Podolyak's comments on Sevastopol attack mirror Nazi propaganda - Russian Foreign Ministry

Advisor to the Ukrainian President's Office, Mykhailo Podolyak, stated that there are no beaches, tourist areas, or signs of peaceful life in Crimea, and that the entire peninsula is a military target.

"This is a hundred percent replica of the Nazi concept of cleansing Crimea during World War II. Today, they have added American weapons and the methodology of modern international terrorism, but the core remains the same - Nazism," said Maria Zakharova, a representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

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In the case of the crash of an Il-76 aircraft in the Belgorod region of Russia, the Investigative Committee (IC) has compiled a body of evidence confirming the involvement of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF), according to the IC.

The aircraft was hit by a Patriot missile, with the explosion occurring in front of the crew cabin on the left along the flight path, the IC stated.

The investigation has information regarding which UAF units possess Patriots. Efforts to identify specific personnel involved in organising the attack are ongoing in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence.

The leadership of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (GUR) and the UAF were aware of preparations for a prisoner exchange involving those aboard the crashed Il-76 but nonetheless issued orders to strike the aircraft carrying 65 Ukrainian citizens, the IC stated. 

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📹 Video footage of Assange arriving in Bangkok. From there, he will travel to the island of Saipan, where he is expected to be released after trial.

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💬 The latest statements by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

◾️ Russia sees no opportunities for normalizing dialogue with the West on Ukraine.

◾️ President Vladimir Putin remains ready for dialog with French President Emmanuel Macron, especially on Ukraine.

◾️ France initiated of the complete winding up of relations between Russia and France. Moscow considers this decision short-sighted.

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❗️ The Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court has issued warrants for the "arrest" of former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov over the situation in Ukraine

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Assange's wife urged the public to monitor the journalist's flight in US airspace in case "something goes wrong."

"Julian Assange's flight VJ199 landed in Bangkok and will soon take off again and fly into US airspace where he will appear before a US judge. Please follow [the] Assange jet, we need all eyes on his flight in case something goes wrong," she posted on X.

The Northern Mariana Islands, where the journalist's case will be heard, has the status of an unincorporated US territory.

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❗️ Russia, in response to restrictions on Russian media, is restricting access to transmissions by a number of broadcasters in the European Union, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

If the sanctions against Russian media are lifted, Moscow will also review its retaliatory restrictive measures, the ministry added.

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Protests against tax hikes have been ongoing for several days in Kenya: at least two people have died and dozens have been injured.

Authorities have announced that they will revoke unpopular measures, including a 16% VAT on bread and a 2.5% tax on motor vehicles. Despite the government's readiness for dialogue, protests persist.

The Russian embassy told Sputnik that there's been no inquiry from Russians so far, and there have been no reported Russian casualties. However, diplomats describe the overall situation as highly tense.

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Top 15 European news channels facing tit-for-tat ban in Russia:

▪️ Politico
▪️ Agence France-Presse
▪️ Agence Europe
▪️ Der Spiegel (Germany)
▪️ El Mundo (Spain)
▪️ El Pais (Spain)
▪️ La Repubblica (Italy)
▪️ Le Monde (France)
▪️ Radio France (France)
▪️ Osterreich (Austria)
▪️ SVT (Sweden)
▪️ Belsat (Poland)
▪️ Yleisradio (Finland)
▪️ LRT (Lithuania)
▪️ ERR (Estonia)

The full list of 81 media outlets was published on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The ministry promised that if the restrictions on Russian media are lifted, the Russian side will also reconsider its decision.

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🇹🇷🇷🇺 Erdogan has held phone talks with Putin, the presidents discussed the terrorist attacks in Dagestan, the Turkish leader's office said

The sides agreed to continue coordinating actions in the anti-terrorist area, the Kremlin said.

In addition, the leaders agreed on further contacts, including at the SCO summit in Astana on July 3-4.

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❗️ Protesters in Kenya broke into parliament in Nairobi, fire started in part of building - reports

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❗️ Key statements from the briefing by Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of the Troops of Radiological, Chemical and Biological Defence of the Russian armed forces:

◻️ According to available information, radiochemicals continue to be imported into Ukraine for further utilization.

◻️ The creation of a technical and legal framework allows the United States to build up its biological-military capabilities in various regions of the world.

◻️ The main supply routes for radiochemicals to Ukraine are organized through Poland and Romania.

◻️ The importation of radiochemicals turns Ukraine into a dumping ground for spent nuclear fuel and waste from hazardous chemical production facilities.

