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Consumer lending rate high in May, Bank of Russia says

Portfolio of consumer loans grew by 1.7% in May

MOSCOW, June 22. /TASS/. The consumer loans portfolio ticked up by 1.7% in May against 1.2 in April 2023 and reached 12.6 trillion rubles ($155.3 bln), the Bank of Russia reports on Thursday.

The corporate loans portfolio of domestic banks gained 0.8% in May 2023 and totaled 63.7 trillion rubles ($785.2 bln), the regulator noted.

"Corporate lending continues growing, although at a slower pace (+0.8% or 528 bln rubles ($6.5 bln) after +1.6% in average in February - April), which is generally in line with the average monthly rate of 2021 (+0.9%). Ruble-denominated loans were only growing (+672 bln rubles ($8.3 bln); +1.3%)," the Central Bank said.

The rate of consumer lending remained rather high in May (+1.7%), driven by high consumer activity remaining and softer credit policy of banks.

Viktor Astafyev ship to be launched in water on June 5 — United Shipbuilding Corporation

The ship will serve socially significant route Krasnoyarsk - Dudinka - Krasnoyarsk, where water transport is practically unique for long-distance passenger transportation, the press service noted

Emergency blackouts renewed in Ukraine

Over the past two days, blackouts have been introduced in all Ukrainian regions

Dnepr battle group destroys 15 Ukrainian boats in one day — Kherson governor

In addition, 23 drone control centers were destroyed and 34 drones shot down or disabled

Ukraine’s military has about 2,000-strong garrison in Kherson — resistance fighters

Ukrainian service members have been moving little in the city lately and normally only at night, the Kherson Resistance guerilla unit commander added

Blinken says Ukraine may engage in talks if Russia shows 'interest'

Antony Blinken noted that in terms of negotiations, these are "decisions for Ukraine to make"

Four people killed, two injured in Ukrainian shelling of Donetsk

Four women died on the Petrovskogo Street

Zelensky's presidential powers to expire May 21 — Ukrainian legislator

Alexander Dubinsky argues that the only situation where the president can continue to fulfill his duties after the expiration of his term is the period until the president-elected takes office

Russia, China agree on developing railway cargo transportation, border crossings

According to Russian Railways, the document includes on cooperation in the field of science, technology and innovation, as well as in the field of personnel training

US presidential election’s outcome to make no difference to Russia — senior diplomat

"There are no prospects for the overall situation to change for the better, given the fundamentally anti-Russian consensus among US elites," Sergey Ryabkov said

Hezbollah drones attack Israeli military base some 50 km from border with Lebanon

"The operation was carried out in response to the killing of field commander Hussein Makki near Tyre", Hezbollah said on its Telegram channel

Putin arrives in Harbin to open Russia-China Expo

At the request of the Chinese president, his deputy Han Zheng will accompany Putin in Harbin

Czech president speaks out in favor of halting hostilities in Ukraine

Petr Pavel believes it is "naive" to imagine that Kiev will be able to regain territory taken by Russia in the foreseeable future

Some 80% of equipment at two Ukrainian thermal power plants destroyed

Yevgeny Garkavy, the technical director of Ukrainian electric and thermal power generation company Centrenergo, described the damage as "critical"

Slovakia’s PM in 'very serious' condition, president-elect says

Peter Pellegrini added that "the next few hours and days" will be decisive for Robert Fico, who is staying at a hospital in the town of Banska Bystrica

Slovak leader urges suspension of country's campaign for European Parliament elections

Peter Pellegrini emphasized that "Slovakia must choose the path of peace and coolheadedness"

Russia ready to provide incentives, technological base to investors from China — Putin

The president noted that major projects are already being implemented in the field of industrial cooperation

Putin says Russians, Chinese 'brothers forever'

The audience, listening first to the Russian speech and then to the Chinese translation, applauded the Russian president's words

IAEA to remain at ZNPP for 'as long as it is needed' — director general

"The nuclear safety and security situation at the plant remains extremely precarious and challenging," Rafael Grossi said

Russia, China set up joint academy of fundamental sciences

The Sino-Russian Academy of Fundamental Sciences "is being created in Russia and China as a platform for bilateral cooperation in fundamental sciences - mathematics, physics, chemistry," Russia’s Lomonosov Moscow State University's press service said

Russia’s Strategic Missile Force builds up combat capabilities with new missile systems

Currently, Russia’s Strategic Missile Force is replacing Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile systems with Yars ICBM launchers and placing Avangard hypersonic missile systems on combat duty in its Yasny missile formation

