Day 1665 War in Ukraine

 Tucker Carlson on Russian TV: “Zelensky is an illegitimate president who acts in accordance with the interests of people from other countries, including the US. If we, for example, stop supporting the Ukrainian government, then it will fall.” Couple of problems here. In 1975, South Vietnam was attacked by North Vietnam and very promptly and thoroughly collapsed, despite having been very heavily armed by the US before the general withdrawal in 1973. The defeat quickly became a rout, with SVN soldiers tearing off their uniforms, putting on civilian clothes and robbing civilians. On the other hand, Ukrainians knew that they were on their own in February 2022 until they could convince NATO allies that they weren't going to collapse. When it was clear they were going to hang in there, THEN NATO allies began offering assistance. Further, the US pretty much HAS cut off aid! There is a large chunk of aid that Congress earmarked specifically for Ukraine that has still not been spent. The US HAS stopped supporting Ukraine, but Ukraine is in an even better position than before Trump took office the second time. There are many types of allies that the US can stand with. Steadfast and true allies and allies who will collapse when the enemy “kicks in the door.”

Obviously, Ukraine and Russia are battling, but its far more than the two leaders hating each other. Trump just repeats what Putin tells him. Ukrainian are very deeply concerned about what will happen to them in the event of a Russian occupation.

Georgians feel regime is struggling while the protest movement is as strong as ever.

Belarus is assisting Russian drone attacks on Ukraine.

As US cannot provide enough Patriot missiles, Ukraine and the EU will produce reasonably similar ones in quantity.

Latvia getting Eurofighter jets.

Russian subs caught trying to conduct sabotage.

Ukrainian child in occupied zone turned into Russian soldier.

Sigh! “The UN is considering moving aid supplies underground so that a permanent member of the UN Security Council stops bombing them”

Blowing up Russian trucks trying to supply Crimea.

FREYJA anti-ballistic missiles should by ready by year's end.

Russian ballistic missiles hitting Kyiv.

Angelina Jolie does Instagram post on her recent trip to Kharkiv.

More Russian destruction in Ukraine.

Ukrainian civilians surrounded. Russia refuses to say they won't be attacked when leaving. “Civilians face the threat of shelling and drone attacks daily, leaving them without food, drinking water, medicine, and other essential aid”

Vote in occupied territory. Gee, I WONDER why Ukraine doesn't want to hold a vote until the end of the war. Blogger explains in detail.

Ukraine strikes Russian energy facilities.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/09/16/war-for-ukraine-day-1665-trump-cant-keep-from-spouting-putins-agitprop/

Day 1663 War in Ukraine

Trump suggests that Ukraine unilaterally desist from bombing Russian oil refineries. Ukraine responds by suggesting that both Ukraine and Russia refrain from hitting “critical infrastructure” on both sides. Tatarigami: “Russia’s entire winter campaign plan is built around destroying Ukraine’s energy sector.” So Trump is enormously overstating how much the two sides have agreed.

Blogger discusses Ukrainian targeting strategy.

Train hit within 2km from the Polish border. Poles concerned.

“Finland will join France’s proposed 'extended' nuclear deterrent system.”

EU leaders discuss military strategy against Russia.

“...the United States now has, on orbit, space-control weapons, capable of defending the joint force against hostile adversaries.” Could be massively destabilizing!

Pro Publica's report on Don Jr. and his latest wedding and the Russian oligarch who put out hundreds of thousands of dollars for it. They rented an island, which can go for $100k a night! Also a fireworks show that goes for $70k. What is the Kremlin friend's relationship to Don Jr.? No one's sure. Strong Middle East connections.

Ukrainian anti-drone weapons.

Russians bomb a pharmaceutical warehouse.

Russians welcome call to “cease attacks on civilian infrastructure.” No mention of reciprocation.

Anti-war Russian opposition will lose due to rigged election. Strength of Putin's party will be judged by how hard they have to work to win. “Regarding 2024 [Russian] election, researchers estimated that at least 22 million of the 75 million votes cast for Putin were falsified.” Russian public increasingly in favor of ending war.

Lots of Russian facilities hit.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/09/14/war-for-ukraine-day-1663-the-trump-barks-but-the-caravan-moves-on/

 

Day 1567 War in Ukraine

If I were the Russian commander in charge of this drone, I'd be doing shots of high-end vodka (and whatever else Russians do to celebrate)! If the drone was a test of Romania's air defense, Romania got an “F.” Had I been in charge of Romania's air defense, I would have scrambled jets when the Russian drone first entered Moldova's airspace. The moment it crossed into Romanian airspace, I'd have blown it out of the sky! It was criminally negligent to have allowed it to fly over Moldovan and Romanian airspace the way it did!

