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Military operation in Ukraine

Ukraine loses control over Snake Island in Black Sea - border guards

The service said it had lost contact with Ukrainian border guards and servicemen, stationed on the island, which is part of Ukraine’s Odessa administrative region

KIEV, February 25. /TASS/. Ukraine has lost control over its Snake Island, located in the Black Sea near the border with Romania, the state border guards service of Ukraine said on Thursday.

"According to the information that we have, the Snake Island has been seized," the border guards said.

The service said it had lost contact with Ukrainian border guards and servicemen, stationed on the island, which is part of Ukraine’s Odessa administrative region.

Snake Island, also known as Serpent Island, is located approximately 35 km off Ukraine’s Black Sea coast, near the Danube Delta. It played an important role during the International Court of Justice’s hearings regarding the territorial dispute between Ukraine and Romania.

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 in order to protect people "who have been suffering from abuse and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years." The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories.

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Military operation in Ukraine

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Baku cannot turn blind eye to France, India, Greece arming Armenia — President Aliyev

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Moscow court arrests Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov over bribery case

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Biden to sign Ukraine aid bill on April 24

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Most agents at Security Service of Ukraine set on war with Russia — former officer

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Gagauzian leader on unity of Moldova’s opposition, ability to watch Russian TV channels

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US can ship weapons to Ukraine within few days if funding approved — Pentagon

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Modern weapons make up 82% in Russian air defense troops — Shoigu

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Israel retaliates missile launches from Gaza Strip — IDF

A warning had been issued before the attack calling on people to temporarily evacuate from the area

Russia seeks to break down barriers for its food exports — MFA

Sergey Vershinin recalled that Russia suspended its participation in the Black Sea initiative for the export of grain and food due to the fact that it could not be implemented in the original volume

Energy facilities catch fire in Russia’s Smolensk Region following drone attacks

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Roman Starovoit thanked air defense troops and the regional crisis center and cautioned residents against approaching the drone wreckage if found

US expert says more ATACMS won't alter battlefield dynamics in Ukraine

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NATO has no plans to deploy nuclear forces in Poland — Stoltenberg

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NATO makes Russia its neighbor by expanding eastward, Russian envoy says

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Russian envoy, authorities of Afghanistan call for unfreezing of Afghan assets

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Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

US has no idea what to do about Zelensky — Seymour Hersh

According to the journalist, the decision to conduct the operation was made by US President Joe Biden personally, following nine months of discussions with White House national security advisers

Press review: NATO flexes muscles near Russian border and South China Sea runs hot

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, April 24th

West’s unwillingness to give up hegemony escalates tensions in world — security official

According to Nikolay Patrushev, this creates conditions for the devaluation of international law and its institutions and the erosion of the UN's central role in resolving global and regional conflicts

Moscow slams NATO drills near Russian borders as inflammatory

"It is obvious that the upcoming combat training on the territory of Finland is part of a hybrid war against our country," Maria Zakharova said

Press review: Dissecting US aid package to Ukraine and sands of global economy shifting

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, April 22nd

US authorities prepare military aid for Ukraine worth $1 bln — Reuters

The aid package includes vehicles, Stinger man-portable air defense system munitions, HIMARS rockets, 155-mm artillery shells, TOW and Javelin anti-tank missiles and other weapons that could be "used at the battlefield immediately"

Russia presents world’s first hydrogen-fueled luxury car at Innoprom exhibition

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Ukrainian connection to Crocus terrorist attack undeniable — ex-SBU officer

Vasily Prozorov noted that the perpetrators could have been eliminated once they crossed the border

Destroyed TV tower in Kharkov carried Ukrainian air defense coordination device — official

Digital TV signal interruptions are now observed in the city