Day 1532 War in Ukraine

 

Moscow air defense systems leaving other areas undefended. “even after dragging endless layers of air defence into Moscow, Ukrainian drones are still able to reach its centre.”

“Breaking: Ukraine rejects Russia's 'Victory Day' truce after Moscow violates Kyiv's ceasefire.”

May 9 Victory Day parades in 15 regions.

Russian air strikes take out 30 Ukrainian civilians.

Zelenskyy's daily address: it's disappointing that Russia is still refusing to make peace.

Georgia student Ani Pridonashvili sentenced today for having stood on the sidewalk.

Children with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy prevented by Georgian police from seeing the Archbishop for a blessing.

Norway contributes to the PURL program, giving Ukraine $302 million to spend for US weapons.

Russian public opinion: War is cool as long as we're winning, regardless of the price we pay. If we're losing, THAT is then a concern!

Modular shelters can protest several dozen people at a time.

Ukrainian company Inguar produces armored ambulance.

Russians target a kindergarten.

Pleasant video of Odesa at night.

Russia destroys sunflower oil shipping center. 1,100 tons of oil leaked, thankfully not into the sea.

LOTS of damage done to Russian anti-aircraft system, railway logistics and

other equipment.

Russia conducts missile tests.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/05/06/war-for-ukraine-day-1532-the-no-ceasefire-ceasefire/

Day 1522 War in Ukraine

 Russian Navy large landing ship Yamal, right before drones hit it.

Chornobyl, like Kyiv, is the Ukrainian spelling of the town where the nuclear disaster occurred 40 years ago. By using the Ukrainian spelling, a blow is struck against Russian imperialism that renamed these two in the first place.

The “cause of the day” for Georgian protesters is "Freedom to Regime Prisoners" march. “Georgia has more political prisoners per capita than Russia.”

Georgian police continue to try and make protesting as uncomfortable as possible.

Germany is now producing more ammunition than the US is.

Ukraine considers its army to be its best security guarantee.

Magyar won the election in Hungary, but has not, and will not for a while, take control. Orban' minions are using this transition period to move as much wealth out of the country as possible.

Of course, Ukraine hasn't completely stopped bombing Russian energy facilities because of world energy prices.

Russian army cannot be trusted to return to Russia. If they lose in Ukraine, they'll be reassigned elsewhere.

How many deaths resulted from Chornobyl? No one's really sure, but estimates range up to 200k. There was a sharp rise in thyroid cancer later.

It will cost €500 million to fix the damage made in February,.

“On April 26, Zaporizhzhia NPP experienced its 15th blackout since its occupation by the Russians, - Energoatom” Russia really has to turn the Zaporizhzhia NPP back over to Ukraine.

Massive damage done by both sides, Russia hits civilians, Ukraine hits military bases and energy facilities.

How a high-value MLRS was taken out.

Kherson is in very poor shape, under constant siege “constant shelling, no electricity, water and gas, almost no food supplies .”

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/04/26/war-for-ukraine-day-1522-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-chornobyl-disaster/

Day 1520 War in Ukraine

 

So VERY sad that First Responder vehicles must have anti-drone protection! But Russia keeps attacking them, so they must be shielded.

There's a pattern to Russian drone/missile attacks. Probably has to do with their production schedule.

Another prisoner swap! Woo hoo!

Zelenskyy wants a more permanent solution than to rely on Trump as Trump will only be in office for so long. Also, there's nothing to stop Russia from resuming the offensive after they've rested up and resupplied. He also arrived in Saudi Arabia to make deals.

Georgian protesters occupy space in front of administrative building for fourth day.

EU takes down a Soyuz launcher in French Guinea, symbolizing the collapse of EU-Russian relations.

France recommends to Greece that they send their entire fleet of French Mirage fighters to Ukraine so that France can supply Greece with Rafale fights.

Italy offers a compromise, Russia and Israel can exhibit their artistic works at the Venice Biennale, but judges will not consider them for prizes.

Italian PM Meloni says that if Russia wants to be part of G20 meeting, they should take steps toward peace with Ukraine.

Blogger suggests that if Trump insists on Russia joining the G20, Russia and the US should meet and the other 18 members should hold their own meeting.

Ooh! Orban's son-in-law bet AGAINST Orban winning his election!

20k Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. Exhibit on the Washington Mall commemorates this.

Trump has so damaged America's reputation for being pro-democracy, it will take a long time to recover that.

Kharkiv and Odesa sustain drone strikes.

Price Harry attends memorial at Bucha.

“15-km breakthrough and an exit to the enemy's rear”

Lavrov: “Europe has openly declared war on us. It is seeking Russia's strategic defeat. And the 'Kyiv regime' is being used as a 'tip'"

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/04/24/war-for-ukraine-day-1520-the-return/

Day 1519 War in Ukraine

 

Time Magazine and the NY Times both report that Ukraine has agreed to rename the Donetsk region “Donnyland.” Mere journalistic malpractice (a single phone call to a Ukrainian source would have set the authors straight) or a plea by Trump minions to say something that might mollify their Glorious Leader?

