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Hunger striking ex-Ukraine pilot’s condition ‘satisfactory’ — Russian prison authority

Nadezhda Savchenko, who resumed hunger strike on March 16, is not losing weight quickly and is feeling fine

© Artyom Korotayev/TASS

MOSCOW, March 20. /TASS/. The health condition of hunger-striking former Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko, jailed in Russia on murder charges, is satisfactory, a deputy head of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) said on Friday.

Savchenko, who resumed hunger strike on March 16, is not losing weight quickly and is feeling fine, Oleg Korshunov said. Her blood pressure is 110/60 and her blood sugar level is normal, he added.

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"She is under daily monitoring of doctors," Korshunov said.

The official noted that in case Savchenko’s condition deteriorates, she will immediately get in-patient medical services. "Everything has been prepared for that," he said.

Savchenko went on hunger strike in December to protest against her arrest. In early March, she started taking chicken broth and special medical nutritional supplements.

Russian investigators say that Savchenko joined the notorious Aidar battalion during combat operations in the much-troubled Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine last June.

Noting the position of a filming crew of the Russian State Broadcasting Company and other civilians, she allegedly reported the data to mortar-equipped personnel who fired on the crew and the civilians. As a result, correspondent Igor Kornelyuk and sound engineer Anton Voloshin were killed.

Lavrov slams Europe’s striving to isolate Russia as silly

It demonstrates the quality of decisions passed by European politicians in the west of the continent, Russian Foreign Minister said

French tired of supporting Ukraine — war correspondent

Christelle Nahan noted that people were tired of the fact that there was not enough money for the development of infrastructure, hospitals and schools, for pensions and benefits for children

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According to the investigators, he kept improvised explosive devices for sabotage operation

Kiev meddling in Russia’s domestic affairs by calling Putin’s presidency illegitimate

"It was another blatant attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of our country and it was definitely orchestrated by the West with the use of the Kiev regime as its tool," Maria Zakharova noted

China congratulates Putin on assuming post of Russian president — diplomat

Vladimir Putin has been inaugurated as Russian president for the fifth time

Russia praises Xi Jinping’s idea about peaceful summit on Ukraine

Maria Zakharova pointed out that Beijing adheres to a balanced position in the context of the events unfolding in Ukraine, "perfectly understands both historical and geopolitical reasons for the conflict"

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Australian Navy’s destroyer, helicopter impede Chinese drills in Yellow Sea — top brass

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Senior Russian diplomat, Libyan general discuss ensuring Libya’s sovereignty

"During a thorough exchange of views on the settlement of the military-political crisis in Libya, the focus was on the task of uniting all patriotic political and religious forces in the interests of ensuring the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Libyan state," the ministry said

UN chief to send letter to Putin in connection with inauguration — spokesman

"A letter will be sent by the secretary general as he does whenever new head of state is inaugurated or reinaugurated," Stephane Dujarric said

Kiev troops presumably used ATACMS missiles to strike Lugansk — politician

"Missiles hit an oil storage facility within city limits," Vladimir Rogov said

Putin’s inauguration kicks off in Kremlin

The main event will be held at the Grand Kremlin Palace but parts of it will take place outside at Cathedral Square where the Kremlin Presidential Regiment will march following the ceremony

Appeal for Western troops posted on Ukrainian president’s website

A petition needs to be signed by at least 25,000 people to be referred to the president for consideration

Russian lawmaker sees 'scare effect' in West as Russia prepares for nuclear drills

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FSB declassifies Hitler aide’s testimony how Red Army rescued Allies in Ardennes in 1945

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The atmosphere in society has changed, now "reliability, mutual responsibility, sincerity, decency, nobility and courage" are highly valued, the Russian leader stressed

Double standards with regard to Russia make US look pathetic — experts

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, "the global situation grows more dangerous by the day," Peter Kuznick said

Kremlin sees Ukrainian petition for deployment of NATO troops as dangerous provocation

The petition to invite foreign troops to Ukraine was posted on the Ukrainian president’s website on Tuesday

West should engage in dialogue with Russia — US expert

In Peter Kuznick opinion, the world is on the verge of a most serious conflict while "NATO is conducting massive war games"

Ukrainian army leaving positions near Avdeyevka over Russia’s incessant gunfire — POW

The escape gives only a few a chance to survive as frequently incessant Russian artillery accurate strikes rule out this option for Ukrainian troops, Yury Yurechko noted

Russian sniper reports elimination of Ukrainian serviceman wearing helmet with SS emblem

