Don's Weekly, 17 February 2025: Part 1

By Donald Hill (with Tom Cooper)

Hello everybody!

A little bit later than usually, here’s the next issue of Don’s Weekly - and, it cannot be denied: the situation regarding the War in Ukraine remains ‘very exciting’.

Contrary to the last few weeks, meanwhile the primary reason is related to the announcements of the President of the USA, Donald J Trump - and members of his administration - which some are interpreting as ‘abandonment of Ukraine and Europe’.

We’re not sharing such standpoints. Quite on the contrary: the experiences have shown that Trump tends to negotiate ‘Russian style’. As first, he expresses his maximum demands, then sees what can he get in reaction - and, usually, he settles for far less (if anything at all) than originally announced. This was the case a number of times (best example is the US pull-out from Afghanistan). Exceptions were few affairs where the other party has left itself be impressed by his boasting, or was dumb enough to get corrupted for other reasons. In the case of Ukraine - and especially in reaction for Trump’s (publicly announced) intention to negotiate with Pudding in person while ignoring everybody else (including Ukraine but also the European-part of NATO, not to talk about the European Union), the standpoint of official Kyiv is meanwhile also clear (or at least announced as such): the Zelensky administration is not going to accept any kind of agreements between the USA and Russia without its involvement.

‘Hat off’: is the only way to deal with bullies - especially those who are priding themselves with violations of the constitution representing something like ‘liberation’ of their nations - and also perfectly in sense of what do we get to hear out of Ukraine, and especially the ranks of the ZSU, and that regardless how tired is everybody of this war.

Sure, this might create the impression where Trump is thus ‘free’ to go babbling with Pudding, and the two would then be free to reach an agreement - and then, if Kyive and Europe refuse to accept the results, also to be ‘free’ to blame Ukraine and Europe for a failure of their ‘golden handshake’ (or whatever you want to call it). However, and irrespective of possible repercussions on the international stage (especially for Ukraine’s and European reputation) alone the fact that for the Russians - and especially for Pudding - no agreements are worth a pence if not supported by ‘power’ (indeed, ‘military superiority’) is speaking its own language. This is not to talk about the obvious fact that the Trump administration is hell-or-bent on ‘ending’ the war in Ukraine without having any other ideas how to do that, except to make concessions at the cost of Ukraine. Moreover, Europe (just like the ‘entre West’, including the USA etc.) has ruined its own reputation so well - through faithfully supporting Israel’s genocide on Palestinians, just for the start, not to talk about so many other of ‘brilliant’ political ideas here - that in this regards there’s actually nothing left to ruin.

But, well, as they say, ‘once you’ve lost the reputation, you’ve got nothing left to lose’.

Moreover, one should always keep in mind: announcements of such like Trump, and reality - i.e. what do they actually do once they’ve announced something - are not only ‘two different pairs of shoes’, but, actually, two different solar systems.

Actually, only one - currently - still ‘minor thingy’ is certain already now: the current generation of ‘Western’ politicians has ruined the entire system of governance and international politics - the current ‘world order’ - so well, and is so corrupt and incompetent, they’re going to be very happy to leave it to the next generation to repair all the damage they’ve caused and then left behind (if somebody is wondering about what am I talking about: check the results of the Second World War and how long that took to ‘repair’, at least materially). Fortunately, not only the governments of numerous ‘smaller’ European states, but at least the ‘2nd rank’ if not the ‘3rd rank’ in the politics of ‘major’ European states has meanwhile figured out what’s at stake, and what steps need to be taken as next; indeed, some are diligently ‘rolling up the sleeves’. Moreover, no threat is as uniting ‘Europe’ as that of ‘Pudding’ and ‘Russia’ (especially not if ‘reinforced’ by Trump). There is a realisation that Europe can’t go on like the last 20-30 years; at least that new solutions must be found. Thus, amid all the ‘bad news’ of recent times, actually: there’s a glimmer of hope in support of those who are ‘cautiously optimistic’.

Of course, repairing the ruins of the system is not going to be easy, nor straightforward, or without (often: massive) complications. Actually, the old system, the old ‘world order’ is irreparably damaged. It’s going to take building an entirely new one. But: if that would be easy, it would’ve been done already long ago…

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From the frontlines… Generally, the last week the intensity of Russian assaulting continued decreasing. There’s still lots of uncertainty regarding the reasons, thus we’ll have to wait for a while longer… until the smoke (and dust) clear - to understand the ‘why’.

Kursk

The last week the Russian Air-Space Force (VKS) run so many air strikes on the ZSU in this arae that some are estimating that over 50% of bombs and missiles deployed by this service alone were pulverising the Russian territory. Artillery strikes were at least as heavy. Simultaneously, renewed Russian ground attacks - especially in direction of Sverdlikovo - resulted in the Russian Armed Forces (VSRF) suffering extensive losses. Alas, they did manage to push the Ukrainians back, too.

A Russian tank and self-propelled gun were destroyed in Tolsty Lug.

The 47th Brigade is using the laser-guided 155 mm Copperhead shell.

East of Pogrebki, a Russian tank shells Ukrainian positions. Olgovka is attacked by thermobaric rockets.

A Russian counter attack 3 km east of Cherkasskaya Konopelka resulted in the destruction of two BMPs and infantry. To the west of the village, a Ukrainian command vehicle is hit.

Russian artillery bombards Guyevo.

Attackers used thermal capes trying to avoid Ukrainian drones with thermal cameras.

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Kupiansk

Following old patterns, Russia expanded their Dvorichna bridgehead over the river by up to 3 kilometers in some areas. This is not a sudden blitzkrieg. This is a small advance that has crawled forward over 11 weeks. If the old patterns hold, Syrsky is going to eventually send more troops to contain the advance. Don’t tell him that exactly the same amount of reinforcements could have been sent to eliminate any Russian advance ten weeks ago…

Two Russians walk 1200 meters to surrender near Synkivka.

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Terny

Russia advanced south of Makiivka. Terny is functionally in Russian control. Attacks towards Yampolivka were repulsed. One attack was stopped on the outskirts of the village with conventional artillery- and cluster munitions.

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Siversk

Ukraine destroys two armored vehicles and then hunts down the infantry two kilometers west of Zolotarivka.

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Chasiv Yar

Two kilometers south of Chasiv Yar, the village of Yuzhny was bombarded by rockets twice. Western Chasiv Yar was also hit by MRL and thermobaric rockets. However, Russia was unable to advance in this sector.

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Toretsk

Ukrainian and Russian attacks have been intermixed throughout Torestsk indicating a very fluid situation.

Ukrainian infantry dismount in northern Toretsk while artillery tries to hit the vehicle. Multiple houses are hit by Ukrainian drones. The mine in nothern Toretsk is shelled by Russians. The Lyut Police Brigade assaults a Russian position. A building is cleared in western Toretsk by Ukrainian troops. Russian drones are shown making approaches on a lot of targets but signal interference makes it difficult to tell if any targets were actually hit. Two different Ukrainian MRAP vehicles were hit in central Toretsk. Russian attacks in eastern Toretsk, previously occupied by Russians. Ukrainian infantry are bombed in southern Toretsk.

A Russian self-propelled gun was destroyed 7 km from the front line.

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(…to be continued…)