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Russian coal exports to remain at 200 mln tons in 2026 — expert

The Asian coal market is currently experiencing a local reduction in output in China, as well as temporary supply disruptions in Australia due to flooding and plans to restrict production in Indonesia

MOSCOW, February 25. /TASS/. Russia’s coal exports in 2026 may remain at last year’s level of 195-200 mln tons due to high competition with foreign suppliers in the Asia-Pacific region, Andrey Smirnov, stock market analyst at BCS World of Investments, told TASS.

The Asian coal market is currently experiencing a local reduction in output in China, as well as temporary supply disruptions in Australia due to flooding and plans to restrict production in Indonesia, he said.

"On the other hand, in the first quarter of 2026 demand has been traditionally rising in China amid long national holidays. Demand has been reviving in India. Thus, the prospects for a temporary increase in demand for Russian coal are seen. Amid strong competition with foreign suppliers in Asian-Pacific countries it may help maintain export volumes at the 2025 levels (195-200 mln tons)," the expert said.

Without substantial diplomatic progress, it is difficult to talk about increasing shipments or reducing discounts, Smirnov noted. "In its baseline scenario, the Finance Ministry projects export growth to 225 mln tons by 2030," he said.

Foreign analysts estimate the month-on-month decline in coal miners’ revenues from export transactions in January 2026 at 23%, largely due to a strong ruble and low prices for Russian coal, Smirnov said.

"Shipment volumes have probably decreased, but not significantly. Moreover, we expect the supply structure seen in late 2025 to persist," he said, adding that "a substantial growth of coal imports from Russia was observed from Turkey (+22% year-on-year), Vietnam (+30%), and South Korea (+40%) in 2025.".

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The Russian budget indicators for this year may be amended subject to the market situation, Anton Siluanov noted

Russia’s Tornado-S MLRS equipped with GLONASS satellite navigation for precision strikes

The Tornado-S immediately leaves the dangerous area at maximum speed after striking, and a few minutes later can launch another attack from a different firing position

Western aid cannot solve problem of high losses among Ukrainian troops — Russian MP

Since the beginning of 2026, Kiev has already lost about 65,000 personnel

Russian UAV crews cut off power to Ukrainian facilities on Dnieper’s right bank

Despite difficult weather conditions and the enemy’s electronic warfare systems, Russian military personnel successfully completed their mission

United States received 80 mln barrels of oil from Venezuela — Trump

The US leader also said that American oil production had grown by more than 600,000 barrels per day

Control over Grafskoye allows Russian forces to advance south along Seversky Donets

The Defense Ministry reported earlier that servicemen of assault groups from the 82nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of Battlegroup North took control over Grafskoye

12 US F-22 fighter jets arrive in airbase in southern Israel — media

According to Kan, the fighter jets arrived in Israel as part of the US military deployment campaign in the Middle East

European Parliament passes first resolution omitting Ukrainian ‘military victory’

The document only calls for pressure on Russia to strengthen Kiev's negotiating position and provide military guarantees to Kiev after the signing of peace

EU policy adds fuel to fire of conflict in Ukraine — European Parliament member

It leads to its dangerous escalation, Danilo Della Valle said

Giatsint-B howitzer crews disrupt rotation of Ukrainian troops in Dobropolye area

During airborne reconnaissance, an unmanned aerial vehicle operator of the group’s unmanned systems troops located hidden enemy positions

Ex-UK Ambassador to Russia Brenton calls for stopping viewing Russians as enemies

The official says that people exaggerate, "see the Russian hand behind a lot of things"

Russian troops liberate Grafskoye community in Kharkov Region over past day — top brass

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,345 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours

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Permanent Representative to the OSCE Dmitry Polyansky says that the European countries are "trying to disrupt " the Russian, US peace efforts

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The Russian army expanded the control area near the Krivaya Luka locality

Ukraine may return to its 1654 borders after special military op ends — expert

Pepe Escobar pointed out that at the end of the conflict, Ukraine may be completely fragmented, as its neighboring countries dream of regaining the territories that Ukraine acquired thanks to the Soviet Union's political will

Russian troops continue to advance, battling near Svyatogorsk — DPR head

Denis Pushilin stressed that the advance in the north of the Donetsk People’s Republic was bringing closer a solution to the region’s water supply problem

Transfer of nukes to Kiev would be most significant threat to Russia since 1941 — expert

"It could be worse than the Cuban Missile Crisis, because a real confrontation is underway here, and the clock ticking toward nuclear catastrophe is evidently approaching a critical point," Andrey Marochko said

UK, France readying to arm Ukraine with nuclear bomb — Foreign Intelligence Service

According to the SVR, the British and the French realize that their plot is "a gross violation of the international law, first of all the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and carries the risk of destroying the global non-proliferation system"

Russia calls on Europe to reconsider its course of escalating confrontation — Nebenzya

Russia's permanent representative to the UN says that European countries should torpedo the ongoing negotiations

Russian scholar Andrey Lankov detained in Latvia — Delfi

Lankov was taken to an immigration service office

Russia aims at development of multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov says that Vietnam is a very important partner of Russia in Asia

