Pound Sterling rate against US Dollar drops below $1.1311 for the first time since 1985

As of 08:05 pm Moscow time, the Pound Sterling to US Dollar rate slowed down the decline and dropped to $1.1314

MOSCOW, September 21. /TASS/. The Pound Sterling to US Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate hit its lowest in 37 years.

As of 07:53 pm Moscow time, the rate of the British official currency reached $1.1311, according to data from Forex Capital Markets.

As of 08:05 pm Moscow time, the Pound Sterling to US Dollar rate slowed down the decline and dropped to $1.1314.

Tourism

Sri Lanka decides to keep free visas for tourists from Russia, six other countries

"It was confirmed that the free visa service currently offered to citizens of seven countries, India, China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia will continue," the government of Sri Lanka said

Islamic Resistance in Iraq attacks Israeli airbase in Eilat

The news outlet said that on Saturday, the movement launched a missile at Israel’s port of Haifa on the Mediterranean

Russia holds final rehearsal of Victory Day Parade on Moscow’s Red Square

Participants in the special military operation in Ukraine will also march across Red Square

End-of-conflict issue becomes stumbling block in Israel-Hamas deal — media

According to the Axios news outlet, Hamas wants guarantees that the fulfillment of all the terms of the deal will lead to a permanent cessation of hostilities, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not agree

Russian forces knock out Ukrainian troops from two strongholds in LPR — expert

The situation near Belogorovka remains "stably tense," Andrey Marochko said

Putin congratulates Orthodox Christians on Easter Sunday

Russian President also emphasized the "constructive, productive activity of the Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian confessions" that preserve Russia's historical, cultural and spiritual heritage

Shiite units clam to have attacked Israel’s Haifa

Israel neither confirmed nor refuted this information

Russian Foreign Ministry summons British ambassador

The ministry did not specify its reasons for summoning the envoy

Czech government officially recalls ambassador from Russia — news agency

The foreign minister also said that Jan Ondrejka will not take part in the upcoming inauguration of Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 7, citing the current state of bilateral relations

Poland has no plans to send troops to Ukraine, defense minister says

Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz noted that Warsaw would continue providing military assistance to Ukraine, training its troops and supplying weapons as a member of various coalitions of Kiev’s Western partners

Kenya flood death toll reaches 228

The situation is expected to worsen in lowland and coastal areas, and landslides and mudslides may also occur in areas with steep slopes and ravines, the country's Interior Ministry said

Niger says Russia supplied military equipment, humanitarian aid

According to the Tele Sahel TV channel, Russia has sent several instructors as well

China to look for ways of settling Ukrainian crisis jointly with France — Xi

Xi arrived on a state visit in France on Sunday

Infrastructural facility damaged after Ukrainian drone attack — official

Emergency teams will start recovering efforts after agreeing upon with the Russian Defense Ministry, Vyacheslav Gladkov noted

Israeli forces face resistance in West Bank raids

According to the Al Jazeera TV channel, the raids took place mainly in the cities of Silwan, Tubas, Tulkarem and Hebron

Russia's opponents tried to destroy it from within, but failed — Putin

The President stressed that the result of anti-Russian sanctions turned out to be "exactly the opposite of what was expected"

Lavrov characterizes Europe's economic problems due to US pressure as ‘monstrous’

Using Germany as an example, the minister recalled that the prosperity of the European industrial complex is largely based on Russian energy resources

Russian troops seize Ukrainian T-64 tank near Ugledar in DPR

The Ukrainian crew had the time to leave the vehicle while the tank was evacuated and is currently under repairs

West recognizes deteriorating situation in Ukraine — Lavrov

Western countries need to think how not to lose to Russia in the conflict, the minister said

Involvement of US nuclear potential in drills around DRPK affects Russia’s interests

Vasily Nebenzya noted the militarization of the region with direct involvement of Washington and other NATO member states, "located tens of thousands of kilometers away from North Korea"

Russian troops wipe out German-made IRIS-T air defense system over past day

The Ukrainian army lost over 350 personnel and several items of military hardware in battles with Russian forces in the Kupyansk area over the past day, the ministry reported

Ukrainian army last weekend tried to regain positions near LPR's Svatovo — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that on Easter Ukrainian troops opened fire on the territory of the LPR and positions of Russian troops

Russian sniper reports elimination of Ukrainian serviceman wearing helmet with SS emblem

He specified that his group took the helmet as proof of the elimination

West plotted aggression against Russia on eve of special military operation — top brass

"History repeats itself," Chief of the Russian General Staff’s Main Intelligence Department, Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Hero of Russia Admiral Kostyukov said

