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

{{newsPoint.title}}

{{newsPoint.title+ ' '}}

{{newsPoint.subtitle}}

Too early to speak about Starliner seats for Russian cosmonauts — Roscosmos

"So far, not a single Starliner mission, carried out as part of its flight trials, proceeded without a hitch," the press service of Russia’s state-run space corporation Roscosmos has told

MOSCOW, July 2. /TASS/. It would be premature to discuss orbital flights of Russian cosmonauts aboard US-made Starliner spacecraft under the cross-flight program, the press service of Russia’s state-run space corporation Roscosmos has told TASS.

"So far, not a single Starliner mission, carried out as part of its flight trials, proceeded without a hitch. That is why it would be too early to speak about the possibility of Russian cosmonauts flying aboard it," the corporation said.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree on June 10 that allowed Roscosmos to hold talks with NASA on future seat swap flights to the International Space Station, providing an opportunity for Russian cosmonauts to fly aboard US spacecraft and vice versa.

The first flight of a Russian cosmonaut aboard a US spacecraft, namely Crew Dragon, may take place already on September 1. Roscosmos female cosmonaut Anna Kikina is undergoing training in the United States for such a flight. The final decision on her Crew Dragon flight is expected in coming weeks.

Russia, India agree to share emergency data from spacecraft

The parties discussed cooperation in space monitoring of emergencies, prevention and response to natural disasters and firefighting

Press review: IAEA chief pays visit to Kursk NPP and Kiev looks to get offensive

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, August 28th

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

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

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

US can’t intimidate Moscow by brandishing 'nuclear sledgehammer' — Russian intel chief

As Sergey Naryshkin pointed out, "the US wants to show off that very 'nuclear sledgehammer' that US President Harry Truman had sought to intimidate the Soviet Union with in 1945"

US ramps up opposition to Moscow’s efforts to promote Eurasian security — Russian MFA

According to Sergey Ryabkov, the trend toward multipolarity cannot be reversed

Ukrainian troops building defensive lines in some Kursk areas — Akhmat commander

Apty Alaudinov said earlier that Russian forces were thwarting the Ukrainian army’s breakthrough attempts

Ukrainian troops shoot three children in Kursk Region — army

According to Deputy battalion commander of the 9th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 11th Army Corps with the call sign Kadet, three children were shot while trying to evacuate on a motorcycle with a sidecar

Kalashnikov gunmaker ramps up production of components for air-launched rockets

The Izhevsk Mechanical Plant (part of the Kalashnikov Group) has improved the technological process of producing sets of mechanical parts for this type of weapons

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

Western policies toward escalating Ukraine crisis doomed to fail, Lavrov says

According to the Russian foreign minister, the West does everything "for selfish geopolitical purposes as it continues to pursue the policy of preserving its dominance and hegemony"

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

Emergency power cuts sweep through Kiev, nine Ukrainian regions

On August 27, the Ukrainian Energy Ministry said that blackout schedules were introduced across the country due to widespread damage

Ukrainian attack on Kursk Region did not make Russia move troops from main front — Forbes

The magazine emphasized that "the six or so Ukrainian brigades defending Pokrovsk (Krasnoarmeysk) are outnumbered around two-to-one" and "they may have no choice but to surrender" the city soon

Russia has alternative routes for supplying gas to European countries — Kremlin

According to Dmitry Peskov, "there are plans to create a hub in Turkey, this work is in progress"

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

Moscow court arrests two Colombian mercenaries for fighting against Russian troops

The Lefortovsky Court ruling satisfied the request of preliminary investigation bodies for arrest of Ante Alexander and Medin Arand Jose Aron, suspected of mercenarism until October 22

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

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

France could not have detained Durov without agreeing this with US — US journalist

French President Emmanuel Macron "could or would have done that without the encouragement or at least agreement of the Biden administration," Tucker Carlson said

Ukraine's attack on Kursk Region just postpones Kiev's inevitable surrender — expert

Tony Kevin noted that Kiev failed to "create a good news information narrative of Ukraine taking the ‘fight to the enemy,’ after constant depressing news of the Ukrainian steady retreat on the central Donbass front"

Russian forces cut off two key Ukrainian supply routes in Ugledar area

According to security officials, when moving along unpaved roads, enemy troops will now face minefields, which will complicate the situation for them

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"

