CoolCola: Russia Launches Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite Alternatives After Soda Exodus

"A Russian beverage maker has unveiled a new range of soft drinks to replace the iconic
brands that have left the Russian market in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine.

In lieu of Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite, Russians will be able to choose from CoolCola, Fancy and Street, Russian drink producer Ochakovo announced Monday." MT

Buffalo shooter used same symbol as Ukraine’s Azov

"Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN, along with dozens of keen-eyed social media users,
have pointed out that the suspect in Saturday’s deadly shooting in the US used the same Neo-Nazi symbol as Ukraine’s Azov Regiment.

Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia’s First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, noted that the ‘sonnenrad’, or ‘Black Sun’ symbol, which adorned the manifesto published by the Buffalo shooter, has for years featured on the insignia of Ukraine’s Azov regiment and is a commonly used image among white supremacists and neo-Nazi groups." RT

German chancellor responds to Ukrainian insult

"German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said there is no need to “overreact” to an insulting
statement made by the Ukrainian ambassador to Berlin. Andrey Melnik had earlier compared Scholz to an “offended liverwurst.”

The chancellor told t-online news outlet on Sunday that it was not necessary to be overly “sensitive” to every word said by Ukrainian officials, but confirmed that he still had no plans to visit Kiev. A brief diplomatic spat also saw Melnik sharply criticize Scholz for his reluctance to visit Kiev. In early May, the diplomat said the German chancellor was not being “statesmanlike” and later refused to apologize, pointing to the fact that the issue had been cleared up by the two presidents and was not “about whether someone feels offended.” RT

North Korea mobilizes military to battle Covid

"Officials have confirmed a total of 50 deaths and over 1.21 million cases of “fever” since late
April....North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has criticized top public health sector officials for their “irresponsible work attitude” amid a growing outbreak of Covid-19, ordering the country’s military to help stabilize the situation. 

Speaking at an emergency politburo meeting on Sunday, Kim Jong-un issued an order “on immediately stabilizing the supply of medicines in Pyongyang City by involving the powerful forces of the military medical field of the People's Army,” according to the state-run KCNA.

It is unclear how exactly the military will be involved in the nationwide effort to halt the spread of the the virus,  but Kim has specifically emphasized the need “to correct the vulnerable points in medicine supply system and take strong measures for transporting medicines.” RT

Russian Governor Says Region Attacked as Ukraine Troops Reach Border

"The Russian border region of Belgorod reportedly came under three separate artillery attacks
on Sunday, as Ukrainian troops defending the city of Kharkiv said they have reached the Russian border.

Belgorod regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov acknowledged one attack on the border village of Sereda early Sunday, announcing that one person had been injured in the shelling." MT

Sweden Declares NATO Membership Bid Hours After Neighboring Finland

"On the same day a mere hours later, and as fully expected based on prior statements,
Sweden's ruling party formally affirmed its Stockholm's simultaneous application to NATO. "Sweden's ruling Social Democratic Party on Sunday said it was in favor of joining NATO, reversing its decades-long opposition and paving the way for the country to submit a membership application," AFP reported." ZH

Georgia’s Breakaway Region to Hold Referendum on Joining Russia in July

"The leader of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia on Friday set July 17 as a date for
a referendum on joining Russia.

"Anatoly Bibilov signed a decree on holding a referendum in the Republic of South Ossetia," his office said in a statement, citing his people's "historic aspiration" to join Russia." MT

Turkey clarifies position on new NATO members

"Turkey is not seeking to outright shoot down the accession of Sweden and Finland to the US-
led NATO bloc, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s top adviser Ibrahim Kalin told Reuters on Saturday. Nonetheless, Ankara’s concerns about organizations it deems to be “terrorist” that are operating in these countries must be addressed, the official said.

Ankara is particularly concerned about the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), recognized as a terrorist organization in Turkey, as well as in the EU and the US. The issue relates primarily to Sweden, the official clarified." RT

Finland officially decides to join NATO

"Finland has officially announced its intention of joining the NATO military alliance. During a
cabinet meeting on Sunday, President Sauli Niinistö and ministers “agreed that Finland would apply for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization,” the statement read." RT

Oligarch ‘reveals Putin is very ill with blood cancer in secret recording’

"A Russian oligarch with close ties to the Kremlin confessed to a Western colleague that
Vladimir Putin is ‘very ill with blood cancer’, it has been claimed.

