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Russia explains pre-pandemic exchange of anti-COVID equipment with US

It is reported that the situation was extremely challenging for all countries

MOSCOW, October 10. /TASS/. Many countries exchanged COVID-19 medical equipment and test systems at the start of the coronavirus pandemic to help each other fight it, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

This is how he commented on the fact that former US President Donald Trump sent special equipment for testing for COVID-19 to Moscow when the pandemic began.

"That was when the pandemic was just beginning. The situation was extremely challenging for all countries. Millions of people were getting sick. The first test systems didn't work well then. Their accuracy was very poor. In the early days, all countries lacked different medical equipment, and they were trying to exchange assistance in any way they could. We sent a batch of ventilators to the US. And the US sent us some samples of those tests. Of course, at that time these were in high demand - there simply weren't many available," the Kremlin spokesman pointed out, emphasizing that "many countries were doing the same."

Poll reveals Russian attitudes toward childfree propaganda

According to the poll, the majority of Russian residents (68%) know about the existence of the childfree movement

Russia has proof of US’, UK’s involvement in sabotage of Nord Stream pipelines — diplomat

The publication of the evidence will depend on how the situation around the investigation unfolds, Maria Zakharova said

Ukraine ‘slowly losing’ in conflict, EU crisis may consequently worsen — media

Among the most severe consequences for the EU the magazine names the influx of refugees

Stoltenberg could face life imprisonment for his crimes — lawyer

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Lavrov arrives in Laos to take part in 19th East Asia Summit

The top Russian diplomat is expected to speak at the summit on Friday, October 11

Residents being evacuated from village in Adygea amid fire caused by drone attack

According to the republic’s head, no casualties were reported

Seizure of Kursk NPP by Ukrainian troops fraught with recurrence of Chernobyl — delegation

Europe would have faced an environmental and humanitarian disaster, acting head of the Russian delegation to the Vienna Yulia Zhdanova said

Moldova uses conflict in Ukraine to put pressure on Transnistria

Vadim Krasnoselsky noted that the conflict in Ukraine, which closed its border with Transnistria, "seriously disrupted logistics, complicated the fulfillment of obligations to foreign partners, limited supplies to the republic, and deprived it of some markets"

Israel to retaliate so suddenly that Iran won't have time to realize anything — minister

Yoav Gallant reiterated that the Iranian attack did not damage the Israeli Air Force's capabilities

Putin launches third power unit of Udarnaya TPP

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Putin launches serial assembly of Lada Aura via videoconference

The car based on the Vesta model was first presented last summer

Taiwan records approach of 27 Chinese PLA aircraft, 14 vessels in past day

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Ukraine pulls back troops to western outskirts of Dzerzhinsk — security agencies

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Battlegroup Dnepr thwarts rotation of Ukrainian army in Zaporozhye Region

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Russian forces strike Ukrainian army’s fuel supply sites over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 650 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy ammunition depot in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Press review: US shuns Russia on Ukraine talks and Washington wavers on aiding Israel

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Israel’s bills banning UNRWA activities cause concern — Russian diplomat

Vasily Nebenzya stressed that such a move would constitute a violation of the UN Charter and "will have the most negative consequences"

Kalashnikov launches series production of VTOL drones — company

The State Transport Leasing Company is the main customer of such drones, the press service noted

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There are no victims or injured, firefighters are putting out the blaze

Russian forces press Ukrainian troops near Grigorovka in DPR — military expert

Andrey Marochko added that Russian army units have intensified fire on Ukrainian militants’ positions in the settlement of Serebryanka

Russia’s Mir payment system launched in Nicaragua, so far through one ATM

Russian Trade Representative in Nicaragua Petr Pankratov reported that payment by Mir card in Nicaragua, which can now be found in many places in Cuba, is a question of the future

Zelensky needs to initiate talks with Russia, Ukrainian lawmaker says

Alexander Dubinsky is confident that Western leaders will put indirect pressure on the Ukrainian president

South Korean writer Han Kang awarded with Nobel Prize in Literature

Han Kang became famous for her novel The Vegetarian, for which she was awarded the Booker Prize in 2016, as well as for her novel Human Acts

Trump’s words about denuclearization deal do not correspond to reality — senior diplomat

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Zelensky says his 'victory plan' aims to strengthen Ukraine’s military might

The Ukrainian president also said that he plans to meet with the leaders of the UK, Germany, Italy and France in the upcoming days and present them with Ukraine’s "victory plan"

West hopes to pull Ukraine into NATO in exchange for territories — MFA

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Press review: West's new NATO angle for Kiev and Putin plans powwows with regional bigs

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, October 8th

Russian forces destroy two US-made Patriot missile launchers in Ukraine operation

