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FSB seizes almost 500 kg of Latin American cocaine in transit to Poland

A foreign citizen who organized the drug smuggling was caught red-handed and remanded in custody

MOSCOW, May 11. /TASS/. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has foiled an attempt to bring almost 500 kg of Latin American cocaine into Russia in transit to Poland, the FSB press office told TASS on Thursday.

"The Federal Security Service has foiled yet another attempt to bring Latin American cocaine into Russia. The new cocaine batch was on its way to the Republic of Poland and was seized at the Russian-Belarusian border in the Smolensk Region," the press office said.

According to the FSB’s data, during the inspection of a heavy-duty vehicle with the state registration plate of the Turkish Republic, FSB operatives uncovered a cache with 116 packages of drugs. It was also established that another vehicle with a batch of cocaine was on its way along the same route.

"After the second vehicle was stopped, 373 packages of narcotic drugs were found in the same-type cache. The cocaine seized in the two vehicles weighed a total of 492 kg," the FSB press office reported.

A foreign citizen who organized the drug smuggling was caught red-handed and remanded in custody, it said.

Pollsters say 80% of Russians trust Putin

Some 51% of those polled said they approved how the Russian government was running the country

Russia cautions Chisinau against involvement in Ukrainian conflict — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova drew attention to the speculations about Romania's plans for redirecting to Moldova the mobile maintenance stations for F-16 fighter jets received by Bucharest for their subsequent deployment at the Marculesti airbase

Scholz says Germany not to send Kiev missiles ‘capable of reaching as far as Moscow’

German Chancellor emphasized the need to explore ways in order to peacefully resolve the Ukraine conflict

Theft of Russian assets to nullify trust towards EU — MFA

Maria Zakharova pointed out that the European Union had lost independence

Ukraine’s forces in Ugledar virtually encircled — sources

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Hezbollah attacks Israeli military headquarters in Ein-Zeitim

The statement said that the Shiite units conducted these operations in response to the Israeli Air Force strikes on Lebanese populated localities

Lavrov says he agrees with Trump about destructiveness of sanctions for US dollar

The Russian foreign minister stressed that, despite the continued dependence of many economies on the dollar, the risk of this phenomenon has already been recognized

Russia to accept advanced robotic mine-clearing vehicles in 2018

The Uran-6, Skarabei and Sfera robotic systems have been tested in Syria

Up to 62 flights of Ukrainian drones reported near ZNPP every day — Russian diplomat

Mikhail Ulyanov recalled that Ukraine had been shelling the ZNPP practically non-stop from mid-July to November 20, 2022

In case of deep strikes Russia to respond with more powerful weapons — Duma speaker

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Russian forces take control of two settlements in Kursk Region

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Florida court rules to arrest Russian citizen Postovoy, take him to Washington

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Press review: Israel declares new phase of war and Russia boosts drone production

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, September 20th

Russia’s battlegroup West repels three Ukrainian counterattacks in past day

The Ukrainian army losses in the responsibility zone of the group include a tank, three armored combat vehicles, six vehicles, a Bogdana 155mm self-propelled artillery mount and roughly 600 servicemen

Report on alternative payment systems will be prepared by BRICS summit in Kazan — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister also drew attention to the growth of trade in national currencies between Russia and other countries

Russian troops entrenched in liberated settlements of Kursk Region’s Sudzha District

According to commander of the Akhmat special forces unit Apty Alaudinov, the situation is under control

US to step up efforts to limit Russia’s fuel exports, defense imports – White House

Sanctions and export controls are "our tools", US Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics Daleep Singh said

Hezbollah handing out pagers hours before their detonation — agency

The sources said that the Shiite movement did not have any specific suspicions about these pagers and their "checks had been part of a routine 'sweep' of its equipment to find any indications that they were laced with explosives"

Russian Supreme Court upholds Navalny verdict

Former technical director of Navalny’s YouTube channel Daniel Kholodny was also found guilty of financing extremist activities with the use of his office and of participating in an extremist community

Rising number of dead foreigners in Ukraine proves West's involvement — envoy to UN

"We have warned from the beginning that those who help the Zelensky clique stay afloat will become our legitimate targets," Vasily Nebezya reminded

UN human rights commissioner slams blasts in Lebanon as war crime

The UN official called for bringing those behind these blasts to responsibility under international law and protecting civilians in conflict zoes

Cases against Ukrainian servicemen: situation in Kursk Region

Russian investigators have initiated three criminal cases against Ukrainian militants involved in crimes against civilians in the Kursk Region

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Major General Apty Alaudinov added that, on Thursday, he visited the rightmost flank of the Russian troops on the Kursk direction - near cities of Rylsk and Lgov

