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Western special services’ attempts to destabilize Russia require tough response — Putin

"Of course, we must thwart any attempts by foreign intelligence services to destabilize the social and political situation in Russia, to undermine civil peace and interethnic accord, to interfere in our internal affairs, and to violate the sovereign and unshakable right of the Russian people to determine their own future," Russian President Vladimir Putin said

MOSCOW, December 20. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin tasked the country’s domestic security agencies with thwarting any attempts by Western special services to destabilize the situation in Russia or interfere into its domestic affairs.

"Of course, we must thwart any attempts by foreign intelligence services to destabilize the social and political situation in Russia, to undermine civil peace and interethnic accord, to interfere in our internal affairs, and to violate the sovereign and unshakable right of the Russian people to determine their own future," Putin said in a video address on Security Agency Worker’s Day.

He also said that Russian security agencies should undertake more active measures aimed at fighting corruption and defending the country’s economic interests.

"More active efforts are needed in all other key areas, such as combating extremism and corruption and cyberspace threats, protecting the country’s state secrets and economic interests, and ensuring that domestic companies and enterprises, including those currently solving critical defense and technological challenges, can reliably operate," Putin said.

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Foreign policy Vladimir Putin

Military operation in Ukraine

Russia, China praise dialogue as best form of settling Ukrainian crisis — statement

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Putin thanks outbound Russian defense minister for his work

The Russian leader added that Sergey Shoigu would now serve as Russian Security Council secretary

Political motives behind assassination attempt on Fico

The shooter made a statement right after his detention, saying that he had opposed the government’s policy limiting media freedom

Duma speaker threatens more powerful response to attacks against Russian citizens

According to Vyacheslav Volodin, attempts by Ukrainian lawmakers to get Washington’s okay to use US-supplied weapons to strike targets inside Russia risk causing a tragedy that "may affect everybody globally"

Yemeni Houthis claim delivering missile strike on US destroyer

Additionally, according to Yahya Saree, in the Red Sea, the Houthis attacked the commercial vessel Destiny en route to the port of Eilat in Israel

Slovakia’s Fico suffers several wounds, in life-threatening condition — PM’s Facebook page

As the post on the prime minister’s profile specifies, he was rushed by helicopter to a hospital of the city of Banska Bystrica in central Slovakia

EU agrees to ban access to three Russian media outlets, one European

The measure needs to be approved by the EU foreign ministers

If West wants to solve Ukraine conflict on battlefield, 'so be it' — Lavrov

Sergey Lavrov reiterated that Russia was ready to negotiate peace not only in words, but also in deeds

President of Slovakia confirms PM Fico’s assailant detained — report

Zuzana Caputova called the attack on Fico an "attack on democracy," adding that such crimes are being motivated by the "hateful rhetoric"

Slovakia’s PM Fico in critical condition — defense minister

Robert Kalinak said that the prime minister had been undergoing surgery for more than 3.5 hours

Russia condemns attack on Slovak prime minister — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin had sent a telegram to express his support for the Slovak prime minister and wished him the soonest recovery

Liberation of Rabotino to accelerate Russian advance in Zaporozhye Region — politician

Vladimir Rogov said Ukraine still holds the heights to the north of the village, and fierce battles are underway to control them

Nord Stream saboteurs prepped in Ukraine, Romania — Ukrainian politician

According to Andrey Derkach, they trained on the South Stream, rented a large yacht, and then they were taken to Poland

Slovak PM Fico’s life out of danger — deputy PM

Fico was wounded in a shooting incident that happened after a government meeting in the city of Handlova in the western part of Slovakia

What we know about attempt to assassinate Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico

Robert Fico was shot after a cabinet meeting in the city of Handlova in western Slovakia

Hezbollah drones attack Israeli military base some 50 km from border with Lebanon

"The operation was carried out in response to the killing of field commander Hussein Makki near Tyre", Hezbollah said on its Telegram channel

Blinken’s visit to Kiev shows US concerned over Ukrainian failures on frontline — diplomat

"He sang a song, ate some pizza and left," Maria Zakharova noted

Putin asks Belousov to "open" Defense Ministry as much as possible

The Russian president set another task for the new defense minister to address - to continue handling economic matters

