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Russia Today
an hour ago
- Russia Today
Ukraine threatens new invasion of two Russian regions
Ukraine's commander-in-chief, Aleksandr Syrsky, has called for the re-establishment of Kiev's military positions in Russia's Kursk and Belgorod Regions. The proposal comes despite the failure of Ukraine's past incursion attempts and the resumption of peace negotiations between Moscow and Kiev. In late April, Russia announced that it had fully regained control of Kursk Region after months of fighting and expelled all Ukrainian units from occupied settlements. The following month, Russian President Vladimir Putin personally visited the region to oversee restoration efforts. Kiev's forces have since continued their attempts to break through the border, but have been unable to re-establish a foothold. On Tuesday, Syrsky reported that he had attended a meeting chaired by Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky, during which the commander had 'emphasized the restoration of positions and holding territories in the Kursk and Belgorod regions of the Russian Federation.' Syrsky did not elaborate on how such objectives could be achieved. Ukraine has continued to face mounting challenges on the battlefield, including a severe manpower shortage and diminishing weapons supplies. Last week, the US reportedly halted all weapon shipments to Kiev, citing an internal stockpile review. On Sunday, Bild reported that Kiev had requested a variety of weapons from Germany valued at billions of euros. The request allegedly includes WiSENT demining vehicles, which were previously utilized by Ukrainian forces during their last unsuccessful incursion. Kiev launched its thrust into the Russian border region in August 2024. While initially managing to capture a number of settlements, Ukraine's offensive was soon halted, and its forces were gradually pushed out. During a recent appearance at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin described the Ukrainian campaign in Kursk as a 'catastrophe,' saying it resulted in over 76,000 Ukrainian casualties. He stated that Ukraine's combat units are now manned at just 47% of their required strength. Syrsky's call to re-enter Kursk and Belgorod also comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts between Russia and Ukraine. Direct negotiations resumed in Istanbul earlier this year, with both sides exchanging prisoners and drafting preliminary memorandums on a potential ceasefire. However, Russian officials have expressed skepticism about Kiev's commitment to peace. The Kremlin has repeatedly accused Ukrainian forces of carrying out drone strikes and sabotage attacks on civilian infrastructure in Russian cities, including the Kursk and Bryansk Regions. Putin has characterized such operations as acts of terrorism, suggesting that Ukraine's leadership remains more focused on confrontation than compromise.
Russia Today
2 hours ago
- Russia Today
Mother dies trying to save son from draft officers in Ukraine – media (VIDEO)
A woman has died shortly after a desperate attempt to save her son from military recruitment officers in Ukraine, a local Telegram channel and media have claimed, posting a dramatic video of the incident. Ukrainian authorities declared general mobilization following the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022, barring most men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country. In 2024, Kiev tightened conscription laws and lowered the draft age from 27 to 25. However, a considerable number of would-be recruits are apparently unwilling to join the Ukrainian military, as attested by numerous social media videos depicting men fleeing from or resisting draft officers. The mobilization campaign, enforced by the country's Territorial Centers of Recruitment and Social Support (TCR), has been repeatedly criticized over draft officers' aggressive tactics and abuses. The video of the incident, which reportedly took place in the city of Merefa in Kharkov Region in eastern Ukraine, was published by a local Telegram channel on Tuesday. A woman in her 60s can be seen clinging to the windshield of a moving van, seemingly trying to stop it. The vehicle moves in reverse gear for some time while the woman screams. An onlooker shooting the video is heard claiming that the van belonged to military recruitment officers who had recently taken the woman's son, who was presumably being held inside the vehicle. Eventually, a brawny man emerges from the vehicle and rudely tackles the woman, finally making her let go of the van. Soon after it speeds away, the woman collapses to the ground. According to media outlet, the woman soon passed away in an ambulance. In recent months, numerous violent altercations between draft officers and reluctant draftees have been captured on video all across Ukraine. There have also been multiple cases of civil disobedience and even assassinations of draft officers, as well as reports of men dying under suspicious circumstances shortly after being taken from the street. Ukrainian lawmaker Roman Kostenko claimed last month that fewer than one in four recruits enlist voluntarily, with most entering service through what he described as 'brutal compulsory conscription.' Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Ukrainian recruitment officers are grabbing people 'like dogs on the street.' He accused the leadership in Kiev of waging a war 'to the last Ukrainian' on behalf of Western nations. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Defense Ministry has officially dismissed criticism of the mobilization process as 'Russian propaganda.'
Russia Today
3 hours ago
- Russia Today
Ukraine silent about new peace talks
Moscow is waiting for Kiev to confirm a date for the next round of direct peace talks, the Kremlin says. The two sides have held two rounds of negotiations in Türkiye so far, reviving a process that Kiev withdrew from in 2022 to pursue military victory with Western assistance. At their most recent meeting in June, Russian and Ukrainian delegates exchanged draft proposals outlining their visions for a potential peace deal and agreed to carry out further prisoner exchanges. Kiev has recently admitted that it had agreed to resume the peace talks partly to deflect pressure from US President Donald Trump. Asked by reporters on Tuesday whether there had been any progress on setting a date for the third round, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov replied: 'No.' 'As the [Russian] president [Vladimir Putin] said last week, we are waiting for a proposal from the Ukrainian side on possible dates,' he stated, adding that the Kremlin would inform the public immediately if that happened. Putin has repeatedly confirmed Russia's readiness to continue negotiations, including in public statements and a recent call with US President Donald Trump, according to the Kremlin. He said recently that the next round should center on proposed agreements to resolve the conflict. Last week, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Georgy Tikhiy told local media that Kiev had returned to diplomacy with Russia 'to prevent anyone from accusing Ukraine of being the side that doesn't want peace.' He claimed such move helps deflect accusations, 'even among allied countries,' that Kiev opposes Trump's efforts to mediate a truce. Since taking office in January, Trump has pushed for a negotiated settlement. Kiev has claimed that Moscow is not acting in good faith due to its refusal to accept an unconditional ceasefire. Russia says any pause would simply allow Ukraine to regroup. Moscow insists it is open to talks 'without preconditions,' but maintains that any lasting deal must reflect current battlefield realities and require neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification for Ukraine. Putin told Trump last week that while Russia is open for dialogue, it will not back down from eliminating 'the well-known root causes that led to the current state of affairs.' Several POW exchanges have taken place since the June 2 talks. Russia has returned the remains of over 6,000 Ukrainian soldiers and received 57 in return. Moscow said it is ready to transfer the remains of 3,000 more Ukrainian soldiers if Kiev agrees to accept them.
