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Developments in Afghanistan

Presidential envoy says decision not to evacuate Russian embassy in Kabul was correct

According to Zamir Kabulov, Russian embassy has a possibility to directly communicate with the new leadership of Afghanistan

MOSCOW, December 1./TASS/. The decision not to evacuate the Russian embassy in Kabul after the Taliban (outlawed in Russia) seized power in Afghanistan was entirely correct, as this makes it possible to be in direct contact with the new leadership of the country, Special Russian Presidential Representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov told Rossiya-24 TV channel on Wednesday.

"The developments of almost four months that have passed have shown that the decision was absolutely correct. Our embassy works to its usual routine almost at full strength," said Kabulov, who is Director of the Foreign Ministry’s Second Asian Department.

"The advantage is that our embassy has a possibility to directly communicate with the new leadership of Afghanistan, inform them of our, as we say, concerns, and get feedback," he said.

On August 15, the Taliban entered Kabul without encountering any resistance while Afghan President Ashraf Ghani stepped down and fled the country. The Taliban declared on September 6 that they had established control of the entire Afghan territory and on September 7 they announced an interim government in Afghanistan that has not been recognized by any country so far.

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Afghanistan Power transfer in Afghanistan

Russian envoy vows both mirror, asymmetrical response to provocations by Baltic states

According to Sergey Belyaev, diplomatic relations with the three Baltic states have been downgraded to a charge d’affaires level

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Lukashenko dismisses Chairman of General Staff of Belarusian Armed Forces

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Russian military fights Nazi followers in special military operation — Shoigu

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Belarus, Russia conduct tactical nuke drills amid current situation — Lukashenko

"An escalation is ongoing," the president said

Russian government done a lot in difficult conditions — Putin on Mishustin’s candidacy

Putin added that he hopes that parliamentarians will support his choice

US seeking to throw Balts, Poles, Germans, French ‘into fire of war’ — Medvedchuk

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Russian battlegroup Dnepr destroys two Ukrainian boats on Dnieper — spokesman

According to Roman Kodryan, enemy losses totaled up to 55 servicemen over the past day

Kiev troops presumably used ATACMS missiles to strike Lugansk — politician

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Russian sniper reports elimination of Ukrainian serviceman wearing helmet with SS emblem

He specified that his group took the helmet as proof of the elimination

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Russian forces hit Ukrainian points of deployment and equipment at railway stations

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Ukrainian companies report damage to energy facilities

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EU countries hold around 100,000 tons of illegally seized fertilizers from Russia

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US veteran says Soviet Union turned the tide of World War II

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London refuses to engage with Moscow on Skripals — senior Russian diplomat

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Aurus Merlon electric motorcycle available for pre-order — acting Deputy PM

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Israel and Russia double number of flights for spring and summer — ambassador to Moscow

Tourist flow between the countries is not high for a number of reasons, Simona Halperin said

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The atmosphere in society has changed, now "reliability, mutual responsibility, sincerity, decency, nobility and courage" are highly valued, the Russian leader stressed

Hungary views China as pillar of multipolar world — Orban

Hungarian prime minister recalled that Hungary has always adhered to the ‘one China’ principle

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Kazakhstan purchases around 280 mln kWh of electricity from Russia in 2024

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Death toll of bus crash in St. Petersburg rises to 7

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Russian air defenses shoot down 100 Bayraktar drones during special operation

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Zelensky cannot be legitimate president after May 21 — Medvedchuk

"Ukraine has already lost its statehood," leader of the Other Ukraine movement said

Aerospace Forces receive new Su-35S fighters

Su-35S have passed ground and flight trials and flew from Komsomolsk-on-Amur to the deployment airfield

US aims to halve Russia’s oil, gas revenues by 2030 — newspaper

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Israel has no plans to introduce Russian Mir payment cards — ambassador

Israeli Ambassador to Russia Simona Halperin said said that Israel works with the international SWIFT system

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China-Russia trade turnover rises by 4.7% to $76.58 bln in January — April

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Maria Zakharova also asked a rhetorical question about what these countries’ new ambassadors would do when they have to hand over their credentials to the president

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Konashenkov also said that several Russian soldiers have been taken prisoner

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Two more Ukrainian drones shot down over Belgorod Region — defense ministry

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According to Spokesman Alexander Gordeyev, the Ukrainians lost roughly 50 troops

Russia pre-emptively plans intermediate-range missile sites to counter US moves — diplomat

Correspondingly, specialists are carrying out preliminary pre-emptive planning, Sergey Ryabkov said

BRICS’ authority on international stage grows — Russian Federation Council speaker

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The embassy noted that there are many Russians with double citizenship currently enlisted in the IDF

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Relations with Russia are really important for Israel — Ambassador to Moscow

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Hungary, China ink 16 cooperation agreements, including on nuclear energy

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Representatives of the company and the committee management were sent to the scene of the accident

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Antonov said that during his inaugural speech, President Putin gave a clear message to Western powers

Putin describes attempts to ban Ukrainian language and culture as unjust

The head of state noted that about three mln Ukrainians permanently resided in Russia

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At least 90,000 soldiers attend Victory Day celebrations across Russia

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UN General Assembly recommends Security Council consider making Palestine UN member state

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UK announces expulsion of Russian defense attache, new diplomatic visa restrictions

According to Home Secretary James Cleverly, this is a message to Moscow in response to its actions allegedly aimed at undermining British assistance to Ukraine

