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Conflict in Syria

Militants fire rockets at Damascus hospital from Eastern Ghouta - SANA

Militants fired a rocket at the hospital in Baghdad Street from Eastern Ghouta damaging the intensive care unit badly

© Ghouta Media Center via AP

TASS, February 23. Damascus’ surgical hospital came under a rocket attack carried out by militants from Eastern Ghouta (Damascus’ suburb) on Friday, SANA news agency said.

Militants fired a rocket at the hospital in Baghdad Street from Eastern Ghouta damaging the intensive care unit badly. There were no immediate reports about casualties.

On Friday morning, one person was killed and 15 more injured in a similar attack on Damascus’ district of Salah Ed-Din.

Eastern Ghouta, controlled by militants and besieged by Syrian government forces, is included in one of the Syrian de-escalation zones established in accordance with the May 4 decision made by Russia, Iran and Turkey, the three guarantors of the Syrian ceasefire.

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Syrian conflict

Tbilisi police occupy square in front of parliament, disperse protesters

Another part of the protesters moved up Rustaveli Avenue

Niger receives delivery of military equipment from Russia — TV

The report also stated that this delivery highlights the strengthening of military-technical cooperation between Russia and Niger

Georgian president not going to step down

"I remain your president; there is no legitimate parliament existing," Zurabishvili said in her televised address

Syrian army wiped out at least 300 militants over day

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Press review: CSTO discusses Russian weapons as US and Russia continue prisoner talks

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Russian passengers on Antarctica cruise liner with engine failure go on hunger strike

The liner left Cape Town on November 13 for a 20-day cruise, and passengers say they paid between $9,000 and $12,000 for the trip

Defense Minister notes active expansion of Russia-North Korea military cooperation

"We look forward to close and fruitful cooperation with our Korean comrades," Andrey Belousov said

Russia’s Alisher Usmanov elected president of International Fencing Federation

The election took place in Tashkent

Israel prohibits residents of 60 villages in southern Lebanon from returning home

According to the army statement, those moving south of the line may endanger themselves

Georgia determined to prevent Ukrainian coup-like scenario, PM says

Mass protests took place in Georgia in the past two days, leading to clashes between demonstrators and police officers, who used tear gas and water cannons

Syria capable to defeat terrorists with help of allies and friends — President's office

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The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service said in a statement earlier in the day that the West may seek to achieve its objectives in Ukraine by implementing an actual occupation, deploying a so-called peacekeeping contingent of 100,000 personnel, with plans to divide the country among Romania, Poland, Germany, and the UK

Russian Embassy in Argentina monitors situation with malfunctioning ocean liner

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Hungarian PM sounds alarm over presence of US, French troops in Ukraine

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Russian forces strike infrastructure at Ukrainian military airfields

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Kiev's defeatist rhetoric may be masking planned attacks on Russia — expert

The enemy may be trying to lull us into a false sense of security by saying that their situation is bad, only to hit us by surprise, Andrey Marochko said

Flight program for Cuba can be revised due to jet fuel shortage — Russian air regulator

Rossiya and Nordwind air carriers are flying from Moscow to Havana and Varadero airports, the Russian air regulator added

Top Turkish diplomat calls for taking note of Putin’s remarks about nuclear weapons

The Russian President said that Russia would be forced to use all weapons at its disposal if Ukraine obtained nuclear arms

Presidential aide blames West for attempts to harm Russia at sea

Nikolay Patrushev said that in a situation like this Russia should firmly defend its position and prepare tools for the "comprehensive management of maritime activities aimed at ensuring national interests"

Root causes need to be addressed to settle Ukrainian conflict — Kremlin spokesman

"Everything here is much deeper than a decision to send a peacekeeper mission," Dmitry Peskov said

Russia against sending OPCW reps to probe into chemical incidents in Ukraine — diplomat

According to Vladimir Tarabrin, Russia doesn’t want to "expose to danger the lives and health of international experts amid the extensive use of various weapons" along the engagement line

US mercenary in-absentia arrest, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, Ukraine lost more than 340 troops, an armored personnel carrier, an armored combat vehicle, 12 motor vehicles, an artillery piece and six mortars

