Israeli air defense systems intercept about 190 rockets fired from Gaza

Thirty rockets are reported to have fallen in Gaza

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Gaza Strip

Military operation in Ukraine

US remains committed to a full ceasefire in Ukraine — State Department

According to the State Department, "it is a long past time" to stop the conflict

Night Easter service begins in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow

The chruch, as usual on Easter Day, is filled with several thousand believers

Western intel agencies aid anti-government forces in Afghanistan — SVR

According to Sergey Naryshkin, the West is trying to maintain instability in Afghanistan in order to advance its own geopolitical interests

Russian forces liberate Oleshnya in Kursk Region — top brass

The total losses of the Ukrainian armed forces in the Kursk Region have exceeded 75,000 servicemen, the Russian Defense Ministry added

Ukrainian army violates Easter truce in LPR, shells Kremennaya at night — envoy

Russian foreign ministry ambassador at large Rodion Miroshnik said that violations by the Ukrainian armed forces are still being reported

US leadership understands root causes of Ukrainian conflict — Kremlin aide

However, a longstanding anti-Russian sentiment - built over many years and decades - hinders their ability to pursue reasonable solutions, Yury Ushakov said

Putin to hold meeting of military industrial commission newt week — TV

Apart from that, the Russian president’s plans for the coming week include several international contacts, including a meeting with the sultan of Oman

Putin instructs to consider buyback mechanism for departed brands by May 15

Companies that left the Russian market after February 22, 2022 will be subject to this measure

Russian soldiers eliminated Ukrainian militants who shot civilians in Kursk region

During one of these clashes, fighter eliminated two Ukrainian soldiers in hand-to-hand combat

Moscow says shelling of Kramatorsk by Ukraine confirms Russian operation is justified

The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed confidence that Kiev won’t be able to evade responsibility for the shelling of civilians in Kramatorsk

Israeli military detain several Israelis trying to illegally cross into Gaza Strip

The civilians were transferred to the Israel Police for further questioning, the Israel Defense Forces said

Russia’s Economy Ministry downgrades forecast for average annual dollar rate for 2025

The Ministry has downgraded its forecast for the average annual US dollar exchange rate for 2025 from 96.5 to 94.3 rubles per dollar

Vulin not included in Serbia’s new cabinet because of Western pressure on Vucic — source

"Aleksandar Vulin has been removed from the government because of pressure from Brussels," the source pointed out

Situation in Kursk region

Aviation, artillery and missile troops continued to defeat manpower and equipment of the Ukrainian armed forces in the Kursk region, as well as their reserves in the Sumy region

IMF to lower global economic growth forecast due to US tariffs — Bloomberg

The world’s economy is expected to experience the first shock waves provoked by Washington’s tariff policy very soon, according to the agency

Top Armenian diplomat, OSCE chief discuss peace agreement between Yerevan, Baku

Ararat Mirzoyan and Feridun Sinirlioglu also exchanged views on the process of normalizing relations between Armenia and Turkey

Rostec subsidiary bank signs agreement with Cuban banks on settlements in rubles

The document was signed on the sidelines of the 22nd meeting of the intergovernmental Russian-Cuban commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation in Havana

About ten countries to take part in Caucasian Investment Forum

According to Minister of Economic Development of the Stavropol Region Anton Doronin, about 5,000-6,000 guests are planned

Soyuz MS-26 spaceship dedocked from ISS

Participants in the 72nd long-duration expedition at ISS Aleksey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner and Donald Pettit are on board

US should stop supporting Kiev to achieve peace — Russian politician

Sergey Mironov also remarked that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent statement reflects Washington’s "helplessness and unpreparedness for a genuine resolution of the Ukraine conflict"

Russian forces destroy two Challenger tanks in Zaporozhye Region — acting governor

Yevgeny Balitsky also noted that four Challengers were now near Stepnogorsk and two in Orekhov

Russian government approves energy strategy until 2050

The updated strategy expands the planning horizon and takes into account existing challenges, which should allow the oil, gas, coal, electric power, power engineering and related transport sectors to more accurately meet the changes taking place in the world

Geneva to host technical consultations ahead of next round of US-Iranian talks — media

The Guardian noted that "Russia could play a key role in a deal on the future of Iran’s nuclear program," pushing the UK, Germany, and France to the sidelines

Medvedev sees no need to review Russia’s nuclear doctrine

Vladimir Putin approved the framework of Russia's state nuclear deterrence policy in 2020

