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Gas reserves in UGS facilities in Europe stabilize at around 95%

Currently, the European UGS facilities are 95.01% full (3.05 pp higher than the average for this date over the past five years), containing 105.44 bln cubic meters of gas

MOSCOW, October 17. /TASS/. Total gas withdrawal from European underground storage (UGS) facilities in October 2024 is currently the fourth highest in history for this month, while injection is at the minimum since 2011. Reserves in UGS exceed 95%, but are already significantly behind last year's record. Gas is trading at $440 per 1,000 cubic meters on the European exchange.

According to Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), on October 15, 93 mln cubic meters of gas were injected into UGS facilities in EU countries. At the same time, withdrawals amounted to 83 mln cubic meters of gas.

Currently, the European UGS facilities are 95.01% full (3.05 pp higher than the average for this date over the past five years), containing 105.44 bln cubic meters of gas.

The weather during the current week in Central and Western Europe is slightly cooler than in the previous week. The share of wind power in EU electricity generation increased to 19% in October.

The total flow of LNG from terminals into the European gas transmission system in August was the lowest since October 2021, but it increased again in September. Currently, the capacity for regasification of LNG and its subsequent injection into European pipelines is at 43% of its maximum. The average gas purchase price in Europe was $416 per 1,000 cubic meters in September and around $451 in October.

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At the same time, the German cabinet has nothing to say at the moment about the possible telephone conversation between Putin and Scholz

Switzerland expands sanctions against Russia — Federal Council

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North Korea fully severs transport communication with South

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Russia warns Israel not to attack Iran's nuclear facilities — senior diplomat

"This would be a catastrophic development and a complete rejection of the existing postulates in the sphere of nuclear security," Sergey Ryabkov stressed

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West's endgame to make Moldova part of Romania — Foreign Ministry

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EU's 'Potemkin armies' leave Europe vulnerable — Bloomberg

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Zelensky plan a scheme to pull West into direct standoff with Russia — senior lawmaker

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FACTBOX: Russian zookeeper dies after being mauled by lions

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Ukrainian Defense Ministry reshuffle aims to keep intel chief away from finances — expert

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BRICS Kazan summit to challenge Western, US hegemony — Angolan newspaper

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Russia’s UN envoy lashes at Israeli bill to ban UNRWA

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Russia to give military help to North Korea if it comes under attack — senior diplomat

Andrey Rudenko said clauses to that effect are contained in the treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and North Korea that was submitted to the State Duma for ratification the day before

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Malaysia confirms intention to join BRICS to its countries — deputy minister

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Ukrainian troops attack volunteers aiding in evacuation of civilians for sport — volunteer

Maria shared a story of Ukrainian forces trying to attack a civilian car carrying eight civilians with a kamikaze drone in the settlement of Krasnooktyabrskoye

NATO defense ministers to discuss military budgets, aid to Kiev

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Russia urges Argentina not to support Kiev by attending Ottawa conference — envoy

Dmitry Feoktistov pointed out that Russia views the conference as a "blatantly anti-Russian project"

Russian warplanes destroy training base of terrorists in Idlib zone — military

The strikes were delivered with the goal of preventing radical groups from attacking territories controlled by the Syrian government, said Oleg Igansyuk, the deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria

Israel may strike Iran soon — media

Iran had launched a massive missile attack on Israel on October 1, in retaliation for the assassinations of key figures from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

Number of deserters in Ukraine quadruples in 9 months

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Zelensky’s so-called victory plan has two secret annexes that won’t be made public

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US announces $425 mln military assistance package for Ukraine

"The package includes additional air defense capability, air-to-ground munitions, armored vehicles, and critical munitions to meet Ukraine’s urgent needs," the statement says

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Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei also expressed regret over the Arab countries joining "misleading claims against the neighboring country"

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Scholz says nothing changes in Germany’s position, decisions on Ukraine

"Otherwise, there are strategic issues that need to be discussed. You know what decisions I have made, and nothing will change in them," the German chancellor assured

Oslo's new requirements paralyze Russian diplomatic missions in Norway — MFA

Maria Zakharova noted that Russia would take this latest unfriendly move into account when shaping its future approach toward Norway

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"We have production facilities that are capable of producing them," Jacek Siewiera said

Slovak prime minister predicts imminent end of Ukrainian conflict

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EU, West losing Ukraine conflict — Hungarian PM Orban

"This indicates that we have adopted an unsuccessful strategy in this conflict," Viktor Orban went on to say

Russian diplomat dubs Zelensky’s plan as 'collection of incoherent slogans'

Maria Zakharova stressed that the Ukrainian president is using his plan to push NATO toward a direct conflict with Russia

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Russian forces continue operations to destroy Ukrainian army units in the borderline Kursk Region

