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KERCH STRAIT PROVOCATION

What awaits Ukraine: Russian senator expects Poroshenko to nix 2019 presidential election

The politician believes that the situation will exacerbate in two months with restrictions to be imposed under the already-declared martial law

Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko Mikhail Palinchak/Press Office of the President of Ukraine/TASS

Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko

© Mikhail Palinchak/Press Office of the President of Ukraine/TASS

MOSCOW, November 26. /TASS/. After imposing martial law in the country, the next step by Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko will be the cancellation of the upcoming presidential election scheduled for next spring, Russian Federation Council (upper house of parliament) Foreign Affairs Committee First Deputy Chairman Vladimir Dzhabarov told TASS on Monday.

"Logic suggests that martial law primarily envisages full mobilization, further putting the country’s armed forces on full alert, restricting civil rights and freedoms, and abolishing any elections. The [Ukrainian government] hasn’t announced any of these measures yet, having just declared martial law to make the Ukrainian people get used to it," Dzhabarov explained.

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Ukraine staged provocation at sea to declare martial law, says Russian senator

He believes that the situation will exacerbate in two months with restrictions to be imposed under the already-declared martial law. "Particularly, I think that Poroshenko’s next step will be to cancel the presidential election next spring. That’s why the provocation with the Ukrainian ships crossing Russia’s territorial waters had been initiated. It [provocation] is aimed at keeping Poroshenko in power because he has no other options left," the legislator stressed.

The foreign affairs committee member is confident that the Ukrainian leader will not launch an offensive against Russia because he realizes that "Ukraine is no match for the power of the Russian army."

Dzhabarov also added that he anticipated that Kiev would break off diplomatic relations with Russia by declaring martial law. "They are not ready for this either because in this case they would have to abandon visa-free bilateral travel between Ukrainian citizens and ours. They won't do that either. As far as I can see, Poroshenko is desperate, he doesn’t even understand what he is doing now," he specified.

Sea of Azov standoff

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) reported on November 25 that the Ukrainian warships, the Berdyansk, the Nikopol and the Yany Kapu had violated the Russian state border on Sunday morning and again attempted to carry out illegal maneuvers in Russia’s territorial waters later. The Ukrainian vessels ignored legitimate demands of the Coast Guard of the FSB Border Service and the Black Sea Fleet to immediately halt, and stop performing dangerous maneuvers. A chase involving some gunfire had been used in order to stop the Ukrainian ships, which were detained in the Russian territorial waters. Criminal proceedings are being initiated for violating the state border of the Russian Federation.

The Treaty on the Legal Status of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, signed in 2003, confirmed their status as the domestic waters of Russia and Ukraine. The parties agreed on the joint usage and protection of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait and introducing restrictions on vessels belonging to third countries.

Military operation in Ukraine

Russian artillery thwarts Ukrainian army’s rotation near Kupyansk — underground resistance

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"The defense ministries of Azerbaijan and Russia are taking the necessary measures to implement the decision," Hikmet Hajiyev added

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Former Ukrainian PM points to motive behind mobilization exception for law enforcement

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Sergey Ryabkov said the US seeks to maintain military superiority in a great variety of areas

US deploying missiles in Philippines to endanger global security — Russian envoy

Anatoly Antonov has urged the US "not to open Pandora's Box" and follow Russia’s suit "by taking all necessary steps to ensure global stability and predictability"

Humanitarian efforts in Gaza doomed without durable ceasefire — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya is convinced that the work of the UNRWA is indispensable under these circumstances

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"The experienced and all-too-familiar Hollywood touch can be seen behind these rallies," the politician pointed out

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G7 seeks to accelerate supplying air defenses to Ukraine — sources

The Kiev regime has long insisted on Western partners supplying it with more effective air defenses

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Anatoly Antonov emphasized that such steps were another powerful blow to strategic stability

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According to the newspaper’s assessments, Russia "has never been closer to its goals" in the special military operation zone

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Nikol Pashinyan said about it, replying to a question from a resident of the borderline village of Berkaber about the necessity to hold snap elections before delimiting the border with Azerbaijan

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Ebrahim Raisi opined that the UN Security Council and the organization as a whole "failed to fulfill their minimum legal obligations to condemn the [Israeli] attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus"

