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Military operation in Ukraine

Liberation of Lugansk People’s Republic to be complete shortly — Russian Defense Ministry

Ukrainian Armed Forces seek to halt advance of Russian forces by holding residents of cities and settlements captive as human shields, Sergey Shoigu underscored

MOSCOW, May 20. /TASS/. Liberation of Lugansk People’s Republic is about to complete, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said at the Ministry board meeting Friday.

"Groups of Russian Armed Forces, together with People’s Militias of Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republic continue expanding their control over Donbass territories. Liberation of Lugansk People’s Republic is nearing its end," he said.

According to Shoigu, Ukrainian Armed Forces seek to halt advance of Russian forces by holding residents of cities and settlements captive as human shields.

"While suffering defeat on the ground, the Kiev regime seeks to achieve at least short-lived successes, presenting them as major ones," the Minister underscored.

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Sergey Shoigu Russian Defense Ministry Military operation in Ukraine

Military operation in Ukraine

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Belarusian KGB reports thwarting attempted drone strikes on Minsk from Lithuania

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Belarus has no intentions of launching mobilization, says President Lukashenko

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

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US stops hiding true purpose of sanctions on Moscow, Russian envoy says

"It’s not about any mythical aspirations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, but about banal opportunistic and predatory ambitions," Anatoly Antonov said

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

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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"

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Windmill wings of Paris' Moulin Rouge cabaret collapse, no casualties reported — TV

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Proper humanitarian assistance to Gaza impossible amid hostilities — Russian diplomat

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Armenian police arrests people protesting against demarcation with Azerbaijan

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

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

Timur Ivanov was arrested by Moscow’s Basmanny Court

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

AUKUS expansion to turn Asia-Pacific region into 'nuclear minefield' — news agency

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UNSC rejects amendment by Russia, China to resolution on nuclear weapons in outer space

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

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

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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"

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"

Russian children’s commissioner holds first face-to-face talks with Ukrainian counterparts

Maria Lvova-Belova thanked Qatar for setting up a venue for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine regarding children’s interests

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

Musk concurs that civil war looming in West

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

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All-Belarusian People's Assembly adopts new military doctrine, security concept

The adoption of a new military doctrine instead of the one that has been in force since July 2016 stems from the need for adaptation to the changed military-strategic situation

Dust from Sahara turns rain in Ukraine yellow

According to the agency, dust from the Sahara will be observed in Ukraine for two more days on April 25 and 26

Europe should be prepared to build relations with Russia post-Ukraine conflict — Macron

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Russian court arrests in absentia four foreign agents charged with terrorism

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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

Israel destroys no more than 20% of Hamas's fighting capacity — top political official

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

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 tourists flock to North Korea — embassy

"Today, under the two countries’ leaders’ special attention, political contacts, exchanges, cooperation in the economic, culture, science and other areas are developing with renewed momentum," Minister Plenipotentiary of the republic's embassy in Russia Lee Yong Zin said

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

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

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

The Russian war correspondent died of wounds suffered from a strike by a Ukrainian FPV drone on April 19

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

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