Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina said that an "iron curtain" has been created between Russia and the Baltics.
At the same time, she admitted that her country is "experiencing difficulties" in replacing Russian raw materials.
"Will there be enough iron or will they buy it from Russia?" Russian FM spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, mocking the statement.
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At the same time, she admitted that her country is "experiencing difficulties" in replacing Russian raw materials.
"Will there be enough iron or will they buy it from Russia?" Russian FM spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, mocking the statement.
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❗️ Russian units foiled another attempt by Ukrainian forces to break through into the Russian border area near Spodaryushino;
🇷🇺🪖 More statements from the Russian MoD's daily briefing on the progress of the special military op in Ukraine:
▪️ Ukrainian losses in the DPR amounted to more than 240 military personnel and three tanks;
▪️ The Russian Armed Forces repelled three attacks by Ukrainian troops in the south of the DPR;
▪️ Russian units foiled another attempt by Ukrainian forces to break through into the Russian border area near Spodaryushino;
▪️ Ukrainian forces lost up to 125 soldiers in the southern DPR;
▪️ Russian air defense forces shot down 136 Ukrainian UAVs, as well as four HIMARS and four Grad MLRS missiles;
▪️ The Russian Armed Forces destroyed up to 195 Ukrainian military personnel attempting to break through into Russian territory, as well as five enemy tanks;
▪️ The Russian Army near Kupyansk occupied more favorable lines and repulsed an attack by Ukrainian forces.
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🇷🇺🪖 More statements from the Russian MoD's daily briefing on the progress of the special military op in Ukraine:
▪️ Ukrainian losses in the DPR amounted to more than 240 military personnel and three tanks;
▪️ The Russian Armed Forces repelled three attacks by Ukrainian troops in the south of the DPR;
▪️ Russian units foiled another attempt by Ukrainian forces to break through into the Russian border area near Spodaryushino;
▪️ Ukrainian forces lost up to 125 soldiers in the southern DPR;
▪️ Russian air defense forces shot down 136 Ukrainian UAVs, as well as four HIMARS and four Grad MLRS missiles;
▪️ The Russian Armed Forces destroyed up to 195 Ukrainian military personnel attempting to break through into Russian territory, as well as five enemy tanks;
▪️ The Russian Army near Kupyansk occupied more favorable lines and repulsed an attack by Ukrainian forces.
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🇪🇺💶 The EU’s new defense fund for Ukraine is a mirage
EU leaders announced a 'new' €5 billion fund to finance new military aid for Ukraine. But in fact, it has little in common with what is usually called “new”.
The majority of the contributions to the “Ukraine Assistance Fund” will not actually be in the form of new cash. Actually, EU countries can discount their bilateral weapons deliveries as “contributions” to the fund at a level of around 50 percent. Germany has already declared that it will count its own armament shipments as its contribution and will not pay the €1.2 billion.
As diplomats told Playbook, that doesn’t mean a country can only deduct half its payments. In reality, for every €2 in weapons that a country gives Ukraine directly, it can deduct €1 from its contributions to the fund.
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EU leaders announced a 'new' €5 billion fund to finance new military aid for Ukraine. But in fact, it has little in common with what is usually called “new”.
The majority of the contributions to the “Ukraine Assistance Fund” will not actually be in the form of new cash. Actually, EU countries can discount their bilateral weapons deliveries as “contributions” to the fund at a level of around 50 percent. Germany has already declared that it will count its own armament shipments as its contribution and will not pay the €1.2 billion.
As diplomats told Playbook, that doesn’t mean a country can only deduct half its payments. In reality, for every €2 in weapons that a country gives Ukraine directly, it can deduct €1 from its contributions to the fund.
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Sputnik International
The most striking figures in Putin's address to the Russian parliament: Over the next 6 years, Putin promised to allocate: 🔸More than 1 trillion rubles (~$11 bln) for construction and repair of healthcare facilities 🔸700 billion rubles ($7 bln) for the…
❗️ Trends in the Russian economy give grounds to believe that the development goals outlined in the address to the Federal Assembly are achievable, Vladimir Putin said.
New national projects based on the results of the address to the Federal Assembly should be launched in 2025, and the basis for the new national projects has already been created, the president added.
New national projects based on the results of the address to the Federal Assembly should be launched in 2025, and the basis for the new national projects has already been created, the president added.
