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.
This is the start of THE daily thread covering all things Ukraine.
Reliable, accurate information for 1124 days as Russia and its willing accomplices (Iran, North Korea and MAGA-land) try to destroy Ukraine, its culture and its democracy to make it a vassal state.
Here's the🧵
Yesterday started with shocking lies and propaganda from the White House and ended with another massive attack by Russia, knowing tRUmp and co don't mind at all.
Find all the details by clicking and scrolling here⬇️
The war Russia inflicted on Ukraine enters Day 1120
Ukraine, a country which never invaded another, never killed anyone abroad; a fully democratic nation where only one President has ever won a second term in office.
Here's THE daily thread for Wednesday, with all the news.
Yesterday was all about the ritual humiliation of tRUmp, dished out by Putin, and the US president's brain being too rusty to realise.
I also indulged in a long sub-thread on my fears about what's happening in Washington DC.
Catch up here:
It's official. tRUmp's supposed skill at making a deal is absolutely RANK
Russia
Afghanistan
NK (North Korea)
#TraitorTrump promised a deal with his mate in NK, got nothing.
He handed the Taliban everything, got nothing.
Now, ending the war in 24 hours turned into humiliation
Putin, the aggressor, the war criminal, presiding over countless heinous crimes, executions, kidnapping of children, is about to be given a pass by Donald J Trump.
The despot and the wannabe talk today.
This is THE daily thread
Yesterday saw an explosive end to a day which started with mystery surrounding a Ukraine hit in Russia, and moved through the thread with some harrowing and shocking tales and scenes from Kherson.
Welcome to my daily thread, covering all things #Ukraine every single day since even before the first day of Russia's full invasion.
This is Day 1110 of Putin's long promised land grab - he's also pledged to reunite the rest of the USSR.
More atrocities overnight, let's begin:
For those loving people who urge me to get more sleep, you will be pleased to know there was no alarm this morning; I am refreshed and ready to tackle JD TRussia again.
A busy Friday ended with news of the awful attack in free Donetsk, catch up here:
Today sees the completion of 3 years of full scale war unleashed by #Russia on #Ukraine.
As signs point to an end to this war relatively soon, the ONLY question which should be asked is: are you happy to reward war-criminal terrorists with land?
Here's THE daily thread:
It's Day 1096 of #Russia 's war.
If you missed anything yesterday, catch up on Saturday's news here:
1/2 The #UK is in full focus today.
As @Keir_Starmer prepares to fly to Washington, new sanctions will be unveiled tomorrow.
Foreign Sec @DavidLammy says it will be "the largest package of sanctions against #Russia since the early days of the war eroding its military machine."
Day 1083 of the war in Europe and the 1083rd of my daily threads.
Three years ago we knew #Ukraine wouldn't go down without a fight. Now, for the first time in over a year there's genuine reason for #Russia to be worried about the outcome.
Plenty to learn and from in Sunday's thread.
In #Russia, ships crashing and exploding, faking capture of a key town in #Ukraine and late at night drones attacking again.
On the other hand, Moscow attacks civilians. Take a look at what you missed: