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Russian pipeline gas may be sent to markets of Afghanistan and Pakistan — Novak

Earlier, Alexander Novak said that Russia and Iran may reach an agreement on swap supplies of oil and gas by the end of this year

MOSCOW, December 26. /TASS/. Russia can export its natural gas to the markets of Afghanistan and Pakistan in the long term, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview with TASS.

"If we talk about perspective, this includes exports of gas to Afghanistan, Pakistan - either using the infrastructure projects of Central Asia, or through a swap from the territory of Iran. That is, we will receive their gas in the south of the country, and in exchange we will supply gas to the north for Iranian consumers," Novak said.

Novak said earlier that Russia and Iran may reach an agreement on swap supplies of oil and gas by the end of this year. "We expect around 5 mln tons [of oil] per year and up to 10 bln cubic meters [of gas] at the first stage," Deputy Prime Minister said.

Maximal costs of Nord Stream pipeline repair to be 633 mln euro

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Ukrainian attack on Kursk Region town kills 6, injures 10 — official

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"It is very important to talk about these statements by the president in the context of the question he was asked," Dmitry Peskov pointed out

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Russian troops break through Ukrainian defenses near Oskol Reservoir in Kharkov Region

The new positions will enable Russian troops to advance further in that frontline area and deliver more effective strikes on the enemy, Andrey Marochko specified

Ship with sailors from Syria, Egypt sends distress signal in Kerch Strait

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Zelensky fully rules out possibility of gas transit via Ukraine — Slovak Prime Minister

Robert Fico emphasized that by blocking the continuation of gas transit, the Kiev authorities are damaging Slovakia's national economic interests and could negatively impact the European bloc as a whole

First-ever baby conceived using technology that matures eggs outside body born in Peru

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Oreshnik’s launch is sudden, undetectable by satellites — analyst

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Ukraine to cede territory regardless of US aid — news agency

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Zelensky admits the impossibility of reclaiming Donbass, Crimea

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Response to Ukrainian attack on Russia’s Rylsk to come shortly — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya warned as he denounced the attack as yet another unambiguous step by the Kiev regime toward escalation

Press review: Putin outlines Russia's future goals and Tehran faces energy blackout riots

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, December 20th

Turkish president calls on West to stop Israel in Syria before it’s too late

"All international mechanisms need to be effectively employed in order to prevent Israel from exploiting the situation in Syria," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said

Putin agrees 'Russian world' now faces war

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Orban does not intend to react to Zelensky's provocations, will remain calm

The Hungarian prime minister reiterated that his proposal for a Christmas ceasefire and prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia remains on the table

Russia currently holds upper hand in Ukraine conflict, Indian expert says

Nandan Unnikrishnan pointed out that Russian President Vladimir Putin "has more than once spoken about Russia’s readiness to discuss an end to the conflict"

Putin shrugs off potential deployment of US THAAD missile defense systems in Ukraine

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Russia’s capture of two DPR settlements paves way for liberation of Kurakhovo — official

Vladimir Rogov also noted that the liberation of Zelenovka and Novy Komar hastens the process of liberating major logistics hubs

Russian public may one day decide to bury Lenin proper, Putin speculates

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It is planned to launch it in general circulation in early 2025

Russian forces control more than half of Chasov Yar in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that Russian forces had "slightly advanced" in the northern and southern parts of Chasov Yar

Ukrainian troops struggling to escape being trapped in Lozovaya in Kharkov region — expert

In general, "quite active hostilities" are taking place near Dvurechnaya and Lozovaya in the Kupyansk sector of the line of engagement, Andrey Marochko noted

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TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

US defense companies capitalize the most on Ukraine conflict — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya referred to data from the SIPRI which put last year’s revenues from sales of arms by the world’s top 100 largest businesses in the industry at $632 billion

Russia achieves key objective in Syria — Putin

According to head of state, the groups that fought against Syrian government forces have gone through major internal changes

Almost 20 drones downed over four Russian regions, Black Sea last night

According to Russia's Defence Ministry, attempts to conduct attacks against facilities on Russian soil were thwarted

Russia recognizes Ukrainian businessman Akhmetov as extremist

According to the Justice Ministry, the Ukrainian businessman belongs to the group which "is based on ideological and property interests clearly aimed against Russia"

Russia to retaliate against Ukrainian strikes, just as Putin said — Kremlin

"Russia’s position is well known, it was voiced by Putin back in St. Petersburg," Dmitry Peskov stressed

Baltic states threaten mass deportation of Russians, take lead in Russophobia — statement

The Foreign Ministry noted that the facts of discrimination and persecution of Russians are often ignored by the official leadership of countries and international human rights agencies, leading many victims to remain silent

