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.
Here's the daily British Military Intel update. #Ukraine is desperately trying to "open" one of the other proper roads into/out of #Bakhmut, which had been under fire control.
Temperatures are rising rapidly now which means more mud and almost impossible to cross fields.
I saw this posted a couple of times, but having searched the #Crimea/Simferopol govt websites, I cannot find reference to it.
Possibly it was removed, but could also be propoganda from pro-#Ukraine bloggers.
The story is Occupiers in Melitopol are preparing to flee to Crimea.
They scoured the prisons, took murderers, thieves and other reprobates. Now they open youth clubs and recruit in gyms. #Wagner has new recruitment centres across #Russia
But a new low as the mercenary group recruits psychiatric patients to die in Ukraine
#Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg is reported as saying forcing #Ukraine to cede territory for "peace" would be wrong.
In a (paywalled) interview with Der Standard, the FM also fears "not all levels of escalation have been reached yet" referring to Putin's nukes
Another day, another attack on a military enlistment office in #Russia.
In #Murmansk senior offices were standing guard at the registration building, but "left for an hour" in the night, whereupon the wannabe arsonist struck. Their attempt was not very successful though.
Some reports of explosions at the Belbek airfield in occupied #Crimea.
However, it could be training exercises. Impossible to be certain about anything at this stage. If it was something big, eventually satellite data will give a clue.
The personal adviser to the so-called "Head of #Donetsk" admits #Ukraine "may try to breakthrough in #Bakhmut (RU: #Artemovsk) to try to hold the city."
Yan Gagin claims at the moment Russian forces "control almost half" of the town.
So just how did the Metropolitan Police building in central #Moscow catch fire?
A blaze at the 'Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs' on Petrovka St. seems to have started on the 3rd floor. Everyone evacuated the building and it's now extinguished
An unathorised pro-Ukraine group is most likely to have blown up the underwater NordStream gas pipeline.
US investigators brief the NYT that neither US nor UK was involved, but the perpetrators may have previously had specialist training.
I've read that apparently squirrel tastes nice.
But I still don't know anyone who's eaten it.
But hey facts don't matter in #Russia, the brainwashed will lap this up.
Another prisoner exchange took place today with 130 freed from captivity.
Among the #Ukraine fighters back on home soil are 87 Defenders of Mariupol (71 of whom were at Azovstal) and 35 from Bakhmut/Soledar.
Many of the men have bad injuries.
An emotional video has been released
When a drone struck at a military airfield near #Minsk, the group organising the flights said the perpetrators had safely fled across the border.
So it's quite a surprise to see a guy waiting at home to be arrested, immediately admit the attack and working with #Ukraine Intel!
In response to the last tweet and illegal President of Belarus, Lukashenko's claims of arresting a terrorist, #Ukraine quickly responded.
Advisor to @ZelenskyyUa, Mykhailo Podolyak, reminded the world what is, and what isn't, a terrorist attack.
This is bizarre... #Russia says only 90 people were exchanged in today's prisoner swap.
Moscow media complain that "#Kyiv refused" the usual 160 to 160 exchange.
Did another 30 Ukrainians manage to secretly walk out, or can't Russians count?
Saw this earlier and didn't have chance to tweet.
Apparently satellite photos showing in good quality the defensive lines being made by #Russia in occupied #Zaporizhzhia.
Recently a lot of residents have reported columns of RU equipment heading towards the ZP frontline.
1/2 In #Kharkiv people are amazed.
Streetlights in the centre are back on for the first time since the first days of the war.
Earlier today in #Kyiv funerals took place for soldier "scouts" killed on Christmas Day in a combat mission in #Bryansk just over the border with #Russia
The four were mourned in a cathedral, after which on Maidan public saluted the heroes and chanted "Putin Kh**lo"
This is so reminiscent of being stood on the streets of #Kyiv in December 2013.
But this is #Tblisi tonight after #Georgia's Russian-influenced government passed Moscow-style "foreign agent" laws, which effectively end the country's hopes of joining the EU.
Wonder if they will be discussing #Russia becoming Chair of the Security Council, or why a Terrorist State can veto anything despite being a concerned party?
#Russia hugely celebrates 8 March as Women's Day including a big holiday.
In occupied parts of #Kherson this poster was seen, it says "beauty will save the world"
Sheer hypocrisy.
#Wagner head Prigozhin, asked why he is airing dirty linen in public, re his argument with #Russia's MoD: "We are talking about the lives of our fighters. It takes decades to make a soldier."
Says the guy who recruited criminals, sent them to death after a week.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
Welcome to Thursday's thread with all the important news on Russia's illegal war in Ukraine.
It's Day 1275 - the day Putin openly mocks Trump.
After China + India upped oil purchases, the indicted war criminal ordered his army to bomb a US company in🇺🇦
Let's begin:
Ukraine is recovering from the predicted massive overnight attack.
Russia launched more than 600 missiles and drones.
The mayhem started in the last third of yesterday's exhausting thread. If you missed it, click and scroll here:
It's Day 1274 of Ukraine's incredible defence of its people, land, culture + shielding many NATO states, next on Putin's hit-list from his long stated dream to reunite the USSR
Somehow Trump & his cults (I nearly misspelled that) seem intent on helping Putin.
Here's the daily🧵
Tuesday was another 50+ post thread, packed full of some more untold insights into Ukraine news and life, including the resurgence of Covid and a language 'foul' on the football field.
But politics and Russian atrocities are omnipresent.
Here's your link
Let me start with an unwanted shock for residents in Poltava, who were warned of a radiation threat this morning, I imagine sparking all sorts of horrific thoughts.
Thankfully, the governor says it was human error, Myrhorod should've had an air alert, not the radiation warning.
Zelenskyy's forced to be careful, but Ukraine's always been ready for the unconditional ceasefire Trump first demanded 5 months ago. So no surprise he's travelling to Washington on Monday
It's Alaska Day, or a couple of half-baked Alaskas meeting later as Russia hopes to carve up Ukraine, with Trump's approval.
That's much later on Day 1269 of Putin's war.
As I start this thread at around 02:30 GMT, 05:30 Ukraine, there is a big attack on Russia.
Let the🧵begin
In a rush to get to sleep, so let me waste no further time in giving the link to yesterday's thread.
Both X and BSky have been a bit crappy scrolling through threads. One thing you can do is click my profile and then "replies", click one + scroll up
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: