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Conflict in Syria

Raqqa on brink of epidemic — Russian defense minister

On October 20, the Syrian Democratic Forces announced the total liberation of Raqqa from militants

MOSCOW, December 21. /TASS/. The Syrian city of Raqqa is on the brink of an epidemic, Russian Defense Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu said on Thursday.

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Russian Defense Ministry compares US coalition bombing of Raqqa to destruction of Dresden

"The city [Raqqa] is on the brink of an epidemic," he said at a trilateral meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Shoigu and United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.

The Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by the US-led coalition, launched an operation to free Raqqa on June 6. Terrorists were surrounded in the city center on September 21 but maintained a fierce resistance. Most civilians left the city before the final stage of the operation. On October 20, the Syrian Democratic Forces announced the total liberation of Raqqa from militants.

Russia’s Defense Ministry compared the US-led coalition’s bombings of Raqqa to the 1945 destruction of the German city of Dresden.

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Russia's defense industry

Modern weapons make up 82% in Russian air defense troops — Shoigu

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

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Conflict in Ukraine can be over by end of 2025, Hungary’s Orban believes

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

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

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Army officer some media point to as Nord Stream blasts coordinator goes missing in Ukraine

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Belarusian air defense registers increased number of NATO aviation sorties

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Russia recovers black boxes from crashed Tu-22M3 bomber

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

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

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

"Ukraine today is fully dependent on supplies of Western weapons, military hardware, ammunition, financing, intelligence, and assistance from military advisers," Sergey Nechayev said

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

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

Viktor Orban noted that there should be a buffer zone between NATO and Russia and Ukraine could serve as one

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

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

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

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

"The position of the majority of Western states negatively affects the probability of a peaceful settlement of the conflict, creating a risk of further escalation," Jiraporn Ruamphongphatthana believes

Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

Russian peacekeepers heading for temporary deployment centers in Armenia

The Armenian government provided Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh with places for temporary deployment in Goris and Sisian

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

Top Russian security official praises Republika Srpska’s principled position on Ukraine

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

"There is no magic weapon, there is no series of weapons that could change this" situation for the Ukrainian armed forces, Scott Ritter said

Russia scraps plans to hold Immortal Regiment march in 2024 amid security threats

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Moldovan authorities try to present Gagauz as separatists — official

Earlier, Yevgenia Gutsul noted that the Gagauz autonomy would withdraw from Moldova if Chisinau decides it wants to unify with Romania

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

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

The diplomat also called on Washington to "immediately stop imposing unilateral sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals"

Knauf to transfer its Russian business to local management — company

To complete the transaction, the German company is yet to receive the approval from Russian authorities

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

On January 1, Russia assumed the rotating presidency of the BRICS group of nations, which currently brings together ten states

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

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

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Russian missile cruiser Varyag enters Mediterranean Sea

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

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

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Top Security Council official meets with Cuban interior minister, foreign counterparts

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

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Ukraine says Western systems ineffective against Russia's electronic warfare

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Value of frozen Russian assets in Switzerland drops to $6.36 bln over the year

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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"

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

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

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Almaz-Antey adapts air defense launchers for various missiles

Russian air defense launchers have a bigger range than US Patriot in Ukraine, Sergey Druzin said

International meeting of security representatives opening in St. Petersburg

Moreover, discussions within two theme-based roundtables will be held

Ukrainian intelligence predicts dire situation from mid-May onward

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Over 40 nations want to join BRICS — Russian lawmaker

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North Korea presumably launches ballistic missile — Japan Coast Guard

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

"The very fact that the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States returns back to its roots is a good sign," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said

Kremlin vows legal action against US bill on seizing Russian assets

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

The opposition suggests that Moldovan President Maia Sandu is behind the law enforcement officers’ actions

South Korea threatens to end North Korean 'regime' in case it uses nuclear weapons

Extended deterrence refers to Washington's willingness to use all means, including nuclear, to defend an ally

Beijing condemns US hypocrisy around Ukraine conflict

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Liberation of Novomikhailovka brings closer encirclement of Ugledar, says DPR official

On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said the village had been liberated

Press review: GOP tussles over Ukraine bill and Putin, Aliyev talk partnership

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, April 23rd

Switzerland unblocks Russia-related assets worth 290 mln Swiss francs

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Russian economy to see serious structural changes — presidential aide

"The first one is the technology agenda, the very large one, with huge demands for our own small, medium and large solutions," Maxim Oreshkin said

Units of South battlegroup fully free Bogdanovka in Donetsk People’s Republic — top brass

The enemy lost up to 440 troops, three cars and an Osa-AKM air defense system, a 152mm D-20 weapon

Armenia begins border delimitation with Azerbaijan — Interior Ministry

"We also inform that rumors claiming that some part of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia will be passed over to Azerbaijan have nothing to do with reality," the ministry said

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

Russia presents world’s first hydrogen-fueled luxury car at Innoprom exhibition

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