Road to freedom: 10th anniversary of people power in the Donbass
Ten years ago today, on April 7, 2014, Donbass residents would begin their long, difficult journey home to Russia with the proclamation of people’s republics. That day the Donetsk People’s Republic was proclaimed, followed by the Lugansk People's Republic on April 27.
The measure was taken in the aftermath of a US-sponsored coup d’etat in Kiev and threats by the new authorities to crack down on eastern Ukraine’s Russian-speaking population. It would be the first in a series of steps culminating in the September 2022 referendums in which Donbass residents overwhelmingly voted to join Russia.
But getting to that point would take over eight years, from the proclamation of independence from Kiev and the adoption of separate constitutions to resistance to a brutal Ukrainian military campaign hoping to crush Donbass residents’ spirits.
How did it all go down in the spring of 2014? Check out Sputnik’s infographic.
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Ten years ago today, on April 7, 2014, Donbass residents would begin their long, difficult journey home to Russia with the proclamation of people’s republics. That day the Donetsk People’s Republic was proclaimed, followed by the Lugansk People's Republic on April 27.
The measure was taken in the aftermath of a US-sponsored coup d’etat in Kiev and threats by the new authorities to crack down on eastern Ukraine’s Russian-speaking population. It would be the first in a series of steps culminating in the September 2022 referendums in which Donbass residents overwhelmingly voted to join Russia.
But getting to that point would take over eight years, from the proclamation of independence from Kiev and the adoption of separate constitutions to resistance to a brutal Ukrainian military campaign hoping to crush Donbass residents’ spirits.
How did it all go down in the spring of 2014? Check out Sputnik’s infographic.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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The Pantsir-M naval air defense system has been used for the first time in the special military operation zone and destroyed Storm Shadow missiles, the CEO of High Precision Systems (part of Russian state-owned defense corporation Rostec), Oleg Ryazantsev, told Sputnik on Sunday.
"The ship, while on a combat duty, downed Storm Shadow missiles. In other words, is was the first effective successful use of the Pantsir-M serial system," he said.
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Road to freedom: 10th anniversary of people power in the Donbass Ten years ago today, on April 7, 2014, Donbass residents would begin their long, difficult journey home to Russia with the proclamation of people’s republics. That day the Donetsk People’s…
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🎥 Activists of youth organizations unfurled a 200-meter-long DPR flag at the Saur Mogila memorial near Donetsk in honor of the tenth anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic.
Every year on April 7 the DPR celebrates the anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic. On this day in 2014, the declaration of sovereignty of the DPR and the law on proclaiming the independence of the republic were adopted.
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Every year on April 7 the DPR celebrates the anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic. On this day in 2014, the declaration of sovereignty of the DPR and the law on proclaiming the independence of the republic were adopted.
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Russian flamethrowers have become more accurate
The accuracy of TOS-1A "Solntsepyok" heavy flamethrower systems has been increased to several metres due to the requirements of radiation, chemical and biological defence troops, said Vladimir Pimenov, General Director of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute "Signal" (part of the "High-Precision Complexes").
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The accuracy of TOS-1A "Solntsepyok" heavy flamethrower systems has been increased to several metres due to the requirements of radiation, chemical and biological defence troops, said Vladimir Pimenov, General Director of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute "Signal" (part of the "High-Precision Complexes").
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❗️The Russian Army destroyed a warehouse with unmanned boats transferred to Ukraine by NATO countries.
🇷🇺🪖 More statements from the Russian MoD's daily briefing on the progress of the special military op in Ukraine:
🔺Ukraine lost up to 370 militants and a tank in the Donetsk region.
🔺Russian troops repelled two Ukrainian counterattacks near Kupiansk, resulting in the enemy losing up to 30 militants.
🔺Ukrainian losses amounted to 135 militants and a tank to the south of Donetsk.
🔺The Russian Armed Forces destroyed two launchers of the S-300 air defense system and the P-18 air target detection and tracking radar.
🔺Russian air defense systems shot down 293 Ukrainian drones and 4 HIMARS and Uragan MLRS shells.
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🇷🇺🪖 More statements from the Russian MoD's daily briefing on the progress of the special military op in Ukraine:
🔺Ukraine lost up to 370 militants and a tank in the Donetsk region.
🔺Russian troops repelled two Ukrainian counterattacks near Kupiansk, resulting in the enemy losing up to 30 militants.
🔺Ukrainian losses amounted to 135 militants and a tank to the south of Donetsk.
🔺The Russian Armed Forces destroyed two launchers of the S-300 air defense system and the P-18 air target detection and tracking radar.
🔺Russian air defense systems shot down 293 Ukrainian drones and 4 HIMARS and Uragan MLRS shells.
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Ukrainian drones attacked the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant
The UAV strike took place near the plant's dining room, the station reported. Twenty minutes before the attack, IAEA experts were conducting a scheduled inspection of the plant.
