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Military operation in Ukraine

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‘Putin knows what he is doing’ — Kremlin spokesman on special op

"And we know what we want to achieve by this special military operation," he said

MOSCOW, December 13. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin understands clearly what Russia seeks to achieve by the special military operation, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview for Rossiya-24.

"We continue our special military operation. And the president knows what he is doing. And we know what we want to achieve by this special military operation," he said.

Peskov noted that Moscow observes with interest how Western rhetoric on the situation in Ukraine changes. He opined that it is difficult to predict today if the US financial support for Kiev will continue.

"We can only state that the westerners - mainly the Americans - actually face the question what exactly do they fund. What exactly have they spent over $100 billion for this year, how efficient these investments were," he noted.

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Vladimir Putin Dmitry Peskov Military operation in Ukraine

Military operation in Ukraine

Finnish president says too early to talk of any peacekeepers in Ukraine

Alexander Stubb urged to approach the issue of a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine with caution without rushing into it

Ukraine largely loses ability to produce weapons, ammunition — defense chief

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Russian troops liberate Yelizavetovka community in Donbass area over past day

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Too soon to discuss deployment of peacekeepers to Ukraine — Kremlin spokesman

According to Dmitry Peskov, talks on Ukraine could resume based on the Istanbul accords

Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

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

Special military operation in Syria does not affect BRICS plans, senior diplomat says

According to Sergey Ryabkov, the situation in Syria "mobilizes and consolidates the organization’s will"

Ukrainian troops often get surrounded in Kurakhovo area — report

On December 15, the Ukrainian General Staff described the Kurakhovo area as one of the hottest spots in the entire battlefield

West continues to try to rule the world — Putin

According to the Russian leader, Washington and its allies "continue imposing on the world their so-called rules, which they change time and again as it suits them"

Trump blasts Biden’s permission to use US weapons for strikes inside Russia as 'stupid'

The US President-elect said that nobody asked him to weigh in on the decision

Court sentences Jehovah’s Witness to five years behind bars for funding organization

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Conditions for Ukrainian forces in Kursk Region continue to deteriorate — The Economist

Every Ukrainian unit in Kursk has switched to defense, the magazine said

Russia’s Medvedev threatens punishment over attack on senior general Kirillov

The politician condemned the attack by what he called the collapsing Kiev regime

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Russian foreign ministry said in a statement that that Muslims and Christians have been living side by side in Syria for centuries

West turns Ukraine into impoverished, war-torn country — politician

Ukraine is a clear example of such actions of the West, Viktor Medvedchuk noted

Serial production of Oreshnik missiles to begin shortly — Putin

The head of state recalled that Russia’s newest powerful weapon "was successfully used in November in response to the strikes on our country’s territory"

BRICS ready to explain to Trump it doesn’t seek to undercut dollar — Russian diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov also commented on Donald Trump's threat by saying that Russia is used to the situation when the US, regardless of whose party’s representative sits in the White House, "uses nothing but threats"

Erdogan calls for preventing Syria from turning into hotbed of terrorism

"Turkey is the only country and ally that defeated both of these terrorist organizations," the Turkish leader stressed

Kirillov's killers to be tracked down, Western link clear — politician

Vladimir Rogov noted that Igor Kirillov’s assassination was "another case of Kiev's state terrorism, which spans the entirety of Russia"

Hungary’s top diplomat says he, Estonian counterpart worlds apart on Ukraine

Commenting on the Brussels meeting of the bloc’s top diplomats, Peter Szijjarto said that hostile sentiments prevailed and that "the last desperate attempts to give a jumpstart" to the military conflict in Ukraine were made

Top Ukrainian diplomat rejects Christmas Day truce at EU meeting in Brussels

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that "warlike rhetoric" prevailed during the meeting, with "desperate attempts" being made to "give an impetus" to continue the armed conflict in Ukraine

AfG leader says supplying Kiev with Taurus to turn FRG into target in case of nuclear war

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Drafting 14-year-olds won't help Kiev, Putin asserts

The Russian leader said that he has no doubt that the draft age in Ukraine will ultimately be lowered

Next year unlikely to be easy, Russia hopes for victory — Medvedev

Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said it at the 22nd United Russia party congress.

