Oorlog in Oekra�ne #965 Rustagh blijven!

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US buys 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Russia's ally costing on average less than $20,000 each, report says
• The US has purchased 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Kazakhstan, a report from the Kyiv Post says.
• Kazakhstan, a historic ally of Russia, is engaging more with Western nations.
• The planes could be used for spare parts or as decoys in conflict regions, the Kyiv Post reported.

The US has acquired 81 obsolete Soviet-era combat aircraft from Kazakhstan, a report from the Kyiv Post says.

Kazakhstan, which is upgrading its air fleet, auctioned off 117 Soviet-era fighter and bomber aircraft, including MiG-31 interceptors, MiG-27 fighter bombers, MiG-29 fighters, and Su-24 bombers from the 1970s and 1980s.

The Kyiv Post reported that the declared sale value was one billion Kazakhstani tenge, or $2.26 million, equalling an average value for each plane of $19,300.

The outlet cited reports from the Ukrainian Telegram channel Insider UA and the Russian news site Reporter saying the US purchased 81 of the aged, unusable warplanes.

The Kyiv Post reported that the motive behind the US purchase remained undisclosed but that the aircraft could be used in Ukraine, where similar aircraft are in service.

The Russian site Reporter said the sale was made through offshore companies.

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FT: Turkey in talks with ExxonMobil to secure LNG deal, aims to reduce reliance on Russian natural gas
Turkey is in talks with U.S.-based ExxonMobil to secure a long-term liquified natural gas (LNG) deal worth billions of dollars, aiming to diversify its energy sources, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar told the Financial Times on April 28. The potential agreement could provide up to 2.5 million tons of LNG annually for 10 years.

Bayraktar stressed Turkey's need to diversify and “build a new supply portfolio” ahead of expiring contracts with Russia and Iran, although Bayraktar noted that the terms of a potential agreement "were still under discussion."

Presently, Russia stands as Turkey's primary provider of natural gas, supplying over 40% of its consumption last year.

However, Turkey's Dortyol oil terminal in the Mediterranean Sea halted business with Russia as pressure caused by U.S. sanctions mounts, Reuters reported on March 5.

Data published by Turkey's Trade Ministry indicate that exports to Russia dropped by 33.7% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to a year earlier.

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Op maandag 29 april 2024 18:46 schreef Ulx het volgende:
[ x ]

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Fight breaks out at massive protest in Tbilisi against foreign agents law – video

Thousands of people in Tbilisi turned out on Sunday evening to protest against the law On Transparency of Foreign Influence, which jeopardises Georgia's pro-Western policy and aspirations for European integration. A fight broke out with the police.

Source: Echo of the Caucasus, a Radio Liberty project; Georgia Online

Details: The March for Europe, organised by the non-governmental sector and youth movements, was attended by representatives of the opposition, civil society activists and ordinary citizens.

A column of thousands of protesters stretched along the main street, Rustaveli Avenue.

The protest organisers called on the authorities to cancel the second reading of the draft law On Transparency of Foreign Influence in the legal committee, which is scheduled for Monday.

After speeches by the protest organisers and leaders, the protesters headed for the parliament and surrounded the building with a symbolic human chain.

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Op maandag 29 april 2024 20:13 schreef Nebelwerfer het volgende:

[..]
Die 155 granaten staan gelijk aan 1 dagje aan Russische beschietingen.

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Putin ‘likely’ didn’t order Navalny’s death in February, US agencies believe: WSJ
U.S. intelligence agencies agree Russian president probably didn’t order opposition leader’s killing “at that moment,” according to report.

U.S. intelligence agencies believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin “likely” didn’t order opposition leader Alexei Navalny to be killed at an Arctic prison in February, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

Navalny, the leading figure in Russia’s beleaguered opposition, died on Feb. 16 in a penal colony. The EU and the U.S. directly blamed Russia for Navalny’s death, moving toward imposing new sanctions on the Kremlin.

But the WSJ said Saturday that several U.S. agencies — including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the U.S. State Department’s intelligence unit — agree that Putin probably didn’t order Navalny’s death “at that moment,” citing people familiar with the matter.

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Military intelligence: 2 locomotives destroyed in Russia
Two diesel locomotives have been destroyed in Russia over the past few days, Ukraine's military intelligence (HUR) reported on April 28.

A diesel locomotive was set on fire in Orenburg, 1,100 kilometers east of the Ukrainian border, by "unknown persons" on April 28, according to HUR.

Another diesel locomotive was destroyed in a fire in the Russian city of Vladikavkaz overnight on April 26.

While Kyiv has not claimed responsibility for the locomotives' destruction, HUR commented in a Telegram post that destroying Russian locomotives reduces their logistical capabilities.

No further information was provided.

Russian authorities have yet to comment on the fires.

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Western Banks' Continued Russian Operations Generate �800 Million For Kremlin
Major Western banks backtracked on promises to exit Russia after the Ukraine invasion, contributing millions to the Kremlin’s coffers through taxes, according to a Financial Times analysis.

The report reveals that the seven largest European banks by assets in Russia — Raiffeisen Bank International, UniCredit, ING, Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, and OTP — raked in a combined profit of over �3 billion in 2023. This figure is a staggering three times higher than their profits in 2021.

The windfall can be partly attributed to funds trapped within Russia due to sanctions, which the banks are unable to withdraw. Soaring interest rates set by the Russian central bank further inflated profits.

This financial boon translated to a significant tax windfall for the Kremlin. The European banks collectively paid �800 million in taxes to the Russian government in 2023, a fourfold increase compared to �200 million in 2021.

Raiffeisen Bank International, boasting the largest presence among these foreign lenders, shoulders over half the tax burden (�400 million+) paid by European banks in Russia. Despite facing criticism from the European Central Bank and the US Treasury for delaying its exit, Raiffeisen has yet to complete its promised downsizing and divestiture.

Western companies staying put in Russia provide a financial lifeline to the Kremlin, undermining the intended impact of Western sanctions. With the taxes paid by European banks amounting to roughly 0.4% of Russia’s projected non-energy budget revenue for 2024, the financial contribution is not insignificant.

The combined revenue, profit, and tax figures of these international banks have dipped since 2022, but they remain considerably higher than pre-war levels. This raises questions about Western banks profiting from war while significantly aiding the Russian government.

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The Armed Forces of Ukraine conducted airstrikes against the invaders in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia region

The Ukrainian Air Forces launched airstrikes on the bases of Russian invaders in the Donetsk and in the Zaporizhzhia regions.

Precision guided bombs were used for strikes.

The video of the destruction of objects was shown by Colonel General Olexandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on social media.

The locations of the personnel of the Russian invasion army were hit.

“Track and beat. Today, two airstrikes were carried out on the locations of concentration of enemy personnel in the Donetsk and in the Zaporizhzhia regions. The targets have been hit,” Syrskyi said.

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Polish Protestors Lift Blockade on All Ukrainian Checkpoints
Polish farmers have lifted blockades on all checkpoints with Ukraine after months of intermittent protests that brought on unprecedented tension between the two nations.

Truck traffic resumed at the Rava-Ruska-Hrebenne border crossing on Monday morning – the last one still blockaded by Polish farmers – potentially marking the end of the months-long protests that had brought unprecedented tension between the two nations.

According to an official announcement by the State Border Service of Ukraine (DPSU), truck registration and movement have resumed in either direction after 10:00 a.m.; a DPSU representative also told Ukrainska Pravda that all border checkpoints with Poland are currently unblocked.

However, “according to available information,” grain trucks can enter Poland only for transit from now on.

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Military intelligence: Over 18,000 Russian troops of Southern Military District have deserted
Soldiers of Russia's Southern Military District, whose units are deployed in Ukraine, are deserting their posts in increasing numbers, Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) said on April 29.

According to many observers, low morale has been a recurring problem for the Russian Armed Forces fighting in Ukraine.

