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Anti-Russian sanctions

New EU sanctions against Russia to cover energy sectors, visa restrictions

The proposals on sanctions cover the financial sector, transport and ban on export

BRUSSELS, February 24. /TASS/. Leaders of states and governments of the European Union are expected to approve the second package of sanctions against Russia at a summit on Thursday over the military operation in Ukraine and will start working at the next one, which may include particularly the energy sector and visa restrictions, a high-ranked EU representative told reporters on Thursday.

The proposals on sanctions that the European Commission is to present, cover the financial sector, transport, ban on export, energy and visa policy, according to the representative.

Meanwhile, the EU does not yet have a decision on possible cutting Russia off, he said. When asked whether there is a decision to cut Russia off the SWIFT interbank payments system, he said that there is currently the second package of sanctions, adding that EU leaders have to discuss it.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address on Thursday morning that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation. The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories.

When clarifying the developments unfolding, the Russian Defense Ministry reassured that Russian troops are not targeting Ukrainian cities, but are limited to surgically striking and incapacitating Ukrainian military infrastructure. There are no threats whatsoever to the civilian population.

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Sanctions vs. Russia EU

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Invitation of Taliban to Kazan summit depends on all BRICS members — diplomat

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Israeli air force intercepts aircraft that violated country’s airspace — IDF

Other details of the incident are unknown at this point

Iskander crew wipes out up to 80 Ukrainian troops, 12 armored vehicles in Sumy Region

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If Poles 'try to lay hands' on western Ukraine, Minsk will support Ukrainians — Lukashenko

The Belarusian president is certain that Poland pursues its own selfish interests in Ukraine

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"These targets included Houthi offensive military capabilities," the US Central Command said

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Russian forces entrap Ukrainian troops near Lisichansk in LPR — expert

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Iran attacked Mossad headquarters, two Israeli airbases, says chief of General Staff

Iran also attacked radars of anti-missile systems and clusters of Israeli tanks

CERN to lose valuable experience by severing ties with Russia — rector

The decision to keep ties with Russia’s Joint Institute for Nuclear Research is a reasonable one, Gunter Dissertori added

Ukrainian army loses over 20,000 troops during incursion into Kursk Region

According to the Defense Ministry, since the beginning of hostilities in the Kursk Region, the Russian Armed Forces have also destroyed 580 Ukrainian motor vehicles, 165 artillery pieces and 33 multiple rocket launchers

American Abrams tanks vulnerable even to Soviet-era weapons, says expert

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Russian army in Donbass moves at 'unseen pace,' Finnish analyst tells The Washington Post

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Trump thinks Israel should strike Iran’s nuclear facilities

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US administration officials refrain from commenting on the liberation of Ugledar "because it is impossible for them to admit the failure of their plan to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia," Anatoly Antonov said

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According to Kazem Jalali, the document was pre-approved by the presidents of both countries

Russia set to continue helping Lebanon after Israeli attacks — ambassador

Alexander Rudakov noted that Russia recognizes the gravity of the situation Lebanon had encountered, that is why the humanitarian aid was provided to its residents

Gazprom to start construction of high pressure gas pipeline in 2025

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Russian army takes operational control of all roads to DPR's Kurakhovo — official

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Israeli forces eliminate Hezbollah communications chief — IDF

According to the IDF, Mohammad Rashid Sakafi "was responsible for the communications unit since 2000"

Russia’s liberating Ugledar allows for encirclement of Kurakhovo — expert

The Russian forces liberated Ugledar on October 3

NASA astronaut Dyson views her flight with Russian cosmonauts as privilege

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Ukrainian incursion into Kursk Region aimed to provoke Russia’s tough response — FSB chief

"Without improving the Ukrainian army’s situation in Donbass, this act was meant from the start to provoke Russia to react in a disproportionately tough way and to eliminate any grounds for settling the conflict in the near future," Alexander Bortnikov explained

