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Militants plotting provocation to blame government forces for strikes in Syria’s Idlib

According to deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria Vyacheslav Sytnik, а team of activists of the pseudo-humanitarian organization White Helmets arrived in the area with professional video equipment

MOSCOW, February 14. /TASS/. Militants are plotting a provocation in the Idlib de-escalation zone to put the blame for strikes at populated localities on Syria’s government forces, Vyacheslav Sytnik, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, said on Sunday.

"According to our information, militants of illegal armed groups are plotting a provocation to blame Syria’s government forces for delivering strikes at settlements in thee Idlib de-escalation zone," he said.

According to Sytnik, increased activities of militants from the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorist group (outlawed in Russia) were observed near the town of Fu’ah in the Idlib governorate. "A team of activists of the pseudo-humanitarian organization White Helmets arrived in the area with professional video equipment," he said.

The Russian reconciliation center calls on commanders of illegal armed groups to stop armed provocations and embark on a path of peaceful settlement of the situation on territories they control, he stressed.

The Russian reconciliation center continues to fulfill assigned tasks after the completion of the military campaign in Syria. The center’s officers regularly travel around the country's liberated areas to assess the humanitarian situation. The main efforts of the Russian military are now focused on assistance to the refugees returning to their homes and evacuation of civilians from de-escalation zones.

Swedish Navy examines seabed near damaged telecom cables

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

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

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Russia must be able to defend itself — Erdogan on revised nuclear doctrine

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Allowing Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia with US weapons irresponsible — Slovak PM

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Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine makes defeat over its army impossible — SVR chief

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Ukraine has around 50 ATACMS missiles — The Times

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

Putin’s Q&A session and press conference to be held on one of December Thursdays — Kremlin

"The direct line and press conference are being prepared," Dmitry Peskov said

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

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

According to Daniel Davis authorizing US long-range weapons to be used against Russia is "foolhardy to the highest order," "especially because there is no military upside for doing so"

Trump's new presidency will be fundamentally different from his first — expert in the US

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Ex-UK Labor party leader wants PM to clarify situation with Storm Shadow missiles

Jeremy Corbyn called for de-escalation of the situationin Ukraine and the search for a diplomatic solution to achieve peace

Russia counts on West's responsibility in nuclear deterrence issues — Kremlin

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin decreed to update the country’s nuclear doctrine, the Basic Principles of the State Policy of the Russian Federation on Nuclear Deterrence

No Western sanctions to limit Russia’s foreign trade — minister

All restrictions that Western countries impose affect themselves in the first place, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov added

FACTBOX: What is known about UAV attacks on Russian regions

During the night, air defenses intercepted and destroyed two Ukrainian UAVs in the skies over the Rostov and Volgograd regions

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"

Romanian presidential candidate vows to end military aid to Ukraine

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US decision on missile strikes aimed at provoking Russia, expert says

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Rubicon center drones hit Ukrainian equipment in Russia's Kursk Region

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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

ATACMS missiles unlikely to keep Kiev from losing conflict — American expert

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

ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant for alleged crimes in Gaza Strip

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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

Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

"The enemy positioned in the fortified area in Velikaya Novoselka in the south of the DPR is already trapped in a kill zone," the source said

Russian troops liberate Dalneye community in Donbass region over past day

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Zelensky to have no input if Russia, US negotiate, ex-Prime Minister says

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Zelensky begs ‘for his country to be flattened’ — US journalist

"Ukraine should be forever grateful that President Putin is calm, rational and kind - because Zelensky is practically begging for his country to be flattened," American political commentator Jackson Hinkle said

Biden’s actions increase likelihood of escalation in Ukraine — PM

Viktor Orban asserted that the government’s mission is to prevent Hungary from being dragged into the Ukrainian conflict

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

West launched missiles targeting Russia’s Bryansk, Kursk Regions — Putin

Russian air defenses repulsed all attacks, the Russian president said

NATO deployment to Ukraine would mark its entry into the war, Russian diplomat warns

According to Maria Zakharova, the Estonian minister is inciting other NATO members to engage in a venture that is "bound to fail"

Media from unfriendly states will be admitted to Putin's annual press conference — Kremlin

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Moscow-Washington hotline not in use now — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov added that there have been no contacts via this new channel lately

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

According to Andreas Kluth, the decision on ATACMS may have been another attempt by the current Washington administration to provide Ukraine with support until the president-elect comes to power

Russia hit Ukrainian military-industrial facility in response to use of Western missiles

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Railroad development to strengthen ties with foreign partners — Russian PM

Mikhail Mishustin added that "it is necessary to modernize border crossings in coming years, including introduction of practice of electronic paperwork"

Indonesia accepts invitation to become partner state in BRICS, ambassador announces

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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

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

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Soyuz rocket carrying Progress MS-29 cargo spaceship blasts off from Baikonur spaceport

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

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US uses veto right to block new UN Security Council draft resolution on ceasefire in Gaza

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Russia to use revenues from frozen assets of Western investors — Finance Minister

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Russian troops liberate Ilyinka community in Donbass region over past day

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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"

Kremlin condemns report on Storm Shadow missile use against Russian targets as escalation

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Russian troops raise flag in central Kurakhovo in Donetsk region — politician

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Newly arrived Ukrainian soldiers rob, loot in Kharkov Region’s Kupyansk

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US Senate refuses to block arms supplies to Israel

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

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

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Russian diplomat accuses West of using coercive measures to punish certain countries

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

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Japanese lawmaker urges global condemnation of decision on missile strikes on Russia

Muneo Suzuki described Joe Biden’s decision as "dangerous and provocative"

Russian ambassador says UK prime minister doesn’t understand situation in Ukraine

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

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

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French Foreign Ministry refuses to disclose number of SCALP missiles shipped to Ukraine

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US missile defense base in Poland long among Russian army’s targets — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova stated that the US-NATO construction project, ongoing for nearly a decade with complete disregard to Russian security concerns, has consistently been a focus of Russia's attention

Weapons supplied to Ukraine cannot reach Russian territory, Spanish defense minister says

The New York Times reported on November 17 that US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of US-supplied ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles for strikes inside Russia

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

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At least 66 people killed in Gaza Strip by an Israeli strike — Al Jazeera

It was also reported that over 100 people were wounded

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

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