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Russia's defense industry

Russian Defense Ministry: USSR never exported HAB-250 bombs

The Russian Defense Ministry's spokesman comments on allegations that fragments of a Soviet-made bomb designed to deliver chemical warfare agents had been tracked down in Idlib

© Sergey Bobylev/Russia's Defense Ministry's press-service/TASS

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Putin calls for unbiased probe into alleged chemical weapons incident in Syria

MOSCOW, May 2. /TASS/. The Soviet Union never exported HAB-250 bombs and never stuffed them with the nerve agent Sarin, Gen Igor Konashenkov, the official spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday in a comment on allegations by the New York-base advocacy Human Rights Watch that fragments of a Soviet-made bomb designed to deliver chemical warfare agents had been tracked down in the Syrian town of Khan Sheykhun, Idlib Governorate.

"Soviet munitions of the HAB-250 type were never supplied outside the USSR and the Soviet Armed Forces recycled all of them without exception back in the 1960's," Gen Konashenkov said in a statement.

"What is more, HAB-250 bombs were not designed structurally (for stuffing with chemical warfare agents) and were never stuffed with it," he said.

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Russian defense industry

Swedish Navy examines seabed near damaged telecom cables

Two underwater cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea on November 17 and 18

Captives, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

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Russian State Duma passes law on federal budget for 2025-2027

According to the document, federal budget revenues are forecast to be 40.296 trillion rubles ($404.8 bln) in 2025, 41.84 trillion rubles ($420.3 bln) in 2026, and 43.154 trillion rubles ($433.5 bln) in 2027

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Soyuz rocket carrying Progress MS-29 cargo spaceship blasts off from Baikonur spaceport

Progress MS-29 will deliver 2,487 metric tons of cargo to the orbital outpost, including fuel, drinking water, compressed nitrogen, various equipment, food and clothing

Biden’s actions increase likelihood of escalation in Ukraine — PM

Viktor Orban asserted that the government’s mission is to prevent Hungary from being dragged into the Ukrainian conflict

Russian forces successfully advancing in all areas in special military op zone — Putin

The Russian president said that "all the goals we set for ourselves are being achieved"

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Putin orders protection of critical infrastructure, including Crimean Bridge — Kremlin

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Igor Kimakovsky said that "if the West is not physically involved in this war, that is, if NATO is not involved, then Ukraine is actually losing"

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Biden’s decision to use ATACMS against Russia may 'blow up in America’s face' — US expert

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Ukraine, not Russia, posing a threat to the Baltic region — Kremlin

Two underwater cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea on November 17 and 18

Japanese lawmaker praises Putin's restraint amid decision to strike deep into Russia

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell confirmed that the US administration had lifted restrictions for US-supplied missiles to be used for strikes up to 300 kilometers inside Russia

Russian troops raise flag in central Kurakhovo in Donetsk region — politician

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Ukrainian special services assemble unit for sabotage attacks in Kupyansk — official

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Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

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Russian air defenses repulsed all attacks, the Russian president said

Moscow hopes West will thoroughly analyze Russia's nuclear doctrine — ambassador

Andrey Kelin also recalled that the policy of the Russian leadership enjoys the full support and confidence of the country's population

Trump to continue using Ukraine to contain Russia — Valdai program director

"The US continues to benefit from the Ukrainian crisis, regardless of which administration is in power," Andrey Sushentsov said

Biden's decision on missile strikes on Russia is his 'last gasp' — Japanese lawmaker

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Canada neglects its sovereignty by approving transfer of land mines to Kiev — diplomat

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US is now at war with Russia, Ritter says

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US admiral says Washington should be ready for talks with Russia, China

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Newly arrived Ukrainian soldiers rob, loot in Kharkov Region’s Kupyansk

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Russian army pushes Ukraine out of Kurakhovo water reservoir’s north shore

According to Igor Kimakovsky, the only road the Ukrainian armed forces could use to leave the city is under Russia’s control

Putin confirms Russia’s readiness to assist CAR with security challenges

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Elon Musk denies his impact on Trump’s decisions on nominates for cabinet positions

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Russia to address NATO’s engagement in strikes deep inside country — SVR

Sergey Naryshkin observed that the military and political elites in the West are increasingly recognizing the gravity of Russia's intentions and the need for greater caution in their actions

Preliminary data shows anti-ship missile downed over Sevastopol waters — official

Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said that all emergencies services currently work in the high alert mode

