Thread by @TWMCLtd

Hello. It's Day 323 of #Russia's war on #Ukraine.

Putin's army - along with the mercenaries - seem on the verge of a first military success for months since losing two whole swathes of land over the summer.

All the news right here in my daily thread, updated in real time.

Some graphic and horrendous scenes yesterday in an increasingly bloody battle in all senses.

#Ukraine claiming it has not lost #Soledar yet.
Plenty of other news too - you can bring yourself up to date by scrolling through Wednesday's thread here:

430* more troops in #Russia's military killed in the last 24 hours. A big figure, but well down on recent peaks.

Also down are the general equipment numbers destroyed.

This is in line with the end of one big battle as we seem to be at #Soldar.

*Ukraine estimates

Propaganda wars continue: scarcely a mention of the likely loss of #Soledar in #Ukraine media while Russian sites are full of the supposed glory of taking a small town that pre-war had scarcely 10,000 residents

Ukraine released this GRAPHIC video claiming over 100 Russians died:

#Russia has sanctioned 36 more Britons.

Journalists, Cabinet Ministers and "representatives of law enforcement agencies" are on Moscow's "Stop List" says the Kremlin's Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

#StopRussia #StandWithUkraine

#Russia looks on the verge of increasing the age range for conscripts. Currently it's set at 18-27 year olds. Defence Minister Shoigu said he favoured moving it to ages 21-30.

But now a proposal gaining favour in the Kremlin is to expand the draft to those aged 18 to 30 years.

Here's the British update - reporting on #Russia's Rapid Reaction force, pressed in to action to stop #Kreminna falling. #Ukraine has continued to make small incursions in #Luhansk despite the setbacks in #Donetsk this week.

#StandWithUkraine

Still no reliable update on the fate of humanitarian volunteers Chris Parry & Andrew Bagshaw, missing near #Soledar

Last night Wagner group showed the men's passports, saying one body had been found; some channels said it was Mr Bagshaw.

@FCDOGovUK is aware, but cannot confirm.

Similarly no confirmed news about #Soledar itself.

What is noticeable:

1) No updates from #Soledar by embedded #Ukraine journalists
2) No videos from #Wagner group confirming for instance, taking the town centre

I can only deduce Ukrainians there, likely holed up, still fight.

#Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister has just held a regular press conference, maintaining the battle of #Soledar continues.

"The enemy, trying unsuccessfully to break through our defenses and capture Soledar, is suffering heavy losses," said Hanna Malyar.

rbc.ua/rus/news/rosiy…

A workshop for repairing vehicles has been shelled in occupied #Donetsk.

One person died in the attack on the "Hercules - MOLOKO" base in the Leninsky district of the city. Four more people were hurt.

#DonetskIsUkraine

During the night there was quite a big attack on #Zaporizhzhia.
Private houses were destroyed, but no one was living there at the time.

#RussiaIsATerroristState

#Ukraine's ambassador to the #UK has told Sky News that Putin is "quite desperate" after yet another reshuffling of his Generals.

#StandWithUkraine

In #Russia a man who escaped from his military unit before it was sent to the front in #Ukraine, has been jailed for 5 years.

The court in #Ufa passed down the sentence on the un-named Corporal after hearing he fled during partial mobilisation.

Hahaha! This can be seen in the centre of #Moscow near the Krymsky Bridge!

An activist from @femagainstwar has floated this banner "V.V.Khuylo" on the river Moskva. It's accompanied by 💙💛

(VV - Putin's initials, Khuylo means d*ckhead)

Also in central #Moscow a protest outside the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour.

@Sota_Vision reports anaonymous activists crawling in blood red the words ""Gundyai, do not kill?"

This follows #Russia's Patriarch Kirill Gundyaev making war mongering statements.

📹 @Sota_Vision

Over 500 civilians remain in #Soledar

#Ukraine's Gov for #Donetsk region says they are mainly over 50s and no children that he knows of.

Pavlo Kyrylenko said “It will not be correct to say they don't want to leave. We are doing our best but it's just unrealistic at the moment.

#Ukraine trying to ensure there continues to be no public support in #Belarus to join #PutinsWar

#Cyprus is another country in the #EU which has tacitly supported #Russia over the years, turning a blind eye to some stinky money in many accounts there.

Any support from the island is welcomed.

Outrage in #Mariupol at the destruction by the Occupiers of an historical monument.