Zelensky to lose power if Ukraine holds referendum on territorial issue — Russian MP

The majority of Ukrainians would vote differently from what Kiev wants, Viktor Vodolatsky said

Sanctions, support of population, tasks for 2026: Mishustin’s report to State Duma

The premier mentioned six tasks facing the state in 2026

Coalition of the willing confirms its intention to send troops to Ukraine

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US demands that Kiev should refrain from attacking American economic interests — envoy

Olga Stefanishina said the demarche from the State Department revealed that the United States does not currently have the same economic interests in Ukraine as it does in Kazakhstan

Russian troops liberate Rizdvyanka community in Zaporozhye Region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted roughly 170 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Msta-S crew hits Ukrainian fort in Dnepropetrovsk with Krasnopol shell

Live recording confirmed a direct hit on permanent firing positions and dugouts buried deep underground, as well as the destruction of enemy personnel and communications equipment

Nuclear bomb to turn Kiev into 'monkey with grenade' — Zaporozhye official

Anton Bibarov-Gosudarev said that the transfer, if it happens, will violate the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and become nonsense in international law

Russia could launch nuclear strikes on France, UK if they arm Kiev with nukes — Medvedev

"This is the proportional response that Russia has the right to," the Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman stressed

Ukrainian army preparing Odessa region for all-round defense

Denis Nosikov, head of the regional department of the South territorial defense forces, noted that various fortifications are being constructed around the region

Plans to supply Kiev with nuclear bomb breach international law — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov stressed that Moscow urged London and Paris to initiate parliamentary investigations

Vilnius, Kiev sign agreement on production of weapons for Ukraine in Lithuania

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Ukrainian troops facing difficulties due to Starlink shutdown — commander

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West wants to escalate Ukraine conflict to global level — Russian delegation in Vienna

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China pushes for strict compliance with obligations in nuclear non-proliferation — MFA

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said hopefully "all interested parties will take advantage of the launch of dialogue on the Ukraine crisis to reach a comprehensive, stable, and binding peace"

Top Hungarian diplomat secures US support for energy security amid Ukrainian blackmail

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Terrorist attack at Savelovsky railway station could have been recruitment result — Putin

The president stressed that this incident "requires additional work" from the FSB

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Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, February 25th

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Drone operators most often use high-explosive fragmentation munitions

Polish court dismisses appeal against detention of Russian archaeologist Butyagin

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The Ukrainian officer admitted that Ukraine’s allies were unaware of how quickly the situation changes during the conflict

Chinese leader, German chancellor meet in Beijing

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Tucker Carlson trying to talk Trump out of war with Iran — US expert

Andrew Napolitano believes that Trump's use of force against Tehran is practically predetermined

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Witkoff and Kushner to meet with Umerov in Geneva on February 26 — media

The next round of negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement may take place in ten days, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff says

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Andrey Marochko says that Ukrainian servicemen are unable to contain the advance of the Russian army

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The politician was hospitalized and is currently in serious condition

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"Until Trump does that, the war will continue," Leader of the Workers Party of Britain George Galloway said

US president mentions Russia twice in record State of the Union address

Donald Trump spoke of Russia in the context of the Ukrainian conflict and as he made a reference to the presence of Russian weapons off Venezuelan coast

Russia capable of fighting back if West transfers nuclear weapons to Kiev — envoy to UN

Vasily Nebenzya expressed hope that "reasonable people" in the UK, France would restrain their leaders from such steps

Kiev forces lost over 150 soldiers in Kostantinovka in 24 hours — military expert

Vitaly Kiselev says that almost 40 more Ukrainian soldiers were heavily wounded

Trump says he is working hard to facilitate Ukrainian conflict settlement

The conflict wouldn't have happened during his presidency, the official says

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Gennady Gatilov pointed out that Kiev "has to recognize the incorporation of the new regions into Russia and withdraw its armed forces from these territories"

British, French embassies make cliched statements about nukes for Kiev

According to Federation Council Deputy Speaker Konstantin Kosachev, there was no responsible, serious, or official high-level reaction

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Russian Embassy warns of energy markets destabilization risk due to UK sanctions

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Abbas Araghchi says a deal is within reach "but only if priority is given to diplomacy"

Russian PM outlines key goals for government in 2026

"The first and the key task is to preserve and increase our people," Mikhail Mishustin said

Zelensky’s nuclear ambitions risk global annihilation — Russia’s chief election official

Vladimir Zelensky risks pushing his country to face disastrous consequences, Ella Pamfilova noted

London, Paris blackmail Moscow by discussing transferring nukes to Kiev — lawmaker

London and Paris are currently trying their best to keep Ukraine as a weapon in their struggle against Russia

Russia’s upper house to request a German probe into plot to arm Kiev with nukes — senator

Konstantin Kosachev recalled that Berlin had decided to stay away from that scheme but the senator noted that Berlin had been contacted on the matter

Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia to team up to counteract Ukrainian blackmail — Szijjarto

The minister also said that he had agreed with Serbia’s Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic to accelerate the preparation to build an oil pipeline between the countries

Consequences of using nuclear bomb, Russian developments: Putin's statements

The Russian president said that Russia has promising defense and civilian developments, and some of them have not yet been publicly presented

West left Russia with no choice but to start special op — envoy to OSCE

Russia's opponents will not be able to silence the inconvenient truth about their years of interference, about their attempts to turn Ukraine into an ‘anti-Russia,’ Dmitry Polyansky said

Russia’s Krasnopol-M2 guided shell exceeds Western analogues in accuracy — Rostec

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Battlegroup West destroy 59 heavy combat quadcopters of Kiev troops in one day

The fighters also eliminated 39 drone control points, Spokesman for the Battlegroup West Ivan Bigma says

Ukraine turning into deserted zone amid military losses — MP

Mikhail Sheremet added that the policy of the Vladimir Zelensky regime has led what was once a prosperous Ukrainian state to an irreversible tragedy

Four killed, ten injured in Ukrainian drone attack on Smolensk Region facility — governor

According to Vasily Anokhin, the rescuers are working at the scene and have contained the fire

Consequences of US strikes against Iran difficult to predict — former UK envoy to Russia

Tony Brenton emphasized that one of the current Donald Trump’s campaign promises was to avoid dragging the country into "more big, long-term, remote wars"

Trump claims Iran has not promised to US to give up nuclear weapons

The US leader also says he will not allow Tehran to obtain the weapons

NATO fully funds all US arms deliveries to Ukraine — Trump

The American leader called NATO member states "friends and allies"

Roscosmos buys Earth observation satellite data from private company for first time

The Sputnix Group confirmed that the contract had been signed

Iran ready to do everything necessary to reach deal with US — senior diplomat

If there is a political will on all sides, the deal can be reached as soon as possible, Majid Takht-Ravanchi said

Russian diplomat sees UK, France flirting with Kiev over nukes

Maria Zakharova noted that, over the past week, the media had downplayed the news by diverting global attention

Next round of Russia-US-Ukraine talks expected in early March — Zelensky

The previous round of trilateral talks was held in Geneva on February 17-18

Ukrainian troops suffer heavy losses in Dnepropetrovsk Region — Russian security official

According to the source, the enemy is attempting to resist the advance of Russian troops, relying on surprise and taking advantage of weather conditions

Kiev would have destroyed Donbass if not for Russia — DPR head

Denis Pushilin added that thanks to Russia’s support, the region’s residents "persevered, became part of the family of Russian regions, and are now restoring Donbass"

US abstains from voting on anti-Russian General Assembly resolution on Ukraine

A total of 107 countries voted in favor, while 12 were against, including Russia, Belarus, Iran and North Korea

West’s goal is to give Zelensky time to rearm his forces — Russia’s OSCE envoy

Dmitry Polyansky says that this tactics is compatible with "today’s version of the so-called European values"

US to expand fuel exports to Cuba’s private sector amid energy crisis — newspaper

At present, Cuban business owners can purchase small amounts of fuel in the United States and ship it to the island

US military potential enough for only four or five days of strikes on Iran — newspaper

The newspaper noted that the start of the conflict could result in casualties among US military personnel, which would greatly affect the MAGA electorate

German defense minister confirms no supplies of Taurus missiles to Ukraine

"Taurus will not resolve and will not end this war," Boris Pistorius underscored

Macron acknowledges lack of unity in 'coalition of willing' on guarantees to Kiev — AFP

The French president also called it important to continue peace talks, but at the same time said he was "skeptical about the prospects for a quick agreement"

G7 undertakes commitment to work on nuclear safety in Ukraine — statement

The group also expressed its "continued support" to US President Donald Trump’s efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine

Kiev wants to exchange civilians for Ukrainians accused of crimes in Russia — ombudsman

Tatyana Moskalkova clarified that the Ukrainian individuals in question included those detained for aiding terrorists and neo-Nazis

Military commander says content on Telegram can be used against Russian troops

According to him, troops use a Russian messenger operating through channels of communication with certified security instead

Handover of nuclear weapons to Kiev to make NATO party to conflict — expert

Alexander Stepanov added that the transfer of nuclear technologies or warheads to the Kiev government will be another red line crossed, presenting an existential threat to Russia

UK PM’s spokesperson denies reports on London’s plans to transfer nuke arms to Kiev

The UK will continue its efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, a spokesman for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer added

NATO aircraft detected over neutral waters of Black Sea — air traffic controllers

The aircraft has already made several flights over the waters at an altitude of about 10 km, without entering the airspace of any country except its departure point in Romania

Iranian government confirms talks with US in Geneva on February 26

Spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani added that Iranian Foreign Ministry officials will report on the progress of the consultations

IN BRIEF: Russia’s stance on UK, French plans to hand over nuclear weapons to Kiev

Paris and London’s plans to transfer nuclear technologies to Kiev for the purpose of creating a bomb as bordering on insanity, Dmitry Peskov said

Russia’s drones destroy two M109 Paladin self-propelled howitzers of Ukrainian troops

The first drone hit destroyed the weapon’s camouflage net, and the next two direct hits by the unmanned aerial vehicles disabled the enemy self-propelled gun