iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by John Helin

Andrew (🎃) @athomashemlock.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

A huge problem with being addicted to paying attention to what is actually happening in the federal government right now is that it's impossible to explain to people who are normal why this information makes you seriously think about pouring a glass of straight gin at 8 in the morning.

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Faktabaari @faktabaari.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Klo 17 alkaen faktantarkistajat kokoontuivat läpivalaisemaan faktantarkistuksen tilaa Suomessa. Puhujina Faktabaarin @mikkovsalo.bsky.social, @pipsahavula.bsky.social ja @joonasporsti.bsky.social sekä @afpfactcheck.bsky.social Anna Hollingsworth ja Black Bird Groupin @jjhelin.bsky.social. 3/5

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

I'll try to do better with cross-posting in the future. Might still re-post the thread just for future-proofing. I'm currently working on a writeup about the goals of the Kursk operation and what it achieved, and if it managed to fulfil any of it's goals. I'll remember to post that here as well.

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 17/03/2025

Last Thursday I whipped up a SITREP for the Kursk salient. I posted it on X, but completely forgot to do so on BlueSky, which I regret. The thread would be slightly outdated, but a longer writeup of the situation and UA withdrawal can be found on our Substack. substack.com/home/post/p-...

substack.com

Ukraine withdraws from Kursk

SITREP 13.03.2025

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

I was meant to post it here too but creating the graphics and writing the text on Substack took 12 hours and now I have forgot. I must rectify this tomorrow.

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

Infantry can likely make it accross but heavy equipment is going to have a worse time.

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

This is in reference to the Ukrainian forces in Kazachya Loknaya and those on the eastern outskirts of Sudzha. Those forces are separated from Sudzha and Ukraine by the Loknaya and Psel rivers.

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

We have updated our map to reflect the situation in Kursk. In short, it's not looking good. The areas east of the Loknya and Psel rivers will likely be lost within days or less. Large scale withdrawal is likely, but Ukraine may attempt to hold onto Sudzha for some time.

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 09/03/2025

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Oh, is that why it's called a curfew?

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

"The official said all US military equipment not currently in Ukraine would be paused, including weapons in transit on aircraft and ships or waiting in transit areas in Poland."

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 04/03/2025

US has stopped military aid to Ukraine as per Bloomberg. "The US is pausing all current military aid to Ukraine until Trump determines the country’s leaders demonstrate a good-faith commitment to peace, according to a senior Defense Department official" www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

You know what they say: "Barely functional is still functional". It incidentally seems to be both my and the Trump administration's motto for 2025. Only one of us seems to be succeeding.

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

And if I never stop I'll never have a hangover

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

There's a reason I turned to drinking on friday.

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Reposted by John Helin

James @gravitysra1nbow.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

What coherent and intelligent commentary can you even have on national security or military affairs anymore? Everything is just fucking stupid now. What are you even supposed to say besides just repeating over and over how fucking dumb every single decision is?

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James @gravitysra1nbow.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Trump take egg Trump take lumber Trump take oil Trump take nickel Trump take tomato Trump take avocado Trump take car Trump take steel Trump take laptop Trump take 401k Trump take natural gas Trump take cell phones Trump take t shirt Trump take tequila Trump take washing machines Trump take steel Tr

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BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

starting a business that just sells Canadian merchandise at US airports for Americans traveling abroad

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Well that's a way to spend the friday night. What a complete disaster. If someone still had illusions about the US being a reliable and moral foreign policy partner, this is the time to wake up. Sadly I don't have high hopes.

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Reposted by John Helin

John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

This photo of Musk speaking at the AfD rally has an interesting composition. I'm sure the AFP photographer had fun.

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

This photo of Musk speaking at the AfD rally has an interesting composition. I'm sure the AFP photographer had fun.

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Reposted by John Helin

Ville Ranta @villeranta.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Arvopohjainen suomettuminen @hs.fi

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BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

if you want a simple narrative of the last four years in cultural leadership: a bunch of 50-something men got mad about their buddies losing their jobs for sexually assaulting women, so they decided that sexism and racism were fine all along

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Reposted by John Helin

Black Bird Group @blackbirdgroup.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

Light Infantry Attacks – A Thread Why does our @jjhelin.bsky.social keep rejecting the "human waves" narrative, instead calling the reported North Korean attacks in Kursk "basic infantry drills"? Let’s dive into light infantry on the attack and why this distinction matters. 1/

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

With the recent Russian advances, two dangerous salients are emerging in Southern Donetsk. In Velyka Novosilka and Kurakhove, the Ukrainian supply routes are under significant threat. A quick look at the logistics in South Donetsk. 1/

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

Despite posting less, we here at @blackbirdgroup.bsky.social continue to monitor the Russian invasion of Ukraine daily. We also want to thank Antti & Jenny Wihurin Rahasto for their generous grant makes our lives much easier. 12/12

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

Ukraine once again finds itself in the threat of encirclement in salients that have been emerging for weeks. In the past Ukraine has been lucky, catastrophes have been averted. But one should not continuously rely on luck. 11/

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

However, should Russia advance enough to force a withdrawal from these salients, the prevailing December weather and Russian drone-observation makes the evacuation of remaining heavy equipment over wet fields a daunting task 10/

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

The threat to the main logistical routes in both Kurakhove and Velyka Novosilka is going to be a challenge to Ukrainians. Light troops can be supplied by drones, and infantry can withdraw over the fields, although it's dangerous. 9/

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

This effectively cuts the town of Velyka Novosilka off from the villages of Vremivka and Neskuchne, and the rest of the Ukrainian-controlled territories. The town will need to be supplied by makeshift means over the river. 8/

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

The Russians cut the northern supply road at the village of Novyi Komar and are closing in on the last remaining road into the city west of Vremivka. They have also recently struck the bridges over the Mokri Yaly River. 7/

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

To the southwest of Kurakhove, another pocket is forming around Velyka Novosilka. Here the Russians have advanced to the west of the Mokri Yaly River, and east of the town, closing in on its supply routes. 6/

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

Ukrainian channels are already talking about Russian drone strikes and the ever-elusive "fire control" over the main road. Whatever the case, The Ukrainian forces in the Kurakhove salient are now in clear danger of encirclement. 5/

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

The salient is boxed in by the Vovcha and Sukhi Yaly rivers with only one major route and one bridge leading to Kurakhove. Russians are closing in on this road both from the north and the south near Ulakly and Dachne respectively. 4/

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

The most difficult situation has emerged around the Kurakhove salient. Russians are advancing both on the northern and southern flanks. The Ukrainian situation here is especially dangerous because of the limited logistical routes. 3/

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

General situation: Although the Russian pace of advance slowed in December they've continued their advance in southern Donetsk. Pictured in darker red is the situation at the beginning of December, light red is Russian advances. 2/

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John Helin @jjhelin.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

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Tatarigami @tatarigami.bsky.social · 15/12/2024

Ukraine’s failure to fix organizational issues and replace inefficient commanders has eroded trust in the system to the point, where severe recruitment shortages and desertion levels are so high that no amount of aid can fix it The window of opportunity to change is closing

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Reposted by John Helin

Nathan Ruser @nrg8000.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

🧵Look towards the light. As Rebel forces in Syria advanced across Syria & never stopped a key question was why the Regime evaporated. Syria by night provides some clues on how the Regime's social contract collapsed. Read my analysis here aspistrategist.org.au/just-look-at... & read on

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