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UK to apply sanctions if Russia tries to ‘install puppet regime’ in Ukraine — minister

In response to the question, whether London is considering the possibility to disconnect Russia from SWIFT, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab noted that a wide package of economic and financial restrictions would be imposed against Moscow

UK Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab EPA-EFE/ANDY RAIN

UK Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab

© EPA-EFE/ANDY RAIN

LONDON, January 23. /TASS/. The UK government is ready to impose tough economic penalties against Moscow if it allegedly tries not only to invade Ukraine but also bring pro-Russian politicians to power, Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab said on Sunday.

"Russia will face serious consequences, if [it] takes this move to try to invade [Ukraine] but also install the puppet regime," Raab told Sky News. In response to the question, whether London is considering the possibility to disconnect Russia from SWIFT, the deputy prime minister noted that a wide package of economic and financial restrictions would be imposed against Moscow.

Furthermore, Raab did not rule out that some penalties against the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline would be hammered out jointly with NATO. Meanwhile, the deputy prime minister said that sending British troops to Ukraine in case of Russian invasion was a highly unlikely scenario.

On Saturday, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office stated that Moscow was planning to bring a pro-Russian government, which allegedly could be headed by former parliamentarian Yevgeny Muraev, to power in Ukraine.

In turn, the Russian Foreign Ministry called on the UK to stop provocations. Besides, Muraev slammed London’s allegations as groundless, since he had been under Russian sanctions for three years and had been banned from entering the country, while his father’s assets in Russian banks had been frozen.

The West and Kiev have recently been spreading allegations about Russia’s potential ‘invasion’ of Ukraine. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov castigated these claims as "empty and unfounded", serving as a ploy to escalate tensions, pointing out that Russia did not pose any threat whatsoever to anyone. However, Peskov did not rule out the possibility of provocations aimed at justifying such allegations and warned that attempts to use military force to resolve the crisis in southeastern Ukraine would have serious consequences.

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Georgian riot police disperses protesters in central street

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Russian scientists to develop computer working at ‘speed of light’ by 2027 — researcher

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Borrell calls for preventing consolidation of whole world against West

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Putin approves purchase of Russian Elevator Company from French grain trader Louis Dreyfus

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Russia winning in Ukrainian conflict, Polish national security chief says

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Russia designs Titan rifle for commandos

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Ukrainian army says desertion main reason for loss of Ugledar

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Putin apologizes to Merkel over labrador incident

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Syrian government army hits militants’ positions in southern Idlib — newspaper

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Putin signs law on taxation of digital currencies

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Russia weighs resumption of nuclear tests — senior diplomat

"The situation is quite complicated," Sergey Ryabkov said

Putin believes that US President-elect Trump’s life may be in danger

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Russia's opponents see Finland as springboard in case of open conflict — politician

Leonid Slutsky noted that the current and previous leadership of Finland has been and remains engaged "on the lower turn of the sine wave, which is now marked by a sharp cooling of bilateral relations"

Novaya Zemlya facility prepared for resumption of nuclear tests — Russian general

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UK continuing arms supplies to Kiev fraught with conflict of nuclear powers — diplomat

Andrey Kelin noted that "the British have utterly ignored all our warnings and opted for escalatory actions to further worsen the Ukrainian crisis"

Syrian army eliminates hundreds of terrorists, repelling their attack on Aleppo, Idlib

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Aeroflot reports difficulties with purchases, returns of tickets

The service provider takes measures to restore normal operation of the system as soon as possible, Aeroflot said

Ukrainian servicemen abandon military units due to fear of Russian army — official

Kiev is constantly losing control over populated areas because "tens of thousands of tired and desperate Ukrainian servicemen are leaving their positions to flee in an unknown direction," the agency reported

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The report indicates that shortly after the ICC issued its warrant, Macron had a phone conversation with Netanyahu, in which he acknowledged that Paris was obliged to respect the ICC and cooperate fully

