Day 1069 War in Ukraine

Underground school in Kharkiv. Kids can study regardless of air raids and artillery fire.

Zelenskyy commemorates the 80^th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Zelenskyy regrets that Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons, as having those might have prevented Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea and subsequent fighting.

In Georgia, over 300 media professionals demand that Mzia Amaghlobeli be released. She has been on a hunger strike for 16 days. The Ministry of Health did not answer reporter’s questions about this. Government isn’t even monitoring her health.

Trump’s suspension of aid to Ukraine has caused all kinds of disruption and chaos. Support of veterans was underwritten by US aid.

Film showing the effect of an anti-tank mine on an unarmored vehicle!

North Korean troops suffer such heavy casualties in one sector, they pull back.

North Korean troops appear to have been very poorly prepared, leading to very high casualties.

Film of “what the city of Avdiivka has turned into after being ‘liberated’ by the Russian army.”

18 Ukrainian drones attacked the refinery at Ryazan. Four got through and started the blaze. A facility for creating cleaning compounds was also damaged.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/01/27/war-for-ukraine-day-1069-president-zelensky-commemorates-the-80th-anniversary-of-the-liberation-of-auschwitz-birkenau/

Day 1061 War in Ukraine

Russian officer assaults wounded Russian troops before sending them off to war. These are ethnic Tyvans, who are exploited by Russians.

Unfortunately, a Biden Administration figure has confirmed that they never intended for Ukraine to actually WIN against Russia! The objective was for Ukraine to simply survive, and of course, that meant continued war with devastation and casualties.

It’s highly implausible that a ship would accidentally drop anchor and then drag the anchor for miles and miles with all of the communications cable criss-crossing the Baltic Sea, but that’s what US intelligence agencies have concluded. The alternative, of course, suggests that we are in a World War. The blogger blames the system that intel professionals work under, which compels them to be very cautious. Finland has concluded that the anchor-dragging was deliberate.

Hmm, the Georgia Dream Party “president, Mikheil Kavelashvili, pardoned 613 convicts.” Plenty of suspicions as to why.

Georgian police claim two activists were “accidentally” arrested. Activists are still in police custody.

Woo hoo! $100 million radar station destroyed!

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/01/19/war-for-ukraine-day-1061-who-couldve-possibly-imagined/

 

Day 1060 War in Ukraine

 

 

 

Russia bombs a cathedral because, well of course they do.

Protesters in Georgia forced into a car and driven off. No one knows where they are.

Protesters are looking for new forms of protest.

The founder of independent media "Batumelebi" slapped a police officer and now face 4 to 7 years in prison as a result.

Ballistic missiles hit in Kyiv before air raid siren could sound.

Water pipe in Kyiv breaks, making commuting difficult. Grocery store opens up anyway because "People need groceries." Extensive descriptions of how people cope.

Russians assault the Pokrovsk front 84 times and lose 335 servicemen. Rundown on various parts of the front.

Four russian oil depots are currently engulfed in flames.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/01/18/war-for-ukraine-day-1060-russian-bombards-a-cathedral-among-other-ukrainian-civilian-targets/

 

 

Day 1059 War in Ukraine

Dmytro became known over that infamous knife fight video from the war zone of Donbas

Russian aerial assault on Kryvyi Rih Many civilians dead. Kryvyi Rih resident lost a wife to a Russian attack in 2022. Now he’s lost ANOTHER wife to a 2025 Russian attack!

Ukraine I working hard to be independent of the US for arms to fight Russia with.

Head of Batumi police had restaurant workers beaten because they didn’t recognize him. Same fellow responsible for degrading the corporate director Mzia Amaghlobeli. Amaghlobeli then sentenced by a judge who never attended law school.

Ukraine doesn’t simply launch a few drones and/or missiles and hope for the best, they launch wave after wave in a highly coordinated manner.

Ukrainians assess Biden’s effectiveness. Very good in some respects, but late and slow in others. Took Putin’s nuclear saber-rattling for too seriously.

Ukraine adopting basic military training for everyone of school age. Man can be drafted after that, women can volunteer.

Ukraine’s newly formed brigades face devastating losses as poor leadership, inadequate training, and mismatched foreign support hinder their effectiveness on the battlefield

To endure on the battlefield, an infantryman must know how to camouflage, maneuver, set up positions, counter drones, provide medical aid, conduct surveillance, report accurately, and coordinate with comrades.

Engels 2 air base, Russia, was it by Ukrainian drones 10 days ago and is STILL burning! Lots of other oil refineries, etc. are hit.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/01/17/war-for-ukraine-day-1059-russia-pounds-on-kryvyi-rih/

Day 1058 War in Ukraine

 

It’s illegal in Georgia to use a face covering or to shoot off fireworks, so Mariam Sitchinava is doing both! Authorities are getting embarrassed by the situation.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer visits Ukraine. Starmer agrees to provide peacekeeping troops in the event of a peace agreement with Russia.

