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Four in five Russians trust Putin, poll reveals

A total of 52% of those polled said they approved of how the Russian government was handling its job (no change), while 58% approve of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s job performance (a 2 p.p. rise)

MOSCOW, August 16. /TASS/. The level of trust in Russian President Vladimir Putin among Russians has increased by 2 percentage points to 80%, says a poll conducted by the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) between August 9 and 11, surveying 1,500 adults.

"When asked if they trusted Putin, 80% of the poll’s participants said ‘yes’ (a 2 p.p. rise). Also, the majority of the population, or 80%, approves of the way the president is running the country (a 2 p.p. decrease)," the pollster said.

A total of 52% of those polled said they approved of how the Russian government was handling its job (no change), while 58% approve of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s job performance (a 2 p.p. rise).

The level of popular support for the ruling United Russia party stood at 44% (a 3 p.p. decline). The level of support rose by 1 p.p. to 9% for the CPRF and also increased by 1 p.p. to 9% for the LDPR. The A Just Russia-For Truth party saw a 1 p.p. rise in its popular support to 3%, while support for the New People party rose by 1 p.p. to 3%.

Pollsters say 80% of Russians trust Putin

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Ukraine's terrorist community growing by recruiting fighters in Syria — diplomat

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Ukrainian forces create concentration camps in Russian border areas — diplomat

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Putin examines kamikaze drones, unmanned systems at St. Petersburg defense plant

The Russian president was accompanied by Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Maxim Oreshkin and Presidential Aide Alexey Dyumin

Zelensky may be overthrown if Ukraine fails to hold elections — Ukrainian MP

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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

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

North Korean balloon carrying trash crashes again near government complex in Seoul

Police cordoned off the scene, military specialists checked the contents for hazardous substances and removed the debris

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

Russian Baltic Fleet's training ship Smolny makes port call at Equatorial Guinea’s Malabo

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

"The West continues to supply arms and money to the Kiev regime, propose pseudo-peace initiatives, and try to rally as many countries as possible to their side," Maria Zakharova said

Russia ready to give Uzbekistan access to high-precision GLONASS signal — document

The Russian global navigation satellite system is designed to promptly provide navigation information to users of land, sea, air and space

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

Lifting ban on strikes deep into Russia won't help Ukraine much — Pentagon

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European Parliament calls for arrest warrant for Maduro

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European Parliament urges end to restrictions on strikes on Russia with Western weapons

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Russia deeply concerned by events unfolding in Lebanon — diplomat

Maria Zakharova asserted Russia’s solidarity with the people of Lebanon

Russia's military to restore control of all districts of Kursk Region — Kremlin

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

Press review: Hezbollah pagers attack threatens wider war and Russia ready to test nukes

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Russia’s battlegroup Center repels 9 Ukrainian attacks, inflicts over 510 enemy casualties

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Pakistan joins formation of corridor from Belarus to ports of Indian Ocean

"The Minister of Communications of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan signed this Memorandum, emphasizing the importance and significance of this project for the development of trade and economic relations and cargo transportation in the region," the statement reads

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"

EU may cancel visa-free regime with Georgia due to ‘backsliding on democracy' — newspaper

According to the newspaper, under the 2017 agreement, Georgian citizens do not need visas to visit EU countries, where they can stay for six months a year

NATO was called obsolete, braindead in past 10 years — Stoltenberg

"During my time as Secretary General, the relevance of NATO has been questioned," Jens Stoltenberg noted

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

EP resolution regarding strikes on Russia madness, EU seeks war — French politician

According to Florian Filippot, France should urgently withdraw from the EU and advocate for a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian conflict

Investigator charge 33 people in case of shooting at office of retailer in central Moscow

The Russian Investigative Committee wants the suspects to be kept in custody until trial

Kadyrov send two more Cybertucks to special military operation zone

"The electric car’s mobility, comfort and maneuverability are what is needed here," the Chechen leader said

Turkey’s top diplomat confirms Ankara seeks to join BRICS

Ankara always looks for new opportunities to expand its trade and economic cooperation anyway, Hakan Fidan added

Only Lebanese hospitals, kindergartens used exploded pagers — Iranian ambassador

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

Russian forces take control of two settlements in Kursk Region

According to Major General Apty Alaudinov, the entire frontline in moving forward, with Ukrainian soldiers surrendering

West’s attempts to turn UNGA into pro-Ukrainian show doomed to fail — Russian MFA

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

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

Businessman probably related to exploding gadgets in Lebanon missing in Norway

At this point, there is no evidence indicating that Rinson Jose had any knowledge about the operation to create the explosive gadgets

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

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

The head of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s office slammed human rights activists for practicing double standards, when they are "silent while 41,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, mostly women and children, have been killed by the cruel Zionist regime"

Israel’s explosive gadget operation in Lebanon took 15 years of preparation — ABC

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

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Ukrainian servicemen captured: developments in Kursk Region

