Thread by @michaelh992

Thread on #Russia's invasion of #Ukraine - March 8

The Ukrainian military released several notable details its midnight update. According to the update, Russian forces continue to amass, around Kyiv, including its "most capable" units, such as Kadyrov's Special Guards Regiment.

Notably, from the update and other reports, it seems yesterday Russian forces attempted several attacks, including in Irpin, but also north of it (across the Irpin river), and east of Kyiv in the direction of Brovary.

Russia is clearly probing Ukrainian defensive lines.

The Ukrainian military claims to have killed Major General Vitaly Petrovich Gerasimov, the Chief of Staff of the Russian 41st Combined Arms Army, as well as other high-ranking Russian officer in an attack near Kharkiv

After the "humanitarian corridors" fell through three times in a row, Russia declared once again a series of local ceasefires and the opening of corridors today

Those are meant as a prelude to an escalation. No evidence on the ground that Russia is looking to evac civilians.

The ceasefires and humanitarian corridors will be "opened" at 10:00, in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Mariupol and Sumy, according to Russia.

Don't get your hopes up.

I recommend you read this thread below⬇️to see what's the actual reality behind those "corridors"

https://twitter.com/DmytroGurinMP/status/1500735642204086275

Four people were killed overnight in the shelling of a building in Kharkiv

Rescuers on site in Sumy following a Russian airstrike. Previous shelling killed 9 people, including two children according to UNIAN

Information on evacuation routes in Sumy.

The Ukrainian side has received information that the Russians are planning to disrupt the evacuation according to UNIAN

Buses have arrived in Sumy
t.me/uniannet/36307

Damage in Izyum, near Kharkiv, after Russian forces shelled the city. The Russian army tried to break into the city, but failed yesterday.

More from Izyum. Aftermath of a night of Russian shelling

Another video from Izyum

Geolocation:
google.com/maps/place/%D0…

The Ukrainian Joint Forces Operations reported that Russia started to carry out attacks in the direction of the humanitarian corridor that was just opened in Mariupol. They say children, women and elderly people were not let out of the city.
facebook.com/pressjfo.news/…

Video of the clashes at the Mykolaiv airport in southern Ukraine yesterday: Firing of an anti-tank guided missile at Russian armored vehicle near the airport.

The attack was foiled.

Kharkiv residents sign a petition for a no-fly zone above Ukraine from the metro station where they are forced to live due to Russian bombardments.

Anton Gerashchenko (an official in the Interior Ministry) claims that a Russian plane was shot down using a stinger missile near Kherson.

He published this video (likely not his)

UNIAN correspondent reported one hour ago that a battle is going on, on the way out of Sumy, where a "humanitarian corridor" and ceasefire was supposed to be implemented.
unian.ua/war/strilba-i-…

From what I understood earlier, at least some buses of managed to leave the city, but this likely disrupted the evacuation process.

Ukrainian forces have created a chatbot, asking Ukrainians for coordinates of Russian forces when they see them.

The picture shows how they used this info to strike Russian units in the Kyiv region.

https://twitter.com/ServiceSsu/status/1501148565263036416

(I am assuming they do some recon of the coordinates first before striking, as the picture does suggest)

Russian pontoon bridge on Uzh river (geolocation per @obretix - I don't know how he does it)
google.com/maps/place/51%…

https://twitter.com/SimNasr/status/1501172060021792773

The City Council in Okhtyrka, in eastern Ukraine, has been completely destroyed by a Russian strike.

Geolocation:
google.com/maps/place/Okh…

Building before the strike

🚩

https://twitter.com/JenniferJJacobs/status/1501183847760863232

Shell hits a residential area of Kharkiv (caught on CCTV)

The church in the background is geolocated here:
google.com/maps/place/Tse…

🚩Smerch rockets now being used in the Kyiv region

https://twitter.com/Ukrain_War/status/1501226560828837891

President Putin spoke with Israel's Naftali Bennett today, according to RIA. Putin reportedly gave Bennett an assessment of the results of yesterday's talks with Ukraine

Russian Tigr jeep captured near Kharkiv

The Kharkiv tram depot was shelled

Now that's getting beyond my personal capabilities - but pointing this comment here as it may be the case (happy for others to pitch in and confirm)

https://twitter.com/deming04069952/status/1501231668203429889

#Breaking: US President Joe Biden just announced a ban on imports of Russian oil, gas and energy as part of the US response to #Russia's invasion of #Ukraine

US President talking about the scope of the US sanctions, says "one ruble is now worth less than one American penny."

Biden: "Over the past two weeks the Ukrainian people has inspired the world"

Biden: "Ukraine will never be a victory for Putin"

#Breaking the UK also announces that it will "eliminate Russian oil imports" to put even more pressure on #Russia, in coordination with London's allies, including the US.

The UK will phase out the import of Russian oil and oil products by the end of 2022.

The Ukrainian military released a short video on the clashes in the Hostomel area near Kyiv (subtitled in English)

The Ukrainian Intelligence Directorate claims that members of "Wagner" (Russian mercenaries) have already died in combat in #Ukraine. Objects (dog tags) with inscriptions in Arabic and French were found that would indicate some fatalities are in fact members of the group

Source:
facebook.com/DefenceIntelli…

Three missiles were fired at Boryspil according to the mayor of the city east of Kyiv. Two of them were intercepted.

Rocket debris being removed from Kharkiv

🚩Poland agrees to deploy all of its Mig-29 jets to the Rammstein Air Base and place them at the disposal of the US government.
gov.pl/web/diplomacy/…