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Military operation in Ukraine

Air defenses destroy two Ukrainian drones over Crimea overnight — top brass

"Over the past 24 hours, air defenses on duty destroyed two Ukrainian drones over Crimea," the statement said

MOSCOW, December 29. /TASS/. Russian air defenses downed two Ukrainian drones over Crimea overnight, the Defense Ministry said.

"Over the past 24 hours, air defenses on duty destroyed two Ukrainian drones over Crimea," the statement said.

Russia’s battlegroup West destroys 12 Ukrainian drone control posts over day

Russia’s battlegroup West has destroyed 12 Ukrainian drone control posts over the past 24 hours, the battlegroup’s spokesman Ivan Bigma told TASS.

"Air defenses destroyed eight fixed-wing drones. Twelve drone control posts and two field ammunition depots were destroyed," he said.

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Ukraine Military operation in Ukraine

Military operation in Ukraine

Over 1 mln members of Ukrainian armed forces killed or wounded since start of special op

Data obtained from the Russian defense ministry’s daily bulletins and other open-access information from its officials indicates that Kiev lost some 595,000 troops as killed or wounded in action in 2024

Russian Standard Bank expert sees the average dollar-to-ruble rate at 110 rubles in 2025

Geopolitical situation, the rhetoric of sanctions, the Bank of Russia’s monetary policy, as well as the situation with budget spending, will continue to have the greatest impact on the rate of the national currency in the coming year

Russians would ask for success in special military operation, survey reveals

VCIOM noted that this wish unites both men and women (31% and 42%, respectively)

Russia bans mining in ten regions from January 1

The ban was introduced in Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachai-Circassia, North Ossetia, Chechnya, Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions

Russian troops liberate Novoelenovka settlement in Donetsk People's Republic

At the same time, the Russian Armed Forces hit energy facilities of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex, airfields, storage depots, command posts, and launch sites for attack drones over the day

Durov explains blocking of Russian media’s Telegram channels by EU laws

He also noted that "all Western media Telegram channels remain freely accessible in Russia

More than 1,600 affected birds rescued in Krasnodar Region

"To date, 1,686 birds have been managed to be rescued. Of them, 1,300 ones were transferred for animal rehabilitation centers in several Russian regions," the center informed

Putin approves Russia’s development goals by 2030

The Cabinet is to finalize and approve an integrated plan for achievement of national development goals for the period by 2030 and in the longer term by 2036 by February 15 of this year

The Carter Center confirms death of former US president Jimmy Carter

The Carter Center non-governmental organization confirmed the death of Jimmy Carter

Press review: US, Israel aim to curb Turkey’s gains while Moscow, Tehran strengthen ties

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, December 24th

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

Biden announces around $2.5 bln in aid for Ukraine

The American president also said the US Department of Defense is in the process of delivering hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds and thousands of missiles to Kiev

Moscow condemns Israel’s disproportionate strikes on Yemen — Russia’s UN envoy

Information in the media that the IDF air force attack on Yemeni ports was planned in advance is alarming, Vasily Nebenzya emphasized

Ukrainian drones destroyed in North Ossetia, Crimea — Russian Defense Ministry

"On December 31, air defense assets on duty destroyed seven Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles from 08:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Moscow time," the ministry said

INTERVIEW: US applies Ukrainian scenario to pressure China — Lavrov

"We do not make assumptions about the plans of the future US administration", Russian Foreign Minister said

Putin addresses Russians with New Year's greetings from Kremlin

Putin's New Year's address will be shown before midnight local time in all time zones

More than 70,000 tons of polluted soil gathered in Krasnodar Region

Activities of gathering and removing soil polluted with fuel oil are now underway on the area with the total length of 63 km

Russia not satisfied with Trump team’s proposals on Ukraine — Lavrov

At the same time, Lavrov noted that Moscow has not received any official signals from the United States on the Ukrainian settlement at the moment

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un wishes to Putin, Russia that 2025 be year of ‘great victory’

The North Korean leader said he was sending the wishes on behalf of himself, the Korean people and all the service personnel of the country’s armed forces

Putin congratulates foreign leaders on New Year and Christmas

The list did not include the leaders of the UK, Germany, the US, France, Japan, and other large states unfriendly to Russia

INTERVIEW: Georgia’s people, new government lack desire to become West’s pawn — Lavrov

He noted that over many years, Washington and its allies have been using "color revolutions" as a tool to contain their geopolitical rivals and get rid of those unwanted

First requests for pumping Russian gas via Ukraine on January 1 equal zero

Deliveries through the Sokhranovka station were terminated in 2022 at the initiative of Kiev, allegedly due to force majeure

AI in healthcare may lead to substitution of doctors by new technologies — expert

"For example, the US and Russia are moving to semi-automatic medicine but the more automated a system becomes, the easier it will be to substitute doctors by AI. And they will be replaced, particularly in ‘conventional medicine,’ in polyclinics and medical institutions at the governmental level," Baranova noted.

