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Military operation in Ukraine

Russian servicemen released from Ukrainian captivity arrive in Moscow

"All the released are provided with the necessary medical and psychological assistance," the Russian Defense Ministry pointed out

© Russian Ministry of Defense

MOSCOW, February 9. /TASS/. Russian troops freed from Ukrainian captivity have been transported to Moscow for treatment and rehabilitation, the Russian Defense Ministry has informed.

"The released POWs were transported to Moscow by Russian Air Force military transport aircraft to undergo treatment and rehabilitation in Russian Defense Ministry medical facilities. All the released are provided with the necessary medical and psychological assistance," the ministry pointed out.

The department published a related video on its official Telegram channel. "I cannot believe it; we are so glad to be safe and sound. These are our first hours on our native land. We got a great welcome here, they gave us new clothes, it's nice that they were waiting for us," one of the Russian soldiers said in the video.

The Defense Ministry said on Thursday that 100 Russian servicemen had been released from Kiev-controlled territory and the same number of Ukrainian POWs had been sent in return. The authorities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) provided humanitarian mediation assistance for the return of Russian servicemen from Ukrainian captivity, the ministry added.

The previous exchange was announced on January 31. Back then, following negotiations, 195 Russian servicemen were returned from Kiev-controlled territory and 195 Ukrainian armed forces soldiers were transferred to Ukraine in exchange.

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Military operation in Ukraine

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Japanese lawmaker praises Putin's restraint amid decision to strike deep into Russia

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West beginning to realize only part of Ukraine will remain — Lavrov

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Ukraine should consider territorial concessions to Russia in return for peace — magazine

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Internet shutdown possible in Belarus if events of August 2020 recur, Lukashenko says

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IN BRIEF: What Putin said about Russia’s new missile, and Moscow’s response to the West

Moscow used its new Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile in response to the West’s decision to authorize strategic-depth strikes on Russia

Any escalation scenario possible in Ukraine conflict — Medvedev

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Zelensky’s actions make Ukraine vulnerable to coup, says politician

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Ukraine conflict entering decisive phase, Polish PM says

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Russia entitled to use weapons against military sites of states attacking it — Duma

"Russia has repeatedly stated that such actions will receive a response – and it will be a stronger one," Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin stressed

Soyuz rocket carrying Progress MS-29 cargo spaceship blasts off from Baikonur spaceport

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Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Western nations should take Putin's statement seriously, warns Hungarian PM

Viktor Orban recalled that Russia has "one of the most powerful armies in the world, which boasts the most advanced, most powerful weapons"

Zelensky begs ‘for his country to be flattened’ — US journalist

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Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

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Russian ambassador says UK prime minister doesn’t understand situation in Ukraine

Turning to the Labour Party’s domestic policies, Andrey Kelin said Starmer’s plans to spur the economy were "not met with applause by the population

Russian forces successfully advancing in all areas in special military op zone — Putin

The Russian president said that "all the goals we set for ourselves are being achieved"

Signal to West and 'red card': experts weigh in on Putin’s missile launch statements

The important message in Vladimir Putin’s speech was that "Russia does believe that the West has shifted from a proxy-war to direct war" and that the parties find themselves in "a global conflict" now, Dmitry Suslov said

Western countries should 'be afraid, tremble' after Putin's statement — lawmaker

Andrey Kartapolov added that the special military operation in Ukraine "will continue its course until all tasks are completed"

Belarusian president believes humanity is on the brink of World War III

Alexander Lukashenko also emphasized that a real information war has been underway for a long time

Biden’s actions on Ukraine meant to 'muck things up' for Trump — Lavrov

According to the Russian foreign minister, such behavior is "typical of the Democrats"

Russia’s steel production plunged in October — WSA

China produced 81.9 mln metric tons in October, up 2.9% on an annualized basis

Houthis say they attacked Israeli military base with hypersonic missile

The Israel Defense Forces said on Thursday evening that it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen before it entered the Israeli airspace

German politician slams Ukraine’s ‘irresponsible’ strike on Russia with UK-made missiles

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Enemy has no countermeasures for Russia’s Oreshnik missile — Putin

Speaking in a televised address, the head of state assured that Russia will issue notifications before using this type of missile

Russian air defense deflects attacks with Western missiles — Putin

"As a result, the goals that the enemy apparently set have not been achieved," the Russian leader said

US administration chooses to escalate Ukraine conflict — Kremlin

Earlier, Putin stressed that the Ukrainian army is unable to fire the latest Western-made long-range missiles on its own without support from NATO satellite feeds and the involvement of the bloc’s military

Russia's Oreshnik missile poses significant threat to West, Turkish expert warns

These missiles pose a threat not only to Ukraine but also to the entire Western world, including continental Europe and Great Britain, Abdullah Agar stressed

Chinese pandas sent back home after years in Finland

In September, a zoo in the Finnish city of Ehtaeri decided it had little choice but to return a pair of pandas given to Finland after the 2017 visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Helsinki

North Korean leader warns of growing risk of nuclear war — KCNA

Kim Jong Un added that negotiations with the US only confirmed the North Korean view that Washington’s hostile policy remains unchanged

Biden’s decision to use ATACMS against Russia may 'blow up in America’s face' — US expert

According to Daniel Davis authorizing US long-range weapons to be used against Russia is "foolhardy to the highest order," "especially because there is no military upside for doing so"

Ex-German chancellor never expected Russia to tolerate Ukraine’s NATO membership — memoir

Angela Merkel added that another fallacy was the belief that the status "would act as a deterrent," and that Moscow "would accept these developments without taking action"

Zelensky fine with conflict continuing due to Western help — Slovak PM

Robert Fico pointed out that "more and more evidence show that the West seeks to prolong the war in Ukraine for various reasons"

Russia hammers Ukrainian military-industrial facilities, energy sites over week

Russian forces liberated seven communities in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past week, the Defense Ministry reported