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Syria-Lebanon-Iran

Jihadists Launch Deadly Attack On Russian Airbase On Syria's Coast

2025-05-24

(ZeroHedge] In another clear indicator of just how drastically everything has changed in Syria in the wake of Bashar al-Assad's ouster in December last year, a militant group attempted to storm Russia's Hmeimim air base on Syria’s coast on Wednesday. Already the future of the base is uncertain, but Russia has still been maintaining it - given also Hmeimim is Moscow's only airbase on the Mediterranean.

"Militants attacked a Russian air base in Syria, killing two soldiers, a Syrian government official and a local activist said Wednesday," according to The Associated Press. Russian statements, which offered little detail, did not indicate if the slain were Russian soldiers or possibly foreign nationals who were contractors.

At least two militants were killed during their assault on the airbase. They are being widely reported as foreign Islamist fighters affiliated with the new Syrian government's military under President Sharaa (Jolani).

The Jolani/HTS government has tried to distance itself from the attack, as it is still seeking diplomatic normalization with Russia and a reset in relations:

The government official said the two militants who were killed were foreign nationals who had worked as military trainers at a naval college that was training members of the new government’s military. He said they had acted on their own in attacking the base and were not officially affiliated with any faction.

Damascus has on Thursday deployed additional forces in an effort to stabilize the security situation in villages near the airbase.

"The city of Jableh and the villages surrounding the Russian Hmeimim air base in the Jableh countryside are witnessing a security alert. Heavy deployment of public security forces has been observed in the villages of Al-Sharashir and Al-Qubaisa, both close to the base," the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) says.

SOHR had further described "clashes in which medium and heavy machine guns were used, coinciding with the sounding of alarm sirens inside the base" - when the incident unfolded.

One regional outlet has said Russian soldiers were killed, and that it was Uzbek terrorists behind the assault:

According to a report by the Erem outlet, the 20 May attack resulted in the killing of three Russian soldiers and the injury of at least six others. The report says the attack was carried out by an Uzbek-led faction, which afterwards began to mobilize in the village of Al-Sharashir, just two kilometers from the base.

Erem also said the Uzbek armed group, responsible for past atrocities including the killing of children, have displaced and intimidated scores of residents and have seized homes in in the nearby town.

#BREAKING | Islamist militants reportedly affiliated with ruling HTS attacked Russia’s Khmeimim Air Base in Syria around 4–5 AM. Russian forces returned fire, reportedly killing four militants. https://t.co/UQGcfjWqt0 pic.twitter.com/JorasQW3My
— The Global Eye (@TGEThGlobalEye) May 21, 2025

This coastal area near Latakia has for months seen attacks and massacres conducted by Islamic militant factions against the minority Alawite community of Syria. Christians and Druze have also been targeted.

Thousands of Alawites have been reported killed, and while the Jolani government has formally condemned the killings, eyewitnesses have consistently said the attacks had the involvement of HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) fighters, which remains the ruling faction in Damascus.

During the height of the sectarian killings, Alawite families sought refuge at Hmeimim air base in large numbers. Many thousands have been camped out on the base tarmac, with at times Russian troops seen handing out food and water and necessities of survival.

Back in March, Alawites expressed their distrust of HTS provided "security"...

HTS AlQaeda reps try to convince Syrian Alawi refugees to leave the Russian Hmeimim air base and go home. "Trust us now, mistakes happen, things got out of control". pic.twitter.com/JIpzSHpAB0

— tim anderson (@timand2037) March 18, 2025

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov earlier this week expressed particular concern about the chaotic situation in Syria, where he said extremist militant groups are carrying out "real ethnic cleansing and mass killings based on ethnic and sectarian identity". He blasted what he called the West’s "stunning" indifference to mass killings acts of terrorism.

The strong comments followed in the wake of President Trump meeting with Syria's Sharaa while in Saudi Arabia earlier this month. This stunned even some Washington officials, given that Sharaa/Jolani has long been a US-designated terrorist. Trump has said he wants to give Syria a fresh start, and also announced the US will drop sanctions.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio this week told a Senate hearing that Syria could collapse within just weeks; however, he didn't acknowledge in the testimony that it was the CIA's Operation Timber Sycamore which served to weaken and destabilize the country in the first place.

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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Russia will not agree to a ceasefire without stopping arms supplies to Ukraine

2025-05-11

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.

Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin:

Therefore, the war continues...
[ColonelCassad] Russia will not agree to a ceasefire without stopping arms supplies to Ukraine

Russia needs to see “certain dynamics” on the battlefield before agreeing to a long-term ceasefire, Peskov told ABC.

He also stressed that arms supplies from Ukraine’s backers must cease before there can be a pause in the fighting.

“Otherwise, it will be to Ukraine’s advantage. Ukraine will continue its total mobilization, transferring new troops to the front lines. Ukraine will use this period to train new troops and give those it already has a rest,” Peskov stressed. “

Putin is doing everything possible to solve the problem, to achieve a settlement by peaceful and diplomatic means. But without peaceful and democratic means at hand, we are forced to continue the military operation,” he added.

Quite logical. A ceasefire with continued mobilization and arms supplies is simply another version of Minsk-2 with a predetermined outcome. So, of course, such a ceasefire is not beneficial to Russia. And those who propose it, of course, know this. That is why they are proposing it.

P.S. Today, on the night of May 11, the "festive" truce ends and the fighting will continue as usual. In fact, it has not stopped in most areas. The enemy claims that Russia is going to launch a powerful missile strike on Kiev in the near future

PS2. The "coalition of the willing" (Macron, Merz, Tusk and Starmer) showed up in Kiev today on the last day of the "truce" to discuss a strategy for putting pressure on Russia. Of course, they will not stop arms supplies.

