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Russia, Sri Lanka resolve standoff over stranded research vessel in Colombo — state agency

The debt was settled by the Geological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences which owns the research vessel

Port in Colombo, Sri Lanka AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena

Port in Colombo, Sri Lanka

© AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena

MOSCOW, March 27. /TASS/. Moscow has paid off its debt to Sri Lanka’s port Colombo for the maintenance of the Russian research vessel, the Akademik Nikolay Strakhov, the Russian Federal Agency for Scientific Organizations said on Friday.

The debt was settled by the Geological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences which owns the research vessel. "The overall amount of payment has reached $66,000," the agency said in a statement.

"The life support regime of the vessel has been restored. It has been re-connected to the electricity supply. Foodstuffs and drinking water have been taken onboard," the statement reads.

The repair works of the vessel could begin on May 15, it says.

The vessel has been stranded in the Colombo port since 2013 when it suffered a mechanical failure at the propeller shaft while conducting research in the Indian Ocean. Due to the lack of funds, no repair works have been conducted so far.

The president of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladimir Fortov, on Thursday said more than $2 million could be needed to repair the vessel.

Earlier reports said the overdue debt, including fines, was around $200,000.

The vessel was built in 1985 in Finland and was designed to conduct geological and geophysical research of the sea floor.

Terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall

Afghan Foreign Ministry condemns terrorist attack on Crocus City Hall outside Moscow

The ministry’s Spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said, that considers it a blatant violation of all human standards

North Korea to take part in SPIEF — Embassy in Russia

The 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum will be held on June 5-8, 2024

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Russian troops wipe out Ukrainian UAV production workshop over past day

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Pelosi's remarks about US protesters undemocratic, Russian diplomat says

On April 25, US police said at least 127 people were arrested during large-scale protests on American university campuses against Israeli actions in the Palestinian enclave

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

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Top Chinese diplomat calls for creating conditions for talks on Ukraine

Wang Yi also called for "resolutely opposing attempts to take advantage of the chaos and add fuel to the fire"

Radioactive cloud from Ukraine’s eliminated munitions drifts to Europe — Security Council

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Russian Embassy to Austria denied participation in ceremony at Nazi concentration camp

The embassy said that the Austrian Mauthhausen Committee had also cautioned the organizations of Russian compatriots in Austria against participating in the event

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There is confirmed evidence of his connections with French secret services

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Country’s leader Kim Jong Un said the systems feature advanced technologies and "will contribute to strategic changes in the process of strengthening the artillery forces."

FSB nabs Neo-Nazi group members in Volgograd Region plotting high-profile terror act

During the questioning, the detainees gave confessionary evidence that sharing the ideas of racial and religious supremacy, they established contact with the ringleaders of the pro-Ukrainian terrorist organization

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Houthis say they attacked MSC Darwin vessel in Gulf of Aden

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Ukrainian opposition demands parliament speaker's resignation over pro-Hitler remarks

The speaker’s shocking remarks sparked outrage among the public

Iran calls on BRICS states to facilitate ceasefire in Gaza Strip

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani called for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza

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Kiev troops may strike targets in Crimea with ATACMS missiles — newspaper

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Spokesman Wang Wenbin stressed that China was not providing weapons to the conflicting parties and strictly controlled dual-use goods, including the export of drones

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West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that, "according to some parameters, companies in Europe and other regions can hardly maintain their competitiveness if they completely abandon our products"

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Russian children’s commissioner holds first face-to-face talks with Ukrainian counterparts

Maria Lvova-Belova thanked Qatar for setting up a venue for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine regarding children’s interests

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Russian military will do its utmost to repel such attacks, Apty Alaudinov said

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Andrey Marochko added that the Ukrainians have also intensified artillery and drone attacks at Russian positions

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In this regard, Sergey Shoigu mentioned the operation that Tehran carried out "in retaliation for a blatant attack on the Iranian consulate building in Damascus"

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The Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson stressed that "US steps are posing a major threat to security and stability of regional players"

Over 3,100 foreign mercenaries fight for Ukraine, most of them from US

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Shoigu talks about ties with NATO, attacks on Zaporozhye NPP as he attends SCO meeting

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Serial production of missiles for S-500 air defense systems begins in Russia — source

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The date and location will be announced later