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EU’s purchases of Russian pipeline gas, LNG fall 10% in January-May

The main importers were France, Spain and Belgium

MOSCOW, July 16. /TASS/. The European Union (EU) purchased Russian pipeline gas worth 2.4 bln euros and liquefied natural gas (LNG) worth 3.7 bln euros between January and May, according to Eurostat data and TASS calculations. Total purchases of Russian gas by the EU fell by 10% in the reporting period to 6.1 bln euros.

In May, EU countries paid 925 mln euros for LNG from Russia. The main importers were France (369 mln euros), Spain (305 mln euros), and Belgium (211 mln euros). The EU also imported Russian pipeline gas worth 575 mln euros in May.

The share of Russian LNG in total liquefied gas imports by EU countries stood at 22.3% in May. The United States ranked first with a 56.3% share.

The share of Russian pipeline gas in the total value of the European Union’s pipeline gas imports was 15.2% in May. Norway took first place with 30.8%, followed by Algeria in second place with 27.2%, and the UK in fourth place with 12.8%.

X5 retailer’s Q2 2026 revenue rises by 9.9% to $16.54 bln

Revenue from the company’s digital businesses increased by 25.4% year-on-year to $1.10 bln

Iranian ambassador to Tajikistan says US failed in attempts to control Strait of Hormuz

Ali Mojtaba Rouzbehani pointed out the republic's comprehensive military, missile, and geopolitical strength

Those plotting 'new campaign' against Russia should remember lessons of history — MFA

Maria Zakharova advised them to stop deluding themselves into believing they can inflict a strategic defeat on Russia

NATO unleashed over 30 military adventures in past 25 years — Russian SC official

Yury Kokov added that trillions of dollars were spent on these activities

VK, Max apps disappear from Google Play

Installed services and apps continue to work normally, VK said

Coalition of the Willing troops in Ukraine, Western sanctions: Foreign Ministry briefing

The conflict in Ukraine can only be resolved if arms supplies to Kiev stop, Maria Zakharova said

Pentagon blocks publication of F-35 fighter jet program report — Bloomberg

This is the first year that the acquisition reviews has been determined to contain CUI information and be restricted from public release

Russian defense chief notified of UAV unit’s analytical groups formation

The task of these groups is to provide a detailed analysis of the use of unmanned systems and organize a more effective use of drones to engage the enemy

Russia does not see real desire from Paris to seek peaceful solutions on Ukraine

Maria Zakharova said that Emmanuel Macron's approach fits into the current ruling European elites’ course of deterring Russia, wearing the "tricorn hat of the war party"

Russian, Myanmar special forces hold joint skills demonstration — Russian Defense Ministry

The ministry specified that during the training, the servicemen of the two countries used FPV drones and the Kurier ground robotic system

Argentina to face Spain in World Cup final

The team beat England 2-1

Zaporozhye nuke calls chief engineer killing breach of nuclear facilities safety principle

Nuclear facilities "should always remain beyond politics and violence," the statement read

Trump believes Ukrainian crisis to be resolved before end of his presidential term

The US president thought it would have ended before

One civilian killed, several injured as air defenses down 375 drones over Russia

The Ukrainian UAVs were shot down over 19 Russian regions

EU readies infrastructure for large-scale military conflict — diplomat

Attention is being paid, among other things, to adapting the civilian transport and logistics infrastructure to the tasks of military planning and operational mobility, Yulia Zhdanova said

Von der Leyen, Vucic, Sandu, other leaders arrive in Kiev

They are expected to meet with Zelensky and participate in the Southeast European summit

Press review: EU struggles on Russia sanctions while Moscow trade surplus grows

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, July 14th

Iran could target US bases if Washington launches ground operation — ex-foreign minister

Iranian lawmaker and former Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki pointed out that all previous agreements with Washington, including the recent memorandum of understanding, "were nothing but deception"

Russian defense chief inspects Battlegroup Center

The head of the formation’s department of unmanned systems forces reported to Andrey Belousov that the battlegroup had fully formed new units of unmanned systems forces and provided them with the necessary resources

Spring draft brings 141,000 conscripts into Russian Armed Forces

The spring conscription campaign has concluded, the Defense Ministry says

Iran has no plans to negotiate with US, focused on defense — agency

Russia, China interested in developing energy cooperation

The participants of the meeting also shared views on cooperation within international organizations such as APEC, the SCO, and BRICS