More from regnum.ru
Kremlin: Armistice Should Not Be Accompanied by Arms Supplies — 1171st Day of the SVO
The temporary ceasefire declared by the Russian side should not be accompanied by arms supplies to Ukraine, said the press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov in an interview with the American television channel ABC News. A fragment of the statement was broadcast on May 9.

The Kremlin representative explained that the ammunition arriving daily from the United States and European countries, together with the total mobilization and transfer of new troops to the combat zone, give the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) an advantage. The discussion of this topic, among other things, marked the new, 1171st day of the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine.

The ceasefire to mark the 80th anniversary of the Victory came into force at 00:00 Moscow time on May 8 and will end at 00:00 Moscow time on May 11. The Russian side expected that the Kiev authorities would follow suit. However, there was no ceasefire from the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

On May 9, the Ministry of Defense reported that Kiev militants had made four attempts to break through the Russian state border in the Kursk and Belgorod regions, as well as 15 attacks and one reconnaissance in force.

Earlier, President Vladimir Putin noted that if the United States stops supplying weapons to Ukraine, the Ukrainian conflict will end in two to three months.

Details are in the broadcast by IA Regnum.

Even more from regnum.ru
Peskov said Russia would consider a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire
Russia will consider the proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the Ukrainian conflict zone. This was stated by the press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov.

"Russia will consider the proposal for a 30-day truce, but it has its own position on the introduction of a ceasefire," the Kremlin spokesman said in an interview with CNN.

Peskov also clarified that Russia is open to peaceful dialogue, but attempts to put pressure on it on this issue will not be successful.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, on May 10, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said that the republic was ready for a complete ceasefire in the conflict zone for 30 days. According to him, during the meeting in Kiev, the participants of the "coalition of the willing" (France, Germany, Poland and Britain) also called US President Donald Trump - and they all supported the initiative for a ceasefire.

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have demanded that Russia agree to a 30-day ceasefire and threatened new sanctions and increased military aid to Ukraine in case of refusal.

Peskov previously emphasized that without taking into account the nuances, it is impossible to meaningfully discuss a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine. In particular, Western arms supplies to Ukraine must be stopped.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov explained earlier: Moscow is in favor of negotiations without preconditions, and the demand for a 30-day truce is precisely one of these preconditions. Lavrov also recalled that Kiev had previously consistently violated all agreements.

President Vladimir Putin previously indicated that in order to resolve the situation in Ukraine, it is necessary to withdraw the Ukrainian Armed Forces from the DPR, LPR, Kherson and Zaporizhia regions and officially recognize the return of these regions to the Russian Federation. In addition, Kiev must refuse to join NATO, the rights of Russian-speaking citizens in the territory it controls must be ensured, and Western sanctions against the Russian Federation must be lifted. The President emphasized that it is necessary to eradicate the root causes of the conflict and achieve peace, not a truce.

Link

Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Ukrainian Perspective: Invasion of Ukraine: April 27, 2025

2025-04-28

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.

Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22.01 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the issue of Crimea's status is not part of the negotiations with the United States to end the war in Ukraine. He said this in an interview with CBS News.

Lavrov emphasized that this issue has supposedly already been resolved, and Russia, they say, is not negotiating the integrity of its territory.

21.39 Intense fighting continues in the Pokrovsky direction – Russian troops have stepped up their assaults, but continue to suffer significant losses. This was reported by DeepState analysts.

The most difficult situation remains in the areas of Elizavetovka, Tarasovka, Staraya Nikolaevka, Lisovka, Uspenovka, as well as in the areas of Shevchenko-Peschanoe and Kotlino-Udachnoye.

19.44 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow would agree to a ceasefire only if Western support for Ukraine ceased. The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry said this in an interview with the CBS News television channel.

The presenter recalled that Kyiv accepted the US proposal for a complete ceasefire on March 11, but Moscow put forward additional conditions.

"No, these are not preconditions," Lavrov replied. "These are lessons we have learned at least three times when we concluded agreements similar to the one we are discussing now," he added, referring to the preliminary ceasefire agreements in Minsk.

Lavrov again stated that in order to achieve a new ceasefire, the West must stop supplying weapons to Ukraine.

18:56 EU Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius is convinced that the ban on Ukraine's accession to NATO makes it easier for Russia to plan its next aggression. He stated this at Platform X.

"Russia demands "no NATO" for Ukraine not because it fears a NATO offensive against Russia from Ukrainian territory, but because it fears that NATO will defend Ukraine during the next Russian aggression. The demand for "no NATO" for Ukraine makes it easier for Russia to plan new aggression," the European Commissioner explained.

18:36 Fighters of the 12th special forces brigade of the Azov NGU captured three Russian soldiers in the Toretsk direction. This was reported by the press service of the unit.

Russian attack aircraft from the Toretsk direction "drove" into the defenders' captivity on scooters.

18:17 Since the beginning of the day, 69 combat clashes have already occurred on the front; fighting is still ongoing in three directions of the front, most of all in Pokrovsky.

17.32 On April 27, President Volodymyr Zelensky heard a report from Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrsky on the situation in specific areas of the front.

"Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky reported on the situation at the front. The situation remains difficult in many areas. By the middle of this day alone, there have been almost 70 Russian assaults on our positions. The fighting continues. The occupier continues to attempt offensives. I am grateful to each brigade, to all our soldiers who are defending Ukrainian positions and demonstrating the resilience that Ukraine needs. Most of the fighting is in the Pokrovsk, Kramatorsk, Limansk and Kursk areas. Our military continues active defensive actions in certain areas of the Kursk and Belgorod regions," Zelensky noted.

15.19 Three people were killed in Konstantinovka as a result of another shelling by the Russian army on April 27. This was reported by the head of the Donetsk OVA Vadim Filashkin.

