#Russia continues to make no progress in #Donetsk region and still has not "cleaned up" the whole of #Luhansk yet.
Various attempts to move forward on the frontline were repelled by #Ukraine
Russian sources are still claiming they are rotating troops to cover for lack of success
Later today in #Turkey, a document is expected to be signed to allow tankers to take grain from three blocked ports of #Ukraine.
Last night Ukraine was not committing to anything, but it should happen with #UN oversight.
Senior commanders Bohdan Krotevich, Denis Prokopenko and Svyatoslav Palamar are said to be depicted. #SlavaUkraini
1/2 One of the few original Ukrainians who helped Russia to start the war in #Donbas 8 years ago, also looks to have been bumped off by Moscow.
Aleksey Selivanov began in the anti-Maidan movement, took up arms and was recently made Deputy Head of the occupiers in #Zaporizhzhia..
2/2 Eventually #Russia gets tired with all the genuine Ukrainians. Selivanov hasn't been heard from for over a week. TASS reported he was arrested in occupied Zaporizhzhia, but Russia later denied its own story.
A little earlier about 10 rockets from other occupied regions - air raid warnings were sounding over all of southern #Ukraine. Now the sirens have stopped in most areas.
If the war does continue in to 2023, there's even more bad news for #Russia's chain-smoking troops.
Philip Morris Tobacco is in the process of quitting the RU market. Looks like the invaders will have to loot Ukraine shops again to get a nicotine fix!
1/2 An elected councillor in #Novosibirsk has been held by police in #Russia 4 months after wearing yellow flowers & a blue vyshyvanka shirt in a protest against #PutinsWar
Helga Pirogova was questioned over "discrediting the Russian army" - a decision on charges is likely today
2/2 And here's a video of the moment #Russia's police arrested the democratically elected official (Navalny's opposition group).
Those around shout "shame" at the unmarked offciers who bundled her into the car
More successes celebrated by #Ukraine - the General Staff released another edited video (embedded in the link) showing how they destroyed eight of #Russia's "Msta-B" howitzers and many troops as they hid in the forest.
#Russia's problems really seem to be intensifying.
It seems even their "chums of convenience" #China won't help KAMAZ and the rest of the vehicle industry (including armoured stuff). The Terrorist State is struggling to get the parts it needs imported.
More attacks in #Kharkiv region overnight and again this morning as helicopters attacked the #Zolochivskyi area which borders Russia to the north of #Kharkov itself.
5 apartments were hit, 3 totally destroyed in attacks reminiscent of April. No injuries reported
I reckon the latest provocation to the #EU, the west and the #UN in general from #Russia is just a domestic smokescreen to shield the Russian population from the problems they face in #Ukraine
Parliament today talked about seriously considering annexing #Transnistria in #Moldova
#Russia is most active in the regions of #Bakhmut and #Kramatorsk, but so far still without real sign of a breakthrough.
But the shelling and destruction continues - this from Bakhmut in #Donetsk oblast.
credit: Оперативный Краматорск
At last - #Rotterdam has announced the cessation of container traffic to and from #Russia.
It was a source of constant annoyance to #Ukraine that the Dutch, generally quite supportive, allowed 🇷🇺tankers to use one of the largest cargo ports in the world to continue trading.
Today's unlikely claims from the Russian Defence Ministry include:
Destroying 4 HIMARS (they really are rattled by these big beasts!)
#Russia desperately hopes #Italy's political problems result in Moscow-loving extreme right-wingers gaining power. But despite years of throwing rubles around, it's far from certain.
Today I read of #Russia having problems with a lack of chewing gum - specifically @OrbitGum
The big question is what the hell is @MarsGlobal doing still trading and supporting the terrorist state? Every single item sold raises tax to spend on killing citizens in #Ukraine. Shame!
A well respected military expert in #Ukraine reckons 2,000 Russian troops are surrounded in #Kherson region.
Looks like 🇺🇦 offers the invaders the chance to surrender in a "green (humanitarian) corridor" near Vysokopillya in the north of the oblast.
It's unclear whether this is exactly in #Chornobaivka (RU: #Chernobaevka) or not.
Some reports that it's in a quarry near the district.
It's NOT the airport this time. Finally Russians seem to have moved their weapons away from there!
There's also a video shot by a passer-by in #Kherson region.
One Ukraine deputy already claiming a lot of Russian gear has been located there and destroyed in this attack.
Agreements on the export of grain from #Ukraine will be signed in the next hour. Presidential adviser Mikhailo Podolyak gives all the details in this thread.
Ukrainians refuse to sign the same piece of paper as #Russia!
Last couple of days I've been reporting about Hennadiy Korban potentially being deprived of citizenship by #Ukraine.
Perceived to be part of the "#Dnipro Mafia", the self-styled Head of the Dnipro defence headquarters was refused entry from #Poland and had his passport taken.
Right, catch me here for the next hour! All #Ukraine and #Russia questions answered.
Hopefully the grain deal is signed while I'm live at @Independent
🇹🇷President Erdogan is going to speak very soon in a room turned into a press toom with the world's media gathered. The Ukraine, Russia, UN and Turkish flags are in the room - but noticeably the Russian and Ukraine flags are separated!
Still time to ask me a question - 10 minutes remaining.
