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Gazprom Neft to launch needle coke production at Omsk Refinery in 2024

The future production facility will reduce the import dependence of many sectors of the Russian industry, from steelmaking to aerospace

MOSCOW, December 8. /TASS/. Gazprom Neft plans to launch a project of producing needle coke used in the manufacturing of Li-ion batteries and graphitized electrodes for the steelmaking industry at the Omsk Refinery, director of Gazprom Neft’s oil and gas processing directorate Oleg Vedernikov told reporters.

"One of the priorities after the launch of the deep refining unit is to complete the needle coke project at the Omsk Refinery. This is a critical raw material for the metals industry, which is not produced in Russia. Preparations for the upgrade have already begun. We plan to complete the project in 2024," Vedernikov said.

In addition to the economic effect, this project will further improve the environmental footprint of the refinery, he noted. The unit’s impact on the environment will drop four-fold after its upgrade.

The future production facility will reduce the import dependence of many sectors of the Russian industry, from steelmaking to aerospace.

It was reported earlier that Gazprom Neft plans to produce over 31,000 metric tons of needle coke per year, with an option of entering export markets.

Bank of Russia considers necessary to additionally toughen monetary conditions

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Hainan's Yangpu Port handles more than 1 mln containers in six months for first time

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Ukrainian evacuation teams overwhelmed by influx of injured near Ugledar — POW

According to Robert Pogorelov, the Ukrainian army losses in the past few days have been measured in dozens

Almost 50 flights diverted to alternate airfields as operation of Moscow airports limited

According to Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, "three airports of the Moscow Region were temporarily closed"

Kiev switches mercenaries to Kupyansk to hold back advance of Russian forces — expert

The expert specified that the Ukrainian national battalions near Kupyansk "are engaged in their traditional activities", playing the role of a "deterrent" - barrier detachments

West needs to sacrifice Zelensky to avoid World War III — politician

Viktor Medvedchuk emphasized that Russia may intensify its attacks on Ukraine which practically lacks its own air force or nuclear weapons

Medvedev allows use of nuclear weapons by Russia when ‘patience runs out’

The politician underscored that no one really needs a nuclear conflict - it is "a very bad story with a very difficult outcome."

Scholz calls for exploring opportunities for launching peace process on Ukraine

According to the German chancellor, "now is the time to see what is possible"

Drug supplies to Ukrainian army come from US — POW

It is reported that under some psychotropics a person can stay awake for a week

Governor of Russia’s Kursk region announces evacuation from two districts

According to Alexey Smirnov, regional law enforcement officers, officials and members of the Kursk-based Patriot voluntary public order squad will handle the coordination of the process

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World’s oldest cat dies at age of 33

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Russia’s response to long-range weapons supplies to Kiev will be brutal — MFA

"The opponents in Washington, London, and other places clearly underestimate the degree of danger of the game they continue to play," Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Ryabkov said

Moldova may join EU without Transnistria — President Sandu

According to the Moldovan President, Brussels doesn’t demand that Chisinau settle the Transnistrian problem before being integrated into the European Union

Russian forces foil three Ukrainian rotations in Zaporozhye Region — official

Vladimir Rogov specified that rotations of Ukrainian units had been disrupted over the past two days

Rising number of dead foreigners in Ukraine proves West's involvement — envoy to UN

"We have warned from the beginning that those who help the Zelensky clique stay afloat will become our legitimate targets," Vasily Nebezya reminded

Two people injured in fire in Lugansk People’s Republic village

Fire damaged 10 homes in the village of Valuyskoye

Press review: BRICS challenges existing security concepts and Europe's economy in trouble

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, September 13th

IN BRIEF: What is known about alleged assassination attempt on Trump

The suspect was later apprehended by police and is now in custody

Ukrainian troops captured: situation in Kursk Region

In total, the enemy has lost over 11,800 servicemen since fighting began in the region

Russian air defenses destroy 29 Ukrainian drones over seven regions overnight

During the past night, the Kiev regime’s attempted terrorist attack on facilities in Russia with the use of fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles was thwarted

