Oorlog in Oekra�ne #952 geterroriseerde Russen

quote:

Op vrijdag 22 maart 2024 22:21 schreef zalkc het volgende:
[ x ]

Heb wel mijn twijfels bij visegrad, maar het zou alsnog gewoon zo kunnen zijn.

quote:

Op vrijdag 22 maart 2024 22:21 schreef zalkc het volgende:
[ x ]

Heb wel mijn twijfels bij visegrad, maar het zou alsnog gewoon zo kunnen zijn.

quote:

Wetshandhavingsinstanties blijven zoeken naar een bijzonder gevaarlijke crimineel Adam Magomedovich OZDOEV, geboren op 12 december 1987.

De gezochte man is gewapend en zeer gevaarlijk. Met zijn deelname zijn drie aanslagen op politieagenten gepleegd en bestaat er een dreiging van het plegen van andere terroristische misdrijven. Als u informatie heeft over Ozdoev A.M., neem dan contact op met het dichtstbijzijnde politiebureau of per telefoon:

De dienstdoende officier van de Federale Veiligheidsdienst van Rusland voor de Republiek Ingoesjeti�:
8(8734) 55-16-28
Hulplijn van de Federale Veiligheidsdienst van Rusland voor de Republiek Ingoesjeti�:
8(8734) 22-06-60
Dienstplicht van het Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken voor de Republiek Ingoesjeti�:
8(8734) 55-01-54
Hulplijn van het Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken voor de Republiek Ingoesjeti�:
8(8734) 55-04-99

Anonimiteit en beloning zijn gegarandeerd.

We herinneren de handlangers van de terrorist A.M. Ozdoev. die straf is onvermijdelijk! Personen die hem onderdak bieden en enige hulp verlenen (voedsel, medicijnen, veilige accommodatie of vervoer door de hele republiek) zullen worden vervolgd wegens het faciliteren van terroristische activiteiten (artikel 205.1 van het Wetboek van Strafrecht van de Russische Federatie).

quote:

The Russian Federal Security Service announces the cleansing of the entire area, and there are no casualties among civilians and security personnel.

quote:

From the bodies, two members of the ISIS terrorist organization were identified, who were previously wanted by the Russian authorities.

quote:

In Zaporizhzhya, a university teacher spied on the defence forces
A teacher of a Zaporizhzhya university has set up an "observation point" at his dacha, which he used to spy on the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor-General.

Ateacher of a university in Zaporizhzhya was found guilty of distributing information about the deployment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (part 3 of article 114-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). He was sentenced to 9 years of imprisonment.

In court, the prosecutor proved that the man deliberately set up an "observation point" at his own dacha, located near the contact line in Zaporizhzhya," the report said.

The convict, disguised as a dacha dweller, visited a garden community and collected information about the locations of deployment, movement of the AFU and military equipment in the Zaporizhzhya direction.

He sent the information to the representative of the aggressor country via Telegram.

The man will be kept in custody until the verdict enters into legal force.

quote:

The damaged Leopard tanks continue to kill Russian soldiers

In their attempts to seize Western armored vehicles, Russian invaders are dying en masse under the fire of the Ukrainian military.

Despite numerous statements by Russian propagandists about the imperfections of Western tanks, Russia has a significant interest in them. This is due to both a demonstration of its own success and a desire to explore Western technologies.

To get the coveted trophy, the Russian military sends its soldiers on risky missions, which often ends in death.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Ukraine's Strikes on Russian Refineries Follow NATO Practices, Says Deputy PM
Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna defends Ukraine's strikes on Russian oil refineries.
Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, stated that oil refineries in Russia are legitimate targets for the Ukrainian military.

She added that in this case, Ukraine is acting in accordance with NATO standards.

Speaking at the Kyiv Security Forum, Stefanishyna addressed reports about the US advising Ukraine against strikes on Russian oil refineries.

She remarked, "The Ukrainian side responded, I think, by mentioning that it was achieving its goals and carrying out very successful operations on the territory of the Russian Federation."

"Conversely, there have also been statements from other officials that these are absolutely legitimate targets from a military point of view. We understand the concerns of our American partners. At the same time, we have to make the most of the capabilities, resources and methods that we have," the Deputy Prime Minister added.

She recalled her February 2022 communication with NATO headquarters, seeking support for a ‘no-fly zone’ over Ukraine.

"They told me, 'Olha, you don't understand NATO methods.' These methods prioritize the destruction of infrastructure within the aggressor country that enables attacks on cities in the targeted country, including missile production facilities. Thus, we are adhering to NATO's best practices."

Reflecting on the Russian attack on 22 March, Stefanishyna expressed her expectation for support from partners: "Outrage and condolences are one thing, but we expect weapons first and foremost."

quote:

NATO Alliance is ready for conflict with Russia – NATO Military Committee Chair

Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, has said that the Alliance countries are prepared for a potential direct clash with Russia.

Source: Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, in an interview with ArmyInform, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Admiral Bauer stated that NATO acknowledged a change in the security situation in 2014, following Russia's occupation of Crimea. In 2019, the Allies began to return to collective security by changing their defence strategy, operational planning, and the forces required to carry out all of these missions.

Quote: "We are all aware that time is of the essence when it comes to reestablishing collective security. Because the enemy determines when and where to attack you, as well as the length of the conflict. Unfortunately, Ukraine has experienced this.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

St. Petersburg port halts ammonium nitrate transshipment due to Ukrainian drone threat
Fearing attacks by Ukrainian strike drones, the Russian maritime port known as the "Big Port of St. Petersburg" has ceased transshipment of ammonium nitrate, as reported by the Russian media outlet Kommersant.

According to Kommersant, authorities in St. Petersburg plan to relocate ammonium nitrate transshipment operations altogether to a location outside the city, likely to Ust-Luga. However, the latter is not yet ready to receive the material, as the port requires infrastructure modernisation.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Commander: Russia gathers 100,000-strong force, possibly for summer offensive
Russia is creating a force of 100,000 soldiers, possibly to conduct a new offensive in early summer, Ukraine's Ground Forces Commander Oleksandr Pavliuk said on national television on March 22.

The Armed Forces withdrew in February from several settlements in Donetsk Oblast, including the key front-line city of Avdiivka, due to severe ammunition shortages exacerbated by delays in U.S. aid.

Heavy battles continue in Kherson, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhizhia oblasts as Russian troops try to continue their advance.

Pavliuk noted that the new force Russia is mustering might also serve another purpose: "Maybe they (Russia) will use them to replenish units that are losing their combat capability."

Russian troops continue their assault attempts in the Bakhmut, Lyman, and Avdiivka directions of the front, according to Pavliuk. In Sumy Oblast, Russian forces are not preparing any new military formations but target civilian infrastructure to threaten citizens, he added.

