Day 1100 War in Ukraine

The EU Commission President wishes Zelenskyy well in his dispute with President Trump.

What we saw today between Trump, Zelenskyy and Vance was that Trump can’t intimidate Zelenskyy and that gives hin a sad. Extended look at the psychology of the match, one that Trump lost badly.

The Ambassador from Ukraine just holds head in her hands.

Stephen Miller, who has probably had the smoothest and least problematic relationship with Trump, and Musk.

“The 5th President of #Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, reacts to the Trump-Zelenskyy talks.“ She was horrified.

Temur Katamadze is on his 44^th day of hunger strike and will continue it until he achieves victory or dies.

Kyiv Independent says it plainly: “America’s leadership has switched sides in the war.”

Zelenskyy-Trump talk was going fine until Vance butted in and brought in Trump’s ego.

Unsurprisingly, Trump Administration will likely stop all arms transfers.

US Cyber Command ordered to stand down and to permit Russian propaganda to flourish.

Europe offers support to Zelenskyy.

Germany points to foreign interference in its last election.

Norway will produce anti-aircraft missiles with Ukraine.

Absolutely huge amount of Russian drones each night. They strike power plants, hospitals and residential areas.

Woo hoo! Russian ammo storage “cooking off!”

Russia radio station destroyed.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/02/28/war-for-ukraine-day-1100-trumps-tantrum/

Day 1096 War in Ukraine

In Georgia, snow is very high, many people are trapped inside. Elderly home requests assistance. Authorities are too busy hunting protesters.

In a ceremony to honor Ukraine and the start of the fourth year of the full-scale Russian invasion, the US is notable by its absence.

Zelenskyy attended the G7 meeting by Zoom.

Even in harsh winter conditions, Georgian protesters still show up.

Georgians gather at Ukrainian Embassy to mark three years since Russia invaded.

Georgia Police enjoy making late-night visits to collect fines.

“The US voted ‘with’ Russia against the UN resolution condemning the invasion of Ukraine and demanding a withdrawal.”

President Macron of France says he stopped talking to Russia after the horrors of Bucha were discovered.

Macron fact-checks Trump live. Trump is clearly not used to that happening.

Germany’s Merz urges Europe to be independent of US.

Denmark contributes to Ukraine. Ireland will hand Ukraine much of its air defense system.

Canada will provide a great deal, including F-16 simulators.

Baltic & Nordic states are against a “rushed peace deal” for Ukraine.

“Russia has never kept its word on a ceasefire since it first invaded Ukraine in 2014”

Russia launches glide bomb attack on Kharkiv.

Story of mother trying to bring son home from Russian captivity. He was returned, but was tortured by Russia.

Theater premiere in a bomb shelter.

Russian oil depots hit!

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/02/24/war-for-ukraine-day-1096-the-third-year-ends-the-fourth-year-begins/

 

Day 1095 War in Ukraine

 

The blogger strongly disputes this assertion. He was involve at senior levels from 2008 on. The idea that Russia was concerned about Ukraine joining NATO is straight-up agitprop.

Three-year anniversary of the start of the planned, very-rapid re-invasion of Ukraine. Russia commemorates by launching 267 UAVs!

“Zelenskyy offers to step down in exchange for peace and Ukraine’s Nato membership “

He also refuses to sign away Ukraine’s natural resources to the US. The US ***granted*** Ukraine only $100 billion, not $500 billion and it wasn’t a loan.

“The President awarded the families of the fallen Heroes of Ukraine with the Orders of the Golden Star.”

A Georgian convict released by an amnesty arranged by the current, illegitimate president just killed a 23-year old and left the country.

Finings and the law.

Journalist Mzia Amaglobeli remains in criminal detention for slapping a police officer.

German Christian Democrats, a center-right party, wins election and will send Taurus missiles to Ukraine. He’s also annoyed that Musk meddled in Germany’s election.

Sweden sends air defense systems to Ukraine.

US wants to seriously water down UN resolution on war in Ukraine. "It looks like something the Russians drafted."

Trump makes Polish President wait for 90 minutes and then spent only 11 minutes with him. A full hour has been scheduled.

European Council will meet March 6^th to discuss defense of Ukraine without the U.S.

