Russian troops eliminate five Ukrainian subversive groups in Donbass — top brass

©Sergei Bobylev/TASS

Russian forces eliminated five Ukrainian subversive/reconnaissance groups in the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics in the past day during the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Wednesday.

"In the area of the settlement of Stelmakhovka in the Lugansk People’s Republic, strikes were delivered against a column of the Ukrainian army’s reserves. In addition, five enemy subversive / 8reconnaissance groups were eliminated in areas near the settlements of Chervonaya Dibrova in the Lugansk People’s Republic and Torskoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroyed roughly 100 Ukrainian troops in four communities in the Kharkov Region and one community in the Lugansk People’s Republic in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Kupyansk direction, as many as 100 Ukrainian servicemen, an armored personnel carrier and six pickup trucks were eliminated as a result of artillery fire against the amassment areas of the Ukrainian army’s manpower and military equipment in areas near the settlements of Sinkovka, Kotlyarovka, Tabayevka and Berestovoye in the Kharkov Region and Novosyolovskoye in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

Russian forces thwarted three counter-attacks by Ukrainian assault groups advancing towards two communities in the Lugansk People’s Republic in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Krasny Liman direction, artillery fire and active offensive operations of Russian troops thwarted counter-attacks by three Ukrainian assault groups advancing towards the settlements of Ploshchanka and Kremennaya in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.5

In the past 24 hours, the enemy lost over 60 soldiers killed and wounded, one infantry fighting vehicle and two pickup trucks in that area, the general specified.

Russian forces established control of the major part of the settlement of Vodyanoye in their offensive in the Donetsk area, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Donetsk direction, the major part of the settlement of Vodyanoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic was placed under control as a result of offensive operations by Russian troops. About 50 Ukrainian soldiers, one tank, three armored combat vehicles and four pickup trucks were eliminated," the spokesman said.

Russian forces repelled counter-attacks by four Ukrainian assault groups in the southern Donetsk area in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

Russian forces established control of the major part of the settlement of Vodyanoye in their offensive in the Donetsk area, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Donetsk direction, the major part of the settlement of Vodyanoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic was placed under control as a result of offensive operations by Russian troops. About 50 Ukrainian soldiers, one tank, three armored combat vehicles and four pickup trucks were eliminated," the spokesman said.

Russian forces repelled counter-attacks by four Ukrainian assault groups in the southern Donetsk area in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the southern Donetsk direction, four Ukrainian assault groups attempted to counter-attack the Russian troop positions in areas near the settlements of Pavlovka, Novomayorskoye and Neskuchnoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic. All the counter-attacks were repelled and the enemy was pushed back to initial positions," the spokesman said.

The Ukrainian army lost as many as 80 soldiers, three combat armored vehicles and four motor vehicles during the battles in that area in the past 24 hours, the general specified.

Russian forces delivered strikes at Ukrainian military columns in the Donetsk People’s Republic, thwarting the enemy’s attempt to redeploy reserves to the southern Donetsk area, Konashenkov reported.

"An attempt to redeploy the enemy reserves was thwarted as a result of strikes at Ukrainian army columns in areas near the communities of Novosyolka and Prechistovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

Russian forces wiped out the command post of the Ukrainian battlegroup Liman near Kramatorsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the area of the community of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the command post of the Ukrainian army’s operational-tactical battlegroup Liman was obliterated," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroyed two US-made AN/TPQ-37 counter-battery radars of the Ukrainian army in the Donetsk People’s Republic in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the areas of the settlements of Yampolovka and Kalinina in the Donetsk People’s Republic, two AN/TPQ-37 counter-battery radars of US manufacture were destroyed," the spokesman said.

In the area of the community of Kamenskoye in the Zaporozhye Region, Russian forces obliterated a missile/artillery armament depot of the Ukrainian army, the general said.

Russian forces destroyed the Ukrainian army’s ammunition depot of about 2,000 Grad rockets in Kramatorsk in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the community of Kramatorsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic, an ammunition depot of the Ukrainian army’s 81st air mobile brigade storing about 2,000 rockets of Grad multiple launch rocket systems and over 3,000 artillery shells of various caliber was wiped out," the spokesman said.

