Ukraine: US Lies, Provocation, Broken Promises, Fake News

[Anthea]

Possible Zelensky replacement

The United States is considering replacing him with a more controllable and less corrupt person who will appeal to the majority of the Western world

According to Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), the US intends to launch a campaign to undermine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in order to replace him with a more malleable person. According to the agency, former Interior Minister Arsen Avakov is being considered for the job.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the SVR stated that "the American elite" is becoming increasingly unhappy with Zelensky as politicians on both sides of the aisle begin to "doubt the targeted spending of billions of dollars in military aid to Kiev."

Officials stated that Zelensky is engaging in "crazy steps" that threaten escalation "far beyond Ukraine," adding that Kiev “has moved to feverish action” as Zelensky tries to stay in power after the end of his official term in May.

According to the agency, the United States is considering replacing him with a more controllable and less corrupt person who will appeal to the majority of the Western world.

Avakov, who became interior minister following the Western-backed coup in Kiev in 2014 and served until 2021, is one of the most "suitable" candidates under consideration, SVR noted.

According to the SVR, the US feels that Avakov has numerous advantages over other contenders, including intimate links to Ukrainian far-right parties and contact with EU officials. According to the agency, the White House believes that a change in leadership "will allow the West to better prepare for the possible start of negotiations with Russia to resolve the conflict."

Officials further stated that the possibility of Avakov taking over is being discussed with Ukrainian opposition figures, including former President Pyotr Poroshenko, former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko, and important MPs from Zelensky's own party.

After taking over as interior minister, Avakov led a crackdown on forces resisting the Western-backed coup in Kiev. He also served in a similar position during the 2014 fire at Odessa's Trade Union House, which killed 42 people after a far-right mob pursued them inside. There has been no full trial in the ten years following the incident. The UN has condemned Kiev's passivity on this issue.

The former interior minister has also shown strong support for the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion. Allegations have surfaced that Avakov offered political support to the unit and assisted in the release of its head, Andrey Biletsky, who is widely recognized as a white nationalist.
US will sacrifice Zelensky after exhausting his 'usefulness': SVR

The legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fully relies on Western support, but the West will sacrifice him once Russia consolidates its successes on the battlefield, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) pointed out in June.

"Washington and its satellites are unhappy with the situation since May 20, 2024, as the legitimacy of [Ukrainian President] Vladimir Zelensky now fully relies on Western support," the SVR said in a statement.

It emphasized that Zelensky's "Western patrons will easily sacrifice him when Russia consolidates its successes on the battlefield and depleted and demoralized Ukrainian forces find themselves against the ropes."

The SVR added that "having exhausted Zelensky’s ‘usefulness’ and realizing the futility of hoping for ‘Russia’s strategic defeat’, the White House will not pause to cast him off to the ash heap of history, replacing him with a Ukrainian politician who they believe can lead talks with Moscow on a peaceful settlement of the conflict."

It is noteworthy that Moscow regards Zelensky as a usurper, given that his five-year presidential term ended in May.

Russian President Vladimir Putin contends that, according to the Ukrainian constitution, the parliament remains legitimate, and presidential powers should have been transferred to its speaker after Zelensky’s term expired.

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UK allows Ukraine to use UK weapons

The Times newspaper says many governments have been hesitant to approve the use of long-range weapons capable of reaching Russian towns and villages

The UK Defense Ministry allows Ukraine to use UK weapons in its offensive in Russia's Kursk Region, a ministry spokesperson announced.

"There has been no change in UK Government policy, under Article 51 of the UN Charter Ukraine has a clear right of self-defense against Russia’s illegal attacks, that does not preclude operations inside Russia," the spokesperson said on Wednesday, as quoted by The Independent newspaper, adding that "we make clear during the gifting process that equipment is to be used in line with international law."

At the same time, the use of Storm Shadow missiles will not be allowed outside of Ukraine's borders as recognized by London, he maintained.

The comes as UK ministers are reportedly attempting to convince allies to permit Ukraine to deploy the Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which have been supplied to Kiev, for strikes within Russian territory, according to The Times newspaper.

In July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the new UK government had authorized the use of Storm Shadows for deep strikes in Russia.

But The Telegraph later reported that the UK Ministry of Defense denied claims that the government had granted Ukraine permission to target Russian territory with these missiles.

The Times indicated that many governments have been hesitant to approve the use of long-range weapons capable of reaching Russian towns and villages due to concerns over potential escalation.

This comes as Zelensky claimed on Wednesday that the Ukrainian armed forces had "advanced well" in Russia's Kursk region.

The Ukrainian armed forces launched on August 6 a large-scale incursion into Russia's Kursk border region, capturing dozens of areas.

"Today we have advanced well in the Kursk region. We are achieving our strategic goal," Zelensky said in his evening address.

Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said Ukraine would create a "buffer zone" in the region to prevent Russian cross-border strikes.

"The creation of a buffer zone in the Kursk region is a step to protect our border communities from daily hostile shelling," he said.

The governor of the Kursk region declared a state of emergency following an incursion by Ukrainian forces, which reportedly penetrated at least 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) into Russian territory, capturing 28 towns and villages.

