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Military operation in Ukraine

DPR leader does not rule out capital punishment for five mercenaries tried in republic

The next court hearing in their cases is scheduled for October

MOSCOW, August 19./TASS/. The five foreign mercenaries on trial in the Donetsk People’s Republic may face capital punishment, the head of the republic, Denis Pushilin, told the Rossiya-1 TV channel on Friday.

The first court hearing in the cases of the mercenaries was on August 15, he said. "Given the articles under which they are charged, the articles are quite serious, I would not rule out capital punishment as well, but that is for the court to decide," Pushilin said.

All five are accused of participating in combat operations in Ukrainian armed units as mercenaries. Britons Dylan Healy and Andrew Hill, who were taken prisoner at the Ilyich plant in Mariupol and in the Nikolayev Region, refused to cooperate with the investigation and to testify in the case.

A Swedish national, captured at the Azovstal plant, denied the accusation of participating in combat operations in the DPR as a mercenary.

The next court hearing in their cases is scheduled for October.

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Military operation in Ukraine

Military operation in Ukraine

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Russia won’t allow NATO to move closer in Ukraine — Lavrov

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EU plans to invest first profits from Russian assets in military aid to Kiev

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Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian prosecutor general

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Hungary to not intervene in Ukrainian conflict on any side, PM says

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

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At least 16 Syrian troops killed in terrorists’ ambush in east Syria — TV

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Colombian president displays interest in country’s entry into BRICS

Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva welcomed Gustavo Petro’s initiative, "being committed to promotion of Colombia’s candidacy"

Kiev lacks both troops and equipment near Chasov Yar in DPR, says retired general

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Pipeline explodes in Kharkov Region

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Nuclear sites in Iran’s Isfahan province are safe — Tasnim agency

Tasnim refuted foreign media reports about an incident at a nuclear site in Isfahan

French president says creating Israeli-type air defense network for Ukraine impossible

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Russian Aerospace Forces strike five militant hideouts in Syria’s Homs

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Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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Iran has no plans to immediately retaliate to attack on its soil — agency

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Russian military closely monitors all Ukrainian 'novelties' — Kremlin on UAVs

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Press review: Ukraine, Israel vie for EU’s attention and Georgia passes controversial bill

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, April 18th

West frightens voters by 'Russian threat' to win elections — Lavrov

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Lavrov describes Georgia’s bill on foreign agents as 'mildest of all'

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Tehran’s two major airports cancel international flights — Mehr

Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport suspended their operations until 10:30 a.m. local time