Day 1313 War in Ukraine

Russian helicopter, shot down by an FPV drone.

“Today, Ukraine commemorates the Babyn Yar massacre - one of WWII’s darkest chapters.”

Seems Ukraine is now going beyond oil and gas targets to hit factories that serve dual military/civilian uses.

Zelenskyy spoke at the Warsaw Security Forum today as well as making his daily address.

The flags of Moldova and Ukraine were featured by Georgia protesters.

Georgian court orders former president to repay 9 million GEL (Over $3.3 million).

Georgia hasn’t decided whether to congratulate Moldova for winning its election.

Hungary’s Orbán does not feel Ukraine is an independent country as it’s supported by the West. Hungary is essentially the welfare queen of the EU. They receive lots of benefits and financially contribute nothing.

Very late, but nice, that the Prime Minister of Poland realizes Russia is at was with them.

Ukraine sends personnel to assist Denmark in dealing with Russian drones.

Two Russian drones violate Romania’s airspace.

The US does not authorize the use of US weapons to make deep strikes into Russia, but yes, Ukraine can use the weapons they have manufactured themselves for that purpose.

Girkin-Strelkov is a significant military figure in Russia. He says the war is lost and Russia needs to get out.

Russian Mi-28 attack helicopter taken down by an FPV drone.

“Russian FPV drone struck a civilian car carrying a family in Kharkiv Oblast.” Russians struck a kindergarten as well.

Ukraine liberates 175 sq km.

The Russian “Elektrodetal” plant was hit by Neptune missiles from the Ukrainian Navy.

Russia to draft 135k people.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/09/29/war-for-ukraine-day-1313-zchor-babyn-yar/

 

Day 1312 War in Ukraine

 

Moldovan citizens vote, demonstrating how important yesterday’s election was.

As our blogger predicted, Trump is going to be at the meeting of all high-ranking military officers.

12-year-old girl dies in Russian attack. Hair stylist died from stress.

643 drones and missiles were launched at Ukraine last night. 611 were shot down. The attack lasted for 12 hours. Cardiology institute was hit.

Germany’s Ambassador to Georgia had been summoned by Georgian authorities. In solidarity, Georgian protesters flew German flag.

Russians try their level best to disrupt Moldova’s election. “The turnout exceeded 33%. The diaspora is showing high activity - over 145 thousand votes against 124 thousand in 2021.” Lots of bomb threats had been made against foreign polling stations. Pro-European party leads with comfortable margin. “three pro-EU parties securing 57% of votes compared to 34% for pro-Russian and Eurosceptic parties”

“Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’ of oil tankers are being used to ‘launch and control’ Russian drones over European cities”

Details on latest drone and missile attack.

Polish Embassy in Kyiv struck during attack.

Destroyed residences, destroyed winery, a civilian family was attacked as they drove. “a 14-year-old girl suffered an acute stress reaction.”

Russian aircraft destroyed in occupied Crimea.

“At least four Russian drone operators were killed when Ukraine’s HUR destroyed a UAZ “Bukhanka” van on a guarded military base”

Russian “factory produce[d] electrical connectors and wiring assemblies”

Power plant hit in Belgorod, Russia.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/09/28/war-for-ukraine-day-1312-who-couldve-possibly-imagined/

Day 1309 War in Ukraine

First Ladies of Ukraine & US.

Two Hungarian fighters responded to Russian fighters invading NATO airspace in the Baltic Sea.

Two Russian bombers and two fighter jets invaded US airspace near Alaska.

Ukraine shoots down Russian fighter-bomber.

Ukraine’s First Lady makes a speech.

“Today on Rustaveli Avenue there are more UK and German flags than usual. Both ambassadors have been summoned by GD.”

Georgians who fought in Ukraine had their memorial desecrated.

Georgia Dream finally conducts a really small rally.

Europeans feel Trump’s apparent change of heart to favor Ukraine instead of Russia is meant so that Trump am blame them for a Ukrainian loss.

Denmark’s Aalborg airport closed after unidentified drone spotted nearby.

Ukraine and Syria restore diplomatic relations.

Ukrainians very skeptical about Trump’s apparent new friendliness.

Raid in Crimea destroys two aircraft and a radar.

“The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been in blackout for the second day.”

North Korean cluster munitions often fail to detonate, creating a hazard for civilians.

Russian bureaucrat found dead under a window.

Oil refinery with capacity to refine four million tons of oil a year shut down for indefinite future until repaired.

Many more Ukrainian “sanctions” in action!

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/09/25/war-for-ukraine-day-1309-another-day-another-set-of-air-interdictions/

 

Day 1304 War in Ukraine

 

ATB is a Ukrainian supermarket chain. Russia attacked their warehouses last night.

