Report: Ukrainian Soldiers Involved in Murder of 10 Russian POWs Tied to NATO-Linked Brigade

©AP Photo / Efrem Lukatsky

Ukrainian soldiers that executed 10 Russian prisoners of war belong to a brigade based in the city of Lvov that works closely with NATO, Russian broadcaster RT reported on Monday, citing a former Ukrainian soldier.

The soldier used to serve in this brigade, but switched to the Russian side after his father was executed by Ukrainians, the report said. According to the former Ukrainian soldier, those deployed in the 80th brigade were taught to hate everything Russian long before the start of the special operation, RT said.

US troops, including forces with the Marine Corps, were involved in the training of the brigade, the soldier said.

The report came as the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov vowed that Russia would search for the killers, underscoring that the individuals must be found and punished for the crimes. At the time, the official highlighted the need for an international investigation on the matter.

Last week, Russia's Defense Ministry said that the Ukrainian military deliberately killed 10 captured Russian soldiers.

A video in which Ukrainian soldiers shot surrendered Russians who were laying facedown appeared on the internet on Friday.

UN Spokesperson Farhan Haq said that the United Nations was calling for a full investigation of all reported human rights violations in the context of the execution of POWs.

Earlier Monday, the footage of the incident was confirmed by the New York Times as having been filmed at a farmhouse in the Makeyevka village after the area had been recaptured by Ukrainian forces.

Although war crimes prosecution expert Iva Vukusic had informed the outlet it was difficult to determine whether a war crime had been conducted based on the video footage, human rights medical adviser Dr. Rohini Haar noted in his examination that the soldiers were "effectively prisoners of war" from the moment they surrendered. An ongoing criminal probe is being carried out by the Russian Investigative Committee.

Russia Urges Turkey to Show Restraint Amid Strikes on Syria

Moscow calls on Turkey to show restraint in light of the strikes on Syrian territory, tensions cannot be allowed to escalate, Russia's special presidential envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentyev said.

"We will call on our Turkish colleagues to show certain restraint in order to prevent an escalation of tension, not only in the northern and northeastern regions of Syria, but throughout the entire territory," Lavrentyev said at the beginning of the 19th round of talks on the Syrian settlement in Astana.

CC BY-SA 4.0 / DHA / Hisar-A air defense system

He said work with all interested parties should be continued, and an attempt should be made to find a peaceful solution to the Kurdish issue.

Lavrentyev said Turkey had not notified Russia in advance about the air operation in Syria and Iraq; the issue would be discussed during the meeting on Syria in Astana.

"We hope to convince our Turkish partners to refrain from using excessive force on Syrian territory," the Russian special envoy said.

On Sunday, Turkey conducted an air operation against militant bases of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its military wing, People's Defense Units (YPG), also labeled as a terrorist organization in Turkey. According to the Turkish Defense Ministry, a total of 89 targets were destroyed during the operation.

Gempa Dahsyat 7 Magnitudo Guncang Kepulauan Solomon

Gempa bumi melanda pada kedalaman 10km di wilayah Malango di Kepulauan Solomon. (Survei Geologi Amerika Serikat)

Buletin awal yang dikeluarkan oleh Pusat Peringatan Tsunami Pasifik memperingatkan bahwa "gelombang tsunami yang berbahaya" mungkin terjadi di pantai mana pun dalam jarak 300 kilometer dari pusat gempa, yang terdaftar sekitar 15 kilometer barat daya Malango.

Gempa berkekuatan 7,0 skala Richter melanda Kepulauan Solomon pada hari Selasa dan sejak itu memicu peringatan tsunami, sebuah buletin dari Survei Geologi AS telah mengungkapkan.

Register mencatat gempa tersebut awalnya menyerang dengan kekuatan 7,3 SR; namun, kemudian direvisi menjadi berkekuatan 7. Peristiwa tersebut dikatakan muncul dari kedalaman 13,6 kilometer.

Peringatan yang dikeluarkan oleh Pusat Peringatan Tsunami Pasifik di Honolulu, Hawaii, melaporkan bahwa "gelombang tsunami yang berbahaya" hingga satu meter di atas permukaan air pasang diperkirakan terjadi di beberapa pantai di wilayah tersebut.

