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Bank of Russia to continue using OTC market data for official ruble rate

The rate will remain single and market-based, the regulator stressed

MOSCOW, July 15. /TASS/. The Bank of Russia will continue calculating the official ruble rate using the over-the-counter (OTC) market data after closing publications of daily statistics for the OTC currency market, the regulator said on its official Telegram channel.

"The Bank of Russia will continue calculating the official ruble rate by the over-the-counter market," the Central Bank said. "The rate will remain single and market-based," the regulator added, noting that the ruble rate against key currencies is determined by the balance of demand and offer of foreign exchange received from foreign trade operations.

The Central Bank also said it would continue posting the official rate on its website.

AK-203 assault rifle plant in India has plans to expand — CEO

Sudhir Kumar Sharma noted that there are still areas in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, where the machines are manufactured, so it is possible that production will be expanded there

Russian army hits Kiev's reserves in Plavni, Primorskoye in Zaporozhye Region — politician

Plavni and Primorskoye are north of the town of Vasilievka

Numerous countries express interest in India-produced AK-203 assault rifles — official

India has become the first foreign country where the AK-203 iteration of the Kalashnikov assault rifle is manufactured

HIMARS missiles, artillery rounds included in US’ new aid package to Ukraine

Assistance includes aerial systems equipment and munitions, 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor missiles

Enemy losses: developments in Kursk Region

In total, the enemy has lost 5,137 servicemen since fighting began in the region

Russian forces control about 50 settlements in Kharkov region — official

The liberated territories have a combined population of around 2,000 people in total, the head of the Kharkov Region's civil-military administration Vitaly Ganchev said

FACTBOX: What is known about new anti-Russian sanctions imposed by US

According to the document, the restrictions against companies "whose products and services enable Russia to sustain its military efforts and evade sanctions"

Two powerful solar flares detected on August 22 — scientists

The first flare was detected in the early hours of Thursday

Russia’s agriculture exports in physical terms 10-11% higher this year than in 2023

According to Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut’s presentation delivered in May, Russia’s agriculture exports were expected at $45 bln in 2024

6 dead, 11 injured in hotel fire in South Korea

A total of 150 firefighters and 46 special vehicles were involved in the firefighting operation

Neo-Nazis who attacked Russia’s Kursk region sure to be defeated - Russian ambassador

Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said the subject was raised during Russian diplomats’ recent meetings with compatriots in Salt Lake City and Chicago

Ukraine raised risk of nuclear war for allies, former chief of Romanian intelligence says

"Ukraine understood very well what it was doing," Silviu Predoiu said

Russia possesses over 100 years worth of coal reserves — minister

Russia’s commercial coal reserves located in 22 coal basins stand at almost 273 bln tons, of which 46.4 bln tons of coal are being exploited, Alexander Kozlov noted

IAEA chief may visit Kursk nuclear power plant early next week — Russian diplomat

Earlier, the Russian foreign ministry’s official spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said Grossi’s visit to the Kursk nuclear power plant in late August was in the works

Russia’s Alexandrova through to semis of 2024 WTA Monterrey Open in Mexico

The 2024 Monterrey Open, which has the WTA 500 category, is played on outdoor courts on August 19 and 24

Kiev’s forces question strategic premise of Kursk incursion — officer

According to the Ukrainian serviceman, the Ukrainian political leadership devised the offensive in order to divert the Ukrainians’ attention from the dire situation on the frontline and in the country’s economy and energy infrastructure

Russia in talks with African countries to scrap visa requirement

In August 2023, Russia launched a visa-free travel exchange program for groups with China and Iran

Lavrov says West looking for someone to replace Zelensky

The Russian Foreign Minister said that the German and American press are starting to slowly "dump" the Ukrainian leader and "create the image of a loser"

Ukrainian recruits refuse to fire at Russians, commander says

Ukrainian commanders blame poorly-trained recruits for failures on the eastern flank, especially for the territorial losses in the Krasnoarmeisk area in the Donetsk People’s Republic, where they "enabled Russia’s army to advance"

West directs all of Kiev's strikes on civilian targets — Russian diplomat

"We have always maintained that the West has been the guiding force behind all of the Kiev regime's attacks on civilian infrastructure since the first day of the open phase of the conflict, and from day one we identified the regime's terrorist activities," Maria Zakharova said

ICRC helps Russian Red Cross in Kursk Region

To date, more than 11,500 people have received help from specialists

Murmansk Region to tighten measures against drone attacks on strategic facilities

"Today, we will discuss additional measures that need to be taken to protect the Murmansk Region, especially strategic facilities, from enemy drones," Governor Andrey Chibis said