Authorities in Georgia are poisoning protesters with some unknown substance that’s causing a lot of physical problems.

The people of Georgia feel they must keep going or they can acquiesce in a dictatorship.

“The Russian TOR-M2 air defense system costs around $25–27 million” One system down!

Ukrainian Natalia Vlasova suffers horrible tortures and is now sentenced to 18 years in a Russian prison. She’s waiting to be exchanged.

27 Russians captured in Kursk operation.

“Human Safari” in Kherson continues.

Attacking on the Siversk front results in enormous losses.

Liski oil depot was covered in drone cages. It was burned anyway.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/01/16/war-for-ukraine-day-1058-a-brief-thursday-night-update/

Day 1056 War in Ukraine

Ukrainians assist at the LA fires.

Russians launching strike fighters to try and get revenge for yesterday’s strike by Ukraine. It involved “drones, missiles, special operations, and intelligence” and hit targets as much as 1,100 km deep into Russia. More than 100 missiles spread across 12 regions.

Putin’s aide has extremely optimistic views concerning Ukraine and Moldova. He thinks both will soon cease to exist. Blogger thinks that If the aide takes over, he might even be worse than Putin.

Apparently, Russia deliberately provoked Trump’s interest in buying Greenland with a forged letter. The blogger describes the operation as a perfect Black PSYO. “The second point is how bad at their jobs Senator Cotton and his staff are.“

Sigh! Biden left $4 billion in aid that was allocated for Ukraine unused. “Drawdown” means we take from US stocks and then procure replacements from the US economy. That can only be done so quickly.

Fireworks and face coverings are both illegal in Georgia, which is why both used widely by protesters.

Georgians honor Sandro Akhmeteli (1886-1937), a theater director who died in Stalin’s purge.

Georgian opposition party member attacked and hospitalized.

Mzia Amaglobeli, CEO of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, is arrested on BS charge of assaulting a policeman. She was sentenced to “preventive detention,” which makes no sense, as she’s not violent.

Major pharmaceutical chain goes on strike for a symbolic five minutes.

Russia attacks with 80 drones. Only one hit its target. Ukraine is getting better at dealing with Russian strikes, in the meantime, Ukrainian effectiveness is improving.

Agree. It’s good to send recruits to experienced units rather than to create new units with them.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/01/14/war-for-ukraine-day-1056-strike-hard/

Important dates for next few weeks

 Greetings. To paraphrase John Oliver, It has been a busy few weeks.

We are sharing a list of upcoming Actions, Trainings and Webinars we have been organizing and collaborating on.

You can go to two locations on our website.  

Below that - (at the bloom of this message) are a couple of ACTION ALERTS that we implore you to do right away!

1. Our webpage for online stuff here, and -- 
2. Our webpage for in person events and actions, here. (These are sometimes hybrid events but we strongly encourage direct participation.) 

Please take whatever precautions for your health you feel you should and PLEASE mask if you are sick (better yet, stay home and take care of yourself - we need you)

or use the online option if it is available.

Some of these are also available on our calendar

We hope you can take part in as many as you are able and spread the word to others.

--------------------

Please share any local events you may be working on if not in the Philly area.

Jan 18th

People's March Philadelphia 

Saturday, January 18⋅10:00am –3:00pm  

Location: Philadelphia City Hall, 1401 John F Kennedy Blvd, 

Philadelphia, PA, 19012, United States

EVENTS PAGE

Jan 20th

Possible Inauguration Day Actions 

Part of Trump Watch. The Peace & Justice Edition.

Stay tuned

Jan 25th

Grassroots lobbying 101

Sponsored by the Dviest Philly from the War machine Coalition

Saturday, January 25 at 2:00pm-4:00pm 

prepare for the struggles to come

Where: Independence Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia 

18 S. 7th Street) How to Join: Sign up here! 

Feb. 1st

2025 WILPF PHILLY PEACE and JUSTICE DOVE AWARD

Saturday, February 1⋅1:00 – 3:30pm 

Location: Germantown Friends Meeting at,47 W Coulter St, Philadelphia, PA 19144

Gather to celebrate and learn about the life-long commitments of two incredible local activists: Maati Yvonne Platts and Sylvia Metzler

Feb 2nd

Champions of Human Rights: Voices and Action for a Just World

Sunday, February 2⋅3:00 – 4:30pm 

Organized by Coalition for Peace Action

Register for the online event here.

Feb 16th

How Do Social Movements Win?

and What Does “Winning” Mean?

DATE: Sun, Feb 16
TIME: 1 PM—5 PM
Southampton Friends Meeting
 710 Gravel Hill Road, Southampton PA 18966
Childcare available on request
Co-Sponsored by
Peace, Justice, Sustainability NOW!
and
Hold The Line Bucks County

Register here.

--------------------------------

ACTION ALERTS!!

