Thread by @RespectIsVital

NEW - Claims GRAD MLRS have been fired on an area of Schastia North of Luhansk, Eastern Ukraine. 🇺🇦 Government controlled area.

A thermal power station has caught fire, see next tweet. Big escalation.

#UkraineConflict #RussiaUkraineCrisis

🇺🇦 A Thermal Power plant in Schastia North of Luhansk, Eastern Ukraine is alight after claims it was hit by GRAD MLRS fired from separate areas.

#UkraineConflict

Note, separatists claim it was fired by Ukrainian forces.

🇷🇺 Russian Tanks near Belgrod, Russia heading towards the 🇺🇦 Ukrainian border not long ago.

A few hundred protesters have gathered outside the 🇷🇺 Russian Embassy to 🇺🇦 Ukraine in Kyiv.

Russia said many staff were relocated over the past weekend. Ukrainian forces are in attendance to protect the embassy building.
#RussiaUkraineCrisis

NEW | 🇭🇺 The Defence Ministry of Hungary has said it is deploying troops to their border with 🇺🇦 Ukraine for "humanitarian tasks".

#UkraineConflict
#RussiaUkraineCrisis

The Russian backed DPR claim the 🇺🇦Ukrainian military fired 5 GRAD rockets at Donetsk for first time since 2018.

However, there's evidence GRAD MLRS was used *against* Ukrainian Forces in Schastia with a power station hit in Luhansk region, not Donetsk.
tass.com/world/1408399

An apartment building in the 🇺🇦 Ukrainian Government held town of Schastia was hit by a shell from separatist forces approximately 2 hours ago.

The town is close to the frontline with LPR separatist forces.

Sporadic shelling ongoing.

#UkraineConflict #RussiaUkraineCrisis

I can't justify putting all my time into work & missing family time, if I'm making £1 a day from reporting.

I am putting a lot of effort into gathering footage, International reactions & more.

If you've found anything useful, please consider donating.
paypal.me/AlexanderTiffin

NEW - 🇷🇺 Russian Military T-72 Main Battle Tanks and 2S1 Gvozdika 122mm Self Propelled Howitzers in the occupied Luhansk region of 🇺🇦 Eastern Ukraine.

#RussiaUkraineCrisis #UkraineCrisis

As 🇷🇺 Russian Diplomats prepare to evacuate from 🇺🇦 Ukraine, their consulate in Odessa, Ukraine is having a wee bonfire in the back garden.

#UkraineRussiaCrisis

🇷🇺 Russian President Vladimir Putin has said:

"The Minsk Agreement no longer exists."

Not ideal for 🇺🇦 Ukrainian President Zelenskyy who was hopeful they could be used as a way back.

https://twitter.com/ru_rbc/status/1496159990448545795?t=u6kcFIvGY8Rc4T8sIGaOnQ&s=19

NEW | 🇺🇸 U.S. President Biden:

"This is the beginning of a Russian invasion of Ukraine so I'm going to begin to impose sanctions in response."

"If Russia goes further in this invasion, we stand prepared to go further with sanctions."

CONTINUED BELOW

#UkraineRussiaConflict

🇺🇸 U.S President Biden:

"Russia has now undeniably moved against Ukraine."

President Biden says this is only the "first tranche" of sanctions against Russia.

"We will continue to escalate sanctions if 🇷🇺 Russia continues to escalate."

CONTINUED BELOW
#RussiaUkraineCrisis

🇺🇸 U.S. President Biden says the new sanctions target:

• VEB & military bank
• Trading of 🇷🇺 Russia's sovereign debt, (big).
• Tomorrow & days ahead will se3 imposing sanctions on "Russia's elites & their families'
• U.S. worked with 🇩🇪 Germany on halting Nord Stream 2

🇺🇸 U.S President Biden announces he has ordered U.S. forces already stationed in Europe, to redeploy to 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇱🇻 Latvia, & 🇱🇹 Lithuania.

Says is "totally defensive" with no intention of fighting Russia," but to defend "every inch" of NATO territory.

#UkraineRussiaCrisis

BREAKING - 🇷🇺 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has questioned whether 🇺🇦 Ukraine has a right to sovereignty because he said since the "2014 coup d'tat" the government in Kyiv has not represent the country's constituent parts or peoples.

🇪🇺 The European Union will impose travel bans and asset freezes on ALL members of the 🇷🇺 Russian State Duma, as well as sanctions on 27 other Russian individuals and entities.

The package was unanimously agreed after 🇭🇺 Hungary's initial reluctance.

#RussiaUkraineCrisis

These are Rosgvardia troops, (National Guard troops directly answerable to Putin), with Avtozaks prisoner transport vans & Z markings in Belgorod, Russia.

These troops are the enforcers Putin would use in an occupation to control descent. Not a good sign.
#UkraineRussiaCrisis

#BREAKING - 🇺🇦 Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has called up Ukraine's Reserve Armed Forces, thought to number approximately 200,000 personnel.

He stopped short of a general draft, saying it is not needed.

#UkraineCrisis

https://twitter.com/Liveuamap/status/1496223888472215564?t=57VPsFFH5XfSCVL4GUucLQ&s=19

🇺🇸 U.S Secretary of State Anthony Blinken holds a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

Live now
. twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

🇻🇪 Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro says he backs Vladimir Putin's "brace defence of Russia" and for fighting for his people.

