Day 1694 War for Ukraine

Romanian ships hit. “One was in Romanian waters, the other just outside.” I very much understand the desire of Europeans to continue to wait for a big, splashy, Pearl Harbor-type attack from Russia, but what's the plan if they don't? What if Russia keeps slowly upping the attacks, kind of like the “frogs in increasingly hot water” metaphor (which doesn't actually happen, but it's a good metaphor for people who don't react until they absolutely have to).

The blogger shows how Stephen Miller has the power within the White House to issue such an order, concludes ultimately that Trump made it clear that he wanted Ukraine to suffer for not jumping to obey his commands. “Trump: 'Zelenskyy is not a good guy for us to deal with ...'”

Zelenskyy is determined to keep up the attack on Russia anyway.

By the way, where IS that Russian 300k tons of diesel, that stockpile that Russia promised? Russia: “Contract negotiations are underway.”

Alice Weidel of AfD tries to make a case to abandon Ukraine.

Zelenskyy attends EU meeting in Brussels. Air defense is a major topic for him.

In August Russia condemned Britain for providing Storm Shadow missiles to Ukraine. October, Britain provides them anyway.

Ukraine is now out of Patriot air defense missiles.

US suggests unfreezing some Russian assets. Europe says “No.”

Texas Senate candidate James Talarico comes out wholeheartedly in favor of Ukraine.

Kyiv suffers damage to infrastructure.

Private homes and apartments damaged in Kharkiv.

Supermarket in Odesa struck by Shahed jet-powered drone.

Air traffic in in Moscow shut down due to Ukrainian drones.

Six Russian jets destroyed on the ground by Ukrainian Navy.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/10/15/war-for-ukraine-day-1694-the-finger-pointing-continues/

 

Dat 1693 War for Ukraine

 Peskov is 100% correct. It is unreasonable to hold Russia accountable for having failed to comply with Trump's unilaterally declared “energy truce” if Trump hasn't sat down with both parties and worked out with both of them exactly what means what. Such a discussion will never take place because that would mean Trump would have to devote time, attention and energy to the matter.

Elon Musk says the slowdown of Starlink isn't his fault, “White House officials told the Ukrainians they don’t have control over SpaceX,“ I tend to believe Musk here. When the government and a private company disagree, I find it difficult to believe that the government is helpless in the matter.

Zelenskyy feels betrayed by Trump.

The blogger points out that what the manipulation of Starlink does is to hurt the defense of civilians more than it hurts military offensives.

Hmm, I saw Trump's rant the other night. It' been deleted now. Trump probably felt his words incriminated him.

Blogger: “if Trump were actually a Russian asset, what would he be doing differently than he is doing. And the answer remains the same as the last however many times I’ve asked: nothing, he’d be doing nothing differently.”

Kushner and Witkoff have suggested that Russia's assets be unfrozen. Europe and Ukraine disagree.

Leader of a Georgian party prevented from attending a conference in Europe.

“In 2027, the EU plans to reallocate the 2 GHz spectrum band for satellite communications. Elon Musk's company is also laying claim to these frequencies.” There's a powerful reason to resolve this NOW! Why are they waiting until next year?

Britain hurries up deliveries of anti-jet drone missile.

Trump comes up with a good explanation for why he doesn't call Putin names Problem is, this restraint applies ONLY to Putin and other dictators!

No one knows why FBI Director Kash Patel visited Russia.

“All THREE of Kyiv’s combined heat and power plants were targeted overnight.”

How Ukraine's defense is being hampered.

Can Europe replace America's early warning system for Russian missiles? Ehh, probably not, as the system is very complex with lots of parts.

Russia hits a wholesale store and the Korsak Museum of Contemporary Ukrainian Art,

Anna Sotsenko went on a hunger strike to protest living under Russian occupation. She was abducted and held incommunicado, then charged with treason.

Ukrainian interceptor drone strikes Russian helicopter mid-air!

Russian military air base struck with los of damage.

Another data center struck.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/10/14/war-for-ukraine-day-1693-when-you-point-one-finger-three-fingers-point-back-at-you/

Day 1690 War in Ukraine

A decade later, British politicians FINALLY admit it! The Brexit vote was rigged by Russia! I could tell there was something wrong when the British seemed surprised at the consequences of the vote. Europe showed no sympathy and wouldn't let then re-do the vote. Blogger says he was aware of the Russian influence from the start.

Correction: a ship did indeed make its way to the US shortly after Trump announced the diesel deal with Russia, but the ship is carrying urea, not diesel.

Turns out Trump's announcement was in error because neither Ukraine nor Russia had agreed to any such thing. Trump announced a nonexistent deal. Russia struck a thermal power plant right after Trump's announcement. Trump expected Ukraine to abide by the nonexistent agreement anyway, but the US has no negotiating leverage with Ukraine and hasn't had any for quite a while.

Also, Putin sent nuclear technicians to Iran to help them get their nuclear power plant working again and Russia's supplying missiles to Iran.

Assassination attempt on Prime Minister of Poland.

