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Military operation in Ukraine

Ukraine lost over 1,235 troops over day — Russian Defense Ministry

Russian units of the Battlegroup Center liberated Novoukrainka settlement of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the ministry added

MOSCOW, June 29. /TASS/. The Ukrainian army lost about 1,235 servicemen over the day, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

According to the ministry, losses of the Ukrainian armed forces were over 190 people in the responsibility area of the Russian Battlegroup North and up to 220 as a result of actions of the Battlegroup West.

Russian units of the Battlegroup Center liberated Novoukrainka settlement of the Donetsk People’s Republic, the ministry added.

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Foreign policy Ukraine Military operation in Ukraine

Anti-Russian sanctions

Kremlin has not seen reports about possible new US sanctions

Bloomberg reported earlier, citing sources, that the United States is preparing new sanctions against Russia’s energy sector

Fitch warns Euroclear of potential rating downgrade over Russian assets confiscation

The agency explained that the move "reflects Fitch's view of potentially increased liquidity and legal risks for Euroclear Bank"

Germany doesn't rule out sending its troops to Ukraine as part of 'multinational force'

"The deployment of troops largely depends on the situation, context, and specific tasks," Germany's Social Democratic Party leader Matthias Miersch said

Moscow to assess EU leaders' statement on guarantees to Kiev once it sees text — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov noted that Moscow has only seen media reports about the joint statement by EU leaders on security guarantees for Kiev

Backing out of reparations loan for Kiev to damage EU’s image — Politico

The qualified majority vote on using the assets, which the paper called a "nuclear option," also splits the EU

Turkey’s Marmara Sea recedes 20 meters from shore — TV

According to the TV channel, the phenomenon occurred in the Marmaraereglisi district of the Tekirdag province in western Turkey

Arctic Council has good chance of maintaining its relevance — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minster noted that, overall, "there are certain advances" in the work of the Arctic Council

Ministerial meeting in Cairo to formalize new level of Russia-Africa relations

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin described the event in Cairo as "a milestone event in Russia-Africa relations" in 2025

Russian shipbuilders deliver 19 ships, three subs to Navy in 2025

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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin stressed that Africans should stop financing the prosperity of the United States, the European Union, NATO, and their allies at their own expense

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The protests, where people demanded the resignation of the government led by Prime Minister Robert Fico, a Social Democrat, were organized by opposition liberal parties and movements of Slovakia

Ukrainian troops mine evacuation routes for civilians from Dimitrov

Igor Kimakovsky added that, because of this, the routes must be constantly changed

Russia supports Africa's desire for fair representation in UN Security Council — diplomat

Sergey Vershinin recalled that Russia’s Foreign Policy Concept defines a whole range of areas in which Russia intends to develop cooperation with Africa on bilateral and multilateral levels

Ukrainian troops attacked refugees during evacuation from Krasnoarmeysk, killing woman

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Russia opens language centers in 27 African countries — Foreign Ministry

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EU might bypass Belgium in vote on Russia’s frozen assets — Politico

Diplomats warn against this decision, arguing that it could further divide an already fractured bloc, plunging it into a real crisis

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Two civilians were wounded by falling drone debris in the Slavyansky district of the Krasnodar Region

Elon Musk throws money behind GOP ahead of 2026 midterms — Axios

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Sergey Ryabkov noted that "Russia's special military operation was inevitable because things were developing in a very wrong direction"

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Alfred de Zayas stressed that "NATO boots on the ground would only mean an escalation to the war"

Russia adds Deutsche Welle to list of undesirable organizations

Bulgaria’s For Free Russia, Estonia’s House of Ingria, Norway’s Nature and Youth, and Germany’s Alliance for a Free Democratic Russia were also added to the list

EU’s 19 packages of sanctions on Russia weaken European economy — Italian official

Italian deputy prime minister and minister of transport and infrastructure Matteo Salvini emphasized that sanctions brought European economies to their knees, leading to more expensive energy for Italians