Russia’s Battlegroup Center repulsed nine Ukrainian army counterattacks and inflicted roughly 490 casualties on enemy troops in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Rolf to launch production of cars in Russia in 2026-2027 — Rolf Group

According to owner Umar Kremlev, the plant will build cars from start to finish

Desertion epidemic reaches massive proportions in Ukraine — journalist

Accoridng to Vladimir Boiko, the total number of deserters now stands at 170,000 people

Mobilized Ukrainian welder cuts hole in border bridge

He fled to Hungary, Ukrainian journalist Vitaly Glagola said

Israel undermining UN resolutions that granted it UN membership — Russian diplomat

According to Vasily Nebenzya, there is a paradoxical situation

Kremlin slams as fake news rumors of DPRK military’s participation in special operation

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun has alleged that DPRK soldiers might have been sent to Ukraine

West gives Kiev license to destroy Ukrainian people — Russian delegation to HRC

Ilya Barmin drew attention to the "instrumentalization of the subject of technical assistance to countries in the field of human rights by the delegations of the US, the UK, Germany, France and other European countries"

Russian aircraft target construction site of Ukrainian stronghold in Zaporozhye Region

"The fortified area in the Orekhov District, where they are digging in and installing concrete structures, will not help the enemy," Vladimir Rogov said

IRGC confirms destruction of numerous Israeli F-35s in Iranian missile strike

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Argentina, Chile suspended lithium supplies to Russia — official

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Ukraine expects conflict to be over no later than 2025 — Zelensky

Zelensky stated that by November Ukraine expected to prepare a document that would be presented at a new conference on the settlement in the country, but did not specify when this event was planned to be held

Israel seeks to wage major war to sway US election — Iranian Foreign Ministry

According to Spokesman Esmail Baghaei, the US's security agencies are falsely accusing Iran of trying to interfere in Washington's internal affairs

Russian national football team to play two friendlies next month

The Syrian Football Association confirmed to TASS earlier that the country’s national team had been training to play a friendly match against the Russian national side

Russian embassy slams US vice president’s remarks about Putin as outrageous

According to the statement, "such a boorish language has become a habit among the current so-called American statesmen"

Oil and gas revenues of Russian budget increase by 49.4% in 9 months

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US connivance with Kiev fraught with risk of full-scale West-Russia conflict — MFA

"We need not some signals, but real evidence that there is an understanding of the futility of unconditional support for the minions in Kiev, and of the dangers that are exacerbated in a situation where this policy is not revised," Sergey Ryabkov stated

Future of Ukrainians being decided 'overseas,' Russian diplomat says

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According to Apty Alaudinov, military is making visible progress

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At least two killed as Hurricane Milton slams into Florida — TV

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Israel is likely to give up the idea of striking nuclear sites in Iran, the Jerusalem Post said

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Romania notifies Russia of imminent closure of its consulate general — diplomat

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Iran prepared for any scenario in Middle East conflict — foreign minister

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Trump refuses from holding another round of debates with Harris

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Russian troops use latest Tribunal kamikaze drone in Ukraine operation

It has a flight range of over 10 km and carries a payload of 3 kg

Ukrainian forces capture Sudzha civilians, hold them in boarding school — authorities

Alexander Bogachev pointed out that this information is confirmed by video footage shot by the Ukrainian servicemen themselves

Pantsir-S on round-the-clock duty in Kursk region — Russian Defense Ministry

The crews constantly change positions

Iran warns Persian Gulf states against any assistance to Israel — Reuters

"The message emphasized the need for regional unity against Israel and the importance of securing stability," the source added

Some 3,000 Ukrainian troops may be trapped near Seversk in DPR — expert

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Putin highlights danger emanating from Neo-Nazis in Ukraine in talk with Scholz

As it was pointed out, official Kiev "is not fulfilling its promises to stop this barbarity: the number of such instances has been growing in recent days"

Big Five nuclear powers to hold regular meeting in New York soon — senior Russian diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov also wished every success to China which took over coordination of the group as he said that Beijing can count on Moscow’s support in what he called a turbulent time

Ramstein group meeting likely to take place in Brussels on October 17 — source

It is reported that the possibility to hold consultations at the working level is currently under consideration

West’s financial policy makes keeping reserves in their currencies risky — minister

According to Siluanov, the dollar will still be able to maintain its popularity as a payment unit in the coming years, but BRICS nations are already expanding the use of national currencies

Kiev ready for ceasefire along current front line, without recognizing new border — media

A significant number of Ukrainian troops "find themselves trapped" on Russian territory (near Kursk) and are unable to come to aid in Donbass where they are outnumbered in men, the report added

