14 Feb, 14:07

Explosion in Northern Afghanistan mosque leaves four injured — TV

The day before a suicide bomber carried out an attack in Kabul in front of the building of the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing of Afghanistan, killing one person and injuring three more

DUBAI, February 14. /TASS/. At least four people were injured when an explosion ripped through a mosque in the city of Aybak, the administrative center of the Samangan province in northern Afghanistan, Afghan TV channel 1 TV News reported citing a local law enforcement official.

The representative said two local residents planted an explosive device in the mosque during Friday prayers. One of the suspected perpetrators was detained.

The day before a suicide bomber carried out an attack in Kabul in front of the building of the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing of Afghanistan, killing one person and injuring three more.

FACTBOX: Russian tourists die in submarine incident near Egypt’s Hurghada

TASS has gathered the key information about the incident

Yesterday, 14:16

Russian forces strike Ukrainian military airfields, UAV assembly workshops over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted roughly 150 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported

British PM urges not to lift, but to strengthen sanctions against Russia

Keir Starmer also noted that the session, attended by nearly 30 states, focused on the determination to support Kiev and secure peace in Ukraine, including plans for military operations on land, in the air, or at sea

Yesterday, 17:24

Russia’s passenger car production rises by 12.8% to 115,000 cars in January-February

Production of passenger vehicles increased by 11.7% compared to January and by 6.8% year-on-year, reaching 60,800 vehicles

Yesterday, 10:00

Press review: Russia and US advance Black Sea deal as nuclear divide deepens in Europe

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, March 26th

Ukraine not ready to sign revised minerals deal with US — lawmaker

Yaroslav Zheleznyak presented a copy of the document to prove that he was not making all this up

Yesterday, 22:53

Envoy explains why US chose to address Black Sea Initiative first in talks on Ukraine

Keith Kellogg said that was the easy part

Yesterday, 15:42

Kiev’s military hits three power facilities in Kherson area since moratorium was imposed

Vladimir Saldo specified that over the past three years, a significant portion of the Kherson Region's energy infrastructure has been damaged due to shelling

Polish PM Tusk says no decision made to send troops to Ukraine at Paris meeting

Donald Tusk noted that "it is already clear that the United Kingdom, France and some other countries" are ready to send a mission in Ukraine to "monitor the observance of peace"

Ongoing Ukraine's attacks on Russia's energy facilities reveal Kiev's cynicism — senator

On Wednesday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that Ukraine continued its attacks on Russian energy facilities despite agreements to halt such strikes

Yesterday, 12:34

Hungary’s foreign minister certain about Russia's commitment to reaching peace in Ukraine

Peter Szijjarto expressed optimism regarding the ongoing discussions between Russia and the United States about Ukraine, emphasizing Hungary's vested interest in their success

Russian President Putin arrives in Murmansk on working visit

The head of state last visited the northwest Russian region in July 2023

Russia’s new ambassador to US arrives in Washington

Earlier, an aircraft carrying Darchiev landed at Washington’s Dulles International Airport

Poland prepares people for war — newspaper

"Now the frontline state is getting its population ready for war," Politico said

Yesterday, 13:57

Putin submits treaty on Russia's strategic partnership with Iran to Duma for ratification

The comprehensive strategic partnership treaty was signed during the visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Moscow in January 2025

Paris summit fails to reach consensus on military mission to Ukraine — Macron

The French president acknowledged that the format of the "support forces" would also require additional discussions

Russia hopes for full implementation of agreements with US reached in Riyadh — MFA

Russia anticipates that the sanctions imposed on Rosselkhozbank and other financial institutions involved in international trade in food and fertilizers will be lifted, and that these institutions will be reconnected to the SWIFT system

Kiev’s special services recruiting Russians under cover of RAND Corporation — FSB

The Ukrainian recruiters pose as employees of RAND Europe, the US firm’s European arm, the FSB shared

About seven dead in Ukraine's February 1 attack on Sudzha boarding school — eyewitness