Serbian president says ready to assist Moscow-Kiev talks

The leaders of China and the United States should play the role of mediators in these talks, Aleksandar Vucic said

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

Russian troops repulsed ten Ukrainian army counterattacks in the Kupyansk area over the past day, the ministry reported

Russian troops destroy 600 combat aircraft in Ukraine operation — top brass

The Ukrainian army lost over 520 troops in battles with Russian forces in the Donetsk area over the past day, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported

Woman, her four-year-old son killed by kamikaze drone near Belgorod

Another drone attempted to attack a filling station near the village of Bessonovka near Belgorod, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said

Russia developing thermal imager for Black Sea Fleet to repel night naval drone attacks

The devices help detect targets at a distance of over 1 km

Kremlin aide says talks between Putin, Xi Jinping went 'very well'

Yury Ushakov noted that the leaders touched upon the issues "in the trade and economic area, but some foreign policy topics were also discussed"

Putin warns against imbalances in economy, industry related to special military operation

The Russian leader also stated the importance of diversification of military production at a meeting with commanders of military district troops

Russia, Iran working to create single BRICS currency — Iranian ambassador

Kazem Jalali pointed out that the United States uses the dollar to create restrictions, and therefore the use of national currencies in mutual settlements is on the agenda

New opportunities, broad prospects await China, Russia — Xi

According to the Chinese leader, China-Russia relations have entered a new era

West should assess risks of Russia's response to asset confiscation — Foreign Ministry

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin noted that retaliatory measures "can be both symmetrical and asymmetrical in a variety of instruments, including legal, financial, and administrative"

What we know about attempt to assassinate Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico

Robert Fico was shot after a cabinet meeting in the city of Handlova in western Slovakia

Putin sees cooperation in agriculture between Moscow, Beijing growing

Among other products, Russia has been increasingly exporting fish, seafood, grain and pork to China

Russia to join ranks of top four global economies — presidential decree

The government is tasked to present eleven new National Projects by September 1 of this year

International experts see no signs of drone launches from Zaporozhye NPP territory

IAEA said its experts examined the nuclear site’s perimeter and "other buildings, which they are permitted"

Born out of love: Putin hears heartwarming tale of panda Katyusha’s birth

Svetlana Akulova noted that the mama panda turned out to have very strong maternal instincts

Slovak PM Fico’s life out of danger — deputy PM

Robert Fico was wounded in a shooting incident that happened after a government meeting in the city of Handlova in the western part of Slovakia

US law banning imports of Russian uranium will not cause problems — Rosatom CEO

Alexey Likhachev admitted that the Russian side is worried about this, but not much, as "the demand for Rosatom’s uranium products in the world is constantly growing"

Russia, China warn US, NATO against setting up military infrastructure in Afghanistan

The leaders of Russia and China also expressed their intention "to boost Afghanistan-related partner interaction both at the bilateral level and on multilateral platforms"

Press review: Putin embarks on state visit to China and assassination attempt on Slovak PM

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, May 16th

Deputy head of Altai region government detained in Moscow

Details are not known, a law enforcement source has told TASS

Military conscripts in Ukraine to receive barcodes facilitating apprehension of deserters

According to the new law on tightening the rules of mobilization, men (regardless of deferments and reservations) will have to update their data in military registration offices within 60 days from that day and will have to carry a military card with them at all times

Putin invites Chinese delegation to attend Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in fall

"We can see a large potential for expanding ties between Russia’s Far East and northeastern provinces of the People’s Republic of China," the Russian leader noted

During special op, West delivered some 800 tanks, 30,000 drones to Kiev — top brass

NATO's and partners have already allocated than $132 billion for the purpose, including over $63 billion spent by the United States, said Igor Kostyukov

Xi Jinping says ready to maintain close communication with Putin — Xinhua

The Chinese president said "the world is now facing changes unprecedented over the past century and has entered a new period of turbulence and change"

Putin, Xi Jinping conclude informal talks

During an informal lunch, each of the leaders was joined by four delegation members

Zelensky admits possibility of Ukraine losing Kharkov

The Ukrainian president asked US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to provide two Patriot systems to defend Kharkov, but the US diplomat did not give him an unequivocal answer

Yemeni Houthis claim delivering missile strike on US destroyer

Additionally, according to Yahya Saree, in the Red Sea, the Houthis attacked the commercial vessel Destiny en route to the port of Eilat in Israel

Alliance between Russia and China in energy sector will continue to strengthen — Putin

The Russian president drew attention to the fact that Russia and China, relying on the traditions of good neighborliness, friendship and cooperation, can confidently look forward and together take on the most challenging projects, jointly build and implement ambitious plans

Blinken’s visit to Kiev shows US concerned over Ukrainian failures on frontline — diplomat

"He sang a song, ate some pizza and left," Maria Zakharova noted

US Congress has evidence of Biden family’s involvement in terrorism — Ukrainian politician

Andrey Derkach pointed out that "the criminal case that was initiated against Burisma was being actively investigated under [Ukrainian] Prosecutor General [Viktor] Shokin [in 2014-2016]"

US directly responsible for emergence, escalation of Ukrainian crisis — Beijing

On May 16, US Department of State Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel noted that China cannot improve relations with Europe, if it will support Russia at the same time, allegedly fueling the Russian military-industrial complex

Russian envoy slams Washington’s allegations of Moscow posing threat to US elections

Anatoly Antonov emphasized that US intelligence agencies had failed to provide any evidence

Ukrainian troops shelling civilians in Kharkov Region villages they were driven from

According to the ministry, units of Russia’s Battlegroup North continue to improve their tactical positions

Senior Russian diplomat calls rumors about plans to attack NATO 'nonsense'

"This not even disinformation, this is a malicious and evil attempt to put a twist to the very essence of our policy and the logical foundation for all our actions, which our government has repeatedly explained to the West on many occasions, both publicly and behind closed doors," Sergey Ryabkov said

Ukrainian servicemen complain about heavy losses due to shortage of equipment, munitions

Ukrainian forces lose a large number of armored vehicles to Russian FPV drones, platoon commander Alexander Belyayev said

North Korea launches ballistic missile toward Sea of Japan — Yonhap

Previously, North Korea launched a short-range missile on April 22

Ukraine’s terror attacks on Russia 'revenge' for military failures — North Korean envoy

According to Sin Hong Chol, "the Zelensky puppet clique committed hundreds of unethical atrocities of killing innocent inhabitants by striking civilian objects"

Erdogan says government knows 'puppet master' behind reported conspiracy

The Turkish leader said it is unacceptable to break laws, and warned that "anyone who goes beyond the limits will be held accountable"

Russia and China to set up commission for development of Northern Sea Route — Rosatom CEO

"Our task is to create in the shortest possible time a joint program for expanding Chinese transit along the Northern Sea Route, as well as for a number of other projects in the interests of using this global artery," Alexey Likhachev pointed out

Russia’s onslaught on Kharkov may compel Ukraine to truce — NYT

On May 11, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported liberating several populated localities in the Kharkov Region

Ukrainian forces use US-made GLSDB munitions against DPR civilians for the first time

DPR head Denis Pushilin said that two civilians were killed and three were injured by Ukrainian strikes on Thursday

Russia expels UK defense attache from Moscow in tit-for-tat move — Foreign Ministry

Adrian Coghill "must leave the territory of the Russian Federation within a week," the ministry said

Ex-Polish judge says international warrant for his arrest coming soon

Tomasz Szmydt noted that he had not received any official notifications or messages yet even though he’s open to dialogue and available on social media

Confiscation of Russian assets by Estonia for transfer to Ukraine is theft — MFA

Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin stressed that Russia considers this "a violation of international law"

Russia hails any peace initiatives for Ukraine — Kremlin spokesman

"We know the situation on the Ukrainian side, which excludes any talks for itself even from the legal point of view," Dmitry Peskov noted

China, Russia have means to counter Western pressures — expert

The Russian leader arrived in China on May 16 on a state visit that will last until May 17

China offers to provide security guarantees on Ukraine, West not ready — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister specified that Beijing has "an absolutely correct position, essentially, to sort out root causes and collectively remove them"

Russia mulls supply of powerplants for joint aircraft project with China — First Deputy PM

Denis Manturov recalled that the format of participation in this project has been revised, and Russia is ready to provide the necessary in-house competencies for the project on the basis of an agreement between the parties

Russia, China to continue strengthening military ties — joint statement

The two countries are also set to hold joint naval and air patrols on a regular basis

Russia does not trust NATO, feels emotional repulsion — Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov

Sergey Ryabkov underscored that Russia will work with those "who are ready to negotiate on an equal basis"

Putin to visit Harbin on second day of visit to China

During his visit to the administrative center of China’s northernmost Heilongjiang province, the russian president will be accompanied by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng

Russian forces advancing daily in special op, everything going according to plan — Putin

The Russian leader opened his meeting with commanders of troops of military districts by extending his greetings on the occasion of Victory Day

Russian deputy minister sees possibility of downgrading diplomatic ties with US

This will happen "if the West chooses the path of escalation," Sergey Ryabkov said