Russia appreciates Egypt's sensible stance on Ukraine — Lavrov

"We outlined our vision of the challenges currently emerging, including within the international community, and our view on how to overcome these difficulties while considering Russia's legitimate interests," the Russian foreign minister said

NATO not to become conflict side if West authorizes Kiev to strike at Russia — Stoltenberg

According to the Secretary General, NATO closely monitors what Russia is doing in its nuclear posture

UN may cease its activity in Gaza amid problems with humanitarian deliveries — diplomat

"It is obvious that the currently used route from Jordan, Egypt, and Israel is not enough to deliver as much of humanitarian aid as needed," Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasilyt Nebenzya underlined

Countries need to grasp consequences of hosting US military bases — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova cited Germany, which portrays itself as a democratic state with a well-developed legal system, as an example

Two more settlements liberated: developments in Russia's Kursk Region

Over the day, Ukraine lost over 350 servicemen and 13 armored vehicles, including two tanks and 11 armored fighting vehicles, as well as two artillery pieces, three mortars, two multiple rocket launchers, including one US-made M270 MLRS, and eight vehicles

West already involved in Ukrainian conflict, issue needs to be formalized — Kremlin

"We see a lot of information fiddling around this, a lot of rumors, a lot of predictions by different analysts," Dmitry Peskov noted

NATO coordinated Ukraine’s attack on Kursk Region, provided equipment — Russian top brass

Major General Apty Alaudinov stressed that US-made M113 and MaxxPro armored personnel carriers, MRAP and Humvee armored vehicles, as well as French and Swedish equipment were involved in the incursion into the Kursk Region

Moscow working on response to US sanctions on Russian media — diplomat

Maria Zakharova emphasized the need for a consolidated reaction from the Russian community to what she called unlawful restrictions

Zelensky's settlement plan based on strikes deep into Russia — adviser

Sergey Leshchenko at the same time described as speculations various assumptions about the content of the plan, which appeared in the Western media in recent days

Russian forces destroy two Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets in 24 hours — defense ministry

The Russian Aerospace Forces downed two Su-27 fighter jets of Ukraine’s air forces in 24 hours

Press review: UK may jettison Russian sanctions and Berlin eyes olive branch on Ukraine

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, September 10th

Zimbabwe president’s helicopter crashes after takeoff, president was not aboard — TV

The incident occurred on September 15 in the city of Masvingo

Four die, 50 missing after shipwreck in Democratic Republic of the Congo

A ship with 200 passengers sank on the Lukenie River in the central part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Suicide drones Kub destroy Ukrainian MLRS, self-propelled gun, howitzer over weekend

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NATO allies have no consensus on inviting Ukraine to alliance so far — Stoltenberg

"In the long run, there can be no peace and security in Ukraine without Ukraine becoming a NATO ally," NATO secretary general said

Bank of Russia considers necessary to additionally toughen monetary conditions

It is necessary to resume the disinflation process, lower inflationary expectations and get inflation back to the 4% target, according to files released by the regulator

Russian aviation defeats reserves of seven Ukrainian brigades in Sumy Region

Ukrainian military says suspect in Trump assassination attempt reached out to them — CNN

On September 15, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation reported a shooting outside the Trump International Golf Club in Palm Beach, where the politician was staying

Reaction to permission to hit Russian territory with Western weapons to follow — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, "this raises significantly the degree of the collective West’s involvement in this war around Ukraine"

Most Russians happy, poll reveals

The data of the daily all-Russian poll VCIOM-Sputnik serves as the foundation for estimating the indices

Three settlements in Belgorod Region attacked by Ukrainian troops

Four single-family houses and two auxiliary structures burned down in the village of Kozinka after a shelling attack by Ukrainian troops

BRICS countries may present instruments for mutual settlements at summit in Kazan

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Victor Gumenny said the advanced systems may solve the tasks of air-space defence and may fight hypersonic weapons

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West downplays threats to nuclear plants posed by Ukraine — Rosatom

Alexey Likhachev said Russia would defend its point of view and communicate to the world community "the authors of the real threats to the nuclear power industry"

