The start of meteorological summer. It's also the start of the 17th month which has seen war in #Ukraine.
It's Day 463 of #Russia's illegal war and Thursday is another day which has started with murder in #Kyiv.
All the important news and analysis in one thread, starts here:
First, a quick reminder that you can access all yesterday's developments in #Ukraine in this link to the start of Wednesday's thread⬇️
Thanks to all my followers, boosters, story suggesters and financial supporters (see my profile for the link)
The first day of summer is Children's Day in #Ukraine. Yesterday schools closed for the summer.
In the first few hours of this special day, an 11 year old child was killed, murdered by #Russia's missiles, along with two adults in their 30s.
The child who died in this morning's Terrorist Attack in #Kyiv was a 9 year old girl.
She was one of three killed in the Desnyan district of #Ukraine's capital, along with two women in their 30s. Ten other people were injured here including another child.
#Kyiv's Mayor, @Vitaliy_Klychko spoke live to @SkyNews just over an hour ago, saying "everyone in #Ukraine is a target for #Russia" adding "Putin needs Ukraine without Ukrainians"
By the way, I agree with this cheeky message which made its way on to British TV screens during this morning's interview with Vitaliy Klitschko (Klychko)
There is a huge scandal around the three deaths in #Kyiv today though, with some saying they died on the street because a shelter in #Desnyan was locked.
Two of the vicitms were a mother and daughter. The other woman to die was married to Yaroslav, who revealed the tragedy:
8/
A security guard at the polyclinic in #Kyiv where the shelter was allegedly shut, has reportedly been arrested for being drunk. Others say the shelter was open.
@Vitaliy_Klychko has called for a full investigation but it's not possible right now as doors were ripped off.
All photos in today's thread have the credit in the watermark or video, with the exception of some from social media and the Telegram Channel 'kyivoperativ'
Two men in their 50s were injured in the beleagured town of #Nikopol, which has suffered shelling almost every day for the past year.
Today a 5-storey building, a private house, a power line and a gas pipeline were damaged.
In response to the "locked shelter" scandals in recent days, @Vitaliy_Klychko has said police and security patrols will have to check to ensure all facilities are open when air raid warnings sound.
However, today there were just minutes between the alarm and missiles landing.
Chisinau is hosting the European Political Community Summit. The air space over Moldova and the rail network has been temporarily shut as a security move.
Must just squeeze in the British Intel update, which is interesting today.
A reminder that a few people in #Russia are now daring to speak out and just occasionally they are allowed to appear on TV screens, which has been the Kremlin's biggest brain washing device for decades.
Meanwhile anti-Putin partisan group "Legion of Free Russia" has made another statement saying "very soon we will again advance into the territory of #Russia to bring freedom.
"This is only the beginning... so the blue-white flag of freedom will be raised in #Moscow."
The "Freedom of Russia" Legion also published this video showing what they claim is destruction of #Russia's equipment in #Belgorod, but verifying is not possible.
The group also claims to have captured one KamAZ truck and a 'Tulip' self-propelled mortar, "in perfect condition"
Officials say it's a Soviet model Tu-141 Swift, converted into a strike-drone carrying explosives and with an extra fuel tank giving a range of up to 1,000km.
Everything according to plan at this oil field in #Nizhnevartovsk.
The explosion occurred at #Russia's Severo-Labatyuganskoye field.
Apparently no one was injured and the fire was soon extinguished.
Just been sent a new photo, showing in daylight, the damage following #Ukraine's drain attack on the oil refinery in #Russia's #Krasnodar region yesterday morning.
Awayfrom the war, a couple of shootings in #Ukraine today.
In L'viv a student is in a medical coma after being shot in the chest.
While here in #Odesa a man's been arrested after 2 people were killed. It's alleged he shot his wife and her lover.
Too many firearms in society now
#Kyiv decides to open all bomb shelters permanently.
"Today it was decided that they should be permanently open. Previously, because of repair works and homeless gathering there they had to be closed" said the Council's Roman Tkachuk.
"But now we have no other choice"
However some locals say something fell off a plane.
It wouldn't be the frst time of course!
On Saturday, between 10am and 4pm, there will be a "blood for the army" campagin in central #Kyiv.
Collections will be taken by medics on Mikhailivska Square.
Can't imagine why they want blood stocks higher for next week!
#Russia sends in more heavy military equipment to #Shebekino. The town near the border with #Ukraine has been under fire much of the last week and today Russian patriotic rebel groups claim they made it to the outskirts unhindered.
We may run out of 🍿
Earlier Prigozhin made disparaging remarks about Kadyrovites. They suggested a "meeting" in a threatening way.
For those who don't know Utkin, @thetimes wrote this about him. Why Wagner? He was Hitler's fave composer. Get the idea?
The security guard who failed to open the shelter in #Kyiv where 3 people died, was sober a medical examination has proven. Some residents claimed he was drunk.
Meanwhile Zelenskyy is using the tragedy to score political points over @Vitaliy_Klychko, blaming Kyiv authorities.
Brazil's President continues to flip-flop (or should I say thong?) in the war
Lula had been spouting some of #Russia's propaganda, but today after meeting Finland's President he reiterated his condemnation of Russia's invasion but said he wanted to remain neutral to broker peace
1/2 The Russian Volunteer Corps has this evening released two videos, which the group writes "say more than a thousand words"
Monitors pick up launches from #Russia's Tu-95 bombers over the Caspian Sea. The rockets are expected to be in Ukraine's airspace in about an hour's time.
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!