❗️Latest statements by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

▪️London's military assistance to Kiev will only create more difficulties for Ukraine;

▪️Britain's plans to provide additional weaponry to Ukraine will not affect the course of the conflict;

▪️Kremlin strongly disagrees with the words of French President Emmanuel Macron regarding Russia's dependence on China. The relationship between Russia and China is based on strategic partnership rather than dependence on anyone;

▪️The Kremlin is closely monitoring the elections in Turkiye and will respect the choice of the Turkish people.

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Scott Ritter: Ukraine’s ‘counteroffensive’ - myth or reality?

The former US intel officer explains how the standard for measuring Ukraine success on the battlefield is “unrealistically high,” and describes how the US and NATO war with Russia is a “two-way street” in terms of human and economical toll.

💬 “The United States, Germany, and France have all promised to increase the amount of military assistance to Ukraine. The question that remains is when will Ukraine believe it has sufficient forces for the conduct of a successful offensive operation? The answer is more than likely “never,” says Ritter.

Read the rest of his analysis on Sputnik’s website

⚡️An explosion has occurred in the center of Lugansk, and according to preliminary information there are casualties - media reports

‼️An explosion in the center of Lugansk occurred at a barbershop near a local TV building, according to a Sputnik correspondent.

According to preliminary information, due to the explosion in the center of Lugansk, five people were injured, including three in critical condition, as reported by military expert and retired Lieutenant Colonel of the Lugansk People's Republic Andrey Marochko.

The first footage from the barbershop in Lugansk, where the explosion occurred, has emerged

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

▪️In the Kupyansk direction, Russian forces destroyed up to 145 Ukrainian troops, two armored combat vehicles, one D-20 howitzer, and two Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers;

▪️In the Krasny Liman direction, Russian forces neutralized up to 75 Ukrainian personnel, two armored combat vehicles, as well as one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer and one D-30 howitzer;

▪️In the Donetsk direction, Ukrainian losses amounted to more than 235 servicemen, one tank, four armored combat vehicles, as well as a D-20, D-30, and Msta-B howitzer;

▪️In the South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, Russian forces destroyed over 150 Ukrainian troops;

▪️In the Kherson direction, Russian troops neutralized up to 30 Ukrainian servicemen, an armored combat vehicle, and one US-made AN/TPQ-37 counter mortar radar;

▪️Russian air defenses shot down a Ukrainian an Mi-24 and Mi-8 helicopter, one Storm Shadow cruise missile, one HARM anti-radar missile, 10 HIMARS projectiles, and 21 unmanned aerial vehicles in the LPR, DPR, and Kharkov region.

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❗️ The head of the Turkish election commission has officially announced that the second round of the presidential election will be held on May 28

According to the results of the first round after opening 100% of the ballot boxes, Erdogan scored 49.51%, while Kilicdaroglu got 44.88%.

🇨🇳 Chinese President Xi Jinping held a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in late April, after which Beijing announced it would send special representative of the Chinese government on Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, to Kiev and other European countries for consultations on a "political settlement of the Ukraine crisis."

Li Hui, China's special representative for Eurasian affairs, is setting off on a bout of shuttle diplomacy that will take him to five countries – Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Germany, and France.

What can be expected from the high-ranking Chinese envoy's shuttle "peace" tour to Ukraine, Russia, and Europe?

George Soros says he is alive despite rumors in various media that he died of a heart attack

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Kohinoor: Tacking Origins & Historic Journey of World's Most Famous Diamond 💎

Kohinoor, meaning "Mountain of Light," is a precious 105.6-carat diamond which is believed to have been found in a mine near Guntur city of 🇮🇳India's Andhra Pradesh in the 13th century.

But how did it fall into the British hands? 👉 Find out in our explainer

🐕 Meet Bandit, the first infantry dog!

This good boy was found at an abandoned construction site, but was raised and trained by his owner.

Bandit was actually a rescue dog who saved people from drowning, but now, with his invaluable help, he saves his comrades-in-arms, carrying up to 18 kg of ammunition. Bandit helps the Russian troops even more – watch this video to find out why they consider Bandit “the best dog in the world.”

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What do the United States, Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece all have in common?

Our new columnist Pepe Escobar has taken note that the modern-day US looks incredibly similar to heavily debt-addicted oligarchies of the past. By examining the economic systems of Greece and Rome in antiquity, he forewarns of a similar fate befalling today’s US "Empire of Debt", emphasizing the fragility of its present economic system.

Check out the full article

Needing US hires, Norway dubs lack of F-35 mechanics 'declaration of bankruptcy'

Norway's Air Force is facing a severe shortage of mechanics, worsened by the closure of the Bodo air base and the distribution of the F-35 fleet to other stations. The defense minister acknowledges the challenges in recruiting and retaining technical personnel, and temporary measures involve hiring from Lockheed Martin.

The government plans to allocate $5.6 million to secure technicians from aviation schools, but experts warn this won't solve the problem immediately, leaving Norway vulnerable and with too few employees per plane compared to other European countries.

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#SputnikInfographic The Storm Shadow is the most potent NATO missile delivered to Kiev to date, and has a range well beyond the 75 km that the HIMARS rockets that have been delivered in the thousands over the past year.

Sputnik provides an infographic showing the technical characteristics of this weapon.

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Italy's national debt hits new record of $3.04 Trln in March

The previous record was set in February 2023, when Italy's sovereign debt first surpassed 2.78 trillion euros.

"It is a new historic record! This exponential growth raises concern and anxiety, given the increase of the interest rate due to a new restrictive monetary policy by the European Central Bank," Massimiliano Dona, the president of the Italian National Consumer Union, said, commenting on a new report by the Italian central bank.

COVID-19 restrictions led to an increase in Italy's state debt to over 155% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020.

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What is the Lancet kamikaze drone and what makes it so deadly?

The Lancet loitering munition/kamikaze drone has made the news in recent weeks as a game-changing piece of military hardware in the ongoing Russia-NATO proxy war in Ukraine.

Who makes it? What are its characteristics? And have Ukrainian forces come to dread the unmanned aerial vehicle?

Sputnik explores

🗣️”What Kemal Kilicdaroglu is doing is flirting with the US, he’s saying something very attractive by saying 'Look, I am supported by the superpower,' but this superpower is losing its hegemony”: Veteran war reporter Elijah Magnier speaks about the candidates in the Turkish presidential election

🎧Listen to more of Magnier’s analysis in our podcast The Final Countdown