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Russia-PACE Relations

Slutsky falls short of required majority to be elected PACE deputy president

A second round will have to be held for electing the assembly’s vice-president from Russia

Leonid Slutsky Sergei Malgavko/TASS

Leonid Slutsky

© Sergei Malgavko/TASS

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STRASBOURG, June 26. /TASS/. The chairman of the State Duma’s international affairs committee, Leonid Slutsky, has fallen short of the required number of votes for being elected vice-president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

PACE President Liliane Maury Pasquier said 198 of PACE’s 316 members took part in the voting. Slutsky received 101 votes and this means that he fell short of the required majority. A second round will have to be held for electing the assembly’s vice-president from Russia. Under Article 16 the candidate is to receive a majority of votes on the condition at least 159 members of the Assembly cast their ballots. If the candidate fails to be elected in the second round, the vice-president’s seat will stay vacant, Pasquier said.

Slovak PM thanks Putin in Russian for meeting with him

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Civilian manufacturers ramp up drone production to 40,000 units per month

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Russian forces destroy two Ukrainian Su-27 fighter jets in 24 hours — defense ministry

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CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

According to Alexander Stepanov, strikes are systematic efforts to gradually wipe out the military capabilities of Ukraine

Putin opens new transport infrastructure sites in Russian regions via video link

Putin also took part in the ceremony of opening international airports in Magadan, Cheboksary, and Stavropol

Three of eight drones that attacked Kazan targeted defense industry facilities — head

The Tatarstan head Rustam Minnikhanov also noted that all operational services worked well when dealing with the aftermath of the drone attack

Ukrainian shelling of Russia’s Rylsk damages 12 buildings — governor

Three of them are not subject to restoration, Alexander Khinshtein said

Drone attack triggers fire at fuel infrastructure facility in Russia’s Oryol Region

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Press review: Putin outlines Russia's future goals and Tehran faces energy blackout riots

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Dmitry Peskov added that it is not planned to issue any joint statements

Putin sends greetings on Russia’s Energy Industry Worker’s Day

Russian leader stressed that, thanks to their dedication, 'the industry is becoming more and more high-tech with every new year'

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According to US Central Command, the incident occurred during airstrikes on Houthi facilities

Musk believes Germany’s Scholz should step down after car drives into crowd in Magdeburg

Meanwhile, Scholz will visit Magdeburg to assess the situation later on Saturday

Russian forces create bridgehead near Kupyansk-Uzlovoy in Kharkov Region — expert

Ukrainian forces have been shifting significant reserves to this settlement, including fresh recruits with little to no training, to retain Kupyansk

Trump warns dollar to be displaced as number one world currency over Biden’s policy

It is noted that China is trying to displace the US dollar as the number one currency throughout the world

US confirms strikes on Houthi command posts in Yemen

CENTCOM forces also shot down several Houthi unmanned aerial vehicles and an anti-ship cruise missile over the Red Sea

Baltic states threaten mass deportation of Russians, take lead in Russophobia — statement

The Foreign Ministry noted that the facts of discrimination and persecution of Russians are often ignored by the official leadership of countries and international human rights agencies, leading many victims to remain silent

First batch of nuclear-armed drones Poseidon manufactured for special-purpose sub Belgorod

According to the source, various trials of core components of Poseidon underwater drones, including the nuclear power

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Serbia will never joint anti-Russian sanctions, deputy prime minister vows

Aleksandar Vulin noted that he is "not optimistic about prospects for the United States changing its policy toward Serbia" after the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump

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As preliminary data suggest, the ISS orbit was raised by 2.3 km to 416.43 km above the Earth’s surface

Top Turkish diplomat calls for listing anti-Syrian sanctions

According to Hakan Fidan, during his contacts with al-Sharaa he "saw the Syrian leadership’s strong will and commitment in this area,"

Syrian development help prevent regional war — Syria’s new leader

Ahmed аl-Sharaa expressed hope for building strategic relations with Lebanon

Hungary wants to maintain ties with Russia under its economic neutrality policy — PM

Victor Orban also said that hopes for the development of economic cooperation with the United States after President-elect Donald Trump takes office