Honiara got rocked by m7.0 earthquake. pic.twitter.com/CZk6JCbAeY

— John Muria (Jnr) 🇸🇧 (@Jnr_Muria) November 22, 2022

Pusat Seismologi Eropa-Mediterania nirlaba kemudian mendokumentasikan gempa susulan berkekuatan 6,0. Badan tersebut mencatat gempa kedua terjadi sekitar empat menit setelah gempa awal. Gempa ketiga tercatat berkekuatan 6,0 sekitar 30 menit setelah yang pertama didokumentasikan.

Detail tentang potensi kerusakan struktural, atau cedera dan korban jiwa masih belum pasti.

Gempa pertama melanda pada kedalaman 15 km (9 mil), sekitar 16 km (10 mil) barat daya wilayah Malango, kata Survei Geologi Amerika Serikat, yang awalnya menyebutkan besarnya 7,3.

Gelombang berbahaya mungkin terjadi di pulau-pulau di kawasan itu, kata Pusat Peringatan Tsunami Pasifik, tetapi diperkirakan tidak ada ancaman tsunami yang lebih luas.

Gempa tersebut dapat menghasilkan gelombang hingga 1 meter (3 kaki) di atas permukaan air pasang untuk Kepulauan Solomon, kata pusat tersebut, dan gelombang yang lebih kecil untuk pantai Papua Nugini dan Vanuatu.

“Masyarakat juga diimbau untuk waspada karena gempa susulan diperkirakan akan terus berlanjut,” kata seorang karyawan di media sosial.

Pemadaman listrik yang meluas dilaporkan di seluruh pulau dan Penyiaran Kepulauan Solomon mengatakan dalam sebuah pernyataan di Facebook bahwa semua layanan radio tidak mengudara.

The National Disaster Management Office said it has received reports that people felt the quake but are waiting for reports of damage.

"Orang-orang di Honiara pindah ke tempat yang lebih tinggi beberapa menit setelah gempa tetapi beberapa sekarang telah pindah ke bawah," kata seorang pejabat kepada Reuters melalui telepon.

Seismologi Fiji mengatakan gempa tersebut tidak menimbulkan ancaman tsunami langsung ke negara kepulauan itu sekitar 2.000 km ke arah tenggara.

As EU’s Oil Embargo Nears, West Looks to Crack Down on ‘Leakage’ in Anti-Russia Sanctions - Report

©Sputnik / Eugene Odinokov / Go to the mediabank

As the European Union rushes to comply with Washington’s embargo of Russian energy exports, Washington is looking for other ways to tighten the screws on Moscow, such as cracking down on enforcement of anti-Russian sanctions.

Despite extensive sanctions imposed on Russia by US-aligned nations following the launch of its special operation in Ukraine in February 2022, there have not been the precipitous drops in Russian energy exports for which they had hoped. Now, efforts are being made to tighten the noose.

“We want to avoid circumvention, both within Europe and then with third countries,” Mairead McGuinness, whose European Commission office oversees the bloc’s sanctions policy, told the Wall Street Journal about anti-Russian sanctions. “The longer we have any leakage…the more difficult it is to see things coming to a conclusion.”

The European Union has struggled to follow Washington’s Russian energy boycott, since the bloc once bought nearly half its gas from Russia and many member states have seen sizable protests against further declines in purchases. By December 5, the EU plans to totally end its importation of Russian crude oil, followed by a total ban on all Russian energy products in January.

Russia’s Gazprom halted liquified natural gas (LNG) from going through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline in early September, thanks to a unilateral price cap imposed on the product, and weeks later a mysterious undersea explosion rendered the pipeline inoperable.

However, the US quickly ended its consumption of Russian gas and petroleum in March, thanks to its smaller import volume, but that didn’t stop gas prices from skyrocketing in the US anyway. The Biden administration has spent the time since then pressuring other nations to abide by that boycott, including insisting that neutral nations like South Africa pick a side.

US Treasury officials have also traveled far and wide, pushing the sanctions on a more personal level. Earlier this month, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen helped push the Group of 7 (G7) to adopt the long-discussed price cap on Russian petroleum, and last month, Yellen’s deputy, Elizabeth Rosenberg, flew to Japan to pressure the heads of leading Arab banks to crack down on alleged Russian money laundering in Middle Eastern countries.

However, the more nations are pressured to sever trade relations with Russia, the more Washington risks alienating itself. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was pointedly rejected by his South African counterpart after he flew to Pretoria to encourage South Africa to end its joint projects with Russia, and the pressures put on Arab states by the grain shortages created by Kiev and by the US’ demands to increase oil output are not bringing them any closer to Washington.

In addition, European nations are continuing to face social pressures associated with their support for Ukraine, including protests over the rising costs of living created by gas price hikes and inflation.

