The Russians Do Not Change Their Objective of Destroying Ukraine’s Energy Sector – Address by the President

3 February 2025 – 20:16

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today’s update.

The Staff meeting – focusing primarily on the energy sector and the protection of our energy infrastructure. The Russians do not change their objective of destroying Ukraine’s energy sector. They continue their attacks, constantly adjusting their strikes to the capabilities of our defense, making them more difficult to repel. I thank all our warriors, each and every one who is working to overcome this threat – our air shield, all air defense forces, mobile fire groups, all electronic warfare units, and the developers of electronic warfare systems. There is a constant rapid evolution of electronic warfare. We must be much faster in it. Today, I received relevant reports on the defense system, on the protection of energy facilities, and on recovery from attacks. We separately discussed air defense capabilities and the need for interceptor missiles. Our diplomacy and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine have new tasks to work on with our partners. The supply of air defense systems for Ukraine is critical and must not stop. We must constantly search worldwide for ways to strengthen defense, increase production of necessary equipment in Ukraine, expand localization of production, and obtain licenses from our partners. This is a huge undertaking, and much of Ukraine’s future depends on it.

Today, Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi also reported on the front lines. Particular attention was given to the Pokrovsk direction and the operation in the Kursk region. I am grateful to all our units carrying out combat missions with resilience. For us to be successful in negotiations this year, Ukrainian warriors must remain steadfast on the front lines and effective in eliminating Russian occupiers. I want to recognize the warriors of the 225th and 425th assault regiments for their service in recent days and weeks. Thank you, guys! The Commander-in-Chief also reported on the modernization of our army – a corresponding plan has already been approved regarding the transition to a new organizational structure of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the creation of corps. We are keeping attention on this – on implementation. The corps system is necessary. Today, we discussed approaches to appointing corps commanders – these must be the most prepared, most promising officers, with combat experience and modern mindset. The army must be modern. And most importantly – it must value its people. The corresponding decisions will be announced.

One more thing: I have scheduled a National Security and Defense Council meeting for tomorrow.

Glory to Ukraine!

Georgia:

⭕️ On Feb 1, President Zourabichvili visited Batumelebi’s editorial office, where she gave an in-depth interview to the outlet. Zourabichvili also met with the media team and was hosted by the now-infamous cat, News, the office resident of imprisoned journalist and media founder Mzia Amaglobeli.

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— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) February 3, 2025 at 4:20 AM

On the 67th day of continuous #GeorgiaProtests, on February 2, 31 demonstrators were arrested throughout the day and late at night. All of them are administrative detentions.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed this information to Netgazeti.
#RepressionInGeorgia
#TerrorInGeorgia
#Tbilisi

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— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) February 3, 2025 at 3:17 AM

Day 68. February promises to be dynamic, which carries within itself more regime repressions. Things will likely be unfolding rapidly again.
All steps that can be made by our friends to help us avoid whatever costs can be avoided until we win must be made NOW. #GeorgiaProtests

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 2:12 PM

“No justice, no peace” was chanted by the public as the road had just been blocked. The video is of two hours ago. More people came later.

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 2:13 PM

A person with disability holds a solo road-blocking protest in Batumi. #GeorgiaProtests

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 4:57 PM

Georgians living in San Francisco held a protest.
📷 Nana Dikhaminjia

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 5:11 AM

Some protesters in Batumi have a 6th night of their permanent camp-out. #GeorgiaProtests

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 6:49 PM

Feb 3

Mzia Amaglobeli has been on hunger strike for 23 days, Temur Katamadze — for 18 days, and Lasha Chkhvimiani — for 5 days. Isako Devidze is on hunger strike for the 3rd day.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 1:55 AM

According to the doctor, those detained during the February 2 protest sustained facial and head injuries. There are currently 4 patients in the clinic, all of them have concussions.