For now, there is no possibility to know the exact number of people killed and to recover the bodies from under the rubble, as demining efforts continue in the town, while its streets are still being attacked

US will not withdraw troops from Europe or fold nuclear umbrella — expert

Dmitry Suslov noted that Donald Trump administration aims to reduce the strength of US forces in Europe to levels that existed before the onset of the Ukrainian conflict

Russian envoy’s informal credential presentation due on March 27 — US State Department

Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs Louis Bono will attend "Russian Ambassador to the United States Alexander Darchiev's informal credential presentation in Washington, D.C."

Ukraine’s army attacks Russia’s Belgorod Region with over 160 munitions in past day

During the last 24-hour period, the Ukrainian military attacked the Graivoronsky district with 40 munitions and 10 UAVs, damaging an infrastructural communications facility

EU won’t alter sanctions against Russia, nor permit its reconnection to SWIFT — portal

The European Commission representative clarified that the EU still considers the end of the special military operation in Ukraine and the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from territories that the West considers Ukrainian as the main condition for revising the sanctions regime

Yesterday, 20:39

Current Kiev government fails to represent interests of Ukrainian people — Lavrov

The top Russian diplomat also pointed out that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen "categorically ignores" the laws on the extermination of everything Russian passed by the Nazi regime of Vladimir Zelensky

Gagauzia head urges Putin to help with her release

According to Yevgenia Gutsul, Chisinau is disregarding all principles of democracy and international law, consistently and methodically provoking internal confrontation

Sending NATO 'peacekeepers' to Ukraine risks military confrontation with Russia — diplomat

According to Maria Zakharova, London and Paris are still nurturing plans for military intervention in Ukraine, disguising it as a certain peacekeeping mission

Yesterday, 17:54

Russia’s friends are many — Putin

"There are people in the so-called West who do not understand Russia but this does not prevent us from living and growing," the Russian leader said

Yesterday, 22:55

US plans to continue strikes on Houthis 'for a long time,' Trump says

The American leader called previous strikes on the positions of the rebels from the Ansar Allah movement "very successful"

Press review: Kiev challenges Black Sea deal as the US reasserts China as its top rival

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, March 27th

Russia sees no grounds for strategic stability dialogue with US — MFA

Sergey Ryabkov pointed out that "there have been recent signals from Washington at the highest level that the topic, as it was formulated by US President [Donald Trump], of denuclearization of the countries that are on Washington's radar when it comes to nuclear arms control should be considered"

‘Coalition of the Willing’ aims to extend anti-Russian sanctions — Polish PM

"I’ve raised the question of looking for ways to make a common EU approach to Russia possible, even if Hungary is not interested," Donald Tusk said

Kiev making black market arms deals with Mexican cartel — Russian diplomat

Sending weapons to the Kiev regime actually means "not only wasting money or fighting till the last Ukrainian but also spawning a threat in the backyard, in the West’s backyard," Maria Zakharova maintained

Investigative Committee records new facts of Ukraine army’s targeted attacks on civilians

The committee established that on March 24, Ukrainian fighters dropped an explosive device from an unmanned aerial vehicle onto the territory of an apartment building in the village of Korenevo, Kursk Region, where civilians were staying

Yesterday, 07:02

EU criticizes diplomacy chief Kallas's hostile attitude towards Russia — media

Another complaint against Kallas is that she is "acting like a prime minister," according to an EU diplomat

Russia, US discuss new deal to resume Black Sea initiative — Foreign Ministry

Russia will not rejoin the grain deal in the Black Sea before the West has lifted sanctions on its ships and supplies of agricultural equipment

Participants of Ukraine summit in Paris oppose lifting anti-Russian sanctions — Macron

The French president pointed out that the European Union has no legal basis for seizing frozen Russian assets

Yesterday, 13:47

Employee of ZNPP faces 18 years in prison for plotting to kill IAEA experts

According to the investigation, Sergey Potyng joined a terrorist community created by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate in March 2023

White House press secretary slams Democrats for trying to sow chaos

According to Karoline Leavitt, Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg is "an anti-Trump hater."