Foreign mercenaries involved in attack on Kursk Region — Foreign Ministry spokeswoman

Maria Zakharova pointed out the shameless attempts of the Ukrainian propaganda to "forge fake materials about the allegedly harmless, careful" invaders

Russian forces press forward in Seversk area, eye Slavyansk — commander

It is also noted that the main goal in the area was to reach the town of Seversk

FACTBOX: Talks out of question: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, Ukraine lost more than 400 servicemen and 29 armored vehicles

China, US fail to make progress in discussing Ukraine crisis — security adviser

"So ultimately it’ll be up to Ukraine to decide how it wants to proceed with diplomacy and negotiations," Jake Sullivan said

China, US must cooperate, not counter each other — Xi Jinping

Being two major powers, China and the US must bear their responsibility before history, before their nations and the world, the Chinese leader said

Borrell wants more air defenses given to Kiev, restrictions on use of Western arms lifted

He accused Russia of retaliatory strikes on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure, which, he said, would "put Ukraine into the dark and cold"

Israeli policy of escalation to lead to dangerous consequences — Palestinian authorities

"The escalation in the West Bank, which is taking place in parallel with the war in Gaza, will have disastrous consequences that will affect everyone without exception," Nabil Abu Rudeineh said

Mexican embassy confirmed death of Mexican national in Ukraine

It was confirmed that Carlos Jesus Gonzalez Mendoza was not a soldier of the Mexican armed forces, the Mexican foreign ministry said

Lavrov says he takes EU discussions about weapons supplies to Kiev 'very seriously'

According to the top Russian diplomat, the same countries have now come together against Russia under the same Nazi banners

Russia steadily replaces imports in its drone industry — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov was responding to a question how China’s restrictions on the export of some drones and their components, which are scheduled to kick in on September 1, will affect the domestic drone industry

SS horrors in WWII Ukraine exposed: 110kg of gold looted from burned bodies — archives

The SS division raced to destroy the bodies of its victims amid the successful advances of the Red Army as Nazi German troops retreated in panic

Ukrainian army’s foreign mercenaries rape civilians in Kursk Region — Russian diplomat

According to Rodion Miroshnik, Ukrainian forces are essentially "a motley crew" that skirts international humanitarian law, allowing themselves "to shoot people in the back, take no prisoners and spare no one"

Ukrainian servicemen surrender: situation in Kursk Region

In total, Kiev has lost up to 7,000 personnel since fighting started in the region

Kremlin calls transfer of income from Russian assets to Kiev theft

Dmitry Peskov stressed that these actions "will definitely have legal consequences"

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

Lukashenko says he will never order troops to fight outside Belarus — BelTA

According to the report, the Belarusian president made the statement when speaking about the Ukrainian crisis

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

Russian military pushes Ukrainian troops out of LPR by forcing river near Stelmakhovka

The Russian Defense Ministry announced the liberation of Stelmakhovka on August 29

Ukrainian troops leaving positions in Krasnoarmeysk area without fight — lawmaker

Maryana Bezuglaya stressed that "the fragmentation of the front is increasing" and that the rotations taking place "lead to breaches and deaths"

Ukraine on brink of destruction thanks to Zelensky — opposition leader

According to Viktor Medvedchuk, when the Ukrainian armed forces attacked the Kursk Region, Zelensky "sealed the fate of the Ukrainian statehood once and for all," drastically reducing the possibility of peace talks and keeping the country alive, "even though with territorial losses, but without being divided or absorbed by other states"

BRICS NDB Board of Governors meeting begins in Cape Town

The meeting will be attended by delegates from all the four NDB member nations, namely Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Russia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates

Russia to succeed in special operation contrary to Kiev's 'victory plans' — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov stressed that Moscow is aware of the "essence" of the Kiev regime

Ukrainian general attended secret meeting with NATO commanders in Germany, Bild says

Featured at the event were the latest models of German military equipment, such as the 18-million-euro wheel-tracked Skyranger air-defense system that can shoot down drones from a distance of 3 kilometers

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

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

Durov’s attorney slams charges against his client as absurd

"Telegram complies in all respects with European rules concerning digital technology," said David-Olivier Kaminski

Pentagon declines to comment on Ukraine's first loss of F-16 fighter jet

The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a US official, that Kiev for the first time lost one of the US-made fighter jets that had been donated shortly before