Russian air defense forces destroyed a HIMARS rocket and three Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the past 24 hours, air defense capabilities destroyed three unmanned aerial vehicles in areas near the settlements of Peremozhnoye and Tokmak in the Zaporozhye Region and Rachevka in the Kherson Region. In addition, a rocket of the American HIMARS multiple launch rocket system was intercepted near the community of Kremennaya in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 343 Ukrainian warplanes, 183 helicopters, 2,658 unmanned aerial vehicles, 396 surface-to-air missile systems, 7,099 tanks and other combat armored vehicles, 931 multiple rocket launchers, 3,685 field artillery guns and mortars and 7,599 special military motor vehicles since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, Konashenkov reported.

FBI, Ukraine IT Army & Fauci: How Elon Musk's Twitter Files Sent Liberals Into Meltdown

©AFP 2022 / ANGELA WEISS

Twitter’s new owner Elon Musk is continuing to release material within the framework of his "Twitter Files" dump, which remains largely ignored by the US mainstream media. Jason Goodman, a US investigative journalist and founder of Crowdsource the Truth has discussed with Sputnik why Musk dubbed the platform "a crime scene."

Opinion & Analysis

Sputnik news: What's you take on Elon Musk's Twitter dumps? Have they been truly "revealing" so far? What is the most damning among Twitter exposes, in your opinion?

Jason Goodman: Musk taking over Twitter is encouraging and has revealed evidence that corroborates what many of us have long suspected, but there are still many unanswered questions and of course no indication that Musk is near the end of his revelations.

Internal chat messages have helped us understand the process that led to the banning of Donald Trump and other major milestones, but we do not yet understand the full scope of malfeasance that took place at Twitter 1.0, prior to Musk's ownership, that created the environment and practical infrastructure that enabled this. Troubling as this information is, it really isn't yet telling us about too much we didn't already know. The most damning information likely has not yet come to the surface.

Sputnik News: Some experts say that Musk's releases have not shed enough light on the FBI's role in censoring conservative netizens, banning Trump, suppressing the NY Post's Hunter Biden story. Could it be intentional? Or did the previous team get rid of all possible traces?

Jason Goodman: Musk is not a prosecutor, congressional representative, or the Department of Justice (DOJ). He is a private individual looking through the files of his new private property and revealing whatever he deems appropriate, in the timeframe he deems appropriate. He is on no particular schedule and we have no idea how long he might go on or how much he will ultimately release.

The fact that he has chosen to do this, particularly given the detrimental effect it could have on his public image and the stock price of his public companies, is laudable to say the least. We have not seen a private individual challenge the deep state in this manner prior to Trump.

Critics who say Musk's efforts haven't gone far enough to expose FBI manipulation of Twitter and the election should ask themselves "who among us has done more and what more could be done?" A Republican-led Congress now needs to take the information provided by Musk and use it to hold accountable those in the US government who participated in this unprecedented, extra-constitutional power grab.

Questions have been raised about former FBI General Counsel Jim Baker or other past and current Twitter employees destroying evidence or otherwise working to undermine Musk. These are valid lines of inquiry that should be considered.

People seem to have already forgotten that Twitter's former major shareholders and board members initially bristled at Musk's takeover plans, even invoking the investor protection strategy known as the poison pill.

It remains unclear and even suspicious that Twitter went from such a strong defensive position to an immediate flip flop demanding Musk buy even bringing legal action to force the sale. Why the sudden change of heart? Doesn't Twitter's public behavior cause anyone to be even slightly suspicious of their motives? Shouldn't we expect some other form of "poison pill" lurking somewhere deep in the bowels of the dirty bird that is intended to explode in Musk's face and damage him in some unexpected way? Why would Twitter owners, including Jack Dorsey, willingly put all of this damning information about their own wrongdoing into the hands of an adversary?

Sputnik News: What happened to Alexander Vindman, a retired United States Army lieutenant colonel, who emerged as a "star witness" during the 2019 impeachment hearings against then-President Donald Trump? Why is he having a meltdown over Musk's Twitter Files release, as if he could soon be busted for something bad?

Jason Goodman: Alexander Vindman has been having a very public Twitter meltdown. It could seem overly dramatic to those who do not understand what Twitter is. If you perceive it as a social media platform mostly intended for wasting time, having fun or arguing with strangers, Vindman's behavior seems over the top.

But if you see Twitter as what it actually is, it makes sense. Twitter may have begun as an innocent social media network, but as it has grown in popularity and use, it has been infiltrated by a vast network of criminals, including what many refer to as the "Deep State." In fact, by exposing the number of former US Intelligence Community ("IC") professionals who had careers at Twitter and elsewhere in social media, the deep state is being defined by their own resumes.

