{{dayPoint.date | date : 'd MMMM yyyy'}}

{{newsPoint.title}}

{{newsPoint.title+ ' '}}

{{newsPoint.subtitle}}

Two Moscow-bound drones taken down by Russian air defenses

First responders are working in the area where fragments crashed, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said

© Alexander Reka/TASS

MOSCOW, September 17. /TASS/. Russian air defenses have taken down two drones on the way to Moscow, Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said.

"The Defense Ministry’s air defense forces destroyed two drones approaching Moscow," he wrote on the Max messenger. "First responders are working in the area where fragments have crashed."

Military operation in Ukraine

Ukrainian attacks leave civilian killed, 7 others injured in DPR over past day — leader

Denis Pushilin reported that 11 houses were damaged from actions by the Ukrainian army

Situation in Reznikovka encirclement is at stalemate for Ukrainian forces — expert

Andrey Marochko said the Ukrainian military command is giving its personnel false information

Thousands of children, youth become casualties of Ukrainian aggression in DPR — senator

In total, around 22,000 civilians in the region have been killed or injured by Ukrainian aggression since the start of the special military operation

Medvedev sounds alarm on potential election provocations by Russia’s opponents

"All you have to do is go online to see what kind of frenzy is currently taking place there on this issue," the Russian security council deputy chairman noted

NATO rehearsing scenarios for blockading Kaliningrad, isolating St. Petersburg — MFA

According to Yulia Zhdanova, NATO’s drive to escalate tensions around the Kaliningrad Region was confirmed the previous day by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who called on the alliance to step up exercises near the Russian region’s border

NATO member states plot aggression against Russia by 2029/2030 — diplomat

"Europe makes no secret of the fact that it is modernizing the airport network, logistics, railway crossings and bridges as well as their integration into the so-called military Schengen system that is subordinated to a long-term military confrontation with Russia," Yulia Zhdanova said

Houthis report intercepting two Saudi F-15 fighter jets

The two war planes "were targeted with several locally-made anti-aircraft missiles" as they departed from the Khamis Mushait Air Base and "were forced to retreat immediately," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said

US oil inventories down 0.6 mln barrels over week — Department of Energy

The current stock level is 5% below the five-year average typical for this time of the year, the department added

UN can offer negotiation platform to Iran, US, but they have to want it — body's chief

Resolving the Middle East crisis without dialogue would be impossible, Antonio Guterres emphasized

European Council president to call for creating European Security Council — media

According to an article in Euractiv, Ursula von der Leyen will announce the proposal in her annual State of the European Union address in Strasbourg on Wednesday

Russia opposes offering any respite for Ukrainian troops — diplomat

"Russia will push for achieving sustainable peace," Yulia Zhdanova said

Germany preparing for potential conflict with Russia — head of delegation in Vienna

According to Yulia Zhdanova, NATO strategists envision Germany as a key NATO and EU logistics hub for moving as many as 800,000 troops

Russia ready for Western provocations amid State Duma elections — MFA

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that diplomats are being trained even more thoroughly

Underlying inflation in 5-6% range in August — Bank of Russia

According to the regulator, consumer prices fell by 0.08% in August 2026, while annual inflation accelerated by 0.35 percentage points to 6.33%

Trump’s call to halt attacks on energy sites shows dissatisfaction with Zelensky — expert

Alexander Protsenko said Donald Trump had also stressed that global diesel shortages were the result of Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries

Russian-Canadian citizen gets seven years in penal colony for treason — FSB

According to the Russian Federal Security Service, Nikolay Zyuzev created and launched a project spreading extremist materials, and gathering information on the instructions of EU government bodies and analytical center

Ukrainian attacks leave civilian killed, 7 others injured in DPR over past day — leader

Denis Pushilin reported that 11 houses were damaged from actions by the Ukrainian army

Russia’s victory forged both on battlefield and in rear — Putin

"It is being brought closer by everyone who works honestly for the Motherland and understands their responsibility for its future," the Russian leader said

UN Secretary-General says de-escalation must remain top priority in Middle East

"All parties must cease any actions that harm civilians and ensure that humanitarian operations can proceed safely and without obstruction," Antonio Guterres said

Russian Defense Ministry to expand cooperation with Indian Defense Ministry — top brass

Furthermore, Alexander Matovnikov noted the "alignment of approaches between the Republic of India and Russia regarding the shaping of the global order - based on principles of multipolarity - as well as the resolution of regional conflicts"

Serbia ready to host Ukraine talks, though idea was never considered — Vucic

Serbia's president added that, in his opinion, an Arab country would be selected for hosting talks

Moscow sees no changes in EU’s approach to Ukrainian conflict settlement — diplomat

Yulia Zhdanova added that the continuing hostilities by the Kiev regime that are backed by its European allies take place in parallel with the intensification of military activities near Russia’s borders

Putin calls ongoing election campaign significant

The Russian leader emphasized that the elections will be held in strict accordance with the law and within the established timeframes

Ozone hole shrinks to its smallest in decades in 2025 — UN

According to the World Meteorological Organization, the ozone layer may fully recover within several decades,