Russian forces thwart Ukrainian troops attempt to approach liberated Kupyansk

Airborne observation posts and mobile air defense teams ensured combat safety of the self-propelled guns

Germany’s Left party critical of ‘multinational force’ idea for Ukraine

According to Soren Pellmann, the deployment of NATO forces to ensure the security of Ukraine’s airspace would lead to the "further escalation of the situation"

Number of Cambodians killed in border conflict with Thailand up to 17 — top brass

Cambodian National Defense Ministry Spokeswoman Lieutenant General Maly Socheata added that 77 people were injured

US spy strategy in the Himalayas could have also been aimed at Soviet Union — expert

Recent reports by The New York Times revealed that during a covert operation in 1965, the CIA installed a SNAP-19C nuclear generator on Mount Nanda Devi’s summit to monitor Chinese missile activity

Total of 94 Ukrainian UAVs intercepted and destroyed overnight over Russian regions

31 of them were destroyed over the Krasnodar Region

Austria’s former top diplomat doesn’t rule out territorial changes in Ukraine

Karin Kneissl drew attention to reports saying that CEO of the US investment company BlackRock Larry Fink is already taking part in discussions of Ukraine’s future restoration

Lavrov to hold separate talks with African countries at Cairo meeting

On the sidelines of the second ministerial conference in Cairo, Russian Foreign Minister will also sign a set of documents

'Coalition of willing' has not called Putin's hotline, Kremlin official jokes

The event will be held at noon on December 19

Lavrov, Iranian foreign minister to discuss regional security, Iran’s nuclear program

US President Donald Trump and his peace initiatives related to Ukraine and the Gaza Strip will also be on the agenda of the talks

Moscow to make no concessions on Donbass, Novorossiya and Crimea — Ryabkov

The diplomat noted that in 2022, following referendums, the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Lugansk People’s Republic, as well as Zaporozhye and Kherson Regions, were formally incorporated into Russia

Hungary refuses loyal cooperation with EU on issue of Russian assets — Orban

Viktor Orban also said that EU leaders violated EU law by proposing to make decisions on Russian financial assets not by consensus, but by a qualified majority vote

NABU detectives to carry out investigative actions at embassy in Israel — ambassador

Yevgeny Korniychuk did not name the reasons for the investigative actions or their date

Trump to sum up results of outgoing year in his address — White House

Earlier in the day, the US leader announced his plans to address the nation on Wednesday evening

West, Kiev use African groups to carry out sabotage against Russia’s interests — Vershinin

According to the Deputy Foreign Minister, the "criminal actions of the Kiev regime and its patrons, who cooperate with local terrorist groups and provide them with support," pose a grave threat not only to Africa, but to the entire world

Russia will not agree to deployment of Western troops in Ukraine in any form — MFA

Russia is open-minded in terms of what decisions might be made, Sergey Ryabkov noted

Lukashenko says Putin seeks to achieve peace in Ukraine conflict

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Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, December 16th

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Russia had to start special op to change world — Serbian journalist

Mario Bojic said it needed to happen for the world to change

MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center director shot dead in US

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Lukashenko says Ukraine simply handed Crimea over to Russia, no one fought for it

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Upgraded Force drone intercepting Ukraine’s UAVs in Belgorod Region

The Drone Force company previously announced the development of a reconnaissance version of the 15-inch Force drone with proprietary software and shifted control frequencies

Europe has no plan B in case seizure of Russian assets is rejected — Finnish PM

Petteri Orpo said he does not want to think about that

Russia successfully carries out multiple projects in Africa — senior diplomat

Sergey Vershinin pointed out that one of the priorities was to assist Africa in achieving food self-sufficiency

Africa becoming key player of world politics — senior Russian diplomat

According to Sergey Vershinin, building a mutually beneficial partnership with Africa is a foreign policy priority for Russia

Well-trained Russian specialists in CAR suffer minimal losses — military operative

According to Russian instructor with the call sign Gipalon, the group is always on full combat alert

Russian troops liberate Novoplatonovka in Kharkov Region over past day — top brass

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India's BRICS presidency in 2026 promises to be eventful — Russian envoy

Last year several countries began working within the BRICS framework, and many states are planning to join this association, the diplomat noted

Russia, African countries begin joint research into dangerous infections

More than 200 African specialists have been trained using Russian methodologies, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said

Steel consumption in Russia to fall to lowest level since 2011 in 2025 — forecast

The decline from the historical peak amounts to nearly 20%

Ukraine’s ex-commander-in-chief warns about risks of civil war after conflict is ended

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Karin Kneissl: Zelensky Has No Chance Left

Japan-Russia trade turnover down 4.51% year-on-year in November to $617 mln

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Continuation of conflict to do more harm to Ukraine — Slovak defense minister

Kiev could have made a peace deal with Russia on more advantageous terms right after the conflict began, Robert Kalinak recalled

Czech Republic's ruling party to abstain from European Parliament vote on Russian gas

ANO MPs announced their decision to journalists in Strasbourg

Erdogan warns against attacks on commercial ships in Black Sea

Turkey issue a clear warning to both sides concerning this matter, the Turkish president said

VEB.RF, Alfa-Bank allocate $63 mln to Trans-Eurasian fiber-optic communication line

The new communication line will be approximately 11,700 kilometers long

Foreign journalists to be able to ask questions during Putin’s Q&A session — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov also noted that there will be journalists from unfriendly countries as well

China opposes use of frozen Russian assets by European Union — MFA

Beijing advocates for the creation of a "positive atmosphere and favorable conditions for advancing dialogue and negotiations" through the efforts of all interested parties

Kiev lying about battlefield situation to influence US peace plan — source

The Ukrainian mass media are disseminating reports alleging that the Ukrainian army has taken control of the settlements of Kondrashovka, Radkovka, and Moskovka northwest and southwest of Kupyansk

Lukashenko believes conflict in Ukraine will end in peace

Belarusian President emphasized that if the issue of a peaceful settlement depended solely on US President Donald Trump, then given his current policies the conflict would have ended long ago

Georgian PM says Tbilisi’s prospects for NATO membership are vague

Irakli Kobakhidze emphasized that Tbilisi should be pragmatic about the developments

US national security strategy states diagnosis for Europe — Deputy Secretary of State

According to the Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, the US President laid out "in clear and simple terms" that there is a turning point that Europe is facing

'Coalition of Willing' prepares plans to deploy troops to Ukraine — British PM

Keir Starmer stated that the prior question is whether a just and lasting peace can be achieved

Hungary to use US nuclear fuel at Paks NPP after 2028

Fuel for the Paks nuclear power plant will be produced at a joint venture in Europe established by Rosatom and the French company Framatome, Lantos noted

Ukrainian troops launch seven attacks on Zaporozhye region in past day, killing one

Governor Yevgeny Balitsky added that one man was injured in an attack on the village of Velikaya Znamenka

US resumes use of Guantanamo base for detention of illegal migrants

According to the newspaper, 22 illegal Cuban migrants are now housed there

West tries to destabilize situation in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger — Deputy Foreign Minister

Sergey Vershinin also pointed out that Moscow is paying increasing attention to building multifaceted cooperation with Africa’s subregional communities

Russia may ultimately replace UK in technology deal with US — Dmitriev

Russian Presidential Special Representative Kirill Dmitriev emphasized that "the UK needs to learn to solve real problems - not imaginary ones"

Kalashnikov presents new model of silent motorcycle

The motorcycle develops a speed of up to 100 km/h, has easy controls and is equipped with a universal trailer with a load capacity of up to 200 kg

Russian ambassador calls efficiency of increasing British military spending questionable

Andrey Kelin noted that the British military department's 2025 overruns may amount to more than 2 billion pounds

Investigative Committee outraged by publication of footage of school attack near Moscow

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German authorities rapidly preparing for full-scale conflict with Russia — envoy

"Berlin has chosen the path of destroying the unique bilateral interaction formats built by generations of predecessors," Sergey Nechayev noted