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Crimea and Sevastopol

Ukraine opens criminal cases against European politicians for their visits to Crimea

According to Ukraine's Foreign Minister, these cases were opened at the foreign ministry’s request on charges of violations of the procedure of "entry to the occupied territory"

Italy’s former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in Crimea Mikhail Metzel/TASS

Italy’s former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in Crimea

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

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Ukraine initiates criminal proceedings against Serbian politicians for visiting Crimea

KIEV, December 8. /TASS/. Criminal cases have been initiated in Ukraine against a number of European politicians who visited Crimea after its reunification with Russia.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said on Tuesday, summing up the results of the ministry’s activities in the outgoing year, these cases had been opened at the foreign ministry’s request on charges of violations of the procedure of "entry to the occupied territory."

In July, Ukraine’s Security Service imposed a three-year entry ban on ten French lawmakers after their visit to Crimea. In September, the Ukrainian foreign ministry condemned a Crimean trip by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italy’s former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Later, the Ukrainian Security Service banned Berlusconi to enter Ukraine.

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Amid a political crisis and the change of power in Ukraine in February 2014, Crimea’s Supreme Council (parliament) and Sevastopol’s City Council adopted on March 11, 2014 Crimea’s and Sevastopol’s declaration of independence. A referendum on reunification with Russia was held on March 16, 2014. With a record-breaking turnout of 80%, the overwhelming majority of Crimea’s and Sevastopol residents, mostly ethic Russians, (96.7 and 95.6%, respectively) voted in favour of ceding from Ukraine to join Russia. After the treaty of Crimea’s and Sevastopol’s reunification with Russia was approved by the Russian parliament, President Vladimir Putin on March 21, 2014 signed a federal law on admitting two new constituent entities in the Russian Federation.

Despite the absolutely convincing results of the referendum, Ukraine, the United States and the European Union have been refusing to recognize Crimea as a part of Russia.

Following the referendum in Crimea and its subsequent reunification with Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a special decree outlining concrete measures on the rehabilitation of Crimea’s deported peoples.

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Crimea and Sevastopol Ukraine

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US vote at UNSC rejected chance of stopping 'horrific bloodshed' in Gaza, Russian MFA says

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Press review: Russian air defenses can down Western missiles as EU conducts live exercise

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, November 19th

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Putin orders protection of critical infrastructure, including Crimean Bridge — Kremlin

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Press review: Uranium costs soar as Moscow updates nuclear doctrine and US OKs attacks

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US decision on strikes inside Russia stems from malice rather than strategy — journalist

According to Sumantra Maitra, Washington’s move will not improve Kiev’s situation

Putin sends message to those seeking to 'add fuel to fire' before Trump’s return — expert

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Putin warns West that Russia can respond to any turn of events

"There will always be an answer," the president said

Russian troops raise flag in central Kurakhovo in Donetsk region — politician

Russian army units have advanced much farther into the city’s northern part, in particular, along the southern bank of the Kurakhovo reservoir, Vladimir Rogov specified

Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

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Russian stock market indices in the red on Thursday — market data

The mood in international markets was mainly neutral

Russian embassy warns UK about dangers of calling for Moscow’s ‘defeat’

According to th statement, London is promoting new rounds of escalation

Russia’s re-election to UNCITRAL confirms its global reputation — Foreign Ministry

Russia got the support of 129 countries in a November 20 vote in New York at the 40th plenary session of the UN General Assembly

Ukrainian special services assemble unit for sabotage attacks in Kupyansk — official

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Russian forces push Ukrainian troops 10 km away from Lisichansk in LPR — expert

Russian troops have taken new lines and positions northwest of Zolotaryoka as a result of successful operations

Trump to rely on forces that brought him to power — Russian presidential aide

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Russian troops advance in areas north, south of Velikaya Novoselka in DPR — official

Earlier, Vladimir Rogov stated that a successful offensive by the Russian Armed Forces north of Velikaya Novoselka could allow them to encircle the settlement

Russian army pushes Ukraine out of Kurakhovo water reservoir’s north shore

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US decision on missile strikes aimed at provoking Russia, expert says

According to Andrey Sushentsov, Biden is under pressure from Washington’s allies and "the hawks" in his government who believe that the US is not providing enough support to Kiev

Russia’s reaction to Austrian OMV’s failure to pay for gas justified — MFA

The company stated it would seek damages amounting to 230 million euro for failing to receive the contracted volume of gas from the Russian company for delivery to Germany

US is now at war with Russia, Ritter says

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Russia fires ballistic, non-nuclear-tipped missile at Ukrainian aerospace plant — Putin

According to the president, the missile is code-named Oreshnik, which can roughly be translated as hazel bush

IAEA once again fails to hold Kiev responsible for threats to Zaporozhye NPP — diplomat

Russian envoy to international organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov pointed out that from September 23 to November 12, the Russian servicemen suppressed 556 drones near the plant and Energodar

Kiev suffering fiasco on entire front line — aide to DPR head

Igor Kimakovsky said that "if the West is not physically involved in this war, that is, if NATO is not involved, then Ukraine is actually losing"

Weapons supplied to Ukraine cannot reach Russian territory, Spanish defense minister says

The New York Times reported on November 17 that US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of US-supplied ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles for strikes inside Russia

US, NATO decision on strikes continues policy of escalation — Putin

"Experts are well aware - and the Russian side has repeatedly underscored this - that it is impossible to use these weapons without direct participation of military specialists from the countries that produce these weapons," the president said

Residents of Kupyansk, Kovsharovka in Kharkov Region returning to their homes

People are refusing to go to safer places because of Ukraine's unwillingness to provide basic sanitation for refugees

US sanctions against Gazprombank will not affect gas supplies to Hungary — Ministry

The United States introduced sanctions against Gazprombank earlier today

Zelensky to have no input if Russia, US negotiate, ex-Prime Minister says

Previously, Elon Musk said on the X social platform, commenting on Zelensky’s supposition that the United States cannot force Ukraine to "sit and listen" at the negotiating table because Ukraine is an independent country, that Zelensky has an "amazing sense of humor"