Nuclear doctrine, special op, Oreshnik missile: what Putin said at Direct Line Q&A session

According to the head of state, the situation in the special military operation zone is "changing significantly"

China, Russia move ahead avoiding confrontation — Xi Jinping

According to Chinese President, mutual political trust and coordination of positions between China and Russia "regularly rise to higher levels under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries"

Russian units attack Ukrainian troops near Kurakhovo power plant in DPR — republic’s head

"Russian units are also storming the industrial zone and we are also seeing combat in the vicinity of the thermal power plant," he said in a video address published on his Telegram channel

Houthis declare missile strike against Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv

The movement also attacked a power plant located in the vicinity of Jerusalem

FACTBOX: 2024’s biggest natural disasters

From February 1 to 5, wildfires killed at least 137 people in Chile's Valparaнso region, with 200 more reported missing

Upgraded T-90M tank to enter service soon

The first consignment will be enough to rearm one battalion

Press review: Putin discusses EU gas supplies and Russia open to Ukraine talks with Trump

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, December 27th

Russians would ask for success in special military operation, survey reveals

The survey results show that more than half of Russians follow the tradition of making a wish as the New Year’s chimes strike

Chinese embassy tells US to stop smearing Beijing in cybersecurity affairs

The comments came after the New York Times reported on Monday that the US Treasury Department accused China-related hackers of breaching its electronic systems

Fox News includes Biden’s Putin slip-up in top political gaffes of 2024

The list also concludes Biden calling Donald Trump’s supporters "garbage" during the US presidential campaign

China uses opportunities to promote cooperation with Russia — PM

Beijing is ready to cooperate with Moscow and use the consensus reached between the head of two states

Russia lodges protest about Estonia’s plans to rebury Soviet servicemen — Foreign Ministry

"This act will certainly get a response," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized

FACTBOX: Celebrities who passed away in 2024

Many well-known politicians, statesmen, scientists and cultural figures passed away in 2024

Musk praises Russian mathematician Perelman for proving crucial theorem

Grigory Perelman proved the Poincare conjecture in 2002-2003 and turned down a $1 million prize awarded to him

OPEC+ plans to continue voluntary oil output cuts of 2.2 mln bpd in Q1 2025

According to the new oil output restoration schedule published on the OPEC website, the production increase is planned for the period from April 2025 to the end of September 2026

Monthly minimum wage in Russia to rise to $226.4 in 2025

The statutory monthly minimum wage is the minimum salary of Russians before deducting personal income tax

Assad allegedly hands list of military targets over to Israel before leaving Syria — media

According to the Turkish newspaper, the former Syrian president did it to ensure his own safety

Illegal migrants must leave Russia or legalize their status until April 30 — decree

The deportation requirement will not be applied to foreigners, who want to stay on legal grounds and have met several preconditions

Bombs with power of 13 kilos of trotyle found in Russia’s Kabardino-Balkaria

An active accomplice of bandits was detained in the search operation and gave confessing testimony

Serbia not joining NATO for obvious reasons, says President Vucic

On March 24, 1999, NATO began a military operation against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Dollar exchange rate surges by almost 6% surpassing 111 rubles on Forex

The euro exchange rate is trading above 109 rubles

Putin’s Munich Speech 15 years later: What prophecies have come true?

