7 hours ago (Updated: 6 hours ago)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a news briefing in Kyiv, Ukraine, February 24, 2022 - Sputnik International, 1920, 26.02.2022
© REUTERS / UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SER
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On 24 February, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk requested assistance to defend themselves from attacks by Ukrainian forces.
Russian State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said Saturday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had left Kiev for Lvov; he added that Zelensky had already departed the Ukrainian capital as of yesterday.
"Zelensky hastily left Kiev. He was not in the capital of Ukraine yesterday. Together with his entourage, he fled to the city of Lvov, where he and his assistants were equipped with a place to live," Volodin wrote in his Telegram channel.
Volodin also noted that all the videos that Zelensky publishes on social networks were recorded in advance. According to him, information about Zelensky's departure to Lvov came from deputies of the Rada, Ukraine's legislature.
On 24 February, Russia launched a special operation to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine, responding to calls from the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics for help in countering the aggression of Ukrainian forces.
The Russian Defenсe Ministry said the special operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only and that the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow has repeatedly stated it has no plans to occupy Ukraine.
Prior to that, Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed decrees recognising the independence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk (LPR) people's republics.
In the past weeks, the situation along the line of contact has significantly deteriorated as Ukrainian forces have intensified the shelling of Donbass.
Russian Special Military Op in Ukraine
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Popular comments
Coward left "his" people, ordered by USA to flee
♂️ Do you really want THAT kind of president ?? Clown. He doesn't want Ukraine to prosper, he only takes care for himself. It's ironic, clown gets to be a puppet. Literally.D
discoversci
26 February, 13:30 GMT
23
When he was slaughtering innocent civilians in the Donetsk and Luhansk region he was a man then now he met his match he is running like a pathetic psychotic dog after his masters set him up on a suicide mission.
GS
George Sam-Reddy
26 February, 13:36 GMT
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European Super League Set for Return With Barcelona, Juventus & Real Madrid's Backing
3 hours ago
Metal figures of football players are seen in front of the words European Super League in this illustration taken April 20, 2021 - Sputnik International, 1920, 26.02.2022
© REUTERS / DADO RUVIC
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The European Super League (ESL) is a proposed rival competition to UEFA's Champions League, Europe's top football tournament. Twelve teams initially signed up to the project, but the original plan was shelved after six English clubs walked away amid outrage from fans. However, it is reportedly set to return in a new form.
The controversial European Super League will be relaunched next week with Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Juventus backing the return of the competition with a highly reformed structure, British daily The Telegraph reported.
According to the publication, Andrea Agnelli – the president of Juventus – is due to announce the return of the league on Thursday.
Under the new proposals, the ESL will no longer have permanent members. Moreover, the qualification criteria for the tournament will be almost identical to the Champions League where top teams from major leagues of Europe qualify to compete.
In a nutshell, the "traditional domestic league qualification" will be adhered to in the competition.
The trio of clubs behind the ESL are also saying that the tournament would pave the way for the creation of a number of new teams in countries like Luxembourg and Ireland.
The prime reason behind the foundation of the ESL was UEFA's autocratic approach to its European tournaments with large clubs across the football world growing frustrated with the administrative body's handling of the Champions League.
The three rebel clubs are leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of providing legal sanction to the ESL as they are taking UEFA to the European Court of Justice over the matter later this year.
Barca, Juve, and Real's board are also unhappy with UEFA's alleged close relationship with a select band of clubs, with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi reportedly bearing the fruits of their close ties.
PSG was never a part of the original ESL plan but after the league was denounced, Al-Khelaifi's stock has risen.
The Qatari businessman is now the chairman of the European Club Association and also heads the beIN Media group, which holds the broadcast rights for UEFA's tournaments in the Middle East.
Additionally, Al-Khelaifi is the co-owner of UCCSA, a joint venture between the continent's football governing body and the European Club Association, designed to further and safeguard UEFA's commercial interests, including the highly profitable broadcast rights.
