Официальный аккаунт МИД РФ в Твиттере сменил аватар на «22.02.2022»

🖋 The President of Russia signed the Executive Order On the Recognition of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Executive Order On the Recognition of the Lugansk People’s Republic.

Vladimir Putin and Head of the DPR Denis Pushilin signed a Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the Russian Federation and the Donetsk People’s Republic.

The President of Russia and Head of the LPR Leonid Pasechnik signed a Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the Russian Federation and the Lugansk People’s Republic.

🔗 http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/67829

FACT-CHECK: Oil & gas is now now only 15% of Russia’s (official) GDP (so even lower, in reality).

The country is the world's biggest grain exporter, 2nd in weapon’s exports, the largest exporter of complex nuclear reactors.

Actually, 2/3rds of Russia's economy is services.

Some things Russia makes: Space rockets, gas turbines, nuclear power plants, artificial sapphire crystals, aircraft heat exchange systems, cars, helicopters, airplanes, agricultural machinery, trains, phones, supercomputers, satellites & superb ice cream.

Russia, the world’s sixth largest economy by official GDP (PPP), is home to 4 of Europe’s top 5 web companies & is the only European state with domestic rivals to Silicon Valley.

This 'gas station' trope is a consequence of the dangerous lack of Russia expertise in US media.

❗️ On February 20, the US Embassy in Moscow issued a warning about “threats of attacks against shopping centres, railway and metro stations, and other public gathering places in major urban areas” such as “Moscow, St Petersburg, and areas of heightened tension along the Russian border with Ukraine.”

In this connection, we note, as an addition to Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s earlier comments, that once again we have not received or found any confirmations of US statements.

☝️ Washington’s unflagging desire to escalate tensions, particularly in the current circumstances, and plant unverified information on such sensitive matters is absolutely baffling.

We hope that US diplomats will approach their official duties in a responsible and professional manner.

Some Additional Bits On Ukraine
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/02/some-bits-on-ukraine.html

Yesterday Russia recognized the Donbas republics. This seems to include all of the Donetsk and Luhansk administrative regions which are largely controlled by the Ukrainian government forces. Here are some bits on the fall-out. --- The German chancellor Olaf Scholz...

⚡️ ЗАЯВЛЕНИЕ МИД РОССИИ ⚡️

С 2014 года неоднократным нападениям подвергалось Посольство России в Киеве и Генеральные консульства нашей страны в Одессе, Львове и Харькове. Провокации регулярно устраивались в отношении Российского центра науки и культуры в Киеве, нанесен вред здоровью его руководителя, а также причинен ущерб имуществу Центра.

❗️ Объектами агрессивных действий становились и российские дипломаты. В их адрес поступали угрозы физической расправы. Совершались поджоги их автотранспорта. Вопреки своим обязательствам по Венским конвенциям о дипломатических и консульских сношениях киевские власти не реагировали на происходящее.

* * *

☝️ В сложившихся обстоятельствах наша первоочередная задача - позаботиться о российских дипломатах и сотрудниках Посольства и Генеральных консульств. Для защиты их жизни и безопасности руководством России было принято решение об эвакуации персонала российских загранучреждений на Украине, которая будет реализована в самое ближайшее время.

Украина усилила обстрелы в Донбассе после того, как Россия признала ДНР и ЛНР

Cпецкор KP.RU Александр Коц все еще находится на линии соприкосновения:

Позиция, на которой я нахожусь, подверглась массированному артобстрелу. Ощущение, что украинцы обрушили всю свою злость на этот маленький опорничек: здесь приземлилось около 40 снарядов

Бойцы ДНР рассказывают, что ВСУ ведут огонь по жилым домам, особо не разбираясь, куда попадут

@truekpru @sashakots

Always worth remembering that just two months before the US-backed 'EuroMaidan' – which eventually overthrew a freely-elected government – began in Ukraine, Alexey Navalny came second in a Moscow mayoral election.

There Is Still No 'Russian Invasion' But The Sanctions Proceeded Anyway
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/02/there-is-still-no-russian-invasion-but-sanctions-proceeded-anyway.html

The information war about the current U.S.-Russia standoff continues. That is why the New York Times is again pushing fake Russian invasion claims: Russia faced mounting pressure and economic sanctions over the Ukraine crisis on Wednesday as the United States...

🇷🇺 Address by the President of the Russian Federation

Excerpts

💬 President Putin: It is a fact that over the past 30 years we have been patiently trying to come to an agreement with the leading NATO countries regarding the principles of equal and indivisible security in Europe.

In response to our proposals, we invariably faced either cynical deception and lies or attempts at pressure and blackmail, while the North Atlantic alliance continued to expand despite our protests and concerns.

❗️ Its military machine is moving and, as I said, is approaching our very border.

Focused on their own goals, the leading NATO countries are supporting the far-right nationalists and neo-Nazis in Ukraine, those who will never forgive the people of Crimea and Sevastopol for freely making a choice to reunite with Russia.

☝️ They did not leave us any other option for defending Russia and our people, other than the one we are forced to use today. In these circumstances, we have to take bold and immediate action. The people’s republics of Donbass have asked Russia for help.

In this context, in accordance with Article 51 (Chapter VII) of the UN Charter, with permission of Russia’s Federation Council, and in execution of the treaties of friendship and mutual assistance with the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic, ratified by the Federal Assembly on February 22, I made a decision to carry out a special military operation.

The purpose of this operation is to protect people who, for eight years now, have been facing humiliation and genocide perpetrated by the Kiev regime.

Disarming Ukraine - Day 1
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/02/disarming-ukraine-day-1.html

On February 15 Professor John J. Mearsheimer gave a talk (video) about the Ukraine crisis. He starts out (at 3min) by explaining who has caused it: The United States, mainly, and its allies are responsible for this crisis. I recommend...

Ukraine Open Thread 2022-17
https://www.moonofalabama.org/2022/02/ukraine-open-thread-2022-17.html

ONLY for news & views RELATED TO UKRAINE ...

🎙 Russia's President Meeting with Security Council permanent members

💬 Vladimir Putin: According to available information, and this is confirmed by objective monitoring – we are seeing this; Banderites and neo-Nazis are putting up heavy weapons, including MLRS, right in the central districts of large cities, including Kiev and Kharkov. They plan to force return fire by Russian strike systems vs residential quarters. They are acting in the same way terrorists act all over the world – using people as shields.

It is known for a fact that all this is being done on the recommendations of foreign consultants, primarily American advisors.

❗️ Once again, I am appealing to the military of the armed forces of Ukraine. Do not allow neo-Nazis and Banderites to use your children, wives and elders as a live shield. Take power into your own hands. It seems it will be easier for us to come to terms with you than with this gang of drug addicts & neo-Nazis that have settled in Kiev and that have taken the Ukrainian people.