"New victims in Konstantinovka: three killed, four wounded," he noted.

14.00 Russia continues to recruit foreign mercenaries for the war against Ukraine. From April 2023 to the end of May 2024, more than 1,500 foreigners were recruited in Moscow. This was reported by the UK Ministry of Defence.

According to British intelligence, the largest number of volunteers came from South and East Asia (771 people), followed by the former Soviet republics (523 people) and African countries (72 people).

Analysts believe that recruitment of foreigners in Russia is unsystematic. Most volunteers agree to sign contracts for money and the prospect of receiving Russian citizenship.

13:43 The meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US leader Donald Trump at the funeral of Pope Francis had a special spirit that will inspire new ideas to end the war, Polish President Andrzej Duda said.

"It is in the interests of Poland and the Poles that this war ends with a just peace, which will also give us a guarantee of peace, so that we can truly develop peacefully, without fear of being attacked," he stressed.

13.05 Air defense destroyed 48 Russian missiles and almost 800 drones in a week. Among the downed targets were ballistic and cruise missiles. This was reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Over the past week, Ukrainian air defense destroyed 841 targets:

31 Kh-101/Kh-55SM cruise missiles;

7 Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles;

6 Kalibr cruise missiles;

4 guided aircraft missiles Kh-59/69;

442 Shahed-type attack UAVs;

114 reconnaissance drones;

237 UAVs of other types

11:46 The Russian army is preparing to integrate the use of motorcycles during offensive operations in Ukraine in the summer and fall, according to a report by the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Analysts say Russia is likely preparing to systematically integrate the use of motorcycles into offensive operations in Ukraine this summer and fall to neutralize the capabilities of Ukrainian drones.

10.20 At night, as a result of Russian shelling, fires broke out at different addresses in Zhitomir. A warehouse building and dry grass were burning. Residential buildings, utility buildings and cars were also damaged. One person was injured.

09.44 At night, Russian troops attacked Ukraine with 149 attack UAVs. Damages to 57 UAVs have been confirmed in the east, north, south and center of the country. 67 enemy drone imitators have been lost.

The enemy attack damaged Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Odessa, Donetsk, Sumy and Cherkasy regions.

09.16 At night, Russian troops attacked Odessa region with attack drones. A three-story residential building and cars were damaged in Odessa district. A 35-year-old local resident was injured.

08.57 A man was killed and a 14-year-old girl was injured in an enemy drone attack in Pavlograd, Dnipropetrovsk region. This was reported by the head of the OVA, Serhiy Lysak.

"At night, the enemy once again sent drones to the region. 13 of them were destroyed by the defenders of the sky. But, unfortunately, there are also consequences. A man was killed in one of the attacks in Pavlograd. A 14-year-old girl was also injured. She is under medical supervision," he wrote on Telegram.

Two apartment buildings were damaged in the city. A fire broke out in one of the buildings.

08.36 Over the past 24 hours, 174 combat clashes have been recorded on the frontline. The Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy in the Kursk direction. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

07.45 As of April 27, 2025, the total combat losses of Russian troops on the territory of Ukraine amounted to approximately 948,640 people (+1030 per day).

4.20 The DeepState analytical project has refuted the statement of the Russian military leadership about the alleged complete "liberation" of the Kursk region and the expulsion of the Ukrainian Armed Forces units.

The enemy has advanced in the Kursk region, but the Kursk operation is still ongoing. The Ukrainian military is tracking and striking Russian logistics, troop concentration areas and other objects.

Link

Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Ukrainian Perspective: Invasion of Ukraine: April 25, 2025

2025-04-26

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.

Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22:45 US President Donald Trump commented on the talks between his special representative Steve Witkoff and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.

The American leader called the meeting "good." "US Ambassador Whitkoff had a good meeting," Trump said.

The US President did not provide any details regarding the conversation between Whitkoff and Putin.

22.18 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky must immediately sign the rare earth metals agreement. This was stated by American leader Donald Trump in Truth Social.

"Ukraine, led by Volodymyr Zelensky, has still not signed the final documents regarding a very important agreement with the United States on rare earth metals. The delay is at least three weeks. It remains to be hoped that it will be signed immediately," the US President wrote.

21:50 President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a series of diplomatic meetings that should bring the ceasefire closer.

"In the coming days, very important meetings may take place that should bring peace closer to Ukraine. An unconditional ceasefire is needed. Real pressure is needed on Russia so that they accept either the American proposal to cease fire and move towards peace, or our proposal - any proposal that can really work and guarantee a reliable, immediate and unconditional ceasefire, and then a decent peace and security guarantees," Zelensky said in an evening video address.

21.37 Ukraine does not have enough weapons to regain control over the temporarily occupied Crimea, but the world has various ways to put pressure on Russia to discuss territorial issues. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

21.20 Ukraine and the European Union responded to US President Donald Trump's "peace plan" by conveying to the States their ideas for ending the war with Russia.

According to Reuters, during a meeting in London on April 23, Ukrainian and European officials conveyed to the Americans their ideas for ending Russia's war against Ukraine. The agency has learned what the common peace plan between Ukraine and the European Union looks like.

20.05 The Ukrainian delegation handed over to the American delegation in London a response to the peace proposals of the Donald Trump administration, including on security guarantees. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

According to the head of state, Ukraine, together with its European partners, during a working meeting in London on April 23, proposed "our vision of the proposals made by the United States."

The proposals touch on issues of security guarantees, in particular, alternatives to Ukraine’s membership in NATO.

"There are absolutely constructive proposals there, as I said, both the contingent and the format of the fifth amendment (Article 5 of the NATO Treaty on Collective Defense – ed.). Not the fifth amendment itself, but specifically those forces and the kind of protection that the fifth amendment provides for in NATO countries," the president explained.

19.00 Kremlin Chief Vladimir Putin and US Presidential Special Representative Steve Witkoff held three-hour talks. The Russian dictator's aide Yuri Ushakov spoke about the details of the meeting.

19.00 Kremlin Chief Vladimir Putin and US Presidential Special Representative Steve Witkoff held three-hour talks. The Russian dictator's aide Yuri Ushakov spoke about the details of the meeting.

18:36 In less than four months of the current year, the Russian occupation army has lost more than 1,000 tanks. This was reported by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky.

18:25 China is "seriously concerned" that its citizens are participating in the war against Ukraine on Russia's side, so Kiev remains open to dialogue with Beijing to resolve this issue, Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgy Tykhy said.

"We believe that between countries that have an established dialogue, all problematic issues should be resolved only through dialogue. We remain open to dialogue with China," he said.

18.07 American President Donald Trump does not have a single deadline for a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. He told reporters this before flying to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis. However, on April 24, Trump announced such a deadline for an agreement - "his own deadline" by which peace must be achieved.

17:36 The North Korean ballistic missile that Russia used to strike Kiev on April 24 contained at least 116 components from around the world. Most of them were produced by American companies, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

17.18 Russian troops attacked the territory of the Kherson Parks CP in the afternoon of April 25, four utility workers were injured, vehicles were damaged. This was reported by the Kherson GVA. It is noted that three drivers and a cleaner were injured. The injured are in satisfactory condition and all are receiving the necessary medical care.

16:53 The 8th Airborne Assault Corps has been created in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It includes six combat brigades that fought during the ATO/JFO, as well as those formed after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. This was reported on the Facebook page of the new unit. The corps commander is Hero of Ukraine, Colonel Dmytro Voloshin, who has led the 82nd Bukovina Airborne Assault Brigade since 2024.

16.50 Any foreign military personnel who intend to participate in the parade in Moscow on May 9 must realize that they will be marching side by side with people who committed war crimes in Ukraine, said Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgiy Tykhyi.

"I will repeat our general attitude towards the event that Moscow will call the "victory parade" on May 9. We believe that the Russian military who will march on Red Square on May 9 not only have nothing to do with the victory over Nazism, but are also, in all likelihood, participants in war crimes against Ukrainians," he said.

15.49 Ukraine does not change its key positions on the end of the war. While the "peace plans" spread in the media do not correspond to reality. This was stated by the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Georgy Tykhy during a briefing.

15.33 Ukrainian law enforcement officers detained and arrested a foreign vessel that was part of Russia's "shadow fleet". The dry cargo ship was transporting agricultural products from the temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine, the SBU reported.

15.10 A meeting between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US Presidential Special Representative Steve Witkoff is taking place in Moscow. This was announced by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

14.13 Currently, a number of contacts with the US at various levels are in progress. This was stated by the spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Georgiy Tykhyi, at a briefing in Kiev. He assured that Ukraine had not received official signals from the US about their withdrawal from the peace process.

13:59 The car of a leading Russian designer exploded in the Russian city of Bryansk. The liquidation occurred at the very moment when the Russian got into the car together with his colleague.

13.42 Today's "arrival" in Saki, Crimea, hit the building of the deputy chairman of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov. This was reported by the Atesh partisan movement on its Telegram channel.

12:54 The son of CIA Deputy Director Julian Gloss, 21-year-old Michael Gloss, died at the front in Ukraine, fighting for Russia. He was liquidated on April 4, 2024.

11:30 US Presidential Special Representative Steve Witkoff has arrived in Moscow to meet with Vladimir Putin. This was reported by Russian media. The Bombardier Global 7500 business jet was flying direct from Miami Airport and landed at Moscow's Vnukovo.

11.06 Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russian troops have killed 622 children in Ukraine. More than 1,924 children have been injured to varying degrees of severity. This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General. It is noted that the largest number of children were injured in the Donetsk region - 640, Kharkiv - 490, Kherson - 208, Dnipropetrovsk - 235, Kiev - 136, Zaporizhia - 177, Mykolaiv - 118, Sumy - 134.

10:53 On Friday morning, Russian invaders dropped a FAB-250 guided air bomb on a house in the village of Yarovaya in the Liman community - a father and son were killed. This was reported by the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office.

10.40 A Romanian citizen has been detained in Sochi (Krasnodar Krai, Russian Federation) on suspicion of collecting data on the region's air defense. This was reported by Russian media with reference to the FSB.

10.23 An FSB informant has been detained in Donetsk region. He turned out to be a 55-year-old unemployed man from Slavyansk who was adjusting the attacks of the Russian Federation on the Defense Forces in the Slavyansk and Kramatorsk areas. This was reported by the SBU on April 25.

9.48 Shooting took place at the Zaporizhzhya NPP on April 24. Over the course of a week, constant explosions and shots have been recorded in the area of the facility. This was stated on the website of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by the agency's Director General Rafael Grossi.

9.29 The Russian army most intensively attacked the Pokrovskoe, Limanskoe, Toretskoe and Kursk directions. Over the past 24 hours, 175 combat clashes occurred on the front. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

9.23 Since the evening of April 24, Russians have attacked Ukraine with 103 attack UAVs and other types of drone imitators, 41 drones were shot down, and another 40 did not reach their target. This was reported by the Ukrainian Air Force.

8.59 The rescue operation at the site of the Russian strike on a residential building in the Svyatoshinsky district of Kyiv has been completed. The search lasted more than a day. This was reported by the State Emergency Service on Telegram.

8.46 The Russian army attacked Pavlograd with drones. As a result of the incident, three people died. This was reported by the head of the Dnipropetrovsk OVA Serhiy Lysak on his Telegram channel.