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❗️ Russia's GDP should be increased by 20% by 2030, Deputy Prime Minister Belousov said at a meeting with Vladimir Putin
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Macron's 'war rhetoric' is vengeful rancor - South African analyst
Emmanuel Macron has been “blaming Russia instead of taking responsibility for his own political failures in France’s former colonies in Central and West Africa,” Prof. Alexis Habiyaremye from South Africa told Sputnik.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in his recent interview suggested that Macron’s warmongering was a sign of “resentment” over the loss of French influence in Africa. According to Habiyaremye, Putin is “absolutely correct in his interpretation of Macron's ulterior motives.”
“The days when France could threaten its former colonies and be obeyed at the snap of the finger are gone, and France has nobody else to blame for that,” the pundit added.
Macron’s rhetoric “resonates only in the ears of the elite and in mainstream media controlled by oligarchs,” Alexis Habiyaremye said, adding:
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Emmanuel Macron has been “blaming Russia instead of taking responsibility for his own political failures in France’s former colonies in Central and West Africa,” Prof. Alexis Habiyaremye from South Africa told Sputnik.
“The aggressive war rhetoric against Russia comes from his frustration and the shame at the realization that his threats do not scare anyone in Africa anymore,” the pundit underscored.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in his recent interview suggested that Macron’s warmongering was a sign of “resentment” over the loss of French influence in Africa. According to Habiyaremye, Putin is “absolutely correct in his interpretation of Macron's ulterior motives.”
“The days when France could threaten its former colonies and be obeyed at the snap of the finger are gone, and France has nobody else to blame for that,” the pundit added.
Macron’s rhetoric “resonates only in the ears of the elite and in mainstream media controlled by oligarchs,” Alexis Habiyaremye said, adding:
“The public is slowly realizing that the West has failed in its strategy, and being the most hawkish has only limited political value. That is why Macro's appeal has gained little traction among other EU leaders.”
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🇷🇺 More than 2.3 million people have already voted early in the Russian presidential elections, said the head of the Central Election Commission, Ella Pamfilova.
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"We have never had anything like this, but this is understandable; these elections differ very sharply from all the others because they are taking place in a completely different situation. Firstly, we have our native regions returned to us: Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, Zaporozhye, and Kherson region,” Pamfilova said in the air of the Rossiya-24 TV channel.
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🇷🇺 Follow the Russian presidential elections with us!
Detailed coverage, analysis, and all the latest data — only on the Sputnik International channel.
Voting will take place over three days — March 15, 16, and 17.
Stay tuned!
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Detailed coverage, analysis, and all the latest data — only on the Sputnik International channel.
Voting will take place over three days — March 15, 16, and 17.
Stay tuned!
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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🚀 SpaceX announced the loss of Starship during its third test flight
Communication with it disappeared towards the end of the test flight, when the ship entered the Earth's atmosphere.
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Communication with it disappeared towards the end of the test flight, when the ship entered the Earth's atmosphere.
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The national prison is on fire in Haiti's capital. Whether this is related to the ongoing unrest in the country is unknown. There is no information yet about the cause of the fire.
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Scenario for military takeover of Ukrainian parliament was written by US
The disillusioned Ukrainian military is planning a takeover of the Ukrainian Parliament or Verkhovna Rada, according to an exchange from private Telegram channel Parabelum obtained by Sputnik.
"This could be a scenario of replacing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky without holding elections," Alexander Dudchak, researcher at the Institute of CIS Countries and expert of the "Other Ukraine" movement, told Sputnik.
The classified chat members, composed of commanders and soldiers of elite units of the Ukrainian armed forces, were discussing options for overthrowing the present government and the command of the Ukrainian armed forces following the sacking of Commander-in-Chief General Valery Zaluzhny.
Leaders of elite Ukrainian units, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Nationalist Battalions are also reportedly planning to create a radical party with a military wing.
Dudchak does not believe that would be a grass-roots movement, suggesting that the potential rebellion has been planned by Ukraine's Western patrons in response to Zelensky's refusal to hold elections this year.
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The disillusioned Ukrainian military is planning a takeover of the Ukrainian Parliament or Verkhovna Rada, according to an exchange from private Telegram channel Parabelum obtained by Sputnik.