Messi named Man of the Match in World Cup semifinal win over England

Argentina's forward provided two assists

Europe faces wave of Kiev-orchestrated terrorist attacks — DPR head

Denis Pushilin expressed confidence that Kiev would stage more terrorist attacks following the explosion in Monaco

Iranian military says attacks on US bases to continue until ‘ultimate victory’

The IRGC has launched six drone attacks on US bases in the Middle East

Senator Lindsey Graham dies at 71

Republican Senator passed away from a brief and sudden illness

IRGC strikes US Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan — Mehr agency

According to data obtained by the news agency, the IRGC hit communications systems and fuel storage facilities of the US Armed Forces

EU pays highest amount for Russian gas in nearly 1.5 years in May

In May, the EU imported a total of 1.5 bln euro worth of Russian gas

FACTBOX: What we know about removal of Max and VK apps from Google Play

Previously installed services and applications continue to function normally without restrictions

Russia, China bring increased stability, confidence in development to world — Chinese MFA

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian noted that relations between the two countries are developing under the strategic leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping

Europe is banking on Russia’s military defeat - envoy to OSCE

Dmitry Polyansky pointed out that the rhetoric and actions of Britain, France, Germany, Finland, and anti-Russian figures from Central and Eastern Europe have nothing to do with genuine efforts to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine and across the continent

NATO, EU use radical tools of international terrorism — Russian Security Council

Deputy Secretary Yury Kokov noted that the use of violent methods for their own purposes has become "common practice for Anglo-Saxon financial elites"

US airstrikes in Iran kill 35 over past day, authorities say

Health Ministry Spokesman Hossein Kermanpour said that the number of killed citizens could rise

West to justify killing of Zaporozhye nuclear power plant chief engineer — Duma deputy

Mikhail Sheremet says the IAEA will "again take an ambivalent blurred position" on the incident

Ukraine's killing of ZNPP chief engineer another attempt to threaten plant's safety — MFA

The ministry noted that the extreme danger of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' presence near the Zaporozhye NPP is now more evident than ever

Von der Leyen promises Kiev ‘safe and secure production sites’ for drones to attack Russia

The European Commission President also promised "huge technological and industrial capacity" in Europe

US ends second series of strikes on Iran in 24 Hours — CENTCOM

The Central Command says the US struck Iranian command centers, air defense, missile, and drone sites, as well as coastal observation posts

Russia creating wheeled heavy-duty robot named after esteemed WWII general

The platform is designed for logistics missions such as the delivery of provisions, water, combat ammunition loads and medicines

Serbia to stay out of military anti-Russian coalition being created by EU — Vulin

"Serbia did not sign the anti-Russian declaration in Kiev," the former Serbian deputy prime minister said

Iran warns of destroying all US infrastructure in region after Trump’s threats

According to the statement, the Strait of Hormuz is a red line for Iran and the country will not tolerate US interference in controlling it

PayPal payment system being considered for acquisition for over $53 bln

A merger between Stripe and PayPal would create the world’s largest payment operator with an annual turnover of around $1.9 trillion

Kiev regime’s reshuffle is of little significance to Russia — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov stressed that resolving the situation and ensuring its interests were more important things for Russia

Cabinet reshuffle in Ukraine, economic challenges: key topics of new Kremlin briefing

The Kremlin is following what’s going on in and around Ukrainian politics amid the ongoing special military operation, Dmitry Peskov said

Protests over defense minister’s dismissal spread across 14 Ukrainian cities

The largest rally is taking place in Kiev, where hundreds have gathered near the government quarter

Rostec unveils Pautina system for protection of industry facilities from drones

The state corporation said that the Pautina is capable of protecting facilities over 25 meters high and of any size

Closure of Bab el-Mandeb Strait by Houthis to deal blow to container shipping market

According to Vice President of the Russian International Affairs Council Mikhail Margelov, this event would not have a critical impact on oil supplies

Russia expresses readiness for contacts regarding Ukrainian settlement — Turkish MFA

Hakan Fidan highlighted that beyond a fundamental willingness to negotiate, the specific negotiating positions are also crucial

Russian agricultural exports rise 26% in H1, exceed $20 bln

According to head of the federal Agroexport center Ilya Ilyushin, exports of grain and pulses rose by 43%, oil and fat products by 22%, fish and seafood by 28%, dairy products by 20%, confectionery by 13%, and processed food products by 15%

