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Witnesses told Telegram’s Mash na Moike of two loud explosions and flashes in the sky, while residents of the city’s Petrodvorets district said they saw fire engines and ambulances passing by. Eyewitnesses said that the noise of the explosions could be heard far away, but the glass in the house was rattling.

“I live in Lebyazier and I was standing in the kitchen, I heard an explosion. Oh my God, what’s happening, it’s scary to live. Where did they come from here?!?” lamented a local resident.

“We were driving along the city bypass, we entered Bronka, there was a strong light, strong impacts on the car, we were driving, we didn’t understand what it was… But it was very unpleasant,” another resident shared her experiences on social networks. Another added that it “exploded” in such a way that “the house shook”.

hLeningrad region receives…🤪🚬

🔥 katsapnya reports on the attack of BpLA on the port of Bronka pic.twitter.com/MlXVSgn4TY

— VeraYK 🇺🇦 (@ysk4848) March 2, 2024

Lomonosov. as part of the city of St. Petersburg.#cotton
Two powerful explosions occurred in the area of ​​the Bronka port. Locals are panicking!!!😱😱😱
Putin has already reported on the destruction of 2 UAVs. Hard to believe.🤷‍♂️
Need more information!☝️ pic.twitter.com/SOlCwPWUX5

— Andrey74🇺🇦💪 (Sanctions 💩!) (@andersen7474) March 2, 2024

Due to the possible threat of drones, the work of Pulkovo Airport in the second largest city of Russia was temporarily paralyzed and the “Carpet” plan was implemented, while planes circled near the city.

In the morning, however, a drone fell on a residential building, damaging several apartments. There were no victims. Local media reported that the drone was carrying a bomb of about 3.5 kg and that its target could have been the nearby Ručji oil base. Without flying to it, the drone crashed into a five-story house, damaging the balconies and windows, “Mash” reports.

❗️🇷🇺🇺🇦A UAV fell on a residential building in St. Petersburg.
Early in the morning an explosion thundered over St. Petersburg. Before this, residents heard the sound of a motor in the sky.
The video shows the explosion and the first minutes after it.
⬇️ pic.twitter.com/BkT6pSN7nt

— Alisa_Vasilisa (@Alisa_Vasilisa_) March 2, 2024

Before that, the representative of the Russian aviation authority “Rosaviatsia” announced that “for the safety of civil aircraft flights” the airport has restricted the departure and arrival of planes. “Restrictions have been introduced since 19.32 Moscow time”. It was later reported that the airport has resumed operations.

The governor of the Leningrad Region, Alexander Drozdenko, announced that the anti-aircraft defense systems worked in the Lomonosov region, hitting targets in the Gulf of Finland and on the coast.

For its part, Russia’s Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of a “terrorist attack” – announcing it in the wake of its own bloody strike on Odesa that killed seven people, including two children, and countless other bloody drone attacks.

2024-03-02 20:20:09
#Residents #Putins #hometown #beginning #feel #special #operation #Ukraine

Deputy Minister of Russia reveals

Last week, the food exhibition “Gulfood 2024” was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where products were exhibited by companies from all over the world. Parallel to the big event, smaller events were also held, including the forum of the Union of Russian Grain Exporters. The organizers from Russia emphasized that it is an opportunity to meet the main players in the Russian grain market. In the United Arab Emirates, the Russian grain forum was held for the second year. The minimum participation fee is 1500 euros.

The forum was opened by Oksana Luta, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Russia. She stated in her speech: “I want to emphasize that Russia was and remains, despite all the situations that are happening now, a reliable partner.” Among the topics of the panel discussions were the export potential of Russian grain, various problems caused by Western sanctions, as well as the transition to direct cooperation with Russia-friendly countries.

Latvia is widely represented

In the list of participants of the forum, 13 organizations are noted to be from Latvia. Several well-known Latvian port terminals, logistics companies, also one cargo insurer, as well as the trader “Avrora Baltic” already mentioned in previous broadcasts. The company is particularly distinguished by its large turnover. In 2022, i.e. after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it increased three times to less than 180 million euros. The company did not answer Latvian Television’s questions about business growth and trade with Russia.

The other forum participants from Latvia were “MG Trade”, “Danir 19”, “Riga Bulk Terminal”, “Alpha Osta”, “Ventspils Grain Terminal”, “RIX Shipmanagement”, “Modus Commodity Service”, “BSG Terminal”, ” Pro Logistics Consultancy DWC”, “Incolab Services”, “SGS Vostok”, “Hydrogenium”. Latvijas Televīzija tried to contact the largest companies in terms of turnover.

After “Avrora Baltic”, the largest turnover in 2022 was “MG Trade” – 19.8 million euros, and “Danir 19” – 16.7 million euros. Uldis Pirktiņš, chairman of the board and co-owner of MG Trade, after hearing what the question was about, replied that there would be no comments from MG Trade. On the other hand, “Danir 19” board member Romāns Vanags interrupted the telephone conversation at the moment of asking the question.

“Latraps” not being able to influence “Alpha Osta”.

