, folks, I’m old enough to remember the hysteria of bloodthirst that Russian propaganda was ravaging following a hilariously phony “Ukrainian attack” against a condemned hut in the middle of a forest somewhere in Russia.

It was days before the full-scale invasion as Russia was clumsily trying to stage a casus belli.

Remember the entire Russian government machine throwing hands up in the sky calling for revenge and a sacred crusade to erase Ukraine from the world map?

Now 19 months after, 5 Russian “peacekeepers”, including a high-ranking nuclear submarine fleet officer, were actually killed by Azeri forces in Karabakh.

And absolutely no one in Russia gives a shit.

Propaganda mouthpieces are keeping their mouths shut tight. Same as for the Kremlin. Nothing has happened, it’s totally fine now.

Putin’s regime in Russia is just one giant stinking pile of bravado, hypocrisy, lying, cowardice, and disgrace.

To illustrate the evolution in Ukrainian long-range strike capability:

20/08/22 Ukrainian forces use a $10,000 Mugin-5 Pro drone to hit the HQ of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol. They bought the drone from AliExpress.

22/09/23 They hit the same building with a cruise missile.

— Jimmy Rushton (@JimmySecUK) September 22, 2023

Kurakhove, Donetsk Oblast:

Overnight, russian terrorists carried out two Iskander missile strikes on Kurakhove, Donetsk region. A two-story building was destroyed. About 20 apartment buildings and a medical facility were damaged. 16 local residents were injured. pic.twitter.com/Ti1UKV9iVF

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 22, 2023

If you wonder how Russia’s missiles evade Ukrainian air defense, this is a good illustration:

This is how Russian missiles altered their course during the massive shelling on September 21 in an effort to bypass Ukrainian air defenses. This is why more air defense systems for Ukraine are critical@Textyorgua_Eng pic.twitter.com/FOexGLYQv5

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) September 22, 2023

Apparently something changed during the day yesterday as NBC is now reporting that the US will provide Ukraine with a small number of ATACMs. NBC News has the details:

President Joe Biden has told his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, that the United States will provide a small number of long-range missiles to aid the war with Russia, three U.S. officials and a congressional official familiar with the discussions told NBC News on Friday.

The officials, who were not authorized to speak publicly, did not say when the missiles would be delivered or when a public announcement would be made.

For months, Ukraine has asked for the Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS, which would give Kyiv the ability to strike targets from as far away as about 180 miles, hitting supply lines, railways, and command and control locations behind the Russian front lines.

Defense officials have said the U.S. does not have a large stockpile of excess ATACMS, which have a bigger payload than traditional artillery, to provide to Ukraine. Also, some in Washington have resisted supplying the weapon, known colloquially as “attack-ems,” out of fear that it would widen the war with Russia.

The congressional official said there was still a debate about the type of missile that would be sent and how many would be delivered to Ukraine. They added that countries in Eastern Europe had already given Ukraine large portions of their weapons stockpiles.

"Some in Washington had resisted supplying the weapons system, known as “attack-ems,” out of fear that it would widen the war with Russia."
And I don't buy this anymore.
In the wake of everything that has happened since February 22, 2022, you either know Ukraine needs ATACMS to…

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) September 22, 2023

“Some in Washington had resisted supplying the weapons system, known as “attack-ems,” out of fear that it would widen the war with Russia.”
And I don’t buy this anymore.
In the wake of everything that has happened since February 22, 2022, you either know Ukraine needs ATACMS to defeat the aggressor and end the war, or you just intend to save Putin’s ass.
https://nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-ukraine-war-atacms-biden-zelenskyy-long-range-missile-rcna116876

The reality though is we don’t know exactly what munitions the Biden administration will approve and send to Ukraine or when they will do so.

Morale is high.

🎥 culturalforces pic.twitter.com/cBNvzit2WL

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 22, 2023

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

There is a new slideshow at Patron’s official TikTok. Those don’t embed here, so please click through if you want to see it.

Open thread!

The use of veto power requires reform, and this can be a key reform in the UN – address by the President of Ukraine at the UN Security Council meeting

20 September 2023 – 19:24

Distinguished Prime Minister Rama! 

I am grateful to the Albanian Presidency for arranging this meeting.

Mr. Secretary-General!

Ladies and gentlemen!

Five hundred seventy-four days of pain, losses, and struggle have already passed since the start of the full-scale aggression launched by the state, which, for some reason, is still present here among the permanent members of the UN Security Council. Russia has killed at least tens of thousands of our people and turned millions into refugees by destroying their homes.

Most of the world recognizes the truth about this war. It is a criminal and unprovoked aggression by Russia against our nation, aimed at seizing Ukraine’s territory and resources. But it is not just that. With its aggression, the terrorist state is willing to undermine all the dams of international norms meant to protect the world from wars.

And I am grateful to all those who have recognized the Russian aggression as a violation of the UN Charter.

Ukraine exercises its inherent right of self-defense. Helping Ukraine with weapons in this exercise, imposing sanctions and exerting comprehensive pressure on the aggressor, as well as voting for relevant resolutions, mean helping to defend the UN Charter.

The resolutions of the General Assembly have clearly recognized the fact that the only source of this war is Russia. But, this has changed nothing for Russia in the United Nations. However, these are the situations that have changed everything for the UN. We should acknowledge that the Organization finds itself in a deadlock on the issue of aggression. Humankind no longer pins its hopes on the UN when it comes to the defense of the sovereign borders of nations. World leaders are seeking new platforms and alliances that could reduce the disastrous scope of problems. Those problems that are met here, within these walls, with rhetoric, rather than real solutions, with aspirations to compromise with killers, rather than to protect lives. Life should be defended uncompromisingly to ensure successful protection.

But I would not be here today if Ukraine had no proposals precisely regarding solutions.