New trade statistics revealed on Monday that the United Kingdom, no longer an EU member state but still a NATO ally, has imported nearly $1 billion in Russian petroleum since March.

Russian, Vietnamese security chiefs discuss world situation, including Ukraine

Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev and Vietnamese Minister of Public Security To Lam held security consultations in Moscow on Monday, the press service of the Security Council said.

In particular, they exchanged views on the situation in the world, including in the Asia-Pacific region and Ukraine.

They also looked into a wide range of issues related to bilateral relations. Special focus was on cooperation between law enforcement agencies and special services.

Taking part in the consultations were representatives of various ministries and agencies of the Russian Federation and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

SHOCK VIDEO: Off-duty Vermont sheriff's deputy shot 8 times by police after gunfight in New York

An off-duty sheriff's deputy was shot by police in New York on Sunday after he exchanged fire with a group of men. (City of Saratoga Springs)

Gunfire on the streets of Saratoga Springs early Sunday morning left at least three people wounded, including an off-duty sheriff’s deputy from Vermont who was shot multiple times by police.

An off-duty Vermont sheriff's deputy was shot by police in upstate New York on Sunday after he exchanged fire with a group of men.

The shooting, which happened at around 3 a.m. on Sunday, came after Saratoga Springs Police responded to another shooting.

during the shooting incident between the police and the police who were not on duty

The deputy was shot by police multiple times, after he ignored commands from the officers to drop his firearm, according to police and the mayor.

The gunfire broke out at 3 a.m. in the historic downtown of the small city, known for its thoroughbred horse racing, fine restaurants and cultural attractions.

Video from a street camera appeared to show a group of people fighting on the sidewalk, then scattering as shots were fired.

Two men were shooting at each other as police arrived, including a deputy from the Rutland County Sheriff's Office, according to Saratoga Springs Police Sgt. Paul Veitch.

Body camera video released by the city showed officers running toward the sound of the gunshots with their pistols drawn, one screaming “drop the gun!”

When the sheriff's deputy, who was not in uniform, didn't drop his weapon, Saratoga Springs officers opened fire, according Commissioner of Public Safety James Montagnino.

The deputy, who was not immediately identified, suffered 10 bullet wounds, including one to the chest, but was conscious and was expected to survive, the Times-Union reported.

His girlfriend's arm was grazed by a bullet.

"By my count, there are at least eight separate, clear, unequivocal commands to put the gun down and get on the ground," Saratoga Springs Public Safety Commissioner James Montagnino said at a press conference. "They are all ignored.

The shooting beforehand involving the deputy and the group of men left two people injured. That shooting was sparked by an argument. A woman believed to be the deputy’s girlfriend suffered a graze wound and a man involved in the altercation was also injured.

Three people had allegedly slammed the deputy into a parked vehicle before then pushing him to the ground. The deputy then pulled out a gun and exchanged gunfire with a member of the group who also had a firearm.

The deputy had gotten into a barroom argument with a group of three people from Utica. After the fight spilled onto the street, the deputy showed his weapon and the Utica man drew his, which was when gunfire broke out. Seven to eight shots were fired between the two, and the deputy shot the Utica man.

All three gunshot victims were in stable condition at a hospital. Authorities didn’t identify them. The Saratoga Springs officers who fired weapons have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation “to find out if any policies or protocols were violated,” Saratoga Springs Police Sgt. Paul Veitch said. That investigation is set to be conducted by the Saratoga Springs Police Department, he said.

Saratoga Springs Mayor Ron Kim denounced the shooting saying: “Nobody should be on Caroline Street at 3 o’clock in the morning drinking that has a weapon. End of story.”

No arrests have been made in the case and New York State Police are investigating the shooting.

The United Aircraft Corporation manufactured delivers new batch of Su-30SM2 fighter jets to Russian troops

Su-30SM2 fighter jet
© UAC Press Office/TASS

The United Aircraft Corporation manufactured and delivered a batch of new Su-30SM2 fighter jets and Yak-130 combat trainers to the Defense Ministry, the Russian government said in a statement released on Monday.

"The Irkutsk Aviation Plant of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC, part of the state corporation Rostec) has manufactured and delivered new Su-30SM2 fighters and Yak-130 combat trainer aircraft to the Defense Ministry of Russia," the statement reads.

The Cabinet noted that the Su-30SM2 is an upgrade of the planes that are in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Russian Navy.

