Putin Declares Martial Law in New Russian Territories Amid Kiev's 'Terrorist' Shelling

©Sputnik/Sergey Ilyin/Go to the mediabank

The Russian president convened a meeting of the Security Council on Wednesday to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the Russian regions bordering the conflict zone. A day earlier, General Sergei Surovikin, the commander of Russian forces taking part in the special operation in Ukraine, characterized the situation in Kherson as "very difficult."

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on the introduction of a state of martial law in Kherson, Zaporozhye, the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic.

"I have signed a decree on the introduction of a state of martial law in these four constituent entities of the Russian Federation. It will immediately be sent for approval to the Federation Council (Russia's upper house of parliament), and the State Duma will be informed of the decision," Putin said, speaking at a meeting of the Russian Security Council on Wednesday.

The Federation Council is expected to convene later in the day to rubber-stamp the decree.

The text of the decree has been published on the Kremlin's website, and indicates that martial law will be introduced at 00:00 on October 20 in the affected areas. The decree is grounded in provisions in the Russian Constitution, and the 2002 federal law 'On Martial Law'.

Vladimir Putin memperkenalkan keadaan darurat militer di Kherson, Zaporozhye, Republik Rakyat Donetsk, dan Republik Rakyat Lugansk selama pertemuan Dewan Keamanan Rusia.

"The constitutional laws on the admission of four new regions into the Russian Federation have come into force. The Kiev regime, as you are aware, has refused to recognize the will and choice of the people, and has rejected any proposals for negotiations. On the contrary, shelling continues. Innocent people are dying," Putin said. "The Neo-Nazis are using openly terrorist methods, sabotaging critical infrastructure, assassinating representatives of local authorities," the president added.

Putin also instructed the government to create a "special coordinating council" to coordinate efforts to improve security, with the council to be headed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

The president also introduced a 'high alert regime' in areas of Russia's Southern Federal District, including Crimea, Krasnodar, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk and Rostov. Regional authorities are instructed to exercise their authority as required to implement measures aimed at ensuring preparedness for territorial and civil defense, the protection of the population in emergency situations, and to meet the needs of the Russian Armed Forces and other military formations, security organs, and local residents as they may arise.

Regions are also tasked with strengthening public order and safety, including the protection of military and state facilities, vital infrastructure, transport, communications, energy facilities, and sensitive sites which pose increased risks to the life and safety of people and the environment (nuclear power plants, for example). The measures may also include restrictions on the movement of vehicular traffic and their inspection, and the stepping up of controls over transport, communications, print houses, computing and automated system, and their use for defense needs as required. In addition, any residents temporarily evacuated from dangerous areas must be provided with temporary housing.

Wednesday's Security Council meeting and the introduction of martial law and 'high alert regimes' in areas of Russia bordering Ukraine comes following General Surovikin's briefing with media Tuesday night in which he described the situation across the entire front as "tense," and that along the Kharkov direction as "very difficult" as Ukrainian forces continue attempts to make advances.

Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine 'Russians, Ukrainians One People', Moscow Wants Kiev to Break Free of NATO, West: Top Russian Gen.

Saying the Russian military has been apprised of plans by Kiev to use prohibited means of warfare in Kherson, including indiscriminate missile and rocket attacks against the city and a massed missile strike on the Khakovskaya Dam, Surovikin warned that such actions would cause major casualties among the civilian population and widespread material destruction.

Earlier in the day Wednesday, Kherson region acting governor Vladimir Saldo warned that the destruction of the locks at the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric power station would cause water levels to rise by one meter, causing mass flooding. The facility has already been targeted in a Ukrainian HIMARS attack, according to the Russian military.

Kherson, Zaporozhye and the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics joined Russia earlier this month following referendums held in late September in which vast majorities of residents voted in favor of their regions becoming part of the Russian Federation. Western officials dismissed the referendums as a "sham," accused Russia of "annexing" the territories, and vowed to ramp up military support for Ukraine.

Female Soccer Fan Flashes Entire Stadium While Celebrating (VIDEO)

CF Pachuca and Tigres UANL did battle on Thursday in Liga MX, but that became a footnote to what happened in the stands.

The game at Estadio Universitario had a shocking moment when a young lady in the stands decided to show her excitement in a different way.

As her section erupted in cheers, she lifted up her top to expose her boobs as different men came over to take pictures and celebrate with her.

As far as the game’s outcome, Pachuca defeated Tigres 2-0.