Yesterday, in my address to the UN General Assembly, I said that the Ukrainian Peace Formula had become the basis to update the existing security architecture in the world, in particular – to restore the real power of the UN Charter and the rules-based international order.

Now I would like to present the details – concrete possible actions based on the Peace Formula, notably its point 5 “Implementation of the UN Charter and restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the world order”.

All in the world see what makes the UN incapable unfortunately. This seat in the Security Council, which Russia occupied illegally, through backstage manipulations following the collapse of the Soviet Union, has been taken by liars whose job is to whitewash the aggression and genocide being carried out by Russia. And all the UN actions – either by the Security Council or the General Assembly – that could have stopped this aggression, are shattered by the privilege granted by this seat to the aggressor. Veto power in the hands of the aggressor is what has pushed the UN into a dead end.

Today, no matter what nation you might be… A nation with hundreds of millions of people or a small nation… A nation that bravely defends its independence or a country whose long history of independence can help others… A state in need of help or a nation that can provide genuine support… A state that relies on its army, or a state for which the UN Charter, not its army, is the first and last line of defense… Regardless of who you are, the current UN system still makes you less influential than the veto power possessed by a few and misused by one – Russia – to the detriment of all other UN members.

These days, the word “inequality” has often been heard in the UN General Assembly. Inequality is mentioned by different nations – both larger and smaller ones. It is precisely inequality that renders the UN ineffective now.

I regret that so far the UN Security Council is just the most visible platform in the world. I believe that the UN is capable of more. I am confident that the UN Charter can actually work for global peace and security. However, for this to happen, the years-long discussions of projects for UN reform must be translated into a viable process of UN reform.

And it should not be only about representation here, in the Security Council. The use of veto power – that is what requires reform, and this can be a key reform. This can be what restores the power of the UN Charter.

Ladies and gentlemen!

Five hundred seventy-four days of the full-fledged Russian aggression are five hundred seventy-four reasons for changes in this Chamber. And the number of votes in favor of these changes actually amounts to billions. The absolute majority of people in the world aspire to live in a world free of aggression. In contrast to all of us, there are only a few obsessed individuals in Moscow. Veto should not serve as a weapon for those who are obsessed with hatred and war.

What we observe in the United Nations is an increasing support for the idea that in cases of mass atrocities veto power should be voluntarily suspended. But we also observe that Russia will not give up this stolen privilege voluntarily.

So, the UN General Assembly should be given a real power to overcome the veto.

This will be the first necessary step.

If it is impossible to stop the war because all efforts are vetoed by the aggressor or those who condone the aggressor, it is necessary to bring this issue to the attention of the General Assembly. In the event of two-thirds of the votes reflecting the will of nations from Asia, Africa, Europe, both Americas, and the Pacific region – a global qualified majority – the veto should be effectively overcome, and such resolution of the General Assembly must be legally binding for all Member States.

The second step. The UN Security Council must be fully accountable to the nations of the world. I welcome the proposals of various leaders to expand the representation of nations in the Security Council. The composition of the permanent members of the Security Council should reflect the current realities and justice.

Ukraine considers it unjust when billions of people do not have their permanent representation in the Security Council. The African Union must be here permanently. Asia deserves broader permanent representation – it cannot be considered normal when nations like Japan, India or the Islamic world remain outside the permanent membership of the Security Council. One should take into account the changes that have taken place in Europe, notably that Germany has become one of the key global guarantors of peace and security. This is a matter of fact. Therefore, it is also a matter of fact that Germany deserves a place among the permanent members of the Security Council. Latin America must be represented here – permanently. And the Pacific states.

However, we should not confine our attention to those in the top seats only. There is a need to expand the participation and access to the activities of the UN Security Council and its subsidiary bodies for all members of the UN General Assembly who are not recognized as aggressors.

At the same time, the Security Council’s membership of any state should be suspended for a period of time when such a state resorts to aggression against another nation in violation of the UN Charter.

The third step. There is a need for a system to prevent aggression through early response to actions violating territorial integrity and sovereignty of states. It’s time to do this. Nations of the world should agree on such a mechanism for responding to aggression to protect others, that everyone would want for their own security.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has shown what can such a mechanism be. Among other things, powerful sanctions against the aggressor. Not only at the stage when Bucha has already happened, but also at the stage of the build-up of an invasion army. Anyone who wants to start a war should see before their fatal mistake what exactly they will lose when they start a war. The issue of applying such preventive sanctions should be automatically submitted for consideration of the UN Security Council when any Member of the UN General Assembly reports a threat of aggression.

Ukrainian soldiers are currently doing at the expense of their blood what the UN Security Council should do by its voting – they are stopping aggression and upholding the principles of the UN Charter.

And now, I would like to focus on territorial integrity. This is an element of both the UN Charter and our Peace Formula that is inextricably linked to the issue of clearing the territory from the occupiers. Occupation is an inexhaustible source of dynamite under the international rules-based order. So, I will provide examples of concrete steps to be taken for the security architecture to be strong. Using Ukraine as an example. Concrete things. Concrete as we, Ukrainians, are.

First: full withdrawal of all Russian troops and military formations, including the Russian Black Sea Fleet or its leaky remnants, as well as the withdrawal of all mercenaries and paramilitary formations of Russia from the entire sovereign territory of Ukraine within our internationally recognized borders as of 1991.

Second: full restoration of Ukraine’s effective control over the entire state border and exclusive economic zone, including in the Black and Azov Seas, as well as in the Kerch Strait.

In fact, only the implementation of these two points will result in an honest, reliable, and complete cessation of hostilities.

Ladies and gentlemen!

As a rule, reforms of such international institutions were made following major tragedies, major wars. We should not wait for this aggression to be over. Action is needed now. Our aspiration for peace should drive the reform.