German president intends to dissolve Bundestag on December 27

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Russian troops liberate 10 communities in Donbass region over week — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 3,610 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy ammunition depots in its area of responsibility over the week

Aleppo taken by 350 militants while 30,000 gov’t troops retreated without fight — Putin

The Russian president recalled that no Russian land troops had been deployed to Syria, with Russia having only an airbase and a naval base

Russia’s Battlegroup South liberates settlement of Ostrovskogo in DPR — Defense Ministry

"The enemy lost up to 285 troops, two armored combat vehicles, two motor vehicles, a D-30 122 mm howitzer, a US-made M119 105 mm howitzers and five field ammunition depots," the ministry added

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According to the head of state, tax revenues have seen a consistent increase in absolute figures

IN BRIEF: Magdeburg Christmas market attack kills 11, injuring roughly 80 others

TASS has compiled the key facts behind the deadly attack

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

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Russia to invite World War II allies to next year’s Victory Day parade

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the comment following a statement on the subject by Vladimir Putin

Expert predicts Russia, new Syrian authorities to establish strong ties

According to Wu Yihong, Russia will seek to retain its two military facilities in Syria

Poland to import 10% of LPG from Russia after EU sanctions take effect

According to the Polish Liquid Gas Association, Poland purchased about $500 mln worth of liquefied petroleum gas from Russia during the first ten months of 2024

Ukraine files charges in absentia against Russian army deputy general staff chief

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Airborne troops from Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr wipe out enemy position in Kherson region

A Russian airborne crew hit the target by firing a 120-mm mortar gun on a Ukrainian temporary position

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All emergency response services are working at the site of the strike

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US grants 3-month exemption from sanctions on Gazprombank for Hungary — Orban

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Social facilities, homes damaged by Ukrainian missile attack on Rylsk — acting governor

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Maximal costs of Nord Stream pipeline repair to be 633 mln euro

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Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban proposed a ceasefire and a major exchange of POWs between Russia and Ukraine during Christmas in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin

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Putin calls issue of Vladimir Lenin’s burial extremely sensitive

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Ukrainian unit of machine-gunners disguised as Russian soldiers shoots civilians — captive

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Kherson Region governor says Ukraine tries to make people leave Kherson City

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Acting Kursk Region Governor Alexander Khinshtein said earlier that the town of Rylsk, located some 120 kilometers west of Kursk, had come under Ukrainian fire

Russia calls Israel’s annexation of Golan Heights unacceptable — MFA

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Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported the fires in Solomensky and Shevchenkovsky districts

Trump wants NATO countries to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP — FT

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Ukraine will soon run out of willing fighters, Putin says

The head of state pointed out that ex-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had said at some point that Ukraine "needs to keep fighting until the last Ukrainian"

Several HIMARS rockets downed over Kursk Region as Ukraine continues attacks

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Putin challenges West to try to intercept Oreshnik missile in Kiev

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Mother of missing US reporter thanks Putin for promising help in locating her son

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Series of explosions rock central Kiev — eyewitnesses

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Heat supply cut off in almost 90 houses in Rylsk in wake of Ukrainian attack — official

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West should consider Putin's words on Oreshnik missile duel — diplomat

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Banks find opportunity to work under sanctions — Central Bank chief

It does not mean there will be no such risks in the future but it is very important in this regard for the financial stable to remain stable, Elvira Nabiullina said

UK unwilling to send military instructors to Ukraine for fear of Russian attacks — media

According to a source, "Russians would target any kind of Western assistance inside Ukraine"

Putin grants Russian citizenship to Italian opera icon Giancarlo del Monaco

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Ship with Syrian-Egyptian crew sends distress call in Kerch Strait

According to international law, the ship can be seized if wages are not paid

Ukraine's refusal to transit Russian gas will hit EU economies hard — French expert

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‘Arkhangelsk, ’ ‘Knyaz Pozharsky’ nuclear submarines to join Russian Navy soon — commander

Admiral Alexander Moiseyev noted that the construction of nuclear submarines is Sevmash’s main purpose, which is performs successfully

US Congress passes stopgap funding bill to avert government shutdown

As many as 85 senators backed the bill, while 11 voted against it

As many as 70% of soldiers desert from reinforcements sent to Kurakhovo — politician

The situation is similar at several other sections of the frontline in the DPR

Russia has no concerns about who attends Trump's inauguration — senior diplomat

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Zelensky actually flips the bird to Trump by insulting Putin, Medvedev says

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Ukraine to halt Russian gas transit on January 1, 2025 — Ukrainian PM

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Bank of Russia keeping close eye on prevention of excessive cooling of economy

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Artyom military plant reportedly on fire after explosions in Kiev

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Trump threatens EU of tariffs unless it increases energy purchases

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