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Kakhovka dam explosion would cut off water supply to Crimea, official warns

On October 14, the Kherson Region’s Deputy Governor Kirill Stremousov said that Kiev planned to blow up the Kakhovka dam to flood part of the region

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. It would be impossible to supply water to Crimea via the North Crimea Canal should the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant’s dam be blown up, head of the Novaya Kakhovka administrative district Vladimir Leontyev told the Soloviev Live TV channel on Thursday.

"Should the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant’s dam be blown up, the water supply to Crimea would stop," he said. "If the hydro power plant explodes, the North Crimean Canal would have no water for years to come, until the facility is rebuilt, and Crimea would be left without water, too," Leontyev added.

The official noted that "more than 1.7 million cubic meters of water are delivered to Crimea from the Dnieper River every day, the monthly amount being about 51 million cubic meters." According to him, the possible destruction of the Kakhovka HPP would be a major man-made disaster that would affect everyone living downstream the Dnieper.

On October 14, the Kherson Region’s Deputy Governor Kirill Stremousov said that Kiev planned to blow up the Kakhovka dam to flood part of the region. The Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, located five kilometers away from the city of Novaya Kakhovka in the Kherson Region, is part of the Dnieper cascade of hydroelectric facilities. Stremousov added that the regional authorities recommended local residents move to other Russian regions in order to give the army more room to maneuver while clearing the area of Ukrainian forces.

Over 1,200 children from Dagestan remain in refugee camps in Middle East

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Russia’s Oreshnik has no analogues worldwide — Putin

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Russian forces gain foothold in Chasov Yar’s industrial zone — expert

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US, European officials suggest returning nukes to Ukraine — NYT

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China against double standards in international law — Foreign Ministry

Spokesman Lin Jian highlighted Washington's use of double standards in handling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within the United Nations

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Here are the key statements, made during the meeting

West irrational, fails to understand it cannot intercept Russia's new missiles — Kneissl

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Zelensky begs ‘for his country to be flattened’ — US journalist

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Lukashenko grants asylum to Schmidt persecuted on political grounds by Poland

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State Department says US-India relations hit some headwinds due to Russia, BRICS

Kurt Campbell said that it is important to 'keep attention on the horizon'

IN BRIEF: What Putin said about Russia’s new missile, and Moscow’s response to the West

Moscow used its new Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile in response to the West’s decision to authorize strategic-depth strikes on Russia

Russia’s steel production plunged in October — WSA

China produced 81.9 mln metric tons in October, up 2.9% on an annualized basis

Weapons supplied to Ukraine cannot reach Russian territory, Spanish defense minister says

The New York Times reported on November 17 that US President Joe Biden had authorized the use of US-supplied ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles for strikes inside Russia

Ukraine should consider territorial concessions to Russia in return for peace — magazine

Foreign Policy pointed out that Western officials should stop insisting in public speeches on the need to achieve a strategic defeat for Russia

West builds up military presence near Russia’s Arctic borders — presidential aide

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Trump seeks to restore peace in entire world — transition team on Putin’s address

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Putin’s remarks on hypersonic missiles send serious warning to West — Turkish politician

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Russian ambassador says UK prime minister doesn’t understand situation in Ukraine

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Signal to West and 'red card': experts weigh in on Putin’s missile launch statements

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Putin stays open to contacts to reach 'peaceful track' — Kremlin

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a televised address to the nation on November 21, announcing that in response to the West’s decision to authorize strategic-depth strikes on Russia, Moscow used its new Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile for the first time

Zelensky to have no input if Russia, US negotiate, ex-Prime Minister says

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Trump to name investor Bessent as Treasury Secretary

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Any escalation scenario possible in Ukraine conflict — Medvedev

According to the politician, Western nations need to understand that they are fighting on Ukraine’s side

Ex-German chancellor never expected Russia to tolerate Ukraine’s NATO membership — memoir

Angela Merkel added that another fallacy was the belief that the status "would act as a deterrent," and that Moscow "would accept these developments without taking action"

Enemy losses, mercenary intrigue, humanitarian aid: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, the enemy lost 150 troops, four motor vehicles, an artillery piece and two mortars

Ukraine was warned about possible missile strike — Pentagon

Department of Defense Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh gave no answer to the question of how could Ukraine prepare for this kind of attack

India, Russia discuss defense industry within military cooperation commission

The meeting was co-chaired by India’s Secretary (Defense Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar and Russia’s First Deputy Director of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation Andrey Boytsov

Tehran to launch new centrifuges in response to IAEA anti-Iran resolution — statement

The measure is taken in response to the anti-Iran resolution adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors on Thursday

BRICS partnership format in UNESCO sparks interest of other countries — Russian envoy

