Russian civilians protest against Ukraine’s war project
A gunman has been arrested after opening fire and wounding a senior official at a recruitment office where Russians were being registered for service in Ukraine, officials said.
Videos of the incident in Russia’s Irkutsk region showed the gunman, who has been identified as Ruslan Zinin, 25, firing at least one shot. The Independent has been unable to verify the images.
The governor of the Irkutsk region, Igor Kobzev, wrote on the Telegram messaging app that the head of the bureau was in hospital in critical condition and that the arrested shooter “will be absolutely punished.”
Opposition to Vladimir Putin’s mobilization order has been fierce. In the Muslim-majority Dagestan region of southern Russia, police clashed with protesters on Sunday, leading to the arrest of at least 100 people.
Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the Russian protests yesterday. “Keep fighting so that your children are not sent to their deaths,” he said.
Meanwhile, voting continued in four Russian-controlled regions in eastern Ukraine on whether to join the Russian Federation, amid international condemnation of a “sham” referendum.
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Putin will meet with key ally Lukashenko later
Vladimir Putin will meet later today in Moscow with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko, a key ally in Russia’s war in Ukraine, Belarusian state media reported.
Russia and Belarus are close allies, as Russia has used bases in Belarus as a staging ground for its troops, aircraft and equipment in the invasion of Ukraine. Belarus has also hosted unsuccessful peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials.
Lukashenko denied that Belarus would mobilize troops for Russia’s war after rumors spread last week that he was planning new measures in light of Putin’s draft announcement last week.
Western powers said Putin’s mobilization of Russian army reserves, the first draft since World War II, showed he was getting desperate. His draft order was accompanied by a threat of nuclear attacks if Russia’s territory was not respected.
Liam James 26 September 2022 09:49
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Ukraine finds two new mass graves after kicking out Russia
Ukraine has discovered two more mass grave sites containing the bodies of hundreds of people in the northeastern city of Izium, which Kyiv reclaimed from Russia this month, Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Russian authorities did not immediately comment on the Ukrainian president’s claim about the discovery of the deposits. Moscow regularly denies committing atrocities in the Ukraine war or targeting civilians.
“Today I received more information… They found two more mass graves, large graves with hundreds of people… We are talking about [the] small town of Izium,” Zelensky said in an interview with CBS.
“Sanctions must continue. These sanctions will have a political impact as well as a financial impact.”
After months of Russian occupation, Ukrainian authorities earlier this month discovered a large burial site next to a cemetery in a wooded area of Izium and launched an investigation into the circumstances of the death.
Ukraine previously found a mass burial site in Bucha, near Kyiv, after Russian troops fled in April.
Liam James September 26, 2022 9:30 am
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Russian media reports a 75% turnout in the referendums
Russian state news agency Tass has reported that referendums on Moscow’s territorial claims in eastern Ukraine have won enough votes to be considered legitimate.
Moscow-backed officials in four Ukrainian regions occupied in part by Russia – Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Donetsk – are holding votes to claim rightful control of the territories.
The referendums have been dismissed internationally as shams, and Ukrainian officials have reported that the Russians are using coercive tactics, such as door-to-door canvassing at gunpoint, to get the result Moscow wants.
Tass reports today that the referendums can be considered legitimate in three of the regions, as turnout has exceeded 50 percent.
Liam James 26 September 2022 09:11
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Nuclear strikes would have “catastrophic consequences” for Russia, US says
The United States warned on Sunday of “catastrophic consequences” if Moscow uses nuclear weapons in Ukraine, after Russia’s foreign minister said the regions holding much-criticized referendums would have full protection if annexed by Moscow.
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the US would respond to any Russian use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine and told Moscow of the “catastrophic consequences” it would face.
“If Russia crosses that line, there will be catastrophic consequences for Russia,” Sullivan told NBC. “The United States will respond decisively.”
The latest U.S. warning followed a thinly veiled nuclear threat Wednesday by Vladimir Putin, who said Russia would use any weapon to defend its territory.
Russia is currently trying to formalize its claim to territory in Ukraine by using mock referendums that NATO and other countries have refused to recognize.
