South Ossetia recognizes independence of Donetsk People’s Republic

The South Ossetian president entrusted the republic’s foreign ministry to establish diplomatic relations with Donetsk

South Ossetia’s President Leonid Tibilov

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Donetsk Eastern Ukraine

Over 35,000 cases of monkeypox detected worldwide — WHO

It is noted that almost 7,500 cases were reported last week

Press review: Putin launches operation to denazify Ukraine and its economic implications

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, February 25th

Russian army’s main clashes in Ukraine are with neo-Nazis - Putin

Russian President stressed that the Ukrainian nationalists were playing the role of the army’s ‘blocking detachments’

Russia-Ukraine talks to begin on Monday morning — source

The reason is the Ukrainian delegation’s logistics, the source said

Turkey reveals prospects for passage of Russian warships through Bosphorus and Dardanelles

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stressed that Turkey has been unhesitatingly complying with the Montreux Convention to this day

West was covering up crimes of Kiev regime that led to Ukraine’s tragedy, Lavrov says

"During this entire period, the population of DPR and LPR was subjected to abuse, perennial shelling on the part of the Kiev regime that openly adopted a course towards Russophobia and genocide," the Russian top diplomat noted

Lavrov tells Cavusoglu Moscow is ready for settlement of Ukraine crisis - Foreign Ministry

Russian Foreign Minister briefs Turkish top diplomat on Russia’s operation in Donbass

Russia-EU contacts not officially severed - diplomat

On Friday, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe decided to suspend Russia from its rights of representation in the Committee of Ministers and in the PACE

Ukrainian crisis was sparked by West’s disregard for neo-Nazis’ crimes — envoy to UN

Vasily Nebenzya stressed that Western countries participating in Sunday’s UN Security Council meeting had "failed to offer a word of compassion to Donbass residents"

Bank of Russia increases key rate by 10.5 pp to 20%

External conditions for the Russian economy have drastically changed, the regulator noted

Russia ready to show what true de-communization means for Ukraine - Putin

Present-day Ukraine was wholly created by Communist Russia, Putin said

Russian delegation arrives in Belarus for talks with Ukrainians

Russian delegation is ready to start talks with Ukraine in Gomel, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov says

France to boost military assistance to Ukraine, toughen anti-Russian sanctions

French President Emmanuel Macron is determined to take "measures to freeze financial assets" of Russian public figures on the national level

Surrendered Ukrainian troops confirm Kiev’s plans of massive offensive in Donbass — DPR

The Russian special operation was very timely, Deputy Head of the DPR People’s Militia Eduard Basurin noted

Ukraine’s boats attack ships evacuating Ukrainian troops who surrendered on Snake Island

Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov added that the boats could have been directed by US drones

UN unable to create conditions for Russian delegation’s arrival to Geneva event - diplomat

This is a response from the UN secretary general, Maria Zakharova said

Residential building in Kiev hit by air defense missile - Russian Defense Ministry source

According to the source, following the loss of the Gostomel airstrip, the Ukrainian military relocated three Buk-M1 launchers in order to reinforce the defense of the Zhulyany airport

Zelensky accepts Putin’s proposal, ready for peace talks

According to his press secretary Sergey Nikoforov, consultations are underway about the place and time of the negotiations

Putin orders "special service regime" in Russia’s deterrence force

Russian President stressed that the Western countries were also taking unfriendly actions against Russia in the economic sphere

Kiev regime’s leaders to be inevitably punished - Russian Defense Ministry

The civilian population is not at risk, the Defense Ministry said

Lukashenko says Putin promises he would regard attack on Belarus as attack on Russia

The Belarusian leader pointed out that NATO was quickly building up forces on the border with Belarus in Poland and in the Baltic countries

FSB prevents terrorist attack in Russian Kaluga Region

It was plotted by order of the Islamic State terrorist organization

Ukrainian troops use Grad systems to shell settlement in LPR

20 missiles were fired

Russian defense ministry reports losses among Russian troops during special operation

Konashenkov also said that several Russian soldiers have been taken prisoner

Israel’s prime minister offers Putin mediation on Ukraine — Kremlin

The phone conversation was held at Israel’s initiative

Russian diplomat urges G7 countries to assess global damage they caused in past 25 years

