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Over 166,000 Donbas residents evacuated to Russia — source

In the past 24 hours, 24,000 people arrived in Russia from the DPR and LPR

TASS, March 4. The number of Donbass residents evacuated to Russia has surpassed 166,00 since February 18, soaring by 24,000 over the past day, the regional security agencies told TASS on Friday.

"As of the morning of March 4, some 166,700 residents of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics have crossed the Russian border since February 18. Almost 94,000 of them are citizens of Ukraine, over 61,000 are Russian residents, some 11,200 are from other states," the source said.

According to the regional security agencies, the number of those evacuated to Russia from Donbass surged almost five times in the last 24 hours. "Over the past week, averagely 5,000 people arrived in Russia from the DPR and LPR every day, while in the past 24 hours, their number surpassed 24,000 people," the source noted.

Currently, almost 18,500 people are staying in 264 centers of temporary accommodation in 23 Russian regions. Overall, some 49 Russian regions are ready to receive evacuees from Donbass.

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Forbes reporter detained in Russia on charges of spreading falsehoods about military

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Russian Economy Ministry expects trade balance surplus to decline

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Russian diplomat accuses US of facilitating chemical warfare in Ukraine

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US nukes in Poland to become target for Russia should confrontation with NATO occur — MFA

"The impression is that Warsaw is maniacally seeking to attract even more attention from military planners in the Russian General Staff," Maria Zakharova added

Russian troops destroy 89 Ukrainian UAVs, 5 boats in Kherson area over past day

"Battlegroup Dnepr units conducted active counterbattery warfare and destroyed enemy drones, manpower and equipment on the right bank of the Dnieper River," Governor Vladimir Saldo said

Charles III to return to public duties soon — Buckingham Palace

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Network of international conspirators plotted Crocus terrorist attack — watchdog

Yury Chikhanchin pointed out that the perpetrators of the attack were provided with money, weapons, transportation and ammunition

EAEU trade turnover reaches record high level of $8.7 bln in 2023 — Russian Prime Minister

The trade turnover between Russia and Belarus reached 4 trillion rubles ($43.8 bln)

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Russian gas production to gain 4.6% in 2024 — Economy Ministry

Pipeline gas exports are forecast to edge up by 7% to 108 bln cubic meters

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The head of state accused Washington of preparing a "Belarusian liberation army" and reiterated Minsk's readiness to "defend its country"

Kiev's attacks on ZNPP may trigger another Chernobyl — Zaporozhye governor

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About 20% of weapons sent to Kiev end up on black market – Russia’s UN mission

Dmitry Polyansky said that some of the weapons supplied to Kiev are "in the darknet, which means that it is available to anyone"

Russia to hold next international security meeting in 2025 — top security official

The date and location will be announced later

Russian draft UNSC statement on Nord Streams sabotaged by West — Russian diplomat

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Russia invites all countries to develop North - South transport corridor — Putin

"The North-South transport corridor should become an example of the broadest international cooperation," the Russian leader said

Staff shortage cannot be covered by labor migration — Putin

Labor productivity requires a significant increase in all sectors of the economy, the President stressed

Russia-Europe relations require fresh approach — Kremlin

Russia and Europe are geographically close anyway, Dmitry Peskov noted

Russia fights West’s sanctions at UN for the sake of developing countries — envoy to UN

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Space station’s orbit raised by 1 km — Roscosmos

According to preliminary information, the average altitude of the orbital outpost was increased to 414.8 km above the Earth’s surface

Russian aerospace forces hit two terrorists base in Syria’s Homs governorate

Yury Popov, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, also said that one shelling attack on the positions of government forces was reported in the Idlid de-escalation zone from positions of the Jabhat al-Nusra

NATO bears direct responsibility for Ukraine crisis — Chinese Foreign Ministry

Spokesman Wang Wenbin stressed that China was not providing weapons to the conflicting parties and strictly controlled dual-use goods, including the export of drones

International cooperation needed to investigate Nord Stream incidents — Russian diplomat

According to Nebenzya, the real goal of the West, which is seeking to persuade the world of the futility of international efforts, is "to keep on telling the tale of lost time" as long as possible in a hope that "international community will forget about this terrorist attack"

Russia may abolish gold export duty from June 1 — Finance Ministry

The law, introducing an extra coefficient to the mineral extraction tax for gold totaling 78,000 rubles ($848.8) per kilogram, will become effective at the same day

EU remains unreliable partner for Russia for now — Lavrov

Moscow hopes that Brussels will pay attention to its vital interests in the end, Russia's top diplomat said

Swiss conference on Ukraine undermines European security — Russian diplomat

In Maxim Buyakevich words, neither the talks nor their outcome can change the existing political and territorial realities

Medvedev warns that Russia’s default may entail Europe’s default

Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council added that the European Union’s financial system is not very stable and people are losing confidence

Russia appreciates Bolivia’s push to defend sovereignty, Lavrov says

The Russian foreign minister said that the sides would exchange opinions on how to develop bilateral relations along the path outlined by Bolivian President Luis Arce and Russian President Vladimir Putin

Chances of Baku-Yerevan conflict settlement higher than ever, Scholz says

The German chancellor emphasized that Berlin's "offer to lend support in finding a long-term and acceptable solution remains valid"

Over 10,000 Polish nationals fought in Ukraine in 2022, politician says

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Zelensky's presidential powers to expire May 21 — Ukrainian legislator

Alexander Dubinsky argues that the only situation where the president can continue to fulfill his duties after the expiration of his term is the period until the president-elected takes office

Erdogan’s May 9 visit to US postponed to more convenient date — Foreign Ministry

"The high-level dialogue between Turkey and the US will continue," the spokesman Oncu Keceli said