NATO citizens contact Russian embassies for residence permits en masse — diplomat

Maria Zakharova pointed out that, starting on August 19, citizens of other states are allowed to apply to Russia, if they are being persecuted in their states for following traditional values

Kavkaz port working to clean up aftermath following Ukrainian attack

The Russian Transport Ministry added that the sea rescue service is working to clean up the fuel that was spilled

Ukraine disconnects backup power line at Zaporozhye NPP

The Ferrosplavnaya-1 high-voltage 330kV power supply line was disconnected from the Zaporozhye NPP on August 23

German striker Philipp leaves Borussia Dortmund for Russia’s Dynamo Moscow FC

Dynamo Moscow FC is currently 10th in the Russian Premier League (RPL) standings

Ukrainians deserting army en masse, don't want to lay down lives for Zelensky — senator

Sergey Tsekov emphasized that attempts to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has true believers in Ukraine in an uproar, also play a significant role

Russia ready to develop system of equal indivisible security in world — Putin

The president emphasized that dozens of countries have sent delegations to the forum, more than 120 companies have announced their participation, and several foreign expositions will be placed at the Army 2024 forum site

Russia’s natural annual population loss will shrink 1.5 times by 2045 — statistics

The Federal Statistics Service clarifies that as of January 1, 2023, 146.45 million people lived in Russia, and by January 1, 2046, the country’s population will be 138.77 million people

Ukraine seeks to unleash new world war by attacking Russian nuclear plant — politician

The goal of the drone attack was to cause a Chernobyl-like disaster and contaminate all of Europe with radiation, said Zmago Jelincic

US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace 14 times in past day

Four pairs of the coalition’s F-15 fighter jets, a pair of F/A-18 fighter bombers, as well as two pairs of A-10 Thunderbolt attack bombers violated in the al-Tanf area

Strikes on Ukrainian reserves, cases against foreign reporters: situation in Kursk Region

An enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group was destroyed west of Skrylievka

Houthis claim responsibility for attack on Sounion tanker

The spokesman also claimed responsibility for striking the Sw North Wind I commercial ship

Roscosmos cosmonaut Ivan Vagner to serve as fifth TASS special correspondent in space

TASS Director General Andrey Kondrashov emphasized that the TASS bureau in space was an unparalleled educational project that provided people with an inside look into how cosmonauts spend their time at the ISS

Russia starts series production of acoustic intelligence system

Series production has also been launched for the Malik acoustic drone detector updated to the second version in portable and mobile variants, the design bureau said

Press review: NATO complicit in Kursk attack and Russian military officials get new roles

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, August 21st

RUDN University to regain name of Patrice Lumumba, says PM

The Peoples' Friendship University of Russia was founded in 1960

Russian forces prevent Ukrainian forces from regrouping near Dnieper — Defense Ministry

The Russian Armed Forces are also continuing to actively work to destroy Ukrainian FPV drones, reconnaissance and attack unmanned aerial vehicles, head of the group's press center Roman Kodryan said

Ukraine prepared attack on Kursk Region 'secretly' — Scholz

The German Chancellor assured that his country will continue to support Ukraine and will remain its major proponent in Europe

Venezuelan Supreme Court certifies Maduro’s election victory

Edmundo Gonzalez, former candidate from the far-right bloc, never appeared before the Electoral Chamber of the Supreme Court and failed to provide the required documents

Russia proposes to adopt new UN Security Council resolution on Middle East — mission to UN

In his opinion, "it is precisely the manic desire of the United States to ‘monopolize’ the Middle East peace process and to reshape it according to ‘patterns’ suited to Israel that led to the dramatic consequences that we are witnessing today"

Russian commander reports presence of active NATO soldiers in Kursk area

Apty Alaudinov specified that he referred to active NATO servicemen

Two injured survivors of hostage-taking at IK-19 penitentiary taken to Volgograd hospitals

As a result of a special operation to free the hostages by the Federal Penitentiary Service and National Guard all four criminals were liquidated

Russian Su-34 bomber destroys Ukrainian armor by glide bombs in Kursk Region

The strike against enemy’s fortified targets was delivered by upgraded aerial bombs

Russia blacklists 32 British think tank experts — Russian Foreign Ministry

The list includes nine structures - Forward Strategy Limited, Institute for Statecraft, Media Diversity Institute, Toro Risk Solutions, Chatham House, Open Knowledge Foundation, Privacy International, Peace Child International, Aga Khan Foundation - and 32 of their employees