Defense contractor delivers new batch of Su-34 bombers to Russia’s Aerospace Forces

The bombers have undergone a series of ground and flight tests

Georgian PM describes situation in Ukraine as disastrous

The posters, which were put up in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and other cities, show destroyed homes, bridges, schools, churches and other buildings in Artyomovsk (called Bakhmut in Ukraine), Kharkov, Chernigov, Mariupol, Irpen and Donetsk

Senior Russian diplomat sees no basis for discussing strategic stability with US

Sergey Ryabkov specified that no talks can be held, unless Washington changes the line of the anti-Russian policy being pursued by the US and its allies

Share of national currencies in payments within CIS over 85% — Putin

This figure continues growing, the Russian leader noted

Putin did not talk to Trump after Trump’s presidential term expired — Kremlin spokesman

The claims about potential contacts between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump first emerged in the excerpts from a book by veteran US investigative journalist Bob Woodward, presented by CNN

Nuclear test ban organization says Iranian seismic event looks like earthquake — diplomat

A 4.5-magnitude earthquake was recorded in Iran’s province of Semnan southeast of the capital Tehran on October 5

EU ambassadors agree on mechanism for 35 billion euro loan to Kiev — EU Council

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Hundreds of factories opened in Russia, industrial production growing — Putin

The Russian president also noted that it is necessary to expand the volume and range of products manufactured on the basis of Russian technologies

Lavrov to take part in East Asia Summit in Laos

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova noted that the EAS is both a mechanism of the ASEAN and a key element of ASEAN-based multilateral dialogue and cooperation in the region

IDF claims elimination of Hezbollah militia member in Syria

According to the press office, the Israeli Air Force attacked and eliminated Azam Jahout

Putin relieves Russian Ambassador to US Antonov of his post — decree

The Russian diplomat returned to Moscow on October 6

Russia virtually has no unemployment, labor productivity should be increased — Putin

According to the Russian president, the opening of new high-tech production facilities is "a step in the absolutely right direction"

Group of Iranian lawmakers asks Security Council to authorize creation of nuclear weapons

Since 2003, a fatwa by the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has outlawed the production of nuclear weapons as contradicting Islam

Israel to retaliate Iranian actions by attacking military targets — newspaper

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, key ministers, army and intelligence chiefs decided to focus on "Iranian military facilities," the source told the newspaper, adding that the decision could be changed

Expansion of Middle East conflict to be catastrophic for region — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov did not speculate on what actions Russia, whose Khmeimim airbase is located in the Middle East, might take in the event of further escalation

Russian Lancet munition destroys French-made artillery gun in Kharkov Region

"After the exact location coordinates of the enemy’s self-propelled artillery system were confirmed, a decision was made to deliver a pinpoint strike at the target," the Russian Defense Ministry reported

Avtovaz plans to produce 8,000 Lada Aura cars per year starting from 2025

The car based on the Vesta model was first presented last summer

Russian forces thwart Ukrainian troop rotation in Zaporozhye area

According to the report, a Russian reconnaissance drone operator uncovered another enemy attempt to rotate troops

Israel drags Middle East into catastrophe — Iranian foreign minister

Abbas Araghchi held a meeting with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud

Nobel Prize in chemistry awarded for work with proteins

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Around 220 projectiles reportedly fired at Israel from Lebanon on October 9 — IDF

A massive missile attack on the city of Kiryat Shmona near the border killed two locals

Serbian leader insists on editing anti-Russian rhetoric in Southeast Europe's declaration

Aleksandar Vucic also stressed that many participants in the summit only sought to take advantage of the UN Charter to achieve their own goals

FACTBOX: Hurricane Milton rips through Florida

Police and firefighters are scouting damaged areas to provide aid to those affected and carry out search operations

Two settlements liberated: situation in Kursk Region

Units of the battlegroup North continued offensive operations and liberated the settlements of Novaya Sorochina and Pokrovsky in the Kursk Region

Ukrainian official dismisses reports claiming Kiev ready to declare ceasefire

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Ukrainian army starts using FPV drones to attack individual soldiers — Russian sapper

Ukrainian drones are often used for remote mine-laying

Discord deals with blocking in Russia, Turkey — company

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Russian embassy urges US to think about risks of Ukrainian chemical terrorism

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Croatian summit declaration on Ukraine includes Zelensky’s 'peace plan' — news outlet

The Dubrovnik declaration consists of 17 provisions, which, according to the Nova.rs news outlet, will be discussed by the participants of the summit before signing

Response measures to be in effect as soon as West approves long-range strikes — Lavrov

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Western Balkans should join EU, no consensus on other candidates — Orban

The Hungarian prime minister emphasized the importance of Serbia’s accession to the EU