Russia needs to strengthen infrastructure, protect environment in Arctic — Putin

The president added that it is necessary to consistently improve the urban environment, enhance the settlements of the Far North, and generally raise the quality of life, "so that they could have interesting, good, well-paid jobs, as well as access to modern education and healthcare services, making the Arctic truly comfortable and attractive to live in"

Yesterday, 16:43

Kiev seeks to derail peace agreements — Russian mission to UN

According to Dmitry Polyansky, Russia is fully ready for a military scenario of settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, but prefers to settle it by diplomatic means

If US appoints new president of Ukraine, it will ruin the country — Russian legislator

"This would represent a continuation of the same colonial scenario and further accelerate Ukraine's collapse," Viktor Vodolatsky said

Yesterday, 13:06

Engine tests for Angara-A5M launch vehicle completed

Successful completion of the tests opens the way to supply engines for flights, Roscosmos said

Two days ago, 20:34

Europe engages in ‘freeloading’ in cases with Ukraine, Yemen, NATO — Trump

US president said that 'the European Union has been absolutely terrible to us'

Yesterday, 00:38

Lavrov describes NATO secretary general as ‘laughable and pathetic’

Russian Foreign Minister noted that Mark Rutte 'does not want even to speak on the subject'

Yesterday, 11:38

Keys to the homeland: how Putin became president

On the occasion of today’s anniversary, TASS reflected on the circumstances that garnered Putin the support of the Russian people

London wants to provoke Europe into bloodshed with Russia — Zakharova

On March 20, the military leaders of about 30 Western countries of the so-called coalition of the willing met in London to discuss operational details of sending troops to Ukraine after the conflict was resolved

United States’ urge to negotiate indicates inability to defeat Russia — lawmaker

This means only one thing for us, that we must multiply all our efforts in opposing the West in economics, in the military field, in diplomacy, and in basic issues of morality," Alexander Babakov stated

Yesterday, 14:19

French colonel predicts collapse of NATO by 2030

Regie Chamagne predicts sweeping changes in the Western political leadership in the coming years

Russia-US dialogue opens opportunities for non-confrontational coexistence — MFA

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov called the contacts "only the beginning of a long and difficult process to improve relations"

US involved in at least two conflicts in which reporters knowingly killed — news outlet

US journalist Max Blumenthal believes that America is "in complete moral free fall"

IN BRIEF: Ukraine continues to attack Russian energy sites

TASS has compiled the main information about the attacks

Paris, London to send group to Ukraine to work out Ukrainian military’s future — Macron

According to the French president, "in close cooperation with the Ukrainian side, we will determine the format in which the Ukrainian army will have to exist in the future"

Yesterday, 16:37

Europe moving away from idea of sending troops to Ukraine — Reuters

In addition to Kiev's position and Washington's stance, the initiative to send European troops is hampered by fierce opposition from Russia and logistical constraints, the sources said

Yesterday, 13:02

Inflation, sanctions, enhancement of life standards: Mishustin’s address to State Duma

"Russia is among the world’s four largest economies in terms of purchasing power parity," the Russian Prime Minister stated

Two days ago, 21:48

Russia, US discuss Nord Stream pipeline issue — Lavrov

According to Russian Foreign Minister, 'it will be interesting if the Americans use their influence on Europe and will force it not to reject the Russian gas'

Ukrainian combat group hits its own mines upon escape from Sudzha — Russian army engineer

There were both wheeled and tracked vehicles with Ukrainian crews and military personnel blown up on the minefields, he specified

New draft of Kiev’s deal with Washington covers all Ukrainian natural resources — lawmaker

Under the US proposal, Ukraine will have to allocate revenues from its resources, while the aid Washington has provided to Kiev since 2022 will be considered a US contribution to the fund

