Several explosions rock Kiev on Monday morning

An air raid alert was declared in Kiev at 02:56 Moscow time lasting for over three hours

KIEV, December 19. /TASS/. Explosions were heard again in Kiev on Monday morning, Ukraine’s Obshchestvennoye. Novosti news outlet reported.

It did not provide any other details. This is the second time the explosions have been reported in the Ukrainian capital in one hour.

An air raid alert was declared in Kiev at 02:56 Moscow time lasting for over three hours.

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Military operation in Ukraine

US approved five deliveries of cluster munitions to Kiev in 2023-2024 — report

"Ukraine may have acquired cluster munitions from other countries in this period, but reports of such transfers have been denied by the countries concerned," according to the data presented in the Coalition's annual Cluster Munition Monitor report

Kiev’s allies worried Ukraine could be pushed out of Kursk border area in a few months

Bloomberg reported that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said that Kiev could use the situation in the Kursk Region "as a bargaining chip in talks"

US to face domestic problems regardless of presidential election results — Russian MFA

The next US presidential election will take place in November 2024

Int’l institutions unable to resolve crises in Ukraine, Gaza — de Gaulle’s grandson

"With no real political will for peace, the scale of the conflicts is only growing," Pierre de Gaulle stressed, adding that "international institutions have proved to be useless"

Russia becomes largest economy in Europe, 'being right in hot pursuit of Japan' — aide

Maxim Oreshkin stressed that the gradual loss of all these elements leads to long-term stagnation of the European economy

Russia expects to launch visa-free regime with Saudi Arabia and Malaysia in 2025

Interstate agreements on abolishing visa regime are also being developed with Bahrain, some African countries and Kenya

Bank of Russia raises dollar rate for September 10 to 90.39 rubles — regulator

The regulator raised the euro-to-ruble exchange rate by 19 kopecks to 99.9067 rubles

Turkey’s ambitions to join BRICS reflect its push to reduce reliance on West — newspaper

According to the Turkish newspaper, Turkey’s membership of BRICS will "complicate things at NATO," of which Turkey is one of the oldest allies

Lavrov says US attempts to meddle in Russian elections only unite people

According to the foreign minister, the United States "still cannot realize that longstanding attempts to stir up Russian society inevitably end in complete failure, as it happened this time"

Lavrov calls for practical steps toward establishing Palestinian State

The Russian foreign minister emphasized "the position that it is necessary to immediately stop violence, resolve humanitarian problems"

PM Mishustin to meet with President of Uzbekistan Mirziyoyev on second day of his visit

The Prime Minister will be received in the building of the Senate of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Russian forces wipe out several dozen Ukrainian militants near Slavyansk in DPR

It is reported that the exact number of eliminated Ukrainian neo-Nazi fighters is currently being determined

Nine-year-old child killed in Ramenskoye drone strike

Another person was injured, Governor of the Moscow Region Andrey Vorobyov reported

Main thing in Ukraine settlement is protection of people's rights, says Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister pointed out that it is easy to agree on the place and time of the negotiations on Ukraine, but first it is necessary to understand what will be discussed

IAEA chief rules out restarting reactors at Zaporozhye nuke plant amid ongoing hostilities

According to Rafael Grossi, all the plant’s reactors remain in cold shutdown

FACTBOX: What is known about plane crash near Moscow

Moscow’s interregional transport prosecutor’s office has launched a probe into the crash

Persian Gulf countries concerned about Iran's nuclear program — statement

According to the statement, the Persian Gulf countries are ready to cooperate to solve problems related to Iran's nuclear program and to participate in all relevant negotiations at the regional and international levels

First televised debates between Trump and Harris to be held in the USA

All major US TV networks will broadcast the debate beginning at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time (4:00 a.m. Moscow time on Wednesday)

Kiev seeks lifting of restrictions on strikes on Russia amid dire battlefield situation

However, according to Maria Zakharova, this will turn out to be "a plan of trouble" for Kiev rather than "a plan of victory"

US approved five deliveries of cluster munitions to Kiev in 2023-2024 — report

Armenia and EU start talks on visa regime liberalization — Pashinyan

The Armenian prime minister added that "especially after his speech in the European Parliament last year, discussions continue in the country regarding the possibility of joining the EU"

