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Crimean Bridge protected from air, land and water — National Guard chief

The waters adjacent to this major transport artery are patrolled by National Guard boats while combat swimmers inspect the bridge supports underwater, TASS was told

© Sergei Malgavko/TASS

MOSCOW, April 8. /TASS/. The Crimean Bridge is reliably protected all around from potential threats, Russian National Guard Chief Viktor Zolotov told TASS on Thursday.

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First 100 trains transport 85,000 passengers across Crimean Bridge

"The facilities of the Kerch transport link are today comprehensively protected on the ground, from the air and from the water and under the water," he said.

"The waters adjacent to this major transport artery are patrolled by National Guard boats while our combat swimmers inspect the bridge supports underwater. This is hard work and huge responsibility," the National Guard chief said.

Grachonok-class anti-saboteur boats have been accepted for service in Russia’s National Guard to ensure the security of facilities in the Kerch Strait, Zolotov said.

A National Guard special operations brigade is working in close interaction with Russia’s Defense and Interior ministries, the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Transport and Energy ministries. Since last year, the grouping has been operating in full under the general command of the Joint Coordination Center, the National Guard chief said.

Military operation in Ukraine

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Russia’s Oreshnik has no analogues worldwide — Putin

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Gazprombank’s UnionPay cards no longer serviced in several countries

US expects Russia-North Korea cooperation to be formidable challenge in coming years

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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

Russia’s steel production plunged in October — WSA

China produced 81.9 mln metric tons in October, up 2.9% on an annualized basis

Final test launch of Russia's new RS-26 Rubezh ballistic missile successful — designer

The RS-26 Rubezh missile based on the previous RS24 Yars is expected to be put on combat dutiy in 2015.

Two injured in bridge collapse in Crimea

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Enemy losses, mercenary intrigue, humanitarian aid: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost 150 troops, four motor vehicles, an artillery piece and two mortars

Conflict in Ukraine no longer regional war — German defense minister

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3,500 people cross into Syria from Lebanon in past day — Russian military

Oleg Ignasyuk said that the Russian reconciliation center conducted two humanitarian operations in the Damascus governorate and distributed more than 5.9 tons of food among residents

US, European officials suggest returning nukes to Ukraine — NYT

US officials believe that ramping up weapons supplies to Ukraine is unlikely to change the situation in the combat zone short term, but it may help Kiev strengthen its stance in case a truce is reached

Ukraine loses up to 160 troops in battlegroup East’s responsibility area — top brass

Units of the Russian battlegroup East continue fulfilling military tasks in the area of the special military operation

NATO secretary general, US President-elect hold first meeting

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Russian military to warn Ukrainian civilians of future Oreshnik attacks — Kremlin

Earlier, the Russian Armed Forces carried out a precision strike on Ukraine’s Yuzhmash defense industry facility in retaliation for the use of US-and UK-made weapons for strikes on Russia

France only finishes off Ukraine by allowing it to strike inside Russia — diplomat

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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

Any escalation scenario possible in Ukraine conflict — Medvedev

According to the politician, Western nations need to understand that they are fighting on Ukraine’s side

West irrational, fails to understand it cannot intercept Russia's new missiles — Kneissl

The former Austrian foreign minister stressed that she "counted on rational Western decision-makers, but irrationality is unfortunately on the rise among them"

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West builds up military presence near Russia’s Arctic borders — presidential aide

According to Nikolay Patrushev, the "imposed sanctions restrictions are aimed at thwarting the implementation of Russia’s Arctic projects"

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

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Russia to view F-16 fighter jets in Ukraine as threat in nuclear sphere — Lavrov

"During combat operations, our military will not be clearing out whether or not each particular jet of this class is equipped to carry nuclear weapons," the minister added

Zelensky shook up by Russia’s response to permission to attack it — Lavrov

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Ukraine should consider territorial concessions to Russia in return for peace — magazine

Foreign Policy pointed out that Western officials should stop insisting in public speeches on the need to achieve a strategic defeat for Russia

Attempted infiltration of Syrian government army positions by saboteurs foiled in Idlib

According to Ignasyuk, six shelling attacks on positions of Syrian government forces by the Jabhat al-Nusra and Islamic Party of Turkestan terrorist groups (both outlawed in Russia) were reported during the day. Two Syrian soldiers were wounded

Oreshnik missile to change course of Ukrainian conflict, Medvedev believes

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said it in an interview

China against double standards in international law — Foreign Ministry

Spokesman Lin Jian highlighted Washington's use of double standards in handling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within the United Nations

Taiwan reports 25 Chinese aircraft, 7 ships approaching island

The Taiwanese army responded by employing aircraft, navy vessels, and coastal missile systems to monitor the targets

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

Biden’s actions on Ukraine meant to 'muck things up' for Trump — Lavrov

According to the Russian foreign minister, such behavior is "typical of the Democrats"

Gas supply by Gazprom for Europe through Ukraine totals 42.4 mcm via Sudzha

The day before, the pumping volume also equaled 42.4 mln cubic meters

Bulgarian politician sees Oreshnik missile strike as wake-up call for peace

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Ukrainian defense line in Donbass may soon collapse — expert

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Putin says Oreshnik missile system cutting-edge innovation by Russia, not Soviet byproduct

The Russian Defense Ministry announced earlier in the day that the country’s latest Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missile hit all the targets at a major Ukrainian military-industrial enterprise in Dnepr (Dnepropetrovsk) with its MIRVed warheads

Western countries should 'be afraid, tremble' after Putin's statement — lawmaker

Andrey Kartapolov added that the special military operation in Ukraine "will continue its course until all tasks are completed"

