Page 43 - RusRPTSept22

Crimea, Russian Defense Ministry said that the blasts on the territory of the Saki Air Base occurred due to the detonation of several munitions at a bunded storage area. Local residents earlier told Ukrainska Pravda that explosions were heard from the airfield in Novofedorivka, located in the western part of the peninsula. Ukraine hasn't yet commented.
Zelensky: The war must end with the liberation of Crimea. In his nightly address, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Russian war against Ukraine began with the occupation of Crimea and must end with its liberation. "Russia has turned our peninsula, which has always been and will be one of the best places in Europe, into one of the most dangerous places in Europe. Russia brought large-scale repression, environmental problems, economic hopelessness and war to Crimea." Zelensky added that "it is impossible to say" when the liberation will happen, but Ukraine is constantly "adding the necessary components to the formula of liberation of Crimea."
Estonia PM calls on EU to stop issuing visas to Russian citizens. Kaja Kallas, Estonia's Prime Minister, called for the "end of tourism from Russia now" on Aug. 9. Visiting Europe is "a privilege, not a human right," Kallas said. Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu earlier said that Tallinn was preparing proposals for the EU to stop issuing visas to Russians, calling it "morally wrong" that Russian tourists are travelling to Europe en masse, while Russia is killing children in Ukraine
The EU’s Russian coal embargo has come into force as of August 10. The fifth package of sanctions approved in April is supposed to ban the purchase, import, or transport of coal and other solid fossil fuels in the EU if they originate in Russia or are exported from Russia, reported the EU commission. The embargo came into effect on August 10. According to experts, the introduction of the European embargo affects a quarter of Russia's coal imports and will cause losses of €8B per year. Britain had already introduced a ban on the import of coal from Russia on July 21. In addition to coal, the import of oil, oil products, coal and coal products, gold, and supply and delivery, directly or indirectly, of these goods is also prohibited. The ban also applies to providing technical assistance, financial services, funds, and brokerage services related to these goods. Moreover, On August 9, the EU plan to reduce gas consumption throughout the European Union by 15% also came into effect.
The Parliament of Latvia (the Saeima) has declared Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, the parliament said in a statement published on its official website on August 11. On August 11, the Saeima adopted a statement, which recognizes activities of Russian troops in Ukraine as terrorism and declares "Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism." "The Saeima's statement calls on EU countries to immediately suspend the issuance of tourist and entry visas to Russian and Belarusian citizens," the statement reads. Members of the Latvian Parliament state that Russia allegedly "has for many years
43 RUSSIA Country Report September 2022 www.intellinews.com