Day 1221 War in Ukraine

Russia’s largest aerial attack on Ukraine yet. “Over 450 drones, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and hypersonic aeroballistic missiles russia launched at Ukraine tonight.” Updated figure: 537.

F-16 crashes, unfortunately taking the pilot with it, but not before he discharged all his weapons. He also steered the falling plane away from a residential area.

Zelenskyy awards the pilot a Hero of Ukraine award

Georgians commemorate seven months of continuous protests.

“Elene Khoshtaria’s hunger strike is to set everyone’s focus straight among democratic forces”

“Trump: ‘Putin made some very good statements today. He respects our country again.’” keep in mind that Trump said this on the day that “Hours later, Putin unleashed his largest air attack on democratic Ukraine yet.” So no. Putin does NOT “respect” Trump or America. Putin spits upon both.

Hungary thanks Trump for allowing Russia to continue building a nuclear plant in Hungary. Construction was halted in 2014.

“The first confirmed debris of Russia’s Geran-3 jet-powered kamikaze drone has been found.”

Ukraine pulls out of a ban on anti-personnel mines.

Ukrainian heavy drones drop artillery shells on targets.

Four Su-34 fighter-bombers were damaged or destroyed earlier. In addition, a critical technical and maintenance facility was set ablaze.

Russian UAV command post destroyed.

Ukraine attacked an electrical substation on a military airfield.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/06/29/war-for-ukraine-day-1221-fas/

 

Day 1219 War in Ukraine

Whaah? But...but the minerals deal that Trump signed should have prevented this!

Kharkiv is, at this point in the full-scale war, without any intact windows. An estimated 220k windows have been shattered.

Odesa’s getting hit with an aerial assault.

Zelenskyy speaks to the Fair Play Conference.

Georgians count 65 political prisoners being held by the government.

A leader of the Coalition for Change, Elene Khoshtaria, is on a hunger strike.

Helen Khoshtaria has also begun a hunger strike.

Authorities arrest 8^th opposition leader in two weeks.

“Fifth President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, has condemned the latest arrests of opposition figures”

Trucks sabotaged in Germany. Pieces in media suggest it was deliberate.

Ukrainian air strike on drone operations base.

Specular explosions as loaded Russian missile launcher hit.

Russian reconnaissance drones zapped by interceptor drones.

Russian Iskander ballistic missile strikes a school building.

Looking at how residents of Kyiv have lost sleep over the past few weeks.

The “human safaris” of Kherson have spread to other cities.

Videos of Ukrainian drones hitting Russian artillery pieces. One drone tries more than one route to hit target.

Ukraine sends long-range drones to airfield near Volgograd (roughly 700 km from front) where they damage two and destroy two Su-34 fighter-bombers. Russian bloggers very upset.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/06/27/war-for-ukraine-day-1219-the-city-without-windows/

 

Day 1218 War in Ukraine

 

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni tells Trump that Russia should be treated with just as much toughness as Iran was.

Russian drone swarm attacks almost all of Ukraine at 3:00am!

Zelenskyy addressed the European Council meeting today.

With six out of nine opposition leaders in jail, the Georgia Dream Party abolishes several privileges under Freedom of Expression.

The European Convention on Human Right is taking up he case of Mzia Amaglobeli.

Ukraine receives two minehunters for use in the Black Sea.

Arson/sabotage carried out in Germany.

North Korea will soon send more troops.

Lithuanian President Nausėda says “Russia is faking peace efforts.”

“EU Summit fails to adopt joint statement in support of Ukraine due to Hungary. “

More POWs exchanged.

Crimean Tatars celebrate in Kyiv.

Pokrovsk has seen much fighting lately. The smell of decomposing bodies is overwhelming.

Detailed description of a Russian drone killing a family member and how the member was buried.

Russians destroy a gas station. Ukraine destroys a gas station.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/06/26/war-for-ukraine-day-1218-another-night-of-russian-drone-swarms-in-the-small-hours/

Day 1215 War in Ukraine

Russia trying new, diabolical tactic to kill Ukrainian civilians.

US expended a significant proportion of its GBU-57A bombs, weakening our strategic reserves.

Patriot Air Defense system’s doing really well. Ukraine could really use a few more of them.

Ukraine manage to knock down 354 of 368 missiles and drones.

Zelenskyy visits the English Prime Minister and King Charles III.

“For 100 days straight, students in Tbilisi, Georgia have kept a 24/7 protest going in front of Parliament.”

The poet Zviad Ratiani has been arrested for “hitting a policeman.”

Georgian authorities want to make it impossible to cover court cases. They’re also imprisioning politicians.