# 1

Divest from Israel Bonds, stop funding genocide.

SIgn up for our campaign to divest Pennsylvania from Israel Bonds which help fund genocide in Gaza.

You can sign our petition here.

We are collaborating with a sister effort with Jewish Voice for Peace. You can sign their petition here.

# 2

And a new effort, Trump Watch, The Peace & Justice Edition

Since Trump is hard to pin down, this will be a moving target but ...

We pledge to do our best to respond and resist quickly and strategically as he continues to create chaos.

In particular, a real danger is this time he and his MAGA force are better organized. 

One urgent threat is a slew of really bad appointments as presidential advisors to head up the national security state. 

    Here is our first Action Alert for this effort:

    Here is our first Action Alert for this effort:

Day 1054 War in Ukraine

Fifth day of the Russian Engels air base burning.

“Serbian president offers to host Trump-Putin meeting in Belgrade.”

Zelenskyy says that they’ve captured two North Korean soldiers. One wishes to be returned, one does not. They’re being saved for prisoner swaps.

He also expressed an interest in sending 150 firefighters to California to help battle the fires there.

Ukraine is also willing to help Moldova with the recent cut-off of Russian natural gas.

German Foreign Minister advises sending more aid to Ukraine.

Not sure where the restaurant is in relation to where Georgian protesters were gathered, but it was quickly discovered that a judicial corporate banquet was being held there. Attendees fled, being pelted with eggs. Police respond with brutality. In response to reports of protesters spitting into the food of the judges, that behavior is blamed on Lithuanians.

Mzia Amaghlobeli was arrested for holding a certain sign. Protesters show solidarity by holding up similar signs.

Members of the administration know they’ll never be able to clear their names. “From today on, the judicial rot in Georgia knows that people want them all sacked.”

Ukrainian serviceman Volodymyr Demchenko feels that North Korean soldiers are formidable antagonists.

North Koreans launch assault lasting eight hours. No Ukrainians harmed.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/01/12/war-for-ukraine-day-1054-those-boots-wont-lick-themselves/

 

Day 1051 War in Ukraine

 

Not at all surprising. The closer a country is to Russia, the more money they’re willing to send to Ukraine to hold Russia back.

The Ukrainian Contact Group has been meeting since the full-scale war broke out in February 2022. With Trump taking over, Zelenskyy attends what is likely their final meeting.

Secretary of Defense Austin is right that tremendous damage has been done to Russia’s military resources, but Russia shows no signs of slowing down.

Trump has extended his pledge to end the war in Ukraine from a single day to 100 days. .

If Trump withdraws support for Ukraine, the EU says it is ready to pick it up again.

Denmark & Norway purchase arms directly from Ukrainian manufacturers for immediate, local use.

Canada pledges $305 million to Ukraine. That includes $138 million for large-caliber ammunition.

Salome Zourabishvili claims to be the only legitimate president of Georgia and will attend Trump’s inauguration and conduct diplomacy while in the US.

Protesters in Georgia risk fines by wearing face masks.

Million dollar Russian BM-21 Grad MLRS destroyed by an FPV drone that costs from $200 to $500.

Ukraine repels massive assault in Kursk region.

“Russia launched an airstrike on residential neighborhoods in Kherson in broad daylight.”

Russian forces only two km from Kupiansk. Russia conducted 12 attacks in one day.

Gifts were distributed to children in a village in Kherson that hardly ever sees visitors.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/01/09/war-for-ukraine-day-1051-president-zelenskyy-addresses-what-is-likely-to-be-the-last-ukraine-contact-group-meeting/

Day 1046 War in Ukraine

When a guided bomb hits a residential building, that means the Russians knew EXACTLY what they were aiming at!

How the Ukrainian air defense did in 2024.

Germany’s “Chancellor Olaf Scholz could meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin before Germany’s parliamentary elections on Feb. 23.” Ukraine does NOT wish to be the subject of their conversation.

The Georgian singer Nutsa Buzaladze performs in a heavily government subsidized concert, with protesters shouting “Shame!” at her.

Beatings of woman Georgian protesters has begun. Foreign nationals who take part in Georgian protests are being expelled. Nationwide general strike scheduled for 15 January for three hours.

Carnegie Endowment does an assessment of the war in Ukraine. Many areas have improved, but Russia is gaining ground. The Kursk offensive has helped, but has not changed the basic trajectory of the conflict. Drones serve as a force multiplier. “Given observed constraints, Russia can’t sustain this intensity of combat operations either, and faces significant headwinds in the latter half of 2025.”

Russians using soldiers disguised as civilians to bypass Ukrainian positions.

A Ukrainian photographer documents what has happened on one park bench over a decade.

Ukrainian drones target sea port in in Leningrad Oblast. Most are shot down.\

Russian factory that produces solid-fuel rocket motors was attacked by drones.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/01/04/war-for-ukraine-day-1046-sumy/