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Anti-Russian sanctions

Fitch: Latest US sanctions against Gazprom will not materially affect company’s operations

The agency also confirmed the long-term foreign currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of the Russian gas giant Gazprom at BBB- level with a negative outlook

© ITAR-TASS/Yuri Smityuk

MOSCOW, August 24. /TASS/. The international rating agency Fitch Ratings believes the latest US sanctions against the Yuzhno-Kirinskoye oil and gas field should not materially affect operations of the Russian gas major Gazprom, the agency said on Monday.

The agency also confirmed the long-term foreign currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of the Russian gas giant Gazprom at BBB- level with a negative outlook.

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The United States extended its sector sanctions against the Russian economy to the Yuzhno-Kirinskoe oil and gas field in the Sea of Okhotsk on August 7.

Yuzhno-Kirinskoe gas condensate field in the Sea of Okhotsk was discovered in 2010. The field scheduled for commissioning in 2018 is the resource base for the further development of Sakhalin-2 project.

Fitch expects Gazprom’s export sales to Europe will grow in second half of 2015

Fitch Ratings anticipates that during the rest of the year European gas prices will decline further on low Brent oil prices.

Nevertheless, the rating agency expects Gazprom will increase supplies to the European market.

"We anticipate that during the rest of the year European gas prices will be even lower on low Brent, but sales volumes should increase compared to 1H15. In 2015-17, we expect European gas sales volumes to remain broadly stable despite EU's efforts to diversify away from Russian gas and increase gas market competitiveness," Fitch said.

TASS reported earlier Gazprom’s export supplies to Europe may total 82-84 bln cubic meters of natural gas in the second half of 2015, representative of company’s trading arm Gazprom Export Andrey Zotov said.

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Sanctions vs. Russia Gazprom Sanctions

IEA upgrades outlook on oil demand growth for 2024 to 920,000 bpd

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US views Russia as present-day threat, Trump may prioritize containing China — Lavrov

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Western efforts to vilify Russia climax, Moscow fights back — MFA

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Grossi oversteps authority by talking about freeze of Ukraine conflict — Russian MFA

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Russia's newest Su-57 fighter jet superior to China's new J-35 — test pilot

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Russian troops liberate Rovnopol community in Donbass region over past day

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Japan remains ready to sign peace treaty with Russia — top diplomat

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Trump's planned key appointments

Trump appointed Congressman Michael Waltz (Republican, Florida) as national security adviser

Medvedev warns that EU behavior in struggle with Russia fraught with 'bad scenario'

According to the Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman, European leaders are experiencing "autumn blues" after Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election

Ukrainian forces ready to withdraw from Kurakhovo, but no order yet — serviceman

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Ukrainian intel officers in Syria to be eliminated as terrorists’ accomplices — diplomat

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West to face 'devastating' response if it allows Kiev to strike deep into Russia — MFA

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54 countries vote against resolution on combating ne-Nazism

116 countries, including Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Serbia, and Syria, supported the document

Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Russia to ensure parity in response to US missile defense system in Poland — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov emphasized that by placing the missile defense system in Poland, the United States is bringing its military infrastructure closer to Russia in an attempt to curb its potential

Explosion of Kurakhovo reservoir dam disrupts water supply

Roman Pukalov noted that the blast killed many fish in the reservoir, washed away fertile soil, and inundated potentially hazardous sites, including cemeteries, cattle burial grounds, and fertilizer depots

Russian Marines destroy Challenger 2 tank with FPV drone in Kursk Region

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Russian politician condemns destruction of dam on Kurakhovo reservoir as Kiev’s terror act

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US has no technical need to conduct nuclear tests, senior official says

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Press review: Trump forms foreign policy team and Europe sets course for militarization

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, November 13th

Lavrov likens proposals to freeze Ukraine crisis to worse version of Minsk agreements

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Russian forces liberate Voznesenka community in Donbass region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 655 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy tanks in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Violence against Kupyansk residents refusing to evacuate reported in Kharkov Region

The press service of the Military-Civil Administration of the Kharkov Region clarified that the Ukrainian militants view such people as traitors, "waiting for the Russians," so they are not entitled to either humanitarian aid or human dignity

Next-gen Su-57 shows strength of Russia’s defense sector — diplomat

Maria Zakharova pointed out that military experts had praised the "unmatched capabilities" the plane displayed at the Airshow China in Zhuhai

Businessmen in Germany, Russia again eager to interact more, says executive

Ulf Schneider expressed his gratitude to representatives of the Russian business community for their continued efforts to involve Western businessmen in work in Russia despite the challenging political climate

Trump to zero in on fragmenting BRICS, Ukraine to take back seat — expert

According to the political scientist Boris Mezhuyev, in all likelihood attempts to replace the presidents of Brazil and Venezuela, and pit India, Russia and China against each other are coming

Medvedev characterizes Great Britain as eternal adversary of Russia

"At least until such time as their arrogant, despicably dank island sinks into the abyss of the sea from a wave triggered by a cutting-edge Russian weapons system," the politician said

Erdogan praises Russia, China for backing arms embargo on Israel

According to the Turkish leader, Israel "will become more and more aggressive if arms and ammunition supplies continue"

Two injured in bridge collapse in Crimea

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Too early to talk about meeting between Assad, Erdogan — Russian diplomat

"Certain communication is maintained between the defense ministers, in the four-lateral format," Alexander Lavrentyev said

European Commission gives ‘positive assessment’ for payment of 4.1 bln euros to Kiev

The commission concluded that Ukraine had satisfactorily fulfilled the nine agreed reform indicators for this payment