⚡️ Group of journalists, Sputnik photographer come under fire near Gorlovka, Donetsk region

❗️A group of journalists, including a photographer working for Sputnik, came under fire on the Gorlovka-Donetsk highway. According to the correspondents, no one was injured as a result of the attack.

The journalists were targeted as they photographed the site of an overnight explosion, which claimed three lives.

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📹: "A group of journalists came under fire on the way to Gorlovka. Ukraine fired at the site of the bomb explosion, which occurred overnight", said journalist Patrick Lancaster, who was in the group.

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⚡️ Foreign Minister Lavrov: Russia guarantees security of DPR and LPR

📹: In Donetsk, people supporting Russia are seen honking their car horns, displaying Russian flags

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⚡️ Zelensky claims sanctions against Russia should include 'complete halt' of Nord Stream 2 project

⚡️ Zelensky says Kiev considering possibility of severing diplomatic relations with Russia

⚡️ LPR militia urges OSCE and international community to force Ukrainian military to fulfil their obligations

⚡️ Russian State Duma ratifies friendship and cooperation treaties with DPR and LPR

⚡️ Moscow recognises DPR and LPR within borders where republics exercise their powers - foreign ministry

⚡️ Russia recognises DPR, LPR within borders in which they proclaimed independence, Kremlin says

❗️ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov held a press conference on Russia's recognition of the two Donbass republics.

According to Peskov:

🔸 The Kremlin remains open to all diplomatic contact over Ukraine;

🔸 The decision on sending Russian forces to DPR and LPR will be made by Putin and the heads of the republics based on expediency;

🔸 Russia is ready to discuss the cessation of Kiev’s aggressive actions, its refusal to use force and guarantees of Russia's security;

🔸 Severing diplomatic relations with Russia is an extremely undesirable scenario, it will make everything even more difficult.

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❗️ German Chancellor Scholz says he is suspending Nord Stream 2 certification

⚡️ EU envoys reportedly agree to ban imports and exports to LPR and DPR

⚡️ Gas futures prices in Europe have once again exceeded $900 per thousand cubic metres following Scholz’s statement – trading data

⚡️ Artillery shell explosions can be heard near Lugansk, Sputnik correspondent says

⚡️ Russia's upper house ratifies friendship and cooperation treaties with DPR, LPR

⚡️ EU seeks to limit Russia's access to European financial markets

⚡️ UK and allies begin imposing sanctions on Russia, Boris Johnson says

⚡️ UK PM Johnson says the country will be sanctioning five Russian banks: Rossiya, IS Bank, General Bank, Promsvyazbank, and the Black Sea Bank.

The prime minister says three individuals - Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg, and Igor Rotenberg - are also to be slapped with sanctions.

"Any assets they hold in the UK will be frozen, the individuals concerned will be banned from travelling here, and we will prohibit all UK individuals and entities from having any dealings with them", Johnson said.

⚡️ Ukrainian troops use Grad rocket launchers in Donbass for first time since 2018, DPR says