◻️ Academy of Sciences of Ukraine authorized the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) to conduct dual-use bioprospecting under the agreement between the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the Pentagon.

◻️ In 2023, the SBU asked the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences to study samples of chemical, radiological, nuclear and bioweapons and traces of their use.

◻️ The reform of Ukraine's health care system, initiated at the direction of the United States, has created conditions for the implementation of military biological programs.

◻️ In the course of the special military operation, SBU documents were obtained confirming the interest of the Zelensky regime in continuing work on weapons of mass destruction.

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❗️ The organisational, logistical, and financial aspects of importing radiochemical substances into Ukraine are personally overseen by the head of Zelensky's office, Yermak, according to the Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov

Kirillov added that the radiochemical substances being imported into Ukraine could be used to create a dirty bomb, which could then be used under a false flag.

Igor Kirillov also named new individuals involved in work with components of weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine, including the country's chief sanitary doctor, Kuzin.

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❗️There are documents confirming that the US military-biological presence in Africa is rapidly expanding, Kirillov stated, adding that the construction of a laboratory and training centre in Ethiopia has begun under a joint programme and with financial support from the Pentagon's DTRA.

Employees of the US Army's Institute of Infectious Diseases conducted a study on bat hantaviruses in Kenya in 2023, he said.

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EU leaders have agreed that Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas will succeed Josep Borrell as the European Commission's foreign relations chief, while former Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa will head the European Council, DPA writes.

The Russian Interior Ministry had previously declared Kallas a wanted person. A police source told the media that the Estonian PM faces charges of the destruction of monuments to Soviet soldiers. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also called for Kallas to be held accountable for the crimes.

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'People should understand cynicism of Biden releasing Assange for political advantage'

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange left the maximum security prison in London on June 24 after agreeing to a plea-bargain deal on one espionage charge in a US court to bring an end to his years-long legal drama.

Australian citizen Assange was charged with 18 offenses, carrying a maximum sentence of 175 years in prison, for publishing inconvenient truths about the US' invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Human rights activists and investigative journalists reflected on the development to Sputnik.

◾️ Lucy Komisar, investigative journalist based in New York: "I was very pleased and happy to learn that Julian Assange will be free after more than a decade of imprisonment in the UK, both the years when he was forced to find safety in the Ecuadorian Embassy and then in the harsh conditions of Belmarsh prison.”

“I think Assange is being released now by Joe Biden in the hopes it might improve his standing with progressives and win him a few more votes,” Komisar said. “People concerned about Assange will understand the cynicism of Biden keeping him locked up until he thought he might get some advantage by releasing him.”

◾️ Craig Murray, former British diplomat: "I don't think Joe Biden wanted Julian to arrive in the middle of an election campaign. To be seen to be attacking freedom of speech, to be attacking constitutional rights is not a good look for the United States president whose election campaign is already in a lot of trouble over his support for genocide in Gaza."

◾️ Taylor Hudak, independent investigative journalist: "The prosecution should have never happened in the first place. Mr. Assange should have never spent one day in jail for the so-called crime of journalism. WikiLeaks has never published a false document. It is unfortunate that Mr. Assange had to plead guilty to any charge."

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Biden's Assange plea deal ‘ploy’ could spell goodbye to free speech for future journalists, whistleblowers

The plea deal for Julian Assange that allowed him to walk out of a UK prison “raises some serious concerns regarding the effects on the free press and the circumstances surrounding this agreement,” Andy Vermaut, Editor-in-Chief for Belgian Indegazette told Sputnik.

Details of the plea bargain are yet to be released, but it may require Assange to compromise or “give up some basic rights […] such as free speech, mobility, or ongoing monitoring, which can be regarded as concessions that erode the principles of press freedom,” said the human rights defender.

Andy Vermaut suggested several factors may have fed into Assange’s release:

1️⃣ “There may be geopolitical factors involved, "The US may be trying to prevent further deterioration of diplomatic relations and regain its position as a protector of the freedom of the press,” speculated the expert.

2️⃣ "The Biden administration could be using this deal as a strategy to divert attention from other political issues or to woo certain voters before the presidential debate,” Vermaut said, in a nod at the looming Biden-Trump standoff.

3️⃣ The whistleblower’s extended period of detention had elicited concerns from human rights groups, which “could have called for his release.”

If this is a ploy by the Biden administration, it may appeal to liberal voters and those who support civil liberties. But this could be counterproductive if it is perceived as a calculated move rather than a move towards the principle of justice, said the pundit.

If Assange is forced to agree to such things, it might end up “paving the way for future journalists and whistleblowers to be prosecuted,” Vermaut concluded.

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