Russian troops strike four command posts in Ukraine operation — top brass

Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov
© Russian Defence Ministry/TASS

Russian missile troops and artillery struck four Ukrainian command posts in the past day during the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Thursday.

"Russian missile and artillery troops struck four Ukrainian army command posts in the area of the city of Kherson, the communities of Kupyansk, Novoosinovo in the Kharkov Region and Gavrilovka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region, and also 83 artillery units at firing positions, manpower and military hardware in 102 areas," the spokesman said.

"In the city of Seversk in the Donetsk People’s Republic, a Msta-B howitzer was obliterated and D-20 and D-30 howitzers were wiped out in areas near the settlements of Ivanovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Orekhov in the Zaporozhye Region," the general said.

Russian troops delivered strikes against Ukrainian army units in the Kharkov Region, eliminating over 20 militants in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

The Russia drone managed to destroy a Ukrainian Msta-B howitzer that was shelling, civil facilities and civilian houses

"In the Kupyansk direction, artillery strikes inflicted damage on the Ukrainian army units in areas near the communities of Timkovka, Kislovka and Berestovoye in the Kharkov Region. Over 20 Ukrainian military personnel, two combat armored vehicles and three motor vehicles were eliminated," the spokesman said.

Russian artillery and combat aircraft eliminated over 70 servicemen of the Ukrainian army’s 95th air assault brigade in the Krasny Liman area in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Krasny Liman area, artillery fire, assault and army aviation strikes against units of the Ukrainian army’s 95th air assault brigade in the area of the Serebryansky forestry eliminated as many as 70 Ukrainian military personnel, three combat armored vehicles and five pickup trucks," the spokesman said.

The Russians managed to destroy two Ukrainian gunship helicopters which fired on civilian facilities and civilian homes

Russian troops gained new advantageous sites in their advance in the Donetsk area in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Donetsk direction, Russian troops continued their offensive operations, taking new advantageous frontiers and positions. The enemy’s losses in that area in the past 24 hours amounted to over 80 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, four infantry fighting vehicles, three combat armored vehicles and six motor vehicles," the spokesman said.

Russian forces eliminated about 30 Ukrainian troops in the southern Donetsk area in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the southern Donetsk area, artillery fire and active operations of Russian troops inflicted damage on the Ukrainian army units in areas near the settlements of Sladkoye, Vladimirovka, Pavlovka and Velikaya Novosyolka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. As many as 30 Ukrainian troops, two combat armored vehicles and four pickup trucks were destroyed," the spokesman said.

Russian special military operation at night

Russian troops eliminated two Ukrainian subversive groups in the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Zaporozhye Region in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In areas near the settlements of Vremevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic and Levadnoye in the Zaporozhye Region, two enemy subversive groups were eliminated," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroyed two US-made M777 howitzers in the Kharkov Region in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the counter-battery warfare, two M777 artillery systems of US manufacture were destroyed near the settlement of Kruglyakovka in the Kharkov Region," the spokesman said.

In addition, Russian troops uncovered and destroyed a US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launcher in the area of the settlement of Konstantinovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the general said.

Combat aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down Ukrainian Su-25 and Su-24 warplanes and two enemy Mi-8 helicopters in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"Fighter aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down Ukrainian Air Force Su-25 and Su-24 planes in the areas of the settlements of Krasny Liman and Kramatorsk. In addition, two Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters were downed in areas near the settlements of Suvorov and Orlovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

Russian air defense forces intercepted four HIMARS and Uragan rockets in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the past 24 hours, Russian air defense capabilities intercepted four rockets of HIMARS and Uragan multiple launch rocket systems in areas near the settlements of Popasnaya in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Peremozhnoye and Tarasovka in the Zaporozhye Region," the spokesman said.

During the last 24-hour period, Russian air defense systems shot down seven Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near the communities of Pshenichnoye, Kremennaya, Chervonaya Dibrova and Koshelevka in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Kirillovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic and also Lyubimovka in the Kherson Region, the general specified.

In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 354 Ukrainian warplanes, 194 helicopters, 2,741 unmanned aerial vehicles, 399 surface-to-air missile systems, 7,296 tanks and other combat armored vehicles, 953 multiple rocket launchers, 3,742 field artillery guns and mortars and 7,810 special military motor vehicles since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, Konashenkov reported.

