⚡️The Russian General Staff, on behalf of President Vladimir Putin, has begun preparations to hold exercises with missile formations of the Southern Military District and Navy forces in the near future, the Ministry of Defense reported.

During the drills, a set of activities will be carried out to practice preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons, the ministry said.

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❗️The exercises, for which preparations have begun, are aimed at maintaining a readiness to respond and to unconditionally ensure Russia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in response to provocative statements and threats made by Western officials, the Defense Ministry reported.

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Suspects in the murder of Sputnik correspondent Russell Bentley detained and testifying, media report.

Investigators of the Main Military Division of the Russian Investigative Committee are conducting an investigation, the Telegram channel “Operation Z: Russian Spring War Correspondents” reported, quoting the lawyer of Russell Bentley’s widow.

“A forensic medical examination of the found remains has been appointed,” the lawyer said.

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Uralvagonzavod (part of Rostec) sent a train convoy carrying T-90Ms and T-72B3Ms to be delivered to the Russian army on the eve of Victory Day, the company has reported.

Uralvagonzavod supplies upgraded T-90M tanks, deeply modernized T-80BVM, T-72B3, and T-72B3M tanks to Russian troops operating within the special military operation zone.

The new tanks are now more advanced thanks to modifications based on battlefield experience. They are equipped with all-aspect dynamic protection, as well as anti-drone "visors" over the turret, along with electronic warfare and visibility reduction capabilities.

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Hezbollah has attacked the headquarters of the 210th Golan Division at the Nafah base in the Golan Heights with dozens of rockets, according to a statement by the group.

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❗️As a result of Ukrainian drone attacks in the Belgorod region, 40 people have been injured, including three children, and 30 have been hospitalized, the Russian Ministry of Health has reported.

Previously, 35 casualties were reported. Russian Health Minister Murashko has taken personal control of providing assistance to the wounded, the ministry emphasized.

The number of people killed in the attack has increased to seven, Agro-Belogorye, the company that owns the attacked vehicles, reported.

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❗️The United States has ramped up its search for an alternative to Zelensky, according to Russia’s foreign intel service, the SVR. The agency reports that contacts have been made with Petro Poroshenko, Vitali Klitschko, Andriy Yermak, Valerii Zaluzhny, and former speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Dmytro Razumkov.

It is believed that these figures could become key players in the event of a sudden deterioration on the front that would necessitate an urgent change in leadership.

“It is assumed that these individuals may be sought after if a drastic deterioration in the situation on the front occurs, requiring an urgent change in leadership. In this case, it would be possible, once all the blame for the failures is placed on Zelensky, to choose one of them as a replacement. The main thing is to prevent any overwhelming disappointment among Ukrainians from the failures of pro-Western policies,” the SVR statement says.

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Belgium has initiated discussions on possible EU trade sanctions against Israel over its actions in the Gaza Strip, which have led to the death of more than 34,000 people, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said.

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French Foreign Legion reported to have likely suffered first losses in Ukraine

The French Foreign Legion dispatched to Ukraine has possibly sustained its first personnel losses, military correspondent Boris Rozhin stated on Telegram.

The legionnaires, he wrote, could have lost as many as seven mercenaries in clashes with the Russian military near Chasov Yar, a city in the Donetsk People’s Republic that is currently under Kiev’s control, but the situation there is getting increasingly precarious for Ukraine’s forces.

These are no longer “TikTok soldiers” who pour into Ukraine to earn a fast buck but flee at the first sign of danger they encounter, underscored Rozhin. He added that now highly trained, professional military personnel from NATO countries” had entered the fray.

The first reports of the arrival of foreign fighters in Chasov Yar, obtained by radio interception, surfaced about a month ago, Rozhin added.

Earlier, Stephen Bryen, former US deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, claimed that France had sent its first troops officially to Ukraine. The forces were deployed “in support of the Ukrainian 54th Independent Mechanized Brigade in the city of Slavyansk,” Bryen wrote in an article published by the Asia Times.

After French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated that he did not rule out the possibility of NATO sending troops from Europe to Ukraine, the Kremlin denounced his statement as “very dangerous.”

