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Launch of Russia’s Bion-M biosatellite postponed to 2025 — source

The spacecraft, taking 75 mice and 1,500 drosophila flies, as well as plants and microorganisms to space, was initially planned to blast off on September 1

MOSCOW, August 16. /TASS/. The launch of Russia’s second Bion-M satellite to take a number of living organisms to space, scheduled for September, has been postponed until 2025, a source at the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences has told TASS.

"The launch of the second Bion-M satellite will definitely not take place this year. The mission has been rescheduled to 2025," the source said.

The spacecraft, taking 75 mice and 1,500 drosophila flies, as well as plants and microorganisms to space, was initially planned to blast off on September 1, he added.

The Bion is a series of domestic satellites focused on biological research. In particular, scientists want to study the impact of cosmic radiation and zero gravity on living organisms. Mice are the main object of research under Bion-M projects. A Bion biosatellite is also intended for delivering flies, plants and microorganisms into orbit. The first similar spacecraft named Cosmos-605 was launched in 1973. In 2013, the first spacecraft of the Bion-M series was put into orbit. It delivered mice, Mongolian gerbils, geckos and various communities of microorganisms into outer space.

Crimean amateur astronomer discovers new comet in solar system

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Russia says its FPV drones disrupted Ukrainian troops rotation in Sumy Region

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Borrell calls on EU to play ‘military role’

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Lebanon deal won't happen unless Israel given right to eradicate Hezbollah — Katz

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Russian president himself deals with issue of Ukraine, there is no special envoy — Kremlin

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West to face 'devastating' response if it allows Kiev to strike deep into Russia — MFA

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Russian troops storm into Kupyansk outskirts in Kharkov Region — military expert

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Next-gen Su-57 shows strength of Russia’s defense sector — diplomat

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Trump to push Zelensky to start talks, reject NATO membership — expert

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Demographic crisis threatens Ukraine’s viability as state — think tank

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Trump does not rule out he may run in next US presidential election

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Kremlin comments on possible return of Japanese, European cars to Russia

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South Korea to support Ukraine in response to Russia-North Korea alliance — president

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Russia to hold Astana-format summit in 2025 — Russian diplomat

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Turkey invited to join BRICS as a partner state, says minister

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Ukrainian forces ready to withdraw from Kurakhovo, but no order yet — serviceman

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First S-550 air defense systems enter service in Russia — source

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Russia keeps building defense capacity despite conflict in Ukraine — Polish general

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Bulgarian president calls for using all diplomatic opportunities to end Ukraine conflict

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Ukrainian intel officers in Syria to be eliminated as terrorists’ accomplices — diplomat

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Tehran to retaliate against anti-Iran resolutions at IAEA — official

Tehran views the approach of the United States and the European troika to the situation surrounding Iran's nuclear program as hostile

Man who died in blast in Brasilia tried to carry bomb into court building

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Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

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Russia's newest Su-57 fighter jet superior to China's new J-35 — test pilot

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Medvedev characterizes Great Britain as eternal adversary of Russia

"At least until such time as their arrogant, despicably dank island sinks into the abyss of the sea from a wave triggered by a cutting-edge Russian weapons system," the politician said

Musk doubles down on his opinion about 'endless war' in Ukraine

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Russia keeps positive dynamics of agricultural production — ministry

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Detentions, blocking of roads: what is known about situation in Abkhazia

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Russia’s Vityaz, Viking air defense systems attract major attention at Airshow China

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"Israel, by the standards it set itself, has accomplished the goals that it set for itself," the US Secretary of State noted

Two injured in bridge collapse in Crimea

"A car and a truck were on the bridge at the moment of collapse. Russian Emergencies Ministry rescuers retrieved two injured people," the ministry said

Trump 'demonstrates affinity' for Russian President Vladimir Putin — newspaper

Former Trump advisers have already backed his idea of cutting aid to Ukraine to force Kiev into talks with Russia, according to The Hill

Baltic Sea will never turn into 'NATO lake' — Russian MFA

Maria Zakharova emphasized that the Baltic Sea "will always be a common space for all of the region’s countries without exception"

Press review: Trump forms foreign policy team and Europe sets course for militarization

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, November 13th

Trump plans to appoint special envoy on Ukraine to hold peace talks with Russia — TV

According to the source, the job is not expected to be a salaried role

Russian researchers discover previously unknown ancient tomb near Great Pyramid in Egypt

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Japan remains ready to sign peace treaty with Russia — top diplomat

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ISS orbit raised by almost 5 km before launch of Progress MS-29 spacecraft — Roscosmos

According to preliminary information, the ISS’s average orbit was increased by 4.9 km to 417.2 km above Earth

US missile defense base in Poland to defend US, Europe alike — Polish foreign minister

Radoslaw Sikorski also expressed hope that the base will never go into action

Explosion of Kurakhovo reservoir dam disrupts water supply

Roman Pukalov noted that the blast killed many fish in the reservoir, washed away fertile soil, and inundated potentially hazardous sites, including cemeteries, cattle burial grounds, and fertilizer depots

Finnish government requests EU sanctions exemption for Russian owners of sports arena

Finland's Foreign Ministry will need to obtain unanimous approval from EU countries

Scholz promises to transfer sixth IRIS-T system to Kiev by yearend

Ukraine and Germany also discussed further defense cooperation

Trump’s return to power unlikely to change US approach to Ukraine crisis — Lavrov

Washington will always seek to control everything that is happening within NATO’s orbit, especially on NATO territory, the Russian foreign minister said

Bridges across Orontes damaged after Israel’s attack on Syria

The Sham FM radio station said earlier that Syrian air defense systems repelled an Israeli attack southwest of the city of Homs located some 165 kilometers from Damascus

Ukraine's Kurakhovo Reservoir dam blast to help, not hurt Russian troops — expert

At least ten Ukrainian troops were killed

Russian forces gain foothold near Kupyansk as Kiev begins to retreat

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Russia elected to UN Committee for Program and Coordination

Apart from that, director of the Russian foreign ministry’s personnel department Andrey Ivanov, was approved as a member of the International Civil Service Commission in 2025-2027

Trump’s victory to make Seoul reconsider shipping arms to Ukraine — news agency

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Too early to talk about meeting between Assad, Erdogan — Russian diplomat

"Certain communication is maintained between the defense ministers, in the four-lateral format," Alexander Lavrentyev said

Russia open for contacts with Trumps’ team on Syria — Russian diplomat

Alexander Lavrentyev stressed that all parties to the conflict must be involved in talks so that a lasting peace in Syria could be achieved

Trump to rely on forces that brought him to power — Russian presidential aide

Nikolay Patrushev agreed that Trump, when he was still a candidate, "made many statements critical of the destructive foreign and domestic policies pursued by the current administration"

Erdogan praises Russia, China for backing arms embargo on Israel

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Kiev wants to mobilize 160,000 people to survive until Trump's inauguration — MP

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Attempts being made to drag Syria into armed confrontation in Middle East — diplomat

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Ukraine aims to call up 1 mln people in eastern areas by end of 2024 — official

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Trump's planned key appointments

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Russian Su-34 bomber strikes Ukrainian troops in borderline Kursk area

Russian tactical aircraft pilots conduct sorties at any time of day or night in any weather conditions, using various armament

54 countries vote against resolution on combating ne-Nazism

116 countries, including Azerbaijan, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, China, Cuba, Serbia, and Syria, supported the document

Lavrov likens proposals to freeze Ukraine crisis to worse version of Minsk agreements

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Russian troops secure ground near Novodarovka, Rovnopol in Zaporozhye Region — official

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There is chance to stop war in Middle East under Trump — Russian diplomat

"It is too early to talk about this because we should wait at least for the president’s inauguration," Alexander Lavrentyev noted

US administration always seeks to weaken Russia — Lavrov

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Putin discussed Ukraine with Saudi crown prince — Kremlin

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Kiev may offer Trump resources, partial rotation of US troops in Europe — official

Mikhail Podolyak also expressed Kiev's hopes that the newly elected US president would impose stricter economic sanctions on Russia, particularly in the oil industry, if not provide direct military support

Kiev's Western allies begin to acknowledge need for territorial concessions — report

The diplomats see this approach as "land in exchange for Ukraine’s security"

Russia to collaborate with Arab nations for Middle East de-escalation — diplomat

"A call was made to the international community to contribute to the achievement of this goal," Maria Zakharova added

Russia inks first deals to deliver Su-57 fifth-generation fighter to foreign customers

Alexander Mikheyev also explained the expectations and effect of the demonstration of Russian military hardware at Airshow China in Zhuhai

Zelensky will lead Ukraine to civil or nuclear war rather than surrender power, legislator

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Russia ready for contacts with Trump administration, ball is in US court — Lavrov

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US views Russia as present-day threat, Trump may prioritize containing China — Lavrov

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Iraqi Shiites say they attacked ‘vital targets’ in Israel

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Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

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Russian troops liberate Rovnopol community in Donbass region over past day

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