Russian forces destroy US-made Abrams tank in borderline Kursk area — commander

"In addition, we have eliminated several artillery guns of various caliber and also several command posts," Major General Apty Alaudinov said

Ukrainian lawmaker laments that 'thousands' defect from armed forces

Prior to that, the Ukrainian parliament has passed a bill allowing to pardon AWOL servicemen, who abandoned their posts for the first time, if they agree to resume their military service before the pretrial investigation is completed

One crew member of sunken ferry remains unaccounted for in Port Kavkaz — rescuers

The search effort continues

Putin’s inauguration to be aired at noon on May 7 — TV channel

Ukraine doesn’t view India as mediator in potential talks — NYT

The Ukrainian officials portrayed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kiev as a "welcome show of support for their country"

Kremlin sees balance of power tipping right at EU Parliament

"While the pro-European parties have retained their leading positions, right-wing parties will catch up to them in due time," Dmitry Peskov pointed out

Russia puzzled by Armenia’s resistance to logistics corridor agreements

According to Sergey Lavrov, Moscow believes that it is essential to "follow the spirit and the letter of the series of trilateral agreements between the Russian, Azerbaijani, and Armenian leaders, which were reached in 2020-2022"

Foreign aid to Ukraine a money laundering scheme, head of Chechnya says

Ramzan Kadyrov noted that there is no need to worry about hostilities currently happening on Russian territory

Inmates plotted their attack in Russian prison in advance, law enforcement source says

According to TASS source, the attack was well-planned

Russia's top prosecutor reveals startling new details about 1918 Romanov family execution

According to Igor Krasnov, members of the royal family did not die immediately because they had diamonds and jewelry sewn into their clothes, and the bullets ricocheted off

Moscow, Washington ‘doomed to interact’ — Russian ambassador

Anatoly Antonov said that he sees "only a potential opportunity"

Russia imports more than half of non-food goods — ministry

Russia can't produce everything that is imported today, the official said, adding that this is not realistic

Russia offers safe haven for people trying to escape Western liberal ideals

Under the document, such foreign nationals will have the right to apply for temporary residence in Russia "outside the quota approved by the Russian government and without providing documents confirming their knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and basic laws"

Increased level of complexity assigned to fire in Rostov Region’s Proletarsk

The firefighting effort involves 37 men and 12 vehicles

No 'buffer zone' on Russian territory, says ambassador to US

Anatoly Antonov warned that Moscow is not going to consult Washington on how to act to expel the Ukrainian armed forces from the Kursk Region

Seizure of Allegro trains by Finnish VR illegal — Russian Railways

Unlawfulness of actions of the Finnish side is confirmed by decisions of Russian courts, which bind the Finnish railway operator to continue performing contracts made by it

Trump defeats Harris by landslide in Elon Musk’s poll on X social network

More than 5.8 million people took part in the vote

Ukrainian forces attack 8 settlements in Belgorod Region, no one injured

According to the governor, two private households and an infrastructure object were damaged in the Shebekino city district

Captured Ukrainian soldier says goal was to create semblance of presence in Kursk Region

He and his fellow soldiers rode three armored personnel carriers to a settlement where they immediately came under fire from Russian soldiers

Russian forces destroy French-made Crotale missile system in Kursk Region

According to Akhmat Special Forces Commander Major General Apty Alaudinov, it costs €8.9 million

Russian women most beautiful in world, over 80% of citizens surveyed say in new poll

The poll data shows that 11% of young Russian women aged 18 to 24 years old would like to take part in a beauty contest, while 70% of Russian men would be willing to see their significant other participate

Europe did not actually investigate Nord Streams sabotage — Russian Prosecutor General

At the same time, Igor Krasnov emphasized that "in accordance with their obligations, they are obliged to investigate, obliged to identify those responsible, but this is not happening"

Modi arrives in Ukraine for first visit ever by an Indian PM

Modi arrived in the Ukrainian capital after wrapping up his visit to Poland

Ferry in Russian port of Kavkaz sinks after Ukrainian attack — officials

Following the incident, Oleg Kryuchkov, an adviser to the head of Crimea, denied "the enemy’s widespread falsities" about fuel supply in the peninsula

About 30-40% of Kharkov Region must be liberated to hold referendum — official

Vitaly Ganchev also hopes to hold a survey by the end of the year in order to gauge public interest in becoming a part of Russia

US authorizes import of certain Russian diamonds, jewelry until September 1, 2025

In February, the US government announced that it would ban the import of unsorted rough diamonds and diamond jewelry from Russia from March 1

BRICS member states to consider creating common digital payment platform

The gradual integration of the new BRICS member states into the work of the financial tracks and strengthening of cooperation at the expert level was noted as being one of the crucial tasks for 2024