When I was preparing the Ukrainian Peace Formula, I underpinned its points exclusively by the principles of the UN Charter and resolutions adopted by the General Assembly. This is precisely what enables the global nature of the Ukrainian Peace Formula. Nations that engage with the Formula realize that they are working for the rules-based international order – for the protection of territorial integrity and sovereignty of states, protection of human rights, prevention of aggression and genocidal policy. Naturally, the epicenter of such efforts should be in this very Chamber – the UN Security Council Chamber, and even to a greater extent, in the General Assembly Hall. If reform of UN institutions is necessary for this, then we should not be afraid of such reform. We are ready to work together with those UN members, who have joined the Peace Formula, on relevant draft resolutions and amendments to the UN Charter.

And I would like to make it clear for everyone in the world, what exactly Ukraine is proposing while addressing the nations of the world and calling on them to join the implementation of the Peace Formula.

Each country can demonstrate its leadership within the framework of one or more or all points of the Peace Formula. On the basis of the points of the Peace Formula we form groups, where national security advisors to heads of state and diplomatic representatives work. These groups are tasked to elaborate a list of decisions and legislative proposals, requiring implementation to fulfill the relevant point of the Peace Formula. We are ready to hold the inaugural Summit of the Leaders, subsequently, ten conferences at the level of advisors, diplomatic representatives, heads of parliaments in accordance with the ten points of the Peace Formula. Later, these drafts prepared by advisors will be submitted for consideration by heads of state at the respective final Summit.

Thereby, all nations of the world that respect peace can actually participate in the restoration of peace.

Cooperation is always the key word for Ukraine in international relations. This word is also key for peace. So, let peace prevail! May our institutions and our cooperation be stronger.

I thank you for the opportunity to deliver this address. Thank you for the invitation and your attention!

Слава Україні!

The cost:

Petro Burban, a father of three children and a war veteran. He went to the front lines as a volunteer in the early days of the full-scale russian invasion. Petro served for a year and a half. Then, he returned home and got a job. His first day at the Caritas-Spes humanitarian aid… pic.twitter.com/WiEZM0FObx

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 20, 2023

Petro Burban, a father of three children and a war veteran. He went to the front lines as a volunteer in the early days of the full-scale russian invasion. Petro served for a year and a half. Then, he returned home and got a job. His first day at the Caritas-Spes humanitarian aid warehouse was yesterday. Petro was killed as a result of a russian terrorist attack on this warehouse.

After receiving treatment and rehabilitation in Germany, 8-year-old Roman Oleksiv has returned home. On July 14, 2022, a russian missile struck a Vinnytsia clinic where he and his mother were waiting for a doctor's appointment. Roman's mother (along with 22 other people) died… pic.twitter.com/6WoRyjYMRH

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 20, 2023

After receiving treatment and rehabilitation in Germany, 8-year-old Roman Oleksiv has returned home. On July 14, 2022, a russian missile struck a Vinnytsia clinic where he and his mother were waiting for a doctor’s appointment. Roman’s mother (along with 22 other people) died before his eyes.
The boy suffered severe injuries. 45% of his body was burned, internal burns in some places reached his bones. After Ukrainian doctors stabilized his condition, Roman was taken to a clinic in Dresden. Doctors were amazed at the boy’s strength of character. Because of the burns on his leg, a muscle was removed.
Roman began training and is now walking on his own. He went to a German school and continued his online studies in Ukrainian.
His mask must be worn for two years to avoid scarring. Plastic surgeons vow that the boy’s face will be entirely restored later.

A major Ukrainian anti-corruption initiative is back on track:

A key instrument to prevent corruption that was suspended for security reasons at the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine will soon be restored after public pressure. https://t.co/H57bKFGNp4

— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) September 20, 2023

Tokmak & Robotyne:

Here is a thread by Zaporizhzhia Salt, a Ukrainian Army commo specialist. It focuses on what is going on in and around Tokmak and Robotyne. First tweet from the thread, followed by a machine translation, followed by a machine translation of the rest of the thread from the Thread Reader App.

Реальне життя і теоретики наступу. росіяни таки вирішили спробувати
затиснути фланги ЗСУ на Токмацькому напрямку, якщо вже не виходить зробити як пише книжка і оточити наше угруповання. Також вони намагаються повернутися в Роботине. Тред🧵про теорію і реальне життя як воно є 1/ pic.twitter.com/bsC12jucml

— Запорізька Сіль 🇺🇦 (@solonko1648) September 20, 2023

Real life and offensive theorists. the Russians did decide to try
to pinch the flanks of the Armed Forces in the Tokmak direction, if it is not possible to do as the book says and surround our group. They are also trying to return to Robotyn. Thread 🧵 about theory and real life as it is 1/

We have heard many criticisms that the Armed Forces are not coming there and are not. With too little force, you have to use bigger connections and more concentrated and many more things that people say that would not even dare to start what we do 2/ 

Let’s assume that the Armed Forces started an offensive here by entire brigades, a large-scale run-up by large ground forces with limited air support at the tenfold advantage of the occupiers in the same air. Without the required number of air defense tactical systems to cover the attackers 3/ 

Through minefields, in the forehead, taking into account all that I have repeatedly talked about. The result can be imagined. I do not understand why theorists do not have enough imagination to paint this picture in their head. It was a pink dream of the Russian occupiers. Perfect start and finish 4/ 

They just raise aviation and ruin all this good in a short period of time and it will end very quickly. Crazy human casualties, destroyed limited Western equipment ( promised two divisions, but also did not reach ) and further prospects for deoccupation of the South 5/ 

Great prospects. Only for the occupiers. And now compare what Russian aviation does to all its advantage. hunts for small groups, separate units of equipment, single MANPADS, shoots on roads most often late, etc 6/ 

