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‘Victory Rocket’ carrying Progress cargo craft to ISS slated for launch Saturday

The cargo spacecraft will deliver 420 kilograms of water, 46 kg of oxygen, 650 kg of fuel and 1,350 kg of dry cargo

Soyuz rocket Marina Lystseva/TASS, archive

Soyuz rocket

© Marina Lystseva/TASS, archive

MOSCOW, April 25. /TASS/ A Soyuz rocket, dubbed the "Victory rocket" will start from the Baikonur cosmodrome launch par 31 on 4:51 AM Moscow Time Saturday, carrying a Progress MS-14 cargo spacecraft. This will become the first cargo spacecraft launch to the International Space Station in 2020.

The launch will be attended by the Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos) head Dmitry Rogozin.

The rocked, timed for the 75th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War, will bear special insignia: the Anniversary logo, the Ribbon of Saint George and War medals. The spacecraft will deliver the Anniversary paraphernalia to the ISS, as well as data on the War fighters within the "Immortal Regiment on the ISS" project.

The cargo spacecraft will deliver 420 kilograms of water, 46 kg of oxygen, 650 kg of fuel and 1,350 kg of dry cargo. Last week, Roscosmos tweeted a photo of the goods prepared for launch: oranges, grapefruits and sausages.

The previous cargo launch happened on December 6, 2019. That time, the flight took three days: the Progress reached the ISS in two days, but idled for another day to provide NASA with a reserve day to dock the Dragon spacecraft.

Kursk NPP operates as usual — plant’s deputy director

Vadim Yeletskikh said Reactor No. 3 of the nuclear plant is "in operation at capacity" and said Reactor No. 4 went under routine maintenance

Moscow to host 6th International Municipal BRICS Forum

Delegations from 126 countries are expected to take part in the forum along with representatives of Russian regions

Export of education is Russia's soft power, says Synergy Corporation President Vadim Lobov

Government officials should steer clear of messenger apps for official purposes — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov added that the Russian Presidential Administration abides by this policy

Russian forces gain control of commanding height in Sudzha district

Russian servicemen have already repelled six attacks by the enemy, who tried to attack in small groups

Ukraine’s commander-in-chief says attack on Kursk failed to distract Russian forces

A few hours earlier, Verkhovna Rada member Aleksey Goncharenko (blacklisted as a terrorist and extremist in Russia) said that the situation for the Ukrainian army near Krasnoarmeisk was close to disaster

National projects and wage growth — Vladimir Putin holds meeting on economic issues

Wages in Russia in real terms for January-May 2024 increased by 10.1%

NPP under tight security: Russia repels attacks in Kursk Region

The operational situation is under control, the plant's press service reported, citing Deputy Director for Personnel Management Vadim Yeletskikh

Russia in touch with China over idea of no-first-use agreement — MFA

Sergey Ryabkov recalled that the "Chinese colleagues first put forward a proposal for concluding such an agreement back in 1994"

FSB launches investigations into two more reporters for illegally crossing Russian border

The article carries a penalty of up to five years in prison

Durov’s bodyguard, assistant released after interrogation — AFP

No other details are given

Zelensky announces Ukraine will halt gas transit agreement with Russia's Gazprom

That said, after the contract expires Ukraine will make a decision about the transit of Russian gas through its territory to Europe jointly with the EU, the president noted

Six planets, Moon to be seen aligned on Wednesday morning

All the planets, except Venus, will be seen on the dome of the sky at the same time

Durov’s detention is 'hallmark of dictatorship,' Tucker Carlson says

According to the journalist, US President Joe Biden encouraged leader of France Emmanuel Macron to arrest the owner of Telegram

De Gaulle condemns France's refusal to invite Russia to Paris liberation anniversary

Pierre de Gaulle pointed out that Russia paid a very heavy price to defeat the Nazis

Rada lawmaker says Ukrainian troops in 'catastrophic' situation near DPR's Krasnoarmeysk

According to Alexey Goncharenko, after Pokrovsk, the road to the Dnieper area will be wide open

Belarus says it wasn’t asked by Ukrainian MFA to pull back troops from border

Perhaps, Anatoly Glaz suggested, "there is some kind of a cunning game here, designed for domestic consumption or to get applause from the West"

Pentagon recognizes advancement of Russian forces in Krasnoarmeisk direction

Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder said the U.S. to continue to communicate, consult with the Ukrainians to better understand their needs

FACTBOX: Fire breaks out at Omsk Refinery

According to the latest figures, seven people were hospitalized

Telegram popularity growing in United States, France after Durov’s detention

The messenger climbs to the top position in the Social Media category in France by downloads from App Store

Response for US involvement in Ukrainian attack on Kursk Region to be harsher — MFA

