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Military operation in Ukraine

Ukraine launching decoy missiles toward Crimea to probe into its defenses — official

The enemy is again probing into the peninsula’s defenses, Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said

© Sergey Malgavko/TASS

SEVASTOPOL, August 18. /TASS/. Decoy missiles were launched by Ukrainian troops at the Crimean Bridge to probe into its defense system, Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said.

Earlier, he informed about a missile attack warning, which was called off two minutes later.

"The missile attack warning was called off in several minutes because Ukrainian troops are launching decoy targets. The enemy is again probing into the peninsula’s defenses," he wrote on his Telegram channel.

He also wrote that the Russian fleet will conduct a drill near the Northern pier, with one training launch being made. The situation is the city is calm, he added.

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Foreign policy Ukraine Military operation in Ukraine

Russia-US dialogue on Ukraine can be conducted on different platforms — senior diplomat

Everything depends on its content and the approach of the team of US President-elect Donald Trump are important, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said

Kiev’s Western patrons complicit in recent attack on senior Russian general — UN envoy

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US Congress passes stopgap funding bill to avert government shutdown

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German president intends to dissolve Bundestag on December 27

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Ukrainian attack on Kursk Region town kills 6, injures 10 — official

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Trump threatens EU of tariffs unless it increases energy purchases

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Putin responds to question about Russia's weakness by quoting Mark Twain

The president noted that Russia had become much stronger over the past two or three years as it became a truly sovereign country

Putin grants Russian citizenship to Italian opera icon Giancarlo del Monaco

Over the course of his career, del Monaco has directed more than 100 operas in major theaters around the world

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Russian public may one day decide to bury Lenin proper, Putin speculates

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Putin meets with Federation Council Speaker Matviyenko in Kremlin

The upper chamber of the parliament wrapped up its autumn session

Kremlin spokesman clarifies Putin’s statement about Oreshnik 'duel'

"It is very important to talk about these statements by the president in the context of the question he was asked," Dmitry Peskov pointed out

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"All international mechanisms need to be effectively employed in order to prevent Israel from exploiting the situation in Syria," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said

Poland to import 10% of LPG from Russia after EU sanctions take effect

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Russian diplomats doing their best to release Gaza hostages — ambassador

Anatoly Viktorov expressed his wholehearted support to the family of Yelena Trufanova whose son Alexander is still being held hostage in the Palestinian enclave

Putin suggests Zelensky may flee abroad, says Russia would take him in

"But he will be taken care of by those people whose interests he is serving now," the Russian leader said

Social facilities, homes damaged by Ukrainian missile attack on Rylsk — acting governor

"The buildings of the House of Culture, physical fitness center, teachers’ training college, school, firefighting depot and private households were damaged," Alexander Khinshtein said

Scholz could travel to Moscow to boost his party’s approval rating — report

Germany is scheduled to hold a parliamentary election on February 23, 2025

Ship with Syrian-Egyptian crew sends distress call in Kerch Strait

According to international law, the ship can be seized if wages are not paid

Maximal costs of Nord Stream pipeline repair to be 633 mln euro

This figure is indicated in an internal report prepared by the company, which assesses prospects of gas pipeline use in the future

What is known about Russia’s retaliatory strike on Ukraine after attack on Rostov Region

Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported the fires in Solomensky and Shevchenkovsky districts

Russia’s Battlegroup South liberates settlement of Ostrovskogo in DPR — Defense Ministry

"The enemy lost up to 285 troops, two armored combat vehicles, two motor vehicles, a D-30 122 mm howitzer, a US-made M119 105 mm howitzers and five field ammunition depots," the ministry added

Nine-months pregnant woman injured in Ukrainian attack on Russia’s Rylsk

According to the latest data, a total of nine people sought medical assistance after the attack

Russia manages situation in Ukraine, while West in big trouble — US political scientist

According to John Mearsheimer, Russia has become much stronger over the past two to three years because it has managed to become "a truly sovereign country"

Artyom military plant reportedly on fire after explosions in Kiev

The Artyom plant is known for producing air-to-air missiles, as well as equipment for aircraft