A Mexican soccer fan is going viral this week after her performance at an Oct. 13 match where she celebrated a goal by pulling up her top and creatin’ some old-fashioned content for the social media channels.

The double-Ds (or whatever the doctor and client settled on) went flying as Tigres UANL scored on a penalty kick to break a last-minute tie to beat C.F. Pachuca at the Liga MX championship match in Nuevo Leon and sent home Miss Tigres and the locals home with a smile on their faces, according to media outlets.

How West’s single-minded pursuit of nuclear deal resulted in spread of Iranian terror drones from Middle East to Ukraine

Firefighters work amid the rubble of a building in Kyiv destroyed by a drone attack on Monday. (AFP)

Over the past month, the regime in Tehran has been responsible for the deaths of scores of civilians, from young protesters on the streets of Iran who died at the hands of security forces to citizens of distant Ukraine killed by Iranian drones supplied to Russia.

And yet, in its attempt to salvage the 2015 Iran nuclear deal at any cost, the Western world appears willing to make concessions to the regime regarding its conventional weapons programs and proxy tactics, in the single-minded hope of preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear bomb.

“The unrelenting focus on the Iran nuclear deal replaced policy work on Iran’s conventional and missile systems for years,” Norman Roule, a Middle East expert and former senior official in the CIA, wrote in a message posted on Twitter on Monday.

“Iraqis, Syrians, Emiratis, Saudis, Yemenis, Ukrainians and the multinational expatriates living in these countries paid the price for that decision.

The Shahed-136 drones, the name of which translates as “martyr” in Persian, have been used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its proxies in conflicts across the Middle East. (AFP)

Alberto Miguel Fernandez, a retired US diplomat and former head of the Middle East Broadcasting Network, echoed Roule’s assessment and called out the White House for its seemingly high tolerance for the malign activities of the Iranian regime.

The unrelenting focus on the Iran nuclear deal replaced policy work on Iran's conventional & missile systems for years. Iraqis, Syrians, Emiratis, Saudis, Yemenis, Ukrainians & the multinational expatriates living in these countries - paid the price for that decision.

— Norman Roule (@Norman_Roule) October 17, 2022

"The Biden administration unfairly targets Saudi Arabia as helping Russia, meanwhile the same American administration has been indulging Iran (which actually supplies Russia with drones) for most of the last two years,” Fernandez tweeted on Monday.

The #Biden Administration unfairly targets Saudi Arabia as helping Russia meanwhile the same American Administration has been indulging Iran (which actually supplies Russia with drones) for most of the last two years. https://t.co/s8xkc0bHvg

— Alberto Miguel Fernandez (@AlbertoMiguelF5) October 17, 2022

Former President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the Obama-era nuclear deal, more formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, in 2018. His successor Joe Biden, aided by European allies, has been stubbornly trying to restore the accord by offering several major concessions to the Islamic Republic.

“Iran has used the talks to show that it is able to successfully defy major powers and the International Atomic Energy Agency,” Roule told Arab News.

“It has also normalized a larger and more dangerous nuclear program. Both of these achievements came at no cost to Tehran.”

According to US officials, Iran is supplying Russia with “hundreds” of armed drones in an attempt to turn the tide of the war against the Western-backed Ukrainian armed forces. (AFP)

Far from showing a willingness to meet the international community halfway, the Islamic Republic has been free to intensify its malign activities with impunity, massively expanding its uranium-enrichment program and continuing to interfere in regional affairs with its arsenal of drones, missiles and proxy militias.

On Monday, about 30 “kamikaze” drones, supplied to Russia by Iran, rained down on residential areas of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, in an onslaught that left at least four people dead. The Shahed-136 drones, the name of which translates as “martyr” in Persian, have been used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its proxies in conflicts across the Middle East.

Inspired by this incredible picture from Sergei Supinksy, here's a throwback to December 2021, when the IRGC unveiled its multi-tiered Shahed-136 launcher. https://t.co/YohsgJS0DQ pic.twitter.com/sGXyROxo6D

— Kian Sharifi (@KianSharifi) October 17, 2022

The Houthi militia in Yemen, for instance, has frequently used explosive-laden drones to target Saudi Arabia. Tehran provided the militants with the means and the know-how to assemble and launch these drones to devastating effect.

In September 2019, Iranian drones and cruise missiles were used to attack oil processing facilities at Abqaiq and Khurais in eastern Saudi Arabia, causing significant disruption to global oil markets. The recent use of them in Ukraine marks a major escalation in the regime’s efforts to export terror.

