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Garage fire at FSB border department in Rostov-on-Don causes blast — FSB

Emergency services told TASS earlier that one person died and two were injured as a result of the fire

MOSCOW, March 16. /TASS/. Fuel and lubricants caught fire in an indoor parking space at the FSB border department in the Rostov Region, resulting in an explosion, the Public Relations Center of the Federal Security Service told TASS on Thursday.

"At 12:20 p.m., fuel and lubricants caught fire in the repair workshop of the garage bay at the FSB border department in Russia’s Rostov Region, which caused an explosion and partially destroyed the building. There are casualties as a result of the incident," it said.

Emergency services told TASS earlier that one person died and two were injured as a result of the fire. Authorities have so far confirmed that one person has been hospitalized. The fire covered an area of 880 square meters. According to the authorities, two of the building's walls collapsed. The fire posed no threat to residents in nearby apartment buildings.

Military operation in Ukraine

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Belarusian KGB reports thwarting attempted drone strikes on Minsk from Lithuania

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Ukraine turns into testing ground for future world order, says Belarus president

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Russia vetoes US-backed UNSC resolution on banning nuclear weapons in outer space

The resolution gained 13 votes

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Mikhail Bogdanov noted that "the African continent is a dynamically developing part of the world with an enormous growth potential, attractive domestic market and expanding export prospects"

Russia discourages use of UN sanctions for interference in African affairs — envoy

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Dmitry Peskov added that the issue of fighting against long-range weapons being supplied to Ukraine and potential strikes on the areas where they are concentrated "is rather under the purview of <…> the armed forces"

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A day earlier, Abu Ubaidah, a spokesman for the Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam military wing, threatened that hostages held in the Gaza Strip could repeat the fate of Israeli pilot Ron Arad, who was kidnapped 36 years ago

US State Department confirms secret shipments of long-range ATACMS missiles to Kiev

Joe Biden directed to send ATACMS to Ukraine in February, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State Vedant Patel said

Lukashenko sees Ukraine conflict posing risks to Belarus

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Senior Russian MP dubs pervasive gender reassignment in West 'human tragedy'

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Europe should be prepared to build relations with Russia post-Ukraine conflict — Macron

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Reinforced Ukrainian battlegroup fails to break through Russian defenses in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko added that the Ukrainians have also intensified artillery and drone attacks at Russian positions

Iran denies reports it pulled some military advisers from Syria — Al Mayadeen

The source denied news media reports on the subject, which appeared earlier

ATACMS shipment proves ‘Zelensky’s formula’ needed in US as ‘smoke and mirrors’ — diplomat

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Moscow slams NATO drills near Russian borders as inflammatory

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Musk concurs that civil war looming in West

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Kiev may use ATACMS missiles to hit Crimean Bridge — Russian defense ministry official

Russian military will do its utmost to repel such attacks, Apty Alaudinov said

US waging hybrid war against Serbs to snuff them out for good — Republika Srpska head

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Putin stays in daily contact with Sergey Shoigu, Kremlin spokesman says

Timur Ivanov was arrested by Moscow’s Basmanny Court

Ukrainian forces refuse to obey Commander-in-Chief Syrsky — CIA ex-analyst

Larry Johnson also noted that the Russian forces manage to advance recently despite the slush on the roads

Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

Mongolia to enter into free trade agreement with EAEU by year-end

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Russia says its battlegroup West seized better positions

The Russian forces also foiled a counterattack of an assault group of the Ukrainian 80th mechanized brigade in the vicinity of the Krasnoye settlement in the Donetsk People’s Republic

Over 330 bodies recovered from mass grave at hospital in Khan Yunis — TV

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Russian tourists flock to North Korea — embassy

"Today, under the two countries’ leaders’ special attention, political contacts, exchanges, cooperation in the economic, culture, science and other areas are developing with renewed momentum," Minister Plenipotentiary of the republic's embassy in Russia Lee Yong Zin said

Dust from Sahara turns rain in Ukraine yellow

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Agreements on security with Iran, Myanmar, Ethiopia to come into force in 2024 — MFA

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No response from West to killing of Izvestia war reporter Eremin — diplomat

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According to the report, firefighters and police quickly arrived at the scene, and there are currently no risks of further collapse

AUKUS expansion to turn Asia-Pacific region into 'nuclear minefield' — news agency

According to the report, "the danger of Japan's participation in AUKUS is making the whole international community tense, not to mention the regional countries"

Gagauzia against Chisinau’s policy of severing ties with Russia

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UNSC rejects amendment by Russia, China to resolution on nuclear weapons in outer space

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Ukrainian troops in Kharkov Region lift antennas with kites to get better signal

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Rafael Grossi may visit Russia in late May

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Maria Zakharova pointed to media reports, according to which Ukrainian embassies in a number of countries are openly campaigning local citizens to join the so-called International Legion of Ukrainian Territorial Defense

Ukraine’s draft dodger makes attempt to cross Dniester into Moldova on air mattress

Men of conscription age try to leave the country in every possible way, often putting their lives at risk

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Over 3,100 foreign mercenaries fight for Ukraine, most of them from US

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Kremlin vows to resolve situation with Turkish Airlines refusing service to Russians

Russia has "very constructive and friendly relations" with Turkey, Dmitry Peskov stressed

Russia’s victory in Ukraine to change course of history in Europe — von der Leyen

