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!
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?