(2022-02-20). What Russia and Ukraine Could Do Better. warisacrime.org By David Swanson, World BEYOND War, February 19, 2022 There are a number of things that have to be said first. They have to be said because virtually no U.S. television viewer knows or is likely ever to know them. They have to be said because if I'm going to suggest any flaws in the …
(2022-02-20). What Kind of Transit of Power is Expected in Turkmenistan? journal-neo.org 
Following Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow's decision that he will hand over power to a "younger generation", Turkmenistan's transit has become a highly debated topic. Experts note that outside powers such as Turkey, Pakistan and the US, which would like to draw Turkmenistan into their orbit of influence, to the Taliban (a movement banned in Russia), …
(2022-02-19). Ukrainian Army Continues Massive Shelling of Donetsk and Luhansk. southfront.org 
The Ukrainian army continuously fires 120mm mortars at the settlements of Zaitseve and Dokuchaevsk in the Donetsk region. | Thousands of shells were fired during the day, mainly at civilian infrastructure and residential areas in the districts of Gorlovka and Lugansk, currently under massive artillery fire by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Dozens have been reported only in the last hour. | A few hours ago, the car of the head of the People's Militia of the DPR Denis Sinyakov was blown up by Ukrainian saboteurs in the center…
(2022-02-19). Ukraine's NATO Membership Not on Agenda, Won't Happen in Foreseeable Future, German Chancellor Says. sputniknews.com Ukraine's ambassador to Germany has adamantly demanded membership in the Western alliance for his country, warning that Kiev may be forced to pursue nuclear weapons if its membership bid is declined. Last week, German media reported that officials in Berlin were consciously avoiding the "pain in the a**" diplomat over his "undiplomatic contact."
(2022-02-19). Two explosions hit Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine (+VIDEO). en.mehrnews.com Two explosions have rocked Ukraine's eastern separatist region of Luhansk, one hitting a gas pipeline.
(2022-02-19). Donetsk says Ukraine's shelling damaged water supply station. tass.com The situation along the contact line in eastern Ukraine took a turn for the worse on Thursday morning…
(2022-02-19). DPR, LPR Order General Military Mobilisation as Kiev Continues to Shell Donbass. sputniknews.com On Friday, the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) and Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) announced the evacuation of their citizens to Russia's Rostov Region after the Ukrainian army launched an attack against the republics.
(2022-02-19). Ukrainian breakaway republic shelled, RT crew nearby. rt.com 
A small town outside Donetsk came under fire as RT Arabic was covering the events | The area where an RT Arabic television channel crew was working came under fire in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic in southeastern Ukraine on Saturday, the network has confirmed. According to preliminary information, nobody was injured. | "Our correspondent said that the incident has occurred in the town of Zaitsevo, located near the line of contact between the two sides of the conflict in Donbass," RT Arabic reported. | According to the channel's editor-in-chief Maya Manna, the reporter Maxim Al-Toury, his camera…
(2022-02-19). Russian region declares emergency amid influx of refugees. rt.com 
The two self-proclaimed Donbass republics in eastern Ukraine have announced they are evacuating civilians across the border | A Russian region bordering Eastern Ukraine has declared a state of emergency on Saturday, with reports of refugees from the separatist-held Donbass crossing over the border amid a military escalation with Kiev. | The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) announced that they had begun evacuating civilians to Russia on Friday, with rebels and Ukrainian army forces accusing each other of shelling across the contact line. It is unclear how many…
(2022-02-19). PHOTOS: Shell May Have Exploded in Russia's Rostov Region Near Ukraine Border, Source Says. sputniknews.com On Friday, the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics announced the evacuation of their citizens to Russia's Rostov Region over a dramatic escalation of tensions along the Donbass line of contact and a possible full-fledged offensive by the Ukrainian army.
(2022-02-19). TikTok Unblocks Account of RIA Novosti After Intervention of Media Watchdog. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The social network TikTok has unblocked the official account of RIA Novosti news agency and restored the deleted video with the appeal of the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, after Russia's state communications regulator Roskomnadzor intervened, the watchdog said.
(2022-02-19). Buses Evacuating Residents From Donetsk to Russia as Kiev Forces Shell Donbass. sputniknews.com The authorities of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Lugansk People's Republic started the evacuation of civilians to Russia on Friday, fearing military aggression by the Ukrainian government.
