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Military operation in Ukraine

Donetsk leader slams France for hypocritical stance on presence of mercenaries in Donbass

"They will deny and dismiss it all, but once they get the chance, they will say that this was the plan all along," Denis Pushilin noted

MOSCOW, January 22. /TASS/. Paris is showing blatant hypocrisy by denying that there are French nationals fighting for the Ukrainian armed forces, Denis Pushilin, head of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), said.

Earlier, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne claimed that there were no French mercenaries in Ukraine.

"We understand from both intelligence data and developments along the line of contact that there are French citizens fighting on the side of Ukrainian armed units, on a contract basis. However, it’s clear why France is behaving this way, and is unable to acknowledge the fact. Their hypocrisy is the reason. Their laws ban mercenary activities and, if they recognize this [is happening], it would indicate a clear violation of the law," Pushilin told Rossiya-24 television.

He added that the French were acting based on "double standards." "They will deny and dismiss it all, but once they get the chance, they will say that this was the plan all along," the DPR head noted.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported earlier that the Russian Armed Forces had carried out a strike on a temporary base for foreign mercenaries in the city of Kharkov, which had mostly hosted French nationals. The attack killed over 60 fighters and left more than 20 wounded. French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on January 19 that a democratic country could not bar its nationals from voluntarily traveling to Ukraine to fight for Kiev. He stressed that such a ban could only be imposed on career military people and those affiliated with French military institutions.

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France Military operation in Ukraine

Military operation in Ukraine

Russia says Ukraine lost up to 140 troops in battlegroup East’s zone of responsibility

The enemy also lost up a MaxxPro armored fighting vehicle, a Caesar self-propelled artillery unit, a motor vehicle and four fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, said Oleg Chekhov, a spokesman for the battlegroup

Serbia lauds development of bilateral ties with Russia — Serbian parliament

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Putin approves purchase of Russian Elevator Company from French grain trader Louis Dreyfus

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Medvedev says Zelensky's fate won't be pretty if Ukraine faces second Maidan

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Russia-North Korea partnership pact reaffirms their interest in developing ties — Belousov

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Russian diplomat says US won’t stop Russia from accomplishing special operation goals

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Lavrov clarifies Russia's position on Ukraine crisis to foreign diplomats — MFA

"Participants in the roundtable exchanged views on the conflict and other pressing international topics," the ministry stated

Russian troops liberate four communities in Donetsk area, Kharkov Region over week

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Ukraine demolishes buildings with soldiers inside as Russian forces advance — DPR leader

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Ukrainian servicemen abandon military units due to fear of Russian army — official

Kiev is constantly losing control over populated areas because "tens of thousands of tired and desperate Ukrainian servicemen are leaving their positions to flee in an unknown direction," the agency reported

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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

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UK continuing arms supplies to Kiev fraught with conflict of nuclear powers — diplomat

Andrey Kelin noted that "the British have utterly ignored all our warnings and opted for escalatory actions to further worsen the Ukrainian crisis"

Foreign fighters involved in terrorist attacks in Aleppo, Idlib provinces — Syrian army

The Syrian Armed Forces’ General Command warned that "terrorist organizations are spreading misleading information, news and videos on their platforms aimed at intimidating citizens"

Defense Minister notes active expansion of Russia-North Korea military cooperation

"We look forward to close and fruitful cooperation with our Korean comrades," Andrey Belousov said

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"Everything here is much deeper than a decision to send a peacekeeper mission," Dmitry Peskov said

Syrian army eliminates hundreds of terrorists, repelling their attack on Aleppo, Idlib

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Putin apologizes to Merkel over labrador incident

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Leonardo booking system’s functionality restored — Rostec

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Hungarian PM’s office rules out his trip to Moscow for 80th anniversary of Victory

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North Korean leader sees missile strikes inside Russia as Western involvement in conflict

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"Anything is possible, so we have long been prepared for any eventuality," Sergey Andreyev noted

Western analysts describe Russia's Oreshnik as longest-range weapon ever used in Europe

The recent strike on the Yuzhmash missile-producing plant in Ukraine demonstrated Russia’s "real military capability", a nuclear nonproliferation expert at the Middlebury Institute for International Studies said

Welcome to Russia project helps to find spiritual, moral refuge — State Duma deputy

People want to move to Russia to preserve traditional values and maintain their own history, Maria Butina noted

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According to Vladimir Tarabrin, Russia doesn’t want to "expose to danger the lives and health of international experts amid the extensive use of various weapons" along the engagement line

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Mikhail Galuzin described such plans as provocative and noted that they "confirm the West’s intention to continue its profound engagement in a direct standoff with Russia"

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"The Russian side unquestionably holds both the initiative and the advantage on the battlefield," Head of the Polish National Security Bureau Jacek Siewiera said

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Press review: CSTO discusses Russian weapons as US and Russia continue prisoner talks

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, November 29th

NATO growing more inclined to freeze Ukraine conflict — Russia’s SVR

"NATO has been unfolding training centers in Ukraine in an effort to train at least 1 million mobilized Ukrainians," the SVR highlighted

Syrian government forces attacking terrorist headquarters in Idlib, Al-Dana — media

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Russia not going to leave strikes deep inside country unanswered — Putin

"As I have repeatedly said, we will always respond," the president emphasized

Ukrainians flee from Kiev regime to regions reunited with Russia — politician

The process, which can today be confidently called the reunification of the Ukrainian people with Russia, began after the 2014 coup, Viktor Medvedchuk stressed

Sending EU troops to Ukraine to make peace settlement impossible — Austrian lawmaker

Harald Vilimsky noted that the joint deployment of European troops will further escalate the security situation in Europe

Russia’s top diplomat slams NATO for discussions of preemptive strikes on Russia

"These claims were made by some admiral. Absolutely reckless. They have a lot of high-ranking military officials who have never even seen real battle," Sergey Lavrov stated

Russia ready for talks with Ukraine on conditions proposed in June — Putin

The head of state held a meeting with the leadership of the Russian Foreign Ministry in June, where he listed the conditions for talks with Ukraine

No turning back on BRICS independent payment system

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Ukrainian forces follow Russian troops’ example to use fiber optics drones, Putin says

The head of state is confident that there will be a quick response from the Russian side

Borrell calls for preventing consolidation of whole world against West

The EU diplomatic chief once again tried to portray Russia as an "imperialist" power that allegedly poses "an existential threat" to the EU, if the EU wishes to achieve victory in Ukraine

Paris grants Netanyahu immunity for Lebanon ceasefire role, French magazine says

The report indicates that shortly after the ICC issued its warrant, Macron had a phone conversation with Netanyahu, in which he acknowledged that Paris was obliged to respect the ICC and cooperate fully

Russia designs Titan rifle for commandos

The rifle is reliable with precise and dense fire

Belarusian President Lukashenko points to 'NATOfication' of Europe, entire world

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Japan's PM reiterates desire to sign peace treaty with Russia

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Kim Jong Un, Russian defense minister discuss development of partnership — KCNA

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IN BRIEF: How Russia responded to Kiev’s strikes deep into its territory

Here are the key points about the strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial facilities

Peacekeepers deployment in Ukraine possible only with consent of all conflict parties

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service said in a statement earlier in the day that the West may seek to achieve its objectives in Ukraine by implementing an actual occupation, deploying a so-called peacekeeping contingent of 100,000 personnel, with plans to divide the country among Romania, Poland, Germany, and the UK

FACTBOX: What to know about attacks of militants on Syria’s government forces

Scholz shares details of talks with Putin, Zelensky says

The conversation between the Russian president and the German chancellor took place on November 15

Kiev troops attempted to kill British mercenary who surrendered to Russians — officer

In his words, they fired conventional 120mm mortar rounds, silent munitions and at least one FPV drone with a fragmentation charge

Unidentified UAVs continue to appear over US Air Force bases in UK — newspaper

On Tuesday, about 60 British military experts were stationed at US airbases across the UK to operate a counter-UAV system to operate a counter-UAV system designed to detect, track and destroy them

Hungary greenlights pouring of first concrete in Paks-2 NPP foundation — MFA

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto noted that in order to approve the construction of Paks-2, some not-so-simple safety measures had to be taken

Putting Oreshnik's in Eastern Russia strategic play to help allies, counter US

According to Alexander Stepanov, the deployment makes sense in a situation where the Pentagon continues to project its military presence on Russia's eastern borders

US mercenary in-absentia arrest, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, Ukraine lost more than 340 troops, an armored personnel carrier, an armored combat vehicle, 12 motor vehicles, an artillery piece and six mortars

Russia says Ukraine lost up to 140 troops in battlegroup East’s zone of responsibility

The enemy also lost up a MaxxPro armored fighting vehicle, a Caesar self-propelled artillery unit, a motor vehicle and four fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, said Oleg Chekhov, a spokesman for the battlegroup

Kremlin considers militants' attack on Aleppo encroachment on Syria's sovereignty

"We urge Syria’s authorities to reassert control and restore constitutional order as soon as possible," Dmitry Peskov stressed

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets with Russian defense minister — KCNA

"Kim Jong Un said that Korea-Russia relations are a strong security mechanism that facilitates the prosperity of the peoples in the two countries, alleviates the situation in the region and guarantees international strategic stability," the news agency said

Oreshnik becomes serious problem for Ukraine — Polish general

According to Waldemar Skrzypczak, satellite reconnaissance failed to detect the launch and flight of this missile

Putin believes that US President-elect Trump’s life may be in danger

Donald Trump survived two assassination attempts this year: one during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July, and the second one in September, when a radical supporter of aid to Ukraine opened fire near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida

Russian scientists to develop computer working at ‘speed of light’ by 2027 — researcher

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Kiev's defeatist rhetoric may be masking planned attacks on Russia — expert

The enemy may be trying to lull us into a false sense of security by saying that their situation is bad, only to hit us by surprise, Andrey Marochko said

Riot police fully clears square in front of Georgian parliament from protesters

The protesters moved up Rustaveli Avenue

Decision-making centers in Kiev could be targeted in Oreshnik strikes — Putin

The Russian leader also mentioned military facilities and defense industry enterprises as possible targets

US funds 'Nazis, maniacs' in Ukraine, Israel — American journalist

Jackson Hinkle also pointed out that the US authorities are no friend of "freedom-loving American patriots"

Ukrainian army says desertion main reason for loss of Ugledar

The Ukrainian officer said that each company in his battalion was supposed to have 120 men, but "due to deaths, injuries and desertions," some companies had as few as 10 soldiers

Romania, Poland, Germany, UK plan to divide Ukraine — Russia's foreign intel

"A total of 100,000 so-called peacekeepers are planned to be sent to Ukraine," the SVR noted

Putin signs law on taxation of digital currencies

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Syria will not let terrorists 'achieve their diabolical goals,' top diplomat pledges

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Russia's opponents see Finland as springboard in case of open conflict — politician

Leonid Slutsky noted that the current and previous leadership of Finland has been and remains engaged "on the lower turn of the sine wave, which is now marked by a sharp cooling of bilateral relations"

Russia weighs resumption of nuclear tests — senior diplomat

"The situation is quite complicated," Sergey Ryabkov said

Design of super-heavy rocket to be finalized based on new technologies — Roscosmos

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