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Two missiles fired at UK-owned ship in Gulf of Aden — US military

The crew was transported to a nearby port by the merchant vessel

NEW YORK, February 19. /TASS/. Two missiles were launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen toward the UK-owned merchant ship Rubymar on February 18, and one of them struck the target, the US Central Command said in a statement.

"Two anti-ship ballistic missiles were launched from Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas of Yemen toward MV Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, UK-owned bulk carrier. One of the missiles struck the vessel, causing damage," said the statement posted on X.

"The ship issued a distress call and a coalition warship along with another merchant vessel responded," the statement went on to say. "The crew was transported to a nearby port by the merchant vessel."

The LSS-SAPU company, which provides security services to Rubymar, earlier said the ship suffered serious damage from a missile attack. Sky News Arabia television, citing Yemeni sources, reported the ship had sunk. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency, the Rubymar, which was heading from the United Arab Emirates to Bulgaria, came under fire 35 nautical miles to the south of the city of Mocha in Yemen.

Following the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the Gaza Strip, the group, also known as the Houthis, said they would strike Israeli territory and prevent ships affiliated with that country from passing through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait until the operation in the Palestinian enclave ended. The Houthis have attacked dozens of civilian ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since mid-November.

Militants open fire on Aleppo University campus in Syria, four people killed

The day before, the Syrian Armed Forces announced that on the morning of November 27, the extremist group Jabhat al-Nusra (banned in Russia) launched a "large-scale attack" in northern Syria

Qatar holds negotiations to expand areas of mediation between Russia, Ukraine

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

"The arms race is rapidly gaining momentum," Alexander Lukashenko underlined

US cutting aid to become death sentence for Ukraine — Russia’s mission to UN

According to Dmitry Polyansky, the Kiev authorities "have stolen so much in these almost three years that even many Western experts' hair stands on end"

Russia’s nuclear umbrella extends to post-Soviet security bloc under new doctrine — Shoigu

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US, NATO on brink of being recognized as parties to conflict with Russia — diplomat

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Biden's decision on ATACMS 'not panacea', it will harm Kiev — Defense News columnists

The article reads that the US intelligence community warned of the risks associated with US missile strikes on Russian territory and suggested abandoning the decision

Russia ready for talks with Ukraine on conditions proposed in June — Putin

The head of state held a meeting with the leadership of the Russian Foreign Ministry in June, where he listed the conditions for talks with Ukraine

Unidentified UAVs continue to appear over US Air Force bases in UK — newspaper

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Executioner of Nazi war criminal Eichmann dies in Israel aged 86

The Israeli authorities have long kept his name secret

Decision-making centers in Kiev could be targeted in Oreshnik strikes — Putin

The Russian leader also mentioned military facilities and defense industry enterprises as possible targets

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Explosions occurred in Kiev, Nikolayev, Vinnitsa, Kropivnitskoye, Odessa, Kharkov, Lutsk, Ivanovo-Frankovsk, and Rovno

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The Russian president pointed to a tense global situation

Biden’s initiative on Middle Eastern ceasefire overdue yet important — Erdogan

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Chad severs defense cooperation agreement with France — AFP

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Russia not on list of participants in 2026 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw

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Defense Minister notes active expansion of Russia-North Korea military cooperation

"We look forward to close and fruitful cooperation with our Korean comrades," Andrey Belousov said

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No existing missile defense system can counter Oreshnik — US expert

Theodore Postol also vehemently rejected suggestions that the Oreshnik system represents previous outdated developments of Moscow

Protests break out in Georgia after ruling party moves to suspend talks with EU

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Strike on NATO bases possible in case of escalation, Medvedev says

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According to the report, the government forces have already liberated the town of El Bakoum

Situation with ruble rate under control — Putin

The Russian leader stressed that "there are definitely no grounds for panic"

Russia may block agenda of US Security Council presidency next month — mission to UN

First Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Dmitry Polyansky said that the US may try to complicate life for the successors to the presidency

Putin declares Kazakhstan visit a success

The Russian leader pointed out that Kazakhstan is more than just a trusted ally of Russia

TV Pirveli cameraman injured during rally near parliament building in Tbilisi

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Russia designs Titan rifle for commandos

The rifle is reliable with precise and dense fire

Russian forces wipe out five ATACMS launchers using Iskander missiles

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Russia hopes to publish list of BRICS partner countries by year’s end — MFA

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Several Oreshnik missiles equivalent to nuclear strike, do not harm environment — Putin

The Russian president still reiterated that such a strike is not nuclear, because it is highly accurate and not equipped with a nuclear explosive device

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Senior Polish security official recommends NATO against sending troops to Ukraine

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Putin slams election mudslinging against Trump’s family as 'vile'

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Russia launches 100 missiles at Ukraine in past two days — Putin

