A lot of photos and videos from #Melitopol' online, mostly like this one.
It would appear that some fuel was hit, continuing #Ukraine's tactic of hitting oil dumps. I believe the strikes also hit the airfield or warehouses near it which could have stored weapons or ammo.
#Ukraine's (deposed) Mayor of #Melitopol' says they hit four Russian army military "centres".
Ivan Fedorov says "more than 30 blows were inflicted on the enemy" in the overnight attack.
US/NATO satellite fire monitoring shows different impacts in the town. #StandWithUkraine
Following the release from captivity of some #Azovstal defenders a few days ago, #Ukraine's State Border Service has published an emotional video showing the reunion between one Ukrainian hero and his wife:
In case you haven't seen it already, a 4-page thread here on a subject not directly linked to #Ukraine on the face of it, but of real relevance in the wider-#Russia and politics in the former Soviet "space"
Officially no death penalty in #Russia. But a four hour flight for a terminally ill cancer victim, advised not to be moved, has done the job for Putin.
The scientist arrested for treason has died two days after this story:
Rumours circulated for days about a Russian ship blown up by one of its own mines in #Mariupol. The story made UK media.
I didn't report it as there is no proof, no satellite imagery. Still none and I'm sceptical, but 🇺🇦 adviser says it's true and reports another sabotage attack.
Updates in #Ukraine report one person died from #Russia's shelling in #Mykolaiv oblast, where three villages were hit.
More rockets in #Kharkiv region this morning. A critical infrastructure facility was hit along with private households in the Novobavar district. One injury,
He admits #Russia has a "foothold" there despite my posts y'day showing the invaders raising their flags over the local govt building and the central park:
#Russia also says it controls the villages Novodruzhesk, Maloryazantsevo + Belaya Gora near #Lysychansk
My assessment: the news of "encircled #Ukraine troops" would seem to concur with🇺🇦updates they're still fighting. But🇷🇺has almost total control.
#Russia has just claimed a strike on the outskirts of #Mykolaiv has destroyed a military base.
They claim up to 120 #Ukraine troops may have been killed in the attack.
Some #Ukraine men may be allowed to travel abroad for the first time in the war.
A new bill before parliament proposes to permit border crossing for men with:
▪️2 kids under 14 years old.
▪️A child under 14 & a pregnant spouse.
▪️A child under 3yo
▪️Work/sports contracts abroad
#Russia's Defence Minister Shoigu has just reported to Putin the "liberation of the 'Luhansk Republic'"
Just been forwarded this.
I am stunned. It's long been known that #Austria is a favourite outpost for #Russia's spies.
NATO and Five-eyes only share imperative intel with the country.
This is an EU country, educating its children as Russia tells it to.
A closer look at the extent of the attack on #Sloviansk in #Donetsk oblast.
Looking at the different coloured smoke, #Russia looks to have hit some oil reserves, but goodness knows what else with its less than accurate weaponry
The mayor of #Sloviansk confirms there are dead and injured after the multiple rocket attack.
Here's a video of one of the bomb sites, yet again a residential building.
Warning if you speak Russian this contains virtually all the choice swear words! #RussiaIsATerroristState
The latest death toll in #Sloviansk is 6 after the barrage of missiles hit the #Donetsk oblast city a little earlier.
Another 15 are injured according to the Mayor, Vadim Lyakh.
Devastating damage across the city. Most look like civilian targets.
The #Ukraine city in the free part of #Donetsk was blitzed with missiles. There are 15 fires across the city right now. Among the dead this family of three, the girl just 8 years old
And in nearby #Kramatorsk, the remains of the Park Hotel. The film's subtitles say "another civilian object destroyed by #Russia."
One of the missile remains is shown, then "the Russian came to our land to destroy everything."
What's not to love about a cryptic message from an oligarch?
Oleg #Deripaska shows a broken branch of cherries and says "similarly, an overvalued ruble can break our economy."
Presumably concurring with my assessment that the Kremlin is artificially supporting the currency.
There are reports that #Turkey/#Turkiye has detained #Russia's ship which is thought to be carrying grain stolen from #Ukraine.
#Israel received a lot of criticism from #Ukraine and the west for failing to criticise #Russia in the early days of the war, then provoked outrage by effectively banning fleeing Ukrainians from entering.
1/2 Finally, #Ukraine's General Staff admit what my followers knew y'day - the fight for #Lysychansk is over, for now.
"After heavy fighting, 🇺🇦Forces were forced to withdraw from their positions. The superiority of Russian forces in artillery, aviation, MLRS, ammo + personnel..
Meanwhile in nearby #Sloviansk, immense destruction across the city. Incidentally far, far worse than in #Belgorod where #Russia caused such a stir earlier.
Just under a week ago #Russia's slaughter of innocents continued in #Kremenchuk.
As well as the dead, there are others permanently scarred. Elena Bezus gave her first interview today to @radiosvoboda. She was working as a Barista in the Amstor mall.
#RussiaOnFire
This chapter comes to you from downtown #Moscow itself.
