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.
Sunday 19 January is Day 1061 of #Russia's all-out war in #Ukraine. We are also just 2 weeks away from the 4,000th day since #Moscow's initial invasion with the start of its illegal takeover of #Crimea
Welcome to another daily thread with all the news you need in one place 💙💛
Thankfully a quieter start to Sunday than yesterday, which means I get a later start today.
Saturday was all about #Russia's double ballistic attack which brought death to 2 #Ukraine cities.
Catch up on that and all yesterday's stories here⬇️
Hello on Day 1054 of #Russia's terrorist campaign in #Ukraine.
I've been working for a while today, tidying up loose ends, but a late start to the daily thread - the only feed you need for all the important news and analysis.
So a lot to catch up on, let's go again!
Normally I pin the first post of the thread on my profile page, but for another 24 hours the pinned item is about the auction for a truly unique item - please check it out
So, it's even more important I post a link back to yesterday's thread. Here we are
Christmas Day 2024. Day 1036 of the war inflicted on #Ukraine. The third Christmas for Ukrainian people to suffer. Empty chairs at the dinner table, that will never be filled again. Others at the frontline fighting for their lives and the life of the country.
It's the daily🧵
So Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah to those celebrating.
A special shout out too, to those working this special day. Also working today, emergency workers in #Ukraine after another massive missile attack
Day 1001 of #Russia's all out war in #Ukraine.
The genocide & attempt to wipe its neighbour from the map continues, but #Putin's increasingly desperate.
Welcome to another daily🧵
Breaking news already early this Wednesday morning.
All the news, all day (and night) every day.
Tuesday 19 November was always going to be special. Day 1,000 and what a day it proved.
Record likes and retweets, thanks to everyone who revived my faith in the T witter audience🫂
1/2 First the breaking news - and a third attack of the night inside #Russia.
At the end of yesterday's thread you may have read of the drone attacks on #Voronezh and #Belgorod regions. Well now it's become clear that #Novgorod has also been attacked by #Ukraine's UAVs..
Here's the link back to all Monday's news.
More heinous attacks. On its day of mourning, #Sumy was hit again just as the day ended, and #Odesa lost another ten residents.
Let me start today's news in #Sumy, because sadly the number of killed + injured after #Russia's strike have both increased.
An 11th person died during the night while 89 people required medical treatment. Medics, rescuers, psychologists and volunteers worked through the night.