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Roscosmos to keep plans of seat swap flights with NASA

Earlier, the Roscosmos chief said that the US should not ruin space cooperation with Russia as this might lead to the premature curtailing of joint work on the ISS and other dramatic consequences

MOSCOW, April 11. /TASS/. Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos keeps to its plans of work on the International Space Station (ISS) at least until 2024, including preparations for seat swap flights with the United States, Roscosmos Chief Dmitry Rogozin said on Monday.

"We will work as normal at least until 2024 on all our plans. They have not changed. Seat swap flights add confidence to the station’s safety: we understand the technology of running a US spaceship and the Americans know the technology of running our spacecraft," the Roscosmos chief said in an interview with the Rossiyskaya Gazeta daily.

This area of cooperation is useful, the Roscosmos chief emphasized.

"Why give up something that is useful? Anna Kikina [Russian woman cosmonaut] flew to Houston (USA) to familiarize herself with the design of the modules of the ISS American segment and the Crew Dragon spacecraft whose crew she may join. On our part, we are not ruining anything and keep to preliminary accords, although we continue waiting for the government’s decision on the program of cross flights," Rogozin explained.

Last year, the Roscosmos chief told reporters that cosmonaut Kikina might be the first to fly aboard a US Crew Dragon spacecraft under the program of seat swap flights in 2022. For her part, Kikina said that she was pleasantly surprised by this decision. Rogozin specified in an interview with The New York Times that Roscosmos planned to conduct a seat swap flight a year jointly with NASA in 2022-2024.

The Roscosmos chief said earlier this year that the United States should not ruin space cooperation with Russia as this might lead to the premature curtailing of joint work on the ISS and other dramatic consequences.

First-ever baby conceived using technology that matures eggs outside body born in Peru

The US company Gameto said that the technology allows for minimal hormonal intervention in a woman’s body during the in-vitro fertilization procedure, reducing side effects

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

Ukrainian unit of machine-gunners disguised as Russian soldiers shoots civilians — captive

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Social facilities, homes damaged by Ukrainian missile attack on Rylsk — acting governor

"The buildings of the House of Culture, physical fitness center, teachers’ training college, school, firefighting depot and private households were damaged," Alexander Khinshtein said

‘Arkhangelsk, ’ ‘Knyaz Pozharsky’ nuclear submarines to join Russian Navy soon — commander

Admiral Alexander Moiseyev noted that the construction of nuclear submarines is Sevmash’s main purpose, which is performs successfully

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 to halt Russian gas transit on January 1, 2025 — Ukrainian PM

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Russia has confidence in its weapons, senior diplomat says

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov also stressed that the recent developments had shown that the US policy of establishing a system of increasingly layered missile defenses was wrong

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

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"Robert Fico will travel to visit Putin as a European countries leader," Aleksandar Vucic said

UK unwilling to send military instructors to Ukraine for fear of Russian attacks — media

According to a source, "Russians would target any kind of Western assistance inside Ukraine"

Bank of Russia keeping close eye on prevention of excessive cooling of economy

The regulator said earlier following its board meeting that the cooling of credit activity has already encompassed all segments of the credit market

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The Russian leader also agreed with Sergey Mironov, head of the "A Just Russia - For Truth" faction in the Duma, who said that "the birth rate is insufficient, because the matter concerns extinction"

Russian forces create bridgehead near Kupyansk-Uzlovoy in Kharkov Region — expert

Ukrainian forces have been shifting significant reserves to this settlement, including fresh recruits with little to no training, to retain Kupyansk

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

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The US company Gameto said that the technology allows for minimal hormonal intervention in a woman’s body during the in-vitro fertilization procedure, reducing side effects

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

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The ministry clarified that Ukraine launched a missile strike against the Kamensky Integrated Plant in the Rostov Region using six US-made ATACMS missiles and four Storm Shadow cruise missiles

Airborne troops from Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr wipe out enemy position in Kherson region

A Russian airborne crew hit the target by firing a 120-mm mortar gun on a Ukrainian temporary position

Ukraine files charges in absentia against Russian army deputy general staff chief

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Russia’s Battlegroup South liberates settlement of Ostrovskogo in DPR — Defense Ministry

"The enemy lost up to 285 troops, two armored combat vehicles, two motor vehicles, a D-30 122 mm howitzer, a US-made M119 105 mm howitzers and five field ammunition depots," the ministry added

Russia to raise issue of Ukrainian strikes on Rylsk at UNSC meeting on Friday — diplomat

Acting Kursk Region Governor Alexander Khinshtein said earlier that the town of Rylsk, located some 120 kilometers west of Kursk, had come under Ukrainian fire

Artyom military plant reportedly on fire after explosions in Kiev

The Artyom plant is known for producing air-to-air missiles, as well as equipment for aircraft

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Andrey Marochko noted that Russian forces had "slightly advanced" in the northern and southern parts of Chasov Yar

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The Foreign Ministry noted that the facts of discrimination and persecution of Russians are often ignored by the official leadership of countries and international human rights agencies, leading many victims to remain silent

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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

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According to the law enforcement agencies, a total of 205 people suffered injuries, with 41 being in critical condition

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

The range of the Oreshnik system is up to 5,500 kilometers

Putin declares 2025 year of defender of Fatherland

The Russian president made the announcement at a meeting of the State Council

Press review: Putin outlines Russia's future goals and Tehran faces energy blackout riots

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, December 20th

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Vasily Nebenzya warned as he denounced the attack as yet another unambiguous step by the Kiev regime toward escalation

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

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According to Russia's Defence Ministry, attempts to conduct attacks against facilities on Russian soil were thwarted

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"

Acting Kursk region governor revises death toll in Rylsk attack down to five

The number of those injured in the missile attack was revised up to 12 from 10

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Yemen’s Houthis announce hypersonic missile strike at military facility near Tel Aviv

Israel’s Ynet media outlet reports that at least 30 people suffered injuries after a missile fired from Yemen fell in central Israel

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

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Germany is scheduled to hold a parliamentary election on February 23, 2025

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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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Eight motor vehicles and two electronic warfare stations were also destroyed? the ministy added

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IN BRIEF: Magdeburg Christmas market attack kills 11, injuring roughly 80 others

TASS has compiled the key facts behind the deadly attack

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Putin grants Russian citizenship to Italian opera icon Giancarlo del Monaco

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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

Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine ready to join Russian Navy — Sevmash Shipyard CEO

Project 885M nuclear-powered submarines carry Oniks and Kalibr-PL cruise missiles as their basic strike weapons

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Anatoly Viktorov expressed his wholehearted support to the family of Yelena Trufanova whose son Alexander is still being held hostage in the Palestinian enclave

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

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Assad allegedly hands list of military targets over to Israel before leaving Syria — media

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Heat supply cut off in almost 90 houses in Rylsk in wake of Ukrainian attack — official

According to Alexander Khinshtein, repair teams are working at the site

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TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

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

Ukrainian shelling of Russia’s Rylsk damages 12 buildings — governor

Three of them are not subject to restoration, Alexander Khinshtein said

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The inauguration of the president-elect is scheduled for January 20, 2025

Russia to retaliate against Ukrainian strikes, just as Putin said — Kremlin

"Russia’s position is well known, it was voiced by Putin back in St. Petersburg," Dmitry Peskov stressed

Ukrainian attack on Kursk Region town kills 6, injures 10 — official

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Series of explosions rock central Kiev — eyewitnesses

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Ship with Syrian-Egyptian crew sends distress call in Kerch Strait

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"The sufficiency of information about the crime and Kurbonov’s involvement is confirmed by testimony from the affected persons and eyewitnesses, crime scene examination, study of material evidence and documents, and other evidence as a whole," according to case files

Putin challenges West to try to intercept Oreshnik missile in Kiev

"Let them choose a target, say, in Kiev, and amass their air and missile defense systems there, while we will launch an Oreshnik missile at the target," the Russian leader said

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

What is known about Russia’s retaliatory strike on Ukraine after attack on Rostov Region

Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko reported the fires in Solomensky and Shevchenkovsky districts

FACTBOX: Ukraine shells Kursk Region's Rylsk

All emergency response services are working at the site of the strike

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Regional authorities confirm deaths of five people in Magdeburg Christmas market attack

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Maximal costs of Nord Stream pipeline repair to be 633 mln euro

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US defense companies capitalize the most on Ukraine conflict — Russia’s UN envoy

Vasily Nebenzya referred to data from the SIPRI which put last year’s revenues from sales of arms by the world’s top 100 largest businesses in the industry at $632 billion

US grants 3-month exemption from sanctions on Gazprombank for Hungary — Orban

Hungary will now be in a relatively safe position for several months, the prime minister said

Russia calls Israel’s annexation of Golan Heights unacceptable — MFA

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West should consider Putin's words on Oreshnik missile duel — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized that the rhetoric about "inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia" is firmly rooted in the mentality of the NATO regimes not at all as hypothetical assumptions

Russia recognizes Ukrainian businessman Akhmetov as extremist

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