Ukraine’s Defense Minister says Ukraine has alternative to Starlink communications system. Musk’s ties to Russia have been a concern for quite a while.

Ukraine’s Security Service says 102 enemy agent networks were exposed.

Russia, which likes to present itself as defender of Christian values, bombed St. Stephen’s Church.

Ukrainian drone flies into Russian fortified garage and wipes out several vehicles.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/02/23/war-for-ukraine-day-1095-zelenskky-baits-his-trap/

Day 1093 War in Ukraine

Trump is really letting his mob-boss flag fly! He just doesn’t give a crap anymore! Now he’s threatening to take Starlink away if Zelenskyy doesn’t sign away his mineral rights.

Huh! DOGE employee has an interesting background!

Abrupt, late-on-Friday-night firings of many critical military people.

As it’s very cold in Georgia right now, volunteers are distributing lentil soup to protesters.

Protests in Georgian small towns.

“The police literally stood aside as protesters were attacked with a machete and a bat, yet arrested a woman who asked them about their inaction. Typical.”

Germany’s opposition leader says Europe and Ukraine should form their own bloc.

More sabotage of undersea cables in the Baltic Sea.

Seriously, when the Fox News curvy couch crew are the “voice of reason,” that’s very, very bad!

Two horrifying headlines side by side.

Zelenskyy’s approval rating WAS in the high 50s. Then Trump started into an argument with him. Now his rating is in the low 60s!

Yet another drone-missile. 20 kg warhead.

A drone that carries FPV drones!

A ruined Vovchansk. How many more cities will suffer this fate?

Russian KIAs might be as high as 211k. Confirmed deaths are 93.5k. Ukraine government figures 250k KIA and 610k wounded.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/02/21/war-for-ukraine-day-1093-russian-irregulars/

 

Day 1090 War in Ukraine

Hoo boy! You KNOW your group is in REALLY sad shape when THIS guy is your “voice of reason!” MBS suggested “Hey, Ukraine should have a seat at this table.” The US and Russia both agreed that that was a terrible idea!

US and Russia agree “to restore staffing at their respective embassies in Washington and Moscow, to create a high-level team to support Ukraine peace talks and to explore closer relations and economic cooperation.”

Zelenskyy rejects any deal coming out of the meeting in advance as Ukraine did not play any part in it.

Trump blames Ukraine for having started the war (they did no such thing).

Regime people ask if the only legitimate president Salome Zourabichvili has “treason n in her blood.” because of who her ancestors are.

Mzia Amaglobeli ends her hunger strike on its 38^rd day. She asks other hunger strikers to end their fasting as well

Europe votes for €6 billion and says that amount may be increased.

If there is any historical parallel to the current US-Russia meeting, it is “a mixture of Munich and Molotov-Ribbentrop 😃“

Russia won’t accept “peacekeeper” forces from NATO countries.

Film clip of Russian air defense system being wiped out.

Russia strikes civilian buildings.

Syzran oil refinery can process 8.5 million tons a year and is now on fire.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/02/18/war-for-ukraine-day-1090-the-trump-administration-surrenders-to-putin/

 

Day 1089 War in Ukraine

Sigh! The US used to support Soviet dissidents like Sakharov & Solzhenitsyn. Now it springs Andrew Tate (pictured), who’s been accused of human trafficking and sex crimes.

Details on the minerals agreement that Trump wants. No time-frame given, so the agreement would presumably be in perpetuity. Essentially, it’s just a list of demands.

Ukraine has suspended elections because it is using all of its governmental resources to combat the invasion. Of course, this is being used as a reason to attack Ukraine.

Any deal about Ukraine that does not include Ukraine as a participant will not be recognized by Ukraine. Also, Europe must be at the negotiating table.

Georgia government wants to add an article on treason to the Criminal Code.

Georgian officials suffer attacks by eggs being thrown at them.

The Georgian government is also opposed to USAID.

Trump appears likely to withdraw US troops from the Baltics.

VP Vance insults European NATO members. Europeans have to prepare for the day when the US is no longer an ally.

Why does US give more weapons to Ukraine? They’re supplying their own arms manufacturers. They remove weapons from their own stocks, then manufacture replacements.

Oil tanker carrying oil from Russia to Europe attacked.

Trump makes pro-Russia statements. Funny, but Trump NEVER treats Putin or Xi with the same disrespect he shows to US allies. He probably imagines himself as a fellow dictator. Ha ha ha!

Hmm, what does China consider to be its interests in a peace in Ukraine? They would profit greatly by rebuilding it.

$135 million Russian anti-aircraft system blown up.

Fortunately, the Russian drone that struck the Chernobyl sarcophagus did not cause any readiation leakage.

The last one of the five really big pumping stations that was carry oil from the Caspian Sea was pt out of commission.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/02/17/war-for-ukraine-day-1089-a-bad-deal-is-worse-than-no-deal-at-all/

 

Day 1087 War in Ukraine

Day 80 and Georgia protests are still going strong!

Ah, okay. Zelenskyy didn’t unconditionally refuse to sign the American document promising the US 50% of Ukraine’s mineral wealth. His condition was that it had to contain security guarantees.

The US will consider Europe’s needs, but Europe doesn’t get a seat at the table. Zelenskyy wants Europe to be involved. If Europe is to be Ukraine’s sole defender, they should be in the negotiations. China supports including Europe. The US is essentially giving Russia everything it wants.

Very sensibly, Ukraine is keeping its membership in NATO an open question.

Zelenskyy’s speech to assembled allies at Munich Security Conference is well worth reading/listening to. “Ukraine will never accept deals made behind our backs without our involvement. And the same rule should apply to all of Europe.”

Georgian media is financially stressed.

“President of Ukraine 🇺🇦 Volodymyr Zelensky and the 5th President of Georgia 🇬🇪 Salome Zourabichvili met at the Munich Security Conference.”

People are trying “to second-guess Trump's grand strategy and its super-complex double agenda.” There is no plan. He’s making it up as he goes along.

Were underwater cables in the Baltic Sea cut by dragging anchors? A German Vice-Admiral says a dragging anchor would definitely have been noticed by the crew.

US apparently going to talk with Russians and Ukrainians in Saudi Arabia. Zelenskyy has n idea about this, so clearly the Ukrainians ar not authorized to sign anything.

The Shahed drone hitting in Chernobyl could have caused a catastrophe.

“Ukrainian drone operators from the 82nd Air Assault Brigade spotted a Russian mortar cache and passed the coordinates to artillery, which struck and destroyed the target, likely in the Kursk region.“

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/02/15/war-for-ukraine-day-1087-the-us-has-decided-to-negotiate-with-no-one-for-nothing/

Day 1085 Wr in Ukraine

Pictured: Dmitry Peskov who’s LOVING what Secretary of Defense Hegseth and Trump are doing!

In Georgia, an opera singer was barred from celebrating his 70^th Jubilee, so the protesting crowd celebrated anyway.

Two hunger strikers, Mzia is on her 33^rd day, Temu is on his 28^th day.

The legitimate President of Georgia, “Salome Zurabishvili and Giorgi Gakharia are participating in the Munich Security Conference”

Reporter asks if Ukraine will be forced to accept whatever Trump & Putin agree. Secretary of Defense Hegseth responds that the question is above his paygrade. Contra Hegseth, there’s a REASON that people say he’s made concessions in advance to Putin. Sure, Trump wants to “bring those two leaders [Putin and Zelenskyy] to the table and forge a durable peace” but the reporter is asking whether that will be done by running roughshod over Zelenskyy.

“What he decides to allow or not allow is at the purview of the leader of the free world of President Trump.” No, Zelenskyy and Putin both get a vote in the matter. Neither one HAS to do what Trump says.

Hegseth enormously overstates Trump’s negotiating ability. Trump demonstrated zero expertise in that during his first term.

“President Zelenskyy did not agree to and sign the deal that Bessent brought to him in Ukraine yesterday.”

Russia LOVES what Hegseth is doing! “...there will also be a ‘bilateral Russian-American track.’"

There just might be an alliance of the states closest to Russia.

Would an Israeli strike on Iran cancel their nuclear program? Nah, they’d disrupt it for a little bit.

Moldova tossing out Russian Cultural Center after Shahed drone crashes in Moldova.

Russian oil refinery bombed a second time.

Two advanced radar systems destroyed near Moscow.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/02/13/war-for-ukraine-day-1085-a-few-thoughts/

 

Day 1084 War in Ukaaine

“The MIA claims he committed petty hooliganism and disobeyed police orders.”

Trump shows, as usual, complete obliviousness as to what the war in Ukraine is all about. He has no idea what the war is about and has no idea how to negotiate an end tp it.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth demonstrates that he has no idea of how to negotiate a deal. He surrenders all of his bargaining chip right off the bat.

Hegseth’s statement the the US does not wish to be “the primary guarantor of security in Europe,” reminds me of Secretary of State Dean Acheso leaving South Korea out of the US defense perimeter in the Pacific (North Korea was going to invade South Korea anyway, but it was certainly conventional wisdom there that Acheson invited the invasion https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/jcs/article/view/366/578 ). Don’t think that’s a good idea at all.

Europe responds that it is ready to support Ukraine without US help.

Problem for Trump is that Ukrainians have agency and are not going to accept instructions from him.

Afga Sadigov of Georgia has been on hunger strike since February 2^nd.

Britain developed an air defense system sort of like the US Patriot and the Russian Buk systems. It’s cheaper an uses missiles that Ukraine has huge stocks of.

Britain an Latvia send more weapons.

A celebration of the many religions and ethnicities that are defending Ukraine.

“More than a dozen building-shaking explosions just rocked the Ukrainian capital.”

Russians knew full well that a boarding school did not have any military targets. They bombed it anyway.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/02/12/war-for-ukraine-day-1084-the-new-us-policy-is-ukraine-without-ukraine/

 

Day 1083 War in Ukraine

How does the ruling Georgia Dream party relate to ordinary Georgian citizens? The woman pictured here says: “You are a profoundly wrong person and that small incident gives you right to stand here and ask me some questions/”

Ukraine offered rare Earth minerals if the US helped Ukraine to drive Russians off of their land. Now Trump is saying he wants those minerals anyway, as a repayment for all the US has done for Ukraine. Trump is sending his Treasury Secretary to work out the deal. Ukraine has no problem granting mineral leases to US companies, but Russia must be defeated.

Zelenskyy intends to swap Russian territory near Kursk for Russian-held territory somewhere within Ukraine’s 1991 borders.

The Georgian crowd on Rustaveli Avenue sings “The very vulgar anti-Georgian Dream anthem”

Ukraine wants to switch over to a corps system while fighting Russia. They currently have a brigade-level system. They’d like 20 corps as opposed to 100 brigades.

Tatarigami examines Trump’s idea of Ukraine compensating the US for all the money the US spent defending Ukraine. Drones, which the US does not supply, were the main weapon of 2024 and 2025. For the cost of one US “Switchblade,” Ukraine can buy 55 to 80 FPV drones.

“Yes, Ukraine still needs key systems like HIMARS missiles, artillery shells, intelligence data, Starlink, and other critical assets. But none of this justifies a $500 billion ‘payback,’ making the proposed deal a terrible one for Ukraine.”

Russia bombs 13 civilian houses, injuring seven people.

Saratov oil refinery processes 7.2 million tons a year, was hit by drones.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/02/11/war-for-ukraine-day-1083-a-brief-tuesday-night-update/

 

Day 1080 War in Ukraine

Georgian protesters being busted for a 30-minute protest in front of a judge’s house.

More important stuff on Kash Patel. There are several ways to tell if someone is open to being compromised by hostile agents. “money, ideology, compromise, ego” or MICE. Not sure if Patel is being compromised, but the other three factors are definitely prsent and definitely make his a very extreme risk.

One of the people in Elon Musk‘s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was previously fired for having past association with cybercrime communities. No one ever really leaves such communities.

North Korea is benefiting from its alliance with Russia by getting new war technologies that its bringing back to Asia.

Policemen in Georgia are now wearbg masks and using clubs on demonstrators, who are filling up Rustaveli avenue anyway.

Imprisoned journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, on her 28^th day of fasting, is taken to the hospital. The Prime Minister is demanding that she “show remorse” (for slapping a policeman).

Georgian protesters decide they should centralize and are deciding how.

Private house in Huliapole hit with guided aerial bomb.

