1/3 #Soledar - what is going on? The most frequent question right now.
I've been studying all reports I can find and spoken to people I know.
#Ukraine claimed a fightback re-taking the railway station and a mine. Much as I want to believe it, I cannot find any evidence of that.
2/3 @CNN claims to regularly speak to one of #Ukraine's soldiers in #Soledar. The latest communication looks incredibly bleak and makes for tough reading.
Officially Ukraine says they still hold Soledar, but it's looking increasingly unlikely. Hopefully the troops can get out.
3/3
I've been surprised there were so few gloating pics or videos from #Russia's Wagner mob in #Soledar.
But there have been some, geolocated by 🇺🇦channel DeepState. Its map shows they are in the centre.
There's likely #Ukraine fire from the rear, possibly inc tochka missiles
#Soledar
Another potential blow tonight too, but this is totally unverified.
Wagner claims its troops in 🇺🇦colours managed to walk into the 17th Tank Brigade's base and opened fire on officers and soldiers.
However, there has been so much malicious disinfo, don't believe it yet
Meanwhile an example of #Russia starting to tear itself apart?
Russia's Defence Min said we also had troops there.
Tonight Wagner produces a video with guys saying they're in those Russian units admitting they were not involved in battle of Soledar
Over 200 #Ukraine soldiers arrived in #Spain for training.
They were warmly greeted by Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles.
"It is a great honour for me to welcome.. Spain feels very close to the entire Ukrainian people since February 24,"
Rumours this morning that USA shared a secret report among NATO partners which claims a second wave of mobilisation in Russia will start at the end of February.
#Russia's Defence Ministry plans to forcibly call-up 400k-500k, believing this is enough to defeat #Ukraine.
Relatives told to keep quiet, social media posts deleted, anger simmering among relatives as funerals continue in #Russia's Samara region after the strike on #Makiivka almost two weeks ago.
Not content with using prisoners as cannon fodder, the ones who don't "volunteer" will likely be forced in to slave labour anyway, according to today's UK intelligence update.
Deputy Defence Minister of #Ukraine says the army is "defending bravely" in #Soledar
In her morning statement, Hanna Malyar repeated that the "enemy threw almost all the main forces into #Donetsk. This is a difficult stage of the war, but we will win. There is no doubt about it"
Locals in occupied parts of #Kherson and #Zaporizhzhia report being detained because their phones have the #Ukraine state app "Diya"
It's a multi purpose app which also includes digital version of the passport. The Russians don't seem to comprehend documents can be digital!
Tony - thanks for your inspiring words!
One of my biggest supporters he's just tipped me again and coffees are coming my way this morning!
Cheers💙💛
In #Belgorod a T-72 tank was being repaired. For #Ukraine it was a great repair. Probably someone started smoking? Ammo inside the tank detonated.
-1 tank. 2 others tanks damaged but survive
#Russia's again deliberately hit civilian targets in #Kherson city.
This time the Terrorist State hit a bus park. 16 public transport vehicles were damaged. One guard was injured.
Shell fragments also damaged the power grid - engineers are now trying to restore electricity.
Early in today's thread I reported Russian war channels openly saying Wagner mercenaries use #Ukraine colours, even uniforms to trick defenders.
The Centre of National Resistance confirms this also saying #Russia plans operations under foreign flags to discredit Ukraine/NATO.
More falling out among the Russians.
One of the official #Wagner mercenary channels, supposedly Prigozhin's own, publishes a statement (translation⬇️) from one of its leaders, strongly criticising the so-called #Donetsk republic leadership.
Despite #Putin's anger at #Russia not being able to manufacture aircraft quickly enough, if at all. Despite shortages of many items in the shops, not least medicines, #Hungary's PM claims "the sanctions failed, they miscalculated" referring to Germany and the EU.
Another small advancement of society in #Ukraine:
Surkis and Shufrych have been expelled from the country's National Olympic Committee.
There was a scandal in November which had forced the pair to initially resign.
Fairly sure a few NATO members will not be too pleased at this headline or the words within.
But I almost agree with @oleksiireznikov, though of course one hopes NATO would be quicker to react when Estonia or Poland is invaded if Russia is not stopped
Putin today made a rare trip out of the bunker, for a funeral of a regional leader.
Looks like the Mayor of #Ufa was told to announce this "assassination attempt"
This will make the public have sympathy for the great leader and they'll understand when he stays Tsar of the bunker
The Guardian's Defence Editor writes that #Ukraine expects pledges of tanks from both the #UK and Germany next week.
The British announcement is expected on Monday, heaping pressure on #Germany to release the Leopards.
In #Berdyansk a car burns in what appears to be an attack by #Ukraine partisans in the Morozov area of the city.
But #Russia's occupiers say the target, the imposed 'Head' of the city Aleksey Kichigin, survived.
He "noticed a suspicious object" under his car - 1kg of explosives
The squabbling lovers look to have patched things up today...
#Russia's Defence Ministry posted a statement acknowledging #Wagner group's role in the attack on #Soledar.
Operations were carried out by a “mixed group of Russian troops" but Wagner led the “direct assault.”
1/2 I've been toying for hours whether to highlight Ryan's account & grievances with some of #Ukraine's leadership.
What is written is damaging for Ukraine, but either way it needs @oleksiireznikov to investigate urgently and take action or say it's fake
1/2 #Ukraine is still hurting #Russia in #Soledar even if they're likely outside the city. I've trimmed this video to fit on Twitter. Drone operators track newly arriving recruits to their digs, and then blast it away.
So how is an army "in control" still getting hit so easily?
2/2
I've been told that the terrain is tough and #Russia's Wagner group has almost not bothered advancing artillery, just sending the convicts to fight to the death, hence the massive death toll and no protection for their advance troops.
Everything I've seen confirms this.
The most powerful tweet of the day. We can always learn from history.
Sadly, sometimes out leaders take too long to work it out.
Wednesday. Day 1302 of the illegal war started by Russia.
For all the fact-checked news about Ukraine, analysis not sugar-coated, and honest appraisals of the situation, trust an expert who isn't here for clicks (if I was I'd post lies & gory videos).
Thanks for being #TeamTim
Yesterday an astonishing report from Yale showing Russia forcing kidnapped kids to work in drone factories, how Croatia may have embarrassed the Putin/ Hungary/Slovakia axis.
Those and many more stories in Tuesday's thread, click here to review:
Day 1301 of Ukraine fighting for its survival. The right to be free, speak their own language, worship in their own churches, to learn their own history.
A history of long suppression by Russia.
As war crimes grow daily, the words "never again" don't seem to apply.
Here's the🧵
Yesterday began, and ended, with Russia attacking Zaporizhzhia, injuring civilians.
Also, the head of the IAEA disgraced himself in Russia's arms, changes of 🇺🇦army leadership, and how a Russian guy was a Putin opponent, until 3 mins after being elected.
Day 1300 of Putin's war.
Another 100 days of fighting completed.
We are no nearer peace than we were 100 days ago.
Almost 200 days ago Trump demanded a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.
Not surprising as he started it, it's always Putin stopping peace.
Here's Monday's daily🧵
If you were busy over the weekend, click the link to see all Sunday's stories.
It was a day when Ukraine had to quickly repair a main railway line after a massive explosion, but they also managed to make multiple hits on Russia's rail and oil industries
Hello on Day 1298 of Russia's full invasion of its sovereign neighbour. So, only 1295 days late in fulfilling the boast of taking Kyiv in 3 days. #EATP for Putin.
I've compiled a🧵every single day without fail.
You can help my work with a boost, comment, re-post or a coffee🙏
Friday saw more important visitors arrive in Kyiv (and another familiar place is in Ukraine today).
There was more solidarity and practical support, while Russia suffered more oil woes.
I'll start in Odesa, because that's where the familiar face has turned up.
He was planning to return to Ukraine a couple of weeks ago, but couldn't make it, but now Boris is back.
Loved by nearly all Ukrainians, his early arrival (with Lord Ashcroft) meant he avoids the crowds.
Day 1297 of Russia's imperialist war, but the senior bully keeps being given a bloody nose by the junior school kid next door. How embarrassing for the "world's second greatest army" and more 'punches' thrown by Ukraine overnight..
There was so much in yesterday's thread.
Russia hitting churches, Ukraine striking a boat.
The US helping Belarus, which helps🇷🇺 & Trump questioning if the drone attack on Poland was a mistake.
Thursday ended with a Ukraine drone surge into Russia: