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Military operation in Ukraine

Blasts heard in Kiev, Mariupol — agencies

Blasts have also been reported in Kramatorsk and Odessa

LONDON, February 24. /TASS/. Sounds similar to artillery fire have been heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, Reuters reported, citing witnesses. Reports about sounds similar to artillery shelling started coming at about 5:00 am local time. British journalist Max Hunder residing in Kiev told BBC about sounds of explosions in the western part of the city. TASS correspondent, in turn, reported about blasts near Kiev’s Borispol Airport. According to Ukraine’s UNIAN news agency, explosions were also heard in other Ukrainian cities after 5:00 am.

Meanwhile, Agence France-Presse has reported about blasts in the city of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine, adding that at least two explosions occurred in Kiev early in the morning. Blasts have also been reported in Kramatorsk and Odessa.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address on Thursday morning that in response to a request from the heads of the Donbass republics, he had decided to conduct a special military operation to protect the people "who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Ukrainian regime for eight years." The Russian leader emphasized that Moscow had no plans "to occupy Ukrainian territories".

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Foreign policy Military operation in Ukraine

Military operation in Ukraine

Ukrainian forces indiscriminately shoot Selidovo passers-by — Russian envoy

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US Justice Department drops federal cases against Trump — transition team

"Today's decision by the Department of Justice ends the unconstitutional federal cases against President Trump, and is a major victory for the rule of law," Steven Cheung, Communications Director of the polician’s transition team, said

Netanyahu convenes security cabinet amid talks on Lebanon

Dmitry Gendelman, an adviser to the Prime Minister's Office, noted that "the agenda of the meeting will be announced at a later date"

Russia to develop bilateral cooperation with Afghanistan — Shoigu

He pointed out that to this end, Russia will continue to support Kabul's integration into regional structures and associations

No existing missile defense system can counter Oreshnik — US expert

Theodore Postol also vehemently rejected suggestions that the Oreshnik system represents previous outdated developments of Moscow

US-led coalition aircraft violate Syrian airspace 16 times in past day

Apart from that, one violation of the deconfliction protocols of December 9, 2019 linked with the flights by the US-led coalition unmanned aerial vehicles was reporte

Turkey to investigate causes of Russian Superjet emergency at Antalya airport

The Turkish side will also provide information on the progress of the investigation

Defense contractor delivers new batch of Su-34 bombers to Russia’s Aerospace Forces

The new fighter-bombers have undergone necessary testing and have been sent to the places of their operation, Vadim Badekha noted

London intensifies anti-Russian campaign in face of impending ‘Ukrainian project’ failure

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Putin appoints envoy for international criminal and legal cooperation

Ilya Rogachev is the first person to ever hold this office

Shooting of Selidovo residents by Ukrainian troops meant to repeat Bucha provocation

The shooting of civilians could have been meant to "simply intimidate people who want to continue living on their soil," Russian foreign ministry’s ambassador at large, Rodion MIroshnik said

Zelensky shook up by Russia’s response to permission to attack it — Lavrov

According to the Russian foreign minister, the West is directly involved in the use of long-range weapons against Russia, as not a single missile could be launched without its involvement

Moscow to announce new Russian ambassador to US after relevant decree is signed — Kremlin

Previously, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Anatoly Antonov from the office of Ambassador of Russia to the United States

Top Israeli defense official announces construction of fence on border with Jordan

"We are going to do it very quickly," Israel Katz said

Zelensky begs ‘for his country to be flattened’ — US journalist

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Russia gave OPCW over 30 reports proving Ukraine used banned substances, official says

Kirill Lysogorsky noted that "the Kiev regime continues to systematically use toxic chemicals and chemical riot control agents"

France, UK may deploy troops to Ukraine following ceasefire — expert

According to Elie Tenenbaum, European countries may send troops to east Ukraine to ensure the observation of a ceasefire regime and guarantee Kiev’s security

Russia delivers 1,200 tons of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan over past year

Such work will continue, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu said

Europe unable to wage war attrition on Russia — Ukraine’s ex-commander-in-chief

According to Zaluzhny, European countries lack munitions to shoot down air bombs

Independent candidate Georgescu leading first round of presidential election in Romania

Georgescu is reserved about Romania’s NATO membership and he has been cautiously pushing for normalization with Russia

Ukraine abandons Selidovo, laying mines in wells — security services

The Ukrainian armed forces used various modified Western-made mines and improvised explosive devices during the process

Russian national Nikita Zhuravel sentenced to 14 years in prison for high treason

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Romanian presidential candidate vows to end military aid to Ukraine

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Ukrainian forces indiscriminately shoot Selidovo passers-by — Russian envoy

According to Rodion Miroshnik, Ukrainian security forces came to places where there were generators, where people came to get water, and could shoot a person

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US missile defense base in Poland long among Russian army’s targets — Foreign Ministry

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"When we have more to provide, we will," Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said

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Russia’s Permanent Representative to the Vienna-based international organizations Mikhail Ulyanov said that what has been done by the White House is very dangerous

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Diplomat mocks US Senator for talking about invading Netherlands

Maria Zakharova quoted the US Senator, who called the ICC a "Kangaroo court" and ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan a "deranged fanatic"

Russia’s Medvedev warns Europe could face 'catastrophic damage' from Oreshnik missile

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Scholz vows to continue supporting Ukraine following his chancellor nomination

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The Russian foreign minister noted that American companies had already bought up most of the fertile land

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"I am sure that neither of us is even aware right now of any new future developments," Dmitry Peskov said

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"We can assure you that the Islamic Emirate is a reliable economic partner," Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar said

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Erik Prince noted that it was necessary to end the Ukrainian conflict as soon as possible