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Russian experts discuss tough options among other things, Dmitry Peskov added

Syria’s Assad receives Sergey Shoigu in Damascus — Presidential Office

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Russia’s continued offensive and Ukraine’s losses in the Kursk region

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"The Russian side thoroughly registers chemical incidents evidencing that Ukraine violates its commitments under the CWC," Vasily Nebenzya said

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Lavrov calls on UN not to ignore Gaza problem

The top Russian diplomat condemned the United States’ non-constructive approach to this matter and stressed that "this topic should be the focus of the Security Council"

New UN Secretary-General may be elected for 7 years for first time — UN General Assembly

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Gunman in Trump’s assassination attempt supported Kiev regime, says NYP

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Netanyahu says 'fundamental change' in security on border with Lebanon is needed

Benjamin Netanyahu thanked US Presidential Special Envoy Amos Hochstein for the United States’ support but noted that Israel is ready to settle security issues on the border Lebanon by itself

2016 World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan

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Governor Alexey Smirnov warned people against coming close to and touching the missile fragments and asked them to inform emergencies services about suspicious-looking findings

Russia’s Ka-52M helicopters wipe out Ukrainian troops in borderline Kursk Region

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The 2S7M ‘Malka’ upgraded gun has received new running gear and electronics, according to the state hi-tech corporation Rostec

BRICS nations’ media to facilitate construction of fair world order — declaration

Participants from BRICS countries will facilitate the construction of a fair and equal multipolar world order based on the norms of international right and principles of equality, respect of sovereignty, non-interference in the internal affairs and indivisible security using their information resources

Air defense shot down UAV in Russia’s Belgorod region, one person was injured — Governor

The Governor added that the roof of the building of the industrial enterprise was damaged

BRICS foreign ministers to gather in New York in late September — Lavrov

According to the Russian Foreign Minister, Russia and Egypt agree that the country's accession to BRICS in January gave a significant impetus to the partnership between the two nations

Russian forces liberate Kursk Region’s Uspenovka, Borki

Reconnaissance and search operations in the forest areas continue in order to identify and destroy enemy sabotage groups trying to penetrate deep into Russian territory

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According to the developer, the Forpost was developed to solve reconnaissance and strike tasks in conditions where the enemy does not have a highly organized air defense system, and within the Air Defense Forces the system is used where there is no enemy counteraction

US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace seven times in past day

Apart from that, six violations of the deconfliction protocols of December 9, 2019 were reported

FACTBOX: Student stages attack in Russian school

According to the Health Ministry, four people were wounded, namely three teenagers of 13 years and one adult

Suspect in Trump assassination attempt recruited Afghans for Ukraine, Russian MFA says

Maria Zakharova added that US officials "confessed to journalists that, according to regulations, they spend only 10 minutes to check the documents of a potential foreign fighter"

Roscosmos offered its help to NASA in Starliner situation — head

Yury Borisov recalled the December 2022 loss of pressure in Soyuz MS-22’s external radiator cooling loop, which resulted in a decision not to use it for crew return

Ukrainian opposition leader sends letter to Trump saying Kiev had motive to kill him

"Physical elimination of political opponents and political corruption are links in a chain for those who are seeking to stay in power and are profiting from the war in Ukraine by means of selling weapons to Ukrainian neo-Nazis," Viktor Medvedchuk stressed

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Germany is the second largest arms supplier to Ukraine after the US

Russia must respond to West's banditry — Peskov on limiting raw materials exports

We need to respond to — not just unfriendly, but thuggish — actions against us, he said

Poland at risk of direct confrontation with Russia, Belarus — Medvedev

According to the politician, "Poland's reckless actions, if rashly supported by its NATO allies, may have far-reaching dangerous consequences for the entire world"

Suspect in assassination attempt on Trump did not have time to open fire — Secret Service

Acting Director Ron Rowe also noted that Trump "is aware that he has highest levels of protection that the Secret Service is providing him"

FBI has no info about accomplices of suspect in assassination attempt on Trump — agent

