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Russia lays down two universal helicopter carriers for first time

The ceremony was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin

KERCH, July 20. /TASS/. Two latest universal amphibious assault ships were laid down for the first time at the Zaliv Shipyard in Kerch on Monday.

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The ceremony was attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin who attached the keel-laying plaque to the Project’s first ship.

"Today three leading Russian shipyards are simultaneously laying down six new ocean-going ships. Here, in Kerch, these are two universal amphibious assault ships. At the Severnaya Shipyard in St. Petersburg, these are two frigates and at the Sevmash Shipyard in Severodvinsk, these are two nuclear-powered underwater cruisers," the president said.

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IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi said earlier that the escalation in the Middle East did not affect the mission of inspectors at Iranian nuclear facilities

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Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the statement as he spoke by phone with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi

Olympic flame lit in Ancient Olympia, kicking off 2024 Paris Summer Games journey

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Russia, Belarus sign aircraft production agreement

The complex of measures (plan) to stimulate Russian investment activity in Belarus was also signed

Iranian president warns of 'terrible response' to any action against country

Ebrahim Raisi opined that the UN Security Council and the organization as a whole "failed to fulfill their minimum legal obligations to condemn the [Israeli] attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus"

Israeli response will likely targets outside Iran — NBC

The report said the Israeli retaliation will be "limited in scope"

Hamas not to make any concessions on Israeli troops’ withdrawal from Gaza

Izzat al-Rishq noted that Israel’s attempts to release its hostages held by radicals in the Gaza Strip have failed and "there is no alternative to a real deal on this matter with Palestinian groups"

Ukrainian Baba Yaga drone found in Moscow office

According to the source, the owner of the drone is being questioned by law enforcement

Russia’s top brass reports destroying first Khmara jammer in Ukraine operation

According to the Defense Ministry, Russian troops took better positions in the Donetsk area over the past day

Zelensky irked by US’ request to stop attacking Russian energy infrastructure — media

It is noted that US officials believe the military benefits of Ukraine’s air raids on Russian oil refineries are "of questionable value," since "the strikes do little to diminish Russia’s war-fighting abilities"

Moscow shooter identified as European boxing champion Nikita Ivanov

This was reported by a representative of law enforcement agencies

Turkish-mediated Black Sea security pact crumbles as Ukraine backs out — Reuters

According to the draft agreement, seen by the agency, the parties would have extended security guarantees to merchant vessels in the Black Sea, as they committed not to strike or search them as long as they had declared a non-military cargo

Iran’s possession of enriched uranium doesn’t mean it has nuclear bomb — Grossi

The IAEA director general said he plans to visit Tehran in the next few weeks

Ukraine struggles to garner support for Swiss conference — Russian Foreign Ministry

"There are increasingly fewer people willing to discuss this subject with Kiev’s envoys, let alone going there," Rodion Miroshnik stressed

Slovakia to oppose Ukraine’s NATO membership bid — PM

Meanwhile, Slovakia supports Ukraine’s accession to the European Union

Russian Armed Forces hit IRIS-T air defense system launcher, Ukrainian ammunition depot

The personnel and equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were also defeated in 129 districts

Envoy reports dozens of Russians killed in Ukrainian attacks in past week

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US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Joe Biden had made it clear that the United States would not take on a combat role in Ukraine

Russian, Israeli security chiefs discuss current escalation in Middle East

On the evening of April 13, Iran launched dozens of drones and missiles toward Israel in response to what it called "repeated crimes" from Tel Aviv, including the attack on the consular office of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus ascribed to Israel

Official labels Ukrainian claims about Russia hitting nuclear facility 'total lie'

"Undoubtedly, everything that is going on today, carries a direct threat to nuclear safety," Renat Karchaa reiterated

Italy’s minister estimates Israeli capability to defend from Iranian attack at one billion

Guido Crosetto didn’t specify whether the currency he meant was dollars or euros

Iran to retaliate for any new Israeli attack 'within seconds,' senior diplomat warns

Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani described the Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy’s consulate department in Syria on April 1 as a strategic mistake

Moscow follows meeting between Scholz, Xi — senior Russian diplomat

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Kiev recognizes Russia's tenfold superiority in artillery shells

Vladimir Zelensky admitted that Ukraine had no chance of winning victory without support from the West

Russian envoy calls UN Security Council meeting on Iran strike parade of hypocrisy

"If Western missions were attacked, you would not hesitate to retaliate and prove your case in this room. Because for you, everything that concerns Western missions and Western citizens is sacred and must be protected," Vasily Nebenzya said

Iran has no need to buy Russia’s S-400 missile systems — defense minister

Iran’s Bavar-373 long-range mobile air defense system, believed to be an equivalent of Russia's S-300 systems, will become operational by the year-end

Saudi Arabia, UAE did not open airspace to Israel, US to repel Iranian attack — newspaper

According to the report, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi tried to remain neutral in the escalating conflict in the Middle East

Police detain 14 people at rally in Georgia

The Georgian Interior Ministry said that one police member was injured

Attacks on ZNPP raise risks for nuclear safety — IAEA chief

Rafael Grossi reminded the Security Council that last year he outlined the principles of ensuring safety at the ZNPP to avert the danger of a nuclear incident and called on Russian and Ukraine to observe them

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FSB prevents terror attack on Trans-Siberian Railway

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Israel remains on highest alert as it chooses response to Iran’s attack — senior commander

"Iran will face the consequences for its actions," IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said

Israel postpones Rafah operation after Iranian attack — CNN

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Russian forces find coordinates of DPR churches at former Ukrainian positions in Avdeyevka

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Rafael Grossi calls for attacks on ZNPP to stop as they raise safety risks

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Yury Borisov noted that SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket was used no more than ten times