Fifteen years ago today, Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the Munich Security Conference with a speech that was instantly interpreted as the harshest-ever manifesto since the Cold War era

Criminal case opened over supermodel Vodianova's disabled sister being ejected from cafe

The cafe owner told Oksana Vodianova, suffering from autism and cerebal palsy, and her accompanying nurse to leave, claiming they were scaring away other customers

Two militants killed while preparing terrorist attack against Kadyrov

They had arrived in Grozny on instructions from warlord Doku Umarov

Houthi movement strikes US aircraft carrier — spokesperson

The US forces were preparing a "major strike" against the Yemen’s territory

Concern mounts in Netherlands about superbug from Ukraine

According to the report, superbugs are often found in Ukrainian soldiers, who undergo treatment in the country

Ukraine’s 2014 coup was CIA’s political mistake — Putin

The Russian president noted that the US agency had achieved its goal of changing the government but failed to see what it would evolve into

FACTBOX: New Year’s key traditions reviewed

Russia has celebrated New Year and Christmas with decorated fir trees since Peter the Great’s reign

Trump to pay his last respects to Jimmy Carter

US President-elect told reporters that he had received an invitation to attend the funeral

Russian air defenses destroyed 103 Ukrainian drones over day

Ukrainian army lost up to 505 servicemen from Russia’s Battlegroup West actions

Russian forces liberate DPR’s Novotroitskoye — top brass

The battlegroup East has eliminated up to 170 Ukrainian servicemen over the past 24 hours, the military emphasized

Russian human rights commissioner reports meeting with Ukrainian counterpart

In exchange, 150 prisoners of war of the Ukrainian armed forces returned home

Trump’s Greenland comments could be part of policy of countering Russia and China — media

Trump’s transition team did not respond to a TASS request for comment

FACTBOX: It’s all about the tree: How Russia celebrates New Year

TASS has prepared this factbox with background information on the history of Russia’s traditional New Year’s celebration

Thoughts of millions of Russians are with special military operation fighters — Putin

He recalled that in their honor, as well as in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War

Ukrainian army hit hospital in Kherson Region again

Attacks did not result in new casualties, Alekseenko added

Over 1 mln members of Ukrainian armed forces killed or wounded since start of special op

Data obtained from the Russian defense ministry’s daily bulletins and other open-access information from its officials indicates that Kiev lost some 595,000 troops as killed or wounded in action in 2024

Russian chess grandmaster Volodar Murzin wins FIDE World Rapid Championship

Norway’s Magnus Carlsen, the winner of last year’s championship, was earlier disqualified for breaching the dress code

US may face bankruptcy if situation with national debt does not change — Musk

The US national debt for the first time climbed above $36 trillion on November 15

Ukrainian forces lose up to 310 servicemen in Russia’s Kursk direction

One infantry fighting vehicle was destroyed, the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Expert calculates Father Frost’s time per child in Russia on New Year’s Eve

There are approximately 9,073,878 children aged 5-9 in Russia who may still believe in Father Frost, researcher at the Institute of Computer Sciences and Telecommunications at RUDN University Artur Davtyan said

Oreshnik missile systems still few, but they are enough — Putin

According to the head of state, the system's serial production has begun

Kiev takes out its anger for military defeats on Russian people — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also emphasized that Moscow is outraged by the hypocritical silence of the West and its media on the terrorist attacks in Russia

Four drones, two USVs destroyed in Sevastopol

All municipal services are working in the robust security regime

FACTBOX: It’s all about the tree: How Russia celebrates New Year

The main New Year’s tree celebration takes place in the State Kremlin Palace

Court issues warrant to detain impeached South Korean president — agency

According to the agency, it has not yet made a decision about its next moves regarding the president

Belarus assumes chairmanship of EAEU

According to Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, digitalization should fully support the functioning of the EAEU's single domestic market

Houthis-controlled capital of Yemen subjected to airstrikes — TV

According to Al Masirah, two strikes were carried out on the complex, where the rebels' defense ministry is located

US Treasury says China-related hackers breached its systems — report

This is not the first time the US recently made allegations of attacks by Chinese-affiliated hackers on US infrastructure

Ukrainian army lost over 445 servicemen in Kursk Region over day

"Losses of the Ukrainian armed forces totaled more than 445 servicemen; an armored personnel carrier, thirteen armored combat vehicles, and twenty-two motor vehicles were destroyed," the ministry said

Ukrainian authorities close electricity market trading data

The Market Operator is responsible for organization of trading in electric power and electricity supply

Kazakhstan sends AZAL plane flight recorders to Brazil for decoding

"The flight recorders will be delivered to the CENIPA," the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan said

Gas supply by Gazprom for Europe through Ukraine totals 37.2 mcm via Sudzha

The contract on Russian gas transit via Ukraine expires at the turn of 2024

Putin wishes prosperity to every family in Russia

Russians always treat the New Year’s Eve warmly and cordially, the president said

