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Ukraine Invasion: Part 58

1000 replies

MagicFox · 10/08/2025 12:16

We’re all still here for Thread 58. Thanks to all regular contributors, especially those doing the daily hard work. Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

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notimagain · 21/08/2025 19:09

SummerEve · 21/08/2025 18:58

That was a depressing but realistic read.

Agreed..

SummerEve · 21/08/2025 19:23

This is the first time I have really, properly thought that the most likely ultimate outcome here is Russia coming out on top. It sickens me and I think we, as the collective West, will look back on this in years to come and bitterly regret our hesitation, especially in the early part of 2022.

MissConductUS · 21/08/2025 19:46

SummerEve · 21/08/2025 19:23

This is the first time I have really, properly thought that the most likely ultimate outcome here is Russia coming out on top. It sickens me and I think we, as the collective West, will look back on this in years to come and bitterly regret our hesitation, especially in the early part of 2022.

The only good long term effect I see coming out of it is that it seems to have convinced Europe that its military capabilities have dwindled to a perilously low level and that it must take steps to reverse that trend.

As Sun Tzu said, "He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign.” This also makes the point that politicians should not try to unduly influence military strategy or tactics.

SummerEve · 21/08/2025 19:55

And in the meantime, Ukraine gets served up as the sacrificial lamb and as a warning to us all. Just so bleak.

blueshoes · 22/08/2025 01:53

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-21-2025

Key Takeaways:

  • The Kremlin continues to insist that the 2022 Istanbul negotiations are the only acceptable departure point for potential future negotiations on the war in Ukraine, thereby demanding that Russia and its allies reserve the right to veto any Western military assistance to Ukraine and that Ukraine be left neutered and defenseless against future Russian aggression.
  • The Kremlin continues to categorically reject US-backed security guarantees for Ukraine and reveal its continued objectives of seizing control of all of Ukraine.
  • Russia is expending considerable diplomatic effort to court India, suggesting that the Kremlin continues to fear the impact of secondary sanctions.
  • Russia launched the third largest strike of the war thus far against Ukraine on the night of August 20 to 21, targeting Western regions of Ukraine and causing significant damage to civilian infrastructure.
  • The Ukrainian defense industrial base (DIB) continues to innovate and scale production of long-range weapons.
  • The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) officially confirmed that it replaced former Northern Group of Forces and Leningrad Military District (LMD) Commander Colonel General Alexander Lapin with Chief of Staff of the Russian Ground Forces Colonel General Yevgeny Nikiforov.
  • Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Novopavlivka. Russian forces recently advanced near Chasiv Yar.
ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 22/08/2025 08:05

The biggest change in all this is that there really has been a world shift. The fact that India chose to only temporarily pause buying Russian oil when the US imposed higher tariffs, and then ignored the US and went right back to buy the oil, shows that there has been a real and significant weakening of US power and without a united US/EU, the strength of the closer alliance between China and Russia is greater. This is not going to go unnoticed by other strong countries such as Brazil. The bad feeling that current US leadership has sewn between the US and the EU, and the fact the EU tolerates traitors within itself, also indicates weaknesses that the non-West centric world is going to be observing coolly.

Personally I think the mostly-broken promises on the part of the US and the (admittedly very weak now) UK regarding the Budapest Memorandum are also going to influence how the West is seen, not least in the East.

I hope the military commitment on the part of the EU to strengthen itself keeps going.

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 22/08/2025 10:47

"Russia launched the third largest strike of the war thus far against Ukraine on the night of August 20 to 21, targeting Western regions of Ukraine and causing significant damage to civilian infrastructure."

And wasn't one of those factories they bombed with two cruise missiles both making entirely civilian goods and also American-owned? Putin has no respect of any kind for Trump, has he.

PiggyPigalle · 22/08/2025 12:14

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 22/08/2025 10:47

"Russia launched the third largest strike of the war thus far against Ukraine on the night of August 20 to 21, targeting Western regions of Ukraine and causing significant damage to civilian infrastructure."

And wasn't one of those factories they bombed with two cruise missiles both making entirely civilian goods and also American-owned? Putin has no respect of any kind for Trump, has he.

The Alaska visit is looking very much to me that Putin attended in order to boost his domestic popularity.
I even wonder how much of the sickening display was part of his terms.
What a coup to have the Western World's greatest power feting him in such a way.
It also had the benefit of no further sanctions of course, plus he's stalling for time to take more of Ukraine.

