Putin's army - along with the mercenaries - seem on the verge of a first military success for months since losing two whole swathes of land over the summer.
All the news right here in my daily thread, updated in real time.
Some graphic and horrendous scenes yesterday in an increasingly bloody battle in all senses.
#Ukraine claiming it has not lost #Soledar yet.
Plenty of other news too - you can bring yourself up to date by scrolling through Wednesday's thread here:
430* more troops in #Russia's military killed in the last 24 hours. A big figure, but well down on recent peaks.
Also down are the general equipment numbers destroyed.
This is in line with the end of one big battle as we seem to be at #Soldar.
*Ukraine estimates
Propaganda wars continue: scarcely a mention of the likely loss of #Soledar in #Ukraine media while Russian sites are full of the supposed glory of taking a small town that pre-war had scarcely 10,000 residents
Ukraine released this GRAPHIC video claiming over 100 Russians died:
Journalists, Cabinet Ministers and "representatives of law enforcement agencies" are on Moscow's "Stop List" says the Kremlin's Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
#Russia looks on the verge of increasing the age range for conscripts. Currently it's set at 18-27 year olds. Defence Minister Shoigu said he favoured moving it to ages 21-30.
But now a proposal gaining favour in the Kremlin is to expand the draft to those aged 18 to 30 years.
Here's the British update - reporting on #Russia's Rapid Reaction force, pressed in to action to stop #Kreminna falling. #Ukraine has continued to make small incursions in #Luhansk despite the setbacks in #Donetsk this week.
#Cyprus is another country in the #EU which has tacitly supported #Russia over the years, turning a blind eye to some stinky money in many accounts there.
Outrage in #Mariupol at the destruction by the Occupiers of an historical monument.
The "House with a Clock" is no more. It was the workshop of the leading monumental artist Arnautov whose mosaics are recognised as cultural heritage by USA. #Russia had said it was being repaired
Reports of multiple explosions in occupied #Melitopol' this afternoon.
Some of the explosions may have been #Russia's training exercises for new recruits.
But one channel says locals suspect an ammunition depot detonating and blasts were heard in three other areas of the town.
Serhiy Haidai says "The Armed Forces of #Ukraine are holding their positions there. And on the Kreminna and Svatove directions (we) are moving forward."
Who'd have guessed?
Labour's ridiculously short sighted "Golden Visa" scheme, which was finally shut earlier this year, allowed criminals and (now sanctioned) oligarchs from #Russia to gain citizenship - and launder money in London.
1/4 #Russia is just obsessed with trying to make links with #Ukraine and Nazis.
Been discussing this story with @motytchak for whom I give many thanks.
Earlier a video appeared on RU channels (see next tweet) which claims to be a UA soldier with chemical weapons
2/4 But not just any chemical weapons of course, propagandists claim it's Hydrocyanic capsules, better known as Zyklon B used by Nazi Germany on Jews in WWII and which needs to be stored in the cold.
Conveniently, the video appears just as Wagner make claims of chemical attacks
3/4 It's almost certainly staged - a disgusting fake.
The man in the video says "we'll be dropping this on your head - you'll appreciate it."
But as native speakers tell me it's not normal Ukrainian. Sounds like a Russian student trying to speak very correct Ukrainian
4/4 And does anyone really think any army would store this stuff in an open fridge? Let alone film it if they were using it?
A reminder that #Russia was found to have used chemical weapons in #Syria.
With regard to the Chemical Weapons story above, one more good point @motytchak makes is:
"who can guarantee uninterrupted electricity for the fridge near the frontline in Ukraine in the conditions that we are living in now."
Nothing about this story adds up. Verdict: 100% Fake
It seems #Belarus is equipping an airfield near #Ukraine for combat missions.
Telegram Channel UaOnlii publishes satellite photos showing the old air base near #Homel (RU: #Gomel) now has air defence and radar systems plus two artificial hills.
More shelling is reported across the Russian border in #Belgorod this evening.
This man in Novy Oskol says the windscreen of his car was shattered by shrapnel.
I don't often show clips of #Russia's daily update, but this is worth it.
You may recall how they've so far destroyed twice as many #HIMARS as #Ukraine ever had. 150% of Ukraine's air force, but now one better. They've destroyed US Bradley vehicles before they arrive😄🤡
Hope it's published online soon, but if you're in the UK, worth a watch on Sky News.
There are reports of a #Ukraine fightback in #Soledar, possibly retaking the train station (not in centre of the town)
It could be fake, but watching Alex Rossi's report I was amazed to see drones still able to operate with so many Russian forces and jammers, so it is possible.
Thanks @miltownroad who found the excellent Sky News report from #Soledar on YouTube
#USA says it "supports the decision of allies to provide tanks to #Ukraine" but that may not mean #Germany will release the Leopards.
US Air Force Brigadier General Patrick Ryder made the statement during a Pentagon briefing.
Germany had said it won't send tanks until USA does.
Oh, just seen that another building was hit with something quite big in #Makiivka today.
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.