Friendly countries showing interest in Russian analog of Starlink — minister

Maksut Shadaev expressed hope that the constellation would have the huge export potential

Ukrainian forces try to slow Russian advance near liberated Ugledar — analyst

On Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the liberation of Ugledar from the Ukrainian military

Ukrainian snipers in Ugledar worked under NATO techniques — sniper

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"We are talking about very serious charges," Philippe Vanlangendonck pointed out

US played key role in ousting Ukrainian president in 2014, researcher says

Jeffrey Sachs noted that the course of NATO expansion to Ukraine and Georgia was adopted by US President George Bush Jr. back in 2008

US fans flames in Middle East by not condemning Israeli actions — Lavrov

"When Israel launched its ground invasion of Lebanon in the early hours of October 1, the United States administration did not condemn in any way this act of aggression against a sovereign state," the top Russian diplomat noted

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"For our part, we expect that the DPR will be liberated in the foreseeable future as part of efforts to achieve the goals set by the Russian president," Denis Pushilin noted

Conflict US escalating with Russia may 'destroy the entire world' — Tucker Carlson

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The Russian Defense Ministry also posted footage showing the destruction of the targets

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"If Israel takes more action, we will give a tougher response," Kazem Jalali pointed out

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"They prefer not to appear because of the continuing investigation," Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya added

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US President added that provided that Iran has "proxies as irrational as Hezbollah and the Houthis, it’s a hard thing to determine"

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Romanian military claims Russian drone fragments found on their territory

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Provocations against Belarus draw Baltic states, Poland into conflict, says FSB chief

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Anatoly Antonov also said he had tried to explain the essence of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposed amendments to the Russian nuclear doctrine to officials in the White House and the Department of State

Lavrov sees US trying to 'insert' itself into Afghan peace process

The foreign minister emphasized that Russia has been consistently pursuing "a line to assist in solving the numerous ongoing problems of Afghanistan, developing for this purpose both the Moscow Format and the mechanism of meetings of neighboring countries"

Trump says US will go to hell if he loses presidential election

The US will hold a presidential election on November 5

Ukraine's losses: situation in Kursk Region

Russian troops started demining the territories of the Kursk Region

Japan set to continue course toward peace agreement with Russia, new PM says

At the same time, Shigeru Ishiba stressed, Japan will continue with its sanctions pressure on Russia and support to Ukraine

US prevents UN Security Council from adopting statement on Nord Stream — Russian envoy

Vasily Nebenzya noted that interference from the West does not reduce Russia's determination to establish the truth

Rossiya airline to restart flights to Havana in October

The airline is also flying from Moscow to Cuba’s Varadero resort

If US moves to resume nuclear tests, Moscow will respond in kind — Russian diplomat

Ryabkov said Russia withdrew the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in November 2023 because it "ran out of patience"

Russia delivers 29 strikes at Ukrainian military, energy sites over week

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 3,000 casualties on Ukrainian troops in its area of responsibility in the borderline Kursk area and the Kharkov Region over the week, the Defense Ministry reported

Israeli military reports delivering strike on school used by Gaza radicals

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Putin open for meeting with Biden, but no talks on this issue as of yet — Kremlin

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Russia joins World Bank’s B-Ready project despite West’s opposition — executive director

Roman Marshavin commented on the WB’s publication of the first report within the B-Ready project that replaced the annual study Doing Business, which was canceled in September 2021 due to allegations of impropriety

West’s ‘Ukraine project’ deals mortal blow to global security — Russian diplomat

"It is obvious to us that the enemy will be defeated and victory will be Russia's," Anatoly Antonov said

Removal of Taliban from list of terrorists already decided by Moscow — Russian envoy

Russian authorities just need to bring the process in line with federal laws, Zamir Kabulov explained

Israel orders urgent evacuation for residents of Beirut neighborhood

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee published a satellite image of the district, pinpointing a building allegedly used by Hezbollah for military purposes

Missile engine blast at testing site in northern Russia kills two

A rise of the radiation level was registered

Uganda gives US ambassador three days to leave country

According to Ugandan Armed Forces Commander Muhoozi Kainerugaba, William Popp engaged in activities that are inconsistent with his diplomatic status

Press review: Israeli reprisal against Iran looms and Iraq bets on Russia amid US exit

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, October 3rd

Russia invites UN secretary-general to attend BRICS summit in Kazan

According to the statement, the UN expects that important agreements will be reached at the summit and that it will "give the necessary forward momentum to ensure that the goals set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" are implemented

Hezbollah intelligence chief could be in bunker attacked by Israel — report

The Ynet news website reported that the IDF dropped 73 tons of bombs on Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters

EU’s economic course is 'cold war' — Orban

"The economic cold war is very dangerous for Hungary because it hits us in the first instance, our export-oriented economy," the Hungarian prime minister said

West destroying Russian projectiles over Ukraine would involve US in war — Pentagon

Washington believes that Kiev can defend itself, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said

About 20 Israeli servicemen killed or wounded on Lebanese border — Hezbollah

According to the the Shia organization’s official spokesman, Shia militiamen planted explosive devices along the enemy’s planned route and later blew them up from a distance

Kim Jong Un says North Korea to use nuclear weapons if attacked

In DPRK leader’s words, the threatening rhetoric by hostile countries will not stop North Korea’s military buildup

Russia says its drone destroyed Ukrainian fighters in Kursk Region

The effectiveness of the missile strike is confirmed by live-recording footage, according to the ministry

Europe's military potential inferior to Russia's — Stoltenberg

Jens Stoltenberg complained that the European countries now had too few weapons, equipment and soldiers in a state of high readiness for a potential conflict

If Israel, US go to war with Iran, serious global crisis to follow — Turkish expert

Abdullah Agar said that Israel has received clear reasons for a strike on Iran together with the US, which until now "supported Israel only in the context of the principles and concepts of defense"

Russia's warning has been heard in most Western capitals — intelligence chief

Sergey Naryshkin pointed out that speculations about the possibility of crossing Russia's red lines on the issue of strikes with long-range Western weapons was a great delusion

Russia ready for long-term confrontation with US — Deputy Foreign Minister

"We are sending warning signals to our opponent so that they don’t underestimate our determination," Sergey Ryabkov said

Israeli military issues new evacuation warning for Beirut suburb

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said that people must immediately leave building marked on the map of Choueifat, Al Oumara and neighboring buildings and stay at least 500 meters away from them

Deployment of foreign military bases in Afghanistan unacceptable — Lavrov

"History proves that the projection of power by external players in this region only serves to aggravate its problems," the top Russian diplomat noted

Ukraine’s 'International Legion' includes 18,000 militants from 85 countries — FSB chief

According to Alexander Bortnikov, the continued deployment of foreign mercenaries and militants from international terrorist organizations confirms the West’s determination to crank up the intensity of military actions

Over 220 projectiles fired towards Israel from Lebanon in past day — IDF

No casualties were reported

Turkish leader confirms participation in BRICS summit in Kazan — senior Russian diplomat

According to Sergey Ryabkov, Russia keeps Turkey’s position on Ukraine in mind

UN aware of Russia’s invitation for Guterres to attend BRICS summit — spokesperson

This year, Russia holds the rotating BRICS chairmanship which includes over 200 events and will culminate in the group’s summit in Kazan on October 22-24

Capture of Ugledar to let Russian army successfully operate in Zaporozhye Region — expert

Ugledar is an important logistical hub in the DPR

Handlers from Washington, London prohibit Kiev to conclude peace — FSB chief

On the other hand, "[Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky who has cancelled the presidential election in the country understands himself that he can remain in power only if hostilities continue," Alexander Bortnikov said

BRICS ambassadors express support to Russian presidency in Peru

"The growing clout of BRICS countries in global politics, their successes in the economy, culture and science clearly demonstrate the potential of our nations," Russian Ambassador in Peru Igor Romanchenko said