More severe penalties in Russia for those who defect . Vladimir Putin, to curb the flight of conscripts after the recall of 300,000 reservists destined for the Ukrainian front, signed a package of amendments to the penal code to tighten penalties.
Desertion or failure to appear at the draft is punished with imprisonment from five to ten years, up to ten years in prison even for those who voluntarily surrender to the enemy. In addition, for those who desert during mobilization or martial law, 15 years of imprisonment are foreseen . A law has also been signed to facilitate access to Russian nationality for foreign nationals serving in the Russian army.
Meanwhile, Joe Biden has assured that the United States and its allies will impose new "rapid and severe" economic sanctions on Russia if it annexes territories in Ukraine after the "farce referendum" underway in the Donbass .
" Referendums are a false pretext to try to annex parts of Ukraine by force", the American president reiterated.
And the G7 nations invite "all countries to unequivocally reject these fictitious referendums, simulacra that" have neither effects nor legitimacy ".
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The news by the hour
Lavrov: "We will respect the results of the referendum"
"The referendums are based on a request from the local government, the conditions have been published and after these referendums Russia will respect the expression of the will of the people of those territories, which have long suffered from the abuses of the Nazi regime" in Kiev. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Serghei Lavrov in response to a question on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. "The hysteria we have seen is very eloquent", he later said to journalists on the reactions of the US and Europeans on the referendums.
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Lavrov: "EU subjugated by the US dictatorship"
"In Washington there is a dictatorship and Europe is subjugated". This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Serghei Lavrov speaking to the UN General Assembly. "Diplomacy is replaced by illegal sanctions. The US and allies do not give anyone freedom, it is not democracy", he attacked.
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Lavrov: "The Russophobia of the West is unprecedented"
"The Russophobia of the West is unprecedented". This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Serghei Lavrov speaking to the UN General Assembly. "Instead of dialogue we must face the disinformation and lies of the West that undermine trust in international law and international institutions," Lavrov added.
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China: "Prevent the war from spreading"
"We ask the warring parties in Ukraine to prevent the conflict from spreading". This was stated by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaking to the UN General Assembly. China supports the resolution of "hot issues constructively following the principle of non-interference. Concerning the war in Ukraine the urgent priority is peace negotiations and addressing legitimate security concerns of all sides," he added.
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Putin's new law, harsher penalties for those who desert
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a package of amendments to the penal code relating to military service. Desertion or failure to appear for military service is punishable by imprisonment from five to ten years. Those who voluntarily surrender to the enemy will face a prison sentence of up to ten years. In addition, 15 years of imprisonment are foreseen for desertion during mobilization or martial law, reports Tass.
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Moscow replaces the general in charge of logistics
Moscow announced today the replacement of its chief logistics officer: Army General Dmitry Bulgakov has been relieved of his duties as Deputy Defense Minister and replaced by General Mikhail Mizintsev. This was stated by the Russian Defense Minister quoted by the state press agency Interfax. Mizintsev will be "responsible for the material and technical supplies of the armed forces", while Russia is in the midst of the mobilization campaign. "Bulgakov - explains a statement - has been transferred to a new post".
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Bbc: "Escape from Russia, 10 km in a row to enter Georgia"
A growing number of Russian citizens have continued to try to leave the country since President Putin announced the mobilization of at least 300,000 troops on Wednesday. The BBC reports that there is a ten-kilometer queue at the border to enter Georgia. The broadcaster's correspondent explained that cars manage to cross the border very slowly and some said they waited more than 20 hours to cross. Traffic at the border between Finland and Russia has also increased.
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Kiev: "Draft warnings from Moscow to Ukrainians with Russian passports"
In the Russian-occupied areas in the Zaporizhzhia region (south-eastern Ukraine) and in the Kherson oblast (south), the men who received Federation passports are receiving the notification of call for the mobilization announced by Vladimir Putin. This was announced by the Ukrainian General Staff on Facebook. "In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, the occupation authorities have begun to notify conscription-age men who have renounced Ukrainian citizenship and received passports from the Russian Federation," the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said.
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Borell: "Very serious nuclear threats, dangerous moment"
"Certainly it is a dangerous moment because the Russian army has been cornered and Putin's reaction - who threatens to use nuclear weapons - is very serious", said the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell , speaking to the BBC about the new developments of the war in Ukraine, and about the threat of the use of nuclear weapons evoked by Vladimir Putin in his last speech, Borrell stressed: "When people say that it is not a bluff, they must be taken seriously". And on the possibility that Moscow will accept a negotiation, Borrell limited himself to observing that "to dance the tango it takes two".
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Zelensky honors the "heroes"
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, presented the honors of the Order of the Golden Star to the family members of the Ukrainian military who were awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. The ceremony took place in the White Hall of Heroes of the Marinsky Palace in Kiev.
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Missile in Zaporzhzhia, there are casualties
A Russian missile hit a residential building in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Interim Mayor Anatoliy Kurtiev reported on Telegram and reported by Ukrinform, killing an untold number of people. "Following an enemy attack in Zaporizhia, a residential building was damaged. There are casualties," the mayor wrote. The emergency health services are at work on the site of the raid. Yesterday, following the Russian bombing of Zaporizhia, the civilian infrastructure of the city was damaged and other victims were reported ", writes Ukrinform.
(Unioneonline)
