Moderate earthquake hits northern Iran

No casualties or damage were reported

DUBAI, June 20. /TASS/. A magnitude 5.1 earthquake rocked northern Iran, the European Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC) said.

According to the EMSC, the epicenter was located 36 kilometers northwest of the city of Semnan with a population of some 124,000.

No casualties or damage were reported.

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Iran

Middle East conflict

Israeli strike on church in Gaza leaves three dead, nine wounded — patriarchy

Casualties include the community’s parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, who sustained light injuries

Complicated effort underway to pull Russia-US ties from deplorable state — Kremlin

"The process itself is very complicated and time-consuming," Dmitry Peskov added

Russian forces capture foreign mercenaries in DPR, scout says

According to the scout with the callsign Husky, the foreigners were stationed in a building that Russian forces seized in about five minutes

Trump calls Netanyahu over Israeli shelling of Gaza church

"It was a mistake by the Israelis to hit that Catholic Church," the White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said

British support for country's policy on Ukraine declines, latest research shows

The British Foreign Policy Group survey revealed that the British are divided on the country's policy on the Ukraine conflict, with 41% supporting the current course and 37% opposing it

Russian sports chief says alternative tournaments of no use for national athletes

Mikhail Degtyarev said that Russia's "path stretches along only the full return to the Olympic family"

Russia discovers Ukrainian weapons cache containing chemical-laced IEDs

A cache with drone equipment was found by the Federal Security Service near the village of Ilyinka in the Donetsk People’s Republic in May 2025

Russia says drone operators from Rubicon Center struck enemy locomotives in Donetsk area

According to preliminary intelligence data, the locomotives were used on a regular basis by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to transport various military cargoes

Beijing opposes illegal unilateral restrictions — Chinese MFA on EU sanctions

"Beijing urges Europe to stop unjustifiably harming the interests of Chinese companies and will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its enterprises," Lin Jian stated

Russia considers Western military sites in Ukraine legitimate targets — Kremlin

Earlier, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reiterated Moscow’s position that the deployment of any foreign troops to Ukraine was unacceptable

Air defenses destroy 11 drones in Moscow Region, no casualties reported — governor

Some private homes sustained damage

Trump shifting blame for Ukraine's defeat to Europe — Russian scholar

Andrey Sushentsov noted that the US president has realized that the depth of the crisis is more significant than he expected

Trump calls to stop trial against ex-Brazil leader Bolsonaro

In an open letter to the ex-president on the Truth Social network, US leader said: "I have seen the terrible treatment you are receiving at the hands of an unjust system turned against you"

Russia must respond to West’s treachery and even act preemptively — Medvedev

According to the Russian security council deputy chairman, Russia has learned the lessons of Potsdam and no longer has any illusions about relations with the West

Ukraine to receive long-range systems via joint manufacturing initiatives soon — Merz

The German chancellor also expressed hope that "the American government, together with the US Congress, will make the decisions that Congress has been preparing for several weeks"

Russia’s Medvedev proposes fourth 'D' for Ukraine as deparasitization

Exactly 80 years ago, on July 17, 1945, the Potsdam Conference began, bringing together the heads of government from the Soviet Union, the United States, and Great Britain. The meeting laid the foundation for the post-war world order.

Trade with EU could drop to zero — Russian Foreign Ministry

Alexander Grushko also noted that the EU has adopted its 18th package of anti-Russian sanctions and intends to fully abandon Russian energy resources, including oil and gas

Russia’s Consulate General slams banning frigate Shtandart from entering Scottish harbor

It noted that "although the Shtandart does not belong to the Russian Federation, she is a replica of the Russian frigate built in 1703 by Peter the Great"

Zelensky tells new security chief to step up talks in Istanbul

Vladimir Zelensky said that the implementation of the agreements reached at the second meeting in Istanbul is underway

Trump demands explanations on Israeli strike on Gaza church — Axios

"When Netanyahu said it had been a mistake, Trump demanded he put out a statement to that effect," reporter Barak Ravid said

EU countries won’t back Brussels budget drafted for Ukraine — Hungarian PM

Viktor Orban believes that Brussels proposed the seven-year EU budget that "has one obvious goal: to bring Ukraine into the EU and allocate the necessary funds for this purpose"

Trump forms 'Patriot Coalition' to boost US defense sector — expert

According to Alexander Stepanov, the new coalition will be similar to the one established to replace F-16 fighter jets with F-35s

Russian government announces funding initiative for country's airports

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said that $346 mln went primarily to labor costs and workforce retention, and financing of airfield infrastructure development, including Krasnodar, Anapa, Belgorod and Simferopol

Russia says its air defenses downed 21 Ukrainian drones over Bryansk Region

The Defense Ministry reported that three other drones were destroyed over the Kaluga, Oryol and Ryazan regions over the same timeframe

Almost 80% of Russians trust Putin — poll

The poll, carried out between July 11 and July 13, surveyed 1,500 respondents

Russian government to allocate $9.4 mln to build LNG compressor plant — PM

Mikhail Mishustin specified that the funds will be used to build the required utilities infrastructure, power lines and the main substation

Israeli strike on church in Gaza leaves three dead, nine wounded — patriarchy

Casualties include the community’s parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, who sustained light injuries

West prepping Moldova to become 'second Ukraine' — Russian Foreign Ministry

According to Maria Zakharova, the republic's active rapprochement with the NATO member countries continues, and joint exercises with the alliance's military personnel are also being conducted

Erdogan says Syria's disintegration inadmissible, calls Israel terrorist country

The Turkish president stressed that Israel's aggression is the biggest problem for the region today

Netanyahu expresses deep regret over shelling of church in Gaza

"We share the grief of the families and are grateful to Pope Leo XIV for his words of comfort," the statement went on to say

Telegram in process of registering office in Russia — register data

The status of performing the obligation of "to create a branch or open a representative office or found a Russian legal entity" has changed to "at the approval stage"

FACTBOX: What we know about EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia

The 18th package includes an expanded blacklist of individuals and legal entities, restrictions on tankers transporting Russian oil, measures targeting several banks, and new export controls on dual-use goods and technologies

Putin enjoys strong support among Russians — poll

The poll, carried out between July 7 and July 13, surveyed 1,600 respondents aged 18 and older

Russian troops liberate ten communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted more than 1,040 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 13 enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the week, the Defense Ministry reported

Trump believes Ukraine should go on offensive — media

The US president also asked "if Ukraine could bomb Moscow or St. Petersburg"

Press review: US and EU delay weapons to Ukraine as Syria fighting alarms Turkey

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, July 18th

Medvedev calls Western actions against Russia a full-out war

"To Western elites, an independent and strong Russia has always seemed a historical anomaly and a very effective rebuff to the idea of their `civilizational superiority’", the politician maintained

Russia supports Lebanon’s sovereignty amid US pressure — diplomat

According to Maria Zakharova, Russia's stance on the subject remains unchanged

United States to sanction Russia if no deal on Ukraine is made in fifty days — White House

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that countries purchasing oil from Russia will be sanctioned as well

Russia, Ukraine to discuss draft memoranda at third round — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov mentioned this in response to a question about how important the sovereignty of Ukraine's actions is for a full and final settlement

Company of Russian businessman will invest in Musk’s deal with Twitter — Bloomberg

Earlier, Alexander Tamas put money into rocket company SpaceX and brain-machine maker Neuralink Corp., which also belong to Elon Musk

Russian ballistic missiles evade Ukrainian radars, hinder Patriots — paper

According to the report, Europe plans to supply Ukraine with its Samp/T air defense systems, which could rival the US-made Patriots

Russia’s Medvedev responds to Trump by saying 'one really bad thing' would be WWIII

Donald Trump said earlier on Tuesday that if it weren’t for him "really bad things would have already happened to Russia"

Russian MFA spokeswoman talks about weapons smuggling from Ukraine, raps German officials

TASS has put together the highlights from the news conference

Russia treats Ukraine, bilateral relations as separate lines in dialogue with US — Kremlin

"One topic is the Ukrainian settlement, and another one is our bilateral relations, all irritants in our ties, problematic issues, which we have a lot of," Dmitry Peskov said

Press review: Trump’s Ukraine stance raises doubts as EU states opt out of US arms funding

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, July 17th

Ukraine pulling best infantry, drone units to Krasnoarmeisk — expert

According to Igor KImakovsky, units of Russia’s Battlegroup Center are pushing Ukrainian troops west of the city near the village of Udachnoye

Russian forces destroy two groups of Ukrainian soldiers in Dnepropetrovsk Region

Among the enemy personnel destroyed, there were soldiers of recently deployed rear units

Russia took no hostile actions against Moldova, only responded — envoy

According to Oleg Ozerov, Moscow continues to be guided by the 2001 bilateral agreement in its relations with Chisinau

Russia to treat 'coalition of the willing' forces in Ukraine as military target — MFA

