From pathetic Putin's ramblings/partial mobilisation, to the street protests in #Russia, to the prisoner swap deal which saw all 5 Britons released, ending with Zelenskyy's focused and powerful, history-making speech at the #UN
Last night there were big queues at #Russia's southern border with #Georgia.
Presumably men trying to flee before they receive the dreaded call-up to fight in #Ukraine.
Yesterday there were reportedly long queues at the Finnish border and flight tickets selling out.
This is how many Russians spent a large part of the night.
This just one police station in #StPetersburg with around 50 arrested people kept here for hours, many all night. They were among thousands protesting against mobilisation in #Russia
At least they had a piano!
This is how many Russians spent a large part of the night.
This just one police station in #StPetersburg with around 50 arrested people kept here for hours, many all night. They were among thousands protesting against mobilisation in #Russia
At least they had a piano!
"It's vital for world security that we do not blink, that we are at least as brave as #Ukraine's army."
Forgive me for giving another outing to my essay following Putin's partial mobilisation, hope you agree and feel free to share.
Last night Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave powerful speeches at the #UNGA
Soon it's the turn of Britain's new Prime Minister @trussliz, who will continue to keep the pressure on #Russia. But will she call #Russia a "Terrorist State"?
As I type it's known 1,455 people were arrested in 38 cities across #Russia as anger at the PARTIAL mobilisation spilled on to the streets.
More news coming from #Russia's other borders too..
This was on the south-eastern border with #Kazakhstan
Local news outfit ATEO says "there is a huge queue of cars. The vast majority with men of military age."
...and the border with #Finland
Some trying to escape #Russia are sleeping in their cars. The queue reported by Fontanka to be "several kilometres long"
British Intelligence today reflects on the partial mobilisation, which "is effectively an admission that #Russia has exhausted its supply of willing volunteers"
Always difficult to verify claims on the basis of a couple of stories and photos.
But there are a few reports like this. A man claims after he was arrested at a protest in #Moscow last night, he was given draft papers to join the war on #Ukraine.
#Russia's exceptional intelligence forces - you know the ones @Bellingcat continually humiliate - have saved an oil and gas complex from #Ukraine saboteurs.
It's supposed to have happened in #Volgograd. Look at the evidence - oh there's just dodgy acting!
Nothing to see here in #Moscow - all according to plan.
#Putin always intended for huge queues at #Vnukovo airport, with a disproportionate number of young men fleeing, sorry going on important business, abroad!
Another attack on civilians in the occupied area of #Ukraine, just hours before the sham and illegal referenda get underway
There is zero logic or benefit to 🇺🇦carrying out such attacks. This in #Donetsk, covered market area. 6 dead, 6 injured
Also in #Donetsk, something has been hit by the airport. That's a far more likely and legitimate target for #Ukraine, especially as troops have been advancing on the area for the last fortnight.
Voting paper for illegal referendum in the occupied part of #Zaporizhzhia is revealed.
Minor surprise it's in Ukrainian and Russian. Crazy thing is to vote on a region when half of it including the rcapital are not under #Russia's control.
Anyway, we know the "results" already
Ukrainian have already been having fun with the illegal referendum forms.
As young male Russians flee, they're being told they can't move to #Kazakhstan. To gain residency they'll need a signed paper of approval from #Russia!
The war in Europe continues. This is Day 1445 of Russia's attempt to erase Ukraine from the map & destroy its language and culture.
The genocide continues as I type, with a massive missile attack underway.
For all the news as it happens, keep checking back. This is THE daily🧵
Yesterday started with a supposed assassination attempt on another very senior Russian soldier.
A load of other great stories too, including the start of the overnight attack on Ukraine's remaining energy facilities. Catch up on what you missed here:
Saturday 27 December 2025 is Day 1403 of Russia's war of choice.
The day began with missile attacks on Ukraine shortly after midnight and the terrorism continued with drone strikes, may into residential areas, with Kyiv bearing the brunt of the damage.
Here's THE daily thread
Here's the link to yesterday's thread, which started with Russian murders, missiles on streets in Kharkiv and ended with the missile attack on Kyiv.
But there were also 'direct sanctions' taken by Ukraine on war criminals and military targets:
News is still coming in from Kyiv especially after the awful bombardment. Mayor of the city, @Vitaliy_Klychko has just issued an update saying 28 people have been injured, with 13 hospitalised
Although the city's had the air raid warning lifted, it's still affecting Kyiv region
Christmas Eve is another milestone as we mark the latest 100 days of war
Yes, it's Day 1400 of Ukraine's fight for its existence.
Coming up:
Zelenskyy accepts peace plan but are we really nearer peace?
A twist in Moscow's 2nd car bomb in 24 hours.
And all the news yet to happen
A very late start today - I apologise but it's Christmas time with things to do, places to go and also my body demanding enough sleep to survive!
So we start as usual with the throwback to yesterday for you to catch up, which included car bomb #2..
The seemingly random attack on police officers in Moscow last night, may have been a Ukraine targeted attack.
Two "traffic officers" died overnight on the same street where a Lt Gen was eliminated the day before.
Now it's reported the dead were in Ukraine and tortured civilians
This is the start of Tuesday's daily thread, with all the important news from, and relevant to, Ukraine in one handy place.
It's Day 1385 and I've still never missed a day of fact checking, analysing and reporting every aspect of the defence against Russia's illegal war.
Yesterday a lot of talking behind the scenes, but politicians were broadly tight-lipped on progress.
Russia did make more small gains on the frontline, but we also found a cat with burned whiskers + how Russian pilots' head-tennis went disastrously wrong
Pres Zelenskyy's whirlwind tour continues, arriving in Rome this morning to meet the Pope at Castle Gandolfo.
At Villa Barberini, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was welcomed by the vice-regent of the papal household, Augustinian Father Edward Daniang Daleng.