Elon Musk has revealed Twitter to be one of the tools of a frighteningly well established, previously hidden, neo-fascist arm of the US government that is enabled by a network of former IC professionals, think tank advisors, non-profit financiers, and foreign infiltrators, including Vindman.

While Vindman has publicly admitted to declining an offer to take up the position of Ukrainian Defense Minister, he has recently appeared in an interview with Kyiv Post which was recorded in Ukraine.

He said things in the interview that could cause a reasonable observer to believe he is in fact involved in Ukraine’s defense in some substantial capacity. Americans should be asking themselves where Vindman's loyalties truly lie and if the Ukrainian military or any other would be beyond the capability of infiltrating the US Armed Forces with an individual like Vindman.

Sputnik News: Given Vindman's apparent ties to Kiev, could his meltdown be connected with a potential exposure of the Ukrainian troll factory (aka "Ukraine IT Army") after Musk declared war on bots and scammers?

Jason Goodman: Senior Cyber Security Researcher Stefan Soesanto released a detailed report on Ukraine’s IT Army in June. Soesanto described a hybrid military and civilian unit unlike anything seen before that relies on “individuals located outside of Ukraine” as well as Ukrainians “working for Western companies,” among others, in its vast ranks.

Soesanto describes a tactic that fundamentally relies upon infiltration, and although he doesn’t specifically identify Vindman, the lieutenant colonel's prior public behavior certainly makes him a suspect in any investigation of Ukraine’s IT Army as described by Soesanto.

I personally believe Vindman is an active participant in the Ukraine IT Army and his social media posts include operational instructions for other members of the organization who openly communicate via steganographic messages in plain sight on Twitter and elsewhere. If Musk is allowed to continue revealing evidence, perhaps we will soon know more about Vindman and other traitors utilizing the platform as a venue for conducting cyber warfare against US civilians.

Sputnik News: What's your take on Musk's recent hint about "prosecuting" Anthony Fauci? The new Twitter owner also said that Fauci had "lied to Congress and funded gain-of-function research that killed millions of people." What damning information about Fauci could the Twitter Files contain?

Jason Goodman: Musk has made careless, legally actionable statements in the past that have gotten him into trouble. He was famously sued for calling a British diver "pedo guy" in or around 2019. Although Musk was vindicated by a victory in that suit, he clearly speaks his mind at will, leaving potential consequences as a secondary consideration. He's recently revealed that his maverick milestone interview with Joe Rogan in which he smoked marijuana live in studio with the podcast host resulted in mandatory drug testing for all SpaceX employees. His comments on the subject seemed to indicate regret.

Perhaps now that he is over 50, Musk has greater consideration of the possible unintended side effects of his actions, but we can't necessarily assume any statement he makes is based on conclusive evidence so much as it may be based on Musk's own unique opinions. That being said, there is a lot of evidence that is likely to prove that Fauci lied and pushed a predetermined narrative rather than actually following any legitimate scientific method.

Additional attention has been paid to the fact that Fauci's daughter Alison remains employed at Twitter and active on the platform. Since the moment I revealed her account about two years ago, Alison Fauci has locked the account and has protected her tweets, which now can only be seen by her followers as she remains hidden on the platform.

Sputnik News: Musk's Neuralink has already come in the federal crosshairs. Do you think the Biden administration and liberals will unleash an all-out war against Musk?

Jason Goodman: It is clear to see "World War Musk" has already been unleashed. We have not seen the press turn on a formerly beloved celebrity billionaire executive like this since Donald Trump announced his presidential candidacy.

As an immigrant to the United States from South Africa, Musk is ineligible to run for president, but still, he occupies pop culture consciousness like few others before him. What he has done with Twitter is the single largest effort to expose the deep state since Trump's departure from the main public stage.

Sputnik News: Is Musk acting alone or does he have some influential "backers" behind him (given that he has long been rumored to have supporters in the Defense Department/Washington)?

Jason Goodman: Musk is a difficult mystery to unravel. We know he has numerous direct ties to various departments of the US government as a result of his involvement in space exploration, motor vehicle and medical device manufacturing. These areas are heavily regulated, subsidized, and even utilized by numerous government agencies. Much of the "evidence" presented by independent researchers into Musk's background does not hold up to strict scrutiny.

