Thread by @TWMCLtd

Welcome to daily thread number 363 covering #Russia's illegal war on #Ukraine.

All the news you need, plus analysis, in one handy thread, updated throughout the day.

Quite a busy day yesterday. Here's the link for Monday's 🧵

https://twitter.com/TWMCLtd/status/1627589834284859392

Over 30 countries have now signed a demand for the IOC to reconsider admitting athletes from #Russia and #Belarus to the Olympic Games.

The UK, US and most of #Ukraine's allies are among the signatories.

Another 760 Russians died on the battlefield in the last 24 hours according to #Ukraine's daily figures. The daily mean for February remains insanely high.

Meanwhile above average numbers of tanks destroyed too: 10

#StandWithUkraine #RussiansGoHome

I have some issues with the daily Intelligence briefing from the British MoD.

Have they forgotten #Mariupol'?
#Russia just demolishing apartment blocks which turned to graves? Bodies burned?
The OHCHR figure comes closer, but still a big underestimate in my opinion,
#StopRussia

So #Putin tries to take the limelight today with his "speech to the nation", but how much will be aimed at the international audience?

Bizarrely there's been an ad camapaign urging people to watch, while "Russia has no borders" seems to be a topic:

https://twitter.com/mbk_center/status/1627746144401952795

Some disappointment to learn #Germany's arms manufacturer Rheinmetall only expects the first batch of ammunition for Gepard anti-aircraft systems will be delivered to #Ukraine by July.

However, 20 Marder combat vehicles should be in use within a month.

#StandWithUkraine

Last night #Russia was mystified why its missile launch spectactularly failed this morning with all the rockets exploding almost as soon as airborne

Now the invaders claim #Ukraine has moved a Patriot air defence system to the border in #Kharkiv region

#SaveUkraine #StopRussia

Is it just me, or is #Putin showing signs of desperation?
"They started the war" says the leader of the Terrorist State, and then urges Russians to start small businesses while saying sanctions only hurt the west.
Putin's right hand continues to grip the lectern 95% of the time.

I've seen a couple of officials already with eyes closed in the audience, but "sleepy Dima" Medvedev still seems to be awake, against all odds. At least so far. 😂😂😴

#Putin now pleading with those who've fled abroad to come back home.
The Russian President says they may be treated like second class citizens abroad. "It's your right (to stay there), but there is another way, to return and support the Motherland"

Swap freedom for meatgrinder!

Bunker Boy moves on to trying to raise nationalism and endear himself with the people. Basically "we Russians are such nice people... we helped Italy during Covid(???)..."
Followed by thanking the army.

#Putin "#Russia is impossible to defeat on the battlefield."

He's forgotten about the battles of #Kyiv, #Chernihiv, #Kharkiv, #Kherson? Also Afghanistan before that?

Now he's pleading with kids to become scientists, offering more incentives. Preparation for total Pariah State.

#Putin moves on to the usual nuclear scare stories.

Yet this time he says it's Britain and France which threaten the world with using nuclear missiles. "We know their nuclear weapons are old and they are looking to test them. We know this."

#RussiaIsATerroristState

#Putin is finally finishing. With a very old and worn disinfo line, pretending all Slavic lands belong to them.

"Russia will respond to any challenges, because we are one big united people. Truth is with us"

Goodness, that was tough to wade through. Even more boring than usual.

No real headlines. No hint at more mobilisation. Just a couple of hours I won't get back, hope it saved you having to sit through the despot's nonsense!

While Putin, the leader of the Terrorist State was droning on about peace and blaming the west, his army was shelling civilians in #Kherson.

A bus stop was deliberately targeted and civilian apartment blocks. Many injured.

WARNING Graphic photo
#RussiaIsATerroristState

The (fairly) new Prime Minister of #Italy, Giorgia Meloni arrived in #Kyiv. It's her first visit to #Ukraine since winning the elections and despite fears in some quarters, Meloni has been a fierce defender of Ukraine.

#StandWithUkraine

At least 6 people died in the attack on civilians in #Kherson city, which I reported on earlier.

Another 12 were injured when #Russia fired on a bus stop and residential buildings.

#RussiaIsATerroristState #SaveUkraine

https://twitter.com/TWMCLtd/status/1627988252383748098

This video from the scene of the attack #Kherson shows people at the bus stop had no chance. Behind the ripped apart shelter is a pharmacy, also very badly damaged.

#RussiaIsATerroristState #SaveUkraine

"MK" thank you for buying me a coffee. Very much appreciated, long and tough days and more ahead 💙💛

If you want to support my work, please see the link in my profile. All donations thanked in this thread unless anonymity requested.

DMs open for tip offs about stories.

#Wagner owner Prigozhin is losing grip on reality as his power fades.

Trying to stay relevant he claims his illegal mercenaries killed 110,000 #Ukraine soldiers

Ukraine has well protected defensive lines. Wagner are attacking, often uphill, so likely they have 3x the casualties

Top Israeli politicians call on #Israel to give #Ukraine anti-drone and anti-missile systems.

It comes after they met @ZelenskyyUa in #Kyiv and the day after influential Jerusalem Post editorial calling for Israel to end neutrality and defend Ukraine:

jpost.com/israel-news/ar…

A US citizen has just been sentenced to 8 years in jail by a #Moscow court.

The man was supposedly detained with a gun in the Sheremetyevo airport transit zone.

No further details yet.

#Bangladesh has banned ships from #Russia from entering its ports.

Moscow has summoned the Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Russian Foreign Ministry to explain the decision.

#StopRussia

* Warning *
Another graphic video from #Kherson where 6 people were slain and another dozen injured as #Russia targeted civilians during Putin's speech.

#RussiaIsATerroristState

In some universities in #Russia students were denied lectures and forced to watch the Tsar.
This in Ural.

#RussiaIsATerroristState

#Ukraine's courts have banned The Party of Regions.

The political party of ex-President Yanukovich was regularly 3rd biggest in elections, and supported by Ukraine's richest man Rinat Akhmetov.

Now it must transfer property, funds and other assets to the state.
Freedom?

Let me clarify, I intensely disliked the Party of Regions and all it stood for. But banning parties with which you disagree is not a good look.

For sure ban individuals who support #Russia, give them a deadline to sever all ties, but banning plays into the hands of propagandists

I was wrong.
@rcssmedasmith assured me he saw Sleepy Dima nodding off.

And I have indeed found the screenshot of Medvedev unable to keep his eyes open as the Tsar rambled on!

Joe Biden about to give landmark speech in #Poland's capital in front of a huge crowd of well-wishers.

#StandWithUkraine️

I liked Biden's speech. @POTUS was energetic, forceful, confident and spoke to all: the Polish public, other NATO and EU allies, Ukraine, the Russian people (though they won't have heard it) and any dissenting politicians back home in the States.

The @WSJ reports #China's President Xi wants to go to #Moscow.

Beijing wants to play a more active role in ending the war. WSJ says "people familiar with Xi's travel plans" say meeting Putin in Moscow will be part of a push for multilateral peace talks."

#StopRussia

No media I've been monitoring have mentioned @POTUS namechecking Moldova President Maia Sandu, as neither EU nor NATO I thought it was a nice touch.

This evening #Moldova's PM says #Russia plans to seize Chisinau airport for the transfer of troops.

Officials in #Kherson have confirmed only 5 people died in #Russia's bombing of civilian areas today.

Another 16 were injured, including a teenage boy who suffered shrapnel wounds.

In another incident a rocket hit a balcony and caused a fire in an apartment. A woman died.

#Ukraine has commented on #Putin's decision to withdraw from the New START nuclear treaty.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Oleh Nikolenko said it was provocative. "#Russia continues the deliberate destruction of the existing architecture of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation."

"Several explosions" reported in occupied #Mariupol'

Online, people confirm several things have been seen flying over the city. It's not yet known if #Russia's air defence has taken out what may be #Ukraine drones.

#StopRussia #RussiansGoHome

#Russia claims it shot down 10 #HIMARS fired from #Zaporizhzhia. Sounds a little Pinocchio-like to me.

https://twitter.com/TWMCLtd/status/1628149371337334789

Since the curfew started, several occupied towns have seemingly been attacked almost simultaneously.

This is #Makiivka, the twin city of #Donetsk, just to the east of the city.

#RussiansGoHome

#Donetsk itself hasn't escaped either.
This was filmed less than an hour ago.

#StandWithUkraine #StopRussia

Also in #Donetsk a fire by the Lidiievka mine in the western Kirovsky district.

The video is thought to show the gas pipeline on Dmitry Donskoy Street after being struck.

#StandWithUkraine

Michael G bought me a couple of coffees via Ko-Fi (link in profile).

Thanks Michael, really appreciated as are the kind words. I'll be thanking you in the morning when I kick start my morning!

💙💛

#Poland is refusing to allow any trucks to cross its border with #Belarus, either direction.

#StandWithUkraine

Yet again, incendiary munitions fired on #Kherson tonight.

Thermite is used by #Russia in populated areas.

#RussiansGoHome #KhersonIsUkraine

No real change in #Bakhmut today, at least that I've heard about. #BakhmutHolds.

But fighting is ongoing in the streets, with every house and building being fought over.

#StopRussia #FortressBakhmut

#RussiaOnFire
Another big blaze in #Moscow, and it's killed 6 people including two children.

Fire broke out at the MKM Hotel in the centre of #Russia's capital city.

Investigators say there were safety flaws and opened criminal cases.

Oops! Racing to the scene of the fire, Yuri Tkachenko, Acting Head of #Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations, was involved in a serious road accident.

He and his driver are hospitalised.
#RussiaOnFire

https://twitter.com/TWMCLtd/status/1628160181635874816