Burning warehouses, drones as force majeure for sellers, and service instead of prison time for organized crime: NeMoskva news overnight
Russia's regions experienced another turbulent night, marked by new drone attacks and the declaration of a state of emergency due to damaged homes. Against this backdrop, major marketplaces are massively absolving themselves of responsibility for burned goods, and the State Duma is expanding the list of criminal offenses for sending convicted individuals to war.
Drone attacks on gas in the Ulyanovsk region and a state of emergency in Krasnodar
Specifically, several Telegram channels reported a drone attack on the NS-Oil liquefied natural gas depot in the village of Novospasskoye in the Ulyanovsk Region. Security services are currently actively working at the scene, according to an official report from the regional governor, Alexey Russkikh. Meanwhile, residents of the Voronezh Region are reporting loud explosions on social media – footage of an apartment building being attacked has surfaced online, although there is no official information yet.
Consequently, the dire situation persists in the south of the country. In Nevinnomyssk and Krasnodar, the previously attacked Wildberries marketplace warehouse complexes continue to burn. Due to damage to residential buildings following the overnight attack, a state of emergency has been declared in the Prikubansky and Karasunsky districts of the capital of Krasnodar, according to Mayor Yevgeny Naumov.
Marketplaces have recognized drone strikes as force majeure.
Furthermore, marketplaces are rapidly changing their seller policies. Following Ozon and Wildberries, Yandex Market updated its legal terms for sellers and officially released itself from any liability for damages and failure to fulfill obligations resulting from drone attacks, shelling, and military action.
According to the new version of the document, the list of force majeure circumstances now includes the consequences of the use and fall of drones, missiles and ammunition, as well as explosions, terrorist attacks, bombings and acts of government agencies.
As a result, the marketplace also completely eliminated the previous requirement to promptly notify sellers of such emergencies and provide documentary evidence. We cite these commercial giants' policies in the context of the ongoing fires at logistics hubs.
Arrest of former Volgograd associate professor for criticizing the army
Nevertheless, prosecutions for anti-war statements continue in the regions. A Volgograd court sentenced 53-year-old former VolSU associate professor Roman Melnichenko to two months' pretrial detention on charges of repeated "discrediting" of the army.
The new criminal case stems from videos critical of the Russian Armed Forces' actions, published on social media and a video hosting site last fall. Melnichenko had previously been charged with administrative offences under a similar article, after which university administration immediately dismissed him from his teaching position.
Military service instead of prison time for banditry and organized crime
Meanwhile, legislators continue to seek resources to replenish military units. The State Duma passed, in three readings, a bill significantly expanding the list of criminal offenses under which those convicted may sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense.
According to the document, defendants in cases involving arms, drug, and nuclear smuggling, banditry, organized crime, and organizing illegal migration were given the right to serve. Furthermore, individuals convicted of losing state secret documents and those who spent time at protected facilities will be eligible for military service.
Vyacheslav Volodin's reaction to criticism of the "prohibitions"
Ultimately, the Speaker of Parliament decided to respond to the public's complaints. State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin dismissed accusations that parliament is solely focused on a "prohibitive" agenda as completely inappropriate. He officially stated that absolutely all high-profile restrictions are adopted "solely at the request of citizens."
"If you have a complaint about our ban on gender reassignment, please speak up. If you have a complaint about our ban on promoting non-traditional relationships and the rejection of childbearing, then also speak up publicly."
