🇷🇺 Russia's S-350 Vityaz destroys real target automatically for 1st time

The Russian S-350 Vityaz air defense system has successfully destroyed a real air target using artificial intelligence without human intervention, according to Denis Manturov, the Russian Industry Minister.

This marks the first time an air defense system has achieved such a feat. Earlier in May, the S-350 Vityaz system had performed automatic detection, tracking and destruction of Ukrainian combat aircraft and drones in a special military operation area.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🇸🇾🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia and Syria agree to resume economic cooperation

The agreement was reached at a meeting between Hassan Al-Huwaizi, the chairman of the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce, and his Syrian counterpart, Mohamed El-Lahham, on the sidelines of the Arab-China Business Conference in Riyadh on Monday, Saudi state media reported.

Both Al-Huwaizi and El-Lahham stressed the need to arrange mutual visits by trade delegations, provide opportunities to invest in the countries' economies, hold economic forums and promote bilateral cooperation, the report said. In addition, El-Lahham expressed the desire of Syrian entrepreneurs to do business in Saudi Arabia.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

📈 London Metal Exchange growing more reliant on Russian aluminum as sources from other players dwindle

The proportion of the important industrial metal sourced from Russia rose from 52% in late April to 68% at the end of May, judging by warehouse data of the commodities exchange. The LME, which had been pressured by the West in 2022 to ban deliveries of Russian metal amid the ongoing sanctions campaign targeting Moscow, resisted the calls.

Some leading aluminum producers in the West, like Alcoa Corp., urged the LME to ban the Russian metal from its contract - something that the exchange refused to do. Harvey said it isn’t “sensible” that the rest of the world continues to curtail capacity while Russian producers continue to operate at full capability.

Amid warnings that soaring Russian aluminium stocks in warehouses registered with the London Metal Exchange might ostensibly "distort" the benchmark price for the metal, LME released the inventory figures, underscoring there was sufficient consumer appetite for Russian metal.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

📹 Aftermath of Ukrainian strike on temporary shelter for refugees

Using Storm Shadow/Scalp missiles, the Kiev regime struck the center located in Kherson region's Genichesky district.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🎥 The reconnaissance and strike helicopter Ka-52 "Alligator" flies at an extremely low altitude while navigating the terrain, allowing the crew to pass unnoticed by enemy air defense systems.

The camera of objective control only records hits, prompting the crew to perform an immediate sharp descent and change course.

Video courtesy from Russian MoD

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

📹🇷🇺 Russian forces destroy Ukrainian armored vehicles in the direction of South Donetsk

Russia’s airborne reconnaissance unit, using a UAV, pinpointed a Ukrainian grouping in the forest. As a result of the artillery strike, a Ukrainian tank and infantry fighting vehicles were destroyed.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

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

The Russian Air Force tonight launched group strikes by long-range precision air-based weapons against locations where operational reserves of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were massed, as well as a depot for foreign-made ammunition and weapons The goal of the strike has been achieved.

▪️In the South Donetsk direction, near Artemovsk and in the DPR, an attack by the Ukrainians with tanks and armored fighting vehicles was repelled. Ukrainian losses amounted to 275 troops, four tanks, 15 armored fighting vehicles and one Msta-B howitzer;

▪️To the South of Artemovsk, Russian forces destroyed up to 350 Ukrainian soldiers and destroyed two armored fighting vehicles;

▪️In the Kupyansk direction, the actions of a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group were thwarted. Russian forces destroyed up to 35 Ukrainian troops, one armored personnel carrier and one D-20 howitzer;

▪️In the Krasny Liman direction, Russian forces neutralized up to 60 Ukrainian soldiers, two armored fighting vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery howitzer, one D-30 and one D-20 howitzer;

▪️In the Kherson direction, Russian troops neutralized up to 30 Ukrainian soldiers, one Msta-B howitzer and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery howitzer;

▪️Russian air defenses shot down three Storm Shadow cruise missiles, 10 HIMARS missiles and six unmanned aerial vehicles in the DPR, LPR and Kherson regions.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🇮🇶🇹🇷 Turkiye expects to discover new oil field near border with Iraq

Turkiye is currently carrying out oil exploration in more than 20 provinces, so news about the results can be expected at any time, the newspaper said. Recently, the exploration process has been activated in an area near the village of Baskoy in the Silopi district of Sirnak province near the Iraqi border, Turkish media report.