Russia holds Victory Day parade on Moscow’s Red Square

The parade began with the march of the banner group of the Preobrazhensky Regiment Honor Guard’s unit carrying the Russian national flag and the legendary Victory Banner across Red Square

Macron denies death of French troops in Ukraine out of fear of protests — SVR head

According to Sergey Naryshkin, the French Army is "visibly concerned" over the growing number of French citizens killed in Ukraine

Russian paratroopers thwart attempt by Ukrainian troops to cross Dnieper — ministry

The coordinates of the targets were transmitted to the group’s artillerymen, who hit the infantry positions and also destroyed the Ukrainian armed forces’ boats

Putin congratulates parade participants on Victory Day

Putin is confident in ensuring free and safe future of Russia and its united people

European Commission confirms agreement on expropriation of income from Russian assets

This decision must now be approved by the EU Council at ministerial level

Hungary supports Chinese peace plan on Ukraine — Orban

Hungary urges for an immediate ceasefire and peace talks, the prime minister said

Russia mulls developing vertical take-off fighter jets for new aircraft carrier

"We are discussing this with our aircraft-building companies," Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said

Polish PM says NATO troops are in Ukraine

Polish prime minister emphasized that NATO’s direct engagement in the military conflict in Ukraine must be avoided

President of Cuba wishes Putin success in special military operation

Miguel Diaz-Canel said that Moscow can always count on the support of Havana

Armenia to refrain from financing CSTO activity in 2024

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said earlier that his country cannot rely on the CSTO and he cannot answer Armenian society’s question why the country should be its member

Russian envoy vows both mirror, asymmetrical response to provocations by Baltic states

According to Sergey Belyaev, diplomatic relations with the three Baltic states have been downgraded to a charge d’affaires level

Presence of French-speaking mercenaries identified in 20 cases in Zaporozhye — politician

Ethnic Poles and Georgians account for the largest groups of mercenaries in the Ukrainian army

Putin confident in Russia’s victory in special military operation

The Russian people show their best qualities in difficult moments, their courage and heroism, which is confirmed by the special military operation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with military on May 7, following the inauguration ceremony

Russia didn’t invite officials from unfriendly countries to victory parade, diplomat says

Maria Zakharova said veteran organizations in unfriendly countries weren’t affected by the decision not to invite officials

Russia does not accept US policy to limit Cuba’s development — Putin

According Russian President, the Cuban people have been fighting this for decades and they are confident

Around 110,000 people fled Rafah in southern Gaza Strip amid Israeli operation

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East said that "nowhere is safe in the Gaza Strip and living conditions are atrocious"

Taliban invited to participate in 'Russia - Islamic World' forum in Kazan — envoy

Zamir Kabulov also mentioned that Russia's cooperation with the Taliban government on counter-terrorism continues "on a regular basis"

Putin awards Soviet WWII veterans in Israel lifetime benefits

According to Israel’s Ministry of Immigrant Absorption, some 10,000 veterans of the Second World War live in the country

Russia’s Dnepr group repels counterattack by 118th brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces

Over the week, units of the Dnepr group of troops defeated the manpower and equipment of three brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Putin re-appoints Mishustin as Prime Minister of Russia

The decree enters into effect since the day of signing

Israel does not rule out a new deal with Hamas — Ambassador to Russia

According to Simona Halperin, it is possible to talk about a complete ceasefire after Israel wins

State Duma approves Mikhail Mishustin as Chairman of Russian Government

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin thanked State Duma lawmakers for approving his candidacy for the prime minister’s office

China supports Serbia in defending its sovereignty on Kosovo issue — Xi

Xi Jinping is on a state visit to Serbia on May 7-8

Terrorists sentenced for Crocus City Hall attack to face harsh jail conditions — activist

"Nothing good awaits those perpetrators of the act of terror," executive secretary of the Moscow Public Monitoring Commission Alexey Melnikov told

Mishustin plans to increase volume of non-resource, non-energy exports by 2/3

The Russian government will increase the attractiveness of Russian jurisdiction for business, acting Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin

Medvedev gives warning amid talk of deploying Western troops to Ukraine

According to the politician, the cause of the discussion on dispatching Western troops to Ukraine, launched by French President Emmanuel Macron, is a "shameless calculation for political bonus points"

New US arms shipment to Ukraine a reaction to Russia’s success at frontline — envoy

Anatoly Antonov also castigated the US administration for shrugging off responsibility for Ukrainian attacks at civilian facilities in Russia with the use of weapons being supplied from the United States

Ukrainian nationalists financed by US, Britain after WWII — declassified archives

In particular, Ukrainian nationalists carried out terrorist acts in small groups of 3-5 members and sometimes engaged in individual terrorism

At least 3 killed in Ukrainian strike at fuel depot in Rovenki, LPR

According to LPR Head Leonid Pasechnik, the Ukrainian forces opened fire at the city of Rovenki, causing fire at the local fuel depot and damaging several houses

Lavrov slams Zelensky over his claims of not backing Nazis while okaying SS-hailing events

According to the Russian top diplomat, Ukraine’s authorities are conniving at the manifestations of neo-Nazism

Putin submits Mishustin's candidacy for post of prime minister to State Duma

State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin recalled that the State Duma "for the first time in the history of modern Russia will form the line-up of the government: approve the chairman of the government, his deputies, and federal ministers"