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Kremlin on the exercises to practice preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons:

Statements from France, Great Britain and the United States require special attention and special measures, press secretary of Russian President Dmitry Peskov explained.

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More statements from the Peskov's briefing:

▪️Information about France allegedly sending soldiers to Ukraine requires verification.

▪️About the Russian Intelligence service's message about US efforts to find a replacement for Zelensky: it is too early to comment.

▪️On media reports about sabotage allegedly planned by Russia in Europe: it doesn’t look like serious material, just another unfounded accusation.

▪️The exhibition of captured equipment on Poklonnaya Hill in Moscow is enjoying great interest; the issue of its extension is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense.

▪️The issue of Russia’s alleged use of North Korean missiles concerns the progress of the special operation, so it is not the responsibility of the Kremlin, but of the military.

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Russia will respond to potential introduction of Western troops in Ukraine: deputy chairman of Russian Security Council

"There is a kind of total degradation of the ruling class in the West. This class really does not want to logically connect elementary things. Sending troops to the territory of the former Ukraine will entail the direct entry of their countries into the war, to which we will have to respond," Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev warned.

He linked Russia's forthcoming non-strategic nuclear forces exercises to the West expanding “the chorus of irresponsible scoundrels” calling for sending troops to Ukraine.

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Xi Jinping's European tour becomes one of the main topics in world media

The New York Times: “Xi seems intent on seizing opportunities to loosen the [European] continent’s bonds with the US and forge a world freed of its dominance. The visit is likely to be seen as a none-too-subtle effort by Xi to divide Western allies.”

South China Morning Post: “Many see Xi’s trip as an attempt by China to regain the trust of Europe, while driving a wedge between the US and its allies as cracks begin to show over US security commitment to Ukraine.”

Politico: “When Xi Jinping sits down for a state banquet with Emmanuel Macron on Monday, the flowing champagne and glittering chandeliers at the Elysee Palace won't be able to outshine one glaring truth: These two emperors are shaping up to fight.”

All the articles above have one leitmotif in common – expectation of deteriorating relations between Beijing and its Western partners.

Xi's current strip is his first visit to Europe in five years. Following his arrival in France, the Chinese leader is due to visit two more European nations – Serbia and Hungary.

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❗️Russian troops liberated the village of Solovyovo in the DPR, the Ministry of Defense reports. Kotlyarovka in the Kharkov region was also liberated.

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❗️The Russian Black Sea Fleet destroyed five Ukrainian naval drones off the northwestern coast of Crimea.

🇷🇺🪖 More statements from the daily briefing of the Russian Defense Ministry on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️The settlements of Solovyevo in the DPR and Kotlyarovka in the Kharkov region were liberated by the Russian army.

▪️Air defense systems shot down a Ukrainian Su-27 aircraft.

▪️The Russian Battlegroup Vostok occupied more advantageous positions resulting in Ukraine losing up to 160 militants.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 120 militants and 2 tanks, including Leopard, in the zone of responsibility of the Russian Battlegroup Zapad.

▪️The Russian Battlegroup Yug occupied more advantageous positions, enemy losses amounted to 275 militants.

▪️The Russian Armed Forces destroyed two Ukrainian enterprises producing attack drones.

▪️The Russian Battlegroup Tsentr repelled seven Ukrainian counterattacks, resulting in the enemy losing up to 370 militants.

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The Russian Ministry of Defense published footage of the destruction of a Ukrainian unmanned boat by a Ka-27 helicopter.

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Palestinians began to leave the eastern city of Rafah after the Israeli military called for evacuation amid preparations for an operation in the city.

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❗️The French ambassador will attend Putin's inauguration, says Reuters, amid reports that France is planning to send its troops to Ukraine.

A number of foreign representatives had previously announced their non-participation in the ceremony; for example, the Ambassador of Poland and representatives of Germany would not be present.

An official representative of the EU foreign policy service reported that the mission and member countries have received invitations, the issue is being discussed, and Borrell is opposed to participation.

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