#GeorgiaProtests
#TerrorinGeorgia

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 4:03 AM

The people and the regime alike seem on nerves in this zero-sum game. Irritation and tiredness reign. New dynamism & another round of systemic violence are here. The economy will only deteriorate. The regime wants protests crushed ASAP – they know it won’t fade. #GeorgiaProtests

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 4:57 PM

The US:

Reuters: The U.S. Provided Ukraine with Only Half of the Promised Aid in 2024.

Additionally, the publication sources stated that by early December 2024, Ukraine had received only 30% of the promised armored vehicles.
www.reuters.com/investigatio…

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 5:56 AM

From Reuters: (emphasis mine)

DNIPROPETROVSK OBLAST, Ukraine – It’s been months since the Ukrainian battalion stationed on the frosty, rutted frontline has received a new armored personnel carrier to take men forward, supply munitions and evacuate the wounded.

The battalion and others like it are the endpoint in a complex chain moving American military equipment to the front in eastern Ukraine.

For a unit commander, who goes by the callsign Tyson, any delay in that chain is a matter of life or death.

The armored vehicles, supplied by the U.S. and its allies, are prized because even old ones are safer than the Soviet-era equipment usually available to Ukrainian forces.

“When we don’t have enough cars, we’re not able to get the injured,” Tyson said, shifting his feet in the sticky January mud of a training field where he waited for vehicle repairs. Icy winds fluttered the camouflage netting concealing the vehicle.

“When we didn’t make it in time, they died,” he said.

In the final year of President Joe Biden’s term, decisions on key shipments and weapons in Ukraine were stalled not just by months of congressional delays, but also by internal debates over escalation risks with Russia, as well as concerns over whether the U.S. stockpile was sufficient, a Reuters investigation found. Adding to the confusion was a chaotic weapons-tracking system in which even the definition of “delivered” differed among U.S. military branches.

Delays were worst during the months it took Congress to pass $60 billion in supplemental aid for Ukraine, held up by opposition from Donald Trump and congressional Republicans amid Trump’s successful run for president. But the jam continued well after the money was approved, according to a Reuters analysis of official announcements, U.S. spending data and interviews with more than 40 Ukrainian and American officials, congressional aides and lawmakers. Most spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive national security deliberations.

Including the splashy April 2024 aid package, the Biden administration authorized a monthly average of about $558 million through September. The average value of shipments accelerated sharply after Trump won the presidential race, to levels not seen since mid-2023, the Reuters analysis found.

But despite the Biden team’s billing of the later announcements as a surge in aid from October through Inauguration Day, monthly aid from the U.S only reached the $1.1 billion monthly average established during the first two years of the war, the analysis found.

By November, just about half of the total dollar amount the U.S. had promised in 2024 from American stockpiles had been delivered, and only about 30% of promised armored vehicles had arrived by early December, according to two congressional aides, a U.S. official, and a lawmaker briefed on the data.

Under Biden, the U.S. has pledged more military aid than any other country to Ukraine. The administration ultimately eased restrictions on American-made weapons, allowing Kyiv to strike inside Russia with long-range missiles, and ramped up investment in Ukraine’s drone industry. On several occasions, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan ordered the Pentagon to divert air defense interceptors from other countries to Ukraine, three senior U.S. officials said.

“My frustration is that Ukraine could have received more weapons earlier and more advanced capabilities earlier in the war so that the assistance was not metered out,” said one of the three officials. The official said the slow pace of aid in 2024 prevented decisive Ukrainian breakthroughs.

A senior Biden administration official denied that the U.S. moved too slowly or metered out aid. Without Washington’s support, said the official, Russia could have taken even more Ukrainian territory.

More at the link!

Back to Ukraine.

A person close to Zelensky told me Trump’s remarks “seem to align with the ‘victory plan’ presented to him in the fall”. Ukraine offered Trump “special terms” for co-operation on key resources, stressing the need to protect them from Russia and Iran. “Of course, we are ready to work with America.”