(2022-02-19). Preparations: South Ossetia boosts support for Donetsk, Lugansk, Transnistria. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com State News Agency of South OssetiaFebruary 18, 2022 The Parliament of South Ossetia supported the State Duma of the Russian Federation on the recognition of the DPR and the LPR Deputies of the Parliament of South Ossetia supported the appeal of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation to the President …
(2022-02-19). Russia to protect its citizens in Donetsk, Lugansk if they are in danger – Duma speaker. tass.com Russia doesn't want war, Vyacheslav Volodin said…
(2022-02-19). Gas company comments on blast amid escalation in eastern Ukraine. rt.com 
An explosion in the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic was reported around midnight | A gas company from the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) in eastern Ukraine has said that the blasts at a local pipeline were manmade. | "After assessing the damage, [we can say] that the cause of explosions is a sabotage," Tatyana Bogorodko, the director of Luganskgaz, said on Saturday. | The first blast was reported in the village of Malaya Vergunka outside Lugansk shortly after midnight. The second explosion occurred at a pipeline in Lugansk itself around half an hour later, the company said, adding th…
(2022-02-19). Explosions in Lugansk did not affect gas transit through Ukraine – pipeline operator. tass.com It underscored that the gas transit continues as usual…
(2022-02-19). 'Omens are grim' for Ukraine, UK PM warns. rt.com 
Boris Johnson called on Western nations to stand with Kiev and support sanctions against Moscow | Moscow could be just moments away from ordering a full-blown invasion of Ukraine, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has alleged, amid reports of heavy shelling and explosions near the contact line in the Donbass. | Speaking at a press conference alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Johnson claimed that the world is at "a very dangerous moment in history" and stands "on the brink of what could be a war in Europe." | "If Ukraine is invaded and if Ukraine…
(2022-02-19). Acting Minister of Emergency Situations, chief sanitary medic arrive in Rostov Region. tass.com The plane landed at the Platov airport. It also carried a Ministry task force and medics, who will organize the admission of Donbass evacuees…
(2022-02-19). Explosion reported in southern Russia. rt.com 
Russian media quotes a police source as saying that a shell exploded close to the shared frontier | A shell has allegedly exploded on Russian territory, close to the border with the war-torn Donbass region of Ukraine, local media has reported. | On Saturday, Russian news agency RIA Novosti wrote that a police source in the southern Rostov region had claimed authorities were responding to the detonation in a rural community in the area. "The blast occurred at 4 am, 300 meters (984 feet) away from a house in the village of Mityakinskaya," the official said. | The incident reportedly occurred one kilometer (0.6 m…
(2022-02-19). Zelensky's Knocking At The Bear's Door. southfront.org 
Written by Alex Gallant exclusively for SouthFront | The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Following the heightened tensions of the last 48h, Kyiv continues to transfer additional units in Donbass, seemingly in preparation of a potential large-sca…
(2022-02-19). Canada to arm Ukraine with lethal weapons as part of US-led war drive against Russia. wsws.org Even though recent shelling in eastern Ukraine was instigated by Ukrainian forces, Canada's foreign ministry asserted without any evidence that "Russian military activity" was "escalating" the situation in Donbas.
(2022-02-19). Putin launches nuclear war drills (VIDEOS). rt.com 
The exercise is taking place amid tensions with the West over Ukraine | Russian President Vladimir Putin launched strategic drills on Saturday, and is following the exercises from the situation center in Moscow, along with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. | The drills involve both nuclear and non-nuclear weapons, and are being held amid the escalation in eastern Ukraine and continuing tensions with NATO. The Russian Defense Ministry said ahead of the maneuvers that they would include the "launching of ballistic and cruise missiles." The air force is set participate along with the country's Northern and…
(2022-02-19). Macron announces withdrawal of French troops from Mali. wsws.org This withdrawal, driven by mounting popular opposition to French imperialism, comes amid the closely related NATO operations to provoke a war with Russia over Ukraine.
(2022-02-19). Russian embassy rejects US allegations of Moscow's involvement in Ukraine cyberattacks. tass.com According to the statement, published on the embassy's Facebook page, Neuberger's claims are "blatantly anti-Russian"
(2022-02-19). Pentagon chief in Poland: "The most dangerous conflict since World War II" antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Quotes from video of joint press conference below. Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak: "The most dangerous conflict since World War II." Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin: "Polish and American soldiers fought and died together in Iraq and Afghanistan." "[Poland] Fourth largest concentration of U.S. forces in Europe." === Radio PolandFebruary 18, 2022 NATO stands united with Ukraine as …
(2022-02-19). Russia Not Involved in Recent Cyberattacks on Ukraine, Embassy to US Says. sputniknews.com WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Russia was not involved in the recent cyberattacks on Ukrainian banks, the Russian Embassy to the United States said, thus rejecting the US accusations.
