Official expects Russian troops to take Artyomovsk in near future

©Vladimir Gerdo/TASS

Russian forces will soon close the encirclement around the city of Artyomovsk (called Bakhmut in Ukraine), head of the Russian delegation to the Vienna talks on military security and arms control Konstantin Gavrilov said on Thursday.

"Our forces are advancing in squares and Bakhmut will certainly be taken in the near future because the encirclement is closing," he told the Rossiya-24 TV channel.

Gavrilov also noted that there were a large number of mercenaries from NATO countries, namely Poland, along that part of the frontline. "There are about 20,000 mercenaries, everyone has been openly reporting about this and foreign languages are really heard," he stressed.

However, in Gavrilov’s words, it is in the interests of the US and its allies to withdraw Western mercenaries and military equipment from Ukraine in order to avoid a direct confrontation with the Russian army. "After all, they are gradually dragging NATO into a direct conflict, whether they want it or not," the diplomat emphasized.

Artyomovsk, located in the Kiev-controlled part of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), is an important transport hub in terms of Ukrainian military supplies. Heavy fighting is raging in the area. Acting DPR head Denis Pushilin said on February 16 that Russian forces had seized all the high ground in the Artyomovsk area.

Russian forces eliminating Ukrainian saboteurs that violated border – FSB

Russian forces are conducting an operation against a group of Ukrainian saboteurs that intruded across the border into Bryansk region, the Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday.

In a statement, the service said that “the FSB and the attached forces of the Russian Ministry of Defense are taking measures to destroy armed Ukrainian nationalists who violated the state border” in the Klimovsky district of Bryansk region.

Earlier in the day, Aleksandr Bogomaz, the region's governor, said that a group of Ukrainian operatives had launched a raid into the area and that the group attacked a moving car, killing one person and injuring a ten-year-old child.

Some media reports suggested that the saboteurs also had taken several local residents hostage, a claim that has not been confirmed by local authorities.

Russia’s regions bordering Ukraine have been repeatedly attacked by Kiev's forces in recent months. On Thursday, Kursk governor Roman Starovoit wrote in a Telegram post that Ukrainian troops had shelled a local village. Kursk officials confirmed that one person was killed in the attack.

Russian regions come under mortar fire from Ukraine

Villages in the Russian regions of Kursk and Bryansk came under heavy artillery fire from Kiev’s forces, the governors of the two regions neighboring Ukraine reported on Thursday morning. The attacks have damaged several residential buildings and civilian structures. Several people have reportedly been killed or injured.

Kursk governor Roman Starovoit wrote in a Telegram post that Kiev’s troops had shelled the village of Tetkino, which is on the Russian-Ukrainan border. At 11:17am local time he reported that the attack was still ongoing and that Russian forces were returning fire.

He also noted that there had been casualties from the attack and that emergency services had been dispatched to the area. Kursk officials have since confirmed that one person was killed and another was injured in the attack on Tetkino.

At the same time, Bryansk governor Aleksandr Bogomaz reported that the villages of Sushany and Lomakovka were also attacked using mortars and drones, which damaged several residential buildings. No casualties have so far been reported there, according to the governor.

While the shelling was taking place, a group of Ukrainians launched a raid in Bryansk region, attacking a vehicle and reportedly killing at least one person and injuring a ten-year-old child, according to Bogomaz. He added that Russian forces were taking all required measures to eliminate the saboteur group.

Russian regions bordering Ukraine have repeatedly come under attack from Kiev’s artillery and drones since Moscow launched its military operation in the country one year ago. The strikes have targeted energy infrastructure and residential areas, destroying civilian buildings and leading to a number of civilian casualties.

Russia Shocked at Impunity Over Nord Stream Sabotage, Lavrov Says at G20

©Russian Foreign Ministry's Press Service / Go to the mediabank

Russia's top diplomat arrived in New Delhi earlier this week to take part in the G20 Foreign Ministers' summit and hold a number of bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event.

Russia is shocked at impunity over the Nord Stream sabotage in the area of NATO and EU's responsibility, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday, addressing the G20 ministerial meeting in New Delhi

"We are witnessing the degradation of international economic relations provoked by the West, their transformation into a weapon, including in the energy sector. (...) We insist on a fair and swift investigation into the terror attack with involvement of Russia and others concerned," he said.