Over 18,000 soldiers of the Southern Military District have allegedly deserted, with around 12,000 of them belonging to the 8th Combined Arms Army – a unit often deployed in hostilities in eastern Ukraine.

Of this number, around 10,000 are mobilized conscripts and 2,000 contract soldiers, the military intelligence agency said.

The U.K. Defense Ministry said earlier in April that Russian troops in Ukraine are mainly staffed with contract soldiers and reservists mobilized in late 2022, but conscripts are often pressured to sign contracts.

In the Russian 58th Combined Arms Army, the desertion rate is at around 2,500 troops, according to the agency's statement.

Kyiv has been actively encouraging troops of the Russian invading army to desert or even defect to the Ukrainian side. The Ukrainian military intelligence service launched a hotline in September 2022 to help Russian soldiers willing to surrender.

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Russia is building new airfield in the Belgorod region

^{Construction of a runway in the Belgorod region of the Russian Federation as of April 2024. Photo credits: twitter.com/RedIntelPanda}

Russians are building a new airfield near the border in the Belgorod region.

OSINT researcher RedIntelPanda reported about this on X (formerly Twitter).

The airport is being built near the village of Alexeyevka, about 70 km from the border with Ukraine.

The researcher published the relevant satellite images showing the stages of construction.

The facility itself is located about 9 km west of the village of Alexeyevka, where a logistics center is located to supply military units of the Russian military grouping “West”.

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Op maandag 29 april 2024 17:32 schreef Ulx het volgende:
[ x ]

Een aantal soldaten vragen of ze door willen vechten of dat ze liever Poetin uit het raam flikkeren is misschien een optie voor Shoigu om langer te blijven leven.

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Two people killed, eight injured in missile attack on Odesa
Oleh Kiper reports damage to buildings and infrastructure
On the evening of April 29, an explosion was heard in Odesa during an air raid alert, a LIGA.net correspondent reported.

At 18:28, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine warned of the threat of the use of ballistic weapons for the southern oblasts. At 18:29, a LIGA.net correspondent reported that an explosion was heard in Odesa.

The head of the regional military administration, Oleh Kiper, called on the residents of Odesa and the Odesa district to stay in safe places until the all-clear is given.

UPDATED AT 19:04. Later, Kiper reported that the enemy had launched a missile attack on Odesa. As a result of the Russian attack, eight people were injured. There is damage to residential buildings and civilian infrastructure.

UPDATED AT 19:25. As a result of the strike, two people and a dog were killed. Another eight people were injured to varying degrees, including a 12-year-old boy, the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration reported.

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Russians hit Odesa with rocket, four people killed, 28 injured – photos
Oleh Kiper reported that two of the injured are in serious condition

On the evening of April 29, Russia carried out a missile strike on Odesa, and as a result of the attack, there are casualties and injuries, the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper, reported.

Odesa Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov showed photos of the aftermath of the Russian missile strike on the city.

UPDATED AT 20:25. Trukhanov reported that there are already 20 people injured as a result of the enemy attack.

UPDATED AT 20:36. Trukhanov reported that a woman born in 1983 died in the hospital. This brings the total number of people killed in the attack to three.

UPDATED AT 21:10. The number of dead has risen to four. It is known about three dead women and one man, said the mayor of Odesa.

UPDATED AT 21:18. The head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration reported that, according to updated information, 28 people were injured, including two children (16 and five years old) and one pregnant woman. Four of the injured are in serious condition.

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Op maandag 29 april 2024 20:13 schreef Nebelwerfer het volgende:

[..]
Die 155 granaten staan gelijk aan 1 dagje aan Russische beschietingen.

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Op maandag 29 april 2024 23:53 schreef Ulx het volgende:

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Dezelfde fabrieken leveren ook via het EU programma.

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German ex-army officer admits spying for Russia, blames fear of nuclear war
A former German army captain has admitted spying for Russia, saying he was motivated over fears of a global nuclear escalation amid Russia's war in Ukraine.

Identified only as Thomas H., the 54-year-old went on trial in Dusseldorf on April 29 charged with conducting espionage on behalf of Moscow and leaking state secrets.

