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Reposted by Edward Walker

The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 5h

⚡️Fires reported in Russia's Belgorod oblast amid suspected power plant attack, local officials say.

Falling debris from downed missiles sparked fires and caused damage in Belgorod, Russia, the regional governor reported Oct. 11 amid a suspected attack on a power plant in the city.

Fires reported in Russia's Belgorod oblast amid suspected power plant attack, local officials say

Falling debris from downed missiles sparked fires and caused damage in Belgorod, Russia, the regional governor reported Oct. 11 amid a suspected attack on a power plant in the city.

kyivindependent.com

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Edward Walker @gnuggat.bsky.social · 1d

100%.

Anders Puck Nielsen @anderspucknielsen.dk · 1d

There is more than one reason for why Putin decided to invade Ukraine. It's not either a genocidal project of eliminating Ukrainian nationhood or about great power competition with NATO — it's both (and a couple more, in fact).

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · 1d

When Putin talks to a Russians he consistently says that they invade Ukraine to destroy the state and nation and correct the path of history. NATO and similar framings are just for the useful foreigners.

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The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 1d

A Ukrainian delegation is set to visit Washington next week to negotiate the purchase of additional air defense systems as well as HIMARS rocket systems as part of a "Mega Deal", President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a press briefing on Oct. 10.

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Reposted by Edward Walker

Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · 1d

“The contracted worth "hundreds of millions" is financed by an EU member state, using the proceeds from frozen Russian assets, the company said, without naming the country.”
kyivindependent.com/rheinmetall-...

Rheinmetall to supply Ukraine with additional Skyranger air defense systems

The upcoming delivery addresses Ukraine's urgent need for cost-effective air defense solutions as Russia intensifies drone attacks.

kyivindependent.com

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WarTranslated (Dmitri) @wartranslated.bsky.social · 1d

Zelensky says Ukraine has 203 key sites that must be protected by air defense, including energy, gas, and water infrastructure. He emphasizes these are just the critical ones, with many more needing coverage.

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Edward Walker @gnuggat.bsky.social · 1d

Pretty pretty sure this is going to turn out to be another nothing burger. What’s the likelihood Moscow produces “objective and detailed information” about these children? Gonna say close to zero.

🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 @militarynewsua.bsky.social · 1d

❗️Melania Trump reported that Putin responded to her letter regarding child protection.

According to her, Russia is allegedly demonstrating its willingness to provide objective and detailed information about the Ukrainian children it kidnapped.

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Edward Walker @gnuggat.bsky.social · 1d

Yup.

🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 @specialkhersoncat.bsky.social · 1d

Trump thanked Putin for his support after he was not awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Flattering Trump remains the easiest investment for dictators.

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Edward Walker @gnuggat.bsky.social · 1d

Dumb thing for Putin to say, IMO, even if it’s true.

WarTranslated (Dmitri) @wartranslated.bsky.social · 1d

Putin insists Trump is “bluffing” about sending Tomahawks to Ukraine — and calls beefing up Russia’s air defenses his response to this “blackmail.”

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The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 1d

⚡️ US Senate approves $925 billion defense bill, proposes $500 million for Ukraine.

The legislation reflects a $100 million increase in the aid for Ukraine over the House of Representatives' version.

US Senate approves $925 billion defense bill, proposes $500 million for Ukraine

The legislation reflects a $100 million increase in the aid for Ukraine over the House of Representatives' version.

kyivindependent.com

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Judah Grunstein @judah-grunstein.bsky.social · 1d

It's impossible to know what went into the committee's decision, but Machado is a symbolically savvy choice, given Trump has recently pretended to care about Venezuela, making it hard for him to dismiss her importance.

It will also cast any decision to invade the country in a harsher light.

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Edward Walker @gnuggat.bsky.social · 1d

Definitely worth watching for those in need of a morale booster in these alarming times.

Nate Schenkkan @nateschenkkan.bsky.social · 1d

Truly wonderful

Sherrilyn Ifill @sifill.bsky.social · 1d

“Oh my god… I have no words.”

Listen to the emotional moment this year’s laureate Maria Corina ( finds out she has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Kristian Berg Harpviken, Director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, shared the news.

NobelPrize #NobelPeacePrize

Edward Walker @gnuggat.bsky.social · 1d

Thread. Strong agree. Never thought it was likely the Nobel Committee wld pick Trump but nonetheless thank God.

Jacob T. Levy @jacobtlevy.bsky.social · 1d

Machado is a good choice. She'll be controversial because she's in the fight, not above it. That makes this prize continuous with the 2021-3 streak of honoring opposition figures and dissidents rather than do-gooder organizations or already-powerful officials.

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Edward Walker @gnuggat.bsky.social · 1d

Pretty clear RU is going to make a push to strike power facilities and make winter as miserable as possible for UKR civilians. Continue to think it’s a mistake to think defensive systems alone can manage this. Key is going to be eventual UKR LRS tit-for-tat.

