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Military operation in Ukraine

Swedish mercenary tells DPR court that he paid $700 for Ukrainian citizenship

Mathias Gustafsson said that he decided to move to Ukraine about two years ago, actually moving last summer

DONETSK, August 15. /TASS/. Swedish mercenary Mathias Gustafsson told the court on Monday that he had paid $700 for help in obtaining Ukrainian citizenship.

The judge read out files of the case, which said that in December 2021, Gustafsson contacted a lawyer in Kiev, on the recommendation of a lawyer who taught at the university, who promised to help him obtain Ukrainian citizenship for a monetary reward.

Gustafsson said that he decided to move to Ukraine about two years ago, actually moving last summer. On February 23, he arrived in Mariupol, where he got acquainted with Ukrainian naval officers.

On Monday, the DPR reviewed the cases of five foreign mercenaries. Three of them, including Gustafsson, could face the death penalty, the judge said.

They are accused of committing crimes under several articles of the DPR Criminal Code. Namely, they are accused under Article 232 ("Receiving training for the purpose of committing a crime under Article 323"), Article 323 ("Forcible seizure of power or forcible retention of power"), and Part 3 of Article 430 ("Participation of a mercenary in an armed conflict or warfare"). For this, they may face a possible death sentence.

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Military operation in Ukraine

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Pentagon doesn’t see any signs that Russia prepares to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine

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Russian UAVs strike Zaporozhye infrastructure — official

The Russian Armed Forces carried out the attack at night

Pentagon official admits US arsenals shrinking amid Ukraine, Mideast crises

Сommander of United States Indo-Pacific Command Samuel Paparo emphasized he was speaking about "the stocks of the United States of America, and the high end capabilities of the United States of America"

Starship completes its sixth test flight

The spacecraft spend about an hour in flight before splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico

Repair of damaged cable in the Baltic Sea to start next week — operator

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Lawmaker suggest scrapping post of president in Ukraine

Alexander Dubinsky outlined a number of other initiatives as well, including the adoption of the law on foreign agents, similar to the ones currently in force in the European Union and the United States

Six European countries accuse Russia of allegedly attacking security architecture

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Giving Kiev Taurus missiles tantamount to declaring war on Russia — German politician

Sahra Wagenknecht pointed out that the US decision to strike deep into Russia is another step towards a major war

UK police say no video evidence of Russians’ involvement in Salisbury case

According to the report, CCTV cams were not installed on Christie Miller road in Salisbury

Turkey ready to continue mediatory efforts toward settling Ukrainian crisis — Erdogan

"Ukraine is our neighbor. Russia is our neighbor too," the Turkish leader noted

Russian, US presidential spokespersons not contacted since Obama presidency — Peskov

At the same time, the Kremlin spokesman said he did not have a chance to communicate with Donald Trump and Joe Biden’s press secretaries

US Congressman urges to impeach Biden for allowing strikes deep into Russia

"By authorizing long range missiles to strike inside Russia, Biden is committing an unconstitutional Act of War that endangers the lives of all US citizens," Thomas Massie said

Russia must be able to defend itself — Erdogan on revised nuclear doctrine

The Turkish leader reiterated that "both Russia and Ukraine are Turkey’s neighbors"

US is now at war with Russia, Ritter says

According to former US intelligence officer Scott Ritter, the United States "is a direct party to the invasion and occupation of Russian soil," because it helped Kiev plan its incursion into the Kursk Region

Washington refrains from naming those responsible for Baltic Sea cable rupture — DoS

Two underwater cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea on November 17 and 18

Trump nominates Linda McMahon as US education secretary

She served as US Administrator of the Small Business Administration during his previous tenure, to the post of the education secretary

NATO enters conflict, Russia has every right to attack its targets now — expert

Col. (Ret.) Lawrence Wilkerson confirmed to TASS that the launch of ATACMS missiles would be impossible without "US/NATO satellite feeds and/or personnel"

More than 5 drones attack industrial enterprise in Russia’s Voronezh Region — governor

According to Alexander Gusev, firefighters and other emergency management services are working at the scene

US to keep sharing intel with Ukraine for operations against Russia — official

US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller was commenting on Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks about direct American involvement in strikes on Russian territory

Strikes on Ukrainian military sites to prevent launch of missiles — Russian lawmaker

According to Andrey Kartapolov, Russia "will definitely" respond to such a decision by Western countries

Pentagon confirms that US authorized use of antipersonnel landmines in Ukraine

Ukrainian side had committed to not using the mines in areas populated by civilians

Potential adversaries, criteria for use: Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine

Russia will also engage in nuclear deterrence against those countries that offer their territory, maritime zones, airspace, and resources for aggression against it

New doctrine means Russia can use nuclear weapons in Ukrainian conflict — analyst

"This document means a lot for the Ukrainian conflict," Vladimir Zharikhin noted

Putin proclaims Odessa Russian city, challenges Ukraine's historical narrative

At the same time, the president noted that once upon a time "Vladimir Lenin gave away the whole of Ukraine when he created the Soviet Union"

Russia’s special military operation to continue — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, the special military operation is taking longer because it started against the Kiev regime and is continuing as a war between Russia and NATO

Area near US base in northeastern Syria comes under shelling attack — TV

The Sham FM radio station reported earlier that explosions were heard in the area, which could be a missile strike

Netanyahu arrives in Gaza, offers $5 mln for each released hostage

"The choice is in your hands, but the result will be the same," the prime minister said

US-made projectile strikes to destroy ties between Moscow, Washington — Duma speaker

Vyacheslav Volodin added that these weapons "may cause damage but it will not change the situation on the battlefield"

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

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Training Ukrainian troops makes France direct participant in combat — top Russian diplomat

"The same goes for talk about using French-made SCALP missiles [in Ukraine] which are identical to the UK’s Storm Shadow," Sergey Lavrov noted

Zelensky presents 10-point plan about country's future to Rada, omits several key points

The plan’s ten points are unity, the front, weapons, finance, energy, security, local governance, human capital, "cultural sovereignty," and social assistance to the military

West’s decision on missile strikes gives Russia free hand to attack NATO bases — expert

According to Dmitry Suslov, retaliatory measures may include the handover of more advanced weapons to the forces "that are directly fighting against the US, particularly, in the Middle East"

Moscow’s response to strikes with Western arms on Russian soil to be felt — diplomat

The New York Times reported on November 17 that US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of US-supplied ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles for strikes inside Russia

Lavrov says Von der Leyen's logic about 'cheaper' US gas doesn't hold water

The Russian foreign minister noted that the European Commission president "believes that buying Russian gas is politically expensive because you are not earning the right political reputation for yourself"

Russia could deploy new weapons if Ukraine hits Russia with US missiles, warns senior MP

"It is not out of the question that new weapons systems, which have not yet been used against Ukraine, could be employed," Vyacheslav Volodin said

Russian president to visit India — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that preparations for the visit which is of a great significance for Moscow will kick off soon

Ukraine admits responsibility for Odessa missile incident where civilians injured

Ukrainian blogger Anatoly Shary commented on the statement by saying that Ukraine’s air force officials only agreed to recognize this because "the media started posting photos of Patriot wreckage"

FACTBOX: What is known about Russian nuclear deterrence policy

The first Russian nuclear doctrine was ratified and published by decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 21, 2000