Zelensky claims that Kiev is ready to observe ceasefire

He added, "If complete calm prevails, Ukraine offers to extend the ceasefire beyond Easter Sunday hours on April 20 onward"

Holy Fire descends in Church of Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem

The Holy Fire symbolizes the light of Christ's resurrection

Zelensky’s office official confirms Ukraine’s participation in London talks next week

"I will not disclose who will be on the team," Sergey Leshchenko said

FACTBOX: Orthodox Easter

This year orthodox believers will celebrate Easter on April 20

DPR’s Gorlovka shelled by Ukrainian troops four times during Easter truce

According to the DPR government, shelling was conducted from the village of Pleshcheyevka

Trump believes Ukrainian conflict to be settled soon

The US leader expressed confidence that all sides were showing enthusiasm to reach the agreement

Russian LNG deliveries to China plunge 18.7% in Q1 2025 — customs

Imports lost 24% in value terms to $800.61 mln, the Main Customs Administration of China said

Ukraine running out of gas reserves, will need to import up to 6 bln cubic meters by fall

Storage facilities are filled only to 2.22%, "the lowest level over the entire record of their operation," Sergey Makogon, former CEO of Ukraine’s GTS Operator, said

IN BRIEF: Putin declares Easter truce, holds meeting with chief of General Staff

TASS has reviewed the key points of the meeting

Participants in Easter marches in Germany oppose arms supplies to Kiev

The primary issues on their agenda include disarmament, and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East

Russian commandos redeploy to Uzbekistan for drills on Afghan border

In the course of joint practical measures, the troops will accomplish the combat training tasks of ensuring the state’s territorial integrity

Aircraft with Russian servicemen returned from captivity landed in Moscow

The prisoners’ swap with Ukraine was implemented on April 19

Russia’s oceanographic vessel Admiral Vladimirsky pays visit to Venezuela

The Admiral Vladimirsky left Kronshtadt on March 13

Kiev troops attempted to kill British mercenary who surrendered to Russians — officer

In his words, they fired conventional 120mm mortar rounds, silent munitions and at least one FPV drone with a fragmentation charge

Russia to resolve Ukraine conflict quickly if EU, US 'wash hands of it' — Medvedev

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that the United States could withdraw from the negotiation on Ukraine if the parties sabotaged it

Attack on Russia using Taurus missiles would imply Germany’s involvement in conflict — MFA

Meanwhile, the Kiev regime has been "a tool of this Western manipulation," Maria Zakharova argued

Ukrainian army loses up to 155 troops in Kursk Region before Easter truce starts

Over the period of fighting in the Kursk frontline area, the Ukrainian army has lost more than 75,000 troops, the Russian Defense Ministry said

Gutsul says Moldovan president uses courts as tool to punish political opponents

The Gagauz leader emphasized that all criminal cases against her had been fabricated and were politically motivated

Russian forces hit test site of Ukrainian Sapsan missile defense system — top brass

Russian servicemen have liberated the Shevchenko settlement in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Defense Ministry said

PREVIEW: Easter Sunday celebrated by Orthodox Christians

This year Orthodox Easter coincides with the holy day for Catholics

At least seven killed in Israeli drone attacks on southern Lebanon — portal

Hazbollah military commander Hussein Ali Nasser was eliminated in one of the attacks, the Lebanon24 news portal reported

Israeli chief of General Staff visits Israel-controlled areas in Syria

Eyal Zamir vowed that Israel will retain its military presence there, the IDF said

Ukraine used US-made HIMARS systems to violate Easter truce — Russian diplomat

According to Maria Zakharova, this was quite expected from the Ukrainian side

Press review: US could rally 70 countries against China and EU targets Russia before May 9

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, April 17th

Over 1,500 attacks on Russian energy facilities staged by Ukrainian troops in Jan-Oct

According to the source, Ukrainian special services practice recruiting of Russian nationals, including minors, to commit acts of sabotage at these facilities for insignificant money award

Easter truce between Russia and Ukraine announced by Moscow expires

As Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told TASS on April 20, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not ordered to extend it

Ukrainian armed forces attack Donetsk during ceasefire — operative services

The Ukrainian army has also attacked Gorlovka, with four artillery shells fired at the town, according to the administration of the Donetsk People Republic’s head and government reported

No orders to extend Easter truce issued by Putin — Kremlin spokesman

The ceasefire is in force for 30 hours, from 6:00 p.m. Moscow time on April 19 until 00:00 Moscow time on April 21

Iranian, US experts to hold mediated discussions on Wednesday — senior Iranian diplomat

Iran insists that it has the right to uranium enrichment and this is one of Tehran’s redlines at the talks, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi added

Trump uses Easter address to slam his political opponents

"With great love, sincerity, and affection", the US President wished happy Easter to all, "including the Radical Left Lunatics" who are seeking to bring dangerous criminals, such as members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) Salvadorian gang, back to the United States

Iran won’t engage in contacts with new Syrian authorities until they restore order — MFA

According to Abbas Araghchi, the Syrian issue was raised during his meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov

Soft drinks bottling in Russia up 9% YOY in 2M 2025 — Agriculture Ministry

Bottling of drinking and mineral waters gained 10.8% over the same period

No peace is possible without disarmament — Pope Francis

The 88-year-olf pontiff called for peace in the Holy Land and across the entire Middle East, for extending prayers for Christian communities in Lebanon and Syria, and called for peace in Ukraine

Zelensky may find US-proposed version of peace deal 'hard to swallow' — newspaper

The current US presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff package "doesn’t seem to include US-backed security guarantees," The Washington Post columnist David Ignatius wrote

Israel eliminates Hamas military intelligence chief in southern Gaza — IDF

According to the report, Osama Tabash’s elimination "impairs Hamas' intelligence-gathering capabilities"

Kiev had no choice regarding Easter truce — Russian lawmaker

Alexey Pushkov assumed that Vladimir Zelensky had urgent telephone talks with Prime Minister of the Unied Kingdom Keir Starmer and France’s President Emmanuel Macron, during which the decision to consent to the truce was made

Another violation of Easter truce by Ukrainian troops reported from Gorlovka

The DPR government said that Ukrainian troops fired four rounds from 155mm artillery systems

Press review: UN ready to join Black Sea deal while Russia lifts Taliban ban

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 18th

Japan’s PM considers inappropriate to link trade and security talks with the US

"We must resolve security issues without linking them to tariff issues," Shigeru Ishiba noted

Trump says many world leaders asking him to reduce tariffs

They "must right the wrongs," US president said

Russia’s Medvedev says European troops to return in coffins if deployed to Ukraine

Earlier, Andrey Yermak, the head of the office of Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky, said he along with the Ukrainian defense and foreign ministers, Rustem Umerov and Andrey Sibiga, respectively, had arrived in Paris for talks with senior US officials

Ceasefire violations by Kiev still being reported — envoy

Russia is closely monitoring civil sites, while the military are fully informed about how the parties cooperate in the military context, the diplomat added

Russian groups of forces in area of special military operation strictly observe ceasefire

The Ukrainian army attacked the positions of Russian forces 444 times after the Easter truce was declared, as well as carried out 900 drone attacks, the Defense Ministry reported

Kiev demonstrates inability to cease fire even for 30 hours — Russian envoy

Ukraine has repeatedly broken ceasefire agreements reached within the Minsk and Normandy format, Miroshnik added

EU spends 144 bln euros on Ukraine since 2022, including 49.6 bln on weapons — EC

According to the document, 73,000 Ukrainian soldiers have received EU training

BRICS: possible expansion

US national shot dead during plane hijacking attempt in Belize

The pilots managed to land the aircraft at Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport

US remains committed to a full ceasefire in Ukraine — State Department

According to the State Department, "it is a long past time" to stop the conflict

Japan may increase rice imports from the US — newspaper

Japan is also considering an opportunity to offer simplified access of US vehicles to the country’s market, Nikkei reported

Memo signed between Ukraine, US envisages no security guarantees — Ukrainian MP

The document was signed on April 17

Russia not rejecting dollar use — Putin

Russia is not struggling with the US currency but is thinking of creating new instruments in response to new trends of global economic development, he added

Lavrov confirms to Rubio Moscow’s readiness to work with US on Ukrainian crisis — ministry

Also, Rubio informed Lavrov about his contacts with Ukrainian delegates in France

Soyuz MS-26 crew returns to Earth

The cosmonauts and the astronaut were evacuated later from the return vehicle of the spacecraft

South Korea supplies cars worth $72 mln to Russia in March

Russia was the 12th-biggest trade partner of South Korean exporters of cars

US declassifies over 10,000 pages of documents about assassination of JFK's brother

The files are published with minimal editing for privacy reasons, including the deletion of social security numbers and taxpayer identification numbers

Next US military aid package to Ukraine not being discussed — NYT

According to it, "European officials say they have not even received assurances that the United States will continue its extensive intelligence sharing for Ukraine"

Russia denounces agreement on cooperation in Barents sea region

The Barents Sea Council/The Euro-Arctic Region was established in 1993

Minerals deal unrelated to peace process in Ukraine — US Department of State

Spokeswoman for the US Department of State Tammy Bruce added that US President Donald Trump "would expect that to be signed toward the end of next week"

One settlement left until full liberation of Kursk Region from Ukrainian troops — sources

The Defense Ministry said that the Russian Armed Forces had liberated Oleshnya

Golden Dome missile defense shield won’t protect US from Russia or China, analyst says

Thomas Countryman noted that the system "could be overwhelmed by the much cheaper option of simply building a lot more missiles"

US offers easing of anti-Russia sanctions as part of Ukrainian settlement — Bloomberg

The proposals presented by the US to its allies in Paris also imply that all territories liberated by Russia remain under Moscow’s control, while "Kyiv’s aspirations of joining NATO would be off the table"

Kiev will not become part of NATO, it’s out of the question — Trump’s special envoy

US President Donald Trump suggested earlier that the Ukrainian conflict may have been triggered by Kiev’s ambitions to join the alliance

Kiev’s allies want to coordinate Ukraine ceasefire plan in London — newspaper

According to the New York Post, in order to attract Russia to negotiations on the said proposal, Washington may offer Moscow an easing of anti-Russian sanctions and possibly the unblocking of Russian assets frozen in the West

Serbian president cites FSB report as proof of attempted color revolution

A group of Federal Security Service experts said in a report published by Serbia’s Security Information Agency on Wednesday that the government of Serbia did not use sonic devices to disperse the March 15 rally in Belgrade

Trump says hopes for Russia-US deal to be made in coming week

"Both will then start to do big business with the United States of America," US leader said

US airstrikes on Yemeni capital Sanaa kill 12 — Houthi Health Ministry

According to the report, 30 more were wounded

Salaries in Russian IT segment to continue growing in 2025 — SuperJob

It will continue growing but not for everyone, because employees in the IT sphere more and more focus on the practical experience of IT specialists, President of the SuperJob job service Alexey Zakharov noted

Iran, U.S. reach greater understanding at talks in Rome — Araghchi

Iran’s Foreign Minister also emphasized in comments to Tasnim News Agency that Washington has so far refrained from crossing Tehran’s red lines and has not attempted to broaden discussions beyond Iran’s nuclear program

Russian oil imports by China down 14.7% in Q1 2025 — statistics

The value of Russian oil supplies amounted to $13 bln over the reporting quarter

Referendum on Ukraine's EU accession kicks off in Hungary

Voting will continue until the end of May, and its results will be summarized under strict control with the participation of a notary

Ukrainian forces execute over 100 civilians in Selidovo

According to Maxim Grigoriev, all Ukrainian units participated in the shooting of civilians in Selidovo

Iran makes clear to US it has no intention to restore JCPOA — MFA

The second round of talks between the U.S. and Iran concluded on Saturday after nearly four hours of discussions in Rome, mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi

Komi Region reports growth tendency in SMB development dynamics

At the International Arctic Forum in Murmansk in March, Russian President Vladimir Putin asked the government to adjust parameters for incentives offered to small and medium-sized businesses in the Far North, and to expand the list of industries for such incentives

Population of Syria’s largest Al-Hawl refugee camp reduce to 35,000 — TV

According to the television channel, the camp’s population has nearly halved since 2019 thanks to the efforts by Syrian and Iraqi authorities

US’ threats to abandon talks on Ukraine directed against Kiev rather than Moscow — Axios

The European diplomats pointed out that during talks in Paris, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has not mentioned "increasing the pressure on Russia"

China successfully launches six satellites

According to the CASC, the launch was carried out at 6:51 a.m. Beijing time on April 18 from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center using the CZ-6A (Chang Zheng 6A) carrier rocket

Incomprehensible how EU openly willing to resume Nazi ideology — Lavrov

The European Union’s intention to establish a coalition on sending troops to Ukraine demonstrates a superiority intention, the Russian Foreign Ministry said