Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin
[ColonelCassad] In addition to the traditional shelling of Donetsk and Gorlovka, today the enemy was actively shelling Svetlodarsk, there are many dead, including children.
Also today, they blew up a warehouse in the Belgorod region, scattered it in the Lepestki region, and also tried to attack the Kerch Bridge UAV and the Belbek airfield (two UAVs were shot down - one in the Belbek region, one in the Kerch region). Well, shelling of ZNPP and Energodar continues.
Regarding questions on what to do with it, my position has not changed since the spring.
1. The SBU and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense must be officially recognized as terrorist organizations. Members of these organizations and their accomplices should automatically be treated in the same way as terrorists and ISIS accomplices.
2. As a demonstrative response, strikes against the central and regional departments of the SBU, as well as the objects of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, including in Kyiv, are highly desirable.
3. As a response to attacks on the Zaporizhzhya NPP - to force the disconnection of Ukraine from the Zaporozhye NPP. Defiantly, as a response, destroy several thermal power plants, as well as strike at the infrastructure of underground gas storage facilities. The selection of objects is actually optional.
Terrorism must have a price that Ukraine, or what is left of it, must pay on a long-term basis.
Hysteria is not needed here, methodical and systematic strikes against the infrastructure of terror and its infrastructure and economic base are needed, regardless of the priority issues of conducting a military operation to defeat the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Ukrainian theater of operations.
US State Department spoke about the problems in case of recognition of the Russian Federation as a sponsor of terrorism
[REGNUM] A warning about the problems that could begin if Russia is recognized as a "country-sponsor of terrorism" was made by the US State Department to Congress. This was reported on August 18 by Politico.
"Multiple sources familiar with the conversations said that agency officials have presented serious problems with the legislative initiative to congressional offices in recent days," the report says.
It is specified that after the recognition of Russia as a "sponsor of terrorism" by the United States, Moscow will consider such a step as a direct attack from Washington and then many agreements will be in jeopardy.
In particular, there are no guarantees that Russia will adhere to the agreements under the multilateral agreement in Istanbul regarding the removal of restrictions on the export of Russian products, as well as Russia's assistance in the export of grain and other agricultural products from Ukrainian ports. In addition, there will be difficulties in maintaining work in the context of nuclear materials.
Recall that the authority to recognize countries as "sponsors of terrorism" belongs entirely to the US State Department, but the senators approved a resolution calling for such a decision, and a corresponding bill was submitted to the House of Representatives.
Earlier, REGNUM reported that, as Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pointed out , if the US Congress "declares" Russia a sponsor of terrorism, there will be no more relations between the two countries.
Drone shot down near Belbek airport in Sevastopol
[REGNUM] An unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down by air defense systems near the Belbek airport in Sevastopol, the city governor Mikhail Razvozhaev said on August 18 . There were no injuries or casualties.
“Recently, according to preliminary data, an unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down near the Belbek airport by means of air defense. There is no damage. No one was hurt," the statement said.
Razvozhaev noted that “Ukrainian publicists began to disperse preparations about their “successful” attack,” and urged residents to keep calm.
As REGNUM reported earlier, it was previously reported that air defense systems were activated in Kerch, there is no threat to the city and the bridge.