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

US actions undermine Washington’s competitiveness — Russian diplomat

According to Sergey Ryabkov, Washington’s policy causes harm to the United States

Russian diplomat says US won’t stop Russia from accomplishing special operation goals

Sergey Ryabkov was responding to a request to comment on news reports that US President Joe Biden had asked Congress for an additional $24 billion in aid for Ukraine

Welcome to Russia project helps to find spiritual, moral refuge — State Duma deputy

People want to move to Russia to preserve traditional values and maintain their own history, Maria Butina noted

Russia’s Alisher Usmanov elected president of International Fencing Federation

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Russian troops liberate four communities in Donetsk area, Kharkov Region over week

Russian forces delivered one massive and 32 combined strikes by air-launched, seaborne and ground-based precision weapons, hitting Ukrainian military airfields and power facilities of defense enterprises over the past week, the ministry reported

List of new BRICS partner states to be released before end of year — Russian MFA

No country that received an invitation to become a BRICS partner state has rejected it, Sergey Ryabkov said

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Russian Embassy in Argentina monitors situation with malfunctioning ocean liner

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Senior Russian diplomat points to risk of nuclear exchange

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NATO spies study damage from Oreshnik at Yuzhmash — expert

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The protesters moved up Rustaveli Avenue

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North Korean leader sees missile strikes inside Russia as Western involvement in conflict

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Israel prohibits residents of 60 villages in southern Lebanon from returning home

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"Everything here is much deeper than a decision to send a peacekeeper mission," Dmitry Peskov said

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Belarusian President Lukashenko points to 'NATOfication' of Europe, entire world

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Leonardo booking system’s functionality restored — Rostec

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Russia-North Korea partnership pact reaffirms their interest in developing ties — Belousov

"We are grateful for the commitment to the course of deepening ties with Russia," the minister said

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Hungarian PM sounds alarm over presence of US, French troops in Ukraine

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Ukraine loses over 250 troops in Kursk area in past day — Russian Defense Ministry

Two tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, an armored combat vehicle, four motor vehicles and two mortars were also destroyed, the statement reads

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Hungary greenlights pouring of first concrete in Paks-2 NPP foundation — MFA

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto noted that in order to approve the construction of Paks-2, some not-so-simple safety measures had to be taken

FACTBOX: What to know about attacks of militants on Syria’s government forces

Biden unlikely to dare to seriously increase military aid to Kiev — expert

"The potential future use of Oreshnik will render ATACMS and Storm Shadow as battle-losing capabilities," a retired British diplomat and former economic counsellor at the British Embassy in Moscow Ian Proud said

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets with Russian defense minister — KCNA

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Britain’s MI6 chief admits London's involvement in covert operations in Ukraine

According to Richard Moore, the cost of supporting Kiev was "well known"

Russian passengers on Antarctica cruise liner with engine failure go on hunger strike

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Russian forces strike infrastructure at Ukrainian military airfields

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Romania, Poland, Germany, UK plan to divide Ukraine — Russia's foreign intel

"A total of 100,000 so-called peacekeepers are planned to be sent to Ukraine," the SVR noted

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Lavrov clarifies Russia's position on Ukraine crisis to foreign diplomats — MFA

"Participants in the roundtable exchanged views on the conflict and other pressing international topics," the ministry stated

Russia works on transforming '3+3' platform into organization — senior diplomat

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Ukrainian forces follow Russian troops’ example to use fiber optics drones, Putin says

The head of state is confident that there will be a quick response from the Russian side

Presidential aide blames West for attempts to harm Russia at sea

Nikolay Patrushev said that in a situation like this Russia should firmly defend its position and prepare tools for the "comprehensive management of maritime activities aimed at ensuring national interests"

West deploying troops to Ukraine to up ante in fight with Russia — senior diplomat

Mikhail Galuzin described such plans as provocative and noted that they "confirm the West’s intention to continue its profound engagement in a direct standoff with Russia"