Slovakia’s charge d'affaires to attend inauguration of Russian President — TASR

Meanwhile, according to the media, there will be no representative of Slovakia at the Victory Day celebrations on Red Square in Moscow

Russia working to bring senior Ukrainian officials before tribunal, diplomat says

According to Rodion Miroshnik, "the official process is underway with the Russian Interior Ministry beginning to determine those to be placed in the defendant pool"

Diplomats from friendly countries only invited to May 9 parade — Kremlin aide

The heads of structures of the CIS, the Union State of Russia and Belarus, the CSTO, the EAEU, the SCO, "heads of diplomatic missions of friendly states, as well as military attaches from friendly states" have been invited to attend, Yury Ushakov said

French ambassador arrives in Russian foreign ministry

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said earlier in the day that French President Emmanuel Macron has initiated a new spiral of tension and slammed his statement on a possibility of sending troops to Ukraine as a very dangerous rhetoric

Retaking Chasov Yar is just a matter of time for Russia — Ukrainian intelligence

Vadim Skibitsky admitted that the Russian forces now operate as a "single body, with a clear plan, and under a single command"

Russia engages TOS-2 flamethrowers in Ukraine

220mm TOS-2 is a successor to TOS-1A with improved characteristics

Ukraine hits Belgorod Region again to stymie first response efforts following first attack

Earlier on Monday, in the vicinity of the village of Berezovka, Ukrainian kamikaze drones attacked vehicles with employees of agricultural enterprises

Russia not initiating severing of relations with Baltic States — diplomat

"It is highly undesirable to come to this point," Maria Zakharova said, adding that Russia would continue to use diplomatic measures of influence

China calls on US to stop supporting Taiwan

Lin Jian stressed that the principle of one China is unwavering

Press review: Biden losing traction amid student protests and EU's right-wing prospects

Russian troops to practice employing non-strategic nuclear weapons in missile drills

The missile drills will aim to maintain troop combat posture and will also come as a response to inflammatory statements and threats by some Western officials against Russia, the ministry specified

Press review: Israel, Hamas inch closer to elusive truce and Xi tries to charm EU on visit

Kyrgyz president to attend SEEC meeting, Victory Day parade in Moscow

According to Muratbek Azymbakiev, report "on the implementation of strategic directions for Eurasian economic integration until 2025" will be presented to the heads of state at the SEEC meeting

US creating NATO bases in Ukraine under guise of training centers — Belarusian president

"Unfortunately, the Ukrainian authorities don't care a bit about their own people and they don't hear our concerns," Alexander Lukashenko noted

US concocting latest counter-offensive narrative to justify aid to Kiev — DPR head

Denis Pushilin stressed that Ukraine would not be able to launch a new counteroffensive before 2025

Moscow’s exhibition of captured Ukrainian combat vehicles enjoys high popularity — Kremlin

Commenting on the idea of extending the exhibition and organizing similar expositions in other cities, Dmitry Peskov said, "This is a question to our colleagues in the defense ministry as organizers"

Talking about sending troops to Ukraine Macron diverts public attention — Donetsk leader

Denis Pushilin highlighted that France needs to restore order, to deal with the sentiments, protests, changes that are now taking place in France itself

Israeli army begins evacuation of civilians from Rafah

Civilians are being urged to move to an expanded humanitarian zone in the al-Mawasi and Khan Younis areas, the paper notes

US confirms Russian troops enter US base in Niger

News of the Russian deployment to the airbase follows after Niger’s military rulers told Washington in March that it must withdraw the nearly 1,000 US military personnel stationed in the country

Macron denies death of French troops in Ukraine out of fear of protests — SVR head

According to Sergey Naryshkin, the French Army is "visibly concerned" over the growing number of French citizens killed in Ukraine

Iran ready to share atomic energy technologies with other countries — AEOI chief

"Despite pressure from hegemonic powers to prevent the implementation of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, the first ICNST received a warm welcome," Mohammad Eslami noted

After drone attack on Kremlin Russia has no choice but to eliminate Zelensky — Medvedev

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, according to Dmitry Medvedev, "is not even needed for signing an instrument of unconditional surrender"

FSB declassifies Hitler aide’s testimony how Red Army rescued Allies in Ardennes in 1945

Hitler's former adjutant Otto Guensche was captured during the battle of Berlin in April-May 1945 and, while being kept in custody in an investigative prison in Moscow, presented a firsthand account of what was happening at Hitler's headquarters in the last months of the war

Macron’s remarks about troops in Ukraine mark unprecedented round of tensions — Kremlin

However, Dmitry Peskov pointed out that those reports "first need to be verified"

