First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Tass, Agence France-Presse, teleSUR, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM
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Medvedev raises spectre of Russian nuclear strike on Ukraine, by Guy Faulconbridge and Caleb Davis | Reuters * Medvedev warns West over Ukraine * Raises spectre of nuclear strike * Says NATO would not get involved * Russia has world’s biggest nuclear arsenal | LONDON — An ally of President Vladimir Putin today outlined the scenario of a nuclear strike on Ukraine, saying that the U.S.-led NATO military alliance would be too scared of a “nuclear apocalypse” to directly enter the conflict in reponse. Dmitry Medvedev, a former president who now serves as deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, said . . . READ MORE . . .
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Vote in Ukraine’s Russia-held areas stokes tension with West, by Adam Schreck and Jon Gambrell | AP KYIV — Referendums that are expected to serve as a pretext for Moscow to annex Russian-held regions of Ukraine reached their final day of voting today as the preordained outcome of the Kremlin-orchestrated votes heightened tension between Russia and the West. The annexation of the four occupied regions . . . READ MORE . . .
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Putin told Erdogan he remained ready for talks with Ukraine – Kremlin spokesman. From Tass. MOSCOW, September 27. /TASS/. In a conversation with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia remained ready for negotiations with Ukraine, but as the situation changes their conditions also change, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media today. “The President said . . . READ MORE . . .
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Moscow says will not request extradition of Russians fleeing military call-up. From AFP. Moscow said today it will not request the extradition of Russians traveling abroad to avoid being called-up to fight in Ukraine, after thousands of military-aged men crossed into neighboring countries. “The Russian Ministry of Defense has . . . READ MORE . . .
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Putin wants to ‘save people’ of Moscow-held Ukrainian territories. From AFP. Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that Russia wanted to “save people” in four Moscow-controlled territories in Ukraine, on the last day of annexation votes denounced as a sham by Western leaders. “Saving people in . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia is ready to incorporate the Donbass territories – Peskov. From teleSUR. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov confirmed Monday that the institutions of his country are ready to incorporate Zaporizhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Lugansk, which are holding referendums to ask their citizens if they want to join . . . READ MORE . . .
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EU to sanction organizers of Russia votes in Ukraine. From AFP. The European Union said today it will slap sanctions on organizers of “illegal” votes in four occupied regions of Ukraine that Russia is conducting as “referendums” with the aim of annexation. “There would be consequences for all people who . . . READ MORE . . .
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How a group of journalists is documenting war crimes in Ukraine. Reported by Juana Summers, Kai McNamee and Patrick Jarenwattananon | NPR Juana Summers talks with war correspondent Janine Di Giovani of the Reckoning Project, which is training journalists in Ukraine to collect evidence of war crimes to be used in international court. Click HERE to listen and read.
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Putin’s moves to escalate the war in Ukraine has sparked panic and protests in Russia. Reported by Mary Louise Kelly, Karen Zamora and Mallory Yu | NPR Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan, two of Russia’s most prominent investigative journalists, about Putin’s moves to escalate in Ukraine and dissent within Russia. Click HERE to listen and read.
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Results of sham annexation votes in 4 occupied regions of Ukraine may be known soon. NPR‘s A Martinez talks with Thomas de Waal of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace about Russian-organized annexation votes that Ukraine’s allies say violate international law. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.
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Moscow contends with violence over its plan to enlist reservists to fight in Ukraine. Reported by Charles Maynes | NPR While waging the fight in Ukraine, Moscow confronts protests over its call-up of military reservists, an attack on a recruiting office and other incidents that include a deadly school shooting. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.
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TO BE CONTINUED