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Finnish military says it is impossible to down drones near Russian border — Yle

There have been multiple reports of UAVs being spotted within Finland and its airspace

STOCKHOLM, May 4. /TASS/. Finnish military officials have expressed the view that shooting down drones that have entered the country’s airspace near the Russian border is currently unfeasible, according to the Finnish Armed Forces as reported by Yle. They explained that the drones were not intercepted because the incident took place close to Russia’s border. "In peacetime, it is not possible to intercept drones at the border or in the airspace of another country," the Armed Forces stated.

On May 3, two drones entered Finnish airspace, prompting heightened security concerns. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo addressed the issue of Ukrainian drones flying over Finland during a meeting with Vladimir Zelensky, emphasizing that violating airspace is unacceptable, even for defensive measures.

There have been multiple reports of UAVs being spotted within Finland and its airspace. Finnish activist Sally Rayski, who has relocated to Russia, told TASS that residents were shocked by the falls of Ukrainian drones. Meanwhile, Finnish authorities maintain that the situation remains under control and continue to call on the public to support Ukraine.

Ukraine’s Rada members fear defense procurement is at risk due to 'Mindich audio files'

MP Irina Gerashchenko is calling for a parliamentary committee on national security to summon Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov, along with representatives from Fire Point

Death toll in Oklahoma shooting rises to 12 — TV

According to the TV channel, the shooting occurred at a gathering of young people near Lake Arcadia

Moscow rejects US citizenship imposed on Russian diplomats’ children — spokeswoman

Maria Zakharova says Russia will demand from Washington "confirmation in each specific case that the newborn is not subject to US jurisdiction"

La France Insoumise founder Melenchon announces his presidential bid

According to the official, his key rival will be a candidate from the National Rally far-right party

Israel, US attack amusement park in central Iran

No information on casualties or damage has been reported yet

Putin to deliver important address at VIctory Day parade on May 9 — Kremlin spokesman

We expect that the president's address at the parade will be an important one, as always, he said

Russia may come up with new initiatives on WMD-free zone in Middle East

Permanent Representative to international organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov says that Israel rejects the idea of joining the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty but demands that other countries of the region fully comply with it

Defeat in November elections to force Trump to toughen stance on EU, NATO — media

According to the source, Donald Trump could take such steps to regain the support of his core electorate

Trump’s Project Freedom to inform seafarers about safe lanes, no escort planned — Axios

Correspondent Barak Ravid says, citing an official, that US Navy ships will be ‘in the vicinity’ to prevent a possible Iranian attack on commercial ships moving through the strait

Some 15,000 US servicemen to take part in Operation Project Freedom — CENTCOM

The US Central Command says that over 100 land and sea-based aircraft will also be used

IN BRIEF: What we know about aftermath of Ukraine’s attacks on Bryansk Region

Ukrainian troops shelled Miratorg’s territory using Grad systems and wounded seven employees

Iran capable of sending US warship, forces to ‘graveyard’ — supreme leader’s adviser

Mohsen Rezaei has called the United States "the only pirate in the world that possesses aircraft carriers"

Tanker comes under attack off UAE coast — UKMTO

According to the authority, all crew was reported safe, no environmental impact has been reported

Russian forces gaining foothold in east of Rai-Aleksandrovka in Donetsk region

Russian forces are also engaged in battles in areas near the settlements of Stary Karavan and Brusovka on the way to the key waterway, Denis Pushilin said

US military aircraft struck by Iran makes it to Kuwait — TV

Iran also fired at two US UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters conducting a search and rescue operation

Russia’s ZALA UAVs destroy Ukraine’s Leopard tank with lancet loitering munition

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that ZALA UAV operators quickly detected enemy equipment being transported to the line of contact behind enemy lines

Kellogg advises Trump to forge new military ties with Europe by creating 'new NATO'

The former presidential envoy for Ukraine noted that the military bloc, which originally consisted of 12 countries, now includes 32 states and is therefore a "very bloated architecture"

Bolivarian Alliance condemns US threats of use of force against Cuba

ALBA appealed to the US government to engage in dialogue without threats and conditions

Putin appoints Fyodor Shchukin acting head of Dagestan

The Russian head of state approved the candidacy of Shchukin for the post of the head of Dagestan at a meeting with Dagestani officials on April 30

Russia testing new Shturmovik ground drone in special military operation in Ukraine

Drone Force Aero also noted that the drone is equipped with a fiber-optic communication line

Russia to view F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine as threat in nuclear sphere — Lavrov

