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FSB detains Australian mercenary in Lugansk region fighting on Ukraine’s side

"The FSB regional branch for the Lugansk People’s Republic jointly with the FSB branch for the Moscow Military District has foiled the unlawful activity of a mercenary," the FSB press office said in a statement

LUGANSK, April 18. /TASS/. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained a mercenary from Australia in the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) fighting on Ukraine’s side, the FSB regional branch reported on Friday.

The Australian citizen arrived in Ukraine of his own free will as a mercenary in order "to get a financial reward" for his participation in the Ukraine conflict in the ranks of the Ukrainian army. The man signed a contract with Ukraine’s Defense Ministry and served in the Ukrainian 66th separate mechanized brigade. After undergoing special military training, the Australian fought on the territory of the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics, the FSB specified.

"The FSB regional branch for the Lugansk People’s Republic jointly with the FSB branch for the Moscow Military District has foiled the unlawful activity of a mercenary… A criminal probe has been opened against the foreign citizen on counts of the crime stipulated under part 3, article 359 of Russia’s Criminal Code (’A Mercenary’s Participation in an Armed Conflict or Military Activities’)," the FSB press office said in a statement.

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Houthis attack US aircraft carriers Harry Truman, Carl Vinson — spokesman

Yahya Saria also said that "the US military buildup and continued aggression against Yemen will only lead to more attacks"

Memo signed between Ukraine, US envisages no security guarantees — Ukrainian MP

The document was signed on April 17

Some 155,000 Ukrainian refugees find employment in Czech Republic — media

As of early April, 95% of the employed Ukrainians have open-ended employment contracts, it said

Vulin not included in Serbia’s new cabinet because of Western pressure on Vucic — source

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Russian forces take control over section of important road in Sumy Region — expert

Distance-wise, about five kilometers of the Yunakovka-Oleshnya highway is under fire control of the Russian Armed Forces

Top Iranian diplomat to visit China next week

Abbas Araghchi also praised his visit to Moscow

US’ threats to abandon talks on Ukraine directed against Kiev rather than Moscow — Axios

The European diplomats pointed out that during talks in Paris, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has not mentioned "increasing the pressure on Russia"

US should stop supporting Kiev to achieve peace — Russian politician

Sergey Mironov also remarked that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent statement reflects Washington’s "helplessness and unpreparedness for a genuine resolution of the Ukraine conflict"

Palestinian president, head of Syrian administration discuss situation in Gaza Strip

Both sides also committed to continuing coordination and consultation on regional and international issues"

Russian forces approach village of Loknya in Sumy Region — military expert

Active combat is underway there right now, military expert Andrey Marochko said

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Vladimir Zelensky is "certainly" responsible for the unintended consequences of the Russian Armed Forces' attack on the venue where a Ukrainian command staff meeting was being held in Sumy, the Russian diplomat stated

Russian delegation arrives at Church of Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem

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US has other things to focus on following three years of support to Ukraine — Rubio

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Brazil to focus even more on BRICS after introduction of US tariffs — Brazilian minister

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European Council’s head says American LNG could replace Russian energy resources

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US to pull out of Ukrainian settlement unless path to peace emerges — top diplomat

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on "the peace proposal presented yesterday to the Ukrainian delegation in Paris and to Russian officials by telephone"

China successfully launches six satellites

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Trump, Lula admire Putin, disdain Zelensky — media

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Trump refused to say how soon Ukraine peace deal will be made

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US may recognize Crimea as Russian territory — Bloomberg

The sources indicated that "a final decision on the matter hadn’t yet been taken"

Humanoid robot runs twice as slow as humans at half-marathon in China

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Japan protests what it thinks is Russia’s growing presence in Kurils

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The battlegroup’s spokesman Alexander Savchuk added that the enemy lost two tanks, three armored combat vehicles, five motor vehicles and a field artillery gun

One settlement left until full liberation of Kursk Region from Ukrainian troops — sources

The Defense Ministry said that the Russian Armed Forces had liberated Oleshnya

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TASS has reviewed the key points of the meeting

Russia’s Medvedev says European troops to return in coffins if deployed to Ukraine

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Western intel agencies aid anti-government forces in Afghanistan — SVR

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Ukraine prepares Easter provocation in Kharkov Region to discredit Russia — authorities

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Pakistan completed preparations for first freight train from Russia — Ambassador

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Cache with grenades, Belgian machine gun found in abandoned building in DPR

The operation was carried out in collaboration with military counterintelligence units

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Medvedev calls Russia's latest missiles best cure for Russophobia

