Right now ALL of #Ukraine is experiencing air raid warnings, but not everything is the same as usual.
A few minutes ago, at the end of yesterday's thread, I reported on explosions in occupied #Melitopol, but plenty of missiles being fired from #Russia into free Ukraine...
However, it seems as though #Russia's OWN air defences have taken out some of their own missiles leaving #Belgorod!
Difficult to confirm this, but looking at confirmed radar reports of missiles being fired from Russian territory, towards east #Ukraine this does seem very likely.
It seems at least 6 missiles have been fired at #Kharkiv so far, but two didn't leave #Russia's borders!
#Ukraine intercepted two more, but two may have landed in #Kharkov.
It's true by the way - there really was a successful fundraising campaign to get satellite coverage of the #Kerch bridge which links occupied #Crimea to mainland #Russia.
Sanctions work! #Russia reports that there are likely delays in the handover of a couple of old Navy warhorses, undergoing repairs/refits.
Aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and the cruiser Admiral Nakhimov may not be ready until 2024 "due to delays in the supply of equipment."
Air raid alarms sound the all clear in many regions of #Ukraine.
It's believed #Russian planes were flying - unclear right now if they launched any missiles.
1/2
Reports from pro-Russian accounts that the explosions in #Melitopol are at the airport
A new photo (unverified) said to show the glow after strikes at the airfield, and a Google satellite photo of the position north-west of the ocupied town.
Oh dear... remember the adage, what Russia accuses others of, it's about to do itself.
In the occupied part of #Zaporizhzhia, #Russia says troops "were taken to the hospital on 31 July with signs of severe poisoning"
They say botulinum toxin type "B" was found, accusing #Ukraine
As usual claim and counter claim and some exaggeration from #Ukraine's side.
However, after studying all the videos, stills and local media, it's clear #Russia is worried and the HQ of the Black Sea command was hit...
2/
There are two main videos to consider, which you may have already seen.
Occupiers in #Sevastopol on #Crimea say the very common "a drone was shot down" and this video seems to support this theory.
3/
Later it's clear #Russia's prized Black Sea HQ building is ablaze.
So either the drone released a payload before being hit, it crashed into the roof or was a kamikaze drone which hit its target.
Any of the scenarios is good for #Ukraine proving they can hit #Crimea at will.
4/
This video is circulating - showing "a huge traffic jam of people evacuating #Sevastopol"
The truth is there are often "probki" at the weekend as people of #Crimea head from the big and fairly unattractive big city to #Yalta and the resort coast.
It's not true to say panic
5/
It's peak holiday season in #Russia and another example is the big queues on the mainland of vehicles heading to #Crimea.
This is one of the last gas stations in #Krasnodar region, before the Kerch bridge.
Fuel is more expensive in Crimea.
6/
What is true is that there are a lot of stories, including on state TV in #Crimea, stating the number of people "volunteering" to help protect #Sevastopol and the (occupied) peninsula
This is clearly trying to put the idea in people's mind, so #Russia does need help/manpower
"Enough is enough" protest march in Manchester. Ostensibly @RMTunion strikers trying to drum up support. So why do they tolerate, or promote, Soviet symbols? Is it because Russian money still influences anti- establishment organisations?
It's so offensive
2 hours until the big fight #JoshuaUsyk2 and #Ukraine's President Zelenskyy has got behind the defending champ
"We all have to be strong enough. We stick together.
Today is definitely for Usyk, our boy. We believe in ourselves, in Ukraine. Glory to each of you. Glory to Ukraine"
Russia's air defence is busy in #Crimea again tonight.
1/3 So Trump has, crucially, for the first time, allowed US weapons to go to Ukraine, so it is a step forward. And while no specifics, let's hope the best long-range weapons are to be given.
But no confirmation about the U.S. using Russia's frozen assets in favour of Ukraine.
So why a special day?
@generalkellogg has arrived in Kyiv to convey expected good news.
The sanctions guys - @LindseyGrahamSC + @SenBlumenthal meet with @SecGenNATO + Trump later, with the US President virtually confirming sanctions and releasing Patriot air defence systems:
It may be Sunday, but no rest!
I'm back again, for Day 1236 of Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine.
All the news, fact-checked, all the time.
Everything is free, no substack or premium, but if you appreciate my work, you can show it here🙏💙💛 ko-fi.com/twmcltd
So Russia is currently 1233 days behind schedule in its expectation to control Kyiv.
I've documented it here every day. Saturday had some more blatant Russian war crimes, starting with more death and destruction.
If you were away from screens, catch up⬇️
Starting with breaking news as Ukraine has announced it has killed the assassins of an Intel officer gunned down in broad daylight in Kyiv a few days ago.
Intel boss Vasyl Malyuk says a special Russian FSB/combat group murdered Col Ivan Voronych.
Hello again and welcome to the weekend and another daily thread. All the important Ukraine news, fact-checked, every single day (never missed one yet).
It's Day 1235 and signs that Russia is becoming increasingly desperate. Let's begin:
Don't know about you, but I was up most of the night documenting another huge Russian attack.
If you missed it, you can catch up on that, as well as the rest of Friday's news by clicking here for the start of yesterday's thread:
23 missiles + almost 600 drones flew from Russia overnight, trying to destroy Ukraine's infrastructure, culture & people.
Air defence did well, shooting down 25 of 26 Kh-101 cruise missiles.
Of 597 attack UAVs, 319 were shot down, another 258 stopped via EW, or decoy drones.
Day 1233 of a war that's the biggest threat to the future stability of the lives of every person reading this.
The root cause is extremist, imperialist and anti-democratic forces being allowed to wage war unchecked. Ukraine in the firing line today, but who's next? Here's the🧵
Another very difficult night for Ukraine, especially Kyiv, with more deaths now confirmed in the capital.
It was a second successive very long and loud night for many. To bring yourself up to date on all yesterday's news, click the link:
First breaking news this morning from Kyiv, where a man has been shot dead in the Holosiivskyi district of the capital.
It's now been confirmed that the victim is a colonel of the Security Service of Ukraine.
The gunman used fired from a gun with a silencer and fled in a SUV.