Another hit of the Ukrainian drone on the territory of the Zaporozhye power plant was recorded in the area of the cargo port.
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The UAV strike took place near the plant's dining room, the station reported. Twenty minutes before the attack, IAEA experts were conducting a scheduled inspection of the plant.
Another hit of the Ukrainian drone on the territory of the Zaporozhye power plant was recorded in the area of the cargo port.
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Storm Shadow killer: What we know about Russian warships' Pantsir-M air defense shield
The naval variant of Russia’s Pantsir surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery system has made its combat debut, taking on and defeating Storm Shadow cruise missiles in the Ukrainian conflict zone.
Developed in 2017, the Pantsir-M began to be fielded with the Russian Navy in 2020, with ‘Pantsir’ meaning ‘Carapace’ or ‘Shell’ and the ‘M’ in the name standing for ‘Maritime’.
The Pantsir-M operates along the same general principle as its ground-based cousins, but features its own design solutions optimized for maritime conditions and for dealing with sea-based threats. The platform is formally classified as a close-in weapon system (CIWS) designed to take on enemy missiles, drones, aircraft and other projectiles as they approach to within 20 km or less (at an altitude of up to 15 km) of a warship.
🔺The Pantsir-M is armed with eight Hermes-K SAMs attached in a 4x2 arrangement.
🔺Secondary armament consists of twin AO-18KD 30x165mm rotary cannons with a range up to 5 km and a rate of fire up to 10,000 rounds per minute.
🔺The Pantsir-M can engage up to four targets simultaneously.
🔺It is the only ship-based air defense system in the world using a combat module that combines CIWS, SAMs and a radar-optical control system – including automated target search, selection and firing capability, in a single piece of equipment.
🔺The onboard phased array radar has an estimated target detection range of up to 75 km.
🔺The system weighs about 7,100 kg (ammunition included), making it suitable to deploy on small and large vessels alike.
🔺The Russian Navy plans to equip all new warships, from missile corvettes to cruisers, with the Pantsir-M, and to upgrade existing vessels with the system over time.
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The naval variant of Russia’s Pantsir surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery system has made its combat debut, taking on and defeating Storm Shadow cruise missiles in the Ukrainian conflict zone.
Developed in 2017, the Pantsir-M began to be fielded with the Russian Navy in 2020, with ‘Pantsir’ meaning ‘Carapace’ or ‘Shell’ and the ‘M’ in the name standing for ‘Maritime’.
The Pantsir-M operates along the same general principle as its ground-based cousins, but features its own design solutions optimized for maritime conditions and for dealing with sea-based threats. The platform is formally classified as a close-in weapon system (CIWS) designed to take on enemy missiles, drones, aircraft and other projectiles as they approach to within 20 km or less (at an altitude of up to 15 km) of a warship.
🔺The Pantsir-M is armed with eight Hermes-K SAMs attached in a 4x2 arrangement.
🔺Secondary armament consists of twin AO-18KD 30x165mm rotary cannons with a range up to 5 km and a rate of fire up to 10,000 rounds per minute.
🔺The Pantsir-M can engage up to four targets simultaneously.
🔺It is the only ship-based air defense system in the world using a combat module that combines CIWS, SAMs and a radar-optical control system – including automated target search, selection and firing capability, in a single piece of equipment.
🔺The onboard phased array radar has an estimated target detection range of up to 75 km.
🔺The system weighs about 7,100 kg (ammunition included), making it suitable to deploy on small and large vessels alike.
🔺The Russian Navy plans to equip all new warships, from missile corvettes to cruisers, with the Pantsir-M, and to upgrade existing vessels with the system over time.
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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The Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked the dome of the 6th power unit of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant; there was no critical damage or casualties, the nuclear power plant’s press service said, adding that the radiation background at the plant and the territory after the attack did not change and is at a level corresponding to normal operation.
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AUKUS to forge ahead with expansion despite 'misgivings' between allies
The US is pushing for Japan to be brought into Pillar II of AUKUS, despite misgivings of some pact allies, the Financial Times reported.
Defense ministers of the US, UK and Australia are to make a statement on Monday announcing the start of talks on new members joining the trilateral security treaty.
Pillar II involves the sharing of a range of technologies, including underwater robotics, quantum electronics, cybersecurity and electronic warfare capabilities, hypersonic weapons and defense mechanisms against them.
The upcoming announcement on potential expansion is a “compromise” between the allies,” noted the outlet. Both Australia and the UK have reportedly been reluctant to invite Japan to join AUKUS, citing Pillar I as a priority. The security pact is facing “challenges” in efforts to "trilateralise" aspects of co-production, admitted US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell.
