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Russians' demand for tours to Europe up 30-50% in 2025 — tourism union

Experts expect the number of requests submitted in Russia for Schengen visas to exceed 700,000 by the end of 2025

MOSCOW, August 22. /TASS/. Russian tourists' demand for tours to European countries has increased by 30-50% in 2025 compared to last year, the press service of the Russian Union of Travel Industry (RST) reported.

"According to tour operators, the interest in tours to Europe has grown by 30-50% this year. Italy, France and Spain are the most popular destinations," the report said.

Experts expect the number of requests submitted in Russia for Schengen visas to exceed 700,000 by the end of 2025. The current growth in the number of applications averages 18-22% compared to last year.

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Volume of household funds in Russian banks edges down by 0.04% in November — regulator

There was a small shift from ruble current accounts to term deposits

Anglo-Saxon nations tap into Soviet-era tactics to 'decolonize' Russia anew — Medvedev

The senior Russian official recalled a briefing in the US Congress on the "decolonization of Russia" in June 2022, as well as the financial and media support provided by the Anglo-Saxons to the terrorist organization "Free Nations of Post-Russia Forum"

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Gloomy mood in European Commission’s headquarters — Politico

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US can gain control of Greenland without 'firing a shot' — EP member

Anders Vistisen also noted that Denmark "cannot defend Greenland alone"

Ukraine’s major oil producer Ukrnafta sustains critical damage

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Medvedev suggests encouraging separatism in West as countermeasure

"Separatism is a gamble that can be played by two," the politician noted

Russian troops pressing Ukrainian army in Krasny Liman direction — expert

Igor Kimakovsky said that Russian forces are also successfully fighting near the settlement of Ozyornoye

Air defenses down 172 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions overnight

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Brazil interested in Russian diesel, gasoline supplies — ambassador to Moscow

Sergio Rodrigues dos Santos emphasized that "diesel is especially important because Brazil's transportation system relies heavily on road freight"

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New German intelligence chief holds phone call with Russian counterpart — portal

The WDR broadcasting company’s investigative unit described the conversation as "a rare instance of direct contact between German and Russian agencies"

US pressuring Venezuela to change its government — Russian envoy

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Dmitriev jokes European Commission chief would be banned from entering US

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Hungary refuses to ignore 'constitutional coup' in EU — minister for EU affairs

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Putin to attend plenary session of Russian Federation Council — Kremlin

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Viktor Orban said that Europe could have sent a peace mission to Moscow and Kiev instead of declaring their conflict its own war

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Russian reconnaissance drones penetrating deep behind Ukrainian lines — expert

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Ukrainian troops try to bypass Russian EWF systems using short-range UAVs — developer

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Russia, China promote new world order standing back-to-back — Russian ambassador

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Russian air defenses destroy drone en route to Moscow

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Europe has 'epiphany' on Ukraine negotiations — opposition figure

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Belarusian KGB sniffs out foreign spy ring eavesdropping on pilots — report

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Corruption in Biden's team at root of Ukrainian conflict — Dmitriev

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Russian air defenses destroy drone en route to Moscow

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Top Syrian diplomat says country’s relations with Russia enter new stage

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At least 5 people were on board plane that crashed near Ankara — Turkish interior minister

The Libyan Army Chief of Staff Muhammad al-Haddad was also on board the Falcon 50 aircraft

Putin warned Bush that NATO membership would split Ukraine — declassified documents

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Russia’s Novocheboksarsk minesweeper conducts patrol sweep in Baltic Sea

The ship's crew also practiced laying out contact and non-contact sweeps

Russia, Brazil plan to increase trade in national currencies — ambassador to Moscow

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Hungarian PM rings alarm bell on war

Viktor Orban added that some proposals and decisions made at the European Union summit on December 18-19 were aimed at escalating the conflict in Ukraine and further antagonizing Russia

Europe's biggest nightmare is Ukraine deal on Russia's terms — senior diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov said that nobody can rewrite history

Debris of plane crash near Ankara located - NTV

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Ukraine conflict likely to end in 2026 on terms unfavorable to Kiev — Politico

Foreign affairs columnist Jamie Dettmer doubts a €90 billion loan will be sufficient to keep Ukraine solvent

Russian scientists create 72-qubit quantum computer — Rosatom Quantum Technologies

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

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 160 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy armored combat vehicles in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Parties to negotiations on Ukraine discussing four final documents — US NATO envoy

There is a 20-point peace plan, together with sort of the multilateral security guarantees, the US specific security guarantees, and the post-peace economic growth and prosperity plan, Matthew Whitaker said

Kiev loses about 20 battalions in fighting near Vilcha — expert

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Emergence of BRICS payment system quite possible — ambassador to Moscow

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None of BRICS members wants to leave association — Brazilian ambassador to Russia

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Russian Cabinet fixes grain export quota for H1 2026

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