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov emphasized that "practical consequences of what is not an accusation but an obvious fact are observed"

Ukrainian forces trying to break through into Russia’s Belgorod Region — authorities

According to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, Russian servicemen are carrying out routine work

Senior Russian diplomat clarifies Russia’s position on Ukraine to Indian ambassador

"The head of the Indian diplomatic mission was once again informed about Russia’s principled position on the conflict in Ukraine," the Russian Foreign Ministry noted

Pentagon mum on pieces of advice given to Kiev on Kursk Region

Press secretary of the Pentagon Patrick Ryder said, that "it's really up to Ukraine in terms of talking about their operations"

Russian lawmaker urges US to tread carefully with long-range missile supplies to Kiev

Mikhail Sheremet emphasized that the US currently had not only a lot of weak-willed satellites but also numerous enemies eager to shatter the myth of the safe "star-spangled utopia"

Ukrainian servicemen sent to Kursk Region without training, consent — POW

Asked whether there were many mobilized soldiers who were brought to the Kursk Region without any training, the prisoner nodded: "Of course there were many of them"

Unrecovered bodies of European mercenaries litter Kursk fields — Russian MP

According to Viktor Vodolatsky, the West needed the Ukrainian incursion into the borderline Russian region of Kursk to test how well Russia’s border is protected

Russian commander reports presence of active NATO soldiers in Kursk area

Apty Alaudinov specified that he referred to active NATO servicemen

Russia's nuclear doctrine is now being specified — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister recalled the position of the American side which thinks that Europe will be the first to suffer, should a new world war break out

France detains Durov on someone's advice trying to gain access to codes — Lavrov

The top Russian dimplomat recalled that in the past, when Russian authorities had legal issues with Telegram, "no attempts to restrict the freedom of Pavel Durov or his team took place"

IN BRIEF: What we know about massive attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure

The strikes also hit storage sites of Ukraine’s West-provided air-launched weapons at airfields in the Kiev and Dnepropetrovsk regions

US mercenary tells about chaos in Ukrainian army in Kursk Region

The American spoke on condition of unanimity but ABC said it had identified him

Russia to retaliate Ukraine’s hostile actions in Kursk Region — Kremlin

The Ukrainian armed forces attacked Russia’s Kursk Region on August 6

Presidential aide raises alarm over West's increased naval activity near Russian borders

Nikolay Patrushev noted that the West has unleashed a campaign "to discredit Russia’s maritime activity, especially at high latitudes," while the environmental agenda is being used as an instrument of pressure to promote its own interests

US firms, companies controlled by Moldovan president transport biomaterials from Ukraine

The Russian general also named those who work for Ukrainian and US companies and are directly involved in the export of biomaterials

Russian army good in winter fighting — Trump

Ex-US President and Republican Party nominee for the presidential election Donald Trump said that Russia is not easy to beat, and they're a massive military

Biden seeks to put Telegram under US thumb ahead of presidential election — speaker

According to Vyacheslav Volodin, the US uses online surveillance, total censorship and social media manipulation as a strategic means of political control and external influence

Lavrov slams as blackmail Kiev's demands for letting it use Storm Shadow against Russia

The Russian top diplomat warned that the West was playing with fire whenever it started discussions on this topic

PREVIEW: Russian presidential aide to hold first Maritime Board meeting

It will be held by Russian presidential aide Nikolay Patrushev

Russia open to dialogue with all partners in Asia-Pacific region — Putin in EEF greetings

The 9th Eastern Economic Forum will be held on September 3-6, 2024 in Vladivostok

Durov detained in France over his refusal to 'censor truth,' Tucker Carlson believes

"Darkness is descending fast on the formerly free world," the journalist said

Child dies in Ukrainian UAV attack on civilian car in Zaporozhye

Governor Yevgeny Balitsky stressed that the enemy knew exactly what it was doing, hitting the civilians on purpose

Germany dismisses Polish, Czech claims about Nord Streams being 'legitimate target'

"The chancellor stated this explicitly during his talks with the Polish and Czech sides, as well as with many other international partners," Spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit went on to say

Musk urges Macron to give more details about Durov's arrest

The Telegram founder was detained at Le Bourget airport in Paris on August 24, and the next day his detention was extended to 96 hours

Ukrainian troops attack 27 residential areas in Russia’s Belgorod Region in 24 hours

Six civilians sustained injuries in the shelling of the town of Shebekino

Russian troops approach key Ukrainian hub in Krasnoarmeysk area — security forces

The source added that the Ukrainian military is trying to transfer reserves to this section of the front

US supplies equipment for energy grid repair to Ukraine — Biden

According to him, United States provided Ukraine with the equipment for five additional strategic air defense systems

Press review: Russia hits Ukrainian infrastructure and Dems look to ride Harris momentum