Trump to rely on forces that brought him to power — Russian presidential aide

Nikolay Patrushev agreed that Trump, when he was still a candidate, "made many statements critical of the destructive foreign and domestic policies pursued by the current administration"

Houthis say attacked US aircraft carrier in Red Sea, shot down US fighter jet

According to the Houthi spokesman, the strike on US vessels was delivered with the use of "eight cruise missiles and 17 drones"

Russia’s Battlegroup South liberates settlement of Ostrovskogo in DPR — Defense Ministry

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Putin to extend New Year greetings to peoples of several unfriendly countries — Kremlin

The Russian president will not congratulate leaders of unfriendly countries, but he will congratulate some individuals and people of several ones, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

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The Arkhangelsk submarine was rolled out from the slipway of the Sevmash Shipyard on November 29, 2023 for completing its construction afloat

Kiev to face more destruction after its UAV attack on Kazan, Putin warns

"We will not only restore the damage that some attempt to cause to us but will also move forward even at a faster pace as we are doing now," Russian President said

Russia declassifies intel about France’s plans to send 2,000 troops to Ukraine

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PREVIEW: Putin expected to unveil several transport facilities

According to Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, Putin has several closed-door meetings slated for December 22

Ukraine loses over 300 troops, two Bradley vehicles in Kursk Region in past day

Eight motor vehicles and two electronic warfare stations were also destroyed? the ministy added

Israeli minister’s suggestion of nuclear strike on Gaza raises questions — Russian MFA

Maria Zakharova stressed that such statements by Israeli officials shed light on the true reasons why Tel Aviv was opposing the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East

Ukraine may cease to exist by 2034 — Russian security official

Dmitry Medvedev noted that Ukraine will never join NATO

Russia ready to normalize relations with US without detriment to its interests — Putin

The previous generation of Russian politicians chose the course towards the country’s destruction for the sake of joining the so-called civilized world but this was what the West wanted, President Vladimir Putin

Death toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip exceeds 45,200 — health ministry

More than 107,600 people received wounds

Ukrainian troops struggling to escape being trapped in Lozovaya in Kharkov region — expert

In general, "quite active hostilities" are taking place near Dvurechnaya and Lozovaya in the Kupyansk sector of the line of engagement, Andrey Marochko noted

US administration believes Assad may lose power next week — media

There is a growing consensus within the US administration that such a scenario is becoming increasingly likely, an unnamed US official told CNN

Civilian industrial complex supplies Russian army with over 65 types of units — top brass

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov praised the new mechanisms for accelerating the introduction of advanced weapons and equipment developed by the civilian defense industrial complex in the interests of the Russian army

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According to Jacques Sapir, the decision not to extend transit contracts was no surprise given the political landscape

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Russia calls Israel’s annexation of Golan Heights unacceptable — MFA

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Salome Zourabichvili also promised to announce her further plans on Monday

NATO spies study damage from Oreshnik at Yuzhmash — expert

Alexander Stepanov emphasized that both Kiev and its Western allies are closely scrutinizing the consequences of the strike on the plant

Damage to Portuguese Embassy in Kiev caused by Ukrainian air defense — Russian diplomats

Reporters are ramping up Russophobia, distorting the facts while writing on this matter, the Russian Embassy in Portugal said

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The Russian leader also agreed with Sergey Mironov, head of the "A Just Russia - For Truth" faction in the Duma, who said that "the birth rate is insufficient, because the matter concerns extinction"

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The Ukrainian military also admitted the Russian army’s supremacy in terms of military equipment and the size of personnel

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Everything depends on its content and the approach of the team of US President-elect Donald Trump are important, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said

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According to the TV channel Al Jazeera, the refugees were housed at a school in the Al-Daraj neighborhood

Zelensky actually flips the bird to Trump by insulting Putin, Medvedev says

The politician emphasized that "the president of a major country should be extremely polite and amiable"

Putin holding talks with visiting Slovak PM

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The range of the Oreshnik system is up to 5,500 kilometers

Assad allegedly hands list of military targets over to Israel before leaving Syria — media