"It was wrong. I stand by that," he said on the opening day of the trial, adding the accusations against him are "broadly accurate."

He was a serving officer when he was arrested in August of last year. The charges against him were made public on March 19.

The accused said he had become concerned about his family's safety after viewing pro-Russian content that played up the risk of the war in Ukraine escalating into a nuclear conflict.

Disturbed by what he saw, he claims he decided to contact Russian authorities in order to find out "when it was going to go off."

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Op dinsdag 30 april 2024 09:43 schreef grrrrg het volgende:
https://www.volkskrant.nl(...)angevallen~b3fa6881/
[..]

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Op dinsdag 30 april 2024 11:21 schreef ExTec het volgende:
Ik zeg: doen.

[ afbeelding ]

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Op dinsdag 30 april 2024 11:22 schreef xpompompomx het volgende:

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Misschien kan Japan voor de grap ook weer eens aanspraak gaan maken op Mantsjoerije, laatste keer is ook alweer bijna 100 jaar geleden.

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Op dinsdag 30 april 2024 11:22 schreef xpompompomx het volgende:

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Misschien kan Japan voor de grap ook weer eens aanspraak gaan maken op Mantsjoerije, laatste keer is ook alweer bijna 100 jaar geleden.

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Op dinsdag 30 april 2024 11:40 schreef Idisrom het volgende:

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Toen deed het Westen ook niets. tegen de Japanse agressie

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Op dinsdag 30 april 2024 11:40 schreef Idisrom het volgende:

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Toen deed het Westen ook niets. tegen de Japanse agressie

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Op dinsdag 30 april 2024 11:51 schreef Ulx het volgende:

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Behalve een olieboycot van de twee grootste producenten.

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Op dinsdag 30 april 2024 11:37 schreef Ulx het volgende:
[ x ]

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Op dinsdag 30 april 2024 09:41 schreef phpmystyle het volgende:
Buitgemaakte Westerse wapens worden tentoongesteld in Moskou: https://www.nu.nl/308075/(...)rieel-in-moskou.html

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Op dinsdag 30 april 2024 13:09 schreef polderturk het volgende:
Klusterbommen op een woonwijk.

Normaal gedrag van het Russische leger.

https://twitter.com/wartr(...)4AFWsyO2FrsaAVw&s=19

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Op dinsdag 30 april 2024 13:34 schreef Cilantro het volgende:
[ x ]

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Op dinsdag 30 april 2024 14:03 schreef phpmystyle het volgende:

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Wat is de reden? Weer dat zogenaamd de piloten moeite hebben met de taalbarriere ofzo?
Niet eerlijk, wel beloven maar niet leveren

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Op dinsdag 30 april 2024 11:21 schreef ExTec het volgende:
Ik zeg: doen.

[ afbeelding ]

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No residence permit and over the eastern border - this is how Estonia treats pro-Russian activists
In a couple of years, a dozen or so Russians living in Estonia have lost their residence permits due to the spread of Kremlin propaganda.

TALLINN The Estonian protection police kapo has clearly tightened his attitude towards pro-Russian activism.

Since the start of the war of aggression against Russia, eleven Russians who lived in Estonia have lost their residence permits. Some of them have been deported across the eastern border, some managed to leave the country before the official deportation.

The Estonian Protection Police considers the deportees a security threat related to Russia's hybrid measures against Estonia.

- The unifying factor has been very active participation in influencing Russia. For example, spreading hostile historical narratives or supporting Russia's aggressive foreign policy, says Harrys Puusepp , head of department at kapo.

According to Kapo, those who remained without a residence permit and were deported have been organizing various pro-Russian events and have attracted others to become organizers as well.

- When we see similar activities in our own country that preceded Russia's attack on Ukraine, it is clear that it is our duty to intervene, Puusepp says.

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Op dinsdag 30 april 2024 09:41 schreef phpmystyle het volgende:
Buitgemaakte Westerse wapens worden tentoongesteld in Moskou: https://www.nu.nl/308075/(...)rieel-in-moskou.html