Special agent Jeffrey Veltri said that the investigation will determine that

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Colonel Markus Reisner said Russian troops are trying to strengthen their strikes on the flanks of Krasnoarmeysk

Establishing Routh's ties with Kiev should be US secret services’ headache — Kremlin

"In any case, playing with fire has its consequences," Dmitry Peskov said

Kazakhstan still ready to act as intermediary in Russia-Ukraine talks — MFA

Kazakhstan considers it necessary to observe the principles of the UN Charter on countries’ territorial integrity, the official noted

WW3 already declared, Pope Francis believes

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Explosion occurs in downtown Cologne, police block off area — German newspaper

According to preliminary data, no one was injured

Frenchman Vinatier pleads guilty of violating foreign agent legislation

Earlier on Monday, the court granted his defense’s motion to consider the case under a special procedure

Over 100 Russia’s requests for extradition of criminals turned down by EU since 2022

Most of the refusals came from Poland, Valery Kalachev, chief of the National Central Bureau of Interpol of the Russian Interior Ministry, said

Russian biathlon champion says that IOC presidential candidate Coe hates country

Sebastian Coe heads the International Association of Athletics Federations, one of the few organizations in summer Olympic sports that refused to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete even in neutral status

Cabinet passes draft deal on construction of products pipeline in Republic of the Congo

Zakneftegazstroy-Prometey Ltd. and the National Petroleum Company of Congo, which acts as a customer, will become authorized companies responsible for implementation of the project from Russia and the Republic of the Congo, respectively

Moscow views transfer of Russian aircraft to Ukraine by Portugal as hostile move — MFA

According to Maria Zakharova, it is evident that in this way Lisbon "is seeking to faithfully demonstrate its allied zeal and obedient compliance with the trajectory imposed on the Europeans by their handlers from across the ocean"

Access to last supply route actually cut for Ukrainian troops in Ugledar — Russian police

The Ukrainian troops have been struggling to travel along dirt roads as all of them are under the fire control of Russian forces

NATO making plans of sending its troops to Ukraine — Russian deputy defense minister

According to Alexander Fomin, this may lead to a direct military confrontation of nuclear powers

White House taking Putin’s words about NATO’s involvement in Ukrainian conflict seriously

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that by allowing Ukraine to use its weapons to strike deep inside Russia the West will get directly involved in the Ukrainian conflict

Russia after crisis in Ukraine should focus on relations with Asia — expert

Alexey Kupriyanov noted that "we will have to somehow build our interaction with the countries with which we manage to establish relations during this time"

Russia, Turkey disagree on Crimea’s status, Moscow keeps persuading Ankara — Kremlin

"We hope that over time this will allow Ankara to understand us better and to agree with our arguments," Dmitry Peskov explained

Palestine sits as state for first time at 79th session of the UN General Assembly

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New names may emerge in Crocus City Hall terror attack investigation

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Russian envoy says he received calls from US ex-officials following Putin’s statements

Earlier Russian president warned that a potential decision to allow Ukraine to deliver long-range strikes inside Russia may have consequences

UN officials need Russia’s authorization to visit Kursk Region — spokesman

"The short answer from us is, we are ready to do it," Stephane Dujarric said

BRICS platforms alternative to dollar, euro attract increasing number of states — Lavrov

"Many are attracted by the fact that payment platforms are being developed within BRICS, which allow trading, investing, carrying out other economic operations without being dependent on those that decided to weaponize the dollar and the euro," the foreign minister said

Medvedev says Trump assassination attempt could be orchestrated by Kiev

The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, recruited mercenaries for the Ukrainian army

Reconciliation with Abkhazia, Ossetia impossible without apologies — Georgian ruling party

"Political resolve and courage are needed to implement the idea of Georgia’s unification and part of this courage is apologizing where necessary for mutual forgiveness," the executive secretary noted

Russia’s battlegroup West repels 8 counterattacks, inflicting roughly 600 enemy casualties

Units of Russia’s battlegroup Center repelled nine counterattacks and continued advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses