We are creating a new security architecture for Ukraine that will help in the long run – address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

15 February 2024 – 22:09

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

The summary of the day.

First, I would like to thank all our defenders of the sky. Another Russian missile attack was repelled. In total, more than 20 missiles of various types were used, with a significant number being shot down. I am grateful to all the servicemen of the Air Force, all our anti-aircraft gunners, and mobile firing groups. I am grateful to everyone who ensures the effectiveness of air defense and electronic warfare. And soon we will further reinforce our defense against Russian terror.

Secondly, today I held several preparatory meetings in the run-up to our international activities. We are now on our way.

Important meetings with partners are planned. There will be new agreements. We are doing everything to make them effective for Ukraine, and I am sure it will be so. We are creating a new security architecture for our country that will help us not just here and now, but in the long run. And this is something that Ukraine has never had, although it has always needed it.

Third, a meeting on the border situation with Poland. I instructed the Prime Minister of Ukraine to immediately hold a conversation with his Polish counterpart.

We in Ukraine view what has happened and is happening to our citizens and Ukrainian cargo as an obvious violation of the principles of solidarity. Ukrainian grain on the asphalt is not just a few dramatic shots. This is evidence of how emotions can become dangerous. We have to defend the good neighborliness and solidarity that are changing the history of the whole of Europe for the better. And together with Poland, we must establish a unified stance towards the imports of Russian grain and other Russian goods to European countries in order to protect our societies and specifically farmers, both Ukrainian and Polish. And we must always come to an agreement with each other – Ukrainians and Poles – so that our common enemy in Moscow cannot turn conflicts in our border area against the economy, borders and sovereignty of each of us.

Fourth, I met with representatives of Ukrainian business. The recently established Council for Support of Entrepreneurship under Martial Law. We discussed clear things – things that can provide more confidence to business and the state. We are equally interested in growing our economy and creating and preserving as many jobs as possible.

There is a first set of decisions that will be submitted for consideration by the All-Ukrainian Economic Platform “Made in Ukraine” and later by the Parliament and the Cabinet of Ministers. More protection for business from procedural violations and abuses. More opportunities to support legal business and receive more taxes. More efficiency in the Economic Security Bureau. There are plenty of such tasks. And all state institutions must eventually be reconfigured to facilitate economic growth to the fullest extent possible. The timeframe for decisions has also been outlined.

And one more thing for today.

A report by Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. The situation on the frontline – Avdiivka and the east in general. We are doing everything we can to ensure that our warriors have enough managerial and technological capabilities to save as many Ukrainian lives as possible.

Today I also signed several decrees on new replacements in the Ukrainian Defense Forces. More combat experience of this war, more modern approaches.

I am grateful to everyone who fights and works for our country and people! Thank you to everyone who helps us!

Glory to Ukraine!

The cost:

https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1758149101567299824

🕯️ “She died saving the Ukrainian military.” A German doctor who saved wounded soldiers was buried in Ukraine

A medic from #Germany Diana Savita Wagner (call sign Snake) worked in the frontline areas with injured military personnel. She came to #Ukraine even before the full-scale invasion, learned Ukrainian and wanted to stay in the country. When the war started, Wagner voluntarily joined the #AFU.

On January 30, Diana was killed near Svatovo while rescuing Ukrainian soldiers. Her funeral was held on February 14, Valentine’s Day, in St. Michael’s Church in Kyiv. Military personnel from her unit and family members bid her farewell.

Here’s more on how the Ukrainians started their day.

https://twitter.com/Euan_MacDonald/status/1757963003570360691

https://twitter.com/K_Loukerenko/status/1757979207055884694

https://twitter.com/K_Loukerenko/status/1757985804893171914

https://twitter.com/Euan_MacDonald/status/1757980802644615546

https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1757984494437663150

Avdiivka:

https://twitter.com/lrozen/status/1758206856353173740

https://twitter.com/lrozen/status/1758207471192072461

Again: the House is in recess until 28 FEB 2024. The first of the stepped continuing resolutions expires on 1 MAR 2024. The second, which includes the DOD and the Department of State, expires on 8 MAR 2024.

https://twitter.com/DefMon3/status/1758202197085478966

https://twitter.com/IAPonomarenko/status/1758237432405712979

Tatarigami and his team have a new assessment of the situation in Avdiivka. First tweet from the thread, the rest from the Thread Reader App.

https://twitter.com/Tatarigami_UA/status/1758206747565568488

2/ Currently, Russian forces maintain a significant numerical advantage in both personnel and vehicles. Despite initial errors, high losses, and unrealistic expectations, they continuously replenish their troops with fresh recruits and preserve pressure 

3/ Russian troops incurred substantial casualties, prompting the 25th Combined Arms Army to transfer equipment to the 2nd and 41st Combined Arms Armies for ongoing assaults.

