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.
A very warm welcome and thank you for joining me on Day 1239 of Russia's war of choice, Putin's choice to attempt to remove Ukraine from the map and commit genocide on its people.
Every single day I put all the important news in one handy thread. Here is Wednesday's feed:
Yesterday was Ukraine's Day of Statehood.
Kyiv celebrated with successful attacks on military targets in Russia.
But the night saw more huge drone swarm attacks on a number of Ukrainian cities.
Catch up on anything you missed, here:
A series of cities in Ukraine clearing up this morning after night attacks.
Kharkiv, Kramatorsk, Krivyi Rih, Odesa and Vinnytsia were all hit. So far no authorities have reported any deaths overnight, but there are many injuries.
1/3 So Trump has, crucially, for the first time, allowed US weapons to go to Ukraine, so it is a step forward. And while no specifics, let's hope the best long-range weapons are to be given.
But no confirmation about the U.S. using Russia's frozen assets in favour of Ukraine.
So why a special day?
@generalkellogg has arrived in Kyiv to convey expected good news.
The sanctions guys - @LindseyGrahamSC + @SenBlumenthal meet with @SecGenNATO + Trump later, with the US President virtually confirming sanctions and releasing Patriot air defence systems:
It may be Sunday, but no rest!
I'm back again, for Day 1236 of Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine.
All the news, fact-checked, all the time.
Everything is free, no substack or premium, but if you appreciate my work, you can show it here🙏💙💛 ko-fi.com/twmcltd
So Russia is currently 1233 days behind schedule in its expectation to control Kyiv.
I've documented it here every day. Saturday had some more blatant Russian war crimes, starting with more death and destruction.
If you were away from screens, catch up⬇️
Starting with breaking news as Ukraine has announced it has killed the assassins of an Intel officer gunned down in broad daylight in Kyiv a few days ago.
Intel boss Vasyl Malyuk says a special Russian FSB/combat group murdered Col Ivan Voronych.
Hello again and welcome to the weekend and another daily thread. All the important Ukraine news, fact-checked, every single day (never missed one yet).
It's Day 1235 and signs that Russia is becoming increasingly desperate. Let's begin:
Don't know about you, but I was up most of the night documenting another huge Russian attack.
If you missed it, you can catch up on that, as well as the rest of Friday's news by clicking here for the start of yesterday's thread:
23 missiles + almost 600 drones flew from Russia overnight, trying to destroy Ukraine's infrastructure, culture & people.
Air defence did well, shooting down 25 of 26 Kh-101 cruise missiles.
Of 597 attack UAVs, 319 were shot down, another 258 stopped via EW, or decoy drones.
Day 1233 of a war that's the biggest threat to the future stability of the lives of every person reading this.
The root cause is extremist, imperialist and anti-democratic forces being allowed to wage war unchecked. Ukraine in the firing line today, but who's next? Here's the🧵
Another very difficult night for Ukraine, especially Kyiv, with more deaths now confirmed in the capital.
It was a second successive very long and loud night for many. To bring yourself up to date on all yesterday's news, click the link:
First breaking news this morning from Kyiv, where a man has been shot dead in the Holosiivskyi district of the capital.
It's now been confirmed that the victim is a colonel of the Security Service of Ukraine.
The gunman used fired from a gun with a silencer and fled in a SUV.