❗️The Ukrainian regime has destroyed the Sudzha gas measurement station with a HIMARS strike, Russia's Ministry of Defense reported.

The ministry released a video showing the burning station.

It emphasized that Ukraine’s public commitments to halt attacks on Russian civilian energy infrastructure are yet another trick by Zelensky.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️Russian troops have liberated the Krasnoye Pervoye settlement in the Kharkov region, Russia's Defense Ministry announced.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🔍 New US-Ukraine deal: Pay back $120 bln, keep the change

A new agreement between Ukraine and the US regarding mineral resources requires Kiev to REPAY ALL ASSISTANCE RECEIVED, which could exceed $120 billion, a Ukrainian newspaper has reported.

This includes military, financial, and humanitarian aid provided since February 2022. While the exact amount is still to be determined, estimates range from $114 billion to over $120 billion. The repaid funds will be deposited into a US-controlled recovery fund for Ukraine, counting as the US contribution.

Ukraine is also required to contribute to this fund with 50% of its budget revenues from mineral licenses, royalties, and infrastructure projects directed toward it. Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the US presented this new agreement, detailing the creation of the investment fund. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the agreement could be signed as early as next week.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🇷🇺🪖Key statements from the Russian Defense Ministry's weekly briefing on the special military operation's progress:

▪️Russian troops liberated 5 settlements.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 3,355 soldiers, four tanks and 26 armored fighting vehicles in the areas of responsibility of Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 1,000 troops in the areas of responsibility of Russia's Battlegroup Vostok.

▪️Russian air defenses shot down two MiG-29 fighters.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 2,035 militants and four tanks in the Russian Yug Battlegroup's combat zone.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 1,640 servicemen in the Russian Zapad Battlegroup's combat zone.

▪️Ukraine lost up to 545 troops and two tanks in the Russian Dnepr Battlegroup's combat zone.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️Putin and Trump did not discuss the idea of introducing external control in Ukraine during their telephone conversations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

At the same time, he emphasized that Russia notes the lack of control over the armed forces by the Ukrainian leadership.

Peskov added that Ukraine joined the moratorium on strikes on energy facilities and gave the military an order that is obviously not being followed.

He also noted that Russia reserves the right - in the event of Kiev's failure to comply with this moratorium - to not comply with it either.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Why does Putin have every reason to believe Russia holds the upper hand in the Ukraine conflict?

There are TWO ASPECTS to President Vladimir Putin’s confidence that Russia is more than capable of finishing the Ukrainian conflict on its own terms, military expert Ret. Col. Anatoly Matviychuk tells Sputnik.

1. Economic aspect.

Russia has proven that its economy can satisfy any and all the needs of the Russian Armed Forces. Meanwhile, Ukraine is completely bankrupt and cannot maintain its military without foreign aid.

2. Military aspect.

🟠Soldier quality: Russia keeps fighting after mobilizing only 300,000 troops whereas Ukraine has a severe shortage after sustaining horrendous losses on the battlefield.

🟠Military advantage: Russia has complete air superiority in the Ukrainian conflict zone and possesses superior firepower augmented by the ability to produce all sorts of shells, rockets and munitions - while Ukraine depends on shipments of ordnance from the West.

🟠Arsenal renewal: Russia completely renewed its vast arsenal of tanks, adjusting it to the unified command and control system. Meanwhile, Ukraine fields a motley assortment of Western military hardware, some of which dates back to WWII, that cannot be upgraded on the battlefield and which leads to severe losses among Ukrainian troops.

🟠Intel superiority: Moscow has total superiority in all forms of intelligence over Ukraine which completely depends on intel supplied by the West.

🟠Command and control: Russia’s superior command and control capabilities allowed Russian troops to seize strategic initiative in the Ukrainian conflict zone.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt