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Russia's new spaceport: Vostochny cosmodrome

Vostochny will become the first national cosmodrome for civilian use

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The Vostochny (Eastern) spaceport is being built near the town of Uglegorsk in the Amur region. Photo: Launch pad and the mobile service tower at Russia's Vostochny Cosmodrome

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

It will become the first national cosmodrome for civilian use. Photo: Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) head Igor Komarov, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Federal Agency for Special Construction head Alexander Volosov visiting Vostochny Cosmodrome

© Alexei Nikolsky/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

The spaceport has been under construction since 2010

© Alexei Nikolsky/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

Construction works at the cosmodrome were said to be completed on November 30, 2015

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

The Vostochny cosmodrome will comprise two launch platforms, an airfield, facilities for crew members’ pre-launch preparation, oxygen-nitrogen and hydrogen plants, 115 kilometers of roadway and 125 kilometers of rail track

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

On October 14, 2014 Russian President said the first launches from Russia’s Vostochny spaceport should be carried out in 2016 rather than December 2015

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

The first launch of a manned spacecraft is scheduled for 2018. Photo: A mobile service tower

© Igor Ageyenko/TASS

According to Putin, launch of super heavy rockets from Vostochny spaceport will be possible in the future Photo: Mobile service tower at Vostochny Cosmodrome

© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

Sections of a Soyuz rocket at the Assembly and Testing Facility at Vostochny Cosmodrome

© Igor Ageyenko/TASS

Earlier Russian president visited Vostochny in September 2014, drawing attention to the fact that construction work was lagging behind the schedule

© Alexei Nikolsky/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

The launch pad at Vostochny Cosmodrome

© Igor Ageyenko/TASS

On October 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin inspected construction work at the Vostochny spaceport. During his visit, Putin said the first launches from Russia’s Vostochny spaceport should be carried out in 2016 rather than this December. The Vostochny (Eastern) spaceport is being built near the town of Uglegorsk in the Amur region. It will become the first national cosmodrome for civilian use. Russia's new spaceport construction - in this photo gallery by TASS

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

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Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian prosecutor general

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Founder of neo-Nazi cell in Crimea flees to Georgia — source

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Lavrov labels way West ramping up sanctions against Russia as mindless

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Iran may target Israeli nuclear center in Dimona in case of Israel’s attack — TV

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Security guarantees on Ukraine did not apply to Crimea, Donbass — Lavrov

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Russia not to go for settlement on Ukraine based on 'Zelensky formula' — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat referred to a swindling trick used by a thimblerigger who puts a small round object, such as a ball or pea, under one of three thimbles or cups and asks the player to guess under which the object is, while unfairly manipulating this object

French president says creating Israeli-type air defense network for Ukraine impossible

Emmanuel Macron added that Europe’s resources are limited, and the European Union will continue helping Kiev keeping in mind its own reserves

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The minister also inspected the training process in Omsk Armor Engineering Institute

Russia’s defense chief inspects production of tanks, flamethrowers at Siberian enterprise

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Kiev ordered mandatory evacuation from Kharkov Region to accommodate mercenaries

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Air defenses repel Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s Smolensk Region — governor

Vasily Anokhin urged local residents to remain calm and refrain from filming air defenses in operation.

Russian military closely monitors all Ukrainian 'novelties' — Kremlin on UAVs

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Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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Russia ready for Ukraine talks, but not with Zelensky — Lavrov

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Ukrainian POW exposes poor battlefield performance of NATO-supplied Javelins, NLAWs

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