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/

 

Day 1113 War in Ukraine

Woman who was under the rubble of her apartment building was rescued after 20 hours.

Russia is clearly just delaying accepting the US-proposed cease-fire. They’ll keep this up as long as they can. Russia essentially saying that if the US hands them complete victory, they’ll comply.

The US person assigned to take care of the war is sidelined as Russia doesn’t like him.

Zelenskyy comments on cease-fire proposal and celebrates Iftar with Islamic Ukrainian warriors.

In Georgia, Theater students and rector were supposed to debate. Rector cancels debate and restores status of students.

Another lecturer dismissed.

Chinese take over Georgian portal on Black Sea.

“Putin aide claims NATO 'threatens' Russia in Baltic region.”

“Russian presidential aide Nikolai Patrushev claimed on March 13 that NATO is deliberately ‘escalating’ tensions in the Baltic region”

Finland, Canada and Sweden send more aid to Ukraine.

Trump hopes Russia will “do the right thing.”

Former National Security Advisor John Bolton says that while Trump sees Putin as a good buddy, Putin sees Trump as an “easy mark.” Interesting comments about how Russia deals with China.

Ukrainians don’t wish to go it alone without American support, but there’s no question they will rather than surrender to Russia.

“Russia suspected of killing 5 Ukrainian POWs in Kursk Oblast.”

Russian UAV production site hit. Also oil refinery hit.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/03/13/war-for-ukraine-day-1113-you-cant-handle-the-truce/

 

Day 1110 War in Ukraine

 

Senator Mark Kelly has words for Elon Musk.

Elon Musk called Senator Kelly a “traitor.” Blogger posts very precise definitions of traitor, emphasizing that the Founding Fathers knew full well that the term would be misused. He then reprints a portion of an very extensive piece on Russian disinformation that used AI.

It’s very highly likely that Russia made the attack on Xitter appear to be from Ukraine.

Regime in Georgia is purging the universities of professors who support the protesters.

Students being fined for blocking roads at the rate of double their tuition.

Lengthy list of demands for what Ukraine must do. Funny, but there’s no mention of what Russia must do.

Woo hoo! “Ukrainian Air defence shot down 130/176 UAVs and 42 drones suppressed by EW. “

Very impressive! After a raid “they returned with two captured Russians, an enemy ‘Kapushon’ electronic warfare system, three enemy Mavic drones, and four enemy FPV drones.”

Russia apparently makes breakthrough in Kursk area. Ukraineassures us there is no threat of encirclement.

Balloon Juice - War for Ukraine Day 1,110: One Dare Calls It Treason

Day 1108 War in Ukraine

Women’s Day recognized by Georgia protesters.

Trumps betrayal of Ukraine and the minerals deal he wants. “Trump’s cringe-inducing shakedown of Zelensky in the Oval Office…”

“’We are taking from the Ukrainians without intending to give them anything back,’ she says, shock filling her voice”

US cyber support has dried up. Withholding medical supplies just adds insult to injury.

Blogger says Trump’s goal is to make Ukraine cease to exist so that he can do business with Putin. No self-respecting Ukrainian will sign on to this.

“US to stop participating in future military exercises in Europe.”

“The Telegraph understands that the president is considering redeploying troops from Germany to Hungary”

Nuclear weapons are rendered very thinkable as Europe tries to find another nuclear umbrella after the US proves unreliable.

Russia will likely test Europe’s unity & resolve.

Europe looking for alternatives to Starlink. Starlink has 40k terminals in Ukraine.

Britain has deployed their nuclear deterrent so that it’s intertwined with that of the US. Oops!

Ukraine launches morning strike on Russian base.

Russians and North Koreans attack Ukrainian forces at Kursk. Risk of encirclement.

Once Russian troops were discovered trying to use a pipeline to surprise Ukrainians, the pipeline was bombed and cut off.

Russia attacks energy resources and a meat-processing plant.

Russian oil refinery 800k from the front hit.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/03/08/war-for-ukraine-day-1108-trumps-goals-in-ukraine/