Iran says it won’t prevent return of Russian sailor from seized ship — MFA

The Russian Embassy in Tehran keeps the issue under special control, Maria Zakharova said

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Sergey Ryabkov stressed that the attacks on the nuclear facility "must be stopped"

Russia bans 235 Australian local government officials from entering country — MFA

"Taking into account the fact that Canberra does not intend to give up its anti-Russian course and continues to introduce new sanctions, work on updating the Russian stop list will continue," the ministry said

Press TV reports all of Iran's hypersonic missiles hit intended targets in Israel

The report did not specify which facilities in Israel had been attacked with hypersonic missiles

Israel may have used banned white phosphorus munitions while shelling Lebanon — TV

On Wednesday night, the Israel Defense Forces press office reported that Israeli fighter jets struck "significant Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure used by the terrorist organization’s aerial defense system" in Lebanon

Russian security chief urges measures against 'ethnic enclaves' in Russia

The Russian president has ordered that migration policy be overhauled taking into account the national interests and security of the population, and the importance of preserving Russia’s culture and language, Nikolay Patrushev reiterated

Israeli Air Force strikes Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon

The IDF also said that its soldiers were forced to open fire in the area in order to "remove an imminent threat"

Russian PM signs off on plan for regions to accommodate evacuees from Palestine

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Russian artillery thwarts Ukrainian army’s rotation near Kupyansk — underground resistance

The Ukrainian army used the outbuilding as an ammunition depot, which accommodated about 15 fighters at the time of the air strike, spokesman Sergey Lebedev specified

Shoigu tests commando vehicle, calls for additional machineguns

The Russian defense minister "personally tested the special transportation vehicle and its running qualities"

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Ukrainian president admits Russian troops’ advancement

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Almost 3,000 shots fired at Russia’s Kursk Region during military operation

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Georgia’s parliament approves first reading of foreign agent bill

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Avtostat revises new car sales forecast to 1.5 mln in Russia this year

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Romania now hosts as many as 11 F-16 jets for training of Ukrainian pilots

The ministers expressed their willingness to find a way for the center to continue to operate beyond 2025

UN concerned about 'increasingly dangerous rhetoric' in Middle East, official says

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Russian government approves list of unfriendly countries

There are two countries on the list

Ukraine turns from sovereign country into Western protectorate, Hungarian PM says

Viktor Orban noted that there should be a buffer zone between NATO and Russia and Ukraine could serve as one

EU vows new sanctions against Iran, calls on Mideast conflict parties to show restraint

The European Union is also poised to impose new sanctions on Iran, related to drones and missiles

EU isolated in its 'blossoming garden,' reluctant to let strangers in — Russian diplomat

Vasily Nebenzya also pointed at the European Union’s double standards with regard to refugees from Ukraine and the Global South

Russian state companies invested almost $10.72 bln into digitalization — Minister

The most important is the fact that Russian solutions account for more than 85% of expenses, Maksut Shadaev noted

China to act over possible US measures for alleged support of Russian defense sector

"China always opposes the illegal unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States and will continue to take necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises," Liu Pengyu said

Ukrainian military under constant gunfire by Russian troops near Urozhainoye, says POW

Yevgeny Pogrebnyak said that he was treated well by Russian troops in his captivity

Top British diplomat refused to recognize Voronezh and Rostov as part of Russia — source

After Truss’ statements urging Moscow to move its forces, located on Russia’s soil, away from the border with Ukraine, Sergey Lavrov asked his British counterpart if she recognized Russia’s sovereignty over the Voronezh and Rostov Regions

Ukraine to lose at least 10 mln citizens over mobilization law — political scientist

According to Andrey Zolotarev, domestically, the population’s confidence level in President Vladimir Zelensky and state authorities will plummet

Russia’s advanced radar in Kaliningrad to monitor entire territory of Europe — source

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Russia restores gasoline production after decline — Energy Ministry

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Israel says its jets attacked Hezbollah air defense site in eastern Lebanon

I"DF soldiers recently carried out strikes to eliminate "an immediate threat" in the Qawqaba area in southern Lebanon," Israel Defense Forces said