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Italian PM says diplomatic ties with Russia shouldn’t be severed

Earlier, Moscow expelled 24 Italian diplomats in a tit-for-tat move after Rome expelled 30 Russian diplomats in early April on "national security" grounds

ROME, May 17. /TASS/. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi on Wednesday said Russia’s expulsion of Italian diplomats was a "hostile act" and said the countries should maintain diplomatic ties.

He made the comments at a joint news conference with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin in Rome, which was broadcast by the Italian cabinet.

"It’s of course a hostile act, a response to the expulsion made by us," he said. "But that shouldn’t cause a severance of diplomatic channels because it’s these channels through which, if we succeed, we will achieve peace and that’s certainly what we want."

On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told TASS that Moscow was expelling 24 Italian diplomats in a tit-for-tat move. The move comes after Rome expelled 30 Russian diplomats in early April on "national security" grounds.

Middle East conflict

Israel verifying reports about Hamas leader Sinwar’s possible death

According to Kan, so far it is impossible to confirm these reports

Russian aerospace forces strike four terrorists bases in two Syrian governorates

They left the al-Tanf area, Oleg Igansyuk, deputy chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, said

FIDE postpones decision on easing sanctions against Russian chess players

Sixty-six delegates voted in favor of consultations with the IOC and IPC on the partial qualification of Russian and Belarussian chess players

New Russian combat equipment in 2024

Russian diplomat slams Pact for the Future as serious blow on UN

"The United Nations had infringed upon its own principles to pander to a group of delegations from the ‘beautiful garden,’ who have usurped the talks from the very beginning," Russia’s First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky said

Russia’s battlegroup West repels three Ukrainian counterattacks in past day

The Ukrainian army losses in the responsibility zone of the group include a tank, three armored combat vehicles, six vehicles, a Bogdana 155mm self-propelled artillery mount and roughly 600 servicemen

Number of millionaires in Russia grows to 408,000 in 2022 — UBS report

The United States, which lost $5.9 trillion in 2022, tops the list of wealth declines

Russia's military to restore control of all districts of Kursk Region — Kremlin

"The situation in those areas which are under the control of the Ukrainian militants is extraordinary, of course," Dmitry Peskov stated

Conflicts in space to increase over time, German general predicts

"The enemy views our space capabilities, both civilian and military, as targets," Michael Traut, the head of Germany's Military Space Command, noted

Russia cautions Chisinau against involvement in Ukrainian conflict — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova drew attention to the speculations about Romania's plans for redirecting to Moldova the mobile maintenance stations for F-16 fighter jets received by Bucharest for their subsequent deployment at the Marculesti airbase

Ukrainian minister says West pledged funds for making missiles, drones in Ukraine

We have developed a missile program, Ukrainian Defense Minister said

Putin signs law on legalizing cryptocurrency mining in Russia

Only Russian legal entities and individual entrepreneurs included in a register will have the right to mine

Rising number of dead foreigners in Ukraine proves West's involvement — envoy to UN

"We have warned from the beginning that those who help the Zelensky clique stay afloat will become our legitimate targets," Vasily Nebezya reminded

Explosions in Lebanon pose interest for Russian intelligence — Kremlin spokesman

According to Dmitry Peskov, Moscow has not discussed the events in Lebanon with regional actors

CERN's turn away from Russian scientists has positive aspects — Kurchatov Center chief

This is quite obviously a positive development for us in some respects, Kovalchuk said

Russian government approves list of unfriendly countries and territories

The countries and territories mentioned in the list imposed or joined the sanctions against Russia after the start of a special military operation of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine

UK Foreign Secretary offends memory of fallen, accusing Russia of fascism — embassy

The embassy said that it took note a long time ago of "propensity for inappropriate and provocative statements"

Kremlin has no information about Ukrainian forces shooting down Russian aircraft

"Besides, after all, this is an issue that concerns the course of the special military operation," Dmitry Peskov noted

UN General Assembly has lost its viability, says Brazilian president

"The pandemic, conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, the arms race, the climate crisis have revealed the limitations of multilateral formats," Inacio Lula da Silva said at the Summit of the Future at the UN headquarters

Ukraine spends over $150 billion on military needs, but it's not enough — Defense Ministry

Rustem Umerov did not specify for what period exactly the specified amount was spent

Neglect of Russia’s interests makes lasting settlement in Ukraine impossible — MFA

At the same time, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova explained that Russian representatives "have not participated in any meetings within the framework of the ‘Buergenstock process’ and are not going to participate in any