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— Christopher Miller (@christopherjm.ft.com) February 3, 2025 at 5:06 PM

From The Kyiv Independent:

U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking to have Ukraine supply the U.S. with rare earths as a condition for aid for the war-torn country.

“We’re looking to do a deal with Ukraine, where they’re going to secure what we’re giving them with their rare earths and other things,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Feb. 3.

“I want to have security of rare earths. We’re putting in hundreds of billions of dollars. They have great rare earths. And I want security of the rare earths, and they’re willing to do it,” he added.

Trump did not specify what kind of materials Washington is seeking from Kyiv.

A source in the President’s Office familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent that sharing Ukrainian resources with allies was part of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s “victory plan” shown to foreign leaders, including Trump.

“But for this, (Ukrainian) security must be guaranteed so that the Russians do not occupy this Ukrainian land with minerals,” the source told the Kyiv Independent.

“We tell Ukraine that they have valuable rare earth metals, I want Ukraine to give us rare earth metals,” — Trump

There is kicker: our rare earth metals are occupied, so to give them, we need to kick out russia first.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 2:23 PM

Shahed kamikaze drone chased and intercepted by Mi-17 of the Armed Forces of Ukraine which was transferred by the United States. The helicopters were previously designated for the Air Force of Afghanistan, the desert camouflage remains on the helicopter as a reminder of this.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 12:27 PM

Compilation of the Security Service of Ukraine strikes on Russian targets. Including Switchblade 600 strike on the Russian radar of the BUK-M3 air defence system.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 9:40 AM

In the last few days alone, the pilots of the 63rd Brigade’s BMS have collected a bingo – they destroyed a Ural, an SUV, a “Bukhanka”, a buggy, several ATVs and motorcycles.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 12:18 PM

The night drone bomber “Kazhan” – a silent and deadly hunter that destroys the enemy under the cover of darkness. The video showcases the work of the 77th Separate Airmobile Naddniprianska Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 5:49 AM

⚡️’We need the corps system’ — Zelensky approves plan to restructure army.

Ukraine’s Armed Forces are transitioning to a new organizational structure intended to modernize the army, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Feb. 3.

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— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) February 3, 2025 at 4:52 PM

From The Kyiv Independent:

Ukraine’s Armed Forces are transitioning to a new organizational structure intended to modernize the army, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Feb. 3.

The announcement comes after Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said that reforming the army’s structure and shifting to a corps-based system was among the military’s key priorities.

“A plan has already been approved to transition to a new organizational structure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Zelensky said.

According to Zelensky, the government and the military are now focused on implementing the restructure plan with an eye toward modernizing Ukrainian forces.

“We need the corps system,” the president said.

“Today we discussed approaches to the appointment of corps commanders: these should be the best-trained, most promising officers with combat experience and modern thinking. The army must be modern.”

The relevant decisions regarding the organizational restructure will be made public, Zelensky said.

Syrskyi reported earlier on Feb. 3 that the organizational reforms were already “in progress” and would help strengthen the Armed Forces even as they face difficulties on the battlefield.

Kharkiv:

Russian drones in Kharkiv skies right now ‼️ again.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 1:13 PM

Russian drones in Kharkiv skies right now ‼️

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 11:31 AM

Odesa:

Last night, upon arrival.

Air raids always sound like howls of a hungry dragon to me

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— Zarina Zabrisky (@zarinazabrisky.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 3:06 AM

Druzhkivka, Donestk Oblast:

Around 36,000 people have remained in the town of Druzhkivka. Those who have stayed, running businesses and organizations, are vital to maintaining a semblance of normal life amid the devastation, as well as providing services for soldiers in the area.

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— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) February 3, 2025 at 2:16 PM

The Kyiv Independent has the details:

DRUZHKIVKA, Donetsk Oblast — A loud explosion goes off, followed by a second. People begin to run in different directions. Despite the chaos, taxi driver Serhiy Pohrebnyakov sits calmly behind the wheel, waiting for customers.