The billionaire, whose name has been withheld for his safety, was allegedly secretly taped in mid-March expressing his contempt for the ‘crazy’ Russian president’s invasion of Ukraine.

In the recording, obtained by New Lines Magazine, he said: ‘[Putin] absolutely ruined Russia’s economy, Ukraine’s economy and many other economies — ruined [them] absolutely.

‘The problem is with his head. … One crazy guy can turn the world upside down.’" Metro

 

Jaw-dropping video game-style footage shows Ukrainian tanks and troops blitzing Russian invaders

"HARROWING video game-like footage captures the moment a Ukrainian tank wipes out a Russian vehicle as it repels Putin's advance.

The gruesome clip, which could be straight out of a grim first-person shooter, gives an insight into the lives of Ukraine's brave defenders, as they face down the Russian invaders.

The footage starts with a tank powering its way through wrecked and burnt-out vehicles, its turret wheeling around to locate its next target.

Suddenly, a shell is fired at a vehicle in the distance and the video cuts to a burned-out tank, apparently destroyed in the Ukrainian strike.

In the next scene - taken from a shoulder's body camera - troops fire machine guns into the tree cover before the clip shifts to showing the bodies of at least two dead Russian soldiers in a trench.

The action-packed clip then shows a gunner firing from a mounted machine gun on a jeep before several torched vehicles are seen flaming by the side of the road.

Next, the patrol finds a hoard of missiles and ammo before the Ukrainian troops return to base following a hard day on the battlefield." Sun

Russia ‘loses ANOTHER ship in Black Sea as mystery blaze guts navy vessel’ after Putin’s two flagships are destroyed

"ANOTHER Russian warship has reportedly been destroyed after the naval vessel was caught
in a mysterious fire.

Ukrainian military sources claim that one of Russia's Navy logistic ships was struck by a Neptune missile while supplying Putin's forces on Snake Island."
 Sun

Finns Call Putin After Russia Cuts Electricity Supplies Amid NATO Spat

"Finland sought to allay Moscow’s fears about its bid to join NATO, as fierce fighting raged in
Ukraine’s east, slowing down a hoped-for Russian advance.

Hours after Finland’s grid operator said Russia had pulled the plug on electricity supplies overnight, President Sauli Niinisto spoke to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

“The conversation was direct and straight-forward and it was conducted without aggravations,” Niinisto’s office said.

“Avoiding tensions was considered important. The phone call was initiated by Finland.”

Putin, however, told him that Finland joining NATO would be a “mistake”, insisting that Russia posed “no threat to Finland’s security”, the Kremlin said." Breitbart

21-year-old Russian soldier to stand trial in Kyiv for murdering Ukrainian civilian

"The first case against a member of the Russian military is set to go to trial on May 18. 21-
year-old Russian serviceman Vadim Shishimarin is accused of killing an unarmed Ukrainian civilian in the Sumy region on Feb. 28, according to Iryna Venediktova, Ukraine's prosecutor general.

The civilian was a resident of Chupakhivka who was riding a bike on the roadside when he was shot, Venediktova alleged." ABC

Putin rumored to have fired another top Russian general as Ukraine invasion flounders

"Speculation is swirling that Russian President Vladimir Putin has sacked his top commander
in what is the latest rumored dismissal amid his floundering invasion into Ukraine.

Oleksiy Arestovych, a presidential adviser, said in an interview with Russian dissident lawyer Mark Feygin on Wednesday that “preliminary information” indicated that Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, had been fired.

The rumors come after reports over the past month that other leaders of the failed invasion have also been sidelined, including the Commander of the Black Sea Fleet, Admiral Igor Osipov.

Several Russian Army commanders are also rumored to have been dismissed including Lieutenant General Vladislav Ershov, Lieutenant General Sergei Kisel, and Major General Arkady Marzoev." NYP