The company “Alpha Osta” working in the port of Riga has been widely discussed in the media so far. The largest owner is temporarily the agricultural cooperative “Latraps”. In December last year, “Latraps” announced that it opposes cooperation with Russia and demanded that “Alpha Osta” stop serving Russian cargo. Now, when asked why “Alpha Osta” is participating in the grain conference organized by Russia, “Latraps” replied in writing that the company itself should be asked: “In implementing its position, LATRAPS has stopped cooperation with SIA “Alpha Osta”. Regarding the operational activities of SIA “Alpha Osta”, I invite you to contact the representatives of SIA “Alpha Osta”.

“Latraps” has not disappeared from the circle of owners. In an earlier interview with Latvian Television, member of the council of “Latraps” and head of “Zemnieku Saeima” Juris Lazdiņš said that “Latraps” cannot tell “Alpha Osta” what to do, as it is limited by the agreement concluded between the shareholders.

“Legal conditions prevent us as a shareholder from stopping operational activities in the port,” said Lazdiņš. On the other hand, when asked why “Latraps” started opposing the transshipment of Russian grain only at the end of last year, and not earlier, Lazdins answered: “First of all, the volumes were very small, and it seemed that the geopolitical situation would change much faster than it is now. Therefore, no action was taken.

LTV called the chairman of the board of “Alpha Osta” Igor Pedo. Before the previous Saeima elections, he donated six thousand euros to the party “Latvia First” led by Ainārs Šleser. When he started the question about the transit of Russian grain, he interrupted the conversation.

Membership is based on prospecting and market research

The choice to participate in the conference and trade with Russia was explained in detail by the chairman of the board of “Ventspils Grain Terminal”, former member of the Ventspils City Council, Vladislavs Šafranskis. He has represented both the “Concord Center” and the Reform Party in the Duma. Shafranski said that “Ventspils Grain Terminal” is looking for business contacts at the Russian Grain Forum: “Not only Russian agricultural producers, but also producers from Kazakhstan and other countries participate in this event. We are looking for new contacts. [..] I think it is in the interest of our country to attract as many of these cargoes as possible to ensure economic development. In addition, I believe that it is better that we, Latvia, earn this money.”

On the other hand, when asked about ethical considerations in business with Russia, Shafranskis answered: “Ethical or unethical question, you have to look at it in the international context. The grain that goes from Russia through Latvia goes to Central African countries in large quantities, where people lack funds, where people are starving.”

Among the participants of the grain forum with a significant turnover is “Riga Bulk Terminal”. Raimonds Kisiels, president of the Latvian Automobile Federation, is listed as the real beneficiary in the Enterprise Register. He donated 6,000 euros to the “United List” before the previous Saeima elections. Kisiel said that the company met with Central Asian clients at the forum organized by Russia, as well as studied competitors and market trends.

“Business is business. Must be up to date on everything. The business is already making money. He must know what is happening, where the markets are, who is driving where. It’s easy for you journalists to say why, why. In business, you should already know everything that is happening. If you are dealing with that topic, you should have information about everything – where are the markets that lead to Egypt, which lead to Africa,” said Kisiel, while emphasizing that “Riga Bulk Terminal” itself does not load Russian grain.

Regarding his attitude towards trade with Russia, Kisiel said: “Understand, it’s an absurd situation. If France, Germany will buy, and one country will not, that [neko] will not change. The Latvian market is already a staple in its background.”

Meanwhile, “RIX Shipmanagement” stated in a written response that the main goal of the company’s representatives in Dubai was the “Gulfood 2024” exhibition, while the company participated in the Russian grain forum, as it was visited by both existing and potential customers from Kazakhstan, Switzerland, and Turkey.

An import ban will not stop the cargo

This week, the Saeima decided to ban the import of agricultural products from Russia and Belarus, but it will not significantly affect logistics companies. It will still be allowed to bring production through Latvia in transit, as well as to clear customs in Latvia and bring it to other European Union member states. The Ministry of Agriculture stated in the Saeima commission that, at least in the grain category, the ban of the Saeima would apply to only 1.4% of cargo imported from Russia. Exactly which Russian products will not be allowed to be used in Latvia will be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers.

2024-02-25 19:59:15
#Companies #Latvia #attend #Russian #grain #conference

“For the fifth day I don’t see him, they don’t give me his body and don’t even tell me where he is,” said Lyudmila Navalny.

“I am turning to you, Vladimir Putin. The solution to the problem depends only on you. Let me finally see my son. I demand that Alexei’s body be handed over immediately so that I can give him a humane burial,” says Alexei Navalny’s mother in a video message.

“For the fifth day I don’t see him, they don’t give me his body and don’t even tell me where he is,” said Lyudmila Navalny. (Photo: Screenshot)

The representatives of the Russian Investigative Committee previously informed the lawyers and Alexei Navalny’s mother that the body of Alexei Navalny, who died in the colony, has been sent for chemical examination and the tests will last 14 days.

As already reported, the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service reported on February 16 that Russian politician Alexei Navalny died in a colony in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Region. On the morning of February 17, Navalny’s mother came to the “IK-3” prison in Harpa and received a notification of his death. The colony’s leadership reported that Navalny’s body was in the Salekhard city morgue. When the politician’s mother arrived there, she was told that the body was not there.

2024-02-20 12:49:00
#finally #son #Navalnys #mother #demands #Putin #return #politicians #body #burial