{{dayPoint.date | date : 'd MMMM yyyy'}}

{{newsPoint.title}}

{{newsPoint.title+ ' '}}

{{newsPoint.subtitle}}

Decision to grant Assad refuge in Russia humanitarian in nature — MFA

There were and are no political grounds behind his stay in Russia, Maria Zakharova said

MOSCOW, August 27. /TASS/. The decision to grant former Syrian President Bashar Assad refuge in Russia was not politically motivated and was based solely on humanitarian considerations, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing.

"There were and are no political grounds behind his stay in our country. The decision was made solely on humanitarian grounds: the dramatic circumstances of the change of power in Syria meant that he and his family faced death," she said, responding to a question about whether Moscow could "extradite" Assad to Syria’s new authorities after a Syrian court sentenced him to death in absentia.

On August 11, Syria’s SANA news agency reported that a criminal court in Damascus had sentenced Assad, his cousin Atef Najib and seven other wanted suspects to death.

A TASS source reported earlier that Assad and his family were in Moscow and had been granted asylum in Russia. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov later said that Assad and his family were in Russia solely for humanitarian reasons, as the former president faced physical reprisals in his homeland following the change of power in late 2024.

Tags

Foreign policy Maria Zakharova

Military operation in Ukraine

Russian forces hit oil refineries, logistics centers in Kiev, other cities — top brass

IN BRIEF: Kremlin briefing covers frozen assets, 'spooks' of Russia’s 'plans' against NATO

Dmitry Peskov added that Russia continues contacts with the United States on Ukraine "at the working level"

Kiev tries to convince West of military successes in absence of real results — Gerasimov

As part of a propaganda campaign, the Kiev regime is spreading false information about an allegedly successful offensive in the Zaporozhye Region

Russia’s pivot to East became only option since special military operation — Kobyakov

The Russian presidential adviser said that virtually no Asian country condemned the special military operation or joined the anti-Russian front being formed on the basis of NATO

UK confirms its involvement in conflict by giving Kiev Storm Shadow missiles — MFA

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova pointed out that London had done everything possible to avoid answering questions about the actual use of Storm Shadow missiles

CIA, Pentagon chiefs hold meeting at White House — pool reporters

The reporters did not specify whether US President Donald Trump took part in the meeting

Tanker struck by projectile in Strait of Hormuz — UKMTO

Acording to the authority, a fire broke out aboard the oil tanker

Moscow to respond to Ukrainian strikes on Russian economic, trade infrastructure — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, Russia does not need "military escalation," as it is making advances in the special military operation without it

Army general comments on Russia’s unabated offensive, Ukraine’s attempts to hold Donbass

Kiev’s main strategic objective is to maintain control over the remaining part of Donbass, and the Ukrainian army has created a defense in depth, Valery Gerasimov said

Ukraine is definitely losing in conflict — Kremlin

The dynamics in all frontline areas clearly demonstrate this, Dmitry Peskov underscored

Lavrov, Egyptian foreign minister stress need for Middle East settlement

The Russian Foreign Ministry added that the parties confirmed their shared position on the need to settle the Palestinian issue in accordance with UN resolutions

Wildfires in Algeria leave 12 people dead

According to Interior, Local Authorities, and Transport Minister Said Sayoud, more than 50 people were injured

New passenger car sales in Russia may reach 115,000 in August — Autostat

Director of the analytical agency Sergey Tselikov added that the market would thus contract by 6%-10% compared with last year

Trump says combination of strikes against Iran and economic war effective — TV

The US president claimed that Iran "got massive inflation, their economy is falling apart"

FACTBOX: Russian forces strike Ukrainian military targets, oil refinery, steel mills

Energy facilities supplying power to Ukrainian ports in the Odessa Region were also struck, the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Armenia de facto not participating in CSTO discussions — secretary general

Taalatbek Masadykov said that Armenia also has not paid its membership fees for the third year now

UN efforts to resolve Ukraine, other crises not visible — Grossi

The IAEA director general added that "UN is everywhere without being where it needs to be"

Tests of Russia’s Sakhalin heavy-class underwater robot held in St. Petersburg

The vehicle is capable of operating at depths of up to 3,000 meters, servicing underwater infrastructure

Russia’s industrial production grows by 0.1% in January - July — Rosstat

Minerals production slipped by 0.9% year·on·year

Russian Chief of General Staff inspects Battlegroup South — top brass

Army General Valery Gerasimov received a report from Battlegroup Commander Colonel General Sergey Medvedev

