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Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov ready for combat service — Northern Fleet

It is reported that the final stage of the preparations was exercised during a control sortie to the Northern Fleet’s combat testing grounds in the Barents Sea

MOSCOW, December 28. /TASS/. The Project 22350 frigate Admiral Gorshkov has completed preparations for active duty, the press service of the Northern Fleet told reporters on Wednesday.

"The Northern Fleet’s frigate Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov under the command of Captain 1st Rank Igor Krokhmal completed preparations for a long-distance cruise. The final stage of the preparations was exercised during a control sortie to the Northern Fleet’s combat testing grounds in the Barents Sea during which the ship’s crew was fulfilling tasks over several days," the press service reported.

On December 21, at the Defense Ministry’s board session, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the frigate armed with Tsirkon hypersonic missiles would enter service in January 2023. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu added that the frigate was getting ready for a long-range combat mission.

Military operation in Ukraine

Russia’s Battlegroup East eliminates up to 140 enemy troops in past day

Battlegroup spokesman Alexander Gordeyev added that the forces had also improved their frontline positions, thwarting the enemy’s attempts to reinforce its units

No need for more massive strikes against facilities in Ukraine — Putin

Currently, other tasks are on the agenda, the president emphasized

Enemy losses: developments in Kursk Region

In total, the enemy has lost 5,137 servicemen since fighting began in the region

FSIN refutes allegations about seizure of colony in Volgograd Region by criminals

The criminals took hostages and seized one isolated building in the colony’s territory

Russia delivers 16 precision strikes at Ukrainian military sites over week — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup North thwarted the Ukrainian army’s attempts to deploy reserves in the Kursk Region over the past week, the Defense Ministry reported

Medvedev rules out peace talks with Kiev until enemy 'completely defeated'

The politician also hinted at those behind the attack on the Kursk Region, making unflattering comments about a former British prime minister

Ukrainian lawmaker laments that 'thousands' defect from armed forces

Prior to that, the Ukrainian parliament has passed a bill allowing to pardon AWOL servicemen, who abandoned their posts for the first time, if they agree to resume their military service before the pretrial investigation is completed

Captured Ukrainian soldier says goal was to create semblance of presence in Kursk Region

He and his fellow soldiers rode three armored personnel carriers to a settlement where they immediately came under fire from Russian soldiers

Russian commander reports presence of active NATO soldiers in Kursk area

Apty Alaudinov specified that he referred to active NATO servicemen

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspends his campaign for US president

He also said he would ask to remove his name from the ballots in ten key states

Russia’s Battlegroup East eliminates up to 140 enemy troops in past day

Battlegroup spokesman Alexander Gordeyev added that the forces had also improved their frontline positions, thwarting the enemy’s attempts to reinforce its units

Kavkaz port working to clean up aftermath following Ukrainian attack

The Russian Transport Ministry added that the sea rescue service is working to clean up the fuel that was spilled

Russia's top prosecutor reveals startling new details about 1918 Romanov family execution

According to Igor Krasnov, members of the royal family did not die immediately because they had diamonds and jewelry sewn into their clothes, and the bullets ricocheted off

NATO citizens contact Russian embassies for residence permits en masse — diplomat

Maria Zakharova pointed out that, starting on August 19, citizens of other states are allowed to apply to Russia, if they are being persecuted in their states for following traditional values

Indian army to receive another 20,000 AK-203 assault rifles by end of 2024 — IRRPL CEO

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the creation of a joint Indian-Russian venture to manufacture Kalashnikov assault rifles in the country in March 2019

Modi arrives in Ukraine for first visit ever by an Indian PM

Modi arrived in the Ukrainian capital after wrapping up his visit to Poland

Ukraine attacks ferry loaded with fuel tanks in Kavkaz port: victims, damage, response

The area of the fire covered 500 square meters, emergency response services reported

Diplomats visit Russian national in US custody, says consul general

Artur Petrov is being kept at a detention facility in the New York City

US seeks to show its ‘anti-Russian essence’ by introducing sanctions — Moscow’s envoy

Anatoly Antonov pointed out that "the negative aspects of US actions are obvious to everyone"

Press review: Harris train rolling as DNC wraps up and Indian PM to walk fine line in Kiev

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, August 23rd

Strikes on Ukrainian reserves, cases against foreign reporters: situation in Kursk Region

An enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group was destroyed west of Skrylievka

Bank of Russia raises dollar rate for August 24-26 to 91.6 rubles — regulator

The official yuan exchange rate has been lowered by 18 kopecks to 11.77 rubles

Ukraine seeks to unleash new world war by attacking Russian nuclear plant — politician

