Thread by @France24_en

🇺🇦 #Ukraine marks its independence from Soviet rule on Wednesday, as well as the six-month anniversary of the Russian invasion.

Since February 24, 2022, the fighting has barely let up.

@smougin has the latest updates on the conflict ⤵️

@smougin 🇺🇦 Authorities in #Ukraine have banned celebrations for Independence Day out of fears that they could be easy targets.

Speaking earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky remained defiant.

"We only care about our land, we will fight for it until the end" ⤵️

@smougin 🇺🇦 Ukrainian authorities have warned that #Russian forces may choose Independence Day to attack.

An unusual calm has envelopped the country as many wonder what might happen, explains @JamesAndreF24, reporting from #Kyiv ⤵️

@smougin @JamesAndreF24 🇺🇦 As the war rages on, international aide continues to funnel into #Ukraine.

Kyiv expects to receive between 12 and 16 billion dollars in support before the end of the year.

FRANCE 24's @PierreBenazet has more on the sum the EU is expected to contribute ⤵️

@smougin @JamesAndreF24 @PierreBenazet 🇺🇦 Once a farmer on his parent's farm, one young Ukrainian has become a soldier fighting his country's war against #Russia.

He is among thousands who have now face the same dangerous change in circumstances ⤵️

https://twitter.com/France24_en/status/1562364087576707072

@smougin @JamesAndreF24 @PierreBenazet 🇺🇦 Six months into the #UkraineWar, "neither side is ready to make any concessions", says @nseskuria from the Royal United Services Institute.

Six months into the war, #Kyiv is standing its ground against its aggressor: "Ukraine is fighting for its freedom." ⤵️

@smougin @JamesAndreF24 @PierreBenazet @nseskuria 🇺🇦 Fears are also growing that skirmishes at Europe's largest nuclear plant, #Zaporizhzhia could result in disaster.

The UN nuclear agency renewed its request on Tuesday to access the site to assess safety and security.

@BizotOlivia has more ⤵️

@smougin @JamesAndreF24 @PierreBenazet @nseskuria @BizotOlivia 🇺🇦 The #US announced that it would send another 3 billion dollars to #Ukraine—it is the largest international aid contributer.

The plan is to train and equip Kyiv's troops so they can continue to push back against Russian forces.

@carysgarland has the story ⤵️

@smougin @JamesAndreF24 @PierreBenazet @nseskuria @BizotOlivia @carysgarland 🇺🇦 #Irpin's bridge emerged as an early symbol of the ravages of the #UkraineWar—Ukrainian troops blew it up to prevent Russian forces from entering Kyiv.

Authorities are now hoping to turn the destroyed structure into a memorial, reports @JamesAndreF24 ⤵️

@smougin @JamesAndreF24 @PierreBenazet @nseskuria @BizotOlivia @carysgarland 🇺🇦 Vladimir #Putin expected to quickly enter #Kyiv when his invasion began in February 2022.

Intelligence ultimately foiled the Kremlin's military operations.

FRANCE 24's International Affairs Editor explains how Ukraine's resilience has surprised international observers ⤵️

@smougin @JamesAndreF24 @PierreBenazet @nseskuria @BizotOlivia @carysgarland 🇺🇦🇺🇸 The most recent US military aid package to #Ukraine will include air defence systems, artillery systems, drones, radars, and more.

Washington says it wants to support Kyiv long-term, as @ketgorjestani details ⤵️

@smougin @JamesAndreF24 @PierreBenazet @nseskuria @BizotOlivia @carysgarland @ketgorjestani 🇺🇦 Conflict in #Ukraine in 2014 preceded the 2022 war, but what exactly happened?

Eight years ago, in February, #Russia invaded and subsequently annexed Crimea. Unrest broke out in the region, eventually calmed by the 2015 Minsk II agreements ⤵️

@smougin @JamesAndreF24 @PierreBenazet @nseskuria @BizotOlivia @carysgarland @ketgorjestani 🇺🇦 The war has been deadly, and the danger has pushed a wave of #Ukrainians to flee their country for safety—more than 6.6 million #refugees have arrived in Europe.

FRANCE 24 has the key statistics from the conflict ⤵️