Balloon Juice - Open Threads Archives

Sunday Night Open Thread

by WaterGirl| May 26, 202411:17 pm| 67 Comments

I do love me some Jack Smith.

https://twitter.com/7Veritas4/status/1794553084363895088

Full text:

Dear Donald,

I’m sorry you stepped outside your MAGA bubble and got beat up like a rented piñata at an anger management seminar.

To remedy this harsh dose of reality, you could announce a MAGA rally next week in a safe zone, sell a few hats, issue some “they’re out to get me” fundraisers, post some Taylor Swift concert crowds and claim them as your attendees.

Hope this helps.

Yours truly,

Jack

Open thread.

Sunday Night Open ThreadPost + Comments (67)

War for Ukraine Day 823: The Butcher’s Bill for Kharkiv

by Adam L Silverman| May 26, 202410:28 pm| 28 Comments

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

(Image by NEIVANMADE)

Quick housekeeping note: Rosie is doing fine as she heads into the second week off in between chemo treatments. Currentyly she’s sprawled out across the middle of the bed. And she just sat up because she knows I’m typing about her. The brown bomber – Ruby – is, as usual, curled up just next to me. Thank you all again for the good thoughts, well wishes, prayers, and donations. They are all greatly appreciated.

I’m going to keep tonight’s update on the shorter side.

As of 10:02 PM EDT – about 45 minutes into drafting tonight’s update – air raid alerts have gone up over all of eastern Ukraine and into the central Ukrainian oblast of Kirovohrad.

Before we get into the post proper, I wanted to take a moment and talk about this post from the Auschwitz Memorial. I saw it on Bluesky, but it’s easier to use their tweet..

A heartbreaking moment that was saved by an SS photographer at Auschwitz II-Birkenau during the deportations of Hungarian Jews.

It was taken 80 years ago, most likely in late May 1944. A little child finds a dandelion in the grass and is handing it or showing it to an older… pic.twitter.com/ku3SWBWzyf

— Auschwitz Memorial (@AuschwitzMuseum) May 26, 2024

A heartbreaking moment that was saved by an SS photographer at Auschwitz II-Birkenau during the deportations of Hungarian Jews.

It was taken 80 years ago, most likely in late May 1944. A little child finds a dandelion in the grass and is handing it or showing it to an older boy.

All the people in this picture had already gone through the arrival selection and were awaiting to be murdered in a gas chamber. They were killed shortly after.

Please repost this unique document.

I’ve seen this picture many, many times before. At Bluesky, when I reposted it per the Auschwitz Memorial’s request, I suggested that you could title it:

“Innocence Last.” Or “The last moment of innocence.” Or “Prelude to the death of innocence.”

But what really struck me this morning is that at the moment I saw the Auschwitz Memorial post, there are young children in Ukraine, Gaza, Myanmar, Sudan, and at least a half dozen other places that are doing something similar to this long lost toddler because they are too young to understand the cruelty they are being subjected to. As well as the horrific reality they are experiencing. So they pick a flower and hand it to an older sibling. Or play with a toy that has managed to survive a missile or drone strike.

The Russians, of course, continued to bombard Kharkiv today:

Russian troops are bombarding Kharkiv Oblast at this time. As of 19:00, they have hit settlements in the region with 22 air bombs, Ukraine’s General Staff reported.

— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) May 26, 2024

Here’s the butcher’s bill from yesterday’s attack on Kharkiv:

Among these ashes may lie the remains of seven other missing people. This tragedy might have been prevented if the skies over Kharkiv had been protected.

📹place_kharkiv pic.twitter.com/h0x8Vq22pw

— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) May 26, 2024

My Kharkiv friends’ news feed is filled with unbearable pain and anger. 12 people have been killed and 16 are missing. A girl found her father in the hospital; her mother and 12-year-old sister were inside. People come to give DNA for testing. pic.twitter.com/GobH69CIGV

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) May 26, 2024

The boy’s name is Mykhailo. He is eight. His dad is missing after yesterday’s russian attack on #Kharkiv. He came to give his DNA to compare to those unrecognizably burnt.#RussiaWarCrimes #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/Kg93plZU0m

— olexander scherba🇺🇦 (@olex_scherba) May 26, 2024

Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.

show full post on front page

Many Leaders Condemned Russian Terror; It Is Important That This Condemnation Leads to Fair Consequences – Address by the President

26 May 2024 – 20:27

Dear Ukrainians!

Today, the rubble at the site of a Russian bomb attack on a hypermarket in Kharkiv is being cleared all day long, as the building has burned to the ground. As of now, fourteen people have been reported dead. My condolences to all the families and friends. The death toll may be higher as additional examinations and further work are needed after the fire to provide full information about the deceased. The number of injured is over forty. Everyone is being provided with the necessary assistance. As required, all the necessary services are engaged on the scene of this Russian terrorist attack – hundreds of people are working: the State Emergency Service, police, psychologists, and the necessary equipment. The regional and city authorities are also helping. I am grateful to everyone who supports the people and supports our Kharkiv. Many leaders, representatives of states and international organizations, public figures have expressed their condolences to Ukraine and Kharkiv and condemned Russian terror. It is important that this condemnation leads to entirely fair consequences. That we finally get a sufficient number of air defense systems to protect Ukraine and our cities. And that our partners have enough determination for preemptive protection against Russian terrorists, just as they would strike at any other terrorists – destroying them before they start taking lives. We see every point of concentration of Russian troops. We know all the areas where Russian missiles and combat aircraft are launched. Destroying this terrorist force – and thus saving thousands of lives and guaranteeing that the expansion of the war will be stopped – is purely a political decision. A decision that needs to be made. I thank everyone who supports us in this. We will work with partners to speed up and increase the supply of F-16s to Ukraine. This will also enhance our protection from terrorist attacks on our cities and from the pressure of the Russian army on the frontline.

Today, I spoke with General Syrskyi. Today, the Pokrovsk direction in the Donetsk region is the toughest one, however the occupier continues its attempts to attack in the Kharkiv region as well, particularly in the areas of Vovchansk and Lyptsi. Our units, our warriors, are doing a tremendous job of deterring this Russian pressure and proving once again that Russian lunatics may plan all sorts of things against Ukraine, but the resilience of Ukrainians and the courage of our warriors really make all the difference in this war.

Following the results of this week’s battles, I would like to commend the warriors of our 57th separate motorized infantry brigade and the 92nd separate assault brigade. Thank you, warriors, for your strength in the Kharkiv region. I would also like to commend the warriors of the 25th Sicheslav separate airborne brigade and the 47th separate mechanized brigade for their fighting in the Pokrovsk direction. I would also like to recognize the DIU’s special units for defending the Kharkiv region and countering Russian assaults in the area of Chasiv Yar. Thank you! I will also mention our border guards. For participating in battles at the front along with the entire Defense and Security Forces, and for destroying Russian subversive groups. In particular, warriors of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine from the Hart brigade, Lviv and Chop detachments are defending our state in the area of Vovchansk. Soldier Oleksiy Frolov, Senior Soldier Yaroslav Ostapchuk, Junior Sergeant Pavlo Hryb, Sergeant Illia Trotsiuk, and Senior Sergeant Petro Habel have particularly distinguished themselves. Thank you! It is also worth noting the continued heroism of the DOZOR special unit, border guards of the Zhytomyr and Sumy detachments, and the Revenge brigade. The Chernihiv detachment, whose warriors are fighting in the Donetsk region – Kurakhove direction. Thank you! Our soldiers Vitaliy Mukha and Vitaliy Krasko, as well as Staff Sergeant Andriy Vitchenko deserve special gratitude. Well done, guys!

And today, on Kyiv Day, I want to thank all our warriors, each and every one of you who defended our capital, who helped, who provided strength, who volunteered, and by defending Kyiv, defended our entire nation. Thank you!

Glory to Ukraine!

Zelenskyi with a video from Kharkiv. A strong message and appeal to western leadership.

—

For them, it is a pleasure to burn. We all know who we are dealing with. Russia is ruled by people who want to make it the norm to burn lives, destroy cities and villages, divide nations… pic.twitter.com/Ki6QV6ijtO

— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) May 26, 2024

Zelenskyi with a video from Kharkiv. A strong message and appeal to western leadership.