But Zelensky claimed Tuesday that Ukraine now controls 74 settlements in Kursk, noting that the cross-border offensive was "purely a security issue," capturing "areas from which the Russian army struck at our Sumy region."

Putin orders 'dislodging' Ukrainian forces

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the military to "dislodge" Ukrainian forces that had entered Russian territory.

According to regional governor Alexei Smirnov, approximately 121,000 people have fled Kursk since the onset of the fighting, which has claimed the lives of at least 12 civilians and injured 121 others, as he reported in a meeting with Putin.

Kursk authorities announced on Monday the expansion of their evacuation zone to include the Belovsky district, home to around 14,000 residents.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it had repelled Ukrainian attempts to push further into five areas of the region.

"The attempts by enemy mobile units using armored equipment to break through deeper into Russian territory have been repelled," it said.

The governor of the neighboring region of Belgorod, where 11,000 people have been evacuated, also declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, describing the situation as "extremely difficult" amid ongoing Ukrainian bombardment in the border area.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Georgiy Tykhy on Tuesday said Kiev was not interested in "taking over" Russian territory and defended Ukraine's actions as "absolutely legitimate".

"The sooner Russia agrees to restore a just peace... the sooner the raids by the Ukrainian defenses forces into Russia will stop," he told reporters.

Ukraine announced plans to "open humanitarian corridors" in captured territories to facilitate civilian evacuations either toward Russia or Ukraine.

Additionally, Ukrainian authorities stated they would allow "international humanitarian organizations" to access the area and have set up a hotline for Russians seeking evacuation.

Footage broadcast by Ukraine’s TSN news, reportedly from the Kursk town of Sudzha, shows Ukrainian soldiers atop a building removing a Russian flag while chanting "Glory to Ukraine!"

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[Anthea]

Kiev struggling against Russian superiority

Pentagon's Inspector General agency says that Ukraine's armed forces not in a position to launch a "large-scale" offensive for at least six months

The Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General (OIG) cautioned in its quarterly report that Ukraine is facing significant challenges in countering Russia's superior air and ground forces due to a shortage of necessary capacity and munitions and is subsequently suffering heavy losses.

"The UAF [Ukrainian Armed Forces] continued to suffer heavy attrition rates and lack sufficient capabilities and munitions—particularly artillery, air defense, and long-range strike capabilities—to overcome Russia’s air and ground advantages," the OIG report published on Thursday read.

Even with the recent arrival of US supplies of munitions starting in June, Kiev remains at a significant disadvantage and will find it difficult to match Russia's high daily fire rate, which involves the use of approximately 10,000 artillery rounds each day, the report added.

Ukraine will not be in a position to launch a large-scale offensive operation for at least six months, despite receiving these munitions, OIG concluded.

The Ukrainian armed forces launched on August 6 a large-scale incursion into Russia's Kursk border region, capturing dozens of areas.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on Wednesday that the armed forces had "advanced well" in Kursk.

Meanwhile, the British Ministry of Defense announced that Ukraine has been authorized to use UK-supplied weapons in its offensive inside Russian territories. However, the use of Storm Shadow missiles will be restricted for now to within Ukraine's internationally recognized borders, as defined by London.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... iority--us

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Ukraine suffering massive losses

Russian forces have claimed significant success in repelling a large-scale offensive by Ukrainian troops in the Kursk Region, Russian officials said Wednesday

General Apti Alaudinov, commander of the Akhmat special forces regiment, reported that nearly 12,000 Ukrainian soldiers, including numerous foreign fighters, had entered the region but that most had already been eliminated.

"We estimate that around 12,000 personnel entered the Kursk Region," General Alaudinov told Russian broadcaster Rossiya 1. He highlighted the involvement of foreign fighters, noting the presence of Polish, English, and French speakers among the Ukrainian forces.

"Most of them have already been destroyed," he said.

The offensive, which began on August 6, aimed to seize strategic facilities in both the Kursk and Belgorod regions, Alaudinov explained. The operation was reportedly part of a broader strategy by NATO to enable Ukrainian forces to capture significant Russian territory, thereby putting pressure on Moscow.

Despite the scale of the attack, Alaudinov noted that Ukrainian aircraft were not observed over the Kursk Region during the offensive.

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the assault, describing it as another "large-scale provocation" by Ukraine, targeting civilian infrastructure. He vowed that the Russian military would deliver a decisive response in the border regions.

Earlier reports from the Russian Foreign Ministry indicated that Ukrainian forces had suffered heavy losses, including up to 2,300 personnel and 37 tanks, during their incursion into the Kursk Region.

'Inconceivable' for Russia to lose

In a video posted on his Telegram channel on Saturday, Alaudinov, who took on the role of deputy head of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces in April 2024, declared that it is "inconceivable" for Russia to face defeat on the battlefield.

The comments were in response to the largest assault on Russian territory since the conflict between the neighboring states began in February 2022.

While appealing for more people to join the army, he said "I see no reason for you to doubt, to think that we could even lose this battle."