Russia’s presidency of the integration will pass to Brazil this year, the diplomat said

Biden’s actions on Ukraine meant to 'muck things up' for Trump — Lavrov

According to the Russian foreign minister, such behavior is "typical of the Democrats"

Russian air defense deflects attacks with Western missiles — Putin

"As a result, the goals that the enemy apparently set have not been achieved," the Russian leader said

Israel carries out four strikes on building in Beirut

At least four people were killed and 23 suffered injuries in an Israeli airstrike

Oreshnik can reach targets across entire Europe — missile troops commander

"Based on the tasks and the range of this weapon, it can hit targets across entire Europe, which sets it apart from other high-precision long-range weapons," Sergey Karakayev said

Zelensky’s actions make Ukraine vulnerable to coup, says politician

"Democratic institutions in the country have been destroyed, rendering dialogue between the government and the people impossible," Viktor Medvedchuk said

State Department says Russia, China maintain forward momentum in bilateral relationship

Moscow and Beijing 'have maintained forward momentum in their bilateral relationship', Kurt Campbell said

Japanese lawmaker praises Putin's restraint amid decision to strike deep into Russia

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell confirmed that the US administration had lifted restrictions for US-supplied missiles to be used for strikes up to 300 kilometers inside Russia

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"A large-scale investment program for expanding production capacities at defense sector organizations is being implemented", Vasily Tonkoshkurov said

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Eliminating best enemy units: Defense Minister visits special op area

Andrey Belousov stressed that Russian troops have accelerated their advance in the special military operation zone and have effectively disrupted Kiev's 2025 military campaign

Taiwan reports 25 Chinese aircraft, 7 ships approaching island

The Taiwanese army responded by employing aircraft, navy vessels, and coastal missile systems to monitor the targets

Ukraine loses up to 160 troops in battlegroup East’s responsibility area — top brass

Units of the Russian battlegroup East continue fulfilling military tasks in the area of the special military operation

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Oreshnik missile to change course of Ukrainian conflict, Medvedev believes

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said it in an interview

Zelensky fine with conflict continuing due to Western help — Slovak PM

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Putin's speech shows West that Russia won’t waver, is ready for any scenario — expert

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Russia hammers Ukrainian military-industrial facilities, energy sites over week

Russian forces liberated seven communities in the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past week, the Defense Ministry reported

US expects Russia-North Korea cooperation to be formidable challenge in coming years

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Russia fires ballistic, non-nuclear-tipped missile at Ukrainian aerospace plant — Putin

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Illegal decisions on Russian property in Finland will not go unanswered — diplomat

Maria Zakharova noted that the Russian Embassy in Helsinki has sent requests to clarify the situation

German politician slams Ukraine’s ‘irresponsible’ strike on Russia with UK-made missiles

"A diplomatic search for balance and mutual understanding should be the goal, instead of further escalation," Alice Weidel said

Russia encircles largest Ukrainian fortification in southern DPR — security services

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Enemy has no countermeasures for Russia’s Oreshnik missile — Putin

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Russia uses aerial bombs to destroy Ukrainian positions near DPR’s Konstantinovka — source

According to the report, at least 15 Ukrainian servicemen were killed as a result of the attack

Over 1,200 children from Dagestan remain in refugee camps in Middle East

The humanitarian mission for the repatriation of Russian children from the Middle East began in 2018 and is coordinated by the Russian children’s ombudswoman’s office

US journalist calls US President Joe Biden’s government 'the fascist state'

Earlier, Tucker Carlson said that Joe Biden's approval of long-range missile strikes by the Ukrainian army deep inside Russia could threaten US people

US, West have no capabilities to intercept new Russian hypersonic missile — expert

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NATO secretary general, US President-elect hold first meeting

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Death toll from Israeli strike on Beirut climbs to 11, with 33 people injured

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West beginning to realize only part of Ukraine will remain — Lavrov

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Russia entitled to use weapons against military sites of states attacking it — Duma

"Russia has repeatedly stated that such actions will receive a response – and it will be a stronger one," Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin stressed

Western air defense systems unlikely to intercept Russian missiles — France’s Le Monde

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Press review: Russia fires missile at Ukraine plant and Biden forgives Kiev $4.65 bln debt

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, November 22nd

Kremlin clarifies notification process for Oreshnik missile launch

"An automated warning was sent 30 minutes before the launch," Dmitry Peskov said

Biden’s decision to use ATACMS against Russia may 'blow up in America’s face' — US expert

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Trump to tap Richard Grenell as US special envoy on Ukraine — agency

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US admiral says Washington should be ready for talks with Russia, China

The Department of State and other US agencies "should continue to engage our competitors in real and substantive dialogue," Rear Admiral Thomas Buchanan said