Like any controversial figure, Musk has long been maligned with innuendo and partial truths. He clearly had financial backing in his Twitter takeover, but by all measures, those institutions and individuals bet on Musk and his unique style rather than the financial viability of Twitter as evaluated through traditional means. It is reasonable to assume those backers take a "give him the money and get out of his way" approach based on implicit trust in the unique genius and undeniable track record of Elon Musk. As far as any elements in the US government supporting Musk's current Twitter related efforts, I see no signs of that.

Musk needs to start looking into the Brookings Institution and other think tanks meddling in US policy, social media policy and the Department of Homeland Security oversight. I have important questions about Twitter's former head of news, government and elections Adam Sharp, who left abruptly in December 2016 after being widely recognized as the single most important executive in the politicization of Twitter.

We need to go back to the beginning to truly understand how Twitter was turned into a political weapon, who did it, and for what purpose. I think I know, but we need more evidence from Elon Musk to prove it.

Sejarah Penamaan Maroko Ternyata Emak-emak Perokok

Timnas Maroko menjadi perbincangan di Piala Dunia 2022. Negara asal Afrika itu membuat kejutan usai menumbangkan sejumlah negara unggulan.

Torehan istimewanya, Hakim Ziyech dan kawan-kawan hanya sekali kebobolan sejak fase grup hingga fase gugur. Babak semifinal yang akan berlangsung Kamis dinihari nanti, 15/12/2022 , Maroko bersiap menghadapi juara bertahan Prancis.

Gemilang Maroko di Piala Dunia 2022, membuat salah satu daerah di Kabupaten Bandung Barat (KBB) viral. Nama daerah tersebut adalah Kampung Maroko, Desa Mekarjaya, Kecamatan Cihampelas.

Kampung Maroko yang berada di tepian aliran Sungai Citarum sama sekali tidak ada hubungannya dengan negara Maroko yang kini tengah menjadi perbincangan usai mencatatkan sejarah di Piala Dunia 2022 Qatar.

"Jadi nggak ada kaitan dengan orang luar (Maroko) masuk ke sini akhirnya dinamakan Kampung Maroko. Termasuk sampai sekarang juga belum pernah ada orang Maroko atau orang arab yang tinggal di sini," ungkap Deni Sugandi (46) tokoh masyarakat setempat saat ditemui belum lama ini.

Suasana Kampung Maroko juga tak beda dengan kampung lain di sekitarnya. Hanya deretan rumah di pinggir Jalan Cihampelas. Justru yang jadi perhatian, akses menuju kampung tersebut rusak parah.

Deni menceritakan, asal-usul penamaan Maroko di wilayahnya dikarenakan pada zaman dulu asa kebiasaan emak-emak yang menghisap rokok sehingga disingkat menjadi Maroko.

Kampung Maroko semula hanya melingkupi 3 RW. Namun lantaran semakin terkenal akhirnya kampung-kampung lain yang berdekatan akhirnya kerap juga disebut Kampung Maroko.

"Jadi kalau dulu ngobrol sama orangtua, Maroko itu sebetulnya dari 'Emak-emak Ngarokok'. Kemudian disebutlah kampung itu dengan Kampung Maroko," terang Deni.

Deni meyakini tak ada alasan di balik penyematan Maroko untuk menamai kampung tempatnya lahir tersebut. Sebab sejak sebelum ia lahir, orangtuanya mengatakan tak ada nama lain yang berkaitan dengan sejarah kampung tersebut.

"Karena sebelum saya lahir juga sudah Kampung Maroko namanya. Jadi tidak ada dulu kampung ini namanya ini, atau bukan Maroko, nggak ada," tutur Deni.

Video: Vladimir Putin's Full Speech on Partial Mobilization in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a televised address, in which he announced a partial mobilization, noting that only reservists will be subject to conscription, first and foremost, those who have relevant experience and military professions.

President of Russia Vladimir Putin:

Friends, the subject of this address is the situation in Donbass and the course of the special military operation to liberate it from the neo-Nazi regime, which seized power in Ukraine in 2014 as the result of an armed state coup.

Today I am addressing you – all citizens of our country, people of different generations, ages and ethnicities, the people of our great Motherland, all who are united by the great historical Russia, soldiers, officers and volunteers who are fighting on the frontline and doing their combat duty, our brothers and sisters in the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, Kherson and Zaporozhye regions and other areas that have been liberated from the neo-Nazi regime.

