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Military operation in Ukraine

Russian, Ukrainian human rights commissioners exchange care packages, letters for POWs

"The Russian and Ukrainian human rights commissioners handed over 1,500 Christmas parcels for prisoners of war each, as well as letters from their families, as part of a joint humanitarian operation carried out in Belarus," Russian Human Rights Ombudsperson Tatyana Moskalkova said

MOSCOW, December 20. /TASS/. The Russian and Ukrainian human rights commissioners have met in Belarus to exchange Christmas care packages for prisoners of war and letters from their families, Russian Human Rights Ombudsperson Tatyana Moskalkova said.

"The Russian and Ukrainian human rights commissioners handed over 1,500 Christmas parcels for prisoners of war each, as well as letters from their families, as part of a joint humanitarian operation carried out in Belarus," she wrote on Telegram.

Moskalova noted that the activity was made possible through the assistance of the Russian presidential administration, the Russian Defense Ministry, the Federal Penitentiary Service, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the Russian Foreign Ministry and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

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Foreign policy Military operation in Ukraine

Military operation in Ukraine

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

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

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West pushing Kiev to continue conflict — France’s Le Pen

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Putin says he gained much from former French President Jacques Chirac

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Putin challenges West to try to intercept Oreshnik missile in Kiev

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Russia forgives Somalia's Soviet-era debt

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Putin says critics who insult him tell on themselves

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

The Russian president still noted that "today, especially in today’s Russia, we must not do anything that could divide the country"

FACTBOX: What we know about missing An-2 plane in Russia’s Kamchatka

The An-2 airplane with two crew members and one passenger was transporting 800 kg of commercial cargo on the Milkovo - Ossora route

Ukraine to cede territory regardless of US aid — news agency

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Nuclear doctrine, special op, Oreshnik missile: what Putin said at Direct Line Q&A session

According to the head of state, the situation in the special military operation zone is "changing significantly"

German president intends to dissolve Bundestag on December 27

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Press review: Israel and Hamas near a truce while Zelensky drafts a new negotiation plan

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, December 19th

Special military op evolves, Russia liberates territory by kilometers — Putin

The Russian leader characterized what is happening on the line of engagement as "a classic of the development of combat operations"

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

Zelensky describes Hungarian PM’s ceasefire proposal as political PR stunt

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Russian gas importers to receive deferral on payments via Gazprombank until April 1, 2025

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Russian air defenses destroy 36 Ukrainian drones over different regions

It is reported that on-duty air defenses intercepted and destroyed 16 Ukrainian UAVs over the Krasnodar Region

European Union spends 130 bln euro to support Ukraine — von der Leyen

According to her, the EU accounts for 47% of weapons sent to Ukraine with around 40% being provided by the United States

During Maduro’s inauguration, Russia to be represented at due level — diplomat

The invitation was sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin

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

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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

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Nandan Unnikrishnan pointed out that Russian President Vladimir Putin "has more than once spoken about Russia’s readiness to discuss an end to the conflict"

Lavrov explains Russia’s position on Ukrainian settlement to Swiss counterpart

"The Russian side stressed the inadmissibility of NATO’s eastwards expansion, which was among the key reasons of the current situation, which made the special military operation unavoidable," the statement reads

Ukraine attempts to attack downtown Donetsk by long-range missiles

Preliminary information suggests that a HIMARS multiple rocket launcher was used for the attack

Abkhazian lawmaker accused of fatal shooting in the country’s parliament

"Lawmaker Adgur Kharazia, who fled the scene, is suspected of the shooting," acting Interior Minister Robert Kiut said

Russia has no concerns about who attends Trump's inauguration — senior diplomat

According to Sergey Ryabkov, this issue lies "on the periphery" for Moscow, and Russia views it "detachedly"

Putin calls issue of Vladimir Lenin’s burial extremely sensitive

"These are certainly not the questions to be addressed during a Q&A session or press conference," the head of state said, commenting on several remarks by a reporter

Ukraine's refusal to transit Russian gas will hit EU economies hard — French expert

According to Jacques Sapir, the decision not to extend transit contracts was no surprise given the political landscape

Russia to invite World War II allies to next year’s Victory Day parade

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova made the comment following a statement on the subject by Vladimir Putin

Hungary takes US sanctions against Gazprombank as political revenge — Szijjarto

The Hungarian foreign minister stressed that the American sanctions against Gazprombank affected those countries where governments are in power that pursue independent policies

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

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 says Russia should have launched special op earlier

The Russian leader recalled that the 2014 events in Crimea had been spontaneous

Kherson Region governor says Ukraine tries to make people leave Kherson City

According to Vladimir Saldo, Ukrainian authorities are stopping the provision of humanitarian aid to people

Russia, Ukraine could exchange POWs by Orthodox Christmas — Hungarian PM

"About 1,000 people could return home to their families in just two or three days," the prime minister said

High-ranking US diplomat to visit Damascus soon — Axios

According to the portal, United States Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf will pay a visit to Damascus

Four new Russian regions moving toward self-sufficiency at a rapid pace — Putin

According to the head of state, tax revenues have seen a consistent increase in absolute figures

Venezuela’s Maduro reveals ultra-right plot to trigger civil war in South American nation

Plots and attempts to destabilize the situation in Venezuela had been "foiled by military and police units, as well as judicial and law enforcement forces," Nicolas Maduro stated

Ukraine carries out missile strike on town of Rylsk in Russia’s Kursk Region

Acting region's governor Alexander Khinshtein stressed that the regional government would provide the necessary assistance to those injured in the attack and their families

Putin shrugs off potential deployment of US THAAD missile defense systems in Ukraine

According to the Russian president, there are a lot of "our men" in Ukraine who want to liberate their country from neo-Nazism and Russia is maintaining ties with them

Russia getting stronger, will make decisions regardless of opinions of others — Putin

According to the Russian president, the state of the economy and the strengthening of defense capabilities allow Russia to depend little on anyone

Russia to retaliate to Kiev’s attack by Western missiles on Rostov Region — top brass

The attack was carried out by six US-made ATACMS operational-tactical missiles and four Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles

Oreshnik test launch forces London to take a step back — Russian ambassador

According to Andrey Kelin, the UK’s official reaction to the launch of the Oreshnik missile was rather vague

Russian cancer vaccine to be free of charge — top oncologist

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

As many as 70% of soldiers desert from reinforcements sent to Kurakhovo — politician

The situation is similar at several other sections of the frontline in the DPR

Press review: Who benefits from Russian general's murder as Trump lacks Kremlin strategy

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, December 18th

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"

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

Russian, Uzbek security agents work to identify accomplices in general’s killing in Moscow

"The special services of the Republic of Uzbekistan are doing all they can to provide assistance," the agency said

Russian troops break through Ukrainian defenses near Oskol Reservoir in Kharkov Region

The new positions will enable Russian troops to advance further in that frontline area and deliver more effective strikes on the enemy, Andrey Marochko specified

Ukraine will soon run out of willing fighters, Putin says

The head of state pointed out that ex-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had said at some point that Ukraine "needs to keep fighting until the last Ukrainian"

Putin describes Oreshnik missile as cutting-edge Russian weapon

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Total number of messages to Putin’s Direct Line surpasses 2.5 mln

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Armenian premier sees no reason to preserve OSCE Minsk Group

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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

Russia achieves key objective in Syria — Putin

According to head of state, the groups that fought against Syrian government forces have gone through major internal changes

Zelensky actually flips the bird to Trump by insulting Putin, Medvedev says

The politician emphasized that "the president of a major country should be extremely polite and amiable"