"During combat operations, our military will not be clearing out whether or not each particular jet of this class is equipped to carry nuclear weapons," the minister added

US troop buildup near Iran not sign of any new decisions — White House

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28

Russian defense minister congratulates troops on liberating Sumy's Miropolye

Andrey Belousov thanked the personnel for remaining faithful to the Motherland and their oath

Roscosmos invites NASA chief to Russia

The US Senate unanimously voted to appoint Nelson to the post of NASA chief in late April

Iran to view US interference in Strait of Hormuz navigation as ceasefire violation

Ebrahim Azizi, the head of the Iranian parliament’s national security committee, says that the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf management will not be based on "delusional posts" of the US president

Two more drones taken down en route to Moscow — Mayor

First responders are working at the crash site

Tehran’s proposals do not include 15-year enrichment pause — news agency

The proposals also do not include the opening of the Strait of Hormuz before the sides reach the final peace deal

FACTBOX: Aftermath of Ukrainian drone attack on Russian regions, building hit in Moscow

A drone struck a building on Mosfilmovskaya Street in Moscow, there are no casualties

NATO forces intercept missile presumably launched from Iran — Turkish Defense Ministry

According to the ministry, "all necessary measures are being taken decisively and without hesitation against any threat directed at Turkey's territory and airspace"

Israel to channel $119 bln to develop its own weapons production in 10 years — PM

Simultaneously, Israel will develop groundbreaking Israeli-made aircraft, Benjamin Netanyahu said

US to start operation to evacuate ships locked up in Hormuz on Monday — Trump

The US president called the operation a "humanitarian gesture," pledged any interference "to be dealt with forcefully"

North Macedonia starts purchasing Azerbaijani gas on regular basis — Russian envoy

North Macedonia received gas from Azerbaijan "through the Trans-Anatolian and the Trans Adriatic pipelines, then from Greece via Bulgaria", Moscow’s Ambassador to the Balkan nation Dmitry Zykov said

Ship, crew seized by US transferred to Pakistan for repatriation to Iran — ABC News

Custody of the vessel "is currently being transferred back to its original ownership," CENTCOM specified

US to drop plans to deploy long-range Tomahawk missiles to Germany — newspaper

Christian Moelling, director of the Berlin-based think-tank Edina, told The Financial Times that rotating out American troops stationed in Germany was "less of a problem" than the cancellation of the plan to deploy a long-range strike capability

Corruption probe to lead to major Western officials — Russian diplomat

Rodion Miroshnik emphasized that international corruption in the ‘Ukrainian military program’ remains hidden from the public view

Russian troops closing in on Konstantinovka in Donetsk region — DPR head

The Ukrainian military is trying to withdraw officers from Konstantinovka, a source in Russian defense circles said

US-Israeli strike on humanitarian aid aircraft in western Iran reported

The Civil Aviation Organization of the Islamic Republic called on all international bodies to take appropriate measures in response to this incident

Iran urges ships to refrain from entering Hormuz Strait without Tehran’s permission

Ali Abdollahi warned that any foreign armed forces, especially the US army, would be targeted if they attempted to approach or enter the Strait of Hormuz

EU aid to Ukraine frozen — Borrell

The ex-chief of EU diplomacy said the situation is similar with the approval of new sanctions against Russia

Iran calls on Saudi Arabia to ‘eject’ US troops from region

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressed that Iran respects the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and considers it a brotherly nation

Finland sets up permanent positions, fortifications near Russian border — Security Council

According to the statement, the Finnish Defense Ministry announced plans to conduct exercises in the waters of the Gulf of Finland and the coastal zone between the Virolahti, Hamina and Kotka settlements in the Kymenlaakso region

Kiev could use Swedish satellite for sabotage in northwestern Russia — expert

Alexander Stepanov added that Sweden will likely develop the satellite constellation as part of creating duplicate European military space capabilities

Russian army liberated 13 villages in April — military expert

Andrey Marochko said that five villages were retaken from Ukrainian forces by fighters from Russia’s Battlegroup North

Upper house speaker slams US-Israeli operation against Iran as geopolitical mistake

Valentina Matviyenko emphasized that this intervention has destabilized the Middle East, triggering an energy crisis, yet it ultimately changes nothing

Iran to hit more targets if US attacks Kharg Island — ambassador

Tehran’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Amir Hossein Hosseini also expressed hope that the conflict would be resolved diplomatically

State Department imposes US citizenship on diplomats’ children for pressure — diplomat

Maria Zakharova said that coercive actions against the personnel of Russian diplomatic missions contradict the norms of international law and bilateral agreements, which guarantee immunity from the jurisdiction of the host country

