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Military operation in Ukraine

Blasts heard on Kiev-controlled territory of Kherson region

Local authorities have so far refrained from commenting on the situation

MOSCOW, December 23. /TASS/. Blasts were heard at night on the Kiev-controlled territory of the Kherson region, Ukraine’s Zerkalo Nedeli daily reported.

No details of the incident are known at this point. Local authorities have so far refrained from commenting on the situation.

The Vinnitsa and Sumy regions are in the red zone.

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Military operation in Ukraine

Explosion of Kurakhovo reservoir dam disrupts water supply

Roman Pukalov noted that the blast killed many fish in the reservoir, washed away fertile soil, and inundated potentially hazardous sites, including cemeteries, cattle burial grounds, and fertilizer depots

Ukrainians play 'radio games' with Russian recon to spread disinfo on attacks — LPR expert

It is reported that Ukrainian fighters have recently been sending false signals about an impending offensive or strikes allegedly being planned on unconfirmed targets

Ukraine admits to mismanagement of military personnel

Maria Berlinskaya recounted how Ukraine’s army received tens of thousands of people, including "the smartest managers, the smartest economists, and very good businessmen, for free"

Russia supports Mali's appeal to UN Security Council on Kiev's actions — MFA

In August, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger sent a letter to the chairman of the UN Security Council condemning Ukraine's open support of international terrorism, particularly in the Sahel region

More countries understand reasons for conflict in Ukraine didn’t arise overnight — Lavrov

Russia’s top diplomat pointed to many years of efforts in Ukraine to eradicate the Russian language in education, news media and culture, and to the recent law that bans the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Russian PM to attend UN Climate Change Conference in Baku

The greater part of Mikhail Mishustin’s visit will be devoted to Russian-Azerbaijani ties

Russia has written off $20 bln worth of African debts — MFA

Mikhail Bogdanov added that it allows using those debts "to implement socio-economic projects directly in the country"

Trump appoints Florida Rep. Mike Waltz National Security Advisor

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According to Sean Bell, the West provided a "huge amount" of weapons to Ukraine, but that didn’t help the government in Kiev

US to continue arms supplies to Israel — news portal

According to Axios, "some of Blinken's senior aides and senior White House officials thought the ultimatum was effective and pushed Israel to change course"

Countries will line up for Russian gas when US stops exporting LNG — Serbian president

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Ukraine offers up to 750,000 dollars to Russian pilot for hijacking helicopter — TV

The correspondent also reported that the Ukrainian intelligence officer obtained the phone number of the pilot's wife and persuaded her to leave Russia before the helicopter was hijacked

Russia demonstrates Il-76MD-90A(E) airlifter to 11 foreign customers this year

The latest modification is distinguished by new equipment, including a glass cockpit, modern PS-90A-76 engines, a modified wing and reinforced chassis

Kiev should sign peace treaty, but this will spell end of grift for many, billionaire says

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Russian lower house passes third reading of bill banning child-free propaganda

The legislation stipulates preventing the distribution of information promoting voluntary childlessness online, through the media, movies and advertisements

Ukraine issue gets more attention at UN after Trump’s election win — Russian diplomat

"People started actively commenting behind the scenes, making forecasts about where things could go now," Dmitry Polyansky noted

Talks between Putin, Trump before inauguration possible — Kremlin

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Medvedev warns that EU behavior in struggle with Russia fraught with 'bad scenario'

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Ukrainian General Staff reports difficult situation along entire frontline

It also acknowledged the supremacy of the Russian army in equipment and personnel

Hezbollah says it attacked Israeli airbases near Haifa, Tel Aviv

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Russian naval aircraft hit targets by missiles in drills over Barents Sea

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Breakthrough near Krasnoarmeysk could enable Russian push toward the Dnieper — expert

Markus Reisner noted that many of the Ukrainian units on this section of the frontline are understaffed by 50%

France to hand over six Mirage 2000-5 jets to Ukraine — lawmaker

Frank Giletti asked to speed up the commissioning of previously ordered Rafale planes to the armed forces

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US intelligence agencies must prevent new attempts on Trump’s life — Kremlin aide

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Russia, China sign cooperation memorandum — Xinhua

According to the article, Presidential Aide Dmitry Mironov led the Russian delegation, while China was represented by a Politburo member, Head of the CCP Organization Department Li Ganjie

Russia says Su-35S fighter jets provide cover to bombers, attack aircraft in Kursk Region

Also, one aircraft used onboard weapons systems to detect enemy air defense sites, according to the ministry

West attempted to prevent Russia-Africa ministerial meeting, diplomat says

African countries realized that "this pressure contradicts their own national interests", Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov said

Lavrov to lead Russia’s delegation to G20 summit in Brazil

Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with heads of BRICS media outlets that he will not be attending the G20 summit in Brazil, scheduled for November 18 and 19