These countries created damage "on several continents," Maria Zakharova stressed

Western nations agree to disconnect Russian banks from SWIFT

The United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Canada, the United States, France and the European Commission agreed to impose new "tough financial sanctions" on Russia

Russia may nationalize property of US, EU citizens in response to sanctions - Medvedev

He noted that Russia is being threatened with arrests of assets of Russian citizens and companies abroad - "just like that, without any sanctions," "in a carpet fashion," "out of spite"

Ukrainian garrison at Snake Island surrenders to Russian Armed Forces — Defense Ministry

82 Ukrainian servicemen laid down their weapons and voluntarily surrendered to the Russian Armed Forces

Russia, Ukraine should develop roadmap and reach common position - Russian official

According to Vladimir Medinsky, aide to the Russian President, Russia’s delegation had left for the Gomel region to hold talks with the Ukrainian side

Russian aviation gains air superiority over entire Ukraine — Defense Ministry

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov underscored that "since the beginning of the operation, Russian Armed Forces hit 1,114 objects of Ukrainian military infrastructure

Russian troops welcomed with flags in Ukraine’s Melitopol

The Russian Defense Ministry reassured that Russian troops are not targeting Ukrainian cities, but are limited to surgically striking and incapacitating Ukrainian military infrastructure

Kiev mayor says Ukrainian capital is encircled

Vitaly Klitschko admitted that the capital’s authorities were not in full control of volunteer battalions of territorial defense, who had been provided with weapons

President Lukashenko rules out nuclear weapons in Belarus

According to a report by BelTA, Lukashenko dismissed such speculations as "fakes"

Russia takes control of Zaporozhskaya nuclear power plant, says defense ministry

The workers of the power plant continue servicing facilities

Beijing says Russia doesn’t need China’s military support in Ukraine operation

The Chinese diplomat noted that Beijing’s position on this issue differs from the views of the American leadership

Press review: Why Putin put nuke forces on high alert and liberation of Donbass continues

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, February 28th

Moscow-Kiev talks to begin at 12:00 Moscow time — envoy

According to Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky, the Ukrainian delegation was late due to complicated logistics

Biden says alternative to sanctions against Russia would be Third World War

"Russia will pay a serious price for this short term and long term, particularly long term," the US leader stressed

Russia capable of taking measures to mitigate damage from sanctions - Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov stressed that Russia "has every possibility and potential to do that"

It would be US ‘golden dream’ to have nuclear weapons in Ukraine — diplomat

Maria Zakharova recalled that Italy and many other countries possess the US nuclear weapons but do not have access to them

85% of Serbians will always support Russia whatever may happen - President Vucic

Serbia has always supported Ukraine’s integrity, Serbian President said

Kiev delegation arrives at Belarusian border to negotiate with Russia — president’s office

"The key issue of the talks is an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of troops from Ukraine," the statement reads

Southern Kurils occupied by Russia, Japanese Foreign Ministry official claims

The Japanese authorities have been refraining from the term "occupation" in the recent years, instead preferring to say that "these islands are covered by the Japanese sovereignty"

European Union closes airspace to Russia — document

However, the competent authorities may authorize an aircraft to land in, take off from, or overfly for humanitarian purposes or for any other purpose consistent with the objectives of this regulation

Zelensky hastily fled Kiev, Russian State Duma Speaker claims

"He fled to Lvov with his entourage, where he and his assistance were provided with accommodation," the speaker said

Ukraine suggested Gomel as venue for talks with Russia, Kremlin says

Russia will not suspend the military operation in Ukraine during the talks with the Ukrainian side, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

Russia still has friends in world — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova said in an interview with the Vecher (Evening) with Vladimir Solovyov program on the Rossiya-1

Western policy of sanctions leads to "third world war" - Lukashenko

He stressed that Belarusian high-tech enterprises might help Russia obtain substitutes for Western and Asian microchips

Russian Forces carry out precision missile strike on Ukrainian military infrastructure

Russian Armed Forces destroyed over 800 Ukrainian military infrastructure objects

Ukrainian military shells nine settlements in past 24 hours — LPR mission

The attacks destroyed a home in the town of Pervomaisk, the mission added