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
Zelenskyy's forced to be careful, but Ukraine's always been ready for the unconditional ceasefire Trump first demanded 5 months ago. So no surprise he's travelling to Washington on Monday
It's Alaska Day, or a couple of half-baked Alaskas meeting later as Russia hopes to carve up Ukraine, with Trump's approval.
That's much later on Day 1269 of Putin's war.
As I start this thread at around 02:30 GMT, 05:30 Ukraine, there is a big attack on Russia.
Let the🧵begin
In a rush to get to sleep, so let me waste no further time in giving the link to yesterday's thread.
Both X and BSky have been a bit crappy scrolling through threads. One thing you can do is click my profile and then "replies", click one + scroll up
Whoever said 7 days is a long time in politics was dead right.
An about turn from tough guy & threats to TACO queen & Putin's poodle. And the next 7 days is now set to bring another cosy meet between a felon and an indicted war criminal.
It's Day 1263 of THE Ukraine thread:
A later start to Saturday's thread because of a crazily late finish to the last🧵
Fewer than 20,000 views for the first time in weeks on such an important day🤨🤔
So much effort and so little impact some days 😢
If you're one of many to miss it, click⬇️
Day 1261 - the White House thinks the war in Ukraine is coming to an end.
Especially as the Kremlin has this morning announced Putin and Trump will meet in the coming days.
But is the war criminal just duping the US Pres again and buying more time?
Follow me & today's thread:
Much of Wednesday was taken up with the politics surrounding US envoy Wirkoff's latest chummy chat with Putin.
But then it turned dark, literally as the sun went down, but Ukraine looks to have had the better of the drone exchanges.
Catch up here:
1/2 The big story since the last couple of hours of y'day's thread has been Ukraine's multiple successes in breaching Russia's air defence at military targets.
The Kremlin says it destroyed 93 drones, 60 over the Black Sea. There's no mention of how many they missed!
Exhibit A:
Even the most ardent peaceniks are realising one side doesn't want to stop fighting. At least until, as a state new agency said recently, all Ukrainians are killed.
Each + every day you'll find all the news here in one handy🧵
Let's go!
If you missed anything of yesterday's developments, well not as much to catch up on.
Click the link to review, things only really started going late at night..
Trying to compile threads on a train, using mobile only so far, is a nightmare. My first typo was rather important. It's Day 1256, so the observant don't need to message me 😊
Family day out today, going to see "Evita"
But always a thread and as up to date as I can be.