Day 1133 War in Ukraine

Lviv Croissants in Kharkiv is open for business!

Russians still lunching drone attacks as though there was no peace agreement pausing the conflict. There was supposed to be a pause on striking “energy infrastructure,” but Russians struck an electric substation.

“Zelensky visited hospitals in Dnipro where wounded Ukrainian defenders are receiving treatment.”

“More reports from Georgia of detention and mistreatment of protestors.”

The leader of a Georgian opposition party was grated an 50k GEL bail. (over $18k).

Sanctions applied to specific Georgian leaders.

Trump accepts Russia’s word for it that a majority of people in occupied territories support the Russian occupation.

US Secretary of Defense to skip meeting of US allies of war in Ukraine.

Russia able to pose credible threat to Europe given a two year rest break. A five-year rest break and Russia could go to war against NATO minus the US.

Baltic sates are very vulnerable to attack if Russia feels it can “peel off” some of them from protectors.

"Russia’s strategic interests are in irreconcilable conflict with the West, and there are no possibilities for improvement in the current situation."

Russian ballet group falsely advertises itself as Ukrainian. They are VERY tied to Russia!

Kharkiv is being bombed for the fourth year now.

Russian bomber shot down. As it fell, it struck a power line, blacking out 210 houses.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/04/02/war-for-ukraine-day-1133-russia-continues-its-relentless-attacks-despite-trumps-truce/

Day 1130 War in Ukraine

CNN platforms a Russian named Dugin. Dugin has created “the ideological, doctrinal, theological, and mythological underpinnings of Putinism.”

The non-truce/non-ceasefire in Ukraine is doing its job, whether Trump is aware of that or not. Ukraine is refraining from hitting dual-use facilities while Russia is not observing any restraints at all.

Remembering the referendum of 31 March 1991 that established Georgia’s independence. The vote fo independence was 99.08% to 0.51% in favor of independence.

Trump had an apparently agreeable game of golf with the president of Finland.

If there is a truce in Ukraine, Russia will most likely move troops opposite to the Baltic states.

Trump is apparently upset with Putin as there is apparently no progress on Trump’s peace proposal. He’s threatening Russia with increased tariffs. Blogger figures Trump is truly annoyed, but will forgive and forget quickly.

Because Trump silenced Radio Free Europe & VOA, China has now taken up those frequencies.

It’s an extremely serious problem that the US and others have not defined what it means to “win” in Ukraine. Zelenskyy’s “Victory Plan” is not a good basis for negotiations. Trump just wants the war to end, regardless of how much Ukraine has to suffer.

The Moskva was sunk because Americans, on an intelligence sharing evolution, pointed out they had just spotted the flagship of the Russia’s Black Sea fleet. Ukrainians said thanks and sunk it soon afterwards.

Ukrainian drone, armed with a shotgun, takes down quadcopters.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/03/30/war-for-ukraine-day-1130-cnn-platforms-dugin/

Day 1128 War in Ukraine

In Georgia: “activist Tamar Kuratishvili has been arrested. Her banner said 'Antsukhelidze is immortal!' Antsukhelidze is our hero tortured by the enemy.”

Trump is offering a “deal” on minerals that may threaten Ukraine’s membership in the EU. Zelenskyy: “Nothing that could threaten Ukraine’s accession to the EU can be accepted.” He has to be careful though, as he doesn’t wish to lose US intelligence access and whatever aid is flowing.

Heh! Georgian protest sone: “it’s time to F the Georgian Dream.” The Georgia Dream Party currently runs Georgia. The party is right now “studying” the August 2008 war with Russia.

“One of the opposition leaders Elene Khoshtaria” has been arrested.

Putin suggest a temporary government in Ukraine. Idea is soundly rejected by US, Ukraine and UN.

Moscow’s theory of nuclear deterrence, updated in the war against Ukraine. “Over the last thirty years, the Russian concept of strategic deterrence has focused on integrating coercive programs across nonmilitary and military domains.”

“Pipe worship,” Russians crawl through a pipe to be purified and to “receive grace.”

Russia makes deal, breaks deal and blames Ukraine.

Ukraine makes deals with European countries on intelligence cooperation.

Cyber attack on Ukraine’s railways.

Dnipro attacked. Hotel and restaurant complex taken down. Hospital damaged. Kherson also hit.

Ukraine using swarms of drones to attack Russians.

Ukraine’s Kursk operation is going poorly, but their Belgorod operation proceeds.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/03/28/war-for-ukraine-day-1128-trumps-teams-shakedown-gets-brushed-off/

Day 1126 War in Ukraine

Hmm. A rather fatalistic point of view.

“right in the middle of the so-called ‘moratorium on infrastructure strikes.’” Russia strikes at Ukrainian infrastructure.

In complete defiance of international law, Russia sentences 23 Ukrainian POWs to lengthy prison sentences.

Zelensky travels to Paris.

“President Zourabichvili calls on European leaders to stand with Georgia “

The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights finds that Georgians are being treated terribly.

Four US soldiers who had been training in Lithuania died. The vehicle they were in was found submerged. President Trump hadn’t heard about that and didn’t seem to be interested in finding anything out about it.

The EU is NOT on board with Trump’s ideas for peace.

Trump is STILL trying to obtain Greenland!

Trump admits Russia may be dragging its feet. Russia has broken 190 agreements.

A Ukrainian F-16 pilot says he regularly surveils Russian targets. Ukraine has been very successful in damaging Russia’s military infrastruture.

A look at how Russia attacks civilian targets.

Video of soccer players running when they hear a drone.

“A diesel fuel reservoir has been damaged at the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.”

North Korean weapons deliveries continue during the “ceasefire.”

Russian cargo plane makes a VERY bad landing!

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/03/26/war-for-ukraine-day-1126-so-much-for-the-critical-infrastructure-ceasefire/

 

Day 1123 War in Ukraine

Runners compete in the Kyiv Unbroken Ten championship after a sleepless night of drone attacks.

The blogger quoted Trump’s chief negotiator Steve Witkoff yesterday. The transcript of Witkoff’s interview with Tucker Carlson is now available and Witkoff looks even worse! Witkoff HUGELY overstates Trump’s abilities as a diplomat! “Putin’s got a huge respect for the President.” Actually, Putin feels Trump is an easily-exploited “mark.”

“Waltz responded that they were closer to peace in Ukraine than ever before.” I think the Trump team has accomplished zilch so far and have not advanced towards peace by a single millimeter.

US is considering giving Russia even more Ukrainian territory than Russia has been able to win on the battlefield.

Ukrainian negotiators say their discussion with Americans was good.

Ukrainians working on a roof get attacked by a Russian drone.

Russians bomb a school.

Ukrainian incursion into Belgorod region proceeding.

Russian oil transshipment point hit again and continues to urn.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/03/23/war-for-ukraine-day-1123-not-the-best-nor-the-brightest/

 

Day 1119 War in Ukraine

The authorities in Georgia are allied with Iran.

Another prisoner swap! 175 Ukrainians return home!

“it appears the trump administration has deleted a database of kidnapped ukrainian children out of spite “

Zelenskyy offered the US the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the one that Russia is in control of.

Georgian claims international protections claim.

150 Ministry of Defense employees dismissed because they signed a pro-EU petition.

Georgians planning big demonstration for March 31.

Americans in general distrust Putin. His American supporters are “Trump, his employer/owner Musk, Trump’s natsec team, a group of GOP members of the House and Senate, and a bunch of “conservative” commenters.”

“[Trump] repeatedly cast himself during last year’s US presidential campaign as an agent of global peace” Problem is that he has no idea what he’s doing.

“his self-image as a great negotiator” conflicts with the reality that he’s really no good at it. A German politician calls Trump’s diplomacy between himself and Putin a “complete flop.”

Trump Administration abandoning efforts to monitor Russian cyber attacks.

Germany planning to give eight billion euros worth of arms to Ukraine over next several years.

NATO countries close to Russia want to expedite Ukraine’s EU membership.

Ukrainians deploy “latest tool” at a cost of about $5k to hit Shahed drones.

Russians “double tap” railway infrastructure.

Russian drones strike a hospital.

Russia blames Ukraine for violating a truce that Russia never agreed to observe.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/03/19/war-for-ukraine-day-1119-obstruction-of-justice/

Day 1118 War in Ukraine

 

Putin was supposed to be on a phone call with Trump. Putin keeps Trump waiting.

Russian version of proposed truce with Ukraine differ from US version. Kremlin calls for: “And of course, consider the unconditional the need to address the root causes of the crisis, Russia’s legitimate security interests.” They go on to suggest zero military aid to Ukraine during the truce.

Again, reading Trump’s version, why does the war exist in the first place? Reading Trump’s version, we have no idea. What are the two sides fighting about? No clue.

Russia would be free to keep on bombing civilians.

Trump reveals there have been many calls between him and Putin.

Zelenskyy notes that it’s been a week since the cease-fire was proposed.

In Georgia, trial of Mzia Amaglobeli begins. The judge is not qualified in criminal law. Mzia Amaglobeli was found guilty. Amaglobeli reflectthat she would have been simply executed back in the old, Soviet days.

Almost half of Americans say US not helping Ukraine enough.

Ukraine requests full details on Trump-Putin call concerning Ukraine.

“But readouts from the [Trump-Putin] call offered no indication that Putin was willing to compromise on his maximalist goals to end the war, which amount in effect to ending Ukraine’s existence…”

Heh! “Seven Russians decided to launch an offensive across an open field in broad daylight. What could possibly go wrong?”

Russia strikes a non-working oil refinery with 20 drones.

If there was an energy cease-fire, it was broken three hours later.

Russians in Kursk disguise themselves as Ukrainians and commit atrocities.

Ukraine launches new offensive near Belgotod.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/03/18/war-for-ukraine-day-1118-hanging-on-the-telephone/

Day 1117 War in Ukraine

US Ambassador meets with legitimate president of Georgia

Trump speaks of an imaginary encirclement of Ukrainian troops and of how he talked Putin out of destroying them. Trump also thinks handing Crimea over to Russia is a great peace-making idea. It’s difficult to deal with someone who’s not sure what is and isn’t real.

A Ukrainian civilian describes being in a Russian prison for over two years.

Six-year old child is traumatized by an explosion very near his home.

Ukraine now has drones that can travel 3k km.

Georgian authorities seize funds used to help Georgian protesters pay fines and to assist protesters and to help prisoner families financially. . Five foundations have their assets seized.

What side is Trump on? “Director of national intel says Trump & Putin ‘very good friends and very focused on how we can strengthen … shared objectives’”

When Ukrainian troops lose territory in Kursk, no complaints about Ukrainian occupation can be heard as troops behaved themselves.

Woo hoo! Yowza! A drone enters a building and it was clearly holding lot of ammunition!

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/03/17/war-for-ukraine-day-1117-fantasy-land-foreign-policy/