Thread by @TWMCLtd

Day 2⃣4⃣5⃣ of #Russia's illegal war in #Ukraine.

All the news, views and analysis in one handy thread, updated throughout the day.

And if you missed anything yesterday, here's the link:

https://twitter.com/TWMCLtd/status/1584822954629926914

Today Britain's Ministry of Defence highlights the work of saboteurs on #Russia's rail network - and I've another example of this in the next tweet.

UK Intel points out the problems the Kremlin can be caused by individuals or small groups damaging railways.

#StopRussia

Recently in #Bashkortostan they've found another way to sabotage #Russia's rail network, and no explosives are needed.

Forcing open relay boxes and setting light to them will severely hamper the movement of freight for a while. These boxes control automated signalling etc.

#Ukraine now has #NASAMS, the CEO of the manufacturer confirms.

Two are already been installed, with 6 more promised by Washington later.

But CEO of Raytheon Technologies, Greg Hayes, admits they're blocked from sending the Patriot missile system to Kyiv just yet:

📹CNBC

#Russia's soldiers continue to sacrifice themselves for a small, old man in a Moscow bunker in huge numbers.
As I precited a while ago, the total will reach 70,000 (#Ukraine estimate) this weekend.

Almost no UAV attacks last 24 hours so drone numbers down, but tanks/APVs well up

More empty pedestals in #Kherson as #Russia's invading criminals continue to steal anything for scrap or resale. This time the legendary 18th century military leader and Prince, Grigory Potyomkin's statue has been swiped in the Occupied city.

#RussiaIsATerroristState

The latest on the #Norway-#Russia Spy scandal now.

Turns out the "Brazilian" arrested yesterday by Norwegian police had studied in #Canada and even helped in an election campaign in the capital #Ottawa for politician Sean Devine who said he's 'shocked'

nrk.no/norge/kanadisk…

The exiled Mayor of #Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, claims y'day's car bombing in the occupied city was NOT due to #Ukraine's Resistance, but a continuation of a war between #Russia's army & the FSB.

He says Rogov is pro FSB, Balitsky pro Army. This was outside Balitsky's office:

New video of the destruction of a rail pontoon bridge over the Oskol River in #Kharkiv oblast.

#Russia's troops built this at the end of June to carry supplies to Kupyansk and Izyum. #HIMARS took care of it in moments.

#SlavaUkraini #RussiansGoHome

A new report proving how #Belarus hijacked a civilian plane last year following nationwide protests against the stolen election.

Recordings can be heard of KGB officers ordering air traffic what to say to Ryanair pilots so they could kidnap 2 civilians.

politico.eu/article/belaru…

#Russia has the steepest decline in internet freedom in a new report by Freedom House:

"Internet freedom in Russia reached an all-time low following the government’s brutal invasion of #Ukraine"

#Belarus also falling of course.

#RussiaIsATerroristState

freedomhouse.org/report/freedom…

News of another derailment in #Russia reported by the "Stop the Wagons" group - though this does not seem to be sabotage.

A freight train with timber coming off the tracks near Yurya in #Kirov oblast, which is almost 1,000km from #Moscow.

#StopRussia

In Occupied #Kherson a big blast just outside the city.

It's said to be on a training ground for the newly mobilised arrivals.

No news on casualties yet.

#StandWithUkraine #RussiansGoHome

A touch of almost luxury reaches the front line for #Ukraine's brave fighters.

This new addition to the fleet will, perhaps, be the most welcome of all!

Ukraine brings showers and comfort, #Russia brings mobile incinerators - spot the difference!

American intel also seeing the growing influence of Prigozhin and his Wagner group according to WaPo.

They actually get a response from "Putin's chef" though he denies any recent contact with Bunker Boy.

Published yesterday, but I only just found it:

washingtonpost.com/national-secur…

Occupiers admit the attack on the mobilised training ground in #Kherson.

They say a grenade launcher was fired at the troops.
"Efforts to block and detain the criminals are being taken"

No word on casualties

https://twitter.com/TWMCLtd/status/1585218009047523329

Tomorrow will be 90 days since the massacre of #Ukraine Prisoners of War in a prison in Donetsk.

A reminder that #Russia has still refused to allow independent investigators, @UN or @ICRC to visit the #Olenivka jail, which they likely bombed themselves:

edition.cnn.com/interactive/20…

mmm, a second explosion in 4 days in #Perm'

Following the gunpowder factory blast which killed three, in the early hours today the Fluorosal Chemical Plant in #Zakamsk suffered a blast.

Two people were injured.

#StopRussia

More sabre rattling by Putin during "nuclear exercises" at the Kura site, #Kamchatka.

#Russia launces air launched cruise missiles from long-range Tu-95MS aircraft and here a Sineva ballistic missile from a sub in the Barents Sea

#RussiaIsATerroristState

Bit of a scandal in #Russia where TV figure, socialite and daughter of the first democratic mayor of St Petersburg has fled to #Lithuania just as FSB arrived at her house in #Moscow.

Her commercial director Kirill Sukhanov & ex-Tatler Editor Arian Romanovsky have been arrested.

oops, forgot to say in the previous tweet it is Kseniya Sobchak, one time associate of Navalny

It's reported yesterday she booked tickets to fly to Dubai and today booked flights to Turkey. Seems it distracted the FSB as she drove into Belarus and then made her way to #Lithuania

Another army enlistment office set on fire in #Russia.

Unfortunately no photos of the firebombing in #Kyzyl in #Tuva region, but it has been confirmed by the state.

