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.
Welcome to Sunday morning.
I'm starting early for the daily thread on Day 760 of #Russia's full invasion of its peaceful and sovereign neighbour #Ukraine.
There is a big danger of another missile attack from Russian aircraft. Follow for all the news all day (and night!)
It proved another marathon thread (almost 70 posts) on Saturday with the consequences of the #Kransogorsk terrorist attack dominating the agenda.
Playing catch-up? Click and scroll from the start, right here:
Across #Ukraine, millions are on tenterhooks. Anyone asleep will soon be woken by air alarms, with monitors sensing launches of cruise missiles from #Russian planes.
Meanwhile attack drones are also causing problems. Explosions recently in #Lviv but these seem to be air defence
It's a bleak start to another daily thread.
Friday 22 March, Day 758 of #Rusia's full invasion, begins with an enormous attack on the power sector of the country it illegally invaded.
Large parts of #Ukraine have no power.
#USADelaysUkrainePays
This is the start of the daily🧵
24 hours ago, the day began with missile strikes on #Kyiv, attempting to hit #Ukraine's Intelligence and other key government institutions.
If you missed anything, catch up here with a look through Thursday's thread:
Day 751 of #Russia's full invasion of #Ukraine begins.. and it's Day 4 of the second insurgency inside #Russia since the war began.
All the news throughout the day, right here.
Please support my independent journalism (link in profile) with a coffee if you can💙💛
Thursday was another bumper thread.
Russia's western border resembled a civil war zone, Macron admitted he would likely have to send troops within a year and more Russian stuff collpasing.
Catch up by clicking and scrolling through yesterday's thread⬇️
Today we reach another small milestone in the gruesome, illegal and wholly unnecessary war launched by #Russia in #Ukraine.
It's Day 750 of the 3-day "operation" to capture #Kyiv.
Welcome to Thursday's daily thread with all the news you need in one place, updated all day long💪
And here's the chance to look back at yesterday's news. Wednesday saw more oil problems for #Russia, which took revenge by beating another political opponent and hitting #Ukraine tower blocks.
Plus ca change😡
I'll start by reminding you of the daily reality for almost all those living in #Ukraine. Virtually the whole country is under another air raid and has been since just before 8.30 local time.
Yet offices, shops, schools and life continues no matter how #Russia tries to stop it.
It's THE daily thread, the original and most reliable update on anything important happening in #Ukraine or to do with #Russia's abominable war on its neighbour.
I'll try get this correct today... It is Wednesday! It's 13 March and that makes it Day 749 of the invasion.
Read on!
For newcomers a few things:
I try to fact check all info.
I report fairly but fairness means justice for #Ukraine
I use 20+ years experience of working in/with🇺🇦 + sources in my reporting.
DMs open for stories.
I try to avoid the gore + gratuitous violence.
Link in bio for tips!
And I always try to remember to post a link to the start of the previous day's thread, so no matter where you are in the world, and no matter if Xitter tries to hide me, you can always find me and scroll through what you missed: