🤬 Almost 50 missiles on Kyiv overall today…

There’s a joke about a cyclist in hospital after a crash but he’s only concerned about his bicycle. Tonight I was prepared to leave my bike behind if hit by Russian missiles. Some things change your perspective. PS: Reports that over 40 ballistic missiles hit Kyiv tonight. Fuck. More incoming.

Three more just landed now.

2:08 am - warning 2:14 am - explosions I had to mute the app as the siren was destroying my nerves. These are ballistic missiles being fired by Russia at apartment buildings in the city I am currently in - Kyiv - a city of 3 million. And the IOC are re-admitting Russia to the Olympic Games.

No words. And no sleep. I hope there haven’t been casualties. The feeling is real terror. I counted 27 explosions, most very loud. … more incoming …

Longest 27 minutes of my life.

Seven km from me.

I heard 17 explosions. More incoming. This is hell. I can’t imagine how people survived the past twelve months like this, not to mention the past 4 1/2 years.

More from Elektrostal, Russia 🔥🤩

Off to bed in Kyiv. Had a great day meeting and getting to know my fourth friend in Ukraine, Artur. Bike rider and all round great guy. Now getting ready for bed and wondering at what time the ballistics missile/drone sirens will go off at tonight.

🇺🇦 Fedorov may be offered the position of coordinator for military technologies. At the same time, discussions are underway to replace Oleksandr Syrskyi as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, — ZN. UA

America is morally lost. www.cnn.com/2026/07/17/c...

The police in Ukraine are SO nice. And helpful. And friendly.

A view of my old hotel from two years ago as I walked to the pro-Federov protest last night in Kyiv. This hotel used to be called “Hotel Moscow”, but when the square was renamed “Independence Square” after Ukraine regained its independence from Moscow … yes, the hotel just had to be renamed.

Now who’s the “on the site” reporter?

If this reporter was in Kyiv, was she at the protests? I didn’t see her. Last night’s protests began at 8pm just before sunset. I spoke to locals and read their signs, and got the “Dialogue Police” (a real thing) to pose for a photograph. share.google/SZToMo6Imj8I...

No permanent ABC (Australia) reporter in Kyiv.

Two years ago I was interviewed by ABC Morning TV Melbourne. I reached out last week. The response was initially positive but this week has been a missed opportunity for the ABC. Me: “Last night was newsworthy in Kyiv. I attended the pro-Federov protests. I will be leaving here early next week.”

A drone attack overnight hit a major Wildberries logistics center in Elektrostal, near Moscow, sparking a massive fire. The targeted facility handles approximately 10% of the e-commerce giant's total turnover across Russia, with smoke reaching the capital. Video: Exilenova+

🇺🇦 Rumor has it that Zelensky's office is currently discussing the removal of Syrsky and thinking about who to replace him with, - journalist Yulia Kiriyenko. 🤞🤞🤞

🇺🇦‼️‼️Kyiv and several regions are under threat of ballistic missile attacks

Russia is fleeing Crimea.

👀‼️ Russian occupation authorities in Crimea are compiling evacuation lists for the families of Black Sea Fleet personnel and civilian employees, - United24 An urgent telegram sent by Admiral Sergei Pinchuk ordered military units to submit these lists by July 10, according to Void Group.

Can Donald please teach those pesky Canadians how to sweep the forests like they do in Europe?!

Leaving the pro-Federov peaceful protest in Kyiv tonight I happened to spot a lady in shoes with AWESOME heels. Had to share. Nothing to do with politics. Just fun heels! 👠

It’s not every day you get to attend (as an observer) a peaceful political protest in support of a Minister of Defence who was just sacked during a war and under martial law. Welcome to peaceful and democratic Ukraine. Note that the police has a “Dialogue” division. AWESOME!!!

Working in Kyiv …

Sitting in a cafe working on my book. The two guys near me have 2 legs and 1 prosthetic limb between them. I’m guessing the second guy hasn’t got to that stage of his rehabilitation yet. Consider a small donation to Voices of Children charitable foundation: www.globalgiving.org/fundraisers/...

The facts about the removal of Defence Minister Federov by Zelenskyy:

A police car just drove past me. Both driver and passenger were holding and looking at their phones. While driving. See what I mean about the need for BOTH peace (after defeating Russia) and cultural change in modern-day Ukraine.

Late GOP US Senator John McCain stood firmly for Ukraine’s independence from Russia in 2013 during the popular uprising against Russian interference in Ukrainian politics. Today there is a street named after him. I’m standing on it now. See if you can spot it on the map.

Has Ukraine changed over the last two years? - drivers are in a rush - many now are holding their phones and txting as they drive People are still kind, but the war is bringing culture change. They will win the war, but can Ukraine 🇺🇦 win the peace? That is what the Federov issue is about.

My bike ride in search of the Motherland Monument. Fun little video 6 of 6.

My bike ride in search of the Motherland Monument. Fun little video 5 of 6.

My bike ride in search of the Motherland Monument. Fun little video 4 of 6.

My bike ride in search of the Motherland Monument. Fun little video 3 of 6.

My bike ride in search of the Motherland Monument. Fun little video 2 of 6.

My bike ride in search of the Motherland Monument. Fun little video 1 of 6.

Old Soviet art from the Motherland Monument precinct.

Photos from my visit to the Motherland Monument. She previously had the Soviet hammer and sickle in her left hand. After the full-scale invasion by Russia in 2022, Ukraine replaced that vile symbol with the Ukrainian trident.

Locals call it ‘the Batman statue’.

There seems to be a gallery in Kyiv dedicated to, I’m guessing here, to hairdressers.

There’s not always a lot of visible evidence of drone or missile attacks in Kyiv. This is partly due to the efficient way they quickly rebuild. This building clearly lost windows and suffered damage from either an explosion or the ensuing shockwave. And this is central Kyiv, a city of 3 million.

The locals call this statue ‘the Batman’. Haha. In my way back to my apartment/temporary office. Might stop in at the wine store - if only to support the local economy. Did my grocery shopping this morning and bought fresh blueberries from a street vendor. Really felt like a local myself.

There is a MAJOR political crisis happening today after the very popular, successful and young defence minister Federov was replaced in a cabinet reshuffle. Meanwhile, after a missile attack last night and me completing my return ride to Ukraine (3,000 km), I was feeling a bit flat today. …/2

People here are used to this. But these missiles are largely unstoppable without support from NATO countries. Hoping Russia will soon lose the ability to manufacture these tools of genocide and terror.

Two more young men with prosthetic limbs just walked by. That’s three so far this morning. Some soldiers make the ultimate sacrifice; others have life changing injuries. I’ll be posting more about the work Voices of Children are doing in Ukraine 🇺🇦 www.globalgiving.org/fundraisers/...

Decided to bike today instead of walking. Visited the St Andrew’s and St Michael’s. This is the wall where many foreign dignitaries lay flowers with Zelenskyy and others. Two years ago the cafe opposite wouldn’t let me pay for my coffee once they saw my trident tattoo. Героям слава

The old Hotel Ukraine where I stayed in 2024. They had good prices going at that time. Also the location was pretty powerful.

My full video from Maidan Square. More details will be in my book.