Russia launches 40 missiles and 580 drones at Ukraine. “The targets were clear: infrastructure, residential neighborhoods, and civilian enterprises.” 94.2% shot down.

There has been multiple airspace violations, Turkey gave Russia warning that it had changed its engagement rules, then with another airspace violation, a Russian jet was shot down. Haven’t been any violations since then.

Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli has been recognized as a prisoner of conscience.

Poland scrambled jets, but those jets remained within Polish borders.

“Czech President Petr Pavel and Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Šakalienė called for Russian military aircraft violating NATO airspace to be shot down.”

Blogger: “Putin and his trusted agents have accurately assessed Trump and his senior natsec team, especially his isolationist Undersecretary of Defense for Policy (USD-P)” They’ve concluded Trump won’t meaningfully react to any escalation. According to Trump’s people, China’s the real problem. Problem is, Trump doesn’t seen inclined to defend Taiwan, either.

Russian boat trying to cross the Dnipro River are sitting ducks for Ukrainian drones.

Assault troops made into a separate department of the Ukrainian Army.

Shahed drones gets hit. Crowd cheers.

Russian destruction from drones.

Drunken Russians kill Ukrainian family in occupied Ukraine.

More Russian oil refineries targeted.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/09/20/war-for-ukraine-day-1304-the-russian-butchers-bill-from-last-nights-attack-on-ukraine/

Day 1303 War in Ukraine

Russian Marine Brigade attacked by 19 Ukrainian drones. All the hits occurred within 0.04 sq km. Hits represented by dots on the photo.

“Three russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated Estonian airspace today and stayed there for 12 minutes.”

Russian fighters overfly Polish oil platform in the Baltic Sea.

In 2015, Turkey shot a Russian jet down. That was the end of Russian incursions into Turkish airspace.

Zelenskyy reports that Ukraine is advancing steadily.

The Georgia Dream Nightmare Non-Recognition Act has been adopted for inclusion in the State Department Authorization Act.

Protesters brought down a thug with a gun and turned the gun over to police. Of course, the fellow who turned the gun in is being prosecuted.

The EU is adopting economic sanctions against Russia, banning the import of liquefied natural gas and lowering the price of Russian oil.

We can now look forward to losing Taiwan to China in the near future. They’d better act before the 2026 midterm Congressional elections where Democrats might take some power back.

Russian ammo dump blown up.

IAEA demands that Russia give Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to Ukraine. We’ll see if they do it.

Toloka underwater drone. 12 meters long and carries a five-ton payload up to 2k km away.

Russian ammo dump hit by three drones. Detonations continued throughout the next day.

Russian head of head of Umatex (a Rosatom subsidiary), allegedly committed suicide. Pretty doubtful that’s what happened.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/09/19/war-for-ukraine-day-1303-the-small-hours-of-the-night-are-the-deadly-hours/

 

Day 1301 War in Ukraine

King Charles III looks meaningfully at Trump while saying allies should stand together to support Ukraine.

Ukrainian children treated horribly by Russians. The Save Ukraine initiative has saved some of them.

DNI Gabbard demoted the Foreign Malign Influence Center to be broken up and its parts distributed around the intelligence community. The US “has effectively ended any meaningful government role in addressing the foreign interference threat.” This means that right-wing language becomes just like the “hard right domestic violent extremists.”

President of the European Parliament visits Ukraine.

The woman who wrote on the Georgia Dream banner will not pay the fine. She claims that the fine amounts to bribe. She’s the last democratic opposition to the Georgia Dream left who isn’t yet in jail.

EU to adopt drone defense with Ukraine leading. Europe Is taking Russia’s recent incursions very seriously.

"No one in the world has done more than Trump to end the Russia-Ukraine war." – Rubio. Which is an interesting sttement because Trump hasn’t actually done ANYTHING to have ended the war!

Crude oil exports are down 27%, losing Russia $400 million.

Interesting. When a drone approaches a small military column, the response was to stop, get out and shoot down the drone with rifles.

Zelenskyy points out that Poland’s air defenses are very weak.

Living under siege: “Every time we walk through the park, we know there’s no shelter. Nowhere to hide. We go anyway.”

Russian-occupied city of Mariupol being turned into a military base.

Key railway hub in Russian city blown up.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/09/17/war-for-ukraine-day-1301-the-insider-threat/

 

Day 1297 War in Ukraine

Uuh...whut?!?!?! “Russian drone which was flying in Romanian airspace was not intercepted. The drone was escorted till it left Romanian airspace and went to Ukraine.” Romania didn’t shoot the drone down, even though they knew it was on a mission to kill Ukrainians? As the blogger says: “Well that was right neighborly of Romania.”

