Day 1250 War in Ukraine

 

A Ukrainian heavy drone can carry a 250kg (331 lb) air bomb.

“Today is the Day of Mourning and Remembrance for defenders who were tortured, executed, or died in captivity.“ Unfortunately, Russia captured several hundred defenders of Mariupol, many of which are still in captivity under horribly inhuman conditions.

Great majority of 331 UAVs shot down.

Zelenskyy comments on Trump’s statement “it is Russia who is doing everything to undermine peace efforts”

Wealthy owners of Georgia’s international businesses are sanctioned.

Russian drones violate Lithuanian airspace.

Our blogger concludes that Trump’s statement about “...we were gonna have a ceasefire and maybe peace and you'd divide it up and you'd do…” means that “Trump had been discussing partitioning Ukraine with Putin.” 100% agree about Trump’s relationship to Putin.

A Ukrainian journalist says changing the organization of the Ukrainian Army to a corps-based one has been enormously successful.

Ukrainian food store hit. A FPV drone hits a civilian car. As the controller could see what the drone was doing, he knew exactly what he was hitting.

People come equipped to the Metro station during air raid alerts. They know full well what to pack.

Hackers destroy the Aeroflot computer system. More or less the entire Russian civilian air fleet is grounded. Cyberattack took about a year to plan. “Around 7,000 servers were destroyed, and 20 terabytes of data were stolen” Owing to large distances, Russia is heavily dependent on air travel, much more than on trains or cars.

Buildings in Russia on fire.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/07/28/war-for-ukraine-day-1250-the-cost/

Day 1247 War in Ukraine

After forcibly evicting about 150 displaced families from their homes, Georgian police help themselves to their furniture.

Cluster munitions are strictly for use against soldiers on a battlefield. They are NOT intended for use against civilian targets! Russia uses them against civilians anyway.

Glide bombs hit without warning as they travel close to or greater than the speed of sound (767 mph).

Zelenskyy puts out the projected cost of defense for the next few years. Ukraine is about $65 billion short.

Cool headline for daily briefing - “We Are Preparing More Unpleasant Surprises for the Enemy” He wants to produce 500 to 1000 drone interceptors per day.

“Georgia is hosting the multinational exercise Agile Spirit 2025, which officially kicked off on July 21 in Turkey and opened in Georgia today, July 25. “

"The UK remains unwavering in its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity." But Georgia seems to be waffling on opposition to Russia.

More anti-aircraft systems for Ukraine.

So Zelenskyy has backed down on his threat against anti-corruption agencies, but now his deputies are dragging their feet.

Back in 2022, Musk interfered with a Ukrainian offensive by shutting off Starlink.

Mixed situation near Pokrovsk.

Russians bomb a tuberculosis hospital and a shopping mall.

Chasiv Yar WAS a town of 14k people. It’s flattened and without life now.

Russians lose a “key ammonia and fertilizer plant.”

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/07/25/war-for-ukraine-day-1247-battlefield-assessments/

 

Day 1239 War in Ukraine

Eleven years after Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17), court has concluded that it was a Russian operation that brought it down.

Blogger looks at the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Basically, no one can spare any resources to do anything about the situation.

EU is insisting that Georgia uphold fundamental rights or lose their visa-free travel privileges. Georgia seems willing to lose that privilege.

Georgia government pursues legal offensive against opponents. Main critical media outlet shut down.

The problem with the presumption that the war in Ukraine will one day stop is that Putin and Russia have no intention of stopping and that if Ukraine stops fighting, it will cease to exist.

The US has committed to produce Patriot anti-aircraft/missile batteries, but it’s unclear when that will be.

Yuliia Svyrydenko confirmed as Ukraine’s new Prime Minister. And “Olha Stefanishyna will be Ukraine’s next ambassador to the US.”

Russia was in charge of the MH17 crash site. They loaded bodies from the crash onto refrigerated trucks so reporters could write about that. When the reporters left, the refrigeration was turned off.

Being fully aware of the whereabouts of Ukraine negotiator Keith Kellogg, Russians stop bombing Kyiv for as long as he’s there. Bombing continues unabated elsewhere.

