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Coronavirus pandemic

Russia reports less than 9,000 COVID-19 cases over past day for first time since May 1

To date, Russia has confirmed 290,678 coronavirus cases in all regions

© Vycheslav Prokofyev/TASS

MOSCOW, May 18. /TASS/. The number of COVID-19 cases in Russia has risen by 8,926 over the past day and for the first time since May 1 this figure was less than 9,000, the anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Monday.

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To date, Russia has confirmed 290,678 COVID-19 cases in all regions. The daily growth in cases dropped to a record low of 3.2%, while the corresponding figure a day earlier was 3.6%.

Moscow has reported 3,238 new coronavirus cases over the past day, taking the total case tally to 146,062. On Sunday, the crisis center reported 3,855 new cases. The Russian capital has confirmed less than 4,000 COVID-19 cases for the third day in a row. The daily growth in cases in the city has again dropped from 2.8% to a record low of 2.3%.

Another 921 cases have been recorded in the Moscow Region, 425 in St. Petersburg, 279 in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, 130 in the Sverdlovsk Region, 117 in the Saratov Region, 115 in the Bryansk Region, 109 in the Kaluga Region, 107 in the Krasnoyarsk Region, 106 in the Ulyanovsk Region and 103 in the Yaroslavl Region.

Some 3,557 (40.1%) of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 over the past day in Russia have not shown any symptoms.

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Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost more than 450 troops, two tanks, three IFVs, two M113 armored personnel carriers, 33 armored combat vehicles, five artillery pieces, including a Krab self-propelled howitzer, a Crotale multiple rocket launcher, and 49 motor vehicles

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According to Irakli Kobakhidze, increasing national GDP by some $14.6 bln will be the Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia ruling party’s goal for the next four years

Ukraine was ready to sign peace deal with Russia but gave up under US pressure — Patrushev

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Putin discussed Ukraine with Saudi crown prince — Kremlin

"The sides indeed touched upon the topic of the conflict. We have nothing more to say," Dmitry Peskov said

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

On November 13, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Russian Armed Forces had liberated the settlement of Rovnopol in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), located near the administrative border with the Zaporozhye Region

Bank of Russia sells currency worth $42.6 mln in domestic market

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Assassination attempt on Putin mentioned by Budanov prepared with US money — Russian MFA

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Russia, US have many annoyances, it is hard to pick worst one — Kremlin spokesman

Earlier, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Baku

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

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Pilot lauds thrust, aerodynamics of smooth-flying Su-57 fighter jet

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Russia had to revise nuclear doctrine amid West’s reckless push for escalation — Kremlin

According to Peskov, "revisions have been made and will be formalized now."

Gazprom says EU artificially destroys gas demand to the detriment of its own economy

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Most Russians believe survey results — pollster

According to VCIOM Director General Valery Fyodorov, 83% of respondents think public opinion polls are fairly necessary

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

Grossi oversteps authority by talking about freeze of Ukraine conflict — Russian MFA

The Russian diplomats also said that IAEA experts will stay at the ZNPP as long as Russia deems their presence there necessary

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

Ukraine’s "overall population had declined to 29 million people in 2023 - compared to 48.5 million in 2001," Responsible Statecraft writes

US plans to remove 'arrogant' Zelensky and stage 2025 elections in Ukraine — SVR

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Kalashnikov concern trains first group of operators for Bars-Sarmat UAV unit

The soldiers studied the hardware, including the drones’ electronics, internal systems and rules of operation

Russia expands production of VK-2500 helicopter engines

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Crimean amateur astronomer discovers new comet in solar system

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European Commission gives ‘positive assessment’ for payment of 4.1 bln euros to Kiev

The commission concluded that Ukraine had satisfactorily fulfilled the nine agreed reform indicators for this payment

EU foreign policy chief Borrell arrives in Kiev for official visit

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Russia has written off $20 bln worth of African debts — MFA

Mikhail Bogdanov added that it allows using those debts "to implement socio-economic projects directly in the country"