Former Georgia Dream Defense Minister arrested by State Security Service on charges of abuse of office.

Commenter Marika Makiashvilli says that Georgians have lost patience with the Georgian government and are now calling for revolution. Marika: “I think this period is a structural crisis when the old is delegitimized but the new isn’t here yet.”

Russia’s deploying missiles right next to Poland.

Interesting statement: “Kellogg also said the war could end “tomorrow” if China halted support to Russia.” This sorta, kinda suggests that Russia could end the war at any time.

Defense Secretary Hegseth makes comment that suggests the US would stand aside if Russia attacked Poland.

Huh1 Very interesting. Russia wants to buy back anti-aircraft systems from Turkey.

Drone takes down drone.

Europe wants to purchase Ukrainian drone interceptors.

Prince Harry in Kyiv.

Explosion at air base near Kyiv. No air alerts.

Three years after Kupiansk was liberated, Russian forces take outer edge.

Russia anti-aircraft systems being hit hard!

Ukrainians use old Soviet S-60 anti-aircraft guns against Shahed drones.

Russian oil refineries hit. One from 1350km from front lines.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/09/13/war-for-ukraine-day-1297-theres-a-club-ukraine-is-unfortunately-not-in-it/

 

Day 1295 War in Ukraine

View of Russian recon ship as Ukrainian kamikaze drone closes in. Drone is 500km from Ukrainian operator. Ship is worth $60 million.

Still more cooperation between Trump and his good buddy Putin. Belarus is now benefiting from their friendship. Note: some of the drones that entered Polish airspace did so via Belarus.

Trump says that drones entering Poland could have been accidental. He clearly was not briefed or is ignoring important facts.

Zelenskyy’s theory is that Russia is trying to demoralize Europeans.

Russian propaganda doesn’t seek to persuade in this instance but to confuse, to prevent meaningful discussion.

March in Georgia dedicated to Meggie Diasamidze, the student who defaced a Georgia Dream banner.

Police are all of the sudden concerned about protesters being masked.

More wild charges against protesters.

Opposition figure Levan Khabeishvili offers a $200k reward to policemen to refuse to act against the people of Georgia. Authorities arrest him, but there’s no law against him offering such a reward.

France sends Poland aircraft to guard against further incursions.

Poland agrees with Ukraine they will cooperate on anti-drone systems.

Polish Foreign minister feels Trump is being mocked by Putin.

Poland takes measures to restrict airspace.

Sweden give Ukraine weapons package worth nearly $1 billion.

Ukraine launches massive drone attack on Russia in three large groups.

“Russia's oil export revenues remain near five-year lows, reducing tax revenues and exacerbating Russia's economic slowdown”

Russian oil depots and air defense plants hit.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/09/11/war-for-ukraine-day-1295-you-probe-with-bayonets-if-you-find-mush-you-push/

 

Day 1294 War in Ukraine

“A 23-year-old Georgian student has been arrested on criminal charges for writing ‘Russian Dream’ on a GD election banner” She was threatened with an inappropriately heavy punishment.

Our blogger has a number of contacts among the Nepalese and he presents their views on the recent rebellion there. Trouble has been building up there for a while.

Blogger figures the drones that flew into Poland were a test to see how prepared Poland was.

Another massive aerial attack on Ukraine.

Russia expects to produce 2,500 missiles in 2025.

Zelenskyy has zero doubt the Russian drones into Poland were deliberate.

Georgia: “Just in the last hour, two girls were detained for wearing masks”

Police try to hurry a march along. The march stops.

Up to 20 drones entered Poland’s airspace.

Putin probably found the Polish air defense to be quite encouraging. Only four of the 19 were shot down.

Article 4 of NATO is just to ask for consultations. Poland invoked that today. Article 5 is to go to war. No one wants to test Articl5 right now as the US might refuse to go to war.

Ukraine offers to advise Poland in air defense. No one really wants to take the plunge into war with Russia.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister warns that Putin feels invulnerable because he wasn’t properly punished earlier.

Ukraine stopped 413 out of 458 targets last night.

Lots of stuff being blown up.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/09/10/war-for-ukraine-day-1294-provocations-abound/

Day 1291 War in Ukraine

Very sensible policy. Ukrainian government personnel try to visit the sites that are hit

 by missiles or drones. This is Yulia Svyrydenko, the Prime Minister. Solidarity with

 the people.

During yesterday’s bombardment of Kyiv, a woman and her baby were thrown out 

of a of a six-story window by the explosion of the Russian drone. 823 drones and 

missiles were used in the attack. 751 were dispatched before they hit a target, but 72 

got through.