A blaze has broken out near the top of the Capital Towers. The fire is thought to have started on the roof
Another prize idiot who needs a history lesson and de-Nazifying. These useful idiots, or paid trolls, who keep repeating the propaganda of a murderous regime, committing hundreds of war crimes, really need to look in the mirror
2/2 Also explosions and fires reported in #Torez (now #Chystiakove in Ukrainian, but no-one calls it that yet!)
This also in occupied #Donetsk region, very close to where most of the MH17 debris landed 8 years ago this month, when #Russia shot a civilian jet out of the sky.
#Donetsk oblast on fire this evening - the way this is going up makes it likely an ammunition store has been hit by #Ukraine forces.
Three people have been injured as Russian mortars hit a psychoneurological boarding school in #Sumy oblast
All three are patients at the "Athens" complex.
Governor Dmytro Zhyvytsky reports around 50 rounds of shelling across the region, posting this video
Saturday 27 December 2025 is Day 1403 of Russia's war of choice.
The day began with missile attacks on Ukraine shortly after midnight and the terrorism continued with drone strikes, may into residential areas, with Kyiv bearing the brunt of the damage.
Here's THE daily thread
Here's the link to yesterday's thread, which started with Russian murders, missiles on streets in Kharkiv and ended with the missile attack on Kyiv.
But there were also 'direct sanctions' taken by Ukraine on war criminals and military targets:
News is still coming in from Kyiv especially after the awful bombardment. Mayor of the city, @Vitaliy_Klychko has just issued an update saying 28 people have been injured, with 13 hospitalised
Although the city's had the air raid warning lifted, it's still affecting Kyiv region
Christmas Eve is another milestone as we mark the latest 100 days of war
Yes, it's Day 1400 of Ukraine's fight for its existence.
Coming up:
Zelenskyy accepts peace plan but are we really nearer peace?
A twist in Moscow's 2nd car bomb in 24 hours.
And all the news yet to happen
A very late start today - I apologise but it's Christmas time with things to do, places to go and also my body demanding enough sleep to survive!
So we start as usual with the throwback to yesterday for you to catch up, which included car bomb #2..
The seemingly random attack on police officers in Moscow last night, may have been a Ukraine targeted attack.
Two "traffic officers" died overnight on the same street where a Lt Gen was eliminated the day before.
Now it's reported the dead were in Ukraine and tortured civilians
This is the start of Tuesday's daily thread, with all the important news from, and relevant to, Ukraine in one handy place.
It's Day 1385 and I've still never missed a day of fact checking, analysing and reporting every aspect of the defence against Russia's illegal war.
Yesterday a lot of talking behind the scenes, but politicians were broadly tight-lipped on progress.
Russia did make more small gains on the frontline, but we also found a cat with burned whiskers + how Russian pilots' head-tennis went disastrously wrong
Pres Zelenskyy's whirlwind tour continues, arriving in Rome this morning to meet the Pope at Castle Gandolfo.
At Villa Barberini, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was welcomed by the vice-regent of the papal household, Augustinian Father Edward Daniang Daleng.
Day 1366 of the war in Europe is the start of two days of mourning in a small city in Ukraine which suffered over 160 killed and injured in a single Russia attack 24 hours ago.
As the war crimes mount, Trump approves a mad-hat simpleton's plan to end the war
Here's THE daily🧵
Here's the link for the start of Wednesday's🧵
I posted 65 stories - that equates to a post every 22 minutes throughout the entire 24 hours.
Psychologically a devastating day for Ukraine. Being murdered by Russia, being abandoned by the USA.
A reminder US officials are in Kyiv, due to meet Zelenskyy, when Ukraine's president knows he will have to tell the Americans to shove the surrender document up Witkoff's "White House pass"
Is Rubio undermining the WH plan?
It's certainly not realistic and without 🇷🇺concessions
Welcome to another daily thread covering all the important things happening in Ukraine right now, and therefore by (unwanted association) Russia too.
All things fact checked, analysed and explained.
The news you can rely on, every day, in one place.
It's Day 1361. I'm late!⏰
Well I had a lovely lie-in as, all things considered it was a relatively news-free morning
My "bitter enders" (those who make it through to the very end of the🧵) will know there was a big attack on Dnipro which kept me reporting late.
Missed it? click⬇️
One thing I've had to do is wade through Trump's interview on GB News. It's actually been worthwhile because it's a wonderful example I can use to train what NOT to do!
Main points being:
1'48" to ask a question is dreadful
Such simpering loses all credibility before you begin
The first few hours of Day 1360 of Russia's genocidal war started with Ukrainians in shelters. More innocent lives have been claimed by the Moscow horde.
The west unable or unwilling to stop the slaughter despite 1000s of war crimes.
We're not incapable, must not be unwilling.
One of the heaviest bombardments Kyiv has ever known dominated y'day's thread and the start of today's.
But Ukraine also continues to pick-off financial targets inside Russia
It all made for one of the longest🧵 so far - the least you can do is read it!