Masjid Al Jabbar Diharapkan Dapat Tingkatkan Kunjungan Wisatawan Asing ke Jawa Barat

Masjid Raya Al Jabbar di Gedebage, Kota Bandung yang akan segera diresmikan, diharapkan nantinya tidak hanya menjadi pusat kegiatan ibadah baru bagi masyarakat.

Pemerintah Provinsi Jawa Barat menyatakan mereka juga berharap kehadiran masjid itu bisa menjadi daya tarik baru dalam konteks promosi luar negeri.

Pelaksana Tugas Kepala Biro Pemerintahan dan Otda Pemprov Jabar Dodit Ardian Pancapana menuturkan hadirnya Masjid Al Jabbar menambah "landmark baru bagi promosi Jawa Barat.

Menurut dia Masjid Al Jabbar yang bisa menampung sekitar 50.000 jamaah itu akan menjadi bagian materi promosi luar negeri.

"Kalau dulu landmark Jabar hanya Gedung Sate, sekarang ada yang baru. Tentu akan muncul dalam materi promosi kita di luar negeri atau relasi internasional. Apalagi secara arsitektur ini luar biasa," ujar Dodit, pada hari Kamis, 29/12/2022.

Tak hanya itu, kata Dodit, Masjid Raya Al Jabbar bisa dijadikan lokasi baru untuk menggelar kegiatan yang berhubungan dengan kerja sama luar negeri.

"Jadi Al Jabbar itu dari segi fungsi jadi sentral ibadah yang nanti akan dikembangkan untuk lebih mengenalkan Jabar di skala internasional. Jadi tak hanya sebagai tempat syiar, tapi bisa jadi bagian ikhtiar untuk menjangkau umat muslim internasional," kata dia.

Masjid Al Jabbar memiliki kontruksi bangunan yang megah dan istimewa. Selain sebagai tempat beribadah, Masjid Al Jabbar mempunyai fungsi edukasi, wisata, dan sosial.

Manajer Produksi Proyek Pembangunan Masjid Al Jabbar Affy Primadhian menuturkan, ada banyak keistimewaan dalam masjid yang didesain langsung Gubernur Jabar Ridwan Kamil sewaktu masih jadi Wali Kota Bandung tersebut, terutama dari sisi konstruksi. Salah satunya, bangunan utama tanpa tiang tengah.

"Pembangunan Masjid Al Jabbar ini banyak hal istimewanya, terutama dari segi desain yang sudah dirancang sendiri oleh Bapak Ridwan Kamil. Suatu tantangan buat kami untuk menyelesaikan pekerjaan ini agar sesuai desain yang diharapkan," katanya.

Menurut Affy Primadhian, ada banyak tantangan yang dihadapinya. Namun, perlahan dan pasti, satu per satu konstruksi Masjid Al Jabbar dapat terealisasi sesuai dengan harapan. [

Peresmian Masjid Al-Jabbar, Polisi Berlakukan Rekayasa Lalu Lintas di Gedebage Bandung

Polrestabes Bandung akan menerjunkan ratusan personel dan melakukan rekayasa arus lalu lintas saat kegiatan peresmian mesjid Al Jabbar, pada hari Jumat ini, 30/12/2022.

"Total ada 531 personel yang disiapkan," kata KBO Satlantas Polrestabes Bandung AKP Deden Juandi yang dihubungi pada hari Kamis, 29/12/2022.

Nantinya, ratusan personel ini bakal ditempatkan di sejumlah titik lokasi, mulai dari kawasan Jalan Soekarno-Hatta, Gedebage, pintu Kereta Api Cimincrang, kantung parkir GBLA dan sekitaran Mesjid Al Jabbar.

Polisi juga bakal melakukan rekayasa arus lalu lintas yang dilakukan di kawasan Cimencrang, Gedebage, Kota Bandung, tepatnya dari arah Rancanumpang Selatan ke arah objek Masjid Al Jabbar.

Saat Libur Nataru Pengendara Diimbau Istirahat di Rest Area Cuma 30 Menit "Dari arah Rancanumpang selatan ke arah arah objek masjid Al-Jabbar satu arah, kalau dari arah Soekarno Hatta lewat Jalan Cimincrang itu dua arah," sambung Deden.

Sosialisasi peresmian Masjid Al Jabbar ini telah dilakukan Forum Komunikasi Pimpinan Daerah (Forkopimda) seminggu sebelum acara.