Unfortunately for the drug addict Balitsky, who talks about the “destroyed columns” of the Armed Forces near the village of Robine, the columns as such do not exist in this area. There was one bitter lesson at the beginning of the campaign that was lingering and recorded with blood on the iron. They were rebuilt and began to act in their own way 7/ 

We have been using so-called small group tactics for a long time and widely. And the occupiers also take over it. I described how the terrorists from Wagner used its elements in Bakhmut almost a year ago. I’m adding a video that was shot, carefully stored and mounted 8/

It is probably important to note here that the direction of comparing Wagner’s tactics and the tactics of the Armed Forces during the offensive actions. Only the use of small formations is common here. All other conditions are very different. Environment, strategic tasks and the same resources and attitudes towards losses 9/ 

During the offensive campaign in the South, the Armed Forces carry out their actions in small formations. This applies to both people and technology. Accordingly, Russian aircraft chases after us, drops tons of bombs every day, and traffic still happens. KABs are large, and whole small and difficult to hit 10/ 

From the very beginning of the campaign, we found ourselves in a situation where we do not even have parity in the air. So there was a choice. Do not step at all, or act as we may act under these circumstances. The option that theorists talk about simply does not exist for us for the reasons described above 11/ 

If we had parity in the air, we might see another type of offensive. Maybe he would be faster, maybe it would be easier for us. But we have a certain material base, the aggressor has more resources, he trenched while we waited for political decisions and the supply of weapons and ammunition 12/ 

And the indicator of the success of our actions is not only direct in the form of promotion and loss of Muscovites. And indirect in the form of how desperately the Russians are trying to impose a narrative about our insane losses. To demoralize us and repel the desire of the allies to help 13/ 

This is part of their military doctrine. Indirect means of pressure on the victim of aggression. Such a bluff. There are losses, it’s a war. And even one dead brother is too much. But if it were as the occupiers say, we would no longer have combat units left 14/ 

And they would not increase the number of personnel near our bridgehead by 2-3 times, trying to save their position and repel at least something. What are they doing lately, acting reserves and sending parts from other directions, storming previously lost positions 15/ 

Returning to the issue of aviation. It is a pity that we have to explain obvious things to many people in the world. We will not conduct such operations quickly without aircraft. No one will hold. That we have less resources than the parties that are in defense, and so on 16/ 

This should be understood by theorists who believe that we should step on “great power”. At the same time, the theory says that there should be proper air support. But there is no proper. There is a limited and also in the semi-guerrilla style, which is logical 17/ 

But I hope that common sense will win and we will have an adequate perception of the situation and an understanding of the need to support our fight against the threat that openly declares its appetites that go far beyond Ukraine 18/ 

Thank you for attention. I invite you to subscribe to Facebook and Twitter: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2623349001155503&id=100004412856651… https://t.me/silukr/142

You can support by subscribing to buymeacoffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/solonko1648

Thank you again

Russian occupied Crimea this evening:

/1. There are reports of explosions in Crimea. Saky, Yevpatoriya and Sevastopol. Preliminary, reports of drone sounds and Russian air defense activity.
Video from Saky, (Novofedorivka air field area) pic.twitter.com/ntIvSooE3Q

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 20, 2023

/3. Saky, Novofedorivka area, explosions, drones, air defence activity. pic.twitter.com/RLAhbVkK3Q

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 20, 2023

Russian occupied Crimea this morning:

/2. Several minutes before reports about explosions, there were messages about Russianscreating a smoke screen in Sevastopol bay, near Inkerman pic.twitter.com/X0s38br5S8

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 20, 2023

/4. Quite interesting. The source claims that this video was filmed near Simfiropol. If so, this might indicate that the attack was made not from the sea direction, but from the land.https://t.co/cj7JMN1t7g pic.twitter.com/GrkP0AvS7X

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 20, 2023

/6. Reportedly, fire on targeted area in Verkhnesadove, near Sevastopol is still ongoing.
Plus FIRMS map shows fire signs on the territory of the Russian military base. pic.twitter.com/lMtb5YXqrd

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 20, 2023

The Black Sea off the Romanian and Ukrainian coast:

DANGEROUS SAILING: An explosion wracked the Togo-flagged cargo ship SEAMA while transiting near the UKR coast in the Black Sea. At 0650 (Local) the ship sent a Mayday reporting the explosion. SEAMA is thought to have encountered a sea mine off the coast of Sulina, Romania,… pic.twitter.com/e2qfo43IXT

— Chuck Pfarrer | Indications & Warnings | (@ChuckPfarrer) September 20, 2023

DANGEROUS SAILING: An explosion wracked the Togo-flagged cargo ship SEAMA while transiting near the UKR coast in the Black Sea. At 0650 (Local) the ship sent a Mayday reporting the explosion. SEAMA is thought to have encountered a sea mine off the coast of Sulina, Romania, near the Ukrainian border.
https://news.yahoo.com/romanian-authorities-rescue-crew-explosion-082256998.html

The crew of 12 was evacuated between 07:20 and 07:30 a.m., Dan Ichim, the chief captain of the Tulcea Port Authority, said that all 12 crew members had been rescued and were receiving medical treatment.

We have another Kadyrov proof of life video.

Kadyrov addresses his plane’s trips to Moscow and rumors about his own health for the first time.

He says he’s visiting his sick uncle in the presidential hospital but he himself is doing fine. The doctor names today’s date, a totally normal thing to do when you are not sick pic.twitter.com/BhIfIHr5w9

— max seddon (@maxseddon) September 20, 2023

 

 

The ethnic Armenian resistance in Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh has surrendered.

Complete ceasefire announced.

De-facto Nagorno-Karabakh Republic has surrendered as all armed forces from Karabakh region will be withdrawn and NKR officials will hold a meeting with Azerbaijan in Yevlakh tomorrow. Papers will be signed bringing an end to de-facto Republic.