—

For them, it is a pleasure to burn. We all know who we are dealing with. Russia is ruled by people who want to make it the norm to burn lives, destroy cities and villages, divide nations and erase national borders with war.

There is no nation that can stop such a war by its own efforts alone. The participation of world leaders is needed.

Does Russia want dialogue? Ukraine has the world’s greatest experience of deception by Russia in negotiations. Deception, which, in particular, was Russia’s cover for the preparation of this war. And that is why global efforts are needed – a peace summit with the participation of leaders who cannot be deceived by Russia.

Together with Switzerland, we are preparing such a Summit. It starts on June 15. We have already confirmed the participation of more than 80 countries and continue to work with leaders, inviting them to the Summit. Thanks to everyone who really helps peace. I turn to the world leaders who are still on the sidelines of the global effort to prepare for the Peace Summit: to President Biden, the leader of the United States, to President Xi, the leader of China. We don’t want the UN Charter to burn like these books. I hope you don’t want to either. Please show your leadership in bringing about peace – real peace, not pauses between strikes.

The efforts of the world majority are the best guarantee of the fulfillment of obligations. Please support the Peace Summit with your personal leadership and participation.

Since the Biden administration has refused to lead, it will now have to decide if it will either follow or, at least, get out of the way:

Based! Thank you, Sweden!🇸🇪🇺🇦 https://t.co/ZtprolcqUC

— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) May 26, 2024

#Sweden confirmed #Ukraine can use its weapons against targets in Russia. Defence minister Pal Jonson said “Ukraine’s exposed to an unprovoked & illegal war of aggression by Russia. According to international law, Ukraine has the right to defend itself by means of hostilities aimed at the territory of the adversary…” https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-war-latest-putin-wraps-up-china-trip-with-subtle-message-for-west-one-dead-in-airstrike-on-odesa-12541713?postid=7728791#liveblog-body

From Sky News:

Sweden allowing Ukraine to strike targets in Russia using its weapons
As Ukraine battles to deter Russia’s offensive around Kharkiv, the debate around restrictions on the use of weapons donated by NATO countries continues.

The US is coming under increasing pressure to drop its ban on Ukraine using its weapons to hit targets inside Russia.

President Joe Biden and co have been worried that allowing Ukraine to do so would be seen as escalation by Moscow.

Ukraine was forced to watch as Russian troops amassed across the border near Kharkiv, unable to bring its full weaponry to bear.

With the debate in full swing – and the US reportedly considering a change – Sweden has confirmed that Ukraine can use its weapons against targets in Russia.

Defence minister Pal Jonson told Swedish newspaper Hallandsposten that no such rule applied to his country’s weapons.

He said: “Ukraine is exposed to an unprovoked and illegal war of aggression by Russia.

“According to international law, Ukraine has the right to defend itself by means of hostilities aimed at the territory of the adversary as long as the hostilities comply with the laws of war.

“Sweden stands behind international law and Ukraine’s right to defend itself.”

The Germans, thanks to Olaf Scholz, are in the same position as the US. They won’t lead, so now they must either follow or get out of the way.

Scholz’s position on strikes against russian troops on their territory effectively means that his government is in favor of forcing Ukraine to die slowly under russian strikes with impunity.

— Запорізька Сіль 🇺🇦 (@solonko1648) May 26, 2024

The British, however, are not in the way:

For every blatant attack on civilians by Russia there should be a clear response. We should stop any illogical controls on ATACMs, SCALP or any other weapon system. International law is quite clear- Ukraine has a right to defend itself
& that includes striking cross border

— Rt. Hon Ben Wallace (@BenWallace70) May 25, 2024

Neither are Poland, the Baltic States, or France:

Baltic countries and Poland will send their troops to Ukraine in the event of serious successes of the Russian military at the frontlines – Der Spiegel, citing sources.

“If the Russians achieve a strategic breakthrough in eastern Ukraine, because the West is helping without much… https://t.co/nMjJu1QgaW

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) May 26, 2024

Here’s the full text of the quote tweet:

Baltic countries and Poland will send their troops to Ukraine in the event of serious successes of the Russian military at the frontlines – Der Spiegel, citing sources.

“If the Russians achieve a strategic breakthrough in eastern Ukraine, because the West is helping without much enthusiasm, then the situation could deteriorate sharply. In this case, the Baltic countries and Poland will not wait until Russian troops reach their borders, Baltic politicians warned – they will send in troops themselves to Ukraine. And this means that NATO will become a participant in the war. This is exactly what the Chancellor and the President of the United States are rightfully afraid of,” the article says.

Baltic politicians warned Germany about this development of events during the Lennart Meri conference in Tallinn, the publication writes.

Link: https://spiegel.de/politik/deutschland/ukraine-die-angst-vor-dem-grossen-krieg-a-2d8b49c8-ca5f-473c-8299-cbb737c26a02

And the quoted tweet:

If the Russians were to break through the front lines, if there were a Ukrainian request, France would need to consider the possibility of deploying its troops there, French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview for The Economist.

Here are a few more points from his interview:

◾️”I’m not ruling anything out, because we are facing someone who is not ruling anything out. We have undoubtedly been too hesitant by defining the limits of our action to someone who no longer has any and who is the aggressor!”

◾️”I have a clear strategic objective: Russia cannot win in Ukraine. If Russia wins in Ukraine, there will be no security in Europe.”

◾️”We mustn’t rule anything out because our objective is that Russia must never be able to win in Ukraine.”

◾️”France is a country that has carried out military interventions, including in recent times. We deployed several thousand troops in the Sahel to fight terrorism, which could have posed a threat to us. We did so at the request of sovereign states.”

(Operation Barkhane of the French armed forces in Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger against Islamist terrorist groups).

◾️”If the Russians were to break through the front lines, if there were a Ukrainian request—which is not the case today—we would legitimately have to ask ourselves this question. I think to rule it out a priori is not to learn the lessons of the past two years.”

◾️”The aggressiveness of the Russian response to what I said showed that this was having the desired effect, which was to say: Don’t think that we will stop here if you don’t stop.”

Source: https://economist.com/europe/2024/05/02/emmanuel-macron-in-his-own-words-english

The Baltics:

If the Baltic States are among Russia’s closest targets, it would mean a full-scale war between NATO and Russia. https://t.co/alL9rURT8F

— Marko Mihkelson (@markomihkelson) May 26, 2024

At this point Ukraine can perhaps deal with its own issues and not try to score points scaring its closest friends, thank you.

We do our own analyses of Russia’s intentions. https://t.co/UdDMJDNyKd

— toomas ilves, ex-verif (@IlvesToomas) May 26, 2024

A few brief points on this: Putin and his closest allies don’t seem to be seeking a full-scale war with NATO, which they can’t win. Instead, he likely aims to occupy a small area to undermine the NATO concept by sowing doubts about the cost-benefit of a serious united response. https://t.co/H7MeIhNBki

— Tatarigami_UA (@Tatarigami_UA) May 26, 2024

As I’ve written many times, Putin operates off of Lenin’s maxim:

Probe with bayonets. If you find mush, proceed. If you find steel, withdraw.

What Putin has learned from the Biden administration’s and Scholz’s risk aversion is that he can can pretty much do whatever he wants and despite the rhetoric, there will be no meaningful response. He’s also watched Bibi and his extremist coalition blow off, ignore, insult, and actively work against Biden’s efforts to save Israel from itself, including Bibi and his extremist coalition, as well as politically maneuver against Biden politically in the US in favor of the GOP with only the most tepid and minimal pushback from Biden and his administration. He’s learned from all of this that he can pretty much do whatever he wants. He’s probing with bayonets. Other than the Ukrainians themselves, he has yet to find steel.

Kyiv:

Pic by Hotel Ukraine

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) May 26, 2024

Happy Birthday to Kyiv.

Throughout well over 1,000 years of its history, my beloved city has traveled a path from a small trade post on the river in the Age of Vikings to being the center of a powerful medieval kingdom and the true heart of our part of human civilization and then dying in the fire of the Mongolian conquest…. to rise again in its ancient glory many centuries later.

It’s one of the world’s most spiritually powerful places, where one can spend one’s entire lifetime learning something new at every corner and on every street.

Owning Kyiv is Vladimir Putin’s most zealous dark desire for the sake of which he has wasted countless thousands of lives and will gladly go on spilling rivers of blood… but he will never get it.

Sumy Oblast:

⚡️Russia attacks 10 communities in Sumy Oblast.

Russian forces struck 10 communities in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy Oblast in 28 separate attacks throughout the day, the regional administration reported on May 26. No casualties were reported.https://t.co/F1rr3r1gbF

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) May 26, 2024

Here are the details from The Kyiv Independent:

Russian forces struck 10 communities in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy Oblast in 28 separate attacks throughout the day, the regional administration reported on May 26. At least 127 explosions were reported in Sumy Oblast over the past 24 hours.

The communities of Khotin, Yunakivka, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Myropillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Putyvl, Esman, Seredyna-Buda, and Znob-Novhorodske were targeted.

Throughout the day, Russia assailed the border communities with mortar, artillery, rocket launcher, and drone attacks. The community of Putyvl saw at least five mines dropped, according to the Sumy Oblast Military Administration.

No casualties or damages to civilian infrastructure were reported.

The town of Bilopillia, with a pre-war population of about 15,600 residents, experienced the bulk of the attacks, with 33 explosions reported in the area. Bilopillia lies just eight kilometers south of the Ukraine-Russia border.

The region suffers daily shelling by Russia and Ukrainian troops regularly fight off Russian sabotage groups conducting raids across the border. The region borders Russia’s Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod oblasts.

Sumy Oblast was liberated from Russian occupation in April 2022.

Ukraine has built up its fortifications in Sumy Oblast in recent months and authorities have ordered evacuations from the region.

Kharkiv Oblast:

Yesterday, yet another barbaric Russian strike in Kharkiv killed at least 16 Ukrainians (including a 12-year-old girl and her mom). At least 8 more are missing. Believed killed, unfortunately.

After more than two years of the full-scale war in Europe, we are still having an…

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) May 26, 2024

Yesterday, yet another barbaric Russian strike in Kharkiv killed at least 16 Ukrainians (including a 12-year-old girl and her mom). At least 8 more are missing. Believed killed, unfortunately.

After more than two years of the full-scale war in Europe, we are still having an unprecedentedly absurd situation in which the powerful aggressor is somehow automatically entitled to have a safe zone in the whole of its territory where it can comfortably concentrate its forces, maintain logistics, deliver any sorts of strikes — and stay unpunished and unprevented.

It is even somehow entitled to have its POL facilities untouched by the defender.

This is absurd beyond basic common sense.

This is not the way anyone can win a war.

And this obstacle is senseless, destructive, and factitious.

This is not the only problem that stands in Ukraine’s way, but it is essential – the strategy of avoiding upsetting Putin and thus making Ukraine fight with one hand tied behind its back has no positive future.

#LetUkraineStrikeBack https://t.co/wqDKypw7wZ

— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) May 26, 2024

For over two years, this has been the reality for the residents of Kharkiv. Watch as a russian missile hits the city center in this video from yesterday. #LetUkraineStrikeBack pic.twitter.com/rUETXVUOUw

— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) May 26, 2024

This is what the route of Russian missiles and drones flying around the territory of Ukraine last night looks like. They were maneuvering in the air, trying to confuse our air defense. https://t.co/514CCkub3q pic.twitter.com/d7SAWrR2AD

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) May 26, 2024

For want of a nail.

Here’s the latest assessment from Ukrainian Marine Kriegsforscher via the Thread Reader App:

Yesterday we had a task near Vovchansk and I have a couple words to say about Russian tactics, artillery ammo, some politician bullshit from the USA and others.

A short thread🧵👇

My guys and I left our base at 4:00 in the morning. At 5:00 we were in Vovchansk.

Firstly it was calm. Even bugs didn’t fly a lot and weren’t disturbing me.

We had a task to find/prepare a normal place for our future recon operations.

A couple of places we have found were quite bad and dangerous so we moved forward.

Apart from my gun and ammo I carried approximately 35 kg on me. Firstly it was not bad.

We walked approximately 5-6 kilometres and took a break. Checked a map where to go.

Due to the specific of our work, air recon, we need to consider hills for better connection with a drone.

Finally found a place. Need to say that there a lot of drones in the air (recon Mavic and FVP drones).

Constantly hiding in the bushes. Cause you never know whether it’s Ukrainian or not.

Found a nice place and started digging.

It took a us a couple of hours (that’s not a finished project).

And now the most important thing: from 6:00 till 15:00 EVERY minute Russians were firing from 6 to 12 artillery shells. Every minute without stopping. U may count the approximate total amount.

And 5 guided bombs.

Our forces also fired back. Approximately 25-35 mortar shells, 10-20 artillery shells and 15-20 MRLS rockets.

That’s about artillery shelling advantage.

Thanks God they were not firing at us.

All their artillery placed in Russia. They are firing everywhere and burning everything: villages, Vovchansk, forest.

But we cannot fire back with US (and others) supplied artillery from a safe distance.

What I don’t really like about modern Russian tactics — it’s quite situational actions. I mean it’s very hard for them to deploy tanks and AFVs.

So they just use stormtroopers and sometimes they reach success.

Russian operational group «North» doesn’t have enough tanks and mechanised units to use them. Cause they will loose them very fast and it’s impossible (inside of a group) to replace them.

Apart from advancing they also need to defend the border line. Remember that.

Right in Vovchansk the 138 Russian brigade mostly employed. And some stormtroopers groups. That is not enough .

So in the nearest future they will deploy the 83 air assault brigade from Bachkmut direction.

Folks, right now we have an urgent need to fix two our cars.

The price is not very big (500$) but considering the fact that we fixed the previous time our cars on our own (from the salary) we would appreciate your support:

[email protected]

That’s our PP

Zaporizhzhia Oblast:

And this is what the Zaporizhia Airport looked like before the Russian plague came upon it: pic.twitter.com/27xOzO0My9

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) May 26, 2024

Donetsk Oblast:

We’ve got more footage of the 110th bringing down one of the six Su-25s that Ukraine has downed over the past several weeks.

That’s how our warriors from the 110th Mechanized Brigade shot down one of the russian Su-25 jets in the Donetsk region recently. pic.twitter.com/TsWnWCe36c

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 26, 2024

It was 10 year ago today that the battle for Donetsk airport broke out. The below announcement from the airport’s account said: “ATTENTION! From 7am Donetsk Airport temporarily suspends flight services. The resumption of work will be announced later.” It never reopened.… https://t.co/MSkUpichY9

— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) May 26, 2024

It was 10 year ago today that the battle for Donetsk airport broke out. The below announcement from the airport’s account said: “ATTENTION! From 7am Donetsk Airport temporarily suspends flight services. The resumption of work will be announced later.” It never reopened. Russian-led DNR forces entered the terminals and Ukrainian forces fought back. The fight marked the transition from a conflict to a war. And the battle for the airport would last months and spawn the legend of the Ukrainian “Cyborgs,” who’d hold out under unimaginable odds and circumstances until the airport fell in early 2015.

Tatarigami and his Frontelligence Team have published a new investigation into Russian missile manufacturing. From the Thread Reader App:

Investigation by Frontelligence Insight reveals that since 2022, despite sanctions, Russian cruise missile manufacturer Raduga has not only continued to operate but also expanded production, thanks to imported Western and Chinese machinery

🧵Thread (Please Like and Share first):

2/ “Raduga” is a design bureau located in Dubna, Moscow Oblast, specializing in the production of missile systems, which are now used against Ukraine. This includes various modifications of the Kh-55, Kh-59, and Kh-101 missiles, as well as other missile types and models.

3/ The Raduga State Machine Building Design Bureau was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury on March 24, 2022. Despite these sanctions, the enterprise has continued its operations. However, the production of high-precision missiles isn’t entirely reliant on domestic resources alone.

4/ Thanks to the Ukrainian Cyber Resistance @CyberResUa, which provided us with materials from Raduga, we were able to analyze hundreds of conversations and inspect documents containing evidence of the continued acquisition of foreign components for production.

5/ The key document of our investigation is Raduga’s Plan for Technical Modernization and Reconstruction for 2023. It provides a detailed description of needs, expansion costs, and goals aimed at meeting the requirements and production volumes set by the Ministry of Defense

6/ This detailed plan included a budget and a list of specific equipment, along with their country of origin. The following non-Russian companies have been listed: Fagima Jazz R (Italy), Automator (Italy), Hottenger Gmbh (Germany), Hangcha (China), and Hision (China).