Responding to the reports of Iranian drones targeting Ukraine, Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, told reporters in Luxembourg on Monday: “We will look for concrete evidence about the participation.”

On Monday, about 30 “kamikaze” drones, supplied to Russia by Iran, rained down on residential areas of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. (AFP)

Menurut pejabat AS, Iran memasok Rusia dengan "ratusan" drone bersenjata dalam upaya untuk mengubah gelombang perang melawan angkatan bersenjata Ukraina yang didukung Barat, yang telah merebut kembali sebagian besar wilayah timur negara itu dalam beberapa pekan terakhir.

Rusia telah menggunakan beberapa amunisi berkeliaran yang baru diperolehnya, juga disebut sebagai drone “kamikaze” atau “bunuh diri”. Drone khusus ini relatif murah dan dapat digunakan dalam jumlah besar, memungkinkan mereka untuk mengalahkan pertahanan musuh dan mencapai target mereka, di mana mereka menghancurkan diri sendiri.

On Monday, about 30 “kamikaze” drones, supplied to Russia by Iran, rained down on residential areas of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. (AFP)

The Shahed-136 — also known as the air moped because of the buzzing sound it makes as it flies overhead — was first used in Ukraine in September, with reports suggesting they were sold to the Russians in August, despite Iranian denials.

“It is sad that we have to recognize that the Iranian government is lying, as the Russian Federation government is, because we had contact with Iran’s leaders at the topmost level,” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky recently said during an interview with Arab News’s Frankly Speaking.

On Monday, about 30 “kamikaze” drones, supplied to Russia by Iran, rained down on residential areas of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv. (AFP)

“We talked to the embassy, we had the ambassadors called up to the Ministry of External Affairs, and we were assured that nothing was sold to Russia, it wasn’t their drones, and nothing of the kind.

“We have a number of these downed Iranian drones and these have been sold to Russia to kill our people, and they … are being used against civilian infrastructure and civilians, peaceful civilians. Because of that, we sent Iranian diplomats away from the country. We have nothing to talk with them about.”

Although there are reports that the US is considering further sanctions against Iran in response to the sale of the drones to Russia, experts say they are unlikely to deal a body blow to the regime of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

“There will likely be more sanctions against Iran but it is unlikely that sanctions on drone entities will have much impact in the short term,” said Roule.

“Iran’s leaders must understand that their actions have produced diplomatic and economic isolation that will destabilize the regime. It is critical that Iran’s oil revenue be cut.”

Azeem Ibrahim, director of the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy, said the Iran nuclear deal, which eased the sanctions pressure on the regime in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program, gave Tehran the financial means to expand its drone and missile programs.

A revival of the nuclear deal, without additional restrictions on the development of conventional weapons and the use of proxy forces, will only repeat the same mistake, he warned.

“The West first needs to understand that the first Iran deal explicitly gave Iran the capital and time to develop its drone program, which is the cornerstone of a vast and aggressive regional strategy,” Ibrahim told Arab News.

The Western world appears willing to make concessions to the regime regarding its conventional weapons programs and proxy tactics, in the single-minded hope of preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear bomb. (AFP)

“Any new Iran deal must not make the same mistake and the West must do everything it can to curb Iran’s drone campaign in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and now Ukraine. But first it must recognize that there is such a campaign being waged.”

Ibrahim believes the Western response to the latest drone attacks should be “fearsome.”

“For too long Iran has counted on Western indifference and laxity,” he said. “It has built a regional empire of militia groups and set about arming them with ballistic missiles and drones, which are used to directly attack NATO forces and their Middle Eastern allies.

“Iran’s drone program has only flourished with Western negligence. For that negligence to end, the West’s policy must make up for years of inattention with aggression … of its own.”

Isreal Kecewa Palestina Gembira Atas Keputusan Australia Tidak Akui Yerusalem Ibukota Isarel

Australia Batalkan Pengakuan Yerusalem sebagai Ibu Kota Israel /xxoktayxx/pixabay.com

Pada hari Selasa, 18/10/2022, Australia melalui Menteri Luar Negeri Penny Wong, mengatakan negaranya menarik keputusan pemerintah sebelumnya untuk mengakui Yerusalem Barat sebagai Ibu Kota Israel.

