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Over 3.5 million refugees arrive in Russia from Ukraine, Donbass since February

Among refugees there are almost 500,000 children

MOSCOW, August 19. /TASS/. More than 3.5 million refugees have arrived in Russia from Ukraine and Donbass since February, law enforcement agencies told TASS on Friday.

"According to updates, 3.5 million refugees, including almost 500,000 children, have arrived in Russia since February," the spokesperson said.

Citizens of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics make up 50% of the internally displaced persons, over a million are Russian citizens, and the rest are from other countries. Russia has already paid 6.5 billion rubles to them in one-time aid payments.

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Lukashenko sees Ukraine conflict posing risks to Belarus

According to the Belarusian leader, the likelihood of armed incidents on the border between Belarus and Ukraine is quite high with around 120,000 Ukrainian troops being deployed there

Iran denies reports it pulled some military advisers from Syria — Al Mayadeen

The source denied news media reports on the subject, which appeared earlier

Russian tourists flock to North Korea — embassy

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"A whole number of similar agreements with Asian, African, Middle Eastern, Latin American countries are being worked out," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin added

US arms supplies unable to change situation in Kiev's favor — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that a year ago the opponents "were telling everyone that they were waiting for the moment Russia would be defeated on the battlefield"

Russia’s victory in Ukraine to change course of history in Europe — von der Leyen

Ukraine "is carrying a heavy burden" for the benefit of the EU, and therefore EU member states must "provide Ukraine with means to defend themselves," European Commission president said

US spends millions of dollars on studying UFOs, 'covers up' information — congressman

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Russia tasked with 'building new world' — Putin

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Waldemar Skrzypczak also said it was "a matter of hours" until Kiev received the weapons allocated by the US as part of its latest military aid package

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Putin proclaims Odessa Russian city, challenges Ukraine's historical narrative

At the same time, the president noted that once upon a time "Vladimir Lenin gave away the whole of Ukraine when he created the Soviet Union"

Attempts are made to turn Moldova into ‘second Ukraine’, Lavrov warns

The Russian foreign minister also said that Chisinau's behavior resembles role-playing

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US draft on nukes in space seeks to go beyond legal framework Russia adheres to — MFA

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Ukraine exhausted, needs constant money flow from outside — defense official

Apty Alaudinov added that if the Ukrainian army received long-range weapons, it might try to attack Russia's civilian infrastructure due to its powerlessness on the front

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Houthis attack two commercial ships, US destroyer — statement

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US has no idea what to do about Zelensky — Seymour Hersh

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Bolivian leader decries fresh US military aid for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

According to Luis Arce, instead of pursuing "the policy of diplomacy and dialogue," the United States opts for "continued war and militarism"

Radioactive cloud from Ukraine’s eliminated munitions drifts to Europe — Security Council

"An increase in radiation levels has already been registered in Poland," Nikolay Patrushev warned

Russia maintains position on 'buffer zone' in Ukraine to counter missile threats

Dmitry Peskov added that the issue of fighting against long-range weapons being supplied to Ukraine and potential strikes on the areas where they are concentrated "is rather under the purview of <…> the armed forces"

Stockmann company to buy Russian business of Hugo Boss — Industry Ministry

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US incapable of replicating Cold War-era arms race — Valdai club expert

According to Dmitry Stefanovich, in order to prevent a new unbridled arms race, it is necessary to work on strategic stability as well as the sphere of arms control

UNSC rejects amendment by Russia, China to resolution on nuclear weapons in outer space

The amendment gained seven votes from countries including Russia and China

Mongolia to enter into free trade agreement with EAEU by year-end

Counsellor Delgertsetseg Unubilegt noted that Mongolia and Russia have "a rich history of solidarity and cooperation," though the countries "are under great influence of political and social factors"

Russia to submit its own resolution on nuclear weapons in outer space to UNSC

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Military expert Andrey Marochko speculated that the Ukrainian army had to resort to this tactic because the TV tower in Kharkov was damaged

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A day earlier, Abu Ubaidah, a spokesman for the Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam military wing, threatened that hostages held in the Gaza Strip could repeat the fate of Israeli pilot Ron Arad, who was kidnapped 36 years ago

