Address by Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the Independence Day of Ukraine

24 August 2024 – 09:01

Dear people!

Ukrainians always pay back their debts. And whoever wished misery upon our land shall find it in their own home. With interest. Whoever seeks to sow evil on our land will reap its fruits on their own territory.

This is not a prophecy, not gloating, not blind revenge; it is a pattern. It is justice. A boomerang for evil. And its launch began not far from the place where I am recording this address. The Sumy region. Mohrytsya. The river of Psel. A few kilometers from our border.

The border between Ukraine and oppression, between life and death. The border between an independent European state and the number one terrorist organization in the world.

913 days ago, Russia unleashed war against us, including through the Sumy region. It violated not only our sovereign borders, but also the limits of cruelty and common sense. It was endlessly striving for one thing: to destroy us. Instead, today we celebrate the 33rd Independence Day of Ukraine. And whatever the enemy was bringing to our land has now returned to their home. And the one who wanted to turn our land into a buffer zone should think about preventing his country from becoming a buffer federation. This is how independence responds. It retaliates for our civilians, who are targeted by guided aerial bombs and Kinzhals, for our parents who have turned gray, for our children who are forced to study underground. For all our people who would prefer never to know the names of these cursed places in their lives: “Savasleika”, “Olenya”, “Engels”. But unfortunately, Ukrainians know them. That is why, our enemy will also know what the Ukrainian-way retaliation is. Worthy, symmetrical, long-ranged. They will know that sooner or later a Ukrainian response will reach any point in the Russian Federation that is a source of danger to the life of our state and our people.

The faded eyes of their chief perceive the whole world as a gray zone. But we will not allow to turn into a gray zone our lands, where the blue and yellow flag rightly belongs. A sick old man from the Red Square, who constantly threatens everyone with the red button, will not dictate any of his red lines to us. Only Ukraine and Ukrainians will determine how to live, what path to take, and what choice to make. Because this is how independence works.

Ukraine astonishes once again. Russia reverts once again to its repertoire. This is how the world media generally portray the events in the Kursk region. They show how Russia treats its citizens, whom it calls “the population.” How Russia “does not abandon” their own. How their soldiers loot their local shops. This is what Putin’s Russia looks like in the eyes of the world. And in the same way, the entire world sees how our warriors provide water, food, and medicine to the local people, who say: “It’s good that you are here now, not the Kadyrovites.” This is what Ukraine’s dignity looks like. Civility. The virtue of our independence.

33 years ago, Ukraine was reborn on the maps of the world, and today Ukraine wins the hearts of the entire world. It inspires with courage. It serves as an example of how not to be afraid of Putin. And it unites the world around its Ukrainian worldview: in the 21st century, terrorists should find their reckoning in The Hague, not comfort in Valday. And no one else in the world will say: “Where is Ukraine?” Because every continent now says: “Ukraine must win”. This fuels our independence. Our Ukraine. It has no lack of foreign regions. We need peace and tranquility on our lands. Along our entire 6,992-kilometer border. On land, at sea, in the air, inside the country – wherever we stand guard for our values.

Just like our warriors do. In all directions of the frontline and the state border, which is symbolized by the border pillars. And our will and struggle are symbolized by our people – our defenders, our pillars. Those on whose shoulders Ukraine stands strong. It stands strong in Kharkiv, in Kupyansk, in Zaporizhzhia region, it stands strong in Kherson region. In Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Chasiv Yar. On the Lyman, Siversk, Kramatorsk, Kurakhove, Vremivka, Huliaipilske, and Orikhiv directions. This is how independence fights. And I want to say to all our warriors today: I wish you a strong one! And thank you, guys! When the need to defend Ukraine arose, you shortly said: plus. Since then, for 913 days in a row, you have been applying a “minus” to the occupiers. Only you know how much effort, sweat, blood and your extremely hard work is really hidden behind the dry statistics of enemy losses. Only you know what it really means to hold a position. What it means to be “pinned down by enemy artillery and aircraft all day long”. What it means to stand firm when “the orcs are pushing.” You have preserved and are preserving our independence.

