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Russia, Mali football teams to play each other in March - source

According to the source, the match has been tentatively slated for March 27

MOSCOW, February 16. /TASS/. /TASS/. The Russian national football team will play an exhibition against Mali in March, Foot Africa news web portal reported on Monday citing a source in the Afrik Foot media outlet.

According to the source, the match has been tentatively slated for March 27 in the Russian capital of Moscow.

Russia’s football ban

The world’s governing football body, FIFA, announced on February 28, 2022, that the Russian national team and all professional clubs representing the country were barred from participating in FIFA tournaments.

In turn, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) made a similar decision regarding the Russian national football team’s participation in UEFA tournaments.

Both FIFA and UEFA cited Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine as grounds for their respective bans on Russian teams’ participation in competitions.

2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy

Hockey legend Phil Esposito says 'it's a disgrace' Russia not at Olympics

In February 2022, the IIHF suspended Russia and Belarus from participation in international competitions

Russia ready to halt airstrikes on election day if elections held in Ukraine — diplomat

There is no talk yet of the practical organization of voting in Ukraine, Mikhail Galuzin said

Press review: Ukraine talks in Geneva shape settlement as Russia explores MERCOSUR deal

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, February 16th

Kiev forces lost 1,110 servicemen over past 24 hours — Russian Defense Ministry

In the area of responsibility of the Battlegroup North, the Ukrainian forces lost over 180 service members

Ukraine suffers setbacks in Zaporozhye Region, 'compensates' them with terror — governor

Saldo said that the situation on the Zaporozhye direction impacts the situation in the neighboring Kherson Region

Munich Conference proves NATO solidarity nonexistent — Russian diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says two doctrines can be seen in the alliance

West succeeded in making Ukraine European in terms of Nazism — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says that Moscow has always regarded Ukraine "as a sovereign, independent state"

Energy ceasefire to be discussed at Geneva talks — source

The next round of the negotiations is scheduled for February 17-18

Launch of UK munitions factory to produce shells for Ukraine being delayed — newspaper

The plant owner, BAE Systems, says that the delay is due to a plan to double the capacity

Orban, in response to Zelensky's insult, declares that Ukraine will not join EU

At the Munich Security Conference, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Hungarian Prime Minister was "growing a belly" instead of building up his army

Kiev forces redeploy most trained assault units to Zaporozhye area — Russian top brass

But the Battlegroup East units are confidently repelling enemy attacks, Valery Gerasimov said

Kiev’s sponsors drew conclusions after attack on Putin residence — Galuzin

Moscow's partners "once again saw firsthand the terrorist nature of Vladimir Zelensky’s junta," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said

Man ties to cut off his hand with grinder to evade being drafted to army

According to it, the man suffered serious injuries and is currently in the hospital

Sergey Ivanov removed as permanent member of Russia’s Security Council

In early February, Sergey Ivanov was relieved of his post as special representative of the head of state on environmental protection, ecology and transport

Lukashenko says offered US ideal scenario for Venezuela, but they 'did silly thing'

According to the Belarusian president, Washington chose to go its own way

IN BRIEF: What is known about preparations for upcoming talks in Geneva

The Russian delegation for the upcoming negotiations in Geneva will be expanded

EU to save face by using frozen Russian assets to rebuild Gaza Strip — RSPP head

Alexander Shokhin noted that such a project could involve the participation of Russia, the United States, and the European Union

Revocation of visas, dialogue with Iran, and Ukrainian settlement: Rubio’s statements

Washington is "going to continue doing everything" it can to settle the Ukrainian crisis, the US Secretary of State said

Hosting nuclear weapons would be Finland's second biggest mistake — politician

A member of the Finnish national-conservative party, the Freedom Alliance, Armando Mema noted that normalizing conversations about nuclear issues in the country is becoming the new norm

Tops Swiss diplomat says sure Russia wants to make step toward peace in Ukraine

Ignazio Cassis said that, referring to another round of talks on the Ukrainian settlement due to be held in Geneva on February 17 and 18

EU needs statements about Navalny's poisoning to ‘cover up’ Epstein affair — diplomat

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says Westerners overhyped the Navalny topic with "an element of detective work"

Bryansk Region withstands heaviest UAV attack

"The Ukrainian army’s terrorist actions resulted in damage to energy infrastructure facilities," the region's governor stated

