Trump sent a special envoy to Moscow. The Kremlin “rewarded” him by releasing an American they had no business imprisoning in the first place. In return, the US released an actual Russian criminal.
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Russian national Alexander Vinnik, who was arrested at the U.S. government’s request on money laundering charges in 2017, is reportedly set to be released as part of a prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington.
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— Meduza in English (@meduza.io) February 12, 2025 at 10:04 AM
It’s hard to imagine a more damaging spy than this guy. He could be Ukraine’s Aldrich Ames.
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The suspect is Dmytro Kozyura, an SBU officer for 20+ years, had access to top-secret data & wide contacts. He worked in the SBU Academy, handling personal files of future leadership. Appointed in 2016 to ATO HQ, he gathered intel across departments.
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— NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com) February 12, 2025 at 6:22 AM
Russia launched another large-scale ballistic missile attack on Kyiv.
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This night explosions in Kyiv were the loudest I've ever heard, my windows were trembling so much I thought they'd break. Russia has launched 7 ballistic missiles, killing 1 & injuring 4 (including a 9 year old).
Support UA air defense to protect UA lives: savelife.in.ua/rebnemo_voro...
#UaView
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— Dariia Mykhailyshyna (@dariia.bsky.social) February 12, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Another 1,150 Russians and 9 tanks.
This one-man meat wave assault might be the smartest soldier in Russia.
The battle rages on south of Pokrovsk.
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Russian milblogger Anatoly Radov acknowledges the deteriorated situation near Pokrovsk, for Russian forces. He reports that an initial Ukrainian attack was repelled, but Ukrainian forces launched another assault. He calls the situation chaotic, with heavy combat and a significant Ukrainian presence.
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— NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com) February 11, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Did someone bring the marshmallows?
This thread does a good job laying out the flaws in the Weapons-to-Ukraine-for-Mineral-Rights idea.
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Based on direct statements from President Trump, Ukraine would be expected to "pay back" $500 billion in resources.
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1/ This was not framed as a trade of new weapons for resources, but rather, as Trump put it, "We are going to have all this money, and I want it back."
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) February 11, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Ukraine’s main problems right now are - A shortage of infantry- Organizational inefficienciesThe leading cause of casualties on both sides in 2024 and 2025 was drones, specifically "bomb-dropping drones" and FPV kamikaze drones, which the U.S. does not supply.
4/ Most drones are acquired through donations, direct unit purchases, Ukrainian funds, or loans and investments. The US does not directly provide these drones. For the cost of one U.S.-supplied Switchblade 300 loitering munition, Ukraine could buy approximately 55–80 FPV drones - much better deal.
5/ For months, our team has received reports of personnel transfers from air defense, electronic warfare, anti-tank, artillery reconnaissance, and drone units into infantry roles. Some units have been ordered to transfer 50% of their personnel into infantry.
6/ In certain cases, Western-supplied equipment is not being fully utilized because trained personnel have been reassigned. In this context, adding more overpriced Abrams tanks or Switchblades does little to solve the problem.
7/ 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.
8/ Without solid security guarantees, like NATO or US boots on the ground - the war cannot be stopped. Paper guarantees from the US hold little value, as the Budapest Memorandum has already shown. If Europe is expected to provide Ukraine’s security, why should Ukraine make a deal with the US at all?
It’s a good sign that Ukraine is still receiving at least some US support.
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🇺🇸🇺🇦 Ukraine receives new PATRIOT communications system from US Army, - Defense Archives
❗️Ukraine’s PATRIOT Batteries have a new communications asset to help improve their operations: the Dismounted Patriot Information Coordination Central (D-PICC).
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— MAKS 24 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) February 12, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Russia spending 40% of its budget on defense is a prescription for economic disaster.
Meanwhile, Russian soldiers strap logs to their tanks, carry supplies with donkeys and drink water out of puddles.
NATO membership isn’t happening soon, but it will happen eventually.
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Zelensky admits that NATO membership is unlikely because of opposition from America, Germany and Hungary—though, he says, the latter would snap into line if ever Trump asked. “No one is giving up.”
www.economist.com/europe/2025/...
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— NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com) February 12, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Does anyone else get the impression that Zelenskyy has no more fucks left to give?
