Donetsk journalist and Sputnik contributor Russell Bentley missing: What you need to know
US-born war correspondent and Sputnik regular contributor Russell Bentley, working in the Donbass, has gone missing in Donetsk, the DPR Ministry of Internal Affairs reported on Friday.
The ministry has put the journalist on a missing persons list. Sputnik is in close contact with the authorities in their search for him.
Bentley looks to be about 60-65 years old, is 180-185 cm tall, of thick build, with gray eyes, and short gray hair. He was seen wearing a black T-shirt, ‘moss’ camouflage pants, camouflage boots, and had a green bag with him, the ministry added.
Texas-born American Russell Bonner Bentley, call sign "Texas", has been working in Russia’s special military operation zone as a war correspondent.
Bentley, 64, joined the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) militia in 2014 and has been defending the region's freedom against Ukrainian neo-Nazi forces since then, first as a soldier, then as a war correspondent.
Between 2014 and 2017 Bentley served in the Sut Vremeni ( lit. "Essence of Time") combat unit, Vostok Battalion and XAH Spetsnaz Battalion. Side by side with Donbass volunteers he fought in such hot spots as Donetsk Airport, Spartak, Avdeyevka, and Yasinovataya.
The war correspondent was baptized as an Orthodox Christian during the hostilities, and has raised funds and delivered humanitarian aid to Donbass civilians.
Bentley previously told Sputnik that he was compelled to come to the Donbass because he admired the people's courage, steadfastness, and unwillingness to accept the US-backed illegitimate coup d'etat in Ukraine.
Bentley considered the Russian special military operation as the beginning of the end of the Kiev regime's eight-year long war against Donbass, which he had firsthand knowledge of.
The veteran repeatedly came under Ukrainian fire and emerged unscathed.
US-born war correspondent and Sputnik regular contributor Russell Bentley, working in the Donbass, has gone missing in Donetsk, the DPR Ministry of Internal Affairs reported on Friday.
The ministry has put the journalist on a missing persons list. Sputnik is in close contact with the authorities in their search for him.
Bentley looks to be about 60-65 years old, is 180-185 cm tall, of thick build, with gray eyes, and short gray hair. He was seen wearing a black T-shirt, ‘moss’ camouflage pants, camouflage boots, and had a green bag with him, the ministry added.
Texas-born American Russell Bonner Bentley, call sign "Texas", has been working in Russia’s special military operation zone as a war correspondent.
Bentley, 64, joined the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) militia in 2014 and has been defending the region's freedom against Ukrainian neo-Nazi forces since then, first as a soldier, then as a war correspondent.
Between 2014 and 2017 Bentley served in the Sut Vremeni ( lit. "Essence of Time") combat unit, Vostok Battalion and XAH Spetsnaz Battalion. Side by side with Donbass volunteers he fought in such hot spots as Donetsk Airport, Spartak, Avdeyevka, and Yasinovataya.
The war correspondent was baptized as an Orthodox Christian during the hostilities, and has raised funds and delivered humanitarian aid to Donbass civilians.
Bentley previously told Sputnik that he was compelled to come to the Donbass because he admired the people's courage, steadfastness, and unwillingness to accept the US-backed illegitimate coup d'etat in Ukraine.
Bentley considered the Russian special military operation as the beginning of the end of the Kiev regime's eight-year long war against Donbass, which he had firsthand knowledge of.
The veteran repeatedly came under Ukrainian fire and emerged unscathed.
"There's no place I'd rather be… Donetsk is my home and I'm going to live here the rest of my life," Bentley once said.
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🗣 "All signs of mental illness are evident," Russian FM spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik, commenting on the Estonian interior minister's proposal to recognize the Russian Orthodox Church as a terrorist organization.
Earlier, Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets said he intends to deliver such a request to the Estonian parliament.
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Earlier, Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets said he intends to deliver such a request to the Estonian parliament.
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Oil bounces back, but set for weekly losses as Mideast tensions plough on
Oil prices have surged on fears of further escalation in the Middle East, raising risks of supply disruptions from the oil-producing region, market data shows.
Brent crude futures have increased to $90.25 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures have climbed to $85.63.
Although oil prices are set for weekly losses as the US has signaled fewer interest rate cuts for the year, the current gains in oil prices eased some losses incurred last session amid apprehensions concerning lingering US inflation.
Since the escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran earlier this month, experts have been warning about the risk of a global energy crisis.
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Oil prices have surged on fears of further escalation in the Middle East, raising risks of supply disruptions from the oil-producing region, market data shows.
Brent crude futures have increased to $90.25 per barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures have climbed to $85.63.
Although oil prices are set for weekly losses as the US has signaled fewer interest rate cuts for the year, the current gains in oil prices eased some losses incurred last session amid apprehensions concerning lingering US inflation.
Since the escalation of tensions between Israel and Iran earlier this month, experts have been warning about the risk of a global energy crisis.
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❗️LIVE: Russian FM Sergey Lavrov speaks at Extended Meeting of CIS Council of Foreign Ministers
Watch the live stream here or follow the link to the Sputnik's website for more details
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Watch the live stream here or follow the link to the Sputnik's website for more details
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Attempts to hold forums to resolve the Ukrainian conflict without Russia's involvement are unlikely to be effective or lead to results, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated.
In general, the Kremlin does not currently feel that Kiev is ready for negotiations. The situation has not changed and Zelensky's ban on contact is still in place.
At the same time, yesterday, Putin confirmed Moscow's readiness for dialogue, which could also be based on the draft Istanbul agreement, Peskov said.
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In general, the Kremlin does not currently feel that Kiev is ready for negotiations. The situation has not changed and Zelensky's ban on contact is still in place.