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One in three relocated individuals return to Russia from Ukraine — diplomat

Maria Zakharova pointed out that the Kiev regime itself brands these figures as "terrible"

Georgian Police pushes protesters from entire Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi

Several people were apprehended

Western analysts describe Russia's Oreshnik as longest-range weapon ever used in Europe

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

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Mao Ning also stated that she was not aware of the details of Belousov's visit and reiterated that China's position on the Ukrainian crisis remains consistent

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

Zelensky shook up by Russia’s response to permission to attack it — Lavrov

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Hungary opposes US, EU attempts to increase arms supplies to Ukraine

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Takeaways from Putin’s Q&A session in Kazakhstan: Oreshnik missile, inflation, ruble

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"The development of a super-heavy class rocket exposed a need for introducing innovative solutions, including new materials and engines," the press service said

Work continues on placing the Sarmat missile complex on combat duty — commander

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North Korean defense minister notes extensive exchanges with Russia

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Maria Zakharova underscored that Russia's response to deployments of missile systems by the West that create additional threats to Russia could involve both tit-for-tat and asymmetric countermeasures

Kiev can only produce 'dirty bomb,' Russia to give appropriate response — Putin

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"From the legal point of view, they do not even have the right to give orders to the armed forces, because they are usurpers of power," the president said

Ukrainian group of 22 servicemen surrenders in Kursk Region — law enforcement officials

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Israel reports some violations of Lebanon ceasefire by Hezbollah

"The Israeli Air Force attacked the terrorists," IDF said

Groundless attacks on Russian journalists become trend in West — TASS

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Israel ready for all-out war should Lebanon ceasefire be disrupted, PM says

"If the agreement is violated, we will proceed to an all-out war," Benjamin Netanyahu told

Russia winning in Ukrainian conflict, Polish national security chief says

"The Russian side unquestionably holds both the initiative and the advantage on the battlefield," Head of the Polish National Security Bureau Jacek Siewiera said

Russia strikes Ukrainian military airfields, manpower in 146 areas over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 330 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy ammunition depots in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Kiev 'experimented' with using NATO troops in Kursk hostilities — official

Igor Kimakovsky added that the addition of foreign troops didn't help the armed forces of Ukraine because of effective measures taken by Russian intelligence and Aerospace Defense Forces

Top Iranian diplomat blames rise in militant activity in Syria on US, Israel

Earlier, the Syrian Armed Forces command issued a statement, saying that Jabhat al-Nusra militants had carried out "a large-scale attack on a broad front" in the country’s north

Ukrainian media reports plant in Lvov Region destroyed

The plant specializes in manufacturing bits for drilling artesian, oil, and gas boreholes

FACTBOX: Impact of UAV attack on Krasnodar Region

Air defense forces repelled a massive drone attack on the Slavyansk and Krasnoarmeysky districts of the Krasnodar Region overnight

Over 400 terrorists from Jabhat al-Nusra group wiped out in Aleppo, Idlib in past day

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Russian diplomat says West sought to misrepresent Oreshnik strike, cast it as aggression

Maria Zakharova pointed out that for some, this was obviously a sobering moment, while for others it came as an unexpected surprise

Russia’s top diplomat slams NATO for discussions of preemptive strikes on Russia

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Kiev has ‘no chance’ of retaking lost territories — Blackwater founder

Erik Prince noted that it was necessary to end the Ukrainian conflict as soon as possible

Russia’s nuclear potential is powerful 'security blanket,' US admits — top researcher

Mikhail Kovalchuk noted that Russia should continue strengthening this potential

Russian forces now control about eight hectares of land near LPR’s Stelmakhovka — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that after liberating Pershotravnevoye in the Kharkov Region and creating a bridgehead there for further advance, the Russian servicemen advanced to the west of the occupied borders

Kiev opposes Washington's demand for lowering draft age — media

A representative of US President Joe Biden's administration had earlier stated that the Ukrainian military is facing a critical manpower shortage

Clashes between protesters, police break out in Georgian capital

Police officers are using tear gas, trying to push protesters back

Iran challenges US, UK, France military capabilities, IRGC general says

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Putin apologizes to Merkel over labrador incident

The president said that he "wanted to create a casual, friendly atmosphere" and did not know that the former German chancellor was afraid of dogs

IN BRIEF: How Russia responded to Kiev’s strikes deep into its territory

Here are the key points about the strikes on Ukrainian military-industrial facilities

Russia developing echeloned system for air and missile defense — expert

Alexander Stepanov pointed out that "this also applies to intermediate-range high-precision systems such as the Tomahawk and other weapons that NATO countries may provide to Ukraine"

Iran informs IAEA of plans to install more uranium enrichment units — report

Tehran informed the IAEA that eight recently added cascades of IR-6 machines would enrich uranium to up to 5% purity