North Korea lose a company’s worth of soldiers against the Ukrainian-occupied Kursk region.

Ukraine hits headquarters of the 35^th Brigade that was hidden in an underground bunker.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/02/08/war-for-ukraine-day-1080-that-didnt-take-long/

 

Day 1078 War in Ukraine

The Georgian Rezo Kiknadze told the court that he had a book by Mario Vargas Llosa, it contained the passage “In the end, everyone abandons the dictator - even his own people."

Who has benefited from the shutdown of USAID? “new reporting shows USAID was actually investigating equipment from one of Musk’s companies at the time that he attacked the agency.“

Musk had a direct and personal reason to shutter USAID.

Very cool! Ukraine gets both French Mirage jets and more F-16s!

It was six months ago that the Kursk operation was launched. So far, it has cost Russians enormously to try and drive Ukrainians back to their own territory.

In the pouring rain, Georgians STILL block Rustaveli Avenue! “The Public Defender formed a group of doctors to assess the medical care provided to Mzia Amaglobeli” She has been fasting 26 days.

Brutal and vicious: “Activist Nancy Woland, member of ‘Daitove’ team says police forced her to strip naked and do squats during a Feb 1 house police search.”

Russian ballistic missile explodes on Russian soil.

One of Kharkiv’s largest markets, heavily damaged but still partially open, was hit again by Russian missiles. About 250 stores and pavilions were damaged.

City of Toretsk is uninhabited as all buildings are uninhabitable.

The Russian attack on Pokrovsk cost them more casualties in January then they lost in the Second Chechen War.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/02/06/war-for-ukraine-day-1078-who-benefits/

 

Day 1077 War in Ukraine

Zla Mavka, a all-woman guerrilla group is keeping things hopping in occupied Crimea.

Kharkiv’s been under drone attack for most of the say. Sure hope THIS is true! “Russia’s attacks on civilians are not strength, but the convulsions of collapse.“

150 POWs returned!

Protesting Georgians sing “Chakrulo,” a polyphonic song about overthrowing a greedy lord.

Okay, Mzia Amaglobeli has had her hospital stay and now wishes to return to prison. She’s on her 25^th day or her hunger strike.

Temur Katamadze has been on a hunger strike for 20 days and is doing very badly.

Georgian police are freeing up prison space by mass pardons.

Marika Mikiashvili summarizes how things are going in Georgia right now an d how elites were caught off-guard.

The remainder of the aid that Biden promised to Ukraine has indeed arrived, that of course means there are currently no other shipments pending.

Ukrainian Jews are translating the Torah into Ukrainian language for the first time. There are texts in Russian, but no one wants to use the language of the aggressor.

Russians recruited a man, suited him up with explosives and then remotely detonated him. ISIS used that tactic.

More Russian oil depots blown up.

Launch site for Russian Shahed drones struck.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/02/05/war-for-ukraine-day-1077-another-night-of-drone-swarms/

 

Day 1073 War in Ukraine

Sofia Yavorska’s home in Poltava was struck by a Russian KH-22 missile.

“In total, last night alone, the Russians launched 165 missiles and drones”

Zelenskyy mentions gain the many thousands of components that missiles such as Iskanders and Kalibr missiles and Shahed drones use, man of which come from China, Europe and the US.

The Georgian government now declares that closing certain roads now warrants a criminal penalty.

Police are now going to plant drugs in the pockets of those who are arrested.

Police are planning to forcibly search “Activist Nancy Woland, the creator of the FB group 'Daitove,' which has almost 300K members” Numerous activists being kidnapped and interrogated for lengthy periods.

Police in Georgia demand that journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli apologize to the man who spat in her face. She is of course, refusing to do so.

Russian missiles take out power in seven oblasts (provinces).

“Between 00:50 and 01:40 last night, russia struck Zaporizhzhia with 16 drones”

“Russia carried out a KAB strike on a boarding school in Sudzha, where only civilians were present.” KABs are guided bombs, so Russians knew exactly what they were hitting. Zelenskyy made a statement. “This is a state devoid of civility.” They also hit a nursing home.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/02/01/war-for-ukraine-day-1073-russia-pounds-poltava-zaporizhzhia-kharkiv/