Seven civilians killed in Ukraine’s shelling attacks on DPR in past week

56 civilians were wounded during the week

Missing 75th Victory Day celebrations in Moscow would be a mistake for WWII allies — Putin

Russia sent invitations to many world leaders to attend the celebrations

Zelensky destroying Ukrainian economy — politician

Viktor Medvedchuk stressed that "during martial law, Zelensky has been actively raising prices," for example, by signing a bill on raising excise duties on gas, diesel and autogas

Press review: Big bucks flow at EEF and Macron's PM pick has left talking impeachment

Syrsky to be fired over fallout from attack on Kursk Region, says Ukrainian politician

Ukraine’s former Interior Minister Yury Lutsenko said that the best Ukrainian units and equipment had been deployed to the Kursk Region

Conditions in Russian hostage even better than in Ukrainian units — commander

Major General Apty Alaudinov said that Russia "fully provides the prisoners of war with food and everything they need, and they receive full medical care"

Hungary’s MOL reaches agreement on oil supplies from Russia via Druzhba pipeline

According to the document, in 2024 the Group "will take over ownership of the affected volumes of crude oil at the Belarus-Ukraine border, effective from 9 September 2024"

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According to the Russian foreign minister, Russia plans more than a hundred various BRICS events throughout its presidency

Ukrainian attacks thwarted: situation in Kursk Region

Over the day, Ukraine lost up to 240 servicemen and 13 armored vehicles, including two tanks and 11 armored combat vehicles

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The two presidential candidates will debate on September 10 on ABC in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Russia, China regularly exchange views on Middle East settlement — Lavrov

The Russian top diplomat recalled that Beijing had earlier come up with an initiative for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli crisis and drew attention to its similarity to similar efforts by Moscow

De Gaulle's grandson tells State Duma speaker about plans to move to Russia

On September 9, Vyacheslav Volodin met with Pierre de Gaulle in the State Duma

Russian forces liberate DPR’s Novogrodovka

Also the Defense Ministry said that Russian servicemen have hit a temporary deployment site of Ukraine’s Special Operations Center South

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"

It’s up to Eurasian nations to decide about their future, West must accept this — Lavrov

At the same time, the top Russian diplomat noted that no one is closing the doors on communicating with the West

Princess Catherine of Wales completes her cancer treatment

The princess said that she would focus on making sure that the remission that had occurred lasted as long as possible

CAS rejects Russian biathletes Sleptsova, Ustyugov’s appeals against anti-doping charges

Ustyugov’s competitive results obtained from 27 August 2013 through to his retirement at the end of the 2013/14 World Cup season are invalidated - including forfeiting any medals, points and prizes

Ukrainian troops targeting civilian vehicles in Kursk Region — volunteer

Alexander Kasaurov cited an incident when a Ukrainian drone broke the windshield of a moving car with two civilians on board, a man and a woman

Foreign mercenaries operating in Kursk direction particularly brutal — security source

It is the mercenaries that act the most brutally towards civilians, a source in security agencies said

Russia, Saudi Arabia aim to expand investment cooperation — Russian MFA

According to the ministry, during Sergey Lavrov's visit to the kingdom, the Russian Foreign Minister was received by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and met with the country's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud

FACTBOX: Drone attack on Moscow and other Russian regions

At least 14 drones were shot down by air defense forces during an attempt to attack Moscow and the Moscow Region, several dozen UAVs were destroyed in other regions of Russia

Russian missile cruiser Varyag enters Mediterranean Sea

The ship's crew continues to fulfill the mission it was given for the long-range voyage

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Lavrov says West doesn’t want to reach fair agreement on Ukraine

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The cause of the actor's death was not made public

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Kremlin aware of Scholz’s 'peace plan' only from media

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Eight Russian nationals, detained or convicted in several NATO countries, as well as two minors, had returned home following a prisoner swap conducted at Ankara’s airport

Russia, North Korea to keep strengthening strategic partnership — Putin

"This, undoubtedly, meets the core interests of our peoples and is in line with the course on ensuring security and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the Northeastern Asian region in general," the Russian president said

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Russia expects Latin American representatives at BRICS summit, invitations sent — diplomat