The "House with a Clock" is no more. It was the workshop of the leading monumental artist Arnautov whose mosaics are recognised as cultural heritage by USA.
#Russia had said it was being repaired

Reports of multiple explosions in occupied #Melitopol' this afternoon.

Some of the explosions may have been #Russia's training exercises for new recruits.

But one channel says locals suspect an ammunition depot detonating and blasts were heard in three other areas of the town.

#RussiaOnFire

And a second entry in successive days from #Krasnoyarsk

However it's a big territory and this blaze in the city itself is almost 200km away from yesterday's fire.

A warehouse is said to have burned, probably an "insurance job" or smoking on the job!

#Russia has denied reports a soldier today escaped from a military unit in #Moscow armed with a machine gun and grenades.

They later claimed it was a hoax, saying it was just "telephone terrorism" - but I guess they would say that wouldn't they?

Foreigners who served with the National Guard in #Ukraine can now legally stay in the country and earn the same as home military personnel.

The law was adopted in Parliament in #Kyiv today.

Governor of #Luhansk reports there is fierce fighting in #Bilohorivka near #Kreminna.

Serhiy Haidai says "The Armed Forces of #Ukraine are holding their positions there. And on the Kreminna and Svatove directions (we) are moving forward."

Who'd have guessed?

Labour's ridiculously short sighted "Golden Visa" scheme, which was finally shut earlier this year, allowed criminals and (now sanctioned) oligarchs from #Russia to gain citizenship - and launder money in London.

theguardian.com/politics/2023/…

1/4
#Russia is just obsessed with trying to make links with #Ukraine and Nazis.

Been discussing this story with @motytchak for whom I give many thanks.

Earlier a video appeared on RU channels (see next tweet) which claims to be a UA soldier with chemical weapons

2/4
But not just any chemical weapons of course, propagandists claim it's Hydrocyanic capsules, better known as Zyklon B used by Nazi Germany on Jews in WWII and which needs to be stored in the cold.

Conveniently, the video appears just as Wagner make claims of chemical attacks

3/4
It's almost certainly staged - a disgusting fake.
The man in the video says "we'll be dropping this on your head - you'll appreciate it."

But as native speakers tell me it's not normal Ukrainian. Sounds like a Russian student trying to speak very correct Ukrainian

4/4
And does anyone really think any army would store this stuff in an open fridge? Let alone film it if they were using it?

A reminder that #Russia was found to have used chemical weapons in #Syria.

With regard to the Chemical Weapons story above, one more good point @motytchak makes is:

"who can guarantee uninterrupted electricity for the fridge near the frontline in Ukraine in the conditions that we are living in now."

Nothing about this story adds up. Verdict: 100% Fake

It seems #Belarus is equipping an airfield near #Ukraine for combat missions.

Telegram Channel UaOnlii publishes satellite photos showing the old air base near #Homel (RU: #Gomel) now has air defence and radar systems plus two artificial hills.

#StopRussia

#Ukraine has flatly denied the claim about sanctions on #Belarus.

More shelling is reported across the Russian border in #Belgorod this evening.

This man in Novy Oskol says the windscreen of his car was shattered by shrapnel.

I don't often show clips of #Russia's daily update, but this is worth it.
You may recall how they've so far destroyed twice as many #HIMARS as #Ukraine ever had. 150% of Ukraine's air force, but now one better. They've destroyed US Bradley vehicles before they arrive😄🤡

Great report by @alexrossiSKY this evening from just outside #Soledar.

Hope it's published online soon, but if you're in the UK, worth a watch on Sky News.

There are reports of a #Ukraine fightback in #Soledar, possibly retaking the train station (not in centre of the town)

It could be fake, but watching Alex Rossi's report I was amazed to see drones still able to operate with so many Russian forces and jammers, so it is possible.

Thanks @miltownroad who found the excellent Sky News report from #Soledar on YouTube

#USA says it "supports the decision of allies to provide tanks to #Ukraine" but that may not mean #Germany will release the Leopards.

US Air Force Brigadier General Patrick Ryder made the statement during a Pentagon briefing.
Germany had said it won't send tanks until USA does.

Oh, just seen that another building was hit with something quite big in #Makiivka today.

Locals say it was shelling.
#DonetskIsUkraine

Video postcard from #Siversk (RU: #Seversk) in #Donetsk oblast.

Already suffering very badly.
Approximately 40km north of #Bakhmut and 40km west of Lysychansk in neighbouring #Luhansk region.

Could be hearing of this town a lot more in coming weeks.