Reinforced Ukrainian battlegroup fails to break through Russian defenses in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko added that the Ukrainians have also intensified artillery and drone attacks at Russian positions

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Mohamed Toumba noted that the training of troops could help in the fight against terrorism

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Ukrainian army strikes own surrendering soldiers — POW

Andrey Babenko said that after a crash course in Britain he had been sent to the frontline near Liman

Kremlin vows to resolve situation with Turkish Airlines refusing service to Russians

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Modern weapons make up 82% in Russian air defense troops — Shoigu

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Putin stays in daily contact with Sergey Shoigu, Kremlin spokesman says

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Khalil al-Hayya said that Hamas would like to see "a fully sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and the return of Palestinian refugees in accordance with the international resolutions"

Russia vetoes US-backed UNSC resolution on banning nuclear weapons in outer space

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IN BRIEF: Russian deputy defense minister, entrepreneur arrested for taking bribes

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13 violations by US-led international coalition’s aircraft recorded in Syria

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Ukraine’s draft dodger makes attempt to cross Dniester into Moldova on air mattress

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Russia discourages use of UN sanctions for interference in African affairs — envoy

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Russia dissatisfied with UN’s activity under grain deal — senior diplomat

Alexander Pankin noted that during his visit to New York he did not have any talks with UN officials on the Russian-UN memorandum

Lukashenko says US rues giving rise to Russia-China alliance

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Russian forces take Ukrainian strongholds near Klescheyevka under control

Apty Alaudinov posted a drone video footage of elimination Ukrainian personnel and Russian forces capturing enemy trenches

Central African Republic expects Russia to supply weapons, munitions — defense minister

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Russia ready to cooperate with all interested partners to ensure security — Putin

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Switzerland unblocks Russia-related assets worth 290 mln Swiss francs

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IAEA chief to have working contacts with Rosatom, no meeting with Putin is planned

Rafael Grossi may visit Russia in late May

Russia, Africa united by common vision on global issues — senior diplomat

Mikhail Bogdanov noted that "the African continent is a dynamically developing part of the world with an enormous growth potential, attractive domestic market and expanding export prospects"

Russians not let to Turkish Airlines flights to Mexico due to US pressure on it — diplomat

Sergey Ryabkov noted that such problems exist for Russians using Turkish Airlines flights to other Latin American countries

Musk concurs that civil war looming in West

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Russian deputy defense minister detained on suspicion of bribe-taking

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Court in Cyprus rules to extradite Russian national Petrov to US

Artur Petrov who is also a German citizen, was arrested in Cyprus on August 26, 2023 at the request of the US Department of Justice on charges of illegally exporting US-made microelectronics to Russia

Business mulls creation of grain hub in UAE — trade representative

Andrey Terekhin noted that еhe UAE is interested in this initiative, with economic feasibility being at the consideration stage

Russian court blocks JPMorgan’s funds in VTB lawsuit

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US stops hiding true purpose of sanctions on Moscow, Russian envoy says

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Transfer of US ATACMS missiles to Ukraine cannot be justified — Russian ambassador

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Press review: US tries to strong-arm China and Zelensky's bid to bring men home

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Ukraine says Western systems ineffective against Russia's electronic warfare

Maria Berlinskaya emphasized that the real effectiveness was determined in real combat conditions, and not at "some training ground in Texas"

Dust from Sahara turns rain in Ukraine yellow

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Russia’s top brass reports destroying US-made Hawk air defense system in Ukraine operation

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted casualties on personnel and equipment of two Ukrainian army brigades and improved its tactical position over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Ukraine turns into testing ground for future world order, says Belarus president

"The largest nuclear powers, albeit indirectly, are actually fighting on Ukrainian territory. And not indirectly," the president of Belarus noted

Global community changing tune about how Ukraine conflict started — security official

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Russian children’s commissioner holds first face-to-face talks with Ukrainian counterparts

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West steps up aerial reconnaissance near Russia-Belarus borders — security official

"Today, 20-30 reconnaissance planes fly in the airspace of the Baltic states and Poland weekly," Pavel Muraveiko added

Network of international conspirators plotted Crocus terrorist attack — watchdog

Yury Chikhanchin pointed out that the perpetrators of the attack were provided with money, weapons, transportation and ammunition

Gagauzia against Chisinau’s policy of severing ties with Russia

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