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 22/08/2025 12:30

Kyiv Independent Telegram Highlights

⚡️Going in circles — Trump sets (kyivindependent.com/us-senator-demands-russia-return-19-000-abducted-ukrainian-children-threatens-terror-designation/) new deadline for peace in Ukraine, Graham again threatens with tough legislation.
"We will know in within two weeks whether there will be peace in Ukraine. After that we will have to maybe take a different tact," U.S. President Donald Trump told conservative commentator Todd Starnes.

⚡️Trump's intelligence chief ordered halt (kyivindependent.com/trumps-intelligence-chief-ordered-halt-to-intelligence-sharing-on-russia-ukraine-peace-talks-among-five-eye-partners-cbs-reports/) to intelligence sharing on Russia-Ukraine peace talks among 'Five Eye' allies, CBS reports.
The Trump administration's Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard ordered on July 20 that the U.S. intelligence community halt the sharing of information on ongoing Russia-Ukraine peace talks with so-called "Five Eyes" countries, CBS News reported on Aug. 21.

⚡️Ukraine regains (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-regains-control-of-most-of-tovste-in-donetsk-oblast-military-says/) control of most of Tovste in Donetsk Oblast, military says.
Tovste is a frontline village southwest of the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk and near the key town of Vuhledar.

⚡️Austria ready to give Putin immunity (kyivindependent.com/switzerland-ready-to-give-putin-immunity-for-peace-talks/) for peace talks.

⚡️Kim Jong Un reportedly awards troops (kyivindependent.com/kim-jong-un-reportedly-awards-troops-who-fought-for-russia/) who fought for Russia.
At a ceremony in Pyongyang, Kim Jong Un praised the overseas troops and said their participation demonstrated "the power of the heroic (North Korean) army."
Of the roughly 12,000 troops believed to have been deployed in the fall of 2024, President Volodymyr Zelensky said about 4,000 had suffered casualties.

⚡️Ukrainian detained in Italy for alleged Nord Stream sabotage (https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-detained-in-italy-for-alleged-nord-stream-sabotage-media-report/), media report.
Italian police have arrested a Ukrainian national under a European arrest warrant in connection with the 2022 Nord Stream pipeline explosions, German prosecutors announced on Aug. 21.

⚡️Trump administration escalates purge of senior US intelligence officials (kyivindependent.com/trump-administration-escalates-purge-of-senior-us-intelligence-officials-economist-reports/), Economist reports.
The officer, who served as the CIA’s top Russia and Eurasia analyst during the 2016 election and helped produce the report detailing Moscow’s interference on behalf of Donald Trump, was among the most senior career officials targeted.

⚡️Lithuania closes (kyivindependent.com/lithuania-closes-airspace-near-belarus-ahead-of-joint-russian-belarusian-military-drills/) airspace near Belarus ahead of joint Russian-Belarusian military drills.
The closure comes ahead of the "Zapad-2025" military drills, scheduled to take place in Belarus from Sept. 12 to 16. Minsk said the joint exercises with Russia are intended to test both countries' ability to ensure security and repel possible aggression.

⚡️Video shows aftermath of Ukrainian drone strikes (kyivindependent.com/video-shows-ukrainian-drones-striking-oil-pumping-station-in-russias-bryansk-oblast/) on oil pumping station in Russia's Bryansk Oblast.
Ukrainian drones struck the Unecha oil pumping station in Russia's Bryansk Oblast on Aug. 21, the commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, announced in a video published to social media.

⚡️Ex-defense official charged (kyivindependent.com/ex-defense-official-charged-with-abuse-after-awarding-himself-bonuses-extra-payments/) with abuse of power after awarding himself bonuses, extra payments.
A former acting director general of a state-owned defense enterprise has been charged under suspicion that the official abused his power in awarding himself 700,000 UAH ($17,000) in bonuses and extra payment during his service, the city of Kyiv's Prosecutor's Office announced on Aug. 21.

⚡️Ukrainian naval drone explosion in Novorossiysk Bay kills (kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-naval-drone-explosion-in-novorossiysk-bay-kills-5-elite-russian-divers-intelligence-claims/) 5 'elite' Russian divers, intelligence claims.
HUR identified naval reconnaissance divers as members of the Russian commando frogmen — an elite unit that receives top-level training, significant funding, and advanced equipment.