The goal of the drone attack was to cause a Chernobyl-like disaster and contaminate all of Europe with radiation, said Zmago Jelincic

HIMARS missiles, artillery rounds included in US’ new aid package to Ukraine

Assistance includes aerial systems equipment and munitions, 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor missiles

Foreign aid to Ukraine a money laundering scheme, head of Chechnya says

Ramzan Kadyrov noted that there is no need to worry about hostilities currently happening on Russian territory

Israeli airstrikes kill nine people in Gaza Strip

Another 15 people suffered injuries

Seizure of Allegro trains by Finnish VR illegal — Russian Railways

Unlawfulness of actions of the Finnish side is confirmed by decisions of Russian courts, which bind the Finnish railway operator to continue performing contracts made by it

Ukraine disconnects backup power line at Zaporozhye NPP

The Ferrosplavnaya-1 high-voltage 330kV power supply line was disconnected from the Zaporozhye NPP on August 23

Numerous countries express interest in India-produced AK-203 assault rifles — official

India has become the first foreign country where the AK-203 iteration of the Kalashnikov assault rifle is manufactured

Increased level of complexity assigned to fire in Rostov Region’s Proletarsk

The firefighting effort involves 37 men and 12 vehicles

Russia’s natural annual population loss will shrink 1.5 times by 2045 — statistics

The Federal Statistics Service clarifies that as of January 1, 2023, 146.45 million people lived in Russia, and by January 1, 2046, the country’s population will be 138.77 million people

Russian army hits Kiev's reserves in Plavni, Primorskoye in Zaporozhye Region — politician

Plavni and Primorskoye are north of the town of Vasilievka

Russian forces control about 50 settlements in Kharkov region — official

The liberated territories have a combined population of around 2,000 people in total, the head of the Kharkov Region's civil-military administration Vitaly Ganchev said

Trump defeats Harris by landslide in Elon Musk’s poll on X social network

More than 5.8 million people took part in the vote

Inmates plotted their attack in Russian prison in advance, law enforcement source says

According to TASS source, the attack was well-planned

US prepares to lift all restrictions on use of its weapons — Russian ambassador

The US policy of providing military assistance to Ukraine, including training Ukrainian pilots to use US-made F-16 fighter jets shows that "they will fight", Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said

Russia takes some rear enemy positions under fire control near Karlovka in DPR

This should serve to weaken Ukrainian defenses at this sector of the line of engagement, the officer said

Ukraine raised risk of nuclear war for allies, former chief of Romanian intelligence says

"Ukraine understood very well what it was doing," Silviu Predoiu said

Ukrainian General Staff says situation around Krasnoarmeisk, Kupyansk tough

The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Wednesday that Russia’s Battlegroup Center had liberated the community of Zhelannoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic

Ukraine’s army withdrawing troops from near Kupyansk after Russian forces breach defenses

"With regard to the situation near Peschanoye, if we talk about the enemy’s behavior, Ukrainian armed formations are currently trying to slow down the advance of our forces," military expert Andrey Marochko said

India favors engagement of all parties to end Ukraine conflict — PM Modi

According to the statement, the Indian side reiterated its principled position and focus on a peaceful settlement through dialogue and diplomacy, under which New Delhi participated in the Ukraine Peace Summit held in Switzerland in June 2024

Fire spreads from burning dry grass to residential houses in Rostov Region

According to local emergencies services, the fire has consumed four houses

Unrecovered bodies of European mercenaries litter Kursk fields — Russian MP

According to Viktor Vodolatsky, the West needed the Ukrainian incursion into the borderline Russian region of Kursk to test how well Russia’s border is protected

West directs all of Kiev's strikes on civilian targets — Russian diplomat

"We have always maintained that the West has been the guiding force behind all of the Kiev regime's attacks on civilian infrastructure since the first day of the open phase of the conflict, and from day one we identified the regime's terrorist activities," Maria Zakharova said

Russian Ambassador to US Antonov to return home in October — diplomatic source

Anatoly Antonov has been Russia’s Ambassador to the United States since August 2017

Kherson Region governor says Ukraine will attempt to attack Tendra Spit and Kinburn Spit

According to Vladimir Saldo, there is a large number of unmanned boats, assault boats and helicopters among the equipment deployed there

Putin made decision on response to Kiev’s incursion – ambassador to US

The retaliation will be tough, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said

Germany may expand list of weapons its supplies to Ukraine — Russian ambassador

According to Sergey Nechayev, people in Germany disapprove of the government’s decision to supply weapons to Ukraine because this leads to the conflict escalations and entails considerable budgetary spending whereas this money could be used for peaceful purposes

Russia imports more than half of non-food goods — ministry

Russia can't produce everything that is imported today, the official said, adding that this is not realistic