The issue concerns the necessary, imperative measures to protect the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of Russia and support the desire and will of our compatriots to choose their future independently, and the aggressive policy of some Western elites, who are doing their utmost to preserve their domination and with this aim in view are trying to block and suppress any sovereign and independent development centres in order to continue to aggressively force their will and pseudo-values on other countries and nations.

The goal of that part of the West is to weaken, divide and ultimately destroy our country. They are saying openly now that in 1991 they managed to split up the Soviet Union and now is the time to do the same to Russia, which must be divided into numerous regions that would be at deadly feud with each other.

They devised these plans long ago. They encouraged groups of international terrorists in the Caucasus and moved NATO’s offensive infrastructure close to our borders. They used indiscriminate Russophobia as a weapon, including by nurturing the hatred of Russia for decades, primarily in Ukraine, which was designed to become an anti-Russia bridgehead. They turned the Ukrainian people into cannon fodder and pushed them into a war with Russia, which they unleashed back in 2014. They used the army against civilians and organised a genocide, blockade and terror against those who refused to recognise the government that was created in Ukraine as the result of a state coup.

After the Kiev regime publicly refused to settle the issue of Donbass peacefully and went as far as to announce its ambition to possess nuclear weapons, it became clear that a new offensive in Donbass – there were two of them before – was inevitable, and that it would be inevitably followed by an attack on Russia’s Crimea, that is, on Russia.

In this connection, the decision to start a pre-emptive military operation was necessary and the only option. The main goal of this operation, which is to liberate the whole of Donbass, remains unaltered.

The Lugansk People’s Republic has been liberated from the neo-Nazis almost completely. Fighting in the Donetsk People’s Republic continues. Over the previous eight years, the Kiev occupation regime created a deeply echeloned line of permanent defences. A head-on attack against them would have led to heavy losses, which is why our units, as well as the forces of the Donbass republics, are acting competently and systematically, using military equipment and saving lives, moving step by step to liberate Donbass, purge cities and towns of the neo-Nazis, and help the people whom the Kiev regime turned into hostages and human shields.

As you know, professional military personnel serving under contract are taking part in the special military operation. Fighting side by side with them are volunteer units – people of different ethnicities, professions and ages who are real patriots. They answered the call of their hearts to rise up in defence of Russia and Donbass.

In this connection, I have already issued instructions for the Government and the Defence Ministry to determine the legal status of volunteers and personnel of the military units of the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics. It must be the same as the status of military professionals of the Russian army, including material, medical and social benefits. Special attention must be given to organising the supply of military and other equipment for volunteer units and Donbass people’s militia.

While acting to attain the main goals of defending Donbass in accordance with the plans and decisions of the Defence Ministry and the General Staff, our troops have liberated considerable areas in the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions and a number of other areas. This has created a protracted line of contact that is over 1,000 kilometres long

This is what I would like to make public for the first time today. After the start of the special military operation, in particular after the Istanbul talks, Kiev representatives voiced quite a positive response to our proposals. These proposals concerned above all ensuring Russia’s security and interests. But a peaceful settlement obviously did not suit the West, which is why, after certain compromises were coordinated, Kiev was actually ordered to wreck all these agreements.

More weapons were pumped into Ukraine. The Kiev regime brought into play new groups of foreign mercenaries and nationalists, military units trained according to NATO standards and receiving orders from Western advisers.

At the same time, the regime of reprisals throughout Ukraine against their own citizens, established immediately after the armed coup in 2014, was harshly intensified. The policy of intimidation, terror and violence is taking on increasingly mass-scale, horrific and barbaric forms.

I want to stress the following. We know that the majority of people living in the territories liberated from the neo-Nazis, and these are primarily the historical lands of Novorossiya, do not want to live under the yoke of the neo-Nazi regime.

People in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, in Lugansk and Donetsk saw and are seeing now the atrocities perpetrated by the neo-Nazis in the (Ukrainian-) occupied areas of the Kharkov region. The descendants of Banderites and members of Nazi punitive expeditions are killing, torturing and imprisoning people; they are settling scores, beating up, and committing outrages on peaceful civilians.

There were over 7.5 million people living in the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics and in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions before the outbreak of hostilities. Many of them were forced to become refugees and leave their homes. Those who have stayed – they number about five million – are now exposed to artillery and missile attacks launched by the neo-Nazi militants, who fire at hospitals and schools and stage terrorist attacks against peaceful civilians.