⚡️Ukraine hits Russian drone base (kyivindependent.com/ukraine-hits-russian-drone-base-in-at-occupied-crimean-airfield-navy-claims/) at occupied Crimean airfield, Navy claims.
According to the Navy, Ukraine destroyed up to three Mohajer-6 drones and two Forpost drones at the Khersones airfield in the occupied peninsula.

⚡️Russian attacks (kyivindependent.com/russian-attacks-kill-2-injure-24-in-ukraine-over-past-day/) kill 2, injure 24 in Ukraine over past day.
Ukrainian forces downed 46 out of the 55 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones and decoys, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported.

‪Ragnar Bjartur Gudmundsson 🇺🇦‬ ‪@ragnarbjartur.bsky.social‬
· 3h
⚡️ WAR IN UKRAINE & RUSSIA — AUG 22, 2025
■ Relatively few overnight attacks; 84% interception rate
■ Engagements & casualties below average
■ Reported drone losses second highest on record
■ Increased 🇺🇦 strikes; single-digit strike ratio

Ukraine Invasion: Part 58
ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 22/08/2025 12:35

UNITED24 Media Telegram Highlights

European NATO leaders should not be naive when discussing a peacekeeping force for Ukraine but should recognize the reality that tens of thousands of troops will have to be deployed long-term, said Colonel Andre Wüstner, head of the German Armed Forces Association, which represents more than 200,000 active and retired soldiers, as quoted by Reuters.
[....]
“Europeans remain military dwarfs and are already struggling to meet the new NATO commitments made at the last summit. Europe is still far from being able to defend itself,” said Wüstner.
He stressed the urgent need to accelerate armament and strengthen NATO’s European pillar.

❗️Syrskyi visited the fighters holding the defense in the Pokrovsk sector
[He] visited military command bodies, corps, and brigades conducting stabilization operations on the Dobropillia salient.
Despite the enemy’s numerical superiority, units of the Armed Forces and the National Guard are honorably fulfilling their tasks. As a result of successful strike and search operations, six settlements were cleared and hundreds of Russian occupiers eliminated, the general reported.

Romania is not ready to send troops to Ukraine but agrees to provide NATO with its military bases for the deployment of F-35 fighters.
Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said that patrols and security missions are already being carried out from Romanian airfields to monitor the situation in the Black Sea, and joint exercises with NATO are underway.

The US still plans to increase import duties on goods from India by 25% over its purchases of Russian oil, said Peter Navarro, senior adviser to the US president on trade and production.
On August 6, the US announced an increase in import duties on goods from India by 25% (up to 50%) due to its imports of Russian oil and petroleum products. The measure is expected to take effect on August 27. At the same time, after talks with Putin in Alaska, US President Donald Trump admitted that Washington would not impose import duties on Russia’s trading partners.
“I think it will happen,” Navarro told reporters at the White House when asked about the decision.
Earlier, Indian Minister of Oil and Gas Hardeep Singh Puri said that cooperation between Moscow and New Delhi, especially in the energy sector, “remains at a high level and is developing even against the backdrop of international instability.”

New satellite images show that Russia has been building a large-scale radio reconnaissance facility in the Kaliningrad region for two years, just 25 kilometers from the NATO border — Bild.
According to the Tochnyi investigative platform, it is a giant ring antenna complex near the city of Chernyakhovsk.
Construction reportedly began in March 2023. Since then, the forest has been cleared, a fence erected, roads built, and sites for buildings prepared.
“Pit holes for antenna masts are visible on the outer site. At least six rings can also be distinguished,” the investigators noted.
Experts believe this is a ring antenna array — a system of antennas used for military radio reconnaissance and communications. The facility’s diameter may reach up to 1,600 meters, several times larger than conventional complexes of this type.
Once completed, investigators say, Russia will be able to intercept NATO radio communications in Eastern Europe and the Baltic states, as well as establish more reliable communication with submarines in the Baltic Sea and the North Atlantic.

📲UNITED24 now has its own app! For over 3 years, you have supported Ukraine via our platform, helping defenders. Your every donation made a difference. Now, we’re taking it further with the UNITED24 App! (u24app.gov.ua/?utm_source=telegram&utm_medium=u24media&utm_campaign=launch)

American Republican Senator Lindsey Graham is demanding that Russia return all abducted Ukrainian children. Otherwise, he says he will push for Russia to be recognized as a state sponsor of terrorism.