— CaucasusWarReport (@Caucasuswar) September 20, 2023

Now we wait to see what the Azerbaijani government actually does. As in do they lift the blockage on food, medicine, and fuel or to they double down on ethnically cleansing the disputed territory.

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

Apparently there is once again a rumor going around that Patron has been wounded or killed. There is a new slideshow at his official TikTok channel that addresses it. They don’t embed here like the videos do, so if you want to see it, click across.

Here is a machine translation of the caption to the slideshow:

Dear friends! Please don’t believe the fakes and gossip. I’m alive and well, everything is with me good ❤️ Lick everyone 👅 (except for the hype eaters 🤭)

Open thread!

Nowadays humanity must act in full solidarity to save lives – President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s speech during the General Debate of the UN General Assembly

19 September 2023 – 22:17

Thank you very much!

I welcome all who stand for common efforts! 

And I promise – being really united we can guarantee fair peace for all nations. What’s more, unity can prevent wars.

Ladies and gentlemen!

Mr. Secretary General!

Fellow leaders!

This hall saw many wars but not as an active defender against the aggressions.

In many cases, the fear of war, the final war, was the loudest here – the war after which no one would gather in the General Assembly Hall again.

The Third World War was seen as a nuclear war. A conflict between states on the highway to nukes. Other wars seemed less scary compared to a threat of the so-called “great powers” firing their nuclear stockpiles.

So, the 20th century taught the world to restrain from the use of the weapons of mass destruction – not to deploy, not to proliferate, not to threaten with, and not to test, but to promote a complete nuclear disarmament.

Frankly, this is a good strategy. But it should not be the only strategy to protect the world from this final war.

Ukraine gave up its third largest nuclear arsenal. The world then decided Russia should become a keeper of such power. Yet, history shows it was Russia who deserved nuclear disarmament the most, back in the 1990s. And Russia deserves it now – terrorists have no right to hold nuclear weapons. No right!

But truly not the nukes are the scariest now.

While nukes remain in place, the mass destruction is gaining its momentum. The aggressor is weaponizing many other things and those things are used not only against our country but against all of yours as well.

Fellow leaders!

There are many conventions that restrict weapons but there are no real restrictions on weaponization.

First, let me give you an example – the food.

Since the start of the full-scale war, the Ukrainian ports in the Black and Azov Seas have been blocked by Russia. Until now, our ports on the Danube River remain the target for missiles and drones. And it is a clear Russia’s attempt to weaponize the food shortage on the global market in exchange for recognition for some, if not all, of the captured territories.

Russia is launching the food prices as weapons. The impact spans from the Atlantic coast of Africa to Southeast Asia. This is the threat scale.

I would like to thank those leaders who supported our Black Sea Grain Initiative, and program “Grain from Ukraine”. Thank you so much! United, we made weapons turn back into food again. More than 45 nations saw how important it is to make Ukrainian food products available on the market… from Algeria and Spain to Indonesia and China.

Even now when Russia has undermined the Black Sea Grain Initiative, we are working to ensure food stability. And I hope that many of you will join us in these efforts. We launched a temporary sea export corridor from our ports. And we are working hard to preserve the land routes for grain exports. And it is alarming to see how some in Europe, some of our friends in Europe, play out solidarity in a political theater – making a thriller from the grain. They may seem to play their own role but in fact they are helping set the stage to a Moscow actor.

Second, weaponization of energy.

Many times, the world has witnessed Russia using energy as a weapon. The Kremlin weaponized oil and gas to weaken the leaders of other countries when they came to the Red Square.

Now the threat is even greater. Russia is weaponizing nuclear energy. Not only is it spreading its unreliable nuclear-power-plant-construction-technologies, but it is also turning other countries’ power plants into real dirty bombs.

Look please what Russia did to our Zaporizhzhia power plant – shelled it, occupied it and now blackmails others with radiation leaks.

Is there any sense to reduce nuclear weapons when Russia is weaponizing nuclear power plants? Scary question.

The global security architecture offers no response or protection against such a treacherous radiation threat. And there is no accountability for radiation blackmailers so far.

The third example is children.

Unfortunately, various terrorist groups abduct children to put pressure on their families and societies. But never before would mass kidnapping and deportation become a part of the government policy. Not until now.

We know the names of tens of thousands of children and have evidence on hundreds of thousands of others kidnapped by Russia in the occupied territories of Ukraine and later deported. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin for this crime.

We are trying to get children back home but time goes by. What will happen to them?

Those children in Russia are taught to hate Ukraine, and all ties with their families are broken… This is clearly a genocide.

When hatred is weaponized against one nation, it never stops there. Each decade Russia starts a new war. Parts of Moldova and Georgia remain occupied. Russia turned Syria into ruins. And if it hadn’t been for Russia, the chemical weapons would have never been used there in Syria. Russia has almost swallowed Belarus. It is obviously threatening Kazakhstan and the Baltic states… And the goal of the present war against Ukraine is to turn our land, our people, our lives, our resources into a weapon against you – against the international rules-based order. Many seats in the General Assembly Hall may become empty if Russia succeeds with its treachery and aggression.

Ladies and gentlemen!

The aggressor scatters death and brings ruins even without nukes but the outcomes are alike.

We see towns and villages in Ukraine wiped out by Russian artillery. Leveled to the ground completely! We see the war of drones. We know the possible effects of spreading the war into cyberspace.

The artificial intelligence could be trained to combat well – before it would learn to help the humanity. Thank God, people have not yet learned to use climate as a weapon. Even though humanity is failing on its climate policy objectives – this means that extreme weather will still impact normal global life and some evil state will also weaponize its outcomes. And when people in the streets of New York and other cities of the world went out on climate protest – we all have seen them… And when people in Morocco and Libya and other countries die as a result of natural disasters… And when islands and countries disappear under water… And when tornadoes and deserts are spreading into new territories… And when all of this is happening one unnatural disaster in Moscow decided to launch a big war and kill tens of thousands of people. We have to stop it!

