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Russian Defense Ministry reveals how many Soviet troops took part in Afghan op

Over 200,000 servicemen were awarded orders and medals for heroism and courage

MOSCOW, February 15. /TASS/. Russia's Ministry of Defense has revealed that the Soviet Union deployed a grand total of 620,000 officers and service members during the Afghan war. Out of this number, 546,000 individuals were directly involved in hostilities.

"Close to 620,000 officers, sergeants and soldiers went through their military service there, 546,000 of them directly participated in combat. Over 200,000 servicemen received decorations and medals for heroism and courage," it said on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the Soviet pullout from Afghanistan.

The ministry said "by assisting brotherly peoples in repelling an aggression and compelling the parties to peace, Soviet servicemen fulfilled the international duty in countries of Asia, Europe and Africa. Current defenders of the Fatherland continue fulfilling missions at distant and hot boundaries, decisively protect the interests of our country, and keep the traditions in a modern military-political situation."

Indian Army receives 27,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles — newspaper

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

French Interior Ministry ignores Russian volunteers banned from working at Olympics

In the text of the letter, the volunteers recalled that they had been "selected by the Organizing Committee of the 2023 Olympic and Paralympic Games (for the 2024 Paris Olympics), each one given a mission" and had already received visas, bought tickets to France and were ready to start working

Russia keeping tabs on US nuclear activity in Nevada, senior diplomat says

According to Sergey Ryabkov, Moscow has been registering "all public signals coming from the US administration regarding this"

France preparing contingent of 2,000 troops to be sent to Ukraine — intelligence chief

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Investigation made final conclusions on Kursk submarine tragedy — Kremlin

The nuclear submarine missile cruiser K-141 Kursk sank on August 12, 2000, during exercises in the Barents Sea as a result of an explosion in a torpedo tube

Russian troops destroy Ukrainian combat group in eastern Chasov Yar, says DPR

Despite intensive strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces and artillery, the Ukrainian military is still attempting to redeploy reserves to the town’s eastern part, according to the report

Current Kiev regime rooted in coup — Putin

The Russian leader blamed Kiev’s sponsors in the West for organizing this coup, saying they escalated it into an armed conflict

Finland may open its border with Russia after relevant law is passed — PM

The prime minister cited intelligence data indicating that the situation on the border is unchanged

Ukrainian troops leave positions in eastern Paraskoviyevka near Ugledar, says DPR

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Putin holds telephone conversation with Iran's First Vice President after Raisi's death

The Russain leader "stressed that he knew Ebrahim Raisi well and thought highly of him as a reliable partner who made an invaluable personal contribution to expansion of friendly relations between Russia and Iran"

US should explain to Ukraine that military aid won’t last forever — magazine

According to article, a security agreement between Washington and Kiev would prolong the fighting in Ukraine and could become "a liability for the United States"

Contact established with two passengers of Raisi’s helicopter — vice president

According to Mansouri, there were three helicopters and radio contact was lost with the one carrying the president

Zelensky usurps power in Ukraine, Medvedev says

The constitutional powers of the current Ukrainian president expire on the night of May 21

President, Foreign Minister of Iran die in helicopter crash — Red Crescent

The helicopter carried Governor of the East Azerbaijan Province Malek Rakhmati and Tabriz Imam of Friday Prayer Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem

Tokyo, Seoul to resume exchanges between armed forces, suspended after 2018 incident

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Ayatollah Khamenei announces national mourning following death of Iran’s leader Raisi

The public mourning will last five days

Two powerful explosions rocks Kharkov

An air raid alert has been in effect in the Kharkov Region for almost eight hours

DPR head unable to confirm presence of French troops in Ukraine

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Tanzania-flagged ships sinks in Black Sea

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Russian MFA describes Putin’s China trip as defining for world’s future

The trip laid the groundwork for many years to come, Maria Zakharova said

Putin's visit to China underscores strategic partnership between countries — Lavrov

"We sincerely thank our Chinese friends for their cordiality and hospitality, for the warmth we felt throughout the trip, and for the excellent organization," Russian foreign minister added

Russian troops destroy Ukrainian Baba Yaga drones more effectively with thermal imagers

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Situation in Kyrgyz capital under authorities’ control — top diplomat

At the same time, Jeenbek Kulubayev expressed "serious concern" about the fact that foreign media and social networks are spreading "fake and false, not corresponding to reality information about the incident and the current situation in Kyrgyzstan"

Georgian president vetoes bill on foreign agents

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Georgian parliament to block president's veto on foreign agents law — speaker

Shalva Papuashvili specified that the parliament will convene on Monday, when the president's veto will be registered and submitted to the committee on legal issues for consideration

Iran’s Red Crescent refutes reports that Raisi’s helicopter has been found

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West to push for Ukraine deal on their terms, Russia won't bend — Medvedev

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that Russia, unlike the Ukrainian side, had never rejected any negotiations

Russian embassy in Tehran mourns Raisi's death, lowers flag in solidarity

"We wish endurance and fortitude in overcoming this gravest tragedy," the statement reads

Area of search operation for Raisi’s helicopter reduced to 2 km — report

Citing a high-ranking Iranian Army general, the TV channel noted that the weather has worsened significantly

T-80 tanks help Russian troops advance in Avdeyevka area

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Russian army engineers remotely destroy over 70 Ukrainian boats in Kherson area

It is reported that the Ukrainian military uses the Ptakhi Madyara group of UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) operators who try to remove discovered mines from rivers

Russia ready to send rescuers to help find Iranian president’s helicopter — diplomat

