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Strait of Hormuz developments

Oil transit through Strait of Hormuz has reached nearly 80% of February levels — Rubio

"The only country unable to regularly ship oil from the Middle East is Iran, whose supplies have been completely blocked or halted by the blockade," the US Secretary of State said

ATHENS, October 8. /TASS/. Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have reached nearly 80% of pre-Iran war levels, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with the Greek newspaper Kathimerini.

"Oil shipments via the southern route [of the Strait of Hormuz], which we cleared of mines, have already reached nearly 80% of pre-conflict levels. The only country unable to regularly ship oil from the Middle East is Iran, whose supplies have been completely blocked or halted by the blockade," Rubio asserted.

The US and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28. In June, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding providing for an immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon. However, on the night of July 8, the US resumed large-scale strikes on Iran, accusing it of violating the terms of the agreement regarding the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 25% of global oil trade and about 20% of liquefied natural gas trade pass. Subsequently, the US administration effectively signaled an end to the use of large-scale military force against Iran, shifting toward an attempt to economically strangle the country through sanctions.

Russia ready to further develop economic ties with Georgia — diplomat

Maria Zakharova that significant progress had been made in trade and tourism in recent years

Ukrainian drone attack kills father of 13 children, 15-year-old daughter in Kherson Region

"This morning a Ukrainian drone attacked a passenger car near Rykovo of the Genichesk district," Vladimir Saldo said

Hungary risks situation near energy catastrophe if cut off from Russian gas — expert

Artyom Ilyinsky said that the delivery of major volumes under non-Russian gas agreements is scheduled to begin only in 2028, creating a critical time gap that "will prevent Hungary from navigating the pivotal year of 2027 smoothly"

Russia achieves full technological sovereignty in hydropower

Russia’s General Scheme for the Development of Electric Power Facilities through 2042 envisages the commissioning of 6.7 GW of new hydropower generation capacity, comprising seven hydroelectric power plants and four pumped-storage power plants

Houthis report ballistic missile strike on Riyadh Airport

According to the Houthi spokesman Yahya Saria, the direct hit brought air traffic at the Saudi capital’s airport to a halt

Three DPR residents killed, eight wounded in Ukrainian attacks since start of day

The attacks damaged three residential buildings, three infrastructure facilities, trucks and passenger cars

Israel to close UK consulate but won’t expel diplomats — newspaper

Earlier, London had threatened to expel 30 Israeli diplomats from the UK in response to Israeli actions

Western attempts to disrupt Russian elections resulted in society’s consolidation — expert

Ilya Gusev said that Russians are ready to defend their social and political life and preserve stability here

Putin to make two-day visit to Turkmenistan to take part in CIS summit

Vladimir Putin's first day on the Caspian coast will be devoted to protocol events related to the arrival of many distinguished guests

Russian forces approach Novoukrainka in Zaporozhye Region — military expert

Andrey Marochko said that Russian servicemen are advancing near liberated Golubkovo

Agroexport center names key agricultural export markets for Russia

Main selling markets by 2030 will be China, Turkey, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Iran, Egypt, India, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan

Trump says decided against prosecuting Obama, Biden, Clinton

Trump said people around him had urged him to pursue legal action against them

Kherson Region children's ombudsman calls UAV blow on car with father of 13 kids terror

Irina Kravchenko said that there can be no justification for such actions

EU fears US diesel export ban — Der Spiegel

The EC noted that even awareness of economic damage to US companies themselves might not prevent Washington from taking such a step

West’s course over next decade to determine its global standing — Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio believes the collective West is at a crossroads

No reason for international uproar over Alyoshki situation — governor

According to Vladimir Saldo, the situation in the Kherson Region city of Alyoshki is not so critical

Russia has 'clear conscience' over Ukraine talks in Alaska — Lavrov

According to the foreign minister, is not Russia's fault that the US side could not withstand the unprecedented and brazen pressure from Europe, which later proudly declared that it had ‘buried Anchorage’

Russia boost agricultural technologies exports by 15% this year — Agriculture Minister

Last year saw a "solid breakthrough" in the exports of Russian agricultural technologies, Oksana Lut said

Lithuanian army to send up to 100 troops to border with Russia’s Kaliningrad Region

According to the Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas, the army will be stationed at the border for the next few weeks

Kazakh president congratulates Putin on his birthday

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted Vladimir Putin’s outstanding role in Russia’s development and his tireless efforts for the benefit of the Russian people

West furthers military-industrial interests with OSCE Russia disinformation campaign

"Even here, within the framework of the OSCE's military-political direction, we have already had the opportunity to see that the Western participating states are not interested in a fact-based professional dialogue," Yulia Zhdanova said

IN BRIEF: Two residents of Trans-Baikal detained for preparing election provocations

Investigative and operational activities are underway to establish all circumstances

Major deployment point of Colombian mercenaries destroyed near Kharkov

According to Russian security agencies, the total number of foreign mercenaries in the Ukrainian armed forces currently stands at about 16,500

International organizations offer no help over Alyoshki situation — governor

"The conduct of organizations whose charters require them to act in people’s interests is a matter for their conscience," Vladimir Saldo said

Kremlin briefing covers Putin's birthday, probability of talks with Trump

Trump says Iran conflict will be over 'shortly,' sending oil prices tumbling down

There is no more a nuclear weapon threat in Iran, the US leader emphasized

Ukraine pays $450 mln on debt in September — National Bank

Ukraine’s total state and state-guaranteed debt stood at $215.55 bln, as of August 31

Kiev bridges' destruction disrupts Ukrainian security operations — underground resistance

The same bridges and transport hubs are used to move security forces, transfer troops, supply materials, patrol areas, and transport military equipment, pro-Russian underground resistance said

WHO reports thousands of suspected plague cases worldwide each year

According to the Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention Department Director Maria Van Kerkhove, between 2019 and 2025, ten countries reported nearly 4,000 suspected human plague cases and 423 related deaths to the organization

Putin to communicate with all participants in CIS summit in Turkmenistan — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that the Russian president was scheduled to hold a number of working meetings on the sidelines of the CIS summit and the Caspian Environmental Summit

Cargo Dragon spacecraft to launch to ISS no earlier than October 13 — NASA

The spacecraft will deliver more than 2.8 tons of cargo to the ISS, including materials for studying the effects of microgravity on the growth and function of three-dimensional heart tissue models

Tokyo considers allowing nuclear weapons to be brought into Japan — newspaper

A provision allowing nuclear weapons to be brought into the country as an exception may be included in new fundamental documents on security, which the Japanese government plans to adopt at the end of the year

Major oil companies eye Middle East investments despite war — newspaper

Patrick Pouyanne, chief executive of France’s TotalEnergies, believes the Middle East still has the cheapest oil

Vladimir formation of Russia’s Strategic Missile Force undergoes scheduled inspection

During the exercise, crews of the Yars mobile ground-based missile systems are practicing marching and maneuvering operations

Freezing conflict will not help resolve situation in Ukraine — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov reiterated that a settlement in Ukraine must be comprehensive

Mediation efforts in Iran-US talks reach deadlock — TV

"The Strait of Hormuz is no longer a priority for Washington" after Iran, in the US assessment, "lost control over it," the TV channel said

West should not be surprised by fuel price hikes over Ukraine actions — Russian envoy

Yulia Zhdanova said Kiev has stepped up efforts to block Russian shipping in the Black and Azov Seas at the urging of its Western handlers

US holds its first execution since Christa Pike incident — news agency

Jamaal Howard was convicted of murdering a store employee in 2000 and was given a lethal injection

Bakery of father of 13 children, who died in drone attack, delivered bread to Alyoshki

Sergey Georgiyev said that together with Alexander Kolotun they also planned to provide assistance to residents of frontline villages in winter

Common Eurasian space to take shape gradually but steadily — Lavrov

The foreign minister pointed in this regard to cooperation memorandums among the secretariats of integration organizations including the CIS, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Russian troops use flamethrower system against Ukrainian forces Near Krasny Liman

The flamethrower system’s primary targets are temporary deployment sites, UAV control posts, and enemy troops concentrations

Houthis report missile strikes on coalition forces near Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree noted that the attacks killed or wounded dozens of people, including commanders, and destroyed numerous pieces of military equipment

Russian delegation warns confrontation with West could enter most severe phase

According to Yulia Zhdanova, head of the Russian delegation to the Vienna talks on military security and arms control, Western politicians continue to intensify their military rhetoric

Trump says call with Putin set up, mentions Russian president’s birthday

The US president mentioned the Russian leader’s birthday

EU, NATO to squeeze Kiev regime for everything it has — Russian delegation head

Head of the Russian delegation to the Vienna negotiations on military security and arms control Yulia Zhdanova emphasized that the West primarily "needs experience in high-intensity combat"

India calls on Russia, Ukraine to halt Black Sea attacks in truce plan — Foreign Ministry

"Insofar as specifics are concerned, India is trying to be helpful, starting with the Black Sea, safety of the shipping issue, addressing immediate concerns of Russia and Ukraine on grain and energy exports, and non-attack possibilities," Randhir Jaiswal said

