❗️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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🎙 Today's episode of the #AfroVerdict podcast features South African activist Motushi Kamanga, who has promoted a petition for bringing "the Star of Africa" diamond, which is incorporated into the Crown Jewels of the UK, back to the continent.
Kamanga clarifies what the diamond means to South Africans, and shared his take on the "Catch-22" regarding how the continent’s world-famous gem ended up in the United Kingdom.

⚡️Musk appoints Linda Yaccarino CEO of Twitter

🗣️”I think this is a very, very ominous escalation. And it speaks to the fact that the US is both desperate, but also increasingly dangerous and aggressive as it tries to increase the kind of force projection that it is bringing into theater”: scholar, educator and journalist KJ Noh speaks about Japan considering opening a NATO office in the country and how that would affect the geopolitics of the region as the US pursues a conflict with China

🎧Listen to more of Noh’s analysis in our podcast By Any Means Necessary

Video of a fire in Lugansk after an explosion that may have been a result of a missile attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

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🎥 Russian Lancet kamikaze drones vs. Ukrainian artillery: Watch how NATO and Ukrainian military equipment is destroyed

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🗣️”The unwillingness of Ukraine to negotiate with Russia, which is being supported in that by the United States, is in fact undermining the long term prospects of Ukraine. It might actually lead to what you were talking about: the absorption or ultimate defeat of Ukraine”: Prof. Nicolai Petro, professor of Political Science at the University of Rhode Island, speaks about why the West does not want peace in Ukraine

🎧Listen to more of Petro’s analysis in our podcast The Critical Hour

⚡️🇵🇰 Ex-Pakistan PM Imran Khan issues new video address, alleges he was abducted by country’s authorities and calls on supporters to renew protests🪧

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From Avangard to Zircon: how far do Russian missiles fly?

Russia's arsenal includes the Kinzhal, Avangard, Bulava, Sarmat, and Zircon missiles, each with unique capabilities and strategic purposes. These advanced weapons systems have been developed in response to the US's withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002 and its pursuit of missile defense and strike capabilities.

What are the capabilities of the Kinzhal and other major missile systems in Russia’s arsenal?

Sputnik explains

What are Storm Shadow missiles and how can Russia defeat them?

The recent escalation in the NATO-Russia proxy war in Ukraine involves the UK's delivery of long-range Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Kiev. Storm Shadow missiles are air-launched cruise missiles with a range of up to 250 km for the export version and up to 560 km for the domestic variant.

They are more potent than the missiles previously supplied to Ukraine, such as HIMARS rockets. The UK's decision has raised concerns and received a negative response from Russia, which warns of an adequate response.

Russia could target the missiles, air bases, or Ukraine's remaining inventory of fighters and bombers, and may further strengthen its missile defenses. Detecting and targeting the Storm Shadow missiles would be crucial, and Russia's layered anti-aircraft and anti-missile defenses, such as the S-400 and S-300 systems, would play a significant role in countering them.

How do they differ from missiles already supplied to Ukraine? Sputnik explains.