"I urge all of you to make a decision in this battle. The decisive battle," he said, adding, "Because after this battle, Ukraine will fall," as well as NATO, Europe, the US, and "all those supporting Ukraine."

He highlighted the presence of Americans, Poles, English, and French individuals fighting for Kiev, stating, "You have no place… in our land, and we will do everything to keep you out," emphasizing that "Russia is more united than ever; we are a force that no one can stop."

Since the incursion began on Tuesday, the Ukrainian military has reportedly lost nearly 1,120 soldiers and 140 armored vehicles, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, which also stated that the advance has been halted.

Moscow described the raid as a provocation and accused Kiev of targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure in the region.

Western military specialists questioned Ukraine's strategic reason for attacking the Russian province of Kursk, citing limited resources and difficulties in sustaining a long front line, according to a report by the Financial Times on Tuesday.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... gn=Ukraine

[Anthea]

Will Ukraine attacks Kursk nuclear plant?

According to NBC, Kiev had been planning an incursion-style attack on Russia similar to the one currently happening in the Kursk Region for some time, citing an anonymous top Ukrainian government advisor

Ukraine launched its offensive attack in the Kursk region on August 6 as part of its war with Russia, losing more than 2,800 service people and 41 tanks. Some of the weapons used by Ukraine are generally funded or provided by the NATO alliance.

According to the advisor, whose remarks were reported by the US broadcaster in a piece on Friday, the concept of an incursion into Russia has been "on the table for more than a year" in Kiev.

The operation's purpose was to deflect Russian attention away from other sectors of the frontline, particularly Donbass, where Moscow's soldiers had been gradually advancing since the beginning of the year, he explained

As per the article, “The question now is how long Ukraine wants to — and can — hold onto it [area under its control in Kursk Region] without sacrificing more of its own eastern heartland."

Major-General Apty Alaudinov, head of Russia's Chechen Republic's Akhmat Special Forces, stated earlier that the Russian military's information indicates that the ultimate goal of the Ukrainian incursion was to take the Kursk nuclear power plant.

Alaudinov explained that “this blitzkrieg by [Ukrainian leader Volodymyr] Zelensky, which was supposed to see the seizure of the nuclear power plant in Kurchatov and the start of negotiations with an ultimatum for us [Russia] to leave some places or to do something, has failed."

Ukrainian unit surrenders to Russian army near Kursk

A Ukrainian military unit of 24 servicemen from the armed forces surrendered to the Russian Army near the Komarovka village in the Kursk Region, effectively organized through Telegram, a Russian law enforcement spokesperson told Sputnik on Saturday.

"Twenty-four servicemen from the 22nd separate mechanized brigade of the armed forces of Ukraine surrendered to the Russian army in an organized manner near the village of Komarovka in the Kursk Direction," he said, highlighting that "before surrendering, the Ukrainian military contacted us through the FREE_SOLDIER2022 channel."

Russian authorities, on Thursday, established a coordination council to address military security in border areas. This new council will focus on the Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk regions, aiming to improve support for battle groups and coordinate evacuation efforts.

Later, on Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that its forces had taken control of Sergievka and were advancing toward Kramatorsk, a major Ukrainian stronghold in eastern Donetsk. The Russian military had previously reported the capture of Lishichne and Ivanivka but not Sergievka, which is now within range of Kramatorsk.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... sk-nuclear

[Anthea]

Safety at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant deteriorating

Safety at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is deteriorating following a drone strike that hit a perimeter access road on Saturday, according to International Atomic Energy Agency director general Rafael Mariano Grossi

The Russian management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant said a Ukraine drone dropped an explosive charge on a road used by staff, the TASS news agency reported earlier.

Russia has been in control of the Zaporizhzhia site, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, since soon after it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The plant is dormant as Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused each other of trying to sabotage its operations and endangering safety around the plant.

"Yet again we see an escalation of the nuclear safety and security dangers facing the ... power plant," Grossi said.

"I remain extremely concerned and reiterate my call for maximum restraint from all sides and for strict observance of the five concrete principles established for the protection of the plant," he said.

The impact site was close to the essential cooling water sprinkler ponds and about 100 meters (109.3 yards) from the Dniprovska power line, the only remaining 750 kilovolt line providing a power supply to the plant, the IAEA said.

An IAEA team visited the area on Saturday and reported that the damage seemed to have been caused by a drone equipped with an explosive payload.

The report said there were no casualties and no impact on any nuclear power plant equipment. However, there was an impact to the road between the two main gates of the plant.

Moscow wants to discuss the attack on the Zaporizhzhia plant with the IAEA, Russia's RIA news agency reported, citing Roman Ustinov, the acting Russian representative in Vienna.

https://www.voanews.com/a/safety-at-zap ... 46751.html

[Anthea]

Deter Ukraine from terrorist plans for NPPs

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says Ukraine already "looks like a loser in the aggressive war against Russia."

Ukraine's defeat against Russia is "a matter of time," Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro suggested on Monday.