UN General Assembly adopts resolution on Golan Heights — results of vote

Theft of Russian assets to nullify trust towards EU — MFA

Maria Zakharova pointed out that the European Union had lost independence

Macron calls for reviewing ties with Russia

The French president also called for bigger presence of "densely populated countries, which did not exist when the current world order was only forming" in international organizations

Putin bids last respects to his demised first judo coach Rakhlin

Rakhlin has trained Vladimir Putin for 11 years

Russia will not "swallow the bait" of Zelensky formula summits — Lavrov

"The West is dissuading Ukraine from holding normal negotiations - human and based on generally accepted principles," the Russian foreign minister stressed

Russia is calling for investigation of pager explosions in Lebanon — MFA

Maria Zakharova noted that the collective West had been blocking investigations into international terrorist attacks in recent years

Four people dead, dozens injured in Alabama shooting — report

According to the report, two men and a woman died at the scene

Russian ambassador’s escort car drives into mine in Pakistan, policemen injured

Russian diplomats were not hurt

Syrian forces repel Israel’s nighttime attack using Russian-made air defense systems

The nighttime Israeli attack on the outskirts of the Syrian capital was targeting Shia militia, supporting the Syrian government’s army

Russian prime minister approves list of countries imposing destructive attitudes

It includes the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Japan and other states

Ukraine’s forces in Ugledar virtually encircled — sources

"Most positions around the city, including those at the most important sites and heights are Russian, the whole city is exposed to fire," the sources explained

Russia's newest satellites to change course of Ukrainian conflict — former UN inspector

According to Ritter this conflict would become "unsustainable for the Ukrainian sometime by the end of summer, early fall"

Ukraine puts pressure on FIDE General Assembly over admission of Russians — source

The General Assembly, which will consider the issue of the full-fledged return of Russian and Belarusian players, is being held on September 21-22

Turkish Airlines suspends flights to Lebanon — web portal

Turkish Airlines and Turkey’s low-cost airlines canceled flights from Istanbul earlier on a one-off basis due to situation aggravation in the Middle East and greater danger of flights in the region

UNGA member countries adopt Pact for the Future, despite Russia’s objection

Along with Russia, Belarus and Nicaragua, delegations from North Korea, Syria, Sudan, and Iran voted against

Russia says its Iskander missile destroys US-made HIMARS in Sumy Region

The crew of an Iskander tactical missile system of the Russian Armed Forces carried out a missile strike on the position of an M142 HIMARS of Ukrainian forces in the settlement of Shaposhnikovo

Turkish banks want to stop transactions with Russia, transfer them to one bank — source

The issue reportedly concerns private and state-owned Turkish banks that do not have foreign partners, mainly Western ones

Press secretary refuses to discuss possibility of Putin’s marriage

On Monday, some media reported Putin’s ex-wife had married again

US-led coalition’s aircraft violate Syrian airspace ten times in past day

Apart from that, three violations of the deconfliction protocols of December 9, 2019 were reported

Zelensky may be overthrown if Ukraine fails to hold elections — Ukrainian MP

Ukraine is still facing the question of the legitimacy of power in the absence of parliamentary and presidential elections, which cannot be held during martial law

Russian aviation hit 20 areas of deployment of Ukrainian troops in Kursk Region

Russian warplanes hit 13 settlement in the Sumy Region as well, the Russian defense ministry said

Israel wants to drag whole region into war, engages in terrorism, says Erdogan

The Turkish President said he would address the UNGA to ask the participants to remember "the need for taking action against genocide in the Gaza Strip and Israel's aggressive policies"

Zelensky says Ukrainian troops in extremely difficult situation in two DPR areas

The situation on the frontline remains extremely difficult, Ukrainian President said

Tatyana Bakalchuk: I dared to take risks and it paid off

The CEO of Wildberries, Russia’s largest Internet retailer, in a TASS special project on Top Business Officials

Moscow views transfer of Russian aircraft to Ukraine by Portugal as hostile move — MFA

According to Maria Zakharova, it is evident that in this way Lisbon "is seeking to faithfully demonstrate its allied zeal and obedient compliance with the trajectory imposed on the Europeans by their handlers from across the ocean"

Ukrainian troops retreat from village near Artyomovsk in DPR — Russian officers

The enemy fled from near Andreyevka where it has long been holding positions, it has retreated, law enforcement officers said

Russia must respond to West's banditry — Peskov on limiting raw materials exports

We need to respond to — not just unfriendly, but thuggish — actions against us, he said

Putin, Berdimuhamedow discuss partnership, international meetings

Putin earlier sent a message with birthday greetings to the Turkmen president

Ukrainian forces lost up to 520 troops in Battlegroup West zone of responsibility