Russia may cut oil production by 1.2% in 2024 — Economy Ministry

The Russian oil export prices is expected in the base case at the level of $65 per barrel in 2024-2027

Medicine for Bekhterev’s disease may cause medical tourism to Russia — Health Minister

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Kiev may use ATACMS missiles to hit Crimean Bridge — Russian defense ministry official

Russian military will do its utmost to repel such attacks, Apty Alaudinov said

Putin calls impending formation of new cabinet ‘crucial step’

The Russian leader pointed out that it is important to ensure stability and transparency in the Russian socio-political system

Wreckage of US MQ-9 Reaper drone is of interest to Russian defense industry — Rostec

According to the US version of events, a pair of Russian Su-27 aircraft intercepted the MQ-9 while it was on a recon mission and dumped their fuel several times toward the drone

Builders from Azerbaijan participate in BAM upgrade — Putin

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Global community changing tune about how Ukraine conflict started — security official

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Dmitry Peskov noted that, "according to some parameters, companies in Europe and other regions can hardly maintain their competitiveness if they completely abandon our products"

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Israel’s military upcoming operation in Rafah will also be on agenda, the New York Times reported

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Poland practices transfer of mechanized brigade to Lithuania's Suwalki Corridor area

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One more suspect in Crocus City Hall terror attack arrested — police

The detention was reported earlier by the media, which said that police had captured Tajik national Djumokhon Kurbonov

Russia says its battlegroup West seized better positions

The Russian forces also foiled a counterattack of an assault group of the Ukrainian 80th mechanized brigade in the vicinity of the Krasnoye settlement in the Donetsk People’s Republic

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Maria Zakharova stressed that "the level of nuclear risks have risen dramatically as a result of the West’s destructive policy, which is fraught with a direct military confrontation between nuclear powers"

Lithuania’s prime minister warns US may curtail aid to Ukraine

Ingrida Simonyte called for getting ready for such a turn of events right away, and not just watch and wait

Russia grateful to DPRK for unconditional support of special operation in Ukraine — MFA

Ivan Zhelokhovtsev said that the agreements that were reached during the DPRK leader's visit to Russia represent "evidence of the mutual desire of the sides to consistently implement and expand the rich heritage" that was passed down from previous generations

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According to the news agency Tasnim, when speaking about NATO eastward expansion, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani emphasized that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states should utilize the SCO potential in order to neutralize common threats

US can send Ukraine Patriot air defense systems currently deployed in other regions

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Singapore Airlines resumes flights to Moscow starting from January 20

Flights will be carried out on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays

Polish leader cautions NATO allies against provoking Russia

Andrzej Duda slammed the reported instances of Russian missiles entering Poland's airspace as "a Russian provocation"

Russian subsidiary of JP Morgan scaling up Russian assets

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Bank of Russia does not rule out keeping key rate at current levels until year's end

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Istanbul accords could have stopped hostilities in Ukraine — German newspaper

The deal still looks advantageous even after two years of war, Welt am Sonntag said

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Ukraine’s army leaves first defensive line in Berdychi near Avdeyevka, says DPR

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Financial watchdog blacklists I/We Sergey Furgal movement as extremist

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Police checks reports of bomb allegedly planted at Russian embassy in Brazil — newspaper

The Russian embassy has not yet commented on the situation

Pelosi's remarks about US protesters undemocratic, Russian diplomat says

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Hamas fighters have destroyed more than 400 Israeli vehicles — group’s senior member

Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said the brigades had completely or partially destroyed 135 units of Israeli military equipment over the past three days

Kremlin spokesman describes European Parliament as 'Russophobic machine'

Dmitry Peskov added that the EP "has turned into a machine brimming with internal contradictions that keeps generating boorish statements"

Shoigu talks about ties with NATO, attacks on Zaporozhye NPP as he attends SCO meeting

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Russian troops wipe out military train with Western armaments in DPR over past day

Russian troops improved their tactical position and repelled eight Ukrainian army counterattacks in the Avdeyevka area over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Erdogan moves back from May 9 his trip to US — report

The report hasn’t been officially confirmed

US stops hiding true purpose of sanctions on Moscow, Russian envoy says

"It’s not about any mythical aspirations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, but about banal opportunistic and predatory ambitions," Anatoly Antonov said

SCO expects Belarus to join the organization very soon — Shoigu

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Russia’s natural population decline shrinks by 24% yoy in January-August — statistics

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China, US free to have their own friends, partners — President Xi

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Scholz asks allies to find additional air defense capabilities for Ukraine

Germany is the second largest arms supplier to Ukraine after the US

Insurers refuse to pay compensation for Nord Stream — Russian envoy to UN

Vasily Nebenzya stressed that insurers conclude on their own that the "explosion at the gas pipelines was made using an explosive devices, willfully and due to political motives," thereby confirming its terroristic nature

Moscow reports 1,773 daily coronavirus hospitalizations

The capital city has the highest number of coronavirus cases nationwide, according to official statistics

Israel eliminates one of al-Jamaa al-Islamiya commanders in Lebanon — IDF

The strike was conducted by Israel Air Force’s aircraft in the area of Meidoun in Lebanon

Blinken’s visit to China meant to shatter Russian-Chinese ties — senior Russian diplomat

"I think that Beijing understands this perfectly well and will not even pretend being ready to reach any agreements with the Americans to the detriment of Russia’s interests," Sergey Ryabkov said

Over 3,100 foreign mercenaries fight for Ukraine, most of them from US

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West reluctant to punish those responsible for Nord Stream blasts — Russian diplomat

According to Vasily Nebenzya, the situation is as though a year-long probe into a murder yielded a conclusion that "the victim was murdered"