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Source says search team finds fragments of presumably Tu-154 wreckage mile from sea shore

The Russian Defense Ministry has increased the group of unmanned aerial vehicles in the Tu-154 search area, the ministry’s press service said

© Artur Lebedev/TASS

MOSCOW, December 26. /TASS/. A search team of Russia’s Emergencies Ministry has found the debris of presumably the Tupolev Tu-154 plane wreckage a mile from the shore of the Black Sea, sources in local emergencies services told TASS on Monday.

"A group of divers of Russia’s Emergencies has found debris on the Black Sea bed a mile from the sea shore on a stretch of 400 meters at a depth of 25 meters," the source said.

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No black boxes of Tu-154 wreckage found in Black Sea yet

According to the source, some fragments have already been brought to the surface.

Search groups, including divers, are now coming to the discovery area.

According to the source, divers of Russia’s Emergencies Ministry are now making a repeat submersion.

"There are a lot of small items and actually no large objects on the sea bed," the source said.

Russia has declared December 26 a day of national mourning over the plane crash victims.

Defense ministry boosting search efforts

"The group of the Defense Ministry’s unmanned aviation has been increased. Two more Granat-4 unmanned aerial vehicles have begun monitoring the sea’s surface, which made it possible to continuously observe all search areas," Defense Ministry spokesman, Igor Konashenkov, said.

Meanwhile, an Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft operated by the Russian Defense Ministry has delivered two manned deep-sea submersibles to the search area of operations, the ministry’s press service added.

"The Il-76 aircraft that delivered two manned deep-sea submersibles of the Russian Geographical Society equipped with manipulators for complex deep-sea functions has landed at Sochi’s Adler airport," the ministry said.

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Source claims Tu-154’s projected area of impact 'pinpointed'

A Russian Defense Ministry Tu-154 bound for Syria vanished from radars at 05.40 a.m. Moscow time (02.40 a.m. GMT) shortly after taking off from Sochi. There were 92 people on board the aircraft, including eight crew members and 84 passengers. Among them were journalists, servicemen and musicians from the world-renowned Alexandrov ensemble, the official choir of the Russian armed forces, who set off to celebrate New Year’s Еve with Russia’s Aerospace Forces at the Hmeymim air base in Syria. The Executive Director of the ESpravedlivaya Pomoshch (Russian for Fair Aid or Fair Help) charity fund Elizaveta Glinka, known to the Russian public as Dr. Liza, was also on board the flight.

The Defense Ministry said that debris from the Tu-154 aircraft was found 1.5 km off the coast of Sochi at a depth of 50-70 meters. Thanks to intensive efforts by search and rescue teams, 11 bodies have been recovered so far.

Syrian ministry says Israeli jets struck air defense facilities in country’s south

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At least 16 Syrian troops killed in terrorists’ ambush in east Syria — TV

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Iran to review nuclear doctrine in case of Israeli aggression — IRGC

Ahmad Haghtalab pointed out that the Iranian Army and other security forces protect Iranian nuclear facilities using the most advanced equipment, so "national nuclear centers are completely safe"

Tehran’s two major airports cancel international flights — Mehr

Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport suspended their operations until 10:30 a.m. local time

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The law enforcement employees exert efforts to identify the instigators of this crime, Igor Krasnov said

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Dmitry Polyansky said "this shameful neocolonial tactics are fully exposed now in the context of Gaza War"

CIA chief says Ukraine could lose by end of this year — Politico

William Burns said "there is a very real risk that the Ukrainians could at least put Putin in a position where he could essentially dictate the terms of a political settlement"

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Final statement by G7 top diplomats to call for supplying more air defenses to Kiev

Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister said Kiev required US-made Patriot systems and Italian-French Samp-T theatre antimissile systems

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Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva welcomed Gustavo Petro’s initiative, "being committed to promotion of Colombia’s candidacy"

Nuclear sites in Iran’s Isfahan province are safe — Tasnim agency

Tasnim refuted foreign media reports about an incident at a nuclear site in Isfahan

West, Kiev indulge in nuclear blackmail by demanding control of ZNPP — Russian MFA

"Without noticing it themselves, they spoke the language of an ultimatum," Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova underlined

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Israel to not take responsibility for attack on Iran — newspaper

Israeli sources also said that they did not understand why the Pentagon had leaked information about Israel's involvement in the attack to the media

Israel assesses effectiveness, consequences of strike on Iran — media

A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces declined to comment on the reports of the strike

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Dmitry Peskov underscored that Moscow has already made its position clear on this matter

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According to Bloomberg, Israel informed the United States about its plans to strike Iran within the next 24-48 hours

Ukrainian military reportedly uses HIMARS rocket launcher to attack Gorlovka

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Anatoly Antonov has urged the US "not to open Pandora's Box" and follow Russia’s suit "by taking all necessary steps to ensure global stability and predictability"

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"We have not received any external attack, and the discussion leans more towards infiltration than attack," a senior Iranian official reported

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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Two pilots of jet that crashed in southern Russia hospitalized

The plane crashed in a field in the Krasnogvardeysky district of southern Russia’s Stavropol Region

Pipeline explodes in Kharkov Region

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Military commanders of Ukrainian army brigades "lack both personnel and the required amount of equipment" while Russian troops enjoy a considerable superiority, especially in artillery, Sergey Krivonos noted

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

The sources said that Iranian forces managed to destroy several small drones near the city of Tabriz, about 800 kilometers from Isfahan

US blocks Security Council resolution granting full UN membership to Palestine

A total of 12 countries, including Russia and China, voted in favor of the document

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Yury Popov said that aircraft of the so-called international anti-terrorism coalition, led by the United States, continue to set dangerous precedents in skies above Syria

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Ahmad Haqtalab argued that Israel had been conducting "subversive and terrorist activities" against the Islamic republic's nuclear infrastructure for year

Germany moves to exclude Russia from concentration camp liberation celebrations

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Maria Zakharova noted the need to "wait for official information from the investigation"

Chief prosecutors of Russia, Venezuela sign cooperation agreement in Caracas

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"The UN history has precedents when states were not admitted on their first try. The number of attempts is not limited," Nadezhda Sokolova said

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Number of applications in RuStore surpasses 37,000

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Yevgeny Pogrebnyak said that he was treated well by Russian troops in his captivity

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MiG-31I fighters receive air refueling system

Another source said MiG-31I differs from previous MiG-K option by "different engines, avionics and missiles"

EU summit calls to continue work on duties on Russian, Belarusian agricultural produce

The European Commission suggested introducing duties on agricultural products from Russia and Belarus earlier

Ukraine convicts 12th world chess champion for recognizing Donetsk, Lugansk republics

The two other State Duma members mentioned in the verdict alongside Karpov are Viktor Kazakov and Georgy Karlov

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Fox News said the Jewish state delivered a limited strike on Iran

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Nearly half of those present in UN Security Council hall walk out before Israel’s address

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Ukrainian president admits Russian troops’ advancement

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