7/ It remains unclear whether this equipment is purchased through third parties or third countries, but in some cases, like with Italian FAGIMA FRESATRICI SRL, business was likely conducted directly with the company.

8/ Based on the semi-annual report on task progress, most tasks were completed on time, with some even ahead of schedule, suggesting that some of the listed equipment has already been successfully purchased and delivered.

9/ Based on the same document, it’s evident that the finances were allocated towards purchasing new equipment, constructing and modernizing buildings, upgrading laboratory and testing facilities, and developing IT solutions.

10/ While the Frontelligence Insight team cannot determine whether all these companies are fully, partially aware of this, or unaware of it at all, without strict enforcement of sanctions, Russia will find ways to circumvent sanctions and expand its military production.

11/ These companies should undergo additional scrutiny to determine how their equipment ends up in Russian missile production:

– Fagima (Italy)
– Automator (Italy), provided through Атомус
– Hottinger Gmbh (Germany)
– Hangcha (China)
– Hision (China)

12/ Thank you for taking the time to read our investigation.

The full report with more details will be released later this week. Meanwhile, we would greatly appreciate it if you could consider liking and sharing the first message of the thread to help increase its visibility

The sanctions regime is just running on all cylinders.

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

Here’s a video of Patron from vyshyvanka day:

@patron__dsns

Відповідь користувачу @бруківка🇺🇦 ❤️

♬ оригінальний звук – Patron_official

Here’s the machine translation of the caption:

Reply to the user @бруківка🇺🇦 ❤️

Open thread!

War for Ukraine Day 823: The Butcher’s Bill for KharkivPost + Comments (28)

Sunday Evening Open Thread: A Bright Spot in Idaho News

by Anne Laurie| May 26, 20246:58 pm| 107 Comments

This post is in: LGBTQ Rights Are Human Rights, Open Threads

This *Idaho jury* even asked the judge if they had the power to also make the far right blogger *apologize* to the drag performer.https://t.co/d1fRH4atUT

"Idaho drag performer awarded $1.1 million in defamation case against far-right blogger"

— Mark Pitcavage (@egavactip) May 26, 2024

I don’t know if Mr. Posey will ever see a dime of this, but I’m glad he was publicly exonerated. From the local Couer d’Alene Press, “Jury awards $1.1 million to drag performer”:

A jury has awarded more than $1.1 million in damages to the drag performer who sued a blogger for defamation.

The unanimous verdict was returned Friday. The jury found that blogger Summer Bushnell defamed Post Falls resident Eric Posey when she accused him of exposing himself to the crowd while he performed in drag at the Coeur d’Alene City Park bandshell in June 2022…

Jurors awarded Posey $926,000 in compensatory damages for defamation. Because Posey proved that Bushnell knew her allegations were false when she made them or that she made the accusations with “reckless disregard” for the truth, the jury awarded additional punitive damages in the amount of $250,000.

The day of Posey’s performance, June 11, 2022, Bushnell posted a video of herself discussing the mass arrest of Patriot Front members near City Park, as well as footage from Posey’s performance.

“Why did no one arrest the man in a dress who flashed his genitalia to minors and people in the crowd?” she said in the video. “No one said anything about it and there’s video. I’m going to put up a blurred video to prove it.”

The next day, Bushnell published an edited video she had received from local videographer Jeremy Lokken, which included a blur over Posey’s pelvis. Bushnell told others that the blur concealed “fully exposed genitals” and urged people to contact police.

The edited video garnered many thousands of views, sparking national news coverage and a police investigation. City prosecutors ultimately declined to file charges and stated publicly that the unedited video showed no exposure…

“The jury’s verdict demonstrates a clear message to this community that you have to be truthful,” said Wendy J. Olsen, one of Posey’s attorneys. “The jury did good, hard work. They rendered a tremendous service to the community.”

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Posey said Bushnell’s false allegations have changed his life. He said he’s received death threats and faced harassment while edited images of him dancing at the bandshell became the symbol of a national movement against drag. He said the support of his friends helped him survive…

The jury deliberated for about three and a half hours Friday after a five-day trial. Before returning the verdict, jurors asked the court if they could direct Bushnell to take down her posts about Posey and publicly apologize to him. First District Judge Ross Pittman, who presided over the trial, indicated they could not do so.

As of Friday evening, the videos remain on Bushnell’s website and Facebook page…

In a statement published Friday, the North Idaho Pride Alliance expressed gratitude to the jurors and affirmed its commitment to “ensuring the safety and well-being” of North Idaho’s LGBTQ+ community. NIPA organized the annual Pride in the Park celebration where Posey performed in 2022.

The Kootenai Journal

COEUR d’ALENE, Idaho – After a week-long civil trial, Summer Bushnell of The Bushnell Report, was found liable for defamation. The 12-person jury awarded the plaintiff, Eric Posey, a total of $1,176,000 in damages. Both plaintiff a… https://t.co/gDgllhvImT

— Idaho.One (@IdahoOne) May 25, 2024

Per the Associated Press:

… Jurors awarded Posey $926,000 in compensatory damages for defamation. Because Posey proved that Bushnell knew her allegations were false when she made them or that she made the accusations with reckless disregard for the truth, the jury awarded $250,000 in additional punitive damages.

Posey, who uses the stage name Mona Liza Million, performed three times at the Pride in the Park celebration wearing a long-sleeve leotard, black shorts and tights, with a shiny metallic boa around his waist. He did not remove clothing.

The Pride event made national news at the time — not because of Posey’s performances, but because 31 members of a white supremacist group called Patriot Front were arrested nearby and charged with conspiracy to riot…

(Gift link to a 2023 NYTimes article: “5 White Nationalist Group Members Convicted in Plans to Riot at Pride Event”.)

Best part of the day?

This. I cried like a baby.

Thank you @KayeThornbrugh for capturing this moment into today’s news coverage. 😭😭😭 https://t.co/YnDWC9Z6KH pic.twitter.com/5xZ1auwlRS

— Alicia Abbott (@abbottalynn) May 25, 2024

Bloggers lying about people can be very expensive.

Idaho has a whole bunch of bloggers who regularly lie about people.

The conversations in their network right now must be passionate.#idpol https://t.co/VnzIQ4AUVJ

— Russell Mann (@therussmann) May 26, 2024

Sunday Evening Open Thread: A Bright Spot in Idaho NewsPost + Comments (107)

Naps, TV Notes & Pink Birds (Open Thread)

by Betty Cracker| May 26, 20242:43 pm| 240 Comments

This post is in: Birdwatching, Food, Open Threads, TV & Movies

I’m not much of a napper but have been advised to give it a try. I’m bad at it so far. If I sleep during the day, I end up spending most of the the overnight hours either on the sofa watching TV between two snoring dogs or on the porch, listening to the swamp symphony. Here’s what that sounds like.

This weekend, I watched the latest episode of “Hacks,” (HBO Max) featuring the wonderful Jean Smart as aging Boomer comedian Deborah Vance and Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels, Deborah’s writer-collaborator and Gen Z foil.

This week’s episode centered on “cancel culture,” and damned if “Hacks” didn’t pull off a show on that thorny topic that managed to examine the issue thoughtfully while mostly avoiding self-righteousness or dismissiveness.

“Hacks” made the too-often overlooked point that celebrities with giant megaphones who get “canceled” might lose a gig in a worst-case scenario, but they’re never really silenced and go right on being rich, famous and influential.

“Hacks” portrayed at least some of the folks who took offense in the context of the show as sincere people who want a culture that does better by all its constituent parts rather than as a ravening mob gleefully out to ruin someone.

The lesson was that a hack is someone who refuses to learn and grow. Impressively nuanced, and Bill Maher, Jerry Seinfeld and the other cancel culture whiners should take note.

A new season of “The Great American Baking Show” has dropped on the free Roku channel. Haven’t watched it yet, but the British version got me through some tough times, particularly after the 2016 election.

I’ve also learned a few things about baking from watching that show. Baking has never been a strength for me. I’m a home cook who likes to improvise; I tend to struggle with discipline and precise instructions. (Probably a life metaphor in there somewhere).

Bill is watching “Outer Range” on Prime, which features Barbra Streisand’s stepson Josh Brolin as a rancher with a supernatural pasture. The concept is intriguing (big hole in a pasture that facilitates time travel when people, animals, etc., jump or fall in), but there doesn’t seem to a cohesive plot, just a series of loosely connected vignettes.

So when I try to watch that, I usually end up wandering off to listen to the frogs sing and the owls hoot and the insects trill. It makes more sense.

Open thread!

PS: Here’s a gift link to a WaPo story about flamingos’ triumphant return to Florida. Last year after Hurricane Idalia, we talked a bit here about flamingo sightings in the state. I couldn’t be happier about the prospect that flamingos are repopulating the area — God knows we need their vivid goofiness now more than ever!

Naps, TV Notes & Pink Birds (Open Thread)Post + Comments (240)

Sunday Morning Open Thread: This, Too, Is America

by Anne Laurie| May 26, 20249:13 am| 273 Comments

This post is in: Immigration, Military, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, Readership Capture

Happy Birthday to our glorious Brooklyn Bridge that opened 142 years ago

H/t @KellyrKopp pic.twitter.com/Gq1UiDKaEM

— Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) May 25, 2024

Honestly, America at its best tells everyone in the world, "Are you fleeing tyranny? Or maybe have drive and hustle? In that case, answer some test questions about George Washington, and congratulations, you're an American!"

If we keep this spirit, we'll own the 21st century as hard as the 20th.

[image or embed]

— Andrew Reeves (@andrewsshi.bsky.social) May 23, 2024 at 8:39 PM

From MNPR News, “Inside Hmong Cornhole, the largest cornhole club in Minnesota”:

It’s Monday night at the National Guard Armory in northeast Minneapolis, which means it’s time for Hmong Cornhole.

A few dozen folks throw little bean bags into holes in rows of glossy wooden boards. They chat and fist bump and update scores on digital tablets. Kids occasionally run weaving through the boards, sometimes squirreling away bags from their parents.

“Picturing my life without cornhole before this,” Dia Lee says, “I didn’t know any of these people. I didn’t know anybody from this club or in this Hmong cornhole community, so this definitely has strengthened our community.”…

A handful of cornhole players in the Twin Cities Hmong community — Alan Lee, Kou Xiong, Sue Moua, Ger Vang and Toua Xiong — started the club on Labor Day in 2021. With about 120 players, Hmong Cornhole is now the largest cornhole club in the state.

Many of the club members clock at least 15 hours a week playing cornhole. Hmong Cornhole hosts weekly events, fundraisers and raffles, both at the Minneapolis armory, as well as the one in St. Paul near the capitol.

Sometimes they play at Unison, a Southeast Asian restaurant in Maplewood. On Memorial Day, they will host a tournament at Kingston Park in Cottage Grove for the 4th annual Hmong Memorial Sports Fest and Street Fair. Another tournament will be June 29-30 at the Hmong International Freedom Festival — what Alan Lee calls the “Hmong Olympics.” …

Alan Lee says after they founded their club, other Hmong Cornhole groups popped up in Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Oklahoma, California and the Carolinas — all states with large Hmong populations.

Alan Lee says they started a club so the Hmong community could compete on an even playing field as cornhole is a predominantly white sport.

“Genetically speaking, we’re not as tall, we’re not as fast, we’re not built,” Alan Lee says.

Dia Lee and Houa Xiong say the Hmong community is very competitive. Many Hmong Cornhole players say the sport took off in the Hmong community because it’s a mental game first: Success relies on technique, strategy and repetition…

Alan Lee says they play at the armories because he’s a Chief Warrant Officer 2 with the National Guard, where he’s served for 20 years, so he was able to secure the space. Lee was first introduced to cornhole by a roommate in 2007 during his first deployment for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

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“We played overseas so much that when I got home, I actually went and bought a $40 set from Target,” Alan Lee says.

“The Minneapolis armory has a lot of history with the Hmong community as well,” he adds. In the Nineties, he says this was the site where many Hmong Minnesotans, including himself, came to pick up gifts from Toys for Tots.

“A lot of the members from Hmong Cornhole really love the fact that this has come full circle of like childhood, hanging out here, now to actually throwing bags here,” he says…

Dia Lee, who is now one of the club administrators, is throwing bags. Cornhole, she says, has strengthened ties between the Hmong community and greater community, too.

“It expands your horizon, definitely,” she says. “I would have never imagined myself going to so many bars or VFWs, or just so many cornhole tournaments that I would have never been to and interacting with so many people and creating new relationships.”

Dia Lee encourages everyone to come play with them.

“You don’t have to be Hmong to be part of our family, we’re accepting of everybody,” Dia Lee says.” The Minnesota cornhole community in general — It’s a great community.”

You (your parents, your grandparents) sacrifice everything to come to a strange new land. You end up in the local army, for reasons. Your mates introduce you to a very local game, which you enjoy so much that when you go home, you introduce it to your whole family (neighborhood, network)…

and now I’m wondering how Hmong do hotdish

— post malone ergo propter malone (@proptermalone.bsky.social) May 23, 2024 at 9:00 PM

pork marinated in pepper dip (thai chiles, lime juice, fish sauce, cilantro) topped with tater tots & a drizzle of curried coconut milk

— chatham harrison is tending a new garden (@chathamharrison.bsky.social) May 23, 2024 at 9:09 PM

(You smirk, but the ‘traditional’ St. Patrick’s Day corned beef with cabbage was a recipe immigrant Irish servant ‘girls’ picked up from the upper-middle-class second-gen German Jews who employed them. Come back in a hundred years, hear the story of ‘traditional’ Hmong hot dish!)

Sunday Morning Open Thread: This, Too, Is AmericaPost + Comments (273)

Dank Grey Dawn Open Thread: ‘Becoming Ungovernable’ At the Libertarian Con(vention)

by Anne Laurie| May 26, 20244:42 am| 117 Comments

This post is in: Elections 2024, Glibertarianism, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, Schadenfreude

Trump is speaking at the Libertarian National Convention this weekend.

Someone just made a motion to tell “Donald Trump to go f*ck himself”

The crowd cheered and broke out in applause.

Do Libertarians hate the criminal candidate as much as Democrates and independents? pic.twitter.com/bBdC4n3Uk2

— BlueDream (@58bugeye) May 25, 2024

This year’s Libertarian nominating convention is being held in Washington DC, so TFG’s handlers had the bright idea of sending him to speak before a pre-screened crowd with which (they assumed) he would have much in common. It’s true that we all joke about libertarians being ‘Republicans who want to smoke weed’, but as with any other schismatic cult, it’s very important to observe the exact contours of the separatist ritual.

Per Will Weissert, the Associated Press — “Trump, accustomed to friendly crowds, confronts repeated booing during Libertarian convention speech”:

Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing the Libertarian Party National Convention on Saturday night, with many in the crowd shouting insults and decrying him for things like his COVID-19 policies, running up towering federal deficits and lying about his political record.

When he took the stage, many jeered while some supporters clad in “Make America Great” hats and T-shirts cheered and chanted “USA! USA!” It was a rare moment of Trump coming face-to-face with open detractors, which is highly unusual for someone accustomed to staging rallies in front of ever-adoring crowds.

Libertarians, who prioritize small government and individual freedoms, are often skeptical of the former president, and his invitation to address the convention has divided the party. Trump tried to make light of that by referring to the four criminal indictments against him and joking, “If I wasn’t a Libertarian before, I sure as hell am a Libertarian now.”

Trump tried to praise “fierce champions of freedom in this room” and called President Joe Biden a “tyrant” and the “worst president in the history of the United States,” prompting some in the audience to scream back: “That’s you.”

As the insults continued, Trump eventually hit back, saying “you don’t want to win” and suggesting that some Libertarians want to “keep getting your 3% every four years.”…

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Despite the raucous atmosphere, Trump continued to press on with his speech, saying he’d come “to extend a hand of friendship” in common opposition to Biden. That prompted a chant of “We want Trump!” from supporters, but more cries of “End the Fed!” — a common refrain from Libertarians who oppose the Federal Reserve. One person who held up a sign reading “No wannabe dictators!” was dragged away by security.

Trump tried to win over the crowd by pledging to include a Libertarian in his Cabinet, but many in the crowd hissed in disbelief. The former president did get a big cheer when he promised to commute the life sentence of the convicted founder of the drug-selling website Silk Road, Ross Ulbricht, and potentially release him on time served.