"It's a matter of time before Ukraine is defeated. It is a matter of time when [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and Russia achieve the goals of denazification of Ukraine. They will do it," Maduro said during his TV show "Con Maduro +".

He added that Ukraine already "looks like a loser in the aggressive war against Russia."

The Venezuelan leader also pointed out that it is the United States and European countries' responsibility to deter Ukraine from plans affecting nuclear power plants.

"The US and Europe must stop [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky's terrorist plans for nuclear power plants and guarantee political dialogue, ensure that Ukraine surrenders and Nazism in Ukraine stops," Maduro stressed.

This comes days after a Russian security agency's representative told Sputnik that the Ukrainian armed forces were planning to use charges with radioactive warheads to attack nuclear power plants (NPPs) in Kursk and Zaporozhye (also known as Zaporizhzhia) regions.

Military correspondent Marat Khairullin also cited sources as saying that the Ukrainian armed forces are reportedly preparing to detonate a dirty nuclear bomb and plan to target storage sites for spent nuclear fuel.

The military-civil administration of the Kharkiv region indicated that the Ukrainian strikes on nuclear facilities are aimed at accusing Russia of provocation.

Sergei Lebedev, the coordinator of a local pro-Russian underground network, also told Sputnik that the planned attacks on the Kursk and Zaporozhye NPPs are being overseen by Western intelligence services, particularly from the UK.

Ukraine launched an offensive attack in the Kursk region on August 6 as part of its war with Russia, losing more than 2,800 service people and 41 tanks. Some of the weapons used by the Ukrainian forces are generally funded or provided by the US-led NATO military alliance.

Russia's Defense Ministry affirmed that a "man-made disaster in the European part of the continent" would be faced with "tough military and military-technical countermeasures."

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova urged the international community "to immediately condemn the provocative actions prepared by the Kiev regime."

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... gn=Ukraine

[Anthea]

US cannot be trusted

Russia's ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov describes Joe Biden's administration as unpredictable, implying the US ban on long-range weapons against Ukraine may be lifted

Washington's claims of banning Ukraine from using US-supplied long-range weapons for deep strikes into Russian territory cannot be trusted, Moscow's ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky resumed calls with the US to allow Kiev's troops to use long-range weapons during its ongoing incursion in the Kursk Region.

However, last week, the Pentagon reiterated its stance of preventing the former Soviet nation from using the US-supplied ATACMS missiles, which have a range of up to 300km, for strikes inside Russian territory.

US 'preparing ground to remove restrictions'

US officials “seem to be constantly teasing us by saying that today it is allegedly not allowed to use long-range systems to strike at Russian territory," Antonov told journalists on Friday, adding that "in reality, they are essentially preparing the ground to simply remove all existing restrictions, at a certain point."

The Russian envoy based his judgment on the US' previous support of Kiev during its war with Moscow, expressing his certainty to TASS that Ukraine will “fight with US-made [long-range] weapons against us,” adding “Where exactly will it happen? We cannot say or foretell."

The ambassador described US President Joe Biden's administration as becoming unpredictable, highlighting, “There is no guarantee that the whole world will not change tomorrow when you and I wake up. How the Americans will behave in this situation is very hard to tell."

Antonov insisted that as a result, Russia must “act decisively, increasing our military-industrial potential, because only our army and navy will protect our country."

Antonov rejects US claims on Kursk incursion

The ambassador appeared on Russia's Channel One on Thursday, rejecting claims by US officials that they were unaware of Ukraine's Kursk Region incursion.

“I am firmly convinced that in Kiev they do nothing without the go-ahead from their masters… They wouldn’t have dared to move a finger… in our direction without consent from Washington,” he said.

Despite the Ukrainian forces' advancement into Russian territory, Antonov insisted that “no one has any doubts that they will be destroyed, not pushed back, but destroyed.”

His statement was backed by the Russian Defense Ministry's report shared on Thursday, revealing that more than 4,700 Ukrainian troops and hundreds of military equipment have been lost since the beginning of the incursion on August 6.

Ukrainian offensive stopped across Kursk

Ukrainian forces’ attempts to advance have been halted across the entirety of Russia's Kursk region, with their key resources eliminated, confirmed Apti Alaudinov, commander of the Akhmat special forces, adding that Russian troops were now focusing on clearing settlements.

Ukraine launched a large-scale surprise offensive into the Kursk region on August 6.

The commander indicated that the destruction of major Ukrainian resources, including forward echelons, "inflicted very heavy damage on the enemy. They lost a lot of equipment, tanks, armored vehicles and a lot of infantry."

"I think at the moment, we no longer have to worry that the enemy, no matter how many more resources he has, could pass through the area where we're situated," he affirmed.

Alaudinov also emphasized that the Ukrainian forces were stopped in an unfavorable position and have now begun entrenching themselves.

The commander revealed the involvement of a huge number of foreign mercenaries, including servicemen from NATO countries, in the Kursk operation.

According to Alaudinov, the Kursk operation was orchestrated by NATO powers to divert Russian attention and impede progress in other areas, accompanied by war crimes committed by Ukrainian forces.

