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Crimea and Sevastopol

Putin accepts PM's proposal of disbanding Ministry of Crimean Affairs

The ministry has performed its task of integrating the republic into Russia

Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and President Vladimir Putin Dmitry Astakhov/TASS

Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and President Vladimir Putin

© Dmitry Astakhov/TASS

NOVO-OGARYOVO, July 15. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to the proposal of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev that the Ministry of Crimean Affairs should be dissolved.

At the meeting with Putin in the Novo-Ogaryovo presidential residence outside Moscow, Medvedev said the ministry has accomplished the task of integrating the republic into Russia.

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"I believe it is possible to consider that the Ministry of Crimean Affairs has performed its tasks," Medvedev said, adding that its dissolution is aimed at saving funds and rationalizing federal bodies of the executive branch.

The Ministry of Crimean Affairs was created in spring 2014 to ensure Crimea’s integration in the Russian legal and economic space. The ministry unveiled a federal target programme on the development of Crimea and Sevastopol up to 2020 that has become the basic document for the next five years.

Some 700 billion rubles ($12.4 billion) is due to be allocated for the programme.

The prime minister said the two other regional ministries - the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East and the Ministry of North Caucasus Affairs - should be preserved.

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One year on from Crimea’s reunification with Russia

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Crimea and Sevastopol Vladimir Putin Dmitry Medvedev

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

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ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Gallant for alleged crimes in Gaza Strip

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

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell confirmed that the US administration had lifted restrictions for US-supplied missiles to be used for strikes up to 300 kilometers inside Russia

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"

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Moscow won’t allow US to silence UNSC as Washington backs Israel — Russian UN envoy

According to Vasily Nebenzya, the Security Council should "bring peace, stability and prosperity to the Middle East"

Allowing Ukraine to strike deep inside Russia with US weapons irresponsible — Slovak PM

Robert Fico noted that authorizing the use of long-range weapons for strikes against Russia would not alter the balance of power in the conflict zone

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The likelihood of a direct armed conflict with NATO is increasing because some individuals in the alliance are ready to raise the stakes ahead of Trump’s inauguration, Andrey Bystritsky emphasized

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Ukrainian frontline may 'collapse' under onslaught of Russian forces — BBC

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All restrictions that Western countries impose affect themselves in the first place, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov added

Trump to continue using Ukraine to contain Russia — Valdai program director

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French Foreign Ministry refuses to disclose number of SCALP missiles shipped to Ukraine

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Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

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NATO enters conflict, Russia has every right to attack its targets now — expert

Col. (Ret.) Lawrence Wilkerson confirmed to TASS that the launch of ATACMS missiles would be impossible without "US/NATO satellite feeds and/or personnel"

At least 66 people killed in Gaza Strip by an Israeli strike — Al Jazeera

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UK police say no video evidence of Russians’ involvement in Salisbury case

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Putin orders protection of critical infrastructure, including Crimean Bridge — Kremlin

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US is now at war with Russia, Ritter says

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Media from unfriendly states will be admitted to Putin's annual press conference — Kremlin

The last Direct Line Q&A session and year-end press conference was held on December 14, 2023

Official declines to say if US gives Ukraine targeting data for Storm Shadow missiles

US State Department Spokesman Matthew Miller also declined to discuss the presumed first strike on Russia with the missiles

US sees no preconditions for Russia to use nuclear weapons — news agency

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Russian forces gain foothold in central Chasov Yar in DPR — expert

While Ukrainian commanders have been making every effort to stabilize the situation in Chasov Yar, Kiev does not have enough soldiers, weapons or military hardware for that, Andrey Marochko said

Moscow, Minsk in constant contact on potential threats to Belarus — Kremlin

"We have obligations to ensure the security of our ally Belarus within the framework of the Union State, and these obligations are enshrined in the recently published Basic Principles of the State Policy of the Russian Federation on Nuclear Deterrence," Dmitry Peskov pointed out

Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine makes defeat over its army impossible — SVR chief

According to the latest version of the document, the core principle is that nuclear weapons are a last resort to ensure the protection of the country’s sovereignty

Romanian presidential candidate vows to end military aid to Ukraine

It is pointed out that Simion’s popularity has propelled him to number two in the polls after Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu

Russian troops advance in areas north, south of Velikaya Novoselka in DPR — official

Earlier, Vladimir Rogov stated that a successful offensive by the Russian Armed Forces north of Velikaya Novoselka could allow them to encircle the settlement

Ukraine, not Russia, posing a threat to the Baltic region — Kremlin

Two underwater cables were damaged in the Baltic Sea on November 17 and 18

Iran claims to have disabled Israel’s Iron Dome air defense in past strikes

Major-General Gholamreza Soleimani stressed it was essential to inform the world that Israel had failed and now survives solely relying on support from the United States

Biden’s actions increase likelihood of escalation in Ukraine — PM

Viktor Orban asserted that the government’s mission is to prevent Hungary from being dragged into the Ukrainian conflict

Russia counts on West's responsibility in nuclear deterrence issues — Kremlin

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin decreed to update the country’s nuclear doctrine, the Basic Principles of the State Policy of the Russian Federation on Nuclear Deterrence

Canada neglects its sovereignty by approving transfer of land mines to Kiev — diplomat

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German defense minister says Ukraine reached parity in shells with Russia

Boris Pistorius noted that just a few months ago, Russia held an advantage in artillery shell stocks

China slams US nuclear policy for undermining global stability

The United States continues to modernize its nuclear triad, Lin Jian noted

Putin confirms Russia’s readiness to assist CAR with security challenges

"Both leaders exchanged views on regional issues, focusing on the fight against the terrorist threat and ensuring stability across the Central African Republic," the statement reads

Russian troops raise flag in central Kurakhovo in Donetsk region — politician

Russian army units have advanced much farther into the city’s northern part, in particular, along the southern bank of the Kurakhovo reservoir, Vladimir Rogov specified

Trump may soon start talks with Russia following Biden’s decision on ATACMS — news agency

According to Andreas Kluth, the decision on ATACMS may have been another attempt by the current Washington administration to provide Ukraine with support until the president-elect comes to power

Six European countries accuse Russia of allegedly attacking security architecture

"Moscow's escalating hybrid activities against NATO and EU countries are unprecedented in their variety and scale," the statement reads

Press review: US lets Kiev use anti-personnel mines and Iran may halt uranium enrichment

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, November 21st

Russian forces dislodge Ukrainian troops from half of positions in Kurakhovo in DPR

The Ukrainian military is attempting to move reserves to the city’s western outskirts as shown by data-recording equipment, the source said

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"