7.58 Russians have lost 1,170 soldiers at the front over the past 24 hours. This is evidenced by the morning report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

7.27 The Russian Federation has deployed a missile carrier to the Black Sea, so Ukraine continues to be under threat of shelling from the south. This is evidenced by the morning report of the Ukrainian Navy.

04.25 Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has criticized US peace proposals after the April 24 attack on Kiev, saying Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is being rewarded for killing Ukrainians. He says that despite the many casualties, recent peace proposals offer Putin the chance to keep the occupied territories, control Ukraine's future by banning it from joining NATO, avoid sanctions, gain an economic partnership with America, and time to rebuild his military strength before further aggression.

03.44 A container train recently arrived in Russian-occupied Crimea for the first time after passing through other occupied territories of Ukraine. The train came from the Sverdlovsk Railway of the Russian Federation and traveled more than 3,000 km in less than five days.

02.22 President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that over the past 24 hours, almost 150 Russian attacks against Ukrainian positions and more than 4,500 shellings, including with the use of heavy weapons, have been recorded. The most tense situation, according to the president, has developed in the Pokrovsky direction, the Russians were trying to develop assault actions "under the cover" of their massive strike.

01.14 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the Kremlin is ready to reach an agreement with the United States on Ukraine. However, he noted that some elements need to be "reworked." Lavrov also spoke about US President Donald Trump and his efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

"The President of the United States believes, and I think it is fair, that we are moving in the right direction," the Russian Foreign Minister said.

Link

Economy

Ukraine may default in May

2025-04-25

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] In May, Ukraine may default on a payment of about $600 million, since the republic failed to agree on debt restructuring. This is reported by the British newspaper The Financial Times (FT), citing the Ukrainian Ministry of Finance.

"Ukraine said on Thursday it had failed to reach an agreement with holders of $2.6 billion in debt, denting its hopes of a restructuring before the repayment deadline next month," the publication said.

It is specified that in May Kyiv will be obliged to pay about $600 million on securities that are tied to the republic’s GDP.

"Kiev will have to decide whether to default on a payment due at the end of May if it fails to reach a restructuring agreement in time," the article also noted.

At the same time, the Ukrainian Ministry of Finance stated that they will consider all available options.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, in January 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Kiev is happily “chewing on investors’ money” and is in no hurry to lift the ban on negotiations with Moscow, although its sponsors are calling for this.

In February, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also emphasized that the IMF and the World Bank were setting records in supporting the Kiev regime, allocating loans and credits that were many times greater than the funds provided to African and other developing countries. Ukraine has become a blatant example of disproportionate growth in military spending while absorbing hundreds of billions of dollars in aid, the minister noted.

Link

Afghanistan

Russians Set To Tour Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan

2025-04-23

[EVRIMAGACI] New travel initiative targets veterans of the Afghan war amid changing regulations.

In a surprising twist, a new travel initiative is set to take Russians on excursions to Afghanistan, specifically to the Taliban-controlled city of Kandahar. This venture, spearheaded by businessman Anatoly Aronov, aims to attract Russians, particularly those who served in the Afghan war, by offering a unique opportunity to revisit a significant chapter in their lives.

Aronov has filed a trademark application for "Taliban Tour" with Rospatent, marking the launch of his travel company that promises organized trips to Afghanistan. According to Aronov, the tours will consist of small groups of three to five people, with each two-week trip priced at 100,000 rubles. He believes that the primary audience for these excursions will be veterans of the Afghan war, who may have a nostalgic desire to reconnect with their past.

"This will be interesting primarily for those who served there. They will want to see and feel their youth again," Aronov stated. He also mentioned that Afghans might show interest in these tours, potentially even paying extra for the experience, as Western nations have largely shunned travel to the region. Aronov emphasized the historical ties between Russians and Afghanistan, noting that hundreds of thousands of Russians have memories from their time in the country.

However, Aronov cautioned against women traveling to Afghanistan, highlighting the strict regulations imposed by the Taliban. "They [the Taliban] have strict rules regarding women. I think women won't travel there. Why seek unnecessary adventures?" he remarked.

This initiative comes on the heels of a significant legal change in Russia, where the Supreme Court recently lifted the ban on the Taliban, allowing the group to operate without legal restrictions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov explained that the decision to remove the Taliban from the list of prohibited organizations was part of a broader strategy.

Despite Afghanistan's reputation for conflict and drug production, the country is open to tourists, albeit with considerable caution required. Russian travelers must first obtain a visa in Moscow and a maktub, a special permit for sightseeing, which can only be acquired in Kabul and must be validated in each province they visit. Igor Manashirov, a Russian traveler, pointed out the complexities of navigating Afghan bureaucracy: "Eastern bureaucracy is very subtle, and each provincial chief wants to personally demonstrate his authority," he noted.

Since the Taliban regained control in 2021, life in Afghanistan has transformed dramatically. Women face severe restrictions, prohibited from freely going outside or pursuing education, while men are subject to strict dress codes. For instance, men are not allowed to wear revealing sportswear, have beards shorter than a fist, or wear ties. Furthermore, interactions between men and women are heavily regulated, with the new authorities enforcing a strict separation.

The Taliban has also declared a war on drugs to improve Afghanistan's international image, leading to unexpected consequences such as the closure of hookah lounges. Local residents have adapted to these new laws; for instance, a merchant in Kabul cleverly conceals a hookah lounge behind a frozen goods store, enticing tourists with the invitation, "Hurry up while no one sees!" This adaptability illustrates the resilience of Afghans amid challenging circumstances.

Despite the ongoing difficulties, Afghanistan is witnessing a surge in interest among tourists, with many eager to explore a country often overshadowed by its tumultuous past. However, the risks associated with travel in Afghanistan remain significant, and potential visitors are urged to proceed with caution.

