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
Saturday 27 December 2025 is Day 1403 of Russia's war of choice.
The day began with missile attacks on Ukraine shortly after midnight and the terrorism continued with drone strikes, may into residential areas, with Kyiv bearing the brunt of the damage.
Here's THE daily thread
Here's the link to yesterday's thread, which started with Russian murders, missiles on streets in Kharkiv and ended with the missile attack on Kyiv.
But there were also 'direct sanctions' taken by Ukraine on war criminals and military targets:
News is still coming in from Kyiv especially after the awful bombardment. Mayor of the city, @Vitaliy_Klychko has just issued an update saying 28 people have been injured, with 13 hospitalised
Although the city's had the air raid warning lifted, it's still affecting Kyiv region
Christmas Eve is another milestone as we mark the latest 100 days of war
Yes, it's Day 1400 of Ukraine's fight for its existence.
Coming up:
Zelenskyy accepts peace plan but are we really nearer peace?
A twist in Moscow's 2nd car bomb in 24 hours.
And all the news yet to happen
A very late start today - I apologise but it's Christmas time with things to do, places to go and also my body demanding enough sleep to survive!
So we start as usual with the throwback to yesterday for you to catch up, which included car bomb #2..
The seemingly random attack on police officers in Moscow last night, may have been a Ukraine targeted attack.
Two "traffic officers" died overnight on the same street where a Lt Gen was eliminated the day before.
Now it's reported the dead were in Ukraine and tortured civilians
This is the start of Tuesday's daily thread, with all the important news from, and relevant to, Ukraine in one handy place.
It's Day 1385 and I've still never missed a day of fact checking, analysing and reporting every aspect of the defence against Russia's illegal war.
Yesterday a lot of talking behind the scenes, but politicians were broadly tight-lipped on progress.
Russia did make more small gains on the frontline, but we also found a cat with burned whiskers + how Russian pilots' head-tennis went disastrously wrong
Pres Zelenskyy's whirlwind tour continues, arriving in Rome this morning to meet the Pope at Castle Gandolfo.
At Villa Barberini, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was welcomed by the vice-regent of the papal household, Augustinian Father Edward Daniang Daleng.
Day 1366 of the war in Europe is the start of two days of mourning in a small city in Ukraine which suffered over 160 killed and injured in a single Russia attack 24 hours ago.
As the war crimes mount, Trump approves a mad-hat simpleton's plan to end the war
Here's THE daily🧵
Here's the link for the start of Wednesday's🧵
I posted 65 stories - that equates to a post every 22 minutes throughout the entire 24 hours.
Psychologically a devastating day for Ukraine. Being murdered by Russia, being abandoned by the USA.
A reminder US officials are in Kyiv, due to meet Zelenskyy, when Ukraine's president knows he will have to tell the Americans to shove the surrender document up Witkoff's "White House pass"
Is Rubio undermining the WH plan?
It's certainly not realistic and without 🇷🇺concessions
Welcome to another daily thread covering all the important things happening in Ukraine right now, and therefore by (unwanted association) Russia too.
All things fact checked, analysed and explained.
The news you can rely on, every day, in one place.
It's Day 1361. I'm late!⏰
Well I had a lovely lie-in as, all things considered it was a relatively news-free morning
My "bitter enders" (those who make it through to the very end of the🧵) will know there was a big attack on Dnipro which kept me reporting late.
Missed it? click⬇️
One thing I've had to do is wade through Trump's interview on GB News. It's actually been worthwhile because it's a wonderful example I can use to train what NOT to do!
Main points being:
1'48" to ask a question is dreadful
Such simpering loses all credibility before you begin
The first few hours of Day 1360 of Russia's genocidal war started with Ukrainians in shelters. More innocent lives have been claimed by the Moscow horde.
The west unable or unwilling to stop the slaughter despite 1000s of war crimes.
We're not incapable, must not be unwilling.
One of the heaviest bombardments Kyiv has ever known dominated y'day's thread and the start of today's.
But Ukraine also continues to pick-off financial targets inside Russia
It all made for one of the longest🧵 so far - the least you can do is read it!