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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has instructed all consulates of the country to temporarily suspend the provision of consular services for male citizens aged 18 to 60 years who are abroad. The Ukrainian publication “Zerkalo Nedeli” reported this on Monday, April 22, with reference to a letter available to the editors from First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrei Sibiga. From April 23, all consular services, except for processing documents for return to Ukraine, will be unavailable, the letter says.The restriction of access to consular services is being introduced in connection with the “continuing armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine” and in order to prevent Ukrainian citizens from avoiding “the responsibility to resolve the issue of military registration,” the letter states. The Foreign Ministry order is valid “until further clarification is received” on the application of the law on strengthening mobilization, which will come into force in May.On April 11, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted in the second and final reading a controversial bill on tightening mobilization. 283 out of 450 deputies voted in support of the document. Five days later, the law was signed by Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky.All citizens of Ukraine liable for military service must update their military registration data within 60 days after the publication of the text of the law. This can be done at the territorial acquisition center (TCC) or through a personal electronic account.

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The head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, was diagnosed with pancreatic necrosis in January 2019. This was reported by Novaya Gazeta Europe.Then the Chechen leader often began to take leave due to “temporary disability” and miss important public events. In particular, he was not present at Putin’s federal address in February 2023, was silent during Prigozhin’s rebellion and missed a meeting of the Russian President with the heads of the North Caucasus regions, dedicated to his favorite topic - tourism.In September 2023, a “predictable crisis” of the disease occurred - Kadyrov was hospitalized at the Central Clinical Hospital by the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation with acute pulmonary failure, journalists write, citing sources in the Central Clinical Hospital and the FSB Directorate for the Chechen Republic. According to Novaya-Europa, this was preceded by an overdose of the tranquilizer Dormikum, which the head of Chechnya used against “severe pain, insomnia and increased anxiety.”A source at the Central Clinical Hospital told Novaya-Europa that MRI data from Kadyrov’s brain led his loved ones “in a depressed state.” The publication’s source, close to the Chechen security official and State Duma deputy Adam Delimkhanov, stated that the relatives of the heads of Chechnya reacted as follows: “The former leader will no longer exist, the [new] disease will seriously affect [him]. Even if he recovers now, he will be neither alive nor dead...”After this, Kadyrov’s PR people began a “powerful PR campaign at the federal level” to divert the focus of public attention from the topic of the health of the head of Chechnya. It involved “top Russian politicians,” including Putin, who met with the head of Chechnya four times last year.It was federal PR specialists, in agreement with the administration of the President of the Russian Federation, who advised Kadyrov to publish a video of the beating of a native of Crimea, Nikita Zhuravel, notes New Europe. After this, they launched a “long-running topic” with awarding the son of the head of Chechnya with all kinds of titles and orders “as the main defender of Islam in Russia.”

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Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has asked NATO members to provide Kyiv with at least seven Patriot air defense systems or other anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) to repel Russian air strikes. The president wrote about this in his Telegram channel.“We need seven more Patriot or similar air defense systems, and this is the minimum number. They can save many lives and make a real difference,” the message says.He added that NATO has such systems in place and described the current level of foreign assistance as "very limited."Zelensky also recalled the shortage of artillery shells in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and called for the transfer of aircraft.In addition, the Ukrainian leader called on the allies to increase the pace of providing real assistance, rather than promises.Previously, it was reported that the heads of the ministries of defense and foreign affairs of the European Union countries intend to discuss the issue of supplying projectiles for Patriot systems to Ukraine.

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The UK Ministry of Defense noted that the Ukrainian military shot down a Russian strategic bomber for the first time. This information was confirmed both in Ukraine and in Russia.At the same time, British intelligence officers believe that the Ukrainian military used Soviet-made S-200 missiles to shoot down the Russian Tu-22M3."However, it is almost certain that reports of the use of the S-200 (SA-5) missile are accurate, and that this was another successful Ukrainian operation against the Russian Air Force. This system is likely the same launcher that was used to shoot down Russian A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft on February 23, 2024,” the report says.On April 19, the Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Nikolai Oleshchuk reported that Ukrainian soldiers for the first time destroyed the Tu-22M3 strategic bomber, which the Russians use to attack Ukraine.The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine noted that this is the first time that a Russian strategic aviation aircraft was destroyed during a combat mission.Later, an UNIAN source in the special services stated that the Tu-22M3 was shot down from the Soviet S-200 air defense system.In turn, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kirill Budanov, indicated that the plane was hit at a distance of 308 km and that “the same techniques and the same means that we used when we destroyed the A-50 plane in the air” were used to destroy it.

