First a strange tale from the far east of #Russia where a private helicopter cut through power lines during a "hard landing"
The Mi-2's landing cut off power to the Transneft station in Primorsky Krai.
It's so remote it took 2 days to find the chopper & the pilot's disappeared!
A big increase in #Russia's manpower losses in the last 24 hours. Still a lot of equipment being hit by #Ukraine too.
Dilemma over missile use for #Russia because the war "has gone on much longer than they originally planned for"
LOL only about 150 times longer than they planned for the capture of #Kyiv!
It's frustrating Reuters doesn't even mention that the refugees have gone through "filtration" and are likely afraid to say anything negative
2/ Reuters says 2 of 3 refugees in #Berdiansk /#Berdyansk it spoke to expressed "satisfaction with the new conditions" yet there's not a word about what's not satisfying from the other
The byline says "reporting by a Reuters reporter", so likely a Russian archive.is/JGhnJ
🔞
Incredibly graphic footage posted in #Russia showing corpses of 2 soldiers with their heads blown off.
RU media say 24yo Gleb Solomonov attacked his colleagues in occupied #Zaporizhzhia.
Here's the TG link if you insist on watching, but it's horrible t.me/mobilizationne…
#Belarus would like you to believe there was an attack on its border guards near #Ukraine last night.
It's more likely for the domestic audience, softening them up for when #Putin orders his lapdog Lukashenka to mobilise Belarusian troops.
Here's a translation of the statement:
Resort town of #Kizomys has been badly hit again early this morning.
#Russia fired two aerial bombs on the town on the Dniprovska gulf in #Kherson region.
I saw a lot of media inc @visegrad24 and @pravda_eng reporting this photo as proof that the Chernyshev factory in Moscow being on fire. The place produces engines for military jets.
Thanks to @grohlicm for spotting the last story and to @NeneOriginal for again suggesting a few more.
DMs open for contributions.
And if you like what I do and can afford to tip me a coffee, see the link in my bio. Thanks.
1/2 Mixed news on the sporting front...
The Appeal Tribunal of the International Paralympic Committee lifted the suspension of the Russian Paralympic Committee.
The matter will be reconsidered in September, after the @Paralympics
2/2
But Gymnastics' governing body has postponed a decision on whether to lift its ban on athletes from #Russia and #Belarus.
That means they cannot qualify for the World Championships in Belgium in September.
But if the ban is lifted in July they could still make the Olympics
Early in today's thread I wrote about the explosion in #Melitopol with #Russia saying no-one was injured.
Turns out another collaborator, "Deputy Minister of construction and housing" in the occupied part of #Zaporizhzhia, was hit by an IED. He's in hospital.
Reports suggest an oil depot has been hit in the occupied city.
Smoke also seen at the Polypak plant, which has been used throughout occupation by #Russia's army.
One occupant gave a TV interview with a pretty background!
In #Russia more people are fleeing the army than ever before.
Even official data show in the first 4 months of this year there have already been more desertions than in any other year.
Courts may be getting a lot fuller soon too!
Yet another small waste of Russia's money.
#Russia's bloggers speculate British long-range missiles could have been used today to "test" them on #Luhansk.
The so-called LPR says it celebrates its "Republic Day" today.
The son of Russian Defence Minister Shoigu was in Luhansk today, but wrote that he is ok.
Telegram channel mobilizationnews reports another #Russia incident of #FriendlyFire
A sergeant has been jailed for 4.5 years + stripped of his rank. He was found guilty of shooting a soldier in the groin while drunk. The Offiicer was "teaching him a lesson" for falling asleep!
#Ukraine has liberated over 17 sq km of territory around #Bakhmut' in three days.
Serhiy Cherevaty, spokesman for the East Command of the the Ukrainian army confirmed the news this evening in what he called "counteroffensive actions"
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:
1/2 The big story since the last couple of hours of y'day's thread has been Ukraine's multiple successes in breaching Russia's air defence at military targets.
The Kremlin says it destroyed 93 drones, 60 over the Black Sea. There's no mention of how many they missed!
Exhibit A:
Even the most ardent peaceniks are realising one side doesn't want to stop fighting. At least until, as a state new agency said recently, all Ukrainians are killed.
Each + every day you'll find all the news here in one handy🧵
Let's go!
If you missed anything of yesterday's developments, well not as much to catch up on.
Click the link to review, things only really started going late at night..
Trying to compile threads on a train, using mobile only so far, is a nightmare. My first typo was rather important. It's Day 1256, so the observant don't need to message me 😊
Family day out today, going to see "Evita"
But always a thread and as up to date as I can be.
"White rabbits" is what I have to say to you this morning.
An old British custom is to say 'rabbits' or 'white rabbits' (often 3 times) at the start of a new month to ensure good luck for the month ahead
August is the 43rd month of Russia's war.
Today is Day 1255. Here's the🧵
Yesterday was a depressing day.
Not just Russia's horrific attacks on Kyiv, but the general lack of response and condemnation. The world just shrugs its shoulders.
2 weeks ago I said things could move quickly on air defence. One system had reportedly already been delivered to Ukraine
Remember Switzerland's order was bumped down to give priority to🇺🇦?
Now Germany says 2 more Patriots will be sent by October, starting with launchers in days
Putin's response was to bomb the cr*p out of Ukraine's capital again overnight.
It's decency against inhumanity. Which side are you on?
Welcome to THE daily thread.
Wednesday was a fairly quiet day, punctuated by the odd Russian missile attack, before another enormous attack centre on Kyiv.. and it's still going on.
But Ukraine hit back in Russia.
Missed anything? Click and scroll, but please come back!