This morning @ZelenskyyUa seemed to confirm that #Russia is in full control of #Bakhmut, saying "it's a pity, it's a tragedy, but for today Bakhmut is only in our hearts."
But later the #Ukraine President's Office later "clarified" they were still holding a position in the town.
#Putin's reponse came in a statement on the #Kremlin's website for "liberating" #Artemovsk (Soviet name for #Bakhmut)
Interestingly he congratulated #Wagner troops before the regular army.
It took almost a year for the "2nd army" to take the town of 75,000 people.
#Zelenskyy's comments came during a press conference after meeting with @POTUS
Joe Biden confirmed the news I wrote yesterday of a huge new tranche of military help from #USA for #Ukraine
F-16s will take a while, but this will help defend against the invaders #StandWithUkraine
Many thousands have died on both sides in and around #Bakhmut since those first bombs exactly a year ago.
One of the latest fallen #Ukraine heroes was Dmytro Kravets, a Ukrainian writer and director of the Kharkiv children's theater "Kazka"
#Russia's losses* in the last 24 hours though are huge.
730 invaders killed - so likely another 1500-2000 permanently injured. And look at the number of artillery systems taken out - FOUR times above average.
Controversy in Las Vegas early this morning where legendary #Ukraine boxer Vasiliy Lomachenko lost a unanimous points decision to undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney.
Even the US crowd booed relentlessly at the decision going against Loma who fought in the war last year.
British #StormShadow missiles may have been used again on #Russia's occupiers.
Those fires in #Sverdlovsk region of #Russia are still causing problems.
Here a big pile-up as visibility was reduced to near zero in places.
#Georgia's national airline says it will not allow the country's President to step on board any flights.
It comes after pro-western Salome Zurabishvili criticised the airline, and the government, for allowing flights to/from #Russia, which still occupies two parts of Georgia.
I don't know what #Russia's Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education had done wrong, but the seeminly fit and healthy 46 year old has keeled over on a flight.
Pyotr Kucherenko, returning from a business trip to Cuba, died despite an emergency landing for treatment.
#Ukraine's confirmed the news that their forces have "partly encircled" #Bakhmut.
This is not breaking news as some media are reporting. It's more of a status quo from yesterday, pointing out the advantageous positions they now have on the flanks.
It's one of the most moving sights when you witness it in real life.
The way #Ukraine reacts to the return of its fallen heroes is always the same. It's another startling difference in the culture between Russians and Ukrainians.
The exiled Mayor of #Melitopol has raised good points on #Ukraine TV to show how rampant corruption is among #Russia and its occupiers.
Ivan Fedorov points out the candidates list for 'elections' includes pseudo governor Balytsky and also his son and niece and her husband too💩
Time to say "vielen dank" to my supporters for supplying me with virtual coffee this morning.
The President of the USA outlines the huge cost for #Russia is its year long attempt to capture a small town in #Donetsk (they first entered the place they call #Artemovsk almost 11 months ago)
(Casualties = dead and injured)
#Ukraine still giving positive signs in #Bakhmut despite the Russian celebrations over the capture of the ruins.
🇺🇦's 3rd separate assault brigade claims another 700m of territory is reclaimed along an almost 2km width.
Claims cannot be verified.
Anger among Ukrainians and many Spaniards too after a couple of #Barcelona players recorded a special message thanking fans in #Russia for their support.
Defender Alex Balde + midfielder Sergi Roberto made the recording - not known whether it was sanctioned by the club or not.
Tolstoy is on the move again.
This time #Odesa council has voted to remove this statue of the Russian writer from the Ploshcha L'va Tolstoho (Leo Tolstoy Sq)
It will be kept in the city museum.
Journalists in #Germany make new allegations linking #Ukraine to the Nord Stream pipeline explosions.
But they admit it may just be another false flag operation.
Yet more reports coming in of #Ukraine advancing on the flanks of #Bakhmut.
Again this is unverified and it's possible an info war to raise morale, but Ukraine's army is saying after heavy fighting they've managed to move forward an additional 200-500 metres.
Hello again. Day 1203 of Russia's genocidal war in Ukraine
Anyone with a brain slightly larger than that of a chihuahua knows it. Russian history and Putin's own words spelt it out, but peaceniks, Naziniks and idiotniks are still in denial
More proof coming up in🧵for Day 1203
Yesterday's thread lasted well over 24 hours, but nothing to be proud of.
I know I'm crazier than you, and thankfully you all have lives to live. So you will be needing the link to the start of yesterday's thread so you can catch up on what you missed..
Day 1201 of Europe's war.
But the pre-conflict hybrid war has already been waging worldwide for years. Hacking, election interference, sabotage - we're all targeted by Russia, even if we don't all realise it yet.
Ukraine can stop the war criminal with our help.
Welcome to the🧵
Maybe Sunday will bless Ukraine with a quiet day?
Saturday was another full-on journalistic stint, catching sleep when I could.
Kharkiv shattered overnight then a daytime attack on a kids' railway.
Operation Web 2.0 & a factory hit in Russia.
It's all ⬇️
1/2 Early this morning, just before the end of the previous thread I showed the Azot chemical plant in Tula region on fire.
Not long afterwards, Ukraine hit another facility, this time in Russia-controlled 🇺🇦
This is the Hydromash factory in Melitopol' in occupied Zaporizhzhia.
Day 1194 of Putin's war, though let's remember the initial invasion came 11 years ago.
Since February 2014, not once have western sanctions or military support come close to being enough to restore justice and defeat evil.
Welcome to THE daily 🇺🇦 thread for Sunday 1 June
A new day, a new season. Summer officially started, but nothing is likely to change just yet.
Y'day's thread had some great stories, but everything paled into insignificance when justy before midnight came news of a disaster in Russia's Bryansk region:
Another night of no sleep yet - dramatic action in Moscow.
Time to start another daily thread covering everything to do with Putin's disastrous 'operation' in Ukraine.
It's 5am in Russia and Ukraine, on Day 1190 of the war.
Let's begin...
I've still NEVER missed even one day since the start of Russia's full invasion.
But yesterday's thread ended up being one of the most lively. Another near 50-post story of the day, and if you like seeing "bavovna" in Russia, go right through to the end!