Ukraine "is carrying a heavy burden" for the benefit of the EU, and therefore EU member states must "provide Ukraine with means to defend themselves," European Commission president said

US effectively dooms Ukraine by its new decisions, Russian envoy says

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US stops hiding true purpose of sanctions on Moscow, Russian envoy says

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White House alleges that Russia working on satellite carrying nuclear device

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West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that, "according to some parameters, companies in Europe and other regions can hardly maintain their competitiveness if they completely abandon our products"

German defense minister says Russia making more arms than it needs for its op in Ukraine

"A larger part of what is being manufactured is not sent to the frontline but goes to warehouses," Boris Pistorius said

Russian children’s commissioner holds first face-to-face talks with Ukrainian counterparts

Maria Lvova-Belova thanked Qatar for setting up a venue for dialogue between Russia and Ukraine regarding children’s interests

Press review: NATO flexes muscles near Russian border and South China Sea runs hot

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13 violations by US-led international coalition’s aircraft recorded in Syria

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Bolivarian Alliance countries stand for multipolar world — Maduro

"ALBA can be among the founders of a new world, a new international multipolar order," the Venezuelan president stressed

Modern weapons make up 82% in Russian air defense troops — Shoigu

"The Kiev regime has failed to achieve the goals of its counteroffensive prepared by NATO instructors," the defense minister said

Press review: Dissecting US aid package to Ukraine and sands of global economy shifting

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Ukrainian army short about 150,000-200,000 troops, says Polish general

Waldemar Skrzypczak also said it was "a matter of hours" until Kiev received the weapons allocated by the US as part of its latest military aid package

Proper humanitarian assistance to Gaza impossible amid hostilities — Russian diplomat

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Armenian police arrests people protesting against demarcation with Azerbaijan

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Russia to retaliate immediately if Kiev gets ATACMS missiles — diplomat

Konstantin Gavrilov also noted that the "manic efforts" of some Western OSCE member countries to isolate Russia "are futile and will backfire on their initiators"

Blinken’s visit to China meant to shatter Russian-Chinese ties — senior Russian diplomat

"I think that Beijing understands this perfectly well and will not even pretend being ready to reach any agreements with the Americans to the detriment of Russia’s interests," Sergey Ryabkov said

Ukraine could send special forces to capture Zaporozhye NPP — politician

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US shifted conflict in Europe onto EU, NATO shoulders to weaken Russia, says Lukashenko

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Belarus responds to threats with preventive deterrence measures — defense minister

Viktor Khrenin emphasized that provocations by Western countries could become a catalyst for unleashing a military conflict

Stockmann company to buy Russian business of Hugo Boss — Industry Ministry

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Russians not let to Turkish Airlines flights to Mexico due to US pressure on it — diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov noted that such problems exist for Russians using Turkish Airlines flights to other Latin American countries

Russia ready to cooperate with all interested partners to ensure security — Putin

The Russian leader expressed confidence that the the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues "will bolster cooperation for the mutual benefit of our countries and peoples"

US incapable of replicating Cold War-era arms race — Valdai club expert

According to Dmitry Stefanovich, in order to prevent a new unbridled arms race, it is necessary to work on strategic stability as well as the sphere of arms control

China vows decisive response to US move to deploy intermediate missiles in Asia-Pacific

The Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson stressed that "US steps are posing a major threat to security and stability of regional players"

US draft on nukes in space seeks to go beyond legal framework Russia adheres to — MFA

Maria Zakharova pointed out that Russia reaffirms its "strict commitment" to the international legal obligations under space law

Russian Foreign Ministry denies report of consular services ban abroad

"The ministry's detailed commentary on this outright piece of disinformation will follow in a short while," the Consular Department said

Israel destroys no more than 20% of Hamas's fighting capacity — top political official

Khalil al-Hayya said that Hamas would like to see "a fully sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and the return of Palestinian refugees in accordance with the international resolutions"

Ukraine says Western systems ineffective against Russia's electronic warfare

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US arms supplies unable to change situation in Kiev's favor — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that a year ago the opponents "were telling everyone that they were waiting for the moment Russia would be defeated on the battlefield"

Russia to submit its own resolution on nuclear weapons in outer space to UNSC

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Russia tasked with 'building new world' — Putin

Speaking at a plenary session of the Valdai Discussion Club, the Russian leader also highlighted "the role and responsibility" of its members

Russian troops wipe out Ukrainian UAV production workshop over past day

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Russia presents world’s first hydrogen-fueled luxury car at Innoprom exhibition

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Houthis attack two commercial ships, US destroyer — statement

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West’s unwillingness to give up hegemony escalates tensions in world — security official

According to Nikolay Patrushev, this creates conditions for the devaluation of international law and its institutions and the erosion of the UN's central role in resolving global and regional conflicts

Russia dissatisfied with UN’s activity under grain deal — senior diplomat

Alexander Pankin noted that during his visit to New York he did not have any talks with UN officials on the Russian-UN memorandum

Russian defense minister dismisses his deputy Ivanov

Timur Ivanov was removed from the office of deputy defense minister of the Russian Federation of the federal government’s civil service

West steps up aerial reconnaissance near Russia-Belarus borders — security official

"Today, 20-30 reconnaissance planes fly in the airspace of the Baltic states and Poland weekly," Pavel Muraveiko added