US Navy has no plans to escort commercial ships via Strait of Hormuz — WSJ

According to a source cited by the newspaper, Project Freedom will be a coordination mechanism for countries, insurance companies, and shipping organizations to move traffic through the Strait

Russian army maintains superiority in drone war — Russian commander

Ilya Ivanov specified that it is not just a matter of quantitative but also qualitative superiority

US fighter jet downed over Iran likely conducted strikes on ground targets — media

According to CBS News national security analyst Aaron MacLean, the pilots of the downed fighter had sidearms

Ukraine loses about 1,235 troops in special military operation zone in past day

In particular, Ukraine lost over 175 troops in the area of responsibility of Russia’s Battlegroup North, up to 210 troops in the area of responsibility of Battlegroup West, up to 160 troops in the area of responsibility of Battlegroup South, up to 320 troops in the area of responsibility of Battlegroup Center

Moldova withdraws from Energy Charter Treaty following EU example

Moldova joined the Energy Charter Treaty in 1996

Kiev loses 8,000 soldiers, mercenaries in special op zone over past week — military expert

Ukrainian armed formations suffered the heaviest casualties in the responsibility zone of the Battlegroup Center, Andrey Marochko said

Former New York mayor, Trump's ex-lawyer Giuliani hospitalized in critical condition

Spokesperson Ted Goodman said Giuliani's condition was "critical but stable"

Persian Gulf countries running out of interceptor missiles - Bloomberg

Iran has fired almost 1,200 ballistic missiles and 4,000 Shahed drones at the Gulf states since the start of the war

Further phases of BRICS expansion will follow, says South African president

It is noted that the membership will take effect from January 1, 2024

Ukraine’s Zelensky threatens to attack Moscow with drones on May 9

"Ukrainian drones may also fly during this parade," Vladimir Zelensky said

Iran divides countries into three categories based on use of Strait of Hormuz — TV

According to the TV channel, all states are divided into three categories — "hostile," "neutral," and "friendly"

West’s creation of new military bloc to have negative consequences — DPR leader

Denis Pushilin did not elaborate on the exact effects

Trump says Iran’s new peace proposal is unacceptable

According to the US leader, the campaign against Iran is proceeding very well

Russia expects $2.667 bln in budgetary revenues amid oil prices rise — minister

The Finance Minister noted that "the levels of revenue and under-revenue over the past two months are the same"

Russian army destroyed Ukraine’s nine strongholds built according to NATO standards

According to the report, these positions were located on the southwestern outskirts of Novopavlovka, an essential logistical node for Ukrainian forces near the border of the DPR and Dnepropetrovsk Region

Tanker with Iranian oil change course, heading to China — PTI

The change in the destination of Pin Shun appears to be payment-related, Sumit Ritolia, Lead Research Analyst at Kpler, noted

Putin, Trump express similar assessments of Kiev regime’s behavior in phone call — Kremlin

Their assessments were similar. Basically, it’s hard to imagine different assessments of the Kiev regime’s behavior, he said

Pezeshkian asks global community to judge which side, Iran or US, actually favors dialogue

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian invited the world to judge which side engages in terrorism

Europeans not going to limit US use of NATO bases on continent — Rutte

According to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European countries are taking steps to ensure that existing base agreements are upheld

Russian troops pound Ukrainian army’s transport infrastructure over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted roughly 360 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed five enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

European Political Community summit to address Strait of Hormuz closure

Other subjects to be raised at the summit will be the conflict in Ukraine, including the deployment of UK and French peacekeepers to Ukraine when the conflict there is resolved

Kremlin closely following developments after US airstrikes in Syria

Earlier on February 26, the US carried out airstrikes near the Syrian-Iraqi border

Navigation in Strait of Hormuz stops after Trump’s remarks about conflict settlement

Thus, whereas nine ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz in both directions on Saturday, on Sunday, according to Bloomberg, only two Iranian commercial vessels did this

Poland preparing for large-scale illegal arms imports from Ukraine — police

Polish law enforcement agencies are preparing a special plan codenamed Trident, Adam Radon, head of the organized crime division at the Central Investigation Bureau of the Polish Police, said

Putin: Russia stands for demilitarization of Ukraine

Russian President said he wished the Donbass problem could be settled through talks and the implementation of the Minsk agreements, but "regrettably, this is no longer relevant"

Kiev troops shell DPR 14 times in past day, two killed

Four people were wounded

US move not to deploy missiles in Germany could be positive news for Berlin — politician