We must act united – to defeat the aggressor and focus all our capabilities and energy on addressing these challenges.

As nukes are restrained, likewise the aggressor must be restrained and all its tools and methods of war. Each war now can become final, but it takes our unity to make sure that aggression will not break in again.

And it is not a dialog between the so-called “great powers” somewhere behind the closed doors that can guarantee us all the new no-wars-era, but open work of all nations for peace.

Last year, I presented the outlines of the Ukrainian Peace Formula at the UN General Assembly. Later in Indonesia, I presented the full Formula. And over the past year the Peace Formula became the basis to update the existing security architecture – now we can bring back to life the UN Charter and guarantee the full power of the rules-based world order.

Tomorrow I will present the details at a special meeting of the UN Security Council.

The main thing is that it is not only about Ukraine. More than 140 states and international organizations have supported the Ukrainian Peace Formula fully or in part. The Ukrainian Peace Formula is becoming global. Its points offer solutions and steps that will stop all forms of weaponization that Russia used against Ukraine and other countries and may be used by other aggressors.

Look – for the first time in modern history, we have a real chance to end the aggression on the terms of the nation which was attacked. This is a real chance for every nation – to ensure that aggression against your state, if it happens, God forbid, will end not because your land will be divided and you will be forced to submit to military or political pressure, but because your territory and sovereignty will be fully restored.

We launched the format of meetings between national security advisors and diplomatic representatives. Important talks and consultations were held in Hiroshima, in Copenhagen, and in Jeddah on the implementation of the Peace Formula. And we are preparing a Global Peace Summit. I invite all of you – all of you who do not tolerate any aggression – to jointly prepare the Summit.

I am aware of the attempts to make some shady dealings behind the scenes. Evil cannot be trusted – ask Prigozhin if one bets on Putin’s promises. Please, hear me. Let unity decide everything openly.

While Russia is pushing the world to the final war, Ukraine is doing everything to ensure that after Russian aggression no one in the world will dare to attack any nation. Weaponization must be restrained. War crimes must be punished. Deported people must come back home. And the occupier must return to their own land.

We must be united to make it. And we will do it.

Слава Україні!

. @ZelenskyyUa
Evil can not be trusted. Ask Prigozhin if one bets on Putin’s promises.

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 19, 2023

Zelensky visits wounded Ukrainian soldiers at Staten Island University Hospital in New York. Nine Ukrainian servicemen who lost their limbs are receiving treatment and rehabilitation there pic.twitter.com/tvRCH6NP8O

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) September 19, 2023

Here is President Biden’s address. It should be queued up to start at the 2:30 mark, which is when he approaches the podium. There does not appear to be a transcript posted at WhiteHouse.gov.

.@POTUS: "I ask you this: If we abandon the core principles of the UN Charter to appease an aggressor, can any member state feel confident that they are protected? If we allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure? The answer is no"

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 19, 2023

In addition to Presidents Zelenskyy’s and Biden’s remarks to the UN General Assembly today, Speaker McCarthy had some thoughts. ABC News has the details: (emphasis mine)

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said he has questions for the Ukrainian president when asked if he plans to commit to another round of aid.

“Is Zelenskyy elected to Congress? Is he our president? I don’t think I have to commit anything and I think I have questions for him,” McCarthy told ABC News Senior Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott.

“Where’s the accountability on the money we’ve already spent? What is the plan for victory? I think that’s what the American public wants to know,” McCarthy added.

Ukraine funding is a key point of intraparty strife as Congress barrels toward a Sept. 30 deadline to pass a spending measure or enter a government shutdown.

The White House has asked for an additional $24 billion to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invaders — a request backed by congressional Democrats.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has publicly advocated for continued defense and financial assistance. But McCarthy is more skeptical, and a growing number of House Republican hard-liners are adamantly opposed to sending more money to the war-torn nation.

McCarthy has repeatedly said the United States should not be giving Ukraine a “blank check” though has vehemently criticized Russia’s actions.

“Look what Russia has done — invade — is wrong,” McCarthy said Tuesday. “It’s an atrocity, we want to make sure that ends. I also have always said from the beginning, no matter what the issue is, I want accountability for whatever the hardworking taxpayers spend their money on. I want to plan for victory. So no, I will listen to the American public. I will follow what happens in Congress, but I will have questions for President Zelenskyy.”

Since McCarthy is speaker in name only and only so long as he manages to continue appeasing every possible faction in the GOP House caucus, this has nothing to do with whether President Zelenskyy answers his questions. It has everything to do with what the House Freedom Caucus, specifically Gaetz and Green, as well as what Trump wants. And what those three all want is whatever Putin wants. Expect a government shutdown at the end of the month. Expect no $24 million supplemental for Ukraine.

The Ramstein 15 also held a meeting today regarding ongoing military aid and assistance to Ukraine.

Productive meetings on the sidelines of #Ramstein 15 with 🇺🇲 @SecDef 🇬🇧 @grantshapps 🇷🇴 @AngelTilvar 🇱🇹 @a_anusauskas 🇸🇪 @PlJonson 🇸🇰 @SklenarMartin 🇸🇯@Bjornarildgram 🇩🇰 @troelslundp https://t.co/GAWfERpUQf

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 19, 2023

We also presented during today’s #Ramstein meeting the initiative to establish Capabilities Coalition.

