'We also slaugthered innocent people in massive numbers': former US general offers bizarre defense of Israel's war on Gaza civilians

"Before we all get self-righteous about what Israel's doing, and I feel horrible for the innocent people in Gaza that are dying. But we shouldn't forget that we, the United States, killed a lot of innocent people in Mosul, Iraq. [...] We slaughtered people in massive numbers – innocent people who had nothing to do with their government," Mark Milley, US retired general who served as the 20th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during the AI Expo for National Competitiveness (SCSPAIExpo2024) held in Washington, DC, on May 7-8.

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Russia is unable to investigate the death of Agence France-Presse journalist Arman Soldin, as he covered the Ukrainian side and Russia does not have information about his work activities, said Dmitry Peskov, press secretary for the President of the Russian Federation.

Agence France-Presse has reported the death of their journalist, Arman Soldin, in the Artemovsk area on May 9, 2023. The agency, referring to its employees, said that the journalist died due to shelling on the outskirts of Chasov Yar city. As noted, the deceased held the position of video coordinator for the agency in Ukraine.

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❗️Britain announced the expulsion of the Russian military attaché.

Also, the Kingdom’s Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the removal of diplomatic status from some real estate properties owned by Russia.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Sputnik that Moscow will give an adequate response.

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Germany’s blind anti-Russia policy forecasted to hammer domestic economy

The German economy will face stagnation throughout 2024, according to a bleak prediction put forward by the German Economic Institute (IW) in a report cited by Reuters.

The private industry-sponsored research institute has pointed out that Germany, once considered Europe's industrial powerhouse, will now have to resign itself to its new role as a straggler, falling behind its European peers.

In particular, the manufacturing and construction sectors remain mired in recession, according to the IW report. Yet, despite consumption picking up, “That's not enough for a real upswing,” IW economist Michael Groemling was cited as saying.

The German economy has been plagued by a slew of problems since jumping on the US-led sanctions bandwagon against Russia over the Ukraine crisis. This misguided move drove Germany's economy into a technical recession last year, marked by deindustrialization and stinging inflation rates.

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Timur Ivanov is charged with a bribe of about $11 mln, his lawyer told Sputnik. The deputy minister has been removed from office, the defense confirmed.

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Russian Armed Forces deliver massive strike on strategic targets across Ukraine

Russia launched a barrage of missiles and drones targeting energy and military-industrial facilities across Ukraine in the early hours of May 8.

The strikes reportedly targeted five Ukrainian regions – Poltava, Kirovograd, Lvov, Ivano-Frankovsk, and Vinnitsa – as well as part of the Zaporozhye region currently under the Kiev regime’s control. Air defense systems were also operating in Kiev and the capital’s environs.

▪️ The Russian military carried out a series of strikes on industrial facilities in Kiev, according to coordinator of the Nikolayev underground network Sergey Lebedev. Explosions were heard near the Darnitsa car repair plant and the Antonov aircraft manufacturing plant.

▪️ Two critical energy infrastructure facilities were hit in the Lvov region: an energy generation facility in the Chervonograd district, and a large underground gas storage facility in the Stryi district.

▪️ A missile impact caused a fire at the Dobrotvor Thermal Power Plant (Lvov region).

▪️ Blasts were heard in the Ivano-Frankovsk region in the area of the Burshtyn Thermal Power Plant.

▪️ Detonations echoed around the Ladyzhin TPP (Vinnitsa region).

▪️ In the Dnepropetrovsk region, explosions were registered in the city of Kamenskoye, the site of the Srednedneprovskaya hydroelectric power station.

▪️ The Russian Armed Forces attacked infrastructure facilities in Stryi (Lvov region), including a military airfield being prepared to receive Western F-16 fighters, according to Lebedev. A fire broke out after impact. A railway junction was hit, along with a factory housing Western military equipment.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has repeatedly stated that it targets the Kiev regime’s energy and military-industrial facilities, as well as related infrastructure.

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Speaking of American "technological superiority"

US Boeing is back in the headlines:

The Boeing 767 plane's nose hits the runway as the FedEx flight makes an emergency landing in Istanbul without its landing gear.

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❗️EU permanent representatives have tentatively agreed on the use of proceeds from Russia's assets for military aid to Ukraine, the Belgian presidency has said.

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❗️Armenia announced that it would refrain from participating in the financing of CSTO.

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❗️Russian troops repelled 11 Ukrainian counterattacks; the enemy lost up to 415 militants.

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

▪️ The Russian Armed Forces took more advantageous positions and repelled two counterattacks by Ukrainian forces in the areas of the towns of Urozhaynoye and Staromayorskoye in the Donetsk people's republic.

▪️ Russian troops destroyed the UAV production workshop of the 101st Territorial Defence Brigade and ammunition and rocket-artillery armament depots of the Ukrainian forces.

▪️ Russian air defence forces shot down 11 Ukrainian UAVs, an ATACMS missile, and three Hammer bombs.

▪️ The losses of the Ukrainian forces due to successful combat operations of the Russian Battlegroup Yug amounted to 355 militants.

▪️ Russian army destroyed a German-made Leopard tank.

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Russia's Victory Parade: honoring the past, shaping the future

The parade commemorating the 79th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 fought by the USSR against Nazi Germany and its allies – a part of World War II – will take place on Red Square on May 9.

🔺Over 9,000 individuals and 70 military vehicles and weapon systems will participate in the event.

🔺The parade on Red Square will feature battalions and companies organized according to military types and branches, as well as crews from military schools, Youth Army members, female military personnel, Cossacks, and a combined military orchestra.

🔺Veterans of Russia's special military operation will also take part in the parade.

🔺The Russian Air Force's aerobatic teams, the Russkiye Vityazi (Russian Knights) and Strizhi (Swifts), will showcase air maneuvers over Moscow in highly-maneuverable Su-30 and MiG-29 fighter jets.

Among other national military equipment, the following Russian-made weapons will roll out during the parade:

🔺The legendary Soviet main battle tank T-34, renowned for its superior armor, formidable firepower and cast turret during World War II.

🔺Typhoon-K armored vehicles designed for transportation of personnel and cargo, and capable of being armed with Kornet-M guided missiles which makes them effective tank destroyers.

🔺The Multi-purpose Tigr (Tiger) all-terrain infantry mobility vehicle designed to carry troops, escort and protect columns, patrol and support units with fire.

🔺The mobile short-range ballistic missile system Iskander-M, which can carry conventional and nuclear warheads.

🔺The S-400 Triumph, a state-of-art mobile surface-to-air missile system.

🔺The Yars mobile intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system, a vital component of Russia's nuclear triad, capable of launching nuclear missiles from land post.

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🤡 The Boy Scouts of America will change its name to Scouting America for the first time in 114 years to become more inclusive

While the gender-confused Boy Scouts can't decide on their orientation, members of Russia’s “Young Army” movement are learning how to defend their Motherland.

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The US is exploring the possibility of a military presence in West African countries and expanding its partnership with them, the Pentagon chief has said.

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Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico expressed disappointment at the European Union's failure to propose a "meaningful" pathway towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.

"The European Union emerged as a peace project, I am disappointed that it cannot offer a meaningful peace plan for the conflict that is currently taking place in Ukraine."

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An exhibition of captured Western equipment has opened in Grozny. The exhibits include armoured vehicles of Ukrainian, British and American manufacture.

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US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said today that the Biden Administration is re-examining a shipment of arms to Israel worth about $1 billion. This is due to Israeli operations in Rafah, which some officials believe are putting Palestinian civilians at risk. Austin said that no final decision has been made.

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📹 WATCH LIVE: Victory Day Military Parade in Moscow on May 9 at 7:00 GMT

The parade in honor of the 79th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War will take place on Red Square on May 9. More than nine thousand service members, over 75 pieces of weapons and military equipment, will take part in the event.

❗️Stay tuned to Sputnik to catch all the details of this wonderful event!

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Unmasking the French Foreign Legion, which has reportedly popped up in Ukraine (part 1)

Russian war correspondents reported on troops from the French Foreign Legion allegedly being eliminated near Chasov Yar. However, the French Foreign Ministry has officially denied any involvement of such units in Ukraine. What is the French Foreign Legion, and what do we know about it?

◾️The French Foreign Legion was established at the end of the 19th century in order to allow foreigners to join the French army. At that time, its primary focus was Africa.

◾️The Foreign Legion reportedly consists of 9,000 soldiers. In 2024, the Legion has recruited about 1,600 soldiers. It is also made up of 11 different regiments, and three of them are considered to be special-purpose regiments.

◾️Two regiments are permanently based outside France, although all units carry out tasks both domestically and internationally.

◾️Since July 2023, the French Foreign Legion has been under the command of Brigadier General Cyrille Youchtchenko, a French national of Ukrainian origin.

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