Latest news with #Russian-occupied
OC Media
2 hours ago
- Politics
- OC Media
‘It's not beer that kills people — it's water'
Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member It's a strange thing: in the 21st century, in what is supposedly a civilised country, mass poisonings from drinking water still occur in Daghestan every year. Children are particularly affected — the same children who are supposedly 'our future' and a 'priority of state policy'. So why do these mass poisonings continue to happen in Daghestan year after year? There are, of course, many reasons, first and foremost being the human pollution of water sources and the degradation of sewage infrastructure. Solving this in a day, a week, or even a year is nearly impossible. But is anyone trying to solve the problem at all? Before 450 people were poisoned by tap water this year, repair work had reportedly been carried out on the water system. The local administration later claimed that the work had been successful. The result, however, was mass hospitalisations — although this time, at least, without fatalities. The director of the company responsible for the repair work has now been arrested. Yet is he the only one to blame? The problems with water in Daghestan have been known for far too long — instead of spending billions on the 'special military operation', paying out massive salaries to murderers, the Russian government should have been investing in things that truly matter, meeting the population's basic needs. It is also unclear why the company director is now being turned into a scapegoat, when previous incidents of mass poisoning were met with only symbolic punishments. After an outbreak in June 2024, which left 44 people were hospitalised, the fine was a mere ₽80,000 ($1,000); a few years earlier (January 2021, 162 affected), just ₽100,000 ($1,200). At the same time, a woman from Daghestan who waved a Palestinian flag during the unrest at the Makhachkala airport in 2023 was sentenced to 11 years in prison. So much for the 'most humane court system in the world'. And it is not only Daghestan that suffers from a lack of safe drinking water. In neighbouring regions, people aren't being hospitalised — because they simply have no water at all. Parts of Chechnya and Ingushetia are without water, even in this sweltering heat when drinking water is essential. Bottled water from shops? For many, it's an unaffordable luxury. In fact, things are even worse in the so-called 'Donetsk People's Republic' and 'Luhansk People's Republic' — places the majority of the world recognise as being Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine. In most areas, water is now supplied once every three days for just four hours. So much for being 'liberated'. And while in Moscow and many other regions, people are used to boiling water, using filters, or buying large bottles, in the North Caucasus, people always knew the water from the tap was the cleanest and tastiest. It was one of the region's great natural riches. Before loudly boasting about successful import substitution, it would be wise to begin with the most basic and essential thing — drinking water. Only then can we talk about where else improvements might be made.
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Moscow not expecting ‘breakthroughs' from Ukraine talks
MOSCOW: Moscow on Tuesday once again downplayed expectations for a third round of peace talks with Ukraine and did not confirm the date for a meeting in Istanbul set for Wednesday by Ukraine. That came after the Kremlin on Monday said that the two sides were far apart in their visions on how to end the more than three-year-old conflict, and as they continued to pummel each other with drones and missiles. 'We don't have any reason to hope for some miraculous breakthroughs,' Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a regular briefing in answer to AFP's question about the Kremlin's expectations from the talks. Outlining potential topics for discussion, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv was ready to 'secure the release of our people from captivity and return abducted children, to stop the killings, and to prepare a leaders' meeting.' Moscow said that 'a lot of work lies ahead' before even discussions could take place about possible talks between Putin and Zelensky, who last met in 2019. Ukraine said its ex-defence minister and current secretary of the security council, Rustem Umerov, will head Kyiv's delegation on the talks on Wednesday. But the Kremlin said only that it hoped talks could be held 'this week'. 'As soon as we are ready, we will make an announcement regarding the dates,' Peskov said. Moscow's delegation at the last round of talks with Ukraine was led by a hawkish historian and the current head of the Russian Union of Writers, Vladimir Medinsky, whom Ukraine described as a puppet with no authority. Ukrainian and Russian delegations met in Istanbul on May 16 and on June 2 as Washington stepped up pressure for a deal, but no breakthroughs were made and the talks only yielded agreements to exchange prisoners and soldiers' bodies. At the frontline, far from the diplomatic deliberations, the brutal conflict raged on, with Moscow and Kyiv saying that they had intercepted dozens of drones launched at each other. The Russian army also said that it had captured the village of Novotoretskoye in the Donetsk region — the latest advance as Moscow intensifies its ground offensive. A Ukrainian drone strike on a private bus in the Russian-occupied part of the Kherson region killed three people and wounded another three, a Moscow-installed official said. Another man died in Russia's western border Belgorod region after a Ukrainian attack, according to the local governor. At the same time, a Russian drone and missile salvo on Ukraine killed a 10-year-old boy in the eastern frontline city of Kramatorsk, and wounded more than a dozen people across the country, Kyiv's authorities said. In recent weeks, Russia has fired a record number of drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities, and seized more frontline territory, which Kyiv says is evidence that Moscow is not serious about halting the all-out offensive it launched in February 2022.
Leaders
2 days ago
- Politics
- Leaders
Moscow Downplays Expectations for Upcoming Ukraine Peace Talks
Moscow on Tuesday once again tempered expectations for the upcoming peace talks with Ukraine as the Kremlin did not confirm the date for a meeting in Istanbul, which Ukraine had scheduled for Wednesday. This announcement follows the Kremlin's statement on Monday, indicating that both sides remain far apart in their visions for resolving the ongoing conflict, which has persisted for over three years. As tensions escalate, both nations continue to exchange drone and missile strikes. During a regular briefing, Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressed skepticism about the talks. He stated, 'We don't have any reason to hope for some miraculous breakthroughs,' reflecting the Kremlin's cautious outlook regarding the negotiations. Ukraine's Proposed Discussion Topics In contrast, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky outlined potential topics for discussion, who emphasized Kyiv's readiness to secure the release of captives, return abducted children, halt the killings, and prepare for a leaders' meeting. These proposals highlight Ukraine's commitment to finding common ground despite the ongoing hostilities. Moscow acknowledged that 'a lot of work lies ahead' before any meaningful discussions could occur between Putin and Zelensky, who last met in 2019, and the Kremlin's recent comments suggest that significant obstacles remain. Ukraine announced that its ex-defence minister and current secretary of the security council, Rustem Umerov, will lead Kyiv's delegation during the talks on Wednesday. The Kremlin has only stated that it hopes talks could occur 'this week.' Peskov added, 'As soon as we are ready, we will make an announcement regarding the dates.' This ambiguity leaves many questions about the future of the negotiations. Previous Talks Yielded Little Progress In the last round of talks, Moscow's delegation was led by Vladimir Medinsky, a hawkish historian and head of the Russian Union of Writers, whom was criticized by Ukraine, describing him as a puppet with no real authority. Previous meetings in Istanbul on May 16 and June 2 yielded no breakthroughs, only agreements to exchange prisoners and soldiers' bodies. While diplomatic efforts continue, the brutal conflict rages on at the frontline as both Moscow and Kyiv reported intercepting dozens of drones launched at each other. The Russian army claimed to have captured the village of Novotoretskoye in the Donetsk region, marking a significant advance as Moscow intensifies its ground offensive. Casualties from Recent Strikes Furthermore, recent attacks have resulted in tragic casualties after a Ukrainian drone strike on a private bus in the Russian-occupied Kherson region killed three people and injured three others, according to a Moscow-installed official. Additionally, a man died in Russia's Belgorod region following a Ukrainian attack, as reported by the local governor. In Ukraine, a Russian drone and missile strike killed a 10-year-old boy in Kramatorsk and injured more than a dozen others across the country. Kyiv's authorities noted that Russia has recently launched a record number of drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities. This escalation raises concerns that Moscow is not serious about halting its all-out offensive, which began in February 2022. Short link :
Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Moscow downplays expectations from Ukraine talks
Moscow downplays expectations from Ukraine talks MOSCOW: Moscow on Tuesday once again downplayed expectations for a third round of peace talks with Ukraine and did not confirm the date for a meeting in Istanbul set for Wednesday by Ukraine. That came after the Kremlin on Monday said that the two sides were far apart in their visions on how to end the more than three-year-old conflict, and as they continued to pummel each other with drones and missiles. 'We don't have any reason to hope for some miraculous breakthroughs,' Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a regular briefing in answer to AFP's question about the Kremlin's expectations from the talks. Outlining potential topics for discussion, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv was ready to 'secure the release of our people from captivity and return abducted children, to stop the killings, and to prepare a leaders' meeting.' Moscow said that 'a lot of work lies ahead' before even discussions could take place about possible talks between Putin and Zelensky, who last met in 2019. Ukraine said its ex-defense minister and current secretary of the security council, Rustem Umerov, will head Kyiv's delegation on the talks on Wednesday. But the Kremlin said only that it hoped talks could be held 'this week'. 'As soon as we are ready, we will make an announcement regarding the dates,' Peskov said. Moscow's delegation at the last round of talks with Ukraine was led by a hawkish historian and the current head of the Russian Union of Writers, Vladimir Medinsky, whom Ukraine described as a puppet with no authority. Ukrainian and Russian delegations met in Istanbul on May 16 and on June 2 as Washington stepped up pressure for a deal, but no breakthroughs were made and the talks only yielded agreements to exchange prisoners and soldiers' bodies. At the frontline, far from the diplomatic deliberations, the brutal conflict raged on, with Moscow and Kyiv saying that they had intercepted dozens of drones launched at each other. The Russian army also said that it had captured the village of Novotoretskoye in the Donetsk region — the latest advance as Moscow intensifies its ground offensive. A Ukrainian drone strike on a private bus in the Russian-occupied part of the Kherson region killed three people and wounded another three, a Moscow-installed official said. Another man died in Russia's western border Belgorod region after a Ukrainian attack, according to the local governor. At the same time, a Russian drone and missile salvo on Ukraine killed a 10-year-old boy in the eastern frontline city of Kramatorsk, and wounded more than a dozen people across the country, Kyiv's authorities said. In recent weeks, Russia has fired a record number of drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities, and seized more frontline territory, which Kyiv says is evidence that Moscow is not serious about halting the all-out offensive it launched in February 2022. – AFP
eNCA
2 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
Moscow not expecting 'breakthroughs' from Ukraine talks
Moscow on Tuesday once again downplayed expectations for a third round of peace talks with Ukraine and did not confirm the date for a meeting in Istanbul set for Wednesday by Ukraine. That came after the Kremlin on Monday said that the two sides were far apart in their visions on how to end the more than three-year-old conflict, and as they continued to pummel each other with drones and missiles. "We don't have any reason to hope for some miraculous breakthroughs," Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a regular briefing in answer to AFP's question about the Kremlin's expectations from the talks. Outlining potential topics for discussion, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv was ready to "secure the release of our people from captivity and return abducted children, to stop the killings, and to prepare a leaders' meeting." Moscow said that "a lot of work lies ahead" before even discussions could take place about possible talks between Putin and Zelensky, who last met in 2019. Ukraine said its ex-defence minister and current secretary of the security council, Rustem Umerov, will head Kyiv's delegation on the talks on Wednesday. But the Kremlin said only that it hoped talks could be held "this week". "As soon as we are ready, we will make an announcement regarding the dates," Peskov said. Moscow's delegation at the last round of talks with Ukraine was led by a hawkish historian and the current head of the Russian Union of Writers, Vladimir Medinsky, whom Ukraine described as a puppet with no authority. Ukrainian and Russian delegations met in Istanbul on May 16 and on June 2 as Washington stepped up pressure for a deal, but no breakthroughs were made and the talks only yielded agreements to exchange prisoners and soldiers' bodies. - Five killed in strikes - At the frontline, far from the diplomatic deliberations, the brutal conflict raged on, with Moscow and Kyiv saying that they had intercepted dozens of drones launched at each other. The Russian army also said that it had captured the village of Novotoretskoye in the Donetsk region -- the latest advance as Moscow intensifies its ground offensive. A Ukrainian drone strike on a private bus in the Russian-occupied part of the Kherson region killed three people and wounded another three, a Moscow-installed official said. Another man died in Russia's western border Belgorod region after a Ukrainian attack, according to the local governor. At the same time, a Russian drone and missile salvo on Ukraine killed a 10-year-old boy in the eastern frontline city of Kramatorsk, and wounded more than a dozen people across the country, Kyiv's authorities said. In recent weeks, Russia has fired a record number of drones and missiles at Ukrainian cities, and seized more frontline territory, which Kyiv says is evidence that Moscow is not serious about halting the all-out offensive it launched in February 2022.