"This could be a scenario of replacing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky without holding elections," Alexander Dudchak, researcher at the Institute of CIS Countries and expert of the "Other Ukraine" movement, told Sputnik.
The classified chat members, composed of commanders and soldiers of elite units of the Ukrainian armed forces, were discussing options for overthrowing the present government and the command of the Ukrainian armed forces following the sacking of Commander-in-Chief General Valery Zaluzhny.
Leaders of elite Ukrainian units, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Nationalist Battalions are also reportedly planning to create a radical party with a military wing.
Dudchak does not believe that would be a grass-roots movement, suggesting that the potential rebellion has been planned by Ukraine's Western patrons in response to Zelensky's refusal to hold elections this year.
"The confrontation between the military and the Kiev regime is in general a manifestation of the confrontation between London and Washington," said Dudchak. "The office of the president is under British control, while the military, who supposedly will gather in the name of Zaluzhny, are under Americans, plus the SBU is also a US-backed structure."
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Observers from 106 countries are accredited for the Russian presidential elections, the Central Election Commission stated.
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Macron projects his policy failures on Putin, but should only blame himself for 'losing Africa'
💬 “My impression was that Putin just satirized the behavior of Macron and Zelensky,” Florian Philippot, the leader of the French Les Patriotes party, wrote on X, commenting on the seemingly ironic subtext of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s condescending reaction to his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron’s frustration over France’s recent failures in Africa.
She was echoed by Sergey Fedorov, head of the Center for French Studies at Russia’s Institute of Europe, who told Sputnik that the anti-French revolutions in West African countries were the work of local elites and populations, not a result of anti-French designs by the Russian side.
Fedorov explained that French companies had privileged status, for example, in Niger, where they extracted uranium for France’s nuclear power plants. These stations produce 75 percent of France’s electricity, so the recent nationalization by Niger of its resources became a problem for the French.
During his interview, President Putin responded to Dmitry Kiselev’s theory that French President Macron’s recent anti-Russian rhetoric could be explained by the desire “to avenge the loss of French influence in Africa.” It was an apparent nod to the events of 2021 to 2023, when pro-French governments were overthrown in Mali and Guinea (2021), Burkina-Faso (2022), Niger (July 2023), and Gabon (August 2023). French troops had to leave Mali and Niger.
👉 Check out the full article
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“Instead of blaming Russia, Macron should look at his behavior and ask forgiveness from the peoples of Africa for the pillaging that their continent had to go through,” Badra Kaaloul, head of Tunisia’s Center for Strategic Studies, told Sputnik.
She was echoed by Sergey Fedorov, head of the Center for French Studies at Russia’s Institute of Europe, who told Sputnik that the anti-French revolutions in West African countries were the work of local elites and populations, not a result of anti-French designs by the Russian side.
Fedorov explained that French companies had privileged status, for example, in Niger, where they extracted uranium for France’s nuclear power plants. These stations produce 75 percent of France’s electricity, so the recent nationalization by Niger of its resources became a problem for the French.
During his interview, President Putin responded to Dmitry Kiselev’s theory that French President Macron’s recent anti-Russian rhetoric could be explained by the desire “to avenge the loss of French influence in Africa.” It was an apparent nod to the events of 2021 to 2023, when pro-French governments were overthrown in Mali and Guinea (2021), Burkina-Faso (2022), Niger (July 2023), and Gabon (August 2023). French troops had to leave Mali and Niger.
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Members of the Russian Volunteer Corps, a terrorist organization banned in Russia, intended to send poisoned food to volunteers serving in the Russian Espanola unit. Two of the RVC members have admitted their involvement, the case file says. Subscribe to…
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What is the Russian Volunteer Corps caught red-handed in a food poisoning plot?
Members of the "Russian Volunteer Corps" (RVC)* planned to use highly toxic substances to poison food delivered as humanitarian aid to soldiers of the Russian Espanola brigade, which is fighting in the special military operation zone in Ukraine.
Ukraine's military intelligence service has recently denied directing the RVC's sabotage attacks, claiming that the group is acting "independently." The RVC's activities are most likely orchestrated by the CIA through Ukraine's security and intelligence services, according to Russian military expert and journalist Alexey Leonkov.
🟥 The RVC is a Ukraine-based paramilitary unit composed of Russian defectors, which was formed in August 2022.