In an earlier interview with a Chinese war correspondent, Alaudinov estimated that fighting in the Kursk region and the broader special military operation in Ukraine could conclude within the next two to three months.

On Monday, he reported receiving photographic evidence of Russian civilians being "shot point-blank, in the head, in the back of the head," vowing that these acts would be avenged.

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[Anthea]

Data on 7,700 Nazi Azov soldiers

RaHDit announces the largest hacking operation since the launch of the NemeZida project, revealing the Azov Battalion's members' neo-Nazi ideologies and background

Data on almost 7,700 members of the revamped Azov Battalion (the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade) were published by the pro-Russia hacker group RaHDit on Wednesday, including over 4,000 images.

"This is the largest leak of enemy information since the launch of the 'NemeZida' project," the hackers told Sputnik, highlighting that "The new Azov has continued the traditions of the old one - many members have tattoos of swastikas and have been convicted of crimes, many of them have deviations. A number of people from the new Azov were previously exchanged as prisoners and vowed to others that they had abandoned Nazism, but they are now part of the renewed staff and have gone to fight again."

Despite Azov originating from and being based in Ukraine, the hacker group revealed that foreign nationals were also members of the brigade. RaHDit added that they hope this newly revealed information will help the Russian armed forces prevent the neo-Nazi fighters from evading justice and retribution.

RaHDit has leaked information throughout the Russia-Ukaine war which began in February 2022, such as hacking all 755 Ukrainian government websites. In addition, back in July, the group disclosed data on over 3,200 mercenaries in the Ukrainian armed forces, and leaked information on NATO officers fighting against Moscow in cyberspace.
Russian hacker group leaks data on 1,700 Ukrainian security servicemen

On July 20, 2023, RaHDit published the data of 1,700 employees of the Security Service of Ukraine, as well as that of 2,000 military personnel of the Ukrainian Navy.

According to the hacker group, the data on the Security Service employees was unveiled in response to the attack on the Crimean Bridge, Sputnik reported.

It is reported that the hackers also leaked data on members of the UA Cats Division, a volunteer organization that collects donations for sea drones for Ukraine, as it is speculated that the attack was carried out using these unmanned vehicles.

In further response to the attack, RaHDit unveiled the routes of civilian ships it is thought that the naval drones with explosives were launched from toward the bridge.

Two tankers, Beks Loyal and Khudayar Yusifzade, the hacker group said, could have partaken in the operation by dropping unmanned naval vessels to attack the bridge. One had drifted opposite the Russian coast in the Black Sea while the other drifted south, days ahead of the attack.

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Consequences for supporting US in Ukraine war

According to the Kremlin spokesman, Europe's decision to follow the US lead in Ukraine has not considered their own best interests and predicted that this will lead to significant repercussions

In a recent interview published on Telegram on Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned European countries that they would face severe consequences for aligning with the United States in the Ukraine conflict.

According to Peskov, Europe is "playing the role assigned to them by Washington," a stance that undermines their own interests and burdens their taxpayers

Peskov mentioned that Europe's decision to follow the US lead in Ukraine has not considered their own best interests and predicted that this will lead to significant repercussions.

"They are playing the role assigned to them by Washington in this whole story, to the detriment of their own interests and the wallets of their taxpayers," he stated.

"And, of course, all of this will have serious consequences for them. They are inevitable."

The Kremlin spokesman noted that Russia is prepared to protect its interests amid growing tensions with the West.

He added that Russia's economic resilience has surpassed expectations as it is bolstered by steady economic growth and mobilization of the national economy.

Regarding US-Russia relations, Peskov described them as being at an all-time low under President Joe Biden's administration.

He criticized the US for its direct involvement in the Ukrainian conflict and for fostering an "undisguised hostile attitude" towards Russia, adding that Washington has been increasing its involvement in the conflict.

Peskov also commented on the predictability of US foreign policy, especially under the Democratic administration.

He suggested that the Democrats' approach towards Russia and the EU would remain consistent, by continuing to exert political and economic pressure on EU member states.

When asked about the possibility of a change in US policy should a Republican candidate like Donald Trump win the upcoming presidential election, Peskov expressed skepticism.

He doubted that Trump, despite his campaign promises, could resolve the conflict between Ukraine and Russia quickly or alter the trajectory of US foreign policy overnight.

"I do not think he has a magic wand or that anything can be done overnight," Peskov said in reference to Trump's campaign promises.

Peskov mentioned that current tensions between Russia and the US had reached a "breaking point" under Biden's leadership.

"Mr Biden's presidency has become the culmination of all processes in our bilateral relations. They are probably at their historic low at the moment," Peskov said.

Peskov went on to label Biden as "the flesh and blood of the US political establishment," noting, "the US approach to global affairs traditionally tends toward primitivism. They are always trying to tell everyone how to act and how to live. That is the main message."

He also pointed to Biden's long-standing confrontational stance towards Russia, recalling an encounter in 2011 where Biden, then Vice President, discouraged Putin from running for president again—a move that Putin firmly rebuffed.