The Sec Gen of the #UN, Antonio Guterres and #Turkiye President Erdogan are in the room for the signing of the agreement on releasing Ukraine's grain
Guterres:
"There is a beacon of hope"
Guterres
"To Russia and Ukraine you have put aside differences to reach the agreement. The focus has been on what matters most for the people of the world. It will bring relief to countries on the break of bankruptcy and famine."
As my sources said, it is now confirmed that THREE Ukraine ports, including #Odesa/#Odessa will be permitted to ship grain to the world.
Guterres
"I urge all sides to keep their commitments. We must also continue to try to secure peace... people are dying every day.
The beacon of hope on the Black Sea is shining bright today."
"On 29 March we carried out a very important meeting which marked the turning point of the negotiations. We are very pleased to be hosting friends in Istanbul.
"We are proud of the step we are taking. We are preventing the danger of hunger for billions of people."
#Erdogan
"Hopefully this (agreement) will mark a new direction.
I know this war will come to an end on the negotiating table.
We continue to be a good neighbour until peace is achieved."
Russia's defence minister Sergey Shoigu signs the deal, watched by Erdogan and Guterres, and signing for Turkiye is not Erdogan but the country's Defence Minister.
Exactly as I wrote on The Independent earlier, #Ukraine's representative will NOT share a stage with anyone from Russia.
So Russia's agreement is now signed with Turkey & UN. We should soon see the Ukrainians enter the room when Sergey Shoigu has left...
Erdogan himself is now moving through reporters in the room and perhaps also leaving the room. No news of when #Ukraine's agreement will be signed, but I would expect in 15-20 minutes.
Here is the signed agreement for free passage of grain from 3 of Ukraine's ports.
Military base of Russians near #Choronobaivka
Warehouses of ammo in 2 districts of #Donetsk city
Ammunition dump & repair centre in #Horlivka (Donetsk region)
Ammo dump in Slov'yanoserbs'kyi district of #Luhansk
#Ukraine confirms the encirclement of Russian soldiers in NE of #Kherson region.
Oleskiy Arestovych said "Not 2,000 but more than a thousand. Yesterday there was an attempt to break through, but we thwarted it. The Russian command is demoralised by what's happening in Kherson."
More on the nervy occupiers' latest crackdown in #Kherson region.
Mopeds and motorcycles are now banned!
Additionally, patrols are strengthened in the villages of Chaplinka, Kalanchak, Henichesk, Novotroitsky and elsewhere. #SlavaUkraini#StandWithUkraine
The funeral of one of the defenders of #Azovstal in #Mariupol was held today.
One of his wounded colleagues who survived was able to say goodbye.
#Kharkiv is reporting more explosions of course.
The nightly barrage has begun.
Three missile "arrivals" so far. One has resulted in a fire in Kharkiv region which this is supposedly a photo of, though I admit it could be anywhere at any time. The time stamp checks out though.
1/2 Activity in the skies again in #Donetsk tonight.
Difficult to tell at this distance, but rockets could be landing in the Textile district of the occupied city.
This is filmed by a resident in the Textile district of Occupied #Donetsk and not much time difference between explosion and blast, so this rocket was very close.
A bit of a landmark day as #PutinsWar reaches Day 150.
That's 146 days behind schedule (and counting) for the capture of #Kyiv 😂😂😂
This is the start of my daily thread with all the news about #Ukraine's defence and #Russia's aggression.
DMs open for tip-offs (100% anonymity)
1/2
Quite a lot of Russian rocket attacks to report in #Ukraine already
Starting in #Kharkiv where war crimes investigators are on the scene after purely civilian infrastructure was hit this morning.
Apartments & a university in the centre of the city were struck.
#PutinsWar enters Day 148.
21 July: anniversary of man first walking on the moon and in exactly four months the opening match of the World Cup in Qatar will be about to kick off.
But this is the daily thread on #Russia's war in #Ukraine, updated real time so please read & share.
* Graphic photos *
It's a depressing start to the day, with many attacks, shelling and deaths in #Ukraine.
Among the places worst hit - again - is #Kharkiv. The reign of terror continues by the invaders. Two died and 19 injured so far after attacks on residents.
Officials in #Kharkiv are still concealing the exact location of #Russia's strikes. However, one of the most populated areas was hit with #Ukraine alleging The Kremlin targeted transport stops and residential streets.
They also say they found evidence of cluster bombs:
Let's get Day 147 underway.
Almost 5 months since #PutinsWar on #Ukraine began and I've been documenting everything since I was in #Kyiv just before the first bombs dropped.
If you like the free, handy daily threads and can afford to buy me a coffee, please see my profile page.
Impossible to verify, but #Ukraine's 58th Motorise Infantry Brigade says it wiped out an entire group of #Russia's Wagner military contractors.
The General Staff would only say this happened "on the front line" and published photos of the badges and some Russian bodies:
Each evening almost a constant stream of missiles from #Russia heading in to #Ukraine.
Day 144 of #Russia's full scale invasion of its peaceful neighbour.
Updates throughout the day as stories unfold in #Ukraine and beyond.
First the British update shows #Russia concerned about #Ukraine's counter attack in the south
#Russia has still not taken total control of #Luhansk region despite the perception.
That's the point being made by #Ukraine's governor for the region. Serhiy Haidai says "two villages in Luhansk remain under 🇺🇦 control. Russians cannot overcome the few kilometres."