Medvedev rules out peace talks with Kiev until enemy 'completely defeated'

The politician also hinted at those behind the attack on the Kursk Region, making unflattering comments about a former British prime minister

Russian troops advance towards Borovaya in eastern Kharkov region — official

Vitaly Ganchev added that as of today, more than 200 square kilometers of the region had been liberated from the Ukrainian armed forces

Putin, Trump to meet in Helsinki on July 16

The two leaders will discuss "the current state and prospects of further development of Russian-US relations," the Kremlin spokesman said

Prime ministers of Russia, China agree to hold next meeting in 2025 — communique

The specific timeframe, venue and format will be agreed further via diplomatic channels

Russian bomb squad finds, destroys two Ukrainian air bombs in Kursk Region

Bomb squad technicians from the Emergency Situations Ministry defused and destroyed two demolition bombs, a FAB-500 and a FAB-250

Russian embassies overflowing with requests to relocate to country — MFA

Maria Zakharova also drew attention to the fact that the Russian Foreign Policy Concept touches upon the topic of traditional values 11 times

Russia delivers 16 precision strikes at Ukrainian military sites over week — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup North thwarted the Ukrainian army’s attempts to deploy reserves in the Kursk Region over the past week, the Defense Ministry reported

Lack of morality, ethics in Russia’s enemies known, yet impossible to get used to — Putin

"Our enemy is not like us, although it also has a head and arms," the Russian president said

Ukraine attacks ferry loaded with fuel tanks in Kavkaz port: victims, damage, response

The area of the fire covered 500 square meters, emergency response services reported

Chechen leader Kadyrov’s son takes over as president of Russian football club Akhmat

He replaced Magomed Daudov who took the office of the club's president nearly 13 years

AK-203 assault rifle plant in India has plans to expand — CEO

Sudhir Kumar Sharma noted that there are still areas in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, where the machines are manufactured, so it is possible that production will be expanded there

Putin made decision on response to Kiev’s incursion – ambassador to US

The retaliation will be tough, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said

Washington says discussing with Kiev use of US arms to strike deeper inside Russia

Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters on Thursday that the use of American weapons to strike inside Russia’s Kursk Region does not run counter to the US policy

Captured Ukrainian soldiers play like they’re civilians, outed by phone data — official

Apty Alaudinov called the Ukrainian soldiers operating in the Kursk Region a bunch of thugs

FACTBOX: Inmates take staff hostage at correctional facility in Volgograd Region

According to emergency response services, one employee was killed

2016 World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan

Sports include eagle hunting, bone throwing and kok-boru, a Central Asian form of polo in which two teams battle for control of a decapitated goat carcass

Banks from Mauritius admitted to trading on Russian forex market

The list includes a total of over 30 states friendly to Russia

Deputy commander-in-chief of Russian Navy arrives at Massawa port in Eritrea

The visit is part of the events marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Eritrea

FSIN refutes allegations about seizure of colony in Volgograd Region by criminals

The criminals took hostages and seized one isolated building in the colony’s territory

FSB files charges against US, Ukrainian reporters for illegally crossing border into Kursk

According to the press service, the journalists "filmed videos in the vicinity of the town of Sudzha in the Kursk Region"

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspends his campaign for US president

He also said he would ask to remove his name from the ballots in ten key states

Press review: Moscow-Beijing ties look for shot in arm and US backdoors new nuke strategy

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, August 22nd

Some convicts serving in Ukrainian army refuse to go into combat

A former member of the Verkhovna Rada explained that when prisoners wrote applications for mobilization, they had a completely different motivation

Fire spreads from burning dry grass to residential houses in Rostov Region

According to local emergencies services, the fire has consumed four houses

Ukrainian General Staff says situation around Krasnoarmeisk, Kupyansk tough

The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Wednesday that Russia’s Battlegroup Center had liberated the community of Zhelannoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic

Russian Ambassador to US Antonov to return home in October — diplomatic source

Anatoly Antonov has been Russia’s Ambassador to the United States since August 2017

Ukrainian POWs cannot be taken out of harm's way due to Kiev's shelling attacks — officer

According to Major General Apty Alaudinov, Akhmat fighters have already taken numerous Ukrainian soldiers prisoner

No need for more massive strikes against facilities in Ukraine — Putin

Currently, other tasks are on the agenda, the president emphasized

Ukraine peace initiative shouldn’t be unilateral - Indian foreign minister

"Our view is that any exercise, if it has to be productive, will naturally have to involve the other party concerned," Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stressed