We cannot, we have no moral right to let our kin and kith be torn to pieces by butchers; we cannot but respond to their sincere striving to decide their destiny on their own.

The parliaments of the Donbass people’s republics and the military-civilian administrations of the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions have adopted decisions to hold referendums on the future of their territories and have appealed to Russia to support this.

I would like to emphasise that we will do everything necessary to create safe conditions for these referendums so that people can express their will. And we will support the choice of future made by the majority of people in the Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions.

Friends, today our armed forces, as I have mentioned, are fighting on the line of contact that is over 1,000 kilometres long, fighting not only against neo-Nazi units but actually the entire military machine of the collective West.

In this situation, I consider it necessary to take the following decision, which is fully adequate to the threats we are facing. More precisely, I find it necessary to support the proposal of the Defence Ministry and the General Staff on partial mobilization in the Russian Federation to defend our Motherland and its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to ensure the safety of our people and people in the liberated territories.

As I have said, we are talking about partial mobilization. In other words, only military reservists, primarily those who served in the armed forces and have specific military occupational specialties and corresponding experience, will be called up.

Before being sent to their units, those called up for active duty will undergo mandatory additional military training based on the experience of the special military operation.

I have already signed Executive Order on partial mobilization.

In accordance with legislation, the houses of the Federal Assembly – the Federation Council and the State Duma – will be officially notified about this in writing today.

The mobilization will begin today, September 21. I am instructing the heads of the regions to provide the necessary assistance to the work of military recruitment offices.

I would like to point out that the citizens of Russia called up in accordance with the mobilization order will have the status, payments and all social benefits of military personnel serving under contract.

Additionally, the Executive Order on partial mobilization also stipulates additional measures for the fulfilment of the state defence order. The heads of defence industry enterprises will be directly responsible for attaining the goals of increasing the production of weapons and military equipment and using additional production facilities for this purpose. At the same time, the Government must address without any delay all aspects of material, resource and financial support for our defence enterprises.

Friends, the West has gone too far in its aggressive anti-Russia policy, making endless threats to our country and people. Some irresponsible Western politicians are doing more than just speak about their plans to organise the delivery of long-range offensive weapons to Ukraine, which could be used to deliver strikes at Crimea and other Russian regions.

Such terrorist attacks, including with the use of Western weapons, are being delivered at border areas in the Belgorod and Kursk regions. NATO is conducting reconnaissance through Russia’s southern regions in real time and with the use of modern systems, aircraft, vessels, satellites and strategic drones.

Washington, London and Brussels are openly encouraging Kiev to move the hostilities to our territory. They openly say that Russia must be defeated on the battlefield by any means, and subsequently deprived of political, economic, cultural and any other sovereignty and ransacked.

They have even resorted to the nuclear blackmail. I am referring not only to the Western-encouraged shelling of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, which poses a threat of a nuclear disaster, but also to the statements made by some high-ranking representatives of the leading NATO countries on the possibility and admissibility of using weapons of mass destruction – nuclear weapons – against Russia.

I would like to remind those who make such statements regarding Russia that our country has different types of weapons as well, and some of them are more modern than the weapons NATO countries have. In the event of a threat to the territorial integrity of our country and to defend Russia and our people, we will certainly make use of all weapon systems available to us. This is not a bluff.

The citizens of Russia can rest assured that the territorial integrity of our Motherland, our independence and freedom will be defended – I repeat – by all the systems available to us. Those who are using nuclear blackmail against us should know that the wind rose can turn around. It is our historical tradition and the destiny of our nation to stop those who are keen on global domination and threaten to split up and enslave our Motherland. Rest assured that we will do it this time as well.

I believe in your support.

400 jailed by Iran over protests for Mahsa Amini

The regime has drawn widespread international condemnation after executing two men in the past week in connection with the unrest. (Reuters)

Courts in Tehran have sentenced 400 people to jail terms of up to 10 years over their involvement in protests sparked by Mahsa Amini’s death, Iran’s judiciary said on Tuesday.

Iran has been gripped by nearly three months of protests — which officials describe as “riots” — since the death of Amini after her arrest for an alleged breach of the country’s dress code for women.