EU approves €90 billion for Ukraine.

At a Brussels press freedom event, a Georgian journalist describes the violence used by Georgia against journalists.

Hungary has not yet formed a new government after after Orban lost, but #EU foreign policy chief @kajakallas.bsky.social looks forward to a bright future without Hungary vetoing lots of good and useful things.

“Outgoing FM Szijjártó blamed Orban's election loss on foreign interference by Zelenskyy and the EU, not on years of Fidesz corruption and abuses.”

US Russia expert Fiona Hill thinks Trump has an unrequited love towards Putin. He desperately wants Putin to respect him.

Ukrainians are now teaching Germans about drone warfare and teaching American about how to defend against Iranian Shaheds.

Ukraine is placing interceptor drones om small aircraft and naval drones.

Kyrylo Budanov, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, says that Ukraine will not agree to give up a millimeter of land.

Russians strike a high-rise building, killing two.

Oil depot in occupied Feodosiya on fire.

The city of Kostiantynivka is now completely leveled by Russian attacks.

Three Russian air defense systems taken out.

Russia strikes main railway station at Kryvyi Rih.

Ukrainian soldier hacks into Russian military instructional video and warns students not to go to Ukraine as death awaits them there.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/04/23/war-for-ukraine-day-1519-the-reason/

Day 1515 War in Ukraine

 Slovak Prime Minister Fico is VERY upset that the Baltic States (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia) will not let his plane overfly them in order to attend an event put on by Russia's Putin. He'll find some way to attend.

Blogger examines the distinction between drones and troops. Most important difference is that troops can hold territory, drones just assist them in doing that.

Canadian Prime Minister says that Canada has to be more independent of the US.

Viktor Orban is very upset that NATO wants him to unblock the €90 billion for Ukraine before they allow oil to flow from Russia via the Druzhba pipeline again.

Is Russia just pretending to negotiate because they're confident Trump will hand over the Donbas?

An injured Ukrainian boy ran alongside his father in the Boston Marathon for five km to raise funds for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy is determined to create a homegrown duplicate of the US Patriot anti-ballistic missile system.

Ukraine has made a number of 10-year contracts with many countries.

Ukraine's deep strike drone program may prove to be decisive.

Just by setting up barbed wire, Ukraine slows down infantry advances and makes Russian soldiers easier to pick off.

Several unpleasant episodes of Ukrainian criminals shooting up fellow Ukrainians.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/04/19/war-for-ukraine-day-1515-the-cost/

Day 1504 War in Ukraine

 

Referred to as “vomit-inducing.” Prominent Russian Sergei Lavrov's conversation with the Hungarian Foreign Minister.

The Baltic States may have been providing intelligence on Russian ports. Not smart for an American professor to say that on TV, but not smart for someone to have spilled that in the first place!

Our blockades and sanctions on both Iran and Cuba are pretty clearly a waste of time and resources. Both sets of leaders might have a harder time holding on to power if their citizens were free to travel and to import US intellectual and material products.

April 9 is the anniversary of day Soviet troops killed 21 demonstrators on this same Rustaveli Avenue in 1989.

Anticipating Orban's defeat in the upcoming Hungarian election, a Georgian Dream ideologue blames US VP Vance.

The EU has the same problem with the Hungarian Foreign Minister that Democrats had with Senators Manchin and Sinema, who just continually obstructed every measure. They need to go to majority rule as opposed to unanimity.

Orban caught in unsuccessful plot to bomb and to then blame Ukraine for the bombing.

Anne Applebaum of The Atlantic: “Victor Orbán has been in charge of Hungary for 16 years. He has used his power as a democratically elected leader to take over the institutions of the state, judiciary, media, bureaucracy, universities.” Funny, but Hungary isn't much of an economic success story. His campaign is essentially blaming all of Hungary's problems on Ukraine.

VP Vance says Ukraine and Russia are merely having dispute over "a few square kilometers of territory" Not true and quite insulting.

Pope Leo XIV denounces US diplomacy.

Zelenskyy warns that drones are already very long range. They will improve on that.

“The Donets-Zakharzhevsky estate in Velykyi Burluk, Kharkiv region, has been destroyed down to its foundations.” Built in 18^h Century, it survived two world wars.

Last remaining Russian rail ferry disabled across the Kerch Strait.

Russians developing remotely detonated mines.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/04/08/war-for-ukraine-day-1504-we-are-clean-on-opsec/

Day 1485 War in Ukraine

 Interior Secretary Burgum : “From the time that we've spent working with those folks in Eastern Europe, the closer they are to Russia, the more aligned they are with President Trump”

Blogger feels that folks should pay at least SOME attention to how Ukraine is revolutionizing warfare!

Having had many years of experience in shooting down drones, Ukraine is shocked by how the US does it, using $3 or $6 million missiles to shoot down $70k drones. US also has no idea how to protect radars, getting $1 billion radars destroyed.

Bad weather doesn't stop mourners from honoring Patriarch Ilia.

Georgia authority figures go crazy with punishments.

EU permits Orban to abuse it as they require unanimous consent on everything, which allows spoilers to have entirely too much power.

Shadow fleet vessel seized.

Hungary tries “truth serum” on detained Ukrainian bank employee. He has a bad reaction to the chemical.

Hungary trying to appoint Russian to committee that's trying to ensure fair election.

SecDef Hegseth wants Europeans to thank Trump. What for isn't clear.

Trump complains that Ukraine doesn't help. Ukraine has offered to share drone expertise with US.

Ukraine co-producing drones with Germany, the UK, Denmark and the Netherlands.

Russian casualties per day going up.

Exoskeletons assist soldiers with lifting heavy loads.

Ships in Odesa port from Palau and Barbados were loaded with grain and were hit by Russians.

Russian repair plant damaged.

Ukraine making more progress on ground offensive.

Russia attacks nuclear research facility in Kharkiv.

Putin may “have to protect Estonian separatists.”

Civilian Russian plan shot down after anti-aircraft gunners mistake it for a drone.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/03/20/war-for-ukraine-day-1485-do-try-to-pay-attention/

Day 1481 War in Ukraine

 Actor Sean Penn won an Oscar, but chose to meet with Zelenskyy instead.

Belgium's a traitor to the cause of democracy and independence.

Zelenskyy does an interview with Israelis.

Nino Nadiradze, prominent Georgian Dream supporter, feels unsafe in public and eats in private.

“the Georgian Dream no longer issues student visas to people enrolled in universities that are critical to the regime”

Georgian Opposition Alliance agrees on a range of actions.

Europe will not follow US lead and will maintain sanctions on Russia.

Ukrainians conducted a war game where they used naval drones. Ukraine won all five engagements.

Why is Orban unpopular? He's spent his entire 15 years in office trying to set Hungarians against each other and has accomplished nothing useful for Hungary.

Trump claims there's a list of countries that will help the US in the Strait of Hormuz. Nope. No such list exists. No one from Trump's “Board of Peace” will join a coalition to open up the Strait.

Very interesting. “Iran is letting tankers with oil bound for China through the strait.“

Trump is correct that people live under wartime conditions, but no, they don't “get used to it.”

The US cut off aid to Ukraine a year ago.

“Ukrainian innovations in drone warfare are significantly weakening Russian frontline logistics.”

Chess master Gary Kasparov thinks Ukraine is doing something marvelous.

Russia may have used an AI-guided drone.

Lots of damage and destruction done to Ukrainian people, buildings and vehicles.

Russian air defense systems struck. Concentration of Russian troops also struck.

In Moscow, mobile phone networks are down, air travel is disrupted, even landlines are partially cut off.

Russian oil depot blown up.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/03/16/war-for-ukraine-day-1481-et-tu-belgique/

Day 1480 War in Ukraine

 “We got through an extremely difficult winter thanks to you. Despite the attacks and the freezing cold, the housing and utilities system held up. Over 1,000 buildings were damaged in the city during the war, and you were the ones working on every single one of them.“

Fiona Hill was in the government as a Russia expert. Trump has no use for experts, so she's here on a BBC interview.

The Ukrainian counter-offensive seems to have defeated the Russian offensive. Ukraine is working hard to eliminate as many Russian soldiers as possible.

Georgian Dream has promised to comply with Russian sanctions. They've proven unreliable in the past. Georgian public is convinced their strategy Is beginning to pay off.

Georgia now has more political prisoners than Russia.

The faction that wants a dialogue with the Georgian Dream Party is fighting with the larger group of protesters who are making demands of the government.

Japan is both getting Ukrainian drones and supplying Patriot missiles to the US.

Russia rejects having Europeans be part of peace negotiations.

Hungarian opposition demonstrates their numbers in demonstration.

Hungary is opposed to Ukraine joining the EU, which gives Ukraine zero motivation to help Orban or his party.

Moldova's water supply is threatened by Russia's attack on Ukraine.

Trump's not sure that Russia is helping Iran target Americans. Iran's Foreign Minister says yes, Russia is helping them.

Zelenskyy makes it clear that Trump has not thanked Ukraine for helping the US with anti-drone technology.

Trump tries to assemble an alliance with NATO through threats. He also failed to show gratitude for NATO sacrifices made in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A Ukrainian film fails to even gain the notice of the Oscars.

