Day 166 of #Russia's war of choice. Yep, the monster in the Kremlin chose to start a needless, full-scale invasion of #Ukraine. Welcome to the daily thread for all the news
Sunday was quiet until an explosive evening - if you missed it, click here:
Thankfully @CBSNews saw the error of its ways and took down a completely misleading story alleging weapons from the west were "going missing" in #Ukraine.
The @amnesty report remains up though, with ever stronger calls for a retraction and root and branch reform of the NGO.
#Russia claims only "builders' equipment was damaged after last night's strikes on the Antonivskyi Bridge in #Kherson.
The occupiers report "the resumption of traffic is postponed" but they claim no further damage to the bridge itself!
The Antonivskyi Bridge was just one of numerous targets hit across occupied #Kherson during the night.
They also damaged the #Kakhovka bridge near the Hydro-Electric plant in the east of the region.
#Ukraine's Southern Command also reports destroying "several enemy bases"
Meanwhile in #Melitopol' locals reported "at least 16 explosions"
The exiled mayor reports 100+ Russian troops are dead, a lot of equipment damaged by the air strikes. Ivan Fedorov says last week Occupiers moved air defences from the town to Kherson, leaving them open to attack.
An aircraft has reportedly been shot down in #Sumy region, but a couple of kilometres from the border with #Russia.
So far neither side has claimed a strike nor admitted a loss. Cannot tell what type of craft it is either from this video. Time stamp checks out.
#Bulgaria says it is still allowing Russian tourists to visit after all. However there are more stringent criteria and checks being applied, the Bulgarian embassy in Moscow reported.
Upper floors of the Donbass Hotel in #Svitlodarsk in #Donetsk region have been demolished and the attached restaurant is destroyed.
Russia is blaming #Ukraine but at first sight it looks like a misdirected missile, probably from the south, controlled by Russians.
More smoke and explosions in occupied #Kherson in the last hour.
In #Kakhovka plumes of smoke, and a little further south, this in #NovayaMayachka. Locals say the forest is burning, but not known if "Orcs" were hiding there.
#Russia's officials and collaborators in the occupied part of #Zaporizhzhia have signed a decree on holding a referendum to join the Russian Federation.
All such votes are of course illegal and (war) crimes in themselves.
Just the four new craters left on the Antonivskyi Bridge in #Kherson
As well as the physical damage (more than it looks) the psychological damage for Russians is much greater. They'd just been told this bridge was protected and also the #HIMARS were destroyed.
They're panicking
More scandalous revelations about @amnesty's infamous #Ukraine report.
The🇺🇦Centre for Strategic Communication & Information Security alleges witness statements came from citizens kept in prisons or filtration camps by Russia. If true, beyond words.
The #Razoni has STILL not moved.
another 24 hours at sea, stocked with #Ukraine's corn, allegedly "awaiting instructions" after changing course from Tripoli #Lebanon.
After the assassination of a high ranking traitor in #Kherson region over the weekend, the main collaborator, Vladimir Saldo remains seriously ill in #Moscow. Although poisoning's not confirmed, #Russia admits Saldo's in the Sklifosovsky Research Institute for Emergency Medicine
#Putin has chickened out of traveling to #NewYork for the UN General Assembly in September!
He's ordered Lavrov to lead the Russian Federation delegation.
They must be getting very short of cannon fodder, oops, recruits, in #Russia now.
They've even started advertising for "private contractors" in St Petersburg. This seen on a local bus.
A sight to strike fear into the heart of the invaders in #Ukraine.
A large convoy of #HIMARS was spotted a few days ago in #Romani and only just published, presumably after safe arrival on the battlefield.
Take cover Orcs! May be another hot night in south Ukraine! #StopRussia
Reuters, citing a senior US official says #Russia has suffered between 70,000-80,000 casualties on the battlefield since the start of the full invasion.
That is deaths and wounded. A lot, but significantly fewer than #Ukraine's estimates.
Here is confirmation of another BILLION DOLLARS worth of aid on its way from #USA to #Ukraine.
#Russia says it will "temporarily" not allow USA to inspect its nuclear weapons, breaking the terms of the START Treaty.
Moscow says it's because it is "deprived of the right to inspection in the States"
Around 10 explosions reported in occupied #Melitopol tonight. The first was reported to be extremely big and led to a flurry of movement of #Russia's military in the town.
The @UN and @iaeaorg have still not been allowed in to occupied #Ukraine to visit the nuclear plant in #Enerhodar.
The situation is critical with rockets landing near the nuclear material and Russians seen moving tanks and weapons inside the plant itself.
Sounds like #Russia is retaliating in #Donetsk.
This was recorded recently in the occupied city.
Day 165 of #Russia's illegal war on #Ukraine - welcome to my daily thread on events surrounding the conflict.
Of all the war crimes committed, the biggest was when #Putin decided to invade. Without this stupid, needless aggression, there would not have been one other war crime.
In case you missed anything last night, you can scroll back through the previous day's thread. I've been asked to include a link, so here it is.
Y'day evening we saw proof of Russia bombing #Donetsk, which it controls and the confirmed death of a traitor
It seems to have been a little quieter overnight than in previous days, but of course the regular hotspots on, or near, the front line have been hit including #Kharkiv and #Mykolaiv, more on that shortly in the thread.
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
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