At least 22 seafarers killed in Strait of Hormuz since February 28 — IMO

The IMO also said that attacks in the Red Sea resumed

Syrian Army General Staff chief meets with Russian military personnel at Hmeimim airbase

On August 9, Moscow and Damascus signed a memorandum of understanding under which Russia’s military facilities – the Hmeimim airbase in Latakia and the naval logistics support facility in Tartus – are to be transformed into joint military training centers

Russia’s Battlegroup North destroys 345 Ukrainian fixed-wing UAVs in past day

According to the spokesman, the battlegroup also destroyed a Polish-made PT-91 tank and two T-72 tanks

England beat Mexico to reach World Cup quarterfinals

The match ended with a score of 3-2

Kiev unveils domestically developed guided aerial bomb with 250 kg warhead

According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Mikhail Fyodorov, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has already purchased the first experimental batch of the smart bombs

Russia hopes Europe has taken notice of warning about 'other, very short war' — Lavrov

Russia’s top diplomat pointed to the fact that it was Europe that was regularly voicing claims about its preparations for a possible war

Istanbul submits documents to ICC over Ukrainian attack on Turkish ship in Black Sea

HaberDenizde reported that the filing will undergo a preliminary review by the relevant ICC bodies, which will then decide whether to open a formal investigation into the case

Iran-backed Houthis’ actions go beyond domestic conflict — Yemen’s PM

Shaya Mohsen al-Zindani says Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia "cannot be separated from the military escalation" on Yemen’s Red Sea coast

Kiev authorities lost control over Ukrainian security forces — underground resistance

According to the source, citizens "can only watch as the agencies figure out who’s in charge"

Russian stocks close in the red on Wednesday

The MOEX Index fell by 2.03% to 2,289.73 points, while the RTS Index lost 1.95% to 856.94 points

Western unreliability, military contingents in Ukraine: Lavrov’s statements

Russia has never rejected talks on Ukraine and is prepared to hold them in either bilateral or trilateral formats, the Russian foreign minister noted

US wants Germany to confront Russia, while Washington focuses on China, Iran — expert

Sevim Dagdelen, a foreign policy expert for the BSW party, said that "while the United States itself is at times willing to engage in dialogue with Moscow," Berlin is announcing plans to create Europe’s strongest army within a few years

Era of US global dominance over — media

According to Payson O’Brien, America’s military strength, global network of bases and logistics systems, and military and diplomatic partnerships around the world proved insufficient to defeat Iran

Each BRICS country has equal voice in decision-making process — senior Russian diplomat

According to Sergey Ryabkov, the BRICS members always want to find a consensus and formulate a generally acceptable approach

Russia does not advocate expelling anyone from UN Security Council — Lavrov

According to the Russian foreign minister, the current composition of the UN Security Council no longer fully reflects today’s geopolitical realities

Lukoil refinery crisis shows Europe cost of severing ties with Russia — expert

"The longer the Petrotel refinery remains idle, the more the sanctions issue will transform from a foreign policy matter into a domestic political challenge for the country's authorities," Ilya Grashchenkov said

Window of opportunity for modernizing US army closing — Pentagon

General Dan Caine called on the US military-industrial complex to "move faster," "to deliver quality weapons" on time and at lower costs

Putin delivers traditional televised address ahead of parliamentary elections

This marks the third time since 2000 that the Russian leader has addressed the nation prior to State Duma elections

US policy compels North Korea to strengthen nuclear deterrence — agency

Security expert Choe Ju Hyun wrote in an op-ed for the Korean Central News Agency that US actions are accelerating "the corrosion of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime"

Ukrainian attacks on Belgorod Region leave six people injured

According to the regional crisis management center, a man was injured in the village of Rzhevka in the Shebekinsky District when a drone attacked a passenger car

Nepal flood death toll tops 1,400, over 6,000 missing

Eleven Russians are on the Russian Embassy’s lists of missing persons

UK confirms death of British major in traffic incident in Ukraine

The British Ministry of Defense reported that Major Wilks died away from the front lines

Czech prime minister urges Europe to work toward peace in Ukraine

Andrej Babis aded that European leaders are doing nothing to resolve the conflict

Italian delegate says Russia preserves diplomacy abandoned by West

Attending the International Festival of Youth, Carlo Di Martino said it is encouraging to see people from all over the world, supporting Russia's project and its geopolitical vision

INTERVIEW: Kallas only acts as mouthpiece for EU’s hatred toward Russia, diplomat says

Commenting on Kallas accusing Russia of allegedly being behind the incident with a Warsaw-bound passenger train from Kiev, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said it was no use saying anything at all to the EU’s chief diplomat

Every vote matters: Putin’s address to Russians ahead of elections

By participating in the elections, Russians commit a responsible civic act and contribute to making the country stronger, the Russian president said

EU foreign policy chief Kallas says would answer phone call from Russia’s Putin, Lavrov

Kaja Kallas also recalled her meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov at international forums, including at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the G20

Explosions heard in Iranian city of Qeshm — agency

According to sources cited by IRNA, the sounds came from the sea

Press review: Germany eyes Patriot deal as Japan steps up Asia-Pacific military activity

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, September 16th