Yesterday, 10:53

Chinese expert doubts US role as mediator in peace talks on Ukraine

Meanwhile, profound disagreement on a permanent ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine remains, and the most complex talks are yet to come, Sun Qi warned as he referred to territorial disputes and US military assistance to Ukraine

Yesterday, 08:49

Channel One says war reporter Prokofyeva dies in Belgorod Region

Anna Prokofyeva was 35 years old

Washington keeps mum about killings of Russian military correspondents

TASS submitted its request for comment regarding the killing of Russian war reporters or the activity of the Ukrainian military to the White House and the Department of State on Wednesday morning, local time

FACTBOX: Russian tourists die in submarine incident near Egypt’s Hurghada

TASS has gathered the key information about the incident

Russia’s top diplomat announces plan for Putin to visit India

Sergey Lavrov noted that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his first foreign visit to Russia upon his re-election last year

Two days ago, 10:10

Rare gold coins stolen from French museum worth almost $656,000 found in Moscow

Russian law enforcement officers received a photo and a detailed description of the stolen exhibits

Gutsul urges Putin to support Gagauzia's special status

The head of Moldova’s autonomous Gagauzia region sent the appeal through her lawyers

Yesterday, 21:21

US government to introduce necessary reforms, following Signal data leak — Rubio

According to him, the US administration is thoroughly investigating how a journalist was included in the discussion of the United States’ operations

Yesterday, 13:25

Venice could sink by 2150 — study

According to the researchers' findings, the MOSE barrier system would not be enough to protect the city

Russia transfers five Ukrainian children with Qatar's mediation

Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova told reporters that five children - two girls and three boys, ages 11 to 17 - will be reunited with their relatives in Ukraine, mostly parents

Yesterday, 03:52

Nuclear weapons previously held by Ukraine belonged to Russia — Trump’s special envoy

Richard Grenell called it 'an uncomfortable fact'

Kiev distorts agreements, cannot be trusted — Zakharova

The Russian diplomat recalled that Vladimir Zelensky was even able to misinterpret the statements of former French President Francois Hollande and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel that "they never intended to implement the Minsk agreements"

Yesterday, 21:23

Russian Ambassador Alexander Darchiev arrives in US — TASS source

In early March, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree appointing Alexander Darchiev

Beijing, Moscow set standard for relations between two great powers — Chinese vice premier

Russia displays counter-UAV laser rifle

According to the designer company, the laser beam destroys the drone body, propeller, engines, battery

Yesterday, 19:16

Hungarian Mol interested in oil and gas projects in Russia — Novak

"New projects have not been defined, but in general we are also considering the expansion of cooperation between our countries in the energy sector," Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said

Russia's envoy to UN calls for moving towards new global paradigm not dominated by West

"Russia, remaining committed to the legacy of the Yalta Conference, consistently promotes, including via the UN, the principles of the UN Charter's essential role," Vasily Nebenzya said

Yesterday, 16:41

Russia calls for immediate international reaction to killing of Russian journalists — MFA

"We call for an immediate reaction to the killing of Anna Prokofyeva and other Russian media representatives from relevant international organizations, primarily from the UNESCO Director-General, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media," Maria Zakharova emphasized

Yesterday, 07:52

Zelensky admits Ukraine has no money for army

On March 25, the Verkhovna Rada parliament approved a law on a sharp increase in salaries for ministries’ employees, which will be higher than those of the military

Russia confident peaceful agreement on Arctic still possible — presidential adviser

"Sweden, Norway, Finland are once again threatening our sovereignty in the Arctic," Anton Kobyakov noted

Ukraine to suggest plan of European military deployment within 7-10 days

At the same time, Zelensky admitted that the question of Ukraine’s NATO membership is out of discussion

Yesterday, 22:09

Deputy PM to lead Russia’s delegation to Boao Forum for Asia, meet with Chinese leadership

The Boao forum, which has been taking place since 2002, brings together about 30 countries of the Asia-Pacific region