He also rallied against Western nations who want to stop 🇷🇺 Russian and 🇨🇳 Chinese expansion. An odd thing to say tbh.

https://twitter.com/VTVcanal8/status/1496265820888043522?t=kGH4RAXHOQKdHmWudGU5UA&s=19

🇨🇦 Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau announces first round of sanctions on 🇷🇺 Russia as a result of their recognition of the independence of 🇺🇦 Ukrainian separatist regions Donetsk and Luhansk.

reuters.com/world/europe/t…

🇨🇦 Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on 🇷🇺 Russian troops moving into separatist held areas of 🇺🇦 Ukraine:

"Make no mistake, this is a further invasion of a sovereign state,"

Alongside sanctions, more Canadian troops will be sent to NATO countries in Eastern Europe.

The 🇬🇧 UK is now one of the few countries not to have placed sanctions on 🇷🇺 Russian Sovereign Debt.

They are the last Western nation were Russian Debt can still be traded. As we speak, they're probably siphoning it away before Boris Johnson is forced into a u-turn.

NEW - T-64 & T-72 Tanks in Donetsk, Occupied 🇺🇦 Ukraine are *reportly* moving south towards Mariupol, which is Ukrainian controlled.

They are flying flags of Russia, the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) & Novorossiya, (confederate looking one).

#RussiaUkraineCrisis

BREAKING | Several 🇺🇦 Ukraine Websites including some government and news sites are offline due to a DDOS cyberattack.

Attack is ongoing.

#UkraineRussiaCrisis
#UkraineCrisis

NEW - 🇺🇸 The United States have imposed sanctions on Nord Stream 2 AG and its corporate officers.

Nord Stream 2 AG is the commercial entity which controls the 🇷🇺 Russian portion of the pipeline, which is in turn fully-owned by Gazprom.

#UkraineCrisis

BREAKING- Russian media reporting separatists in Luhansk and Donetsk have asked Russia to push back Ukrainian forces to 'protect civilian life'.

This is not good.
#UkraineRussiaCrisis

https://twitter.com/maxseddon/status/1496587959881113600?t=WGvhZo6g94cpG9dl9rTaSw&s=19

Here are the letters from the leaders of the Donetsk & Luhansk separatists asking Russia to 'repel Ukrainian Armed Forces in order to avoid civilian casualties & a humanitarian disaster.'

Dated yesterday, which explains Zelensky calling up Reserve & declaring State of Emergency.

BREAKING - 🇺🇦 Ukrainian Military Intelligence say there is a planned false flag attack they are aware of, but that Ukraine is not engaging in any sabotage actions.

#UkraineRussiaCrisis
#RussiaUkraineConflict

https://twitter.com/DI_Ukraine/status/1496582931787231234

Luhansk Separatists are claiming that Ukrainian Forces are attempting to breakthrough their defences at the disengagement line.

There is no evidence to support this, with many Ukrainian forces pulling back due to increased shelling.

#UkraineRussiaCrisis

Russian BREM Armoured Recovery Vehicle moving through Belgorod region near border with 🇺🇦 Ukraine.

This evening, 23/02/22. #RussiaUkraineConflict
#Ukraina

There are 2 ✈️ 🇺🇸 USAF Northrop Grumman RQ-4A Global Hawk ISR drones over 🇺🇦 Ukraine just now.

Looks as though #FORTE12 is going to take over from #FORTE11 to ensure continuous coverage if Donetsk, Luhansk and the 🇷🇺 Russian border.

#UkraineRussiaCrisis

NEW - Dnipro and Kharkiv International Airports in 🇺🇦 Ukraine have been closed until 7AM, 24th February.

NOTAMs issued

🇺🇦 Ukraine have requested an emergency meeting of the 🇺🇳 UN Security Council amid an escalation in tensions in Donetsk and Luhansk.

NEW - @anadoluagency reports 🇷🇺 Russian Tanks and light armour moving through Donetsk, Occupied Eastern 🇺🇦 Ukraine approximately an hour ago.

#UkraineRussiaCrisis

🇷🇺 Russian 2S1 Gvozdika 122mm Self Propelled Howitzers entering Donbas, Occupied Eastern Ukraine a short time ago.

#UkraineRussiaCrisis #RussiaUkraineConflict

BREAKING - 🇺🇦 Ukrainian President Zelensky to Russians

"I called Putin today, he did not answer"

"You were told we are Nazis, we lost 8 million lives, how could we be Nazis? how could be I Nazi? Tell ll this to my grandpa, a WW2 Soviet soldier who died in Independent Ukraine "

🇺🇦 Ukrainian President Zelensky appealing to Russians:

"We do not need war, not cold, not hot, not hybrid. If you attack us, you will see our faces, not our backs. Thousands will die."

"If you cross our borders of Ukraine we will defend our country."

A Notice To Airmen #NOTAM that was filed by 🇷🇺 Russian Rostock FIR on the 21st February, has limited airspace at certain altitudes, see NOTAM below.

The airspace is not "closed" as some are claiming.

Some restrictions end at 27,000ft, so commercial aircraft could still fly

Separatist Telegram accounts have lit up claiming a massive explosion I'm Donetsk and there is some footage whereby an apparent GRAD MLRS Attack is heard.

Given 🇺🇦 Ukraine are doing everything to prevent an escalation, it seems unlikely they'd use GRAD rockets.

Kharkiv, 🇺🇦 Ukraine under 🇷🇺 Russian bombardment as of now, 5:15am local time.

Russian and/or separatist troops in Donbas have begun firing salvos of GRAD MLRS rockets at Ukrainian targets.

#UkraineRussie #russianinvasion

Kharkiv, Ukraine following several strikes.

#UkraineConflict #russianinvasion

Mariupol in South Eastern Ukraine under extremely heavy Russian bombardment.

#UkraineRussie #russianinvasion #RussiaUkraineCrisis

Russian ambassador at to the UN:

"We will demilitarize and degenocide Ukraine. We will hold those responsible for attacks against the separatist areas."