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In Ukraine, restrictions were introduced on the use of online casinos by the military during martial law. President of the country Vladimir Zelensky signed a decree on the entry into force of the decision of the National Security and Defense Council "On countering the negative consequences of the functioning of gambling on the Internet."“The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the leadership of other military formations formed in accordance with the laws of Ukraine should immediately impose a ban on military personnel from accessing gambling establishments or participating in gambling on the Internet for the duration of the legal regime of martial law,” the document says.In addition, the government of the country will have to develop within a month a procedure for limiting “all forms of advertising of gambling, in particular using electronic communications, symbols of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and other military units” and conduct an awareness-raising campaign about the dangers of gambling and the threats of gambling addiction.Vladimir Zelensky also instructed the Security Service of Ukraine to check gambling organizers for compliance with the sanctions legislation of Ukraine within two months.At the end of March, an online petition was registered on the website of the President of Ukraine from a serviceman of the 59th separate motorized infantry brigade, Pavel Petrichenko, which spoke of “frequent cases when gambling-addicted military personnel spend all their allowance on games and take out microloans, or sell them to pawn shops.” drones and thermal imagers."

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For the first time, Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on how part of the border between them will run. The parties “preliminarily agreed on the passage of individual sections of the border line” between four settlements in order to bring these sections “in line with the border that existed within the Soviet Union at the time of its collapse,” the Armenian Foreign Ministry said. The Azerbaijani side confirmed this.As a result of this agreement, Yerevan will transfer to Azerbaijani control four villages in the Tavush region, which Armenia has controlled since the early 1990s. “In this process, the Republic of Armenia receives a reduction in risks associated with border delimitation and security,” stated the office of the Prime Minister of Armenia.Baku and Yerevan agreed in the near future to withdraw troops from the agreed sections and station border services there, as well as “to agree on the priority and continue the process of delimitation of all other sections of the border, including on the issues of enclaves and exclaves.”

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told representatives of several Russian publications that the aggressor country does not intend to interrupt hostilities in Ukraine if negotiations begin on the war unleashed by Russia.According to Russian media, Lavrov stated this in an interview with radio stations Sputnik, Komsomolskaya Pravda and Moscow Speaks, commenting on the agreements that were allegedly discussed in Istanbul.“We will not make any pauses in hostilities during the negotiations. The process must go on,” Lavrov said.In addition, he said that China has a global security initiative that echoes the Kremlin's views. In addition, Russia demands that the existence of military bases and exercises with the participation of third countries be prohibited in Ukraine, except with the consent of all “guarantor countries,” including the Russian Federation and China.Lavrov also mentioned that the fate of Kharkov and other regions of Ukraine was discussed.“We need to move back the line from which enemies can attack us. Kharkov plays an important role here... The realities have become different: we now have “4 original regions,” Lavrov said.The “guarantees” allegedly stipulated that the occupied parts of Ukraine, in particular the occupied Crimea peninsula and Donbass, should belong to the Russian Federation.“This “Istanbul document” contained guarantees... Article 5 of the Washington Treaty on the creation of the North Atlantic Alliance was considered the limit of seriousness. They did not reproduce it word for word, but several other forms were agreed upon... It was specifically written that these security guarantees do not apply to Crimea and Donbass, which, in general, meant that they could not be touched, otherwise no guarantees would apply,” Lavrov said.At the same time, Lavrov said that warnings that the Russian Federation will attack NATO countries in the coming years, in the event of Ukraine’s defeat, are allegedly “threat escalation,” “part of a cunning plan to extort money from their parliaments to continue the war.”The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the aggressor country does not trust Ukraine and the Kremlin is convinced of the need to continue the bloody war.

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Iranian authorities said they had shot down several drones and denied reports of an Israeli missile attack on the country. Earlier, Iranian media reported explosions in the area of the city of Isfahan in central Iran and the work of air defense in different regions.“Several drones were successfully shot down by the country’s air defense, but there is no information about a missile attack yet,” Iranian Space Agency spokesman Hossein Dalirian wrote on social media X.Earlier, CBS News and ABC News reported, citing American officials, that Israel launched missiles towards Iran. The White House and the Pentagon did not comment on this."We have no comment at this time," an Israeli army spokesman told AFP.Israeli officials previously warned they could retaliate after Iran fired hundreds of missiles and drones at Israeli cities last weekend. Almost all of them were shot down.The US has made it clear it will not join in a retaliatory strike on Iran, but on Thursday imposed sanctions on people and organizations involved in the production of Iranian drones in hopes of curbing the escalation.The FARS news agency previously reported that three explosions occurred in the area of the Shekari army airbase near Isfahan International Airport.According to the agency, an air defense system was activated in Isfahan, which detected the drone. The explosions shattered the windows of several office buildings.Broadcaster IRIB, citing “reliable sources,” reported that “the loud sounds heard in several regions of the country were the result of the air defense system being activated to combat several unidentified mini-drones.”There are several Iranian nuclear facilities located in the province of Isfahan, however, as the Tasnim agency reports, citing sources, no incidents have been recorded at nuclear infrastructure facilities.Flights over Tehran and other cities were temporarily suspended. In particular, Imam Khomeini International Airport in the Iranian capital did not accept or dispatch flights.Eight aircraft that were in Iranian airspace deviated from their course.