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Russian forces destroyed two tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, an armored combat vehicle, four motor vehicles and two mortars

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Protesters make barricades near parliament in Tbilisi

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TASS Alley appears in Moscow

Dozens of TASS employees with their families, led by Director General Andrey Kondrashov, planted the alley of thirty trees near the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul

Japan's PM reiterates desire to sign peace treaty with Russia

Moscow and Tokyo have been negotiating a peace treaty to mark the end of World War II since the mid-20th century

Russian diplomat says US won’t stop Russia from accomplishing special operation goals

Sergey Ryabkov was responding to a request to comment on news reports that US President Joe Biden had asked Congress for an additional $24 billion in aid for Ukraine

German Office of General Prosecutor identified two suspects in Nord Stream case

"Yes, we are moving forward in the investigation [of sabotage acts at Nord Stream pipelines]. We managed to identify two suspects," Rommel said

Senior Russian diplomat points to risk of nuclear exchange

But Moscow will do everything possible to prevent it, Sergey Ryabkov said

North Korean leader sees missile strikes inside Russia as Western involvement in conflict

According to the North Korean leader, it should be shown to the "US-led provocative forces" that they will achieve nothing useful if they ignore Russia's warning

Putin approves budget of Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund for 2025-2027

The main source of revenues for the Fund are insurance contributions for compulsory medical insurance

Peru shows interest in BRICS - Russian ambassador

Igor Romanchenko also noted the interest of Peru's academic and journalistic communities in discussing BRICS issues

Putin signs law on Russia’s federal budget for 2025-2027

According to the law, federal budget revenues in 2025 are expected to be 40.296 trillion rubles ($378.5 bln)

Russians wipe out three Ukrainian strongholds, over 20 Azov fighters in advance on Kharkov

According to Andrey Marochko, during their advance near Kopanki, which was liberated earlier this week, the Russian forces improved their tactical positions southwest of the locality as they also expanded their control zone at this sector of the line of engagement

Finland eyeing return of antipersonnel mines to inventory — president

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Iran’s Revolutionary Guards eyes big response to Israel's latest attack

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Situation in Syria requires urgent discussion in Astana format — Russian Foreign Ministry

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US Navy amphibious assault ship enters Black Sea

It joined the guided-missile destroyer USS Porter, according to the Ukrainian web portal Dumskaya

Lavrov clarifies Russia's position on Ukraine crisis to foreign diplomats — MFA

"Participants in the roundtable exchanged views on the conflict and other pressing international topics," the ministry stated

Lavrov, Fidan pointed to importance of Astana format for Syria

"The need was confirmed to coordinate joint activities for purposes of stabilizing the situation in Suria, in the first instance with the use of the Astana format’s potential," the ministry added

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Russia toughens penalties for data leaks

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Russian Cabinet introduces compulsory marking for cosmetics, engine oils

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Vladimir Tarabrin noted that instead, the West is trying to present Russia as violating the Chemical Weapons Convention

Riot police fully clears square in front of Georgian parliament from protesters

The protesters moved up Rustaveli Avenue

NATO spies study damage from Oreshnik at Yuzhmash — expert

Alexander Stepanov emphasized that both Kiev and its Western allies are closely scrutinizing the consequences of the strike on the plant

US suspends strategic partnership with Georgia

The Department of State said in its press release that the United States condemns the excessive use of force by police

Russia weighs resumption of nuclear tests — senior diplomat

"The situation is quite complicated," Sergey Ryabkov said

Dialog with Japan on peace treaty possible if Tokyo gives up its hostile course

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New Russian combat equipment in 2024

Zelensky reshuffles Ukrainian military command

According to the statement, Mikhail Drapaty has been appointed as the new commander of the Ukrainian ground forces

Romania, Poland, Germany, UK plan to divide Ukraine — Russia's foreign intel

"A total of 100,000 so-called peacekeepers are planned to be sent to Ukraine," the SVR noted

Russian, Chinese strategic aircraft complete joint patrol mission

Foreign fighter jets escorted Russian, Chinese aircraft on certain route segments

Russian football chief disappointed national team left off 2026 World Cup draw list