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

POW says Ukrainian troops pillage homes in Kursk Region

He testified that commanding officers had not told the soldiers that they were being sent to the Kursk Region

F-16s may have been hit in Russian strike on hangar in Ivano-Frankovsk — resistance

According to the report, fuel tanks were also hit in the strike

Russian strike at Ukrainian energy revealed absence of complex air defense — expert

Oleg Soskin noted that the Ukrainian air force commander, who is also responsible to air defenses, was "completely unprepared" for this strike

Durov’s arrest in France expires on August 28 — prosecutor’s office

"The custody period was extended until the 25th August 2024 by an investigative magistrate and can last up to 96 hours," the statement reads

Moscow-Paris relations hit new low amid French stance on freedom of speech

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also mentioned "freedom to disseminate information"

White House confirms confidential discussions of strike plans with Kiev

National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said, that U.S. re going to keep them private

Journalist Hersh says US won’t achieve Russia’s defeat in Ukraine

Earlier, Hersh wrote about the "paradox" of the current US administration's foreign policy, which is funneling money to Kiev, even though Ukraine is obviously not going to prevail, while at the same time refusing to engage in talks that could end the conflict

Strategic significance of Ukraine’s attack on Kursk Region minimal, US expert says

"Instead, President Putin remained stoic and steadfast. He moved reserves from other locations while doubling the intensity of his attacks in Donbass," Richard Black said

Finland fines three Frenchmen for crossing into Russia

All three pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 30-40 day fines each (one day's income of the offender)

Collective West aims at destabilizing political situation in Russian regions, says Shoigu

"This is how our enemies are trying to destabilize the society and the political situation across the Russian regions," he stated

IN BRIEF: What we know about charges faced by Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov

Pavel Durov remains in custody and is being investigated by the French national cybercrime unit and the national fraud office, according to the report

Indian PM Modi tells Putin about his readiness to help with Ukrainian conflict settlement

The telephone conversation between the leaders of Russia and India came shortly after Modi paid an official visit to Kiev on August 23

Additional missile/artillery armament arrives for Russian troops in Kursk area

The Russian Defense Ministry has received no new requests from the operational headquarters of the borderline Belgorod and Bryansk Regions, the report added

Russian paratroopers destroy two Ukrainian boats at Kinburn spit

The adversary managed to clear a small coastal area from mines by exploding a controlled combat cutter

Russia delivers massive strike at key energy sites of Ukrainian military-industrial sector

"All the designated targets were destroyed," Russia’s Defense Ministry reported

Ukraine’s military suffers heavy casualties in Kursk area over past day — commander

"The frontline has not undergone any significant changes and yesterday our adjacent units liberated and mopped up two communities," Major General Apty Alaudinov said

Russian troops successfully test Chistyulya counter-drone system in Ukraine operation

The Chistyulya counter-drone system fully suppresses control and navigation channels of enemy UAVs within a range of up to 1 km and also denies the transmission of photo and video images from a drone

Many countries may skip another conference on Ukraine if Russia is absent — Zelensky

A conference on Ukraine was held in Burgenstock, Switzerland on June 15 and 16 at Ukraine’s initiative

West is losing right to free speech — US journalist

American author and journalist Matt Taibbi said that this is an incredibly serious moment in U.S. and European history

Ukrainian troops failed to achieve its goals in Kursk Region, unable to advance — envoy

Andrey Kelin named the capture of the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant or of a "substantial swath of land" west of Ukraine

Frontline expansion on Kursk direction to turn against Kiev — retired SVR colonel

Andrey Bezrukov noted that the situation on the Kursk frontline has consolidated the society and Kiev was unable to create panic

Kursk NPP operating in 'very close to normal' mode — Grossi

Earlier, the IAEA chief called the risk of damage to the plant due to the Ukrainian actions very serious

Decision to detain Durov not political, says Macron

The French leader said that he sees "false information regarding France following the arrest of Pavel Durov"

Russia will not "swallow the bait" of Zelensky formula summits — Lavrov

"The West is dissuading Ukraine from holding normal negotiations - human and based on generally accepted principles," the Russian foreign minister stressed

Kiev wants to show plan for ending conflict to Biden, Harris, Trump in fall

Vladimir Zelensky earlier said he did not want the conflict to drag on, so he would come up with a plan by the end of the year to end it

Russian defense ministry calls on Pentagon, British navy command to be guided by reason

On Wednesday, the Black Sea Fleet and the FSB border guard service thwarted a violation of the Russian border by HMS Defender off Crimea’s Cape Fiolent

Russia doesn’t believe Kiev planned attack on Kursk Region on its own — intelligence chief

Ukrainian forces started a major attack on the Kursk Region on August 6

China concerned of West to soften conditions for strikes by its weapons against Russia

