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Passenger traffic of Russian airlines rises by 0.3% in two months

Deputy Head of Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency Alexey Buyevich noted that in 2025 Russian airlines carried 108.8 mln passengers, which was 2.5% below forecast expectations

MOSCOW, March 24. /TASS/. Russian airlines recorded a slight increase in passenger traffic of about 0.3% in January-February 2026, Deputy Head of Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency Alexey Buyevich said on RBC radio.

"The first two months of this year showed a slight increase, about 0.3%. There is confidence that we will be able to carry the same volume of passengers that we transported in 2025," Buyevich said.

He noted that in 2025 Russian airlines carried 108.8 mln passengers, which was 2.5% below forecast expectations. According to him, the decline was due to airspace usage restrictions. The lost passenger flow amounted to about 660,000 passengers.

"But overall, the industry shows that with fairly high seat load factors we continue to operate flights and schedules confidently," he added.

Qatar to lose over 60% of energy exports due to Israel-US-Iran conflict

According to Qatar Energy CEO Saad bin Sharid al-Kaabi, Qatari gas condensate exports will fall by approximately 24%, liquefied petroleum gas by 13%, helium by 14%, and naphtha and sulfur by 6%

Oil traders ramp up bets ahead of US President’s Iran talks update — FT

According to the publication, approximately 6,200 contracts for Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude oil were traded

US in contact with ‘top person’ in Iran, but not supreme leader — Trump

According to the US President, information about the new contacts between the US and Iran probably "hasn't been conveyed" to the officials in the Islamic Republic who are denying it

Death toll from Colombia military plane crash rises to 34, with 21 people missing — TV

77 people were injured during the accident, 43 of them were taken to Bogota's hospitals

Strait of Hormuz to reopen immediately if US, Iran reach deal — Trump

The US leader said that in this case, the strait would be "jointly controlled"

Hungarian NGO supports Orban's call for creation of European security system with Russia

Head of the Hungarian Community for Peace Endre Simo says that good relations with Russia and a peace between East and West correspond to Hungary's national interests

EU energy crisis of its own making, Russia snub to blame — Dmitriev

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is still too slow to admit that it is critical in the EU, the special presidential envoy said

EU could deploy mission to Hormuz Strait after hostilities end — EC president

Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need to "come to a solution that is negotiated," while also noting a critical situation for the energy supply allies

Zelensky cares not about country but tries to remind West of his usefulness — Nebenzya

Russia's permanent representative to the UN mentioned Zelensky's deployment of Ukrainian military specialists and drone crews to the Middle East

Russia puts 16 Rassvet constellation satellites into low orbit

They were taken under control by the Bureau 1440's Mission Control Center

Ukraine-launched UAV crashes on Lithuanian territory, Defense Ministry says

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Iranian drones disrupt work of Amazon data centers in Bahrain — company

The company noted that it is temporarily redirecting customers to other AWS regions

Preps for Putin’s visit to China, new Ukraine talks: MFA statements

According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, Moscow is ready for negotiations on the Ukrainian settlement, but no specific dates have been determined yet

Iran wants all sanctions on it lifted before ending war — Khamenei’s adviser

Mohsen Rezaei says that Iran will not end the hostilities until the payment of compensations

Delays with Dragon destroyer reveals uselessness of UK’s military ‘umbrella’ — diplomat

Ambassador Andrey Kelin says countries of the region expect protection for allowing London to deploy military facilities

EU last in line for Russian energy supplies — Putin’s envoy

Kirill Dmitriev commented on a post by the BRICS News account during Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to Russia

Arctic Institute's director: We are close to year-round navigation on Northern Sea route

Alexander Makarov told TASS about what scientists can do to extend the navigation term

NATO launches Sea Shield 2026 exercise in Romania

The maneuvers organized by the Romanian Navy will take place in maritime, river, underwater, land, and air environments, the Romanian Defense ministry reported

Bank of Russia’s gold reserves in ounces fell to their lowest level since March 2022

This is the second consecutive month of decline in gold reserves in ounces

Iran’s IRGC confirms delivering missile strikes on Dimona, Eilat in Israel, US army bases

The names of the military bases affected by the attack were not disclosed

Russian lawmaker sees Zelensky trying to delay talks for more NATO weapons supplies

State Duma Deputy Mikhail Sheremet says that Kiev often uses delays in negotiations "to gain military advantage"

Republican election failure won't make Trump a 'lame duck,' says former Bush adviser