Russia destroys Ukraine’s infrastructure capable of producing SCALP missiles — expert

Sergey Lipovoy noted that even if Kiev manages to assemble them somewhere using available components, "it is not a given that these missiles will be fully controllable"

UAC delivers batch of Su-35S fighter jets to Russian Aerospace Forces

The 4++-generation aircraft have undergone a full cycle of factory testing

CIA chief arrived in Russia for contacts between special services, Kremlin tells WP

Dmitry Peskov declined to provide any further details

No Western country ready for conflict similar to one in Ukraine — Business Insider

Norwegian military officials believe that the protracted combat operations demonstrated the need to prepare in advance not only the armed forces, but also the government, industry, and society as a whole

No need to anticipate Armenia’s withdrawal from CSTO — secretary general

According to Taalatbek Masadykov, the country’s leadership has its position, while the Armenian people have theirs

The West wants to saturate Ukraine with UAVs for strikes against Russia — expert

Vitaly Kiselev described Ukrainian strikes on residential buildings, civilian transport and infrastructure as a tragedy

Iranian attacks cause billions in damage to US surveillance hardware in Middle East — TV

The Iranian attacks raise doubts about whether the Department of State, the Pentagon and the US intelligence community are sufficiently prepared to guarantee due protection to US sites in the region, the TV channel said

Ukraine attacks Donetsk with Anglo-French Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG cruise missiles

Eight civilians were injured, head of the republic Denis Pushilin said

Court in Armenia rules to place former President Kocharyan in custody

Robert Kocharyan was earlier hospitalized after his health deteriorated

US-Iran war to end 'fairly soon' — Trump

According to the US leader, the Strait of Hormuz "is functioning"

Archaeologists unearth 15th-century hoard of 2,600 silver coins near Moscow

This is the largest coin collection of its time available to researchers

Ukraine injures eleven civilians in attacks on Donetsk People’s Republic

Eight residential buildings and eleven civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged, head of the region Denis Pushilin said

Russia’s Battlegroup West downs 111 Ukrainian heavy hexacopters over past day

The battlegroup’s spokesman said that air defense crews and mobile armed units shot down three US-made HIMARS rockets

Nearly each family in Gaza faces shelter crisis — envoy to UN

Vasily Nebenzya concluded that serious difficulties persist on the humanitarian front

Japan can assemble nuclear weapons within one year — Kremlin aide

Russian Presidential Aide and Executive Secretary of the Eastern Economic Forum Organizing Committee Anton Kobyakov drew attention to Japan’s revanchist militarization

Nvidia quarterly revenue more than doubles to $96.2 bln

The corporation expects revenue of around $108 bln in the next quarter

Pentagon chief may appoint aide as US Army secretary

According to sources cited by The Hill, Sean Parnell is on the shortlist of potential candidates for the position

Russian government to review budget execution for first half of year

The agenda of the meeting includes nine other items

Flood in Nepal: At least 95 killed, some 400 tourists missing and $1.3 billion in damage

The Russian embassy in Kathmandu has told TASS that the diplomatic mission has no information about the presence of Russian citizens in the affected areas.

US allies believe Hormuz not fully demined — Bloomberg

According to sources cited by the news agency, some mines may have shifted from their original position due to underwater currents

Mass of ice that fell one kilometer believed to be cause of Nepal flood — NYT

According to the geologist’s estimates, a chunk of ice with a width of about 2,000 feet snapped cleanly off the glacier sending a mixture of ice and water to the valley floor

Nine killed, six wounded: What we know about Ukrainian attack on passenger bus in LPR

Leonid Pasechnik stated that the Ukrainian armed forces’ strike was targeted

Epstein case reveals real face of Western elites seeking to rule world — Lavrov

"It is unnecessary to explain to any normal person that this is pure Satanism and is beyond human comprehension," the Russian Foreign Minister added

Attack on bus in LPR carried out in coordination with West — expert

Alexander Pataman, head of the secretariat of the Zaporozhye Region office of the World Russian People’s Council, explained that after attacks on civilians "the West pretends that nothing is happening"

Iran detains Indian tanker on southern route in Strait of Hormuz — agency

According to the agency, "no vessel traffic has been observed on the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours"

German Finance Ministry estimates frozen Russian assets in country at €3.51 bln

The amount may vary depending on the valuation method used, a representative explained

