Day 48 of #Russia's "military operation" aka genocide of a peaceful neighbouring state.
This is Tuesday's thread with the news and analysis from #Ukraine and beyond.
The big question: have chemical weapons been used in Mariupol' overnight?
Read on...
There is no proof yet, and it's going to be almost impossible to get any, but #Ukraine troops in besieged #Mariupol' claim chemical weapons were dropped by drone onto the Azovstal plant
The first overseas acknowledgment of the allegation has come from UK
#Slovakia has stepped up to the plate superbly recently. Acting independently of NATO the Slovak PM @eduardheger is reported to be sending MiG-29 fighter aircraft to #Ukraine.
Writing about weapons, attacks, statistics to do with #PutinsWar, it's sometimes easy to forget to tell the human aspect and impact.
Here's another harrowing first hand tale of the unforgiveable impact of #Russia's invasion.
#Russia's main TV channel has now aired the "story" of how 250+ #Ukraine fighters surrendered.
Still no ID documents or proof provided by Russia to counter Ukraine claims it never happened and these are local sympathisers and down and outs happy to take cash for acting
Putin is expected to make a new broadcast to the nation later today.
He will update the masses on the war, err... military operation and make no mention of why they're killing and raping civilians, or why they've lost almost 20,000 soldiers to a bunch of "drug addicts and Nazis"
Not announced by #Ukraine's forces yet but I believe they have retaken #Zolochiv, a village just 10 miles (16km) from the Russian border.
Also, further south in the bigger town of #Derhachi, it looks like Ukraine may take total control of the town just 10km from #Kharkiv.
The morning Intel update from Britain reveals no new information
Meanwhile a new video from #Ukraine's 36th Marine Brigade, defenders of #Mariupol'
"We didn't surrender. We held every piece of this city to the best of our ability. But the reality is the blockade; there's been no supply of ammunition or food."
Absolutely. It's crucial for #Mariupol's under attack troops to find, & produce, the remains of the munitions which allegedly dropped the chemical weapons
Without that it's just an allegation. It's not that there's not enough proof, there is no proof yet
The port, most of the coast and station are fully occupied.
#Ukraine's two remaining areas are the Illichivets stadium and the Azovstal plant.
The Russian border-town of #Belgorod, spooked by today's rail attack and the previous strike on fuel dumps, has formed a civilian defence force of volunteers.
Two years' labour - the full sentence is (of course) handed down by a court in #Russia today to four student journalists.
Remarkably brave people - read their final statements to the court here. Putin's Russia is a moral cesspit.
'Bild' reports that "because of his close ties with Russia" German President Steinmeier would not be welcomed for an official visit to #Kyiv.
In #Germany pro-Russian protesters organising a car rally in the city of #Hanover were in for a nasty surprise.
Big crowds blocked their path and showed exactly what they thought of #Russia and its Nazi actions in #Ukraine - quite literally💩
(longer video in next Tweet)
I've had quite a lot of bots, idiots, trolls, paid Nazis sending me photos of this guy with a swastika on his back. The Kremlin troll farm claiming he's a recently arrested Ukrainian.
Their fake backfired. It's an old photo and the Nazi is one of theirs!
Putin's best buddy in #Ukraine, and leader of the pro-Russia party, fled house arrest last month.
President @ZelenskyyUa just announced on his TG channel they've recaptured him
More loud explosions heard in #Poltava region.
The town of #Mirhorod again the centre of the attack.
Russia even exploits Ukrainians in occupied areas.
Secret filming (3 videos in link) by UkrainaOnlline shows how local fruit and veg in #Kherson region is being secretly exported to Crimea and sold at a discount while shelves are empty in Kherson
Monday. Day 47 of #Russia's illegal and dirty war on #Ukraine with more and more executed civilians being found and rape allegations piling up.
Overnight bombing raids and fighting in the east continued.
All the details in the daily 🧵 updated throughout the day
The attack on transport continues with more Russian missiles targeted on railways during the night.
The Head of Railways released only this photo, while admitting 5 locomotives had been damaged along with some tracks. Thankfully no deaths or injuries. Locations not revealed.
#Ukraine also has Intelligence saying #Russia will attack road connections soon too to further limit supply lines.
With Russia's army massed in the east and south near the Russian border (or the puppet states) in all cases, their supply lines are far easier than in 1st phase
#Russia's war on #Ukraine - this is the start of the daily thread.
Day 46 begins with both sides claiming they've inflicted significant losses on its opponent. That can only mean the war is hotting up significantly in the east.
Read on...
It's taken me quite a while this morning to log all the claims and counter claims.
#Ukraine says it destroyed a "large column of enemy equipment" heading towards #Izium in the #Kharkiv region.
No significant proof yet on either side; just one photo supposedly from #Izyum so far
1/2 Another nasty development yesterday evening was the reported use by #Russia of "parachute bombs" in #Kharkiv for the first time.
These are purely intended to kill civilians. Let me explain in the next tweet how/why:
It's Saturday. Day 45 of #Russia's apparent attempt to wipe #Ukraine and its people from the map.
There is no neutrality in such a conflict. If you pretend to be neutral you are condoning the targeting of civilians, the mass slaughter of women and kids.
Here's the daily🧵⬇️
There were far fewer air raid alarms across #Ukraine overnight.
Two people were injured in one Russian missile attack in #Poltava region.
"Infrastructure" was hit in Mirhorod according to authorities.
#Kharkiv had its usual bombardment last night - this is the usual "night music" there
Russian forces have what amounts to a partial blockade of #Ukraine's second city. More of the terrorist forces are gathering over the border with a renewed attempt to capture the city likely⬇️
We've reached 6 weeks of full scale war and arguably #Russia is in a worse position than after Day One in #Ukraine.
This is the daily thread on the major developments and my analysis after 20 years working in Ukraine and studying Putin.
Thanks to everyone for tip-offs. Read on!
Bombing and shelling continued in many Ukrainian cities overnight.
Late yesterday #Ukraine said that #Russia was preparing to surrender #Kherson, the only major city it controls.
The UK's daily intelligence update doesn't add much new information.
Following the horrors of #Bucha, the hints from #Borodyanka - I imagine we will get more from other settlements around #Kyiv today.
The capital's police says they've already recorded 1,200 alleged instances of war crimes committed by Russia.
Here's the daily thread for Day 41 of #Russia's full scale war, massacres, rapes + myriad other crimes and war crimes against #Ukraine
Ukraine, a nation which has never been at war in its short recent history until Russia's illegal invasions in 2014 and February 2022
Read on⬇️
Another night of heavy bombardment is ongoing.
Many cities hearing explosions - but most chat on social networks say the sounds seem like Russian missiles being hit by air defences. It's amazing how soon these guys become weapons audio experts.