Tom Graham said that Donald Trump is a unique president

Israel not participating in potential US-Iran talks — news outlet

According to the report, US special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are involved in the talks

Press review: Russia ready for arms control reset with US and Mideast war's outlook hazy

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, March 24th

Russian drones fly up to 60 km behind Ukrainian defense lines near Kramatorsk — expert

Vitaly Kiselyov said it is necessary to increase the number of strikes on Ukrainian troops from FPV drones

Meeting between US, Iranian negotiators may be organized later this week — TV

According to the official, Washington is looking at appointing Vice President JD Vance the United States’ chief negotiator at the potential talks

US energy secretary considers Iranian control over Strait of Hormuz unacceptable

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would reopen without delay if Washington and Tehran reach an agreement in their ongoing discussions

Conflicting reports on talks, pause in strikes on energy sites: statements from Iran, US

TASS has compiled the main statements by the parties

Kiev believes medics to be Ukrainian military’s legitimate target — lawmaker

Sergey Yurchenko said that today the Ukrainian military attacked an ambulance and a hospital’s intensive care unit

Russia ready to mediate in Middle East conflict — Foreign Ministry

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed Russia's readiness to provide all possible assistance in resolving the existing contradictions in the Middle East by peaceful means, taking into account interests of all regional countries

US destroys 158 Iranian ships, Trump claims

Trump also said that launches of Iranian drones and missiles allegedly decreased by more than 90%

Moscow Military District receives new remote-controlled machine gun modules

The Trufel module is designed for remote operation of heavy machine guns and allows for real-time target observation and accurate fire at ranges of up to 2 km

US move to postpone strikes on Iran’s energy sites means no end to hostilities — newspaper

According to The New York Times, the US and Israel are "continuing to carry out other strikes against Iran"

Ukrainian special services meddle in Hungary’s elections — top diplomat

Peter Szijjarto pledged that if the ruling party wins the elections, Hungary will remain committed to its position on Ukraine, will not provide any assistance to that country and will do its best not to let it be admitted to the EU

US undermines allied relations with Gulf nations over Iran — expert

According to Marcus Vinicius De Freitas, regional economies have also begun to lose investment attractiveness

US has no good options regarding Iran — The Economist

To almost everyone else it is clear that America entered this war with a "flawed strategy," the article said

Iran to cause problems for US in other foreign policy areas — expert

According to Boris Rozhin, the US is already unable to supply Ukraine with missiles for eight or nine Patriot anti-aircraft missile system batteries

Israel’s air defenses cannot withstand massive Iranian strikes — La Repubblica

Military observer Gianluca Di Feo said that eighty missiles were used to repel the first wave of Iran’s retaliatory strike, with another 50 or so used during the conflict last June

Saudi Arabia, UAE may join conflict against Iran — newspaper

According to The Wall Street Journal, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and other regional countries are "unified" in their discontent with Iran

Ukrainian strikes affect over 130 Russians, including 10 children in past week — diplomat

According to Rodion Miroshnik, most deaths and injuries were caused by UAV attacks

Trump will not abandon Ukraine, says George W. Bush’s ex-advisor

Tom Graham recalled that quite intense settlement talks were underway six weeks ago

Ukraine’s military attacks Russia’s Belgorod Region with over 125 UAVs in past day

According to the regional crisis response center, the Rakityansky district came under an attack by eight Ukrainian drones, as a result of which four Emergencies Ministry employees suffered injuries

White House press secretary describes situation around talks with Iran as fluid

Karoline Leavitt said these are sensitive diplomatic discussions, and the United States will not negotiate through the press

Kiev faces biggest risk yet of losing US aid — media

According to the source, Washington does not believe that Kiev is capable of agreeing on the "key issue," referring to Ukraine’s withdrawal from Donbass

Iranian ambassador to Lebanon declared persona non grata — Foreign Ministry

The Iranian diplomat must leave Beirut by March 29

Ukraine loses 1,275 troops over past 24 hours — Russian Defense Ministry

The Ukrainian army suffered the heaviest losses in the Krasny Liman area, losing a tank, an armored combat vehicle, 20 motor vehicles and four ammunition depots

US orders 22 B-2 strategic bombers, Trump says

Washington is using these aircraft in the current US-Israeli military operation against Iran

Russia’s air defenses down 526 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over past 24 hours

The Defense Ministry reported that artillery units of Russia’s Battlegroup North destroyed over 1,000 Ukrainian targets in the Kharkov and Sumy Regions over the past week

