Day 1142 War in Ukraine

So “Special” Envoy to Ukraine LTG (ret) Kellogg wants one plan, Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff wants another. The difference is that Kellogg wants to limit Russia to permanently occupying the areas of Ukraine that it already occupies, Witkoff wants Russia to have all of the area going out to the dotted lines, that is, all of the four provinces that Russia has allegedly annexed. BTW, one of the primary purposes behind founding the UN in 1948 was to forbid all annexations.

Two Georgians, married to each other and fighting against Russia in Ukraine, have been sentenced in absentia, to lengthy prison terms.

UK sanctions Georgia some more.

Trump offers Ukraine the same wildly unfair minerals deal it had unsuccessfully offered before. Again, a “deal” that will go nowhere.

Tanker ship gets way to close to Estonia and claims it’s registered in Djibouti. Djibouti has no record of it.

Britain’s Price Harry stops by to visit wounded Ukrainian soldiers.

Zelenskyy visits Kryvyi Rih to examine bombing damage. “On April 4, a russian ballistic missile struck near houses and a playground, killing 19 people, 9 of whom were children.”

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/04/11/war-for-ukraine-day-1142-never-going-to-happen/

 

Day 1140 War in Ukraine

 

When a plane is landing is when it’s the most vulnerable. Ukrainian drone that cost about $1k intercepted a Russian Tu-22M3 that cost $100 million!

Zelenskyy is willing to make a minerals deal, but he’s not going to be rushed into deal that will just turn Ukraine into a colony.

Georgia: It’s been raining all day in Batumi, but protesters show up anyway.

Georgian protesters keep Russian oriented administration people from joining in celebration of April 9^th. Ambassadors of Sweden and Latvia were allowed in, though.

Poland and the US also paid their respects.

History of Russia’s aggression against Georgia.

Japan interested in joining NATO for the purpose of supporting Ukraine.

Shades of the SHIELD Helicarrier! Ukraine has an aircraft that carries FPV drones.

Ukraine also has a drone specifically for intercepting Shaheds.

China insists their soldiers aren’t fighting in Ukraine.

Ukraine also has a missile-armed drone helicopter.

“Russia’s new spring offensive against northeastern Ukraine ‘has actually already begun’”

“The 225th Separate Assault Regiment is successfully breaking through Russian ‘dragon's teeth’ in the Belgorod region “

Russian base attacked with drones.

Balloon Juice - War for Ukraine day 1,140: Another Early Morning Russian Bombardment of Kharkiv

Day 1136 War in Ukraine

 

Some competition for Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider. Germany has been providing Ukraine with the services of a high-speed satellite. It only serves 1k terminals now, but they’re working on getting its capacity up there.

Russia launches a combined missile and drone attack on Ukraine.

Mourning the children slaughtered on a playground yesterday.

Blogger predicts that the minerals deal Trump wants will go nowhere. It’ll be endlessly negotiated.

Georgians remember a hero who died after torture in 2008.

Journalist arrested after incident in which he was apparently slapped by the head of the Georgia Dream Party.

Information on the minerals deal between Ukraine and the US leaked. Zelenskyy is trying to find out who tattled. Trump has yet to add security guarantees, so Ukraine’s concern isn’t very great.

Ukraine not likely to reduce its army after the war.

Russia lies about missile attack on Kryvyi Rih, portraying it as a military target. In the path of the missile were children.

A Russian multi-million dollar air defense system destroyed.

It looked as though a Ukrainian unit was stuck in the Russian rear, but after heroic fighting, made it back to their own lines.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/04/05/war-for-ukraine-day-1136-missiles-drone-swarms-in-the-small-hours/

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/

 

Day 1116 War in Ukraine

Protesters in Georgia are aware that the police use photographs of them to charge them really large amounts of money in fines, so they wear masks.

Third-year anniversary of the day that Russia bombed a building that was clearly marked “children.” Estimate is that over 300 children and their caregivers died.

Protesters in Georgia use their own trash bags during their marches as the authorities removed all trash containers because protesters were using them as barricades.

When Germany and France were fighting, it made sense for Switzerland to be neutral. When France and Germany joined all of the rest of Europe in opposing Russia, Swiss neutrality made a lot less sense. “Switzerland’s new defence minister Martin Pfister” had made moves to correct this problem.

France made a pitch for Europe to buy European weapons systems as the US is now an unreliable supplier.

Russia will of course, rush in to fill the gap of Voice of America going silent.

Senator Lindsey Graham talks of a President Trump who exists only in the fantasies of his most ardent supporters. There’s no such person in real life.

Fiber-optic cables for drones are great because they can’t be jammed, but they CAN be caught up in anti-drone nets!

Ukraine adds electronic sights to their air defense systems, enabling them to hit more targets at night.

Think some Russian soldiers were also amazed by toilets and washing machines back when they entered Germany in 1945. Some things don’t change.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/03/16/war-for-ukraine-day-1116-a-terrible-anniversary/

 

Day 1115 War in Ukraine

Huh! Seems like only yesterday Republicans were idolizing Viktor Orbán of Hungary, now Hungarians are rising in revolt.

“Double tap” - drone strike followed up by another one on the same target an hour later, causing damage to First Responders and their vehicles. 178 drones sent last night, targeting energy infrastructure.

Canada reconsidering the F-35, looking for European jet fighters. Trump & Musk have made it clear that the US is no longer a reliable supplier of weapons.

Zelenskyy does a Zoom meeting with national leaders. He repeats that Ukraine will not recognize Russian-occupied territory as part of Russia.

In Georgia, man gets shot, likely by a regime person.

Voice of America and Radio Free Europe shut down. Tyrants everywhere rejoice. History of how Putin established control over Russia’s media.

In only 50 days, Trump has fundamentally broken US alliances with democracies and thrown us in with dictatorships. “such an arrangement has long been a dream of Mr. Putin’s”

Keith Kellogg, demoted from handling the Russia-Ukraine project, will handle just Ukraine.

Germany to supply Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

France considers sending trainers to Ukraine.

Pro-Russian leaders of Serbia and Hungary facing opposition from their people.

Donetsk is the important front now.

Ukraine uses its own missile at 1k km.

Tuapse oil refinery still burning.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/03/15/war-for-ukraine-day-1115-another-russian-double-tap-strike-on-ukrainian-first-responders/

 

Day 1114 War in Ukraine

“Four Russian Pantsir-S1 air defence systems targeted by FPV drones.” The air defense systems are $15 to $20 million each, FPV drones are $100 to $1000.

Putin’s goals are the same as they always were. He wants to completely crush Ukraine. US Intelligence assessment is that Russia would use a truce to rest and refit and would then come up with some sort of “provocation” to re-start the war. “[Putin] has a long-standing desire to restore ‘Mother Russia,’ one official said.”

Trump desperately wants Putin’s approval.

In Georgia, formerly suspended Theater University students given airtime. Joyous crowd greets them afterwards.

Two Russian citizens participated in Tbilisi protests and are arrested on false charges.

Portugal reconsiders buying F-35s and looks to European contracts.

Musk’s DOGE cuts funds that were being used to trace Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia.

Putin makes a false claim, Trump says “Oh, okay” and repeats the claim without fact-checking it. Trump scolds Ukraine for the Kursk operation, claiming that Ukraine is smaller and weaker than Russia. But “even pro-Russian Telegram channels disputed the encirclement claims by Putin and Trump.”

Hospital hit by Russian drones.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/03/14/war-for-ukraine-day-1114-his-truce-goes-marching-on/