Two injured in bridge collapse in Crimea

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Russian PM to attend UN Climate Change Conference in Baku

The greater part of Mikhail Mishustin’s visit will be devoted to Russian-Azerbaijani ties

Explosion heard in Damascus suburb

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Elon Musk claims war mongers back Kamala Harris’ 'puppet regime'

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Buran space shuttle celebrates 30th anniversary of milestone flight

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Ukraine targets medics and journalists as priorities — military doctor

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Russia provides free military aid to Central African Republic — Foreign Ministry

Moscow has provided free military aid to the Central African Republic at the country’s government’s request

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

At the same time, he emphasized that Russia has no expectations from the new US administration, but will assess its concrete steps

Mi-171A3 helicopter draws interest from partners in China — Russian Helicopters

The helicopter can fly in harsh conditions, particularly those inside the Arctic Circle, where satellite communication coverage is poor

US missile defense site to defend Poland from Russia too — Polish minister

At the same time, the official evaded a direct question of whether the facility is capable of protecting country from missiles

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

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

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Su-57 fighter jet shows exceptional performance in Russia’s special op, senior official

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Russian citizenship approvals down 44% since January — ministry

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Annual inflation in Russia from November 6 to 11 accelerates from 8.53% to 8.56%

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Talks out of question: situation in Kursk Region

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MOEX index falls below 2,700 points, first time since November 6

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Russia to ensure parity in response to US missile defense system in Poland — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov emphasized that by placing the missile defense system in Poland, the United States is bringing its military infrastructure closer to Russia in an attempt to curb its potential

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

Putin proclaims Odessa Russian city, challenges Ukraine's historical narrative

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Court sentences ‘Russian Volunteer Corps’ members to life in prison in absentia

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Russia ratifies comprehensive strategic partnership treaty with North Korea

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Iran will never try to build nuclear weapons, president tells IAEA chief

Masoud Pezeshkian accused the US of derailing the agreements around Iran's nuclear program

Russia supports new UNSC draft resolution on Gaza — envoy

Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya noted that Resolution 2735 was only a tool to gain time for Israel

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

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Lukashenko congratulates Trump on winning US presidential election

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

At least ten Ukrainian troops were killed

Russian State Duma ratifies agreement on military cooperation with Sao Tome and Principe

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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

Trump to zero in on fragmenting BRICS, Ukraine to take back seat — expert

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

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US denies possession of extraterrestrial technologies

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

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

Trump to end NATO’s obsession to get on Russian territory — White House ex-strategist

Steve Bannon noted that Trump’s MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement seeks to completely cut funding to Ukraine. According to Bannon, Europe, including Italy, will follow Trump’s lead, and, if "they [Europe and Italy] truly believe what they have been saying in recent years, they should be ready to pay"

Russia, African states favor expansion of national currencies use in trade — statement

The participants of the conference also noted the necessity of bringing closer approaches to creation of efficient new and maintenance of existing international transport corridors in the interests of mutually beneficial development of Russia and African states

Special operation to end after Russia achieves its goals — Kremlin

"For us there is absolutely no alternative to achieving our set goals," Dmitry Peskov emphasized

Ukrainian attacks after incursion kill about 100 people in Kursk Region — official

The press service highlighted that the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights documents cases of arbitrary detention of civilians by Ukrainian servicemen, their torture and ill-treatment

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

As Yoon Suk Yeol said, the reported dispatch of North Korean servicemen to participate in Russia’s special military operation "poses a serious security threat not only to the Korean Peninsula and Europe but also to the entire world"

FSB detains Russian for passing defense industry data to Ukraine's intelligence

According to the FSB, the suspect initiated contact with representatives of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate via the internet

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

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Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

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

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Zelensky announces work on new action plan

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Lithuania to tighten control over dual-use goods within sanctions against Russia

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

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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

France wraps up training of new Ukrainian brigade — minister

The brigade is equipped with French weapons