Erdogan says government knows 'puppet master' behind reported conspiracy

The Turkish leader said it is unacceptable to break laws, and warned that "anyone who goes beyond the limits will be held accountable"

Dnepr battle group destroys 15 Ukrainian boats in one day — Kherson governor

In addition, 23 drone control centers were destroyed and 34 drones shot down or disabled

Slovak PM Robert Fico wounded in shooting — portal

The suspected shooter has been apprehended

Several people injured in knife attack in Switzerland’s Zofingen — report

The attacker has been detained, AFR reported

Putin warns against imbalances in economy, industry related to special military operation

The Russian leader also stated the importance of diversification of military production at a meeting with commanders of military district troops

Press review: Putin embarks on state visit to China and assassination attempt on Slovak PM

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Putin, Xi to discuss Ukrainian crisis, development of bilateral ties

Priority attention will be focused on trade and economic cooperation

Russian air defenses down several projectiles near Sevastopol, Belbek airfield

The city’s Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev noted that there had been no reports of damage to civilian infrastructure

Russia, Vietnam register positive dynamics of rising trade turnover — trade representative

Business activity is on the rise, with certain progress and prospects in a number of joint projects in various fields in place

Israel hits Hezbollah targets in eastern Lebanon, casualties among civilians reported

One of the missiles hit a three-storey house, killing two civilians, the Al Mayadeen television channel reported

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Russia developing thermal imager for Black Sea Fleet to repel night naval drone attacks

The devices help detect targets at a distance of over 1 km

Russia’s onslaught on Kharkov may compel Ukraine to truce — NYT

On May 11, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported liberating several populated localities in the Kharkov Region

Putin, Xi sign statement on deepening relations

The document was signed after extensive Russian-Chinese negotiations

Two single-family houses, passenger car damaged by missile fragments in Sevastopol

No one was hurt, Sevastopol’s governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said

Upgraded tank anti-FPV drone systems arrive for Russian troops in Ukraine operation

New Triton drone suppression systems can be mounted on both armor and quad bikes, sea boats and any objects that require protection against FPV drones, Denis Oslomenko elaborated

Putin says he is in constant contact with Xi Jinping

The Russian president also recalled that his state visit to China is taking place in the year of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two states

Russia’s Strategic Missile Force builds up combat capabilities with new missile systems

Currently, Russia’s Strategic Missile Force is replacing Topol-M intercontinental ballistic missile systems with Yars ICBM launchers and placing Avangard hypersonic missile systems on combat duty in its Yasny missile formation

Moscow ready to navigate market challenges amid US' uranium import ban

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov noted that this latest move from Washington showed just how low it would go to try to hurt the Russian economy

Putin signs law banning foreign agents’ participation in elections

The elections include those to federal and regional state bodies, to public authorities of a federal territory, as well as to local self-government bodies

Russian Su-25 attack aircraft wipe out Ukrainian equipment, personnel over past day

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Prime Minister of Slovakia shot by 71-year-old assailant — report

The man reportedly owned his weapon legally

Ukrainian drone shot down over Bryansk Region — governor

No one was hurt, no damage was reported, the region’s governor Alexander Bogomaz said

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Casualties were also reported after Israel’s air raid on Gaza’s Daraj neighborhood

Russia-China relations not opportunistic, not directed against anyone — Putin

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Germany's recalled ambassador to arrive in Russia 'in the near future' — embassy

The German Foreign Ministry earlier reported that its ambassador to Russia Alexander Lambsdorff was recalled for consultations following an alleged cyberattack by Russia against the Social Democratic Party of Germany

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Israeli losses surpass 620 troops since Gaza conflict escalated

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Afghan Taliban no longer Russia’s enemy — Russian diplomat

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Several airborne targets downed approaching Belgorod — governor

Vyacheslav Gladkov added that three houses were damaged in the settlement of Petrovka

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Russia views positively China's plan on Ukraine, it addresses causes of conflict — Lavrov

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China, Turkey could mediate Russia-Ukraine peace talks — former Czech president

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Putin, Xi begin talks

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US imposes sanctions against Russian police training center in Nicaragua

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Russian Tor air defense systems effective in destroying Storm Shadow missiles — top brass

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Ukrainian crisis may be resolved by yearend, says former Virginia senator

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