🟥 The project was designed to create the appearance of a supposedly "powerful" anti-government force in Russia, according to military experts.
🟥 The RVC uses Nazi symbols, including the chevrons of the "Russian Liberation Army" — a collaborationist formation that was led by turncoat Soviet general Andrey Vlasov and fought under Nazi German command during WW2.
🟥 The RVC was spotted acting alongside Ukraine's nationalist Kraken Regiment, responsible for the brutal torture of Russian POWs. Kraken was formed by veterans of the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion*.
🟥 The RVC claimed responsibility for sabotage attacks against Russia's Bryansk and Belgorod regions in 2023. Speaking to the German newspaper Bild, an RVC leader stated that the Kiev regime assists the corps.
*Terrorist groups banned in Russia
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Members of the "Russian Volunteer Corps" (RVC)* planned to use highly toxic substances to poison food delivered as humanitarian aid to soldiers of the Russian Espanola brigade, which is fighting in the special military operation zone in Ukraine.
Ukraine's military intelligence service has recently denied directing the RVC's sabotage attacks, claiming that the group is acting "independently." The RVC's activities are most likely orchestrated by the CIA through Ukraine's security and intelligence services, according to Russian military expert and journalist Alexey Leonkov.
*Terrorist groups banned in Russia
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Sputnik International
Members of the Russian Volunteer Corps, a terrorist organization banned in Russia, intended to send poisoned food to volunteers serving in the Russian Espanola unit. Two of the RVC members have admitted their involvement, the case file says. Subscribe to…
From sports field to the battlefield: Who’s in the Espanola volunteer battalion?
The Espanola Battalion is a volunteer military formation made up of fans of major Russian football clubs.
🟥 Created in 2022 to defend the Donbass, football fans from across Russia joined the newly-formed unit. They became part of the Donetsk People’s Republic’s Vostok Brigade, agreeing to set aside any animosities between their respected clubs for a common cause.
Another fighter codenamed ‘Pitbull’ echoed the commander’s stance, saying that the experience of clashes at football matches only helps the members. “Using this spirit, directing it to the right place creates a literal bomb,” he noted.
🟥 The Espanola Battalion’s troops include everyone from sappers and drone operators to assault units, with volunteers with no military experience receiving training before being deployed. As its strength grew, the unit began to recruit skilled fighters, from snipers and saboteurs to electronic warfare and air defense specialists.
🟥 The fighting force has reportedly racked up experience across the front over the past two years of fighting, deploying from Donetsk to Kherson to Zaporozhye.
🟥 In September 2023, Espanola thwarted Ukrainian attacks in Kleshchevka near Artemovsk, Donetsk region, destroying an observation post, a mortar with ammunition and knocking out the enemy from their positions.
🟥 On March 8, Sputnik reached out to female soldier known as ‘Valkyrie’ serving as deputy commander of the assault company in the Espanola brigade. She explained how Russian women fight and defend their Motherland in the special military operation zone.
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The Espanola Battalion is a volunteer military formation made up of fans of major Russian football clubs.
“Despite all previous beefs during peacetime, now, for the duration of the special operation, our guys are supporting our own,” Espanola’s commander, who goes by the call sign ‘Spaniard’, told Sputnik in 2022.
Another fighter codenamed ‘Pitbull’ echoed the commander’s stance, saying that the experience of clashes at football matches only helps the members. “Using this spirit, directing it to the right place creates a literal bomb,” he noted.
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Russian citizens will head to the polls on March 15-17 to vote in 2024 presidential election. There are 112.3 million eligible voters inside Russia, and around 1.9 million eligible voters reside abroad.
Voter turnout is expected at 71%, as per the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM).
What’s new about 2024 elections?
E-voting, a remote electronic voting system, is being used for the first time to elect a Russian president. Voters in 29 Russian regions will be able to cast their ballots remotely.
There are four candidates vying for the top office:
Who will observe the voting process?
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Russia allegedly jammed the satellite signals of a plane carrying Britain's defense minister as it returned from Poland and flew near Kaliningrad, the Times claims.
The publication states that they tried to jam the signal for about 30 minutes, those on board could not connect to the Internet, and the aircraft had to use other methods of determining its location.
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The publication states that they tried to jam the signal for about 30 minutes, those on board could not connect to the Internet, and the aircraft had to use other methods of determining its location.
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