(2022-02-19). VP Harris said U.S. mulling reinforcements in Baltic States — Lithuania. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com ReutersFebruary 18, 2022 U.S. is discussing reinforcement of Baltic States — Lithuanian president U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris told Baltic leaders that Washington is considering reinforcing their states militarily as the Ukraine-Russia crisis grows, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Friday. "We were told that yes, at this moment they are discussing the question of …
(2022-02-19). EU, Allies to Sanction Russia's Energy & Tech Fields in Event of Ukraine Escalation – Von Der Leyen. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The European Union and its allies have prepared a package of sanctions against Russia targeting energy and advanced technology sectors in the event of escalation in Ukraine, President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen said Saturday.
(2022-02-19). Truths and lies about pledges made to Russia. mronline.org 
The information war surrounding tensions between NATO and Russia over Ukraine often leads to distortions of historical reality.
(2022-02-19). Wednesday 2/23: Roundtable Discussion: Ukraine Crisis. indybay.org On Zoom! Link: rb.gy/bxhzue…
(2022-02-19). Germany has no plans to allow Ukraine join NATO — Scholz. rt.com 
The German chancellor said the row between Russia and the West is potentially dangerous but can be resolved | NATO currently has no plans to admit Ukraine as a member despite Moscow's demands that the US-led military bloc pledge not to expand further towards its borders, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said amid a worsening standoff between the two former Soviet republics. | Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Berlin's top politician said that "Russia has made the issue of Ukraine's possible NATO membership a casus belli," effectively making it a pretext for war if Kiev's ambitions to joi…
(2022-02-19). Biden threats over Ukraine roil markets. wsws.org There have been warnings of a "perfect storm" that could hit, resulting from a combination of rising geo-political conflicts and increased interest rates.
(2022-02-19). Russia rejects Moscow's involvement in Ukraine cyberattacks. en.mehrnews.com Russian Embassy in Washington debunked claims of US Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology Anne Neuberger regarding Moscow's alleged involvement in the recent cyberattacks in Ukraine.
(2022-02-19). Global Research Weekender: Whose Fault Is the Ukrainian Crisis? Provoking a Third World War? globalresearch.ca The botched narrative of a February 16 Russian invasion of Ukraine reveals the desperation of the Anglo-American allies in provoking a third world war. As the warmongers of the West continue building up their war propaganda while their military equipment …
(2022-02-19). EU issues warning about Russian 'isolation'. rt.com 
Brussels' top official has warned of a return to the days of the Cold War | The worsening standoff between Russia and the West threatens to upend European security and ultimately could end up isolating Moscow in a way not seen since the days of the Soviet Union, the European Union has cautioned as an escalating crisis unfolds on the border with Ukraine. | Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that "the world has been watching in disbelief we face the largest build-up of troops on European soil since the darkest days of the Cold War." | A…
(2022-02-19). EU, NATO, US leaders call for immediate de-escalation of situation around Ukraine. tass.com The situation around Ukraine will become the main topic of EU Foreign Ministers' meeting in Brussels on February 21…
(2022-02-19). Morning Commute: 2-19-2022 #NoWarWithRussia #NoWarWithChina. anchor.fm In this episode I discuss the ongoing Geo political situation between the US, United Nations, European Union, NATO, Russia, China, and other nations across the world. I discuss the historical development of and my definition of imperialism as well as its connection to capitalism and its natural development from capitalism. We have to illuminate the ruling class structure and oppressive organizations which hold the working and exploited people down. We need power in the hands of the oppressed masses, long live the revolution!
(2022-02-19). Russia Is Pressing For More Concessions While Donbas Heats Up. popularresistance.org "For the past 15 years, ever since the Munich speech, Russian officials have been arguing against the unilateral use of force and demanding a UN-centered security system founded on international law. Were we to wake up one day and find that Russian tanks were rolling towards Kiev without any kind of excuse, it would amount to a complete abandonment of 15 years of argumentation as well as a negation of the entire legal/moral position built up by the Russian Federation in that period, a position reinforced just this month in the Putin/Xi statement." It would also be very odd. For you can hardly achieve the objectiv…
(2022-02-19). Russians have hacked American military-industrial complex — US. rt.com 
The purported cyber attacks are said to date back at least two years | Russian government-backed hackers have been stealing "sensitive" information from American weapons companies for several years, a recent announcement by US security agencies has claimed. | The FBI, National Security Agency, and US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a report on Wednesday alleging that since at least January 2020, the hackers have been collecting information that is unclassified but contains "significant insight into US weapons platforms development and deployment timelines." | The attacks appare…
(2022-02-19). Russian Military Fires Kinzhal Hypersonic Missiles, Yars ICBM, Kalibr & Zircon During Drills – Video. sputniknews.com The Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aircraft-deployed hypersonic cruise missile system is nuclear capable, and is one of several hypersonic weapons rolled out by Russia in the late 2010s in a bid to preserve global strategic stability amid US efforts to build a missile defence shield.
(2022-02-19). Europe has next to no gas left — Gazprom. rt.com 
The EU has used up more than 95% of the gas it stored last summer | Underground gas storage facilities (UGS) in Europe were 95.3% empty as of February 17, Russia's state energy giant and major gas exporter Gazprom said on Saturday, citing data from Gas Infrastructure Europe. | This means that Europe now has only 4.7% of its gas reserves left for the remainder of the winter season. | The volume of active gas in storage facilities is 21% or 8.3 billion cubic meters less compared to the same time last year. In total, 44.8 billion cubic meters have already been withdrawn from Europe's UGS this winter. | According…
(2022-02-19). Biden administration and Republicans use war crisis to push phony "national unity" wsws.org The foreign policy aim is to accomplish American imperialism's decades-long goal of subjugating Russia. The domestic aim is to protect corporate profits and suppress social opposition amid the country's political crisis.
(2022-02-19). NATO did promise Moscow it wouldn't expand, former German defense official tells RT. rt.com 
Willy Wimmer told RT he personally witnessed the West vowing that NATO would not expand to the east | Despite their denials, Western leaders did make a promise to the USSR that NATO would not expand to Central and Eastern Europe when Moscow agreed to Germany's reunification, Willy Wimmer, a former vice president of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), has claimed in an interview with RT on Saturday. | The veteran politician, who served as parliamentary secretary to Germany's defense minister between 1985 and 1992, said that he personally witnessed this promise when he "sent Chancell…
(2022-02-19). The dispute over the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. wsws.org As in the wars of the 20th century, control over strategic raw materials plays a significant role in the current confrontation with Russia.
(2022-02-19). Valieva returns to hero's welcome in Moscow (VIDEO). rt.com 
Shouts of support were heard for the figure skater as a military band greeted Russian Olympians | Russian figure skating sensation Kamila Valieva walked through flanks of fans who offered words of support as she returned to Moscow from the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. | The eyes of the world have been on the 15-year-old prodigy during a campaign that began in history-making fashion as part of a team gold medal and ended in despair following a stuttering individual performance amid an anti-doping saga that is set to rumble on while she awaits a definitive verdict. | About 100 fans are said to have gathered…
(2022-02-19). Ukrainians Fired The Territory Of The Russian Federation. southfront.org 
A shell has exploded in the Rostov Region of Russia, one kilometer away from the Russian-Ukrainian border. | TASS reported that the explosion occurred in the morning of February 19 at about 4: 00 Moscow time. The shell exploded near the village of Mityakinskaya in Tarasovsky district, 300 meters from a house. | | Employees of law enforcement agencies are working at the scene. There were no injuries or damage as a result of the…
(2022-02-19). As U.S. Threatens War with Russia, Biden Administration Unveils Imperial Strategy for Indo-Pacific That Could Lead to War with China. covertactionmagazine.com Already threatening war with Russia, the White House this month has unveiled a new imperial grand strategy for the Indo-Pacific …
(2022-02-19). Russian Skiers Win Gold, Silver at Men's Freestyle Mass Start in Beijing. sputniknews.com BEIJING (Sputnik) – Russian skiers Alexander Bolshunov and Ivan Yakimushkin won the first and the second places at the men's freestyle mass start at the Beijing Olympic Games on Saturday.
(2022-02-19). Rostov Region governor introduces state of emergency regime. tass.com That's the right decision, Russia's Acting Emergency Situations Minister Alexander Chupriyan said…
(2022-02-19). How to Respond to War Threats on Russia — the antiwar movement comes together to respond. iacenter.org How to Respond to War Threats on Russia — Understanding U.S. Objectives — The Role of NATO, a U.S. Commanded Military Alliance TUES. Feb 22 at 8: 30 pm ET / 7: 30 pm CT / 6: 30 pm MT / 5: 30 pm PT Please click here to register for the meeting. us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_10cVDLQuQR6T3WPeAkJwtw Please join us for this important meeting and discussion with leaders from the antiwar movement including: (in alphabetical order) Leela Anand — ANSWER coalition Bahman Azad — US Peace Council Ajamu Baraka — Black Alliance for Peace Madea Benjamin — CodePink Sara Flounders [mdas…