"Pemerintah mengkomitmenkan kembali Australia pada upaya internasional dalam mengejar kemajuan yang bertanggung jawab menuju solusi dua negara yang adil dan bertahan lama,” kata Wong, seperti dikutip dari AFP.

Perdana Menteri Australia sebelumnya, Scott Morrison, mengakui Yerusalem Barat sebagai ibu kota Israel pada 2018, tetapi mengatakan tidak akan segera memindahkan kedutaannya ke sana.

Israel Kecewa

Pemerintah Israel bereaksi keras menanggapi keputusan Canberra yang menarik kembali pengakuan Yerusalem Barat sebagai ibu kota negara Israel dengan memanggil Duta Besar Australia Paul Griffiths, Selasa, 18/10/2022, waktu setempat.

Berbicara selama 30 menit dengan Griffiths, Direktur Politik Kementerian Luar Negeri Israel Aliza Bin-Noun mengungkapkan kekecewaannya, menyebut langkah Pemerintah Anthony Albanese sebagai "keputusan buruk" yang berisiko mendorong para ekstremis untuk lebih beragitasi di wilayah tersebut.

"Ini keputusan menyedihkan yang mengabaikan hubungan mendalam dan abadi antara Israel dan ibu kota bersejarahnya," kata Bin-Noun, seperti dikutip dari The Jerusalem Post, hari Rabu, 19/10/2022.

"Ini bertentangan dengan hubungan baik antara Israel dan Australia," tambahnya.

Dia juga mengatakan kepada Griffiths bahwa langkah itu akan mendorong elemen-elemen ekstremis di Tepi Barat untuk terus memicu kekerasan dan berisiko membuat kawasan itu tidak stabil di tengah meningkatnya ketegangan dengan Palestina karena kesepakatan perbatasan maritim dengan Lebanon hampir selesai.

Kekecewaan juga datang dari Perdana Menteri Yair Lapid. Ia menyebut keputusan itu sebagai "tanggapan tergesa-gesa terhadap laporan yang salah di media".

Palestina Gembira

Dalam sebuah pernyataan pada hari Selasa, 19/10/2022, Kementerian Luar Negeri Palestina memuji keputusan itu sebagai “koreksi positif terhadap posisi Australia.”

Kementerian juga memuji seruan Canberra untuk menerapkan solusi dua negara. Mereka kemudian mendesak pemerintah Australia untuk melangkah lebih jauh dan mengakui negara Palestina.

“Keputusan Australia ini mendukung upaya internasional dan regional untuk menghidupkan kembali proses perdamaian dan negosiasi antara Palestina dan Israel,” kata Kementerian, menyerukan negara-negara lain yang membuat keputusan “salah” mengenai Yerusalem untuk mundur, seperti dikutip dari The Jerusalem Post, hari Rabu, 19/10/2022.

Tanggapan serupa juga disampaikan Sekretaris Jenderal PLO Hussein al-Sheikh, memuji pengumuman Australia tentang Yerusalem dan solusi dua negara “sesuai dengan legitimasi internasional.”

“Kami juga menghargai pernyataan Australia bahwa masa depan kedaulatan atas Yerusalem bergantung pada solusi permanen berdasarkan legitimasi internasional, yang merupakan solusi dua negara,” kata al-Sheikh.

Banjir Air Bah Mengalir dari Trenggalek ke Tulungagung

Evakuasi para korban bencana banjir di Trenggalek sudah mulai surut (Foto: ANTARA)

Banjir bandang yang merendam Pusat Kota Trenggalek kemarin kini memang telah surut. Namun aliran banjir ini kini menuju wilayah di sebelah timurnya, Tulungagung.

Dampaknya, aliran air sungai-sungai di Tulungagung pun meluap dan menyebabkan banjir di sejumlah tempat. Pergerakan air bah dari wilayah pegunungan tersebut bergeser mengikuti alur aliran Sungai Ngasinan yang membelah kecamatan kota. Kemudian ke Kecamatan Pogalan dan Durenan serta sungai Tawing yang melintasi Kecamatan Gandusari. Dua aliran sungai utama yang bertemu di tempuran Sungai Ngasinan di Bendung/Cekdam Dawung yang berada di Kecamatan Pogalan. Terusan kedua aliran sungai besar ini menyatu di aliran Sungai Parit Raya yang melewati wilayah Kecamatan Durenan dan berlanjut hingga Kabupaten Tulungagung yang bermuara di Bendung Neyama.