The enemy also lost six vehicles, a UK-made 155-mm Braveheart self-propelled howitzer, two 122-mm Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer and two electronic warfare stations

Israel verifying reports about Hamas leader Sinwar’s possible death

According to Kan, so far it is impossible to confirm these reports

Kremlin spokesman says West ‘obsessed’ with fighting Russia until Ukraine runs out of men

Peskov was commenting on NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg's recent statement that there is no need to be afraid of using Western weapons for strikes deep inside Russia

Russian Su-34 bomber destroys Ukrainian manpower, equipment in Kursk area

After receiving a confirmation from reconnaissance that the Ukrainian army’s temporary disposition location had been destroyed, the crew safely returned to the airfield of departure

Spacemen to return to Earth after longest mission in ISS’s history

The undocking has been scheduled for 11:37 Moscow time, the spacecraft is expected to land at about 15:00 Moscow time

Kiev and EU open joint defense innovation office — Ukrainian Defense Minister

According to him, the so-called IT coalition of 13 countries has already attracted more than 70 million euros for the needs of Ukraine

Hollywood action star Jackie Chan says he loves Russia, thanks his fans

The actor wished that the friendship between China and Russia would last forever

Anura Kumara Dissanayake wins presidential election in Sri Lanka

According to the news portal Newsfirst, Dissanayake was supported by 5,740,179 voters after second ballot count

NATO to fight Russia "to the last Ukrainian" — deputy chief of Russian presidential staff

Sergey Kiriyenko noted that a "hot military operation" by the West against Russia was in progress

Russian lower house speaker arrives in Belarus for working visit

According to the Russian State Duma press service, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Russia and Belarus will hold a meeting in Mogilev on September 23

Hezbollah attacks Israeli Ramat David air base for second time

Movement used two types of rockets: Fadi-1, with a range of 80 km, and Fadi-2, with a range of 105 km

Ukraine’s 2014 coup was CIA’s political mistake — Putin

The Russian president noted that the US agency had achieved its goal of changing the government but failed to see what it would evolve into

Senior Russian diplomat meets with UN coordinator for Gaza in New York

"The sides exchanged views on the current situation in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict amid the continuing Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip," the press service of the Russian mission to the United Nations said

Russia says 15 drones shot down over 5 Russian regions, Sea of Azov overnight

Voronezh Region Governor Alexander Gusev said the situation didn’t warrant a drone attack alert

Russia begins mass production of heavy-duty UAV Privet-82XL

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First submarine carrying unmanned vehicles Poseidon to be launched in spring

Poseidon is undergoing successful tests, the president stressed

Russian forces hit command post of Ukraine’s Donetsk task force deployed in DPR

127 Ukrainian artillery units in firing positions, manpower and military equipment in 138 areas, the Russian Defense Ministry said

Russia ready for talks with Turkey on Su-35, Su-57 fighters

Russia earlier noted its readiness to participate in the program of developing the Turkish TF-X fifth-generation fighter

Cessna-182 makes emergency landing in Moscow Region — Investigative Committee

No one was hurt, a spokesman for the Russian Investigative Committee’s Western interregional investigative department for transport said

Lebanon pager explosions an act of terrorism by Israel, says Iran’s mission to UN

The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns this act of sabotage and terrorism by the rogue regime of Israel, said the document presented by the Iranian diplomatic mission.

Source reveals number of people detained in shooting in downtown Moscow office

"Yesterday, 13 people were detained and questioned, today 14. As far as I understand, the Investigative Committee intends to detain them all," the source, one of the participants in the trial, which took place in the Basmanny court, said

Kremlin slams Poland's idea to revise Crimea's status 'absurd'

"Russian territory and Russian regions cannot be the subject of any discussion or transfer to anyone," Dmitry Peskov emphasized

Bundestag members address Cabinet with query regarding Ukraine’s attack on Kursk Region

The legislators are asking whether German weapons are used by the Ukrainian forces in their incursion into the Kursk Region

6-magnitude earthquake rocks Argentina

The epicenter was located 158 km northwest of the city of San Luis

Scholz speak in favor of reforming UN Security Council

At the same time, he said that he doesn’t understand Russia’s position on the Pact for the Future, which was adopted ahead of general discussion of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly

Press review: US shifts rhetoric on Ukraine and walkie-talkie explosions rock Lebanon

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, September 19th

Death toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza Strip exceeds 41,400 — health ministry

More than 95,800 people being wounded

Medvedev says Trump assassination attempt could be orchestrated by Kiev

The suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, recruited mercenaries for the Ukrainian army

