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.
1/2 This morning, not just Kyiv badly attacked.
In fact, at the moment, more people are known to have died in Dnipro then the capital and that's where I'll start.
5 killed and 25 injured there plus 3 more wounded in Kamianske in the wider region.
Hello again.
Day 1552. A holiday in many countries "Whit Monday" in most, Spring holiday in others (inc UK) and Memorial Day in the U.S
But after 4 years and 3 months, memorials are still being made in Ukraine because our leaders, collectively, let them down.
Here's the daily🧵
I'm still not quite sure where Saturday ended and Sunday began - the days merged into one for me.
What I do know is there were >120 new posts over the 48 hours, that's an average one story every 24 minutes, over the entire two days.
1/2 There are new murderous attacks by Russia already today in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Explosions have been heard in the city of Dnipro after an alert for ballistic missiles. Smoke can be seen, but no initial news of widespread damage, so hopefully air defence did its job.
Here we go again then. Day 1550 of Ukrainians wondering if they, their home, their relatives, will be bombed today.
About 16 million people have been born in the US and 15m in the EU since Russia started its full invasion of Ukraine.
Welcome to Saturday's daily🧵
Friday was a cracking thread, with vodka cheaper than a single tomato, legless Russians celebrating, Moscow claiming a college in occupied Luhansk wasn't housing Rubicon pilots and their drones and Ukraine causing more mayhem deep inside Russia.
#UkraineSanctions have been successfully employed again!
Lots of action in Russia last night, even before I closed the thread. Around 8am this morning another Ukraine strike in Perm' region, a distance of about 1700km.
Putin's gone from the expected capture of Kyiv before the end of Feb 2022 & annihilation of Ukraine's leaders & the country's culture, to begging China to keep it afloat & trying to quell dissenters at home as bombs fall!
The daily🧵
A quick reminder, everything I do is free. No extra content behind paywalls or subscriptions.
Every single day, documenting everything important about the war and about Ukraine. Still never missed a day. If you are able to support here's the link:
Wednesday 20 May is Day 1547 of Putin's catastrophic full invasion of its peaceful neighbour.
Russia has lost a large part of a generation of men - dead, dying or those who managed to emigrate. Reserves spent, economy collapsing.
Putin, not Zelenskyy, is Russia's biggest enemy
Let's start the daily thread in the traditional manner with the link for the start of Tuesday's thread.
A lot more destruction on both sides, as Putin grovels in China. Click, but remember to come back for today's news...
Welcome to THE daily thread on Day 1546 of the war.
Russia is showing small signs of desperation.
More economic woes, more Ukraine air attacks deep inside Russia, a desperation to strengthen ties with allies and having to make new nuclear threats.
All the news in one place:
Here's the link back to the start of Monday's thread for those catching up.
A day when Russia lost more equipment, including a helicopter, but also bombed the hell out of Dnipro, while the EU looks for a lead negotiator to meet Putin.
One thing I learned last night I'll repost here as very few people saw it last night, and for Ukraine watchers it's very interesting and potentially important.
Will Zelenskyi dare fire Zaluzhnyi so he has no platform in the run up to an election?