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Belarus anti-war, but stands ready to defend itself if necessary — Lukashenko

"We have the strength and means to fight back any aggressor," the Belarusian President emphasized

MINSK, July 16. /TASS/. The people of Belarus do not want war but will give a "resolute and tough response" to any provocation, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Tuesday.

"We will continue to develop, strengthen and improve our Armed Forces, taking into account the experience of combat operations," BelTA news agency quoted Lukashenko as saying at a ceremony to honor graduates of higher military educational institutions and senior officers at the Palace of Independence.

"Belarusians do not want war, but will give a resolute and tough response to any provocation," the president continued. "Each of you are aware of this. This is our principled position. We have the strength and means to fight back any aggressor."

Lukashenko noted that the military personnel are well aware of the current situation near the country’s southern and western borders. According to him, the people of Belarus are facing the same situation that their ancestors experienced 80 years ago and now they need to stand strong and prevent their enemies from dragging the country into a military conflict.

"We have been doing everything necessary for this, up to hosting the most terrible thing - nuclear weapons," he noted.

Lukashenko said that Belarus is sometimes accused of escalating the situation, when in fact, it is simply providing for its military security and strengthening its defensive capabilities in order to prevent a repeat of what happened during World War II.

"You are officers," he said addressing the graduates of the military institutions and senior officers. "In the eyes of millions of your compatriots the people in uniform are the main guarantor of the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.".

Chile shows interest in BRICS — Russian envoy

The group now includes ten countries

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"

Ukrainian POWs cannot be taken out of harm's way due to Kiev's shelling attacks — officer

According to Major General Apty Alaudinov, Akhmat fighters have already taken numerous Ukrainian soldiers prisoner

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suspends his campaign for US president

He also said he would ask to remove his name from the ballots in ten key states

Suppressed drone drifted to pier in Sevastopol — governor

Professionals will now decide whether to blast it in-situ or transport away for destruction

Two Russian sailors die in accident in Turkey — newspaper

According to the news outlet, the incident occurred on Friday when the vessel was anchored near Bandirma in the country’s north-west

Fire area in Karachai-Circassia growing to 263 hectares

Earlier reports said the active fire area was 15 hectares

Press review: NATO complicit in Kursk attack and Russian military officials get new roles

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, August 21st

About 30-40% of Kharkov Region must be liberated to hold referendum — official

Vitaly Ganchev also hopes to hold a survey by the end of the year in order to gauge public interest in becoming a part of Russia

FSIN refutes allegations about seizure of colony in Volgograd Region by criminals

The criminals took hostages and seized one isolated building in the colony’s territory

Russia’s Uralkali company lauds Dutch police inspection of US-based Haas F1 Team

"This was an expected consequence of Haas’ refusal to comply with the arbitration ruling awarding payment and a race car to Uralkali," a spokesman for the Russian company said

Ukraine doesn’t view India as mediator in potential talks — NYT

The Ukrainian officials portrayed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kiev as a "welcome show of support for their country"

Russia imports more than half of non-food goods — ministry

Russia can't produce everything that is imported today, the official said, adding that this is not realistic

Russian bomb squad finds, destroys two Ukrainian air bombs in Kursk Region

Bomb squad technicians from the Emergency Situations Ministry defused and destroyed two demolition bombs, a FAB-500 and a FAB-250

Putin made decision on response to Kiev’s incursion – ambassador to US

The retaliation will be tough, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said

Russia's top prosecutor reveals startling new details about 1918 Romanov family execution

According to Igor Krasnov, members of the royal family did not die immediately because they had diamonds and jewelry sewn into their clothes, and the bullets ricocheted off

Ukraine raised risk of nuclear war for allies, former chief of Romanian intelligence says

"Ukraine understood very well what it was doing," Silviu Predoiu said

Enemy losses: developments in Kursk Region

In total, the enemy has lost 5,137 servicemen since fighting began in the region

Press review: Harris train rolling as DNC wraps up and Indian PM to walk fine line in Kiev

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, August 23rd

Germany may expand list of weapons its supplies to Ukraine — Russian ambassador

According to Sergey Nechayev, people in Germany disapprove of the government’s decision to supply weapons to Ukraine because this leads to the conflict escalations and entails considerable budgetary spending whereas this money could be used for peaceful purposes