Hezbollah handing out pagers hours before their detonation — agency

The sources said that the Shiite movement did not have any specific suspicions about these pagers and their "checks had been part of a routine 'sweep' of its equipment to find any indications that they were laced with explosives"

Vityaz-D Deep-sea drone that reached bottom of Mariana Trench to undergo upgrades

The new version would be able to submerge without a bottom station, because the drone will manage communication on its own, according to a source in the military-industrial complex

Russia keeps balance in relations with Muslim countries — Muslim Board

Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin added that Russia was originally formed in the bosom of three monotheistic religions and for more than 1,000 years has continued and consolidated the tradition of communion, good-neighborliness and brotherhood of religions

Israel is ‘well prepared’ for further actions against Hezbollah — General Staff

"We will bring the residents [of Israeli northern settlement] back to their homes providing them with security, and if Hezbollah still hasn’t understood, it will receive blow after blow - until that organization understands," Herzi Halevi said

Russia’s response to long-range weapons supplies to Kiev will be brutal — MFA

"The opponents in Washington, London, and other places clearly underestimate the degree of danger of the game they continue to play," Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Sergey Ryabkov said

Over 30 foreign leaders invited to BRICS summit in Kazan, 18 RSVP — Kremlin

"We have not organized such a large-scale international event in quite a long time," Yury Ushakov underlined

West switches to open support for Kiev's terrorist attacks against civilians — MFA

"The West continues to supply arms and money to the Kiev regime, propose pseudo-peace initiatives, and try to rally as many countries as possible to their side," Maria Zakharova said

Russian forces strike Ukrainian energy facilities, troops last night — top brass

Overnight, the Russian Armed Forces launched a group strike on energy facilities that supply electricity to Ukrainian defense plants and drone production cites as well as Ukrainian troops

Poll reveals what Russians think about office love, polyamory

It is noted that opinions are changing not only about relationships with colleagues, but also about romance between a subordinate and a supervisor

Ukrainian troops captured: situation in Kursk Region

In total, the enemy has lost over 11,800 servicemen since fighting began in the region

Press review: Israel declares new phase of war and Russia boosts drone production

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, September 20th

Russia wants no nuclear war — Lavrov

The foreign minister still assured that Russia possesses weapons "that will have serious implications for the handlers of the Ukrainian regime"

Kiev’s plans and Ukrainian losses: latest update on situation in Kursk Region

Ukrainian troops are regrouping in the Kursk Region in an attempt to stage an attack at another location but Russian forces are in control of the situation, Major General Apty Alaudinov, deputy chief of the Russian Armed Forces’ Main Military-Political Department and commander of the Akhmat special forces commando unit, said

Lavrov says he agrees with Trump about destructiveness of sanctions for US dollar

The Russian foreign minister stressed that, despite the continued dependence of many economies on the dollar, the risk of this phenomenon has already been recognized

Investigator charge 33 people in case of shooting at office of retailer in central Moscow

The Russian Investigative Committee wants the suspects to be kept in custody until trial

Russia says drone shot down over Kursk Region

The Kiev regime made an attempt to carry out a terrorist attack with a fixed-wing drone on sites on the territory of the Russian Federation

Top brass proposes specifying state borderline in Russia’s westernmost region

"This will alter the Russian state maritime border due to a change in the territorial sea’s external bounds," it says

Russia says battlegroup West struck 4 Ukrainian brigades

Enemy lost up to 420 troops

Russia offers safe haven for people trying to escape Western liberal ideals

Under the document, such foreign nationals will have the right to apply for temporary residence in Russia "outside the quota approved by the Russian government and without providing documents confirming their knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and basic laws"

Modi, Biden discuss cooperation between India, US

The meeting took place on the sidelines of a summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, which includes Australia, India, the United States and Japan and is also known as QUAD, in Wilmington, a city in Delaware

Medvedev allows use of nuclear weapons by Russia when ‘patience runs out’

The politician underscored that no one really needs a nuclear conflict - it is "a very bad story with a very difficult outcome."

IRGC says exposed network of 12 Israeli agents in 6 Iranian provinces

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has blamed Israel for seeking to spread the conflict onto Iran’s territory and destabilize the situation inside the country

Russia, Turkey disagree on Crimea’s status, Moscow keeps persuading Ankara — Kremlin

"We hope that over time this will allow Ankara to understand us better and to agree with our arguments," Dmitry Peskov explained

Second rocket attack launched on Israeli territory from Lebanon — TV

According to Al Jazeera TV channel, the target of the shelling were cities in the northern part of the Jewish state