"The new aircraft have received sophisticated onboard radio-electronic equipment. The upgrade carried out on an assignment from the Russian Defense Ministry has boosted the aircraft’s combat capabilities. In particular, the aerial target detection and identification range has been increased," the government explained, adding that the new fighters were capable of delivering strikes against aerial, ground and naval targets with new smart weapons from a distance of several hundred kilometers.

The Yak-130 two-seat combat trainer is used for the basic and advanced training of pilots to learn to operate modern and state-of-the-art combat aircraft, including generation 4++ and fifth-generation fighters.

Earlier in February 2022, the Russian Su-30SM2 fighter was upgraded to control combat drones.

Russia’s Su-30SM2 naval fighters will be re-configured with a system to control attack drones mid-air, Izvestia revealed, citing sources.

This year, the Russian Navy has inducted four multirole SM2s, an upgrade on the Su-30SM that boasts a more powerful engine, radar, and “smart weapons.”

A “communication complex” is being built to allow the two-seat aircraft to communicate with and direct a range of unmanned aerial aircraft, including the S-70 Okhotnik.

Military analyst Vladislav Shurygin told Izvestia that the SM2’s co-pilot could interact with the drone and provide it with target coordinates while the pilot is flying the aircraft. He ruled out the pilot steering the unmanned platform.

Shurygin said that the wingman drones could “reconnoiter ground targets for aircraft strikes and evaluate the results,” adding that drones with powerful radars could work as the “eyes and ears” of the aircraft, helping it control the situation from hundreds of kilometers away.

Additional roles include marine patrol and penetrating well-defended targets without risk to the aircraft.

The number of transferred aircraft is not specified.

"As part of Rostec, we continue to fulfill our obligations under the state defense order. Today, another batch of vehicles is in production, which will be handed over to the customer by the end of the year," UAC CEO Yuri Slyusar is quoted by the government as saying.

The Yak-130 combat training aircraft is participating in the flight program of the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2021.
© Sputnik / Evgeny Odinokov / Go to the mediabank

"In the light of the current tasks, the industry is acting in solidarity with the Ministry of Defense. The Coordinating Council under the government controls the provision of the needs of the Armed Forces for equipment and compliance with the delivery deadlines," Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov said.

Foto dan Kesaksian Warga - Gempa Cianjur

Kesaksian korban gempa Cianjur menyebut bahwa banyak siswa sekolah terluka akibat tertindih bangunan yang roboh. Foto/Ist

"Allhamdulillah saya sendiri selamat hanya luka ringan saja, bangunan sekolah kondisi ambruk dan retakan menganga besar, siswa banyak yang luka kena tindihan bangunan coz sedang pembelajaran di kelas, sementara, keluarga yang di rumah pun alhamdulilah selamat, hanya rumah saja yang rusak," tulis Affan, salah satu korban gempa di Cugenang, Cianjur.

Menurut informasi, wilayah Cugenang merupakan salah satu wilayah paling parah terdampak gempa Cianjur.

"Terasa seperti main wahana getarannya, cermin pada jatuh, pintu kulkas terbuka, pada keluar rumah, genteng rumah tetangga merosot, tapi enggak sampai panik," kata Alfa, warga Cianjur.

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"Gempanya kenceng berasa banget dirumah, Itu WC roboh, sama tembok ada yang retak sama lepas batanya," kata Saepul Nurul Wijaya (26) warga Dusun Lebaksiuh, Desa Sukamaju, Kecamatan Kadudampit, Kabupaten Sukabumi, Jawa Barat

"Perabotan seperti piring juga pada jatuh," kata seorang warga Cianjur, Galih Prawira Martakusumah,

"Mungkin guncangannya ada sekitar lebih dari 10 detik kami rasakan, karena motor yang distandar satu tuh jatuh, lemari piring acak-acakan, rak sepatu acak-acakan," ujar Aditya warga setempat yang bermukim di pusat kota Cianjur.

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"Tadi sebelum ambruk itu ada kayak suara dan langsung saja dinding jebol. Sebelumnya juga memang sudah retak sejak gempa bumi yang sebelumnya, tapi kalau sekarang guncangannya lebih kencang. Sementara mengungsi dulu ke rumah saudara karena kerusakan rumah saya cukup parah," ujar Siti Nurjanah (49) warga Kampung Cadas, RT 3/3, Desa Ciptagumati, Kecamatan Cikalongwetan, Kabupaten Bandung Barat (KBB).