"I think we will do everything we can to stop them (Russian attacks)," Pavliuk said.

quote:

Russia is preparing for an all-out war with NATO to happen sooner than originally believed: ISW
• Russia is ramping up its preparations for a "large-scale" war with NATO, a US think tank says.
• The ISW says Russian efforts at reviving its economy aren't just about fighting Ukraine.
• Instead, Russia could be readying itself for a war with NATO that may occur sooner than expected.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Reporters Without Borders launch satellite to reach Russian-speaking territories
Restricted media in areas under the Kremlin's influence and control have suffered further since the invasion of Ukraine.

Reporters Without Borders have launched a satellite that will provide coverage to 13 territories where Russian speakers suffer restricted access to free media.

The satellite allows nine Russian-language TV and radio channels to be broadcast on Eutelsat’s popular Hotbird satellite to territories including Russia, occupied territories of Ukraine and Baltic countries.

The launch comes ahead of Belarus' Freedom Day, an anniversary marking the foundation of the Belarusian Democratic Republic in 1918 that is widely celebrated by the Belarusian diaspora and supporters of the country's democratic opposition.

Poland will host a celebration to mark the day on 25 March, starting at Plac Trzech Krzyzy square in Warsaw.

Belarusian, Polish, and Ukrainian officials will attend a rally ahead of the event, before marching towards the monument of Nicolaus Copernicus.

quote:

FSB scales up arrests amid incursions by Ukraine-based Russian fighters
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has thwarted “multiple terrorist attacks” in Russia and occupied Ukraine by pro-Ukraine fighters over the course of the week, it said in a press release on Friday.

The message comes amid recent incursions into Russian regions bordering Ukraine by fighters of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) and the Freedom of Russia Legion, paramilitary groups of Russian fighters based in Ukraine.

The FSB said its officers had detained seven men in Moscow on Friday for attempting to form a cell of the RVC, which is outlawed in Russia. The officers seized a machete, a battle axe, an air gun, eight knives and communications equipment, on which they said they found evidence of “active correspondence” between the suspects and RVC leaders.

Another message said the FSB had prevented a “terrorist attack” in the occupied Zaporizhzhia region of southeastern Ukraine. The suspect in the case, who was allegedly involved in the murder of a Russian military officer and had passed details of Russian military positions to Ukraine, resisted arrest, according to the FSB, and was killed in an exchange of fire.

The FSB also announced several other arrests this week, including a woman arrested in annexed Crimea on Monday for planning to set fire to railway infrastructure “at the behest of the Ukrainian secret services” and a man detained in the Russian border region of Belgorod on Thursday for “adhering to Ukrainian nationalist ideology”.

quote:

Op vrijdag 22 maart 2024 23:42 schreef oheng het volgende:
OH FFS waarom moeten de terroristen nou uitgerekend vluchten in een fucking Renault.

Clown world.

Naja 1 positief puntje: er is eindelijk een 2e front geopend.

quote:

Op vrijdag 22 maart 2024 23:45 schreef Nebelwerfer het volgende:
Wat een tt weer.

Altijd treurig dit terrorisme, moet je ten alle tijde afkeuren.

quote:

Op vrijdag 22 maart 2024 23:47 schreef oheng het volgende:
Ok. Even opletten allemaal, want deze is ronduit hilarisch. Afgezien van de menselijke tragedie, uiteraard.

RIA, 19 maart, putin zegt:
“Let me remind you of the recent, frankly speaking, provocative statements by a number of official Western structures about the possibility of terrorist attacks in Russia. All this resembles outright blackmail and the intention to intimidate and destabilize our society,” Putin said at an extended meeting of the board of the Federal Security Service.

Deze man is een 4D chess player.

quote:

Op vrijdag 22 maart 2024 23:53 schreef Nebelwerfer het volgende:

[..]
Nee, want de titel scheert alle Russen over 1 kam. Ja het leger is verantwoordelijk voor vuiligheden die je eventueel als terroristisch kan bestempelen. Maar je weet ook dat een Rus hier niet teveel commentaar op kan hebben.
Al met al waren dit gewoon burgers die door laffe honden zijn afgeschoten. Dat kun je niet goedpraten door de slachtoffers af te doen als terroristen.

quote:

Defense spending bill has some Ukraine aid, multiyear munitions buys
The House and Senate on Thursday released the compromise text of their fiscal 2024 defense spending bill, nearly halfway through the fiscal year that began in October.

Congress is expected to begin votes on the $825 billion defense spending bill on Friday; Pentagon funding via a stopgap measure is slated to expire at the end of that same day. The bipartisan bill adheres to the spending caps imposed by last year’s debt ceiling deal. It funds the procurement of eight battle ships and dozens of new aircraft, provides a small amount of Ukraine military aid and offers multiyear procurement for six critical munitions.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Ukraine develops mine-resistant boots for sappers

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine is developing special footwear for sappers.

Militarnyi reported on this with reference to the official website of the Ministry of Defense.

These are protective boots designed to reduce the risk of injuries to the soldiers’ feet during demining. The special footwear is designed to prevent the damaging effect of an anti-personnel explosive device.

Currently, the Central Logistics Development and Support Directorate and the Command of the Support Forces are conducting tests.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Macron announced the renewal of Western rhetoric regarding support for Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron said that partner countries and allies in the issue of support for Ukraine will from now on focus on the required intensity of assistance, and not just on its duration.

This is reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to Le Monde .

According to the French president on the sidelines of the European Union summit in Brussels, the countries of the conventional West will intensively provide assistance to Ukraine against the background of ongoing Russian strikes and attacks.

"We no longer say that we will simply support Ukraine for as long as it takes. We officially say that we will support it as intensively as it takes," Macron emphasized.

Macron's statements regarding sending troops to Ukraine
It will be recalled that at the end of February, French President Emmanuel Macron did not rule out that Western countries could deploy troops to help Ukraine . But, according to him, there is no consensus on this issue.

Later, the French leader specified that his country could transfer its troops to Ukraine if Russia begins to attack Kyiv or Odessa again .

A number of NATO countries opposed this idea, including Germany, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Poland, Spain and Italy. At the same time, there are countries that are ready to consider such a possibility, in particular, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

On March 14, Macron again made a statement about French troops in Ukraine . He emphasized that such an option is not excluded. In addition, on March 16, in an interview with the Ukrainian media, the French president assured that against the background of the ongoing military aggression of the Russian Federation and his initiatives regarding the potential possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine, he seeks to avoid escalation .

Read urgent and important messages about Russia's war against Ukraine on the RBC-Ukraine Telegram channel .

quote:

Russia Reportedly Plans New Wave Of Military Mobilization
The Vyorstka Telegram channel on March 22 cited four sources close to the presidential office and Defense Ministry as saying that Moscow plans to soon announce a new wave of military mobilization that would seek to enlist up to 300,000 people to bolster its troops involved in the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

According to the sources, the idea to announce the mobilization came about because of the decreasing number of people willing to go to the war.

After President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization in September 2022, tens of thousands of Russian men fled the country to avoid enlistment.

Meanwhile, Mark Denisov, the ombudsman in Russia's Krasnoyarsk Krai, said on March 21 that several penitentiaries in the Siberian region will be shut down this year due to the ongoing recruitment of inmates for the war.

Denisov's statement came two days after the Russian parliament's lower chamber, the State Duma, approved in the final reading a bill allowing inmates to change their prison terms to suspended sentences without presidential clemency decrees after they sign contracts with the Defense Ministry.

In November, the Kremlin admitted to recruiting inmates to the war in Ukraine saying they "are atoning for their guilt with blood."

quote:

Moscow shooting a ‘deliberate provocation by Putin’s special services,’ says Ukraine’s military intelligence
Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) has said a deadly shooting on a concert hall in Moscow on March 22 is a “deliberate provocation by Putin's special services.”

The attack – ongoing at the time of writing – saw several gunmen opening fire at the Crocus City Hall ahead of a concert.

Images posted to social media showed them walking unchallenged through the venue and firing indiscriminately at those inside.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

U.S. Warned About Possible Moscow Attack Before Concert Hall Shooting
Pro-Moscow forces had dismissed the alert as an attempt to scare Russians.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow issued a security alert on March 7, warning that its personnel were “monitoring reports that extremists have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts.” The statement warned Americans that an attack could take place in the next 48 hours.

The warning was related to the attack on Friday, according to people briefed on the matter. But it was not related to possible Ukrainian sabotage, American officials said, adding that the State Department would not have used the word “extremists” to warn about actions ordered from Kyiv.

Pro-Kremlin voices immediately seized on the U.S. Embassy’s warning to paint America as trying to scare Russians.

America officials are worried that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia could seek to falsely blame Ukraine for the attack, putting pressure on Western governments to identify who they think may be responsible. Mr. Putin frequently twists events, even tragic ones, to fit his public narrative. And he has been quick to accuse Ukraine of acts of terrorism to justify his invasion of the country.

U.S. officials said Mr. Putin could do that again after Friday’s attack, seeking to use the loss of life to undermine support for Ukraine both domestically and around the world.

On March 19, the Russian leader called the U.S. Embassy statement “obvious blackmail” made with “the intention to intimidate and destabilize our society.” But he had yet to comment directly on the attack Friday.

John Kirby, a spokesman for President Biden’s National Security Council, told reporters on Friday that the White House had “no indication at this time that Ukraine or Ukrainians were involved.” He added: “We’re taking a look at it. But I would disabuse you at this early hour of any connection to Ukraine.”

“Our thoughts obviously are going to be with the victims of this terrible, terrible shooting attack,” he also said.

Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said however, according to Reuters, “On what basis do officials in Washington draw any conclusions in the midst of a tragedy about someone’s innocence?” She added that if Washington had information, it should be shared.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a top adviser to Ukraine’s presidential office, said in a video statement that “Ukraine has absolutely nothing to do” with the attack.

quote:

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene says she’s "done" with Speaker Johnson after spending deal
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said she was “done” with Speaker Mike Johnson after he negotiated a bipartisan spending package with the White House.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

ISIS claims responsibility for attack in busy Moscow-area concert venue that left at least 60 dead

ISIS has claimed responsibility for an attack at a popular concert venue complex near Moscow Friday that left at least 60 dead and 145 hospitalized after assailants stormed the venue with guns and incendiary devices.

The terror group took responsibility for the attack in a short statement published by ISIS-affiliated news agency Amaq on Telegram on Friday. The group did not provide evidence to support the claim.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Trump is about to get $3 billion richer after deal is approved to take his company public. But it won’t solve his cash crunch
Investors have approved a deal on Friday to make Truth Social owner Trump Media a publicly traded company.

The green light from shareholders clears a major hurdle for a long-delayed merger that will generate a multi-billion dollar windfall for former President Donald Trump at a time when he’s facing immense financial and legal pressure.

According to a preliminary vote total announced during the meeting, a majority of shareholders of Digital World Acquisition Corp. voted in favor of the deal to merge with Trump Media. The companies have indicated the merger could close as soon as early next week.

The new company will be called Trump Media & Technology Group and trade under the ticker DJT, Trump’s initials. It will own Trump’s struggling social media platform Truth Social.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Deal reached to avert government shutdown, Senate vote expected shortly

The Senate has reached a last-minute agreement to vote on the government funding package tonight, and avert a shutdown, after an hours-long standoff over amendment votes.

Republicans were demanding votes on controversial amendments that could put some vulnerable Senate Democrats in tough spots. The agreement includes up to 12 amendment votes, followed by final passage.

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer began with a quorum call to give members time to get to the floor, and urged members to vote quickly once the vote series begins.

“Some people have very important places to go, and we want to get her there,” he said on the floor, looking to the Senate’s top Republican appropriator, Sen. Susan Collins. Her mother’s funeral is tomorrow morning in Caribou, Maine, and Collins has not missed a vote since she was first elected to the Senate in 1997.

quote:

US government ceases shutdown preparations after Senate reached last-minute deal
The White House Office of Management and Budget has ceased shutdown preparations and President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill Saturday, pending Senate passage, according to a White House official.

"OMB has ceased shutdown preparations because there is a high degree of confidence that Congress will imminently pass the relevant appropriations and the President will sign the bill on Saturday,” the official said.

“Because obligations of federal funds are incurred and tracked on a daily basis, agencies will not shut down and may continue their normal operations,” the official added.

quote:

Senate has passed $1.2 trillion funding bill and averted a government shutdown
The Senate passed the $1.2 trillion funding package early Saturday after a last-minute agreement, averting a partial government shutdown.

The funding legislation was approved by a vote of 74-24 at 2:02 a.m. ET, more than two hours after the midnight ET deadline for passage of the critical legislation that was approved by the House on Friday.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Ukraine's New MacGyvered Kamikaze Drones are a Menace, russians Complain
We say, it's the best design choice ever

Although counterintuitive, an aerial vehicle made out of a water pipe, plywood and plastic bottles is the best solution possible

Recently, russian forces in Ukraine have suffered from a previously unseen type of suicide drone constantly shelling their positions. The new drone is unique in its almost primitive simplicity, all materials used in assembly are improvised and, importantly, accessible and cheap to the extreme.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

US had warned Russia ISIS was determined to attack
The US warned Moscow that ISIS militants were determined to target Russia in the days before assailants stormed the Crocus City Hall in an attack that killed scores of people, but President Vladimir Putin rejected the advice as “provocative.”

Gunmen stormed the concert hall near Moscow on Friday, opening fire and throwing an incendiary device in the worst terrorist attack on the Russian capital in decades.