Xi Jinping calls for unification of more voices for peace in Ukraine

"We need to bring together more voices of peace and pave the way for a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis," Chinese president said

No Western sanctions to limit Russia’s foreign trade — minister

All restrictions that Western countries impose affect themselves in the first place, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov added

Kremlin condemns report on Storm Shadow missile use against Russian targets as escalation

Dmitry Peskov chose not to respond to a question about whether Russia has proof that UK-made Storm Shadow missiles had been used against it

Residents of Kupyansk, Kovsharovka in Kharkov Region returning to their homes

People are refusing to go to safer places because of Ukraine's unwillingness to provide basic sanitation for refugees

Press review: Uranium costs soar as Moscow updates nuclear doctrine and US OKs attacks

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, November 20th

Ukrainian frontline may 'collapse' under onslaught of Russian forces — BBC

According to the experts, Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s borderline Kursk Region turned out to be a "strategic catastrophe" amid "manpower shortages"

Putin warns West that Russia can respond to any turn of events

"There will always be an answer," the president said

Romanian presidential candidate vows to end military aid to Ukraine

It is pointed out that Simion’s popularity has propelled him to number two in the polls after Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu

Russia counts on West's responsibility in nuclear deterrence issues — Kremlin

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin decreed to update the country’s nuclear doctrine, the Basic Principles of the State Policy of the Russian Federation on Nuclear Deterrence

China holds US responsible for disrupted defense ministers' meeting in Laos

Wu Qian stated that the United States must immediately correct its mistakes, "honestly respect China’s main interests, and seek to create favorable conditions for high-level contacts between the military of the two countries"

Russia must be able to defend itself — Erdogan on revised nuclear doctrine

The Turkish leader reiterated that "both Russia and Ukraine are Turkey’s neighbors"

Russian forces dislodge Ukrainian troops from half of positions in Kurakhovo in DPR

The Ukrainian military is attempting to move reserves to the city’s western outskirts as shown by data-recording equipment, the source said

Ex-German chancellor never expected Russia to tolerate Ukraine’s NATO membership — memoir

Angela Merkel added that another fallacy was the belief that the status "would act as a deterrent," and that Moscow "would accept these developments without taking action"

Iran claims to have disabled Israel’s Iron Dome air defense in past strikes

Major-General Gholamreza Soleimani stressed it was essential to inform the world that Israel had failed and now survives solely relying on support from the United States

UK police say no video evidence of Russians’ involvement in Salisbury case

According to the report, CCTV cams were not installed on Christie Miller road in Salisbury

Russian forces push Ukrainian troops 10 km away from Lisichansk in LPR — expert

Russian troops have taken new lines and positions northwest of Zolotaryoka as a result of successful operations

NATO supports Ukraine not out of charity but for its own strategic interests — deputy head

Boris Ruge argued that NATO now has hundreds of thousands of troops that could be deployed to the alliance's eastern flank or elsewhere within ten days

US vote at UNSC rejected chance of stopping 'horrific bloodshed' in Gaza, Russian MFA says

"Once again, a chance to free the hostages, who include Russian nationals, has been missed," the statement reads

Moscow-Washington hotline not in use now — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov added that there have been no contacts via this new channel lately

US decision on missile strikes aimed at provoking Russia, expert says

According to Andrey Sushentsov, Biden is under pressure from Washington’s allies and "the hawks" in his government who believe that the US is not providing enough support to Kiev

Moscow won’t allow US to silence UNSC as Washington backs Israel — Russian UN envoy

According to Vasily Nebenzya, the Security Council should "bring peace, stability and prosperity to the Middle East"

NATO enters conflict, Russia has every right to attack its targets now — expert

Col. (Ret.) Lawrence Wilkerson confirmed to TASS that the launch of ATACMS missiles would be impossible without "US/NATO satellite feeds and/or personnel"

Trump may soon start talks with Russia following Biden’s decision on ATACMS — news agency

According to Andreas Kluth, the decision on ATACMS may have been another attempt by the current Washington administration to provide Ukraine with support until the president-elect comes to power

West’s decision on missile strikes gives Russia free hand to attack NATO bases — expert

According to Dmitry Suslov, retaliatory measures may include the handover of more advanced weapons to the forces "that are directly fighting against the US, particularly, in the Middle East"

Ukrainian conflict acquires global elements after strikes with Western missiles — Putin

It is reported that the conflict in Ukraine, provoked by the West, has acquired elements of global nature

US uses veto right to block new UN Security Council draft resolution on ceasefire in Gaza

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