Yandex reports fire at data center following drone attack

There were no casualties

Lithuania plans to deploy army units to Kaliningrad border area

Interior Minister Martynas Katelynas called the deployment of the army a preventive measure

Battlegroup North tank crews destroy more than 10 Ukrainian warehouses near Kharkov

According to a tank platoon commander, Battlegroup North troops are engaging Ukrainian targets from concealed firing positions

FACTBOX: Russian forces hit enterprises producing Flamingo missiles in Ukraine

Russian troops struck the Kiev Cardboard and Paper Mill plant that served as a production and storage facility for FP-5 Flamingo cruise missiles and their components

Russia’s inflation stands at 0.96% from September 29 to October 5 — Rosstat

According to a review of the current price situation prepared by the Russian Economic Development Ministry, Russia’s annual inflation stood at 7.17% from September 29 through October 5

Over 100 Ukrainian drones taken down over Russian regions during day

From 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Moscow time Russian air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 110 Ukrainian fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles over Crimea, Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Tula, Ryazan, Oryol, Lipetsk, Rostov, and Moscow Regions

Press review: Slovakia blocks Russian asset seizure as Europe youth protests spread

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, October 6th

Trump may order new strike on Iran before congressional elections — magazine

No final decision has been made yet, the magazine said

Bolshoi Ballet Company begins major tour in China

The Bolshoi Ballet’s China tour runs from October 7 to 25, with performances in three cities - Beijing, Nanjing and Shanghai

Oil tanker fire in Black Sea caused no environmental issues — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov stressed that all necessary measures had been taken promptly and effectively

Mali to buy Kamaz trucks worth $51.5 mln

The contract, signed in accordance with an intergovernmental agreement between Mali and Russia, is aimed at expanding Mali’s transport and logistics capacity

What we know about attack on oil tanker in Black Sea with unmanned surface vehicles

The tanker's crew of 23 Indian nationals has been rescued

Iran, Oman to submit agreement on Strait of Hormuz to international body — diplomat

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei pointed out that consultations between Tehran and Muscat were successful, and the parties reached an agreement on the geographical coordinates of the safe corridors

No clarity yet on timing of upcoming Putin-Trump phone conversation — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that Moscow and Washington have not yet agreed on a telephone conversation

Russian forces strike Ukrainian UAV assembly workshops over past day — top brass

The Ukrainian army lost roughly 1,440 troops in battles with Russian forces in all the frontline areas over the past 24 hours

Russia develops drone interceptor flying with maximum speed of 500 km/h

DOFA-Tek Technical Director Vitaly Dobrovolsky noted that the interceptor can be launched from any rooftop or the ground

FACTBOX: Russia’s sanitary watchdog says no epidemic risks in Irkutsk Region

Rospotrebnadzor has provided the WHO with information about the situation in the region

Iranian army to decisively strike US forces should they launch ground operation — TV

According to the TV channel, the Iranian army is constantly updating its database of enemy targets and has already identified numerous sites in the region, including military bases, that could be attacked by Iranian forces

Darwin protective net effectively counters Ukraine’s Lyuty, Hornet UAVs — developer

The system's innovative weaving technique, the "spider knot," allows the net to gently absorb the impact of an UAV and reduce the likelihood of an explosive device detonating

Russia reports no drug trafficking from Ukraine amid special military operation — official

Acting head of the Russian Interior Ministry’s Main Directorate for Narcotics Control Kirill Smurov recalled that the law enforcement agency had witnessed targeted drug trafficking from Ukraine to Russia at the turn of 2020

High-rise building in Istanbul partially collapses, trapping people under rubble — TV

No information on casualties or injuries has been reported yet

Russia’s National Wealth Fund totals $151.85 bln as of October 1

The fund’s liquid assets totaled $44.45 bln as of October 1, or 1.6% of GDP projected for 2026, equivalent to $45 bln

Press review: EU tightens Russia sanctions while Germany eyes return to Russian energy

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, October 8th

Sberbank launches direct business settlements with Myanmar

The bank's press service explained that Sberbank’s Indian branch will serve as a key element of the new arrangement

Two commercial ships hit with drones in Black Sea off Bulgaria

The Togo-flagged Alfa Watan suffered severe damage before sinking

Trump interrupted 12 times in 45 minutes during speech in staunchly Republican Texas

Police escorted one of the protesters out of the venue in handcuffs

Syria supports Saudi Arabia, yet does not want to be party in Yemeni war

Damascus firmly supports Saudi Arabia, but its policy does not call for opening new fronts, the Information Ministry said