Alexander Schetinin told Izvestiya that the work is underway

UN General Assembly opens 79th Session in New York

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According to the online service database, the plane is owned by Turkey’s Pegasus

De Gaulle's grandson elected as deputy chairman of Tolstoy Peace Prize jury

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Ukraine’s troops cling to outskirts of Krasnogorovka, sustain daily losses — DPR head

Denis Pushilin said Russian soldiers were very resourceful in selecting methods and tactics of liberating the city, as well as rescuing the local population

Russia’s coal supplies total 100.9 mln tons to China, 26.2 mln tons to India in 2023

According to Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilyov, the geography of supplies includes countries of the Global South such as India, China, Brazil, Mexico, African countries and a number of others

Press review: Kiev bets on own arms production and US, NATO bearing down on Latin America

Russia, China to hold joint drills in two seas in September — Chinese top brass

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Gulf countries stand for preserving Syria’s territorial integrity — statement

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Kiev loses over 11,400 troops since incursion in Kursk area — Russia’s top brass

The Ukrainian military also lost 89 tanks, 42 infantry fighting vehicles and 74 armored personnel carriers

Ukraine peace proposals fail to protect Russian speakers — Lavrov

According to the foreign minister, the root of the conflict in Ukraine was a crackdown on the rights of Russian-speaking residents by the Kiev regime following the coup in 2014

Joint Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian military unit may be used to occupy Ukraine, Putin warns

The Russian leader stresses that if Polish units enter Lvov or some other territories in Ukraine, they will be staying put there to remain on the ground "for good"

First Starships to Mars to launch in two years, Musk says

If those landings go well, then the first crewed flights to Mars will be in 4 years

Russian Su-34 jet hits Ukrainian forces in Kursk border area with aerial bombs

According to the Defense Ministry, after receiving confirmation from the intelligence service that the targets had been destroyed, the crew returned safely to the airfield

Russia says its battlegroup North inflicts up to 150 casualties on Ukrainian troops

The Russian Defense Ministry also reported that air defenses shot down two French-made guided aerial bombs Hammer, four HIMARS rockets of US manufacture and 45 unmanned aerial vehicles

Ukrainian losses: situation in Kursk Region

According to the report, the Russian military repelled two attacks by enemy assault groups towards Matveyevka and Olgovka, and foiled Ukrainian attempts to attack three settlements

Enemy wanted to disrupt elections, sow panic, Russian society consolidated — politician

"As always, Russian society responded to aggression and escalation with even greater consolidation around our president," Boris Gryzlov said

IDF stops UN convoy to check for Palestinian suspects

The Israeli military said they received intelligence that several Palestinian suspects could be hiding in one of the vehicles

Yerevan hands over to Baku completely agreed draft of peace treaty — top diplomat

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UNGA should respect decisions by member countries including Russia — diplomat

President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly Dennis Francis said he had hoped the conflict in Ukraine would have come to an end already

First-ever Leo Tolstoy Peace Prize awarded to African Union

The prize was handed over to African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat by Jury President and Bolshoi Theater Director Valery Gergiev

Foreign aid to Ukraine a money laundering scheme, head of Chechnya says

Ramzan Kadyrov noted that there is no need to worry about hostilities currently happening on Russian territory

Kremlin spokesman denies Russia meddles in US elections

"This is not the first time that Russia has been blamed for interfering into America’s elections," Dmitry Peskov told

New Apple Watch Series 10 boasts thinner case, larger display

According to the company, it's the fastest-charging Apple Watch ever, reaching an 80% charge in 30 minutes

French war correspondent says country had hand in planning attack on Kursk

It is reported that France strategically calls its military specialists in Ukraine mercenaries to avoid responsibility

Russia works for preventing major war in Middle East — Lavrov

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Gulf countries call for return of Palestinian Authority to Gaza

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US resident arrested on charges of conspiring to evade US sanctions against Russia

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Firefighters extinguish fire in Rostov Region depot 12 days after drone attack

There were no casualties

US pursuit for maintaining dominance in Middle East fails — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister added that there should be "an immediate cease-fire" and recalled that the root of the conflict's problem was the "80-year-old unresolved issue of the establishment of a Palestinian state"