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Prominent Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica dedicates song to Sergei Shoigu

The song is called "Comandante"

KUBINKA /Moscow Region/, August 11. /TASS/. Renowned Serbian director and musician Emir Kusturica has dedicated a song to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as a person who initiated the International Army Games. He performed it at the closing ceremony of the competitions, a TASS correspondent reported.

"I saw people shooting many times in my life and saw people being killed. Thanks to my friend Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu, an Olympiad appeared where people shoot and no one is killed. The song called Comandante is dedicated to my friend Sergei Shoigu," Kusturica said in Russian. After that, he performed the composition accompanied by his band The No Smoking Orchestra.

The official closing ceremony of the Games began in Patriot Park outside Moscow. The competitions kicked off on July 28. A total of 189 teams from 32 countries, including Serbian military servicemen, took part in 28 events.

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

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North Korea conducts new anti-aircraft missile test — KCNA

A power test of a super-large warhead designed for "Hwasal-1 Ra-3" strategic cruise missile was held as well

Ukraine’s military loses positions near Avdeyevka, says DPR

Igor Kimakovsky said that Ukrainian forces suffered heavy casualties among personnel and military hardware, including Western equipment

Lavrov labels way West ramping up sanctions against Russia as mindless

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Global economy’s condition improving — Russian Deputy PM

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BRICS looking at creating common digital payment platform

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American Abrams tanks vulnerable even to Soviet-era weapons, says expert

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Russian economy positively influences neighboring countries — Deputy PM

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Senior Chinese official to take part in conference on security in Russia — diplomat

The conference will take place from April 23 to 25 in St. Petersburg

Polish premier refuses to hand over his country’s Patriot systems to Ukraine

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

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Military base near Iran’s Isfahan hit following attack — newspaper

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

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Izvestia correspondent Semyon Eremin killed in special operation zone

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Moscow International Film Festival kicks off

MIFF President Nikita Mikhalkov, a celebrated Russian film director, declared the festival open, praising the bravery of foreign cultural figures who are visiting Russia at this time

Three Ukrainian soldiers swim across Dnieper to surrender to Russian troops — governor

Vladimir Saldo called on other Ukrainian servicemen to switch to the Russian side and request the corresponding assistance

Shoigu orders additional tank protection sets for Ukraine operation

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Iran threatens to attack Israel's "nuclear centers" in case of aggression on its part

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Russian investigators start inquiry into financing of terrorism by US, NATO officials

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

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Two people killed in borderline Belgorod Region in Ukrainian drone attack — governor

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Kremlin declines to comment on alleged assassination attempt on Zelensky in Poland

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EU ministers to discuss use of Russian assets for Ukraine on April 22 — EU official

Earlier, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that the European Union intends to invest the first 2.5-3 billion euros of profits raised from seized Russian assets in military assistance for Ukraine

Ukrainian drones continue to fly over Zaporozhye NPP — press service

On April 19, the Ukrainian military attacked the training center of Zaporozhye NPP again, but the drone was neutralized over the roof of the building

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Earlier, the media reported, citing a US official, that Israel had launched a missile strike on a site in Iranian territory

Russia knows French military instructors working in Ukraine — Lavrov

At the same time, the top Russian diplomat pointed out that "there is information that not only French mercenaries, but also instructors, maybe even together, but along with some other representatives of military and special services of European countries are working there [in Ukraine]"

Russian stock indices rising on Friday

The MOEX Russia Index edged up by 0.44%, the RTS Index surged by 1.13%

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

He also revealed that some weapon batches contained anti-armor systems whose service life had expired

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Crimea, Donbass to forever remain within Russia, Slovak PM tells national parliament

Robert Fico believes Moscow will win in its confrontation with Kiev

Russian economy proves resilience amid large-scale sanctions — IMF

The IMF states that the restrictions led to the need to rebuild the economy

G7 leaders to decide on Russian assets use — Italian Deputy PM

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US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace 13 times in past day

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Russia bans 235 Australian local government officials from entering country — MFA

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Russian government increases customs duties on beer from unfriendly countries

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Armenia’s relations with Russia not at their highest — top diplomat

Ararat Mirzoyan also said that Yerevan is currently making efforts to expand cooperation with the European Union and the United States

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

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Press review: Biden backs aid to Israel, Ukraine and Russia assets giving West legal fits

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 19th

Death toll in Gaza Strip since tensions escalated exceeds 34,000 — Health Ministry

It is reported that just over the past 24 hours alone, 42 people have been killed and 63 wounded

West close to sending military to Ukraine, this would 'drag Europe to bottom' — Orban

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US House passes procedural vote on Ukraine aid bill

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Russia’s advanced radar in Kaliningrad to monitor entire territory of Europe — source

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The man set himself on fire

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Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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

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Russian military base may appear in CAR’s eastern region — President Touadera

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Ukrainians abroad storming embassies to avoid mobilization, Russian diplomat says

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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

Ukrainian drone damages energy infrastructure in Russia’s Kaluga Region

There are no casualties, Governor Vladislav Shapsha said

Proposals on Russian assets confiscation undermine financial system — Finance Minister

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Russia won’t allow NATO to move closer in Ukraine — Lavrov

There is still no full clarity regarding the future of Ukraine's western regions, the Russian foreign minister went on to say

Lavrov says Borrell let it slip that Europe ‘fighting against Russia’

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Kiev ordered mandatory evacuation from Kharkov Region to accommodate mercenaries

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North Korean leader arrives at public event in Aurus luxury car gifted by Putin

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