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Military operation in Ukraine

West reluctant to investigate Il-76 crash for fear of being implicated — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov noted that the West has had its fingerprints on the Ukraine conflict since the start

MOSCOW, February 1. /TASS/. Western countries are unwilling to take part in an international investigation into the downing of a Russian Il-76 plane by Ukrainian forces because they are afraid of being implicated, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a briefing in response to a TASS question.

He added that the West has had its fingerprints on the Ukraine conflict since the start. "The [Russian] president openly and publicly said yesterday that we were prepared for an international investigation into this heinous act and that we were interested in such a probe," Peskov pointed out. "Now, we hear the Europeans say that there should be an official document and without it, they won’t consider anything." "None of them would be interested in carrying out an investigation that would point back at them," the Kremlin spokesman said. "The position of the collective West, which is a direct party to the armed conflict, is perfectly clear," he added.

On January 24, the Russian Il-76 military cargo aircraft was downed by a Patriot missile system stationed on the Ukrainian side of the border. The aircraft was carrying captive Ukrainian military personnel who had been slated to be exchanged in a prisoner swap. The crash killed all 74 people on board, including 65 Ukrainian POWs. The Russian Defense Ministry slammed the incident as a terrorist attack. An investigation is underway. Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that Moscow insisted on an international investigation into the plane crash.

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Foreign policy Dmitry Peskov Military operation in Ukraine

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Ukrainian army leaving positions near Avdeyevka over Russia’s incessant gunfire — POW

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

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"We consider the bans discriminatory and contrary to the spirit of post-war historical reconciliation of the peoples of Russia and Germany," the Russian diplomats pointed out

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

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According to the Russian Education and Science Ministry, more than 355,000 foreigners are currently studying in Russian universities

Russian government resigns

The cabinet will continue to carry out its duties until a new government is appointed

EU to agree 14th package of anti-Russia sanctions by July — EUobserver

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Russian space agency still in talks on launching two Luna-27 mission spacecraft

"The plans are the same - we are planning to launch," Roscosmos Director General Yury Borisov told

Freak snowstorm hits Moscow

The snow falling on the ground does not melt immediately

Rally organizers plotting riots involving volunteers from Ukraine — Georgian intel agency

The State Security Service claimed that foreign instructors were training protesters to stage provocations against police and create chaos in the country

Russia may strike Britain's military facilities if London's threats materialize — MFA

Maria Zakharova described British Foreign Secretary David Cameron’s remark that London considered it legitimate for the Kiev regime to use British weapons for strikes on Russian territory as "something absolutely insane"

Russia to join ranks of top four global economies — presidential decree

The government is tasked to present eleven new National Projects by September 1 of this year

Appeal for Western troops posted on Ukrainian president’s website

A petition needs to be signed by at least 25,000 people to be referred to the president for consideration

US trying to destabilize situation in India ahead of general election — Russian diplomat

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

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Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day

Battlegroup Center units fully liberated the settlement of Novokalinovo in the Donetsk People’s Republic and battlegroup West units fully liberated the settlement of Kislovka in the Kharkov Region

Putin will now use restyled Aurus car — Kremlin

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Germany’s recalling ambassador to Russia another unfriendly step, diplomat says

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Ukraine loses several hundred servicemen near DPR’s Novopokrovskoye due to lack of defense

It is noted that any Ukrainian activity on this section of the front is immediately suppressed by Russia’s precise and coordinated actions

Belarusian president sees aggravating military situation at western, southern borders

"Remarks of war and nuclear strikes can already be heard from certain figures," the Alexander Lukashenko said

Musk's assertions about ancient Martian civilizations could hold true — Roscosmos

Earlier on Tuesday, Elon Musk spoke at a conference in Los Angeles, during which he suggested that humanity could find evidence of ancient civilizations existing on Mars

Southern neighbors of US to regain stolen lands — Russian Security Council’s secretary

Nikolay Patrushev speculates that country may split into the North and the South again to get back to its original shape

Ten powerful solar flares erupt from Sun over past day

Some of those flares disrupted radio communications on the short wave

Forecasts show Russia may overtake Japan in terms of GDP growth by 2030

Andrey Belousov opined that the Russian Central Bank’s key rate would remain at a high level so far, declining to 6-7% by 2027

NATO wants 'hot war' with Russia which may destroy US, Carlson says

According to the journalist, everything that Washington does shows that it wants this war

Russia to develop cooperation with North Korea in all possible areas — Kremlin

US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said earlier that the US together with its partners would continue imposing sanctions for allegedly assisting weapons and petroleum products supplies between Russia and North Korea

Russian diplomat slams Western ambassador for being absent from Putin’s inauguration

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

Double standards with regard to Russia make US look pathetic — experts

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, "the global situation grows more dangerous by the day," Peter Kuznick said

US envoy leaves Russia for certain amount of time — senior Russian diplomat

"The Foreign Ministry was told about this some time before the issue with inviting ambassadors to the inauguration ceremony of the Russian president was resolved," Sergey Ryabkov said

Inquiry against German Air Force chief over leaked conversation closed

"In particular, there was no evidence of deliberate actions on behalf of the above-mentioned individual," Business Insider wrote

MAKS air show may be canceled in 2024 — source

There are no dates for the event on its official website

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

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

FACTBOX: What is known about string of blasts at Ukraine’s power facilities

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the strikes were carried out with drones as well as sea-and air-launched precision weapons, including Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles

Dutch MEP congratulates Putin on his inauguration

"Congratulations president Putin and congratulations people of Russia with your president," Marcel de Graaff from the Dutch party Forum for Democracy said

Russia hands over last RD-180 rocket engines to US under existing deal

The United States has received 122 RD-180 rocket engines over more than 20 years of cooperation

Putin signs decree setting Russia’s development goals for 2030

The decree is titled On the National Development Goals of the Russian Federation until 2030 and for a Longer Term until 2036

Arms supplies to Kiev unlikely to drastically change situation on battlefield — US expert

In Peter Kuznick opinion, despite Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky's assertions, "Ukraine is not going to drive every Russian soldier from the country"

FSB declassifies Hitler aide’s testimony how Red Army rescued Allies in Ardennes in 1945

Hitler's former adjutant Otto Guensche was captured during the battle of Berlin in April-May 1945 and, while being kept in custody in an investigative prison in Moscow, presented a firsthand account of what was happening at Hitler's headquarters in the last months of the war

French military already present in Donbass — French journalist

Christelle Neant said that the Ukrainian armed forces is drafting people with no military experience as part of its mobilization campaign and sends them to the frontline after "just two or three weeks of training"

Russia praises Xi Jinping’s idea about peaceful summit on Ukraine

Maria Zakharova pointed out that Beijing adheres to a balanced position in the context of the events unfolding in Ukraine, "perfectly understands both historical and geopolitical reasons for the conflict"

Authorities of two Ukrainian regions report damage to critical infrastructure

In turn, head of the Kiev-backed regional administration of Zaporozhye, Ivan Fedorov, reported "some damage" in the area, also without details

Putin to participate in EAEU summit — his first international event of new term

A traditional friendly dinner for the heads of CIS delegations took place on Tuesday night