Day 362 of #Russia's illegal war in #Ukraine, so almost a year.
But many of the problems the free world face now is because of inaction almost a decade ago.
A bigger anniversary is today it's exactly 9 years since #Russia invaded #Crimea. Putin even gave medals showing the date
And, before we go any further, here's the link to Sunday's thread, in case you need to catch up:
More of the same on the battlefield.
Relatively minor equipment losses for #Russia, but its people are expendable. Moscow and its leaders simply do not care about soldiers, they are just cattle to work in the fields until death. 820 martyrs to Putin yesterday.
Adding to the previous tweet, speculation @POTUS could make the long journey to #Kyiv.
#Ukraine's Dep FM Melnyk saying
"A surprise is being prepared. It's important that on the anniversary we see not only support in words, but also the presence of important partners in Kyiv."
An important, landmark week then.
Here are some dates
Tuesday: Putin national speech
Tue/Wed? Zelenskyy in Poland, likely to meet Biden
Thur 18.30 GMT: @Independent live panel discussion, featuring me!
also "Defender of Fatherland" (men's) day in #Russia
Fri: Anniversary of war
1/2 Also in #Ukraine today they mark the Revolution of Dignity (#Maidan). Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred. People of different ages and professions but with the same values and hopes.
Here, and next tweet, are more of my photos from the bloodiest day of the Revolution, 20/02/14,
2/2 The previous photos showed the awful situation as volunteers had to turn a kiosk into a makeshift hospital.
Here, an old couple who'd driven from outside of #Kyiv with carrier bags of donations, aid arriving at St Michael's, protesters taking a break and the #Maidan stage
So Joe Biden HAS arrived in #Kyiv after all. I take my hat off to him and security personnel.
This morning many streets in #Ukraine's capital were sealed off around the US embassy in particular. @POTUS' schedule is not known.
More grainy footage of Joe Biden in central #Kyiv, visiting the memorial wall which honours #Ukraine's fallen soldiers in the country's defence against #Russia's attempt to end the country's freedom.
"I felt it was important the President of the US to be here the day the attack began. I was warning the world that (Putin) would attack... This is my 8th trip, much has changed"
On #Ukraine's "Revolution of Dignity" day, #USA's @POTUS laid a wreath at the memorial war.
Here are remembered all the victims of #Russia's aggression and imperialism since fomenting trouble in #Ukraine and invading #Crimea 9 years ago today.
Here's the full White House statement released after Joe Biden made it safely to #Kyiv this morning.
According to @AFP, #Japan will offer #Ukraine $5.5 billion financial aid.
🇯🇵Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made the pledge days before the first anniversary of #Russia's invasion. He's now the only G7 leader not to visit #Kyiv.
Joe Biden spoke at #Ukraine's parliament, the Rada, and then immediately left #Kyiv - reported by various US media.
It's assumed the President is heading back to #Poland but obviously everything is shrouded in secrecy.
Just to be clear on this. #Putin admitted invading #Ukraine on 20 Feb 2014. This was while Yanukovich was still President on Ukraine.
Putin didn't plan this op in a few hours.
His 2014 invasion was planned long before 20/2/14
It will be reported that there were no casualties. The cause of the incident is being investigated.
No mention of Joe Biden and which route he is on.
President Biden left a message in the Mariinsky Palace guest book after his visit.
“It is a great honor for me to be welcomed again in #Kyiv, to stand in solidarity and friendship with the freedom-loving people of #Ukraine...
Slava Ukraini"
Investigators have searched #Kyiv's local government building amid allegations of bribery.
Some workers have been removed from their posts after being informed of suspicion. But some suspect it could be an effort to undermine Mayor Klitschko's office after growing criticism.
After the war crimes, the torture, the murders and nightmares. The devastated town on the outskirts of #Kyiv finally had light this evening as the street lights were switched on for the first time since the first days of the war.
📷TG kyiv_polit
#Wagner mercenary group claims to have taken control of the village of #Yahidne.
It's a settlement on the north-west fringe of #Bakhmut. It's another pyrrhic victory even if confirmed, with #Ukraine likely to have fallen back.
Whoever said 7 days is a long time in politics was dead right.
An about turn from tough guy & threats to TACO queen & Putin's poodle. And the next 7 days is now set to bring another cosy meet between a felon and an indicted war criminal.
It's Day 1263 of THE Ukraine thread:
A later start to Saturday's thread because of a crazily late finish to the last🧵
Fewer than 20,000 views for the first time in weeks on such an important day🤨🤔
So much effort and so little impact some days 😢
If you're one of many to miss it, click⬇️
Day 1261 - the White House thinks the war in Ukraine is coming to an end.
Especially as the Kremlin has this morning announced Putin and Trump will meet in the coming days.
But is the war criminal just duping the US Pres again and buying more time?
Follow me & today's thread:
Much of Wednesday was taken up with the politics surrounding US envoy Wirkoff's latest chummy chat with Putin.
But then it turned dark, literally as the sun went down, but Ukraine looks to have had the better of the drone exchanges.
Catch up here:
1/2 The big story since the last couple of hours of y'day's thread has been Ukraine's multiple successes in breaching Russia's air defence at military targets.
The Kremlin says it destroyed 93 drones, 60 over the Black Sea. There's no mention of how many they missed!
Exhibit A:
Even the most ardent peaceniks are realising one side doesn't want to stop fighting. At least until, as a state new agency said recently, all Ukrainians are killed.
Each + every day you'll find all the news here in one handy🧵
Let's go!
If you missed anything of yesterday's developments, well not as much to catch up on.
Click the link to review, things only really started going late at night..
Trying to compile threads on a train, using mobile only so far, is a nightmare. My first typo was rather important. It's Day 1256, so the observant don't need to message me 😊
Family day out today, going to see "Evita"
But always a thread and as up to date as I can be.
"White rabbits" is what I have to say to you this morning.
An old British custom is to say 'rabbits' or 'white rabbits' (often 3 times) at the start of a new month to ensure good luck for the month ahead
August is the 43rd month of Russia's war.
Today is Day 1255. Here's the🧵
Yesterday was a depressing day.
Not just Russia's horrific attacks on Kyiv, but the general lack of response and condemnation. The world just shrugs its shoulders.
2 weeks ago I said things could move quickly on air defence. One system had reportedly already been delivered to Ukraine
Remember Switzerland's order was bumped down to give priority to🇺🇦?
Now Germany says 2 more Patriots will be sent by October, starting with launchers in days
Putin's response was to bomb the cr*p out of Ukraine's capital again overnight.
It's decency against inhumanity. Which side are you on?
Welcome to THE daily thread.
Wednesday was a fairly quiet day, punctuated by the odd Russian missile attack, before another enormous attack centre on Kyiv.. and it's still going on.
But Ukraine hit back in Russia.
Missed anything? Click and scroll, but please come back!