France to invite Russia to events marking 80th anniversary of Normandy invasion

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in turn, said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet received an official invitation

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

Investigators have established that the funds that were received through commercial organizations, such as the oil and gas company Burisma Holdings operating in Ukraine, have been used to carry out terrorist acts in Russia and abroad

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Roscosmos committed to continued collaboration with NASA — CEO

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CEC chairperson hands over presidential credentials to Putin

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Russia’s UN envoy says statements by West expose Kiev’s responsibility for attacks on ZNPP

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Iran says it won’t prevent return of Russian sailor from seized ship — MFA

The Russian Embassy in Tehran keeps the issue under special control, Maria Zakharova said

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Macron draws distinction between Israeli, Russian Olympic participation

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Ukrainian troops hunker down in abandoned apartments in Kherson — governor

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Volume of frozen Russian assets in Germany reaches around €3.9 bln

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

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Avtotor launches production of Jetour Dashing crossover in Kaliningrad

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Negotiations on safety of navigation in Black Sea continue — source

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Zhang Ming noted that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has transformed from a regional to transregional multifaceted association at this point

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Russia developing Start-1M carrier rocket as derivative of Topol-M ICBM — source

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Ukraine offers to use neighbors' air defense systems to protect its gas storage facilities

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Israeli strikes on Iran to do disservice to US ahead of election — former Russian diplomat

"The Biden administration on the eve of the presidential election does not need this at all," Alexander Maryasov noted

Israel may strike Iranian territory to demonstrate its capabilities — TV

"We are continuing our efforts to prevent further escalation," the US official said

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Russian finance ministry considering abolition of export duty on gold

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Israel plans to send 'painful message' to Iran in response to attack — newspaper

According to the report, Israel’s war cabinet will meet on April 16 for a third straight day

Putin expresses hope for restraint in Middle East in conversation with Raisi

According to the the Russian presidential press service, "Vladimir Putin said all parties would hopefully show a reasonable degree of constraint to avoid a new bout of tensions"

Construction of future manned spacecraft reached its final stage — Roscosmos CEO

The spacecraft’s first flight is planned for 2028, Yury Borisov said

Putin, Raisi set for expansion of cooperation between Russia, Iran — Kremlin

It is noted that the two leaders also discussed the latest escalation in the Middle East

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Russian air defenses suppress up to 400 Ukrainian UAVs in DPR over week

The drones neutralized by the air defenses included a Mavic-3 UAV and three Baba-Yaga drones carrying improvised explosive devices manufactured with the use of anti-tank aerial bombs and mines

Over 80 Ukrainian drones suppressed, downed in Kherson Region over day

According to Vladimir Saldo, during the night there was a strike on the Ukrainian troops' landing zone on the right bank of the Dnieper River, nine boats and up to 20 militants were destroyed

Kremlin mum on reports about discussions of Black Sea maritime security pact

It was reported eaerlier that Turkey had negotiated for two months with Russia and Ukraine on a deal to ensure the safety of merchant vessels in the Black Sea

US continues to foment new conflicts to save itself from default — Duma speaker

Vyacheslav Volodin cited data from the US Treasury Department, according to which the country's budget deficit in March amounted to $236 bln

Russia, Belarus boosting interaction despite sanctions

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin added that the record-high indicator of mutual trade turnover is $45.2 bln

Deflecting Iran attack cost billions, Israel, US can't repeat it — former UN inspector

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Russian security chief urges measures against 'ethnic enclaves' in Russia

The Russian president has ordered that migration policy be overhauled taking into account the national interests and security of the population, and the importance of preserving Russia’s culture and language, Nikolay Patrushev reiterated

China's approach to Ukraine balanced, constructive, Russia welcomes it — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov stated that China "maintains quite high diplomatic activity" on the Ukrainian track

Senior Russian diplomat warns West against aggressive statements about Russia

Sergey Ryabkov pointed out that the West "is ignoring elementary and, as a matter of fact, absolutely obvious principles," such as the idea that a nuclear power "can never be defeated"

Russia’s UN envoy says IAEA too cautious as it doesn’t name culprit behind attacks on ZNPP

Vasily Nebenzya said Russia was calling on the International Atomic Energy Agency to name the source of attacks

Russian troops destroy fake Ukrainian ambulance with UAV operators in Kherson area

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US, Europe’s military force insufficient to fight Russia — expert

Previously, former US Secretary of Defense Advisor Douglas Macgregor said that the failure of the US Administration in the Ukrainian conflict has already disrupted the balance in Europe, strengthening Russia’s positions

US, UK strikes harm Yemeni settlement prospects — Russian mission to UN

"Such actions harm the intra-Yemeni settlement, undermining the efforts of international and regional mediators," Dmitry Polyansky noted

Russia supports priorities of Kazakhstan's chairmanship in SCO — Foreign Ministry

Andrey Rudenko emphasized that Russia is providing all necessary assistance in the meaningful preparation of the summit in Astana

Xi Jinping proposes four principles for resolving Ukrainian crisis

The Chinese leader had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukrainian crisis with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is on an official visit to Beijing

Japan concerned over Russia-China military cooperation — Foreign Ministry

The Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly emphasized previously that similar drills and patrols are held in strict compliance with international law

Iran ready for defensive measures if Israel continues escalation — embassy in Russia

"If Israel and its Western supporters want to further escalate the conflict, we are ready to take additional defensive measures to protect our legitimate interests," Hussein Maliki said

Russian Su-34 jets destroy Ukrainian command post with high-explosive aerial bombs

"The strike was carried out with ODAB-500 high-explosive aerial bombs with a universal planning and correction module," the Russian Defense Ministry reported

US House could consider separate bills on aid to Israel, Ukraine this week — report

US House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the plans in a private meeting with GOP lawmakers on Monday, Politico said