Pintu air Bendung Neyama inilah yang menjadi saluran akhir pembuangan banjir, baik dari Tulungagung maupun Trenggalek, menuju laut di pesisir Pantai Sine, Tulungagung.

"Seperti lalu-lalu, banjir dari Kota Trenggalek ini bergerak arah timur menuju (wilayah) Tulungagung selatan," kata Sekretaris BPBD Trenggalek Tri Puspita Sari di Trenggalek.

Di Trenggalek, genangan air parah masih terpantau terjadi di wilayah Kecamatan Durenan, dan sebagian Pogalan.

Sedangkan di wilayah Kota Trenggalek banjir telah surut dan aktivitas warga dan perkantoran berangsur normal.

Sementara di wilayah Tulungagung, luapan air Sungai Parit Raya terpantau terjadi di wilayah Kecamatan Bandung.

Akibat banjir bandang ini, dua orang lansia, salah satunya di Desa Ngadisuko, Kecamatan Durenan, Trenggalek meninggal diduga akibat hipotermia.

Selain itu ratusan warga mengungsi. Dampak banjir juga menyebabkan ribuan rumah warga terendam dan menyebabkan kerugian hingga miliaran rupiah.

Sebar Berita Hoaks, Bupati Purwakarta Anne Ratna Mustika Laporkan Lima YouTuber ke polisi

Bupati Purwakarta Anne Ratna Mustika. (ANTARA/HO-Pemkab Purwakarta)

Sebanyak lima akun YouTube dilaporkan ke Direktorat Reserse Kriminal Khusus Polda Jawa Barat, terkait berita bohong atau hoaks oleh Bupati Purwakarta Anne Ratna Mustika.

Menurut Ambu Anne sapaan akrabnya, yang merupakan istri dari Dedi Mulyadi ini, akun YouTube yang dilaporkannya tersebut dianggap telah memuat konten fitnah soal masalah pribadinya.

Adapun saat ini ia mengaku tengah menjalani perkara gugatan cerai terhadap suaminya.

"Secara psikologis berdampak kepada kami, saya pribadi, keluarga saya, anak saya, dan orang tua saya dalam video itu mereka dilibatkan," kata Anne, mengutip dari Antara.

Menurutnya, konten-konten YouTube itu dinilai mengangkat permasalahan pribadi yang diduga tidak jelas kebenarannya. Adapun, menurut dia, ada sebanyak 11 konten video dari lima YouTuber yang dianggap berisi hoaks.

Anne mengatakan penyebaran hoaks itu tidak boleh dibiarkan begitu saja karena jika dibiarkan, maka konten-konten itu bakal memberi edukasi negatif kepada masyarakat.

"Kalau dibiarkan akan berdampak, terutama kepada penonton lainnya, saya pribadi dirugikan dan tidak bisa hanya berdiam diri," kata dia.

"Kalau dibiarkan akan berdampak, terutama kepada penonton lainnya, saya pribadi dirugikan dan tidak bisa hanya berdiam diri," kata dia.

Dia berharap laporan itu bisa ditindak sesuai hukum yang berlaku, berjalan sesuai harapannya, dan bisa menjadi efek jera kepada para terlapor.

Sebelumnya, Bupati Purwakarta Anne menggugat cerai suaminya anggota DPR RI Dedi Mulyadi ke Pengadilan Agama Purwakarta. Gugatan cerai itu dilayangkan ke pengadilan pada 19 September 2022.

Adapun Anne merupakan Bupati Purwakarta Periode 2018-2023, sedangkan Dedi Mulyadi pernah menjabat sebagai Bupati Purwakarta Periode 2008-2018.

Iran agrees to ship missiles, more drones to Russia

A view of drones during a military exercise in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on August 24, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS

Iran has promised to provide Russia with surface to surface missiles, in addition to more drones, two senior Iranian officials and two Iranian diplomats told Reuters, a move that is likely to infuriate the United States and other Western powers.

A deal was agreed on Oct. 6 when Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, two senior officials from Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards and an official from the Supreme National Security Council visited Moscow for talks with Russia about the delivery of the weapons.

"The Russians had asked for more drones and those Iranian ballistic missiles with improved accuracy, particularly the Fateh and Zolfaghar missiles family," said one of the Iranian diplomats, who was briefed about the trip.

A Western official briefed on the matter confirmed it, saying there was an agreement in place between Iran and Russia to provide surface-to-surface short range ballistic missiles, including the Zolfaghar.

