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Voting on accession to Russia

Ukrainian attack repelled by air defenses in Kherson this morning, official says

"Security is our chief priority," Kirill Stremousov said

MOSCOW, September 23. /TASS/. Ukrainian forces attempted to attack Kherson on Friday morning, but air defenses were activated, said Kirill Stremousov, deputy head of the region’s military-civilian administration.

"Nationalists attempted to attack Kherson this morning, but [the attack] was thwarted by air defenses. <...> Security is our chief priority," he told Channel One television.

Earlier on Friday, the Kherson Region began its vote on joining Russia. Voting will last until Tuesday. Similar referendums are currently underway in the Donetsk and the Lugansk People’s Republics and in the Zaporozhye Region. For security reasons, people in the four regions will be invited to vote near their homes, rather than at polling stations, or rounds of citizens will be made, in the first four days of referendums. Polling stations at the referendum have also been set up across Russia.

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Foreign policy Voting on accession to Russia

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Dardanelles temporarily closed due to fire on board of dry cargo carrier

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China vows decisive response to US move to deploy intermediate missiles in Asia-Pacific

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Ukraine to cease to exist unless it enters into talks, Belarusian president warns

Alexander Lukashenko stressed that his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Zelensky should have realistic expectations

Venezuelan foreign ministry, Russian embassy hold joint conference in Caracas

The event brought together almost 200 diplomats, foreign ministry staffers and experts in international relations

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Potential nuclear facilities in Poland to be military target for Russia — senior diplomat

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Serial production of missiles for S-500 air defense systems begins in Russia — source

State trials of S-500 are under way at a testing range in southern Russia

US-oriented structures try to reformat security system in Asia-Pacific region

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu underlined that this is being done by strengthening "military-political structures such as QUAD, AUKUS and the US-Japan-Philippines triad"

Blinken’s visit to China meant to shatter Russian-Chinese ties — senior Russian diplomat

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Transfer of US ATACMS missiles to Ukraine cannot be justified — Russian ambassador

"Neither these missiles nor other weapons can help defeat the Russian Federation," Anatoly Antonov said

Global community changing tune about how Ukraine conflict started — security official

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Positive trends in Russian economy become stronger — Putin

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Kiev troops may strike targets in Crimea with ATACMS missiles — newspaper

The goal "is to put more pressure on Crimea," The New York Times said

Radioactive cloud from Ukraine’s eliminated munitions drifts to Europe — Security Council

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Russia ready to cooperate with all interested partners to ensure security — Putin

The Russian leader expressed confidence that the the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives for Security Issues "will bolster cooperation for the mutual benefit of our countries and peoples"

Houthi leader says group attacked more than 100 ships in Red, Arabian seas so far

Ansar Allah strikes one ship every two days, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said

Russian troops wipe out Ukrainian UAV production workshop over past day

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West prepares puppet structures in case of coup in Belarus — KGB

Ivan Tertel said various methods were being considered, up to "instigating a forceful seizure by illegal armed groups" being trained in the West and Ukraine

US effectively dooms Ukraine by its new decisions, Russian envoy says

"The American aid won’t save Zelensky. New weapons will be destroyed, and the special military operation goals will be achieved," Anatoly Antonov stressed

Iran calls on BRICS states to facilitate ceasefire in Gaza Strip

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani called for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza

Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

In Maxim Buyakevich words, neither the talks nor their outcome can change the existing political and territorial realities

French neo-Nazi ringleader liquidated near Avdeyevka — sources

There is confirmed evidence of his connections with French secret services

Moscow Zoo gifts animals to North Korea — news agency

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West views Europe as potential theater of military operations — Lukashenko

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Houthis say they attacked MSC Darwin vessel in Gulf of Aden

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Cosmonauts complete spacewalk two hours ahead of schedule

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Kremlin announces creation of blockchain-based payment system in BRICS

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Kiev violates diplomatic relations convention by recruiting mercenaries abroad — diplomat

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Russia needs to boost production of goods based on domestic technologies — Putin

The President undescored that Russia did not plan to produce absolutely everything domestically

Ukraine turns into testing ground for future world order, says Belarus president

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West bends sanctions rules when it suits them — Kremlin

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US government prepares to sign $6-bln contract for arms deliveries to Ukraine — Politico

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