Bank of Russia not taking part in talks on return to dollar payments for exports

Central Bank chief Elvira Nabiullina added that the regulator is not expecting a new inflation wave in Russia

Trump's decree on Cuba's oil blockade is 'completely insane' — ambassador

The decree absolutely contradicts international law, Viktor Koronelli said

Putin in contact with Russian delegation on Ukraine, gives it instructions — Kremlin

New Ukrainian settlement negotiations will take place in Geneva on February 17-18 to discuss all the main issues, including territories

Taking Tsvetkovoye creates base for liberation of Zaporozhye region — Defense Ministry

The ministry noted that during the liberation of Tsvetkovoye, the enemy lost a large number of personnel and military equipment

US Department of Justice publishes list of 300 celebrities who appear in Epstein files

Prince Harry, Kim Kardashian, Kurt Cobain, and Bruce Springsteen are among the names mentioned

Polish president speaks in favor of Poland having nuclear weapons

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said earlier that the Polish government is not discussing stationing nuclear weapons on the country's territory

Russia response to Putin residence attack hit Ukraine military facilities — Galuzin

On the night of December 29 Kiev carried out an attack against President Putin’s state residence in the Novgorod Region

Zelensky's accusations cannot force Hungary to approve Ukraine's EU accession — PM

Viktor Orban warned that his government would not change its stance on the issue

Large Flamingo missile production line destroyed in Ukraine, Zelensky admits

Vladimir Zelensky added that he could speak about this because the incident occurred some time ago

Ukraine's hardest attack: Bryansk Region recovering after UAV raid

More than 170 fixed-wing drones were shot down over the region

More than 70 countries to participate in Milan naval exercise in eastern India

Russia will be represented at the maneuvers by the Russian Pacific Fleet frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov

So far, only Russia has allocated $1 billion to Palestine — Kremlin

"This fact is of great significance and should not be overlooked," Dmitry Peskov said

Russia rejects Western allegations that Navalny was poisoned — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow considers such statements biased and ungrounded

Putin’s envoy to talk economic issues in Geneva

According to Dmitry Peskov, Kirill Dmitriev is on a separate track with the working group on economic cooperation, which remains active

Russian troops cut off Ukrainian army’s logistics in Konstantinovka — DPR head

Russian troops have advanced towards Dobropolye, Denis Pushilin added

German top diplomat explains delays in air defense missile deliveries to Kiev

According to Johann Wadephul, the Patriot interceptors for Ukraine come straight off the production line in the United States

Five municipalities, Bryansk left without power, heating after Ukraine’s attack

According to the governor, repair works are underway

Zaporozhye nuke plant unharmed by temporary power outage in Energodar

The plant’s communications director Yevgenia Yashina emphasized that the current power situation in Energodar was normal

Russia ready to discuss idea of Ukraine’s temporary external governance — Galuzin

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin believes that such a step "would make it possible to hold democratic elections in Ukraine, bring to power a capable government with which a full-fledged peace treaty could be signed"

US intercepts another tanker in Indian Ocean — Pentagon

No further details were provided

Norway leads Olympic medal standings after nine days

Italy comes second, and the US is third. The competition will continue tomorrow

Russia’s delegation at Geneva talks to be expanded — Kremlin spokesman

Along with presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, it will include Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and other officials, Dmitry Peskov said

US ready to support Israel’s potential strikes on Iran — TV

The officials cited by the channel say that US President Donald Trump announced the intention during a meeting with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in December 2025

West not to be able to compete with global South — Russian businessman

According to Deripaska, it would be useful for Russia to diversify its economic relations and opt for more pragmatic economic cooperation with China, Africa, India, and Latin America rather than continuing interaction with the dominating "wealthy" West

Europe should abandon its illusions about transatlantic relations — newspaper

According to the publication, the US is increasingly viewing its alliance commitments through the prism of its own interests rather than the idea of a "shared destiny" with its European allies

US wants to prevent European bureaucrats from ruining Western civilization — Russian envoy

Kirill Dmitriev said that EU bureaucrats are highly focused and skilled at destroying it through false narratives, migration, warmongering, and economic decline

Two new mpox cases confirmed in Russian tourists returning from Thailand

The patients are in satisfactory condition, the consumer rights watchdog says

Russian troops advance West of Orekhov in Zaporozhye Region — military expert

Andrey Marochko said the liberation of Orekhov is "a key to Zaporozhye city"