The Washington-conceived, de facto anti-Chinese alliance has been repeatedly slammed by Beijing as likely to turn the Pacific into "an ocean of storms." Russia voiced concerns about the pact as fraught with destabilizing effects on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and undermining international security in general.
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The US is pushing for Japan to be brought into Pillar II of AUKUS, despite misgivings of some pact allies, the Financial Times reported.
Defense ministers of the US, UK and Australia are to make a statement on Monday announcing the start of talks on new members joining the trilateral security treaty.
Pillar II involves the sharing of a range of technologies, including underwater robotics, quantum electronics, cybersecurity and electronic warfare capabilities, hypersonic weapons and defense mechanisms against them.
The upcoming announcement on potential expansion is a “compromise” between the allies,” noted the outlet. Both Australia and the UK have reportedly been reluctant to invite Japan to join AUKUS, citing Pillar I as a priority. The security pact is facing “challenges” in efforts to "trilateralise" aspects of co-production, admitted US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell.
The Washington-conceived, de facto anti-Chinese alliance has been repeatedly slammed by Beijing as likely to turn the Pacific into "an ocean of storms." Russia voiced concerns about the pact as fraught with destabilizing effects on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and undermining international security in general.
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Donald Trump privately stated that he could end the conflict in Ukraine by putting pressure on Kiev to leave Crimea and Donbass for Russia, the Washington Post says, citing sources. Trump also said that people in parts of Ukraine would be okay with being part of Russia, according to a person who has discussed the matter directly with Trump.
Trump's team has not yet confirmed this information.
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Trump's team has not yet confirmed this information.
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🤡Multicultural Biden: It appeared that the US president has a rich, diverse cultural-ethnic background of Puerto Rican, Irish-Catholic, African-American, Jewish, and many other communities.
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❗️Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant has undergone an unprecedented series of drone attacks, creating a direct threat to the safety of the station, Rosatom said.
Three Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant employees were reportedly injured.
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Three Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant employees were reportedly injured.
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New Slovak president won’t allow EU bureaucrats drag his country into proxy war against Russia — expert
In Peter Pellegrini, who won the presidential election in Slovakia, the country will finally have a head of state who does not support he pro-Western position, since he was not “installed by the Americans,” political observer Peter Marcek told Sputnik.
According to Marcek, “both Fico and Pellegrini share the idea that no Anglo-Saxons should be able to dictate to us what we should do." Washington pursued its own goals by pushing former foreign minister Ivan Korcok for the presidency, argued the expert, in an effort “to subordinate our will exclusively to their hegemony.”
After Pellegrini’s victory, “many relations, for example, with the Russian Federation, can improve. We need to develop our mutual relations,” Marcek stated, stressing that Russia “is fighting for us all, for the traditional family values… and most importantly — for peace and justice.”
Regarding the proxy war in Ukraine, Pellegrini “is in favor of ending the conflict,” and “against sending weapons” to the Kiev regime, he noted.
Looking ahead, the political analyst speculated that despite EU pressure over Ukraine, Slovakia, “will not give up the veto power [in the Brussels bloc] to anyone. This is our right, even though we are a small country. Together with Viktor Orban, 100 percent we will not cede this to anyone."
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In Peter Pellegrini, who won the presidential election in Slovakia, the country will finally have a head of state who does not support he pro-Western position, since he was not “installed by the Americans,” political observer Peter Marcek told Sputnik.
“There will be coordination between the government of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico and President Peter Pellegrini, because they have one program, one direction," he predicted.
According to Marcek, “both Fico and Pellegrini share the idea that no Anglo-Saxons should be able to dictate to us what we should do." Washington pursued its own goals by pushing former foreign minister Ivan Korcok for the presidency, argued the expert, in an effort “to subordinate our will exclusively to their hegemony.”
After Pellegrini’s victory, “many relations, for example, with the Russian Federation, can improve. We need to develop our mutual relations,” Marcek stated, stressing that Russia “is fighting for us all, for the traditional family values… and most importantly — for peace and justice.”
Regarding the proxy war in Ukraine, Pellegrini “is in favor of ending the conflict,” and “against sending weapons” to the Kiev regime, he noted.
Looking ahead, the political analyst speculated that despite EU pressure over Ukraine, Slovakia, “will not give up the veto power [in the Brussels bloc] to anyone. This is our right, even though we are a small country. Together with Viktor Orban, 100 percent we will not cede this to anyone."
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Russian air defense systems on duty at about 18.00 local time destroyed four Ukrainian drones over the territory of the Belgorod region, the Ministry of Defense said.
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💥UAV operators of the Russian Battlegroup Yug destroyed strongholds and trenches in the Lugansk People's Republic of Russia.
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🇹🇭 The Prime Minister of Thailand is discussing with other Southeast Asian countries the possibility of creating an analog of the Schengen zone in the region.