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FSB detains Australian mercenary in Lugansk region fighting on Ukraine’s side

"The FSB regional branch for the Lugansk People’s Republic jointly with the FSB branch for the Moscow Military District has foiled the unlawful activity of a mercenary," the FSB press office said in a statement

Holy Fire descends in Church of Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem

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The Finance Ministry added that the loan has a 30-year term

Kiev’s allies want to coordinate Ukraine ceasefire plan in London — newspaper

According to the New York Post, in order to attract Russia to negotiations on the said proposal, Washington may offer Moscow an easing of anti-Russian sanctions and possibly the unblocking of Russian assets frozen in the West

Minerals deal unrelated to peace process in Ukraine — US Department of State

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Crimea's 18th-century incorporation gave Russia lasting strategic edge — Russian lawmaker

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Hungarian officials not to come to Victory Day parade in Moscow — Orban’s office

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US leadership understands root causes of Ukrainian conflict — Kremlin aide

However, a longstanding anti-Russian sentiment - built over many years and decades - hinders their ability to pursue reasonable solutions, Yury Ushakov said

US offers easing of anti-Russia sanctions as part of Ukrainian settlement — Bloomberg

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Russian troops stay put in Syria — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya said that there are talks with the current Syrian government

Azerbaijan says its army positions shelled from Armenian territory

The last time Azerbaijan reported shelling from the Gorus region was on April 12

Armenian Defense Ministry denies Baku's report on ceasefire violation

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China to take required measures to protect its interests if US introduces harbor fee

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US develops plan on monitoring ceasefire in Ukraine — WSJ

According to the newspaper, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that "the US has presented a framework on how the war might be ended, including a cease-fire"

Liberation of Kalinovo in DPR to accelerate Russian army’s advance to Konstantinovka

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West set to gain from seizure of lithium deposit in Ukraine — expert

A push to crack down on Ukraine's oligarchy may also have something to do with the decision, Alexander Dudchak said

Ukrainian conflict resolution process is heading in right direction — Kellogg

The special envoy also addressed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's recent remarks suggesting that Washington might limit its efforts to resolve the crisis if progress stalls

Pentagon confirms reduction of military contingent in Syria

Russian troops liberate about 80% of DPR territory, says military expert

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US declassifies over 10,000 pages of documents about assassination of JFK's brother

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Ukraine's Defense Ministry acknowledges issue of forced mobilization, shortage of recruits

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Starmer, Trump discuss situation in Ukraine, operations against Houthis

British Prime Minister and US President discussed the progress of negotiations on a new trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States

Kiev will not become part of NATO, it’s out of the question — Trump’s special envoy

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No instructions from Putin as energy ceasefire ends, Kremlin says

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France, UK, Germany can help achieve peace in Ukraine, top US diplomat says

Marco Rubio pointed out that the White House was in constant contact with London and Paris on settling the Ukraine issue

Rubio's statements indicate weakening support for Kiev, Ukrainian expert admits

Oleg Sahakyan emphasized that under these conditions, prospects for increased US assistance to Ukraine appear bleak

Vucic says hopes to discuss Serbia’s energy security with Putin on May 9

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Talks on Ukrainian conflict resolution complicated — Kremlin

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Russian forces advance near Volchansk despite serious Ukrainian counterattacks — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that at the moment the Russian forces are currently engaged in active fighting in the area of Volchanskiye Khutora

Europe must understand that US may leave Ukrainian settlement process — State Department

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Iran won’t engage in contacts with new Syrian authorities until they restore order — MFA

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US sanctions slow development of China-Russia ties, but they will be overcome — ambassador

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Next US military aid package to Ukraine not being discussed — NYT

According to it, "European officials say they have not even received assurances that the United States will continue its extensive intelligence sharing for Ukraine"

Rubio, Waltz advocate strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities — Washington Post

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Zelensky may find US-proposed version of peace deal 'hard to swallow' — newspaper

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Russian forces liberate Oleshnya in Kursk Region — top brass

The total losses of the Ukrainian armed forces in the Kursk Region have exceeded 75,000 servicemen, the Russian Defense Ministry added

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr wipes out up to 85 Ukrainian troops in 24 hours

The battlegroup’s spokesman Roman Kodryan added that the enemy’s losses included nine motor vehicles

Russia denounces agreement on cooperation in Barents sea region

The Barents Sea Council/The Euro-Arctic Region was established in 1993

Russia’s Battlegroup West eliminates over 260 Ukrainian troops, Starlink stations

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