Ukraine supports Turkey's security initiatives in Black Sea — Fidan

The Turkish foreign minister emphasized that "the war impacts every sector," but Turkey advocates for a focused, separate approach to addressing security of navigation and energy supplies

New Russia-Ukraine prisoner swaps on deck, Kiev’s terror: ombudswoman’s key statements

Human rights commissioners are a "major shield protecting human rights" in Russia, Yana Lantratova said

IN BRIEF: What we know about death of Zaporozhye nuke chief engineer from Ukrainian strike

On July 15, Ukraine struck a service vehicle of the nuclear power plant with a drone, killing Alexander Yakovlev and his driver

Russian forces hammer Ukrainian long-range UAV storage sites in past day

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,450 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours

Press review: US, Iran vie for Hormuz leverage as Russia, US conclude ISS program by 2030

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, July 15th

Zaporozhye legislator slams trial against founder of SOS Donbass in Paris as hypocrisy

Stepan Kuvachev condemned the trial as baseless and politically driven

Ukrainian forces attack DPR 24 times over past day

Four civilians were injured

US Air Force aircraft twice attack Iranian port of Sirik in Strait of Hormuz — TV

No information on casualties has been reported

Russia-China transactions in dollars, euros diminished to ‘negligible level’ — Lavrov

The foreign minister says that financial settlements between Russia and China have been almost entirely converted to national currencies

Ruble’s share in payments by countries in Americas at historic high in May

The ruble’s share in payments by countries of the Americas for imports from Russia reached an all-time high of 71.6% in May

Consulate general investigates detention of Russians in Istanbul's Hagia Sophia mosque

Sources inside the Istanbul police confirmed the incident but declined further comment

Trump says sets no deadline for expanding strikes on Iran

According to the US president, the Iranian leadership should be "better behaved"

What we know about detention of man who planned sabotage at oil company in Russia’s Yugra

The detainee has confessed to plotting a terrorist attack on an oil company in Nyagan

Auterion, Skyfall to deliver 50,000 AI-powered Shrike FPV drones to Ukraine

The enterprise noted that the procurement is being financed by an unnamed NATO member in Europe

Russian forces target logistical chains supplying Ukraine with weapons — MP

Russia is thereby responding to the Kiev regime’s terrorist attacks on Russian regions, Leonid Ivlev said

International Handball Federation allows Russian teams to participate in tournaments

The IHF said that full reintegration may require a transition period for both Russian and Belarusian teams and officials

Russian forces approach several Ukrainian positions near Slavyansk — DPR head

Denis Pushilin added that Slavyansk is located in a lowland relative to these positions

Russian forces systematically push Ukrainian troops from Omelnik — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that Russian troops are particularly successful in advancing in the areas of Novoselovka and Verkhnyaya Tersa

Russian stock market declines at start of trading

As of 10:00 Moscow time, the MOEX and RTS indices fell by 1.93%

MOEX Index drops below 2,100 points for first time since Dec 2022 — trading data

By 07:15 a.m. Moscow time, the MOEX Index stood at 2,084.51 points

Mutual tourism of Russia and China grows at double-digit rates — Lavrov

The foreign minister says that the increase has been significantly supported by the existing visa-free travel regime between the two countries

European leaders hold their peoples hostage to military-terrorist bloc — Russian SC

Yury Kokov said that a policy of 'double standards' is widely applied, where the same radical group can be recognized as a terrorist one day and a fighter for democracy the next

Sandu’s visit to Kiev paves way for arms transit through Moldova — expert

This view is bolstered by the fact the Russian Armed Forces are actively destroying ammunition depots in Ukraine, creating a pressing demand for arms supplies, Dmitry Sorokin said

Russian grain exports gain 11% to 61 mln tons in 2025-2026 season

Egypt, Turkey, and Iran were the largest importers of Russian grain products during the season

Foreign interference in Russia intensifies ahead of elections — Security Council

According to Deputy Secretary of Russia's Security Council Yury Kokov, attempts to destabilize the situation from within have failed to produce the desired effect

Military-industrial complex drew EU into NATO's sphere — Russian Security Council official

According to Yury Kokov, NATO has transformed from a defensive alliance into a tool for promoting the agendas of powerful military corporations