“Baru kali ini terjadi gempa yang getarannya sangat terasa besar. Kebetulan saya lagi di luar rumah melihat masyarakat berhamburan dari dalam rumah, genteng rumahnya pada merosot,” terang Bayu Adi Permana (24) warga Desa Sawah Gede, Kecamatan Cianjur.

Waduk Cirata

Gempa bumi yang menguncang Cianjur pada siang ini, hari Senin siang, 21/11/2022, membuat panik semua orang, termasuk para pembudidaya ikan di Waduk Cirata.

Kapolres Cianjur AKBP Doni Hermawan mengevakuasi korban gempa.

Kesaksian salah satu pembudidaya di Waduk Cirata mengungkap kondisi air yang tiba-tiba 'mendidih'pasca gempa bumi terjadi.

Warga juga mengungkapkan air di waduk berputar kencang. Hal ini membuat sejumlah keramba jaring apung lepas dan hanyut.

"Mungkin dasar waduk bergerak," kata Mursidah, pembudidaya ikan di Waduk Cirata mengutip Antara.

Kerusakan akibat gempa di SMKN 1 Cugenang Cianjur. (Grup WA)

Air di waduk menurut warga masih mendidih pasca gempa bumi Cianjur. Meski kaget melihat kondisi itu, sejumlah warga tetap bertahan di atas keramba.

Bopong Ibu keluar Rumah

"Saya lagi di belakang cuci-cuci, di depan ada mamah, anak-anak, dan istri. Itu secara tiba nggak ada aba-aba, maksudnya biasanya kan ada gempa kecil dulu, tapi ini langsung gede," kata Rahmat (42) Warga Cianjur.

"Jadi perasaan nggak ke pinggir gitu gempanya, tapi ke atas bawah. Saya juga perasaan mau amblas saja, ini lantai mau amblas perasaan saya. Mamah saya juga jatuh pas mau evakuasi diri, jadi saya bopong," ujarnya.

"Ini dahsyat gempanya. Ini terparah selama tinggal di Cianjur. Saya fokus nyelametin keluarga di sini. Suara benda jatuh-jatuh, kaca, tembok," sambungnya. Ia mengaku sekitar empat menit berusaha menyelamatkan anak, ibu, dan istrinya.

Ia menyuruh anak pertama dan keduanya lari keluar rumah, sementara istrinya menggendong anak ketiga mereka yang masih batita. "Sekitar empat menit, saya nolong ibu, yang dua anak langsung saya suruh lari keluar, yang satu digendong mamahnya. Saya mau ngungsi ke Sukanagara, pulang ke rumah," tuturnya.

No agreement reached at Belgrade-Pristina talks in Brussels, says Vucic

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic
©Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images

Belgrade and Pristina failed to reach an agreement at top-level talks in Brussels in the presence of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell and EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Miroslav Lajcak, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told reporters on Monday.

"For reasons I do not understand, we failed to reach an agreement," Vucic said.

"The Serbian side was absolutely constructive, we accepted tens of updates [to the treaty], but the Albanian side refused to accept anything even for a second, they always wanted to add something that is impossible," Vucic stated.

The president stressed that during the negotiations it was clear which side really wanted to reach an agreement, and the only thing that Belgrade insisted on was "that all the agreements signed earlier should be respected," he added. The Serbian leader said that he would analyze all documents, "put together all impressions" and address the nation later on Monday or Tuesday evening.

On November 14, EU’s Borrell said at a press conference following an EU Council meeting that Belgrade and Pristina representatives would begin EU-mediated talks on the dialogue between Serbia and unrecognized Kosovo in Brussels on Monday. According to him, November 29 is the deadline by which an agreement must be hammered out in order to avoid a serious crisis.

Earlier, Kosovo authorities decided to fine those who did not change their Serbian license plates, issuing warnings starting November 1. Fines will amount to 150 euros, and citizens will be instructed to replace Serbian plates with the registration plates of the unrecognized Kosovo. After April 21, 2023, when the transition period is over, the Kosovo police will be authorized to seize cars with Serbian plates.

In response, Kosovo and Metohija Serbs quitted all government institutions of unrecognized Kosovo on November 5.

In accordance with the Brussels agreements on the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina of April 19, 2013, the Community of Serb Municipalities, a self-governing body of Serbs living in the unrecognized republic, is to be established in Kosovo. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has repeatedly stated that his country has fulfilled its part of the Brussels agreements, while the Kosovars only started to work out the charter for the Community of Serb Municipalities and then suspended the process.