Russian units strike energy facilities of Ukrainian military-industrial complex

Russia’s battlegroup Center has continued to advance into enemy defenses and wiped out more than 500 Ukrainian servicemen over the past 24 hours, the Defense Ministry said

Gazprom warns Naftogaz about possible Russian sanctions if transit trial continues

Gazprom also believes that the current circumstances deprive it of its fundamental right to a fair and impartial hearing in court

Russia’s Akhmat special force destroys military storage facility in Kursk direction

Akhmat also eliminated one armored personnel carrier and one self-propelled artillery weapon, the deputy chief of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces Apty Alaudinov said

Russia will not 'shoot itself in the foot' by halting gas supplies — Lavrov

According to the top Russian diplomat, for many decades, since the times of the Soviet Union, since the 1970s, Moscow has been establishing mutually beneficial cooperation in gas supplies

US seeks to drive wedge between Russia, Argentina — ambassador

The US accused RT television and Russia in general of attempts to ‘destabilize’ the government of Argentinian President Javier Milei, but Russia has never intervened into sovereign affairs of other countires, Dmitry Feoktistov said

Kiev still plans to attack Kursk NPP — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova pointed out that the US and the UK were behind all of Kiev's crimes

Russians abroad cast their votes for Putin, Kremlin spokesman notes

Meanwhile, Dmitry Peskov refused to comment more specifically to explain the large number of votes, cast for Putin abroad

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Only Lebanese hospitals, kindergartens used exploded pagers — Iranian ambassador

Multiple explosions of communication devices occurred in Lebanon on September 17 and 18

Tver region governor says no serious injuries in drone attack on Toropets

Earlier reports said a fire occurred at the scene where drone fragments fell in Toropets

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Such visitors will be issued three-month visas based on the decision by the head of a Russian diplomatic mission or a consulate

Six Hezbollah elite unit Radwan commanders killed by Israel’s airstrike o Beirut

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Maria Zakharova emphasized that Russia in its relations with Armenia continues to advocate "for full-scale bilateral dialogue, for cooperation, for a return from manipulative rhetoric to real full-fledged interaction, including in the work of the CSTO"

Ukraine's budget deficit next year will reach 19.4% of GDP

The country's Finance Ministry reported earlier that Ukraine's national debt has grown by $3.2 bln in three months to $155.36 bln

Russian diplomat says Nuland’s statements prove US played role in disrupting Ukraine deal

"The West has never been interested in a political and diplomatic settlement of the Ukrainian crisis," Maria Zakharova noted

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Ibrahim Aqil was appointed to replace Fuad Shukr, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburb of Beirut on July 30

North Korea convinced Russia to win special military operation in Ukraine — top diplomat

"The North Korean people express their support for the Russian people in their just struggle," Choe Son Hui stressed

Russian Central Election Commission reveals number of polling stations outside of Russia

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Kremlin slams Poland's idea to revise Crimea's status 'absurd'

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"The UN General Assembly always encompasses a very broad agenda," Sergey Ryabkov stressed

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The top Russian diplomat noted that he had good relations with many of his Israeli counterparts

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Finland’s territory not to be used to attacks against Russia — General Staff

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"The situation in those areas which are under the control of the Ukrainian militants is extraordinary, of course," Dmitry Peskov stated

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Kamila Valieva secured first place in the short and free programs as part of the team tournament

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The Russian leader noted that products manufactured by small enterprises, including drones, are not inferior in quality to those made by large ones

West is persuading Ukraine to give up claims to 1991 borders — legislator

Yegor Chernev shared a "feeling" that the Western world is ready to declare as a victory for Ukraine at least the fact that "Kiev has not fallen" and that it "has not lost its sovereignty"

Russia fully ready to defend its interests in Arctic — Lavrov

The minister to say that NATO is becoming increasingly interested in the Arctic region

Telegram marks Trump’s channel with over 550,000 subscribers as fake

The account was not verified by Telegram’s administration. There were no comments about the channel’s authenticity from the White House

Hezbollah commanders wanted to repeat October 7 in northern Israel — General Staff

The IDF said that it had conducted a targeted strike in Beirut, adding that Ibrahim Aqil, a military commander of Hezbollah’s militia, was killed along with other top brass

Russia to explain risks of cooperation with NATO to post-Soviet countries — MFA

"No doubt, such voyages of representatives of the aggressive military bloc do not contribute to regional stability and security," Maria Zakharova said

Ukrainian troops attack two settlements in Russia’s Belgorod region, leaving no casualties

Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov added that in the settlement of Murom, the Shebekinsky district, the windows of a private house were broken out, the roof and fence were damaged due to a drone attack

Hezbollah fires anti-tank missiles at Israeli positions in Metula

According to the broadcast, at least three of them hit targets

Russian Federation Council Speaker calls detonations in Lebanon a 'heinous attack'

Valentina Matviyenko noted that Russia’s position regarding the ongoing escalation in the Middle East was "clearly stated by the Russian Foreign Ministry and the Russian Representative to the UN"

Strikes at Beirut and shelling of Lebanon: escalation on Lebanese-Israeli border

The IDF has also intensified the hostilities in the northern direction and started carrying out massive airstrikes at Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon

Ukrainian forces lost up to 520 troops in Battlegroup West zone of responsibility

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Russia, China, countries of global South seek just world order — Putin

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Pentagon seeks repeal of ban on ‘Azov’ funding from US military budget — Lavrov

US President Joe Biden signed the $858 billion defense budget for fiscal year 2023 on Friday

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The Israel Defense Forces said earlier that a pinpoint strike was delivered on Beirut that killed Hezbollah Shiite militia commander Ibrahim Aqil and several other Hezbollah commanders

EU will grant loan to Kiev that will be paid from frozen Russian assets — EC president

Ursula von der Leyen stressed that 35 billion euros is the part which the European countries will contribute to the 45 billion euro loan approved by the G7 in Italy in the summer

Moscow issues note of protests to Yerevan after Armenian diplomat’s visit to Bucha

Following inadmissible statements against Russia and made there and assistance for the needs of the Ukrainian army, we have sent a note of protest to the Armenian foreign ministry, said Maria Zakharova

TASS reporter onboard ISS Oleg Kononenko assumes command of space station

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Russia calls on UN to give honest assessment of sanctions' impact on Syria — envoy

Vasily Nebenzya stressed that Russia was waiting for the UN to "send a clear signal to Western donors regarding the need to lift unilateral illegal sanctions and actively support long-term development reconstruction"

Russia wants no nuclear war — Lavrov

The foreign minister still assured that Russia possesses weapons "that will have serious implications for the handlers of the Ukrainian regime"

US volunteer Russel Bentley missing in Donetsk killed — RT editor-in-chief

Bentley came to Donbass from the United States in 2014

Media people from global majority to gather at BRICS Media Summit in Moscow

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Turkish banks want to stop transactions with Russia, transfer them to one bank — source

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Battlegroup North liberates two settlements in Kursk Region this week

Apart from that, according to the report, Russian aircraft struck areas of deployment of manpower and weapons of the Ukrainian army’s three mechanized, one tank, and two assault brigades

Over 30 foreign leaders invited to BRICS summit in Kazan, 18 RSVP — Kremlin

"We have not organized such a large-scale international event in quite a long time," Yury Ushakov underlined

Transformer damaged in Ukrainian attack on Energodar, Zaporozhye NPP safety jeopardized

This substation is engaged in supplying power to the plant’s infrastructure facilities, the plant said in a statement on its Telegram channel

Mexico's Interjet refutes media reports it's 'cannibalizing' SSJ-100 planes

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West switches to open support for Kiev's terrorist attacks against civilians — MFA

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Ministerial meeting in Turkey within 3+3 platform on South Caucasus in the works — MFA

The six-party platform for regional cooperation in the South Caucasus was initiated by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in late 2020

Zelensky says Ukrainian troops in extremely difficult situation in two DPR areas

The situation on the frontline remains extremely difficult, Ukrainian President said

Russian aviation wipes out base of Ukrainian militants in DPR — expert

The Russian Aerospace Forces delivered a strike with a glide munition

As many as 750 wildfires leave 24 houses burned in DPR over past 5 days

A total of 800 employees of the Russian Emergencies Ministry and more than 150 units of special equipment are involved in firefighting effort

Russian prime minister approves list of countries imposing destructive attitudes

It includes the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan and other states

Putin has no plans to attend Mexican president's inauguration — Kremlin

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Physicists from Russia to be banned from Large Hadron Collider from December 1 — Nature

At the same time, CERN will continue to work on projects already underway with about 270 employees of the Russian Joint Institute for Nuclear Research

Senior Russian lawmaker warns that calls for long-range strikes open way to nuclear war

Vyacheslav Volodin commented on a recent resolution of the European Parliament to allow strikes inside Russia with Western weapons

Over 6,200 Kursk Region residents evacuated from border areas over week

Around 11,000 people are currently staying in temporary accommodation centers across 32 Russian regions

Iran warns about pending response to Israel after Hamas leader Haniyeh’s killing

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Ukrainian forces create concentration camps in Russian border areas — diplomat

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