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
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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"
The war in Europe continues. This is Day 1445 of Russia's attempt to erase Ukraine from the map & destroy its language and culture.
The genocide continues as I type, with a massive missile attack underway.
For all the news as it happens, keep checking back. This is THE daily🧵
Yesterday started with a supposed assassination attempt on another very senior Russian soldier.
A load of other great stories too, including the start of the overnight attack on Ukraine's remaining energy facilities. Catch up on what you missed here:
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.