I thank everyone who helps our warriors and our state, all those who live and work to keep our independence working and living. Our medical workers, our rescuers, our firefighters, power engineers, our volunteers and entrepreneurs, police officers and farmers, railroad workers, teachers and students. All of them. Ukrainians here, Ukrainians abroad, who help, find, send the necessary supplies, tell the world about Ukraine. And everyone who stays with Ukraine in the temporarily occupied territories. All Ukrainians whose strength has no borders, whose will is boundless. All those to whom I am immensely grateful. And today. And for each of the 913 days of this war. For the cause of each of you. For proving that independence is a cause for everyone. And it has many dimensions. Each of which must be gained to secure comprehensive independence. This is economic, this is energy independence. This is the spiritual independence of the Ukrainian people. And Ukrainian Orthodoxy today is taking a step toward liberation from the devils of Moscow. This is also the realization of justice for the awards of an independent Ukraine, which will never again be worn by those who betrayed it. This is the realization of justice for foreign heroes who defend Ukraine on the frontline and deserve Ukrainian honor – our citizenship. These are inevitable processes that have been launched by us today. This is how independence is strengthened.

And there should be a solid border between us and the enemy, and there will be no walls between Ukrainians. Because Ukraine is in each one of us. Independence is in each one of us. And united, we are able to win. It was proven by February 24. It was proven by 2022 and 2023. This year is proving it as well. We have withstood, restrained and repelled the enemy, and now we continue to do so in their swamps.

We know what independence is. How difficult it is to revive it. How difficult it is to defend it. But we know: everything depends on us.

We know what independence looks like. On the morning of February 24, it was in our eyes. Today, independence is in the trenches in all directions. It is in our cities and villages: in each episode when we find the best in ourselves, find Ukraine in ourselves, and fight for it. Independence today has tired eyes that have seen it all. Independence smiles when Ukrainians succeed. Independence is silence when we lose our people. Independence is the oath to never forget the fallen heroes. Independence tastes of smoke and dust on the battlefield and in civilian life. Independence descends into the shelter during an air raid alert to survive and to rise again to tell the enemy again: you will not succeed. You will fail. You will not prevail. And you will be held accountable for everything.

This is how we feel freedom. This is what Ukraine looks like. This is what independence looks like. And this is what it sounds like:

Happy Independence Day, Ukrainians!

Glory to Ukraine!

‼️”The sick old man from the red square, who keeps threatening everyone with the red button, will not dictate any of his red lines to us.” – President Zelenskyy. pic.twitter.com/g828XWidNf

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) August 24, 2024

On Ukraine’s Independence Day, we join in celebrating the shared values that the Ukrainian people are bravely defending every single day: independence, sovereignty, and freedom.

We will continue to stand with Ukraine in its fight for freedom against Russia’s aggression.

— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) August 24, 2024

President Zelenskyy also met with Polish President Duda and Lithuanian Prime Minister Šimonytė today. The video of their joint press conference followed by the write up of the event is below.

Needs on the Frontline, Protection of the Skies and Further Support: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Held Meetings with the President of Poland and the Prime Minister of Lithuania

24 August 2024 – 17:04

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held meetings with President of Poland Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė, who visited Ukraine on Independence Day.

At the beginning of the joint press conference, the Head of State said that 115 Ukrainian warriors had returned home. These are conscripts who had been in Russian captivity since 2022.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that during the meetings, he briefed the leaders on the situation on the frontline and stressed the need to maintain the pace of delivery of the agreed defense assistance packages.

They also discussed the measures needed to protect Ukrainian skies from Russian strikes.

“It is very important that the states of our region equally perceive the Russian terrorist threat and, accordingly, increase cooperation to shoot down Russian missiles and drones. The more such cooperation we have, the sooner Moscow will realize the hopelessness of its terrorist tactics,” the President said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed that Ukraine is increasing the capabilities of its defense and industrial complex, and it needs to strengthen cooperation with partners for joint production of weapons.

“Each such decision to finance production in Ukraine, to develop production facilities, will add the strength we all need and make a just peace for Ukraine and the whole of Europe inevitable,” he said.

The Head of State urged Ukraine’s partners to encourage the allies to lift restrictions on the use of long-range weapons.

President of Poland Andrzej Duda congratulated Ukraine on the 33rd anniversary of independence and assured that Poland will continue helping our country: by providing political, military, and other necessary support, as well as training Ukrainian warriors, medical workers, and rescuers.

“We have no doubt that it is our duty as fellow citizens of this part of Europe to support Ukraine on its way to the EU. That is why, Mr. President, we support and will continue to support you on your way to the European Union and NATO,” Andrzej Duda said.

Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s victory in the war and spoke about the recent aid package to our country, which includes 10 short-range air defense systems, 30 missiles, anti-drone and other equipment, weapons, and ammunition. In addition, Lithuania hopes to provide more than 5,000 drones of its own production by the end of the fall.

“It is our duty to help Ukraine recover, but the only real way to finance these efforts is to make the aggressor pay. Lithuania will never tire of repeating that all Russian assets frozen and blocked as part of our sanctions should be transferred to Ukraine. We must continue strengthening sanctions against Russia and its accomplices,” Ingrida Šimonytė concluded.

As my President said, this is our new method of retaliating against the aggressor. pic.twitter.com/8oLD5hwlPH

— Alexander Kamyshin (@AKamyshin) August 24, 2024

Test launch of the Ukrainian missile-drone/jet drone. https://t.co/hbtD6MEIKt https://t.co/llk6AZ5wRj pic.twitter.com/t8pkQWG4z1

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) August 24, 2024

Duda:

– If it happens that Russian forces are leaving Ukraine, I’ll be the first to call Zelensky and ask him not to bomb them and just let them go home instead, leave them be.

Zelensky:

– But what if my phone line is busy?… pic.twitter.com/5MOMQBNYAY

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) August 24, 2024

Duda:

– If it happens that Russian forces are leaving Ukraine, I’ll be the first to call Zelensky and ask him not to bomb them and just let them go home instead, leave them be.

Zelensky:

– But what if my phone line is busy?

😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆

On Ukraine’s Independence Day, we want to urge once again: Let Ukraine strike back.

The restrictions on using long-range Western-made weapons against russian military facilities must be lifted.

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) August 24, 2024

Andrew Chakhoyan of the University of Amsterdam and previously of the US government’s Millennium Challenge, has some thoughts regarding the US’s and it’s allies’ and partners’ support of Ukraine on Ukrainian Independence Day 2024.

Was the Kursk incursion a reckless gamble or a masterstroke?

As Ukraine celebrates its independence day this weekend, attempting to answer this is as futile as the question is misguided. What is clear is that for the first time in over a decade, someone other than Moscow is now setting the agenda. And it speaks volumes about Ukraine’s audacity, valor and relentless pursuit of freedom, as well as the free world’s indecision and collective refusal to recognize the true danger Russia poses — not just to Ukraine.

A few months ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced a stark truth: “Our partners fear that Russia will lose this war.” Of course, the collective West isn’t to blame for Russia starting wars, but we must recognize that it will take all of us to end it — and that shifting this shared responsibility onto Ukraine is morally indefensible, as well as strategically unsound.

Near a century ago, appeasement failed with disastrous consequences. Today, it’s the policy of incrementalism — call it appeasement-light — that’s failing. And both the U.S. and Europe must acknowledge that our fear of provoking Moscow is what ends up reliably provoking Moscow.

This cycle must end.

At the end of the Cold War, the free world exhaled. Communism defeated, problem solved. However, the threat from Moscow lay in its colonial ambitions as a Frankenstein state, not its ideology.

The saltwater fallacy that colonies exist only overseas obscures the obvious: Russia relies on perpetual expansion. Its invasions of neighboring states aren’t anomalies but historical patterns. Moscow’s legitimacy and the stability of its fragile empire are rooted in an unending cycle of conquest and domination that hinges on violence, the appropriation of other nations’ histories and the subjugation of people.

We misconceive and justify Russia at our own peril. And as bizarre as it sounds, we’ve done so eagerly, despite overwhelming evidence, despite the clear and present danger it poses not just to Ukraine but to the entire world and, paradoxically, its own people.

Our dogged Putinversteher — giving Moscow the benefit of the doubt despite its obvious belligerence — and attempts to reset relations have only emboldened the Kremlin. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said it best: “Who cares what Putin would do if Russia loses? We should worry more about what he would do if Russia wins.”

We saw Russia’s brutal campaign in Chechnya in the 1990’s, and yet conveniently dismissed it as an “internal matter.” When Russia invaded Georgia in 2008, we failed to mount an adequate response. Crimea’s annexation in 2014 saw us falter once again as Moscow redrew international borders by force. And when Russian “volunteers” infiltrated my native Donbas, and pseudo-republics emerged out of nowhere, we turned a blind eye too. We knew Moscow was responsible for the MH17 tragedy, but we again failed to act decisively.

Now, Russia is committing the crime of aggression, and Ukraine is defending freedom. All the while, the global community is vacillating, hesitating and, in many instances, betraying. How can we not see the cruelty of our actions — helping Ukraine hold the line, but not enough to expel its aggressor? We cannot wish this problem away: Moscow will not stop until we stop it. And looking for a middle ground is delusional.

History has shown that when met with weakness and indecision, Russia escalates; but when met with strength and resolve, it backs off. In 1989, as a nuclear-armed global superpower — and one of only two in the world at the time — the Soviet Union lost a war in Afghanistan and went home. Its equally violent descendant, however, has ostensibly won every war it started, and the results are self-evident.

After Ukraine took control of dozens of towns in the Kursk region, however, Russian officials toned down the nuclear saber-rattling. Putin didn’t announce mobilization, nor did he declare war. Rather, he referred to Russia’s efforts as an “anti-terror” operation to avoid triggering military doctrine. Conceivably, Russia could have called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to activate its version of “Article 5” — but it didn’t. Instead, the strongman in the Kremlin appears paralyzed. And after years of Western self-deterrence, which emboldened Moscow, we’re finally seeing what effective de-escalation looks like.

If Moscow raises the stakes in response to the West’s inaction once more, we’ll have no one to blame but ourselves. The free world needs to live up to its name, commit to a decisive Ukrainian victory and deliver lasting peace to Europe — a continent whose success is rooted in its postwar ethos.

The cost:

Freedom comes to Ukraine at a very high price.

Eternal memory to every fallen hero. We will never forget their feat.

📹: Kyiv Post pic.twitter.com/cabiCgJ3gO

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) August 24, 2024

Dog “Nick” was died… pic.twitter.com/4053g0CnKE

— UkrARMY cats & dogs (@UAarmy_animals) August 24, 2024

The writing on the image machine translates as:

Nick, a service dog who had served in intelligence since the first days of the war, died at the front.

A message from the Commander of the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov:

Ukrainians always return their debts. However, do Ukrainians always keep their word and return their citizens who are in captivity?

Putin needed to reduce the pressure inside his country and save his face by returning the conscripts who were captured in the Kursk region. Those…

— Denys Prokopenko (@D_Redis) August 24, 2024

Ukrainians always return their debts. However, do Ukrainians always keep their word and return their citizens who are in captivity?

Putin needed to reduce the pressure inside his country and save his face by returning the conscripts who were captured in the Kursk region. Those responsible for the exchange on the Ukrainian side, according to a soviet tradition, had to organize a media “victory” before the holiday.

This formula did not find any place for Azov POWs who have been waiting for the promised exchanges for more than 2 years.

This is despite the fact that, in Ukraine, there is a colossal request from society for the return of those who in Mariupol in 2022 did everything to ensure that Ukraine continued to exist and today celebrated its Independence Day, not a “day of national unity”.

This is despite the fact that the captured Russians themselves asked to exchange them for Azov fighters.

This is despite the fact that the Ukrainian negotiating team had tremendous leverage during this exchange, being able to act from a position of strength.

All this has not been utilized. In today’s exchange, again, there are no Azov fighters. Precious opportunity and time have been lost.

What are all the pompous words spoken today worth if none of the 900 loyal to Ukraine servicemen who are being treated the absolute worst in Russian captivity have been returned home?

Ukraine’s Independence Day should be first and foremost about gratitude. Gratitude to those who dedicated themselves to the defense of Ukraine. And certainly to those who saved Ukraine’s independence by obeying orders in an utterly hopeless situation. In a complete encirclement, without sufficient weapons and medical supplies, against the enemy’s many times superior forces.

Ukraine has failed this test of gratitude today. The task has not been fulfilled. The next attempt will cost even more.

As you fall asleep tonight in your comfortable homes, where there are no warders, interrogations and torture, think about whether you really understand what independence is and whether you realize the price we pay for it. This will not console the families of those who celebrated Independence Day in captivity for the third time today. It will not make the conditions of my brothers in arms in Russian prisons any better. But perhaps it will help you finally decide to fight for the Azov POWs during the next negotiations, as they fought for Ukraine’s independence in Mariupol.

The reason:

Today on Independence Day, people are coming with their children to Maidan to honor the fallen soldiers and thank those fighting hard for our freedom 🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/YhcakrBqQX

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) August 24, 2024

Yevhen spent over two years in Russian captivity.

Only one letter from his wife reached him: she told him their daughter was born. Yevhen’s son was just 9 months old when he last saw his dad.

Today, he was able to meet his daughter and hug his son and wife!

📷: Suspilne https://t.co/POt05ueeMN pic.twitter.com/GCYRFoQ24k

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) August 24, 2024

It’s the third Ukrainian Independence Day they said would never happen.

Yet, here we are.

Mourning our dead, having firm friends by our side, doing what is right, breaking our way through so many no’s and never’s — and having good hope, after all.

This day belongs not only… pic.twitter.com/ezGNV64fWd

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) August 23, 2024

It’s the third Ukrainian Independence Day they said would never happen.

Yet, here we are.

Mourning our dead, having firm friends by our side, doing what is right, breaking our way through so many no’s and never’s — and having good hope, after all.

This day belongs not only to us Ukrainians but also to all good people around the world whose faith and aid help this wonderful country, which never deserved such a terrible plight, survive and fight to see another sunrise.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Life will win over death, and light will win over darkness (с)
🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

Another 115 of our defenders have returned home today. These are warriors of the National Guard, the Armed Forces, the Navy, and the State Border Guard Service.

We remember everyone. We are searching for them and making every effort to bring them all back.

I am grateful to each… pic.twitter.com/XiMAeANsOd

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 24, 2024

Another 115 of our defenders have returned home today. These are warriors of the National Guard, the Armed Forces, the Navy, and the State Border Guard Service.

We remember everyone. We are searching for them and making every effort to bring them all back.

I am grateful to each unit that replenishes our exchange fund. This helps to advance the release of our military personnel and civilians from Russian captivity. I thank our team and partners, the UAE, for bringing our people back home.

🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

Hromadske video with those convicted of minor offenses who were given the opportunity to join the ranks of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

Many are combat veterans who have been long waiting for this opportunity. Some have applied six times before the approval came.

The… pic.twitter.com/wCTSfP4YUE

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) August 24, 2024

Hromadske video with those convicted of minor offenses who were given the opportunity to join the ranks of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

Many are combat veterans who have been long waiting for this opportunity. Some have applied six times before the approval came.

The commanders are extremely satisfied with the new servicemen: their motivation and discipline are much better than mobilised soldiers.

Pic by Iryna Kostyrenko/Facebook

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) August 24, 2024

Wartime legends and memes are now becoming part of the nation’s new tradition.

Zelensky today responded to popular pleas and officially assigned Ukraine’s 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade the honorable nickname “The Ghost of Kyiv” for its distinguished record in defending Ukraine’s capital in 2022.

There were some questions in the comments last night about Modi’s visit to Ukraine. My professional take is Modi is every but the tyrannical theocrat he appears to be and that anything he says cannot be trusted. Here’s some coverage of his visit from the Indian press:

A scathing take on Modi’s #Ukraine visit yesterday in @thewire_in‘s India Cable newsletter pic.twitter.com/klqh5SZa78

— John Reed जॉन रीड (@JohnReedwrites) August 24, 2024

France:

French TV: Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, detained upon arriving in France from Azerbaijan. https://t.co/4rFlzXTaeW

— Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) August 24, 2024

Panic among Russian military analysts and bloggers: Telegram seems to be the critical means of communication within the Russian armed forces. https://t.co/3aayhCU2gx pic.twitter.com/pGOa9ScuWs

— Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) August 24, 2024

The Russian machine translates as:

What’s so funny, comrades? If our enemies get into the telegram, things will be bad for us. A lot of information flows through closed chats and more, and all the military know this no worse than I do.

Don’t ask me questions like “Why is the cart almost the main connection for us in war?”

The creator of Telegram, Pavel Durov, was arrested at Le Bourget airport, where he arrived from Azerbaijan.
This was reported by the French news channel LCI.

Durov was shown a search warrant issued by the OFMIN (small office) of the national department of judicial police of… pic.twitter.com/1sxZblGLll

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) August 24, 2024

The creator of Telegram, Pavel Durov, was arrested at Le Bourget airport, where he arrived from Azerbaijan.
This was reported by the French news channel LCI.

Durov was shown a search warrant issued by the OFMIN (small office) of the national department of judicial police of France on the basis of a preliminary investigation.

According to the French TV channel TF1, the warrant against the founder of Telegram was issued because Durov did not cooperate with the French security forces, which makes him an accomplice to drug trafficking and other serious crimes.

Durov was in Baku at the same time as Putin, but there was no information about their meeting.

Durov is also to be questioned due to suspicions of wiretapping Macron’s manager through the secure network
Telegram.

Amid news of the arrest of Pavel Durov in France, shares of the TON cryptocurrency used in Telegram began to fall sharply.

Pavel Durov faces up to 20 years in prison. He will soon appear in court as a French citizen.

While a lot of the open-source information about what Russia is doing in Ukraine, as well as Ukraine’s response, originates on Telegram before it makes its way to other social media platforms, Telegram is also used for just about everything bad you can think of. Drug trafficking and smuggling planning, terrorism, human trafficking, a variety of financial and cyber crimes, all of them are planned or organized using Telegram.

Germany:

One of Nato’s most sensitive military bases was put on a state of high alert for almost 24 hours over intelligence warnings of a potential sabotage attack by Russian agents https://t.co/WiJSVQuALf pic.twitter.com/IEcx1BhapP

— Financial Times (@FT) August 23, 2024

The Financial Times has the details:

One of Nato’s most sensitive military bases was put on a state of high alert for almost 24 hours over intelligence warnings of a potential sabotage attack by Russian agents.

Geilenkirchen in north-west Germany, the home of Nato’s Awacs aerial reconnaissance fleet, sent all non-essential personnel home on Thursday evening as part of a security lockdown of the base. It was the second such incident at a military site on German territory in under two weeks.

A spokesperson for the facility, close to the Dutch border, said core military operations had not been affected and Nato had continued to operate Awacs flights — which provide the alliance with vital long-range early warning information and intelligence on hostile military activity.

“The Nato Airborne Early Warning & Control Force has raised the security level at Nato air base Geilenkirchen,” said spokesperson Donny Demmers on Friday morning. “This is based on intelligence indicating a potential threat . . . The safety of our staff is a top priority. Critical operations at the air base continue as planned.”

The state of alert was a “precautionary measure”, Demmers said.

The base lowered the security level and said it would begin allowing staff to return late on Friday afternoon.

Military and local police were brought in to provide extra security at the site but no indication of a breach was found, despite the intelligence.

The lockdown of the airfield — known in Nato jargon as alert level Charlie, the second highest state of emergency — comes after another nearby military base, in Cologne-Wahn, went on alert this month after an intruder was discovered to have cut through fencing in an apparent attempt to reach the base’s water supply unit.

It is also the second incident at Geilenkirchen, where a man was stopped from trespassing on to the site at the same time as the alleged sabotage attempt at Cologne-Wahn. That incident was unconnected with the current alert at Geilenkirchen, officials said.

Military sites across Germany have been warned to prepare for potential acts of sabotage as part of what western intelligence agencies believe is a mounting campaign of covert violence being plotted by Russian spies and their proxies.

Last week 10,000 residents in the area of a German military base in Mechernich were told to drink only bottled water after holes were found in fencing around a local pumping station. Authorities eventually concluded the supply had not been contaminated.

As well as being vital for Nato’s own defence capabilities, the Awacs fleet based at Geilenkirchen has been used to aid Ukraine by providing it with vital intelligence.

Awacs flights in international airspace over the Black Sea have been able to gather significant detail on Russian military positions and manoeuvres thanks to their powerful long-range capabilities.

Western security officials believe the Kremlin has ordered its intelligence services to inflict physical damage on European domestic and military targets in reprisal for European support of Ukraine.

Moscow has recently accused the west of backing Ukraine’s counter-incursion in Russia’s Kursk region, which also started earlier this month.

While the Kremlin’s agents have a long history of sabotage, evidence was growing of a more aggressive and concerted effort this year, intelligence officials told the Financial Times in May.

Numerous people have been arrested in connection to alleged foiled plots around Europe since — varying in degrees of sophistication and seriousness.

More at the link.

I have lost track of how many times I have written it here, but we are in a world war. Putin declared it at the 2007 Munich Security Conference while claiming that Russia was actually the victim. We can date Russia actually becoming operational to 2008 with the invasion and occupation of Georgia. It would behoove the leadership of the US, the EU and the EU member states, NATO and the NATO member states to finally recognize this reality and begin to act accordingly. The hour is very late indeed.

Kostantyantynivka, Donetsk Oblast:

Independence Day has already turned deadly with the Russian shelling of the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostyantynivka. Five people killed and five more injured, reports Vadym Filashkin, head of the Donetsk Oblast Military Administration. https://t.co/AC0jisQMs7

— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) August 24, 2024

Nova Khakovka, Russian occupied Kherson Oblast:

AASM Hammer strike on Russian positions near Nova Kakhovka, Kherson region (46.762925, 33.197851)https://t.co/YQFMYPMfSL pic.twitter.com/cSGdJSh8j4

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) August 24, 2024

Kharkiv:

Nothing like sitting on the floor of your bathroom at 4AM and checking monitoring channels to find out if more missiles are coming your way because russia decided to bomb your city.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) August 25, 2024

That was an awfully close one, and the sound of it is unusual one loud earth-rattling BOOM, and then lots of cracking noises. Cassette? https://t.co/ZK9VEDDeSN

— Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) August 25, 2024

Earlier in the day:

This is the third Independence Day that Ukraine and Kharkiv celebrate amidst a full-scale war.

For the first time in these three years, people in Kharkiv have dared to step out onto the streets, even if only in small numbers.

Yes, it remains dangerous, but lifting restrictions… pic.twitter.com/9Ln4mVNGNz

— Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) August 24, 2024

This is the third Independence Day that Ukraine and Kharkiv celebrate amidst a full-scale war.

For the first time in these three years, people in Kharkiv have dared to step out onto the streets, even if only in small numbers.

Yes, it remains dangerous, but lifting restrictions makes a difference, your support makes a difference. They give us room to breathe, to live!

In the video, Kharkiv’s mayor interacts with a street musician among a small crowd of passersby—something unimaginable in Kharkiv just a few months ago.

On Ukraine’s Independence Day in Kharkiv, we hosted a @SMARTKidsUA fest for almost 400 children, the future of Ukraine. 🇺🇦🫡❤️ pic.twitter.com/ATTRT9nkX6

— HUGS Helping Ukraine Grassroots Support 🍁🇨🇦🇺🇦 (@HugsUkraine) August 24, 2024

The Kinburn Spit, Russian occupied Kherson Oblast:

Ukrainian Navy units destroyed a Russian ammunition depot and a 120 mm mortar at the Kinburn Spit.

Glory! pic.twitter.com/ubg5Huiejw

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) August 24, 2024

Voronezh Oblast, Russia:

/2. Location from which detonating Russian ammunition depot was observed https://t.co/AxZEmgl3sj

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) August 24, 2024

/4. Russian ammunition depot in Voronezh region which was targeted tonight. (50.794215, 38.993292) https://t.co/wC4ogOf8VB

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) August 24, 2024

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

I love U so much ❤️

Happy Independence Day 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/hCWjRuLSif

— Patron (@PatronDsns) August 24, 2024

Open thread!