The Russian Shchekinoazot chemical plant hit by drones.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/07/17/war-for-ukraine-day-1239-a-brief-thursday-night-update/

 

Day 1237 War in Ukraine

 

Major hacking done of Russian drone manufacturer’s computer system. Data is erased, factory is paralyzed and all doors locked (employees escaped using emergency exits).

Trump says that, in the war between Russia and Ukraine, he’s on “Humanity’s side.” Which I guess means he’s in favor of fewer casualties but doesn’t seem to have any meaning beyond that. He doesn’t have any detailed idea of what “peace” would look like beyond an absence of fighting.

Today is Ukrainian Statehood Day.

Will people in the EU continue to be able to visit Georgia without a visa? Unless Georgia meets its deadlines, no. Georgia’s idea of justice for protesters does not meet European standards.

Georgia’s regime is fully engaged in extracting and extorting money from people.

International press freedom organizations have declared that the treatment of journalist Mzia Amaglobeli does not meet international standards. Blog post has a link to contribute to her case.

“Russia has used chemical weapons 9,000 times in Ukraine.”

Russian attacks on Ukraine.

Russian “Energia” factory hit.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/07/15/war-for-ukraine-day-1237-taco-tuesday/

Day 1233 War in Ukraine

Horse killed in Russian drone strike.

Picture of Ukrainian citizens in a Metro station during a Russian drone and missile attack they’re getting lots of reading and sleeping done.

Weapons are now coming through for Ukraine from the US.

Letters from prisoners in Georgia have now been reprinted into a regularly-issued newspaper.

Video of older man being mistreated by Georgia police.

Mzia Amaglobeli is suffering poor health. People have called for her release from pretrial confinement.

Trump offers to sell Ukraine weapons via purchases made via NATO allies. Sounds like a workable plan.

New York Post honors itself with a good cover photo.

Russia hits maternity hospital.

A civilian aircraft! Over Kyiv! City regards it as a sensation!

North Korean multiple rocker launcher hit.

Two Russia Colonels and a Major General taken out.

Ukrainians hit Russian industrial sites in four regions.

Russian gas pipeline explodes.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/07/11/war-for-ukraine-day-1233-another-day-more-russian-war-crimes-crimes-against-humanity/

 

Day 1232 War in Ukraine

 

Current Prime Minister of Georgia. As Molly Ivins would say “Sure does have a good head of hair.”

The toddler killed yesterday was done in by an FPV (First Person View) drone. The killer saw hi victim right before the drone hit!

Hey “only” 415 drones and missiles last night (it was 741 the nigh before).

Zelenskyy says Putin wishes to prolong the war.

Georgian protester asked to take urine test. She was seen later, so the test was either still being done or it came back negative.

Young protester sentence to 4.5 years based on extremely skimpy evidence. In a statement, he says he fears a dictatorship.

Mzia Amaghlobeli’s lawyers requested to question Prime Minister Kobakhidz for her case. They were turned down. She’s widely considered to be a political prisoner.

“Ukraine, UK pen deal for Thales air defense missile. supply.”

For first time, Trump sends weapons to Ukraine under his own Presidential Drawdown Authority (taken out of US stocks and then replaced). Before this, he did so under Biden’s authority.

Russia has launched roughly 24k drones since January. The US blockade of aid occurred in the middle of anticipated drone attacks.

“An officer of the Ukrainian SBU security service's Alpha special forces unit has been shot dead in Kyiv”

Russian air defense systems get blown up.

A Colombian international unit also has volunteers from Peru, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Italy, and Mexico.

Kyiv wreathed in smoke from drone strikes.

Children’s hospital in Chernivtsi has to be evacuated.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/07/10/war-for-ukraine-day-1232-the-cost/

Day 1230 War in Ukraine

 

Coffee shop at 6:00am and at 2:00pm. They just put their shoulders to it and got it up and running again!

The usual air attacks on Ukraine.

The First Lady uses her funds to start “Cosmocamp,” a summer camp for Ukrainian youngsters.

Georgian activist is taken from his home and given a drug test.

Lots of Georgians being picked up by police and hen released for lots of money.