The foreign minister stressed that Russia advocates for energy security and highlights the importance of granting all countries in need access to affordable energy resources.

Previously, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzia said that Russia's Western partners on the UN Security Council were not showing any desire to cooperate in an independent investigation to verify a report that presented significant details that the United States was behind the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines.

The investigative report was published by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Seymour Hersh, who revealed that US Navy divers had planted explosives to destroy the Nord Stream pipelines during NATO Baltops exercises in the summer of 2022. Norway activated the bombs three months later at the order of US President Joe Biden, the journalist wrote, citing insiders.

In September 2022, underwater blasts occurred at three of the four strings of the Nord Stream 1 and 2 underwater pipelines built to carry a combined 110 billion cubic meters of Russian gas to Europe annually. Germany, Denmark, and Sweden launched separate investigations into the incident, while Russia wasn't given access to their probes.

'Buried' Grain Deal & West's Selfish Policy

During his speech, Russia's top diplomat took a moment "to apologize to the Indian presidency and colleagues from the countries of the global South for the indecent behavior of a number of Western delegations, who turned the work on the G20 agenda into a farce in an attempt to shift responsibility for failures in economic policy on others, primarily on Russia."

The minister continued by saying that the West has "shamelessly buried" the grain deal initiated by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, as he highlighted the obvious obstacles to the export of Russian agricultural products around the world, no matter how the EU tries to convince everyone otherwise.

"Today, the lion's share of grain supplies from Ukraine goes at dumping prices for fodder to the European Union, not to the poorest nations. (...) Consignments of free cargo of Russian fertilizers, in particular for Africa, are still blocked at European ports," he explained.

The minister also called for putting an end to illegitimate sanctions, any form of violation of the freedom of international trade, market manipulation, arbitrary introduction of price ceilings and other attempts to appropriate foreign natural resources.

Nonetheless, Lavrov expressed hope that the G20 summit, which will be held in the Indian capital in September 2023, will partially alleviate the risks posed to economic stability by the West's "selfish policy."

"We will continue to make a significant contribution to ensuring economic stability. We are open to an equal dialogue in the G20. We hope that the Delhi summit in September this year will at least partially mitigate the risks posed by the selfish policy of the West," Lavrov said at the meeting.

On July 22, the deal brokered by Turkiye and the United Nations was signed by Russia and Ukraine in order to unblock shipments of grain, food and fertilizer in the Black Sea despite hostilities. The agreement was initially set to expire on November 19, with a possibility of extension if signatories consent. It was extended for 120 days on November 17.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that most vessels carrying Ukrainian grain do not reach the world's poorest countries and have ended up in Europe instead. Putin has also voiced concerns that Russian grain and fertilizer products are not entering the global markets as stipulated by the agreement.

Russia Will Not Allow Nord Stream Probe to Be Swept Under the Rug, Lavrov Tells Sputnik

The foreign minister earlier expressed Russia's "shock" over the lack of punishment for those who instigated the Nord Stream attack, and reiterated Moscow's insistence on a "fair and swift investigation." Last month, investigative journalist Sy Hersh offered damning evidence on suspected US and Norwegian involvement in the September 2022 sabotage.

Russia will not allow an investigation into the terror attacks on the Nord Stream pipelines to be swept under the rug, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has told Sputnik.

"We are observing the West's provocative degradation of international economic relations and their transformation into weapons, including in the energy sphere," the foreign minister said.

Russia insists on the necessity to investigate the sabotage against the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines promptly and honestly, as well as on including the country into the investigation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday at the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting.

"We are observing the West's provocative degradation of international economic relations and their transformation into weapons, including in the energy sphere," he said.

"We are shocked by the unpunished sabotage against the Nord Stream pipelines in the NATO and EU area of responsibility. We insist on a fair and prompt investigation into this act of terrorism with the participation of Russia and other interested parties," Lavrov pointed out.

At the same time, the top diplomat pointed out that Russia stood for ensuring energy security and access to energy resources at acceptable prices for all countries in need, as well as for elimination of unfair competition.