All the sides are concerned of the West to continue soften conditions making it possible for Ukraine to strike the Russian territory, special envoy of the Chinese government Li Hui said

Russia offers safe haven for people trying to escape Western liberal ideals

Under the document, such foreign nationals will have the right to apply for temporary residence in Russia "outside the quota approved by the Russian government and without providing documents confirming their knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and basic laws"

Russia delivers overnight precision strike at Ukrainian military airfields

Russia’s Battlegroup Center liberated the community of Orlovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the past day

Belarusian president slams proposals to turn away from Russia, side with Ukraine

Alexander Lukashenko said he would like the Belarusian people to understand the situation they lived in

US plotting color revolution in Georgia — Russian Foreign Intelligence Service

The SVR press bureau emphasized that in preparation for the color revolution, "Georgian pro-Western non-governmental organizations are recruiting a large number of people to closely monitor the voting process"

Russian aviation authority issues first certificate for fixed-wing type drone

The drone is able to move cargo with the weight up to 20 kg and the maximal flight range is up to 300 km

Beating back the enemy: situation in Kursk Region

The Russian military has repelled attacks by Ukrainian assault groups near Kremyanoye, Malaya Loknya and Nechaev

Certain military-industrial groups manipulate conflict in Ukraine — China’s envoy

All the parties believe that the crisis is lasting and not ending not merely because of actions of Russia and Ukrainet, special envoy of the Chinese government Li Hui said

Belarus goes through hard times, needs to face towards East, says Lukashenko

"There has never been such complexity around Belarus as there is now," the Belarusian leader stressed

Russian consulate in Istanbul confirms deaths of Russian seamen onboard Russian ship

Russian diplomats are "in contact with the relevant authorities, the agent company and the captain of the ship to coordinate steps to prepare the necessary documents and repatriate the bodies of the victims to the Russian Federation"

Ukraine’s Zelensky admits heavy damage to energy infrastructure

It is noted that repair crews will be working around the clock

UAE keeping an eye on Durov case

The UAE also sent a request to the French government for urgent provision of all the consular services to him

Poland hands over 1,000 tanks, APCs, planes, artillery pieces to Ukraine — Duda

The Polish leader estimated the total aid to Ukraine at about $25.9 billion, of which about $3.1 billion was spent on supplies of military equipment

Press review: Telegram in flux as CEO arrested and US supports Ukraine's chemical warfare

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

Russia requests UNSC meeting on Western weapons supplies to Kiev on August 30

According to the Russian defense ministry, Kiev’s overall losses in the Kursk Region amount to more than 6,200 troops and 73 tanks

Hamas leader disguises himself in women's clothing to avoid capture by Israel — media

The Israeli army believes that Yahya Sinwar’s arrest or killing would mean the collapse of Hamas’ leadership hierarchy and its subsequent dissolution

Russian forces eliminate over 11,000 Ukrainian troops, mercenaries at LPR borders in week

"Twenty-nine Ukrainian servicemen surrendered at the engagement line," expert Andrey Marochko said

Kremlin questions status of Reuters employee killed in Kramatorsk

According to information released today by Reuters, Evans, 38, is a former UK military officer who has worked for the agency since 2022, advising on the safety of journalists around the world, including in Ukraine, Israel and the recent Paris Olympics

IAEA chief arrives in Russia’s Kurchatov to inspect Kursk nuclear power plant

The International Atomic Energy Agency has said that military activity near the plant poses a serious risk to its nuclear and physical safety

French politician slams charges against Durov as insane

According to Florian Phillipot, this is "a war on freedom of expression in general"

Nearly 200,000 rounds fired by Ukrainian troops at DPR since February 2022

Ukrainian troops have used 43 Tochka-U missiles, 659 HIMARS projectiles, a ground-launched small-diameter bomb

Russia’s special operation upended perceptions of combat tactics, Medvedev says

According to the official, when the participants of the meeting start a new chapter of their lives and careers, it will also change them

Several thousand South Ossetian fighters take part in special op — president

Alan Gagloyev underscored that Ossetian fighters fulfill their allied duties with honor, bringing the joint Victory closer

Russian Armed Forces liberate two settlements in Kursk Region

Two infantry combat vehicles, two armored combat vehicles, and three motor vehicles were also destroyed today in total, Deputy Head of the Main Military Political Department of the Russian Armed Forces Apty Alaudinov said

Zelensky claims Ukraine has tested its first ballistic missile

The Ukrainian leader did not share details about the missile

Belarus President Lukashenko says has nothing against detention of Durov in France

According to Alexander Lukashenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier told him about details of his previous conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, when they discussed human rights situation both in Minsk and Paris, where protests staged by yellow vests were in full swing in France