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Russian stock market ends week with main indices up

The yuan exchange rate against the ruble added 1 kopeck to 12.33 rubles

MOSCOW, August 21. /TASS/. Russia’s stock market closed in the green on Friday as the ruble-denominated MOEX Index added 0.63% to 2,134.97 points, while the dollar-denominated RTS Index gained 1.16% to 811.09 points. The yuan exchange rate against the ruble added 1 kopeck to 12.33 rubles.

"The MOEX Index fluctuated within the 2,100-2,150-point range with mixed results. On one hand, buying activity may have been dampened by geopolitical uncertainty, the ruble’s tendency to strengthen, renewed fuel supply issues in certain regions, and the approaching weekend. On the other hand, oil prices neared $94, and prices for non-ferrous and precious metals rose briskly," said Andrey Smirnov, stock market analyst at BCS World of Investment.

BCS World of Investment believes next week the MOEX Index will continue its struggle to consolidate above the 2,100-point mark and, should favorable drivers emerge, could quickly rise above 2,200 points. Analysts estimate that over the coming week, the dollar could fall to the 81.5-82.5-ruble range, while the yuan could drop to 12.1 rubles.

According to Freedom Global, the MOEX Index will move within the 2,120-2,220-point range on Monday. Forecasts for the dollar, euro, and yuan exchange rates stand at 82-84 rubles, 95-97 rubles, and 12.4-12.8 rubles, respectively.

Favorable trends in commodity markets could support a recovery of the MOEX Index toward the 2,150-point level provided there are no negative surprises, Tsifra Broker noted. In the currency market, the ruble may continue to strengthen toward the lower ends of the 12.2-12.6 rubles per yuan, 82-85 rubles per dollar, and 95-98 rubles per euro ranges.

National debt worth $50 trillion threatens US as early as 2029 — expert

Ilya Grashchenkov also said the $50 trillion mark itself is not a threshold beyond which the US economy would automatically collapse

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Officers detained two men in the Lugansk People’s Republic, who helped the Security Service of Ukraine plan a terrorist attack against the republic’s interior minister

Ukraine imposes sanctions against Rusal group of companies

Kiev also imposed sanctions on several dozens of Russian citizens, including those who, as Ukraine claims, are working in the Russian defense industry

Russian diplomat points to increasing terror against Serbians in Kosovo

Maria Zakharova described the developments as all the more outrageous because local self-government bodies in Pristina that claim the status of legitimate authorities are implicated in this terror

Russian strike brings Ukrainian industrial site in Brovary near Kiev offline — top brass

The facility was struck by Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade Varyag

Northern Fleet ships finish preparations for long-range Arctic deployment

The Fleet press service specified that naval Arctic deployments are aimed "at ensuring the safety of Russia’s maritime navigation and maritime economic activities in the Arctic"

West provided only quarter of required funds to Kiev — lawmaker

Kiev admits that the country has completely exhausted its own resources, and it is getting harder and harder for it to secure the required funds every time

Russia only country in world with expertise across entire nuclear energy sector — Putin

These competitive advantages enable the country to hold a leading position in the market for the construction of nuclear power plants abroad, the Russian leader stressed

Vucic thanks Russia for providing Serbia with aircraft for fighting forest fires

Serbia is currently facing wildfires, prompting local authorities to turn to Moscow for assistance

Two die after Ukraine’s attack on minibus in DPR

Four more people were wounded

Moscow to respond to any hostile actions by Helsinki — MFA

Maria Zakharova noted that Finland, starting in 2022, "has become one of the most ardent sponsors of the Kiev regime"

Israel could cease to exist after the Middle East conflict — senior Russian officer

Apty Alaudinov says Israel’s objective is to drag both the US and the entire NATO bloc into the struggle

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Euractiv noted that Danish authorities had "cleared more than 20 bureaucratic hurdles for the construction of the plant," but this did not help

Turkey’s NATO membership does not protect its servicemen in Syria — Israeli expert

Shay Gal pointed out that on August 18, Israel "allegedly struck Syria's Abu al-Duhur air base before Turkish forces arrived"

