🔸 US forced Sputnik contributor Scott Ritter off plane headed to Russia: what’s known so far

🔸 Scott Ritter’s removal from his flight to Russia is 'an unconscionable act' by US government that contradicts Constitution

🔸 The Houthis for the first time launched a self-developed ballistic missile called “Palestine” towards the southern Israeli city of Eilat

🔸 NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg admitted that Russia has built up its defense industry more rapidly than the West

🔸 South Korea partially exits its military agreement with North Korea. What comes next?

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Burkan: ballistic rocket that can pierce through Israel’s Iron Dome

Lebanon’s Hezbollah fighters are using the Burkan rockets against the Israeli army in a recent spike of clashes.

Let’s delve into the Burkan’s characteristics to find out why it's capable of penetrating Israel’s air defenses:

▪️The Burkan (lit. "Volcano") is a mobile ballistic rocket with a range of up to 10 km;

▪️The upgraded versions – the Burkan-2 and the Burkan-3- have much longer ranges standing at 1,000 km and 1,200 km, respectively;

▪️The missile is notable for its heavy warhead, which can carry from 100 kg to 500 kg of explosives;

▪️The rocket, which can be fired from ground launchers or trucks, causes destruction within a radius of 150 meters from the impact point;

▪️These rockets carry more than a ton of explosive material and are capable of penetrating bomb shelters;

▪️The first use of the Burkan rockets by Hezbollah in the Gaza war dates back to November 2023, amid reports that the Lebanese movement has “thousands” of the Burkans;

▪️The relatively short range of the Burkan makes it difficult for Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system to use kinetic interception for destroying the rocket;

▪️The Alma research and education center, a think tank based in Israel, called the Burkan “a cheap weapon with great effectiveness”, claiming that each rocket costs between $300 and $400.

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Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini suggested that Macron should go to Ukraine himself to take part in the fighting.

Salvini has recently criticized the leaders of NATO and EU countries for their intention to increase military support for Kiev and lift restrictions on strikes against Russia with Western weapons.

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😉Can't catch them? Run them over - Ukrainian Military Commissars' Advice

In Ukraine, employees of territorial recruitment and social support centers (TCC) on a minibus deliberately knocked down a cyclist who was trying to avoid mobilization.

"A citizen took off on a bicycle. Military commissars, unable to control their emotions, tried to chase the fugitive. When they caught up with him, they tried to block his way," the military recruitment office explained the actions of the TCC employees.

After the accident, the cyclist managed to get up and escape on his own feet.

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⚡️Turkiye would like to become a member of BRICS, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said.

The Turkish foreign minister expects to visit Russia next week and take part in the BRICS Foreign Ministers' Council, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

"Of course, we would like to become a BRICS member. We'll see how things go this year," he said at an event at the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) in Beijing, as quoted by the South China Morning Post.

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🇷🇺🇹🇷Russia welcomes Turkiye's interest in BRICS, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

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❗️Any instructors who train the Ukrainian military have no immunity, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Earlier, the media reported that the French military are already in Ukraine, engaged in the maintenance of military equipment and training of Ukrainian soldiers.

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🇬🇪The ruling party of Georgia has submitted 19 bills to parliament regulating the prohibition of LGBT* propaganda and gender reassignment.

In addition to the main bill "On Family Values and Protection of Minors", amendments will be made to the Civil and Labor Codes, legislation on education and so on, said Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia Shalva Papuashvili.

Three-quarters of the votes in parliament are needed to pass the amendments, and the opposition has not yet said whether this package of laws will become a new reason for protests.

*LGBT movement is banned in Russia

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❗️If the former American intelligence officer Scott Ritter has no restrictions on traveling abroad, then the disruption of his trip to the St.Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) is a manifestation of a frenzied campaign against US-Russia ties, Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman, said.

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Posters calling on French military to surrender appear next to the French Embassy in Russia's Moscow

"French, do not repeat the mistakes of your ancestors, their fate is known," the posters warn.

They depict the commander of the SS Charlemagne division, Edgar Puaud, who was killed by the Soviet troops in 1945.

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The American RQ-4B Global Hawk reconnaissance drone, which took off from Sicily, Italy, circles over the neutral waters of the Black Sea near Russia's Crimea.

At a certain moment, the drone disappeared from flight radar, but then reappeared. Now more than 5.5 thousand people are following it on this site.

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The United States conducted a test launch of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, the US military announced.

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❗️The Russian Armed Forces shot down a Ukrainian Su-25 attack aircraft, according to its Ministry of Defense

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Zelensky goes all-in while Biden fears nuclear escalation - reports

“American and Ukrainian priorities are diverging," the NYT has reported, citing sources within Biden’s administration.

The Kiev regime has nothing to lose and it is ready to escalate the situation, while the White House indeed fears nuclear conflict with Russia and still prefers to tread lightly.

That is why Biden’s decision to authorize the use of US weapons supplied to Ukraine against targets deep in Russian territory should be considered an exemption, made under pressure, according to the source, claiming that Washington allowed their weaponry to be used for "counter-fire purposes" only. The US still prohibits strikes deep into Russian territory with long-range missiles like ATACMS.

While Volodymyr Zelensky dismisses these “nuclear fears”, Biden is afraid of Russia’s “ultimate weapon”, his advisors admit in private conversations.

Earlier, the United States shifted its stance and allowed Kiev to use American weapons on Russian territories around the Kharkov region, while still banning LRMs.

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that NATO countries must understand “what they are playing with” by allowing Ukraine to use their weapons for strikes deep into Russia.

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

▪️The Russian Armed Forces hit Ukrainian personnel and equipment in 112 districts;

▪️Units of the Zapad Battlegroup occupied more advantageous positions. Ukrainian losses amounted to 400 soldiers in its area of responsibility;

▪️Units of the Vostok Battlegroup occupied more advantageous positions within 24 hours and destroyed up to 130 Ukrainian soldiers;

▪️Units of the Sever Battlegroup defeated five Ukrainian brigades and repelled three attacks. Ukrainian losses amounted to 105 soldiers;

▪️Russian air defenses shot down 18 HIMARS and Alder missiles and 41 Ukrainian drones in one day.

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NATO has drawn up a plan to transfer US troops to the eastern front line in the event of a possible conflict with Russia, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Several alternative land corridors are being created, which, if necessary, will replace the main one to get US soldiers to the east. The main corridor involves the landing of American troops in the Dutch port of Rotterdam and their transfer to Poland through the territory of the Netherlands and Germany by rail.

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SPIEF 2024: What will be on the forum’s radar?

More than 17,000 participants from 130 countries have confirmed their attendance at the 2024 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), which will take place in Russia’s northern capital on June 5-8.

SPIEF has been held under the auspices of the president of the Russian Federation since 2005. This year, President Vladimir Putin will deliver a speech at the forum on June 7.

🔸 The forum’s main theme is The Foundations of a Multipolar World – the Formation of New Areas of Growth. Participants will discuss how government, business and society can work together to ensure countries' sustainable development in line with their national priorities.

🔸 The SPIEF 2024’s business program consists of four thematic tracks: "Transition to a Multipolar World Economy", "Goals and Objectives of Russia's New Economic Cycle", "Technologies for Leadership", and "A Healthy Society, Traditional Values, and Social Development: the Priority of the State".

🔸 The Sultanate of Oman will have an honorary guest status at the event.

🔸 Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik as well as Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar.

🔸 Bolivian leader Luis Arce and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa are due to attend the forum, as well as Central African Republic’s Prime Minister Felix Moloua.

🔸 The Taliban’s government delegation from Afghanistan will also take part in the event.

🔸 About 1,000 documents, including investment agreements and memorandums, are estimated to be signed. Last year, more than 900 agreements worth a total of $42.5 million were inked during the forum.

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The Swiss Parliament voted against the recognition of Palestine

The deputies of the Swiss National Council did not support the proposal to recognize the State of Palestine. Sixty-one votes were cast for its recognition and 131 against, the press service of the parliament reported.

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Russia legally cannot do anything due to the fact that the United States did not allow ex-intelligence officer Scott Ritter to attend the SPIEF, he is not a Russian citizen, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"This is just another example, in addition to numerous examples, that confirm that the United States, which calls itself the leader of democracy around the world, has long been a police state," Lavrov added.

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The German Prosecutor General's Office does not comment on an additional request from Russian colleagues in connection with the terrorist attacks on the Nord Stream Pipelines, a representative of the department's press service told Sputnik.

"I ask you to understand that we will not respond to your request," said a representative of the German Prosecutor General's Office when asked whether they received an appeal from Russia and whether the agency intends to send a response.

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