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Government trials of Okhotnik heavy combat drone to be over by yearend — source

"Several dozen of these aerial vehicles are to be sent to the army under the contract," the source said

MOSCOW, August 8. /TASS/. State testing of the Okhotnik heavy combat drone (S-70) is expected to be completed by the end of the current year, a source close to the command of the Russian aerospace forces told TASS on Tuesday.

"Under the current plans, Okhotnik’s government trials are to be completed before the end of the year and its mass production and supplies to the army will begin starting in 2024. Several dozen of these aerial vehicles are to be sent to the army under the contract," the source said.

TASS has no official confirmation of this information.

The Okhotnik heavy combat drone was developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau and will be produced at the Novosibirsk-based Chkalov Aviation Plant (part of the United Aircraft Corporation).

According to earlier reports, the first Okhotnik prototype was presented at the Novosibirsk Aviation Plant in mid-December 2021. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexey Krivoruchko said back then that the drone’s maiden flight and government trials were expected soon.

Swedish Navy examines seabed near damaged telecom cables

Two underwater cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea on November 17 and 18

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

Tit-for-tat measures will be implemented after receiving information about unfriendly actions of Western countries, Anton Siluanov noted

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

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

"Once again, a chance to free the hostages, who include Russian nationals, has been missed," the statement reads

Enemy has no countermeasures for Russia’s Oreshnik missile — Putin

Speaking in a televised address, the head of state assured that Russia will issue notifications before using this type of missile

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

China holds US responsible for disrupted defense ministers' meeting in Laos

Wu Qian stated that the United States must immediately correct its mistakes, "honestly respect China’s main interests, and seek to create favorable conditions for high-level contacts between the military of the two countries"

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

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

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Ukrainian conflict acquires global elements after strikes with Western missiles — Putin

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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

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"

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

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

Russia to hold informal UN Security Council meeting on unilateral restrictions

It will be held on November 25

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

Trump’s inauguration will take place on January 20, 2025

Captives, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost more than 150 people, while five Ukrainian servicemen surrendered

Biden's decision to use ATACMS on Russia threatens to kill Americans — Tucker Carlson

The journalist also criticized US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson (a Republican representing the state of Louisiana) for "not even mentioning it in public or in leadership meetings" with factions in the lower house of Congress

US provides temporary carveout for Sakhalin-2 related transactions with Gazprombank

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Zelensky admits Ukraine can't fight its way back to 1991 borders

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Russian army pushes Ukraine out of Kurakhovo water reservoir’s north shore

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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

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

Progress MS-29 will deliver 2,487 metric tons of cargo to the orbital outpost, including fuel, drinking water, compressed nitrogen, various equipment, food and clothing

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

"There is more in the Russian arsenal than many believe," said Karin Kneissl, the former Foreign Minister of Austria

US sanctions against Gazprombank will not affect gas supplies to Hungary — Ministry

The United States introduced sanctions against Gazprombank earlier today

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

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

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

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

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Russian forces successfully advancing in all areas in special military op zone — Putin

The Russian president said that "all the goals we set for ourselves are being achieved"

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

Turning to the Labour Party’s domestic policies, Andrey Kelin said Starmer’s plans to spur the economy were "not met with applause by the population

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"The nuclear forces is ready on January 19, just like it will be ready on January, 20," Rear Admiral Thomas Buchanan said

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

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

US makes mistake by destroying INF Treaty — Putin

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China slams US nuclear policy for undermining global stability

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Russia’s reaction to Austrian OMV’s failure to pay for gas justified — MFA

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Russia interested in security of Baltic undersea infrastructure — embassy in Denmark

"It is important to ensure a thorough investigation and clarify the reasons why underwater cables in the Baltic Sea are now out of order," embassy said

Bank of Russia’s officials hit by US sanctions

The head of the financial monitoring and currency control service of the Russian Central Bank was also added to black lists

Trump to rely on forces that brought him to power — Russian presidential aide

Nikolay Patrushev agreed that Trump, when he was still a candidate, "made many statements critical of the destructive foreign and domestic policies pursued by the current administration"

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Russian air defense deflects attacks with Western missiles — Putin

"As a result, the goals that the enemy apparently set have not been achieved," the Russian leader said

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Russia’s re-election to UNCITRAL confirms its global reputation — Foreign Ministry

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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"

US forces strike Houthi sites with seaborne missiles — TV

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Trump to continue using Ukraine to contain Russia — Valdai program director

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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"

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US journalist calls US President Joe Biden’s government 'the fascist state'

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Russian envoy calls for thorough IAEA checks of Ukraine amid declared nuclear ambitions

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

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Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

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US warships fire more missiles at Houthi sites in Yemen — source

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US admiral says Washington should be ready for talks with Russia, China

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White House not yet ready to speak on causes of Baltic undersea cable ruptures

Two underwater cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea on November 17 and 18

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

Russian troops liberate Dalneye community in Donbass region over past day

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

Russian army units have advanced much farther into the city’s northern part, in particular, along the southern bank of the Kurakhovo reservoir, Vladimir Rogov specified

Pentagon sees possibility of sending more antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine

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US not seeking confrontation with Russia, but will continue assistance to Kiev — Pentagon

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Russian stock market indices in the red on Thursday — market data

The mood in international markets was mainly neutral

Putin warns West that Russia can respond to any turn of events

"There will always be an answer," the president said

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

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

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Trump nominates Pam Bondi for US attorney general

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Biden's decision on missile strikes on Russia is his 'last gasp' — Japanese lawmaker

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

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

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Decision on strikes inside Russia seals US puppet Zelensky’s fate — commentator

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US-led coalition aircraft violate Syrian airspace 14 times in past day

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