Ukrainian troops unable to maintain defense near Dimitrov — law enforcement

According to the source, the Ukrainian battlegroup in this area has significantly decreased in recent weeks

4 Ukrainian drones, 3 unmanned boats destroyed near Sevastopol

The attack by Ukrainian troops was repelled "in the Black Sea at a considerable distance from the coast"

Russian researcher sees little potential for Ukraine to build mid-range ballistic missile

Earlier, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky asserted that Kiev had allegedly tested "the first Ukrainian ballistic missile"

Houthis confirm that Sounion tanker can be towed

"After several international organizations, especially European ones, contacted us, they were allowed to tow the burning Sounion oil tanker," Ansar Allah spokesman Muhammad Abdel Salam said

Netherlands bans Ukraine from attacking Russian civilian targets with F-16 jets

At the same time, Ukraine has the right to attack military targets in Russia, according to the Netherlands

Paratroopers disrupt rotation of Ukrainian forces with Kornet anti-tank missile system

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, six Ukrainian servicemen were killed

Telegram founder Durov under investigation in Switzerland for child abuse — media

According to Forbes, the court in Geneva initially declined to hear the criminal suit because more than three months had passed since the alleged violence by Durov

French foreign ministry was against granting French citizenship to Durov — newspaper

Thus, according to the newspaper, diplomats who considered Durov’s application filed with the French consulate in Dubai doubted that he would promote "a better image of France", Le Monde said

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"

2024 Summer Paralympic Games in Paris declared open

The opening ceremony was held in the heart of the French capital of Paris on Wednesday night

Russian forces increase pressure on Ukrainian army positions near Kupyansk, says expert

"The assault operations by our troops have become regular and their number has increased to more than 20 times a day," the military expert said

Kiev would consider Russia’s peace proposals if it was committed to ending conflict — MFA

"Recent events have once again underscored the true Nazi nature of the current authorities in Kiev, as well as those who back them," Maria Zakharova said

Russia permanently bans entry to 92 US nationals including reporters — MFA

The ban applies to some reporters from the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and the New York Times, according to the statement

Durov leaves court after facing charges

Journalists waiting outside the court building failed to reach him for comments

Attack on Kursk Region leads to tension in CSTO zone of responsibility — defense official

According to Andrey Serdyukov, the CSTO is seen by Western countries as a springboard for the purposeful projection of conflict potential against Russia and its allies

Akhmat commandos liquidate several Polish, German mercenaries in Kursk Region

Russian FPV-drones hit one US-made Stryker and two Hummer vehicles

US official confirms first loss of F-16 in Ukraine — WSJ

Initial reports indicate that the jet wasn’t shot down, but likely crashed due to pilot error, the official said

IN BRIEF: What is known about case against Telegram founder Pavel Durov

According to the Paris prosecutor's office, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 500,000 euros

Moscow demands cessation of airstrikes on Syria — Russia's UN mission

Dmitry Polyansky noted that the key to peace in Syria could be "the West's abandonment of its hard-headed anti-Damascus attitudes and the establishment of normal, equal and mutually respectful relations with the Syrian Arab Republic"

Beijing demands Washington halt 'military collusion' with Taiwan's army

Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia emphasized that Beijing has always strived to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, two things which are not compatible with the island’s separation from the rest of the country

Russian forces liberate Kamyshevka community in Donbass region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr inflicted roughly 50 casualties on Ukrainian troops in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Russian diplomat blames West for sponsoring terrorism

According to Maria Zakharova, Kiev’s Western handlers "obsessively keep pushing their Kiev puppets to continue the Ukrainian army’s insane and suicidal escapade in the Kursk Region"

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

Kiev says range of its new ballistic missile is 600-700 kilometers

However, expert Vasily Lata doubts Ukraine’s ability to develop a ground-based medium-or shorter-range ballistic missile

Ukraine’s commander-in-chief says situation near Pokrovsk most difficult

Today, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said he had held a meeting with Syrsky and General Staff Chief Anatoly Bargilevich to discuss the situation on the frontline, with special attention paid to Krasnoarmeysk and Dzerzhinsk (Ukrainian name - Toretsk)

Foreign tourists made 4 mln trips to Russia in the first half of the year — Rosstat

Tourists from non-CIS countries made 1.6 mln trips to Russia in the first half of the year