One of the drones Iran agreed to supply is the Shahed-136, a delta-winged weapon used as a "kamikaze" air-to-surface attack aircraft. It carries a small warhead that explodes on impact.

Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar are Iranian short-range surface to surface ballistic missiles capable of striking targets at distances of between 300 km and 700 km (186 and 435 miles).

The Iranian diplomat rejected assertions by Western officials that such transfers breach a 2015 U.N. Security Council resolution.

"Where they are being used is not the seller's issue. We do not take sides in the Ukraine crisis like the West. We want an end to the crisis through diplomatic means," the diplomat said.

Ukraine has reported a spate of Russian attacks using Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones in recent weeks. Iran's foreign ministry on Tuesday dismissed as baseless reports of Iran supplying drones and other weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine, while the Kremlin on Tuesday denied its forces had used Iranian drones to attack Ukraine.

Asked if Russia had used Iranian drones in its campaign in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin did not have any information about their use.

"Russian equipment with Russian nomenclature is used," he said. "All further questions should be directed to the Defence Ministry."

The ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Russia launches deadly new attacks on central Kyiv

The appearance of Iranian missiles in addition to drones in Moscow's arsenal in the war with Ukraine would raise tensions between Iran and the United States and other Western powers.

Shipment 'soon, very soon'

The US State Department assessed that Iranian drones were used on Monday in a morning rush hour attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, a US official said. White House spokesperson Karinne Jean-Pierre also accused Tehran of lying when it said Iranian drones are not being used by Russia in Ukraine.

A European diplomat said it was his country's assessment that Russia was finding it more difficult to produce weaponry for itself given the sanctions on its industrial sector and so was turning to imports from partners like Iran and North Korea.

"Drones and missiles are a logical next step," said the European diplomat.

Asked about sales of Iranian surface-to-surface missiles to Russia, a senior US military official said: "I don't have anything to provide at this time in terms of whether or not that is accurate at this point."

Chafing under Western economic sanctions, Iran's rulers are keen to strengthen strategic ties to Russia against an emerging, US-backed Gulf Arab-Israeli bloc that could shift the Middle East balance of power further away from the Islamic Republic.

The top commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami said last month some of the "world's major powers" are willing to purchase military and defence equipment from Iran.

Rahim Safavi, a military adviser to Iran’s Supreme leader, was reported by state media on Tuesday as saying that 22 countries want to buy Iranian drones.

Iran's rulers are also under pressure from nationwide demonstrations which were ignited by the death in custody of a 22-year-old woman detained for "inappropriate attire".

Several European Union states on Monday called for sanctions on Iran over its supply of drones to Russia, as the bloc agreed a separate set of sanctions over Tehran's crackdown on unrest.

"They (Russians) wanted to buy hundreds of our missiles, even mid-range ones, but we told them that we can ship soon a few hundred of their demanded Zolfaghar and Fateh 110 short-range, surface to surface missiles," said one of the security officials.

"I cannot give you the exact time, but soon, very soon those will be shipped in 2 to three shipments."

An Eastern European official tracking Russia's weapons activity said it was their understanding that this arms deal was happening, although he had no specific evidence to back it up. The official said that a decision had been taken by the Iranian and Russian leaders to proceed with the transfer.

Moscow had specifically asked for surface to surface short-range Fateh 110 and Zolfaghar missiles, and the shipment will happen in a maximum of 10 days, said another Iranian diplomat.

Attack drones

The stakes are high for Iran, which has been negotiating with Western states to revive a 2015 deal that would ease sanctions on Tehran in return for limits on its nuclear work.

The talks have deadlocked, and any disputes between Tehran and Western powers over arms sales to Russia or Iran's crackdown on the unrest could weaken efforts to seal an accord.

The United States agrees with British and French assessments that Iran supplying drones to Russia would violate a U.N. Security Council resolution that endorsed the 2015 deal, US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said on Monday.

The Western official, who declined to be identified due to the sensitive nature of the matter, said that like the drones, missile transfers would also violate U.N. resolution 2231.

Several senior Iranian officials are outraged about "unjust" planned sanctions on Iran over its arms shipments to Russia, said the second diplomat.

In September, Tehran had refused a request by President Vladimir Putin for the supply of Iran's sophisticated Arash 2 long-range attack drones, three Iranian officials told Reuters.

When asked the reason for the refusal, one of the officials cited several issues including "some technical problems".