Command of Ukraine's 59th brigade executes Russian POWs — Ukrainian captive

Konstantin Kolesnikov urged his fellow soldiers to surrender and stressed that in the current conditions this is the only way for the Ukrainian soldiers to survive

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Ukrainian troops try to leave Selidovo in small groups — security forces

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Zelensky unveils his plan without getting West's approval — media

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EU fails to persuade Gulf states to support anti-Russian sanctions

The document’s section, devoted to Ukraine, says that the sides "reaffirm our respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, and commitment to fundamental principles of the UN Charter"

One Direction’s former member Liam Payne falls to death in Buenos Aires

He was 31 years old

IN BRIEF: Enemy losses and surrendering troops: situation in Russia’s Kursk Region

Swedish police request statement from Mbappe amid rape allegations — French TV

Kylian Mbappe's lawyer Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard stated on Tuesday that her client is planning to sue for libel

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Russia’s Su-25 attack aircraft disrupt rotation of Ukrainian forces in Kursk region

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NATO cannot confirm reports about DPRK troops’ involvement in special op — Rutte

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Russia not threat to Hungary, rest of EU — Hungarian minister

"Hungary is a member of NATO, and NATO is rather powerful," Viktor Orban said

US claims of China’s help to Russia in Ukrainian conflict hypocritical — Chinese embassy

"China always handles the export of military products in a prudent and responsible way, and strictly controls the export of dual-use articles, including drones for civilian use," the spokesperson for Chinese embassy in the US, Liu Pengyu, said

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Ukraine’s Zelensky rules out territorial concessions in his so-called settlement plan

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BRICS expansion signals Asia’s disappointment with US order — Chinese expert

Sun Peisong notes that the United States’ desire to form its own "economic camp" in the world runs counter to the interests of Asian countries, for which stimulating growth remains a priority issue

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The report pointed out that during the training, experienced pilots had problems with their English language skills, as well as with mastering "American training methods"

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Sniper pairs pay special attention to camouflaging their positions

Press review: Kim Jong Un dynamites Seoul links and NATO, US lay plans to deter Russia

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, October 16th

Israeli military uses phosphorus munitions against refugees in Gaza — TV

A fire broke out in the building, but no information on casualties is available at this point, Al Mayadeen reported

Hezbollah fighters destroy two Israeli tanks in southern Lebanon

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Ukraine loses key road previously used for supplies for forces — security agencies

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Australia to send military aid worth $164 million to Ukraine — deputy premier

This latest package "will add to the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s firepower and mobility, and complement partners’ support for Ukraine’s armoured brigades," Richard Marles said

US has no idea what to do about Zelensky — Seymour Hersh

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Harris close on Trump’s heels, latest poll shows

The poll was conducted online and by phone on October 10 and from October 13 to October 15

Biden to depart to Berlin to meet with Steinmeier, Scholz on Thursday

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Israel begins to view UN flag in Gaza as target indicator — Russia’s UN envoy

"It appears that the UN flag is not only failing to protect civilians, humanitarian workers and civilian social infrastructure, but also tends to become a direct target for the IDF," Vasily Nebenzya said

NATO provided Ukraine with weapons worth $20.9 bln in first half of 2024

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NATO disintegration is just a matter of time, says Politico

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Kiev ready for ceasefire along current front line, without recognizing new border — media

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Undocking of Crew Dragon with cosmonaut Grebenkin on board due on Oct. 20 or later — NASA

The undocking was again delayed by weather conditions

US attacks five underground Houthi weapons depots in Yemen — Pentagon chief

Lloyd Austin emphasized that the US strikes would "further degrade the Houthis' capability to continue their destabilizing behavior," as well as allegedly help ensure the safety of US and partner forces

Prisoner of war says Ukraine has no missiles for anti-tank systems

Yevgeny Khotenko noted that he did not want to cross into the Kursk Region

Iran tells US it wouldn’t respond to 'limited' Israeli strike — report

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All African states to take part in Russia-Africa meeting of foreign ministers in Sirius

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Idea of Russia’s ‘strategic defeat’ absolutely illusory — Russian embassy

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European Council President Charles Michel said the European Council is also expected to send a signal to the Georgian government, threatening it to freeze the country’s European integration process if Tbilisi fails to change its political course

Tula engineers deliver 4,000 kamikaze drones with computer vision to Russian troops

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NATO chief admits Ukraine won’t be next country to join organization

Mark Rutte opined that the best security guarantees are arms supplies and bilateral security agreements between Ukraine and NATO countries

Growing autonomy of Russian strike drones prompts US to boost its defenses — portal

According to Defense One, the United States plans to employ the Leonidas high-powered microwave system, which is designed to overload an incoming drone’s circuits with energy and knock it out

Ukraine’s military created network of underpasses near Ugledar — Russia’s top brass

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