"The Russian side has repeatedly stated that a deployment of armed forces of other countries in Ukraine under any pretense would be absolutely unacceptable and it would regard this as preparations for foreign military intervention," Maria Zakharova stated

EU’s rejection of Russian gas leading to adverse consequences — Putin

Huge restrictions have already been introduced for EU countries

Moldova preserves broad treaty base with Russia, CIS — envoy

"Moldova has not withdrawn from approximately 280 agreements with Russia and CIS countries," Oleg Ozerov noted

Europe must draft new security pact if NATO collapses — Polish general

Stanislaw Koziej believes that the creation of a unified European army is "pointless"

Russian troops liberate three communities in Ukraine operation over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 160 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy armored combat vehicle in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Each new sanctions package hurts its initiators — Kremlin

The most recent EU’s 18th package of sanctions includes an expanded blacklist of individuals and legal entities, a lower price cap on Russian oil purchases within the bloc

India’s Foreign Ministry cautions against double standards after sanction threats

Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stressed that securing energy needs of Indian people is an overriding priority for the country

German chancellor wants to know if US will replace European arms sent to Ukraine

Friedrich Merz added that defense ministers are now discussing ways to deliver Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine

'No illusions' any more regarding relations with West, Russia’s Medvedev says

The Russian security council deputy chairman was commenting on the idea that decisions from the Potsdam Conference were almost immediately breached by the Soviet Union’s former allies in the anti-Hitlerite coalition

Slovakia will not veto 18th package of anti-Russian sanctions — premier

In his words, Bratislava has received certain guarantees from the European Commission that if Russian gas supplies stop, it will continue to receive the necessary fuel

Russia is developing advanced hypersonic weapons — ministry

Russia expects a serious breakthrough in the field of laser and electromagnetic weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry says

EU Council approves 18th sanctions package against Russia — Danish EU Presidency

The document will now be published in the Official Journal of the EU, after which the sanctions will come into force

Russia not ruling out countermeasures against new EU sanctions — Foreign Ministry

"We will take measures supporting our interests in case of necessity," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko stressed

West’s push for rare-earth metals access borders on robbery — Russian MFA

"Rare-earth metals are the prize in the trade wars underway between the key suppliers of AI solutions to the market," Maria Zakharova pointed out

Meeting of US, Russia presidents needed to resolve conflict in Ukraine — Orban

The Hungarian prime minister hopes that an agreement between Russia and the United States will be reached before the 50 days allotted by Trump expire and his threat to impose 100% import duties on Russia and its trading partners takes effect

Russian envoy hopeful for ties reset after Moldova’s elections

According to Oleg Ozerov, Moscow continues to be guided by the 2001 bilateral agreement in its relations with Chisinau, with Moldova’s contacts with Brussels in no way required to obstruct its ties with Russia

Zelensky pitches 'megadeal' to Trump: Ukrainian drones for US weapons

Vladimir Zelensky said that the deal "would see the US and Ukraine prop up each other’s aerial technology"

Orban sees no rational basis for Europe to fear attack from Russia

He also said that Russia is a nuclear power that, by definition, cannot be defeated, but it is still inferior to the European Union and NATO in terms of population, defense spending and overall military potential

Kiev uses OPCW to legitimize fabricated claims against Russian military — Defense Ministry

Major General Alexey Rtishchev stressed that the aggressive anti-Russian campaign with far-fetched accusations was continued at the last session of the OPCW Executive Council

Germans condemn forced mobilization in Ukraine as 'undemocratic,' 'inhumane' — media

Several people emphasized that such use of force against civilians should be outlawed

Hunger in Gaza Strip hits catastrophic highs — Hamas

The radical group urged the international community to take immediate steps to end the blockade

Russia must respond to West’s treachery and even act preemptively — Medvedev

According to the Russian official, "the Potsdam Conference taught us that relations with the West should not be based on illusions"

US strikes only destroyed one Iranian nuclear site — TV

According to the broadcaster, two other facilities sustained significantly less damage and could be restored to operational levels within months

UN chief reports progress on Cyprus talks

According to Antonio Guterres, out of six trust-building initiatives, four have already been implemented

Russia to give decisive response if attacked by Taurus — MFA

Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also noted that Germany’s assistance in the production of long-range systems in Ukraine could mask plans to localize the assembly of Taurus missiles at Ukrainian defense industry facilities

Russia does not care about Trump’s 'theatrical ultimatum,' says Medvedev

This is Moscow’s first official reaction to the statements Trump made yesterday

Mobilization of women in Ukraine would be 'humanitarian disaster' — expert

Yan Gagin said these measures are allegedly demanded by Kiev’s European partners in exchange for military aid, particularly arms deliveries in 2025