"We have declared our readiness and are waiting for the decision of the Iranian side," Russia’s Charge d’Affaires in Tehran added

West alarmed over plummeting support for Zelensky — Russian intelligence

The press bureau drew attention to the fact that history has shown time and again that attempts to retain power using lies and intimidation do not work

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Russia warns US, EU, Kiev they are playing with fire — MFA about Ukrainian strikes

Maria Zakharova pointed out that behind these barbaric attacks with Western weapons the silhouettes of US and British handlers of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky's were clearly visible

Russia condoles with families, friends of Iran’s leader, top diplomat — Lavrov

"We are deeply saddened by the news of the tragic death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and people who accompanied them," the top Russian diplomat said

Iranian president planned to visit Armenia on Sunday — source

The Tasnim news agency reported earlier that the helicopter carrying the Iranian president made an emergency landing near the village of Uzi in Iran’s East Azerbaijan Province

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All passengers and crew of the helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi were killed in the crash, according to Iranian Red Crescent Society head Pir Hossein Kolivand

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Kherson Region Governor Vladimir Saldo added that the enemy lost 47 drones

Russian rescue plane takes off for Tabriz to take part in search for Raisi

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The Tasnim news agency reported earlier that the helicopter carrying the Iranian president made an emergency landing near the village of Uzi in Iran’s East Azerbaijan Province

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Russian President ordered to send two planes and helicopters with a group of 50 rescuers

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On May 19, a helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi crash-landed in Iran's East Azerbaijan province

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Iranian Vice President for Executive Affairs Mohsen Mansouri confirmed reports about the death of Iran’s leader

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Lavrov arrives in Astana to take part in SCO ministerial meeting

Special attention will be focused on the prospects for the organization’s further development and its adaptation to the formation of a new world order

Congolese armed forces thwart coup attempt — spokesman

Gunfire was heard in the morning near the residence of Vital Kamerhe

Zelensky may be target of assassination a la Hitler in 1944 — Medvedev

"However, it will change nothing either for the Ukrainians or for us," Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council stressed

Ukrainian president rejects French leader’s idea of Olympic truce

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Air defenses down 103 Ukrainian drones, 12 ATACMS missiles, 4 Hammer bombs over day

Russian forces also hit concentrations of Ukrainian manpower and equipment in 112 areas over the past 24 hours

London High Court to hold hearing on Julian Assange’s extradition to US

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un invited the Russian President to visit his country when he traveled to Russia in September

DPRK forced to take measures to increase nuclear deterrence after US test — statement

The US carried out a subcritical nuclear test at the proving ground in Nevada

Lavrov welcomes Xi Jinping's proposal for Ukraine conference

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International Criminal Court requests arrest warrants for Israeli PM, defense minister

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Kiev deems dead fighters missing to avoid removing bodies from battlefield — Ukrainian POW

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Slovak PM Robert Fico’s condition improving — doctors

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Israeli fighter jets intercept suspicious target flying from Lebanon

No casualties or damage were reported

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Ukrainian forces unprepared to withstand Russian offensive near Kharkov — newspaper

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Russian forces reach Gulyapole’s suburbs in Zaporozhye Region

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Tehran gives assurances of no disruptions to cabinet work following leader Raisi’s death

According to the report, Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber will become interim president of the Islamic republic

Helicopter carrying Iranian president crashes due to technical failure — news agency

On May 19, a helicopter carrying the Iranian president crashed in Iran's Eastern Azerbaijan Province

Russian troops use latest Upyr FPV drones in Kharkov push

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Stock markets on record-hitting spree around the world — Bloomberg

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Raisi's death positions Khamenei's son as likely successor — Politico

Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior fellow at Washington’s Foundation for Defense of Democracies noted that the deceased president was exactly the kind of person Khamenei wants running the country

Turkish drone discovers potential fragments of Raisi’s helicopter — Anadolu

The IRGC Commander Lieutenant General Hossein Salami confirmed it

Medvedev says Kissinger ‘completely wrong’ about main threat to humanity

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US-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle hit near Avdeyevka — security forces

According to objective control data, the crew members of the armored vehicle were injured

Helicopter with Iranian president crash lands near border with Azerbaijan — agency

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and several more officials were reported onboard

Rasisi’s helicopter passenger twice called to say he was feeling bad — senior diplomat

"Shortly after the accident, we managed to speak with Tabriz’s Friday Prayer Imam," Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mahdi Safari said

Russian forces cut off ammunition supplies to Ukrainian forces in Volchansk — lawmaker

Viktor Vodolatsky also said the liberation of Staritsa would make it possible to reduce to a minimum and later completely remove the threat of bombardments for the Belgorod Region

Russia to expose US lies about weapons in space — Foreign Ministry

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Another five Chinese brands to enter Russian market in 2024

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Russia’s upgraded T-80BV tank to feature capability of firing depleted uranium shells

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Assassination attempt on Slovak PM Fico was planned in advance — defense minister

It is reported that doctors are doing everything possible to stabilize the patient

Expert says ‘sanitary zone’ in Ukraine should be 300 kilometers deep

it should be enough to make sure that US, French and British-made long-range weapons don’t reach Russia, including the country’s new regions, Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of Russia’s National Defense magazine told TASS

It is time for Ukraine to recognize realities on the ground, Lavrov says

The conversation with the top Russian diplomat took place on the sidelines of the state visit of the Russian leader Vladimir Putin to China

End of Zelensky’s term to have no effect on Russia’s operation — Kremlin

The powers of the current Ukrainian president under the current Constitution expire on May 21