According to Bloomberg, his colleagues from Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam showed a positive reaction to the proposal.
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According to Bloomberg, his colleagues from Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam showed a positive reaction to the proposal.
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🔺New Slovak president won’t allow EU bureaucrats drag his country into proxy war against Russia — expert
🔺AUKUS to forge ahead with expansion despite 'misgivings' between allies
🔺Storm Shadow killer: What we know about Russian warships' Pantsir-M air defense shield
🔺Road to freedom: 10th anniversary of proclamation of the Donetsk and Lugansk Republics
🔺Biden revealed his multicultural background
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🔺AUKUS to forge ahead with expansion despite 'misgivings' between allies
🔺Storm Shadow killer: What we know about Russian warships' Pantsir-M air defense shield
🔺Road to freedom: 10th anniversary of proclamation of the Donetsk and Lugansk Republics
🔺Biden revealed his multicultural background
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Ukrainian drones attacked the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant The UAV strike took place near the plant's dining room, the station reported. Twenty minutes before the attack, IAEA experts were conducting a scheduled inspection of the plant. Another hit of…
The IAEA confirms minor damage at one of the power units of Zaporozhye nuclear plant, according to a statement from the agency.
The IAEA's director-general claimed drone attacks on nuclear power stations are a clear violation of safety principles, calling for a cessation of "reckless attacks".
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The IAEA's director-general claimed drone attacks on nuclear power stations are a clear violation of safety principles, calling for a cessation of "reckless attacks".
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Israel-Hamas war marks six month anniversary: has Tel Aviv achieved its aims?
“Six months after Israel launched its attack under the banner of self-defense and the stated objective of destroying Hamas, Israel is no closer to achieving its military goals,” Professor Shahram Akbarzadeh, a Middle Eastern politics expert at Deakin University in Australia, told Sputnik, commenting on the six month anniversary of the Israel-Gaza crisis.
Commenting on Sunday’s partial withdrawal from southern Gaza, Akbarzadeh said that it’s “hard to read too much into the IDF relocation of troops in the absence of any signal from the Israeli government regarding a ceasefire or a break in fighting.”
The IDF says 604 Israeli troops have been killed in fighting to date (Hamas estimates Israeli losses at over 1,600 troops killed). The IDF says 32,000 “terrorist targets” were struck over the course of the campaign and that over 13,000 Palestinian fighters were killed in Gaza.
Regarding civilian death toll - Gaza Health authorities estimate that over 33,175 residents of the Strip have been killed, with close to 75,900 people wounded and 8,000+ going missing. On the Israeli side, 822 civilians were killed, mostly in the early stages of the conflict following Hamas’s surprise October 7 attack.
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“Six months after Israel launched its attack under the banner of self-defense and the stated objective of destroying Hamas, Israel is no closer to achieving its military goals,” Professor Shahram Akbarzadeh, a Middle Eastern politics expert at Deakin University in Australia, told Sputnik, commenting on the six month anniversary of the Israel-Gaza crisis.
“Hamas continues to engage Israeli forces in skirmishes. Israeli hostages are still in Hamas captivity and the civilian toll is mounting by the minute. Israel refuses to accept a political solution to end the war because the right-wing government of Prime Minister Netanyahu has made a virtue out of this conflict,” he said.
Commenting on Sunday’s partial withdrawal from southern Gaza, Akbarzadeh said that it’s “hard to read too much into the IDF relocation of troops in the absence of any signal from the Israeli government regarding a ceasefire or a break in fighting.”
The IDF says 604 Israeli troops have been killed in fighting to date (Hamas estimates Israeli losses at over 1,600 troops killed). The IDF says 32,000 “terrorist targets” were struck over the course of the campaign and that over 13,000 Palestinian fighters were killed in Gaza.
Regarding civilian death toll - Gaza Health authorities estimate that over 33,175 residents of the Strip have been killed, with close to 75,900 people wounded and 8,000+ going missing. On the Israeli side, 822 civilians were killed, mostly in the early stages of the conflict following Hamas’s surprise October 7 attack.
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💥 Direct hit: Russian tank operators wipe out stronghold of Ukrainian forces
The T-80BVM tanks of the Vostok Battlegroup eliminated a Ukrainian forces' stronghold that was preventing the assault units from advancing in the south of to Donetsk People's Republic.
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The T-80BVM tanks of the Vostok Battlegroup eliminated a Ukrainian forces' stronghold that was preventing the assault units from advancing in the south of to Donetsk People's Republic.
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❗️ Progress has been made in Cairo truce talks over Israel's operation in the Gaza Strip, with consensus between the parties on main areas, Egyptian TV reported.
Egypt, Qatar, Israel, the US, and the Palestinian group Hamas are taking part in the talks.
Egypt, Qatar, Israel, the US, and the Palestinian group Hamas are taking part in the talks.
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