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Russian ministry denies reports that rupee freeze related to ruble’s drop

"Consequently, statements that problems with the conversion of rupees caused the weakening of the ruble’s exchange rate do not reflect the reality," the source in the Energy Ministry told TASS

MOSCOW, August 29. /TASS/. Russia’s Energy Ministry has denied statements made by economist Mikhail Zadornov that rupees stuck in accounts might have something to do with the ruble’s weakening. According to a source in the ministry who spoke with TASS, the opinion that problems with conversion of rupees caused the ruble’s weakening is out of touch with reality as oil companies return most of their foreign currency earnings, while delays are not a pervasive problem.

"Oil companies return most foreign currency earnings that come from Russia, irrespective of the currency used for payment. Delays are not systemic. Consequently, statements that problems with the conversion of rupees caused the weakening of the ruble’s exchange rate do not reflect the reality," the source in the Energy Ministry told TASS.

Mikhail Zadornov wrote in his column for the RBC business daily that the fact that Russia could not get rupees to purchase Russian oil back from India could be a factor in the ruble’s weakening. "Russia supplied oil and petroleum products worth $30 bln to India in the first half of the year, whereas our imports from India are estimated at around $6-7 bln per year. We have nothing to purchase in India, though we cannot get those rupees back as the rupee is a nonconvertible currency. $30 bln in half a year is more than the whole current accounts surplus," he said.

The return of currency to the country may become a way to influence the ruble’s exchange rate, according to the economist.

Russia, North Korea agree to increase number of charter flights

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The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Russian air defenses destroy seven Ukrainian drones over Bryansk Region

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Lavrov lauds Scholz’s refusal to supply Taurus missiles to Ukraine as responsible choice

The Russian foreign minister noted that the German chancellor's stance "differs from the position of the British and the French"

Russia’s special military operation to continue — Kremlin

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Le Figaro removes statement about France authorizing strikes against Russia

The newspaper has not yet responded to a TASS inquiry asking why the statement was removed

Putin approves Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine

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Sweden detected ship movements when cable damage occurred, minister says

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Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine mandates permanent readiness of nuclear forces

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Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine contains 'very important messages' — Kremlin

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FACTBOX: Central Bank chief’s statement in State Duma

The national economy is in the "breaking point" and inflation slowdown can be expected in coming months

Russia must be able to defend itself — Erdogan on revised nuclear doctrine

The Turkish leader reiterated that "both Russia and Ukraine are Turkey’s neighbors"

Moscow’s response to strikes with Western arms on Russian soil to be felt — diplomat

The New York Times reported on November 17 that US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of US-supplied ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles for strikes inside Russia

German defense minister says wrong time to discuss peace in Ukraine

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ATACMS strikes on Bryansk Region sign West wants escalation — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat recalled that the Russian leader had warned Western countries how Russia’s position would change if "this range of weapons that we are now talking about, i.e. up to 300 kilometers, is approved"

Ukraine admits responsibility for Odessa missile incident where civilians injured

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Turkey ready to continue mediatory efforts toward settling Ukrainian crisis — Erdogan

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Six European countries accuse Russia of allegedly attacking security architecture

"Moscow's escalating hybrid activities against NATO and EU countries are unprecedented in their variety and scale," the statement reads

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Area near US base in northeastern Syria comes under shelling attack — TV

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Egyptian Prime Minister announces installation of 'melt trap' at El Dabaa NPP

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Lavrov says Von der Leyen's logic about 'cheaper' US gas doesn't hold water

The Russian foreign minister noted that the European Commission president "believes that buying Russian gas is politically expensive because you are not earning the right political reputation for yourself"

FACTBOX: Abkhazian President Aslan Bzhania resigns

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West fails to bring Ukrainian issue to forefront of G20 summit agenda — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister stressed that "no one from the countries of the world majority, the Global South, supported it"

Russia says its forces downed 5 ATACMS missiles that Ukraine fired into Bryansk Region

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Astana will work with Moscow regardless of secondary sanctions threat — ambassador

Dauren Abayev reiterated that there is a strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and Russia and the two countries are close allies

Russian troops liberate Novoselidovka community in Donbass region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted more than 310 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy armored vehicles over the past day, the ministry reported

Russia has no plans to ‘tango on its own’ in relations with US — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov noted that it wasn’t Moscow but Washington that initiated "the race of sanctions"

Zelensky presents 10-point plan about country's future to Rada, omits several key points

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Current escalation of Ukrainian conflict not seen as world war harbinger — Pentagon

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"It is not out of the question that new weapons systems, which have not yet been used against Ukraine, could be employed," Vyacheslav Volodin said

Houthis report striking commercial ship in Red Sea

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New doctrine means Russia can use nuclear weapons in Ukrainian conflict — analyst

"This document means a lot for the Ukrainian conflict," Vladimir Zharikhin noted

Russia monitors situation in Kursk Region after reports of ATACMS missiles — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that "it is hardly possible to be guided by the reports of a TV channel"

UN concerned about possible escalation amid Ukrainian strike on Bryansk

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Lavrov says EU goes through deep crisis as more countries refuse to support US policies

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Vladimir Rogov added that Velikaya Novoselka is a major logistics hub for the Ukrainian armed forces

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The Russian Armed Forces carried out the attack at night

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The minister explained why the provision of infrastructure protection was added to the declaration

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Wang Wen called the next few months a "high-risk period" in the conflict

China’s new microwave weapon can scorch low-orbit satellites — expert

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Case against Georgian mercenary, prisoners, Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

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Abkhazian parliament accepts resignation of republic’s president

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German defense minister says Ukraine reached parity in shells with Russia

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Repair of damaged cable in the Baltic Sea to start next week — operator

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Ukraine’s allies doubt impact of US approval of strikes against Russia on conflict balance

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OPCW technical secretariat involved in Kiev’s chemical provocation against Russia — Moscow

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Potential adversaries, criteria for use: Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine

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Iran ready to stop enriching uranium — Reuters

Tehran has also agreed to consider allowing four more IAEA inspectors to work in Iran, the news agency noted

Putin, Trump have ways to get in contact with each other, Kremlin says

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US senator labels Biden’s approval for ATACMS strikes on Russia as unconstitutional

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Cable rupture in Baltic Sea caused by sabotage, German defense minister believes

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Lavrov says West wanted to downplay Gaza crisis in G20 declaration

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Top Iranian diplomat urges to 'prepare for war'

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Serbian president calls for talks on Ukraine amid nuclear escalation threats

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Progress MS-27 fragments that survived re-entry land in Pacific — Roscosmos

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Press review: Biden OKs long-range missile use as backlash to Scholz’s Putin call grows

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Russia, North Korea agree to increase number of charter flights

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Admiral Nakhimov cruiser to sail out on auxiliary engines in November

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US-made projectile strikes to destroy ties between Moscow, Washington — Duma speaker

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Swedish armed forces to help investigate Baltic Sea cable ruptures

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Washington refrains from naming those responsible for Baltic Sea cable rupture — DoS

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Governmental commission passes ban on cryptocurrency mining in some regions from December

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Lavrov hopes West will read Russia's updated nuclear doctrine 'in its entirety'

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