Begitu pun dengan rekayasa yang dilakukan kepolisian nanti. Dengan begitu warga di sekitar sudah mengetahui adanya kegiatan.

Sanctions Failed to Crack Russia, German Media Says

©Sputnik / Кирилл Каллиников / Go to the mediabank

The European Union introduced a ninth package of sanctions against Russia in December, including new export controls and banking, broadcasting, consulting, and energy sector restrictions. The West has now leveled over 13,000 sanctions against Moscow – more than against Iran, Syria, North Korea, Belarus, Venezuela and Myanmar combined.

Anti-Russian sanctions aren’t having the devastating effect the West hoped they would, and haven’t served to collapse Russia’s economy, German media have reported, citing economic data for the current year and projections for 2023.

According to Deutschlandfunk, the sanctions “weapon” the West has opted for in its “economic war” against Moscow have not yielded the hoped for results, with the International Monetary Fund revising projections issued in the spring of an 8-9 percent drop in Russian GDP to a more modest contraction of 3.5 percent.

“Some economists thought the thick end would not arrive until 2023. But the forecasts for the coming year as not as gloomy as one might expect,” the outlet continued, pointing to an IMF forecast from October that the Russian economy would shrink by 2.3 percent in the coming year.

Unfortunately for the brainiacs behind anti-Russian sanctions, “all forecasts agree that the Russian economy will not be brought to its knees by sanctions in the next year, either,” Deutschlandfunk added.

German media attributed Russia’s resilience to the global jump in oil and gas prices, which have allowed Moscow to make good money even off reduced export volumes of its hydrocarbons after Western countries reduced imports. On top of that, the outlet pointed out that while a handful of foreign companies left Russia this year, “most stayed,” while others sold their businesses to Russian nationals, who have continued operations.

Furthermore, in areas where Western companies or products have disappeared, Russian importers have stepped in to replace them, often via so-called parallel imports (i.e. goods imported by unlicensed distributors). “In other words, something is always missing in Russia, including on the store shelves, but usually not completely and not for long.”

Deutschlandfunk expressed hopes that the dragging out of the conflict in Ukraine would cause Russia the economic pain that sanctions apparently haven’t, including worker shortages due to partial mobilization, and more spending on defense and security as opposed to sectors like infrastructure or education. “And that can cost the Russian economy a lot of strength in the long term,” the outlet concluded.

The European Union put together a new package of sanctions against Russia in mid-December. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that the restrictions would inevitably boomerang back on Brussels and add to the bloc’s social and economic woes, just as earlier sanctions have.

The EU is hanging on the brink of recession, with most economists predicting that the majority of the bloc’s economies will plunge into the red sometime in the coming year. Latvia became the first EU country to go into recession in October, with Estonia following suit in November. More nations, including regional heavyweight Germany, are expected to join the tiny Baltic economies as the impact of Europe's largely self-inflicted energy crisis makes itself felt.

Italy Ready to Become Guarantor of Peace Agreement on Ukraine - Prime Minister

Italy is ready to act as a guarantor of a possible peace agreement on Ukraine, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Thursday.

"There are difficulties in guaranteeing the peace process later, so I have told [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky that Italy is ready to become a guarantor of a possible peace agreement and is ready to assist in this process," Meloni told at a press conference.

In this regard, the Italian prime minister also announced her intention to visit Kiev before the end of February 2023, since "February 24 may become the date by which something can be done as part of an open initiative."

Military operation, accession of new regions end attempts at dialogue with West — Moscow

Russian Foreign Ministry ©Valery Sharifulin/TASS

The launch of Russia’s special military operation and the accession of the four new regions to the country ended 30 years of attempts by Moscow to build an equal partnership with the West, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

Summing up the country’s foreign policy course in 2022, the ministry said the recognition of the sovereignty of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), the start of the special military operation, the holding of referendums in the two Donbass republics and in the liberated areas of the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions followed by their accession to the Russian Federation were "tough but necessary steps." "At the same time, they ended a 30-year period of honest attempts by Russia to build an equal partnership with the collective West," the Russian diplomats said.

Moscow’s resolute actions helped expose "the true intentions and attitude of Western countries" toward Russia. "By resorting to openly Russophobic rhetoric and acknowledging in public that the Minsk `set of measures’ was just a way to buy time for the Kiev regime and pump it full of NATO weapons, Western leaders declared their intention to deal a `strategic blow’ to our country and remove it from the global arena as a geopolitical entity," Russia’s Foreign Ministry concluded.

