🧵 Reading through Z channels on Telegram - some thoughts from the pro-Kremlin military bloggers:

"A ceasefire - what for? The Ukrainians have already said they don't give a damn about Christmas, and they'll continue shelling. Are we going to just sit there and not return fire?" "The ceasefire will be a disaster. This logic has never worked."

This is 'Novogodnii Chudo-Kvest', a kids' book of games, puzzles, colouring etc for New Year. Parents in Russia often buy their children these during the festive period. Except this year, something's a bit different... 🧵 There is a now a page dedicated to the army: "Our army stands up for us!" it says. Readers are told the Russian army is "strong & tough" and all soldiers are "ready to defend the Motherland." "No-one will ruin our New Year - not border violators, terrorists, smugglers nor spies!"

🧵 Unsurprisingly, Russian state TV news bulletins this afternoon make no mention of the Ukrainian advance in Kherson. But channels are reporting the MOD’s earlier statement that said the military has completed what it called a ‘re-deployment’ of forces (that is, a retreat). 🧵👇 State TV presenters repeated the Defence Ministry’s claim that ‘not a single soldier’ or piece of military hardware was left behind during the withdrawal, reinforcing the message that this was a planned, organised re-deployment – as opposed to a frantic retreat.

🧵 The measures announced by President Putin today introduce martial law in the four occupied areas of Ukraine (Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson). However, martial law was already in place in these areas before Russia illegally annexed them on 30 September... 🧵 In fact, the most significant measures in the President’s new decree apply to the rest of Russia (plus annexed Crimea). The decree introduces three additional levels of heightened security...

Interesting developments in Russia:
Pres Putin has called a meeting of the powerful Security Council today to discuss “neutralisation of threats to nat security in migration; regulation of migration processes in the interests of socio-econ development & socio-political stability" Russian media report that the Federation Council (upper house of parliament) has been summoned for an additional session at 1500 BST (1700 MSK), which could be connected to the Security Council meeting.

🧵 The official Telegram channel of the Russian Defence Ministry has reposted a claim that reports of civilian deaths in the town of Bucha are “fake”. Bucha was recently retaken by Ukrainian forces. 🧵 The report that was reposted by the MOD said articles on Bucha appeared “in several foreign media” simultaneously, “suggesting a planned media campaign.” The report says Rus forces left Bucha on 30 March: “where have these pictures been for 4 days? The absence confirms the fake”

🧵 The Russian state media regulator, Roskomnadzor, has issued a warning to Russian media over an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The regulator warned the press that they must not publish the interview. 🧵 They add “an investigation has been started in order to identify the level of responsibility and what response will be taken” in relation to the media that carried out the interview. Roskomnadzor noted: some of the media outlets involved are designated “foreign agents” in Russia.

🧵 This is the picture the Kremlin wants you to see: thousands of people who support President Putin and the "special military operation" in Ukraine, crammed into Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. We went there today and talked to dozens of people who attended... 🧵 Many said they worked in the public sector (e.g. schoolteachers), and that they had been pressured into attending by their employers. One group of teachers, from a town near Moscow, were being told what to say to us by a woman who appeared to be from the local administration.