4/ The situation improved for Russians upon entering the city in January, infiltrating residential areas with an element of surprise, seizing rear positions. Casualty ratios tend to equalize in urban areas.

5/ Lack of ammunition for counter-battery fire allowed large-scale deployment of Russian artillery, weakening Ukrainian defenses. Multiple groupings exploited weak spots for envelopment.

6/ Several units on the ground confirmed that recently captured POWs were recruited in December and January. Approximately 10 prisoners were recruited in mid-January 

7/ An estimated 37-42 KAB bombs were dropped on Avdiivka in a single day, causing extensive damage despite their relative inaccuracy.

8/ With Russians nearing the creation of multiple pockets in the city, limited options remain—withdraw or attempt a very risky counter-attack. 

9/ What’s next?

The most logical course of action at this point would be a withdrawal from Avdiivka. While viewed unfavorably politically, defending Avdiivka initially inflicted substantial damage on the Russian military, preventing them from advancing as deep as planned. 

10/ As of February 9, 2024, OSINT analyst @naalsio26 reported over 655 vehicles damaged, destroyed, or captured on the outskirts of Avdiivka. Between October 10th and November 28th, our team reported more than 211 damaged or abandoned Russian vehicles near Avdiivka.

11/ During this highly dynamic environment, the trajectory of the battle suggests an inevitable withdrawal of Ukrainian forces and the imminent fall of important defense positions such as Zenit. Barring any unexpected events, this chapter is likely to conclude soon. 

12/ Consider supporting us through BuyMeaCoffee, as our expenses rely solely on your public support, and maintaining quality without financing is still challenging for us. Thank you

Tatarigami_UA is All Source Public IntelligenceSatellite imagery and other expenses https://buymeacoffee.com/frontelligence

https://twitter.com/wartranslated/status/1758249165853688003

Russian losses are staggering, if not critical. Both in vehicles and manpower.

They lost as many men taking Avdiivka as half of the town’s pre-war population, if not more.

This is why the relentless bot campaigns, employment of all available resources to prevent funding, activation of foreign agents on this platform, interviews with American propagandists, ceasefire talks. Their official channels are just full-on lies 24/7. No perspective.

If you read russian telegram, those who are not officially aligned are in awe of their losses. But we know from all the footage anyway.

Bucha:

https://twitter.com/IAPonomarenko/status/1758080899957006424

https://twitter.com/IAPonomarenko/status/1758123497975328844

Biysk, Altai, Russia:

https://twitter.com/Tendar/status/1758072310840369420

Yesterday, Mike Turner, the Chair of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, kind of sort of disclosed/leaked that there was a major threat to the US and the Biden administration needed to declassify the information immediately. After a few hours of everyone going WTF? it seems that what had everyone spun up is some sort of Russian anti-satellite platform. And that the intelligence was partially collected via section 702 of FISA, which Turner wants renewed. Here’s one of the best explainers I’ve seen.

https://twitter.com/brianweeden/status/1757869520536969340

https://twitter.com/brianweeden/status/1757884704718459010

Apparently the House “centrists,” whatever that actually means,  have a plan to get something to supplemental through the House. Which you may heard is now on recess until the day before the first part of the continuing resolution expires and the government begins to shut down. NBC has the details.

WASHINGTON — After Speaker Mike Johnson rejected a Senate-passed national security package, centrist House Republican lawmakers said Thursday they will soon unveil their own bipartisan proposal that calls for new border policies coupled with critical military aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.

“This is a really good piece of legislation. It’s pared down. It’s airtight. There’s really not a whole lot of area that anyone can criticize on this,” said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., though the group has yet to release the text. “And it’s bipartisan. It’s the only bipartisan solution in the House.”

Fitzpatrick, one of the moderate leaders on Capitol Hill, said he is working with Democrats on the House deal but has declined to identify them. He is the co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group of centrist lawmakers, but Fitzpatrick said that this was not a Problem Solvers product.