Over the day, Ukraine lost up to 400 troops and 23 armored vehicles

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

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Choe Son-hui underscored that "global peace and security are in jeopardy"

Putin instructs authorities to support small producers of drones

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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

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Biden, Harris to meet with Zelensky at White House on September 26

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

Russia firmly committed to principles of UN Charter unlike West — Lavrov

In this context, the foreign minister noted with appreciation that the position of Russia enjoys "the broadest support from like-minded BRICS countries and other states of the world majority"

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Inclusion in the sanctions list entails the freezing of assets in the US and a ban on American citizens and companies doing business with sanctioned persons and entities

West assists Kiev in striking civilian facilities in Russia — diplomat

In his words, Kiev is not independent from the military point of view, having no material and technical capabilities for independent warfare that involves western weaponry

Israeli attacks Hezbollah facilities, red lines: Middle East escalation

The constant shelling of the Lebanon-Israel border continued amid Israel's operation in the Gaza Strip

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

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One killed in stabbing attack in Dutch city of Rotterdam

According to the NOS television channel, the attack occurred near the Erasmusbrug bridge in the city center

Russia fully ready to defend its interests in Arctic — Lavrov

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

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

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

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

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

Hezbollah fires rockets at seven Israeli barracks

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One Ukrainian drone attacks Energodar, another downed — administration

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Mexican president-elect refuses to visit Ukraine

"I will attend certain international events, which we consider important, but we will not travel much - our responsibility lies here," Claudia Sheinbaum said

First five Baikal aircraft will be delivered in 2026 — minister

"It has been decided that we will switch to the domestic VK-800 engine," Anton Alikhanov said

Germany says supplies to Kiev included 22 Leopard 1A5 tanks, 3 Gepard air defense systems

Germany is also preparing to deliver 12 Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery units

US citizen Zenkovich, convicted in Belarus, asks Lukashenko for pardon

Zenkovich also addressed the US side

Theft of Russian assets to nullify trust towards EU — MFA

Maria Zakharova pointed out that the European Union had lost independence

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

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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

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

Earlier, the Mexican embassy in Moscow stated that the Russian president had received an invitation to Sheinbaum's inauguration ceremony

Ukrainian forces in difficult situation in Kursk Region, try gain foothold — commander

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 military in Syria help 26 refugees leave US-occupied Al-Tanf zone

No attacks on Syrian pro-government forces were registered in the Idlib de-escalation zone in the past day, the Russian military official added

Russian National Guard eliminates about 30 Ukrainian vehicles in Kursk Region

The National Guard noted that its troops provide extra protection measures for important state facilities

Russia delivers urgent assistance to Mali — portal

The delivery was organized as part of military cooperation between Russia and Mali to boost defense and security ties

Stoltenberg's statements on use of long-range missiles against Russia senseless — MFA

According to the outgoing NATO Secretary-General, Ukraine's use of long-range missiles will not lead to the alliance being drawn into a conflict with Russia

Lebanese citizens turn off phones, appliances for fear of more blasts — newspaper

The newspaper pointed out that the pager blasts have turned daily life in Lebanon into scenes of panic and violence

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

The date of the next court hearing, to take place in Washington, has not been set yet

Belarus ready to cooperate with Ukraine on same terms as with DPR

Alexander Lukashenko stressed that by cooperating with the DPR, Belarus "is absolutely not violating any international norms"

Putin extends food embargo on imports from Western countries for two years

The food embargo, introduced in response to the unfriendly actions of the West, has been in effect in Russia since August 7, 2014

Israeli forces kill over 300 radicals in southern Gaza — portal

Besides, they found and destroyed a cache with long-range missiles and an arms depot with sniper rifles

Medvedev allows use of nuclear weapons by Russia when ‘patience runs out’

The politician underscored that no one really needs a nuclear conflict - it is "a very bad story with a very difficult outcome."

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

"Russian territory and Russian regions cannot be the subject of any discussion or transfer to anyone," Dmitry Peskov emphasized

Peace talks between Russia, Ukraine unlikely to happen in near future — DPR head

As Denis Pushilin noted, for now the word "peace" is interpreted in different ways, but everything should end in negotiations sooner or later

Taliban say Afghanistan will now rely only on Sharia law

The supreme leader said that the negotiation process with the US in Doha was based on Sharia, "not a single step in these negotiations was taken against religion"

Israeli air force attacks around 100 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon in past two hours

The strikes were directed by the IDF intelligence units and the IDF Northern Command, the Israel Defense Forces said

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

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Explosions in Lebanon pose interest for Russian intelligence — Kremlin spokesman

According to Dmitry Peskov, Moscow has not discussed the events in Lebanon with regional actors

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

The Russian Aerospace Forces delivered a strike with a glide munition

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

IN BRIEF: Ex-Ukrainian intel officer’s car blown up in northern Moscow

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US carries out mock electronic launch of Minuteman III ICBM

Such test deployments of Minuteman III missiles without an actual launch are being carried out twice a year at various air bases, the statement says