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Coronavirus pandemic

Updated at:

Kremlin expects no social tensions after measures that benefit vaccinated citizens taken

Dmitry Peskov said that "the worst thing is the division of Russians into those who are on ventilators in intensive care units and those who are not"

© Vladimir Smirnov/TASS

MOSCOW, June 18. /TASS/. The Kremlin does not expect social tensions after the introduction of measures that benefit citizens vaccinated against coronavirus, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.

"No, this does not cause [concern]," he said when asked whether the authorities fear growing social tensions due to the division of citizens on the basis of vaccination, when, for example, separate zones for vaccinated individuals will be set up in cafes and restaurants.

"The worst thing is the division of Russians into those who are on ventilators in intensive care units and those who are not. We need to do our utmost in order to make sure that there is no such a division of Russians," Peskov stressed.

Presidential Spokesman said also that "Russian President Vladimir Putin gets daily reports on the country’s COVID-19 situation that has deteriorated in recent weeks."

"Naturally, this matter is constantly being monitored by the head of state," the spokesman said. He explained that the president gets daily reports by the government and the regional heads.

"Putin is monitoring this situation very closely," Peskov assured. "Right now, it’s the most important thing," he said, when asked about the Russian leader’s reaction to the sharp increase of COVID-19 cases in Russia.

Earlier, head of the Russian Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing Anna Popova stated that the COVID-19 situation in Russia is extremely tense, with COVID figures on the rise due to the public’s disregard for preventive measures. The Indian strain of the novel coronavirus is spreading in Russia. Several regions, including Moscow, toughened their restrictions significantly due to the outbreak.

Russia’s federal anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Friday that in the past 24 hours, the country has documented 17,262 new cases of COVID-19, the highest daily figure since February 1. Moscow documented 9,056 new coronavirus cases on Friday, the highest figure since the start of the pandemic

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Putin to hold informal CIS summit in St. Petersburg

An informal meeting before the New Year is a long-standing tradition of the Commonwealth

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A number of tankers of the ships' owner Volgatransneft did not have a license for transporting dangerous cargoes in inland waters

Sandu takes office as Moldova’s president for her second term

Parliamentarians, members of the Constitutional Court, and foreign diplomats attended her inauguration

CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

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Russia to react to Ukrainian settlement proposals in line with national priorities — MFA

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov highlighted that Vladimir Putin's June 14 comments "by and large did not impose conditions"

Over 150 spontaneous graves found in Popasnaya in LPR

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Serious conflict between Israel, Turkey possible — Russian expert

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According to Karin Kneissl, in some households, people are already paying more for electricity and heating than for their rent

Putin bestows order upon Hermitage director general

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Assassination attempt on defense executive thwarted near Moscow — FSB

The attackers’ activities were coordinated by Ukrainian special service agents through foreign internet messengers, as evidenced by data retrieved from seized communication devices, the FSB added

Georgia became inconvenient for 'friends' after rejecting Ukrainian scenario — official

According to Kakha Kaladze, the country faced unprecedented pressure because of this

No Russians killed in Magdeburg car attack, information on injured being updated — embassy

At least five people got killed and 235 were injured as a result of the attack

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Pakistani forces attack Afghan province just across border

Taliban-controlled Afghan Defense Ministry condemned the attack, saying it violated international law and didn’t represent a solution to any issue

Russian forces gain control over road between Gulyaypole, Velikaya Novosyolka — official

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Biden considers new sanctions against Russian energy sector — The Washington Post

According to the newspaper’s sources, possible options also include revoking the license that allows banks to handle transactions with Russian energy resources

Another US fighter jet narrowly avoided friendly fire in Red Sea — Fox News

According to the report, the plane crew had to perform several maneuvers to dodge it

Houthis strike military facility near Tel Aviv with hypersonic missile

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Shopping mall in Russia’s North Caucasus city of Vladikavkaz catches fire after explosion

Regional head Sergey Menyailo said that the blast had killed a woman inside the building

Pope Francis opens Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica

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The accident posed no threat to nearby settlements

Putin's principles of Ukrainian settlement stem from international law — Lavrov

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Russia not closing its border with Estonia — MFA

Russian border crossings near the Estonian border are functioning as usual, Maria Zakharova said

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Shelling on Donetsk decreases as frontline shifts — DPR head

Denis Pushilin noted that shelling in Donetsk’s Kirovsky and Petrovsky districts is expected to diminish further once Kurakhovo is liberated

More than 20 countries show interest in BRICS — Kremlin aide

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Russian embassy refutes reports on Sudan’s refusal to host Russian base

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US ramping up biological warfare presence in Africa — Russia’s top brass

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Russia doesn’t need ceasefire in Ukraine, it needs legally binding guarantees — Lavrov

According to the foreign minister, these agreements should be aimed at eliminating the root causes of the Ukrainian conflict

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Russia has no illusions that Ukraine conflict can be resolved easily — top diplomat

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Turkey’s, US defense chiefs discuss Syria, security issues

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Continued terror attacks by Kiev to be met with increasingly tougher response — Lavrov

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Syria’s new authorities rename hospitals named after ex-president’s family members

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Europe should support Sino-Brazilian initiative on Ukraine — Swiss newspaper

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Azerbaijan publishes list of passengers on board crashed plane in Kazakhstan

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Russian forces increasing pressure on Ukrainian troops near Belogorovka in LPR — expert

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Flights from Istanbul, Almaty, Tomsk heading to Kazan diverted to Samara

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Twenty-eight people survive passenger plane crash in Kazakhstan — Emergencies Ministry

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Russia continues special military op because Ukraine refuses talks — Kremlin

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Greece continues to ship munitions to Ukraine en masse — website

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Ukraine’s General Staff reports tense frontline situation

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R-7 space rocket to be launched for 2,000th time

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Syria’s Interior Ministry calls on members of former regime to hand over their arms

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Russian air defenses eliminate 59 Ukrainian drones over various regions overnight

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Putin offers condolences to Azerbaijani president over plane crash near Aktau

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