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Military operation in Ukraine

Ukraine’s failed attack on drilling rig may be sign of infighting in its military — expert

According to Vasily Prozorov, the attack might be a result of infighting between Kirill Budanov and Alexander Syrsky

MOSCOW, September 12. /TASS/. Ukraine’s recent attempt to seize a drilling rig in the Black Sea may illustrate a hidden conflict among Ukraine’s top brass, Former Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) officer Vasily Prozorov has told TASS.

In his words, the failed attack might be a result of infighting between the chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate at the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Kirill Budanov (included in the list of terrorists and extremists in Russia) and Ukrainian armed forces Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky. By staging highly publicized operations of this kind, Budanov "is fighting for the top spot in the Ukrainian media landscape," the expert said.

"Don’t you think that it [the attack] might be a symptom of infighting between Budanov and Syrsky? Let me explain my point of view. All attempted raids on the Russian territory in 2023 and 2024 by [Ukraine’s nationalist organization] Russian Volunteer Corps [banned in Russia] were carried out by Kirill Budanov’s subordinates. They all were operations of the Main Intelligence Directorate," he said. "They gave him some sort of media recognition and popularity."

"Other explanations seem plausible, too. For example, it [the assault] could be aimed at forcing our fighter jets to perform missions in this region of the Black Sea, so that they could be ambushed by US-made F-16 fighter jets - again, for media purposes," the expert added.

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry said its Black Sea forces have thwarted an attempt by the Ukrainian Navy to seize the Krym-2 oil-drilling platform in the Black Sea in the early hours of Wednesday. In its words, the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry dispatched 14 US-supplied Willard Sea Force speedboats with troops from the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine’s Navy. In combat with Black Sea forces and Russian servicemen, eight sea motor boats were sunk and up to 80 servicemen from the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces were wiped out.

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Ukraine Military operation in Ukraine

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"This is triggered by an extremely hostile situation on western borders and instability on eastern borders," Dmitry Peskov pointed out

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Ukrainian military says suspect in Trump assassination attempt reached out to them — CNN

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Rising number of dead foreigners in Ukraine proves West's involvement — envoy to UN

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Russia needs law protecting citizens from audio deepfakes as soon as possible — Kremlin

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Ukraine's military intelligence is part of terrorist network in Middle East — expert

Alexander Stepanov noted that after the completion of the special military operation more hotbeds of destabilization would emerge around the world, "which will include ex-representatives of paramilitary groups and intelligence structures who escaped from Ukraine"

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According to the Secretary General, NATO closely monitors what Russia is doing in its nuclear posture

UN officials need Russia’s authorization to visit Kursk Region — spokesman

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Firas Abiad said that more than 170 injured people are in serious condition, and about 100 medical institutions are providing assistance to the wounded

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The flotilla consists of the destroyers Xining and Wuxi, the frigate Linyi, and the support vessel Taihu

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Germany is the second largest arms supplier to Ukraine after the US

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Ukrainian leadership appointed from outside, as was Saakashvili in 2003 — Georgian PM

In Georgia, it resulted in total racketeering of businesses, murders of people in the streets, prisons, Irakli Kobakhidze said

Brussels' attempting to attract more migrants to Europe — top Hungarian diplomat

Peter Szijjarto added that "there are conscientious African countries that keep migration under control"

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Zaluzhny objected to attacking Russia’s Kursk Region — media

Russia’s tactical successes and ongoing offensive in Donbass cause big losses in the Ukrainian army, Politico said, citing the Ukrainian military

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Israel likely to start war with Hezbollah in Lebanon within 6 weeks — media

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NATO coordinated Ukraine’s attack on Kursk Region, provided equipment — Russian top brass

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Meta Corporation blocks RT, Rossiya Segodnya accounts on its platforms — NBC

Meta has not yet responded to a request from TASS to comment

Rescuers discover crash site of Robinson helicopter in Amur Region

About 20 people and seven pieces of equipment were involved in the search

Three more Ukrainian missiles shot down in Kursk Region

Governor Alexey Smirnov warned people against touching missile fragments and called on them to report any suspicious-looking objects to the police

Random regrouping of Ukraine’s troops stems from shortage of manpower, arms — opinion

According to Vladimir Rogov, the Kiev regime’s hasty actions along the combat engagement line can also be explained by Russia’s decision to increase the number of army personnel

West needs to sacrifice Zelensky to avoid World War III — politician

Viktor Medvedchuk emphasized that Russia may intensify its attacks on Ukraine which practically lacks its own air force or nuclear weapons

Many Europeans 'on the right side of history' — Russian intel chief

Sergey Naryshkin expressed confidence that "the memory of the heroic participants of the Slovak Uprising unites Russians and Slovaks"

FBI has no info about accomplices of suspect in assassination attempt on Trump — agent