He specified that his group took the helmet as proof of the elimination

Putin will now use restyled Aurus car — Kremlin

Putin made the first trip on the Aurus exactly six years ago, on May 7, 2018, when he also departed to the inauguration

Medvedev gives warning amid talk of deploying Western troops to Ukraine

According to the politician, the cause of the discussion on dispatching Western troops to Ukraine, launched by French President Emmanuel Macron, is a "shameless calculation for political bonus points"

Russian diplomat accuses EU spokesman of 'inciting terrorism' with Crimean Bridge remarks

According to Maria Zakharova, it is shocking that the statement was made by a European official who "in general speaks on behalf of the entire European Union"

Indonesian ambassador says Su-35 fighter jets contract remains in force

Indonesian Ambassador to Russia Jose Tavares said that around 30% of weapons in service with his country’s armed forces are Russian-made

NATO wants 'hot war' with Russia which may destroy US, Carlson says

According to the journalist, everything that Washington does shows that it wants this war

Five workers wounded during Ukrainian strike on oil storage facility in Lugansk

Leonid Pasechnik also said the strike "damaged power lines, disrupting electricity supplies to nearby houses"

Russia hammers Ukrainian energy, military sites in retaliatory strike — top brass

The Ukrainian army’s losses in the Kupyansk direction over the past 24 hours amounted to 55 personnel and two 122mm D-30 howitzers, it specified

Kiev forces view journalists wearing 'press' vests as primary target — war reporter

Christelle Neant recommended using small "press" labels in order to help Russian troops identify media workers

Some countries reevaluating reliance on dollar over national security concerns — IMF

Meanwhile, "despite increased geopolitical risks, the latest data show that the US dollar remains dominant," Gita Gopinath noted

US envoy leaves Russia for certain amount of time — senior Russian diplomat

"The Foreign Ministry was told about this some time before the issue with inviting ambassadors to the inauguration ceremony of the Russian president was resolved," Sergey Ryabkov said

Belarusian president sees aggravating military situation at western, southern borders

"Remarks of war and nuclear strikes can already be heard from certain figures," the Alexander Lukashenko said

Dutch MEP congratulates Putin on his inauguration

"Congratulations president Putin and congratulations people of Russia with your president," Marcel de Graaff from the Dutch party Forum for Democracy said

Ukraine’s economy to fall into deep coma without West’s support — Russian MFA

According to Maria Zakharova, the Kiev regime is nothing else but "a huge global laundering operation for the transfer of tens and hundreds of billions of dollars for unknown purposes and no one knows where"

US sees no signs indicating Russia’s plans to use nuclear weapons — Pentagon

Department of Defense spokesperson Sabrina Singh said that the United States views the decision to hold a military exercise of this kind as "deeply irresponsible"

Russian forces destroy Ukrainian missile solid propellant workshop over past day

Russian troops gained better positions in the south Donetsk area over the past day, the ministry reported

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Alexander Lukashenko stressed that Belarus would not draw any lines

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Nikolay Patrushev speculates that country may split into the North and the South again to get back to its original shape

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Russia wants no country to interfere in its election process — Kremlin spokesman

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US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said earlier that the US together with its partners would continue imposing sanctions for allegedly assisting weapons and petroleum products supplies between Russia and North Korea

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Russia to open embassy in Sierra Leone this year — Lavrov

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French troops to become target for Moscow forces if deployed to Ukraine — Russian MFA

According to Maria Zakharova, French President Emmanuel Macron’s bellicose rhetoric "is being rejected not only by many European Union and NATO allies," but also - most importantly - "by the vast majority of French citizens"

West plotted aggression against Russia on eve of special military operation — top brass

"History repeats itself," Chief of the Russian General Staff’s Main Intelligence Department, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Hero of Russia Admiral Kostyukov said

Forecasts show Russia may overtake Japan in terms of GDP growth by 2030

Andrey Belousov opined that the Russian Central Bank’s key rate would remain at a high level so far, declining to 6-7% by 2027

EU to agree 14th package of anti-Russia sanctions by July — EUobserver

Moreover, the new package of sanctions proposes an EU27-wide prohibition on Russian funding for "European political parties and European political foundations", "non-governmental organizations", and "media service providers", EUobserver said

Israeli operation in Rafah undermines mediation efforts — Hamas

Political Bureau member Osama Hamdan warned Israel that its "invasion of Rafah won’t be an easy walk"

Putin signs decree setting Russia’s development goals for 2030

The decree is titled On the National Development Goals of the Russian Federation until 2030 and for a Longer Term until 2036

Press review: Vladimir Putin sworn in for fifth term and EU, Ukraine talk arms deal