Main purpose — prepare Ukraine’s Future Defense Forces.@DefenceU identified 5 priority attention clusters: air defense, artillery, aviation, the Navy and armored vehicles. pic.twitter.com/LkGRCUsMoo

— Rustem Umerov (@rustem_umerov) September 19, 2023

Bakhmut:

I have not had a chance to watch this all the way through yet, so I don’t know how graphic it is. Here is the description of the video posted by the 3rd Brigade at their YouTube page. The full YouTube video is below Illia Ponomarenko’s tweet. So just in case:

WARNING!! WARNING!! MAY CONTAIN GRAPHIC & INTENSE IMAGES!! WARNING!! WARNING!!

Video footage shot on a GoPro by a medic of the 1st Mechanized Battalion of the Third Assault Brigade, a friend of the Rebbe, whose photo with a Hasidic pilgrim in Uman recently stirred up the Internet.

According to the Rebbe, in civilian life he was a programmer, project manager in an IT company, and engaged in various types of business. Now he is saving lives of the Third Assault Brigade soldiers. “I am engaged in medical reconnaissance, evacuation, and work at the staging area,” he explains.

The video, filmed in the winter and spring of 2023 in Bakhmut, Rebbe jokingly calls a travel blog. It consists of a series of fragments sketches from his life in the city amid constant enemy shelling and fighting.

In addition to providing medical aid and rescuing his wounded comrades, the video footage shows the Rebbe’s daily life. In particular, a visit to an empty store, rescuing a cat abandoned in an apartment, meeting with locals hiding in the basement with a parrot, cats and chickens.

“So many things have lost their value for them and for us. There is a computer, there are speakers, who needs it now?” he states.

Despite the very sad reality, the combat medic takes everything with humor and calmness. And even manages to notice the beauty of the first signs of spring in the yards of the city bombed by the occupiers. Behind the scenes, we hear the Rebbe’s ironic and philosophical comments about everything that is happening to him. In the background, there are constant explosions from overflights that sound farther away and then very close.

 

 

The Battle of Bakhmut as seen by a combat medic with Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigadehttps://t.co/RrPEb8Y6TE

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) September 19, 2023

Klischiivka and Andriivka:

2/ As evident in the image created by @DefMon3, the current frontline aligns closely with the railroad, flanked by tree lines on both sides, followed by open fields. pic.twitter.com/BOiBHToRHL

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) September 19, 2023

4/ In this satellite image, you can see that lakes and forests can provide cover for russian forces, while open fields present challenges. Hence, crossing the railroad and establishing a "bridgehead" can become an important but challenging task pic.twitter.com/ulTBUHVu1V

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) September 19, 2023

6/ If you found this thread valuable, please support it by liking and retweeting the first message of the thread. Your engagement enables me to provide better materials.

This imagery and analysis are made possible thanks to my supporters and Buy Me A Coffee donations

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) September 19, 2023

As soon as you will stop advancing, it means that you pass initiative to your enemy, losing advantage gained from recently degraded defending forces. You will need to build defenses in quite mediocre places or retreat back to more favorable ones.

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) September 19, 2023

The Dnipro River, Kherson Oblast:

Strikes on Russian boats somewhere in Kherson region with the help of FPV drones.
https://t.co/s7EP1jcbCp pic.twitter.com/SSftTDepmv

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 19, 2023

Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia Oblast:

/2. Another footage of strikes in Melitopolhttps://t.co/WsWY645tcL pic.twitter.com/kldbAH24n1

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 19, 2023

And we’ve got another Russian war crime in Stepnohirsk, Zaporizhzhia Oblast:

Swedish TV4 team targeted by a Russian drone in Stepnohirsk, Zaporizhzhia. Reporter Johan Fredriksson & photographer Daniel Zdolsek got out of the car to film when it was hit by drone. Another deliberate attack on journalists, despite them wearing vests and helmets clearly marked… pic.twitter.com/GlKN6RtVVf

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) September 19, 2023

And one more in Kherson:

My constant fear: Russian missiles striking public transport. Today, Russian troops shelled Kherson, hitting a trolley bus and injuring two people. Senior police sergeant who was nearby killed. pic.twitter.com/9pkMFM1jK8

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) September 19, 2023

Yerevan, Armenia:

"Путин убивает армян руками азербайджанцев… Будьте вы прокляты, подонки": біля посольства РФ в Єревані кричать "Лавров — с*ка" та "Путін — ху*ло"

"Бредовые идеи восстановления Советского Союза в воспаленном мозгу фашиста, карлика, преступника Путина заставили его пойти на… pic.twitter.com/18WfOayzeV

— Цензор.НЕТ ✍️ (@censor_net) September 19, 2023

“Putin is killing Armenians by the hands of Azerbaijanis…. Damn you, scum”: outside the Russian embassy in Yerevan shouting “Lavrov is a c*ck” and “Putin is a cocksucker”.

“Delusions of restoring the Soviet Union in the inflamed brain of the fascist, dwarf, criminal Putin forced him to commit war crimes in Ukraine. Today Putin is committing war crimes in Karabakh.

Vladimir Putin is a despicable coward. Putin is killing Armenians by the hands of Azerbaijanis. Putin has been putting his puppets in power in Armenia for 30 years to carry out his brazen imperial policy. Damn you, scumbags,” said one of those present.

“Armenia should throw Russia out of its territory. The Russian military base should get the hell out. Armenia should withdraw from the CSTO, CIS and EurAsEC. These are all organizations that Putin created to enslave and colonize the peoples of the post-Soviet space,” having added a rally to the Guchnomovites.

The disputed territory known as Artsakh to the Armenians and Nagorno-Karabakh to the Azerbaijainis:

/2. Gunshots, drones, explosions reported in Karabakh area. pic.twitter.com/huh1kYC5sQ

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) September 19, 2023

Full text of the first tweet above:

Azerbaijan started “anti-terrorist measures” in Karabakh with the aim of restoring the constitutional order in the country — Ministry of Defense of the country. “The command of the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation and the leadership of the Turkish-Russian Monitoring Center are informed about the ongoing activities,” the ministry said.