US not planning to transfer F-16 jets to Ukraine — Air Force Secretary

"The United States is helping to train pilots together with our partners and significant progress in training will be achieved next year," Kendall said

Four Ukrainian missiles destroyed over Kursk Region

"Four more Ukrainian missiles were destroyed in the skies of the Kursk Region in the morning. Thanks to air defense fighters and border protectors!" Smirnov wrote

FACTBOX: Inmates take staff hostage at correctional facility in Volgograd Region

According to emergency response services, one employee was killed

NATO citizens contact Russian embassies for residence permits en masse — diplomat

Maria Zakharova pointed out that, starting on August 19, citizens of other states are allowed to apply to Russia, if they are being persecuted in their states for following traditional values

Ukraine seeks to unleash new world war by attacking Russian nuclear plant — politician

The goal of the drone attack was to cause a Chernobyl-like disaster and contaminate all of Europe with radiation, said Zmago Jelincic

Ukraine disconnects backup power line at Zaporozhye NPP

The Ferrosplavnaya-1 high-voltage 330kV power supply line was disconnected from the Zaporozhye NPP on August 23

Russia delivers 16 precision strikes at Ukrainian military sites over week — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup North thwarted the Ukrainian army’s attempts to deploy reserves in the Kursk Region over the past week, the Defense Ministry reported

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

Zelensky signed law on actual ban of canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Such data were posted on the website of the Ukrainian parliament

Russian units use Lancet to wipe out Ukrainian combat vehicles in Kursk Region

The ministry provided footage of the attack

Ukrainian recruits refuse to fire at Russians, commander says

Ukrainian commanders blame poorly-trained recruits for failures on the eastern flank, especially for the territorial losses in the Krasnoarmeisk area in the Donetsk People’s Republic, where they "enabled Russia’s army to advance"

EU Diplomacy Chief says EU-China trade war unavoidable — South China Morning Post

According to Borrell, the likely aggravation of trade relations between the EU and China "is in line with the logic of things"

Russian army hits Kiev's reserves in Plavni, Primorskoye in Zaporozhye Region — politician

Plavni and Primorskoye are north of the town of Vasilievka

Press review: Moscow-Beijing ties look for shot in arm and US backdoors new nuke strategy

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, August 22nd

Russian Armed Forces liberate one more settlement — official

Chinese Foreign Ministry confirms visit by US security advisor

Jake Sullivan is also expected to meet with other senior officials

Inmates plotted their attack in Russian prison in advance, law enforcement source says

According to TASS source, the attack was well-planned

Putin, Pashinyan discuss results of Russian president’s visit to Baku — Kremlin

According to the statement, "the Russian side reaffirmed its readiness to provide further assistance to Armenia and Azerbaijan in their efforts to work toward a peace treaty, promote the delimitation and demarcation of the border and unblock transportation and logistics routes" between the two South Caucasus countries"

Russian forces control about 50 settlements in Kharkov region — official

The liberated territories have a combined population of around 2,000 people in total, the head of the Kharkov Region's civil-military administration Vitaly Ganchev said

Russian Armed Forces disrupt Ukrainian army attacks in Kursk Region

A tank, seven armored vehicles, and two motor vehicles were destroyed also

US sends reconnaissance plane to monitor Russia’s activities — media

According to Newsweek, on August 20, the plane conducted a six-hour-long flight in the Baltic region bordering Russia

Russian forces destroy US-made Abrams tank in borderline Kursk area — commander

"In addition, we have eliminated several artillery guns of various caliber and also several command posts," Major General Apty Alaudinov said

Increased level of complexity assigned to fire in Rostov Region’s Proletarsk

The firefighting effort involves 37 men and 12 vehicles

Kherson Region governor says Ukraine will attempt to attack Tendra Spit and Kinburn Spit

According to Vladimir Saldo, there is a large number of unmanned boats, assault boats and helicopters among the equipment deployed there

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According to the statement, the Indian side reiterated its principled position and focus on a peaceful settlement through dialogue and diplomacy, under which New Delhi participated in the Ukraine Peace Summit held in Switzerland in June 2024

Russian Ambassador to US Antonov to return home in October — diplomatic source

Anatoly Antonov has been Russia’s Ambassador to the United States since August 2017