Pohrebnyakov’s wife and daughter fled Druzhkivka after the start of the full-scale invasion, leaving him alone in the town. Amid near-daily Russian attacks, Pohrebnyakov goes out on his route every day to make money to help his family, he says.

“I work to earn money for my family, who are now in Germany,” he says. “They don’t send me money here, I send money to them. I also look after our home here because who knows what will happen next.”

“When my daughter calls me and says, ‘Dad, I love you,’ it gives me the strength to get up in the morning and drive,” he tells the Kyiv Independent.

Druzhkivka is located a mere 15 kilometers (9 miles) from one of the hottest spots on the front line, the embattled town of Chasiv Yar. As Russia advances in the east, it has come under increased shelling and aerial attacks by Russian forces, the head of the Druzhkivka military administration says.

This is not the first time Druzhkivka has been threatened by a Russian invasion. It was occupied once before in 2014 when Russian-backed proxies took control of the town for nearly four months before being liberated by Ukraine.

As Russia pushes westward toward the town, an uptick in attacks is damaging homes, businesses, and administrative buildings, much of which was rebuilt and developed over the past decade.

Around 36,000 people — half of Druzhkivka’s wartime population — have remained in the town. It has also become the new home of around 14,000 internally displaced people, and a hub for soldiers in the rear of the front lines.

Those who have stayed, running businesses and organizations, keeping shops open and community centers alive, are vital to maintaining a semblance of normal life amid the devastation, as well as providing goods and services for soldiers in the area.

Halyna Khomchenko watches children run around on a colorful playground from the second floor of a school in Druzhkivka.

She is an entrepreneur and community activist who decided to stay in Druzhkivka to continue helping the locals. “We are where we are needed,” she tells the Kyiv Independent.

Khomchenko opened the Child Development and Assistance Center in 2023 after the outbreak of the full-scale war. The center has around 50 students from pre-school-aged children to fourth graders.

Despite its proximity to the front line and frequent Russian shelling, the center has all the qualities of a normal school life: textbooks are laid out on the desks, math and history lessons are in progress, and kids play during recess.

The outbreak of the full-scale invasion in February 2022 forced all schools in Druzhkivka to switch to online learning. Since then, Khomchenko’s center has been the only place where students can study in person.

“We saw that after what they had experienced, children not only need knowledge but also emotional support. The center has become a place where they feel safe, learn, and recover from their traumas,” says Khomchenko.

Before the full-scale invasion, she ran a rehabilitation center for families who had adopted children in the neighboring village of Shchurove. Russian troops destroyed the rehab center when they occupied the village in May 2022.

“That wasn’t the only place of my strength that was destroyed by the Russians,” says Khomchenko.

When Druzhkivka came under heavy attacks in early 2022, Russia hit Khomchenko’s family’s bakery, Khoma Khlib — or Thomas Bread, in English. At the time, bread had already largely disappeared from the town’s shelves due to shortages at the start of the invasion.

It took Khomchenko several weeks to reopen their bakery in a new location. “We worked around the clock so that people didn’t have to worry about the lack of bread, so that the panic would disappear,” Khomchenko recalls. Her bakery sold bread at a symbolic price of Hr 10 ($0.24) or distributed it free of charge to those who could not pay.

Food is now readily available in the town, and shelves are stocked with bread, including Khomchenko’s, as Druzhkivka adjusts to its wartime reality. Reliable access to water is another story, however, as Russian shelling regularly leaves the town’s residents without water for several days, or even sometimes weeks.

Halina Radchenko says she’s used to the near-daily Russian attacks at this point. The small shop where she works stands out among the grey and ruined buildings around it.

“At 5 a.m., everything is on fire, shining, illuminated,” Radchenko says, laughing. Her small shop, located in Oleksiyevo-Druzhkivka, a village close to Druzhkivka, is always busy.

