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Russia-US cyber scandal

US intelligence publishes declassified version of report on alleged cyber attacks

According to the document it represents the opinion not of the US intelligence community in general, but of its three key agencies - the CIA, the FBI and the National Security Agency

© AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, file

WASHINGTON, January 7. /TASS/. The office of the Director of the US National Intelligence on Friday published a declassified version of the report on cyberattacks that had allegedly occurred during the US presidential election campaign in 2016. Washington argues that Russia was behind them.

According to the document it represents the opinion not of the US intelligence community in general, but of its three key agencies - the CIA, the FBI and the National Security Agency.

Election results are not questioned

The preamble of the report says the US intelligence community "did not make an assessment of the impact that Russian activities had on the outcome of the 2016 election." It also states that according to the US Department of Homeland Security the systems that are suspected to have come under attack were not employed in summarizing the election returns.

Denials and doubts

As a matter of fact, the same conclusions were voiced by the White House with reference to the US intelligence community on several occasions in the past. Russia has more than once dismissed at the highest levels all speculations about its alleged intervention in the election processes in the United States. US President-elect Donald Trump is very skeptical about such charges, too.

The Washington Post said on the eve of the report’s publication that even the classified version contained no explosive revelations.

Russia’s stance

Moscow has emphatically dismissed Washington’s accusations it had been behind the hacking attacks. Russian President Vladimir Putin remarked that the loser always looks for scapegoats elsewhere. He also drew attention to the gist of the information that the hackers exposed.

In his opinion "the best proof the hackers unearthed authentic information is that the head of the Democratic National Committee tendered her resignation, thus confessing that the hackers unearthed the truth.".

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Tit-for-tat measures will be implemented after receiving information about unfriendly actions of Western countries, Anton Siluanov noted

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Russian air defense deflects attacks with Western missiles — Putin

"As a result, the goals that the enemy apparently set have not been achieved," the Russian leader said

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Russian forces push Ukrainian troops 10 km away from Lisichansk in LPR — expert

Russian troops have taken new lines and positions northwest of Zolotaryoka as a result of successful operations

NATO supports Ukraine not out of charity but for its own strategic interests — deputy head

Boris Ruge argued that NATO now has hundreds of thousands of troops that could be deployed to the alliance's eastern flank or elsewhere within ten days

Moscow won’t allow US to silence UNSC as Washington backs Israel — Russian UN envoy

According to Vasily Nebenzya, the Security Council should "bring peace, stability and prosperity to the Middle East"

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Daniel Davis also noted that "continuing to ignore reality" would only increase "the ultimate cost of losing" the conflict for Ukraine

Japanese lawmaker praises Putin's restraint amid decision to strike deep into Russia

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell confirmed that the US administration had lifted restrictions for US-supplied missiles to be used for strikes up to 300 kilometers inside Russia

Kiev suffering fiasco on entire front line — aide to DPR head

Igor Kimakovsky said that "if the West is not physically involved in this war, that is, if NATO is not involved, then Ukraine is actually losing"

Xi Jinping calls for unification of more voices for peace in Ukraine

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Humanitarian crisis in Kiev-controlled Kupyansk district of Kharkov Region near critical

According to Yevgeny Lisnyak, the Ukrainian authorities supply water for a short time, once every three days

US vote at UNSC rejected chance of stopping 'horrific bloodshed' in Gaza, Russian MFA says

"Once again, a chance to free the hostages, who include Russian nationals, has been missed," the statement reads

US strategic forces ready for Biden-Trump transition — Pentagon

"The nuclear forces is ready on January 19, just like it will be ready on January, 20," Rear Admiral Thomas Buchanan said

Canada neglects its sovereignty by approving transfer of land mines to Kiev — diplomat

According to Oleg Stepanov, since the authorities of the country have long acted, "especially in security matters, according to the rule 'what Uncle Sam says, so Ottawa will do' and don’t blush about this."

West’s decision on missile strikes gives Russia free hand to attack NATO bases — expert

According to Dmitry Suslov, retaliatory measures may include the handover of more advanced weapons to the forces "that are directly fighting against the US, particularly, in the Middle East"

Preliminary data shows anti-ship missile downed over Sevastopol waters — official

Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said that all emergencies services currently work in the high alert mode

Moscow hopes West will thoroughly analyze Russia's nuclear doctrine — ambassador

Andrey Kelin also recalled that the policy of the Russian leadership enjoys the full support and confidence of the country's population

Putin sends message to those seeking to 'add fuel to fire' before Trump’s return — expert

The likelihood of a direct armed conflict with NATO is increasing because some individuals in the alliance are ready to raise the stakes ahead of Trump’s inauguration, Andrey Bystritsky emphasized

Russia to address NATO’s engagement in strikes deep inside country — SVR

Sergey Naryshkin observed that the military and political elites in the West are increasingly recognizing the gravity of Russia's intentions and the need for greater caution in their actions

Humanitarian situation in Gorlovka harsh as Ukraine targets key infrastructure — DPR head

More than 80,000 users were left without power in Gorlovka on Tuesday morning due to the Ukrainian armed forces' shelling

US not seeking confrontation with Russia, but will continue assistance to Kiev — Pentagon

Department of Defense Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh also claimed that Washington, while helping Ukraine, is not attempting to turn the conflict into a large-scale regional confrontation that spills beyond the country’s borders

Ukrainian conflict acquires global elements after strikes with Western missiles — Putin

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NATO enters conflict, Russia has every right to attack its targets now — expert

Col. (Ret.) Lawrence Wilkerson confirmed to TASS that the launch of ATACMS missiles would be impossible without "US/NATO satellite feeds and/or personnel"

Ukraine was warned about possible missile strike — Pentagon

Department of Defense Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh gave no answer to the question of how could Ukraine prepare for this kind of attack

Bank of Russia’s officials hit by US sanctions

The head of the financial monitoring and currency control service of the Russian Central Bank was also added to black lists

US decision on strikes inside Russia stems from malice rather than strategy — journalist

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Biden’s decision to use ATACMS against Russia may 'blow up in America’s face' — US expert

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Russian army pushes Ukraine out of Kurakhovo water reservoir’s north shore

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Russian stock market indices in the red on Thursday — market data

The mood in international markets was mainly neutral

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US, NATO decision on strikes continues policy of escalation — Putin

"Experts are well aware - and the Russian side has repeatedly underscored this - that it is impossible to use these weapons without direct participation of military specialists from the countries that produce these weapons," the president said

Trump to continue using Ukraine to contain Russia — Valdai program director

"The US continues to benefit from the Ukrainian crisis, regardless of which administration is in power," Andrey Sushentsov said

Defeating Ukrainian forces near Olgovskaya wood, enemy losses: situation in Kursk Region

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Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

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Russian troops advance in areas north, south of Velikaya Novoselka in DPR — official

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Russian State Duma passes law on federal budget for 2025-2027

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US makes mistake by destroying INF Treaty — Putin

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Ukrainian frontline may 'collapse' under onslaught of Russian forces — BBC

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Press review: Russian air defenses can down Western missiles as EU conducts live exercise

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Putin confirms Russia’s readiness to assist CAR with security challenges

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Trump may soon start talks with Russia following Biden’s decision on ATACMS — news agency

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US Congressman urges to impeach Biden for allowing strikes deep into Russia

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Ukrainian special services assemble unit for sabotage attacks in Kupyansk — official

According to Yevgeny Lisnyak, the special services threaten people with criminal charges of collaborationism if they refuse to join the unit

Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Russia always fulfilled its trade obligations, ready to cooperate with Germany — Putin

"It was underscored that Russia has always been committed to its treaty and contractual obligations in the energy sector and is ready for mutually beneficial cooperation if the German side shows interest in this," the statement says

Captives, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost more than 150 people, while five Ukrainian servicemen surrendered

Ex-German chancellor never expected Russia to tolerate Ukraine’s NATO membership — memoir

Angela Merkel added that another fallacy was the belief that the status "would act as a deterrent," and that Moscow "would accept these developments without taking action"

Ukraine has around 50 ATACMS missiles — The Times

According to the report, the Ukrainian military has sufficient launchers that are capable of firing them