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Sergey Tsekov emphasized that attempts to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has true believers in Ukraine in an uproar, also play a significant role

EU ministers to discuss sending instructors to Ukraine next week — newspaper

The decision will be made by November "at the latest," the newspaper added

Neo-Nazis who attacked Russia’s Kursk region sure to be defeated - Russian ambassador

Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said the subject was raised during Russian diplomats’ recent meetings with compatriots in Salt Lake City and Chicago

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More than 5.8 million people took part in the vote

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An enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group was destroyed west of Skrylievka

Ukraine attacks ferry loaded with fuel tanks in Kavkaz port: victims, damage, response

The area of the fire covered 500 square meters, emergency response services reported

US authorizes import of certain Russian diamonds, jewelry until September 1, 2025

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Sudhir Kumar Sharma noted that there are still areas in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, where the machines are manufactured, so it is possible that production will be expanded there

Two powerful solar flares detected on August 22 — scientists

The first flare was detected in the early hours of Thursday

One of hostage takers at Russian penal colony was drug gang member — court verdict

Ramzidin Toshev joined the group in an attempt to solve financial problems

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Currently, other tasks are on the agenda, the president emphasized

115 servicemen returned to Russian in prisoner-of-war swap

The United Arab Emirates provided intermediary efforts of humanitarian nature during the return of Russian servicemen from captivity

Chinese diplomat urges US to immediately stop official interaction with Taiwan

According to the Chinese embassy spokesperson, "China has long been recognized by the international community as a contributor to global peace, development and international order"

Captured Ukrainian soldier says goal was to create semblance of presence in Kursk Region

He and his fellow soldiers rode three armored personnel carriers to a settlement where they immediately came under fire from Russian soldiers

No 'buffer zone' on Russian territory, says ambassador to US

Anatoly Antonov warned that Moscow is not going to consult Washington on how to act to expel the Ukrainian armed forces from the Kursk Region

Four employees killed in hostage-taking incident at Russian prison — officials

During a special operation to free the hostages, all four criminals were liquidated

Russian helicopter strikes Ukrainian troops in borderline district of Kursk Region

The ministry provided footage of the attack

Diplomats visit Russian national in US custody, says consul general

Artur Petrov is being kept at a detention facility in the New York City

State of emergency activated in district of Voronezh Region after drone attack

Two women were founded and one of them was hospitalized in a grave condition after the night drone attack

Ukrainian army lost over 5,500 servicemen when fighting in Kursk direction

The Russian army aviation engaged manpower and materiel of the Ukrainian army in the Kursk Region and hit concentration areas of the adversary in the Sumy Region

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joins Trump at Arizona rally

Trump described Kennedy’s presidential campaign as extraordinary

Volchansk may be completely destroyed due to massive Ukrainian attacks — administration

Vitaly Ganchev pointed out that the Ukrainian troops are actively using drones

Captured Ukrainian soldiers play like they’re civilians, outed by phone data — official

Apty Alaudinov called the Ukrainian soldiers operating in the Kursk Region a bunch of thugs

Unrecovered bodies of European mercenaries litter Kursk fields — Russian MP

According to Viktor Vodolatsky, the West needed the Ukrainian incursion into the borderline Russian region of Kursk to test how well Russia’s border is protected

Kiev’s forces question strategic premise of Kursk incursion — officer

According to the Ukrainian serviceman, the Ukrainian political leadership devised the offensive in order to divert the Ukrainians’ attention from the dire situation on the frontline and in the country’s economy and energy infrastructure

US seeks to show its ‘anti-Russian essence’ by introducing sanctions — Moscow’s envoy

Anatoly Antonov pointed out that "the negative aspects of US actions are obvious to everyone"

Russia takes some rear enemy positions under fire control near Karlovka in DPR

This should serve to weaken Ukrainian defenses at this sector of the line of engagement, the officer said

Putin met top brass of Russian Armed Forces, listened to situation reports

The head of state listened to reports of Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov and Chief of the Main Operations Department of the General Staff Sergey Rudskoy, Kremlin’s press service said

Numerous countries express interest in India-produced AK-203 assault rifles — official

India has become the first foreign country where the AK-203 iteration of the Kalashnikov assault rifle is manufactured

