RT News - October 16th 2022 The Weekly

At least three people are wounded as a result of explosions in the Russian Belgorod region. Missile defence systems have been activated to repel rockets reportedly launched from across the Ukrainian border.

Eleven people are killed, and another 15 wounded, in a terrorist attack at a Russian military base. It was during a live-fire exercise for volunteers training to fight in Ukraine.

The Chinese Communist Party's 20th Congress kicks off with thousands of delegates sitting down in Beijing to define the country's future amid increasing US activity around Taiwan.

Riyadh turns down Washington's request to delay its oil production cut for a month, causing another stand-off between the two countries. The timing coincides with mid-term elections in the United States.
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◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ Important post via RT 16 Oct, 2022 17:02 ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘

◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘ Kremlin speaks on NATO’s ‘de-facto’ role in Ukraine ◘ ◘ ◘ ◘

Russia will successfully conduct its military operation despite interference from the US-led bloc, Moscow says

NATO has “de-facto become involved in the Ukraine conflict,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russia 1 TV on Sunday, adding that this will not prevent Moscow from following through with its plans and achieving its military goals in Ukraine.

The Kremlin spokesman acknowledged, however, that NATO’s interference makes it “significantly harder” for Russia to conduct its operation, though it does not change the goals.

“This [NATO involvements] requires… our internal mobilization in the field of economy and other spheres,” he told Russia 1, adding that there is a major difference between “the Kiev regime and… the NATO potential.” However, Russia’s own “potential allows [it] to continue the operation under such circumstances,” Peskov said.

The Kremlin spokesman provided no further details about Moscow’s plans and strategy in the military campaign, which has lasted for more than seven months. Earlier this week, Moscow denied rumors that the operation in Ukraine is being redesignated as a counter-terrorism campaign.

Peskov also said at the time that there have been no decisions regarding the introduction of martial law in Russian regions which have been targeted by Ukrainian strikes in recent weeks. Moscow also denied that it has considered travel restrictions for men eligible for military service amid the continuing partial mobilization.

Earlier this week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that over 200,000 reservists have been called up, most of which are still undergoing training, while adding that the draft will be completed in around two weeks.

Russia sent troops into Ukraine on February 24, citing Kiev’s failure to implement the Minsk agreements, designed to give the regions of Donetsk and Lugansk special status within the Ukrainian state. The protocols, brokered by Germany and France, were first signed in 2014. Former Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko has since admitted that Kiev’s main goal was to use the ceasefire to buy time and “create powerful armed forces.”

In February 2022, the Kremlin recognized the Donbass republics, which have since joined the Russian Federation, as independent states, and demanded that Ukraine officially declare itself a neutral country that will never join any Western military bloc. Kiev insists the Russian offensive was completely unprovoked.

https://www.rt.com/russia/564781-kremlin-nato-role-ukraine/