Strengthening of partnership in line with Russian, Chinese interests — Russia’s deputy PM

Russia’s delegation at the meeting also included Deputy Minister of Economic Development Dmitry Volvach

Officers arrest creators of Mamont virus program, enabling theft from bank cards

According to Russian Interior Ministry Spokeswoman Irina Volk, the malicious software was distributed through Telegram channels under the guise of safe mobile applications and video files

Russia should not expect love or friendship with the West — Crimean parliament speaker

Vladimir Konstantinov emphasized that friendship has no place in politics

Putin calls Northern Fleet most powerful in Russian Navy

The Northern Fleet is based in Severomorsk in the Murmansk Region

Russian forces strike Ukrainian military airfield, weapons enterprise over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 80 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility in the Belgorod direction over the past day, the ministry reported

Russian politician warns Europe against flooding Ukraine with weapons

Sergey Mironov recounted how the Islamic State (IS), Al-Qaeda, and other terrorist groups banned in Russia "once spiraled out of control" in the West

European bureaucracy cannot defeat Russia, Moscow’s envoy says

Politico reported earlier that Kallas was facing criticism from a number of European officials over her belligerent rhetoric against Moscow

Yesterday, 16:33

Financial infrastructure important for BRICS trade, economies — Russian minister

According to Anton Siluanov, Russia considers various financial innovations on the BRICS floor, including the cross-border payment system that can be based on national currencies

Yesterday, 14:59

Many questions remain regarding use of intact Nord Stream 2 line — Novak

Technically, the pipeline is in working condition, the official stressed

Yesterday, 13:54

Kiev loses over 70,000 troops since Kursk incursion — Russia’s top brass

The ministry specified that over the past day the Ukrainian army lost more than 230 personnel, a tank, an armored personnel carrier and an armored combat vehicle

Top US diplomat points to ‘agreement in principle’ on Black Sea ceasefire

The Kremlin on Tuesday released a statement following the March 24 expert consultations with Washignton

EU outraged over being excluded from discussions on Nord Stream pipelines — Politico

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with Channel One that Moscow and Washington were discussing the Nord Stream issue

Two days ago, 22:12

Zelensky understands that his days are numbered — Lavrov

In Russian Foreign Minister's words, he remains popular only among 'a part of the population that shares radical, ultra-right, revanchist and Banderite views'

Lithuania's territorial claims against Russia justify Moscow's actions — Kremlin

Earlier, the Lithuanian president referred to Kaliningrad as part of "Little Lithuania"

Yalta to host diplomatic congress on future world order

According to the organizers, the delegates will address pressing geopolitical challenges "at a time of a shifting balance of power, dialogue and cooperation between the leading world powers"

Yesterday, 23:58

Pentagon declines to confirm reports that four US troops died during training in Lithuania

The search for the missing soldiers continues

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr destroys 80 Ukrainian troops in past day

"As many as 80 [Ukrainian] military personnel, five motor vehicles, an artillery gun, an electronic warfare station and an ammunition depot were destroyed," the ministry said

Russia to press for proper reaction to killings of journalists — MFA

Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also took the UN to task for saying that it does not possess a special mandate to carry out an investigation

Yesterday, 20:00

Greenland essential to US international security — Trump

"We need Greenland for international safety and security,"US President said

Washington, Kiev may sign minerals deal next week, US Treasury chief says

The signing of the minerals deal was postponed following the February 28 verbal spat between Vladimir Zelensky and US President Donald Trump at the White House

Yesterday, 16:28

Medvedev suggests using laser systems for defense against drones

The official emphasized that the enemy remained highly active in using drones to attack various targets, including civilian infrastructure, despite ongoing negotiations

European efforts to intercept the Russian-US Ukrainian agenda futile — Russian lawmaker

"Attempts to hijack the agenda from Washington and Moscow, who are currently engaged in negotiations, are entirely pointless," Maria Butina said