Zelensky regime, Western countries are exterminating Ukrainian people — Duma speaker

Vyacheslav Volodin stressed that the Zelensky regime understood perfectly well that no one would need it, should it end the war with Russia

Russian Emergencies Ministry aircraft drops over 160 metric tons of water on Serbia fires

The Il-76 aircraft made four sorties over the past 24 hours

Russian stocks close in the red on Wednesday

The MOEX Index lost to 2,071.3 points, the RTS Index fell to 774.19 points

US allows imports of certain Russian diamond categories until September 1, 2027

Russian-origin diamonds weighing 1 carat or more may be imported provided that they were located outside Russia and were not exported or reexported from Russia on or after March 1, 2024

ICRC delegates visit Wildberries facilities targeted by Ukraine near St. Petersburg — MFA

During the visit, ICRC experts could verify the complete absence of military facilities both at and around the warehouses

Up to 70 vessels queue near Danube ports to load Ukrainian grain — media

Reuters added that the situation with Ukrainian grain exports could worsen in the coming days, as shipping agents at Danube river ports plan to close access to them for at least two days because of deteriorating weather conditions

Ukrainians massively deserting armed forces — lawmaker

Dmitry Mikisha said there is a vast array of problems that have not been resolved

Russia’s SVR chief confirms he met CIA director in Moscow

Sergey Naryshkin said there is nothing unusual to it

Kiev is using Europe's military capabilities to attack buses — Russian diplomat

Earlier, LPR Head Leonid Pasechnik reported that nine people, including a 20-year-old woman, were killed and six wounded in a Ukrainian strike on a bus traveling between Lisichansk and Stakhanov

FACTBOX: What we know about FAZ journalist Martens’ international wanted status

Authorities charged Michael Martens in absentia with inciting hatred or hostility over the statements, the source said

No new proposals for negotiations have been received from Kiev — Russian MFA

Maria Zakharova recalled that the Ukrainian side had unilaterally withdrawn from discussions within the Istanbul format without a clear explanation

Trump says Mojtaba Khamenei alive after strikes on Iran

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was very seriously wounded

London, Paris unable to dodge responsibility for strikes deep into Russia — MFA

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova drew attention to the destructive role that the "EU troika" is playing in "inciting and fueling the Ukrainian crisis"

Death toll from Nepal flooding reaches 157

According to a report by Ratopati, the highest number of fatalities was recorded in the Chitwan District in the south of the country

Wagenknecht urges German politicians backing Kiev to go to front

The founder of BSW criticized German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and other politicians who support continued military assistance to Ukraine

Foreign military contingents in Ukraine to be Russia’s legitimate targets — diplomat

Maria Zakharova said the responsibility for this will fall on Western politicians

Russia’s Uran-6 ground robotic system proves effective in demining Mariupol — DPR head

According to Denis Pushilin, demining of the city was a very serious task

Iran sees US sanctions as economic terrorism — ambassador in Ashgabat

Ali Mojtaba Rouzbehani added that Iran’s geographical location is a great advantage for the country, which maintains relations with 15 countries around the world and cooperates with them very productively

Protecting facilities from drones on agenda of upcoming CSTO exercises — secretary general

According to Taalatbek Masadykov, the exercises will be held this autumn, first in Kazakhstan and then in Russia and Belarus

West using South Caucasus Railway issue to blackmail Armenia — Russian MFA

The ministry noted that the issue of the concession’s transfer to anyone else has not been raised previously, but it is likely that demands are being made on the Armenian leadership to remove the ‘Russian factor’ in the transport sector

Russia, China close gap with US in space — media

This "could have frightening consequences for the national security" of the United States, the newspaper writes

Northern Sea Route offers unprecedented opportunities amid logistics disruptions

Russian Presidential Adviser Anton Kobyakov said that the route ensures the safety of temperature-sensitive goods, saves refrigeration capacity and insurance costs, and eliminates intermediate customs checkpoints

Iran sends letter to UN Security Council regarding US 'economic terrorism' — agency

According to the agency, Abbas Araghchi pointed out the legal and moral responsibility of the UN and all governments to condemn the illegal and criminal actions of the US administration

Gazprom, Iran discuss potential cooperation in gas sector

According to the Russian holding, CEO Alexey Miller had a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali and NIGC CEO Saeed Tavakoli

Press review: Vatican eyes Ukraine peace role as Slovakia keeps Russian energy contracts