Captured Ukrainian soldier tells about orders to shoot civilians in Russia’s Kursk Region

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US strikes Houthi government's Defense Ministry building — TV channel

The large-scale attack hit the movement's military facilities

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Strategic Missile Forces’ mobile group’s missile systems fully modernized — commander

The planned rearmament of the Strategic Missile Forces' military compounds and units has led to an 88% share of modern missile weapons, Colonel General Sergey Karakayev, the commander of the Russian Armed Forces’ branch said

New regions may join Russia, Medvedev says

"This is quite possible," Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman said

Russian forces clear some seven hectares of forest near Kremennaya of Ukrainian troops

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov announced on Monday that 99.3% of the LPR territory had been liberated

Trump looks set to resolve Ukraine conflict at Kiev’s expense, US expert believes

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Seoul Korea slaps more sanctions on Russia, North Korea

The sanctions affected two North Korean generals as well as several entrepreneurs and their businesses in the DPRK

Trump says Zelensky should be ready to agree to end Ukraine conflict

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Houthis say they attacked target NEAR Tel Aviv with hypersonic missile

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Rosatom gets Akkuyu project back on track after delivery failures by Siemens — CEO

The turbine that the Siemens company was supposed to deliver, was produced in Europe, Alexey Likhachev said

Russia to display battle-tested Supercam drone at Vietnam show

The fixed-wing drone with protected communication channels and high jam-resistance confirmed effectiveness in Syria and Ukraine

EU won’t talk to Damascus unless Russian bases scrapped — Kallas

The EU High Representative for foreign affairs promised to convey this viewpoint to the new Syrian authorities during upcoming diplomatic meetings

Russian troops advance toward Storozhevoye village in Donbass region — official

On December 13, the Russian Defense Ministry reported the liberation of the village of Blagodatnoye in the DPR

West seeks to open 'second front' against Russia in Central Asia — Russian diplomat

According to Mikhail Galuzin, this policy from the West is marked by "attempts to get Central Asian nations join sanctions and isolate Russia once and for all," and "restore their military and intelligence presence in the region"

Trump announces ‘a little progress’ in efforts to settle Ukraine conflict

He didn’t elaborate

Senior Russian general, his aide killed in Moscow blast — investigators

According to Svetlana Petrenko, the Committee’s Moscow department has launched a criminal probe into the attack

New authorities in Syria to avoid escalating tensions with Russia — expert

Vitaly Naumkin underscored that the new Syrian authorities are not "friends of the collective West, or the United States or Israel"

Execution of civilians in Selidovo a display of genocide — Human Rights Commissioner

Tatiana Moskalkova noted that, earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that "military justice must document the evidence of war crimes and take all possible measures to bring the perpetrators to court"

Bomb that killed senior Russian general had capacity of 300 grams in TNT equivalent

Bomb experts and detector dog handlers have inspected the surrounding area

Nearly 100% of wounded Russian troops good for service after treatment — defense chief

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The Russian president stressed that the military and political situation in the world remains "uneasy and unstable"

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Trump once again refuses to say if he spoke with Putin after elections

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Wang Yi said that countries will maintain a high level of strategic planning

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It is requested by the West

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Rutube has already evolved into an international platform, Alexander Zharov emphasized

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BRICS countries actively put forward ideas on Ukrainian settlement — senior diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov pointed out that the influence of the global majority on events in the world goes beyond the Ukrainian conflict

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Over the period of fighting in the Kursk frontline area, the Ukrainian army has lost over 41,400 troops, 242 tanks, 182 infantry fighting vehicles, 126 armored personnel carriers and 1,276 armored combat vehicles

BRICS to review Syria’s membership application if new authorities confirm it — diplomat

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Kyrgyz prime minister’s resignation signals pivot away from West, expert says

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US plans for medium-range high accuracy weapons cause concern — Putin

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Resistance movement in Kherson facilitates elimination of over 120 Ukrainian troops

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Colonel General Sergey Karakayev, the commander of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces also announced that missile launches at maximum range are planned as part of state flight tests of advanced missile systems

At least 7 people injured in Israeli shelling of Syria’s Tartus province — report