Free RU media think it's 21 such attacks since mobilisation and 54 since 24 February.

novayagazeta.eu/articles/2022/…

The Occupiers admit stealing statues disappearing around #Kherson - now they've also taken the remains of Potyomkin from St Katerina's Church.

Traitor Volodymyr Saldo, #Russia's regional head says "We want nothing more than to live a peaceful life.. We have no other intentions."

Fascinating in depth report from Reuters today showing the shambolic state of #Russia's forces prior to retreat from #Kharkiv oblast.

Two of the 6 units had only 20% of men left by the time they fled. #SlavaUkraini

reuters.com/investigates/s…

"within a few weeks #Ukraine will have receive the first 10 American Switchblade-600 drones.” Defence Minister @oleksiireznikov told Politico.

The Switchblade is classed as loitering ammunition - a quiet hybrid of reconnaissance drone and attack warhead.

#StandWithUkraine

It's reported @rafaelmgrossi, Head of the @iaeaorg will tomorrow discuss the creation of a safe zone around the #Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant with the UN Security Council.

#RussiaIsATerroristState #StopRussia

News just in - another of #Russia's attack helicopters has been shot down* in #Kherson oblast.

The Ka-52 was hit near #Beryslav.

*No independent verification

#Russia enhancing its story about the "dirty bomb" theory

Apparently there's also a dummy rocket now! The Kremlin tries to convince people #Ukraine intends to fire the rocket, filled with radioactive material, then shoot it down over Chernobyl, blaming🇷🇺

m24.ru/news/politika/…

Even as recently as this morning, #Russia's MOD and war bloggers were saying that #Ukraine advances on the village of Nevske in #Luhansk oblast, had been repelled.

However in what remains of the admin building, the famous blue and yellow is raised to replace the "aquafresh"

The looting of #Kherson continues

Head of the regional council, Oleksandr Samoilenko says museums are being emptied and the Occupiers even removed an irradiator used to treat cancer patients in the city

Meanwhile Soviet General Vasiliy Margelov is the latest statue to disappear

Still in #Kherson, evidence of the new defensive positions put in place by #Russia.

Looks like the invaders will throw a few mobilised recruits in here when #Ukraine's army arrives to liberate the city. Hopefully it's of use to Ukr Intel!

📷TG just_visotsky

A big hit and bigger fire on the railway at #Shakhtarsk.

This is a small town east of #Donetsk city about halfway between Donetsk and the border with #Russia.

12 fuel tankers on the train burn.

#StopRussia #StandWithUkraine

Meanwhile maybe Amnesty is waiting for #Russia to proof check its latest report on #Ukraine?

By the way @amnesty, where is the review you promised over two months ago?

https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1585370934822653953

There are unconfirmed reports tonight of explosions in #Belarus.

A couple of reports mention locals hearing loud bangs in #Osipovichi which is in north-west Belarus, approximately midway between the capital #Minsk and the border with #Lithuania.

Did someone say mobilisation in #Russia had stopped?
In the same way Russia said it was leaving Syria and wasn't in Crimea and was returning units at Ukraine's border to base and not attacking!

Call up papers handed out in shopping centres in #Ivanovo

ivanovonews.ru/reports/130406…

... and following on from the previous tweet and not so far away, news from #Yaroslavl that men were being intercepted as they turned up for work at a factory.

They must now swap work and home life for quite a high probability of death for #Putin's ego

rosbalt.ru/russia/2022/10…

More dodgy drones spotted near #Norway's oil fields in the North Sea this evening.

There's an ongoing problem with #Russia's interference in the country amid heightened security.

dagbladet.no/nyheter/mulige…

The #CIA director had a secret trip to #Ukraine earlier this month, reports CNN this evening.

Bill Burns met with @ZelenskyyUa and assured him of the continued support of the U.S.

#StandWithUkraine #StopRussia

#Zaporizhzhia has been attacked.

Three explosions - thought to be shelling although Iranian attack drones were flying earlier.

The outskirts of the city were hit and at least one fire.
Some power cuts.
Windows in nearby buildings were blown out.

#RussiaIsATerroristState

#Zaporizhzhia - the three explosions were captured in this recording.

No news about damage or casualties yet.

#StopRussia #StandWithUkraine #Zaporozhe

Earlier I wrote about the massive fire near the railway station in #Shakhtarsk (RU: #Shalhtersk) in #Donetsk region.

There are no reported casualties but the fire is not yet under control, as we can see here, after the 12 fuels tanks were hit.

#StopRussia #RussiansGoHome

A street in #Kyiv has been renamed in honour of the #Azov battalion (Azov Regiment Street)

On the photo is Igor Beloshitskyi, one of the first of the unit to die in the original invasion by #Russia's troops in 2014.

#StandWithUkraine

A lot of #Russia's drones seem to be falling under #Ukraine's air defences tonight.

There have been three waves of the Iranian made "kamikaze" drones across the south of the country in the past couple of hours. Multiple reports of successful air defence in different cities.

In #Odesa (#Odessa) a drone can clearly be seen receiving a hit from #Ukraine's air defence.

The only problem is the expense of the anti-aircraft missiles.

#StopRussia #StandWithUkraine

A couple of loud blasts in #Dnipropetrovsk region - thought to be near #Pavlograd (see video)

Meanwhile a few reports of a possible attack drone hitting south of #Kyiv. However, it's unconfirmed as may well be a downed drone.

#StandWithUkraine #RussiaIsATerroristState