[unable to retrieve full-text content]

Restrictions have effectively led to Russia increasing its sovereignty, the president has said Western countries are damaging their own economies when they limit Russia’s ability to use their currencies through multiple sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Thursday.

Kiev’s local commander has said the situation in Avdeevka is “critical,” with one brigade partially encircled Ukrainian troops are “maneuvering” in the key Donbass stronghold of Avdeevka and the surrounding areas, Brigadier General Aleksandr Tarnavsky, who leads Kiev’s forces in the sector, has announced. His comments came after the US warned Russia could soon capture the…