Kyrgyzstan takes the CSTO chairmanship from Kazakhstan

It is reported that Kyrgyzstan plans to host an international conference on cybersecurity in 2025

Press review: EU preps for gas cuts via Ukraine as China boosts naval and air power

Top stories from the Russian press on Saturday, December 28th

Drone destroyed over test range in North Ossetia — head of region

The drone threat was announced in regions of the North Caucasian Federal District from 04:00 a.m. local time

Critical infrastructure suffers damage in Kiev-controlled part of Kherson Region

Meanwhile, Ukrainian media outlets have reported several explosions in Kiev

FACTBOX: New Year’s celebrations in Russia

In 2024, according to a government decree, December 29-31 (Sunday through Tuesday) will be days off, while December 28 (Saturday) will be a working day

Investigators of Azerbaijan Airlines crash to release findings within 30 days — official

The Kazakh Transport Ministry earlier announced that it sent flight recorders from the plane to the Aeronautical Accidents Investigation and Prevention Center in Brazil

US Department of Treasury sanctions 2 Russian citizens, Center for Geopolitical Expertise

The restrictions targeted the director of this analytical center, Valery Korovin and Judge Olesya Mendeleyeva

Russian Cabinet to expand duties on products from unfriendly countries

Higher rates of duties are also introduced for individual kinds of meat and fish, canned ready food made of vegetables, fruits and nuts, confectionery, pasta, and soft drinks

Gas price in Europe rises to maximum in a year in anticipation of Ukrainian transit halt

Since the beginning of the day the price has risen by more than 4%

Baku demands Moscow admit guilt, punish those responsible for AZAL plane crash

Russian, Azerbaijani presidents hold telephone conversation on Aktau plane crash

Azerbaijan toughens rules of stay for Russian citizens

Azerbaijani Prime Minister Ali Asadov has signed a decree on the matter

Income tax for Russian oil pipeline operator Transneft to be 40% from 2025

It is reported that the company will abide by the decision of the principal shareholder but expects an involuntary cut of the investment program due to money shortage

Russia's newest Su-57 fighter jet superior to China's new J-35 — test pilot

Sergey Bogdan emphasized that the newest Russian fighter was a "magnificent platform for a future generation of configurations, just as the Su-27 aircraft in its heyday"

South Korea to inspect all Boeing 737-800s after Jeju Air plane crash

The country has declared a week of mourning

Gazprom to limit gas supplies to Moldova up to zero from January 1 over contract breach

The company notes that the restriction will remain in effect until Gazprom notifies Moldovagaz in writing otherwise

German lawmaker slams Ukrainian diplomat for demanding more weapons

According to Sevim Dagdelen, Friedrich Merz, Economic Minister Robert Habeck and current Chancellor Olaf Scholz 'will probably continue to burn German taxpayer money in Ukraine'

Belarus’ presidential election enters first day of campaigning

Under the commission’s guidelines, candidates will have the opportunity to publish their election programs in national newspapers, including Respublika and Zviazda, and appear on national television and radio

2025 to see four great celestial events, scientists say

In the spring of 2025, we will also witness a partial solar eclipse

Putin orders Accounts Chamber to analyze National Projects implementation

The relevant assignment was given in conclusion of the meeting of the Council for Strategic Development

Ukrainian troops leave their positions in Shevchenko near Krasnoarmeysk

"The Ukrainian military has abandoned its positions in Shevchenko. They could not withstand the onslaught of our troops and combined strikes," the sources told TASS

Trade turnover between Russia, Thailand to be about $2 bln as of 2024 year-end

"The business of the two counties want to cooperate and looks for models of interaction in the environment of toughening of the so-called sanction. It seems important for me because there are avenues of interest for the business exactly with the long-term focus. This pertains to branches of industry, energy, transport, agriculture, pharmacy and food security provision," the Russian diplomat added

Kiev’s newly built host airfields for F-16s to be wiped out before paint dries — experts

It is noted that the Russian Armed Forces will wait until the construction work reaches a certain point and then carry out strikes to destroy what has been built

Restrictions lifted in three airports — Russian aviation agency

Restrictions in airports were introduced for civilian flights safety reasons

Russia’s Gazprom stops gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine as transit deal expires

The deal provided for the transit of 40 bln cubic meters of Russian gas through Ukraine annually