Horrid rain in Georgia. Rustaveli Avenue is blocked anyway.

Russia’s GPS jamming has disrupted 123k flights in Norther n Europe.

Trump is increasingly seen as either weak and ineffective or as colluding with Russia.

Russia has ambitious production plans, reflecting that they’re now fully mobilized.

Russia attacks a Ukrainian government building, demonstrating they don’t honor any

 “red lines.”

12-year-old, blind since birth, volunteers and raises money for troops.

Ukraine destroys a Russian “heavy flamethrower system.”

A pumping station that moves oil from Belarus is struck.

Heh! Russian gas station is “temporarily under repair.”

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/09/07/war-for-ukraine-day-1291-the-toll-from-this-mornings-deadly-hours/

Day 1288 War in Ukraine

Russia presented their airstrike as a “strike on a drone crew.” Sure looks to me like a civilian de-mining crew that was engaged in a humanitarian mission.

Zelenskyy conducts a press conference with President of France.

First Lady Zelenska participated in a conference. She also visited a clinic.

Editor-in-Chief of Publika harassed and spay upon by ruling party’s people.

Journalist Mzia Amaglobeli’s lawyers have been appealing her sentence of two years.

Georgia’s ruling party has been working very hard to make membership in Europe appear to be unappealing. Popularity of Europe is 78%. They also want schools to teach a Russian version of the last few decades.

Special Envoy Witkoff leaves meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing.”

Europeans have given up on Trump ever imposing sanctions on Russia. Trump was upset at that.

US to cut funding for training troops bordering Russia. Is that purely because Putin is Trump's good buddy? Partially. It's also that General Milley was the one who set up the training.

Civilians describe a drone strike.

Russian S-300 anti-aircraft system done blowed up real good!

Russian refineries and radar stations being blown up or burning after being struck.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/09/04/war-for-ukraine-day-1288-a-brief-thursday-night-update/

Day 1287 War in Ukraine

Two former regime prisoners out ad enjoying the protest.

Blogger discusses the US strike on boat off the coast of Venezuela in international waters. “The strike is definitely a war crime. It can’t be justified under Article 51 of the UN Charter, the Law of Armed Conflict, the US prohibition against assassinations, though I’m not sure this would even count as that, or any other rules of engagement I know of.“

Russia’s been attacking European sites since 2022. As I’ve stated, the Domino Effect wasn’t true for Southeast Asia during the 60s, but it’s very much in effect here.

Absolutely huge numbers of drones and missiles launched, many intercepted, but many landed. Railways and energy infrastructure were targets.

Zelenskyy conducts a joint press conferences with Prime Minister of Denmark and Prime Minister of France.

Day 280 of nation-wide protests in Georgia as “enough people see Georgian Dream as an existential threat.” 12 political prisoners were sentenced to two years each.

Xi and Putin talk about living to 150.

China claims to be neutral, but is “supplying Russia with drone parts worth at least £47 million, including engines, microchips, and carbon fiber.”

In August, “17 attacks disabled 24.2% of Russia’s refining capacity.”

Russian strikes take out a hospital, “damaged two apartment buildings, a private house, a store, a shopping center, and five commercial pavilions.”

In Kherson, an FPV drone killed a man who was riding a bicycle.

Strike on Russian base in Crimea. Photo of crater is consistent with Flamingo’s one-ton warhead.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/09/03/war-for-ukraine-day-1287-the-day-after-the-onslaught/

 

Day 1285 War in Ukraine

In Kharkiv, children attend underground schools.

“Suspected Russian GPS interference forced European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s plane to land in Bulgaria using paper maps…” Europeans are beginning to understand that the war in Ukraine won’t end in Ukraine, but will be expanded to Europe.

Russia also hacked into Norway’s dam controls.

Court in Georgia has frozen the bank accounts of NGOs, allegedly because of suspicion of sabotage. The government considers purchasing gas masks to be a hostile act.

Government claims Trump “pays too little attention to Georgia.”

A look at Georgia’s strategy.

Story about a Ukrainian couple in Colorado.

According to a map behind “Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the russian army” Odesa and Mykolaiv are Russian territorial possessions.

After two weeks of intense combat, village of Novoekonomichne.

A look at the works of a Ukrainian painter.

Russian drone operators base blown up.

Russian airbase hit, two helicopters destroyed.

HIMARS and FPVs attack a Russian brigade. Brigade suffers heavy losses.

Eight Russian officers killed in missile strike.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/09/01/war-for-ukraine-day-1285-you-may-not-be-interested-in-world-war-iii-but-world-war-iii-may-be-interested-in-eu/