The leading German arms manufacturer KNDS Deutschland plans to set up new joint ventures in Ukraine for the production of equipment and spare parts, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal said after a meeting with the company’s delegation.
The concern intends to significantly expand its presence in Ukraine and launch repair and service hubs for the rapid restoration and maintenance of weapons.
According to the minister, the company will also develop a network of centers for repairing heavy equipment in Ukraine. As part of this cooperation, the first three Gepard air defense systems have already been repaired.

Russians attacked Lviv with Kh-101 missiles equipped with cluster warheads, the regional prosecutor’s office reported. [reported yesterday]
At the same time, strike drones were also launched. Three missiles were shot down by air defense forces.

Volunteers from Brazil and Portugal are undergoing training in the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Ukrainian schoolchildren won five medals at the International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics in India
From August 11 to 21 in Mumbai, the Ukrainian team earned one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals.
The gold went to Andrii Zagika, silver to Dmytro Giley and Maria Mazur, and bronze to Uliana Gerbut and Bohdan Ogorodnyk.

Ukraine Invasion: Part 58
ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 22/08/2025 12:43

Kyiv Post Telegram Highlights

A meeting between Putin and Zelensky is not planned, but the Russian president is ready to meet once a summit agenda is prepared. At the moment, there is none, Russia’s foreign minister Lavrov said.

Putin is ready to meet with Zelensky only if all issues requiring discussion at the highest level are thoroughly prepared — Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov
He added that the presence of foreign troops in Ukraine is completely unacceptable for Russia.

Zelensky says Ukraine won’t trade land for peace, (www.kyivpost.com/post/58697) rules out China as guarantor, pushes US for sanctions and drone deal, and confirms Flamingo missile mass production.

Trump has decided to step back from peace talks between Putin and Zelensky — The Guardian
He wants Ukraine and Russia to organize a bilateral meeting on their own. Trump plans to take a “wait-and-see position” to determine whether such a meeting is possible.

Europe seems to have gained ground by enlisting Washington to press Kremlin-friendly Budapest on Ukraine’s EU bid – while Hungary stayed mute on a Russian border strike. (https://www.kyivpost.com/post/58755)

Ukraine’s drones struck Russia’s Unecha pumping station, (www.kyivpost.com/post/58741) a vital Druzhba hub, reportedly halting oil to Hungary.

Drones hit Russia’s GRU base in occupied Sevastopol, (www.kyivpost.com/post/58706) torch an oil refinery in Rostov, & cripple a rail hub in Voronezh.
Moscow insists “all drones were shot down” — but fires & explosions lit up the night sky.

Join Kyiv Post inside a Ukrainian POW camp, where captured Russian and foreign fighters reveal life behind the fences: their routines, work, meals, and views on the war.

Following an uncharacteristic update slamming Moscow’s invasion, Trump issued another update (www.kyivpost.com/analysis/58711) likening him and Putin to Nixon and Khrushchev – in a historic Cold War debate.

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music that you love, upload original content and share it all with friends, family and the world on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/Om2d0QX2XKY?si=Vf_7bjfdmo-O6o2N

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 22/08/2025 12:53

Trump issued another update likening him and Putin to Nixon and Khrushchev – in a historic Cold War debate.

So Trump is admitting he's like Nixon? Gosh.

ReleaseTheDucksOfWar · 22/08/2025 12:54

Live: Ukraine Telegram Highlights

❗️The Armed Forces of Ukraine have liberated most of the village of Tovste in Donetsk region.
The operation was carried out by soldiers of the 5th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade. Tovste is located roughly 7 kilometers from the administrative border with Dnipropetrovsk region.

⚛️ In Russia, a nuclear power plant unit was shut down, possibly due to a drone attack.
The communications office of the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant reported that Unit 7 was temporarily disconnected from the grid, allegedly due to an automatic shutdown.
The shutdown became known after a drone raid on the Voronezh region on the night of August 21. At the same time, the plant’s director claimed that reports of the shutdown being caused by a drone attack were false, adding that the unit was scheduled to be reconnected to the grid today.
Currently, Units 4, 5, and 6 remain in operation, and radiation levels around the plant are within normal limits.
▪️The Novovoronezh NPP is located on the banks of the Don River, 45 km south of Voronezh. It is the largest electricity supplier in the region.