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

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Russia will not artificially impede process of terrorist status lifting from Taliban

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Here are the key statements, made during the meeting

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Trump to name investor Bessent as Treasury Secretary

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Russian embassy warns UK about dangers of calling for Moscow’s ‘defeat’

According to th statement, London is promoting new rounds of escalation

NATO countries engaged in full-fledged war against Russia — Medvedev

According to him, the alliance is "fully engaged" in the Ukrainian conflict

Israel carries out four strikes on building in Beirut

At least four people were killed and 23 suffered injuries in an Israeli airstrike

Russian forces eliminate Ukrainian MiG-29 on ground

Additionally, Russian units eliminated one munitions depot

UN Loss and Damage Fund to be fully operational from 2025

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Lukashenko grants asylum to Schmidt persecuted on political grounds by Poland

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Bundeswehr prepares plan for Operation Germany in case of war with Russia — newspaper

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A total of 4,000 AI-powered drones are set to be transferred, several hundred every month

Russia not obliged to notify anyone about launch of intermediate-range missile — Kremlin

"No, there have been no notifications, for Russia has no such obligation with regard to intermediate-range missiles," Dmitry Peskov emphasized

Putin to address parliament next year, preparations underway — Kremlin

"Certainly, it is being prepared in advance, this is a lengthy process," the Kremlin official said

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"Democratic institutions in the country have been destroyed, rendering dialogue between the government and the people impossible," Viktor Medvedchuk said

Topol ICBMs to come out of service in Russia in 2024

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US, West have no capabilities to intercept new Russian hypersonic missile — expert

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US to impose export restrictions against up to 200 Chinese firms — agency

According to Reuters, the Commerce Department plans to publish the new regulations "prior to the Thanksgiving break"

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

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Ukrainian army admits loss of 40% of territories it controlled in Kursk Region — agency

"At most, we controlled about 1,376 square kilometers, now of course this territory is smaller," the source said

Ukraine conflict entering decisive phase, Polish PM says

According to Donald Tusk, "no one knows how the conflict will end"

Kremlin explains why Oreshnik missile came as surprise

"I am sure that neither of us is even aware right now of any new future developments.", Peskov said

Ukraine hopes to see US peace plan in January

Zelensky said he doesn’t know when he will be able to meet with Trump but this will obviously happen after his inauguration

Israel strikes checkpoint on Syrian-Russian border — agency

The Jusiyah checkpoint is located on the border with Lebanon in the al-Qusayr area in the Syrian Homs governorate

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

According to the experts, Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s borderline Kursk Region turned out to be a "strategic catastrophe" amid "manpower shortages"

Putting Sarmat ICBM systems into combat among Russian military's top priorities in 2024

Based on experts’ estimates, the RS-28 Sarmat is capable of delivering a MIRVed warhead weighing up to 10 tons to any location worldwide both over the North and South Poles

Signal to West and 'red card': experts weigh in on Putin’s missile launch statements

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Diplomat mocks US Senator for talking about invading Netherlands

Maria Zakharova quoted the US Senator, who called the ICC a "Kangaroo court" and ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan a "deranged fanatic"

Most of Russian weapons manufactured inside Russia — Medvedev

France, UK will have to pay for their helping Ukraine strike inside Russia — diplomat

Russia’s Permanent Representative to the Vienna-based international organizations Mikhail Ulyanov said that what has been done by the White House is very dangerous

Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

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German politician slams Ukraine’s ‘irresponsible’ strike on Russia with UK-made missiles

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Russia entitled to use weapons against military sites of states attacking it — Duma

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Western air defense systems unlikely to intercept Russian missiles — France’s Le Monde

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US, Europe openly side with Kiev by supplying it with weapons — top Turkish diplomat

He stressed that today "it is vital prevent economic and political confrontation in certain regions of the world from growing into a real war."

Eliminating best enemy units: Defense Minister visits special op area

Andrey Belousov stressed that Russian troops have accelerated their advance in the special military operation zone and have effectively disrupted Kiev's 2025 military campaign

Ex-German Chancellor considers dialog with Russia necessary to settle conflict in Ukraine

Angela Merkel advised politicians "to be authentic" when building up relations with US President-elect dondald Trump

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"

Europe unable to wage war attrition on Russia — Ukraine’s ex-commander-in-chief

According to Zaluzhny, European countries lack munitions to shoot down air bombs

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

Oreshnik can reach targets across entire Europe — missile troops commander

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Press review: Uranium costs soar as Moscow updates nuclear doctrine and US OKs attacks

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, November 20th

Trump to tap Richard Grenell as US special envoy on Ukraine — agency

Grenell would play a key role in Trump's efforts to halt the conflict if he is ultimately selected for the post

Zelensky fine with conflict continuing due to Western help — Slovak PM

Robert Fico pointed out that "more and more evidence show that the West seeks to prolong the war in Ukraine for various reasons"

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

Putin invites Tajik leader to attend celebration of 80th anniversary of victory in WWII

He recalled that Tajikistan will hold presidency in the Commonwealth of Independent States next year

Trump seeks to restore peace in entire world — transition team on Putin’s address

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Houthis say they attacked Israeli military base with hypersonic missile

The Israel Defense Forces said on Thursday evening that it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen before it entered the Israeli airspace

Russia's Oreshnik missile poses significant threat to West, Turkish expert warns

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Russia, CSTO partners to discuss West’s authorization of strikes on Russia — TASS source

"A top-level session of the CSTO Collective Security Council will be held in the near future, and this matter will naturally be addressed", the source told TASS