Liam James 26 September 2022 08:47
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Arrests at anti-war protests in Russia’s Dagestan
At least 100 people were arrested in an anti-mobilization protest in Russia’s southern region of Dagestan, underscoring anger at Vladimir Putin’s order to send hundreds of thousands more to fight in Ukraine.
Public anger against Russia’s first military mobilization since World War II has appeared to be particularly strong in poor ethnic minority regions such as Dagestan, a Muslim-majority region on the shores of the Caspian Sea north of the mountains of Caucasus
The independent protest monitoring group OVD-Info said at least 100 people were being held in the regional capital Makhachkala.
Dozens of videos posted on social media showed clashes with police as protesters chanted “no war!”
The following video, released by Ukraine’s Internal Affairs Minister, showed a group of women pushing a police officer away. The Independent has been unable to verify the images.
Liam James 26 September 2022 08:27
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Footage shows a shooting at the Russian draft center
A shooting at a Russian recruiting center appears to have been caught on video.
The gunman, who in another video posted on social media is seen identifying himself to police officers as 25-year-old Ruslan Zinin, opened fire on a recruitment office in the city of Ust-Ilimsk .
Footage below of the shooting shows him firing at least one shot inside the recruiting office. The Independent has been unable to verify the images.
Liam James 26 September 2022 08:08
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Gunman opens fire at recruitment office in Russia amid backlash to Putin’s mobilization
A gunman has been arrested on Monday after opening fire at a recruitment office in Russia’s Irkutsk region, the local governor said.
The gunman, who is seen in a video posted on social media identifying himself to police officers as 25-year-old Ruslan Zinin, opened fire on a recruitment office in the city of Ust-Ilimsk. A separate video of the shooting shows him firing at least one shot inside the recruiting office.
Gunman opens fire at recruitment office in Russia amid backlash to Putin’s mobilization
A gunman fired at least one shot at the recruitment office in Irkutsk, Russia
Liam James 26 September 2022 07:53
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Russian vote counters take ballot boxes door to door, Luhansk governor says
Voting in mock referendums in Ukraine aimed at annexing territory to Russia enters its fourth day.
Voting in four partially Russian-held regions of eastern Ukraine saw Moscow-backed officials carry ballot boxes door-to-door, accompanied by security officers, Luhansk regional governor Serhiy Gaidai said.
The governor said residents’ names were withdrawn if they did not vote correctly or refused to vote.
“A woman walks down the street with what looks like a karaoke microphone telling everyone to take part in the referendum,” he added in an interview published online.
“The representatives of the occupation forces go from apartment to apartment with ballot boxes. That’s a secret ballot, right?”
NATO and several non-affiliated countries, including former Soviet Kazakhstan, have said they will not recognize the results of the referendums. The Russian parliament could formalize the annexations within days.
Liam James September 26, 2022 7:30 am
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Zelensky calls on Russians to back off military mobilization: ‘Not candy wrappers, real people’
Volodymyr Zelensky urged people in Russia not to give in to military mobilization orders in his late-night speech.
“These are not candy wrappers, they are real people,” Zelensky said, adding that people should fight to make sure their children are not sent to Ukraine to die.
“We see that people, in particular, in Dagestan, began to fight for their lives. We see that they begin to understand that this is a matter of their lives. Why should their husbands, brothers and children die in this war? In a war that a man wants. In a war against our people, on our land. He does not send his children to war,” Mr Zelensky said last night.
Urging people not to participate in the war, he added: “…If you come to take the lives of our children – I will tell you as a father – we will not let you live.”
“I want to emphasize once more: there is a way out. Do not submit to criminal mobilization. run away Or surrender to Ukrainian captivity at the first opportunity. I urge all our friends in the information field to spread this appeal”, he added.
Arpan Rai September 26, 2022 7:07 am
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Former Russian ally Kazakhstan says it will not recognize referendums in eastern Ukraine
One of Russia’s former Soviet partners, Kazakhstan, has said it will not recognize Russia’s possible annexation of regions in eastern Ukraine in Moscow-orchestrated referendums there, its ministry said today of Foreign Affairs.
“Regarding the…