“It’s mostly our boys here. We work for them. We see them off to their positions and meet them when they come back,” she says.

Radchenko calls her shop a “lost and found.” She keeps lost phones and even a single lost mitten. Under the counter, she has a small handmade toy cat that someone left behind.

“It was the guys coming from their positions. It was dark, someone lost it. I want the owner to be found. I hope to God that he is alive,” Radchenko says. She has been looking for the toy’s owner for several months now, but says no one has heard anything about the soldier whom it belongs to, who goes by the call sign “Docent.”

The shop has become a place where soldiers shop before and after their missions. It sells hot dogs, coffee, socks, razor blades, cigarettes, deodorants — everything soldiers might need while on the front. “We already know who likes what. We don’t even need to ask them,” adds Radchenko.

More at the link!

Astrahan Oblast, Russia:

The Astrahan region of russia was visited by drones last night

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 5:57 AM

Moscow:

/1. Just now. Explosion occurred in Moscow. According to preliminary data, the person killed in the explosion may be the creator of the “Arbat” battalion of the Russian and also the President of the Boxing Federation of the so-called DPR and, Armen Sargsyan.

The incident occurred 12km from Kremlin.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 3:15 AM

/2. Photo of the Armen Nagapetovich Sargsyan. It is also known that he had a conflict with the Chechens. So in February 2024 there was even a shootout between his security and a Chechen militant in Moscow. Then three people were hospitalized with bullet wounds.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 3:16 AM

/3. Also, during the explosion in Moscow, Oleg Kaspirovich, who had previously been deputy commander of a separate special forces detachment of the Crimean territorial command of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, was wounded.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 3:16 AM

/4. Video from the site of the explosion in Moscow. Preliminary, the radio-controlled IED could have been planted above the ceiling.

Also Russian media report that Armen Sargsyan survived the explosion but is in serious condition and was hospitalized. He was placed in intensive care.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 3:24 AM

/5. Update: Russian war criminal Armen Nagapetovich Sargsyan died in the hospital.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 6:02 AM

/6. Another version from media is that the IED could have been installed in a sofa or armchair standing in the hallway of the entrance. The nature of the injuries allegedly indicates this. Also, the power of the explosive device planted in was 300-400 grams of TNT equivalent.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 6:14 AM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

A new video from Patron’s official TikTok:

@patron__dsns

Момент, який чомусь відчувається як ця пісенька ❤️🍃 #песпатрон

♬ оригинальный звук – .

Here’s the machine translation of the caption:

A moment that for some reason feels like this song ❤️🍃 #песпатрон

Open thread!

Air Defense Systems and a Sufficient Number of Interceptor Missiles Are Essential for Bringing Peace Closer – Address by the President

2 February 2025 – 20:43

Dear Ukrainians!

Just today, the rescue operations in Poltava were completed after a Russian missile strike. Unfortunately, this missile killed fourteen people, including two children – a nine-year-old and a twelve-year-old. My condolences to the families and loved ones. Twenty people were injured, including four children, ranging from a three-month-old baby to a twelve-year-old. Another twenty-two people were rescued. An entire section of the residential building – from the first to the fifth floor – was completely destroyed. And this was just one Russian missile, bringing so much pain, suffering, and loss. That is why Ukraine – and real peace – require guarantees. Guarantees that such evil will be stopped. Reliably. Not just with words or a few documents, but with something that can truly ensure the absence of Russian terror. Air defense systems and a sufficient number of interceptor missiles are essential for bringing peace closer. I am grateful to all our partners who are helping us with this and who fully understand what exactly we need. Patriots, IRIS-T, all types of necessary air defense systems, the development of drones and investments in weapons production here in Ukraine – all this is what protects the lives of our people and the very idea that peace is possible. This week, we have received new aid packages. A significant package from Sweden – $1.2 billion. Thank you, Sweden! A new security package from Finland. A package from Croatia as well. Thank you. We are working to ensure that next week also brings the crucial decisions Ukraine needs – decisions to support our state, our people, and our army.