Russian exports of grain, grain-based products up 69% year-to-date

An increase in grain shipments from Russia was recorded: to Turkey, Egypt, China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Sudan, Kenya

Sergey Koretsky appointed Ukraine’s new prime minister

A total of 289 lawmakers supported the decision

Russia tests Perun laser system against all types of drones

According to Svarog, the system has proven highly efficient in countering UAVs during field tests

Russian opponents hit civilian targets out of despair, achieve nothing — security council

The bet on strategically defeating Russia has failed, and it is becoming increasingly evident day by day, Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Yury Kokov stressed

Russian troops advance northeast of Svyatogorsk in DPR — expert

According to Andrey Marochko, the combat conditions are the most intense in the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk area

EU defense spending nearing pre-World War II levels, Russian diplomat says

According to various estimates, planned defense-industrial spending in some member states is approaching the levels seen on the eve of World War II," Yulia Zhdanova said

Press review: Trump stuck over Iran war and Zaporozhye chief’s killing may affect peace

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, July 16th

Ukrainian attacks on Belgorod region injure five people, including two children

Three civilian women were injured when an FPV drone detonated in the city of Shebekino

Zelensky to submit interior minister’s candidacy for defense minister post to parliament

Current head of the National Police Ivan Vygovsky will take over the post of the interior minister

Long-range Ukrainian strikes possible only with Western help — Russian Security Council

Deputy Secretary Yury Kokov says that in particular, Kiev receives technical support in reconnaissance, targeting, and logistics

Russia's calm progress toward its goals angers opponents — Security Council official

Russian military personnel, confident in their capabilities, are diligently executing their assigned tasks, Yury Kokov noted

Russian forces strike Ukrainian long-range UAV storage sites in past day — top brass

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,505 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours

Ukrainian military uses Grad multiple rocket launcher to attack Russia’s Bryansk Region

The attack killed a 15-year-old girl and her grandmother

Millions sign online petition demanding Argentina be booted from World Cup

The petition claims that FIFA and the referees are biased toward Lionel Messi and the Argentininan national team

EU ambassadors fail to agree on 21st package of anti-Russia sanctions — source

Negotiations have been postponed until next week

Russian defense chief orders to refine hardware-software to assess UAV crews

Andrey Belousov emphasized the importance of innovations for better assessment of UAV crews’ performance

Kremlin briefing covers US sanctions plans against Russia, Baltic ‘fearmongering’

Dmitry Peskov revealed that Moscow had received signals through existing channels that the US was ready to resume work on the Ukraine settlement after the Iran situation was resolved

Someone in Russia moves to trademark Spirit of Anchorage

The application for trademark registration was filed with the Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Rospatent, on July 10, 2026

FSB soldiers eliminate Ukrainian saboteurs, UAV control center in DPR

In total, FSB Gorynych unit operators eliminated four enemy sabotage-terrorist groups

Battlegroup Center’s new unmanned systems units fully formed, staffed

It made possible to more efficiently conduct fire missions to destroy enemy personnel and equipment

US launches second wave of strikes on Iran — CENTCOM

The strikes are targeting Iranian military capabilities used to threaten vessels freely transiting through the Strait of Hormuz

IN BRIEF: What is known about Russian strikes on Ukrainian ports

Russian forces hit Odessa and Chernomorsk port infrastructure facilities used to unload fuel and lubricants and fuel storage tanks for the Ukrainian military

Trump says Iran is fighting US like 'great boxer'

The US leader stressed that Tehran continued to resist despite repeated US strikes

Qatar blocks Israel’s deal with Volkswagen to produce missiles for Iron Dome — media

The deal was blocked despite the memorandum of understanding signed by the parties in April

US not to conduct ground operation to change Iran’s government — Vance

According to Vance, the United States is currently striving to ensure the unhindered transportation of oil and gas, as well as "to keep the Iranians from having a nuclear weapons program and using the tools of diplomacy and military power to accomplish that."

Greece blocks 21st sanctions package against Russia over threat to business — FT

According to sources cited by the newspaper, the ban on the transportation of Russian LNG would ruin the Greek shipping company Dynagas

Russia says France's refusal to grant visa to TASS reporter for UNESCO events puzzling

According to Maria Zakharova, on July 17, during a global conference of the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development, a UNESCO-Russia International Prize for Achievements Fundamental Sciences will be awarded at UNESCO headquarters in Paris