The Kapikoy-1 exploration well to be drilled will be used to determine the presence and quantity of crude oil reserves, if any, in the Silopi area, the report added. It is also speculated that the discovery could be a windfall for Turkiye, as Iraq is known to have huge oil reserves.

In May, Turkish President Erdogan announced the discovery of an oil field near Cizre with a daily production rate of 100,000 barrels in May. Another field with estimated reserves of 150 million barrels, worth $12 billion, was found in southeastern Turkiye in December.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️LIVE NOW: Vladimir Putin holds meeting with war correspondents

❗️In response to a question about whether the goals of the special operation have changed, Putin stated that while the goals may adapt to the current situation, they fundamentally remain the same. This means that the objectives of the special operation are of great importance and will not be altered easily.

Putin emphasized that the goals are crucial and will remain a top priority despite any challenges or changes that may arise. He indicated that the special operation is a critical part of a larger strategy and cannot be compromised.

❗️Russia is gradually and methodically engaged in the demilitarization of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian military-industrial complex will soon cease to exist, said Putin

❗️Putin stated that Ukrainian losses amount to 25-30% of the equipment that was supplied to them from abroad

❗️If shelling from Ukraine continues on Russian territory, Moscow will have to consider the creation of a "buffer zone" in Ukraine to prevent them from reaching Russian territory, Putin said.

📹 Crews manning Russia’s Msta-S self-propelled artillery guns wiped out a temporary deployment point and platoon stronghold of the Kiev regime’s army, eliminating as many as 20 Ukrainian servicemen in the direction of Zaporozhye in the process, military officials said.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️ Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statements on the course of the special military operation:

▪️Ukrainian military fails in all four directions of counteroffensive, suffers heavy casualties;

▪️Ukraine responsible for tragedy at Kakhovka HPP;

▪️Russia did not see large blasts at Kakhovka HPP, but Ukraine purposefully targeted it with HIMARS missiles, maybe something was planted there;

▪️Russia lost 54 tanks in Ukraine, some of them may be repaired;

▪️Ukraine's losses amount to 25-30% of equipment volume delivered to from abroad;

▪️Ukraine lost at least 160 tanks and 360 armored vehicles during counteroffensive;

▪️Defense industry of Ukraine will completely cease to exist soon, they import all weapons;

▪️Russia gradually engaged in demilitarization of Ukraine;

▪️Russia did not exert influence on Ukraine, tried to seek normal relations;

▪️Russia will never accept current situation in Ukraine, as Russia does not accept anything neo-Nazi.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Russia states global leadership in swathe of industries, Deputy PM Manturov says

Russia has been keeping one step ahead of the liberal doses of sanctions slapped against it by the collective West, allowing it to stay positive on the eve of #SPIEF23, set for June 14-17.

💬 "The statistics for May are not out yet, but operational data by industry indicate that recovery growth continues in the manufacturing industries. As for the PMI (Purchasing Managers Index) it is higher than last month's 52.6 points, rising to 53.5 points for May. This suggests that the mood of industrial enterprises is quite buoyant," Denis Manturov said.

👉 Full interview here

‘Made in Russia’ producers debut at food & beverage West Africa

"On June 13, the national exposition ‘Made in Russia’ was held for the first time at the international exhibition ‘Food & Beverage West Africa’ in Lagos, Nigeria. Eleven Russian companies came to present their products at the event," the Russian Export Center statement said.

This is the first time that such a large number of Russian agricultural producers are being represented in Nigeria at the same time and in the same place.

The Russian exhibition, covering an area of over 380 square meters, occupies all of Pavilion No. 3 and is the largest national exhibition at the Food & Beverage West Africa trade show this year.

An intensive business program has been put together for the participants of the “Made in Russia” exposition, which will include over 100 B2B meetings with international business representatives.

The food show will be held June 13-15 at the Landmark Centre event venue in Lagos, Nigeria.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️US unveils $325mln security aid package for Ukraine – Blinken

The United States is to send an additional package of security aid to Ukraine worth $325 million, including air defense systems, HIMARS ammunition, and armored vehicles following the beginning of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Tuesday.

“I am authorizing our 40th drawdown for Ukraine, which will provide $325 million worth of U.S. arms and equipment. This security assistance package includes critical air defense capabilities, additional munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, artillery rounds, anti-tank weapons, armored vehicles, and other equipment essential to strengthening Ukraine’s forces on the battlefield,” Blinken said in a statement.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt