Still big problems for #Russia in the occupied south of #Ukraine. British Intel today highlighting the transport links which will hinder their attempts to fend off a Ukraine assault in #Kherson or counter attack here towards #Mykolaiv.
The #Ukraine land assault in #Kherson will come, but #Russia adding 1000s of extra (untrained) conscripts + Wagner mercenaries to the warzone, complicates matters
The extra cattle fodder pushed in to #Ukraine by the Kremlin, along with #HIMARS and other western weapons, has seen a big uptick in #Russia's soldiers.
The Ukrainian estimates don't even include Wagner mercenaries they say, but the figures are higher than most western estimates
1/2 #Kharkiv was shelled again overnight and this morning. Officials say S-300s were fired from #Belgorod.
In the city, several strikes hit infrastructure/industrial facilities in the Novobavarsky and Kholodnohirsky districts.
In #Kharkiv oblast, earlier in the night, Bogodukhiv and #Chuhuiv districts were hit.
In the former, warehouses of a farm and a private house were on fire. In #Chuguev a school outbuilding was reportedly struck. No photos of the damage yet
#Donetsk channels also published these photos from the Kalininsky district of the occupied city after shelling there. But not much damage from the look of things.
This is the view towards the railway station in the centre of the occupied city taken 20 minutes ago. Multiple plumes of smoke give testament to a concerted attack.
Another huge strike by #Russia on #Mykolaiv overnight; two videos just published.
In one district of #Nikolaev there are fires, while here multi-storey buildings, a supermarket, a pharmacy and other shops were badly damaged.
It's also reported they hit an equestrian school
2/2 The governor of #Mykolaiv says Russian agents and bots immediately started pushing false narratives which should be countered.
* The local govt/infrastructure don't work
* #Nikolaev is a catastrophe - will become another Mariuipol
* We need to negotiate with #Russia.
The sacked Prosecutor General seems set to become #Ukraine's Ambassador to #Switzerland.
There was controversy when @ZelenskyyUa during a purge of government removed @VenediktovaIV from the post.
Unconfirmed reports from occupied #Kherson region of more kidnappings by #Russia.
The Occupiers allegedly abducted Yuriy Sobolevsky, deputy of #Kalanchak council & Tetiana Tkachenko, director of a school.
Russians have real problems finding people willing to teach 🇷🇺 curriculum
The occupiers in #Kherson don't do much to encourage teachers! At the entrance to School 48 in the city, they now have to see the Soviet Union flag on the desk.
The #AZOV battalion was declared a Terrorist Organisation in #Russia's supreme court y'day. The only reason is propaganda & to be able to pass longer sentences against anyone it wants to accuse of being a member.
Today Azov replied in the best way: 9🇷🇺 vehicles gone in #Kharkiv
Oh what a surprise.
Two days ago #Russia hits a minibus of Ukrainian evacuees, killing 3.
Next day they deny, say it was #Ukraine. No one believes them.
Today they claim a minibus in #Donetsk was blown up by a "petal mine" dropped by #Ukraine
An unverified Ukrainian media report here on more cannon fodder from the far east of #Russia.
A team of around 60 so called "Buryat Cossacks" signed up as volunteers, with promises of cash. The youngest is 50. As volunteers, no compensation when they die
The "Amazon of #Russia" has suffered a huge blaze in what looks like sabotage.
The largest warehouse of the Ozon online store is still on fire in the town of #Istra (about an hour west of #Moscow). At least one person has died and 13 are injured.
The Ozon warehouse cannot be saved.
Losses are 10m rubles ($163,000)
Arson is the only cause being considered although a news agency in #Russia has just reported the ultra modern building did not have a fire inspection since opening last year.
The State owned giant is easily the biggest in #Russia, with approximately a third of all banking business.
#Russia says there have already been 27 separate prisoner exchanges and swapping of bodies, with #Ukraine.
Some more propaganda emerging as #Russia desperately tries to think of new ways to avoid being blamed for the massacre of #Ukraine POWs in #Olenivka/#Yelenovka.
Among the new lines, The Kremlin says Ukraine demanded Azov prisoners were taken to that specific jail.
🇷🇺💩
#Ukraine used to be awash with fakes or illegal copies. Times are changing as the country tries to reach western standards on all fronts.
Here 2,500 counterfeit @Apple products are burned by the Kyiv customs office.
#Russia has been at great pains to hide from view the goings on at the railway station. Huge losses were reported when #Ukraine attacked the station.
Days later in another incident Russians themselves accidentally set off munitions
What time is it?
Looks like #HIMARS are paying a visit to #Pesky just north-west of occupied #Donetsk.
Rich pickings for #Ukraine's defence forces by the look of it.
As a ship full of #Ukraine's legitimate food heads to #Lebanon, a court there has annulled previous court orders on a Syrian boat (#Laodicea) and allowed it to flee with its cargo, almost certainly stolen grain from #Ukraine.
It's reported tonight that finally the @UN has agreed to "launch a mission to establish the facts" of the shelling of the Prisoner of War prison in #Olenivka / #Yelenovka in the #Donbas.
50 #Ukraine captives were murdered, with most fingers pointing at Moscow.
Update on the massive fire in #Istra near #Moscow today.
Some media reports in #Russia say 20 people are missing, but official channels have said this is not confirmed.
Another update from the gloriously free #Russia which tries to "free" other countries.
News now that if kids are caught using a VPN in an attempt to find out what's really happening in the world, the parents will be jailed. That's the latest serious proposal aired on TV tonight!
Remarkably quiet in #Ukraine right now with no major attacks to report in any cities.
Presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych this evening said "We are in a lull, real events will begin within a week."
Good morning on Day 1176 of the war in Europe.
In my opinion, Ukraine should have won this war in 2022/23.
Effective leadership is based on good, decisive decisions. Sadly, the allies have never been decisive, preferring dithering and half measures.
Welcome to my daily thread:
What I mean by dithering is endless internal political battles in most countries to give adequate weapons. Scholz (Taurus), Biden (everything) the most obvious examples, though Joe was hampered by Congress and is way better than now
But it's always enough to survive, not to win
If you missed anything from yesterday, catch up with this link to the start of yesterday's thread. Scroll down to where you got to and complete your knowledge!
The start of a new week and simultaneously almost the end of 167 weeks of Russia's attempt to liberate Ukraine from its leader and remove the country from maps.
It's Day 1167 of Putin's full invasion. Welcome to Monday's daily thread.
First the link back to Sunday's thread for those who were busy y'day
It started with Ukraine counting the cost of yet more strikes on civilians and infrastructure but there were more strategic hits on Russia during the day, incl a night attack on Moscow.
Day 1163 of Russia's war of choice, invading a peaceful neighbour.
Another bloody and murderous night in Ukraine, but the pressure is all on Russia today as Ukraine signs the minerals deal, the US (finally) continues its shift against Putin and the oil price dives
Here's THE🧵
Good morning and happy May (or MayDay).
I have to say a new month brings new optimism for Ukraine following the US/Ukraine agreement.
That was the biggest news story of a near 50-post thread.
It took me ages - least you can do is read it!😂
Day 1158 of the war in Europe.
This is the daily thread for Saturday 26 April, and as I mentioned last night, the anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster.
A later start today, sorry if I kept you waiting, but let's waste no more time...
Yesterday we saw Russia attack civilians of course, but we also probably also got a reminder of the power of Ukraine's Military Intelligence, as a Russian general and a weapons designer were both confirmed dead.
Hello at the start of another weekend, Day 1151 of the war in Europe.
Day by day the US paves the way for capitulation.
Trump may pretend there was no war in his first term, but his administration said it would never recognise Crimea.
This is THE daily thread for Saturday.
Here's the link for the start of yesterday's thread.
Visibility is still low - 15k views.
Plenty to get your teeth into.. 100 fleeing Russian refuseniks, tRUmp on the verge of failure, and of course the attacks on Ukraine.
Catch up here:
With even tRUmp slowly realising he's been played by Putin all along with no intent on peace, Russia has upped the aerial attack on its next targets for invasion.
Sumy, Kostiantynivka + Kupiansk feel the full force.
In the latter 10 glide bombs in one day with 5 people injured.
This is the start of THE daily thread covering all things Ukraine.
Reliable, accurate information for 1124 days as Russia and its willing accomplices (Iran, North Korea and MAGA-land) try to destroy Ukraine, its culture and its democracy to make it a vassal state.
Here's the🧵
Yesterday started with shocking lies and propaganda from the White House and ended with another massive attack by Russia, knowing tRUmp and co don't mind at all.
Find all the details by clicking and scrolling here⬇️