Vladimir Putin signed the laws on the entry of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions into Russia

1 Russia — Lithuania Russia is expelling the Lithuanian chargé d’Affaires, Virginia Umbrasene, as a retaliatory measure. She was ordered to leave the territory of Russia within 5 days. This was a response to the unjustified expulsion of the Russian charge d’Affaires in Lithuania, Sergei Ryabokon, and making him a persona non grata. Given the hostile activity of Lithuania in regards of the humanitarian relations — Russia also freezes the activities of the cultural center of the Lithuanian diplomatic mission in Moscow, the ’Baltrushaitis House’. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that, depending on other hostile steps taken by Vilnius, Moscow reserves the right for the «additional measures of influence».

2 Republics of Donbass Vladimir Putin signed the laws on the entry of the DPR, the LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions into Russia. The documents were previously unanimously approved by the Russian Parliament and the Russian Federal Council. Vladimir Putin appointed interim leaders for the new 4 regions. Denis Pushilin for the DPR. Leonid Pasechnik for the LPR. Evgeny Balitsky and Vladimir Saldo became interim governors of Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. Elections for the heads of the new regions will be held in 2023, on a single voting day. The fateful decision to be together with Russia was made in referendums, when the absolute majority voted ’for’. Republics and regions retained their former names. From the beginning of 2023, the only currency will be the Russian ruble. Until then, the circulation of the Ukrainian currency is still allowed. The transition period for the integration of new regions will last until 2026.

3 Iran — Iraq The Iranian forces shelled a number of settlements in the Iraqi Kurdistan — the ’Shafaq’ news agency reported on 5th of October, while citing their sources. The towns of Soran and Sidekan, near the border with Iran, came under fire. The attack caused a fire. Several residential and commercial buildings were destroyed. The Iranian forces are attacking suspected hideouts of the Kurdish terrorists that use the border areas as transport hubs to smuggle weapons and other items to Iran.

4 Afghanistan A strong explosion took place in the ’Al-Sadiqiya’ mosque, related with the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Afghanistan. The terror attack was committed in the north-east of the city, where the new complex of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is located. Eyewitnesses claimed that a gunfight ensued after the explosion. So far the Taliban have yet to confirm this information. According to the latest data, the number of victims has reached 25. 21 wounded people are in the hospitals. None of the groups, operating in the region, claimed the responsibility for the attack.

5 Chechnya The Head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, was promoted to colonel-general. He spoke about the promotion on 5th of October, on his Telegram channel. According to Ramzan Kadyrov — Vladimir Putin personally informed Kadyrov about the promotion. He also congratulated Kadyrov on the day of the Chechen youth, and the day of the city of Grozny. Ramzan Kadyrov expressed his gratitude to Vladimir Putin for the high appreciation of his merits, and he promised to justify the trust. He added that all his thoughts today are with the fighters that defend the interests of the Motherland and the people in the fight against the Ukrainian nationalists. Ramzan Kadyrov became a general in 2020. In the spring of 2022 he got one more star on his shoulder straps — he was given the rank of a lieutenant-general.

6 Russia — the USA The press secretary of the President of Russia, Dmitry Peskov, commented on the statement of Laura Cooper, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Russian, Ukrainian and Eurasian Affairs, about the possibility of Ukrainian forces to attack Crimea with the US-made MLRS HIMARS. The Pentagon reported that Ukraine could attack Crimea with HIMARS. “According to our estimates they have GMLRS for the HIMARS. We think they are capable of attacking the vast majority of targets, including Crimea. And just to be clear, Crimea is Ukraine” — Laura Cooper stated. The Ukrainian forces use their MLRS HIMARS to attack the civilian targets. On 5th of October the Ukrainian forces attacked the Ninel Hotel in the center of Kherson. 1 person was killed. On 4th of October the Ukrainian nationalists fired 6 HIMARS rockets at the Antonovsky bridge in Kherson. Constantine Reztsov, specially for the ANNA NEWS