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👀❗️"There is no serious advancement of the Russian Armed Forces on the battlefield, and that is why they are involving the DPRK, because they do not have a strong army. There are simply very, very, very many of them," — Zelensky
🟢 Listen, I will not let Putin win. This is what I live for.
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— The Ukrainian Review (@theukrainianreview.bsky.social) February 12, 2025 at 7:38 AM
🟢 The US Secretary of State suggested that both Russia and Ukraine make "concessions" for the sake of peace. Too much is being demanded from a non-aggressor (Ukraine). The willingness to sit down with the murderer Putin is a sufficient compromise.
🟢 Ukraine's membership in NATO is unlikely (!).
🟢 Trump can provide security guarantees, the EU can help with financing. Is there a plan B in case nothing comes of this? This is plan B.
🟢 Russia has 220 brigades (each 3,500-5,000 people). Ukraine — 110, and Europe — only 80.
🟢 Last year, Ukraine mobilized 30,000 people every month.
A former Ukrainian POW talks about life as a prisoner of Russia.
This is the full interview. It is in Ukrainian.
This Russian soldier remarks how the Ukrainians have already seen them but let them pass because they are evacuating civilians.
A Ukrainian helicopter shoots down Shahed drones.
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Ukrainian #Mi-24V "Hind" combat helicopters destroy russian attack drones using powerful 12.7 mm #Yak-B cannons. Every drone shot down means lives saved and a step towards our victory. We thank our pilots for their courage and skill! You are our heroes! Heroyam Slava!
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— Meanwhile in Ukraine (@meanwhileua.bsky.social) February 11, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Update on the explosions aboard the Russian tanker at the port near St. Petersburg.
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1/ On February 9, an explosion occurred at the Russian port of Ust-Luga on a tanker carrying 130,000 tons of heavy fuel oil. The causes of the explosion are still being labeled as a “technogenic incident” but were large enough to breach the double-hull in three places.
#shadowfleet
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— UWEC Work Group (@uwecworkgroup.bsky.social) February 12, 2025 at 6:58 AM
So far, there is no oil leaking, according to reports.
3/ The vessel belongs to a company registered in Liberia, sails under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda, and the operator is located in Cyprus. These facts point to being a part of Russia's “shadow fleet”.
I hope al-Sharaa left him waiting on hold for an hour before the call.
These idiotic laws never work. Language is a living, breathing thing that evolves and adapts and you can’t legislate it. People will use, adopt or invent whatever words they want.
If the U.S. adopted a law like this, we’d lose half our language.
Switzerland steps up
The UK steps up.
Pete Hegseth pretends he knows what he is doing.
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Hegseth: "We must start by recognizing that returning to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective ... the US does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement."
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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) February 12, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Fine. Just keep the weapons flowing. Trump will be gone soon and the agreement can be discarded later.
Here’s a good question. Where is Kellogg, who is supposed to be the special envoy to Ukraine?
Has he been sidelined after just one Scaramucci?
There was a lot of hopeful optimism and downright delusion after Trump won the election that he might be good for Ukraine. Trump will eventually sell out Ukraine.
The Lithuanian foreign minister says most of what you read about Trump’s alleged peace plan is BS.
"There are some signals that the sanctions package could be significantly expanded and that military support for Ukraine could be unprecedented if no deal is reached, [and these signals] are real. We’ll see what leverage they choose."
The only ports available in Sudan would be on the Red Sea.
Maybe Sudan should ask Syria how Russian involvement there turned out.
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Sudan and Russia agreed "on everything" regarding creating a Russian naval base in the country - foreign minister of Sudan during his visit to Russia.
Russia is solely interested in protecting its own geopolitical interests
📹: Lavrov at today's meeting with Sudan's foreign minister
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— Anton Gerashchenko (@antongerashchenko.bsky.social) February 12, 2025 at 10:40 AM
He seems nice.
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1/4: Ex Russian Wagnerite "Alex Parker" is encouraging the katsaps to provide no quarter and summarily execute Ukrainian soldiers who volunteer for service:
"By the way, good Russian people should take note in light of Zelensky's recent wonderful initiatives to...
#OSINT #Russia #UkraineWar
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— OSINT (Uri) (@urikikaski.bsky.social) February 12, 2025 at 5:20 AM
I’d laugh like hell at this, but this story could just as likely happen here.
Oh, what the hell! 🤣😂😅
Sick bastards.
Oh no!! Not Rudolph!