US authorizes import of certain Russian diamonds, jewelry until September 1, 2025

In February, the US government announced that it would ban the import of unsorted rough diamonds and diamond jewelry from Russia from March 1

No 'buffer zone' on Russian territory, says ambassador to US

Anatoly Antonov warned that Moscow is not going to consult Washington on how to act to expel the Ukrainian armed forces from the Kursk Region

Russian forces capture ten Ukrainian troops in Kursk Region — commander

The enemy lost a tank and five armored vehicles, a Bukovel electronic warfare system and a gun were destroyed

Indian military praises AK-203 assault rifle — head of joint venture

Major General Sudhir Kumar Sharma recalled that 35,000 Kalashnikov rifles had already been delivered to the Indian Armed Forces

Murmansk Region to tighten measures against drone attacks on strategic facilities

"Today, we will discuss additional measures that need to be taken to protect the Murmansk Region, especially strategic facilities, from enemy drones," Governor Andrey Chibis said

Houthis claim responsibility for attack on Sounion tanker

The spokesman also claimed responsibility for striking the Sw North Wind I commercial ship

Chinese diplomat urges US to immediately stop official interaction with Taiwan

According to the Chinese embassy spokesperson, "China has long been recognized by the international community as a contributor to global peace, development and international order"

2016 World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan

Sports include eagle hunting, bone throwing and kok-boru, a Central Asian form of polo in which two teams battle for control of a decapitated goat carcass

North Korean diplomat blames US for creating concept of nuclear threat

United States continues to fabricate someone else’s ‘nuclear threat,’ obsessed with ensuring unilateral nuclear superiority, diplomat said

Ukraine doesn’t view India as mediator in potential talks — NYT

The Ukrainian officials portrayed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kiev as a "welcome show of support for their country"

Kiev’s forces question strategic premise of Kursk incursion — officer

According to the Ukrainian serviceman, the Ukrainian political leadership devised the offensive in order to divert the Ukrainians’ attention from the dire situation on the frontline and in the country’s economy and energy infrastructure

Russia proposes to adopt new UN Security Council resolution on Middle East — mission to UN

In his opinion, "it is precisely the manic desire of the United States to ‘monopolize’ the Middle East peace process and to reshape it according to ‘patterns’ suited to Israel that led to the dramatic consequences that we are witnessing today"

Four employees killed in hostage-taking incident at Russian prison — officials

During a special operation to free the hostages, all four criminals were liquidated

Ukrainian recruits refuse to fire at Russians, commander says

Ukrainian commanders blame poorly-trained recruits for failures on the eastern flank, especially for the territorial losses in the Krasnoarmeisk area in the Donetsk People’s Republic, where they "enabled Russia’s army to advance"

Russian forces destroy French-made Crotale missile system in Kursk Region

According to Akhmat Special Forces Commander Major General Apty Alaudinov, it costs €8.9 million

Trump leads Harris in latest survey of likely US voters

The telephone and online survey of around 1,900 likely voters was conducted on August 15 and 18-21, the pollster said

Two injured survivors of hostage-taking at IK-19 penitentiary taken to Volgograd hospitals

As a result of a special operation to free the hostages by the Federal Penitentiary Service and National Guard all four criminals were liquidated

Lavrov says West looking for someone to replace Zelensky

The Russian Foreign Minister said that the German and American press are starting to slowly "dump" the Ukrainian leader and "create the image of a loser"

Manufacturers of FPV drone Upyr found drone producing plant Uraldronzavod

The FPV drone Upyr (Vampire) was first used in the special military operation zone in May 2023 and proved its effectiveness

Neo-Nazis who attacked Russia’s Kursk region sure to be defeated - Russian ambassador

Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said the subject was raised during Russian diplomats’ recent meetings with compatriots in Salt Lake City and Chicago

One of hostage takers at Russian penal colony was drug gang member — court verdict

Ramzidin Toshev joined the group in an attempt to solve financial problems

Volchansk may be completely destroyed due to massive Ukrainian attacks — administration

Vitaly Ganchev pointed out that the Ukrainian troops are actively using drones

Ukraine peace initiative shouldn’t be unilateral - Indian foreign minister

"Our view is that any exercise, if it has to be productive, will naturally have to involve the other party concerned," Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stressed

Chinese Foreign Ministry confirms visit by US security advisor

Jake Sullivan is also expected to meet with other senior officials

EU Diplomacy Chief says EU-China trade war unavoidable — South China Morning Post

According to Borrell, the likely aggravation of trade relations between the EU and China "is in line with the logic of things"

Russia possesses over 100 years worth of coal reserves — minister

Russia’s commercial coal reserves located in 22 coal basins stand at almost 273 bln tons, of which 46.4 bln tons of coal are being exploited, Alexander Kozlov noted