French Foreign Ministry denies France sent troops to Ukraine

Earlier, media reports said that France had sent 1,500 troops to Ukraine, citing a statement by former US Deputy Under Secretary of Defense Stephen Bryen

Russia proposes its own draft of UNSC resolution on ending arms race in space

In April, Russia used its veto and blocked the draft resolution of the US and Japan on the non-deployment of nuclear weapons in space

Zelensky's authority dwindling as term clock ticks down — Russian intel agency

The SVR pointed out that the US does not care "who heads Ukraine"

Russian Interior Ministry declares ex-Ukrainian army chief wanted

Ruslan Khomchak served as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces from March 27, 2020 to July 27, 2021

Holy Fire from Jerusalem delivered to Christ the Saviour Cathedral

The service is conducted by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill

Any aggression against Crimea to be met with crushing retaliation — Russian MFA

In recent days, Maria Zakharova continued, Ukrainian forces "have been seen using several US-made ATACMS long-range missiles, which were secretly received a month ago, against Crimea"

EU's handling of Ukrainian refugee issue could lead to new crisis, says Russian official

According to Vyacheslav Volodin, European Union countries would like "to get rid" of refugees because supporting them has taken a toll on the economy

Russian mortars destroy Ukrainian stronghold in Donetsk area — top brass

After the first round, the drone operator made an adjustment, followed by the second and third rounds, and the target was hit, the Russian Defense Ministry said

Russia puts former former Ukrainian Interior Minister on wanted list

The Russian Interior Ministry’s database does not specify under which article Arsen Avakov is wanted

Kremlin refrains from speculating on preferred successor to Zelensky

Earlier, the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) reported the US was in contact with several Ukrainan political leaders as possible successors to Vladimir Zelensky

Europe does not create preconditions for interest-based dialogue with Russia — Lavrov

"If they are ready to base their cooperation not on the balance of power, but on the balance of legitimate interests, then a promising conversation can take place," the minister said

Russian troops liberate Ocheretino community in DPR — top brass

The Ukrainian army’s losses in the Avdeyevka area over the past 24 hours amounted to 380 personnel, a US-made Abrams tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, including a US-manufactured Bradley

Russia launches production of smartphones with protection against data leakage

A special feature of AYYA T1 is the impossibility of unauthorized data collection by cameras and microphone thanks to the option of their hardware shutdown

Thousands of trucks crowding on EU and Russia borders — newspaper

The record high queue is registered at the moment at the Terekhovo - Burachki border crossing between Latvia and Russia

Putin says Russia had to use force to defend people in Donbass as peaceful means failed

"A little later it became clear that we were simply being led around by the nose, and we had to take extraordinary measures to protect these people with military force," the Russian leader said

West’s latest escalation in Ukraine requires Russian response — Kremlin

"Deploying NATO soldiers to confront the Russian military in the latest escalation of tensions is an unprecedented move, and, of course, it requires special attention and special measures," Dmitry Peskov said

Russian Foreign Ministry tells French ambassador Paris’ policies destructive

Pierre Levy was told that the French authorities' attempts to create some kind of "strategic uncertainty" for Russia with their "irresponsible statements about the possible dispatch of Western military contingents to Ukraine are doomed to fail"

Ukraine presumably used US-made Excalibur shell for strike at Tokmak

Ministry of Emergency Situations employees continue to remove the debris

Russian President Putin attends Easter service at Christ the Savior Cathedral

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin attended the service together with Putin

Russian military intel declassifies WWII documents, hands them over to Victory Museum

"This is the first time in history that reports of the heads of military intelligence and cipher telegrams from foreign hubs in Germany on preparations for an attack on the Soviet Union are shown here," Igor Kostyukov said

French envoy leaves Russian Foreign Ministry building

The diplomat spent slightly over 30 minutes inside the ministry

French President Macron says dialogue with Russia must be continued

Emmanuel Macron also said that technical capabilities and the striking range of Russian ballistic missiles endangered European countries

DPR city significantly damaged in fighting, leader reports

According to Denis Pushilin, the enemy has installed major fortifications in Ocheretino

Macron’s Ukraine troop talk ego-driven, not strategic — Marine Le Pen

The head of the parliamentary faction said she is convinced that the conflict in Ukraine "is not a war for France," and stated that she opposes the admission of Ukraine to the European Union and NATO

Trump develops plan on peaceful resolution in Ukraine — Telegraph

Former US President will not reveal it until the election, the Daily Telegraph reported

New arms race in Europe already started, Ukrainian foreign minister believes

Dmitry Kuleba advocated switching to long-term contracts and planning in arms industry, for strengthening of cooperation of European and Ukrainian defense industry

