❗️Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov lashed out at the West for openly abusing the norms of international law against Russia, during his speech at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum.

💬 "The special military operation is being carried out on the basis of Article 51 of the UN Charter, which provides for the right to individual and collective self-defense, of which the UNSC was promptly notified," the top diplomat clarified.

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⚡️ VIDEO: 🇵🇰 Imran Khan arrives at Islamabad Hight Court for his bail hearing under heavy security cover

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🇹🇷 “This is America”: Turkish interior minister accuses US of meddling in Turkish elections

💬 “Everyone in this country already knows this, US President himself declares this. The attack on Muharrem Ince ... it is clear where it came from, it is clear where it was coordinated. This is America. In recent days, Biden has stepped up his people in Turkiye,” Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said in an interview.

Ince, a third-party contender in Turkiye’s presidential election, announced on Thursday that he was withdrawing from the race three days before the vote, pointing to an apparent smear campaign as the reason for his pullout.

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🇷🇺 ‘We’re ready’: Russian soldier on anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive

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📹 Sergey Lavrov points to the West’s cynicism, recounting instances where they have “trampled on” international law themselves

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📹 “Western elites are trying to divide the world”: Lavrov describing the West’s “syndrome of exceptionalism”

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📹 Russian troops capture Ukrainian defense post in Donetsk region

The attacking force was supported by armored units furnished with T-90, T-80, T-72B3 main battle tanks, and BMP-2 IFVs.

Russian troops managed to take control of the Spornoye settlement and a defense post, obliterating dozens of Ukrainian soldiers, machine gun nests, and approaching Ukrainian reinforcements.

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‼️ Islamabad High Court grants bail to Imran Khan in Al-Qadir Trust case for 2 weeks: media

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❗️Latest statements by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

▪️The pumping of weapons into Ukraine by the West will continue, but Russia is prepared for it;

▪️People in the West should know that their governments are pursuing a misguided policy;

▪️Moscow values its relationship with Ankara, as it maintains a sovereign position;

▪️Encroachments on Russian property abroad are unacceptable;

▪️It is necessary to implement the second part of the Black Sea grain deal, which requires the West to ease restrictions on Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports, to extend the initiative;

▪️Moscow rejects accusations of Turkish presidential candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu: Russia does not interfere in the domestic affairs and elections of other states.

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Catch our Fault Lines show where we provide updates and analysis on all the most vital stories! Here's our line-up for today:

🔺To kick things off, we’ll be discussing the crisis at the border where Title 42 expires as well as the upcoming Turkish elections
🔺Next, we’ll cover the situation in Pakistan where Imran Khan’s supporters protest his arrest
🔺Finally, we’ll speak about Nina Jankowitz suing Fox News and more banks falling victims of bank runs

More trending stories coming your way! Tune in to Radio Sputnik at 7am EST|4am PST|12pm CET via the website or app!

📻Also in the United States at 105.5FM, 104.7FM, 102.9FM, 1390AM, 1140AM

What can happen at US southern border post Title 42?

There was a torrent of warnings as to what would follow once the public health emergency order known as Title 42 expired, with dire forecasts made by a spate of Republican governors, while Texas border cities declared a state of emergency, bracing for a tsunami of illegal immigration.

Sputnik explores a number of possible immediate scenarios that might unfold

❗️Russian MoD briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️In the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces destroyed up to 60 Ukrainian troops, one armored fighting vehicle, two Grad MLRS combat vehicles, one Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer, and a US-made M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzer;

▪️In the Krasny Liman direction, Russian forces neutralized up to 75 Ukrainian personnel, three armored fighting vehicles, an Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer, and one D-20 howitzer;

▪️In the western part of Artemovsk, assault detachments continued to fight to seize city blocks;

▪️In the Soledar tactical direction, the enemy carried out offensive actions along the entire line of contact between the sides, stretching more than 95 kilometers. UAF units launched 26 attacks, in which more than a thousand servicemen, up to 40 tanks, as well as other military and special equipment were involved. All attacks by the UAF were repelled;

▪️In the Maloilyinovka direction, Russian forces neutralized up to 540 Ukrainian personnel, eight tanks, and more than 20 other armored vehicles;

▪️In the Donetsk direction, Ukrainian losses amounted to over 900 Ukrainian troops, more than 30 armored vehicles, two D-30 howitzers, as well as one British-made L-118 howitzer;

▪️In the South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, Russian forces destroyed over 110 Ukrainian troops, one tank, one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, and one fuel storage;

▪️In the Kherson direction, Russian troops neutralized up to 40 Ukrainian servicemen, one armored fighting vehicle, and one Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer;

▪️Air defenses shot down a Su-27 aircraft, three HIMARS and Uragan projectiles, and 25 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in the LPR, DPR, and Kharkov region.

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Russians' trust in Putin over 80%, with 77% performance approval rating, poll reveals

According to a VTsIOM poll, 80.9% of Russians responded with a 'yes' to the question about their direct trust in the Russian president, while 15.1% answered in the negative. In addition, 77.1% of citizens approve of Putin's performance as president, while 14.1% disapprove.

The poll was conducted from February to May 2023 among 1,600 people aged 18 and over. The sample was based on a complete list of telephone inquires across the Russian Federation.

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📹 Russian assault troops sharpen their prowess in special military op drills

On the training ground, soldiers hone their tactical skills in various types of combat
▪️capturing a defense point;
▪️actions of small groups in urban combat;
▪️interaction with armored units, infantry fighting vehicles, and artillery.

During the exercises, soldiers perform shooting exercises using various small arms, such as Kalashnikov assault rifles, Dragunov sniper rifles, machine guns, and grenade launchers.

All classes are held under the guidance of experienced instructors who share their combat experience gained during the special military op.

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#SputnikInfographic 🥞 Pancake index: Where is it cheapest to make pancakes amid mounting inflation in the West?

Check out Sputnik's infographic.

Take that, Big Mac index!

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Zelensky's office has denied claims that the Ukrainian president wanted to address the Eurovision audience

Sad, because Zelensky is probably just what today’s Eurovision contest needed 😏

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📹 Russian Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer strikes Ukrainian troops

Airborne troopers' drone crews discovered platoon strongholds of Ukrainian nationalists in a forest area. Coordinates of the AFU positions were promptly transmitted to artillerymen of the Tula airborne unit.

Airborne artillerymen accurately destroyed enemy motorized infantry units in equipped shelters by firing from closed firing positions.

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