Hello, welcome to Friday and to Day 163 of #Russia's war on #Ukraine
Critical days after The Kremlin's tactic of carpet bombing the front line, then throwing 1000s of cannon fodder into the "grey zone" seems to be pushing Ukraine back in #Donetsk.
All the news, all day, here⬇️
The @TheStudyofWar last night reported #Ukraine "is likely seizing the strategic initiative and forcing #Russia to reallocate forces" due to threats in #Kherson.
However their maps don't include the news about #Avdiivka and #Bakhmut which I brought you in yesterday's thread
Also last night I showed the scenes in #Nikopol - and I'll tweet a new video in the next post
UK's MoD's update highlights the sheer recklessness of #Russia firing on Nikopol from a nuclear power plant in #Enerhodar, storing weapons there knowing #Ukraine can't risk firing there
So here is a new video from #Nikopol where I think thermite MLRS were used, lighting up the sky. It may have been phosphorus munitions. This is CCTV footage - just watch the top of the screen.
A famous ex-Spartak ice-hockey player gave an interview to #Russia's sport channel "Match TV"
But Czechia's Dominik Hasek spoke truthfully about fascism in Moscow and appealed for fans to help stop the attack on #Ukraine. The interview was not broadcast!
#Mykolaiv didn't escape attack overnight of course!
This time #Russia mainly fired on the Korabelnyi district of #Nikolaev. #Ukraine's authorities say cluster munitions were used, sent from MLRS.
No known casualties.
Some sources say #Russia has taken total control of #Pisky (RU: #Pesky) in Donetsk region. It's a little west of the city of #Donetsk and south of under pressure #Avdiivka.
If Pisky has fallen, and I suspect it has, then it's hard to see Avdiivka holding out for too much longer.
At least one missile has been shot down and landed in the water (video) in #Kherson region. But unconfirmed reports that others may have landed on target.
Air raid warnings active in #Mykolaiv region right now too.
A few minutes before, the regional Governor for #Nikolaev announced the need for a curfew lasting the whole weekend.
It will start at 11pm tonight and end 05:00 on Monday morning.
Energoatom states "the Russian military again resorted to provocations. As a result of their shelling at 2:30 p.m., three 'arrivals' were recorded near the ZNPP industrial site."
#Ukraine's Nuclear operating company, Energoatom says #Russia shelled the power plant in #Enerhodar for a 2nd time today.
3 missiles "seriously damaged the nitrogen-oxygen station & the auxiliary building. There's a risk of hydrogen leakage + smattering of radioactive substances
"At the hydrogen station at the nuclear power plant, a flare fire occurred, the fire was promptly eliminated
"Russian calls on organisations to condemn the criminal actions of Zelenskyy, who carries out acts of nuclear terrorism"
#Ukraine may have hit the Dar'ivka bridge again in #Kherson region tonight. This is the road bridge over the river Inhulets, north-east of Kherson city
The Occupiers say air-defence stopped Ukraine's rockets, but separate sources report at least two landed, on or near the bridge
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2/2 The Red Cross statement says they had no access to prisoners in #Olenivka before the strike. This contradicts Russian propaganda channels which claimed they visited 4 days before.
US Intel concurs with my assessment Russia is delaying UN/ICRC visits to plant evidence.
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
But let's not forget this is NOT happening due to Russia's goodwill. It's because The Kremlin is allowed to export goods and Kaliningrad was unblocked.
The last day of July is Day 158 of #Russia's war of choice.
Each day I document the major news and events, along with analysis. I've been working in #Ukraine for 20 years and studying the relationship with its neighbour as Putin became more and more aggressive.
Enjoy the thread
Of course not only Putin and #Russia involved in the illegal aggression.
#Belarus is playing an active part too. I am disappointed that Britain's @DefenceHQ does not acknowledge that Lukashenka is the ILLEGITIMATE president. @Tsihanouskaya won the 2020 elections
Today the number of Russian Armoured Personnel Carriers destroyed by #Ukraine in this war so far ticked over 4,000.
Also a lot of artillery systems are being taken out in recent days. Plus another 160 soldiers eliminated.
Welcome to the weekend.
Day 157 of #Russia's illegal full-scale war on #Ukraine, but it's 8 and a half years since the start of the invasion when Putin's troops appeared on #Crimea and then later east 🇺🇦
Ukrainians fight on for freedom.
Here's the daily🧵
All the news in 1 place
The condemnation of both the castration/murder videos & bombing of #Ukraine POWs in Russian held territory, continue at high levels.
The UN says it is "shocked by the recent videos" in a statement about the torture and shooting in the head of a prisoner