Polresta Bogor Kota Tangkap Dua Spesialis Bobol ATM

Dua spesialis bobol ATM di Kota Bogor, AS (35) dan A (35).

Kepolisian Resor Bogor Kota menangkap dua dari empat pelaku spesialis bobol anjungan tunai mandiri atau ATM minimarket.

AS dan A ditembak saat akan ditangkap di tempat persembunyiannya. Keduanya terpaksa ditembak di bagian kaki karena berupaya melarikan diri.

Kapolresta Bogor Kota Kombes Polisi Bismo Teguh Prakoso mengatakan, penangkapan itu berawal dari laporan pembobolan ATM di sebuah minimarket di wilayah Kota Bogor pada hari Senin, 30/01/2023.

“Kejadiannya itu di malam hari jelang subuh. Ini di dalam Indomaret ada ATM,” ujar Bismo dalam jumpa pers di Mapolresta Bogor Kota, hari Rabu, 01/03/2023.

Bismo menjelaskan, kedua tersangka menjalankan aksi dengan cara merusak mesin ATM menggunakan las tabung oksigen.

Cara tersebut mengakibatkan uang tunai keluar, mereka akhirnya berhasil menggasak uang tunai Rp285 juta.

Dalam menjalankan aksinya, sambung Bismo, pelaku melakukan pengintaian terhadap mesin ATM yang hendak dibobol.

Usai dirasa aman, pelaku mulai mencari celah untuk menjalankan aksinya itu.

"Jadi mereka melakukan pengamatan terhadap lokasi. Kemudian melalukannya, membobok plafon dan melakukan pencurian," kata Bismo. Meski begitu, pelaku ini harus mempertanggung jawabkan perbuatannya

“Berdasarkan scientific crime investigation kita lakukan penyitaan di lokasi berupa alat bukti di antaranya gas, alat las yang digunakan tersangka,” ujarnya.

Menurutnya, para pelaku menyasar mesin-mesin ATM milik bank swasta yang ada di minimarket.

Pelaku bobol ATM di Wilayah Curug, Kecamatan Bogor Barat, Kota Bogor, yang berhasil ditangkap oleh Polresta Bogor Kota, hari Rabu, 01/03/2023.

Adapun modusnya, pelaku terlebih dahulu melakukan pengamatan ke lokasi. Ketika sepi, mereka kemudian membobol plafon lalu merusak ATM tersebut.

“Ini mereka juga beraksi di wilayah Kabupaten Bogor sebanyak Rp 700 juta. Barang-barang minimarket enggak diambil,” ujarnya.

Atas perbuatan, polisi menjerat dengan Pasal 363 KUHP dengan ancaman penjara paling lima 9 tahun.

Sementara itu, Kasat Reskrim Polresta Bogor Kota, Kompol Rizka Fadhila mengatakan, dua pelaku ini diberikan 'oleh-oleh' dengan timah panas karena saat hendak ditangkap diduga membawa senjata tajam.

Tidak hanya diduga membawa senjata tajam, keduanya hendak melarikan diri saat akan ditangkap diwilayah Lahat, Sumatera Utara.

"Dia kabur menggunakan motor karena dia lihat kawannya tertangkap akhirnya dia kabur dan dilakukan pengejaran dan akhirnya dilakukan pelumpuhan di tempat," kata Rizka.

Diketahui sebelumnya, satu mesin ATM di Indomaret wilayah Kelurahan Curug, Kecamatan Bogor Barat, Kota Bogor, dibobol maling, pada hari Senin, 30/01/2023, sekitar pukul 03.30 WIB.

"Iya benar. Kejadiannya itu pukul 03.30 WIB," kata Kanit Reskrim Polsek Bogor Barat Ipda Imam Bakhtiar

Imam menceritakan, kejadian ini bermula ketika indomaret tersebut dalam kondisi sepi.

Maling ini mulai masuk ke Indomaret dengan cara membobol atap.

"Dari CCTV itu pelakunya ada dua orang. Dia masuknya lewat atap. Dia pakai tangga dari samping kemudian turun ke bawah," jelasnya.

Hungarian Foreign Ministry - Ceasefire in Ukraine Red Line for European Union

©Sputnik / Alexey Maishev / Go to the mediabank

The EU has made it clear that it considers a ceasefire in Ukraine to be a red line and will not agree to it, Hungarian Foreign Ministry Secretary of State Tamas Menczer said.

"Even knowing that Brussels represents the position of the 'party of war', we were still shocked... when we, the Hungarians, suggested that the documents on the occasion of the anniversary of the start... (of Russia's special military operation) contain calls for an immediate ceasefire and the start of talks, they were rejected in each case," Menczer told Kossuth Radio.

He said Brussels "not aloud, and sometimes even aloud, made it clear that the immediate cessation of the war is a red line, they do not accept this, because they think the war must be continued until Ukraine wins."

Menсzer said Hungary supports peace talks and believes there can be no winner in the conflict.

Since the beginning of the conflict, Hungary has consistently opposed sanctions on Russian energy carriers and weapons supplies to Ukraine. In early March last year, the Hungarian parliament issued a decree prohibiting arms supply to Ukraine from Hungarian territory.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto explained that Budapest seeks to secure the territory of Transcarpathia, where ethnic Hungarians live, since the supply of weapons through its territory would become a legitimate military target for Russia.

Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 in response to calls by the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics for protection from Ukrainian troops. The Russian Defense Ministry said the operation, which targets Ukrainian military infrastructure, aims to "demilitarize and denazify" Ukraine, and to completely liberate Donbas.

Leaders of EU countries do not want hostilities in Ukraine to stop, said Tamas Menzer, State Secretary for Bilateral Relations at the Hungarian Foreign Ministry. He considers this to be a red line for the EU.

Hungarian diplomats proposed to include in the documents of the European Union, which were being prepared for the anniversary of the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine, a call for a ceasefire and the start of negotiations for peace. But EU leaders in Brussels refused to do so.

“They have made it clear that the ceasefire is a red line, it is unacceptable to them because the war must continue,” the secretary of state said

Pressure is exerted on Budapest – this is how Western countries are trying to change its position vis-à-vis the Russian NVO and force it to transfer weapons to Kiev.

Eled Nowak, spokesman for the right-wing Hungarian Mi Hazánk party, said the party had proposed to veto NATO expansion because it could be a step towards world war and an attempt to provoke, reported the Public News Service. It is in the international interest to create a neutral zone.

Hanya Dua Kata: Airlangga Melaju!

Ketua Umum Partai Golkar Airlangga Hartarto/Net

Partai Golkar pernah menempuh jalan modern, namun berliku, dalam mencari Calon Presiden (Capres) Republik Indonesia. Yaitu, Konvensi Nasional Partai Golkar yang dilangsungkan pada 2003-2004. Peserta konvensi, antara lain, Aburizal Bakrie (ARB), Akbar Tanjung, Jusuf Kalla (JK), Prabowo Subianto, Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX, Surya Paloh, dan Wiranto. Bahkan tokoh sekaliber Nurcholish Madjid, Thabrani Rab, Marwah Daud Ibrahim, dan Tuty Alawiyah sempat mendaftarkan diri.

Sayang, konvensi itu berlangsung terlalu panjang dan melelahkan.

Ketika Wiranto ditetapkan sebagai pemenang konvensi dan menjadi Capres RI yang diusung Partai Golkar berpasangan dengan Calon Wakil Presiden Salahuddin Wahid, friksi merambah. Pasangan Wiranto dan Gus Solah ini kalah pada putaran pertama, bersama Amien Rais - Siswono Yudhohusodo dan Hamzah Haz - Agum Gumelar. Dua pasangan maju ke putaran final, yakni Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) - JK dan Megawati Sukarnoputri - Hasyim Muzadi.

Guna menuju Pilpres 2009, Partai Golkar tidak lagi menggelar konvensi. Keterikatan Ketua Umum Partai Golkar yang sekaligus Wakil Presiden Jusuf Kalla dengan Presiden SBY begitu kuat. Sehingga, langgam politik mengikuti apa yang dimaui Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Sekalipun mengusung tagline ‘Lebih Cepat, Lebih Baik’, yakni Jusuf Kalla maju berpasangan dengan Wiranto, hasil-hasil survei sama sekali tak mendukung.

