Russia claims it’s largely completed first phase of ‘military operation’ in Ukraine

Defense ministry says army will now turn focus to ‘liberating’ entire Donbass in eastern Ukraine where separatists now control 93% of Luhansk and 54% of Donetsk

Russia’s defense ministry claims it has largely completed the first phase of its military operation in Ukraine.

It will now turn its focus to “liberating” eastern Ukraine’s Donbass region.

The announcement suggests Russia is now focusing on more modest military goals amid unanticipated Ukrainian resistance.

Russian news agencies quote the defense ministry as claiming that Russian-backed separatists now control 93% of Ukraine’s Luhansk region and 54% of the Donetsk region — the two areas that jointly make up the Donbass, Reuters reports.

The ministry says it has not ruled out storming Ukrainian cities currently under siege and that Moscow would respond to any no-fly zone imposed over Ukraine.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-march-25-2022/

Kremlin calls out US bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 as culprit for torpedoing world order

It was then that an erosion of all foundations of the world order began, which led to the European security crisis, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov pointed out

The US bombing of Yugoslavia 23 years ago torpedoed the foundation of the world order, causing its erosion, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, when marking this calamity.

"Back then, these bombs, in addition to killing civilians, started destroying the system of international relations. It was exactly then that NATO (and when we say ‘NATO’, we mean ‘Americans’) started to bomb the foundation of the world order. It was then that an erosion of all foundations of the world order began, which led to the European security crisis, which we are living through today," the spokesman underscored.

Peskov pointed out that this crisis primarily involves the European continent - Russia and other states located there, most of which are currently unfriendly towards Moscow.

"The very Americans, who instigated all this, they suffer from this crisis much less, we must understand it well," he added.

Meanwhile, when asked whether there is "light at the end of the tunnel" in this situation, the spokesman noted that "every tunnel ends with light."

https://tass.com/world/1427353

Ukrainian refugees find a path into the U.S. via the Mexican border

Russians fleeing sanctions and Putin's regime have also been flocking to the U.S. southern border.

Thousands of Ukrainians and Russians who have fled the war and sanctions in their home countries are increasingly entering the United States via the southern border, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

Many such migrants have chosen to use Mexico as a transit point because they do not need a visa to fly directly to Mexico, unlike the United States, and once they make it across the border onto U.S. soil, they can request asylum and begin the legal process.

In January and February, about 30,000 Ukrainians and Russians arrived in Mexico, compared with an entire year average of about 12,400 over the last five years, according to Mexican immigration data. Thousands more migrants from both Ukraine and Russia are expected in the coming months.

The U.S.-Mexican border is technically closed to asylum seekers due to a public-health rule designed, in theory, to curb the spread of COVID-19, but immigration officers at the border have been told that because of the war, they may offer exemptions to refugees from Ukraine.

In a memo outlining the issue, the Department of Homeland Security wrote that it "recognizes that the unjustified Russian war of aggression has created a humanitarian crisis." For the majority of arriving Ukrainians, this means they will be allowed to stay in the country for at least one year under a measure called "humanitarian parole." During that time, they will not be required to apply for asylum.

On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced that the U.S. plans to accept 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. It is unclear when individuals who fall into that official category will begin to arrive.

https://justthenews.com/world/some-ukrainian-refugees-find-path-us-mexican-border

“I Love My Boys – I’m Going to Protect Them from Cowards Like Rove and McConnell” – Eric Greitens Releases Statement after Mitch McConnell and Karl Rove Exposed as Masterminds Behind Latest Disgusting Smear

As The Gateway Pundit reported earlier this week the ex-wife of former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens accused him of abuse during their nine-year marriage. This was new information she kept to herself and away from all of the courts for several years. Eric Greitens is currently fighting for full custody of their two children.

Eric Greitens responded to these disgusting accusations of physical abuse and coercive behavior as “completely fabricated” and “baseless.”

The former Missouri governor is running for US Senate and is currently leading the race. Of course, the RINOs in Missouri and nationally are solidly against him.

Sheena Greitens decided to drop the allegations this week with the GOP primary approaching on August 2nd.

Greitens told The Washington Times, “I am seeking full custody of my sons, and for their sake, I will continue to pray for their mother and hope that she gets the help that she needs.”

Eric Greitens also told The Gateway Pundit earlier this week that his ex-wife signed a custody agreement months ago following their divorce. She did not mention any abuse from her former husband in the signed documents during the battle for custody of their two sons. The two boys spend the majority of their time with their father today. So why would she push these allegations today?

We now have more information on who was behind this latest attack on Eric Greitens.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/03/love-boys-going-protect-cowards-like-rove-mcconnell-eric-greitens-releases-statement-mitch-mcconnell-karl-rove-exposed-masterminds-behind-latest-disgust/

War In Ukraine Day 30: Ukrainian Army Left With No Fuel, Attempts To Counter-Attack

A month of Russian military operations in Ukraine has passed. Kiev, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and Nikolaev are almost blockaded by Russian troops, Kherson and most of the Zaporozhye region are under the Russian control. The Ukrainian air force and air defense system were almost completely destroyed, the Ukrainian Navy does not exist anymore.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, to date, the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have amounted to about 30 thousand servicemen, including more than 14 thousand killed.

On March 25, the Russian Ministry of Defense officially confirmed that storming of Ukrainian cities is not a priority of the Russian military operation. The Russian troops enter the cities only on the territory of the DPR and LPR. High-precision weapons are used to suppress the entire military infrastructure of the enemy, the main goal is to exhaust the AFU units and force them to surrender.

There were two possible options. The first was to limit the battlefield by the territories of the LPR and the DPR within the administrative borders of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, which is enshrined in the constitutions of the republics. But then we would be faced with the constant reinforcement of the grouping involved in the so-called operation of the joint forces.

Therefore, the second option was chosen, which provides for actions throughout the territory of Ukraine with the implementation of measures for its demilitarization and denazification.

The course of the operation confirmed the correctness of this decision. It is conducted by the General Staff in strict accordance with the approved plan. – the Russian General Staff reported on March 25.

The most important battlefield is the city of Mariupol, the defense of the Azov regiment has cracked in almost all of the districts. Nationalist forces were separated on smaller groups throughout the city. Thier main stronghold are the industrial facilities of Azovstal, located in the southern part of the city.

On March 24, the DPR flag was raised over the Mariupol administration building. Chechen forces that are supporting the DPR units in Mariupol confirmed that the entire Left-Bank district, located in the eastern part of the city and separated from the other regions by the industrial zone of Azovstal, was moped up. On March 25, Russian troops claimed that they are approaching the Azovstal facilities from the north-western direction.

On March 25, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that the Russian grouping took control over the villages of Batmanka, Mikhailovka, Krasniy Partizan, Stavki and Troitskoe, developing their offensive on the positions of the units of the 25th Airborne Brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces to the north of the town of Yasinovataya.

Clashes continue in the town of Maryinka, where the AFU were repelled to the western outskirts. The DPR military reports who are already working on the relatively secured areas in the town, confirm that the AFU established heavily fortified positions in civilian facilities and houses in the private sector of the town. Civilians were expelled from their houses, and residential buildings were used as nodal points for communications and supplies as well as observation points and other types of military facilities.

https://southfront.org/war_in_ukraine_day_30/

Lebanon Charges Central Bank Governor with Illicit Enrichment

A Lebanese judge charged in absentia Central Bank governor Riad Salame with illicit enrichment and money laundering only days after ordering the arrest of his brother on similar charges.

The case reportedly relates to the purchase of Paris apartments that were sometimes rented out to the Central Bank, Judge Ghada Aoun told Reuters on Monday.

With his wealth under scrutiny in a number of European countries, Salame has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and has attributed his wealth to family inheritances and his commercial banking career before joining the Central Bank.

Rumors of the governor’s offshore wealth have swirled around Lebanon for years, but allegations of money laundering and embezzlement against governor Salame have gained momentum since 2020 when OCCRP and its Lebanese media partner Daraj published two investigations uncovering the extent of his offshore investments.

The first revealed that offshore companies owned by Riad Salame have quietly invested nearly US$100 million in overseas assets, focusing on real estate in the U.K., Belgium and Germany, even as Salame encouraged others to keep their money in his economically devastated country.

The second uncovered how a company tied to Salame bought a stake in his son’s London-based financial management company, then sold it to a major Lebanese bank that he regulates.

Since then, authorities in France, Switzerland, Lichtenstein and Luxembourg have launched probes into Salame’s personal wealth, and possible embezzlement to the detriment of the Lebanese Central Bank.

Salame’s associates, including his assistant Marianne Houwayek, and his relatives, including his now-detained brother Raja, are also at the center of these probes.

Lebanon is in the midst of a financial crisis that has plummeted its currency and worsened poverty and unemployment, prompting widespread unrest.

Salame has sat at the head of the Central Bank for almost three decades.

https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/16111-lebanon-charges-central-bank-governor-with-illicit-enrichment

Cybercriminal Connected to Multimillion Dollar Ransomware Attacks Sentenced for Online Fraud Schemes

An Estonian man was sentenced today to 66 months in prison for his years-long role in furthering and facilitating computer intrusions, the movement of fraudulently obtained goods and funds, and the monetization of stolen financial account information. He also participated in ransomware attacks causing over $53 million in losses and was ordered to pay over $36 million in restitution.

According to court documents, Maksim Berezan, 37, of Estonia, who was apprehended in Latvia and extradited to the United States, pleaded guilty in April 2021 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud affecting a financial institution and conspiracy to commit access device fraud and computer intrusions. Berezan was an active member of an exclusive online forum designed for Russian-speaking cybercriminals to gather safely and exchange their criminal knowledge, tools, and services. From 2009 through 2015, Berezan not only furthered the criminal aims of the forum, but he also worked closely with forum members and other cybercriminals for purposes of obtaining and exploiting stolen financial account information.

“This case is a prime example of how the Department of Justice can leverage its traditional tools – criminal investigations and prosecutions – to combat ransomware,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Many of the world’s ransomware players began as fraudsters engaged in other types of online crimes, and this case demonstrates that their crimes will catch up to them. The United States is committed to working with its international partners to hold cybercriminals accountable.”

“Cybercrime has become increasingly more sophisticated, but so have our methods for combatting it,” said U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia. “Ransomware attacks are devastating to people and organizations alike, and we have honed our strategies and techniques to target both the individual actors who perpetrate these attacks and the networks that support them. This case is just one example of how EDVA and the Justice Department are tackling this threat.”

“The Secret Service remains committed to ensuring that modern conveniences of today that facilitate our lawful transactions and economic health are not leveraged by criminals for illicit activity and personal gain,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Stohler of the U.S. Secret Service. “While we have long been in the business of protecting money, from the earliest days of coins and paper, to plastic, and today’s more accessible and commonplace digital currencies, we also remain in parallel footprint to the evolution of criminal behavior into cyberspace. Ransomware thieves are not safe in any dark corner of the internet in which they may think they can hide from our highly trained investigators and law enforcement partners worldwide. Together with our critical partners we are dedicated to protecting the public and securing every iteration of our money and every part of our national financial infrastructure.”

According to court documents, following Berezan’s arrest, investigators uncovered within his electronic devices evidence of his involvement in ransomware activities. The post-extradition investigation determined that Berezan had participated in at least 13 ransomware attacks, seven of which were against U.S. victims, and that approximately $11 million in ransom payments flowed into cryptocurrency wallets that he controlled. Berezan used his ill-gotten gains to purchase two Porsches, a Ducati motorcycle, and an assortment of jewelry. In addition, authorities recovered from Berezan’s residence currency worth more than $200,000 and electronic devices storing passphrases to bitcoin wallets that contained bitcoin worth approximately $1.7 million, which has been forfeited.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia; Special Agent in Charge Matthew Stohler of the Washington Field Office of the U.S. Secret Service and Special Agent in Charge Jason Kane of the Criminal Investigative Division of the U.S. Secret Service made the announcement.

https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/cybercriminal-connected-multimillion-dollar-ransomware-attacks-sentenced-online-fraud-schemes

FBI agents arrest Fort Bliss soldier accused of distributing child rape videos

FBI agents in El Paso arrested a Fort Bliss soldier Tuesday accused of distributing child rape videos while claiming to be a school teacher in pedophile online forums.

Staff Sgt. Brendan Jacob Bradford, 26, was arrested on a federal charge of receiving and distributing visual depictions involving the sexual exploitation of children, the FBI said.

In late February, the FBI office in El Paso received a complaint alleging Bradford had been distributing child pornography on social media platforms for three months, the FBI said in a news release.

Teacher claim in child porn groups

Bradford is accused of sharing graphic videos showing the rapes of an infant boy and a young girl as a member of private online forums sharing child sexual abuse material on the Kik social messaging app.

The pedophile groups were infiltrated by an undercover investigator with the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office in Wisconsin, which contacted the FBI, according to a federal criminal complaint.

Nation:A look at the child pornography cases at issue in Ketanji Brown Jackson's Senate hearings

Since December, the undercover investigator communicated with Bradford, who allegedly went by the username “sicktwisted_(expletive),” according to the criminal complaint.

Bradford initially claimed to be from the United Kingdom before admitting to the officer that he was in El Paso, the complaint stated.

Archives:El Paso man gets 30 years in 'nightmarish' child porn case, was Army soldier

More:Fort Bliss Army sergeant gets 60 years in child sex abuse, child porn case

According to the complaint, Bradford allegedly claimed to be a social studies teacher with desires to kidnap and sexually abuse children. He also claimed he would pleasure himself when alone in his classroom and in the teacher’s lounge restroom. The FBI noted that Bradford is not actually a teacher.

https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/crime/2022/03/23/fbi-arrest-el-paso-child-porn-distribution-brendan-bradford/7147746001/

Moscow offers update on casualties from Ukraine conflict

More than 1,300 servicemen have been killed and nearly 4,000 injured in the offensive in Ukraine, the Russian military says

The Russian Defense Ministry provided a rare update on the casualties the country's armed forces have suffered during the ongoing military offensive in Ukraine, on Friday.

“Unfortunately, during the special military operation there have been losses among our comrades-in-arms. To date, 1,351 servicemen have died and 3,825 have been injured,” the deputy head of the Russian General Staff, Colonel General Sergey Rudskoy told a media briefing.

The official did not provide any figures on soldiers who have potentially gone missing in action or been taken prisoner amid the conflict. The Ukrainian side has sustained heavy casualties (around 30,000) over the past month, Rudskoy clarified. According to Russian military estimates, around 14,000 Ukrainian troops have been killed, and a further 16,000 have been injured.

Ukraine’s military has sustained major losses in hardware, with nearly 1,600 tanks and other armored vehicles destroyed, he alleged, adding that the Russian offensive has largely destroyed Kiev’s air and anti-aircraft forces, while its navy has effectively ceased to exist.

The official casualty figures provided by the Russian military differ drastically from the estimates from the Ukrainian side. According to the latest claims by Kiev, around 16,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the conflict, with hundreds of tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery pieces destroyed.

Kiev, however, remains tight-lipped on its own casualties. The most recent figure was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky in mid-March, when he said that around 1,300 Ukrainian soldiers had died in combat.

Moscow sent troops into Ukraine in late February, following a seven-year standoff over Kiev’s failure to implement the terms of the Minsk agreements, and Russia’s eventual recognition of the Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. The German- and French-brokered Minsk Protocol was designed to regularize the status of the regions within the Ukrainian state.

Russia has now demanded that Ukraine officially declare itself a neutral country that will never join NATO. Kiev insists the Russian offensive was completely unprovoked and has denied claims it was planning to retake the two republics by force.

https://www.rt.com/russia/552708-ukraine-conflict-military-casualties/

https://www.rt.com/russia/552708-ukraine-conflict-military-casualties/