UK unwilling to send military instructors to Ukraine for fear of Russian attacks — media

According to a source, "Russians would target any kind of Western assistance inside Ukraine"

Russian forces control more than half of Chasov Yar in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that Russian forces had "slightly advanced" in the northern and southern parts of Chasov Yar

Ukraine files charges in absentia against Russian army deputy general staff chief

The SBU brings charges against Russian political, military, cultural and public figures in absentia on a regular basis

Yemen’s Houthis announce hypersonic missile strike at military facility near Tel Aviv

Israel’s Ynet media outlet reports that at least 30 people suffered injuries after a missile fired from Yemen fell in central Israel

Acting Kursk region governor revises death toll in Rylsk attack down to five

The number of those injured in the missile attack was revised up to 12 from 10

IN BRIEF: Magdeburg Christmas market attack kills 11, injuring roughly 80 others

TASS has compiled the key facts behind the deadly attack

German police confirm death of four people in Magdeburg Christmas market attack

According to the law enforcement agencies, a total of 205 people suffered injuries, with 41 being in critical condition

Ukrainian unit of machine-gunners disguised as Russian soldiers shoots civilians — captive

According to Bogdan Nikitchenko, the command sends "anyone available" to the Kursk Region

Musk believes Germany’s Scholz should step down after car drives into crowd in Magdeburg

Meanwhile, Scholz will visit Magdeburg to assess the situation later on Saturday

Key rate, inflation and criticism of Central Bank: statements by regulator’s chief

The Bank of Russia has taken a pause in raising the key rate, though a long period of tough monetary policy will be required to bring inflation back to the target

Witnesses confirm involvement of detained suspect in Russian general’s assassination

"The sufficiency of information about the crime and Kurbonov’s involvement is confirmed by testimony from the affected persons and eyewitnesses, crime scene examination, study of material evidence and documents, and other evidence as a whole," according to case files

Expert predicts Russia, new Syrian authorities to establish strong ties

According to Wu Yihong, Russia will seek to retain its two military facilities in Syria

Ukraine to cede territory regardless of US aid — news agency

According to the news agency, Kiev expects a "bitter settlement," which implies giving up territorial claims and NATO membership in exchange for security guarantees

Mother of missing US reporter thanks Putin for promising help in locating her son

During a "Direct Line" Q&A session combined with his annual press conference on Thursday, Putin clarified that he had not yet met with Assad after his arrival in Moscow but plans to speak with him

Baltic states threaten mass deportation of Russians, take lead in Russophobia — statement

The Foreign Ministry noted that the facts of discrimination and persecution of Russians are often ignored by the official leadership of countries and international human rights agencies, leading many victims to remain silent

Putin declares 2025 year of defender of Fatherland

The Russian president made the announcement at a meeting of the State Council

Russia has confidence in its weapons, senior diplomat says

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov also stressed that the recent developments had shown that the US policy of establishing a system of increasingly layered missile defenses was wrong

Russia’s capture of two DPR settlements paves way for liberation of Kurakhovo — official

Vladimir Rogov also noted that the liberation of Zelenovka and Novy Komar hastens the process of liberating major logistics hubs

Orban does not intend to react to Zelensky's provocations, will remain calm

The Hungarian prime minister reiterated that his proposal for a Christmas ceasefire and prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia remains on the table

Oreshnik’s launch is sudden, undetectable by satellites — analyst

The range of the Oreshnik system is up to 5,500 kilometers

Russian troops liberate 10 communities in Donbass region over week — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 3,610 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy ammunition depots in its area of responsibility over the week

IN BRIEF: What is known about drone attack on residential buildings in Kazan

TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

US defense companies capitalize the most on Ukraine conflict — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya referred to data from the SIPRI which put last year’s revenues from sales of arms by the world’s top 100 largest businesses in the industry at $632 billion

First-ever baby conceived using technology that matures eggs outside body born in Peru

The US company Gameto said that the technology allows for minimal hormonal intervention in a woman’s body during the in-vitro fertilization procedure, reducing side effects