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Military operation in Ukraine

Ukrainian forces shell center of Donetsk

City Mayor Alexey Kulemzin asked the citizens not to leave the shelters

DONETSK, August 8. /TASS/. A series of powerful explosions rocked the center of Donetsk, a TASS correspondent reported.

According to the DPR mission to the Joint Control and Coordination Center on issues related to Ukraine's war crimes (JCCC), 12 shells of 155mm caliber were fired at the Kievsky and central Voroshilovsky districts of the city in less than half an hour.

According to the city authorities, one shell hit the area of a store in the center of Donetsk. "Enemy artillery does not stop chaotic shelling of the Kievsky and Voroshilovsky districts. It is reported that one shell landed in the building of a store. The data are clarified. Do not leave the shelters", City Mayor Alexey Kulemzin wrote on his Telegram channel.

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Military operation in Ukraine

Senior Russian diplomat points to risk of nuclear exchange

But Moscow will do everything possible to prevent it, Sergey Ryabkov said

Sending EU troops to Ukraine to make peace settlement impossible — Austrian lawmaker

Harald Vilimsky noted that the joint deployment of European troops will further escalate the security situation in Europe

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Zelensky reshuffles Ukrainian military command

According to the statement, Mikhail Drapaty has been appointed as the new commander of the Ukrainian ground forces

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Strike on NATO bases possible in case of escalation, Medvedev says

He made this comment answering a question if Russia can strike military hubs in Romania and Poland

Putting Oreshnik's in Eastern Russia strategic play to help allies, counter US

According to Alexander Stepanov, the deployment makes sense in a situation where the Pentagon continues to project its military presence on Russia's eastern borders

Syrian government army hits militants’ positions in southern Idlib — newspaper

According to Al-Watan, Syrian forces targeted militants’ positions in the al-Ruweiha, Khan al-Sabil, and Maardabsa, as well as in the Jebel al-Zawiya mountainous area in southern Idlib and the city of Mareya north of Aleppo

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"Participants in the roundtable exchanged views on the conflict and other pressing international topics," the ministry stated

UK continuing arms supplies to Kiev fraught with conflict of nuclear powers — diplomat

Andrey Kelin noted that "the British have utterly ignored all our warnings and opted for escalatory actions to further worsen the Ukrainian crisis"

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Russia winning in Ukrainian conflict, Polish national security chief says

"The Russian side unquestionably holds both the initiative and the advantage on the battlefield," Head of the Polish National Security Bureau Jacek Siewiera said

Paris grants Netanyahu immunity for Lebanon ceasefire role, French magazine says

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Russian football chief disappointed national team left off 2026 World Cup draw list

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The Russian Union of Journalists urged Russian media to support appeal to UNESCO

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West deploying troops to Ukraine to up ante in fight with Russia — senior diplomat

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"Anything is possible, so we have long been prepared for any eventuality," Sergey Andreyev noted

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Russia’s top diplomat slams NATO for discussions of preemptive strikes on Russia

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Putin signs law on taxation of digital currencies

According to the law, digital currency is recognized as property

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Russian scientists to develop computer working at ‘speed of light’ by 2027 — researcher

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Scholz shares details of talks with Putin, Zelensky says

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Ukraine loses over 250 troops in Kursk area in past day — Russian Defense Ministry

Two tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, an armored combat vehicle, four motor vehicles and two mortars were also destroyed, the statement reads

Takeaways from Putin’s Q&A session in Kazakhstan: Oreshnik missile, inflation, ruble

The Russian president also spoke about inflation and the ruble exchange rate, noting that the situation is under control

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Over the day, Ukraine lost more than 340 troops, an armored personnel carrier, an armored combat vehicle, 12 motor vehicles, an artillery piece and six mortars

US funds 'Nazis, maniacs' in Ukraine, Israel — American journalist

Jackson Hinkle also pointed out that the US authorities are no friend of "freedom-loving American patriots"