Russian Il-76 aircraft drops ten loads of water on active fire sites in Serbia — ministry

The Emergencies Ministry said that Russian rescue teams are working closely with Serbian ground services and receiving organizational support from the Russian-Serbian Humanitarian Center

Belarus moves to close its embassy in Finland early next month

The decision comes into effect, starting from September 1, 2026

New mobilization rules forcing Ukrainians into servitude, driving them to front — diplomat

Maria Zakharova stressed that Ukrainian leaders offered no explanation to ordinary people about how they are supposed to survive

Russia’s Battlegroup North destroys 443 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over past day

The battlegroup's units eliminated up to 200 enemy personnel, an infantry fighting vehicle and three armored combat vehicles over the past 24 hours

Lithuania seeking to take Russians hostage by tightening transit from Kaliningrad

Chairman of the region’s Legislative Assembly Andrey Kropotkin noted that such moves were driven by a political agenda of further pressure on Russia

Eight detained for attempting to launch drone attack on strategic plant near Moscow — FSB

One of the accomplices put up armed resistance during the arrest and was neutralized

Liberation of Matyashevo opens way for Russian forces’ advance in Dobropolye area

The settlement was liberated by Pskov Guards Airborne Forces formation

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TASS has compiled the key takeaways from the meeting chaired by the Russian deputy prime minister

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Vladimir Saldo stressed that Ukraine is destroying its own reputation among international partners

Italian defense contractor opens company in Ukraine — news outlet

The CEO of the state-owned Italian defense giant Leonardo confirmed that the group will test its new air defense system, dubbed the Michelangelo Dome, in Ukraine

Ukrainian attack on Crimea kills two people, injures four others — regional head

Sergey Aksyonov expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and stated that the authorities would provide all the necessary assistance

Russia’s Garpiya is sole exported loitering munition with 1,000 km range — Rosoboronexport

The UAV can carry a warhead weighing over 50 kg

Battlegroup North artillery eliminates 71 Ukrainian troops, 34 UAV control posts overnight

Artillery crews of the Battlegroup North carried out over 200 fire missions last night

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Anton Kobyakov noted that Russia had never closed itself off from the world throughout its history

Croatian court rules to place in custody Ukrainian suspect in Nord Stream sabotage

Germany is seeking his extradition

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US Vice President JD Vance did not disclose details of the plan

Zelensky shouted demanding dismissal of official who failed to pay bail for Yermak

A court session to choose a preventive measure for Makim Mikitas will continue on Friday

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Saeid Reza Mosayeb Motlagh said that Donald Trump "uses every means and every opportunity to isolate Iran and put pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran in an attempt to compensate for its military defeat"

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The perpetrator sought to launch a drone from a Moscow railway station to identify railcars carrying petroleum products

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There were seven people on board

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Vasily Nebenzya emphasized that mobilization is not planned and expected

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The ministry requested an explanation regarding a suspected violation of airspace

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Yulia Mendel said this is now a matter of the country’s "survival"

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Several hundred Ukrainian soldiers desert during training in Germany — newspaper

Under Ukrainian law, these individuals could face up to 12 years in prison if they return home

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Vasily Nebenzya added that Russia is guided by the interests of preserving and strengthening security in the region

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Donald Tusk opined that those who built the pipeline should be held accountable, not those who destroyed it

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Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, August 21st

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Attempts by the EU to interfere in the country’s domestic political situation, as well as to drag Tbilisi into NATO, will not lead to anything good," Vasily Nebenzya said

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Vasily Nebenzy noted that the UN can be the platform for Ukraine crisis resolution

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Police and emergency services were called to the scene

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Yvonne A-Baki believes that Russia and Ukraine should sit together in the United Nations and talk

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Kiev troops shell DPR 33 times in past day, three wounded

Six civil infrastructure sites were damaged, as well as three residential buildings and a number of cars and trucks

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The fate of those on board is currently unknown

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FAZ journalist Martens’ profile appears on Russian Interior Ministry’s wanted list

Reason for being wanted is a Criminal Code article

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