As the Taliban Tour initiative unfolds, it raises questions about the implications of tourism in a country marked by conflict and strict governance. While some may view this as an opportunity for cultural exchange and historical reflection, others express concern over the ethical considerations of traveling to a nation still grappling with the consequences of war and oppression.

In conclusion, the Taliban Tour represents a controversial yet intriguing development in Russian tourism, reflecting a complex interplay of nostalgia, cultural ties, and the evolving landscape of Afghanistan under Taliban rule. As the travel industry navigates these uncharted waters, it remains to be seen how this initiative will unfold and what impact it will have on both Russian tourists and the Afghan people.
Found this on V Kontakte -- Russian Facebook:

A commenter said, laconically: Vadim Pokrovsky
Stone throwing and throat slitting on the program?

Alexey Svetlichny
Vadim, come on, they're not savages. Throwing grenades!

Link

Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Ukrainian Perspective: Invasion of Ukraine: April 17, 2025

2025-04-18

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.

Worth noting, korrespondent.net has compiled its Invasion of Ukraine series into separate months, beginning May 9th, 2023. Linked in the title.
[Korrespondent] 22.59 Representatives of Ukraine, Europe and the United States launched a new format of negotiations in Paris today on how to achieve an end to the war and sustainable peace. The next meeting should take place soon. This was stated by the head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak on the air of Unified News.

22:44 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov "spoke on the phone for the first time" with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This was reported by the Russian Foreign Ministry and the press service of the US State Department.

22.12 US President Donald Trump expects the Russian Federation to make a decision to end the war in Ukraine this week. He stated this during a conversation with journalists at the White House.

21.37 US President Donald Trump does not hold Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky responsible for the Russian invasion. However, in his opinion, the latter "did not do enough" to prevent the war. The head of the American state said this while talking to journalists at the White House.

20.49 In the Kherson region, as a result of massive Russian attacks on April 17, four people were killed and at least 17 were wounded. The Russian army used aircraft, artillery and drones. This was reported by the Kherson regional prosecutor's office.

20.46 On Thursday evening, April 17, the Russian army launched an attack on Nikolaev with an unknown drone. This was reported by the head of the Nikolaev regional military administration, Vitaly Kim.

20.28 Special Operations Forces (SOF) operators have discovered and destroyed a Russian Marine Corps observation post in Kursk region. One of the liquidated Russian aggressors had staged footage, which Russian propaganda has presented as "the destruction of a column of the Ukrainian Defense Forces." This was reported by the SOF on its Facebook page on Thursday, April 17.

19:43 President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine has received intelligence data on China's supply of gunpowder and artillery to Russia, as well as on the production of some weapons by representatives of the PRC directly on the territory of the Russian Federation. The head of state noted this during a briefing.

19:00 Moscow hopes for "a manifestation of the search for a peaceful Ukrainian settlement" at the negotiations between representatives of the US, Ukraine and European countries in Paris. This was stated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in a commentary to Russian media. At the same time, he pretended not to understand why European capitals "have suddenly turned into war hawks" while Moscow and Washington "are talking about peace."

18:29 Germany has delivered another batch of military aid to Ukraine. This is evidenced by updated data on the website of the German government. The Ukrainian military received self-propelled guns, air defense missiles, drones of various types, thousands of shells, dozens of armored vehicles and other equipment.

17.16 The United States has again voted against the UN General Assembly resolution, which mentioned condemnation of the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine. The text of the resolution "does not contribute to advancing the cause of peace," noted the US representative to the UN, Jonathan Schrier.

16.48 Since the beginning of the current day, 79 combat clashes have occurred on the front. The Russian occupation forces have concentrated their main efforts in the Pokrovsk area. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in an operational report as of 16:00.

16.26 The aggressor country Russia is preparing to launch new attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky at a meeting with energy workers.

15.38 In recent weeks, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have liberated about 16 square kilometers of territory in the Donetsk region. This was reported by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky. According to him, this concerns the areas of the settlements of Udachnoye, Kotlino, and Shevchenko.

14:45 The Ukrainian delegation held its first multilateral meeting in Paris with representatives of Great Britain, Germany and France. This was reported by the President's Office. The implementation of a complete ceasefire in Ukraine and the involvement of a multinational military contingent to ensure security were discussed.

14.39 In Dnepr, as a result of Russian shelling at night, buildings of a higher medical education institution and dormitories were seriously damaged. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Health.

Thus, according to preliminary data, in one of the educational buildings, which has the status of an architectural monument, as a result of a direct hit, half of the roof was destroyed, and the floor slabs of the fourth floor collapsed. In another building, all the windows were knocked out, and the classrooms were damaged. They are unsuitable for teaching.

Four dormitories were also damaged. In one of them, after a direct hit from a drone, part of the building was destroyed, the roof was damaged, and the windows were knocked out. In other dormitories, almost 100% of the windows were knocked out.

13.13 Law enforcement officers have exposed three new schemes for evading mobilization in the Odessa region. Among those detained are the general director of a psychiatric medical center and his two deputies, who issued fictitious certificates of mental disorders for $20,000. This was reported by the SBU press service.

13:00 Since the beginning of 2025, the Ukrainian Defense Forces have destroyed 4,910 artillery systems of the Russian army. This was reported by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrsky. According to him, thanks to the professional work of the Ukrainian Defense Forces, since January 2024, a year and less than four months later, the Russian army has lost almost 18 thousand artillery systems (17,960).

12:59 President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed condolences to the families of those killed during the attacks of Russian "shahids" on the city of Dnipro and called on partners to increase assistance to Ukraine and put pressure on the killers. He wrote about this in Telegram.