Yeah, the "evidences" against Onise Tskhadadze is that he apparently picked up something very light, looks like a plastic 12oz soda bottle and threw it. For THAT they want to give him a seven year sentence!?!? Evidence against many others I similarly unimpressive. Oh, and the musician Kordz was picked for “anti-regime songs/mixes.”

Apparently, Trump has no idea who’s doing what In his administration. When asked who ordered the pause in weapons shipments to Ukraine, Trump replied: “I don't know. Why don't you tell me?” Pentagon then announced they were resuming shipments.

Huh! Trump FINALLY figures out that Putin doesn’t want peace! Wonder what clued him in? Later in the blog post: “(Ukrainian equivalent to our Chair of the Joint Chiefs) Syrskyi reports a 1.6-fold rise in Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine over the past month."

EU plans to fill in Ukraine’s $19 billion budget gap caused by US withdrawal.

“Exactly one year ago today, Russia struck Ohmatdyt, Ukraine's largest children's oncology hospital."

The “human safari” continues in Kherson.

Head of the city of Crimea “falls out of a window” (died from unknown causes, but likely assassinated by Putin for something or other.

A Russian drone that’s been in development since 2011 crashes on a test run.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/07/08/war-for-ukraine-day-1230-another-early-morning-under-ukraine-wide-air-raid-alerts/

Day 1225 War in Ukraine

Kyiv undergoing massive bombardment by Russia. Mir of Kyiv says: “It’s only 1am and it’s already easily top 5 of the worst nighttime air attacks”

Very interestingly, this is right after Trump & Putin had an hours-long phone call. Putin’s willing to talk about Ukraine, but has no desire to make any concessions

Zelenskyy honors an 11-year old who raised 34k Danish Kronen (almost $5,400) for school supplies for Ukrainian children.

Georgian mountaineers, skiers, climbers, etc., are gathering to march through Tbilisi.

Mother of political prisoner calls for calm and for resourcefulness so as to achieve victory.

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi says that China cannot afford for Russia to lose. Blogger thinks that’s an interesting statement.

Yes, US has cut off weapons shipments to Ukraine. Germany s not permitted to buy Patriot anti-aircraft system and pass it on to Ukraine. Blogger professional assessment: “Trump falls somewhere between not caring what happens to Ukraine to actively wanting Putin to win.”

New Ukrainian drone can surveil up to 100-120km or bomb 2.5 to 5kg payload up to 100km.

Russian drones dive to attack “Russians have attached sirens to them to instill terror like Stuka dive bombers”

Russian drones attack Poltava as well.

Russian-appointed mayor of Lugansk was killed in an explosion.

Three Russian radars in occupied Crimea destroyed with drones.

Guard Major General, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy killed.

Russian industrial site struck.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/07/03/war-for-ukraine-day-1225-another-long-night-of-russian-ballistic-missile-and-drone-strikes-on-ukrainian-civilian-targets/

 

Peace efforts

                

Elections: Unlike the US Civil War of the 1860s, where foreigners didn’t have the capability of interfering in our election, Russia has the demonstrated capability of doing just that. Moldova recently saw an election where the people voted against Russians, but there was a LOT of Russian intervention in that election!

Corruption: In 2022, Ukraine was second only to Russia in corruption. A recent OECD report says: “Ukraine has made significant strides in reforming its anti-corruption framework in the past decade.” Ukraine is far from being “out of the woods,” but they’re fully aware of the problem and are working on it.

Disrespect: Ugh! Please! Only in mind of VP Vance and President Trump did Zelenskyy show any disrespect.

Laundered: See “corruption” above.

Journalists: Again, this is a problem that Europe has in general. Russia has the demonstrated capability to interfere in elections and media. Ukraine is aware of the problem and is working to resolve it.

Peace: It’s far from clear how peace can be arrived at. Trump has tried and can’t even get Russia to even agree to a meaningful ceasefire. The Kyiv Independent sees the peace effort by Trump as lazy and focused more on PR than any coherent plan, but making peace between Russia and Ukraine is a very heavy lift and can’t be done by casual, intermittent efforts. Personally, I think Russia’s goal in the war is simply not up for negotiation.

More weapons: Is the ONLY practical answer!