Today, I want to recognize the rescuers who have proved themselves in these difficult days and weeks. The Poltava region, first of all. The workers of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the region – Oleksandr Sliusar, Serhiy Chebyshev, Yuriy Kupriakov, Oleksandr Bondar, and Serhiy Morhun. Thank you, guys! From the Cherkasy region, rescuers who assisted in Poltava — Volodymyr Babak, Serhiy Serhiyenko, Oleksandr Kolomiyets, and Andriy Kutsevol. Thank you, guys! The Sumy region – Artem Nechytailo, Ihor Kruhovoy, Dmytro Hrytsyna, Maksym Lavrinenko, and Roman Chihrin. Thank you and all your colleagues! The Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Odesa region – Oleh Riabushenko, Stanislav Romanets, Vadym Malyi, Illia Kamenda, Oleksandr Dolhyi, and the entire team in Odesa and the region. Thank you very much!

Glory to everyone who fights, works, and rescues all of us for the sake of Ukraine.

Glory to Ukraine!

President Zelenskyy sat for an interview with the Associated Press yesterday. Here’s the video:

Georgia:

Hundreds of protesters have gathered on Rustaveli Avenue. They will soon be joined by others coming from Tbilisi Mall. Rustaveli Avenue is blocked.

#GeorgiaProtests
Day 67

📷Giorgi Burjanadze

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 1:28 PM

In front of #Tbilisi Mall, where #GeorgiaProtests attempted to stage a massive protest march, they were met.by heavy police presence. During the clashes a TV Pirveli cameraman was injured, and several protesters were arrested. Despite this, demonstrators are now heading toward Tbilisi City Court.

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— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) February 2, 2025 at 10:32 AM

The end of day 67 of continuous large-scale protests. People who marched for hours from the Tbilisi exit to Rustaveli were met by other protesters there.
“Until the end,” they chant, implying they won’t stop until victory – the liberation of Georgia. #GeorgiaProtests

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 4:46 PM

🔴 Police were beating a detained citizen in the head at the #GeorgiaProtests.

February 2 – #Tbilisi

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— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) February 2, 2025 at 10:59 AM

Police threatened RFE/RL journalist Gela Bochikashvili while he was filming a protest march. A masked police officer told him, ‘Put your camera away, or I’ll break your head’.

#TerrorinGeorgia

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 2:26 PM

TV Pirveli has exclusive footage that shows the head of the Special Tasks Department, Zviad Kharazishvili, beating a detained citizen.

#GeorgiaProtests
#TerrorinGeorgia

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 12:20 PM

More of appalling regime police brutality in Georgia. This is a woman thrown down. #terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 4:10 PM

A video is published on Nika Melia’s FB page in which Melia tells a police officer during his arrest, “There’s a woman fallen on the ground there”. The policeman replies, “Let her be”.

#GeorgiaProtests
#TerrorinGeorgia

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 11:11 AM

This is an absolute must-watch thread! State-sanctioned torture machine in the especially designated mini-vans caught on camera! #terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 4:30 PM

This is how the Georgian police treat peaceful protesters.

#GeorgiaProtests
#TerrorinGeorgia

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 10:15 AM

Same police violence, different footage. Video by Khatia Khasaia.

This is how the Georgian police treat peaceful protesters.

#GeorgiaProtests
#TerrorinGeorgia

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 10:59 AM

The footage of the arrest of Nika Melia, one of the Coalition for Change leaders. Multiple regime policemen went after Melia and forced him into the detention van, tearing off his clothes. This happens to the number 2 in the list of the coalition that ranked first among democratic forces in October.

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 2:36 PM

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas responded to the today’s events in Tbilisi.

#GeorgiaProtests
#TerrorinGeorgia

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 2:28 PM

Back to Ukraine.