12:45 Russian aviation struck the Central District of Kherson at about 10:30 on June 17. This was reported by the head of the Main Military Aviation Service Roman Mrochko. According to him, a 15-year-old child was seriously injured - a mine-explosive injury and an open craniocerebral injury. Doctors are currently fighting for his life. Two men, born in 1997 and 1966, also sought medical attention. Both suffered mine-explosive injuries. Further examination is currently ongoing.

According to the head of the Kherson Special Military Aviation Service Alexander Prokudin, a man was killed as a result of Russian air strikes on the Central District of Kherson. The relevant services are establishing the identity of the deceased.

12:33 The International Nuclear Safety Agency (IAEA) group working at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) has heard explosions at different distances almost daily over the past week, as well as periodic shots. This was stated by the Director General of the Agency Rafael Mariano Grossi, as reported on the IAEA website. Also, over the past week, air raid sirens have sounded almost every day at the South Ukrainian and Chernobyl NPPs.

10:34 Next year, high defense spending is expected. There are several options for where to find the money. This was stated by Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko during a CES discussion.

"Despite talk of possible peace talks, we do not see reliable signs that next year's budget will be free of significant military spending," he said.

9:36 In Kherson, on the morning of April 17, a Russian drone attacked an ambulance in the Dniprovsky district. A 65-year-old paramedic and a 61-year-old driver were injured. This was reported by the Kherson OVA.

8:55 There have been 125 combat contacts on the frontline in the past 24 hours. Most often, the Russians attacked the Limanskoye, Toretskoye, Pokrovskoe and Novopavlovskoye directions. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on April 17.

8:31 In the Sumy region, a fire broke out on the territory of an agricultural enterprise as a result of an attack by Russian attack drones. This was reported by the head of the Sumy Regional Military District Mykhailo Melnyk. Agricultural machinery and administrative buildings were damaged. There were no casualties.

8:14 The death toll as a result of the Russian attack on the city of Dnepr on the evening of April 16 has increased to three, 28 people were injured. This was reported by the State Emergency Service.

7:50 Over the past 24 hours, the Russian Army has lost 1,230 soldiers, 3 air defense systems and 170 vehicles on the frontline. This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

5:05 Drones have again attacked the deployment point of the 112th Guards Missile Brigade, involved in the strike on Sumy. Explosions have thundered in the city of Shuya in the Ivanovo region of the Russian Federation, where the brigade is stationed. Social networks are publishing footage of landings and fires.

02:22 The number of victims in Dnepr has risen to 28 people. 15 houses have been damaged. Among them are two historical and architectural monuments.

0:30 Russian troops have attacked Dnepr with Shaheds. A girl and an older woman were killed. 16 people were injured, including three children.

Link

Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Supreme Court Suspends Ban on Taliban Activity in Russia

2025-04-18

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] At a hearing on April 17, the Supreme Court of Russia suspended the ban on the activities of the Taliban movement in the country (under UN sanctions for terrorist activities).

“By decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, the previously established ban on the activities of the Taliban movement, which is included in the unified federal list of organizations recognized as terrorist, has been suspended,” the judge announced.

The court hearing was held behind closed doors.

On February 14, 2003, the Supreme Court of Russia recognized the Afghan Islamist religious and political paramilitary movement Taliban as a terrorist organization, banning its activities in the Russian Federation.

As reported by Regnum News Agency, in August 2021, a coup d''état took place in Afghanistan, and the Taliban came to power. In March 2022, Russia established diplomatic relations with Afghanistan. As stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the Taliban control power in Afghanistan, containing the activities of terrorist groups.

In October 2024, FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov announced that Moscow was finalizing the issue of removing the Taliban from the list of terrorist organizations. As the press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov explained, the abolition of the terrorist status of the Taliban is necessary for the development of contacts with the leadership of Afghanistan.

The Supreme Court announced at the end of March that it had accepted the Prosecutor General''s Office''s request to suspend the ban on Taliban activities in Russia.

We wish you much joy from the relationship

Link

Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Experts comment on the situation surrounding the negotiations between Russia and the US

2025-04-15

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] The negotiations between Russia and the United States are of interest to Russian experts and public figures. They agree that Moscow will not make concessions to Washington and the Kiev regime.

Russian public and political figure, writer and publicist Nikolai Starikov stated that the initial stage of negotiations can be considered completed. Now it is logical to assume that the parties are moving on to discussing compromises related to the Ukrainian crisis.

At the same time, the expert points out that Moscow and Washington have begun to discuss issues that are not related to the conflict in Ukraine. At the same time, the US is not lifting sanctions, members of the American administration say that the head of the White House, Donald Trump, is dissatisfied with Russia, and he himself calls Russian President Vladimir Putin a good politician.

"All this allows us to draw several conclusions. The negotiations are not going the way the US wants, no decisions are being made to satisfy them. Attempts to pressure and frighten the Russian leadership are not impressive and do not work. Just as the American tactics of promises of friendship and lifting sanctions do not work," Starikov said, adding that the US will have to change its position if they want to reach an agreement.

Advisor to the Chairman of the Coordination Council of the Association of Veterans of the SVO, member of the public chamber of the Kemerovo region Alexey Savin pointed out that the Kiev regime violates any agreements, which has become obvious to the whole world.

"I am confident that our President Vladimir Putin will not even ask the Ukrainian junta's opinion on diplomatic issues. In the SVO zone, we will fulfill the goals set and achieve the results that the people of Russia are interested in," he emphasized.

The executive director of the Association of Veterans of the SVO Dmitry Afanasyev noted that veterans of the special operation are very sensitive to issues of justice and closely follow the negotiations between the Russian Federation and the United States. There is no doubt that Putin will not allow the American side to achieve concessions in favor of Ukraine.

