Day 1331 War in Ukraine

After an amazingly effective influence operation by Putin, Trump is convinced that Putin is the good guy and Zelenskyy is the bad guy. Interestingly, Trump commands both sides to “Go home to your families in peace.” Erm, Ukrainians ARE home! “The Russians occupying parts of Ukraine are most definitely NOT home!” The ties worn by VP Vance and SecDef Hegseth do NOT send friendly signals to Zelenskyy! Blogger thinks Tomahawk cruise missiles would be more valuable as a public signal of support for Ukraine than as actual weapons. That’s an opportunity lost.

Does Putin wish to “end the war”? Duh! Of course he does! He just wants it to end in complete victory for Russia!

Russia prepares a massive drone attack.

Zelenskyy agrees that he and Putin hate each other.

First Lady Zelenska makes two hospital visits.

Georgia directs even more legal penalties for blocking Rustaveli Avenue, which as been successfully blocked for 324 days straight.ore protesters arrested for October 4th action.

6 year old child witnesses arrest of mother.

France stops assassination attempt by Russia on Russian dissident.

"Zelenskyy held a meeting with representatives of the defense company Raytheon, which produces Patriot systems."

Tch, tch, tch! Bad OpSec! Russian sends message to wife, giving away their position to Ukrainian bomber pilots.

Russian “human safaris” in Kherson have taken 2,877 Ukrainian lives since 2023.

More gasoline shortages and burning oil depots fo Russia in occupied Crimea.

Russians lose an Su-30SM jet. Many possible causes.

Bakhmut still a dead husk of what was once a thriving town two years later.

A Ukrainian civilian rescues a tracked ground drone.

Two Russian military facilities produced lots of industrial goods for Russian military get bombed.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/10/17/war-for-ukraine-day-1331-moscow-on-the-potomac/

 

Day 1329 War in Ukrane

UN humanitarian convoy was attacked. US refuses to say it was attacked by Russia.

Two 16-year-old Ukrainian boys tortured to death.

Two speeches by Zelenskyy, one by First Lady Zelenska.

Finnish Foreign Minister attended street protest. Head of Georgian government today refused to meet with her as she “participation in an illegal rally and making false statements.”

Georgia plays games with UNM Chair Tina Bokuchava, delaying her flight so that she’d be late for an event.

Germany pledges €2 billion to Ukraine. It must also build up its Eastern border against Russia.

Trump demonstrates, yet again, that he doesn’t understand what the Russia-Ukraine war is about. Trump says Ukraine would like to take the offensive. “I’ll make a determination on that.” As the blogger says “this is not up to Trump.”

Sting anti-Shahed drones have taken down 900 Shaheds!

Ukraine knows what Russia is up to in Belarus, but won’t (at least publicly) say what it is.

Not much left of Russian armored column at Pokrovsk.

Russia has new social engineering contractor.

Russia arming light aircraft to intercept drones.

Ukrainian drone flies 1,400km in broad daylight to successfully hit oil refinery.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/10/15/war-for-ukraine-day-1329-another-early-morning-drone-swarm/

 

Day 1326 War in Ukraine

 

Very interesting. Ukraine has been carrying out deep strikes in Russia thanks to generous US help. Apparently, Trump was disappointed by Putin's failure to engage in peace negotiations after they met in Alaska.

Zelenskyy feels Europe's response to Russian incursions is insufficient. They need to improve.

Zelenskyy says that Russia's worried about Ukraine receiving Tomahawk cruise missiles. He feels that's a very good thing!

Thoughts on why the action on October 4^th occurred. Did the ruling party (Georgia Dream) provoke the attack on the Presidential residence.

Protesters in Georgia want a close relationship with the EU. Georgia Dream attacks the EU: “Brussels is behind the street wars in Tbilisi.”

“During Angela Merkel’s tenure as Chancellor (2011–2013), the German Rheinmetall was granted permission to develop advanced training systems...” The program was canceled with the invasion of Crimea.

Fuel stored in Feodosia, in occupied Crimea, set ablaze.

Russian forces were occupying a shopping center which was then hit with Ukrainian drones.

Bridge in occupied Luhansk taken out with GBU-62 bomb.

Fuel shortages at 57 regions in Russia.

Russian industries hit.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/10/12/war-for-ukraine-day-1326-adjustments-in-us-intel-sharing/

Day 1324 War in Ukraine

Uuh...whut?!?! The American First Lady is in communication with Russia’s Vladimir Putin?!?! Our blogger: “There is absolutely no reason for any first lady to have an ongoing and open channel of communication with a foreign head of state. At all.”

Russians aiming their drones and missiles at Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

Georgia’s doctors show support for a pediatrician who was arrested.

Georgia Dream Party has decided that the European Commission spokesperson is to blame for the October 4^th incident. She in turn has said “Georgian Dream [was] inspired by the ‘Russian propaganda manual.’"

“The founder of Batumelebi/Netgazeti, Mzia Amaglobeli, has been named the recipient of the World Press Freedom Hero Award.” Of course Georgia Dream is annoyed by that.

Czechia crowd-sources a helicopter for Ukraine.

Baltic States prepare for mass evacuations, just in case.

Viktor Orban of Hungary feels that the Ukrainian intelligence service has infiltrated everything, even up to people’s smartphones!

Hungarian spies busted in Brussels.

Trump praises Putin.

Germany will provide air defense systems.

