Balloon Juice - Open Threads Archives

Power of the Unexpected (Open Thread)

by Betty Cracker| October 13, 20255:00 pm| 209 Comments

This post is in: Domestic Politics, Fuckery, Open Threads, Politics, Republican Stupidity

Some folks sure are worried about the upcoming No Kings protests:

Sean Duffy: "The No Kings protest, Maria, really frustrating. This is part of antifa, paid protesters. It begs the question who's funding it."

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) October 13, 2025 at 8:22 AM

This flunky too:

Bessent: "No Kings means no paychecks. No paychecks and no government."

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) October 13, 2025 at 8:55 AM

Mike Johnson and assorted other GOP congresscritters were peddling the same lie last week. They’re saying the millions of patriotic Americans who are expected to turn out for next Saturday’s No Kings rallies are paid agitators, antifa, Hamas, etc. Fuck that noise.

I was inspired and entertained by Portland protesters’ embrace of humorous costumes to render Noem/Trump’s lies about their city ridiculous.

Heros

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— Mack Steele (@macksteele.bsky.social) October 13, 2025 at 10:56 AM

I even thought about acquiring an alligator costume myself for next weekend to pay local tribute to the idea. But the more I think about it, it’s probably better to show up as a white Southern voter who rejects this fascist bullshit. There’s more than one way to find power in the unexpected.

Open thread!

Power of the Unexpected (Open Thread)Post + Comments (209)

Open Thread: Clusterf*ck, Made in America

by Anne Laurie| October 13, 20252:49 pm| 97 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Show Us on the Doll Where the Invisible Hand Touched You

It's hard to help Americans left behind because so much of US identity is rooted in individualism. The average American conservative holds all three positions at once:
— Virtue signals about supporting US manufacturing
— Against raising the minimum wage
— Buys foreign imports because they're cheap

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— derek guy (@dieworkwear.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 5:38 PM

===

tbh i also have some sympathy for it, the complexity of the modern economy is genuinely really hard to understand

— GHOULLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachine.com) October 13, 2025 at 1:15 AM

understanding why burrito taxis seemed to suddenly get so expensive requires you to understand ZIRP and the debt-financed structure of the modern tech economy, which is extremely annoying and frustrating when all you want is a burrito

— GHOULLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachine.com) October 13, 2025 at 1:16 AM

There’s also the fact that a multitude of Americans have come to believe that there’s a “make economy good” button built into the Resolute Desk.

— Department of Angela (@angelaisms.bsky.social) October 13, 2025 at 1:18 AM

There is certainly a "make economy bad" button

— Scott (@kickuchiyo.bsky.social) October 13, 2025 at 1:30 AM

Open Thread: Clusterf*ck, Made in AmericaPost + Comments (97)

Test Post (Open Thread)

by Betty Cracker| October 13, 202512:02 pm| 104 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

I’m encountering some sort of new WordPress fuckery, so this is a test post to see if the site swallows all or part of my content all the time or if the problem is limited to a recent post I tried to publish. Please feel free to use it as an open thread!

Test Post (Open Thread)Post + Comments (104)

Monday (the 13th) Morning Open Thread

by Anne Laurie| October 13, 20255:56 am| 278 Comments

This post is in: Democratic Response to Trump 2.0, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, Trump Crime Cartel

@anntelnaes.bsky.social

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— paulpro (@mariopro.bsky.social) October 9, 2025 at 9:31 AM

===

Pope Leo quotes Hannah Arendt:
“The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist."
www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news…

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— Bill Kristol (@billkristolbulwark.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 9:00 AM

===

1) I once again take this opportunity to remind you: to keep its basic functioning, society has to discourage baldfaced lying, especially by authorities
2) is…is it happening?

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— Olúf?´mi O. Táíwò (@olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 12:25 PM

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Hilarious how mad the press is the shutdown isn’t hurting Dems so they are pivoting to shit on them anyway possible

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— Ben McAdams Memorial Act. but on BlueSky (@purrtah.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 12:34 PM

===

Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., says he won’t accept a promise of a future vote on ACA subsidies to reopen the government: “Not right now, no. We need a real negotiation and we need a fix. We need this corrected for the American people.”
On @meetthepress.com:

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— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 12:26 PM

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dying at rightwingers falling for what looks like an ai generated turning points USA half time show with special guest “measles”

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— onion person (@junlper.beer) October 12, 2025 at 6:31 PM

Monday (the 13th) Morning Open ThreadPost + Comments (278)

War for Ukraine Day 1,326: Adjustments in US Intel Sharing

by Adam L Silverman| October 12, 20258:46 pm| 23 Comments

This post is in: Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Military, Open Threads, Russia, Silverman on Security, War, War in Ukraine

The cost:

In Lviv region, a fifth member of the family whose home was struck by a Russian missile has died.

Following the October 5th attack on the village of Lapaivka, 46-year-old Vitalii Konstantynov was hospitalized with severe injuries. Doctors fought to save his life,

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 9:33 AM

but local authorities have confirmed that he did not survive.
Earlier reports stated that four members of his family were killed in the strike, including his 15-year-old daughter.

This was the most intense missile assault the region has faced since the beginning of the war.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 9:33 AM

Her name was Ruslana Morozova. Just 23.

On October 11, a russian drone struck the store in Nikopol where she worked, killing her.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 5:23 PM

For peace in Europe and beyond, Russia needs to suffer an unconditional defeat.

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 4:46 PM

President Zelenskyy sat for an interview with Fox News.

Zelenskyy said Putin tested Europe’s air defenses with drones and aircraft, calling the response insufficient. He compared it to Crimea, adding Putin is preparing Russian society for the next stage.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM

Here’s the full video:

And here is his address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.

show full post on front page

We See and Hear that Russia Fears the Possibility of the United States Providing Us with Tomahawks; It Is a Signal that This Kind of Pressure Can Be Effective in Achieving Peace – Address by the President

12 October 2025 – 17:13

Fellow Ukrainians!

I just spoke with President Trump – for the second time in recent days. We are working closely with the United States to strengthen ourselves – our air defense, all our defensive capabilities: primarily Patriots, other systems, as well as our active operations and long-range capabilities. We see and hear that Russia fears the possibility of the United States providing us with Tomahawks. It is a signal that this kind of pressure can be effective in achieving peace. President Trump and I agreed that our teams and our military will be working on all the matters we discussed, including those related to energy and gas. Thank you. We count on results.

I also spoke today with President of France Macron: again, the key topics were air defense, our resilience, and the diplomatic steps planned for the coming weeks. We are coordinating our positions. We agreed that our military will provide France with a list of priority needs, and we are accelerating deliveries. We discussed the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. As we have done dozens of times before, we are capable of repairing the power supply lines to the plant and ensuring its safety – and it is Ukrainian control and our Ukrainian specialists that provide a one-hundred-percent guarantee of safety. Russia has no interest in restoring safety – it must be pressured into doing so. A clearer and honest position from the IAEA is needed. Russia can and must stop the shelling so that repair crews can work. The longest blackout at the Zaporizhzhia NPP continues – the plant has been running on diesel generators for almost three weeks. It cannot be this way. Russia is pouncing on the opportunity that global diplomacy’s eyes are on the Middle East. Putin escalated the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, and Russia has also made its attacks on our energy more vicious. In fact, through the aerial attacks, the Russians are now trying to compensate for what they failed to achieve on the ground – the results they wanted to gain in the spring and summer. And our warriors have done a great job. Thank you, guys! You’ve held all this back. Ukrainian units are continuing our counteroffensive operations in the Dobropillia area and elsewhere – notably in the Zaporizhzhia sector, near Orikhiv, where our troops have advanced more than 3 kilometers to date. I thank the warriors of the 24th Separate Assault Battalion “Aidar,” the 33rd Assault Regiment, and our other units that were involved. It is vital that our counteroffensive efforts in diplomacy also succeed. Everyone must deliver results: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all state institutions, and our informal diplomacy alike. Millions of our people across the country are working now so that Ukraine can defend itself and have sufficient weapons and support.

Our power engineers, repair crews, many utility services, and the State Emergency Service are all working heroically right now – I thank everyone for their efficiency. Today, I want to recognize those who have shown the greatest professionalism and dedication to their work in recent days. There are many such teams across the country, various employees. In particular, Serhii Titov and Andrii Yevmenov from Shostka, Sumyoblenergo. Thank you. Dmytro Helever and Viktor Ladur – employees of Ukrnafta in the Sumy region. Maksym Savchenko, Ihor Bokariov, and Yevhen Krasnokutskyi – employees of Ukrhydroenergo from the Zaporizhzhia region. My sincere thanks to you, guys, and to all your colleagues. Maksym Bokach and Yurii Bryzh in the Kyiv region. Thank you. The situation is extremely difficult in the Chernihiv region, as well as in the Sumy, Kharkiv, and Donetsk regions due to constant Russian strikes, air raid alerts, and attacks by Russian drones. Just this Friday, as a result of a Russian drone strike on an energy workers’ vehicle in the Chernihiv region, two people were tragically killed. Anatolii Savchenko and Ruslan Deineha. My condolences. Three others were wounded – Anatolii Toptun, Oleksandr Chuiko, and Artur Obolenskyi – all of them energy workers, people who work so that others can live. Today, a Russian drone struck a power substation in the Kyiv region – unfortunately, people were injured there as well. Our energy workers remain under constant attack, and everyone working on restoration, repairs, generation, and supply is a true hero. I thank all of you. The same goes for our other regions: Poltava, Odesa, Dnipro, and the regions of central and western Ukraine. Wherever needed, our people are always defending life. I am proud of all of you, proud of each one. I am proud of our people. The people of Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!

Georgia:

“Georgia cannot be captured!”

Protesters march towards Rustaveli Avenue, blocked for the 319th consecutive day. #GeorgiaProtests

🎥 Protest 24

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 12:37 PM

Protests continue in Georgia. The slogan of today’s march is “You cannot capture Georgia.”

#GeorgiaProtests
Day 319

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 12:45 PM

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 7:07 AM

1/ The Chairman of the GD Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, attacked the EU again today.

He wrote on FB that “Brussels is behind the street wars in Tbilisi.”

This was Papuashvili’s response to the Orban’s initiative to collect signatures against Brussels’ so-called “war plan.”

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 7:49 AM

2/ “I don’t know to what extent the EU capitals realize that the ‘peace project’ is increasingly resembling a “war project”. The EU leaders themselves should discuss this. However, one fact remains- Brussels is behind the street wars in Tbilisi,” said Shalva Papuashvili.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 7:49 AM

All evidence indicates that the regime either masterminded or at least hijacked the October 4 rally process.

They could not have aimed for merely the Presidential fence (which was suspiciously easy to throw down). 1/

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 10:53 AM

They needed such violence to happen that there would be no one seriously left to condemn repressions (both at home and abroad), and for daily protests to essentially end out of public shock and guilt. 2/

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 10:53 AM

Their “confiscation of weapons and explosives” (which in reality they had planted themselves at various places) should have been hailed by everyone as a potent and pre-emptive governance that prevented further uncontrolled violence. 3/

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 10:53 AM

This did not happen, since the people at large remained very level-headed and fully peaceful.

Yet, this entire concocted thing indicates just how much the regime is uncomfortable with the peaceful daily gatherings on Rustavli – the continuity of protests.

#GeorgiaProtests 4/4.

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 10:53 AM

The five persons jailed for organizing the October 4 rally will now be held incommunicado. #TerrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 11:24 AM

Lasha Ivanadze, a single father of two, and the only caregiver to the children as well as his elderly parents.

Lasha is now a regime prisoner.

#FreeGeorgianPoliticalPrisoners

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 12:32 PM

Germany:

Merkel Enabled Russian Military Preparations Ahead of Ukraine Invasion — Spiegel

During Angela Merkel’s tenure as Chancellor (2011–2013), the German Rheinmetall was granted permission to develop advanced training systems for Russia, including simulators, software, and technical equipment in a deal

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 7:38 AM

These technologies were intended to help establish a network of training centers modeled after German standards, similar to the Altmark training ground where modern combat scenarios are simulated. The goal was to enhance the combat readiness of Russian military units.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 7:38 AM

After Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, the German government revoked the export license, and Rheinmetall terminated the partnership. However, Russia had already received part of the technology and equipment before the contract was officially canceled.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 7:38 AM

The US:

The previously unreported support has intensified since midsummer and has been crucial in helping Ukraine carry out attacks that Joe Biden’s White House discouraged, according to multiple Ukrainian and US officials familiar with the campaign. on.ft.com/3W1U8c0

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— Financial Times (@financialtimes.com) October 12, 2025 at 9:19 AM

From The Financial Times:

The US has for months been helping Ukraine mount long-range strikes on Russian energy facilities, in what officials say is a co-ordinated effort to weaken Vladimir Putin’s economy and force him to the negotiating table.

American intelligence shared with Kyiv has enabled strikes on important Russian energy assets including oil refineries far beyond the frontline, according to multiple Ukrainian and US officials familiar with the campaign.

The previously unreported support has intensified since midsummer and has been crucial in helping Ukraine carry out attacks that Joe Biden’s White House discouraged. Kyiv’s strikes have driven up energy prices in Russia and prompted Moscow to cut diesel exports and import fuel.