World community hails Russia’s struggle against Western neo-colonial practices — MFA

A greater part of the world community supports Russia's approach to the struggle against the Western countries’ neocolonial practices, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a review of the main political results of 2022, uploaded to its website on Thursday.

"The further march of events confirmed that a larger share of the world community welcomes Russia’s approaches, including joint efforts in the fight against the West’s neo-colonial practices," the Foreign Ministry said. "Despite pressures Russia has not departed from its fundamental foreign policy guidelines and continued to promote a constructive international agenda."

"The Russian diplomacy was firmly defending its national interests, relying on the goals and principles of the UN Charter and international law," the Foreign Ministry said.

Moscow spurns Norway’s attempts to hinder work of Russian scientists on Spitzbergen — MFA

Moscow categorically rejects Norway’s discriminatory policy aimed at hampering the work of Russian scientific institutions on Spitzbergen, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a commentary which was spread by the ministry on Thursday.

"Recently, the Norwegian authorities have significantly tightened the conditions for the work of Russian organizations on the Spitzbergen archipelago and in its waters. The measures the Norwegian side is taking, in violation of the principles and provisions of the 1920 Spitzbergen Treaty, already affect all the main areas on which Russia’s long-term presence in the archipelago is implemented in full accordance with international law: [these are] coal mining, tourism, and science," Zakharova said.

"Such a discriminatory approach is absolutely unacceptable. Russia has repeatedly conveyed its position, grounded by appropriate arguments, to the attention of the Norwegian side through official channels," the diplomat said.

Zakharova drew attention to the fact that earlier this month, the Norwegian authorities unlawfully restricted the Russian ship Dalnie Zelentsy from carrying out research work in the archipelago. Moreover, despite the timely notification of the Norwegian side about the call, the ship was actually denied access to the Russian village of Barentsburg. As a result, as noted in the commentary, the further work of the bio-geo station of the Murmansk Marine Biological Institute (MMBI) of the Russian Academy of Sciences has been significantly hampered.

"Given that earlier the Norwegian side successfully coordinated the MMBI studies which are conducted annually, we consider the restrictions introduced this year to be exclusively politically motivated," Zakharova stressed.

"Regular statements by Norwegian officials and military experts indicate that Oslo preferred to succumb to anti-Russian hysteria to the detriment of the fulfillment of its international legal obligations," she concluded.

That means that one of the most important provisions of the Spitzbergen Treaty is being ignored - the right of equal access of citizens of its member states to the archipelago for any purpose and task, Zakharova said.

"We remind you that it is under these conditions that Norway's sovereignty over the archipelago is recognized by the countries participating in the treaty, including the Russian Federation," the diplomat said.

Russia will continue to defend the legitimate interests of its presence in the Spitzbergen archipelago and seek respect for the rights of national organizations. This includes the right of scientific organizations to have unhindered access to Spitzbergen so that they can conduct activities there that are lawful from the point of view of the 1920 Treaty, she concluded.

Incident With Fallen Ukrainian Missile in Belarus Similar to Such Case in Poland - Minsk

The military commissar of the Brest region of Belarus, Oleg Konovalov, said on Thursday that the incident with the fallen Ukrainian missile in Belarus is similar to the case in Poland.

"Today, at around 10:00 a.m. (local time, 07:00 GMT), the fall of an anti-aircraft guided missile of the S-300 complex of the Ukrainian armed forces was allegedly recorded on the territory of the Ivanovo district. The situation is similar to the one that happened recently with the fall of the same missile on the territory of Poland," the military commissar said in a statement on the Brest Regional Executive Committee's Telegram.

Konovalov stressed that the residents of the region should not worry, but unfortunately such incidents happen.

A Ukrainian missile launched with an S-300 system fell on Belarusian territory Thursday morning, the BelTA news agency said.

The incident occurred between 10:00 and 11:00. President Alexander Lukashenko was promptly briefed on what happened.

According to the agency, the investigators are pursuing two lines of inquiry: it was a stray missile like the one involved in a similar incident in Poland recently or the missile was shot down by the country’s air defenses.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry has told TASS it would refrain from comment for the time being. Specialists from the Investigative Committee, the Interior Ministry and the Defense Ministry are examining the scene. There have been no immediate reports of casualties.