Proposals on Middle East de-escalation must be addressed to US — Iranian Foreign Ministry

According to the statement, Iran is not the side that started that war

Press review: Washington plans Iran ground move as oil surge adds $41.5B to Russia

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, March 23rd

Iran not to blame for Middle East conflict — Omani top diplomat

Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi said that Oman is working intensively to put in place safe passage arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz

IN BRIEF: What is known about the detention of the tanker Deyna in the Mediterranean Sea

French President Emmanuel Macron claimed that the tanker was part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet

US operation on Kharg Island could awaken Iran's sleeping forces — expert

Marat Zembatov also did not rule out the possibility that the information about the operation on Kharg Island could be a US disinformation tactic

North Atlantic at risk as Ireland, UK align against Moscow — Russian envoy

Yury Filatov said that it will be taken into account in Russia's military planning

Belarusian president to travel to North Korea on March 25-26 — media

The two leaders will hold talks to discuss the full range of bilateral ties, identify major areas of mutual interest and the most promising projects, the news outlet said

Russia says silence on Arctic Metagaz attack makes Europe accomplice to Kiev's outrages

No European nation has condemned such actions of its Ukrainian wards, the statement says

Russia honors $65.6 mln Eurobond coupon payment — Finance Ministry

Payments were made in accordance with the decree of the Russian Federation on the temporary procedure of honoring state debt liabilities of the Russian Federation to residents and foreign creditors

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

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 235 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed four enemy armored combat vehicles in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Two killed, four others injured as blast rocks apartment building in Sevastopol — governor

Mikhail Razvozhayev says that the house partially collapsed, an adjacent residential building caught fire

Russian and Uzbek leaders discuss start of concrete work at NPP in Uzbekistan — Kremlin

The leaders discussed the implementation of several major joint projects in nuclear energy, industrial production, and transportation, the statement noted

US says it can take Kharg 'any time it wants,' but keeping it is another story — expert

Alexander Kharchenko noted that "Iran will not accept this painful blow and will actively use drones and ballistic missiles"

Progress MS-33 freighter with 2.5 metric tons of cargo to dock with ISS

Docking with the Poisk module of the Russian segment of the ISS is scheduled for 4:35 p.m. Moscow time

US eyes taking over Strait of Hormuz as final Iran 'endgame' move — media

Such an operation may last "at least weeks," the newspaper reports

Vietnam to have nuclear power generation capacity by 2034-2035 — Rosatom CEO

On March 23, Russia and Vietnam signed the intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in building the first nuclear power plant in Vietnam

Putin congratulates Kim Jong Un on his re-election

The Russian president stressed that Moscow highly values Kim’s personal contribution to strengthening bilateral ties

US needs to curb Israel for dialogue with Iran — former head of counterterrorism center

Former director of the US National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent believes that Israel will try to destroy the negotiations

Adviser to Iranian parliament speaker says talks with US won't go on as previously

According to Ebrahim Rasouli, Iran doesn’t want the countries that "have sold themselves out to America" and Israel to "derive profit from the Strait of Hormuz"

Ukrainian drone strike hits hospital ICU ward in Zapozorhye Region

Governor Yevgeny Balitsky said that emergency personnel were working at the site of the attack

Russian envoy points to Iran’s right to decide about IAEA’s access to Bushehr nuke plant

Mikhail Ulyanov warned against comparing the situations around the Zaporozhye and Bushehr nuclear power plants

North Korean parliament adopts amendments, supplements to Constitution

In particular, the Socialist Constitution was renamed as the Constitution of DPRK

About 25 new brands may enter Russian market this year — analysts

According to analysts, since the beginning of 2026 not a single new brand has entered the Russian market, while seven have left

Kiev needs to sign ‘capitulation documents’ to end Ukraine conflict — Russian MFA

Maria Zakharova stressed that any conflict was concluded by an agreement

Iran has no tankers at sea, no surplus of oil to export — ministry

The statement was made in response to an option proposed by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent of lifting sanctions on Iranian oil already loaded into tankers

Vorobey-10 drone carrying thermobaric munitions to be tested in special op zone

The Vorobey-10 has a range of approximately 15 km, and can carry a payload of up to 10 kg

US Army kills Valkyrie laser project after years of development

The 300-kilowatt IFPC-HEL, also known as "Valkyrie," was expected to be the most powerful combat laser in the US arsenal

Explosive-laden insoles intercepted and other terrorist plots foiled: FSB hard at work

Employees of the Russian Federal Security Service, the Interior Ministry, and the Federal National Guard Service were put on high alert

Russian envoy warns of 'saddest consequences' for those implicated in Bryansk attack

Ambassador to Great Britain Andrey Kelin emphasized that the attack was carried out after "political and diplomatic efforts on the Ukraine track were activated"

Israel, US strike gas pipeline, distribution station in Iran

The infrastructure and neighboring residential buildings were damaged, while no injuries have been reported

US wants to wind down Iran war by mid-April ahead of Trump's Israel Prize awarding — Ynet

The Americans have marked April 9 as the date for the end of the war, the source said

US’ unpredictability affects Europe’s security, interests — French top brass

The US doesn’t think it necessary to warn Europe when making decisions on military operations, Fabien Mandon said

Russia, Vietnam sign agreement on nuclear plant construction

Prime Ministers of Russia and Vietnam Mikhail Mishustin and Pham Minh Chinh took part in the document signing ceremony, as well as CEO of the Russian state nuclear corporation Alexey Likhachev

Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr appointed as new top Iranian security official

The decision was made with the endorsement of the Iranian supreme leader and the president’s decree

Fire in port of Primorsk, 249 UAVs: aftermath of attack on Russian regions

An apartment was damaged as a result of drone fragments hitting a multi-story building in the Tver Region

IN BRIEF: President Putin’s key statements at a meeting on economic issues

The president said that Russia needs to return to a path of sustainable economic growth

Blow to non-proliferation regime and IAEA acknowledgement: Russian diplomat’s statements

Now, nuclear sites "indeed, are targets for attacks," Mikhail Ulyanov noted

Lavrov stresses unacceptability of attacks on Iranian nuclear sites

According to the Russian foreign minister, the strikes are fraught with catastrophic environmental consequences

US strikes over 9,000 targets in Iran — Pentagon

More than 140 Iranian vessels have been damaged or destroyed, the US Central Command reported

Japanese serviceman storms Chinese embassy in Tokyo, threatens diplomats — Chinese MFA

According to the embassy’s statement, the perpetrator, who claimed to be an officer of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces, climbed over the fence and forced his way onto the premises of the diplomatic mission

FSB seizes shipment of shoe insoles rigged with explosives destined for special op zone

A Ukrainian handler ordered a foreign national to receive a shipment of 504 improvised explosive devices disguised as heated shoe insoles through a logistics company in Moscow

Russia 'negative' on Iran conflict spilling over to Caspian Sea region — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on media reports alleging that Israel had carried out strikes on Russian ships in the Caspian Sea

Israel believes US in contact with chairman of Iran’s Mejlis — TV

The source claimed that Israel was aware that several countries were making mediation efforts to start negotiations, but Israel was surprised by Donald Trump's statement that these contacts were progressing

Oil refining depth in Russia reach 84.2% in 2025 — Energy Ministry

The light oil products yield gained 10 percentage points over that period and totaled 65.8%

Iran still mulls closing Strait of Hormuz, not knowing US next move — TV

The official cited by Al Jazeera confirmed that Iran and the US "exchanged messages through Egypt and Turkey to reduce tensions"

Netanyahu says Trump told him about possible Iran deal

President Trump believes there is an opportunity to leverage the tremendous achievements we have reached alongside the US military to realize the goals of the war through an agreement, an agreement that will safeguard our vital interests, Netanyahu said in a short video message distributed by his office

Kim Jong Un praises North Korea’s rejection of denuclearization as 'right decision'

The country’s leader emphasized that Pyongyang had, in a timely manner, "recognized the unchanging nature of imperialist forces striving for hegemony with ever-increasing intensity"

Today's global conflicts make it look like WWIII has started already: Lavrov’s remarks

According to the Russian top diplomat, developments in Latin America and the Middle East are a direct result of the West’s attempts to preserve the remnants of its dominance

Colombian military plane crash death toll revised up to 66 — TV

57 people were hospitalized

If Zelensky were smarter, he’d travel to Moscow for talks — Finnish politician

It makes no sense for Vladimir Zelensky to continue this war, Armando Mema said

Iran wants US to provide it with solid peace guarantees — newspaper

According to the report, Tehran also seeks to lift certain sanctions

EC postpones publication of ban on Russian oil imports for EU countries

Initially, April 15 was discussed, but the ban clause has now disappeared from the European Commission's agenda

Pakistan ready to host US-Iran talks — diplomat

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tahir Hussain Andrabi says that Islamabad is ready for the talks "if both sides agree"