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Slovak PM to visit Moscow for talks with Putin, Serbian president says

"Robert Fico will travel to visit Putin as a European countries leader," Aleksandar Vucic said

Two freight trains collide at Trans-Baikal Railways, traffic suspended

Both freight trains loaded with coal collided at the Bushulei-Zhireken railway section

Commander Makarov was killed in fighting to repel Ukrainian attack — ministry

Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov also informed of the death of the deputy commander of the army corps for military-political work, Colonel Yevgeny Brovko, who led the efforts of the personnel

Russian 'soldier of the future' combat gear tested in Syria

The Ratnik is a system of advanced protective and communication equipment, weapons and ammunition

Oil supplies to Hungary via Druzhba pipeline resume — top Hungarian diplomat

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Lavrov describes attack by insurgents in Syria as carefully planned

"We will oppose this in every possible way. We will support the legitimate Syrian government. And at the same time, of course, we will actively advocate the need to resume dialogue with the opposition, as required by [UN] Resolution 2254," Lavrov continued

Russian forces control more than half of Chasov Yar in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that Russian forces had "slightly advanced" in the northern and southern parts of Chasov Yar

Almost 20 drones downed over four Russian regions, Black Sea last night

According to Russia's Defence Ministry, attempts to conduct attacks against facilities on Russian soil were thwarted

Response to Ukrainian attack on Russia’s Rylsk to come shortly — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya warned as he denounced the attack as yet another unambiguous step by the Kiev regime toward escalation

Press review: South Korean president impeached as Ukraine turns to foreign mercenaries

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Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

It is planned to launch it in general circulation in early 2025

Gazprom to replace European sales market with new export destinations, says Italian expert

Demostenes Floros also drew attention to the growing potential of the ever-expanding domestic market and mentioned new ways of using natural gas in the future - for example, for the production of hydrogen and ammonia, necessary for the energy transition and agriculture (in production of fertilizers)

Russia has confidence in its weapons, senior diplomat says

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov also stressed that the recent developments had shown that the US policy of establishing a system of increasingly layered missile defenses was wrong

Magnitude 5.3 earthquake rocks South Africa

No injuries or damage were reported

Putin responds to question about Russia's weakness by quoting Mark Twain

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Israeli delegation discussing in Doha ways of reaching deal om Gaza — TV

The Al Arabiya television channel said that, citing a source

Russian troops liberate two communities in Donbass area, Kharkov Region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts 480 casualties on Ukrainian army over past day

Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine ready to join Russian Navy — Sevmash Shipyard CEO

Project 885M nuclear-powered submarines carry Oniks and Kalibr-PL cruise missiles as their basic strike weapons

Ukraine to halt Russian gas transit on January 1, 2025 — Ukrainian PM

The restart of transit via the Ukrainian gas transportation system is possible at a request of the European Commission if this is not Russian gas, Denis Shmygal said

Press review: Israel and Hamas near a truce while Zelensky drafts a new negotiation plan

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, December 19th

Topic of Russian gas transit expected to be discussed by Putin, Slovak PM

"We’d better wait for the meeting to end to learn what they discussed," he Dmitry Peskov said

Russian missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov to become world’s strongest warship after upgrade

The heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov has been under repairs at the Sevmash Shipyard since 1999; real work on the warship has been carried out since 2013

IN BRIEF: What is known about drone attack on residential buildings in Kazan

TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

Yemeni capital city subjected to massive airstrike - TV channel

According to the Al Hadath TV channel, at least three strikes hit Ansar Allah military facilities located in Sanaa, including rebel locations

Strike on SBU control center response to Russian general’s assassination, expert says

The ministry clarified that Ukraine launched a missile strike against the Kamensky Integrated Plant in the Rostov Region using six US-made ATACMS missiles and four Storm Shadow cruise missiles

Slovak PM thanks Putin in Russian for meeting with him

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Magdeburg attacker may be charged with murder of 5, attempted murder of 205 — prosecutor

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Rostec works on fourth, next generation of Ratnik combat gear

Research is in progress into using powered exoskeletons, micro-drones and new weapons, the Rostec official said