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Developments in Afghanistan

Ambassador may represent Russia at Afghan government's inauguration — upper house speaker

Valentina Matviyenko stressed that Russia's representation would be no higher than at the embassy level

Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko Alexei Nikolsky/Russian Presidential Press and Information Press Office/TASS

Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko

© Alexei Nikolsky/Russian Presidential Press and Information Press Office/TASS

VIENNA, September 8. /TASS/. The speaker of Russia's Federation Council (upper house of parliament) Valentina Matviyenko believes that Russia will be represented at the inauguration of Afghanistan's new government at the embassy level.

"I believe that representation will be at the level of ambassadors or other members of the diplomatic corps, no higher than that," Matviyenko told the media on Wednesday in reply to a TASS question.

The Taliban movement (outlawed in Russia) launched a massive operation for establishing control of Afghanistan after the United Sates last spring declared the intention to withdraw its armed forces. On August 15, Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani stepped down and left the country. The Taliban entered Kabul without encountering any resistance.

The radicals' opponents organized resistance in Panjshir under the leadership of Ahmad Massoud. Former Vice-President Amrullah Saleh, who had declared himself as acting head of state, came out with a call in Massoud's support.

On Tuesday, the Taliban's spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid unveiled the composition of a new Afghan government, which consists exclusively of Taliban members, most of them Pashtuns, populating the southern areas of Afghanistan.

Massoud said the resistance to the radicals was continuing and called upon all Afghans for a national uprising.

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Power transfer in Afghanistan

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Press review: US lets Kiev use anti-personnel mines and Iran may halt uranium enrichment

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US missile defense base in Poland long among Russian army’s targets — Foreign Ministry

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The United States introduced sanctions against Gazprombank earlier today

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Russian troops raise flag in central Kurakhovo in Donetsk region — politician

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US admiral says Washington should be ready for talks with Russia, China

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US Congressman urges to impeach Biden for allowing strikes deep into Russia

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China holds US responsible for disrupted defense ministers' meeting in Laos

Wu Qian stated that the United States must immediately correct its mistakes, "honestly respect China’s main interests, and seek to create favorable conditions for high-level contacts between the military of the two countries"

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West launched missiles targeting Russia’s Bryansk, Kursk Regions — Putin

Russian air defenses repulsed all attacks, the Russian president said

Russian air defense deflects attacks with Western missiles — Putin

"As a result, the goals that the enemy apparently set have not been achieved," the Russian leader said

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US strategic forces ready for Biden-Trump transition — Pentagon

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Russian ambassador says UK prime minister doesn’t understand situation in Ukraine

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Kremlin condemns report on Storm Shadow missile use against Russian targets as escalation

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Russia hit Ukrainian military-industrial facility in response to use of Western missiles

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Russia not obliged to notify anyone about launch of intermediate-range missile — Kremlin

"No, there have been no notifications, for Russia has no such obligation with regard to intermediate-range missiles," Dmitry Peskov emphasized

US makes mistake by destroying INF Treaty — Putin

The Russian leader stressed that the United States made a mistake by unilaterally destroying the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019 under a far-fetched pretext

US is now at war with Russia, Ritter says

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Ukraine was warned about possible missile strike — Pentagon

Department of Defense Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh gave no answer to the question of how could Ukraine prepare for this kind of attack

ATACMS missiles unlikely to keep Kiev from losing conflict — American expert

Daniel Davis also noted that "continuing to ignore reality" would only increase "the ultimate cost of losing" the conflict for Ukraine

Press review: Uranium costs soar as Moscow updates nuclear doctrine and US OKs attacks

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Lukashenko tells Putin situation is "starting to get tense with Wagner"

The Belarusian leader noted that they want to go to Warsaw

Russian forces push Ukrainian troops 10 km away from Lisichansk in LPR — expert

Russian troops have taken new lines and positions northwest of Zolotaryoka as a result of successful operations

NATO enters conflict, Russia has every right to attack its targets now — expert

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Trump to continue using Ukraine to contain Russia — Valdai program director

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NATO supports Ukraine not out of charity but for its own strategic interests — deputy head

Boris Ruge argued that NATO now has hundreds of thousands of troops that could be deployed to the alliance's eastern flank or elsewhere within ten days

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Ukraine has around 50 ATACMS missiles — The Times

According to the report, the Ukrainian military has sufficient launchers that are capable of firing them

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"Once again, a chance to free the hostages, who include Russian nationals, has been missed," the statement reads

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Russia’s re-election to UNCITRAL confirms its global reputation — Foreign Ministry

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Preliminary data shows anti-ship missile downed over Sevastopol waters — official

Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said that all emergencies services currently work in the high alert mode

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Xi Jinping calls for unification of more voices for peace in Ukraine

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Russia ready to assist Serbia in building oil pipeline via Hungary — Transneft

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Over the day, the enemy lost more than 150 people, while five Ukrainian servicemen surrendered

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Bank of Russia’s officials hit by US sanctions

The head of the financial monitoring and currency control service of the Russian Central Bank was also added to black lists

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Humanitarian crisis in Kiev-controlled Kupyansk district of Kharkov Region near critical