"Also the (Revolutionary) Guards' commanders were worried that if Russia uses this Arash 2 drone in Ukraine, Americans may have access to our technology."

'Russians, Ukrainians One People', Moscow Wants Kiev to Break Free of NATO, West: Top Russian Gen.

©Sputnik / Russian Defense Ministry

The general's remarks come amid Russia's ongoing military operation in Ukraine, which began eight years after a US-backed coup in Kiev overthrew the country's democratically elected government and sparked a civil conflict in the Donbass.

Russians and Ukrainians are one people, and Moscow seeks only one thing in Ukraine - that the nation break free from the grip of the West and NATO and become a friendly government, Sergei Surovikin, the Russian Army General appointed commander of all Russian forces in Ukraine earlier this month, has said.

"The enemy is the criminal regime pushing the citizens of Ukraine to their death. We and Ukrainians are one people and want the same thing - that Ukraine be independent from the West and NATO and a friendly state for Russia," Surovikin said, speaking with reporters in the conflict zone on Tuesday.

Commenting on Kiev's recent offensive operations in the direction of the city of Kherson, the commander accused Kiev's NATO puppetmasters of ignoring the heavy losses both in manpower among the Ukrainian military, and among civilians, and characterized the situation in this area of the front as "very difficult."

"The NATO leadership in charge of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has long been demanding offensive operations in the Kherson direction from the Kiev regime, without any regard for casualties, both among the Armed Forces of Ukraine and among the civilian population," Surovikin said.

HIMARS rockets have damaged Antonovsky Bridge and the Khakovskaya hydroelectric power station, complicating the delivery of food to the city, and causing problems with water and electricity supplies. "All of this not only significantly complicates the lives of residents, but creates a direct threat to their lives," the commander said.

Russia also has information that Kiev may be preparing to use prohibited methods of warfare in Kherson, including plans "for a massive missile attack on Kakhovskaya Dam, and a massive, indiscriminate missile and artillery strike on the city. These actions could lead to the destruction of the infrastructure of a large industrial center, and cause major casualties among the civilian population," Surovikin said.

"Our further plans and actions regarding the city of Kherson will depend on the emerging military-tactical situation" and will proceed from the need to preserve as much as possible the lives of local civilians and Russian military personnel," the commander said.

Russia will not exclude making "difficult decisions" should the situation call for it, Surovikin said. These include ensuring a safe exit for any civilians from Kherson region who wish to leave the conflict zone.

'Tense' Situation

Characterizing the overall situation on the front as "tense," the commander told reporters that the enemy continues to attack Russian positions across the front, including the Kharkov, Donetsk and the Nikolayev-Krivy Rog directions.

Kiev is pulling up reserves to attempt to break through Russian lines, including poorly prepared territorial defense forces being used as cannon fodder, and blocking detachments consisting of neo-Nazi battalions to prevent them from leaving the battlefield, Surovikin said.

Surovikin estimates that Ukraine is losing between 600 and 1,000 soldiers killed and injured per day. "We have a different strategy. The commander in chief has spoken about this. We are not striving for a high rate of advance, are taking care of each soldier and methodically 'grinding' the advancing enemy down," he said.

The Russian group of forces in Ukraine is currently building up its strength, creating reserves and building defensive positions along the entire front, Surovikin said.

"Strikes using high-precision weapons are continuing against military facilities and infrastructure that affects the combat capabilities of Ukrainian troops," he said

Offering new statistics on the state of the air war, Surovikin said that over 600 Ukrainian military targets have been destroyed in attack drone strikes, and that over 8,000 sorties have been flown. Russian warplanes have made over 34,000 sorties during the course of the special operation since February, and more than 7,000 guided weapons have been used, including Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, the general indicated.

General Surovikin was appointed commander of all Russian forces involved in the operation in Ukraine on October 8. The 56-year-old has nearly 40-years of service with the Soviet and Russian militaries under his belt. He concurrently serves as commander in chief of Russia's Aerospace Forces, and was the commander of the Eastern Military District between 2013 and 2017. A veteran of the Soviet War in Afghanistan, Surovikin commanded a motorized rifle battalion detachment from the Tamanskaya Tank Division when it was deployed in Moscow to try to oust Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in August 1991. He served as a commander during the Second Chechen War, and has been credited with helping to achieve the turning point in the Syrian conflict. He was awarded the title 'Hero of the Russian Federation' in December 2017.

Upon learning of his appointment as commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, Western media have dubbed him "General Armageddon."