This is the daily thread, bringing you the news, analysis and some interesting insights into what's happening on the ground. Today news of drone attacks + more..
Overnight #Russia released mulitple drones over #Ukraine, thought to be Iranian "Shaheed" attack UAVS.
Reports of explosions in #Dnipro turned out to be air defence according to local officials who say they shot down 4 drones.
In total Ukraine says 13 of 15 were taken down.
Today is a day of mourning for the victims of the Terrorist Attack on #Zaporizhzhia 4 days ago.
Emergency workers have finished clearing the rubble after the missile atttack on a block of flats.
13 people were killed including a baby and another child.
The next part of #Putin's genius plan sees 60 year old tanks and nearly 70 year old APCs sent in to action in #Ukraine, says British Intel.
The 'Antique War' by an ancient dictator, both patched up to almost look realistic.
#Russia'a celebrates being exactly one year late in its schedule to conquer #Ukraine.
Defence Min Shoigu's celebrations seem him emerge in occupied #Mariupol'
I pointed out a couple of days ago that he was nowhere near the frontline when he visited troops, suggesting Mariupol
Maybe the "Sunday effect" as #Russia's reported losses fall back a little.
But 650 dead troops is still a massive number and above the daily mean since the start of the war.
Also higher than average again, the number of artillery systems destroyed.
Yesterday evening there were some reports in #Melitopol' of explosions, although the area is often used by #Russia for training of newly mobilised troops.
However exiled Mayor, Ivan Fedorov told 🇺🇦 TV news they actually hit two Russian war-warehouses. #RussiansGoHome
This is from the elevated position near #Klishchivka which I wrote about only yesterday. #Wagner mercenaries posted a video saying they defeated the 93rd separate mechanised brigade. But it looks like an organised retreat.
#Russia says it's foiled an assassination attempt on Konstantin Malofeev by the Russian Volunteer Corp.
Sanctioned by most NATO countries, he's thought to have helped finance the starting of the war in Donetsk, including employing Girkin and Borodai, an early "Head" of the "DPR"
#BakhmutHolds, but for how much longer? #Ukraine's troops have already defied expectation.
I don't often post "battle" videos - there are so many on Twitter/elsewhere that do, but this (forgive the music) shows the 93rd OMBr in the centre trying to conduct aerial reconnaisance.
About 40km south of #Moscow, a man in military uniform threatened staff at an enlistment office with a grenade.
It happened in #Domodedovo, with the man threatening to blow-up the registration centre. This photo shows his arrest a short time later.
A nice story here.
Incidentally at 1'45" you can hear one of the crudest of all swear words. I think an editor had a good laugh leaving that in thinking no-one at AFP would realise? @AFPFactCheck
#RussiaOnFire
I found this interesting. In #Novosibirsk someone torched a building which collects humantarian aid + camouflage nets for mobilised troops.
It's reported there was a similar attempt there last week. This time a window was broken and a burning rag was thrown through
1/2 As rumours rage in the media about differences of opinion between Zelenskyy + Zaluzhny (Head of #Ukraine's Forces) over how/when to retreat from #Bakhmut, the Wagner group releases a video they say shows "artillery pouring" on retreating 🇺🇦 forces on a well-targeted road
2/2 Important to say this video is unverified, no time stamp.
But it does indicate the problem #Ukraine has retreating across a plain if #Russia has the higher ground.
Exactly a year ago today. One of the most striking photographs of the war. #Irpin, #Kyiv oblast.
This is a Ukrainian soldier. He's just been captured by #Russia. He has a last puff on his cigarette, expecting to be taken as a PoW. Instead he was repeatedly shot in the head. This is a still from an horrific video. #Ukraine promises to get justice for this war crime.
Significant political movements in #Ukraine today where the former head of Intelligence, Ivan Bakanov is the subject of criminal action over how many Russian assets there were in now occupied lands.
Meanwhile SBU Deputy Oleksandr Yakushev has been fired along with regional heads
Also news this evening that the Deputy Head of #Odesa region has been arrested.
Igor Tkachuk has only been in the role four months.
It's not yet known what he's accused of.
Earlier, utterly predictably, #Belarus sentenced its real President to 15 years in jail. @Tsihanouskaya was being tried 'in absentia', basically she's accused of winning the rigged election.
At least Putin was genuinely elected. Lukashenko's just a🤡
A large shopping complex near #Bryansk went up in flames this evening.
Bryansk is in the news a lot recently!
The fire is in the village of Novye Darkovichi. There is an hotel, shops, a car repair service and a tyre shop in the complex.
#Russia's state media reporting tonight that they have cut off #Avdiivka.
They claim the "Korsa" unit has left some of the #Ukraine troops inside the town in Donetsk, without the ability to get new supplies.
There is no proof offered and no verification of the claims.
More loud sounds in occupied #Donetsk. The sound at least of one of the possible explosions was recorded in this video in the central Petrovskyi district of the city.
Nearly midnight, another thread soon.
There is only one way to end today.
His name will be known soon (it is not Magnit)
Glory to the Hero.
Slain in cold blood by war criminals.
His last words were "#SlavaUkraini"
R.I.P. soldier, hero.
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There is a lot of speculation as to who the man is, it seems he may originally be from #Donetsk.
However his sister has identified him and asks not to name him yet - the least we can do is respect that.
First heartbreaking news from #Zaporizhzhia where three more bodies have been recovered from the site of the missile attack 3 days ago.
An 8-month-old baby girl and her parents are the latest victims of #Russia's terrorism targeting #Ukraine.
#Ukraine's General Staff reports #Russia is hiding Air Defence systems in residential areas of the occupied part of #Kherson.
"In the city of Nova Kakhovka, Kherson region, the occupiers use the civilian population as a human shield" say army chiefs.
Anyone heard from @amnesty?
Firstly I'm sat in Manchester airport.
I am commentating on a Teqball tournament this weekend. That's great, and lucky for me, this one's in Dubai.
But it means I'll be incommunicado for around 8 hours today, so apologies for the coming "black-out". I will update this evening.
2 nights ago explosions were reported on Russian territory. The Kremlin said loud sounds at #Yeisk airport, across the water from #Mariupol', were training exercises.
But satellite photos prove large scale fires, though it's not known if planes were hit: