Foreign militants take part in terrorist attack on Philippines

At the news conference, Jose Calida said, “Before it was just a local terrorist group. But now they have sworn allegiance to the ideology of ISIL” (organization banned in Russia – Rossa Primavera News Agency).

Currently, the Army battles terrorists that have captured the southern city with a population of 200,000 people. The Army uses helicopters and special forces. Eleven soldiers and thirty-one militants are reportedly killed.

Calida believes, that Hapilon is the leading person, acting on behalf of the ISIL (organization banned in Russia) on the Philippines and that he coordinates all actions, including with the Maute group.

Maute terrorist group is known for its brutal assaults on the home-town of the current president Duterte last September, as a result of which 14 people were killed.

Recently, Rodrigo Duterte imposed martial law on the Mindanao Island due to the terrorist attack.

Read More

White House: The more NATO countries spend, the worse it is for Russia

In particular, the White House official said “The more NATO countries spend [on defense – Rossa Primavera News Agency], the worse it is for Russia. As Trump’s pushing NATO to spend more and more and more, that’s obviously making life more difficult for Russia, and that’s creating a stronger and more vibrant Europe.”

In his speech in Brussels at the summit of NATO countries, the US President Donald Trump, listed Russia among the main threats to NATO. He also called for compliance with the alliance’s financial obligations.

Read More

China protests against US Navy’s actions in the South China Sea

The US Navy destroyer, USS Dewey, passed by the Nansha Archipelago without the consent from the PRC as close as 12 nautical miles, which China considers its national territory. The Chinese Defense Ministry representative said, “China expresses strong protest and has already made representation to the US side in connection with such a demonstration of military force, boost to the militarization of the region and actions that can easily lead to incidents at sea and in the air.” He underlined additionally, that the Nansha Islands are under the indisputable sovereignty of China.

Read More

Ukraine hiding the fate of 77 prisoners from the Donetsk People’s Republic

Daria Morozova, the Ombudswoman of the Donetsk People’s Republic (the DPR), said Kiev did not provide Donetsk with complete information regarding 77 prisoners of war, which may indicate their deaths, Interfax news agency reported on May 25.

Morozova blamed Kiev’s representatives for arriving at Minsk negotiations deliberately unprepared, thereby jeopardizing them.

The DPR representative also urged the other side not to delay the negotiation process, “I call on Kiev officials to maintain a constructive dialogue and stop deliberately slowing down the negotiation process. We need to do everything necessary to speed up the exchange of [prisoners of war in an] “all for all” [format].”

Martin Sajdik, the OSCE representative, said a day earlier that the conflicting sides should reach clarity regarding the lists of prisoners of war within one week.

Read More

Ukrainian army continues to shell DPR after another round of talks in Minsk

On the Gorlovka direction, the Ukrainian army opened fire on the village of Zaytsevo.

On the Donetsk direction, the Ukrainian army opened fire on Staromikhaylovka, Yasinovataya, and the western outskirts of the Kirovsky district in Donetsk.

On the Mariupol direction, the Ukrainian army shelled the villages of Kominternovo and Sakhanka.

According to recent information, on May 24, the Ukrainian army violated the ceasefire 55 times. 16 communities of the DPR came under the Ukrainian army’s shelling. One civilian, a woman, was injured as a result of the shelling of Golmovsky. The Ukrainian military utilized multiple launch rocket systems, artillery, tanks, mortars, anti-tank guided missiles, the weapons of infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, grenade launchers, small arms.

Read More