Russia, China sign ten joint documents

The agreements penned included an initiative to develop the Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island, protocols on requirements for beef and other products exported to China

Russia urges US to respond to its prisoner swap proposals — diplomat

"We call upon them to focus on a realistic search for solutions on the basis of Moscow’s proposals, which they are well aware of," Sergey Ryabkov said

Russian air defenses repulse massive Ukrainian overnight drone attack

Over 10 Ukrainian drones were suppressed over Novorossiysk, as a result of which "local blazes" emerged, Krasnodar Region Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said

Patriot supplies unlikely to impact Russia’s plans to liberate Kharkov, expert says

According to Roman Shkurlatov, two Patriot systems will not make Kharkov safe

No plans to interfere in US elections, senior Russian diplomat says

Moscow has never interfered in election campaigns in any country, Sergey Ryabkov said

Urals defense firm boosts armored vehicles output 20% — Rostec

Kurganmashzavod is the largest enterprise in the Kurgan Region and a leading producer of the Russian defense industry

Russia-China Expo to kick off in Harbin with Putin’s attendance

The event will continue until May 21, running in parallel with the 33rd Harbin International Economic and Trade Fair

Slovakia’s Fico between life and death, it is loss for Slovakia, Hungary — Orban

The Hungarian prime minister believes that the upcoming months will be extremely important for the future of Europe in due to the upcoming European Parliament elections and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine

Ukrainian troops leave most positions in Netailovo near Avdeyevka, says DPR

It is reported that the Ukrainian military had been unsuccessfully trying to bring in reserves to hold the defense

Russian diplomat says US authorities remind him of 'rampaging street mobsters'

"Among the powers that be in the United States and other key Western states there have gathered quite a few personalities who are, by and large, provocateurs, whose raison d'être is to test Moscow’s strength," Sergey Ryabkov said

Top brass sees possibility of US warships provocatively entering Northern Sea Route

Igor Kostyukov noted that NATO was stepping up its military activities in the Arctic region

Russian troops use latest Upyr FPV drones in Kharkov push

Russian troops employed the Upyr FPV drone for the first time in the special military operation in Ukraine in May 2023

New relations, successes of China's automobile industry: what Putin, Xi said in Beijing

According to the Russian leader, the partnership between Moscow and Beijing "will serve as a model of how ties between neighboring states should be built"

Prime Minister of Slovakia shot by 71-year-old assailant — report

The man reportedly owned his weapon legally

Iskander missile systems to take part in parade in Minsk for first time — Defense Ministry

The first rehearsal of the mechanized parade takes place at the Lipki airstrip in the eastern part of Minsk on Thursday

Russia and China plan to sign contract on Power of Siberia-2 in near future — Deputy PM

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak mentioned the construction of a gas pipeline with a capacity of 50 billion cubic meters of gas through the territory of Mongolia

King of Bahrain announces intention to boost cooperation with Russia

Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa said he was grateful to Russian President Vladimir Putin for sending his envoy to the Arab League summit, and commended his "desire to strengthen relations with Arab countries"

Russian-Chinese heavy helicopter project implemented on schedule — First Deputy PM

Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov noted that "the contract implementation stage is already underway"

Putin, Xi hold 'very detailed' discussion on Ukraine, Russian presidential aide says

The Russian leader is visiting China on May 16-17

Israel to send additional forces to Rafah operation — defense minister

Yoav Gallant made the statement after travelling to an area near Rafah on May 15 to assess the situation

Russia, China express concern over effect of AUKUS agreements on stability in Asia Pacific

AUKUS was established in September 2021 to implement the defense initiatives of Australia, the UK and the US in two areas

China expects peace to recover on European continent shortly — Xi Jinping

The Chinese leader added that Beijing "is ready to play its constructive role"

New head of Taiwan claims readiness for dialogue with mainland China

China’s authorities have repeatedly noted that what is known as the 1992 Consensus is a condition for dialogue with Taiwan, however, Lai Ching-te claimed not to support it

Russian Aerospace Forces destroy three militant bases in Syria — Defense Ministry

Strikes by Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed three bases of militants who came out of the (US-controlled) al-Tanf zone

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

US sanctions 2 Russians, 3 Russian-based companies over alleged links with DPRK

In particular, Rafael Gazaryan and the companies Trans Kapital and Rafort allegedly associated with him are blacklisted

State Duma approves Mikhail Mishustin as Chairman of Russian Government

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin thanked State Duma lawmakers for approving his candidacy for the prime minister’s office

Putin, Xi sign statement on deepening relations

The document was signed after extensive Russian-Chinese negotiations