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Russia’s Soyuz-2.1V light carrier rocket to be launched by yearend

The first launch of Russia’s Soyuz-2.1V light carrier rocket will take place at the end of 2012

MOSCOW, July 17 (Itar-Tass) — The first launch of Russia’s Soyuz-2.1V light carrier rocket will take place at the end of 2012, the head of the federal space agency Roscosmos, Vladimir Popovkin, told reporters on Tuesday.

At present, the carrier rocket’s trials are underway.

“If everything goes normal, we will launch Soyuz-2.1V in the fourth quarter of the year,” he said.

“There is already a long queue of potential customers – only commercial launches exceed ten,” Popovkin said. “We worried that it will compete with an Angara light carrier-rocket, but the flow of customers is such that they will compete with each other.”

The carrier rocket should be launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome.

Bombs with power of 13 kilos of trotyle found in Russia’s Kabardino-Balkaria

An active accomplice of bandits was detained in the search operation and gave confessing testimony

Confiscation of Russian assets by the US to affect Europe more — expert

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Russia sees tendency for Latin America to become one of multipolar world order centers

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Revival Party leader released after being questioned by Moldovan special services

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Dollar almost completely gone from Russia-China trade relations — Lavrov

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Ukrainian intelligence predicts dire situation from mid-May onward

Kirill Budanov acknowledged that the Ukrainian army had long experienced problems on the frontline

Development of Baikal-Amur, Trans-Siberian railways important for Russia, CIS — Putin

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Russian peacekeepers heading for temporary deployment centers in Armenia

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US has no idea what to do about Zelensky — Seymour Hersh

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Damage to TV tower in Kharkov causes problems with digital TV signal

Earlier, Ukrainian media reported an explosion in Kharkov, which was cofirmed later by Mayor Igor Terekhov

West battlegroup destroys two Ukrainian drones, hit over 170 Ukrainian army’s facilities

The battlegroup’s spokesman Ivan Bigma said that a Gvozdika self-propelled system, nine mortar squads, two Furiya fixed-wing type unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed

Pobeda bloc expects global community to respond to struggle against opposition in Moldova

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NATO, Poland made no decision on deployment of nuclear weapons — Andrzej Duda

Polish President pointed out that this issue is being raised during his meetings with NATO partners from time to time

US capitalizing on Israel-Palestinian conflict — Syrian president

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Russia ready to offer access to Asian markets to partners in BAM upgrade — Putin

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Russian troops level off frontline near Kremennaya in LPR for further advance

Russian combat aircraft and artillery "have begun to operate more intensively" at that frontline, delivering "precision strikes" on the Ukrainian army, Andrey Marochko said

US expert says more ATACMS won't alter battlefield dynamics in Ukraine

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Moscow Zoo delegation arrives in North Korean capital — media

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Involvement of NATO states prolongs Ukrainian conflict — Russian ambassador to Germany

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New US military aid will not prevent end of Kiev regime — Russian mission to the UN

"That’s what happens when the head of state doesn’t care about his own people and sells out his country," Dmitry Polyansky said

NATO’s backing of Kiev’s strikes beyond special op area makes peace unachievable — expert

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Kremlin vows legal action against US bill on seizing Russian assets

Dmitry Peskov noted that the trial will be "very complex," but will cause severe damage to US economic interests if the US authorities finally approve the bill regarding Russian assets

Russia firmly ready for peace solution in Ukraine — Kremlin spokesman

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Chinese diplomat cautions US against 'demonizing' China-Russia relationship

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Russian troops destroy four boats with Ukrainian assault force on Dnieper River

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Top Hungarian diplomat warns US-NATO-EU competition in Ukraine could spark WWIII

"Preparations for a world war are intensifying in Brussels," Peter Szijjarto warned

Russia becomes Europe’s first economy despite 'pressure from all sides,' Putin says

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Lavrov slams West for promoting 'dishonest schemes' for restrictions on nuclear weapons

The top Russian diplomat stressed that "striving to attain decisive military superiority, Washington and its allies are enlarging the network of alliances directed against third countries"

Builders from Azerbaijan participate in BAM upgrade — Putin

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Qiwi projects $247 mln loss over sale of Russian assets

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Armenia purchasing only defensive weapons — PM

Yerevan's defense spending is 15-20% of what Azerbaijan spends on it, Nikol Pashinyan said

West balancing on edge of direct military confrontation between nuclear powers — Lavrov

According to the top Russian diplomat, it is especially concerning that the three Western nuclear powers are among the key sponsors of the Kiev regime and the main initiators of various inflammatory moves

Flow of cargo traffic via North-South transport corridor to reach 60-100 mln tons

The presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan, Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev, met with veterans, builders and employees of the Baikal-Amur Mainline on Monday

Ukraine says Western systems ineffective against Russia's electronic warfare

Maria Berlinskaya emphasized that the real effectiveness was determined in real combat conditions, and not at "some training ground in Texas"

Over 280 recovered from mass grave at hospital in Khan Yunis — TV

The operation to recover bodies of people killed in Israeli bombardments continues in the city

Current Russian turn eastward possible owing to Baikal-Amur railway — Putin

BAM personifies giant labor and courage of two million very young people from across the entire Soviet Union, the Russian leader said

Romanian rescuers find Ukrainian deserters who spent four days in mountains

Romanian media regularly report the discovery of young Ukrainians in the mountainous terrain on the Romanian-Ukrainian border

London grants agrement to Zaluzhny as ambassador to UK — Ukrainian parliamentarian

This must be followed by a decree of the Ukrainian president on the appointment

US accusing Russia of allegedly deploying nuclear weapons in space absurd — Lavrov

The foreign minister also pointed out that Russia is firmly committed to its international legal obligations, including the 1967 Outer Space Treaty

No point in peace conference on Ukraine without Russia — top Hungarian diplomat

All parties involved in combat operations must meet at the negotiating table, Peter Szijjarto said

Destroyed TV tower in Kharkov carried Ukrainian air defense coordination device — official

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Russia’s Battlegroup West repulsed four Ukrainian army counterattacks over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

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According to the law enforcement, the search for the fourth crew member is ongoing

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Senior lawmaker threatens US with retaliation for 'stealing' Russian assets

"Now, our country has every reason to make symmetrical decisions against foreign assets," Vyacheslav Volodin said

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North Korea presumably launches ballistic missile — Japan Coast Guard

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The fundamental point is that in the Valieva case there was nothing to exclude that that was the end of an excretion, that the pharmacological dose of trimetazidine hadn't been taken several days before

Almaz-Antey adapts air defense launchers for various missiles

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Russia has significant amount of West’s funds in case of confiscation of its assets

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Gagauzian leader on unity of Moldova’s opposition, ability to watch Russian TV channels

Yevgenia Gutsul underlined that Gagauzia plans to start exporting products to Russia in the near future

New anti-Russian sanctions to include ban on LNG supplies — Swedish Foreign Minister

Tobias Billstrom deemed adopting the 14th sanctions package "one of the most important things"

Switzerland unblocks Russia-related assets worth 290 mln Swiss francs

The total amount of blocked assets of the Russian Federation decreased by 150 million Swiss francs (about $165 million) due to the fact that a number of individuals "were removed from the EU sanctions lists"

Ukrainian troops fleeing Ocheretino in small groups, says DPR

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Dollar exchange rate down to 93.29 rubles on Moscow Exchange, euro up to 99.4 rubles

The yuan added to 12.851 rubles

Russia's eyes open to nature of US sanctions — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov added that the Russian authorities will try to minimize the effect of new EU sanctions against the country

Chinese car plant to start production at former Mercedes site in Moscow region in May

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Eleven Russians dead, 48 injured in Ukrainian strikes over week

Rodion Miroshnik pointed out that over the past week, Ukrainian forces fired "at least 1,278 rounds of ammunition" at the civilian facilities in the border regions

US 'not forgetting' to help itself with aid to Ukraine — Kremlin

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Russian cabinet to discuss macroeconomic forecast

The agenda of the cabinet’s meeting also includes the consideration of the issue of ratification of the agreement on free trade between the Eurasian Economic Union and Iran

Moldovan opposition announces creation of Pobeda political bloc

Among representatives are Governor of the autonomous Gagauzia region of Moldova Yevgenia Gutsul and parliamentary deputy Marina Tauber

Russia looking to open diplomatic missions in South Sudan, Niger, Sierra Leone — diplomat

According to Alexey Klimov, in 2023, almost 30,000 temporary entrance (return) permits were issued abroad and over 460,000 foreign passports were issued

Repaired strategic bomber Tu-22M3 re-enters service with Russia’s Aerospace Force

The bombers will get advanced precision weapons while their radio-electronic devices and engines will be similar to the equipment aboard the latest Tu-160M2 aircraft

Scholz says era of fossil fuel will be over soon

The chancellor also said Germany will make every effort to produce 80% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030

Russian peacekeepers leave Karabakh after Yerevan recognizes Baku’s state borders — Peskov

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Moldovan authorities try to present Gagauz as separatists — official

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Ukraine’s military intelligence chief recognizes Russia’s success in Avdeyevka

Ukrainian troops suffered significant losses in the fighting for the control of this town

Ukraine 'not in a position to win' against Russia — Spanish reserve colonel

"The Western world cannot accept Ukraine's defeat, because from the point of view of our security, a Russian victory in the war would be a failure," Francisco Rubio pointed out

Russia’s UN envoy, Serbian leader discuss coordination on Kosovo at UN

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Cossack Brigade ‘Dnieper’ takes out two Ukrainian boats at Kinburn Spit

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Ukraine turns from sovereign country into Western protectorate, Hungarian PM says

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Hamas leader wants to see Russia, Egypt, Turkey as guarantor countries for Gaza

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Russia’s Battlegroup West repels three attacks in past day, moving to better positions

Units of Battlegroup Center have improved their tactical positions

Press review: Dissecting US aid package to Ukraine and sands of global economy shifting

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, April 22nd

Lavrov speaks of West’s agony, Russia’s approach to any future talks with Kiev

The Russian foreign minister also described Armenia and Russia as more than formal allies

Mobilization law condition for new supplies of arms to Kiev by NATO — source

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Russia invites all countries to develop North - South transport corridor — Putin

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Assad says sure Russia will win conflict in Ukraine, re-unite brotherly peoples

Russia, in his words, is "correcting what others have done"

Balticconnector gas pipeline returns to operation

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Russia to incorporate US nuke scenario in Poland in its military planning — diplomat

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North Korea stages first combined tactical drill simulating nuclear counterattack — KCNA

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Knauf to transfer its Russian business to local management — company

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Belarusian air defense registers increased number of NATO aviation sorties

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Russian missile cruiser Varyag enters Mediterranean Sea

The ship's crew continues to fulfill the mission it was given for the long-range voyage

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Russia expects Xi Jinping to attend BRICS summit in Kazan — Lavrov

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EU reacts to worsening of situation for Ukraine by preparing for new world war — Szijjarto

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Russia, Ukraine sought to agree on Crimea at Istanbul talks, Lukashenko says

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