Sahra Wagenknecht deemed as "intimidating" the idea that the decision on when to launch such missiles rests with someone like US President Donald Trump

India’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft lands on Moon

According to an ISRO live broadcast, the spacecraft has successfully completed a soft landing on the Moon’s surface

Deportation of draft-age men from Europe unlikely to help Ukraine — Russian official

It won’t save the day for the Ukrainian armed forces, Kherson Region Governor Vladimir Saldo said

Finland is becoming active participant in conflict in Ukraine — Mema

A member of the Finnish national-conservative party Freedom Alliance called Finland's policy destructive

Russia would prefer to achieve goals in Ukraine through peace agreement — Kremlin

Trump said in his latest phone call with Putin on April 29 that a deal on resolving the Ukraine conflict was close

Plane with Spanish premier on board makes emergency landing in Ankara — TV

According to TRT Haber, a technical malfunction was the cause of the incident

Iran may begin mothballing its oil wells next week — US treasury secretary

Oil prices will be lower after the US-Israeli war against Iran is over than they were at the beginning of the year, including due to the United Arab Emirates’ decision to withdraw from OPEC, Scott Bessent said

US still in talks with Iran — Witkoff

US president’s special envoy commented on the state of negotiations

EU preparing for possible energy supply crisis due to conflict in Iran — Spanish newspaper

The EC assures that there is currently no risk to supplies, though markets are feeling the impact of rising Brent crude oil prices, which has led to higher gas and oil prices in Europe

UAE withdraws from Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries

OAPEC thanked the UAE for the role it played during its membership

Poland won't 'take in' US troops being withdrawn from European countries — PM

Donald Tusk stressed that Warsaw refuses to undermine solidarity and cooperation at the European level

Putin sends New Year, Christmas greetings to several world leaders — Kremlin

Among European leaders, he sent greetings only to Viktor Orban and Aleksandar Vucic

Over 50 Ukrainian drones shot down over Russian regions in four hours

On-duty air defenses intercepted and destroyed 52 Ukrainian fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles over the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, Kursk, Oryol, Smolensk, Tula and Moscow regions

US interested in calling on Arab nations to help pay for cost of Iran operation — official

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on February 28

Two US nuclear submarines ‘closer to Russia,’ Trump says

"We always want to be ready", US president added

EPC summit in Yerevan focused on diminishing Russia’s influence on Armenia — expert

Dmitry Sorokin recalled that a special session on the situation in Ukraine was organized during the summit

UK to launch negotiations on taking part in 90-billion-euro loan to Ukraine

The office of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer also promised that new sanctions against Russian companies would be announced later this week

Strait of Hormuz fully controlled by US — treasury secretary

US has blockaded the ships going into or out of Iranian ports, Scott Bessent said

United Airlines plane hits light pole during landing in US — FAA

According to the authority, the plane landed safely

Fico’s visit to Moscow highlights rift in Europe’s attitudes toward Russia — media

The European Conservative noted that Europe is divided over whether to allow the Slovak prime minister’s plane to pass through its airspace

Ukrainian drone attacks industrial facility in Bryansk Region, worker wounded

The worker was admitted to hospital

By rejecting Ukraine’s fast-track accession, EU seeks to turn it into colony — Duma member

The European Union’s deepest desire is unlimited access to cheap Ukrainian labor and the complete bankruptcy of Ukraine’s economy, Leonid Ivlev said

Russia uses surgical strike tactics to force Kiev to send reserves to Sumy — expert

Andrey Marochko emphasized that this Russian tactic has caught the Ukrainian forces off guard

Press review: Trump threatens Iran strikes and Russia says NWFZ plans face hurdles

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, May 4th

France backs US-Iran deal on Strait of Hormuz — Macron

The French president said he is unaware of the details of the US initiative on the Strait of Hormuz

Azerbaijani president accuses EP of undermining peace process between Baku, Yerevan

Ilham Aliyev specified that the European Parliament passed 14 resolutions filled with offensive language against Azerbaijan

Russian MP warns of nuclear proliferation risk if Israel uses nukes against Iran

Alexey Pushkov noted that the question of whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will use nuclear weapons in Iran has been actively discussed on American television in recent days

Oil, gas transit via Ukraine is in Slovakia’s interests — PM

We should raise this topic each time we meet with the Ukrainian political leadership, Robert Fico said

General HQ of Iranian army warns of potentially larger strikes on Tel Aviv

The Iranian military also advised "host countries of US military bases to force the Americans to leave their territory, if they want to avoid damage"