"Even then, there were certain attempts to display such behavior in conversations with Putin. Putin has always responded to such approaches correctly but firmly," Peskov said.

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Scrapping winter fuel payments

About 10 million pensioners not receiving pension credit will lose the payment of up to £300 from mid-September, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves blaming a £22bn "black hole" in public finances for the decision to restrict the allowance

MPs and charities have criticised the move in recent days, with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats pushing for a Commons vote.

But Lucy Powell told BBC Breakfast she could not see a scenario in which Ms Reeves abandons her plan, and warned there could have been a "run on the pound" had the government not taken action on public finances.

Ms Powell acknowledged that losing the payment would make things even tighter for pensioners, but defended the government for taking "really difficult decisions" such as targeting winter fuel payments.

"The reason we are doing that is because the deficit was much higher than anyone thought, spending was higher than anyone thought," she said.

"If we hadn't taken that action we'd have seen a run on the pound, the economy crashing and the people who pay the heaviest price for that are the poorest, including pensioners and those on fixed incomes. That stability is really important for living standards."

She said Labour's commitment to the state pension triple lock and focus on economic stability would protect pensioners in the long term.

Asked if she could see any scenario where the winter fuel payments decision could be reversed, Ms Powell said: "I don't."

The government's resistance to rethinking the policy comes after a slew of criticism in recent days.

On Thursday, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey joined the Conservatives in calling for a Commons vote on scrapping winter fuel payments, describing it as the government's first big mistake.

Labour MPs loyal to Sir Keir Starmer have told the BBC of their growing unease over the policy, with one senior backbencher branding the move a "mean means test".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c785lg1nwlno

STRONGLY SUGGEST UK stops helping murderous Nazis and help UK pensioners

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Trump accuses Ukraine of faking death toll

OHCHR estimates the death toll in Ukraine to be around 11,520, while US officials claim more than 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since the start of the war with Russia

Former US president Donald Trump has accused Ukraine of intentionally covering up the actual death toll in its war with Russia, speculating in a recent podcast published on Tuesday that the death numbers are higher than depicted.

“They lie about the numbers,” Trump claimed in the podcast with Lex Fridman. “They try and keep numbers low. They knock down a building that’s two blocks long, and they say one person was mildly injured. No, no, a lot of people were killed… millions of people,” Trump added.

Varying death toll records

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed earlier this year that the death toll was around 31,000, while Russia and the international community estimate that it could be even higher.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has stated that the death toll composed of civilian deaths and unarmed individuals is around 11,520 since the start of the conflict in February 2022 until July 31, 2024. However, the organization claimed that real numbers could be much higher.

Anonymous US officials told the New York Times last month that an estimated 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed throughout the war

Kiev rarely publishes reports on the official civilian death toll, where accurate numbers are difficult to determine due to the lack of a reliable independent count.

The most recent official figures were released in June 2023, reporting around 10,000 civilian deaths. However, the actual figures are believed to be five times the recorded number, according to Oleg Gavilch, a top aide to Andrey Ermak, Zelensky's chief of staff.

Trump pledges to end war if re-elected

The Republican presidential candidate asserted that “a war that shouldn’t have happened," accusing President Joe Biden of failing to prevent the war while describing that reaching a potential ceasefire “is a much tougher deal to make than it would’ve been before it started.”

Trump reiterated his vow to end the war and "have a deal made" if he is re-elected in November.
Kursk incursion won't halt Russian advance in East Ukraine: Putin

Kiev's incursion into Russia's Kursk region will not impede Moscow's progress in eastern Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin said on Monday.

Despite the incursion on August 6, which displaced around 130,000 people and allowed Kiev to maintain control over parts of Kursk, Putin emphasized that the Russian advance in the Donbass continues unabated.

Speaking at an open lesson "Talking about important things", which was held at secondary school No. 20 named after the Heroes of the Fatherland of Kyzyl, Putin said, "The result is clear. Yes, people are going through difficult experiences, especially in the Kursk region. But the main aim that the enemy had -- to stop our offensive in Donbas -- it did not achieve."

Putin noted that Moscow is seeing progress at a "rate that we did not have for a long time," despite Kiev's efforts to stretch Russian forces and compel a withdrawal from eastern Ukraine.

He added, "We have to, of course, deal with these bandits that entered the territory of the Russian Federation, specifically the Kursk region, attempting to destabilize the situation in the border areas."

Elsewhere in his remarks, President Vladimir Putin stressed that the Russian armed forces are now capturing territory in square kilometers rather than just meters. "Moreover, now we are not talking about moving forward 200-300 meters [656-984 feet] at a time; we have not had such a pace of advance in Donbas for a long time. The Russian armed forces are no longer taking control of territories of 200-300 meters, but of square kilometers," he noted during the session.

Putin also stated that Russia will address the Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region who have attempted to destabilize the border area.