Hezbollah reports over 100 Israeli troops eliminated in south Lebanon since October 1

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US delivers strikes on infrastructure of pro-Iranian militants in Syria — CENTCOM

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Thailand receives invitation to become BRICS partner country — diplomatic source

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Russian senator slams candidate for German chancellorship’s remarks as irresponsible

Konstantin Kosachev also emphasized that talking to Russia in the language of ultimatums "is not only counterproductive, but also short-sighted, especially for Germany"

Ukraine imposes sanctions on maintenance services of two Moscow airports

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Ukraine aims to call up 1 mln people in eastern areas by end of 2024 — official

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Russia supports new UNSC draft resolution on Gaza — envoy

Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya noted that Resolution 2735 was only a tool to gain time for Israel

Houthis attack two US destroyers — Pentagon

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Russian Security Council secretary meets with senior Chinese official

The meeting involves consultations on security, justice and public order

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Lukashenko calls for support to developing nations in accessing green technologies

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Russian engine maker unveils cutting-edge aircraft engine

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Defense enterprises in Ukraine hiding their employees from mobilization

The Ukrainian government has suspended a number of provisions that protect employees at vitally important enterprises from being called up to the army

Some 300 Germans eager to move to Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod Region — authorities

Among those who are ready to move are technical professionals in the metalworking industry

Russian forces steadily advance on Boguslav direction — Belousov

The Russian Defense Minister congratulated the command and the personnel of the 153rd Armored Regiment with the liberation of the settlement of Kolesnikovka

Combat experience distinguishes Su-57 among fifth-generation fighters

The Russian Defense Ministry said it excellently performed in combat

Detentions, blocking of roads: what is known about situation in Abkhazia

The prosecutor general stated that following the incident, four Abkhazian residents were detained: Garry Kokaya, Almaskhan Ardzinba, Omar Smur, and Ramaz Dzhopya

Ukraine’s troops south of Kurakhovo caught in pincers — military sources

Small groups of Ukrainian soldiers have been trying to leave the communities, but all roads are under the Russian army’s fire

Freezing conflict will only allow Ukraine to rearm itself, fight Russia anew, says expert

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Israel reports eliminating most of Hezbollah arms production sites near Beirut

The statement noted that "over the years, the Intelligence Directorate has developed a situational assessment of the locations of Hezbollah terror infrastructure in the area"

Trump to end NATO’s obsession to get on Russian territory — White House ex-strategist

Steve Bannon noted that Trump’s MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement seeks to completely cut funding to Ukraine. According to Bannon, Europe, including Italy, will follow Trump’s lead, and, if "they [Europe and Italy] truly believe what they have been saying in recent years, they should be ready to pay"

Climate policy should be based on common sense, not ideology — Orban

The Hungarian prime minister noted that the problem of climate preservation held a prominent place in the Budapest Declaration on the New European Competitiveness

Ukraine retreating fast, delaying peace to result in lost territories — entrepreneur

"The simplest path to peace in Ukraine is to go back to the draft deal signed in Istanbul," David Sacks said

US State Department insists DPRK troops engaged in Russia’s borderline Kursk Region

Patel also insisted that "Russian forces have trained the DPRK soldiers in artillery, in UAV, and basic infantry operations, including trench clearing, which are critical skills for frontline operations"

Czech intelligence warns of crime surge after Ukraine conflict ends

More than 380,000 people, mostly women and children, have fled Ukraine to the Czech Republic since February 24, 2022

Russian troops secure supply route to Plekhovo in Kursk Region — commander

It is reported that fighting in the settlement itself is taking place at the moment

Medvedev characterizes Great Britain as eternal adversary of Russia

"At least until such time as their arrogant, despicably dank island sinks into the abyss of the sea from a wave triggered by a cutting-edge Russian weapons system," the politician said

Russia for the first time displays Su-57 jet at China show

Su-57 multirole fifth-generation fighter jet was designed to destroy all air, ground, and water surface targets, monitor the airspace at major distances from deployment bases, make adversary headquarters, command posts and control systems inoperative

FACTBOX: What we know about night-time drone attacks on Russian regions

Overnight, 29 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones were destroyed in the skies over the Kursk, Belgorod, Tver, Bryansk, Penza, and Voronezh regions, the Defense Ministry said

First S-550 air defense systems enter service in Russia — source

The source described the new system as "an absolutely new and unrivalled mobile system of strategic missile defense"

Press review: UK and French leaders discuss Ukraine as the dollar continues to climb

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African countries interested in joining work in BRICS format — Russian MFA

The first ministerial conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum was held on November 9-10 in the Sirius Federal Territory on Russia’s Black Sea coast

Top Russian security official hails strategic cooperation with China

Sergey Shoigu noted that Russia-China ties were based on the principles of mutual respect, equality, trust, non-interference in each other’s domestic affairs and support for each other on the issues that the parties found important

German president approves date for snap parliamentary election

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