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Developments in eastern Ukraine

Increased fighting in Donbas threatens Minsk agreements - Dolgov

"It’s too early to say that the Minsk agreements have been disrupted. It is not so. But it is absolutely true that they are coming under constant pressure from the ‘party of war’ in Kiev," he said

MOSCOW, June 4 /TASS/. Konstantin Dolgov, the Russian Foreign Ministry Ombudsman for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law, has described the intensification of military hostilities in eastern Ukraine as a threat to disrupt the Minsk agreements.

"It’s too early to say that the Minsk agreements have been disrupted. It is not so. But it is absolutely true that they are coming under constant pressure from the ‘party of war’ in Kiev," the diplomat said in an interview aired by the Russian News Service radio station on Thursday.

"The Ukrainian army and voluntary battalions, which are formed out of nationalists and neo-Nazis, have been systematically violating the ceasefire regime for several months provoking the situation and are responsible for the majority of civilian casualties," Dolgov emphasized.

Commenting on decision of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada to allow foreign armed forces to enter Ukraine to maintain peace and security, the diplomat said: "Ukraine does not need foreign troops in its territory. Ukraine needs peace, which can be reached exclusively by full implementation of all the provisions of the Minsk agreements," the Russian diplomat said.

"So long as guns are firing, it will be extremely hard to talk about progress on other directions," the Russian ombudsman concluded.

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Eastern Ukraine

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

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Russia has significant amount of West’s funds in case of confiscation of its assets

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

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US effectively dooms Ukraine by its new decisions, Russian envoy says

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Top brass posts video of Leopard tanks, Bradley combat vehicles seized by Russian troops

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13 violations by US-led international coalition’s aircraft recorded in Syria

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

IN BRIEF: Russian deputy defense minister, entrepreneur arrested for taking bribes

According to the investigation, Timur Ivanov and Sergey Borodin "criminally conspired with third parties" in order to receive a bribe "as providing monetized services when conducting contracted and subcontracted work" for the Defense Ministry

Attempts are made to turn Moldova into ‘second Ukraine’, Lavrov warns

The Russian foreign minister also said that Chisinau's behavior resembles role-playing

West balancing on edge of direct military confrontation between nuclear powers — Lavrov

According to the top Russian diplomat, it is especially concerning that the three Western nuclear powers are among the key sponsors of the Kiev regime and the main initiators of various inflammatory moves

Inflation in Russia down to 0.08% over week — statistics

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Russia ready to cooperate with all interested partners to ensure security — Putin

The Russian leader expressed confidence that the the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues "will bolster cooperation for the mutual benefit of our countries and peoples"

Moscow shooter identified as European boxing champion Nikita Ivanov

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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

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

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No response from West to killing of Izvestia war reporter Eremin — diplomat

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Central African Republic expects Russia to supply weapons, munitions — defense minister

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Ukraine could send special forces to capture Zaporozhye NPP — politician

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North Korean film shown in Moscow to mark anniversary of Putin-Kim meeting

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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"

Russian court arrests in absentia four foreign agents charged with terrorism

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Radicals, intel services behind terror attacks in various countries, says Putin

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Russian GDP growth reaches 3.6% in 2023 — statistics

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Over 260 agreements signed at Innoprom. Central Asia exhibition in Tashkent

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US waging hybrid war against Serbs to snuff them out for good — Republika Srpska head

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Russian athletes have right to decide on Olympic participation — aide

Russian and Belarusian athletes will be able to compete only under a neutral status, provided that they are not associated with security agencies and do not represent team sports

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

US will have to take Russia into account and find common ground with it — Putin

Russian President said in an interview with Rossiya-1 TV channel journalist Pavel Zarubin

Dust from Sahara turns rain in Ukraine yellow

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Russian defense minister dismisses his deputy Ivanov

Timur Ivanov was removed from the office of deputy defense minister of the Russian Federation of the federal government’s civil service

US recruiting IS jihadists for terrorist attacks in Russia and CIS, says intel agency

The SVR stressed that the US was planning to send terrorists in small groups

No damage, casualties after drone attack over Russia’s Kursk Region

Roman Starovoit thanked air defense troops and the regional crisis center and cautioned residents against approaching the drone wreckage if found

Russian troops wipe out Ukrainian UAV production workshop over past day

The Russian forces improved their frontline positions and inflicted casualties on five Ukrainian army brigades in the Donetsk area over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Russian deputy defense minister detained on suspicion of bribe-taking

"Russian Deputy Defense Minister Timur Vladimirovich Ivanov was detained on suspicion of committing a crime under part 6, article 290 of the Russian Criminal Code," the Russian Investigative Committee said

Russian Navy’s Bastion missile systems practice massive strike in Baltic drills

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

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Musk concurs that civil war looming in West

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Armenia’s decision on CSTO membership its sovereign choice — secretary general

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Kremlin vows to resolve situation with Turkish Airlines refusing service to Russians

Russia has "very constructive and friendly relations" with Turkey, Dmitry Peskov stressed

Russia maintains position on 'buffer zone' in Ukraine to counter missile threats

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Russia exports record volume of barley and wheat to China since agricultural season start

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Senior Russian, Tajikistani diplomats talk about fighting terrorists, radicals

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

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Gagauzia against Chisinau’s policy of severing ties with Russia

According to Yevgenia Gutsul, Gagauzia has never experienced such pressure from Chisinau

Russia dissatisfied with UN’s activity under grain deal — senior diplomat

Alexander Pankin noted that during his visit to New York he did not have any talks with UN officials on the Russian-UN memorandum

US arms supplies unable to change situation in Kiev's favor — Kremlin

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"