The Russian leader emphasized that Russia is safeguarding both the residents of Donbass and its own future by preventing the establishment of hostile entities near its borders in Ukraine. Putin underscored the importance of protecting Russia from the creation of unfriendly structures close to its territory.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... -number-is

Remember: The illegal US coup in 2014 and when the Donbass declared it was against the coup and no-longer wanted to be connected with the illegal government in Kiev. The world should have supported them. But since that time the people of Donbass have been under attack from Kiev Nazis and despite numerous appeals for international support and numerous recorded attack on Donbass killing THOUSANDS, not forgetting the Minsk agreements which granted Donbass self-rule, nobody supported these innocent people

[Anthea]

Russian forces take control of Kalynove

The Russian Defense Ministry has released the latest details of its operations against Ukrainian forces in the past 24 hours

In battles between the Ukrainian Armed Forces and Russia's Yug (South) group, 810 Ukrainian troops were lost and an ammunition stockpile was destroyed, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

The Ministry said that in the past 24 hours, Kiev lost the service people, as well as two armored vehicles.

Meanwhile, Russia's Zapad (West) group of troops eliminated up to 450 Ukrainian soldiers.

As for Russia's Vostok (East) group, it eliminated 110 soldiers, the Ministry reported. In the same battles, Ukrainian forces lost two vehicles, a US-produced 155 mm M777 howitzer, a Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station, and a US-made AN/TPQ 50.

Russian Tsentr (Center) group also eliminated 470 Ukrainian soldiers and repelled a total of seven Ukrainian counterattacks. The group also took control of the settlement of Kalynove in Donetsk.

Russia has the capabilities to push invading Ukrainians, protect Belgorod

Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also spoke to Sputnik and told the Russian news agency that Moscow has enough forces and resources to push Ukrainian forces out of Kursk and protect Belgorod.

Both oblasts border Ukrainian territories and have come under repeated attacks, while Kursk was invaded by Ukrainian forces on August 6.

"Yes," Peskov said when asked whether Russia has enough forces and resources to push the enemy out of the Kursk Region and protect Belgorod.

In Kursk, Ukrainian forces attempted an offensive aimed at seizing territory in the region, however, the advance was cut short, according to the Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov. The Russian defense ministry also said that so far, Ukraine lost 10,400 service people and 81 tanks in border areas in Kursk.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... -in-dpr--m

[Anthea]

Graham urges more aid to Ukraine
for trillion dollars worth of minerals

Ukrainians should receive continued US support because they are sitting on trillions of dollars worth of resources that can help the US economy, according to Lindsey Graham

United States Senator Lindsey Graham stressed Washington's need for Ukrainian natural resources.

The infamous Republican warmonger spoke in Kiev on Friday, alongside Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, and said that Ukrainians are "sitting on a trillion dollars worth of minerals that could be good to help our economy."

Graham followed up the remarks with the need to "keep helping our friends in Ukraine."

The Senator posted a video of himself on X, where he made the case for why the US must continue supporting Ukraine. He explained that Kiev is fighting Russia and needs military aid from the US instead of troops to fight there.

He also wrote in a follow-up post, that he "enjoyed" a US congressional delegation's meeting with the Ukrainian President.

Graham also called for US restrictions on the use of its weapons by Ukrainians to be lifted.

"It is long past time that we allow Ukraine to use long-range U.S. weapons to maximum effect to hit Russian air bases," he wrote.

Graham: Ex-NATO pilots should fly Ukraine's F-16s

He also urged the participation of retired NATO F-16 pilots to "get in the fight." This statement is probably the most outrageous of Graham's remarks, as NATO has avoided any direct military involvement in the war.

It is worth noting that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are likely to face significant challenges in operating the F-16 fighter jets they have received—and are expected to receive—from Western countries. This is due to the fact that authorities have not been able to recruit enough pilots to fly the F-16 squadrons due to language barriers and inexperience with Western jets.

"I will be returning to Washington more dedicated than ever to putting pressure on the Biden Administration to lift the weapons restrictions on Ukraine and get retired, combat-tested NATO F-16 pilots in the cockpit in Ukraine," he emphasized.

Paying off war debt, resource-rich Donbass

Since the start of the war in February 2022, Ukraine's debt position has only gotten worse, as the country's economy continues to deteriorate and debt servicing costs rise. Ukrainian public debt is expected to reach $286.75 billion in 2029, which the country will find difficult to pay off or maintain.

As the West remains steadfast in its policy to blindly support the war and with no political solution on the horizon, the situation is only expected to get worse. In a bid to obtain more Western weapons, Zelensky had even asked for loans to finance war efforts.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev published a statement on Telegram explaining why Ukraine and its allies were actively fighting for the Donbass region.

According to Medvedev, the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, which officially joined Russia along with the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions in the fall of 2022, are "completely alien" to Ukraine culturally. Writing on Telegram, Medvedev explained that the Kiev authorities are so desperate to reclaim these regions for a simple reason: "Money is needed."

Medvedev, who serves as deputy chair of the Russian Security Council, stated that the "criminal clique" led by Ukrainian leader Zelensky has driven the country's economy into "disaster". He also pointed out that Kiev's backers in the US and the European Union have "spent a lot" on supporting Ukraine during the conflict, which "irritates" their populations.

The West expects a "payback" from Ukraine, but this has nothing to do with Zelensky personally, he said.

"This kid will be gone soon, but the debt will remain. And it must be paid off, with interest," the former President remarked.

Open-source data estimate the natural resources in Donbass to be worth $7.3 trillion. The region is rich in coal, metals, rare-earth elements, and other valuable materials, including lithium.

"To get access to the coveted minerals, the Western parasites shamelessly demand that their wards [in Kiev] wage war to the last Ukrainian," he wrote.

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... of-mineral

[Anthea]

US, UK discuss long-range weapons

The visit coincides with Ukraine's increased pressure on its Western allies to provide more powerful weapons with fewer restrictions for its war with Russia

US and British senior diplomats will discuss easing restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western weapons amid its war with Russia during their visit to Kiev that began Wednesday.

The joint trip is composed of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, whose newly-appointed government has pledged to be Ukraine's key defender

The visit coincides with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's pressure on his Western allies to provide more power weapons with fewer restrictions.

"We're working that out right now," US President Joe Biden said, concerning Kiev's use of longer-range weapons.

Despite Biden being one of Ukraine's strong supporters, he previously stated he wants to prevent direct conflict between the United States and Russia, the world's two major nuclear superpowers, though he has been consistently escalating the war by giving stronger weapons to Ukraine, with US forces also assisting Ukraine with intelligence in strikes on Russia.

Washington is committed to providing Kiev with "what they need when they need it to be most effective in dealing with the Russian aggression," Blinken said in London on Tuesday alongside Lammy.

However, the secretary of state, who is on his fifth visit to Kiev since the start of its ongoing war, highlighted the importance of seeing if Ukrainian forces are able to maintain and operate certain weapons.

"We never rule out, but when we rule in, we want to make sure it's done in such a way that it can advance what the Ukrainians are trying to achieve," Blinken told Sky News about the US allowing Ukraine to use long-range weapons.

Strikes on Russia possibly already decided

Western nations may have already decided to strike Russia using US-made ATACMS missiles, the Kremlin said on Wednesday, noting that recent media reports are part of an effort to formalize this decision.

"It is possible that the decision to strike Russia with ATACMS missiles has already been made, and the West is trying to formalize it through media reports," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Peskov's remarks follow a Tuesday report from The Times, which cited sources indicating that the United States might lift its ban on Kiev striking deep into Russian territory within weeks.

According to the report, some members of the US administration have shifted their stance and are working to convince the rest of the White House staff and President Joe Biden to support the change.

In a related development, Axios journalist Juliegrace Brufke reported, citing a senior US official, that Blinken is expected to grant Ukraine permission to use US-made ATACMS missiles against Russia during his visit to Kiev.

"Most likely, all these decisions have already been made; this can be assumed with a high degree of probability," Peskov added. "At the moment, such an information campaign is simply being conducted in the media to formalize the decision that has already been made."

"At the same time, attempts are continuing to distance themselves from involvement in this conflict on the part of the United States and European countries. We do not think that this is working out," he underlined.

The deployment of Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles to Ukraine has been a point of contention, with reports from April suggesting that the US had given Kiev the system covertly. The missiles have a range of up to 300 kilometers (approximately 186 miles), which would significantly enhance Ukraine's ability to strike targets deep within Russian territory.
US cannot be trusted over long-range weapon ban on Ukraine: Russia

Washington's claims of banning Ukraine from using US-supplied long-range weapons for deep strikes into Russian territory cannot be trusted, Moscow's ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said last month.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky resumed calls with the US to allow Kiev's troops to use long-range weapons during its ongoing incursion in the Kursk Region.

However, the Pentagon reiterated its stance of preventing the former Soviet nation from using the US-supplied ATACMS missiles, which have a range of up to 300km, for strikes inside Russian territory.

US officials “seem to be constantly teasing us by saying that today it is allegedly not allowed to use long-range systems to strike at Russian territory," Antonov told journalists on Friday, adding that "in reality, they are essentially preparing the ground to simply remove all existing restrictions, at a certain point."

The Russian envoy based his judgment on the US' previous support of Kiev during its war with Moscow, expressing his certainty to TASS that Ukraine will “fight with US-made [long-range] weapons against us,” adding, “Where exactly will it happen? We cannot say or foretell."

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/pol ... ons-on-vis

Volodymyr Zelensky is NOT the president
He has NOT been president since May
Zelensky has banned elections
Refused to hand over office to the LEGAL next in line
Zelensky is now nothing but a dictator
Sacked all opposition within his party
Banned all opposition parties
Imprisoned opposition party's elected politicians

The ongoing war against Donbass was started by Ukraine after the US backed ILLEGAL COUP that overthrew the legally elected president in 2014

The Crimea and Donbass refused to support the ILLEGAL government

Both areas voted for self government

The Minsk Agreements that were excepted into INTERNATIONAL LAW by the UN, granted Donbass autonomy have been totally ignored

The Kiev NAZIS have been attacking and KILLING many THOUSANDS of innocent people in Donbass since 2014

Since 2014 Donbass has made many, well publicized/documented, appeals to the international community for help but all to no avail