Russian offensive disrupted.

Russia conducting big offensive in Zaporizhzhia.

Ukraine launched drone attack against Moscow region that lasted for over 24 hours.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/03/15/war-for-ukraine-day-1480-the-cost/

Day 1478 War in Ukraine

“Pani Natalia, 70 evacuated her husband in a wheelchair from the killzone. They walked 13km (!)” until they were picked up by Ukrainian troops.

Is the US about to send a Marine force to the Strait of Hormuz to open up shipping there or dos the Navy have to await the Carrier Group Abraham Lincoln? Because really, unless the carrier group is there, we don't have anywhere near the necessary force to do much of anything.

Seven more children retrieved from “temporarily occupied territory.

Trump claims, inaccurately, that the US is ahead of Ukraine in drone technology.

Zelenskyy meets with the French President Macron.

A Georgian protester plays Bell Ciao on her violin.

Protester bags are being searched for tents.

Hungary thinks it's terribly unfair that they're denied cheap Russian oil. Under Trump's relaxation of sanctions, Russia can send more oil overseas, but that doesn't mean oil can be sent over land.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas assesses (correctly) that Trump is trying to divide Europe.

Canada will continue to sanction Russian oil.

Germany planning big increase in artillery shell production. As they are now more experienced, Ukrainian soldiers will train German soldiers.

G7 disagrees with Trump over Russian oil sanctions.

Treasury Secretary Bessent says it's unfortunate that Russia is benefiting from relaxation of sanctions. Russia is getting $150 million a day thanks to Trump.

Russia sends 125 drones a day, Ukraine responds with 202. Most on both sides are cheap decoys.

Piece on Ukraine selling drones to Saudi Arabia.

Assassination attempt foiled for commander of Ukraine's 3^rd Army Corps.

Russian ammunition warehouse blown up.

Russians have been trying REALY hard to destroy a Ukrainian oil refinery.

Russian air defense systems, oil refineries and oil terminals blown up.

https://balloon-juice.com/2026/03/13/war-for-ukraine-day-1478-are-the-best-drones-in-the-world-in-the-room-with-us-now/

 

A Forever War?

 Ben Shapiro is puzzled by the assertion that the US is now engaged in a “Forever War” when the Iran War is only a few week old. The Iraq War that began in 2003 was supposed to have ended with fall of Baghdad, but by early 2005, it was clear that the guerrilla war that began a few months afterwards was going to be extremely hard to put down in fact it never was and the US pulled out at the end of 2011. The younger George Bush had a clear goal, for Iraq to be a peaceful colony. Trump's goals? Well, he announced that he wouldn't settle for anything less than “unconditional surrender,” which hardly encourages Iranians to surrender peacefully. We therefore have no idea when Trump will be satisfied that he's achieved his objectives.

Amazingly, Trump's people hadn't even accounted for Iran's determination to close the Strait of Hormuz, a very easily predictable move for Iran to have made. Iran is certainly under the impression that distracting the American people from the Epstein Files is a major Trump goal. I agree that for Trump to help out his good buddy Putin by cranking up the price of oil is a major motivator for Trump.

The end of the Iran War is by no means clear because the terms that Trump will settle for are by no means clear.

Why did Trump initiate the current war with Iran?

In the war with Iran, DNI Gabbard is conspicuous by her absence. As the Director of National Intelligence, she should be at the center of discussions!  Secretary of State Rubio indignantly insists that "Tulsi has done a fantastic job and is a respected member of the President’s national security team..." But although she was present in the Situation Room  

during the launch of “Operation Epic Fury,” she was not at Mar-a-Lago with the commander in chief.

The piece goes on to document Gabbard's opposition to a possible invasion of Iran to her absence and silence since the bombing of that country began. 

Press Secretary Leavitt answered questions during a press briefing. Note that at no point during that briefing did she mention DNI Gabbard specifically or anything our intelligence agencies more generally might have provided to the President so that Trump could have made an informed decision. Trump appears to have relied entirely on Envoy Witkoff, a real estate guy with no background in intelligence or military affairs or diplomacy.  

The blogger here spends the first several paragraphs of this piece detailing just how Witkoff and his partner Jared Kushner (Trump's son-in-law) reached the conclusion that Iran was close to deploying a nuclear bomb. 

Witkoff and Kushner did not bring technical experts from the U.S. to sit in on their talks in Geneva 

Of past regimes, Trump's leadership team most closely resembles that of Mussolini's government over Italy in the 30s and 40s. Unfortunately

After years in power, surrounded by toadies and yes-men, Mussolini began to believe his own rhetoric...

Which sadly, brings us to today. 

Update: And yes, 

A solid majority of Americans believe that Trump started the war with Iran in part to distract from the Epstein file scandal that he can't dig himself out of.