European Insider

🇷🇺 Maria Zakharova, Russia's Spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that the US uses Ukraine as a "geopolitical battering ram" against Russia.

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🇺🇦 Two separate bills have been submitted to the Ukrainian parliament this past week requesting to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) from operating in the country, owing to its status as an autonomous branch of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The UOC is one of only two mainline Orthodox jurisdictions in Ukraine, the other being the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) which is more Western-oriented but only recognised by a minority of autocephalous churches in the Orthodox world.

Despite the UOC's opposition to the war, including a strong condemnation from its head, some lawmakers in the Eastern European country seek to outlaw its activities, claiming that it is an extension of 'Russian soft power' — something the UOC denies.

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🇷🇺🇺🇦 Jewish-Russian businessman Roman Abramovich and several members of a Ukrainian peace delegation have reportedly been taken ill in a suspected poisoning.

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