Belarus to stay loyal to Russia even after Lukashenko out as president — agency

"The key thing is that Russia supports Belarus in its time of need and doesn’t turn its back on Belarus," the Belarusian leader pointed out

Hillary Clinton considers Washington's failure to extend New START big mistake

The official urged to strive for deals limiting nuclear weapons

Militarization to entail Japan’s crushing defeat, Chinese foreign minister warns

This will happen if Tokyo decides to use military force in the situation around Taiwan, clarified the ministry's official representative Jiang Bin

Rostec corporation developing piston engine for small aircraft

The engine has compact dimensions, an optimal capacity of 1,211 cubic centimeters, and a light weight of 75 kg

Europe has withdrawn 99% of gas it pumped into storage for heating season

The total volume of fuel in UGS facilities stands at 37.5 bcm at present

Kremlin agrees with Fico’s assertion oil has become subject of blackmail — spokesman

Dmitry Peskov stressed that it was impossible to interpret the situation any other way

Russia considering ways to provide aid to Cuba — ambassador

Communication is ongoing both directly and through Russian embassy in Havana and the Cuban embassy in Moscow, Viktor Koronelli said

Ukrainian drone attack on Bryansk Region continuing for over 12 hours

Alexander Bogomaz called on the region’s residents to remain vigilant, observe measures of precaution and not to approach dangerous and suspicious-looking objects

Press review: Ukraine seeks EU accession in 2027 and Germany urges Russian energy return

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, February 13th

Telegram blocks over 235,000 channels and groups for first time since late January

As of February 16, more than 7.254 million groups and channels have been blocked on Telegram so far in 2026

Gates Foundation established global control over vaccines, pursuing evil goals — Dmitriev

The RDIF CEO says that the foundation "promoted bad vaccines"

One killed, one injured in drone attacks on Kherson Region over weekend

In the Novye Lageri settlement, an unoccupied building and a private home were damaged as a result of shelling

Kyrgyz president says no conditions for coup exist in country

"First, the law does not allow it, and second, no such situation exists," Sadyr Japarov said

Claims of Navalny's poisoning are Western propaganda hoax — Russian MFA

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has dismissed claims that blogger Alexey Navalny was poisoned with frog-derived poison

Russia still trying to nail down Board of Peace mission — senior diplomat

According to Sergey Ryabkov, Moscow has been quite open about its position on the Board of Peace

Europe chooses to remain deceived due to dependence on US — Chinese political scientist

Wang Yiwei said transatlantic ties would be more accurately compared not to relations between spouses but between parents and children

Ukraine loses 2,000 mercenaries, elite forces personnel in Gulyaipole — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that, having neutralized all enemy threats, Russian fighters created fire pockets for them in this sector of the front, destroying a large group of the Ukrainian armed forces

One dies after Ukraine’s drone attack on LPR

Also 23 civilians were hurt, LPR Minister of Health Natalia Pashchenko said

Munich Conference did not bring peace in Ukraine any closer — lawmaker

Leonid Slutsky says that the participants of the conference have brought about a plan "for the militarization of Europe"

Battlegroup West destroys 76 Ukrainian heavy quadcopters over day — spokesman

The servicemen also eliminated 27 drone control posts, and 13 ground-based robotic complexes

Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 170 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 18 enemy motor vehicles in its areas of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Battlegroup South forces advancing towards Slavyansk — military chief

The destruction of Ukrainian formations in Konstantinovka continues, Valery Gerasimov said

Ukraine continues to block oil supplies from Russia to Hungary — Szijjarto

Commenting on reports of the suspension of oil supplies to Slovakia and Hungary through Ukrainian territory, the Hungarian foreign minister noted that "the Druzhba pipeline was not damaged as a result of the latest strikes"

Zelensky devises election manipulations in Ukraine — Russian deputy foreign minister

Mikhail Galuzin noted that Vladimir Zelensky has begun speculating about a willingness to organize elections and even a referendum on territorial issues

Lukashenko denies rumors Putin barred him from attending Board of Peace meeting in US

The Belarusian president noted that when he talked with Putin, he did not yet know that he had been invited to the Board of Peace

Norwegian cross-country skier Kleabo breaks Winter Olympic gold medal record

Johannes Klaebo won his ninth gold medal

Too early to talk about thaw in Russia-Switzerland relations — Geneva lawmaker

Guy Mettan says that a partial lifting of the existing sanctions, no new ones, fresh proposals are needed to state a thaw

Moscow, Astana discuss dates for Putin’s 2026 visit to Kazakhstan — ambassador

Russia’s ambassador to Astana Alexey Borodavkin also pointed out that work is underway on the substantive agenda of the talks

Pyongyang unveils street built in honor of those who fought in Russia’s Kursk Region

The North Korean leader also gave housing orders to the families of the deceased

UK plans to ban social networks for teens under 16 this year — newspaper

The amendments to the Online Safety Bill can start urgently, be implemented in summer

Detention of ex-Ukrainian justice minister signals Zelensky's looming collapse — Duma

"These events are a powerful indicator that the Kiev regime’s ship has sprung a leak that can no longer be plugged by obedient sailors," Mikhail Sheremet said

Ukrainian fighters blame command after bulk of their regiment destroyed — source

Local militants blame the staff command for leaking coordinates to the Russian side

Russia brings Europe back into play by moving talks to Geneva — Swiss politician

Guy Mettan says Turkey, the Persian Gulf states will continue to play the mediating role in the crisis

Geneva MP calls transfer of talks to Switzerland 'gesture of goodwill' on part of Russia

Russia will hold high-level negotiations on the settlement in Ukraine in Switzerland for the first time since 2022, Guy Mettan says

Ukraine low on US priority list — newspaper

According to the report, France and Italy are advocating for the need to resume dialogue with Russia in order not to be left out of the Ukrainian settlement process

Siberian tiger attacks hunter in Primorsky Region, fatal outcome

The attack took place 20 km from the village of Izvilinka in a forest

Terrorists kill 32 people, took hostages in western Nigeria — TV

As the Arise television channel notes, the pattern of these crimes is reminiscent of attacks by the extremist group Boko Haram

Putin popular in Russia across all age groups — Peskov

Russian presidential spokesman also noted that Vladimir Putin enjoys the trust of citizens of very different ages

West using Armenia as a tool in confrontation with Russia — Russian diplomat

According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, Yerevan is aware of Moscow's fundamental assessments regarding the incompatibility of joining the EU with membership in the Eurasian Economic Union

Kallas says situation with freedom of speech in Estonia is much better than in US

The European Union foreign policy chief said this at a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference

Ukraine attacks Belgorod Region with over 80 drones in 24 hours

The Shebekinsky district came under attack from 23 UAVs and one munition, damaging a commercial facility, two infrastructure sites, four private houses, and two power lines

Austria’s underground gas reserves below 40%

UGS facilities are 23.95% full in Germany, 16% in the Netherlands and 24.5% in France

Russian embassy rejects Canada's accusations over Navalny’s death

The statements "lack any supporting evidence," Ambassador Oleg Stepanov says

West’s role in bloody coup in Ukraine must be remembered — Peskov

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that after 2014 everything changed

Element Group to produce around 200,000 chips for civilian drones — newspaper

The project is being implemented as part of the program to achieve a 70.3% output of domestic components for unmanned aerial vehicles by 2030

Estonia Foreign Ministry summons Russian ambassador over Putin’s comments on Narva

On June 9, the Russian President said that Peter I did not seize any Swedish territories during the Great Northern War but "got them back"

Russian diplomat urges to condemn Zelensky over remarks on Russian athletes

"The moment when a supposed president of a country says something like this, thousands of international officials should shout ‘catch the nazi’ in unison, and millions of human rights advocates organize protests against neo-Nazism," Maria Zakharova said

Europe's transgender policies will lead to serious tragedy — top lawmaker

Vyacheslav Volodin noted that in almost 20 European countries, there are no age or medical restrictions for gender transition

Ukrainian forces suffer significant losses they unable to replace — Russian military chief

The Ukrainian armed forces are relying primarily on drones, Valery Gerasimov said

Russia downs 229 Ukrainian UAVs over Bryansk Region since 05:00 GMT February 15

The region's governor Alexander Bogomaz described the Ukrainian attack on the region on February 15 as the most massive and powerful, damaging the energy infrastructure

Geneva talks to cover all key issues, including territories — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov said this is why the presence of Russia's chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, is required