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a swing district lawmaker, said he worked with Fitzpatrick to craft the bill and hopes to release it soon. In addition to scaled-back aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, the package borrows language from the House GOP’s tough border bill, known as H.R. 2, members said.

That includes language relating to the “Remain in Mexico” policy that required some asylum seekers to wait in Mexico while their claims were adjudicated. President Joe Biden ended the policy, which human rights groups said led migrants to face kidnappings and violence, when he took office and the Supreme Court upheld the move.

“It’s gonna be military aid only — Ukraine, Taiwan, Israel. And the Remain in Mexico policy using a lot of the wording from the H.R. 2. And we have Democrat buy-in,” Bacon said. “And I think this is a good spot to be if you’re Republican. You’re reducing the Senate bill by about 30%. So it’s fiscally more responsible. We know we got to do military aid to Ukraine or they’re going to fall, and it’ll cost us more if that happens. And we can deal with the border. So I just feel good about what we’re doing.”

I think I see the problem right here: (emphasis mine)

Fitzpatrick said he does not have a commitment from Johnson to bring the bill to the floor. He said he’d do “whatever it takes” to advance the bill but downplayed the idea of a using a discharge petition — a tool to bypass leadership and force a vote — instead suggesting a “queen of the hill” rule in which many bills can get a vote and the one with the largest number of votes is adopted.

“We have to talk to leadership or both parties and hopefully they’ll support it,” he said, adding that he doesn’t have a firm timeline.

But Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., who has threatened to force a vote to overthrow Johnson if he puts a Ukraine funding bill on the floor, said the moderates’ bill is all but dead.

“I’ll assure you: Ukraine aid is not coming to the floor,” she said Thursday in an interview.

Unlike the Senate package, which passed 70-29, the House bill does not include any humanitarian aid for those affected by war in Gaza, Ukraine and other hot spots; the aid is solely for military needs.

But Fitzpatrick said lawmakers are free to try to change the legislation through the amendment process.

“We can open up to amendments and everybody can get their votes and let the House do its will,” he said.

We have some good Ukrainian dog news. If you remember back when the Russians took down the dam across the Dnipro, a bedraggled struggling German Shepherd was pulled from the flood by Ukrainian military personnel. That very good girl named Bagira is doing well. The following thread has the details. I’m going to include the first tweet, which has the picture of Bagira shortly after she was rescued clinging to her rescuer’s leg, followed by the machine translation of that tweet and each tweet in the thread below it in a quote box.

https://twitter.com/OlenaBek60/status/1758116353699942887

Eight-year-old shepherd Bagira, who was rescued by volunteers after the explosion of the Kakhovskaya HPP, has found a new home in the Mykolaiv region. Before that, she lived in the Odessa recreation center “My Living Dogs”. dogs.” The head of the shelter Lyudmila Melnikova said that
the dog was saved

07/07/23 in Kherson. She had an injured ear and problems with her hind legs, she could not stand on them. According to the director of the center Lyudmila, they were able to put the sheepdog back on its feet at the end of September. Bagiris were looking for new owners for a long time, as they had to meet certain requirements.

“She is a hunter. These people who wanted to take her already had animals that she could hunt. During the search, preference was given to private houses, because the dog is not allowed steps, because it will be a test for her in the future, so we did not consider an apartment. The second criterion

it is a secure owner without other animals”
Ludmila noted that Baghira is currently in good condition – chipped, vaccinated and has a passport. She was handed over to a family in the Mykolayiv region, where, according to the woman, the animal lives in the house and the legs of the sofa were cut for her.

On February 13, we brought her to a new family. Before that, they had a shepherd dog for a long time, just a copy, unfortunately, died. She runs around their yard. We didn’t expect her to get used to them so quickly. We just brought her, they take her out of the cage and she starts licking the hands of her new owner”

Thanks to Anna Kurkurina and Lyudmila Melnikova for the rescued sick old shepherd! May God give you health!

Little dusty in here.

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

We start with some adjacent material from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense:

https://twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1758194462671716748

And a new video from Patron’s official TikTok:

@patron__dsns

Якщо у вас сьогодні був поганий день – ось вам ще одне відео з мікропесом Патроном :) #песпатрон

♬ оригінальний звук – Cozy farm

Here’s the machine translation of the caption:

If you had a bad day today, here’s another video with Patron the micro dog :) #песпатрон

Open thread!