🇵🇱 Poland’s Foreign Ministry has sent a note of protest to Russia over the drone that crashed on Polish territory on August 20.
The ministry demands immediate explanations regarding the incident, including the circumstances and reasons why the UAV entered Poland.

🇭🇺 Oil supplies to Hungary have once again been halted, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced.
He said he was informed overnight about an attack on the Druzhba pipeline near the Russia–Belarus border.

❗️Kostiantynivka has been left without gas supply following a Russian strike.

Former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz suggested that, as a long-term measure to end the war in Ukraine, the possibility of granting Russia NATO membership should be considered. [what the .... is this report accurate??]

🇺🇸 Trump accused Biden of preventing Ukraine from striking Russia, despite previously criticizing his predecessor for allowing such attacks.
“It’s very hard, if not impossible, to win a war without attacking the aggressor country. It’s like a great sports team with a fantastic defense that isn’t allowed to play offense. There’s no chance of winning! The same goes for Ukraine and Russia,” the U.S. president wrote on Truth Social.
According to him, “the devious and extremely incompetent” Joe Biden only allowed Ukraine to defend itself, but not to respond.
▪️Back in December, when the Biden administration authorized Ukraine to use long-range weapons against targets deep inside Russia, Trump said he disagreed with the move, arguing it “escalates the conflict and makes things worse.”

After his post accusing Biden, Trump published a photo comparing himself and Putin to former U.S. President Nixon and Soviet leader Khrushchev.

Ukraine Invasion: Part 58
jasflowers · 22/08/2025 13:07

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 22/08/2025 12:53

Trump issued another update likening him and Putin to Nixon and Khrushchev – in a historic Cold War debate.

So Trump is admitting he's like Nixon? Gosh.

Is Khrushchev the President under which Trump was first recruited?

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 22/08/2025 13:38

jasflowers · 22/08/2025 13:07

Is Khrushchev the President under which Trump was first recruited?

Khrushchev was in office until 1964, Trump was born in 1946, so Trump would have had to have been eighteen when it happened.

heldinadream · 22/08/2025 13:57

Whoever it is in the middle of both pics looks like the same bloke and is leaning forward at the same angle etc. And Trump is poking in the same way.
Which leads me to the frankly astonishing conclusion that Trump literally set this scene up in order to have that pic taken in order to make the comparison.
But - why does he think comparing himself to Nixon is a good thing?
The whole thing is baffling.

PiggyPigalle · 22/08/2025 14:40

Trump making an announcement at 5pm UK time. Hasn't said what about.

Going on how inaccurate my reading of situations has turned out, he will announce withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukraine. Due of course to the warm welcome shown to Putin in Alaska.

Igotjelly · 22/08/2025 14:47

PiggyPigalle · 22/08/2025 14:40

Trump making an announcement at 5pm UK time. Hasn't said what about.

Going on how inaccurate my reading of situations has turned out, he will announce withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukraine. Due of course to the warm welcome shown to Putin in Alaska.

I had seen this but looks like it might be linked to the FBI raiding John Bolton’s house etc.

heldinadream · 22/08/2025 14:53

Whatever it is he won't stay on point anyway, there'll be a ramble of verbal diarrhoea to contend with.

SummerEve · 22/08/2025 14:53

That FBI raid has stitch up written all over it.

PiggyPigalle · 22/08/2025 16:36

Igotjelly · 22/08/2025 14:47

I had seen this but looks like it might be linked to the FBI raiding John Bolton’s house etc.

Yes it does.

heldinadream · 22/08/2025 16:45

SummerEve · 22/08/2025 14:53

That FBI raid has stitch up written all over it.

Yep! Just seen Trump spouting utter bullshit about it on Sky news.
"I know nothing about it."
Yeah, that's plausible - not.

Igotjelly · 22/08/2025 17:11

heldinadream · 22/08/2025 16:45

Yep! Just seen Trump spouting utter bullshit about it on Sky news.
"I know nothing about it."
Yeah, that's plausible - not.

Was that in his “Trump was right about everything” hat?

heldinadream · 22/08/2025 17:46

Igotjelly · 22/08/2025 17:11

Was that in his “Trump was right about everything” hat?

God yes and I hadn't seen that hat before! 😱

Igotjelly · 22/08/2025 17:54

Aaaaaaand Trump’s “big announcement” is about the 2026 World Cup 🤨

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