In this century, Ukraine has elected for itself more presidents than Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan combined.

Yes, Alcoholic Dimon doesn’t count.

— Illia Ponomarenko (@ioponomarenko.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 2:22 PM

Kherson:

WARNING!! WARNING!! GRAPHIC CONTENT!! WARNING!! WARNING!!

Weapons change, cities change, but the outcome never does — death, destruction, pain. Today, it was a russian air bomb. Today, it was Kherson.

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 5:12 PM

Russia yet again struck Kherson tonight. This time with the aerial bomb. Rescuers were able to save 3 people from under the rubble of what used to be their homes

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 12:11 PM

🇺🇦 Kherson: an aerial guided bomb hit downtown. Preliminary, 1 wounded; more people under rubble

A Russian drone attacked a public bus, at least 5 casualties reported including 2 children. (12, 13, 38, 52 and 54 y.o.

📸 Tg channel Kherson Non-fake

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— Zarina Zabrisky (@zarinazabrisky.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 9:55 AM

ALL CLEAR!!

Kharkiv:

Russian drones in Kharkiv skies right now ‼️ air defense is working

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 5:31 PM

A fire, spanning approximately 2,000 square meters, erupted in the center of Kharkiv after a russian drone strike.

The strike hit a production and storage building, causing a large-scale fire. Textile products and polyester raw materials are burning.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 1, 2025 at 7:59 PM

Siversk, Donetsk Oblast:

⚡The Armed Forces of Ukraine struck a railway bridge near Siversk, destroying an important Russian logistical artery. The bridge was used for supplying ammunition, equipment, and personnel.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 2:12 PM

The Kursk cross border offensive:

🔥Soldiers of Ukraine’s 61st Brigade in the Kursk region effectively combine artillery and drones to counter Russian assaults. Artillery targets enemy groups, while drones strike individual soldiers.

Full video on the Telegram channel:
t.me/wartranslated

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 10:35 AM

Lipetsk Oblast, Russia:

One of the Russian Kh-22 missiles refused to leave Russian territory and crashed in the Lipetsk region of Russia. Almost 300km from the frontline.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 7:23 AM

That may have been one of the missiles fired at Poltava yesterday.

Arkhangelsk, Russia:

The demonstration performances of the Russian Emergencies Ministry in Arkhangelsk did not go according to plan.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 2, 2025 at 8:37 AM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

Patron expressed some thoughts on Musk and Trump going after USAID:

I have worked  with USAID officers in various assignments for twenty years. I supervised one when I was at USAWC. He was a retired Coast Guard commander. Many of the USAID officers are retired military or veterans. Just as is the case with about 30% of all Federal civil servants. They do incredible work with limited resources under often less than optimal conditions. The ones deployed forward don’t work out of embassies or consulates, they work out in the field. They ones assigned to military headquarters forward work off the bases. And often they’ll go outside the wire when no one else will because they have to coordinate with the NGOs, both local and international, to provide necessary and often live saving services to the host country population. There’s not enough money going through USAID or to pay USAID personnel – civil servants or contractors – to make a dent in Federal spending. All that Musk and Trump are doing is going to harm a lot of people in dire straits and in desperate need of help. Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, Sudanese, Lebanese in south Lebanon, Syrians, Yemenis, Haitians, Ukrainians, and people in hundreds of other countries are all going to suffer because of this malignant jackassery. And the cherry on this sundae of ignorance and buffoonery is that what Musk, his 19-24 year old minions, his handful of actually experience adult aides, and his most important minion Trump are doing is damaging and destroying the US’s soft power. If you either didn’t vote or voted for Trump because you were angry about how Biden and his team handled Gaza, well done, you’ve played yourselves and condemned more Palestinians to die because you were too dumb to realize that when you looked around the table and couldn’t tell who the mark was, that you were the mark. As the saying goes: “…never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.”

Open thread!