Banning import of food from New Zealand won’t affect Russia — watchdog

Earlier on Friday, the Russian government extended the food embargo for countries that imposed sanctions against Russia until the end of 2026

Hungarian PM sounds alarm over presence of US, French troops in Ukraine

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Russian diplomat says US won’t stop Russia from accomplishing special operation goals

Sergey Ryabkov was responding to a request to comment on news reports that US President Joe Biden had asked Congress for an additional $24 billion in aid for Ukraine

North Korean leader sees missile strikes inside Russia as Western involvement in conflict

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Nikolay Patrushev said that in a situation like this Russia should firmly defend its position and prepare tools for the "comprehensive management of maritime activities aimed at ensuring national interests"

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Foreign fighters involved in terrorist attacks in Aleppo, Idlib provinces — Syrian army

The Syrian Armed Forces’ General Command warned that "terrorist organizations are spreading misleading information, news and videos on their platforms aimed at intimidating citizens"

Russia-North Korea partnership pact reaffirms their interest in developing ties — Belousov

"We are grateful for the commitment to the course of deepening ties with Russia," the minister said

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Leonardo booking system’s functionality restored — Rostec

Aeroflot airline said earlier that the issue and the return of tickets and provision of extra services in all sales channels were temporarily complicated due to the system’s failure

Belarusian President Lukashenko points to 'NATOfication' of Europe, entire world

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Japan's PM reiterates desire to sign peace treaty with Russia

Moscow and Tokyo have been negotiating a peace treaty to mark the end of World War II since the mid-20th century

Oreshnik becomes serious problem for Ukraine — Polish general

According to Waldemar Skrzypczak, satellite reconnaissance failed to detect the launch and flight of this missile

Russia to continue gathering evidence about Kiev’s chemical crimes — diplomat

According to Vladimir Tarabrin, Russia’s mission to the OPCW has submitted more than 30 notes to the organization, and they are available to the general public

Root causes need to be addressed to settle Ukrainian conflict — Kremlin spokesman

"Everything here is much deeper than a decision to send a peacekeeper mission," Dmitry Peskov said

Elite units of Syrian troops deployed to Aleppo to defeat gangs — newspaper

Earlier, Syrian servicemen eliminated dozens of Jabhat al-Nusra militants during clashes in northern Aleppo

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Russia’s aerospace forces are backing the Syrian government army and deliver missile strikes on positions of illegal armed groups, their weapons, control centers, and weapons depots, Oleg Ignasyuk, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria said

Medvedev says Zelensky's fate won't be pretty if Ukraine faces second Maidan

The Russian senior official was indignant over the fact that the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry "condemned the crackdown on protests in Georgia"

Russia against sending OPCW reps to probe into chemical incidents in Ukraine — diplomat

According to Vladimir Tarabrin, Russia doesn’t want to "expose to danger the lives and health of international experts amid the extensive use of various weapons" along the engagement line

Bilateral exchanges between Russia, North Korea their own business — Chinese MFA

Mao Ning also stated that she was not aware of the details of Belousov's visit and reiterated that China's position on the Ukrainian crisis remains consistent

Putin slams election mudslinging against Trump’s family as 'vile'

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List of new BRICS partner states to be released before end of year — Russian MFA

"I cannot name these countries at this point because it will be at odds with the course of action that we agreed on with other BRICS members," Sergey Ryabkov said

NATO growing more inclined to freeze Ukraine conflict — Russia’s SVR

"NATO has been unfolding training centers in Ukraine in an effort to train at least 1 million mobilized Ukrainians," the SVR highlighted

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

Decision-making centers in Kiev could be targeted in Oreshnik strikes — Putin

The Russian leader also mentioned military facilities and defense industry enterprises as possible targets

Borrell calls for preventing consolidation of whole world against West

The EU diplomatic chief once again tried to portray Russia as an "imperialist" power that allegedly poses "an existential threat" to the EU, if the EU wishes to achieve victory in Ukraine

Novaya Zemlya facility prepared for resumption of nuclear tests — Russian general