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Washington has no plans of updating nuclear posture after Russia’s test of new missile

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Russian stock market indices in the red on Thursday — market data

The mood in international markets was mainly neutral

Soyuz rocket carrying Progress MS-29 cargo spaceship blasts off from Baikonur spaceport

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Newly arrived Ukrainian soldiers rob, loot in Kharkov Region’s Kupyansk

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Ex-German chancellor never expected Russia to tolerate Ukraine’s NATO membership — memoir

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Moscow hopes West will thoroughly analyze Russia's nuclear doctrine — ambassador

Andrey Kelin also recalled that the policy of the Russian leadership enjoys the full support and confidence of the country's population

No Western sanctions to limit Russia’s foreign trade — minister

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West’s decision on missile strikes gives Russia free hand to attack NATO bases — expert

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Biden's decision to use ATACMS on Russia threatens to kill Americans — Tucker Carlson

The journalist also criticized US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson (a Republican representing the state of Louisiana) for "not even mentioning it in public or in leadership meetings" with factions in the lower house of Congress

Turkey seeks justice against Israel for genocide in Gaza — Erdogan’s Party

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US not seeking confrontation with Russia, but will continue assistance to Kiev — Pentagon

Department of Defense Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh also claimed that Washington, while helping Ukraine, is not attempting to turn the conflict into a large-scale regional confrontation that spills beyond the country’s borders

Residents of Kupyansk, Kovsharovka in Kharkov Region returning to their homes

People are refusing to go to safer places because of Ukraine's unwillingness to provide basic sanitation for refugees

Moscow won’t allow US to silence UNSC as Washington backs Israel — Russian UN envoy

According to Vasily Nebenzya, the Security Council should "bring peace, stability and prosperity to the Middle East"

Zelensky begs ‘for his country to be flattened’ — US journalist

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Russia fires ballistic, non-nuclear-tipped missile at Ukrainian aerospace plant — Putin

According to the president, the missile is code-named Oreshnik, which can roughly be translated as hazel bush

IAEA once again fails to hold Kiev responsible for threats to Zaporozhye NPP — diplomat

Russian envoy to international organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov pointed out that from September 23 to November 12, the Russian servicemen suppressed 556 drones near the plant and Energodar

China slams US nuclear policy for undermining global stability

The United States continues to modernize its nuclear triad, Lin Jian noted

EU considers ICC warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant as binding — foreign policy chief

According to Josep Borrell, the situation in the Gaza Strip "is apocalyptic," and "there are no more words" to describe it

Putin sends message to those seeking to 'add fuel to fire' before Trump’s return — expert

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Russian troops liberate Dalneye community in Donbass region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 380 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed a British-made howitzer and four US-made artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day

US decision on strikes inside Russia stems from malice rather than strategy — journalist

According to Sumantra Maitra, Washington’s move will not improve Kiev’s situation

Lavrov arrives in Brest for two-day working visit — correspondent

The top Russian diplomat will also hold an official meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Maxim Ryzhenkov

Russia always fulfilled its trade obligations, ready to cooperate with Germany — Putin

"It was underscored that Russia has always been committed to its treaty and contractual obligations in the energy sector and is ready for mutually beneficial cooperation if the German side shows interest in this," the statement says

Russia to address NATO’s engagement in strikes deep inside country — SVR

Sergey Naryshkin observed that the military and political elites in the West are increasingly recognizing the gravity of Russia's intentions and the need for greater caution in their actions

Weapons supplied to Ukraine cannot reach Russian territory, Spanish defense minister says

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Zelensky to have no input if Russia, US negotiate, ex-Prime Minister says

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Russian army pushes Ukraine out of Kurakhovo water reservoir’s north shore

According to Igor Kimakovsky, the only road the Ukrainian armed forces could use to leave the city is under Russia’s control

Press review: Russian air defenses can down Western missiles as EU conducts live exercise

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, November 19th

Ex-UK Labor party leader wants PM to clarify situation with Storm Shadow missiles

Jeremy Corbyn called for de-escalation of the situationin Ukraine and the search for a diplomatic solution to achieve peace

US forces strike Houthi sites with seaborne missiles — TV

According to Al Arabiya, US warships fired at least four missiles at Houthi-operated facilities in the Al-Matina area around 90 km south of the province’s administrative center

Japanese lawmaker praises Putin's restraint amid decision to strike deep into Russia

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell confirmed that the US administration had lifted restrictions for US-supplied missiles to be used for strikes up to 300 kilometers inside Russia

Putin’s Q&A session and press conference to be held on one of December Thursdays — Kremlin

"The direct line and press conference are being prepared," Dmitry Peskov said

Zelensky admits Ukraine can't fight its way back to 1991 borders

Vladimir Zelensky also talked about the Crimean Peninsula, stating that Kiev is ready to "bring Crimea back diplomatically"

US journalist calls US President Joe Biden’s government 'the fascist state'

Earlier, Tucker Carlson said that Joe Biden's approval of long-range missile strikes by the Ukrainian army deep inside Russia could threaten US people