Isis has claimed responsibility for the attack.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Op zaterdag 23 maart 2024 08:41 schreef icecreamfarmer_NL het volgende:

[..]
Wat zie ik hier?

quote:

Op zaterdag 23 maart 2024 09:47 schreef vosss het volgende:
[ x ]

quote:

Russia
According to the United States State Department's Global Engagement Center (GEC) several outlets that publish or republish work by Escobar are used by Russia for propaganda and disinformation.[30][31][non-primary source needed] In 2020, the GEC stated that both the Strategic Culture Foundation (SCF) and Global Research, two online journals where Escobar's work has appeared, acted as Russian propaganda sites.[32] According to the GEC, "Pepe Escobar began writing articles for Global Research in 2005 and ten years later became an SCF author.[30]

Escobar has also been a commentator for RT and Sputnik News. According to the GEC, both outlets are members of "Russia's disinformation and propaganda ecosystem."[31][non-primary source needed] In an report published by the European Council on Foreign Relations, Volodymyr Yermolenko, described Escobar as an example of "anti-Western intellectuals" hosted by RT, adding that Escobar suggested in 2014 "dividing Ukraine between Poland and Russia."[33][non-primary source needed]

In 2012, Jesse Zwick at The New Republic asked Escobar why he was willing to work with RT; Escobar replied, "I knew the Kremlin involvement, but I said, why not use it? After a few months, I was very impressed by the American audience. There are dozens of thousands of viewers. A very simple story can get 20,000 hits on YouTube. The feedback was huge.”[34]

During the 2017 Catalan independence crisis, Escobar wrote that Spain lived in a state of permanent fascism. In 2022, Escobar said that US president Biden was a puppet of Hillary Clinton and the US establishment, who are motivated by Russophobia and aim to sever the link between Russia and the European economy. The Spanish newspaper ABC wrote that some of Escobar's writings were "the usual ones of Russian disinformation: 'Yankee' imperialism, NATO excesses, Russian victimization".[35]

quote:

Op zaterdag 23 maart 2024 09:47 schreef vosss het volgende:
[ x ]

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Death toll in Crocus City attack rises to 93, and is expected to rise further
The death toll from the attack on the Crocus City complex has risen to 93, according to the Russian Investigative Committee.

“The death toll will rise further. According to preliminary data, the causes of death were gunshot wounds and poisoning by combustion products,” the committee said Saturday.
“Preliminary results of the inspection of the premises of the concert hall indicate that the terrorists used automatic weapons during the attack, which, along with the ammunition they left behind, were discovered and seized by (investigators).”

“Based on this material evidence, ballistic, genetic and fingerprint examinations are currently being carried out,” it added.

“It was also established that the terrorists used a flammable liquid to set fire to the premises of the concert hall.”

Earlier Saturday, the governor of the Moscow region, Andrey Vorobyov, said there were still 115 injured people, including five children, in hospitals in Moscow and Moscow Oblast.

The Investigative Committee said inspection of the concert hall was continuing. Emergency services were still clearing the rubble, CCTV footage was being studied and "work has begun with the victims.”

quote:

Kremlin says 'all four terrorists directly involved' in Crocus attack have been detained
The head of the Russian Security Service (FSB), Alexander Bortnikov, has told President Vladimir Putin that 11 people have been detained in connection with the attack on the Crocus complex near Moscow on Friday, according to Russian state media.

The Kremlin reported that those detained included “all four terrorists directly involved in the terrorist attack in Crocus,” according to TASS and other state media outlets.

quote:

Russian president wishes speedy recovery to injured people in the concert venue attack, RIA reports
Russian President Vladimir Putin wished a speedy recovery to all those injured people in the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall that killed at least 60 people, the state-run RIA-Novosti news agency said on Saturday.

Putin has also "conveyed his gratitude to the doctors," RIA added.

quote:

Op zaterdag 23 maart 2024 11:06 schreef polderturk het volgende:
Waarom kan ik van sommige accounts geen tweets plaatsen?

https://twitter.com/clash(...)ST4b9cB27naS2oQ&s=19

quote:

Arena attack suspects detained trying to cross Ukrainian border, Russian Security Service says
The four men suspected of carrying out the attack on the Crocus City complex near Moscow on Friday were arrested while trying to cross Russia's border with Ukraine, the Russian Investigative Committee has said.

“Special services and law enforcement agencies in the Bryansk region, near the border with Ukraine, detained four suspects from among those who committed a terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall concert hall,” the Committee said.

According to state media RIA Novosti, "the weapons used by the terrorists were prepared in advance in a cache, the FSB [Security Service] reported.”

“After the terrorist attack, the criminals intended to cross the border of the Russian Federation and Ukraine and had relevant contacts on the Ukrainian side, the FSB said,” according to RIA.

State-owned Russian news agency TASS also reported that the assailants had “contacts on the Ukrainian side. The terrorist attack in Crocus City Hall was carefully planned.”

Neither agency specified the nature of the alleged contacts.

Ukraine has strenuously denied any connection with the attack. One official, Mykhailo Podolyak said in a post on X on Friday that Ukraine “has never resorted to the use of terrorist methods. It is always pointless.”

Earlier, unofficial sources had published images of a white Renault car - similar to that caught on video outside the hall on Friday - that had been stopped on a highway south of the city of Bryansk in the early hours of Saturday. The images showed it had been extensively damaged.

quote:

Op zaterdag 23 maart 2024 11:31 schreef StateOfMind het volgende:

[..]
IS heeft er niks te maken, want?

IS heeft recent nog een aanslag op een synagoge gepleegd, in Moskou.

Ze zijn gelukkig nog maar een een schim van wat ze waren, maar nog zeker actief in sommige delen van de wereld.

quote:

Toll rises to 115 from Crocus City attack, Russia's Investigative Committee says
The Russian Investigative Committee has updated the death toll in the Crocus City attack to 115.

A list of the 121 people injured in the attack on Friday evening has been published by the Health Ministry of the Moscow region.

quote:

Russian TV airs fake video alleging Ukrainian involvement in terrorist attack, featuring Ukrainian official

Russian propagandists from the NTV TV channel have released a deepfake featuring Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, attempting to convince audiences that "Ukraine was involved in the 22 March terrorist attack."

Source: Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD)

Details: The CCD stated that footage from the national joint 24/7 newscast on 16 March had been used to create this fake.

In the video, the face of Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of Ukraine's Defence Intelligence (DIU), was replaced with Danilov's face. The centre also believes that Russia is intending to blame Ukraine for the terrorist attack to improve its mobilisation efforts.

Meanwhile, the FSB declared that the suspects in the terrorist attack "had connections to Ukraine."

quote:

Russia Attacked Kharkiv With Double-Tap Drone Strike, Injuring Four, Including First Responders
KHARKIV, UKRAINE, Mar 23 — At 0:10 a.m., Russia attacked Kharkiv with a drone strike, causing a three-story building of a municipal facility to catch fire. After first responders came to the hit site, Russia attacked the area with another drone strike, injuring three of them, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported on their Telegram channel.

The fire caused by the first UAV [unmanned aerial vehicle — ed.] spread over 150 m2. The police and SES workers arrived at the hit site immediately. The second strike injured a 19-year-old man, a police officer, and two emergency workers. It also damaged two SES cars.

Kharkiv region prosecutors report they’ve found the debris from at least three UAVs at the hit site. The investigation is ongoing.

A double-tap strike is a well-known Russian tactic they’ve often employed in Syria and Ukraine. On March 15, Russians hit Odesa with a double-tap attack, killing 21 and injuring 74 people, including rescuers and volunteers who came to help in the aftermath of the first strike.

On March 22, the Russian army hit Ukraine with a combined missile attack on primarily critical energy infrastructure, damaging around 20 power stations and substations, in particular, the Dnipro Hydroelectric Power Plant in Zaporizhzhia, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. Oleh Syniehubov, the governor of Kharkiv Oblast, reported Russia hit the region with up to 21 missiles, causing blackouts, heating and water outages. The region’s energy grid is currently being recovered, with at least 275,000 households still without electricity.

quote:

Russian officials suggest without evidence that Ukraine may have been involved in terror attack
A handful of Russian officials have suggested without evidence that Ukraine may have been involved in Friday's attack on the Crocus City complex near Moscow.

Following the announcement that the four men alleged to have carried out the attack were apprehended near Russia's border with Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Telegram: “Now we know in which country these bloody bastards planned to hide from persecution – Ukraine.”

The head of the Russian State Duma Defense Committee, Andrey Kartapolov, told state news agency RIA Novosti that “Ukraine and its patrons are the main stakeholders in the terrorist attack at Crocus," adding that “if information about the Ukrainian trace in the terrorist attack is confirmed, there must be a clear answer on the battlefield."

Several Ukrainian agencies have categorically denied any connection with the attack.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said Friday: “We consider such accusations to be a planned provocation by the Kremlin to further fuel anti-Ukrainian hysteria in Russian society, create conditions for increased mobilization of Russian citizens to participate in the criminal aggression against our country and discredit Ukraine in the eyes of the international community.”

Ukrainian Defense Intelligence alleged Friday – without giving evidence that the attack was planned by Russian special services to justify increased strikes on Ukraine.

quote:

JUST IN: Putin expresses deep condolences following Moscow attack
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed deep condolences following Friday's attack at a concert venue near Moscow, calling it a "barbaric terrorist act" in a video statement released Saturday.

quote:

Putin wishes injured at terrorist attack recovery
The president also conveyed compliments to medical staff, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said
MOSCOW, March 23. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has wished all those injured in the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack a recovery and conveyed compliments to medical staff, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said.

"We together with [Russian Health Minister] Mikhail A. [Murashko] reported to the president on the state of health of patients, the president wished all a recovery and conveyed compliments to doctors," she told reporters.

A terrorist attack was carried out at the Crocus City Hall music venue in the city of Krasnogorsk near Moscow on Friday evening. Unidentified gunmen armed with assault rifles went on a shooting spree. An explosion rocked the building, starting a fire. The special services are conducting a search operation. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin canceled all mass events in the capital in the next two days, and a number of other Russian regions followed suit.

quote:

FSB Director reported to President about detention of terrorists who participated in the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall
Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov reported to the President about the detention of 11 persons, including four terrorists who directly participated in the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall.

Alexander Bortnikov also updated Vladimir Putin on the FSB's work to identify the accomplice base of those who committed the terrorist attack.

quote:

Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko
The President of the Republic of Belarus expressed his heartfelt condolences on the monstrous terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall, conveyed words of sympathy and support to the victims’ families and wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured, emphasising that the people of Belarus stand together with the people of Russia in this time of sorrow.

Alexander Lukashenko offered any assistance that may be needed, and expressed his confidence that the organisers and perpetrators of this heinous crime will face inevitable punishment.

For his part, Vladimir Putin informed his counterpart about the detention of the terrorists directly involved in the attack, as well as about the ongoing investigation.

Both leaders expressed mutual readiness to continue close cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

quote:

Telephone conversation with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev
Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev

Shavkat Mirziyoyev strongly condemned the heinous terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall, expressed his sincere condolences in connection with the tragedy, and asked to convey words of support to the victims’ families and wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured.

Both sides reaffirmed their intention to continue close cooperation to counter terrorism.

quote:

Putin declares March 24 day of nationwide mourning
NOVO-OGARYOVO, March 23. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared March 24 a day of nationwide mourning after the terrorist attack at the Crocus City Hall mall.

"I declare March 24 a day of nationwide mourning," he said in a televised address to the nation.

quote:

Vladimir Putin's address to Russians
Vladimir Putin: Dear citizens of Russia!
I am writing to you in connection with a bloody, barbaric terrorist act, the victims of which were dozens of peaceful, innocent people - our compatriots, including children, teenagers, and women. Doctors are now fighting for the lives of the victims, those who are in serious condition. I am sure they will do everything possible and even impossible to preserve the life and health of all the wounded. Special words of gratitude to the ambulance and air ambulance crews, special forces soldiers, firefighters, rescuers who did everything to save people's lives, bring them out from under the fire, from the epicenter of fire and smoke, and to avoid even greater losses.

I cannot ignore the help of ordinary citizens who, in the first minutes after the tragedy, did not remain indifferent and indifferent and, along with doctors and security officers, provided first aid and delivered the victims to hospitals.

We will provide the necessary assistance to all families whose lives have been affected by terrible misfortune, the wounded and the injured. I express my deep, sincere condolences to everyone who lost their loved ones. The whole country, our whole people, mourns with you. I declare March 24 a day of national mourning.

In Moscow and the Moscow region, in all regions of the country, additional anti-terrorist and anti-sabotage measures have been introduced. The main thing now is to prevent those who are behind this bloodbath from committing a new crime.

As for the investigation of this crime and the results of operational investigative actions, at present we can say the following. All four direct perpetrators of the terrorist attack, all those who shot and killed people, were found and detained. They tried to hide and moved towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window was prepared for them on the Ukrainian side to cross the state border. A total of 11 people were detained. The Federal Security Service of Russia and other law enforcement agencies are working to identify and uncover the entire accomplice base of terrorists: those who provided them with transport, outlined escape routes from the crime scene, prepared caches, caches of weapons and ammunition.

I repeat: investigative and law enforcement agencies will do everything to establish all the details of the crime. But it is already obvious that we are faced not just with a carefully, cynically planned terrorist attack, but with a prepared and organized mass murder of peaceful, defenseless people. The criminals calmly and purposefully set out to kill, to shoot at point-blank range our citizens, our children. Just like the Nazis once carried out massacres in the occupied territories, they decided to stage a show execution, a bloody act of intimidation.

All perpetrators, organizers and customers of this crime will suffer fair and inevitable punishment. Whoever they are, whoever guides them. I repeat: we will identify and punish everyone who stands behind the terrorists, who prepared this atrocity, this attack on Russia, on our people.