Zelenskyy identifies 203 sites that must be protected by air defense. Many other less urgent, but still important sites.

Mayor of Kyiv urges citizens to stock up against Russian drone attacks on hear and power.

“Church in Kostiantynivka destroyed by russian shelling”

“Russia destroyed an agricultural enterprise in Kharkiv region Seven warehouses, fuel trucks, and farming equipment were obliterated”

Russian gas processing plant will take three months to repair.

Moscow Region has institutions severely damaged. Might have been an industrial accident.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/10/10/war-for-ukraine-day-1324-when-winter-first-begins-to-bite/

 

Day 1319 War in Ukraine

 

A civilian industrial park is ablaze.

Ukrainian family of four, including a 15-year-old girl dies from a Russian drone destroying their house.

Lviv suffered massive losses in last night’s very heavy drone strike. Lviv is at the far Western edge of Ukraine. Over 73k lost power in Zaporizhzhia province.

Zelenskyy points out that: “The nearly 500 drones the Russians used overnight contain over 100,000 foreign-made parts.” US and Europe REALLY have to tighten up their exports!

"First Lady Zelenska participated in the Annual Global Teacher prize"

Interior Ministry of Georgia made threats, bu protesting crowds are bigger than ever.

State Security Service claims it has discovered a large quantity of explosives.

Former President Salome Zourabichvili says that the Russian psyop of yesterday failed.

Angela Merkel, once Germany’s Chancellor, blames Poland and Baltic States for war in Ukraine.

Confirmed that US Patriot missiles frustrated by extra maneuvers programmed ino Russian ballistic missiles

Ukrainian drones attack through Kursk province and through the South West of Russia. Almost half of Russia’s refineries have been hit.

Woo hoo! Shooting down a drone with a hand-held rocket launcher.

A single drone breaks through defenses in Russian-occupied Crimea and sets an oil storage tank afire.

Lots of stuff blowing up on both sides, including many oil refineries on the Russian side. Building in Moscow that produced drones catches fire.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/10/05/war-for-ukraine-day-1319-the-cost/

Day 1315 War in Ukraine

The Sting anti-Shahed drone. Hmm, can ya tell it’s been designed by women?

Russian attack takes the life of a Ukrainian man so shortly after he got married that his wife hadn’t even had time to change al of her documents to reflect her new, married name!

“On October 1, Ukraine marks the Day of Defenders of Ukraine. Zelenskyy honored the memory of fallen soldiers on Maidan.”

Heh! Game of Russian oil refineries. Those marked with flames have been hit. September saw production decline by about 236k tons per day! “gasoline production in September decreased by 1 million tons, and its deficit in the domestic market reached 20% of consumption.” Chart of refineries hit

Zelenskyy addresses European Council. Ukraine can help Europe to build its defensive capability against Russian aggression

Georgian protesters celebrate Moldova’s election results.

Opposition politicians accuse Georgian politicians of being influenced by Iran.

Government charges Coalition for Change member Gela Khasaia of trumped-up charge.

Georgian elections will be October 4^th. Lots of tension and expected problems.

Germany is preparing a law against Russian drone flights. Meanwhile, Russia sends many drones over Germany.

Dutch fighter pilot places a “drone downed” mark on his plane.

A ship from Russia’s shadow fleet suspected of launching drones over Europe.

“Princess Anne visited Kyiv to support children and war veterans.”

Russians bomb homes, a shopping mall and Chernihiv is now without power.

Chernobyl hit, but damage is not urgent as it’s a non-working power lant.

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been operating for 10 days on emergency diesel. Should be enough fuel to last another 10 days. The ZNPP is on Russian-occupied land.

Russian-occupied Crimea imposes new restrictions on gas.

Many oil refineries hit.

Film clip of Russian cars queued up, waiting for gas. 130 cars in this clip.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/10/01/war-for-ukraine-day-1315-a-brief-wednesday-night-update/

 

Day 1314 War in Ukraine

 

SecDef Hegseth feels that military rapists are excessively persecuted. Fellow pictured was accused of raping and then murdering a 14-year-old Iraqi girl in 2006.

Hmm, SecDef Hegseth says "You should not pay for an earnest mistake for your entire career.” I’m not aware of that happening too much. Sounds like he’s ***interpreting*** something as an honest mistake when it really wasn’t. Ah, okay. Our blogger feels Hegseth is talking about “sexual harassment, assault, and rape over the past decade or so. As well as every effort the military has made to combat racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, etc.“ That sounds like Hegseth would produce a really awful military environment. This will make the military MUCH weaker!

Russians kill a whole family. The children were 4 and 6.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is cut off from aid and is being shelled by the Russians. It’s been on emergency diesel for seven days.

Georgia: “A member of the Gela Khasaia” is arrested late at night.

Opposition member arrested for having over 9k bitcoins.

Very interesting comment by Trump. Sounds like he’s criticizing Putin because the war should have been over in a week.

Turkey caught a Ukrainian sea drone.

Why is Russia testing NATO with drones? They feel the US is distracted and so have an opportunity to destroy NATO.

Russia attacks downtown Dnipro in broad daylight.

Took a few drone bombs, but North Korea self-propelled gun blows up real nice.

Autumn conscription season begins in Russia. They need 135k troops.

High-level commanders being purged in Russia.

https://balloon-juice.com/2025/09/30/war-for-ukraine-day-1314-well-that-was-something/