Latest Statements From Russia's Defense Ministry

• Russian MoD briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:



• The Russian Army eliminated more than 20 Ukrainian servicemen in the Kupyansk direction;



• Russian troops eliminated about 30 Ukrainian servicemen in the South Donetsk direction;



• Russian forces eliminated more than 70 soldiers of the Ukrainian Army’s 95th Airborne Assault Brigade in the Krasny Liman direction;








• Russian troops destroyed two US-made M777 howitzers in the Kharkov region;



• The Russian Army eliminated more than 80 Ukrainian servicemen in the Donetsk direction;



• Russian forces eliminated two Ukrainian sabotage groups in the DPR and the Zaporozhye region;



• The Russian Air Force shot down a Ukrainian Su-25 and Su-24 aircraft, as well as two Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters over Krasny Liman and Kramatorsk in the DPR;



• The Russian Army destroyed three US-made HIMARS launchers in the DPR;



• Russian air defense systems intercepted four HIMARS and Uragan rockets.

Putin Says 4 More Nuclear-Powered Submarines to be Built Under Current Weapons Program

©Sputnik / Mikhail Metzel / Go to the mediabank

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that four more nuclear-powered submarines will be constructed as part of the current armament program, which will ensure the country’s security for years to come.

"I would like to point out that four more such submarines will be built under the current state armament program. This will ensure Russia’s security for decades to come," Putin said.

Russian ballistic missile submarines, which are currently under development and construction, have many unique characteristics, while new submarines and surface vessels have modern navigation, communications and sonar systems, equipped with high-precision weapons and robotic systems, the president noted.

"For example, the Generalissimus Suvorov submarine is armed with Bulava ballistic missiles, which significantly increase the capabilities of our nuclear naval forces," Putin said.

In addition, the president noted that the small rocket ship Grad Sviyazhsk is also a new generation project, specifying that ships of this class have shown high efficiency in combat missions in Syria, as well as in the course of the special military operation in Ukraine.

The Russian president participated via video link in the naval flag-raising ceremony on warships enlisting in the country’s Navy and launching of the nuclear-powered missile submarine Emperor Alexander III.

Tests of Latest Russian Submarine ‘Emperor Alexander III’ to Start in June 2023, Reports Say

Running tests of latest Russian nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine “Emperor Alexander III” will start in June 2023, the Russian broadcaster reported on Thursday.

©Sputnik / Ildus Gilyazutdinov

The construction of the seventh submarine of the Borei class ended earlier in the day, the news channel said.

All weapons systems of the submarine will be tested during the trials, according to the channel.

The submarine to honor Alexander III was originally scheduled to enter service with the Northern Fleet by the end of last year. However, as with many military programs in Russia, the completion of the submarine was delayed.

During the Soviet era, there were few warships named for past Russian rulers. While there have been a few submarines named for Czarist era admirals, the Russian Federation is reversing course. In two years, the seventh Project 955A (Borei-A) strategic nuclear-powered underwater cruiser is set to enter service, and she will bear the name Imperator Aleksandr III (Emperor Alexander III)—named for Czar Alexander III, who was Emperor of Russia, King of Congress Poland and Grand Duke of Finland from March 1881 until his death in 1894.

During his reign, Russia fought no major wars, and the late Czar was styled “The Peacemaker.” Alexander III, who was just forty-nine when he died, was succeeded by his eldest son Tsesarevich Nicholas, who took the throne as Nicholas II—the last Czar of Russia.

The submarine to honor Alexander III was originally scheduled to enter service with the Northern Fleet by the end of last year. However, as with many military programs in Russia, the completion of the submarine was delayed and will reportedly now enter service with the Russian Navy in late 2023, a source in the shipbuilding industry told TASS on Thursday.

“The nuclear-powered cruiser Emperor Alexander III will become operational in the Pacific Fleet at the end of 2023. It will be floated out in December next year. In the second half of 2023, the missile-carrying cruiser will undergo a full cycle of trials, including the launch of a Bulava [intercontinental ballistic] missile,” the source added.

Imperator Aleksandr III is the seventh Project 955 nuclear-powered submarine and the fourth of the improved Project 955A sub-class. Currently, the Russian Navy operates four Project 955/955A submarines, while the fifth vessel Knyaz Oleg is now on track to be delivered to the Russian Navy by the end of this year.