We know what the threat of terrorism is. Here we count on interaction with all states that sincerely share our pain and are ready to actually join forces in the fight against a common enemy, international terrorism, with all its manifestations.

Terrorists, murderers, non-humans who do not and cannot have a nationality face one unenviable fate - retribution and oblivion. They have no future. Our common duty now, our comrades at the front, all citizens of the country is to be together in one formation. I believe it will be so, because no one and nothing can shake our unity and will, our determination and courage, the strength of the united people of Russia. No one will be able to sow poisonous seeds of discord, panic and discord in our multi-ethnic society.
Russia has repeatedly gone through difficult, sometimes unbearable trials, but has become even stronger. It will be so now.

quote:

Death toll in Moscow attack rises to at least 133, Russian officials say
The death toll in the Friday Moscow attack has risen to at least 133, the Russian Investigative Committee said.

“During the clearing of the rubble in the Crocus City Hall concert hall, the death toll as a result of the terrorist attack increased to 133 people. Search work continues,” the Committee said in a brief posting on Telegram.

quote:

ISIS calls attack "fiercest in years" and publishes purported image of 4 Moscow attackers
The Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, published an image Saturday purporting to show the four men who attacked the Crocus City complex near Moscow on Friday.

None of the men are identifiable in the image, which was published by the ISIS-affiliated Amaq agency. All of them are wearing balaclavas and the rest of their faces are blurred.

ISIS described the attack as the "fiercest in years," according to a translation of the message by the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors terror groups’ propaganda.

Amaq provided details of the attack, saying three fighters attacked the gathered crowd at the venue with guns and knives while the fourth threw incendiary devices. It said the attack was preceded by an intensive surveillance operation of the venue.

It added that “the attack comes within the normal context of the raging war between the Islamic State and countries fighting Islam,” according to the translation by SITE.

quote:

Belarus helped prevent escape of "terrorists" across border, says country's ambassador in Moscow
Belarusian special services helped Russia prevent the "terrorists" who allegedly carried out the deadly Friday night attack on a concert venue complex from escaping across the border Friday night, the country's ambassador in Moscow said.

“Since yesterday, active interaction has been carried out through special services. The head of the State Security Committee is in direct contact with his colleague,” Ambassador Dmitry Krutoy said Saturday, according to Belarus’ official news agency BELTA.

"And in fact, the main task of last night was to prevent terrorists from escaping across our common border. This task has been completed."

Some background: Russian authorities said the four men who allegedly carried out the attack on the Crocus City complex on Friday evening near Moscow were apprehended early Saturday in the region of Bryansk, a large region of southwest Russia which borders Ukraine and Belarus, without giving the exact location. The capital city of the region is some five hours drive from Moscow.

quote:

Crocus City Hall attackers are not Russian citizens, interior ministry says
Russian state media is reporting that, according to the interior ministry, “all terrorists detained in the Bryansk region are foreign citizens.”

Russian authorities earlier said that four people suspected of being directly involved in the attack on Crocus City were apprehended in Bryansk in southwestern Russia and were being brought to Moscow.

quote:

Russian state media publishes purported confession of one alleged attacker at concert hall
Russian state news agency RIA Novosti published on Telegram the purported confession of one of the men apprehended in connection with the attack on the Crocus City Hall complex.

In the brief video, a man with a bloodied bandaged head speaks in halting Russian. He gives his name and says he is 30 years old.

His interrogator asks him where the weapons used in the attack were dropped off, whether near Moscow or closer to the venue site. He replies, “I don’t know the city, ask my friends, they know.”

RIA also posted images of three of the alleged attackers after they were detained, images that match videos uploaded on unofficial channels earlier Saturday showing the men being apprehended in Bryansk region. No image or video of the fourth alleged attacker has been published on Russian state media.

In an accompanying commentary, RIA Novosti said the alleged attackers all speak Russian "extremely poorly," with one of the men speaking "in Tajik through an interpreter."

It added that one of the men said he’d been promised by an unnamed person who called himself “an assistant to the preacher” a half-million rubles (about $5,000) to carry out the attack. He later gave a different figure.

RIA Novosti said one of the alleged attackers had mentioned returning to Russia from Turkey earlier this month. The men lived together in a hostel in the north of Moscow, and two of them met only “10-12 days ago," according to RIA. The car they drove to Crocus City Hall and then used to escape had been bought through a family connection, it reported.

According to RIA, "a coherent picture does not emerge from the interrogation fragments. It is not entirely clear what exactly connected these people, what motives they were guided by, organizing one of the bloodiest terrorist attacks in the history of Russia."
CNN cannot independently verify the veracity of the RIA Novosti report or the statements made by the alleged attacker, which may have been made under duress.

quote:

Exclusive: Satellite image shows extent of damage on Crocus City Hall complex

A new satellite image, taken by Umbra Space's synthetic aperture radar (SAR), shows just how badly the fire that started during the terror attack on Friday night damaged the Crocus City Hall complex.

In the image, taken at 9:26 a.m. local time Saturday, a large hole that is over 150 feet wide in diameter is seen in the roof of the complex directly over where the concert venue is located.

About SAR images: They are not like normal satellite images. The SAR images are created by a satellite transmitting radar beams capable of passing through clouds, like the ones currently preventing satellites from imaging the area. Those radar beams bounce off objects on the ground and echo back to the satellite. What they bounce off of is then mapped out by the satellite, which is then translated into the image.

quote:

Ukraine's military intelligence agency firmly denies any Ukrainian connection to Russian concert attack
Defense Intelligence of Ukraine spokesperson Andrii Yusov firmly denied his country had anything to do with the terror attacks at a concert hall in Russia's Moscow region.

"There are official statements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Presidential Office, and the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine. Of course, Ukraine had nothing to do with it," Yusov said on Ukrainian national TV Saturday.

Earlier Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin told the Russian people that the perpetrators had “tried to hide and moved towards Ukraine, where, according to preliminary data, a window was prepared for them on the Ukrainian side to cross the border." A handful of Russian officials have suggested without evidence that Ukraine may have been involved in the attack as well.

Yusov called Putin's comments "completely false and absurd."

"A full-scale war has been going on for more than two years. The border areas are saturated with enemy troops, special agents, and security forces. The border line is heavily mined. It is being monitored by all means, including aerial reconnaissance on both sides," Yusov said. "Such regions as Belgorod and Kursk are now a zone of active hostilities. Of course, this claim does not stand up to criticism."

He said that Russia had disregarded warnings, such as those from the US Embassy under its "duty to warn" policy, that terrorist attacks could be possible in large crowds. Putin had told Russia's Federal Security Service on Tuesday that warnings from the US were "provocative" and "outright blackmail."

quote:

Biden signs government funding bill
President Joe Biden on Saturday signed into law the $1.2 trillion legislation that completes the funding of federal agencies through the fiscal year, which ends September 30.

