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Developments in eastern Ukraine

Luhansk republic warns of catastrophic consequences if no deal on gas supplies is reached

The natural gas reserves in the self-proclaimed Luhansk republic will be enough only until 3 p.m. (1300 GMT) Thursday

© Mikhail Pochuyev/TASS

MOSCOW, February 19. /TASS/. The prime minister of the self-proclaimed Luhansk republic has said the natural gas reserves there will be enough only until 3 p.m. (1300 GMT) Thursday, warning of an "ice age" in the region if no agreement on gas supplies is reached.

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"At 3 p.m. on Wednesday Kiev authorities fully cut off gas supplies to the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics. Today are scrutinizing gas supplies and are in talks with the Ukrainian side and also other countries," Gennady Tsypkalov said.

If no agreement by that time is reached with Kiev or Russia, the region could start freezing, he said, warning of catastrophic consequences for local citizens and infrastructure.

By cutting gas to the self-proclaimed republic, Kiev is escalating tensions and trying to spread panic, he said. "This is political and economic pressure," Tsypkalov told TASS by phone.

This happens just as frosts have come to the region and gas consumption has increased, he said. "They have taken this step to spread panic among the people," the premier said.

Temperatures in Luhansk are now around minus 10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit).

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Russian PM orders humanitarian gas supplies to south-eastern Ukraine

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Eastern Ukraine Oil & Gas

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To prove the situation on the ground, Rosatom is ready "at any time to organize a visit of representatives of media and regulatory authorities to the field," ARMZ said

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Oksana Markarova explained that $4 billion worth of weapons that was to be provided under the previous decisions still remained undersupplied

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Tobias Billstrom deemed adopting the 14th sanctions package "one of the most important things"

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Russian peacekeepers heading for temporary deployment centers in Armenia

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Ukraine’s military intelligence chief recognizes Russia’s success in Avdeyevka

Ukrainian troops suffered significant losses in the fighting for the control of this town

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Polish President pointed out that this issue is being raised during his meetings with NATO partners from time to time

EU reacts to worsening of situation for Ukraine by preparing for new world war — Szijjarto

The Hungarian Foreign Minister noted that the participants of the EU foreign and defense ministers meeting "did not challenge the information about the degree of Russia’s arms superiority"

Russian troops destroy four boats with Ukrainian assault force on Dnieper River

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North Korea stages first combined tactical drill simulating nuclear counterattack — KCNA

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Armenia remains engaged with CSTO — head of post-Soviet security bloc

Imangali Tasmagambetov noted that "relations between the CSTO and Armenia, which is a member state of our organization, are far from being at their best"

Value of frozen Russian assets in Switzerland drops to $6.36 bln over the year

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West battlegroup destroys two Ukrainian drones, hit over 170 Ukrainian army’s facilities

The battlegroup’s spokesman Ivan Bigma said that a Gvozdika self-propelled system, nine mortar squads, two Furiya fixed-wing type unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed

Press review: Dissecting US aid package to Ukraine and sands of global economy shifting

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US authorities prepare military aid for Ukraine worth $1 bln — Reuters

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Russia sees tendency for Latin America to become one of multipolar world order centers

"The very fact that the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States returns back to its roots is a good sign," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said

Azerbaijanian leader says reaching peace with Armenia by November 'quite realistic'

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Over 280 recovered from mass grave at hospital in Khan Yunis — TV

The operation to recover bodies of people killed in Israeli bombardments continues in the city

Russian forces take Ukrainian strongholds near Klescheyevka under control

Apty Alaudinov posted a drone video footage of elimination Ukrainian personnel and Russian forces capturing enemy trenches

Russian troops level off frontline near Kremennaya in LPR for further advance

Russian combat aircraft and artillery "have begun to operate more intensively" at that frontline, delivering "precision strikes" on the Ukrainian army, Andrey Marochko said

Nicaragua, Russia sign declaration to counter illegal sanctions — vice president

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Current Russian turn eastward possible owing to Baikal-Amur railway — Putin

BAM personifies giant labor and courage of two million very young people from across the entire Soviet Union, the Russian leader said

Top Russian security official praises Republika Srpska’s principled position on Ukraine

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Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

Senior lawmaker threatens US with retaliation for 'stealing' Russian assets

"Now, our country has every reason to make symmetrical decisions against foreign assets," Vyacheslav Volodin said

Duda's Kaliningrad nuke rhetoric political stunt — Russian senator

Alexander Shenderyuk-Zhidkov emphasized that Russia would decide for itself what was required to ensure the safety of its citizens

Russia scraps plans to hold Immortal Regiment march in 2024 amid security threats

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Ukraine 'not in a position to win' against Russia — Spanish reserve colonel

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Republika Srpska president praises Moscow-Banja Luka relations, favors strengthening them

Milorad Dodik also touched upon the topic of sanctions mentioned by Patrushev earlier

Pobeda bloc expects global community to respond to struggle against opposition in Moldova

The opposition suggests that Moldovan President Maia Sandu is behind the law enforcement officers’ actions

Confiscation of Russian assets by the US to affect Europe more — expert

The US decision may provoke panic among investors that would start withdrawing their funds from European banks, being concerned of their freeze and further confiscation

Lenin Museum in Finland's Tampere to shut down in November

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NATO’s backing of Kiev’s strikes beyond special op area makes peace unachievable — expert

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Kremlin vows legal action against US bill on seizing Russian assets

Dmitry Peskov noted that the trial will be "very complex," but will cause severe damage to US economic interests if the US authorities finally approve the bill regarding Russian assets

Russian missile cruiser Varyag enters Mediterranean Sea

The ship's crew continues to fulfill the mission it was given for the long-range voyage

Modern weapons make up 82% in Russian air defense troops — Shoigu

"The Kiev regime has failed to achieve the goals of its counteroffensive prepared by NATO instructors," the defense minister said