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Top managers of tycoon Rinat Akhmetov’s firms questioned by Ukraine’s Security Service

Ukraine’s Security Service has detained several couriers suspected of bringing money to pay participants of coal milers' rallies

Ukrainian tycoon Rinat Akhmetov EPA/TASS/ROBERT GHEMENT

Ukrainian tycoon Rinat Akhmetov

© EPA/TASS/ROBERT GHEMENT

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KIEV, May 7. /TASS/. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is questioning top managers of Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov’s companies over recent coalminers’ protests, SBU Head Valentin Nalivaichenko said on Thursday.

"The SBU is investigating cases of illegal financing provided from abroad for the provocative actions held under the guise of so-called coalminers’ protests," Nalivaichenko said.

Ukraine’s Security Service has detained several couriers suspected of bringing money to pay protest action participants, the SBU head said.

"We have sent subpoenas to the management of one of the companies [owned by Akhmetov]. Investigators are questioning these managers as part of this criminal case," he added.

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Up to 5,000 miners take to Kiev streets demanding negotiations with PM

Several pickets were held in Kiev in April mostly by coalminers who gathered in front of the buildings of the Ukrainian parliament, the government and the presidential administration, demanding, in particular, the resignation of Fuel and Energy Minister Vladimir Demchishin.

Akhmetov, Ukraine's richest man, derives profits from more than 90 Ukrainian enterprises controlled by the country’s largest management company, System Capital Management.

Akhmetov’s major assets include Azovstal steelmaker, the Mariupol Iron and Steel Works, the Khartsyz Pipe Plant, First Ukrainian International Bank, Aska insurance company, Segodnya Multimedia publishing holding, TRK Ukraina TV Channel, Astelit mobile firm operating under Life brand name, Shakhtyor football club and the Gefest network of filling stations.

Enterprises managed by System Capital Management employ over 160,000 people.

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Protesting miners block Kiev's central street

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Dmitry Peskov pointed out that a year ago the opponents "were telling everyone that they were waiting for the moment Russia would be defeated on the battlefield"

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US incapable of replicating Cold War-era arms race — Valdai club expert

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Ukrainian army short about 150,000-200,000 troops, says Polish general

Waldemar Skrzypczak also said it was "a matter of hours" until Kiev received the weapons allocated by the US as part of its latest military aid package

Russian Foreign Ministry denies report of consular services ban abroad

"The ministry's detailed commentary on this outright piece of disinformation will follow in a short while," the Consular Department said

Russia to retaliate immediately if Kiev gets ATACMS missiles — diplomat

Konstantin Gavrilov also noted that the "manic efforts" of some Western OSCE member countries to isolate Russia "are futile and will backfire on their initiators"

Ukraine exhausted, needs constant money flow from outside — defense official

Apty Alaudinov added that if the Ukrainian army received long-range weapons, it might try to attack Russia's civilian infrastructure due to its powerlessness on the front

US shifted conflict in Europe onto EU, NATO shoulders to weaken Russia, says Lukashenko

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According to Major General Yury Popov, nine violations of the deconfliction protocols of December 9, 2019

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Viktor Khrenin emphasized that provocations by Western countries could become a catalyst for unleashing a military conflict

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Crocus City Hall attack funded using cryptocurrency, Russian finance watchdog says

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Russia’s top brass reports destroying US-made Hawk air defense system in Ukraine operation

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Ukraine says Western systems ineffective against Russia's electronic warfare

Maria Berlinskaya emphasized that the real effectiveness was determined in real combat conditions, and not at "some training ground in Texas"

Ukrainian forces refuse to obey Commander-in-Chief Syrsky — CIA ex-analyst

Larry Johnson also noted that the Russian forces manage to advance recently despite the slush on the roads

Moscow slams NATO drills near Russian borders as inflammatory

"It is obvious that the upcoming combat training on the territory of Finland is part of a hybrid war against our country," Maria Zakharova said

West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

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US nukes in Poland to become target for Russia should confrontation with NATO occur — MFA

"The impression is that Warsaw is maniacally seeking to attract even more attention from military planners in the Russian General Staff," Maria Zakharova added

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

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"A whole number of similar agreements with Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Latin American countries are being worked out," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin added

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Ukraine "is carrying a heavy burden" for the benefit of the EU, and therefore EU member states must "provide Ukraine with means to defend themselves," European Commission president said

US State Department confirms secret shipments of long-range ATACMS missiles to Kiev

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Mongolia to enter into free trade agreement with EAEU by year-end

Counsellor Delgertsetseg Unubilegt noted that Mongolia and Russia have "a rich history of solidarity and cooperation," though the countries "are under great influence of political and social factors"

Russian court arrests in absentia four foreign agents charged with terrorism

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Press review: US tries to strong-arm China and Zelensky's bid to bring men home

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, April 25th

Radioactive cloud from Ukraine’s eliminated munitions drifts to Europe — Security Council

"An increase in radiation levels has already been registered in Poland," Nikolay Patrushev warned

German defense minister says Russia making more arms than it needs for its op in Ukraine

"A larger part of what is being manufactured is not sent to the frontline but goes to warehouses," Boris Pistorius said

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Musk concurs that civil war looming in West

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Kiev may use ATACMS missiles to hit Crimean Bridge — Russian defense ministry official

Russian military will do its utmost to repel such attacks, Apty Alaudinov said

China vows decisive response to US move to deploy intermediate missiles in Asia-Pacific

The Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson stressed that "US steps are posing a major threat to security and stability of regional players"

ATACMS shipment proves ‘Zelensky’s formula’ needed in US as ‘smoke and mirrors’ — diplomat

"Washington’s plan is sickeningly simple, as it means dragging everyone under the pretext of ‘peace intentions’ to an empty gathering, while bolstering Zelensky’s terrorist potential," Maria Zakharova said

Network of international conspirators plotted Crocus terrorist attack — watchdog

Yury Chikhanchin pointed out that the perpetrators of the attack were provided with money, weapons, transportation and ammunition

Russia to submit its own resolution on nuclear weapons in outer space to UNSC

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Putin stays in daily contact with Sergey Shoigu, Kremlin spokesman says

Timur Ivanov was arrested by Moscow’s Basmanny Court

Russia vetoes US-backed UNSC resolution on banning nuclear weapons in outer space

The resolution gained 13 votes

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Armenian police arrests people protesting against demarcation with Azerbaijan

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Khalil al-Hayya said that Hamas would like to see "a fully sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and the return of Palestinian refugees in accordance with the international resolutions"

Kiev violates diplomatic relations convention by recruiting mercenaries abroad — diplomat

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Russia, Africa united by common vision on global issues — senior diplomat

Mikhail Bogdanov noted that "the African continent is a dynamically developing part of the world with an enormous growth potential, attractive domestic market and expanding export prospects"