What's evident in #Russia's mobilisation is the "Animal Farm" principle. All areas are equal, but some are more equal than others
The regions supplying the most new call-ups are the ones which already suffered most deaths such as Dagestan, Buryatia and other south/east republics
#Ukraine's Air Force says it shot down 4 Iranian-made Shahed-136 kamikaze drones at once with two medium-range anti-aircraft guided missiles. This happened over #Mykolaiv region.
Putin's support is strong in remote areas of #Russia, but he knows it's the main cities which hold his fate in their hands. If quotas for mobilisation are very low in St Petersburg & Moscow, most of the middle-class will be comfortable, not on the streets
The "rush" to vote in the illegal referenda is underway. As you can see here, voting halls are full - but of journalists not residents.
Considering the majority have fled in some regions, it'll be funny to see the turnout figures which #Russia seems set to say is 90-95%
In #Melitopol' locals report Russians have been brought by bus from #Crimea for the cameras. They say some are being interviewed by "polling" stations while others drive cars with Russian flags.
#Ukraine's forces say they have regained some ground in #Bakhmut (RU: #Artemovsk). Advances have been made south of the town in #Donetsk, but #Russia still advances slowly from the east.
Meanwhile Ukraine has regained the village of Yatskivka.
1/2 #Odesa - a couple of videos now from the southern port city
Quite some activity there today. Many of the new #Iran drones have been attacking the city. The second wave seems to have just finished. At least six drones have been shot down by air defence today. #Odessa#Ukraine
2/2
Here's the aftermath of the kamikaze drones which landed in the port area of #Odesa a little earlier.
A reminder that one person died in this attack by #Russia.
Children reportedly injured in a school in #Mariupol' today when a mine exploded.
This happened at School #45. The occupiers clearly failing to demine either their own, or a #Ukraine explosive. Russians have not released exact details of casualties.
📷TG channel: mariupol
Thanks to Theresa, Iain and Nina who've all donated in the last couple of hours.
£2,158 raised so far to help #Ukraine's soldiers. If you can help at all, please see the pinned tweet on my profile. Thank you and #SlavaUkraini
Following the widespread drone attacks today, #Ukraine has revoked the accreditation of #Iran's ambassador in #Kyiv.
Iranian has repeatedly flown cargo planes to Moscow in the last fortnight, believed to be full of kamikaze and other drones.
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?