Lain halnya dengan persiapan yang dilakukan menjelang Pilpres 2014 yang sudah jelas tak lagi diikuti oleh Presiden SBY. Partai Golkar sudah mengambil ancang-ancang jauh-jauh hari, yakni mencalonkan Ketua Umum ARB. Tidak ada lagi ewuh -pakewuh, sekalipun ARB adalah menteri dalam kabinet SBY. Hanya saja, Partai Golkar kesulitan membangun koalisi sebagai syarat pendaftaran ke Komisi Pemilihan Umum. Satu peristiwa yang masih sangat menyerikan hulu hati bagi politisi Partai Golkar.

Guna menghadapi Pilpres 2019, Partai Golkar lebih santai. Jauh-jauh hari, Rapimnas Partai Golkar tahun 2017 sudah mematangkan arah untuk mengusung (Presiden) Jokowi sebagai Calon Presiden. Ketua Umum Partai Golkar saat itu, Setya Novanto, menyampaikan langsung keputusan itu dalam Rapimnas yang digelar di Balikpapan pada Mei 2017. Keputusan itu diperkuat dalam Rapimnas dan sekaligus Musyawarah Nasional Luar Biasa bulan Desember 2017 yang memilih Airlangga Hartarto sebagai Ketua Umum.

Kilas balik itu menunjukan betapa Partai Golkar punya konduite yang jelas ketika menetapkan Capres. Partai Golkar beepengalaman selama duapuluh tahun terakhir dalam menetapkan Capres. Bukan saja Capres, tetapi juga visi, misi, dan program yang hendak dijalankan. ARB, misalnya, dilengkapi dengan Visi Negara Kesejahteraan 2045 yang menjadi pedoman bagi Partai Golkar dalam menjalankan fungsi legislatif dan eksekutif.

Hardware Partai Golkar, berupa suprastruktur dan infrastruktur partai, dipersiapkan sejak dini guna menghadapi perhelatan penting itu. Begitu juga software Partai Golkar, berupa para anggota, kader, fungsionaris, pengurus, hingga simpatisan dan relawan, terus menerus mendapatkan pelatihan dan penugasan.

Partai Golkar pernah kehilangan kesempatan tahun 2014 guna mengusung Capres yang sudah melewati proses politik internal. Tak mungkin lagi bagi Partai Golkar untuk kehilangan tongkat kedua-kalinya, tahun 2024.

Konvensi Nasional Partai Golkar 2003-2004 telah menunjukkan, seberapa kuat armada Partai Golkar ketika bergerak. Proses politik membuat sejumlah tokoh yang maju konvensi, lantas mendirikan partai politik. Saya menyebut sebagai Partai Panca Bhakti dengan anggota Partai Golkar, Partai Gerindra, Partai Nasdem, Partai Hanura, dan PKPI.

Selama dua puluh tahun ini juga, Partai Golkar sudah menunjukan jati diri, kapan bersikap sebagai sopir, kapan sebagai kernet. Atau kapan menjadi nahkoda, kapan menjadi mualim. Dalam posisi sebagai mualim, Partai Golkar sudah menunjukkan kinerja yang sungguh-sungguh, guna membantu nahkoda dalam menggerakkan Republik Indonesia. Bukan saja mualim dalam ruang lingkup legislatif, tetapi juga eksekutif, baik di pusat, atau di daerah.

Indonesia sedang bergerak menjadi negara makmur. Negara-negara lain yang berada di depan, seperti Amerika Serikat, China, Korea Selatan, Jepang, dan Russia, sudah melangsungkan proses demokrasi yang lama. Partai Komunis Tiongkok, misalnya, sudah berusia lebih dari satu abad. Cek sendiri usia partai-partai politik lain di negara masing-masing. Tanpa keunggulan partai politik di masing-masing negara itu, mustahil mereka sanggup menghadapi perubahan dan dinamika politik yang belakangan ini berlangsung bak angin putting beliung.

Dalam dua puluh tahun kehadiran Partai Golkar dalam pentas Pilpres itu juga Airlangga Hartarto berproses. Sebagian besar peran itu adalah kepanitiaan atau tim kampanye yang berurusan dengan keuangan atau logistik. Posisi sebagai Bendahara Umum atau Waklil Bendahara Umum begitu banyak dalam riwayat pengabdian Airlangga dalam tubuh Partai Golkar. Tentu, terlepas dari peran yang dilakukan sebagai anggota parlemen nasional.

Dalam kedudukan sebagai Nahkoda Partai Golkar, Airlangga sudah melewati angka lima tahun. Orkestrasi kepemimpinan Airlangga sanggup membangun soliditas ke dalam Partai Golkar, dan solidaritas ke luar Partai Golkar. Airlangga mampu membagi waktu dan peran, ketika menjalankan tanggungjawab sebagai Ketua Umum Partai Golkar.

Bukti dari segala bukti yang bisa diajukan adalah popularitas Airlangga yang sama sekali kecil, dibandingkan dengan Ketua Umum partai politik lain. Aksara keseharian Airlangga lebih banyak mengarah kepada lembaga-lembaga ekonomi dan moneter, baik di dalam maupun di luar negeri. Bahkan lembaga yang sudah masuk pada sebutan supra negara, seperti Bank Dunia. Aksara yang tentu saja tidak populis, bahkan di kalangan para pelaku bisnis skala mikro sekalipun.

Kesederhanaan Haji Agus Salim dan -- bahkan --kemelaratannya, sangat dikenal dunia. Tetapi, popularitas Haji Agus Salim juga mumpuni. Berbeda dengan Airlangga yang tentu saja nama yang paling disalahkan, ketika ekonomi terpuruk dan keuangan negara bangkrut.

Nah, manakala Airlangga hendak ditunjukkan kualitas kepemimpinannya sebagai Nahkoda Negara dan Pemerintahan, apalagi lewat pemilu yang demokratis, apakah itu suatu langkah yang muluk bagi Partai Golkar?

Lebih muluk mana jika dibandingkan dengan nama lain yang sama sekali tidak berproses selama dua puluh tahun terakhir dalam tubuh Partai Golkar?

Sungguh merupakan kekeliruan serius bagi Partai Golkar, jika mengusung kader partai lain, atau tokoh lain yang sama sekali tak berakar dalam Korsa Beringin dan Ikrar Panca Bhakti. Dan itu pada gilirannya, kekeliruan bagi bangsa ini yang memilih jalan demokrasi yang berbasiskan partai politik.

Jadi, hanya ada dua kata bagi Partai Golkar: Airlangga Melaju! Tentu, bersama Koalisi Indonesia Bersatu yang jauh-jauh hari dibentuk.

Putin calls Big Circle Line of Moscow metro 'much-needed project for the city'

©Mikhail Metzel/POOL/TASS

Russian President Vladimir Putin called the Big Circle Line of the Moscow metro "a much-needed project for the city."

Putin took part in the opening ceremony of the Moscow metro's Big Circle (Bolshaya Koltsevaya) Line via video link on Wednesday.

The event was attended by Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin and Moscow Metro workers who worked on the line's construction.

The head of state congratulated the residents of Moscow and the region on this event. He recalled that plans to create this metro loop had been around since Soviet days, but for a long time they remained on paper due to various reasons.

"Today, this large-scale and much-needed project for the city, especially today, has been implemented thanks to the persistent work of the city government headed by Sergey Semenovich Sobyanin," the head of state said.

Talking to reporters on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the construction of the Big Circle Line of the capital's metro "a mammoth project."

"Today is a big day for Moscow, [it is] the opening of the Big Circle Line of the Moscow metro. Titanic work has been done, [this is] a mammoth project, [an example of] the most effective work by the city of Moscow and the Moscow government. A brilliant result," Peskov said.

"The underground ring will be the largest in the world," he added.

The Kremlin press service said earlier the last nine stations of the line will be launched during the event.

The Big Circle Line project has grown to be Russia's biggest and one of the world's largest subway construction projects in recent decades. According to the press service, the Big Circle Line will serve 34 districts in Moscow with a population of 3.3 mln people and considerably reduce the burden on other subway lines.

Putin, Sobyanin open Big Circle Line of Moscow subway

Russian President Vladimir Putin kicked off train service on the Big Circle Line of the Moscow subway via a video link on Wednesday.

