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EU approves 16th sanctions package against Russia: targeting banks, media, and 'shadow fleet'
EU nations have greenlit a new wave of sanctions against Russia amid its ongoing military invasion of Ukraine. This marks the 16th sanctions package, set to take effect on February 24, 2025, coinciding with the third anniversary of Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine, according to Poland, the current holder of the EU Council presidency.
This latest round introduces more stringent measures: 13 additional Russian banks are set to be cut off from the SWIFT system. Furthermore, eight Russian …
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Russian offensive fizzles near Pokrovsk as Ukrainian defense holds firm
Despite a year of preparations and redeployment of fresh troops, Russian efforts to isolate Pokrovsk have fallen short. The Russian troops failed to establish reliable flanks for encirclement, while Ukrainian defenses inflicted catastrophic losses. Military expert Alexander Kovalenko reports on the situation. Moscow's initial strategy to encircle Pokrovsk hinged on two critical goals: severing the Kurakhove salient and forming a resilient line of contact with sturdy flanks, yet neither …
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Russia's Khmeimim air base attacked by drones amid Syrian regime change
In a late-night assault stretching from Monday into Tuesday, drones targeted Russia’s Khmeimim Air Base. This attack has been reported by local Telegram channel Sabereen News and OSINT researcher SyrianOSINT.
According to a Russian war correspondent Oleg Blokhin, alarms went off at the Russian base around 2:30 AM local time.
"It was described as an 'assault by a ground enemy.' Pantsir systems immediately engaged. Gunfire and explosions were heard. By 3:30 AM, the intensity of shooting had …
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Ukrainian Forces strike key Russian military and energy infrastructure in Krasnodar region
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed successful precision strikes by Ukrainian Forces on fuel-energy and military infrastructure in Russia's Krasnodar region yesterday.
The Ukrainian Forces targeted the Ilsky Oil Refinery, which has an annual processing capacity of 6.6 million tons of oil. The facility experienced a major fire outbreak.
Additionally, two oil pumping stations, "Andreapol" and "Kropotkinskaya," were hit. The latter is the largest oil pumping station in the …
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Explosions rock Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker Seajewel at Italy's port of Savona
The Seajewel, a tanker under the Maltese flag known for transporting Russian oil to Europe evading sanctions, faced two powerful explosions while docked at the Port of Savona in northwest Italy. According to Newsweek, the blasts occurred during the vessel's unloading process, causing damage below the waterline. Remarkably, no crew members were harmed, and there have been no reports of oil leakage. The Seajewel has been identified as part of Russia's "shadow fleet," a term for vessels …