Late last night #Russia predictably used its veto in the @UN Security Council vote, proving again the UN is useless. Despite condemnation of Russia by the UN leader, the Kremlin can simply avoid punishment.
China, Brazil, India and Gabon abstained. The others voted in favour.
The near siege of #Lyman continues.
While #Russia tries to bring in reserves, there have been unverified reports and videos of its troops fleeing the cauldron.
During the night it seems #Ukraine has been striking #Kreminna, the Russians' escape/reinforcement route.
Near recently liberated #Kupyansk, a convoy of cars was attacked a week ago. 7 families' cars were fired on by the retreating Russians. Twenty people were killed, including 10 children.
#Ukraine's managed to liberate more villages near #Lyman.
Novoselivka, Shandryholovo and Stavky are clear of invaders according to Kyiv, but last night #Russia was saying it had regained ground inside #Stavky.
The balance of evidence points to Ukraine being correct.
Even the most rabid pro-Russian sites are now reporting The Kremlin's troops are retreating from #Lyman.
The firefight seems to be the attempt by #Russia to protect troops and maybe some equipment they try to preserve. It's likely they will move back as far as #Kreminna.
Footage now of #Russia's vehicles fleeing on the one route out of #Lyman
The "Return alive" group publishes aerial shots of some of an estimated 5,000 trapped Kremlin fighters hurrying away - #Ukraine has fire control and I understand is picking off many
Another strange video has been published, which I cannot verify.
A #Ukraine patriot says this is happening in Occupied #Zaporizhzhia region. #Russia seems to be burying things - no one knows what but some allege it must be chemical weapons.
Back to the explosions at the #Belbek airfield in Occupied #Crimea.
The Head of #Sevastopol says the fire is now out. And there does indeed seem to be a grainy video confirming a plane overshot the runway by a long way.
A lot of theories sent to me about this. The most popular, and likely, is they are marine mines.
But why bury them in already dug trenches?
Some correspondents adamant they'll be covered with contaminated waste and then blown up when🇺🇦army approaches.
As Day 220 draws to a close, we have ongoing battles in #Kreminna where #Russia's fleeing forces try to establish new defences, and in #Kherson region where #Ukraine is pushing forward.
Reality seems to be dawning on Russia, even the censored TV stations
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.