The House passed the package on Friday, and the Senate passed it early Saturday morning.

The bill addresses a slate of critical government operations, including the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, State and the legislative branch.

Biden — who had the bill delivered to him in Wilmington, Delaware, Saturday — said in a statement that while the package is a “compromise,” it is “good news for the American people.”

“This agreement represents a compromise, which means neither side got everything it wanted,” Biden said in the statement, adding that “it rejects extreme cuts from House Republicans” while investing in child care, cancer research and mental health.

The president also touted how the final package included “resources to secure the border that my Administration successfully fought to include.”

Biden used the statement to urge Congress to pass additional legislation, saying its their “work isn’t finished.” He called on the House to “pass the bipartisan national security supplemental to advance our national security interests” and urged both chambers to pass the bipartisan border security bill his administration has negotiated, calling it “the toughest and fairest reforms in decades.”

“It’s time to get this done,” Biden added.

The signing of the legislation marks a major moment on Capitol Hill as it brings to a close an annual appropriations process that has dragged on far longer than is typical – an effort that has been punctuated by partisan policy disagreements and a historic change of leadership in the House after conservatives ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy in an unprecedented vote last year.

This legislation is the second part of a two-tiered government funding process. A separate six-bill funding package, which was signed into law earlier this month, included funding for the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Interior, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, as well as the Food and Drug Administration, military construction and other federal programs.

quote:

Russia delays delivery of S-400 air defense systems to India due to its own needs
Russia delays the delivery of S-400 air defense systems to India due to its own needs.

The Economic Times reported on this.

Deliveries of two squadrons of S-400 air defense systems to India will be delayed until 2026, as Russia’s own needs are linked to the war in Ukraine.

It should be noted that the delays are primarily due to the losses of Russian air defense systems, which the Armed Forces of Ukraine periodically destroy.

As previously reported, in 2021, India began deploying the first regimental set of S-400 air defense systems in the Punjab sector to counter Pakistan Air Force.

Russia and India had signed a deal to buy five squadrons of the S-400 air defense system.

According to the initial plan, the last air defense system was to be handed over by April 2023.

In March 2021, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin warned his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh of sanctions over India’s purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems.

The Secretary of Defense emphasized that Washington was asking all its partners to refrain from buying Russian weapons to avoid sanctions.

As Militarnyi previously reported, the supply of Russian weapons to India has been interrupted due to the inability of the parties to agree on payment methods.

First of all, the process was interrupted due to New Delhi’s refusal to pay for Russian weapons in dollars, as this could lead to the imposition of secondary sanctions against India.

India does not want to conclude the deal in rubles, fearing that it will not be able to purchase weapons at real market prices.

quote:

With 20 Leopard 2s Promised to Ukraine Spain Becomes the Biggest Donor, How Many More Left in Store
The deadlines of transfer of the new batch of Leopard 2A4 tanks from Spain to Ukraine were announced
The Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive a new batch of 20 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks from Spain. These vehicles are in the list of weapons destined for Ukraine published by the Inter-Ministerial Regulatory Board on Foreign Trade in Defence and Dual-Use Material (JIMDDU), along with 90 other export permits for other weapons.

This is reported by a number of Spanish media, with La Vanguardia specifying that the transfer of combat vehicles will be divided into two equal batches. The first batch will be delivered by the end of June and the second one in September. The media outlet, however, states that there will be 19 tanks, not 20.

Thus, Spain, which has already delivered 10 Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks, will increase this number to almost or all 30 units. This fact makes Spain the leader of the "Leopard 2 tank coalition." According to publicly available information, the largest donors of Leopard 2 are currently Germany with 18 Leopard 2A6s and also Poland with 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks committed, with the Netherlands and Denmark jointly providing another 14 in 2024.

Although Spain does not have a strong tank-building industry, it was able to organize a stable restoration of the Leopard 2A4 tanks for Ukraine at its own facilities. This process is organized by Santa Barbara Sistemas defense contractor which is part of General Dynamics Land Systems. Thanks to this fact Spain has managed to reach a 60% local production of Leopard 2E tanks (Leopard 2A6 version). For contrast, Sweden localized its Strv 122 main battle tank (Leopard 2A5 version) only at 30%.

Such a robust industrial foundation allows Madrid to be less dependent on German KWM and Rheinmetall manufacturers in receiving components for Leopard 2 tanks.

It should be noted that the total number of Spanish Leopard 2A4 tanks in storage that could be transferred to Ukraine was previously announced by the Minister of Defense of Spain, Margarita Robles. Back in the winter of 2023, it was reported that tanks for the Armed Forces of Ukraine were being selected from the 50 available vehicles (although Spanish media reported about 53) that were mothballed at the Casetas base near Zaragoza.

Thus, after the transfer of the first batch of tanks in the spring of 2023, 40 units remained, half of which have just been announced for transfer.

As earlier announced by the Spanish Secretary of State for Commerce, Madrid had carried out state arms exports to Ukraine from March 2022 to February 2024 for a total of 190 million euros. The transferred weapons include TOA (M113) armored personnel carriers, artillery weapons, missiles for MIM-23 HAWK and Aspid SAM systems, Mistral air defense systems, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, drones, communications equipment, ammunition, etc.

Earlier Defense Express reported that the Netherlands had provided a �350 million aid package to Ukraine, including weapons for F-16 aircraft.

quote:

Military intelligence: Partisans attack Russian soldiers, equipment in occupied Melitopol
The explosions in occupied Melitopol in Zaporizhzhia Oblast killed Russian soldiers and destroyed their military equipment, according to Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR).

HUR claimed to have orchestrated a joint attack with local resistance against a group of Russian serviceman in the city on March 22.

Melitopol, a city with a pre-war population of about 150,000 people, has been occupied since March 2022. The Ukrainian resistance has been active here since then, targeting Russian military personnel and facilities.

"According to preliminary data, about 20 Russian soldiers, two Kamaz trucks and a UAZ Patriot pickup truck were at the epicenter of the explosions," the agency wrote on Telegram, saying that the losses are being clarified.

The Kyiv Independent couldn't verify these claims.

Military intelligence occasionally reports on resistance forces' operations in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Several cases of explosions at Melitopol's railway infrastructure have been reported since Russia occupied the city.

quote:

In Russian Crises, Putin Often Vanishes From Public Eye
When Russia’s nuclear submarine the Kursk sank above the Arctic Circle in August 2000 during President Vladimir Putin’s first year in office, it took four days for the new Russian leader to make a public statement on a tragedy that killed 118 sailors.

Two decades later and fresh off a stage-managed reelection to his fifth presidential term, Putin continues to show a reticent public approach to national crises.