"The loud statements of the United States do not affect our firm position. The President will not retreat from Russia's interests," Afanasyev is confident.

Stalina Gurevich, a lawyer and blogger, noted that US Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has visited Russia several times recently. In her opinion, this is a sign that the options that the American politician offers Putin have not been accepted.

"Trump is, of course, a sly fox, but where he studied, Putin taught, so I think we will see recognition after all. At least from Crimea (for starters) and at least from the US," Gurevich said.

The lawyer also believes that the European Union and Great Britain will try to prevent this. It will watch the developments with interest.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on April 14 that Russia and the United States had not yet agreed on the main parameters of an agreement to resolve the conflict in Ukraine during negotiations. He added that Moscow and Washington maintain contacts and discussions on this issue are ongoing.

Putin received Witkoff in St. Petersburg on April 11. The talks lasted more than four hours, with the parties discussing, among other things, the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis.

On March 18, Putin and Trump discussed the situation in Ukraine during a telephone conversation. The Russian president called the key condition for ending the fighting the suspension of foreign military aid to Kiev. This is also necessary to prevent the escalation of the conflict, he stressed.

Link

Home Front: Politix

New round of Russia-US talks to take place in Istanbul on April 10

2025-04-09

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] A new round of talks between Russia and the United States will take place on April 10 in Istanbul, RIA Novosti reported, citing an informed source.

“The meeting is scheduled for the 10th,” the agency’s source said.

Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported that the Russian delegation at the talks in Istanbul will be headed by Russian Ambassador to the United States Alexander Darchiev, and the American delegation will be headed by US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Sonata Coulter. The new round of consultations will be devoted to normalizing the functioning of the diplomatic missions of the two countries.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, negotiations between delegations of Russia and the United States took place in Istanbul on February 27. They lasted more than six hours. The normalization of the work of diplomatic missions of the two countries was discussed. On April 1, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that the parties were preparing a second meeting.

The press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov noted that the Kremlin remains cautiously optimistic about the negotiations with the United States. He emphasized that painstaking work is being carried out through various communication channels with the American side. Peskov also recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin remains open to dialogue with his American counterpart Donald Trump.

Link

Africa North

Russia to help Sahel states build up defense potential

2025-04-04

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Russia will help the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS) to increase its defense potential in the face of existing terrorist threats. This was announced on April 3 by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“I emphasized Moscow’s readiness to contribute in every way to building up the potential of the joint forces of the Sahel states, increasing their combat capability, the combat capability and national armed forces of each of the three countries, and training military personnel and law enforcement officers,” Lavrov noted following the talks with the heads of the foreign ministries of the ACS countries.

The diplomat also stressed that Russia is ready to assist states in the areas of security, economics, and international processes.

The Alliance will be supported in strengthening the position of the African continent and its inclusion in the emerging, more just multipolar world order, Lavrov added.

More from regnum.ru
Mali's Foreign Ministry Calls Ukraine a Sponsor of Terrorism and Calls for Stopping It
Ukraine is sponsoring terrorists in Sakhalin

…island off the eastern coast of Russia, just north of Japan’s Hokkaido, with a population of about 500,000…

and must be stopped. This was stated by the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mali Abdoulaye Diop on April 3.

“These terrorists are supported by external actors, regional actors who are in our region, who help these terrorists, who organize the rear for them, for example, Ukraine,” he said following negotiations between representatives of the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The diplomat noted that Ukraine is literally sponsoring terrorism, which requires immediate attention.

In turn, Lavrov noted that the country provides support to terrorist groups with the connivance of Western countries. He emphasized that in addition to Ukraine, some former colonizers also contribute to the destabilization of the region.

Even more from regnum.ru
Zakharova announced Lavrov's meetings with the ministers of the "Sahel Troika"
The meeting of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with the ministers of the "Sahel Troika", as well as separately with the foreign ministers of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso will take place in the "next few minutes". This was stated on April 3 by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.

“In these, one might say, remaining minutes, in the remaining time, the first meeting of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with the heads of the foreign ministries of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in a new format – Russia and the Alliance of Sahel States – is being prepared and will begin in Moscow,” she said during a briefing.

It is noted that issues of developing Russia's relations with these states, including political and sectoral interaction, will be discussed. The Russian Foreign Ministry also confirmed Moscow's desire to effectively support the alliance in the area of building an independent policy, regional security based on its own forces and taking into account the national interests of the alliance.

Link

Caribbean-Latin America

Russia will continue to seek to remove Cuba from the list of sponsors of terrorism

2025-04-04

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] Russia will continue to seek to remove Cuba from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism. This was stated on April 3 by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko at a meeting with Santiago de Cuba Governor Manuel Falcon Hernandez.

“Russia, as before, will seek to end the blockade and remove Cuba from the list of countries sponsoring terrorism... It is very important that Cuba objectively assesses the reasons for the SVO and supports Russia’s legitimate security demands,” he emphasized during a working visit to the republic.

It is noted that Havana supports Moscow's security demands, and both countries are well aware of what sanctions pressure is. Chernyshenko added that new American sanctions against Cuba are a manifestation of impotence.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, in January 2021, Washington added Cuba to the list of countries sponsoring terrorism. Then, in early 2023, the White House decided to resume contacts with the country at the level of law enforcement agencies.

In May 2024, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel called on the United States to remove the country from its arbitrary list of sponsors of terrorism and lift economic sanctions. It was noted that the republic was actively cooperating in the fight against terrorism.

In June of the same year, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pointed out that the US was thus trying to maintain its slipping international hegemony through economic, financial and diplomatic terrorism. He added that Moscow and Havana would continue to increase coordination on Latin America and the Caribbean.

Link

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