“In hearings on cases of rioters in Tehran province, 160 people were sentenced to between five and 10 years in prison, 80 people to two to five years and 160 people of up to two years,” Tehran’s judiciary chief Ali Alghasi-Mehr said.

The regime has drawn widespread international condemnation after executing two men in the past week in connection with the unrest.

Majidreza Rahnavard and Mohsen Shekari, both 23, were hanged on Monday and Thursday respectively on the charges of “moharebeh” — or “enmity against God” under Iran’s law.

Prior to the two executions, Iran’s judiciary said it had issued death sentences to 11 people over the protests, but campaigners say around a dozen others face charges that could see them also receive the death penalty.

The world union of professional footballers FIFPRO said it was “shocked and sickened” by the risk of Iranian footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani being sentenced to death in connection with protests.

Nasr-Azadani was arrested in the city of Isfahan two days after allegedly taking part in an “armed riot” in which three security agents were killed on Sept. 16, Isfahan’s judiciary chief Abdullah Jafari said.

“FIFPRO is shocked and sickened by reports that professional footballer Amir Nasr-Azadani faces execution in Iran after campaigning for women’s rights and basic freedom in his country,” the union tweeted on its page.

“We stand in solidarity with Amir and call for the immediate removal of his punishment,” it added.

France’s foreign minister said she would summon Iran’s charge d’affaires over the country’s role in crackdowns on protesters at home and the treatment of seven French nationals, currently in custody.

The UK announced new sanctions against Iranians and senior Russian military commanders, involved in the producing and supplying drones to target Ukraine.

Iranian-manufactured drones supplied to Russia have played a “central role” in such attacks, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office said.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the Tehran regime, which has been hit by a wave of civilian protests in recent months, was “striking sordid deals” with Moscow “in a desperate attempt to survive.”

Polemik Relokasi SDN Pondok Cina 1, KemenPPPA: Jangan Mencederai Hak Anak

Rencana Pemerintah Kota Depok merelokasi SDN Pondok Cina 1 menjadi polemik. Banyak penolakan dari beberapa pihak terkait pemindahan SDN Pondok Cina 1 untuk pembangunan masjid.

Menanggapi hal ini, Kementerian Pemberdayaan Perempuan dan Perlindungan Anak (KemenPPPA) berkomitmen untuk memastikan upaya pemenuhan hak anak salah satunya hak untuk mendapatkan pendidikan dasar.

KemenPPPA bersama Kemendikbud Ristek dan KPAI, Ombudsman, dan beberapa organisasi peduli Pendidikan anak menyambangi kantor Walikota Depok, pada hari Senin, 12/12/2022. Kunjungan ini dilakukan untuk membahas polemik rencana relokasi SDN Pondok Cina 1 untuk pembangunan rumah ibadah.

KemenPPPA melalui Plt. Deputi Bidang Pemenuhan Hak Anak, Rini Handayani menekankan kepada Walikota Depok bahwa setiap pengambilan keputusan yang berkenaan dengan hidup anak wajib memerhatikan 4 (empat) prinsip hak anak dan kepentingan terbaik anak.

Kementerian Pemberdayaan Perempuan dan Perlindungan Anak (KemenPPPA) juga meminta Pemerintah Kota (Pemkot) Depok untuk membangun sarana pengganti terlebih dahulu sebelum menggusur SDN Pondok Cina (Pocin) 1 di Beji, Depok, menjadi masjid.

Jangan sampai siswa dipindahkan di dua gedung yang berbeda sehingga berdampak pada sulitnya proses adaptasi siswa dan munculnya kasus kekerasan/bullying.

Permintaan itu dikatakan langsung saat KemenPPPA bersama Kemendikbud Ristek, KPAI, Ombudsman, dan beberapa organisasi peduli pendidikan anak menyambangi kantor Walikota Depok. Kunjungan dikhususkan untuk membahas penggusuran SDN Pocin 1 yang menuai polemikm

“Pemindahan SDN Pondok Cina 1 dengan alasan keselamatan anak dan kepentingan terbaik bagi anak, harus diimbangi dengan ketersediaan dan kesiapan sarana prasana sekolah sesuai dengan aspirasi dan masukan dari anak dan orang tua/wali termasuk kesesuaian jam belajar. Hal ini perlu dikomunikasi dan didiskusikan bersama seluruh warga sekolah agar anak-anak tetap memperoleh hak atas pendidikannya. Kesiapan sarana dan prasarana menjadi penting karena hal ini menjadi prasyarat terselenggaranya proses Pendidikan dengan baik,” ujar Rini dalam keterangannya, hari Senin, 12/12/2022.