One residential building burned down and some infrastructure was crippled

Russia-China relations unaffected by external forces — Chinese MFA

Wang Yi stated that relations are grounded in the principles of non-affiliation to blocs

Ukraine’s judiciary 'paralyzed' as Supreme, Constitutional courts face repression — Putin

The Russian president noted that "the Supreme Court’s powers include the annulment of illegitimate presidential decisions"

Syria’s new leader seeks to 'gain voice' in UN Security Council

Ahmad al-Sharaa didn’t say exactly what role the new Syrian government sees for itself in the UNSC

Press review: EU imposes new anti-Russian sanctions and Russia braces for NATO conflict

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, December 17th

Nicaragua offers Russia to build new canal together — special envoy

The construction of a new Carribean port is already underway, Laureano Ortega Murillo said

Ukrainian army’s losses exceed 41,660 troops: Situation in Russia’s Kursk Region

Russian tactical and army aircraft and artillery forces struck enemy troops and equipment in the Kursk and Sumy regions

Trump will never provide US security guarantees to Ukraine — The New York Times

It is reported that the US military will shift its priorities to the Asia Pacific Region in order to counter the growing influence of China under the Trump Administration

FACTBOX: Key details about the attack on Russia’s nuclear defense chief in Moscow

Senior officials from the Russian Interior Ministry’s Moscow department have arrived, along with investigators, medical personnel, and emergency services

Fall of Damascus and hopes for free Syria: Assad makes first statement after stepping down

Bashar Assad insists that he remained in Damascus until the early hours of December 8 and did not leave the country until late on that day

Analyst blames NATO special services for bomb attack on Russian general

According to Alexander Stepanov, this is a "planned operation" and evidence that an all-out hybrid war of annihilation is being waged on Russia

Ukrainian army forced to switch to defensive, tap reserves — Russian defense chief

"The staffing level of its frontline units does not exceed 45-50%," Andrey Belousov said

Russian troops liberate Annovka community in Donbass region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted roughly 425 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Massacre staged by retreating Ukrainian troops in Selidovo — report

According to Maxim Grigoryev, videos of interviews with witnesses and preliminary forensic examination of the bodies indicate that most of the victims are elderly women

Putin congratulates large Russian companies on good results

Therefore, he continued, all of Russia is interested in the success of local companies

Lessons learned in military op should be integrated into training of new troops — Putin

The Russian leader stressed that the special military operation "should be taken into account while outlining priorities for the development of domestic weapons and hardware, as well as the tactics of their use"

Germany’s Chancellor Scholz asks President Steinmeier to dissolve Bundestag — DPA

Support for the current head of the Cabinet was expressed by 207 members of the Bundestag out of the 717 present, while 116 abstained

Foreign organizations conclude 27 agreements with Russian firms at Eastern Economic Forum

According to the Roscongress Foundation, "the sheer scale of the agreements concluded at EEF 2024 - over 5.5 trillion rubles"

Russian nuclear defense chief's aide Ilya Polikarpov killed in Moscow explosion

Ilya Polikarpov had been involved in humanitarian activities with TASS and the Russian Heritage Foundation

Israel, Hamas close to Gaza ceasefire deal — agency

According to the media outlet, "in the first phase of the deal under discussion, hostages defined as 'humanitarian' — women, the ill and those older than 51 — would be freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel"

Iranian supreme leader threatens Israel with destruction for incursion into Syria

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stressed that "Israel has invaded Syria to surround and destroy the Hezbollah forces"

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

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, December 16th

Investigators open criminal case into Moscow blast that kills two

Investigators and criminalists are currently working at the scene

China firm in its objective position on Ukraine — Chinese MFA

According to Wang Yi, Beijing have always actively promoted peace talks

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

According to the Turkish newspaper, the former Syrian president did it to ensure his own safety

Ukrainian forces have no chance to stop Russian offensive on Kurakhovo — Polish general

According to Waldemar Skrzypczak, "it is clear that the Russians have the potential to break through the Ukrainian defenses in several areas simultaneously"

IN BRIEF: Russian defense minister speaks out on confrontation with West, Ukrainian losses

According to the minister, Ukrainian losses exceeded 560,000 servicemen killed and wounded in 2024