Project 955A (Borei-A) nuclear-powered missile-carrying submarines were developed to become the mainstay of Russia’s seaborne strategic nuclear forces.

Each boat carries sixteen Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles as their basic armament. Compared to the baseline Borei series, Borei-A subs feature enhanced acoustic stealth, maneuvering and deep-sea running capabilities as well as an improved armament control system.

The Fate of the Former Imperator Aleksandr III

The previous Russian warship to bear the name Imperator Aleksandr III was the third and final ship of the Imperatritsa Mariya-class dreadnoughts of the Imperial Russian Navy.

Built during World War I, the ship only entered service in July 1917, by which time the February Revolution had brought down the government of Czar Nicholas II. Renamed Volya (meaning “Freedom”), she entered service with the Black Sea Fleet, but it had been rendered ineffective following the revolution.

The warship saw no combat during World War I and following the peace with the Central Powers was surrendered to the Germans in 1918. Afterward, by the terms of the Armistice in November 1918, the dreadnought was turned over the White Russians and renamed General Alekseyev in honor of the Imperial Russian Army’s chief of staff during World War I. General Mikhail Vasilyevich Alekseyev died of heart failure in 1918 while fighting the Bolsheviks in the Volga region.

The newly named warship was used during the evacuation of the Crimea in 1920 and was then interned in French-controlled North Africa. She was sold for scrap, while her twelve-inch guns were later given to Finland for use as coastal artillery. Of the twelve main guns, eight made it to Finland, and were reportedly used against the Soviets during World War II, while four others were used as German coastal guns on the occupied Channel Island of Guernsey.

Russia may hope its new submarine, named in honor of “The Peacemaker,” has a career less colorful than that of the dreadnought to bear the name Imperator Aleksandr III.

Lavrov highlights need to liberate Russia’s four new regions

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
©Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service/TASS

The Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics (DPR, LPR), as well as the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, which joined Russia following referendums, need to be liberated, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Channel One.

In response to a question about the borders of the regions that he was referring to, Lavrov said: "I am certainly talking about their borders as parts of the Russian Federation, based on the Russian Constitution."

When asked if he meant that Russia had yet to liberate those territories, Lavrov answered in the affirmative. "It stems from the people’s will expressed in the four regions. It happened a while ago in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics and this fall in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions," Lavrov said.

He also noted that Russia was determined to make sure that its special military operation achieved its goals. The foreign minister added that the four new Russian regions "need to be liberated from the threat of Nazification that they have faced for years."

From September 23 to September 27, the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), as well as the Kherson Region and the Zaporozhye Region, held referendums where the majority of voters opted to join Russia.

On September 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the heads of the DPR and the LPR, the Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions signed treaties on their accession to Russia. On October 4, Putin signed laws ratifying the treaties.

Lavrov lauds Saudi Arabia’s efforts to find ways to resolve Ukraine issue

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a phone call thanked his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud for efforts to find ways to resolve the situation in Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Sergey Lavrov briefed Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud on certain aspects of the situation in Ukraine in terms of Russia’s special military operation. In this regard, Russia praised the Saudi leadership’s constructive position and readiness to make efforts to find ways to solve complex problems related to developments in Ukraine," the statement reads.

In addition, the two top diplomats discussed priority development issues concerning mutually beneficial cooperation between Russia and Saudi Arabia with regard to the implementation of the agreements made earlier at the highest level.

"Particular attention was paid to the need to continue constructive interaction within the OPEC+ group," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

"The proximity of the two countries’ positions on pressing global and regional issues was highlighted and mutual interest in maintaining close foreign policy coordination both at the bilateral level and on various international platforms was confirmed," the statement added.

Saudi FM: We support international efforts to resolve Ukraine crisis politically

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Wednesday that the Kingdom continues to support international efforts aimed at politically resolving the crisis in Ukraine.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received phone calls from his Turkish and Russian counterparts. (File/Getty Images)

His comments came during a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in which they discussed the latest developments in the Ukraine crisis, the Kingdom’s foreign ministry said.

The two ministers also discussed bilateral relations and ways to develop them in various fields.

Prince Faisal also received a call from his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, and the two ministers “reviewed bilateral relations and ways to enhance them to serve the aspirations” of their countries.

They also discussed the most important regional and international issues of common interest, and aspects of intensifying joint efforts that would enhance international peace and security