Russian “double-tap” strikes aimed at killing First Responders.

Passenger train hit by Russians.

Very heartening. Allies chip in for air defense, a need that Zelenskyy has pleaded far.

Hmm, Hungary expels 10 Russian diplomats but also makes trouble for Ukraine in achieving EU status.

Secretary of State Rubio wants to restart talks between Russia and Ukraine “and maybe reach a conclusion there that’s acceptable to both sides.” Difficult to see what such a solution might look like as Russia has claimed to have annexed five Ukrainian provinces, only one of which they fully occupy (Crimea) and as Ukraine has not given up anything, what would a mutually acceptable decision look like?

“US Deputy Secretary of Defense Elbridge Colby stated that Russia’s war in Ukraine could continue for several more years.” He calls for long-term support.

Treasury Secretary Bessert says European NATO members “don't want to participate” in Russia-Ukraine negotiations. Not quite. Europeans feel they are not neutral and thereby can't mediate between the two sides.

EU wants to establish a grain corridor so that Ukraine can continue to export grain.

Ukrainian documents two missile strikes, one right after the other.

“Russia struck a building housing an active TV channel during the workday today”

Ukrainian supermarket and fast food factory hit.

The Russian Millerovo airfield “placed under fire control,” meaning nothing can take off.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/09/08/war-for-ukraine-day-1657-double-tap-strikes-in-kyiv/

The narrator in this screenshot is the blogger who presented the Bluesky entry.

"Lavrov" is Russia's Foreign Minister. What's the distinction between “buffer zone” and “colony?” Ehh, pretty much a To-MAY-toe and To-MAH-toe difference. If Ukraine wants to adopt a different policy on just about anything, they have to go to Moscow to plead their case. As they're simply there to stand between Russia and any hostile powers, it's quite difficult to see what's in it for them.

Day 1656 War in Ukraine

 Huge respect for Angelina Jolie who visited Kharkiv, only 35 km from the front lines and that gets bombarded ALL the time! Her son was there to do some boxing with Ukrainian troops.

Aw, THAT doesn't seem right! A family gets bombed, the 11-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter die, but the mother is in critical condition and the grandmother survives!

During his visit to Ukraine, Jared Kushner criticized the Biden Administration for never having conducted face-to-face diplomacy with Putin in Moscow. Assessments of their diplomatic visits to Moscow and Kyiv are assessed to have accomplished nothing. Well, that's not 100% true, the visits resulted in a few days of no bombing, so they weren't a TOTAL waste!

Former Georgian Prosecutor General gathers some like-minded fellows and goes off to fight against Ukraine.

China's Vice Premier visits Vladivostok, before which China informed Ukraine and requested that the city not be bombed while he was there. Ukraine agreed.

Kaja Kallas of the European Union warns of Russian hybrid warfare.

Germany hardens its sites against drone attacks in response to drone attack on Liepzig Airport. Russia takes diplomatic measures against Germany for its reaction.

“When asked why US diesel prices were up, the US Energy Secretary blamed strikes on Russian refineries and didn't mention Iran or Hormuz.” In other words, the government “blamed the victim” and condemned Ukraine for defending itself while not mentioning Trump's role in inflated prices.

Estimates are that Russia can sustain current combat tempo for another two years.

Ukraine's Prosecutor General resigns. Likely because of corruption scandals.

Russia to improve their Iskander missiles.

Entertainment in Kyiv shut down unless crowds can immediate access to shelters.

Russia uses gas generators to survive power outages. Ukraine hits sources of gs.

Two shopping malls hit, one Ukrainian, one Russian. Russia hits tobacco factory.

Ukraine eliminates Lyman Salient. 152 square kilometers regained.

Russia claims that as soon as “Nazis” are all gotten rid of, there can be peace. Note: When Russians say “Nazi,” they are not referring to, say, Germany's AfD Party, they just use it as a general, catch-all term for anyone who opposed them.

Russian woman brings a gun to a gas line to make sure nobody cuts in line.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/09/07/war-for-ukraine-day-1656-the-plot-thins/

Day 1655 War in Ukraine

At this point, Russians just don't care any more. It is a war crime to attack an obviously-civilian building. Russians took this short clip ***themselves*** because they know that no one will take action!

Zelenskyy sums up the Witkoff-Kushner visit to Kyiv/; “It seems that the war will continue into the winter.” Lot of work to accomplish nothing meaningful.