Swedish Academy to announce winner of Nobel Prize in Literature

According to Swedish experts, the favorites for 2026 include Australian novelist Gerald Murnane, Chinese writer Can Xue, and Canadian poet and essayist Anne Carson

Trump urges Xi Jinping to lift export restrictions on Japan — newspaper

According to the newspaper, the US leader "framed the Chinese measures as a threat to American industries reliant on Japanese suppliers"

Fire at Yandex data center, 399 UAVs: aftermath of attacks on Russian regions

According to Russian Defense Ministry, Ukrainian drones were downed over 21 Russian regions

Russia’s Battlegroup West destroys 104 Ukrainian heavy combat multicopters in past day

According to the battlegroup’s spokesman Ivan Bigma, 55 Ukrainian UAV control centers, four Starlink satellite communication stations and 40 ground robotic systems were identified and eliminated

Russian stock market declines at start of main trading session on Moscow Exchange

The MOEX and RTS indices fell by 0.3% to 2,330.32 and 858.79 points, respectively

Diplomat says Russian Foreign Ministry’s message to foreigners in Kiev was 'crystal clear'

According to Maria Zakharova, foreigners "should be aware of the risk and understand its source"

Two reconnaissance aircraft spent nearly seven hours over Black Sea

According to the source, the simultaneous operation of two such reconnaissance aircraft over the Black Sea is a relatively rare occurrence

Top US diplomat says prospects of negotiated settlement in Ukraine 'elusive'

Marco Rubio called the conflict a "strategic stalemate" now

Russia creates control system for group of drones using voice, text commands

Before giving a command, the system also analyzes the capabilities of a particular robotic vehicle for implementing the assigned mission

Press review: Black Sea ceasefire efforts gain momentum as Houthi advances raise war risk

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, October 7th

EU ambassadors endorse 22nd sanction package — source

Over 1,500 companies and individuals have been blacklisted

Ukraine’s losses from port downtime exceed five billion dollars

The Odessa port shutdown has been ongoing since July 22

Trump promises to prevent destruction of San Diego, Los Angeles

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung later stated that Donald Trump was referring to a potential threat to American cities if the US did not take military action against Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program

US sees no link between infection in Russia’s Irkutsk Region, bioweapons research — Trump

On October 4, the Russian Federal Service for Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being said the sanitary and epidemiological situation in Russia’s eastern Irkutsk Region was stable

US crude oil inventories fall by 3.2 mln barrels over week — Energy Department

The department noted that current inventories are 1% above the five-year average for this time of year

Senior NATO commanders pay unannounced visit to Ukraine

Italian Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone said that the visit had been aimed "to reaffirm unwavering support for Ukraine"

Russia budgets nearly $468 mln for farm machinery programs in 2027-2029

A total of $17.55 mln is expected to be allocated to DOM.RF’s preferential leasing program next year

Russia cuts pipeline gas supplies to Turkey by 17% in eight months

Russian gas supplies to Turkey via pipelines reached 12.1 bln cubic meters in January-August

World leaders congratulate Putin on his birthday

In a telephone conversation, Putin and Lukashenko agreed to continue discussing bilateral cooperation and the international situation on the sidelines of the CIS summit in Turkmenistan

Three killed in attacks on two Saudi airports

A Sudanese national was killed in the strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, while eight others were injured, including five Saudis, two Egyptians and one Pakistani

Missile production plant in Ukraine halts production after Russian strikes

Production and warehouse facilities sustained serious damage

Moscow court fines Zoom around $772,110

The company was fined for failing to comply with obligations established by Russian law governing the activities of foreign entities on the Internet

FSB detains two residents of Trans-Baikal over election provocation plot

One of the suspects is a woman who was a member of a precinct election commission

Ebola spirals out of control in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo — NGO

North Kivu accounts for nearly 40% of the country's new confirmed Ebola cases, Doctors Without Borders international non-governmental organization said

Four in five Russians view Putin as one of world’s most influential leaders — poll

About seven in ten Russians believe that Russia has become stronger during Putin’s years in office

Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2026 awarded for discovery in asymmetric organic synthesis

France’s Henri Kagan and Japan’s Kenso Soai have received the award

Russia to take retaliatory measures if Canada confiscates Russian assets — ambassador

Oleg Stepanov said Ottawa should consider the legal, investment and reputational consequences "of such ‘lawmaking’"

Trump believes conflict in Ukraine nearing its end

The US president admitted that he thought this conflict "would be the easiest one for me"