Russian diplomat slams Kiev for demanding withdrawal of Belarusian troops from border

Maria Zakharova stressed that Minsk had drawn "the right conclusions from Ukrainian Banderites’ attack on Russia’s Kursk Region"

After attack on Kursk Region no negotiations with Kiev possible — MFA

Maria Zakharova emphasized that "this lawlessness is taking place with the full connivance of the West and its encouragement of terrorist activities by the Kiev regime"

Russian troops liberate two communities in Donbass region over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted roughly 530 casualties on Ukrainian troops in its area of responsibility over the past day, the ministry reported

Ukraine’s military short of troops for battles near Kremennaya in LPR, says expert

The Ukrainian military has been forced to reduce the number of troop rotations due to growing casualties

Telegram’s office in Dubai closed

Telegram FZ LLC is registered in Business Central Towers situated in the Dubai Internet City

Russian forces wipe out Ukrainian troops north of Rabotino in Zaporozhye Region

"The target’s coordinates came from artillery reconnaissance and drones," a crew commander of the Battlegroup Dnepr with a call name Astra said

Russia deeply concerned about US course of increasing risks of conflict — diplomat

Commenting on recent statements by US presidential candidate Donald Trump on the need to prevent World War III, Sergey Ryabkov recalled that "despite Donald Trump's statements on this issue, it is the US that in recent years, including [during] Donald Trump's presidency, has been doing a lot to undermine the foundations of the decades-old system of international security"

Washington used Telegram against unwanted regimes — former official

According to Mike Benz, thanks to Telegram, Washington could fund "political groups or political dissidents, get tens of thousands of people to their cause with relative impunity"

French leaders afraid of political consequences of ‘Durov case’ — newspaper

Durov’s detention has stirred up a "shockwave" across the globe, Le Figaro reported

Telegram founder Pavel Durov shows up in court — news agency

The Paris prosecutor’s office suspects him of complicity in drug trafficking, fraud crimes against children committed through Telegram

Hungarian foreign minister opposes any Ukrainian long-range strikes on Russia

Peter Szijjarto urged an end to the "insanity" and called against new supplies of weapons to Ukraine

Press review: Kiev sends SOS to NATO and legacy of USSR's first atom bomb test

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, August 29th

Ukrainian troops leave some positions near Krasnoarmeisk in DPR

Several dozen Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in that frontline area over the past 24 hours, the defense circles said

Numerous explosions heard in Kiev, witnesses say

Explosions reportedly occurred in the outskirts of the capital

US about to give Kiev free hand to use Western weapons for strikes on Russia — MFA

"The impression is that the US establishment has generally abandoned common sense forever," Maria Zakharova stated

US never wished to see Ukraine in NATO — Ukrainian MP

Sergey Rakhmanin recalled that Washington's representatives repeatedly told Kiev back in the 1990s that Ukraine’s admission to the alliance was not on the agenda

New electronic warfare systems aboard F-16s won’t help Kiev repel Russian strikes — report

According to the news website, the 68th Electronic Warfare Squadron was tasked with reprogramming the electronic warfare system aboard F-16s

Russian commander reports presence of active NATO soldiers in Kursk area

Apty Alaudinov specified that he referred to active NATO servicemen

One killed, two more injured in Ukrainian attack on Shebekino in Russia’s Belgorod Region

A man and a woman have been hospitalized with shrapnel wounds, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said

Kiev doesn’t expect new military aid packages from current US administration — lawmaker

Yegor Chernyov said Ukraine would count on new aid in 2025

Russia was ready for talks with Ukraine before reckless move in Kursk Region, Lavrov says

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

Taliban logistics chief: Afghanistan needs Russian air defense equipment

Russian forces destroy about 30 Azov militants planning assault on Makeyevka in LPR

The Ukrainian militants who had survived realized that the idea held no prospects and returned to their positions, military expert Andrey Marochko reported

Indonesia may block Telegram, minister says — Jakarta Globe

Communications and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi dismissed the responses from Telegram and Bigo Live as "inadequate"

Kuleba, Sikorski discuss steps to use NATO air defenses to take down targets over Ukraine

In the military sphere, we focused on the issue of MIG jets and agreed on further steps to create the possibility for Ukraine's neighbours to intercept from their territory Russian missiles and drones in the Ukrainian airspace, Foreign Ministers of Ukraine said