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Russia ready to restart ZNPP when military situation permits — Rosatom CEO

Alexey Likhachev stressed that the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant’s safety and security were Russia’s "unconditional priority"

VIENNA, September 16. /TASS/. Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev has said that Russia is ready to start working on relaunching the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant when the military situation permits.

"In principle, we are ready to start working on the relaunch of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant as soon as the military situation permits," he said at the opening of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

He stressed that the ZNPP’s nuclear and physical safety and security were Russia’s "unconditional priority." Stable thermal, water and power supply to the plant are ensured.

"All equipment maintenance work is done on time. The personnel at the plant is experienced and professional," he said, noting the IAEA's contribution to the ZNPP’s safety.

Likhachev also emphasized that priority was attached to the development of the social infrastructure of the nuclear power plant’s nearby town of Energodar.

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The minister to say that NATO is becoming increasingly interested in the Arctic region

North Korea convinced Russia to win special military operation in Ukraine — top diplomat

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Israel’s explosive gadget operation in Lebanon took 15 years of preparation — ABC

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Russia’s Akhmat special force destroys military storage facility in Kursk direction

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The Russian leader emphasized that "drones of various classes have already become an indispensable attribute of modern combat operations"

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The Russian president was accompanied by Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Maxim Oreshkin and Presidential Aide Alexey Dyumin

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

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NATO sets new tasks for Tallinn in event of conflict with Russia — Estonian General Staff

Major General Vahur Karus noted that, as opposed to a decade ago, Estonia can unequivocally count on allied units, stationed on its soil, to immediately participate in a conflict with Russia

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Police cordoned off the scene, military specialists checked the contents for hazardous substances and removed the debris

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First Deputy Minister Vasily Osmakov noted that the regulator develops measures to counter sanctions pressure on Russia

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Turkish banks want to stop transactions with Russia, transfer them to one bank — source

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Lebanese citizens turn off phones, appliances for fear of more blasts — newspaper

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

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Ukrainian forces create concentration camps in Russian border areas — diplomat

Maria Zakharova pointed out that one of the Ukrainian prisoners of war reported an attack on a passenger train being prepared in the Kursk Region

Press review: Israel declares new phase of war and Russia boosts drone production

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

Hezbollah fires anti-tank missiles at Israeli positions in Metula

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Russia ready to give Uzbekistan access to high-precision GLONASS signal — document

The Russian global navigation satellite system is designed to promptly provide navigation information to users of land, sea, air and space

Court arrests first suspect in case of shooting at office of retailer in central Moscow

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Russian naval communications center provides reliable communications with ships

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Israeli attacks Hezbollah facilities, red lines: Middle East escalation

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Putin extends food embargo on imports from Western countries for two years

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Tver region governor says no serious injuries in drone attack on Toropets

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Putin instructs authorities to support small producers of drones

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Russia firmly committed to principles of UN Charter unlike West — Lavrov

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European Parliament urges end to restrictions on strikes on Russia with Western weapons

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Germany says supplies to Kiev included 22 Leopard 1A5 tanks, 3 Gepard air defense systems

Germany is also preparing to deliver 12 Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery units

MFA calls UN resolution on Palestine important step to recognize Israel's illegal actions

The Russian diplomats pointed out that it would also help develop concrete measures to uphold international law, end the longest occupation in modern history and implement a two-state solution

Devices blasts in Lebanon make escalation in Middle East conflict inevitable — newspaper

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Ursula von der Leyen arrives in Kiev

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Ukrainian forces in difficult situation in Kursk Region, try gain foothold — commander

Major General Apty Alaudinov added that, on Thursday, he visited the rightmost flank of the Russian troops on the Kursk direction - near cities of Rylsk and Lgov

Russian National Guard eliminates about 30 Ukrainian vehicles in Kursk Region

The National Guard noted that its troops provide extra protection measures for important state facilities

Israeli intel officials sent messages in Arabic to pagers before they exploded — media

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Israel resists Washington's attempts to achieve de-escalation in Middle East — media

With the situation escalating, Washington’s control over the region appears weaker than ever, the publication says

US citizen Zenkovich, convicted in Belarus, asks Lukashenko for pardon

Zenkovich also addressed the US side

Taliban say Afghanistan will now rely only on Sharia law

The supreme leader said that the negotiation process with the US in Doha was based on Sharia, "not a single step in these negotiations was taken against religion"

Ukrainian troops captured: situation in Kursk Region

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

Russia deeply concerned by events unfolding in Lebanon — diplomat

Maria Zakharova asserted Russia’s solidarity with the people of Lebanon

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

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First MC-21 flight in fully imported version expected this year — minister

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Source reveals number of people detained in shooting in downtown Moscow office

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Peace talks between Russia, Ukraine unlikely to happen in near future — DPR head

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According to Vyacheslav Volodin, it is crucial for the parliaments of the United States and European countries to "understand and realize what can happen"

Russian troops entrenched in liberated settlements of Kursk Region’s Sudzha District

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NATO was called obsolete, braindead in past 10 years — Stoltenberg

"During my time as Secretary General, the relevance of NATO has been questioned," Jens Stoltenberg noted

Israeli air force attacks around 100 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon in past two hours

The strikes were directed by the IDF intelligence units and the IDF Northern Command, the Israel Defense Forces said