It took Putin more than 18 hours after a March 22 terrorist attack on a Moscow-region concert hall that killed scores to make a public statement.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Kremlin tells pro-government media to emphasize possible ‘traces’ of ‘Ukrainian involvement’ in reporting on Moscow terrorist attack
Russian state-funded and pro-government media have been instructed by the Putin administration to emphasize possible “traces” of Ukrainian involvement in their reporting on Friday’s Crocus City Hall terrorist attack, Meduza has learned from a state media employee. A second source from a pro-Kremlin outlet confirmed the report.

Earlier on Saturday, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed that the four main suspects in the attack had planned to flee to Ukraine, where they allegedly had “appropriate contacts,” after the shooting. The agency said the suspects were detained in Russia’s Bryansk region on their way to the Ukrainian border.

The Ukrainian authorities have categorically denied any involvement in the terrorist attack, accusing the Russian authorities of attempting to fuel “anti-Ukrainian hysteria in Russian society.”

quote:

Op zaterdag 23 maart 2024 22:00 schreef Perrin het volgende:
RIP Sevastopol.

[ x ]

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Russian police have cut the ear off a suspect and made him eat it, on camera and posted it online...because, this is the stuff that Russians do.

These are the people that are coming to reestablish USSR 2.0 in Europe.

Get ready or just arm Ukraine.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Alleged suspect in Crocus City Hall shooting forced to eat own ear by Russian law enforcement
Russian law enforcement officers have reportedly forced an alleged suspect of the Moscow mass shooting to eat his own ear, according to videos posted by Russian media channels on Telegram on March 23.

In the video, the supposed suspect is lying on the floor with his hands tied, surrounded by security forces, his head is bloody, and part of his right ear is missing.

One of the officers in the video puts the severed ear in the man's mouth and demands the suspect eat it.

When the detainee spits out the ear, the officer punches him in the face.

Russian propagandist media outlet Mediazona notes that prior to the publication of the video, the Telegram channel Shot published a video of a similar-looking man wearing the same clothes being taken out of the Bryansk forest by security forces. The right side of the man's face is bloody, and his ears are not visible.

Another recording published by SHOT shows the same man sitting with his head wrapped in a bandage.

"He is being interrogated by a man whose voice sounds like the security officer from the video of the ear being cut off," the publication reads.

Warning: The video contains profanity

"You have one ear left!" an officer shouts at the beginning of the recording.

Earlier it was reported that Russian security services had allegedly detained 11 suspects in the mass shooting, including all four attackers.

quote:

Op zondag 24 maart 2024 00:10 schreef polderturk het volgende:
NSFW !!!

WAARSCHUWING

GRUWELIJKE BEELDEN IN DE TWEETS

GoPro beelden van de terreuraanval.

[ x ]

[ x ]

quote:

Op zondag 24 maart 2024 00:29 schreef ExTec het volgende:

[..]
Waarom denk je dat, nav deze beelden?

Ik denk dat gevoelsmatig ook, maar is dat meer dan een gevoel.

quote:

Op zondag 24 maart 2024 00:43 schreef ExTec het volgende:

[..]
En dat is ook precies mijn gevoel.

Maar dat sluit een aantal dingen niet uit, namelijk dat er in opdracht van de FSB gewoon wat complete losers uit lage milieu's zijn gerecruteerd, of bv dat we het wel over een IS cel hebben, maar dat die het noodzakelijke zetje hebben gehad van de FSB infiltrant.

Leuke discussie, low stakes, cause nothing of value was lost to begin with.

En: zijn nu ongeveer 10 TU-95 bombers in de lucht, dus morgen hebben we het weer over energie centrales of appartementen in oekraine die in puin zijn gelegd.

quote:

Op zondag 24 maart 2024 00:49 schreef ExTec het volgende:

[..]
Ehmmmm, nee.

Heb je die beelden wel bekeken? Complete clowns, die er geen blijk van gaven vuurwapen training gehad te hebben.

Niet richten zoals het hoort, maar gewoon het wapen omhoog brengen zonder de richtmiddelen te gebruiken, op de filmpjes hoe ze door de hal bewogen, allemaal tegelijkertijd naar dezelde kant kijken, ipv dat iedereen een kant op kijkt en elkaar dekt, te weinig afstand tussen posities.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

The United States has allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to protect the Baltic countries from the Russian Federation
The US Congress has decided to allocate military and defense assistance to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the amount of $228 million in 2024 as part of the Baltic Security Initiative program. Source: Estonian Ministry of Defense

This bill provides financial support for the three Baltic countries that are NATO members and share a border with Russia. The law was passed by lawmakers on March 22.

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur noted that assistance from the United States has significantly accelerated the implementation of military projects in the Baltic countries.

He also stressed that financial support this year is greater than last year, which demonstrates the American commitment to ensuring security in the region.

The Estonian Ministry of Defense noted that the Baltic Security Initiative, launched in 2020, promotes the development of military capabilities and interoperability of the armed forces of the three Baltic countries.

Last year, $225 million was allocated to support the initiative, and this year the amount increased to $169 million.

On March 22, the US permanent representative to NATO, Julian Smith, said that the US does not believe that a possible Russian attack on the Baltic states is imminent. He emphasized that the United States will cover the Baltic countries and take care of their security, since the threat of expanding Russian military actions is taken very seriously.

The Baltic countries recently agreed to jointly build a powerful defense line . The plans of Lithuania and Latvia have not been disclosed, but it is reported that Estonia plans to build about 600 concrete bunkers on its borders, which can accommodate 10 people.

quote:

“No to Russian propaganda”: ​​​​a protest took place in Poland against blocking the border
An action called “The Border is the Line of Life” took place in Warsaw: about a hundred Polish and Ukrainian activists near the government building protested against the border blockade. Source: Radio Liberty

Participants chanted “stop the border blockade” and “no to Russian propaganda.” They also held posters with the inscriptions “Free border”, “Help Ukraine Today – Keep Russia Away”, “The blockade harms both countries”.

One of the organizers of the protest, Karol Karpinski, emphasized that about a million jobs in Poland depend on trade with Ukraine and now this trade is “standing” due to the border blockade.

According to the activist, more than a quarter of Polish enterprises engaged in international trade with Ukraine, while at the same time Poland exports much more food products to Ukraine than it imports from the country.

What is happening now is the tyranny of the minority, because the majority wants normal, friendly relations between Poland and Ukraine. The majority is against this blockade, which destroys our economy, our entrepreneurs and helps Putin, the Polish activist noted.

According to those present at the rally in Warsaw, the border blockade has worsened relations between Ukrainians and Poles, and this only benefits Russia.

The protesters emphasized that drivers live at the border for three weeks, have nowhere to wash, cannot eat properly, and are in fact hostages of the situation.

Previously, on the poster that Polish farmers hung on their tractors, there was a scandalous inscription about Russian President Vladimir Putin, because of which the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was forced to react.

As part of an investigation by the Guildhall news agency, it was established that Polish carriers who blocked checkpoints on the Polish-Ukrainian border demanding “fair competition” interact with persons with connections to the Russian Federation . In addition, Russian influence was also recorded in similar events in Slovakia.