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"The enemy positioned in the fortified area in Velikaya Novoselka in the south of the DPR is already trapped in a kill zone," the source said

Cargo plane crashes near Vilnius Airport in Lithuania

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Russia "will continue insisting on the most resolute measures to stop the bloodshed in Gaza," Dmitry Polyansky added

Large number of Ukrainians to lose mobilization exemption after February 28 — deputy

In recent months, the number of Ukrainian employees with exemptions from military service has increased from 900,000 to 1.6 million

'Western vector' leaves Ukraine poorest country in Europe — politician

Ukrainians have never seen the promised freedom, Viktor Medvedchuk noted

No int’l restrictions on deployment of Oreshnik systems — senior Russian diplomat

When asked if the 1998 Russian-US memorandum of understanding on notifications of missile launches remained in effect, Sergey Ryabkov answered in the affirmative

Restrictions under New START treaty don’t apply to Oreshnik missile — Russian diplomat

"As for New START, you are well aware of our decision to suspend it," Sergey Ryabkov said

Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Russian diplomat doesn’t rule out missile deployment in Asia as response to US’ actions

Sergey Ryabkov warned Russia’s adversaries against settling into a "false sense of security"

Putin has high hopes for cancer vaccine being developed in Russia

Head of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency Veronika Skvortskova briefed the Russian President on the vaccine's development

FACTBOX: Cargo aircraft crashes into apartment building in Vilnius, Lithuania

Twelve local residents have been evacuated from the scene

Ukrainian commander-in-chief reports threats to troops in Zaporozhye Region

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Press review: Russia to mass-produce Oreshnik missiles and EU gas prices reach record high

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, November 25th

Potential deployment of intermediate-range missiles depends on US moves — Russian diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov stressed that "any escalation scenarios, if they start to materialize, will be a direct consequence of the reckless" and "inhumane policy that is pursued by Washington and leading European countries"

Russia acted responsibly in warning US about Oreshnik missile launch, Kremlin says

The US was notified automatically 30 minutes before the launch by Russia's Nuclear Risk Reduction Center

West beginning to realize only part of Ukraine will remain — Lavrov

According to the Russian foreign minister, this represents the "confrontational logic" of the West

Guterres condemns supply of anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine

The UN Secretary-General urged world leaders to join the Ottawa Convention

US, European officials suggest returning nukes to Ukraine — NYT

US officials believe that ramping up weapons supplies to Ukraine is unlikely to change the situation in the combat zone short term, but it may help Kiev strengthen its stance in case a truce is reached

Georgescu wins first round of Romania’s presidential vote as ballot tally ends

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who leads the Social Democratic Party, ended up third with 19.15% of the vote

Timing for commissioning entire Akkuyu NPP needs to be clarified — Russian ambassador

Alexey Erkhov also recalled Russia's interest in participating in the implementation of the second NPP in Turkey

Ukraine’s military loses nearly 10,000 troops at LPR borders over week — military expert

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Conflict in Ukraine no longer regional war — German defense minister

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on November 21 that strikes on Russian territory with Western long-range missiles had made the conflict in Ukraine a global one

Emergence of new weapons changed canons of war, Medvedev says

According to Russian security council deputy chairman, this primarily concerns drones

Denmark, its neighbors hold talks with China about damaged cables under Baltic Sea-report

The Chinese ship is currently anchored in international waters in the middle of the Kattegat Strait off the Bjare Peninsula

Fire at warehouse in southern Moscow completely extinguished

The firefighters were able to stop the fire from spreading to the adjacent building, where freon is stored

Russia may soon push Kiev troops out of Kursk Region — Ukrainian battalion commander

It is noted that Russia has about three times as many men as the Ukrainians in the Kursk Region and six times as many explosive drones

Europe resumes talks of troop deployment to Ukraine — newspaper

According to the sources, this is driven by the fact that Washington may scale back support for Ukraine after Donald Trump returns to office as US president on January 20, 2025

British mercenary claims he was sent to Russia’s Kursk Region against his will

The captive explained that he had served as a private in a battalion for four months

Citizens of Poland, Germany, Italy apply for residence permit in Lugansk Republic

The decisions will be made in response to these applications in the near future

Russia’s Progress MS-28 cargo spacecraft diverts ISS from collision with space debris

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UK mercenary taken prisoner in Russia’s Kursk area — source

"A mercenary from Britain has been taken prisoner in the Kursk area," the person said

Explosion occurs at oil refinery in western Turkey, cause being investigated — TV

According to preliminary information, the incident occurred at about 8 p.m. (local time)

Any escalation scenario possible in Ukraine conflict — Medvedev

According to the politician, Western nations need to understand that they are fighting on Ukraine’s side

Ukrainian officer says 90% of fellow servicemen have no desire to fight

According to Vyacheslav Khomenko, soldiers in his platoon don’t have required combat experience

Biden’s decision to use ATACMS against Russia may 'blow up in America’s face' — US expert

According to Daniel Davis authorizing US long-range weapons to be used against Russia is "foolhardy to the highest order," "especially because there is no military upside for doing so"

UK delivered dozens of Storm Shadow missiles to Kiev weeks ago — news agency

Bloomberg pointed out that the missiles were sent before the US and UK authorization to use long-range precision-guided weapons to launch strikes from Ukrainian territory deep into Russia

NATO spies study damage from Oreshnik at Yuzhmash — expert

Alexander Stepanov emphasized that both Kiev and its Western allies are closely scrutinizing the consequences of the strike on the plant

German activists demand compensation from Ukraine for Nord Stream explosion

The statement’s authors stressed that blowing up the Nord Stream pipelines was not aimed at Russia alone but "above all, was directed against Germany, its interests, and economy"