Rini juga menambahkan bahwa keputusan relokasi perlu dikomunikasikan dengan 3 pilar, yaitu anak, orang tua, dan satuan pendidikan, dan harus memenuhi hak anak dan dilakukan dengan proses yang layak anak.

“Utamakan dulu kelengkapan sarana dan prasarana pengganti bagi anak-anak SDN Pondok Cina 1 agar dapat bersekolah dengan layak. Komunikasikan tahapan relokasi yang tentunya tidak menghambat proses belajar dan mengajar di sekolah. Jangan sampai polemik ini justru memunculkan rasa trauma pada anak. Pastikan anak-anak merasa aman dan nyaman, termasuk memberikan akses ke sekolah dan kembali ke rumah juga dipastikan aman,” tutur Rini.

KemenPPPA menilai Pemerintah Kota Depok perlu mempersiapkan terlebih dahulu sarana prasana pengganti untuk kebutuhan siswa jangan sampai siswa dipindahkan di dua Gedung yang berbeda yang berdampak pada sulitnya proses adaptasi siswa dan munculnya kasus kekerasan/bullying.

“Kami menyambut baik atas upaya yang dilakukan Dinas P3AP2KB Kota Depok yang telah melakukan monitoring, termasuk akan menyediakan tenaga psikolog dari PUSPAGA untuk orang tua dan anak yang memerlukan layanan konseling dan pendampingan,” jelas Rini.

Rini berharap polemik pemindahan siswa SDN Pondok Cina 1 Kota Depok tidak semakin berlarut-larut. Komunikasi antara Pemerintah Daerah, Satuan Pendidikan, orang tua, dan murid harus terus dilakukan, sehingga informasi yang diterima oleh berbagai pihak seimbang.

“Pemerintah Daerah perlu membuka kanal-kanal pengaduan seluas-luasnya sehingga masyarakat dapat ikut memantau dan melaporkan setiap kasus pelanggaran hak anak yang terjadi. Kami akan terus mengawal langkah-langkah yang diambil pemerintah Kota Depok. Tugas kita semua sebagai pemerintah adalah melindungi anak bersama masyarakat. Maka penting melihat permasalahan ini dari perspektif anak, sehingga kebijakan yang ditetapkan betul-betul mengupayakan kepentingan terbaik bagi anak” tutup Rini.

Menanggapi hal ini, Walikota Depok menjelaskan bahwa pihaknya menerima dengan baik masukan dari KemenPPPA. Walikota Depok menjelaskan seluruh tahapan akan berupaya dilakukan. Kedepannya Pemerintah Kota Depok akan menindaklanjuti polemik yang ada dengan memperhatikan kepentingan terbaik anak

Foreign Arms Supplied to Ukraine Sold on Black Market, in Particular to Africa - DPR Head

©AFP 2022 / DANIEL LEAL

Foreign weapons being supplied to Ukraine, including Javelin anti-tank systems, are sold on the black market, in particular to Africa, Denis Pushilin, acting head of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), said in an interview with Sputnik.

“I haven’t seen anything new lately, but the arms that continue to come to Ukraine can now be easily bought. And now Ukraine is becoming one of the central suppliers of weapons on the black market, on the darknet you can buy the weapons that are supplied to Ukraine as part of assistance and support by Western countries," Pushilin said.

The acting head of the DPR specified that this included Javelins, which, he said, can now be easily found on the darknet.

"This kind of weaponry is being moved in large quantities to African countries, too," Pushilin said.

He further noted that the damage that Ukraine has caused to the DPR already exceeds 1.3 trillion rubles ($20.5 billion).

"If we talk only about destroyed housing, the figures since 2014 are very approximate - 1.3 trillion rubles, even more. But here we also need to take into account destroyed enterprises, here we also need to take into account the destroyed infrastructure, critical infrastructure facilities," Pushilin said.

"We are counting and recording everything, and after the victory we will figure it out," he said.

Pushilin's comments come as the Pentagon earlier indicated that there was no credible information that US weapons delivered to Ukraine had been diverted elsewhere through "illicit means." To date, billions in weapons have been dispatched to Ukraine, with the International Conference on Civilian Resilience pledging some $1.1 billion in aid earlier Tuesday.