Church in Gaza was hit by projectile fragments by mistake — IDF

"The cause of the incident is under review," the press service said in a statement

Russia expresses protest over Japan’s exercise with US near Russian borders — ministry

According to the statement, Moscow "views such irresponsible activities, bearing all signs of preparations for an armed conflict, as unacceptable"

Brazilian president accuses Trump of attack on country’s sovereignty

According to the Brazilian leader, he was outraged by the fact that "this attack on the country was supported by many Brazilian politicians"

Russia compelled to act in response to Kiev’s behavior — Kremlin on Internet outages

Dmitry Peskov stressed that these restrictions are justified, because they are related to security

Ukraine’s rearmament may trigger NATO’s collapse, senior Russian lawmaker warns

"The North Atlantic Alliance’s member states will have to pay the US for weapons to send them to Ukraine at the expense of their own prosperity," Pyotr Tolstoy said

Russia repatriates bodies of 1,000 fallen Ukrainian soldiers — presidential aide

In return, Russia received the remains of 19 of Russian fallen fighters

Brazil’s president says Trump shouldn’t think of himself as ‘emperor of the world’

The Brazilian leader said the US president is destroying bilateral relations that have existed for 200 years

West’s threats of secondary sanctions to benefit multipolar world — Russian diplomat

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said earlier that secondary sanctions may be applied against China, India and Brazil

Hamas, Israel agree on phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza

According to the agency, the new Israeli withdrawal scheme includes pulling back from the Morag axis

Russian troops about to encircle Kupyansk, Kiev forces in dire situation — official

Vitaly Ganchev added that the mood of Ukrainian armed formations and mobilized soldiers is low

Russia-China partnership impervious to Trump's tariffs threats — diplomat

Maria Zakharova noted that Moscow and Beijing made a strategic decision to strengthen their comprehensive bilateral partnership in the long-term historical perspective

EU makes ‘concessions’ for Slovakia to approve sanctions against Russia — DPA

The document will now be published in the Official Journal of the EU, after which the sanctions will come into force

Trump sketched erotic drawing for Epstein’s birthday, WSJ claims

According to the newspaper, the drawing, depicting an outline of a woman’s breasts and a "Donald" signature was accompanied by the line: "Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret"

EU replaces SWIFT disconnection with complete transaction ban for sanctioned Russian banks

Additional trade restrictions have been imposed on goods and technologies used in the Russian military industry

Kremlin reviewing Trump’s remarks, Putin will respond if he chooses

On July 14, the US president said that he was "disappointed" with Russia and its president personally

Russia, Laos to hold joint Laros-2025 military exercise in late 2025

According to the Laotian defense ministry’s spokesman, the exercises are aimed at sharing experience of the two countries’ military forces

Syria's interim president accuses 'illegal formations’ of violating ceasefire

Ahmed Al-Sharaa called on all sides to exercise calm and restraint, pledging to bring to justice those responsible for the violence "regardless of their ethnicity"

Putin authorizes obtaining Russian internal passports in Abkhazia, South Ossetia

The measure will remain in effect until August 1, 2028

Human rights lawyer says UN listening to appeals about Kiev's persecution of Orthodoxy

The lawyer told TASS he had filed a complaint to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the persecution of the UOC and the decision to revoke the citizenship of its head, Metropolitan of Kiev and All Ukraine Onufriy

Ukrainian attack on Energodar, regional power equipment fails to disrupt ZNPP's operations

The plant noted that all safety protocols remain intact and operational conditions have not been compromised

Russia, Ukraine hold direct talks, but through US mediation — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov made the remark in response to a question about the importance of Ukraine’s sovereignty for a comprehensive and final settlement

Ukraine readies retaliatory measures after Hungary sanctioned 3 senior military officers

Earlier on Thursday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced that Budapest banned three Ukrainian military commanders from entering the country and asked the European Union to blacklist them as well

Trump to sue WSJ over article about erotic gift for Epstein

He emphasized that the WSJ and media magnate Rupert Murdoch had been warned that the letter to Epstein was fake

Russian lawmaker reminds US general of nuclear doctrine

"An attack on the Kaliningrad Region will mean an attack on Russia, with all due retaliatory measures, stipulated, among other things, by its nuclear doctrine," Leonid Slutsky said

Europe’s rejection of Russian fertilizers leads to price hike

Europe is currently importing 17 mln metric tons of fertilizers, of which 5.5 mln metric tons are Russian ones