ah, with a headlines on off the international. as moscow says, 600 ukrainian soldiers have been killed and what is called a revenge operation. the key as deadly strike on russian troops that was on new year's eve. 50 russian soldiers meantime returning from ukrainian captivity in a prisoner swap, deal which sees 50 ukrainian troops also released following talks, rushers, defense ministry saying it soldiers were in, quote, mortal danger. and some stories that shaped the weekend on t, british intelligence spies on a russian forces on behalf of ukraine. according to legal documents reported by the

grays, own media outlet. and quote, a violation of free speech and the rights of john mason about how russia are ministry. described the detention of the regional director of the sputnik news agency. i authorities in latvia with the week's top stories on this ours immediate headlines. welcome to your new 0 nazi international. so russia says that hundreds of ukrainian soldiers have been killed and what is called a revenge operation. the key of deadly strike on the city of mackay, of that was on new year's eve, which claimed the lives of 89 russian soldiers. what did the so called in response to the criminal attack? so the key for regime on the 1st of 2023 in the city of my case worker, the russian military organized a retaliation operation. location of the cranium,

military forces were found in climate torque and more than 600 soldiers were killed . this was a very, a tragic event, so that took place here in my cave, just when the clock struck midnight on new year's eve. well, now russian defense ministry says that as results of its retaliatory operation, a more than 600 ukrainian soldiers have been killed in a missile. attacks by a russia in the city of cromwell source, which is about a 100 kilometers away from where i'm standing. it is also part of the next people's republic that's local, so will a will liberate. and this is why the fighting is taking place there. while, according to the russian defense ministry, there were at least 2 dormitories in the city of kermit source go. one housed 600 soldiers and the other one housed 700 soldiers and did you to the intelligence that

was uncovered by a russian military they yet. so good decision and it struck those to dormitories with missiles and now as the results of more than 600 ukrainian soldiers had been killed, according to the russian defense ministry, once again, this was a retribution operation if you will, for what had happened on new year's eve, i hear in my cave go when at least 89 russian soldiers were killed as the result of a ukrainian strike that used to american amaze, multiple launch raucous systems. colds are a high mars, of course. scores for russia. soldiers were wounded during that attack. as well, and so they have already been taken to various russian cities for treatment for their wounds. and staying with letters holds from the russian military. 50 russian prisoners are returning from ukrainian captivity in a prison of swath. according to the ministry of defense, who says the service men were in mortal danger,

set to be flown to moscow for rehab and treatment. meanwhile, the lucas group, public local authorities have opened an investigation into suspected sabotage. after a gas pipeline exploded in the city of lucas t, no lake on saturday, the damage has since been repaired and the gas supply has now been restored. while local official se ukrainian force is 5, at least 6 american high mos rockets at a rural town that donates republic earlier today, at least one post reportedly killed. while another is a supposedly trapped under rubble. now another ukrainian missile attack nearby was intercepted by russian air defenses. according to local officials, the reports to say that 2 large electrical power plants did sustain some damage. so ukrainian forces are allegedly being helped by british military intelligence and collaboration with an american tech firm. was according to a cache of lee documents reported by the greys own news outlet. it says other

u. k provides data for key evs forces to fight russian soldiers through aggressive harvesting of data. the technology has enabled the planning of military offensives in artillery attacks, assassinations, asset recruitment, and other measures. the leaked files raised serious questions about whether anomaly 6, a technology has been used throughout the ukraine conflict in an array of targeted operations against specific individuals in infrastructure. if it has britain bears ultimate responsibility for the outcome of these disturbing actions, which in some cases amount to crimes against humanity. the report said a u. s. firm called anomaly 6 has been providing intelligence on russian military movements in real time. the date here is allegedly center british intelligence via the private military group, prevail partners, and then it's handled over to ukraine. we discussed it in various concerns with the grey zone edison kit clarin book using anomaly 6. the technology,

the defense intelligence, g envoy, said that she extension the ukrainian military can very easily identify the small firms of very individuals whether they are civilian military or it's one of the specific and talk. there is also a higher risk of cation. this might be why gary a problem was, was met. but yes, it could mean incident, russia, innocent trains were wrongly identified and the soldiers were spot for collaborators. and then guess, i mean, it was a context. this is almost inevitably go lead to that, that or indeed, that capture and torture pregnancy compunction about brutal crutches to capture war carrying them on mass, which is

a great war growing serious if it ends up killed. as a result of this, when that completely is i think the bit, yes, the counter attack could be quite something. well, this is not the 1st time the gray zone has a poor hill involvement of u. k. intelligence in the ukraine conflict. back in october, the athletes said that prior to the deadly attack on the crime, in bridge senior british intelligence officer allegedly had already drafted an elaborate plan to blow up that bridge. now in a separate report, the grades are also said that obtain documents revealing plans by british military intelligence to train quote, covert ukrainian troops with instructions to attack other russian targets in crimea, where the grey zones clara bug once again. now he says that western powers are lacking accountability for the consequences of the espionage operations against