Russia puts Ukraine’s former top security official, ex-top diplomat on wanted list

The Russian Interior Ministry’s database does not specify the crime of which Alexey Danilov is suspected

Medvedev gives warning amid talk of deploying Western troops to Ukraine

According to the politician, the cause of the discussion on dispatching Western troops to Ukraine, launched by French President Emmanuel Macron, is a "shameless calculation for political bonus points"

US intensifying efforts to find replacement for Zelensky — SVR

It is reported that all those politicians may be sought-after were the situation on the front line to deteriorate sharply or if the need arises to replace Zelensky as soon as possible

Putin’s trip to China will rivet world’s attention, Kremlin spokesman predicts

The countries will jointly announce the time of this trip, Dmitry Peskov said

Putin is holding closing meeting with outgoing Cabinet

The government will step down tomorrow, on the presidential inauguration day

Death toll from drone attack on minivans in Russia’s Belgorod Region rises to seven

Also, 15 employees sustained wounds of varying severity

Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass

Russian air defense forces shot down a Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jet and 23 unmanned aerial vehicles over the past day

Forty people, including 3 children, wounded in Ukrainian drone attack on Belgorod Region

Alexey Kuznetsov noted that Health Minister Mikhail Murashko was personally overseeing the medical care of the victims of the attack

US may send troops to Ukraine if Kiev defeated, Democratic leader says

The US House of Representatives Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries also pointed out that a pro-Russian faction in the Republican Party is gaining momentum, which he accused of delaying the approval of additional funding for Kiev's military needs

Blasts reported in Kharkov

An air raid alert has been declared in the Kharkov Region

Russia looking into reports about sending of French troops to Ukraine — Kremlin

Earlier, media reports said that France had sent 1,500 troops in support of Ukrainian forces in Slavyansk, citing a statement by Stephen Bryen, a former US Deputy Under Secretary of Defense

Immortal Regiment event held in Tokyo

The event included the official part, a concert of war-time songs and a procession

Ukrainian troops attack Easter procession near monastery in DPR

It is noted that there have been no casualties

Ukraine’s Zelensky warns troops about 'new round of war' coming

Previously, Russian Defense Minister Sergey announced, that, in 2024, the Ukrainian armed forces lost over 111,000 troops and 21,000 weapons and vehicles

US election results to not affect desire to inflict strategic defeat on Russia — Lavrov

No matter who wins the election, Russia is "by and large the enemy," the minister said

UK ambassador leaves Russian MFA after being summoned

The diplomat, who spent more than 30 minutes at the ministry, provided no comment as he was leaving

French ambassador to represent Paris at Putin’s inauguration — source

According to the source, Paris "took note of the results of the presidential election in Russia" in March

Top UK diplomat knows nothing of repentance, Lavrov says

David Cameron "reiterated his position that British weapons can be used by the Ukrainians to attack any target on Russian territory," the minister emphasized

Latvian Air Force chief says Ukraine could have to give up some territory for sovereignty

If that happens, NATO could reach an agreement with Russia for Ukraine to join the alliance, Viesturs Masulis noted

NATO wants 'hot war' with Russia which may destroy US, Carlson says

According to the journalist, everything that Washington does shows that it wants this war

At least 20 missiles fired by Hamas, Hezbollah at Israel, several people hurt — media

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed reports about the shelling attack on Kerem Shalom

Russia adds another former Ukrainian minister to its wanted list

The Russian Interior Ministry’s database does not specify under which article Yury Stets is wanted

Lavrov slams Europe’s striving to isolate Russia as silly

It demonstrates the quality of decisions passed by European politicians in the west of the continent, Russian Foreign Minister said

Russian forces carry out 25 group strikes at energy, military industrial facilities

The Russian Defense Ministry noted that the strikes also hit temporary deployment locations of Ukrainian neo-Nazi militias and foreign mercenaries, as well as concentrations of military vehicles

President of Laos to visit Russia on May 7-11 — Foreign Ministry

The presidents of Russia and Laos last met on October 17, 2023, in Beijing, where they both participated in the Belt and Road International Forum

State Duma bans foreign agents from acting as candidates, observers during elections

Currently, top officials, Duma deputies, governors, their direct subordinates, judges and prosecutors, members of commissions with a right of deciding vote cannot act as observers at elections

Russian troops repulse over 120 Ukrainian attacks at LPR frontiers in April — expert

In April, Russian troops destroyed 29 Ukrainian tanks, 72 armored combat vehicles and 419 other vehicles, Andrey Marochko said