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Press review: Russia to avenge Kiev's new strike as experts analyze US-EU trade risks

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Protestants in Tbilisi set fire in Georgian parliament’s building

Protesters were throwing firecrackers and launched fireworks directed to the parliament building for several hours

Banning import of food from New Zealand won’t affect Russia — watchdog

Earlier on Friday, the Russian government extended the food embargo for countries that imposed sanctions against Russia until the end of 2026

UK continuing arms supplies to Kiev fraught with conflict of nuclear powers — diplomat

Andrey Kelin noted that "the British have utterly ignored all our warnings and opted for escalatory actions to further worsen the Ukrainian crisis"

Putin approves budget of pension and social insurance fund for three years

According to the law, total forecast revenues of the Fund stand at 16.623 trillion rubles in 2025

Oreshnik becomes serious problem for Ukraine — Polish general

According to Waldemar Skrzypczak, satellite reconnaissance failed to detect the launch and flight of this missile

US actions undermine Washington’s competitiveness — Russian diplomat

According to Sergey Ryabkov, Washington’s policy causes harm to the United States

Russia says Ukraine lost up to 140 troops in battlegroup East’s zone of responsibility

The enemy also lost up a MaxxPro armored fighting vehicle, a Caesar self-propelled artillery unit, a motor vehicle and four fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, said Oleg Chekhov, a spokesman for the battlegroup

Tbilisi police occupy square in front of parliament, disperse protesters

Another part of the protesters moved up Rustaveli Avenue

Russia to ensure continued uranium exports, senior diplomat

According to Sergey Ryabkov, debates have been going on for a while about the need for Russia to stop supplying strategic goods to its opponents

Ukraine trains terrorists in Syria in coordination with US — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat noted that the Western coalition continues to carry out strikes in Syria, "effectively encouraging the Kiev regime to engage in similar terrorist activities in Russian regions, where civilians and civilian infrastructure are targeted with direct support from the West"

Ukrainian servicemen abandon military units due to fear of Russian army — official

Kiev is constantly losing control over populated areas because "tens of thousands of tired and desperate Ukrainian servicemen are leaving their positions to flee in an unknown direction," the agency reported

West deploying troops to Ukraine to up ante in fight with Russia — senior diplomat

Mikhail Galuzin described such plans as provocative and noted that they "confirm the West’s intention to continue its profound engagement in a direct standoff with Russia"

Violent upheaval attempt takes place in Georgia — security service

No countries reject invitations to become BRICS partner states — Russian diplomat

"All participants to a meeting of sherpas and sous-sherpas in Yekaterinburg were informed about it. Everyone agrees that this is the right path," Ryabkov added

Russian forces wipe out five ATACMS launchers using Iskander missiles

In particular, two MLRS launchers and a transporter-loader vehicle were destroyed near the settlement of Tokari, and three HIMARS launchers were taken out near the settlement of Maly Bobrik, the statement reads

Putin believes that US President-elect Trump’s life may be in danger

Donald Trump survived two assassination attempts this year: one during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in July, and the second one in September, when a radical supporter of aid to Ukraine opened fire near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida

Putin apologizes to Merkel over labrador incident

The president said that he "wanted to create a casual, friendly atmosphere" and did not know that the former German chancellor was afraid of dogs

Ukrainians flee from Kiev regime to regions reunited with Russia — politician

The process, which can today be confidently called the reunification of the Ukrainian people with Russia, began after the 2014 coup, Viktor Medvedchuk stressed

Foreign Ministers of Russia, Turkey discuss situation in Syria

"The situation in Syria and the Astana process were discussed at the meeting," the source said

Leonardo booking system’s functionality restored — Rostec

Aeroflot airline said earlier that the issue and the return of tickets and provision of extra services in all sales channels were temporarily complicated due to the system’s failure

Putin signs law on taxation of digital currencies

According to the law, digital currency is recognized as property

No existing missile defense system can counter Oreshnik — US expert

Theodore Postol also vehemently rejected suggestions that the Oreshnik system represents previous outdated developments of Moscow

West beginning to realize only part of Ukraine will remain — Lavrov

According to the Russian foreign minister, this represents the "confrontational logic" of the West