Mzia Amaglobeli’s vision has deteriorated, but the authorities refuse to release her.

Hungary and Slovakia have blocked an aid package for Ukraine.

New Zealand provides aid package.

Shahed drones now equipped with viscious liquid that burns on contact with skin.

Russia returning bodies of fallen Ukrainian soldiers, but they are not properly preserved.

“Two colonels from Ukraine’s State Guard Department (UDO), whose duty was to protect the country’s top officials, were working for Russia’s FSB and plotting to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelensky”

Russia’s using cluster munitions in Kyiv, a city of 4 million people.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/06/23/war-for-ukraine-day-1215-a-brief-monday-night-update/

 

Day 1213 War in Ukraine

 

Ukraine builds “homegrown” radar system designed to detect drones. Very small and potable.

Very little real information on the bombing of Iran is available now.

“What we do know is that this strike is not in response to an attack on the US. This is not self defense. It is unconstitutional and illegal, not that that is anything new over the past six months.”

Ukrainian soldier who went missing in 2023 is returned by Russians in a POW swap and dies shortly after that.

Very large percentage of drones defeated, missiles more successful at getting to Ukrainian targets.

Georgian activist arrested and not permitted to let anyone know for hours. Blogger gives extended description of her interactions with authority figures.

An activist in Belarus agrees with an activist in Georgia. Can’t tell when victory will come, but it will after struggle and will likely come suddenly.

Very cool! “Sergei Tikhanovsky, husband of Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, was freed after over five years in prison.“

German and Canada will fund production of anti-Shahed rones.

Ukraine will start outsourcing technology

“Ground kamikaze drone,” a small unmanned vehicle, drives into a Russian underground bunker and blows it up from within.

Drone takes out “a rare Russian 9S36M Viking radar.”

Russia bombs an apartment building.

Russian fuel train hit.

Apartment buildings hit in Kherson.

Russians using munitions disguised as balls that can be played with.

“Russia is currently producing up to 195 missiles per month and 170 drones per day.”

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/06/21/war-for-ukraine-day-1213-da-fuq-de-doin-ova-der/

Day 1212 War in Ukraine

Y’all think the war in Ukraine will not be followed by a “domino effect?” Remember, Alaska used to belong to Russia. You think they aren’t going to try and get it back?

Russia launching attacks n five points, the first two of which are Pokrovsk and Kursk.

In Georgia, “more frequent public use of the word ‘Revolution’ is observable.”

Defendant throws a cupful of water at a judge, an offense punishable by two years in prison.

EU is very concerned with Mzia Amaglobeli’s case.

“One might assume that the liberation of Georgia began on June 20, 2019, the ‘Gavrilov's Night.’" Lengthy narrative on Georgia’s struggles afterwards.

Senate delays Russia sanctions bill.

Germans are quite certain that the Vietnam “Domino theory” is absolutely applicable to Ukraine. When and if Ukraine falls, Europe in next!

Estonia is digging anti-tank ditches at its border with Russia.

Woo hoo! Another POW exchange!

Putin doesn’t want Ukraine to surrender, just to “accept reality.”

Putin: “We have this old rule: wherever a Russian soldier sets foot, it’s ours.”

Russians attack a beach club in Odesa.

Russian drone operator’s base hit with really big bomb.

“Ukrainian forces hit Tula's Shipunov Instrument Design Bureau twice in three days, halting operations.”

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/06/20/war-for-ukraine-day-1212-more-russian-missiles-in-the-small-hours/

 

Day 1210 War in Ukraine

 

A Ukrainian couple traveled to Israel to get their 7-year old daughter treated for a severe form of cancer. An Iranian ballistic missile found them there.

After Trump departed the G7 meeting, Zelenskyy took his place.

Members of the European Parliament expressed solidarity with Mzia Amaglobeli. The Parliament spoke of her case as a Human Rights Emergency. She’s been imprisoned for 150 days now.

Ruling party in Georgia is now demanding sensitive personal information from opponents.

Russia is now building bases near the Finnish border.

Former Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink is running to be a Representative of Michigan.

NATO is planning an abbreviated planning session, “short & sweet.” They’re trying to work around Trump so as to avoid any spectacles.

US Embassy to Ukraine puts out a meaningless “thoughts and prayers” type of message.

Video of Ukrainian drones attacking Russian drones.

Ukrainians critically damaged a rare and expensive Russian "Yastreb-AV" radar system ($250 million).

Six Russian UAVs clobber some Ukrainian market stals.

EU Diplomat assaulted in Russia.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/06/18/war-for-ukraine-day-1210-the-cost/