Last night in comments Chetan Murthy asked:

Adam, I’ve asked this question before: For many centuries, Ukraine was ….. under the same yoke as the rest of Russia.  And even as recently as 30+ years ago, the levels of corruption in Ukraine were eye-watering.  I’m reminded of the recent news of not-isolated reports of brutality by (some) AFU officers towards their subordinates in Ukraine, too.

And YET, AND YET, Ukraine is reacting to this news in a completely different way that Russia did and is doing.[1]  Ukraine is reacting by trying to punish the perpetrators and thereby expunge the crimes, prevent them from recurring.  This is a big deal.

[1] I’ve read that all attempts to stamp out dedovshchina in Russia have failed.

I wonder why and how this change happened in Ukraine, and whether people have studied it and how to replicate it.

B/c I’m pretty convinced that without some sort of thoroughing change in Russia, it’ll never be different than it’s been: a hellhole for its subject peoples and a danger to everybody else.  If somehow we could figure out how to replicate what Ukraine is doing, but everywhere in Russia, that’d be positive good.  What I fear, is that the real motivating factor is the sacrifices that so many Ukrainians are making in the cause of their freedom.  That’s going to be difficult (and more importantly, morally unacceptable) to replicate.

Let’s leave aside the unfortunate choice of yoke, which Chetan went on to apologize for and deal with the question. First, for the non-Russian speakers, dedovschina is hazing and in this context hazing within the military by superiors of their subordinates. I wanted to use the video in the tweet that Dmitri is quote tweeting to partially answer this, but it will not embed. When you click on the three dots and click on embed the page that comes up says the tweet has been deleted. It is of Russian soldiers beating other Russian soldiers in a trench. If you want to see the video, click through on this link.

I bet a lot of them think this is the right thing to do. Feels like this country hasn't evolved since 1917 or so. They all like these roleplay games with officers and subordinates, weird imperial inclinations, and cosplaying early 20th-century personalities. This behaviour is… https://t.co/FUMgZdfm2N

— Dmitri (@wartranslated) September 19, 2023

Full text of Dmitri’s tweet:

I bet a lot of them think this is the right thing to do. Feels like this country hasn’t evolved since 1917 or so. They all like these roleplay games with officers and subordinates, weird imperial inclinations, and cosplaying early 20th-century personalities. This behaviour is also quite similar to prison relationships.

And Girkin is one of the finest examples of it.

To get to Chetan’s question, there are real, substantive differences in the histories of Ukraine and Russia. Or of the states, statelets, duchies, provinces, and the societies within all of them that become modern Ukraine and modern Russia. The popular or commonly understood history of Ukraine and Russia is largely based on the Russian version of that history, which is a Russian invention that revises the actual histories of both states and societies. Much of Russia’s official history actually just takes the history of the founding of Kyiv, which paves the way for what will eventually become Ukraine and displaces it to what is now Russia, specifically to the founding of Moscow. Without going into excruciating detail, what is now Ukraine did not, just as most states and societies did not, evolve in a straight line from the founding of Kyiv to 2023 Ukraine. Parts of western Ukraine were at one point part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, while others parts were under Polish rule. Eastern Ukraine was, at times, also under different states’ or societies’ control; from the Mongol Golden Horde to its eventual Turkic successor to Russia itself. And at other times these areas of what is now Ukraine were under the control of what we would think of as Ukrainians. So Ukraine has its own unique history. A history that includes more European elements in some parts and more Asian elements in other parts.

I think another major issue is through social learning. Russia’s history of WW II is factually incorrect. It casts the Soviet Union, specifically Soviet Russia as the NAZI’s real targets and victims, the Allies as largely useless, the Soviet Union as the real victor, and the Jews, at best, not much help, and at worst collaborators with the NAZIs against the Soviets. For Russians, World War II is the Great Patriotic War. And the way it has been written and taught in official, scholarly, and popular histories, as well as popular Russian cultural depictions have not changed much despite the Soviet Union’s demise in the early 90s. Moreover, under Putin it has been purposefully developed into an almost cult like concept. It culminates in the Victory Day and Immortal Regiment parades that commemorate the end of WW II and is referred to as pobedobesie, which means victory mania or victory frenzy. Pobedobesie has been worked into patriotic-martial education in Russia beginning in kindergarten. I’ve seen dozens and dozens of photos of even toddlers dressed up like Russian WW II soldiers and pushed along in strollers made to look like tanks in these parades. Similarly, I’ve seen dozens of photos of school children marching during the school day holding pictures of Russian WW II veterans as if they were marching in the Immortal Regiment parade. Here’s an interesting research write up on the phenomenon of Russian patriotic-martial education. Here’s one that deals with how this curriculum is used to create a new generation of Russian’s loyal to Putin. Here’s a chapter published by the University of Helsinki on the phenomenon. And here’s a sociological study of it. Needless to say this has all been turbocharged over the past 18 months and that’s on top of the fact that Putin and his government had been expanding it every year since he first came to power in the mid-aughts.

I think the military hazing you’re asking about is one part socially learned military behavior via military indoctrination to undertake it, one part socially learned behavior from Russian patriotic education to accept it as a good patriot, and one part socially learned behavior from Russian societal dynamics because Russia is a textbook example of a differentially socially adapted society. Much of what we think of as weird or bizarre or deviant or destructive Russian social, cultural, political, behavioral dynamics are really adaptations that have developed to allow Russians to survive the state, society, culture, economy, and polity that they live in. From outside they look bizarre, weird, bad, wrong. From the inside they make perfect sense because without them Russians couldn’t survive being Russians in Russia given how the state, the society, the economy, and the religion are organized.

That’s my professional assessment and I’m sticking to it.

That’s enough for tonight.

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