At the same time, yesterday, Putin confirmed Moscow's readiness for dialogue, which could also be based on the draft Istanbul agreement, Peskov said.
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Sputnik International
Attempts to hold forums to resolve the Ukrainian conflict without Russia's involvement are unlikely to be effective or lead to results, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated. In general, the Kremlin does not currently feel that Kiev is ready for negotiations.…
Other statements by Peskov:
🔺Attempts to interfere in Russia's internal affairs continue unabated.
🔺All efforts to maintain security in Russia, including information security, have reached their maximum level.
🔺On Friday, Putin will continue his communication with Lukashenko and the two leaders will also meet with the participants of the 21st expedition to the International Space Station.
🔺The flights of Belarusian cosmonauts to the International Space Station will continue, and it is not a one-off event.
🔺Cooperation between Russia and Belarus in space is a high priority in bilateral relations. There is a strong political will to deepen this cooperation.
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🔺Attempts to interfere in Russia's internal affairs continue unabated.
🔺All efforts to maintain security in Russia, including information security, have reached their maximum level.
🔺On Friday, Putin will continue his communication with Lukashenko and the two leaders will also meet with the participants of the 21st expedition to the International Space Station.
🔺The flights of Belarusian cosmonauts to the International Space Station will continue, and it is not a one-off event.
🔺Cooperation between Russia and Belarus in space is a high priority in bilateral relations. There is a strong political will to deepen this cooperation.
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The mayor of Russia's Belgorod has published photos of the administrative building, where a Ukrainian drone crashed.
The Defense Ministry said that three more Ukrainian drones were shot down over the Belgorod region at around 13:00 local time.
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The Defense Ministry said that three more Ukrainian drones were shot down over the Belgorod region at around 13:00 local time.
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❗️ Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on a possible "collective ultimatum" at the Swiss conference on Ukraine: "this blows any chance of success."
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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pointed out that Volodymyr Zelensky's presidential term ends in May, and a situation could arise where there is no one to sign a peace treaty with.
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Sputnik International
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pointed out that Volodymyr Zelensky's presidential term ends in May, and a situation could arise where there is no one to sign a peace treaty with. Subscribe to @SputnikInt
🇧🇾 Recent statements by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko:
▪️ Ukraine should realize that if it throws UAVs at Russia, they will be hit back tenfold.
▪️ NATO wants to drag Belarus into the conflict in Ukraine.
▪️ There can't be peace talks in Switzerland on Ukraine without Russia.
▪️ Belarusian opposition activists are "shouting" at Poland to strike the Mozyr oil refinery, but Minsk would respond in such a way that there would be hell to pay.
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▪️ Ukraine should realize that if it throws UAVs at Russia, they will be hit back tenfold.
▪️ NATO wants to drag Belarus into the conflict in Ukraine.
▪️ There can't be peace talks in Switzerland on Ukraine without Russia.
▪️ Belarusian opposition activists are "shouting" at Poland to strike the Mozyr oil refinery, but Minsk would respond in such a way that there would be hell to pay.
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An explosive device detonated under the car of a former Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) officer in Moscow, injuring him but left him alive, Russian media reported.
According to media reports, the owner of the blown-up car is former SBU officer Vasily Prozorov. Since 2014, Prozorov has been assisting Russian forces in obtaining information about the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
A few years ago, he moved to Russia. He was included in Ukraine’s Mirotvorets ("Peacekeeper") "kill list," a notorious online database that doxxes people it calls "enemies of Ukraine." In 2023, Russian security services prevented an assassination attempt on Prozorov.
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According to media reports, the owner of the blown-up car is former SBU officer Vasily Prozorov. Since 2014, Prozorov has been assisting Russian forces in obtaining information about the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
A few years ago, he moved to Russia. He was included in Ukraine’s Mirotvorets ("Peacekeeper") "kill list," a notorious online database that doxxes people it calls "enemies of Ukraine." In 2023, Russian security services prevented an assassination attempt on Prozorov.
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The main focus of Russell Bentley's journalism was to shine a light on the struggle for freedom and peace in the Donbass. Bentley has authored numerous interviews and reports for Sputnik, and we invite you to take a look at some of his work:
🔺‘War is scary’: Donbass children send a message to American children
🔺‘This is real democracy in action’: Donetsk heads to the ballot box
🔺Mariupol experiencing rebirth under Russian rule
🔺Tears of Joy: Donetsk civilians celebrate liberation of Maryinka
🔺Why have Western weapons done so poorly in Ukraine?
🔺FAB-3000: Russia’s new devastating bomb creates serious problems for Ukraine
🔺Message from Donetsk: This is a battle for good against evil
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🔺‘War is scary’: Donbass children send a message to American children
🔺‘This is real democracy in action’: Donetsk heads to the ballot box
🔺Mariupol experiencing rebirth under Russian rule
🔺Tears of Joy: Donetsk civilians celebrate liberation of Maryinka
🔺Why have Western weapons done so poorly in Ukraine?
🔺FAB-3000: Russia’s new devastating bomb creates serious problems for Ukraine
🔺Message from Donetsk: This is a battle for good against evil
Subscribe to @SputnikInt
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❗️ The US expects major Iranian attack against Israel as soon as Friday, could include more than 100 drones and dozens of missiles, CBS reports, citing US officials.
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"Two U.S. officials told CBS News that a major Iranian attack against Israel was expected as soon as Friday, possibly to include more than 100 drones and dozens of missiles aimed at military targets inside the country. The officials said it would be challenging for the Israelis to defend against an attack of such a magnitude, and while they held out the possibility that the Iranians could opt for a smaller-scale attack to avoid a dramatic escalation, their retaliation was believed to be imminent." the media says.
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