That was designed to energize Libertarian activists who believe government investigators overreached in building their case against Silk Road, and who generally oppose criminal drug policies more broadly. Ulbricht’s case was much-discussed during the Libertarian convention, and many of the hundreds in the crowd for Trump’s speech hoisted “Free Ross” signs and chanted the phrase as he spoke…

Trump had 4 years in office to pardon or commute the sentence of this drug trafficker if he wanted to. But he didn’t. But tonight he wants some libertarian votes and he will promise anyone anything to keep his own ass out of prison. https://t.co/hapEwHDZ4n

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) May 26, 2024

I hope Mr. Ulbricht wasn’t getting his hopes up, because even if by some evil fluke the GOP does recapture the Oval Office, Trump is not a man who forgets or forgives slights against him.

Apparently the invitation to Trump was approved by party Chair Angela McArdle (no relation to the blog’s favorite chewtoy that I can find)…

McCardle is a Mises caucus freak who has not only called for an end to all aid to Ukraine, but insisted Ukraine should cede all territory occupied by Russia in the interest of “peace”. Despicable person. https://t.co/wbty3uTyQR

— Jean-Michel Connard 좆됐어 (@torriangray) May 25, 2024

Commentor Jay helpfully shared a long Nitter thread from Pekka Kallioniemi (#Vatnick Soup) if you want more granular detail.

Angela McArdle is a MAGA Republican masquerading as an “antiwar libertarian”. Her views have nothing to do with traditional libertarianism, and @GrandTurion has even popularized a term for this type of actors – Kremlintarians.

Of course the Trump campaign accepts an invitation to speak at the Libertarian Convention then tries to astroturf in a bunch of MAGA people to pose as fake libertarians, just like he used non-union workers to pose as union in MI, & non-Bronx people turfed into the Bronx.

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) May 25, 2024

This Trump supporter called Libertarians “entitled” because they want her to move from her seat in the front where delegates should be seated. They did not take that well and argued with her. She eventually moved. pic.twitter.com/FzimRWHPOO

— Meryl Kornfield (@MerylKornfield) May 25, 2024

The Libertarians appear to have basically taken the front several rows back from the Trump supporters.

Here, they chant “@Free_Ross!” while the Trump supporters appear to mostly sit and watch.

You can literally see the dividing line in the room based on the chanting. pic.twitter.com/VCSxhQd6fA

— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) May 25, 2024

Trump gets mercilessly serenaded with chants of "Hypocrite! Hypocrite!" by Libertarians. pic.twitter.com/YdspKQH15G

— Bill Madden (@maddenifico) May 26, 2024

This may come as a shock but Libertarians *fucking hate* the NRA, considering it the domain of old Fudds who talk a hard game but fold to the government when they actually push restrictions

The joke among them is that the NRA's initials stand for "Negotiating Rights Away" https://t.co/433p92n6By

— Vaquera Elisa (@BoxElderDust) May 26, 2024

Trump commits to put a Libertarian in his cabinet and then goes off prompter and starts making fun of the Libertarian party after they boo him.

— Tim Miller (@Timodc) May 26, 2024

Trump is promising them everything now and they’re still booing him. He gets pissed and snaps at them again. pic.twitter.com/nsG9uAeeF4

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) May 26, 2024

he can’t help him himself from going off script https://t.co/KeWuQW8SED

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) May 26, 2024

Trump is sprinting through this speech as hecklers shout at him.

“I’ve come to extend my hand…” Trump, sparking another heated round of boos and “We want Trump” chants.

“We should not be fighting each other,” Trump says. “You have to combine with us.”

More boos.

— Steve Contorno (@scontorno) May 26, 2024

Telling the libertarians what they should do is an interesting move. I’m not sure anyone explained to him what a libertarian is.

— Karen Leavitt 🌻 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@kleavitt) May 26, 2024

Things got heated in the crowd during Trump’s speech at the Libertarian convention tonight. At one point, CNN’s @aaronpellish saw someone punch a Trump supporter wearing a MAGA hat. He was escorted out by security.

— Kate Sullivan (@KateSullivanDC) May 26, 2024

Nor are TFG’s MAGAts the sort of people who put grievances behind them:

Imagine the audacity of libertarians wanting to attend the speech of candidates who accept invitations to their own convention. Outrageous! pic.twitter.com/y6ClhrDiNl

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) May 25, 2024

It was not difficult to predict that Trump’s speech would not be greeted with the usual credulous media-friendly awe:

Even Libertarians know that Trump is a fraud.

I hope their anti-Trump movement continues to grow. pic.twitter.com/SPSRMQ5dK4

— CB— (@ConservBlue2020) May 25, 2024

Secret Service agents are confiscating the rubber chickens the pro-RFK Jr super PAC handed out to attendees to disrupt Trump’s speech tonight at the Libertarian convention.

“No lighters, no water bottles, no noisy chickens,” one agent yelled out to people in line. pic.twitter.com/IVcUHzm9mb

— Kate Sullivan (@KateSullivanDC) May 25, 2024

Previously, on ‘Rage of Our Lives’…

Right-wing broadcaster announces that the squeaky rubber chickens libertarians had on the convention floor are not allowed in the ballroom where Trump is speaking. pic.twitter.com/62scfdfS6K

— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) May 25, 2024

During the Libertarian National Convention, a member of the party says Trump can "go fuck himself." Another member calls for a motion to vacate Libertarian Party Chair Angela McArdle.

Trump is scheduled to speak at the convention on Saturday evening. pic.twitter.com/0Bhu0w9nzz

— michael (@WolfKingProphet) May 25, 2024

I’m at the Libertarian presidential debate at their nominating convention. The candidates were asked if the covid vax was safe and effective. Charles Ballay, the only doctor on the stage, said the vaccines worked and delegates booed. pic.twitter.com/OV3mPRIP4k

— Meryl Kornfield (@MerylKornfield) May 25, 2024

Dueling mobile billboards attacking RFK Jr. ahead of his Libertarian convention remarks: MAGA Inc. hitting him on guns, the environment and taxes, MoveOn highlighting his abortion views and calling him and Trump "extremist." The two ads were parked side-by-side in DC today. pic.twitter.com/exExkXRNRV

— Aaron Pellish (@aaronpellish) May 24, 2024

Slavery is when you are asked, not forced, to wear a mask to help slow the spread of a virus that killed millions. https://t.co/2l1Wjp8dns

— Jean-Michel Connard 좆됐어 (@torriangray) May 25, 2024

LOL! Vivek Ramaswamy is getting BOOED while speaking at the Libertarian National Convention. Libertarians are crazy, but even they see Ramaswamy for the grifter that he is! pic.twitter.com/dLqEOn5Mrb

— Harry Sisson (@harryjsisson) May 25, 2024

As the con wraps up Sunday afternoon, we leave the Capital-L Libertarians to their ancient rituals…

Nobody:

Absolutely no one:

Libertarians:

pic.twitter.com/qX6cJvYCdv

— Arlen Parsa (@arlenparsa) May 24, 2024

Dank Grey Dawn Open Thread: ‘Becoming Ungovernable’ At the Libertarian Con(vention)Post + Comments (117)

War for Ukraine Day 822: Russia Tu-95 “Bear” Bombers Are Airborne! Air Raid Alerts Up Over All of Eastern & Southern Ukraine!

by Adam L Silverman| May 25, 20248:01 pm| 14 Comments

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

(Air Raid Alert Map as of 6:56 PM EDT)

Quick housekeeping note: the dogs are fine! The tweet embedding problem is definitely because of the change from twitter.com to x.com URLs.

In the hour that I’ve been writing this the air raid alerts have gone up over 2/3rds of Ukraine. Only its westernmost Oblasts are not under air raid warning!

Kharkiv was hit early today, but right now the Russian’s have five Tu-95 strategic bombers in the air and all of eastern and southern Ukraine is under air raid alerts and warnings.

The Ukrainian Air Force is reporting at least five russian Tu-95 bombers taking off, indicating that early this morning Ukraine is likely to be under massive missile attack. Five combat aircraft are heading to destroy and kill.

— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) May 25, 2024

The simple fact is that the civilians of Kharkiv — Ukraine’s second-largest city, with its northern neighborhoods sitting just 13 miles from the Russia border — cannot be protected without suppressing the sources of fire within Russia. https://t.co/UuKRRi9Y6k

— Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) May 25, 2024

Here’s the full text of Trofimov’s quoted tweet:

Russia hit the Epicenter shopping mall in Kharkiv as it was packed with customers. Authorities say at least 11 people are dead. Reminder: the White House prohibits Ukraine from using American weapons to target Russian bases, launchers and planes that pummel Kharkiv daily from across the border, because “escalation.”

Russia keeps bombing Kharkiv unpunished pic.twitter.com/4w9GGm9Lfo

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) May 25, 2024

Russian military airfield Baltimore near Voronezh. Airfield from which Russian military aircrafts took off to attack the hardware store in Kharkiv.

180km from the frontline, 50km closer than Belbek military airfield in Sevastopol which was targeted by ATACMS missiles recently.… https://t.co/ejBcY5sKoq pic.twitter.com/JxhIxxJsxf

— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) May 25, 2024

Russian military airfield Baltimore near Voronezh. Airfield from which Russian military aircrafts took off to attack the hardware store in Kharkiv.

180km from the frontline, 50km closer than Belbek military airfield in Sevastopol which was targeted by ATACMS missiles recently.

We were able to prevent this, save lives. But unfortunately for all Ukrainian, for Kharkiv residents who will soon bury their family members, Baltimore and other military targets on Russian territory are under the personal protection of J.Sullivan and his colleagues.

The problem, as I and others have repeatedly pointed out, is that the US prohibits the Ukrainians from using US supplied weapons systems and/or munitions to strike across the border into Russia. This makes the Russian military very happy because it means they can launch their bombers and stage personnel and equipment across the border and Ukraine either has to use its own limited supply of Ukrainian produced weapons to try to degrade and deter Russian attacks or wait until the Russians cross the border. Combined with the dearth of air defense – both US and European/NATO ally produced systems and munitions – and Kharkiv and Sumy and Odesa and all the other oblasts bordering Russia, Belarus, and the Black Sea are exposed and vulnerable. The US backfill won’t really begin to arrive in significant quantities until mid June to July. The Czech Republic’s 155mm shell campaign resupply won’t arrive until then either. And even when Ukraine uses Ukrainian produced weaponry, or British weaponry as they appear to have removed any geographic restrictions and caveats on their use, the US often publicly tells the Ukrainians to stop attacking across the border. This is the policy equivalent of lie back and take it.

Putin may spread any lies, but here are his actions. Barbaric war crimes against civilians.

Large shopping mall in Kharkiv. Saturday. Heinous strike to ensure maximum casualties. He can’t occupy Kharkiv, hence he tries to kill it.

There are two ways for Ukraine’s partners to… pic.twitter.com/USKjyXgobn

— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) May 25, 2024

Here’s the full text of Kuleba’s tweet:

Putin may spread any lies, but here are his actions. Barbaric war crimes against civilians.

Large shopping mall in Kharkiv. Saturday. Heinous strike to ensure maximum casualties. He can’t occupy Kharkiv, hence he tries to kill it.

There are two ways for Ukraine’s partners to prevent such strikes.

First: more “Patriots” and other air defense systems for Ukraine.

Second: Ukraine shooting down Russian military aircraft before they drop bombs on Kharkiv and other cities and communities.

Provide Ukraine with additional air defense and support Ukrainian strikes on military targets in Russia. Act now.

Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.

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The Strike on Kharkiv is Another Manifestation of Russian Madness, There Is Just No Other Way to Put It — Address by the President of Ukraine

25 May 2024 – 17:42

Dear Ukrainians!

We have just received the first reports about Kharkiv – about a strike on the city, on an obvious civilian object: a shopping center, a construction hypermarket. It was Saturday, daytime. One of the largest centers – there were many employees and visitors inside. Now the whole area is on fire. All the necessary services have arrived there – the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, medical services, local authorities, and police. All of them are fighting for every life.

This strike on Kharkiv is another manifestation of Russian madness, there is just no other way to put it. Only such madmen as Putin are capable of killing and terrorizing people in such a vile way.

We already know that there are wounded, and there are killed. My condolences to the families and friends. Anyone who has been affected will get the help they need.

When we tell the world leaders that Ukraine needs sufficient air defense protection, when we say that real determination is needed to allow us to protect the lives of our people in the most effective way possible, so that Russian terrorists cannot even get close to our borders, we are talking about literally preventing such terrorist attacks. I thank the leaders who truly support us, who truly see that every decision to support Ukraine is a decision to protect and save lives.

Today, our warriors in the Donetsk region have achieved the result that is needed in all directions, in all those areas where Russian attacks threaten our positions, our cities and communities. The warriors of our 110th separate mechanized brigade have shot down another Russian Su-25 today.

Of course, if we had more adequate modern air defense systems and aircraft, the Russian air fleet would have already suffered the same collapse as their Black Sea fleet. And Russian terror would simply become impossible. Shooting down Russian combat aircraft, Russian missiles, and their drones is a true peacekeeping measure.

I thank everyone in the world who helps us with weapons! I thank all those who work in our defense industry and produce the defense for Ukraine! I thank all those who fight for Ukraine and for our people! May the memory of all those whose lives were taken by Russian murderers be eternal and bright.

Glory to Ukraine!

The Lithuanians have had about all they’re willing to stomach:

We are ready. https://t.co/aIQC9swYRe

— Gabrielius Landsbergis🇱🇹 (@GLandsbergis) May 24, 2024

This is ungood!

Scoop with @AlexHortonTX: many U.S.-made satellite-guided ammunitions have failed to withstand Russian jamming, according to senior Ukrainian military officials and confidential assessments we obtained. Some weapons have stopped being used entirely. https://t.co/NdBcAylEuv

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) May 24, 2024

From The Washington Post: (emphasis mine)

KYIV — Many U.S.-made satellite-guided munitions in Ukraine have failed to withstand Russian jamming technology, prompting Kyiv to stop using certain types of Western-provided armaments after effectiveness rates plummeted, according to senior Ukrainian military officials and confidential internal Ukrainian assessments obtained by The Washington Post.

Russia’s jamming of the guidance systems of modern Western weapons, including Excalibur GPS-guided artillery shells and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, which can fire some U.S.-made rockets with a range of up to 50 miles, has eroded Ukraine’s ability to defend its territory and has left officials in Kyiv urgently seeking help from the Pentagon to obtain upgrades from arms manufacturers.

Russia’s ability to combat the high-tech munitions has far-reaching implications for Ukraine and its Western supporters — potentially providing a blueprint for adversaries such as China and Iran — and it is a key reason Moscow’s forces have regained the initiative and are advancing on the battlefield.

The success ratefor the U.S.-designed Excalibur shells, for example, fell sharply over a period of months — to less than 10 percent hitting their targets — before Ukraine’s military abandoned them last year, according to the confidential Ukrainian assessments.

While other news accounts have described Russia’s superior electronic warfare capabilities, the documents obtained by The Post include previously unreported details on the extent to which Russian jamming has thwarted Western weaponry.

“The Excalibur technology in existing versions has lost its potential,” the assessments found, adding that battlefield experience in Ukraine had disproved its reputation as a “one shot, one target” weapon — at least until the Pentagon and U.S. manufacturers address the issue.

Six months ago, after Ukrainians reported the problem, Washington simply stopped providing Excalibur shells because of the high failure rate, the Ukrainian officials said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive security matter. In other cases, such as aircraft-dropped bombs called JDAMs, the manufacturer provided a patch and Ukraine continues to use them.

Ukraine’s military command prepared the reports between fall 2023 and April 2024 and shared them with the U.S. and other supporters, hoping to develop solutions and open up direct contact with weapons manufacturers. In interviews, Ukrainian officials described an overly bureaucratic process that they said had complicated a path toward urgently needed adjustments to improve the failing weaponry.

The officials agreed to answer questions about the assessments in hopes of drawing attention to the Ukrainian military’s needs. Several Ukrainian and U.S. officials interviewed for this story spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

The Pentagon anticipated that some precision-guided munitions would be defeated by Russian electronic warfare and has worked with Ukraine to hone tactics and techniques, a senior U.S. defense official said.

Russia “has continued to expand their use of electronic warfare,” the senior U.S. official said. “And we continue to evolve and make sure that Ukraine has the capabilities they need to be effective.”

The U.S. defense official rejected claims that bureaucracy has slowed the response. The Pentagon and weapons manufacturers have provided solutions sometimes within hours or days, the official said, but did not provide examples.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, in a statement, said that it cooperates regularly with the Pentagon and also communicates directly with weapons manufacturers.

“We work closely with the Pentagon on such matters. In the event of technical problems, we promptly inform our partners to take the necessary measures to solve them in a timely manner,” the ministry said. “Our partners from the USA and other Western countries provide constant support for our requests. In particular, we regularly receive recommendations to improve the equipment.”

U.S.-made guided munitions provided to Ukraine typically were successful when introduced, but often became less so as Russian forces adapted. Now, some arms once considered potent tools no longer provide an edge.

In a conventional war, the U.S. military might not face the same difficulties as Ukraine because it has a more advanced air force and robust electronic countermeasures, but Russia’s capabilities nonetheless put heavy pressure on Washington and its NATO allies to continue innovating.

“I’m not saying no one was worried about it before, but now they’re starting to worry,” one senior Ukrainian military official said.

“As we share information with our partners and our partners share with us, the Russians definitely also share with China,” the official added. “And even if they don’t share with China … China monitors events in Ukraine.”

Ukrainians initially found success using Excalibur 155mm rounds, with more than 50 percent accurately hitting their targets early last year, according to the confidential assessment, which was based on direct visual observations. Over the next several months, that dropped below 10 percent, with the assessment pointing to Russian GPS jamming as the culprit.

The study cautioned that far fewer shells were fired later in the research period, and many were not observed, leaving the precise success rate unclear.

But even before the United States ceased deliveries, Ukrainian artillerymen had largely stopped using Excalibur, the assessments said, because the shells are harder to use compared with standard howitzer rounds, requiring time-consuming special calculations and programming. Now they are shunned altogether, military personnel in the field said.

The senior Ukrainian official said Kyiv shared this feedback with Washington but got no response. The Ukrainians have faced a similar challenge with guided 155mm shells provided by other Western countries. Some employ guidance other than GPS, and it is unclear why they also became less effective. U.S. defense officials declined to address the Ukrainian assertion.

Rob Lee, a senior fellow with the Foreign Policy Research Institute, a Philadelphia-based research group, said that Russia’s use of electronic warfare to combat guided munitions was an important battlefield development in the past year. Many weapons are potent when they’re introduced, but they lose effectiveness over time, Lee said, part of a nonstop game of cat-and-mouse between adversaries who constantly adapt and innovate.

The involvement of defense companies is crucial to overcoming Russian defenses such as jamming, Lee said.

“The problem with a lot of Western defense companies,” Lee said, compared with Russian manufacturers, is that “there is not the same sense of urgency.”

Much more at the link!

Kharkiv:

This is how a hardware store Epicenter in Kharkiv looks like after the Russian strike. Russia chose to hit the store on a busy day. There could have been at least 200 people inside the store at the moment of the attack. pic.twitter.com/cTOr24JhxM

— Giorgi Revishvili (@revishvilig) May 25, 2024

Kharkiv metro today. People are sheltering from Russian missiles and bombs. Putin and his criminal war must be stopped. pic.twitter.com/2OFsiF13ma

— Konstantin Sonin (@k_sonin) May 25, 2024

The number of injured in a second strike on central Kharkiv has risen to 18, according to Syniehubov.

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) May 25, 2024

Russian troops just hit Kharkiv’s central park with a missile on Saturday afternoon. A horror movie in real time is ongoing. Will Kharkiv get at least one Patriot system after this? I doubt it. The world is only making a new batch of popcorn.

— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) May 25, 2024

Russian forces have been employing a tactic of striking crowded areas in Kharkiv over the weekend, aimed at maximizing civilian casualties and instilling fear and chaos. Last week, they targeted a recreation area, killing seven people. Today, they struck a hardware store, with… pic.twitter.com/uvkfvl38WX

— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) May 25, 2024

Here’s the full text of Voichuk’s tweet:

Russian forces have been employing a tactic of striking crowded areas in Kharkiv over the weekend, aimed at maximizing civilian casualties and instilling fear and chaos. Last week, they targeted a recreation area, killing seven people. Today, they struck a hardware store, with two confirmed fatalities. A large number of people are reported missing and injured. The fire has engulfed an area of about 15,000 square meters.

What the fck is wrong with this world if it still isn’t doing everything possible to ensure Ukraine’s victory and protect innocent people?

That, is the question!

Russia hit construction hypermarket in Kharkiv with two guided bombs. Huge fire and many missing. pic.twitter.com/2vkAYuidqf

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) May 25, 2024

Kharkiv is reeling from the aftermath of the third russian attack in a single day. At least 14 civilians were injured, including a 13-year-old boy who is in critical condition. Kharkiv needs air defense, not condolences!

📹place_kharkiv pic.twitter.com/KIcnXMwlqh

— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) May 25, 2024

Russian strikes on Kharkiv killed at least 5 and injured 60, 17 people are missing.

Russia continues to attack civilian targets in Ukraine to sow despair and undermine the morale of Ukrainians. pic.twitter.com/pBt9fTkvUm

— Giorgi Revishvili (@revishvilig) May 25, 2024

The Donbas:

Here’s video of the Su-25 that the 110th Mechanized Brigade brought down yesterday.

Russian Su-25 crashing in the fields of Donbas. Amazing job of the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade!

📹: 110th Brigade https://t.co/B5UKZAkm7t pic.twitter.com/rFosXidIG8

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) May 25, 2024

Russian Occupied Crimea:

Crimean Telegram channels report that Saki-Yevpatoria road has been closed off. There is a large fire in the Saki airfield area. Locals reported explosions this morning. pic.twitter.com/LovacdUvQe

— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) May 25, 2024

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

There are no new Patron tweets tonight. Here is some adjacent material.

☺️ pic.twitter.com/kdpuQlJkvp

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

Love… pic.twitter.com/k5m3Y8xDSs

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

The Hachiko team found Bonita in a frontline village near Kherson. She was living outside and had pneumonia. After treatment, Julia found a family to adopt her. Look at how well Bonita is doing now, enjoying the trees outside! 😺🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/eiw2gQCUoG

— Nate Mook (@natemook) May 11, 2024

Open thread!

War for Ukraine Day 822: Russia Tu-95 “Bear” Bombers Are Airborne! Air Raid Alerts Up Over All of Eastern & Southern Ukraine!Post + Comments (14)

Trump’s cabinet: like a magic 8 ball that only gives wrong answers.

“When somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re gonna use it.”

I am pretty sure these ‘journalists’ were not always such a bootlicking sycophants.

If a good thing happens for a bad reason, it’s still a good thing.

Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.

This chaos was totally avoidable.

Dumb motherfuckers cannot understand a consequence that most 4 year olds have fully sorted out.

Washington Post Catch and Kill, not noticeably better than the Enquirer’s.

People identifying as christian while ignoring christ and his teachings is a strange thing indeed.

If you don’t believe freedom is for everybody, then the thing you love isn’t freedom, it is privilege.

They were going to turn on one another at some point. It was inevitable.

People are complicated. Love is not.

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

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you do not.

Not all heroes wear capes.

That meeting sounds like a shotgun wedding between a shitshow and a clusterfuck.

Jack Smith: “Why did you start campaigning in the middle of my investigation?!”

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

Republicans do not pay their debts.

“Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on.”

We will not go back.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

Sunday Night Open Thread

War for Ukraine Day 823: The Butcher’s Bill for Kharkiv

Many Leaders Condemned Russian Terror; It Is Important That This Condemnation Leads to Fair Consequences – Address by the President

Sunday Evening Open Thread: A Bright Spot in Idaho News

Naps, TV Notes & Pink Birds (Open Thread)

Sunday Morning Open Thread: This, Too, Is America

Dank Grey Dawn Open Thread: ‘Becoming Ungovernable’ At the Libertarian Con(vention)

War for Ukraine Day 822: Russia Tu-95 “Bear” Bombers Are Airborne! Air Raid Alerts Up Over All of Eastern & Southern Ukraine!

The Strike on Kharkiv is Another Manifestation of Russian Madness, There Is Just No Other Way to Put It — Address by the President of Ukraine