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, May 8th

Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass

Russian air defense forces shot down a Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet and 23 unmanned aerial vehicles over the past day

Aerospace Forces receive new Su-35S fighters

Su-35S have passed ground and flight trials and flew from Komsomolsk-on-Amur to the deployment airfield

Russian space agency still in talks on launching two Luna-27 mission spacecraft

"The plans are the same - we are planning to launch," Roscosmos Director General Yury Borisov told

IMF warns against violations related to use of Russian assets for helping Ukraine

Deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund Gita Gopinath said that rebuilding mutual trust among countries requires a lot of time and effort and called for preserving "some of the enormous gains from economic integration"

Putin may propose candidate for prime minister as early as today — spokesman

Dmitry Peskov recalled that after the inauguration, the Russian government resigned and the members of the Cabinet continued to work in the status of acting ministers

Macron denies death of French troops in Ukraine out of fear of protests — SVR head

According to Sergey Naryshkin, the French Army is "visibly concerned" over the growing number of French citizens killed in Ukraine

US trying to destabilize situation in India ahead of general election — Russian diplomat

The general election being held in the country from April to June will be the largest voting ever taking place in the world with 968 million registered voters, 14 million election commission employees, and 1.2 million polling booths

Attack on Soviet Union was OUN’s aim from outset — declassified archives

One of the memos, classified as "Top secret," dated February 1948, contains information concerning the creation of the OUN even before the Great Patriotic War - during the period from 1929 to 1941

US begins Astral Knight 2024 exercise in Europe involving 5,000 troops — Pentagon

The purpose of the exercise is to strengthen collective air and missile defense in Europe

US intensifying efforts to find replacement for Zelensky — SVR

It is reported that all those politicians may be sought-after were the situation on the front line to deteriorate sharply or if the need arises to replace Zelensky as soon as possible

Belarusian president arrives in Moscow on working visit

Alexander Lukashenko will also attend the military parade in honor of the 79th anniversary of the Victory in World War II on Red Square on the morning of May 9 alongside other invited leaders

Russia to join ranks of top four global economies — presidential decree

The government is tasked to present eleven new National Projects by September 1 of this year

French military already present in Donbass — French journalist

Christelle Neant said that the Ukrainian armed forces is drafting people with no military experience as part of its mobilization campaign and sends them to the frontline after "just two or three weeks of training"

Aleksandar Vucic greets Chinese leader at Belgrade Airport

The ceremony on the occasion of the visit of the 400-strong Chinese delegation will take place at Palata Srbije

Arms supplies to Kiev unlikely to drastically change situation on battlefield — US expert

In Peter Kuznick opinion, despite Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky's assertions, "Ukraine is not going to drive every Russian soldier from the country"

China supports Serbia in defending its sovereignty on Kosovo issue — Xi

Xi Jinping is on a state visit to Serbia on May 7-8

Detention of US soldier in Russia’s Vladivostok has no relation to espionage — diplomats

Russian Foreign Ministry’s mission in Vladivostok that "not following the case of the US citizen closely"

Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day

Battlegroup Center units fully liberated the settlement of Novokalinovo in the Donetsk People’s Republic and battlegroup West units fully liberated the settlement of Kislovka in the Kharkov Region

Putin to participate in EAEU summit — his first international event of new term

A traditional friendly dinner for the heads of CIS delegations took place on Tuesday night

Belarus won’t succumb to provocations or go to war with anyone — president

The Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko doubts that any serious political force in Western Europe wants a military conflict

Euroclear fighting over 100 lawsuits in Russian courts against investors demanding refund

According to Euroclear's new chief executive Valerie Urbain, the likelihood that the depository will win these cases is quite low

Musk's assertions about ancient Martian civilizations could hold true — Roscosmos

Earlier on Tuesday, Elon Musk spoke at a conference in Los Angeles, during which he suggested that humanity could find evidence of ancient civilizations existing on Mars

Russian embassy slams ‘unacceptable’ Berlin’s decision to ban Russian flag on May 8-9

"We consider the bans discriminatory and contrary to the spirit of post-war historical reconciliation of the peoples of Russia and Germany," the Russian diplomats pointed out

Russia may strike Britain's military facilities if London's threats materialize — MFA

Maria Zakharova described British Foreign Secretary David Cameron’s remark that London considered it legitimate for the Kiev regime to use British weapons for strikes on Russian territory as "something absolutely insane"

FACTBOX: Russian President Vladimir Putin’s biography

Since June 12, 2013, Putin has been the leader of the non-governmental movement All-Russia People’s Front, created at his initiative as a coalition of social and political forces