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Vandals deface Kiev’s vintage landmark sculpture

"It’s hard to understand what is going on the heads of those who wage a war against monuments," said Yelena Khalimon, who posted the photo of the vandalized sculpture on her Facebook page

KIEV, March 19. /TASS/. Unidentified vandals daubed with red paint the 1853 monument to St. Vladimir Duke of Kiev in the center of the Ukrainian capital, an official with Ukraine’s National Memory Institute said.

"It’s hard to understand what is going on the heads of those who wage a war against monuments," said Yelena Khalimon, who posted the photo of the vandalized sculpture on her Facebook page.

Vladimir Duke of Kiev, who brought Eastern Orthodox Christianity to Kievan Rus in 988, is venerated as a saint in both Russia and Ukraine. The monument to him in Kiev is seen as one of Ukrainian capital’s oldest sculptures.

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Belarusian KGB reports thwarting attempted drone strikes on Minsk from Lithuania

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Over 330 bodies recovered from mass grave at hospital in Khan Yunis — TV

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Global community changing tune about how Ukraine conflict started — security official

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

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Sergey Ryabkov noted that such problems exist for Russians using Turkish Airlines flights to other Latin American countries

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

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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"

Russia presents world’s first hydrogen-fueled luxury car at Innoprom exhibition

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Nearly 70 Israeli hostages killed in Gaza, Hamas says

A day earlier, Abu Ubaidah, a spokesman for the Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam military wing, threatened that hostages held in the Gaza Strip could repeat the fate of Israeli pilot Ron Arad, who was kidnapped 36 years ago

White House alleges that Russia working on satellite carrying nuclear device

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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

Senior Russian MP dubs pervasive gender reassignment in West 'human tragedy'

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Belarus responds to threats with preventive deterrence measures — defense minister

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Ukrainian troops in Kharkov Region lift antennas with kites to get better signal

Military expert Andrey Marochko speculated that the Ukrainian army had to resort to this tactic because the TV tower in Kharkov was damaged

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The Russian Investigative Committee added that measures are underway to locate their whereabouts and bring them to criminal liability

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

Lukashenko sees Ukraine conflict posing risks to Belarus

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US has no idea what to do about Zelensky — Seymour Hersh

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

Joe Biden directed to send ATACMS to Ukraine in February, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State Vedant Patel said

West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that, "according to some parameters, companies in Europe and other regions can hardly maintain their competitiveness if they completely abandon our products"

Russia tasked with 'building new world' — Putin

Speaking at a plenary session of the Valdai Discussion Club, the Russian leader also highlighted "the role and responsibility" of its members

Kiev violates diplomatic relations convention by recruiting mercenaries abroad — diplomat

Maria Zakharova pointed to media reports, according to which Ukrainian embassies in a number of countries are openly campaigning local citizens to join the so-called International Legion of Ukrainian Territorial Defense

Russian troops wipe out Ukrainian UAV production workshop over past day

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Proper humanitarian assistance to Gaza impossible amid hostilities — Russian diplomat

"We are tired to repeat over and over again - amid the US-backed Israeli military operation, which has been going on for more than six months already, adequate assistance to the enclave’s population is simply impossible," Vasily Nebenzya said

Blinken’s visit to China meant to shatter Russian-Chinese ties — senior Russian diplomat

"I think that Beijing understands this perfectly well and will not even pretend being ready to reach any agreements with the Americans to the detriment of Russia’s interests," Sergey Ryabkov said

Russia’s victory in Ukraine to change course of history in Europe — von der Leyen

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 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"

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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

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

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