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said in an interview with TASS that Russia was considering a resumption of nuclear tests amid the United State’s policy of escalating tensions

Peacekeepers deployment in Ukraine possible only with consent of all conflict parties

The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service said in a statement earlier in the day that the West may seek to achieve its objectives in Ukraine by implementing an actual occupation, deploying a so-called peacekeeping contingent of 100,000 personnel, with plans to divide the country among Romania, Poland, Germany, and the UK

Russia's opponents see Finland as springboard in case of open conflict — politician

Leonid Slutsky noted that the current and previous leadership of Finland has been and remains engaged "on the lower turn of the sine wave, which is now marked by a sharp cooling of bilateral relations"

US actions undermine Washington’s competitiveness — Russian diplomat

According to Sergey Ryabkov, Washington’s policy causes harm to the United States

Russia, China conduct air patrol over western Pacific Ocean

According to the Chinese Defense Ministry, the two countries’ aircraft "completed the second phase of the ninth joint air patrol"

Russian Embassy in Argentina monitors situation with malfunctioning ocean liner

The diplomatic mission said that they are in touch with the company organizing the cruise as well as with the Russian citizens onboard the vessel

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets with Russian defense minister — KCNA

"Kim Jong Un said that Korea-Russia relations are a strong security mechanism that facilitates the prosperity of the peoples in the two countries, alleviates the situation in the region and guarantees international strategic stability," the news agency said

Riot police fully clears square in front of Georgian parliament from protesters

The protesters moved up Rustaveli Avenue

Ukraine demolishes buildings with soldiers inside as Russian forces advance — DPR leader

Amid the successful advance of Russian forces, Ukrainian troops have been indiscriminately attacking civilian neighborhoods in Gorlovka, which is adjacent to Dzerzhinsk, Denis Pushilin said

Syrian army eliminates hundreds of terrorists, repelling their attack on Aleppo, Idlib

The Syrian army command reported on November 28 that units of the Jabhat al-Nusra extremist group had staged a large-scale attack on Syria’s northern governorates the day prior

Western handlers beginning to dump Zelensky — Ukrainian politician

"Polls are now emerging where Zelensky is no longer at the top but in second or even third place," Viktor Medvedchuk noted

Senior Russian diplomat points to risk of nuclear exchange

But Moscow will do everything possible to prevent it, Sergey Ryabkov said

Western analysts describe Russia's Oreshnik as longest-range weapon ever used in Europe

The recent strike on the Yuzhmash missile-producing plant in Ukraine demonstrated Russia’s "real military capability", a nuclear nonproliferation expert at the Middlebury Institute for International Studies said

Niger receives delivery of military equipment from Russia — TV

The report also stated that this delivery highlights the strengthening of military-technical cooperation between Russia and Niger

West refuses to accept proof of Ukraine’s use of chemical weapons — Russian envoy

Vladimir Tarabrin noted that instead, the West is trying to present Russia as violating the Chemical Weapons Convention

Ukrainian army says desertion main reason for loss of Ugledar

The Ukrainian officer said that each company in his battalion was supposed to have 120 men, but "due to deaths, injuries and desertions," some companies had as few as 10 soldiers

Hungarian PM’s office rules out his trip to Moscow for 80th anniversary of Victory

Gergely Gulyas was commenting on the decision of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to go to the Russian capital to celebrate the anniversary of Victory at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin

Russia weighs resumption of nuclear tests — senior diplomat

"The situation is quite complicated," Sergey Ryabkov said

Kiev troops attempted to kill British mercenary who surrendered to Russians — officer

In his words, they fired conventional 120mm mortar rounds, silent munitions and at least one FPV drone with a fragmentation charge

Israel prohibits residents of 60 villages in southern Lebanon from returning home

According to the army statement, those moving south of the line may endanger themselves

Ukrainian servicemen abandon military units due to fear of Russian army — official

Kiev is constantly losing control over populated areas because "tens of thousands of tired and desperate Ukrainian servicemen are leaving their positions to flee in an unknown direction," the agency reported