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, August 26th

CIA chief's visit to Russia, Kiev regime’s collapse, Armenia situation: Kremlin’s briefing

According to Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov, there were no direct contacts between the Russian President and John Ratcliffe

Foreign nationals from 28 countries among 579 missing after Nepal floods — police

According to the latest figures, the bodies of 162 people have been recovered

IAEA inspections at attacked Iranian nuclear facilities needed by Israel, US — AEOI head

Tehran is not yet prepared to allow experts to inspect the sites, Mohammad Eslami said

Kiev regime is collapsing from within — Kremlin

There is a quasi-political fuss underway deep inside the Kiev regime and it is becoming increasingly intense, Dmitry Peskov said

Russia declares Romanian diplomat working in Moscow persona non grata — Foreign Ministry

The ministry emphasized that this measure is a response to Romania's earlier similar decision

Five passengers, driver hospitalized after bus crash in Ulan-Ude

According to preliminary information reported by the Emergencies Ministry earlier, nine people were injured

Number of people missing after China landslide reaches 558

According to a report by China Central Television, 260 of them are foreign nationals

Claims of Russian aggression toward EU distort reality — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov specified that the West is publishing many "scare stories" about alleged Russian plans against NATO

Some European states fear lack of funding for Kiev, demand seizure of Russian assets — FT

Sweden, the Netherlands, Spain, and Poland are among EU members supporting the initiative

Russian advance units are 1.5 km from Druzhkovka — General Staff Chief

According to General Valery Gerasimov, over the past two months alone, more than 100 square kilometers of territory have been liberated in the Druzhkovka sector

Russia to unveil Barrage-2 unmanned stratospheric platform in 2028

In the initial phase, the flight will be short and powered by a relatively simple propulsion system, but it will already be capable of providing practical benefits

Russian forces continue their offensive unabated, chief of General Staff says

General Valery Gerasimov said the offensive continues in all directions

Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted roughly 240 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and 14 motor vehicles in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Tatyana Kim tops Forbes ranking of Russia’s richest women for fifth time

Her net worth is estimated at $5 bln

UN says attacks on civilians unacceptable after Ukraine strikes bus in LPR

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres remains deeply concerned about the ongoing escalation of the conflict, spokesman Stephane Dujarric added

What is known about detention of eleven terrorist suspects in Russia’s North Caucasus

The arrests took place at the detainees' places of residence

Press review: SDF plans dissolution in Syria as Bangladesh invited to join Mecca pact

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, August 27th

Reality sets in for Ukraine’s former defense chief, Russian envoy says

Kirill Dmitriev also noted that "the blame game for failures" begins in Ukraine

UN needs to rebuild trust with major donors — Grossi

The IAEA director general also noted that the UN could not effectively perform its functions without contributions from the US

Russia’s coal output falls by 1.8% in January - July to 249 million tons — Rosstat

Production of all types of hard coal decreased by 2.3% to 192 million tons

Ukrainian terrorist elements to spread around world after Russia’s win in special op

Denis Pushilin added that the sea routes, which are a priority in the area of cargo transportation, must be protected because the risk of terrorist threats will persist for decades to come

SPIEF to be held for 30th time on June 16-19, 2027

According to Executive Secretary of the SPIEF Organizing Committee Anton Kobyakov, the forum is "a force that unites the global community on the basis of trust and a commitment to development"

Grossi says relations with Russia would be serious if elected UN secretary-general

The IAEA director general said he had developed a very good working relationship with Russia

Russia’s Battlegroup North artillery eliminates over 80 Ukrainian personnel overnight

The Russian artillery crews carried out more than 450 fire missions in the Kharkov and Sumy Regions

Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo could become worst in history — media

According to the newspaper, much of the population in eastern DR Congo was not following the necessary precautions against the virus

Ukrainian forces shell DPR populated areas 17 times over past day

11 civilians, including two children, were injured

Armenia’s expulsion from CSTO up to supreme commanders — secretary general

Taalatbek Masadykov added that all circumstances and factors should be taken into account

Kremlin mum on next round of talks between Russian, Ukrainian delegations — spokesman

Dmitry Peskov noted that Moscow continued to maintain working-level contacts with Washington on Ukraine

Russia adds over 100 mln carats to diamond reserves since start of year

Head of Rosnedra Oleg Kazanov noted that reserve additions are driven not only by new deposits but by additional geological exploration and the reassessment of existing deposits