Again, Laura Loomer is absolutely correct. Loomer “Vladimir Putin has killed more white, Christian, European men and women than Al Baghdadi [ISIS] ever did.”

Seven senators object to the Trump-Putin diesel deal.

The company Fire Point has put together a new ballistic missile design in just two years, a process that usually take seven to 15 years.

Have Russian trolling operations fallen because Ukraine has bombed Russian data centers? Nah, but it makes for a good story.

Is there a chance Musk will shut off Starlink? Seems unlikely.

In one week, “Russia fired roughly 1,450 guided bombs, 75 missiles, and over 1,640 strike drones at Ukraine.” In response, Ukraine caused Russia to suffer 50k casualties, 28k fatalities.

Russia trikes in Kharkiv cause many civilian casualties.

A MANPADS in action, taking out aa Shahed drone.

Due to done activity, none of the Moscow airports can allow any takeoffs or landings.

Omsk oil refinery hit again. Omsk is roughly 3,500 km from Ukraine front lines. More damage done to Russian sites.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/10/11/war-for-ukraine-day-1690-energy-ceasefire/

Day 1689 War in Ukraine

Fox & Friends co-host Rachel Campos-Duffy (seated on the couch) produces a “false equivalence.” She talks about how wonderful it would be to stop the war in Ukraine (that would indeed be a marvelous thing, but the details of the terms are extremely important) “We could stop killing a million kids on the Russian side, a million on the Ukraine side...” Have the Russians killed a million Ukrainian kids? That number is more likely in the hundreds of thousands as Ukrainians have bomb shelters all over, but yes, Russia regularly fire missiles and drones right into civilian areas. It is very unlikely on the Russian side as Ukraine tries to focus on military or dual-use targets.

“Trump: 'I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president'” Fortunately, the US no longer has the power over smaller countries that it did during the 50s and 60s.

Trump's talking points totally copy Putin's talking points.

Why did Zelenskyy ignore “half a dozen U.S. requests to stop attacking Russian oil refineries”? Negotiating 101. If you want an alleged ally to do or not do something, you offer something! There's zero indication from this piece that Trump offered Zelenskyy anything to unilaterally disarm and to stop bombing Russian oil refineries. The US wanted Ukraine to unilaterally stop doing something that was pressuring Russia. In return? Nothing. Just threats if Ukraine didn't agree.

Blogger wonders if the US would win a war against Ukraine. US has air superiority, but that's about it and that air superiority isn't doing much good against the Iranians or the Houthis.

Very, very interesting: “The first Russian diesel cargo heading for the US left St Petersburg on September 22, two weeks *before* Trump announced the deal with Putin, Windward reports.”

The deal that Russia dangled in front of Trump was allegedly worth $12 trillion.

A Georgian woman born in 1930 states her fondest wish: To greet her 100^th year “in a Georgia free of the Georgian Dream” (the party running Georgia right now).

Georgian Dream has banned 93 words and phrases from being used by TV news.

“Trump: 'It’s amazing. I can say the stupidest things, and you’ll clap and say, ‘We love you so much!'” Women behind him smile, laugh and clap.

Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (my Representative) wants to pass a bill to block purchasing Russian oil. Problem is that the House is out of session until after the midterm election.

Laura Loomer is 1005 correct!

Ukrainian drone blows up Russian fuel stockpile.

In the process of hitting Russian military truck, a drone causes a traffic accident.

Russia hits Kyiv with several ballistic missiles.

Woo-hoo! Russian ballistic missile shot down!

Apartment building ad hospital bombed.

Russian oil refineries being covered by anti-drone nets.

Moscow airports closed due to drones.

Ukraine hits oil-loading terminal in Rostov-on-Don. Ukraine hits machine-tool plant.

More data centers under attack.

Russia building drone production facility in Tatarstan, about 2k km from Kyiv.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/10/10/war-for-ukraine-day-1689-trump-tries-to-twist-his-little-knife/

 

Day 1688 War in Ukraine

 Popular Georgian singer Nutsa Buzaladze was once proud to be considered a member of the Georgian Dream Party. Now if she's referred to as a member of that party, she threatens to sue!

Trump's latest phone call with Putin lasted one and a half hours. Trump excitedly announces that Russia may send us 300k tons of diesel oil. Ukrainians are less than pleased.

The oil is actually likely to come from South Korea. Russia will simply transfer it from those ships to theirs and then on to the US. Getting the oil to the US would require violating sanctions. If Europe intercepts the sanctioned oil tankers, the US Navy is all tied up around the Persian Gulf.

How long would it take the US to use up 300k tons of diesel oil? About 13 to 14 hours.

Blogger figures the real goal is just to get sanctions lifted.

“Montenegro has detained the head of the Russian Z-propaganda network RYBAR, Mikhail Zvinchuk, who has a whopping 1.5 million subscribers on Telegram alone.”

“A fire has destroyed humanitarian aid intended for Ukraine at a warehouse in Frankfurt, Germany.” Gee, who would have been motivated to do THAT?

Greece's PAC-3 Patriot air defense missiles are soon to expire and be useless. They won't give their at least 200 missiles to Ukraine.

September 2025, Trump thought it was silly for Europe to be fighting Russia AND to be importing oil from them. October 2026, that's now perfectly okay.

Three Democratic Senators condemn Trump's proposed oil purchase.

US-Ukrainian talks conclude earlier than anticipated.

Russia is now aiming drones at power lines.

Russian drones now have even more communications chips, so stronger countermeasures are needed.

Brave, brave Russians bravely take out a kindergarten with a drone. Oh, and cows too! They also bravely take out a herd of cows.

Ukraine strikes 20 Russian command posts, killing many Russian officers.

Ukraine disrupting Russian air traffic. Putin forced to land in St. Petersburg instead of Moscow.

Russian oil export terminal continues to burn. More refineries hit at 2,500 km.

Russian data centers being hit.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/10/09/war-for-ukraine-day-1688-trump-has-announced-hes-subsidizing-putins-war-against-ukraine/

Day 1683 War in Ukraine

Anastasiia Mamotiuk is a disabled Ukrainian woman who was taken by the Russians in 2022. Authorities were in touch with her via secret communications (she consistently expressed the desire to be returned home to her friends and family) but about a half a month ago, communications from her have ceased.

Russia has warned all European embassies that it is no longer safe to remain in Kyiv. Realizing that their presence was helpful to Ukrainians, all of the embassies have elected to remain.

German Chancellor Merz arrives in Kyiv and signs several agreements.

Finland President Alexander Stubb refers to Ukraine as “a buffer zone and an impediment to potential Russian aggression." Not terribly complimentary. Kate from Kharkiv isn't very pleased about it, especially as NATO isn't supplying Ukraine all that well.

Trump apparently weighing applying tariffs against Russia. More likely, he'll use that authority to pressure other countries.

Zelenskyy says Starlink decision is up to Trump.

Ukraine suffered 15k civilian casualties in 2026 so far. Plenty of possible unknown ones, though

The Bars jet-drone interceptor has the highest effective rate at 30%.

Ukraine has disabled over 51% of Russian oil refinery capacity.

Russia attacks bridge, an emergency response vehicle and apartment buildings.

A Taiwanese part somehow ends up in a Russian drone.

Ukraine needs to export millions of tons of grain or there could be a global food crisis. Overland food routes via Poland and Romania appear to be blocked.

Food shipments making it into Oleshky.

Ukraine has now taken out 456 power facilities in occupied Ukraine and Russia.

Communist Party rally in Moscow broken up by police.

Ukrainian drones hit “a Su-35 fighter, a Su-34 fighter-bomber, and an ammunition depot at the airfield.”

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/10/04/war-for-ukraine-day-1683-friends-dont-cut-and-run/

Day 1682 War in Ukraine

 Small truck tries to carry a helicopter! The next scene is of a crane lifting the helicopter back onto the same vehicle.

A while ago, a right-winger compared Jared Kushner to Hunter Biden, with of course Biden coming off looking terrible. I dunno though. Biden never tried to exert a serious influence on negotiations. Kushner, on the other hand, has been taking a direct part in negotiations where he has close buddies who stand to gain enormous profits via Kushner's acts in diplomacy. The NY Times says that “There is no indication that Mr. Kushner or Mr. Witkoff themselves stand to profit.“ which seems credible, that outsiders wil not see just how Kushner and Witkoff will profit, but I don't doubt they WILL profit! What would Russia want out of a deal? The blogger says that if Russia can't get an outright surrender: “...or to end the war that would include enforced Ukrainian neutrality (read that as no EU or NATO membership), a limited military in both size and scope, things that would essentially force Ukraine to become a Russian vassal state.”

Georgian protesters just observed their 675^th consecutive day of protest.

“Five Russian drones and missiles violated Moldova's airspace” As Lenin was reported to have said: “Probe with bayonets. If you find mush, proceed. If you find steel, withdraw.” Russia has been probing Moldova and finding mush. Moldova and/or Romania needs to pour resources into their air defense.

Czech Ambassador refuses Russian warning that he should leave Kyiv and took his regular jog around a park there.

Russians using psy-ops against Finnish parliamentarians with tactics that were developed by East Germans during the 60s and 70s. They'd break into an apartment and just move a few things around without stealing any valuables.

Russians unleash the plague on their city by breaking a test tube within their biolab.

Ground robots are fighting aerial drones by throwing nets at them.

Damage caused by Ukrainian drones.

Russian FPV drone hits car in Kharkiv.

Russian drone strikes a pylon of a bridge n Kyiv.

Ukrainian P1-SUN interceptor drones are manufactured in a facility that's deep underground.

Mourning the loss of Dobropillia, a now-destroyed Ukrainian town.

“Russian air defence shot down drones, causing them to fall on cars, after which a fire broke out.”

Russian UAV launch base blown up.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/10/03/war-for-ukraine-day-1682-quid-pro-quo/