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.
Day 1201 of Europe's war.
But the pre-conflict hybrid war has already been waging worldwide for years. Hacking, election interference, sabotage - we're all targeted by Russia, even if we don't all realise it yet.
Ukraine can stop the war criminal with our help.
Welcome to the🧵
Maybe Sunday will bless Ukraine with a quiet day?
Saturday was another full-on journalistic stint, catching sleep when I could.
Kharkiv shattered overnight then a daytime attack on a kids' railway.
Operation Web 2.0 & a factory hit in Russia.
It's all ⬇️
1/2 Early this morning, just before the end of the previous thread I showed the Azot chemical plant in Tula region on fire.
Not long afterwards, Ukraine hit another facility, this time in Russia-controlled 🇺🇦
This is the Hydromash factory in Melitopol' in occupied Zaporizhzhia.
Day 1194 of Putin's war, though let's remember the initial invasion came 11 years ago.
Since February 2014, not once have western sanctions or military support come close to being enough to restore justice and defeat evil.
Welcome to THE daily 🇺🇦 thread for Sunday 1 June
A new day, a new season. Summer officially started, but nothing is likely to change just yet.
Y'day's thread had some great stories, but everything paled into insignificance when justy before midnight came news of a disaster in Russia's Bryansk region:
Another night of no sleep yet - dramatic action in Moscow.
Time to start another daily thread covering everything to do with Putin's disastrous 'operation' in Ukraine.
It's 5am in Russia and Ukraine, on Day 1190 of the war.
Let's begin...
I've still NEVER missed even one day since the start of Russia's full invasion.
But yesterday's thread ended up being one of the most lively. Another near 50-post story of the day, and if you like seeing "bavovna" in Russia, go right through to the end!
Good morning on Day 1176 of the war in Europe.
In my opinion, Ukraine should have won this war in 2022/23.
Effective leadership is based on good, decisive decisions. Sadly, the allies have never been decisive, preferring dithering and half measures.
Welcome to my daily thread:
What I mean by dithering is endless internal political battles in most countries to give adequate weapons. Scholz (Taurus), Biden (everything) the most obvious examples, though Joe was hampered by Congress and is way better than now
But it's always enough to survive, not to win
If you missed anything from yesterday, catch up with this link to the start of yesterday's thread. Scroll down to where you got to and complete your knowledge!