๐งต4th day of the conflict Russia/Ukraine - Summary roundup: ๐
1) Waking up this morning to news of Russian forces with light armour in Kharkiv. Hours later we saw the remaining debris of those vehicles and mop-up operation cleared the Russian forces. Kharkiv is still in Ukrainian control.
2) A long column of Russian forces approached Kyiv from north west in Bucha south of Gostomel. After demolishing the bridge between Bucha and Iprin, the column was completely obliterated.
3) Berdyansk was surrounded and then fell into the hands of the Russian forces. No major opposition reported.
This is most likely the only city controlled by the Russians.
4) A huge explosion was reported in Cherkasy but turns out it was from the first day of the conflict on 24th. It was most likely an ammo depot.
5) A massive (5km-long) convoy of Russian forces spotted in satellite images north of Ivankiv heading towards Kyiv. It is just outside Prybirs'k although not sure where it is now.
We will most likely hear about it tomorrow.
Others:
- Belarus could join the war as early as tomorrow
- Putin flashing his nukes putting them on standby
- 'Peace' talks tomorrow on the border with Belarus
- US and France calling their citizens out of Russia
Have a great night and stay safe. โฎ๏ธ๐๏ธ๐น
โข โข โข
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๐งต 5th day of the Ukraine war - a brief roundup๐
1/ As for the financial markets and economic impact, today was a bloodbath:
- Putin banned citizens and companies to transfer money abroad
- Russian stock exchange was meant to open today but it didn't. In fact, it was announced tomorrow will stay closed
2/
- After BP, Shell today exited its partnership with Gazprom
- India's state bank stopped processing sanctioned Russian entities
- NASDAQ and NYSE stopped processing stocks sfrom Russian-based companies
- Apple and Google Pay no longer work on Moscow's metro (& other places?)
It is a workday hence I just get the lunchtime to tweet - so here is the ๐งต Lunchtime Roundup on the War in Ukraine:
1) Kharkiv is being punished for its resistance with a barrage of MLRS (Grad and Smerch). Reports of dozens of civilian casualties. Very graphic footages of the slain coming out (not this one), which I would not include.
They are creating another Aleppo.
2) Battle in Chernihiv NE of Kyiv is raging with columns of smoke rising from the city.
It is clear Russian forces are not engaging directly while the peace talks are ongoing.
I cannot tell you how much of an insult this is to the the Islamic Republic which has hailed itself as the liberator of masses from the tyranny of the kings.
But since 2017-18 protests, people have gone back to appreciate how much Reza shah did for Iran. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reza_Shah
As for Isfahan, even though they did not chant any non-water related slogans, as I predicted below, security forces have moved to dismantle and tear apart protesters' shelters.
I think these protests will not be tolerated much longer.
Rapport has jumped up from the crowded 2760-3 pack and now among the top 10 of the world. #chess
Can Alireza "Firo" Firouzja pull a similar with two rounds remaining from #NorwayChess ? He will be playing against the bottom (fellow Iranian Aryan Tari) and top, Rapport.
Yes, in fact Norwegian Aryan Tari is actually Aryan "Taheri", son of Iranian parents (perhaps changed names after emigrating to Norway).
#BREAKING He did it! The 18-year-old Alireza "Firo" Firouzja now among the top 10 in the world! My guess is he is the youngest but cannot be sure. #Chess
Tomorrow @rafaelmgrossi, head of IAEA will visit Iran, in what looked like an ultimatum visit.
However, below suggest a much more benign nature, requesting for standard monitoring in exchange for withholding a damning resolution in the Board of Governors.
@rafaelmgrossi This seems to be the result of the European influence in US's dealing with Iran - from whose tone and rhetoric we could sense a feeling of impatience and "having enough".
But whatever is offered here, Iran must just simply accept. We are nearing the point of a seismic shift...
@rafaelmgrossi ... in dealing with Iran and lack of cooperation from Iran can very quickly change the situation.
Will Iran realise this or carry on the game of buying time? I have a feeling they will reluctantly say they would cooperate only to later act otherwise.