Special agent Jeffrey Veltri said that the investigation will determine that

Moldova may join EU without Transnistria — President Sandu

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West is persuading Ukraine to give up claims to 1991 borders — legislator

Yegor Chernev shared a "feeling" that the Western world is ready to declare as a victory for Ukraine at least the fact that "Kiev has not fallen" and that it "has not lost its sovereignty"

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Russian armed forces consolidating in settlement of Borki in Kursk region — army

Apty Alaudinov said that the Arbat unit worked there together with the 810th brigade

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Drug supplies to Ukrainian army come from US — POW

It is reported that under some psychotropics a person can stay awake for a week

Press review: Kiev may get nod for long-range strikes and Israel-Hamas truce hope fades

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, September 16th

White House taking Putin’s words about NATO’s involvement in Ukrainian conflict seriously

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Russian ambassador to London says UN Security Council paralyzed due to UK, US actions

Andrey Kelin noted that the UN "cannot take care of all conflicts in the world," and in order to settle local issues, it is necessary to create effective regional organizations

Helicopter carrying three people gone missing in Amur region — Emergencies ministry

About 20 people and seven pieces of equipment involved in the search

West already involved in Ukrainian conflict, issue needs to be formalized — Kremlin

"We see a lot of information fiddling around this, a lot of rumors, a lot of predictions by different analysts," Dmitry Peskov noted

Iranian ambassador to Beirut receives minor injuries in pager blast — agency

According to earlier reports, pager explosions occurred practically at the same time across Lebanon

Kennedy Jr., Trump Jr. call for direct talks with Russia on Ukraine

"Nuclear war would mean the end of civilization as we know it, maybe even the end of the human species," they said

West downplays threats to nuclear plants posed by Ukraine — Rosatom

Alexey Likhachev said Russia would defend its point of view and communicate to the world community "the authors of the real threats to the nuclear power industry"

Ukrainian breakthrough attempts thwarted: developments in Kursk Region

According to the report, the Russian military repelled five attempts of the enemy to break through the border towards the settlements of Veseloye and Medvezhye

Establishing Routh's ties with Kiev should be US secret services’ headache — Kremlin

"In any case, playing with fire has its consequences," Dmitry Peskov said

UK Foreign Secretary offends memory of fallen, accusing Russia of fascism — embassy

The embassy said that it took note a long time ago of "propensity for inappropriate and provocative statements"

Court indicts suspected Trump assailant Ryan Wesley Routh — report

A court hearing on Ryan Wesley Routh’s imprisonment has been scheduled for September 23, the media said

Russian forces eliminated two Ukrainian armored vehicles in borderline Kursk Region

"Detected targets were swiftly eliminated with the use of FPV drones which was confirmed by objective control means," the Russian Defense Ministry said

Russian Army gets one of world’s most powerful self-propelled guns after upgrade

The 2S7M ‘Malka’ upgraded gun has received new running gear and electronics, according to the state hi-tech corporation Rostec

Bank of Russia considers necessary to additionally toughen monetary conditions

It is necessary to resume the disinflation process, lower inflationary expectations and get inflation back to the 4% target, according to files released by the regulator

Ukrainian evacuation teams overwhelmed by influx of injured near Ugledar — POW

According to Robert Pogorelov, the Ukrainian army losses in the past few days have been measured in dozens

Russian units, advancing toward Seversk in DPR, force Ukrainian troops out — expert

North-west of Zolotarevka, an enemy stronghold located at a strategic high point was eliminated, Andrey Marochko said

NATO allies have no consensus on inviting Ukraine to alliance so far — Stoltenberg

"In the long run, there can be no peace and security in Ukraine without Ukraine becoming a NATO ally," NATO secretary general said

Georgian parliament adopts in final reading bill banning LGBT propaganda

The bill, which will now be sent to the country’s president Salome Zourabichvili for signing, was approved by 84 lawmakers

Poland at risk of direct confrontation with Russia, Belarus — Medvedev

According to the politician, "Poland's reckless actions, if rashly supported by its NATO allies, may have far-reaching dangerous consequences for the entire world"

EU’s overall assistance to Kiev amounts to €118 bln — EC

The EU and its Member States have so far mobilized around €43.5 billion in military support to Kiev, of which €6.1 billion comes from the European Peace Facility

Ukrainian troops captured: situation in Kursk Region

In total, the enemy has lost over 11,800 servicemen since fighting began in the region

Suspect in Trump assassination attempt recruited Afghans for Ukraine, Russian MFA says

Maria Zakharova added that US officials "confessed to journalists that, according to regulations, they spend only 10 minutes to check the documents of a potential foreign fighter"

Two more settlements liberated: developments in Russia's Kursk Region

Over the day, Ukraine lost over 350 servicemen and 13 armored vehicles, including two tanks and 11 armored fighting vehicles, as well as two artillery pieces, three mortars, two multiple rocket launchers, including one US-made M270 MLRS, and eight vehicles