Rory Boden

Former Special Adviser. Now: Building something cool. Also: Comms & Gov Affairs. All views my own etc.

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський @ZelenskyyUa]

A horrific Russian strike in the Kharkiv region. A “shahed” struck people directly – in a park near an ordinary café. Pure atrocity. Six people were killed, including children. A little girl was killed in a stroller – her name was Angelina, she was just over a year old, born in August 2025… Her mother’s name was Inna. She died in the hospital… Another girl who was killed was 11 years old. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Another 14 people were injured, including six more children.

I am grateful to everyone who supports Ukraine under these circumstances and helps us shoot down “shaheds,” shoot down missiles, and stop Russian assaults. These are horrific photos, but behind them are shattered lives and the truth about this war. Lives must be protected. Ukraine needs air defense. You can't think about making money with Russia as long as it continues its asinine war. We ask that sanctions on Russia stay in place as long as the killings continue. We ask America to be strong, and we ask it to apply the Lindsey Graham law. We ask Europe to continue its support. We ask that everything possible be done to bring peace and guarantee security. Ukraine wants peace. It is Russia that has insisted on continuing the killing all this time. The world has enough strength to stop the war. That strength must finally be used – against the murderers.

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський @ZelenskyyUa]

Twelve years of Russia’s attempts to break Ukrainians. Already 1,644 days of full-scale war. And every day of this struggle has a face. It is all our people who continue, day after day, to act, work, help, and do everything to ensure that Ukraine endures. I thank each and every one of you.

I thank our warriors who are fighting for Ukraine, for our cities and villages, for the right to live on our own land. Everyone who holds the front and does not let the enemy break us.

I thank each and every person who supports the front: those who raise funds, deliver what is needed, help our military, work in and develop our defense-industrial complex.

I thank our doctors who fight for lives in operating rooms every day and bring our people back from the most critical conditions. Everyone who helps our warriors recover. Our first responders, who are the first to arrive wherever the enemy brings death and destruction. Everyone who works under fire, restoring electricity, water, communications, roads, and heating.

I thank every family that perseveres, raises children, and nurtures all that is Ukrainian. All our teachers who continue to educate and support our children under difficult conditions. Our children, who are stronger than all the evil Russia brings upon us.

Everyone who refuses to give up, who helps, defends, heals, saves lives, works, and supports others – this is our Ukrainian strength. Our resilience is built on the daily efforts of millions of people like these. And it is thanks to you that Ukraine lives, fights, and will endure. Thank you!

Glory to our people!
Glory to Ukraine!

[Anton Gerashchenko @Gerashchenko_en]

Kyiv. Covered in smoke after the Russian attacks.

Kyiv stands and will stand.

[Rory Boden @Roryboden]

RT @edwardstrngr65: We badly need to rebuild our defence industrial base to reflect the new realities. Sadly, I sense we are still in anoth…

[Defense of Ukraine @DefenceU]

Russian strikes are meant to intimidate Ukrainians.
They still haven’t learned: you can’t scare people who refuse to break.

📹: @suspilne_news

[Sir Jake Berry @JakeBerry]

Carbon Monoxide poisoning silently kills 30k people every year.

Hudson Foley tragically died aged just 24 from CO poisoning. To honour him, his family launched the #PackSafeAppeal to encourage travellers to pack portable CO alarms.

Learn more below 👇

https://t.co/2aSe30Z32B

[Rory Boden @Roryboden]

@jeromestarkey https://t.co/0uzEEAGZBY

[Boris Johnson @BorisJohnson]

To our Ukrainian friends in this moment of agony, we are with you and we are on your side.

Your right to choose your own destiny is a right that the United Kingdom and our allies will always defend.

Slava Ukraini 🇬🇧🇺🇦

[Rory Boden @Roryboden]

@GWISIMPSON94 He’s crap?

[Public Accounts Committee @CommonsPAC]

Perm Sec @DefenceHQ was repeatedly pressed but refused to say how much more #taxpayers' money would be spent just on troubled #Ajax prog -£4bn of projected total £5.5bn so far- before it is #abandoned, with still no timetable set for trials
PAC reports📖👇🏽
https://t.co/1aNiH6LHzV

[Helena Wilkinson @BBCHelena]

#tomorrowspaperstoday .. starting with …

Southend’s Echo:

DAVID’S CITY OF SOUTHEND

#tomorrowspaperstoday

[Defence Committee @CommonsDefence]

🚨 This morning we published our report "Obsolescent and outgunned: the British Army's armoured vehicle capability".

🔎 We have drawn conclusions and made recommendations to @DefenceHQ on the @BritishArmy's capabilities.

📄 Read our report below. ⤵️

https://t.co/qwX18bzUCr

[Dom Nicholls @DomNicholls]

Have we been getting PTSD wrong? Are many mental health issues born of physical damage to the brain through shock waves from explosions that most soldiers don’t deem traumatic events and so don’t report, only to experience personality changes later?
https://t.co/0xDnw9MYe8

[Dehenna Davison @DehennaDavison]

And at 11pm, we heard the sound of democracy loud and clear 🇬🇧 #BrexitDay #DealDone

[Southampton FC @SouthamptonFC]

STOP THE COUNT

[Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 @DefenceHQ]

Stick Or Twist, a report into retention in the Armed Forces was published today. Thanking Mark Francois MP for 'such a thorough report,' Defence Secretary @BWallaceMP says 'we're introducing a number of its recommendations.'

[Jonathan Beale @bealejonathan]

A report commissioned by PM on retention in the Armed Forces says “Defence will have to take some difficult investment decisions to spend more money on Armed Forces personnel and their families and less on shiny new equipment...” Report was written by Mark Francois MP

[Lucy Fisher @LOS_Fisher]

NEW: MoD must spend more money on military's people & their families and less on "shiny new equipment"... or within several years it will have insufficient personnel to operate the kit, warns new No 10-commissioned report.

Tory MP Mark Francois publishes "Stick or Twist?" today.

[Rory Boden @Roryboden]

Huge news. Yet another fantastic Retention measure that will benefit so many personnel and their families. As always though, still more to do...

[Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 @DefenceHQ]

More than 5,000 personnel, plus their spouses and children will benefit from the upgrades to service accommodation, announced today by Defence Secretary @BWallaceMP and Chancellor @RishiSunak. More information 👉 https://t.co/wodvssdU1M

[Defence Committee @CommonsDefence]

We have today launched a new inquiry into the procurement and use of Armoured Fighting Vehicles in the @BritishArmy.

We will investigate whether more must be done to ensure the Army’s ability to deploy its armoured division.

https://t.co/bDAK2652sV