The intelligence sharing is the latest sign that Trump has deepened his support for Ukraine as his frustration with Russia has grown.

The shift came after a phone call between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in July, when the FT reported the US president asked whether Ukraine could strike Moscow if Washington provided long-range weapons.

Trump signalled his backing for a strategy to “make them [Russians] feel the pain” and compel the Kremlin to negotiate, said the two people briefed on the call. The White House later said Trump was “merely asking a question, not encouraging further killing”.

The US intelligence helps Kyiv shape route planning, altitude, timing and mission decisions, enabling Ukraine’s long-range, one-way attack drones to evade Russian air defences, said the officials familiar with the matter.

Three people familiar with the operation said Washington was closely involved in all stages of planning. A US official said Ukraine selected the targets for long-range strikes and Washington then provided intelligence on the sites’ vulnerabilities.

But others involved and briefed on the operations said the US had also set out target priorities for the Ukrainians. One of them described Kyiv’s drone force as the “instrument” for Washington to undermine Russia’s economy and push Putin towards a settlement.

Trump has been open about his disappointment with Putin since he rolled out the red carpet for his Russian counterpart at an Alaska summit that made little tangible progress. This was a factor in Trump’s shift in support of deeper strikes, the people said.

Washington has long shared intelligence with Kyiv to assist in attacks on Russian military targets in occupied areas of Ukraine, and to provide advanced warning of Russian missile and drone strikes. The Biden administration approved strikes with US Himars and Atacms missiles inside a Russian region bordering Ukraine after North Korea deployed troops there to bolster Moscow’s forces.

But the US has not acknowledged a direct role in Ukraine’s strikes on Russian energy facilities. Washington has long remained cautious about actions that could escalate the war and draw it more directly into conflict with Moscow.

The growing operational support from the Trump administration starkly contrasts with earlier in the US president’s second term, when he briefly halted intelligence sharing and military aid to Kyiv to pressure it into peace talks with Moscow.

Zelenskyy declined to speak about US intelligence’s role in his army’s deep strikes inside Russia in a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday. But he said Ukraine was “working with US intelligence, primarily to defend ourselves”, referring to the Patriot, Nasams and Iris-T air defence systems provided by western partners.

Ukraine’s recent success with deep strikes was mostly because of technological upgrades to drones and increased domestic production, which has allowed Kyiv to launch more at once. “Our drones, drone-missiles and some missiles are getting better: more uses, greater production,” he said.

Most of the deep strikes are conducted by Ukraine’s SBU security service and the Unmanned Systems Forces branch of the country’s Armed Forces. But other intelligence and military units also play roles in the attacks.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s Fire Point and Liutyi long-range drones — sometimes up to 300 in a single operation — had led the swarm attacks. But Ukrainian forces had also recently fired domestically-produced Neptune and Flamingo missiles at targets inside Russia.

Very interesting. I’m curious as to why this news is breaking now.

My fellow Americans
what are we even doing here bruh

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— Mira of Kyiv 🇺🇦 (@reshetz.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 2:44 PM

My congressional district called, our idiot has gotten loose again.

Back to Ukraine.

UAVs attack 🤓🤝 DroneBomber

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 5:12 PM

Across Ukraine today – lives lost again to russian attacks.

Kharkiv region: two killed, seven injured.
Dnipropetrovsk: two killed, three injured.
Sumy: a couple killed by a drone while feeding stray dogs.
Kherson: five injured.
Zaporizhzhia: one killed.

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 3:00 PM

🎯🇺🇦 Our infantryman from the 210th Assault Regiment takes down an enemy FPV with a single shot — surgical precision under wind and pressure.

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— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 7:41 AM

Ukrainian Buk-M1 air defense system shoots down Russian Iskander-K cruise missile.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 6:16 AM

Odesa:

Odesa 🙏

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— The Ukrainian Review (@theukrainianreview.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 6:45 PM

Kostiantynivka:

It breaks my heart to see what russian has done to Kostiantynivka – once home to 75,000 people.

📷Yana Shidna

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 7:01 AM

Russian occupied Crimea:

Occupied Feodosiya looks lit 🔥

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 5:28 PM

Occupied Feodosiya, Crimea. Right now🔥🔥🔥

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 5:18 PM

/2. Remaining fuel reservoirs in Feodosia following the previous attacks.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 5:42 PM

🔥Massive fire on the territory of the oil depot in Feodosia and not very helpful activity of the Russian air defence.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 5:18 PM

Additional reports suggest a Ukrainian drone strike may have also hit the 220 kV “Kafa” electrical substation near Feodosia, alongside the confirmed fire at the fuel depot.

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— NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com) October 12, 2025 at 5:20 PM

Explosions reported near the village of Chervona Polyana in occupied Crimea, followed by a fire outbreak.

Reports suggest a gas storage facility was hit.

There are also reports of a second strike on the oil depot in Feodosia, which has again resulted in a fire.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 4:46 PM

Chuhuiv, Kharkiv Oblast:

Russian drones targeted the city of Chuhuiv in Kharkiv region, injuring 5 people.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 7:46 AM

This was a lyceum in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region. Russian destroyed it, injuring 5 people.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 8:12 AM

Kharkiv:

3 loud explosions in Kharkiv ‼️ fuck russia ‼️

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 2:38 PM

‼️ Kharkiv under attack by UAVs — first strikes recorded, more than 5 explosions heard in the city.

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— The Ukrainian Review (@theukrainianreview.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 3:12 PM

Russian occupied Donetsk Oblast:

Occupied Donetsk right now 🔥‼️

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 11, 2025 at 3:42 PM

Ukrainian FP-1 drones struck a warehouse in Sigma shopping center in occupied Donetsk where Russian forces were reportedly assembling and storing Molniya kamikaze drones, footage shows Russian soldiers at the supermarket days before the strike.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 10:36 AM

Occupied Donetsk. Gas station line.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 8:29 AM

The Zaporizhzhia front:

Ukrainian forces advanced up to 3.5 km on the Zaporizhzhia direction, destroying Russian occupiers and taking prisoners, the General Staff reported.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 1:58 PM

🇺🇦✌️ Mali Shcherbaky, Shcherbaky has been completely liberated, Stepove has been almost cleared by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, — Ukrainian soldiers write.

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 1:35 PM

From Ukrainska Pravda:

Ukrainian assault units have conducted a successful counteroffensive operation on the Zaporizhzhia front, liberating the settlements of Mali Shcherbaky and Shcherbaky as well as part of Stepove.

Sources: Colonel Valentyn Manko, Head of the Assault Units Department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; fighters from the 24th Aidar Separate Assault Battalion

Details: Manko reported that Ukrainian forces have advanced 3.5 km and expanded the front line by more than 5 km thanks to the actions taken by the 24th Aidar Separate Assault Battalion and the 33rd Assault Regiment.

Quote from Manko: “The settlements of Mali Shcherbaky and Shcherbaky and part of Stepove have been liberated, and we have advanced there and in the surrounding areas and are continuing our operation. I think this will not be the last settlement we liberate on this front. The operation is going well, the enemy is suffering losses and many have been taken prisoner. We have advanced about 3.5 km forward and expanded the front by about 5 km, and we are continuing our operation.”

More details: Aidar Battalion Commander Oleksandr Kovalenko posted a video in which Ukrainian soldiers say they have liberated Mali Shcherbaky and raised the Ukrainian flag there.

Background: On 18 August, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported that Russian forces were redeploying troops from Sumy to Zaporizhzhia, where they planned to launch an offensive.

The Pokrovsk front:

🇺🇦 The Ukrainian Defense Forces pushed back the enemy near Nove Shakhove, Zolotyi Kolodyaz, Kucherovo Yar and Novopavlivka, – DeepState

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 4:30 PM

Russian occupied Luhansk Oblast:

✈️💣 Ukrainian aviation struck bridge used by Russians in Luhansk region with GBU-62 bomb, – Soniashnyk

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— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 4:07 PM

The Kursk cross border offensive:

Novem Group from Balista special operations unit is hitting Russian logistics in Kursk region, destroying three bukhankas, Kop-2 EW system, enemy antennas, armored vehicle and a truck.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 6:15 AM

Russia:

Fuel shortages have hit over half of Russia’s regions, with at least 57 facing supply disruptions following strikes on refineries, BBC reported.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 12, 2025 at 9:29 AM

From RBC Ukraine:

At least 57 Russian regions are facing a fuel crisis after Ukraine stepped up drone attacks on oil refineries. That accounts for more than half of Russia’s administrative regions, BBC Russian reports.

Russia’s gasoline problems began in August. What started as typical seasonal issues quickly escalated into a severe shortage.

The Far East was the first to be affected. The region relies on just two refineries, and fuel began to be rationed through coupons in Zabaykalsky Krai, Primorsky Krai, and Sakhalin.

In temporarily occupied Crimea, the situation is even worse, since all fuel must be imported. Gasoline is already scarce in Russia’s “core regions,” leaving occupied territories in a dire position. In Crimea, drivers are limited to 20 liters per car — less than a third of a standard fuel tank.

Moscow and central regions have largely avoided shortages. Fuel is still available at gas stations, although some disruptions occur. In other regions, the shortage has triggered a logistical collapse. Without gasoline, suppliers cannot deliver goods or food to remote settlements.

Russian authorities officially blame “logistical difficulties” or “seasonal shortages.” However, the Federal Service for State Statistics (Rosstat) reported a 10% rise in gasoline prices since the start of the year.

Officials insist the situation is “temporary,” describing the shortage as “minor” and urging citizens to “be patient.” Russian state media largely avoids public discussion of the crisis.

The Kremlin is attempting to compensate with Belarusian support. In September, Belarusian gasoline exports to Russia quadrupled. Moscow is also reportedly ready to buy fuel from China and lift import tariffs if Beijing agrees.

Experts say the length of the fuel crisis depends less on how quickly Russia repairs its refineries (a process that could take weeks or months) and more on how frequently Ukrainian drones continue striking oil facilities.

Too Good Not To Share

by WaterGirl| October 12, 20253:16 pm| 73 Comments

This post is in: Humorous, Open Threads, Politics

BlueSky tweet from Governor Pritzker.

Reporting live from Chicago, there’s no “hellscape” I’d rather be in.

[image or embed]

— Governor JB Pritzker (@govpritzker.illinois.gov) October 9, 2025 at 11:19 PM

I also want to share this fun roundup from the fellow at Status Kuo.

He calls these posts Just for Skeets and Giggles, and it’s too good not to share – a nice lighthearted collection of things gleaned from here and there over the previous week. All political, of course, mocking the (dangerous) clowns that are running the country.

He links to Seth Myers mocking the 9 different ways he displayed dementia in a single clip of the orange guy.

He’s got a tweet from a fellow who wrote this:

An absolutely awesome one-minute TikTok video riffing on American being (not) great again.

Followed by some guy named Jason Salmon (look for the link to some guy wearing a lime green shirt) that is totally worth watching.

I want to add this image directly, because I’m sure I’ll be ~~suing~~ using this one again.

I didn’t include direct links to most of these because I think Jay Kuo deserves the clicks for putting it all together. And his substack articles are typically interesting and well thought out.

Also, his sort-of-twitter links go the mirror site that doesn’t give any clicks to the devil site.

Open thread.

Too Good Not To SharePost + Comments (73)

Sunday Afternoon Open Thread

by Betty Cracker| October 12, 20251:48 pm| 35 Comments

This post is in: Birdwatching, Open Threads

We’re having a lazy Sunday, mostly lolling around on the sofa watching football, which started early since there was a game in London. It’s chilly by our standards, and all the windows are open, so we’ve been snuggling with the dogs under blankets.

However, a small flock of Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks landed noisily on the shady, muddy bank of the lagoon about 15 minutes ago, and that was enough to get me outside with the Nikon to sneak up for a few shots. The ducks were not amused:

A pair of chestnut colored ducks with black undercarriages, white-edged wings and pink bills and legs.
This Great Blue Heron observed the ducks’ nervous distress from a sunlit sandbar in the river about 30 yards away:

Long-necked wading bird standing in shallow water.

Since the birds were clearly pissed about a hairless pink ape crashing the party, I went back inside to resume watching football. Probably nothing else will tempt me back to the riverbank, unless it’s an otter. Or a flamingo, obviously.

Open thread!

Sunday Afternoon Open ThreadPost + Comments (35)

🎶 Those boots were made for mockin’ 🎵

“Perhaps I should have considered other options.” (head-desk)

The republican speaker is a slippery little devil.

“In this country American means white. everybody else has to hyphenate.”

Tick tock motherfuckers!

Innocent people do not delay justice.

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

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

Consistently wrong since 2002

T R E 4 5 O N

Live so that if you miss a day of work people aren’t hoping you’re dead.

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

If ‘weird’ was the finish line, they ran through the tape and kept running.

So very ready.

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

I did not have this on my fuck 2025 bingo card.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

Their boy Ron is an empty plastic cup that will never know pudding.

You’re just a puppy masquerading as an old coot.

An almost top 10,000 blog!

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

The fundamental promise of conservatism all over the world is a return to an idealized past that never existed.

Trumpflation is an intolerable hardship for every American, and it’s Trump’s fault.

Bad people in a position to do bad things will do bad things because they are bad people. End of story.