Kyiv Post @kyivpost.com · 1d

This is what the Russian strikes on an energy facility in Kyiv looked like.

Putin’s forces targeted infrastructure yet again, leaving civilians to face blackouts and fear.

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The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · 1d

⚡️Ukraine, UK negotiating joint production of 2,000 interceptor drones monthly.

"Very shortly, we'll be producing around 2,000 drones a month, deliberately shipping all of them to Ukraine so they can be used to intercept Russian drones," U.K. Defense Readiness, Industry Minister Luke Pollard said.

Ukraine, UK negotiating joint production of 2,000 interceptor drones monthly

"Very shortly, we'll be producing around 2,000 drones a month, deliberately shipping all of them to Ukraine so they can be used to intercept Russian drones," U.K. Defense Readiness and Industry Minist...

kyivindependent.com

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Edward Walker @gnuggat.bsky.social · 1d

Why deterring RU hybrid war is hard. NB: “…deterrence by punishment could potentially create a stronger deterrent... so far the main concept for deterrence by punishment has been “deterrence by attribution”…RU is clearly quite far beyond the point of caring...” Yup.
open.substack.com/pub/phillips...

Easier Said Than Done: Hybrid Deterrence By Punishment

This week, Minna Ålander turns to the question of how to move from defensive reactions to Russian hybrid warfare to an effective deterrent. (Spoiler: not easy)

open.substack.com

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Edward Walker @gnuggat.bsky.social · 2d

Well, it must have been painful, but looks like Rutte’s butt kissing may pay off. Taken one for the team.

Anton Gerashchenko @antongerashchenko.bsky.social · 2d

[Q]: Are you going to step up the pressure for a Ukraine deal?

President Trump:
Yeah, we are stepping up the pressure. We're stepping it up together.
NATO's been great. The leader of NATO, as you know, Mark, has been fantastic, I think. And he's a fantastic guy.

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Reposted by Edward Walker

🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 @militarynewsua.bsky.social · 2d

❗️The 🇪🇺European Commission is creating a special team to investigate the espionage operations in which 🇭🇺Hungary is suspected - the representative of the European Commission Balazs Ujvari

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Edward Walker @gnuggat.bsky.social · 2d

Yup, my take too.

chicagopatrick.bsky.social @chicagopatrick.bsky.social · 2d

Seems low- to no risk for Putin. In reality, it’s a minor concession for him/RU, but major to the Azerbaijanis, who were already Putin’s preferred dance partner as Armenia spins away from russki mir.

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🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 @militarynewsua.bsky.social · 2d

❗️Claimed by the Russians to be a fragment of a 🇺🇦Ukrainian Flamingo cruise missile found on 🇷🇺Russian territory

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🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 @militarynewsua.bsky.social · 2d

❗️Since the start of the full-scale war, 🇵🇱Poland has transferred to 🇺🇦Ukraine the largest number of tanks among all countries in the world - 318 (T-72M/M1, T-72M1R, PT-91 and Leopard 2)

Poland has also transferred 586 armored vehicles, 137 artillery systems, 10 Mi-24 helicopters,

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Edward Walker @gnuggat.bsky.social · 2d

I still don’t get is why, in the face of all these drone sightings, we don’t have any evidence (AFAIK) that any have fallen into the hands of authorities who then ascertain eg whether they have been gathering intel and delivering it some operator, or whether are just there to disrupt or alarm.

Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.bsky.social · 2d

And more drones, this time over Geilenkirchen, the NATO base where the Awacs surveillance aircraft are stationed.
Detected by a detection system (good), no countermeasures employed (less good). As it is often the case, unclear whether there really was a drone, and which kind.

www.spiegel.de

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Edward Walker @gnuggat.bsky.social · 2d

Doesn’t come easy for Putin but IMO a smart move. We’ll see if RU-AZE relations meaningfully improve. Not good news for Armenia, IMO.

Meduza in English @meduza.io · 2d

For the first time, Putin has directly acknowledged Russia’s responsibility for the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet in December 2024.
meduza.io/en/feature/2...

Putin admits Russian air defenses downed Azerbaijan Airlines flight last year, killing 38 — Meduza

For the first time, Russian President Vladimir Putin has directly acknowledged Russia’s responsibility for the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) passenger jet in December 2024. The Embraer E190,…

meduza.io

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Anton Barbashin @abarbashin.bsky.social · 2d

Despite its grievances, Tehran will have to maintain and develop ties with Moscow in the near future. One can debate how and why Iran ended up in this situation but with so few foreign policy partners, Iran cannot afford to break with Russia
ridl.io/discontent-a...

Discontent Amid Despair – Riddle Russia

Nikita Smagin on Why Tehran Accuses Moscow of Aiding Israel

ridl.io

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Edward Walker @gnuggat.bsky.social · 2d