russia. there has been no consideration for all the limits or restrictions, but london traces shall be the crime. these follows make pretty clear that there is none. i'm trying to do or anything like should be helped every step of the way. what prevent prevail was heavily involved in the block bridge explanation. and what did you go far? what actually happened? there's 0 recognition or the on the all of these to almost every month. another european implicates the style of the activities of activities. and john, this is a civil civil society more widely and there's 0 accountability and there is up to, you know, considerations. what happens in the doors box and that was anyone used use equipment typically reserved for. ready for intelligence agencies, or indeed yes,

like $200.00 and something really, really needs to be done about this just for the sake of innocent people in the foreign, but also the governments and become companies that will be consequences down the line. so good to have your company today. so being president, alexander of boot church says nato has no right to reject the request to send serbian security forces. the cause of this comes after the k for international peacekeeping mission that is led by nato tongue down bel, grades call. they refer to resolution 1244, but they did not invoke the part of the resolution, which actually allows this action. they have no right to reject that request. we will wait. we will point out how and where in what places they did not protect the serbian population. so the defense minister has questioned why k for responded to bell grades, request on christmas eve,

as he added that was exactly the day. the 2 serbian boys was shot and wounded in the republics territory and drive by shooting. and in another episode of violence, one young man was beaten while returning from midnight christmas mass of following the christmas incident. serv, residents and cause of gather the protest. the physical violence by ethnic albanians in the cause of a large number of police officers were reportedly sent to the demonstrations. stopping vehicles for inspections. first, as k for soldiers are located near the entrance to the city, whether protest is taking place. earlier we discussed k for the decision with stefan guy. it's a professor of the institute of european studies based in bel grey that he joined me today in the studio, and he says, the whole decision, the nato declination. he says it basically violates international law. this is a clear violation of the resolution. 1244. it is a clear violation of the international law because once for 23 years ago,

the resolution and before that the court of agreement were signed, they are obliged to provide the serbian military and police force to re enter serbian province of course. and the thought here, the atmosphere that is being built up in which it is a legal, basically, or let's say it is not a punishable to, to commit violence against the sir against the serbs. and i mean i, i personally blame, i've been quality and the also many leadership on one hand. on the other hand, the serbian government has been letting this happen for years in the sense that it was not active. now finally a since this became really unbearable for the people on the ground, it is reacting so far diplomatically. it has used its stools, one of them being asking for, gave, for, to do what it is supposed to do. and that is provide the serbian forces to re enter the province. the m 23 group has withdrawn his forces from the roman

gobble military base, the democratic republic of the congo, which has been holding since october 2022. during a brief ceremony on friday and 23 officially handed over the remind go based along with other positions to east african to regional forces. now to mon garbo lies some 50 kilometers north of gama. the militant sees control back in october 2022. the withdrawals come as the group insists, that piece is its main priority. now here's some different stances from both sides of the conflict. official handover. rwanda will come to the region of we are showing our goodwill, giving hunting of a key bomba. then hunting yoga room, hon, but we live, i'll continue to be opposite us to i voted these taking place and we will react

a new year, giving a less earning to the government. the correlation continuing to prosecute our our letting that for us it was of the day will we are inn kimball. bah, at the end of december. and now we are in a remarkable is that will you call inefficiency? we are following the process. i commanded force. i'm representing is force commander who is on a mission in kinshasa. so this process always goes forward. earlier in december m, $23.00 agreed to pull out from the city of cuba, which it described as a good will gesture, done in the name of peace. fighting between the congolese army and m $23.00 broke out in october after the group launched a new offensive leading to a mass migration of the local civilian population in the countries east. now neighboring rwanda denies claims by the d r c that it supports and even fights alongside m. 23 militia. now, i'm 23,

also known as the r congolese revolutionary army was formed in 2012. it consists mostly of ethnic tootsie, mainly based on the east of the country. the insurgents have previously threatened to march on the capital and asked the president who they accused of cheating and elections and his what congolese people say about the m 23. withdraw through chrissy mario. cool. we're happy with the withdrawal of m. 23 because there has been no peace. the road is blocked. it's as if we are in prison. we're happy about their departure because peaceful return and the roads will open up. my child who was visiting coma has been stuck in lava since the war began and went on to wasn't working. why nicaraguans? it's a joy for us who live here. they say they have just left room on the bow up, but in other locations close to here they are still there and the population is afraid to return to those areas they occupy. however, the d aussie is not alone in its fight. as the country received

a shipment of weapons from the turkish government, this week, the military aid will be used for improving the capabilities of the congolese army . the arm shipment was transported by the turkish air force is the 2nd country to, to a well support the d r. c. in his battle with the m $23.00 group is kenya spent $37000000.00 in november to send troops to the country. let's learn more about this now and try and shed some light on what sounds pretty confusing. crossing live now to ken bassetti, the commissioning editor at bud story agency. a very well welcome to you. so thank you for coming on the program today, hoping you can shed some light on what is a very, a multi angled story. here we have m 23, handing over a key military base. so what does this represent? do you thing when it comes to the prospects for peace can okay, thank you. thank you for having me. and i think right from the onset, just a little above ground, the hottest, the empty, there's been

a negotiation that is going on. that is lead, but the former proved and so can, can yatta and the mounting there will be that made in the seats and they have agreed on certain things on for the elements. but the key among them is with the drawer and allow for a peaceful settlement. of the, of the, of the conflict in the hunting is very significant because this is part of what has been agreed on. that's only when the em critically fused. more for the face, what we call a contract taishan that will be there will be confronted by the, by the forces, the tenant for the countries can. and among them the to try and stumbling that region because this is key. and i just wanted to mention that they can commander who was leading that point where it comes up being handed over

again. brigadier was been deployed in so mildly, again, the shrubs. yes. have a petition of being very, very bold and taking on and you would, you will come so fast their mom used to call him the the mind, the crazy one, the crazy one because he has a petition. so let the other forces that part the empty tray out aware that if they do not respect the tenants of what was agreed on, he will lead his forces again. what can can kinda jump in case. i'm so sorry, sort of jump in here because there's so much information to really make it clear. not just myself, but for our view as well. i mean, let this one thing clear that the sides, for example, in this conflict are aided by various parties that yes, providing the d r. c. equipment to fight m 23 a. can you give us some background on how this type of aide is? is influence an influence in the comfort. you've got turkey helping,

one side who else from who, which are the external players. a helping these sides here we, we have we have the stuff controls which is trying to come in between the cobra least government. the government obviously trying to strength, interested in fighting, isn't losing ground until this piece. look. in addition, kim, it's rhonda has been accused of takings of a bucking them 23. so they're monetize. other small forces that involve the confidence, multifaceted, but the main rebel group that have been pushing is empty, which is non, which has been accused of being of getting backing from one because a big one is stuck into this whole process because it was interesting because it's jason, that part of the country, that's where most of the people who fled to what was the government that was seen as rebels and galley of having their business. so it has interest in what happened

in picking their forces and bucking a mute conflict within that region. that enables those for them not to group and attack that one that's it wasn't so all right, coming in the stuff going for this coming in to try to find the region, but call the con, release and most of needs needed the supports to strengthen it. because the forces that are coming to create to disclose the situation or don't say for age needs to build it, don't force. but this, if this is one thing that i mean ultimately i guess some forces need extra help to kind of get things done. i mean, the un and the e u, of cold on rwanda stop aiding m 23 and surgeon several times. so can you, can you clarify for me, what is the western role and helping to bring about peace? i think most importantly, there was some rule fear that unless, unless it was a a c in that region, that 3 units are likely to be shipping up to be

a place or the other factor to be a could be an interesting war for by other parties. outside and where there was the world wants to have seen that one. and it is that part of comb or is it is reach and minerals and part of the western world would be interested in trying not having us take so that it could get a show of the resources and stuff by trying to put in stability there it is putting it so that it can also pick up show be so that it doesn't lose control. totally. so i was gonna was gonna ask, can, is it more external players? are they more focused on humanitarian missions, or as you say, getting access to the mineral rich regions that are in, in, in the conflict zones right now we have known why they come, it's really interesting that they come with the conflict of human human material a, but at the back of the mind that we know when the chips are down is everything about resources because there's been other conflicts and this in this intense kind

of engagement. when they do that, they lose appointments. what, what's next? so what does human tell you in it? so what of the puts me when do we get out of that a little bit? another 2, but course africa each time external for this coming. they're looking for what they can get out of eat. they can g thing, i mean we're ok regardless of external interest perhaps and what is called the the, the, the bread basket of the world. you're confident that just quickly can, i don't have much time yet, but i'm so grateful to have you on the program m 23 insurgent group medicine groups that they withdrawing some some for some key areas including that of a, of a military base as well. the immediate future can. how do you, how do you see this playing out? i will, i see that because them to do feed has to draw because that that area would be perfect because the east african forces that are needed that a v as part of the east african, the bigger market. the stability of actually doing the critical to this ability and

the columbia region and other external forces. the most important for the subsequent dfcs non member base of community, which makes that part pacified so that we can get the stuff going. countries can get access to that market. i can go see a, the commissioning editor at a bud story agency joining us life with a big story coming from the african continent only seems to get bigger and bigger. we really have high hopes for a peace process to come into effect and can we thank you for your time and your explanations here. when are you international? thank you for having mission. while they're calling it a violation of free speech and the rights of journalists, that's how russia has described the detention of the regional director of the sputnik news agency by authorities in latvia for the journalist merit customers. at last, the and citizen, he was detained on charges of violating e u sanctions, but our senior correspondent says that sole part of a broader

e you crack down on media outlets that are not well pushing the west mainstream narratives. the freedom of expression, then press once sacred, they are founding principles of the union, protected by the, the treaties of the european union. the new charter. a sudden the mental rights and the european convention on human rights as close to gospel as law can guess. every one has the right to freedom of expression. this right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority. and regardless of frontier us, the freedom and pluralism of the media shall be respected. but these principles, these values have been sick for years. they've been die in spanish, crackdowns, in barcelona, in poland. does the government monopolize the press in eastern europe,

where it had been building up for years and old began many years ago and 2016? when latvia blocked sputnik on lod, just, she's the domain address, no frills. then they began harassing and threatening journalists, e u. nationals who worked for sputnik with jail time, with sentences prosecution that detain them for talks with security age and state security agents then came arrests and persecution level to finish a slit. it would take me several hours to simply name all the journalists of come under pressure in eastern europe. here is just one of my own stories in brief. back in 2019, i was detained at villainous airports, searched and questioned for 5 or 6 hours to state security officers performed a role play of good cop bad cop. the bad one shouted at me, you're working for chisels. why did you come here?

the other one asked me, you're a latvian citizen, so why are you working for them? you know who they are, they're not really, people rushes, a peculiar country. finally, he said, you're lucky, you're not a russian citizen, or we would be having a very different conversation. and now we'll just kick you out and close the border for you for 5 years. for reference. merit cas m is an e. u national, laughing and citizen. all he did is, is she worked for years as editor in chief of sputnik lithuania. one of his work is online. there's nothing crazy there. you'll find strange stuff and she and then he now faces decades behind bars, charged with violating sanctions because he worked for russians and reportedly espionage. because why not? i wouldn't listen to some of the merits can possibly lose his freedom due to allegations of violating anti russian sanctions. the sanctions are a lawful,

as well as the arrest. this is lawlessness in europe, when a person can be arrested for his journalistic work opinion or the information he provides. there can be even harsher chargers, such as espionage or treason. and we've dealt with this before and we shouldn't rule out such dark perspectives as of africa that to matter which affects every day unless because if anybody can be taken in custody for their opinion and be charged with espionage which is not uncommon these days. and nobody is safe. so all people should stand together in this situation. morocco, sam did not violate any laws. he did his job as a journalist, legally. he provided to an unbiased information and had nothing will kind of spies a person who works in the public eye for media and hide nothing. the accusations are false and we need to understand this. there are people who will be overjoyed. those who believe that any opinion, but there's all ones that they agree with should be removed and censored. the

soviet union was, was big in this censoring on hiding on restricting and we all know how that turned out. you cannot restrict expression at was once the european union's mantra, how ironic. look at them now. terrorizing journalists are writing things in a way. they don't like to think that that these people once lectured the world. though lush lu to poor been in this case is totally political espionage charges against merits are complete nonsense. pressure on journalists working in the baltic states is a standard matter. it is an obvious fact that the baltic states are a platform for testing new methods of fighting against journalists. there was an oddness in the charges of violating sanctions. the fact is that the european union has no sanctions against sputnik. they have personal sanctions against dmitri castle of who was the chief of rossi, a subordinate media group,

which includes sputnik therefore, extending these personal sanctions to all the people who work. there is a strange precedent. many european human rights organizations oppose this interpretation of sanctions. the baltic states are a testing ground for lawlessness. concerning really harsh measures, such as intimidation, a ban on the profession, and criminal prosecution for journalists, latvia, stony and lithuania, do not act on their own. they, as we assume, act either on direct instructions or in coordination with their superiors in the european union. and in the u. s. the accusations of espionage and the threat of imprisoning him for 20 years. as an e. u citizen are in fact a pure policy of the european union. and so with the top headlines of this, our and the main stories of the week, even watch in the weekly here are not international life, the hot in the russian camp. thank you. jones unit o'neill, my colleague, is here at the desk and half an hour's time. i do hope you can join him.

ah oh, when i was shocked, seemed wrong. when all 3, just don't hold. a sheep out. disdain becomes the advocate. an engagement. it was betrayal. when so many find themselves worlds apart, we choose to look for common ground. so what we've got to do is identify the threats that we have. it's crazy,

even foundation, let it be an arms race is on often very dramatic or development only personally and getting to resist. i don't see how that strategy will be successful, very difficult time. time to sit down and talk ah ah .