©Sergei Bobylev/POOL/TASS

The ceremony was attended in person by Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin. The mayor asked Putin to sign a schematic of the subway that now includes the new line. The president said, "With pleasure," before signing and showing the result to the camera.

Sobyanin then asked the president for permission to put the line into operation.

"What do you think the answer will be?" Putin said with a smile, and then commanded, "Permission given. God speed!"

Sobyanin then repeated the command to workers.

New stations

The last nine stations were put in operation to complete the new circle line. They are Maryina Roshcha, Rizhskaya, Sokolniki, Tekstilshchiki, Pechatniki, Nagatinsky Zaton, Klenovy Boulevard, Kashirskaya and Varshavskaya. The Big Circle Line will improve transportation for 34 districts in Moscow with a population of 3.3 mln people and considerably reduce the burden on other subway lines.

LIVE UPDATES - Russia Thwarts Kiev's Attempt to Launch Massive Drone Attack on Crimea

Russian air defense systems have repelled a massive Ukrainian drone attack on Crimea over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday.

Russian forces thwarted the Kiev regime’s attempted massive drone attack on Crimean facilities, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Wednesday.

According to the ministry, six drones were intercepted, while four others were disabled.

"The Kiev regime’s attempt to carry out a massive drone attack against facilities of the Crimean Peninsula has been thwarted. Six Ukrainian strike drones have been downed by air defense systems. Another four Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been disabled by electronic warfare systems. There are no casualties or damage on the ground," the spokesman said.

There are no casualties or destruction on the ground as a result of the attempted attack, the MoD added.

Kremlin Says Disbelieves Kiev's Words That It Did Not Strike Russian Territory

Moscow does not believe the statement of Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, that Kiev does not strike on the territory of Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

"We do not believe him," Peskov told a briefing, commenting on Podolyak's statement.

Earlier in the day, Podolyak said that Kiev is not involved in the drone attacks against infrastructure facilities in Russia.

About 70 former Ukrainian troops apply for Russian citizenship to join volunteer battalion

About 70 former Ukrainian troops have applied for Russian citizenship in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) to join the Bogdan Khmelnitsky volunteer battalion, a DPR law enforcement official told TASS on Wednesday.

"The first 67 people have applied for Russian passports, they want to join the battalion that is currently being formed," he said, adding that the citizenship process for those wishing to fight on Russia’s side would be phased.

In September 2022, several dozen Ukrainian prisoners of war asked the DPR leadership to enroll them into the Bogdan Khmelnitsky volunteer battalion. In late November, a DPR law enforcement official told TASS that a battalion of former Ukrainian POWs was being formed.

It was reported that about 200 Ukrainian servicemen were ready to join the battalion. Acting DPR head Denis Pushilin said on February 27 that some of the Ukrainian POWs kept in the region were beginning to realize their guilt and believed they must make up for it by siding with Russia.

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

▪️The Russian Army has thwarted a massive drone attack on Crimea by Ukrainian forces, 6 UAVs shot down, four more disabled via electronic warfare;

▪️Russian troops eliminated to 90 Ukrainian servicemen and destroyed three pickup trucks and one D-30 howitzer in the Kupyansk direction;

▪️Ukrainian losses in the Krasniy Liman direction amounted to more than 150 servicemen, with four armored fighting vehicles as well as Msta-B and D-30 howitzers destroyed;

▪️Russian forces eliminated up to 190 Ukrainian servicemen, destroyed two armored fighting vehicles, 16 motor vehicles, as well as two D-30 and one D-20 howitzers in the Donetsk direction;

▪️A Ukrainian ammunition depot was destroyed near Ochertino in the DPR, and another one was destroyed near Aleksandrovka in the Kherson region;

▪️Ukrainian losses in the South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions amounted up to 80 servicemen, with one tank, four armored fighting vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer destroyed.

▪️Russian troops eliminated up to 85 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, three armored fighting vehicles, 12 motor vehicles, and two Akatsia self-propelled howitzers in the Kherson direction.

▪️The Russian Air Force shot down a Ukrainian Su-24 aircraft near Druzhkovka in the DPR.

▪️Russian air defense systems shot down 15 Ukrainian UAVs.