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Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Republican Mike Johnson, confirmed his intentions to introduce separate bills to help American allies, including Ukraine, and to hold a final vote on them before the evening of Saturday, April 20.Johnson wrote about this in a letter to members of the lower house of Congress on April 17, European Pravda reports with reference to Axios.According to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the texts of three separate bills on aid to Israel, Taiwan and Ukraine will be published by the end of Wednesday.Another bill would contain measures to force the sale of the Chinese app TikTok, the use of seized Russian assets and sanctions, and “other measures to counter Russia, China and Iran.”Responding to outrage from some Republicans who demanded measures to secure the US border with Mexico, the Speaker announced the introduction of another border bill.As Johnson explains in the letter, the four bills to help US allies and counter Russia, China and Iran will be procedurally combined, and their introduction on Wednesday will allow for discussion of possible amendments.“We expect the final vote to approve these bills on Saturday evening April 20,” writes the speaker of the lower house of Congress.The day before, House Speaker Mike Johnson unveiled his plan for approving foreign aid, which would include separate votes on aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and national security priorities.Democratic Majority Leader in the US Senate Chuck Schumer said he would consider House Speaker Mike Johnson's proposal for assistance to Ukraine and other American allies in separate bills.

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On the morning of April 17, drones of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine attacked the aircraft plant named after. Gorbunova in Kazan. Tu-22M and Tu-160M bombers are produced and repaired there.Sources in the special services told UNIAN about this. Explosions occurred on the territory of the aircraft plant at about 10 o'clock in the morning. Before the explosions, an air raid siren sounded in the area of the Kazan aircraft plant. At the same time, the evacuation of personnel from the territory of the enterprise began.During the attack, airports in Kazan, Nizhnekamsk and Nizhny Novgorod were closed. Footage of explosions near the plant appeared online.

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France recalled its ambassador to Azerbaijan for consultations due to Baku's actions. The French Foreign Ministry reported this.“France has decided to recall its ambassador to Azerbaijan for consultations due to the continuation of unilateral actions on the part of Azerbaijan in recent months, damaging relations between our two countries,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.French President Emmanuel Macron has already met with the ambassador. The head of the country “expressed regret about the actions of Azerbaijan” and called for “clarification of their intentions.” The French Foreign Ministry did not specify what actions Baku is talking about.The department recalled that France supports the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia in accordance with international law and the territorial integrity of both countries.At the end of March, the head of the State Security Service of Azerbaijan, Ali Nagiyev, said that France does not support peace in the South Caucasus, but incites Armenia to war, noting that Paris supplies Yerevan with weapons and ammunition. According to him, French intelligence services are forming a spy network that threatens the national security of Azerbaijan.The Armenian authorities have repeatedly stated that Azerbaijan wants to start a war, which, after seizing control of Nagorno-Karabakh and relocating most of the population of the unrecognized republic to Armenia, has repeatedly expressed territorial claims. Baku denies such plans.In December 2023, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry declared two employees of the French Embassy in Baku persona non grata and ordered them to leave the republic. Paris expelled two employees of the Azerbaijani embassy as a retaliatory measure.

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On Tuesday, April 16, Greece's largest journalists' union, the Union of Athens Daily Newspaper Editors, announced a 24-hour strike across all media sectors.The strike was declared from 5 am on April 16 to 5 am on April 17. ESIEA said it opposes "anarchic conditions and very low pay."The union said in a statement that private sector employers' refusal to begin developing collective bargaining agreements "has resulted in workers receiving meager wages."Salaries are said to be “insufficient to meet basic family and personal needs.”The union said low wages put pressure on journalism, professionals and reliable and free information, which is "the cornerstone of democratic functioning".Increasing inflation has made the problem worse. Athens weekly newspaper To Vima estimates that prices have risen by about 37% in the past two years.