Witkoff's praise for Putin created bad feelings in Ukraine.

National security advisors from the UK, France and Germany were also there.

German Chancellor Merz accuses Russia of attacking Liepzig Airport. Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov says “THIS IS WAR!” No action follows.

Italy will be ready to test new air defense system by end of year.

Pope makes very nice statements, but it's clear that he doesn't point to any sort of solution to the war.

Priorities: “First, Trump will listen to Witkoff and Kushner. After that, he plans to call Putin, and only then Zelensky.”

Witkoff relates that he's had eight meetings with Putin and none with Zelenskyy. Why do he and Kushner go to Moscow first? “We needed to hear where [Putin] stood.” So Witkoff needed a NINTH meeting to see where Putin stood?!?!

Jared Kushner: “Trump has a track record of doing impossible things.” Funny, nothing comes to mind. Can't recall Trump ever ***accomplishing*** a single “impossible” thing. “The last administration didn’t go to Russia.” Wasn't any point. Putin wanted total victory. Still does. Nothing to negotiate.

Putin appears to have delusions of imminent victory.

Good ol' capitalist competition! “Zelensky says 67 Ukrainian companies are working on ways to intercept jet-powered drones. Three to five of the projects have already shown results ...”

Ukraine figures legalizing the porn industry could bring in $25 million a year.

“Russia may launch a prolonged campaign of attacks on Kyiv's energy, water, and heating systems this winter “

Mourning a small family that was wiped out in Russia attack.

Lots of Russian stuff blowing up.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/09/06/war-for-ukraine-day-1655-i-lounge-corrected-they-actually-showed-up/

Day 1653 War in Ukraine

 “Russia is Starving the Occupied Town of Oleshky. Ukrainians trapped in the occupied Kherson region are desperately begging for help online.”

First Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, a real estate lawyer and Trump's son-in-law, go to Moscow several times. They FINALLY promise to go to Kyiv! But wait! They're going to Moscow as the first leg of their trip? What? Absolutely baffling! Oh and Witkoff wants to fly in. Erm, is he aware that there has been no civil aviation in Ukraine for the last five years? When a whole set of European leaders went to Kyiv for a big celebration/meeting, they all took a train. They didn't ASK Russia not to bomb them! They simply put it out that they were going. They DARED Russia to launch a strike when they were there! They all came back in fine shape.

Russia struck the headquarters of the SBU. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has ordered “an appropriate, tangible response.”

Russian activist receives pardon in Georgia and is given time get to a third country.

Britain criticizes Georgia for democratic backsliding.

A British academic considers Witkoff to be hopelessly out of his depth.

“WP: Kremlin perceives US calls for peace as weakness and increases shelling of Ukraine.”

A sea drone can carry 18 anti-Shahed interceptors.

The effects on Kyiv residents of the continual bombing of the city. Includes 20 minute film.

Russia attacks seafood warehouse, a high-rise, a public bus and the Epicenter.

Russian stuff blowing up.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/09/04/war-for-ukraine-day-1653-i-wouldnt-hold-my-breath/

Day 1649 War in Ukraine

Please note that one of the countries the US SHOULD get along with is Canada! We're not getting along with them AT ALL! But seriously, Trump did this a few times in both his first and second term. He does a major favor for an authoritarian and...nothing! He just does a unilateral, free of charge favor for the other guy and then gets nothing in return.

Young Georgian political prisoner was 18 when he was jailed. Almost two years later, he's free.

“Grey Zone” attacks likely launched from Russia, but they're hard to prove.

France to supply four frigates to Sweden.

Senator Kennedy performs his usual hayseed yokel act but says a lot of sensible stuff about relation with Russia.

Hmm, Defense Minister Federov talked with Elon Musk and reported to Zelemskyy that Musk was ready to let Ukraine use his Starlink system to hit Russian targets. Turns out Musk did NOT mean that AFTER Zelenskyy told Trump that he did! No wonder Federov is on the outs with Zelenskyy!

Hilarious story of how Musk lost a fight with two Pop-Tarts and a toaster!

Missiles fired at Kyiv and other spots.

Air defense systems and Russian supply trucks targeted deep in the enemy's rear.

Putin fears being killed by fellow Russians if he does not at least take the Donbas. He comes up with an interesting metaphor, orcas (killer whales) attacking and eating polar bears (there's no evidence that this happens in nature). Putin swore to take revenge for the Ukrainian attacks on oil refineries and Wildberries.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/08/31/war-for-ukraine-day-1649-the-next-russian-ballistic-missile-attack-is-underway/