Some convicts serving in Ukrainian army refuse to go into combat

A former member of the Verkhovna Rada explained that when prisoners wrote applications for mobilization, they had a completely different motivation

Press review: NATO complicit in Kursk attack and Russian military officials get new roles

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, August 21st

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joins Trump at Arizona rally

Trump described Kennedy’s presidential campaign as extraordinary

Russian forces consolidating positions near Volchansk in Kharkov Region, official says

"I reiterate that Ukrainian armed formations are still trying to counterattack even as they sustain heavy losses and get pushed back," Vitaly Ganchev said

Ukrainian POWs cannot be taken out of harm's way due to Kiev's shelling attacks — officer

According to Major General Apty Alaudinov, Akhmat fighters have already taken numerous Ukrainian soldiers prisoner

Russian troops advance towards Borovaya in eastern Kharkov region — official

Vitaly Ganchev added that as of today, more than 200 square kilometers of the region had been liberated from the Ukrainian armed forces

Captured Ukrainian soldiers play like they’re civilians, outed by phone data — official

Apty Alaudinov called the Ukrainian soldiers operating in the Kursk Region a bunch of thugs

Washington says discussing with Kiev use of US arms to strike deeper inside Russia

Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters on Thursday that the use of American weapons to strike inside Russia’s Kursk Region does not run counter to the US policy

Russia blacklists 32 British think tank experts — Russian Foreign Ministry

The list includes nine structures - Forward Strategy Limited, Institute for Statecraft, Media Diversity Institute, Toro Risk Solutions, Chatham House, Open Knowledge Foundation, Privacy International, Peace Child International, Aga Khan Foundation - and 32 of their employees

Wheat exports from Russia total 54 mln tons during last agriculture season — minister

Russia’s grain harvest outlook for 2024 remained unchanged at 132 mln tons

About 30-40% of Kharkov Region must be liberated to hold referendum — official

Vitaly Ganchev also hopes to hold a survey by the end of the year in order to gauge public interest in becoming a part of Russia

IAEA chief says situation at ZNPP unstable due backup power line malfunction

"The latest outage follows reports of military activity in the region and beyond," the statement said

Drone debris causes fire in Russia’s Voronezh Region — governor

Response teams are working at the site

FACTBOX: What is known about new anti-Russian sanctions imposed by US

According to the document, the restrictions against companies "whose products and services enable Russia to sustain its military efforts and evade sanctions"

Russia’s Uralkali company lauds Dutch police inspection of US-based Haas F1 Team

"This was an expected consequence of Haas’ refusal to comply with the arbitration ruling awarding payment and a race car to Uralkali," a spokesman for the Russian company said

AK-203 assault rifle plant in India has plans to expand — CEO

Sudhir Kumar Sharma noted that there are still areas in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, where the machines are manufactured, so it is possible that production will be expanded there

Russian forces destroy US-made Abrams tank in borderline Kursk area — commander

"In addition, we have eliminated several artillery guns of various caliber and also several command posts," Major General Apty Alaudinov said

FACTBOX: Inmates take staff hostage at correctional facility in Volgograd Region

According to emergency response services, one employee was killed

US sends reconnaissance plane to monitor Russia’s activities — media

According to Newsweek, on August 20, the plane conducted a six-hour-long flight in the Baltic region bordering Russia

Press review: Moscow-Beijing ties look for shot in arm and US backdoors new nuke strategy

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, August 22nd

Russian bomb squad finds, destroys two Ukrainian air bombs in Kursk Region

Bomb squad technicians from the Emergency Situations Ministry defused and destroyed two demolition bombs, a FAB-500 and a FAB-250

Two powerful solar flares detected on August 22 — scientists

The first flare was detected in the early hours of Thursday

Ukrainians deserting army en masse, don't want to lay down lives for Zelensky — senator

Sergey Tsekov emphasized that attempts to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has true believers in Ukraine in an uproar, also play a significant role

Russia starts series production of acoustic intelligence system

Series production has also been launched for the Malik acoustic drone detector updated to the second version in portable and mobile variants, the design bureau said

Russia offers safe haven for people trying to escape Western liberal ideals

Under the document, such foreign nationals will have the right to apply for temporary residence in Russia "outside the quota approved by the Russian government and without providing documents confirming their knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and basic laws"

Putin, Pashinyan discuss results of Russian president’s visit to Baku — Kremlin

According to the statement, "the Russian side reaffirmed its readiness to provide further assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan in their efforts to work toward a peace treaty, promote the delimitation and demarcation of the border and unblock transportation and logistics routes" between the two South Caucasus countries"