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AvtoVAZ expects 15% decline in sales in February, plans to sell over 20,000 Lada cars

Maxim Sokolov noted a significant decline in the volume of auto loans, with about two-thirds of buyers using loans

MOSCOW, February 17. /TASS/. AvtoVAZ has adjusted its sales plans for February 2026 by 15%, and it hopes to sell more than 20,000 cars this month, the company’s head Maxim Sokolov said.

"We have already adjusted our plans for February, and significantly - by 15%, but in terms of sales rates we are not even reaching this adjustment trajectory today," he told reporters on the sidelines of the Week of Russian Business forum.

"I hope more than 20,000 (cars will be sold - TASS)," Sokolov said when speaking about the sales forecast for February.

The market has been showing pessimistic dynamics at the beginning of the year, according to the company's head. He also noted a significant decline in the volume of auto loans, with about two-thirds of buyers using loans.

The Central Bank's decision to cut the key rate by 0.5 percentage points has not yet revived the market, Sokolov added.

TASS is the general information partner of the Week of Russian Business.

Hainan sees significant increase in tourist traffic on Chinese New Year holidays

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Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth say in a joint op-ed that US allies often wait for several years

Russia still trying to nail down Board of Peace mission — senior diplomat

According to Sergey Ryabkov, Moscow has been quite open about its position on the Board of Peace

Bank of Russia to study AI effect on economy, competition

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Testing of universal tanker for Russian Aerospace Forces to be completed in 2026

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Russian delegation to arrive in Geneva on February 17 — source

According to the source, the delegation will fly back on Wednesday evening

Swiss embassy issues visas to Russian journalists for negotiations in one day

The visas are issued for the dates of the trip

West succeeded in making Ukraine European in terms of Nazism — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says that Moscow has always regarded Ukraine "as a sovereign, independent state"

Ukrainian army carries out two attacks on Donetsk People’s Republic in past day

Local authorities say, one civilian was injured, some road-building equipment was damaged

Ukraine's hardest attack: Bryansk Region recovering after UAV raid

More than 170 fixed-wing drones were shot down over the region

Russian stock indices in the green on Monday — market data

The ruble-denominated MOEX Russia Index gained 0.23% to 2,782.6 points, while the dollar-denominated RTS Index ticked up by 0.98% to 1,144.06 points

Any attempt to impose naval blockade on Russia illegal — Maritime Board chair

Nikolay Patrushev stressed that if the situation could not be resolved peacefully, the blockade would be broken and lifted by the Navy

Explosion reported in southern Ukrainian city of Odessa

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Ukraine evacuates Kupyansk residents as Russian army advances — administration head

Vitaly Ganchev said said the Kharkov Regional State Administration with the help of the military is in touch with the civilians, trying to provide them with everything they need or organize an evacuation

Lithuania outlines priorities of its EU council presidency

President Gitanas Nauseda stressed that for Ukraine to become a full member by 2030, further negotiations and political determination are needed, emphasizing that this was ditto for Moldova

Hungary expects Russian oil supplies through Croatia to begin in March

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Ukraine will only win as part of Russia, lawmaker says

Andrey Kartapolov highlighted that European politicians had already realized their defeat and were making such statements to justify themselves before their citizens

European leaders deluding themselves hoping for Ukraine’s victory over Russia — Orban

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Russian troops advance West of Orekhov in Zaporozhye Region — military expert

Andrey Marochko said the liberation of Orekhov is "a key to Zaporozhye city"

Washington, Tehran may discuss US access to Iran’s mineral resources — TV

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Large Flamingo missile production line destroyed in Ukraine, Zelensky admits

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Geneva authorities ensure security of Russian negotiators — source

Geneva is very enthusiastic about hosting the negotiations, the source says

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Munich Conference ignores all problems except Ukraine — Russian MP

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Russia-China contacts yield visible results — Chinese ambassador

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Series of explosions rocks southern Ukrainian city of Odessa

Air raid warnings are in effect in the region

New round of Russia-US-Ukraine talks to take place in Geneva

Presidential Aide Vladimir Medinsky will lead the Russian delegation

EU to save face by using frozen Russian assets to rebuild Gaza Strip — RSPP head

Alexander Shokhin noted that such a project could involve the participation of Russia, the United States, and the European Union

Russian presidential aide says time for BRICS to gain strategic maritime dimension

Nikolay Patrushev recalled the exercises held in January and February to protect sea lanes from Western piracy

Poland to sue Russia for alleged Cold War-era damage — newspaper

According to the newspaper, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk tasked a group of historians to examine events of World War II and the subsequent decades of the Cold War, as well as the negative consequences reportedly caused by Soviet influence

Russia should focus on creating high-tech fleet — presidential aide

Technological leadership is one of the priorities included in the Navy’s Development Strategy and the Shipbuilding Program until 2050, Nikolay Patrushev said

Sergey Ivanov removed as permanent member of Russia’s Security Council

In early February, Sergey Ivanov was relieved of his post as special representative of the head of state on environmental protection, ecology and transport

Zelensky's accusations cannot force Hungary to approve Ukraine's EU accession — PM

Viktor Orban warned that his government would not change its stance on the issue

Putin creates national committee for business cooperation in BRICS

Deputy head of the Russian presidential administration Maxim Oreshkin became the head of the committee

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Odessa, Kropyvnytskyi, Dnepropetrovsk are witnessing blasts. Air raid warnings are in effect in several more cities

Almost 500,000 Chinese tourists visit Moscow in 2025

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Russia, Ukraine discuss return of Kursk Region residents — ombudswoman

Tatyana Moskalkova said that the Ukrainians rescued by Russia from the war zone and taken to a safe place have already left for their homeland, provided they had documents

Senior Russian MP warns Poland against pursuing nuclear weapons

According to Andrey Kartapolov, European politicians are currently indulging in "sabre-rattling, boasting about weapons they have and those they don’t"

Ukraine breaks records by firing 200 munitions at Belgorod Region in one day — envoy

According to Rodion Miroshnik, five civilians were killed in strikes by Ukrainian military in the region over the week

Russia’s UAV platoon in Zaporozhye area makes 1,000 successful sorties

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Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev says about 24 drones were destroyed

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

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 170 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 18 enemy motor vehicles in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Estonia Foreign Ministry summons Russian ambassador over Putin’s comments on Narva

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Diplomatic efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict began almost immediately after the onset of Russia’s special military operation in late February 2022

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Local militants blame the staff command for leaking coordinates to the Russian side

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Nikolay Patrushev also noted that although the West "dominated the seas for a long time, until the start of this century," its hegemony is now "largely a thing of the past"

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Sergey Ryabkov said that "if somebody assumes 'experiments' may be continued, it may have a sad end"

Georgia holds televised debates on potential EU membership

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Sergey Nechayev said there are too many in the West who are all-in on conflict with Russia

Over 600 Palestinians killed in Gaza Strip as result of ceasefire violations by Israel

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Plane carrying Russian delegation for talks on Ukraine arrives in Geneva — source

The flight from Moscow to Geneva took nine hours and bypassed unfriendly countries

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US blogger calls London’s idea of allowing children to change gender identity madness

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Russia’s naval shipbuilding to address need to protect its economic activity — Patrushev

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Kiev engaging in energy blackmail against EU member by blocking supplies to Hungary

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Ukrainian army chief points to difficult situation in Gulyaipole area

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Ukraine loses 2,000 mercenaries, elite forces personnel in Gulyaipole — expert

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Lukashenko says offered US ideal scenario for Venezuela, but they 'did silly thing'

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