Washington says discussing with Kiev use of US arms to strike deeper inside Russia

Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters on Thursday that the use of American weapons to strike inside Russia’s Kursk Region does not run counter to the US policy

Russian commander reports presence of active NATO soldiers in Kursk area

Apty Alaudinov specified that he referred to active NATO servicemen

Russia’s Battlegroup East eliminates up to 140 enemy troops in past day

Battlegroup spokesman Alexander Gordeyev added that the forces had also improved their frontline positions, thwarting the enemy’s attempts to reinforce its units

Over 150 munitions destroyed in Kursk Region

Ministry’s ordnance technicians found and destroyed the warhead of a Tochka-U missile fired by the Ukrainian army, the press service added

Some convicts serving in Ukrainian army refuse to go into combat

A former member of the Verkhovna Rada explained that when prisoners wrote applications for mobilization, they had a completely different motivation

FACTBOX: What is known about new anti-Russian sanctions imposed by US

According to the document, the restrictions against companies "whose products and services enable Russia to sustain its military efforts and evade sanctions"

West directs all of Kiev's strikes on civilian targets — Russian diplomat

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Drone debris causes fire in Russia’s Voronezh Region — governor

Response teams are working at the site

Trump leads Harris in latest survey of likely US voters

The telephone and online survey of around 1,900 likely voters was conducted on August 15 and 18-21, the pollster said

Russian forces capture ten Ukrainian troops in Kursk Region — commander

The enemy lost a tank and five armored vehicles, a Bukovel electronic warfare system and a gun were destroyed

Russian Battlegroup East thwarted four Ukrainian army’s counterattacks

Ukrainian General Staff says situation around Krasnoarmeisk, Kupyansk tough

The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Wednesday that Russia’s Battlegroup Center had liberated the community of Zhelannoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic

HIMARS missiles, artillery rounds included in US’ new aid package to Ukraine

Assistance includes aerial systems equipment and munitions, 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor missiles

Manufacturers of FPV drone Upyr found drone producing plant Uraldronzavod

The FPV drone Upyr (Vampire) was first used in the special military operation zone in May 2023 and proved its effectiveness

Three Ukrainian missiles downed over Kursk Region in the evening of August 23

"Three Ukrainian missiles were destroyed in the skies of the Kursk Region late in the evening yesterday. Thanks to air defense fighters and border protectors!" Smirnov wrote

Ukraine peace initiative shouldn’t be unilateral - Indian foreign minister

"Our view is that any exercise, if it has to be productive, will naturally have to involve the other party concerned," Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stressed

Ukraine’s army withdrawing troops from near Kupyansk after Russian forces breach defenses

"With regard to the situation near Peschanoye, if we talk about the enemy’s behavior, Ukrainian armed formations are currently trying to slow down the advance of our forces," military expert Andrey Marochko said

North Korean diplomat blames US for creating concept of nuclear threat

United States continues to fabricate someone else’s ‘nuclear threat,’ obsessed with ensuring unilateral nuclear superiority, diplomat said

Seizure of Allegro trains by Finnish VR illegal — Russian Railways

Unlawfulness of actions of the Finnish side is confirmed by decisions of Russian courts, which bind the Finnish railway operator to continue performing contracts made by it

Medvedev rules out peace talks with Kiev until enemy 'completely defeated'

The politician also hinted at those behind the attack on the Kursk Region, making unflattering comments about a former British prime minister

Modi arrives in Ukraine for first visit ever by an Indian PM

Modi arrived in the Ukrainian capital after wrapping up his visit to Poland

UAE facilitates swapping almost 1,800 POWs between Russia, Ukraine in 2024

The diplomatic agency expressed its appreciation to the governments of the two countries "for their cooperation with the UAE’s mediation endeavors"

Russian Cabinet introduces benefit for imports of LNG producing equipment

The tariff benefit implies that goods will be exempt from the import customs duty

Drone drifted to Sevastopol yacht club pier destroyed in-situ

The drone suppressed in one of Ukrainian army attacks was washed during the day to the pier of the South yacht club in Sevastopol

Russian forces destroy French-made Crotale missile system in Kursk Region

According to Akhmat Special Forces Commander Major General Apty Alaudinov, it costs €8.9 million