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Ukraine prepared attack on Kursk Region 'secretly' — Scholz

The German Chancellor assured that his country will continue to support Ukraine and will remain its major proponent in Europe

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Andres Martinez Casares, Pool Photo via AP

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz

© Andres Martinez Casares, Pool Photo via AP

CHISINAU, August 21. /TASS/. Ukraine was preparing an attack on the Kursk Region "secretly and without any feedback," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said.

"First of all, Ukraine was preparing its military operation in the Kursk Region secretly and without any feedback," Scholz stated at a joint press conference with Moldovan President Maia Sandu in Chisinau.

He noted that Germany is closely monitoring the events. Scholz assured that his country will continue to support Ukraine and will remain its major proponent in Europe. He added that only the United States, as the world's biggest power, is able to do more. "In this regard, it is something that everyone in Ukraine can rely on," the chancellor emphasized. He recalled that the draft German federal budget for 2025 includes €4 billion for military support for Kiev.

Earlier, the Bild newspaper reported that the Ukrainian armed forces were using German Marder infantry fighting vehicles and a Wisent demolition tank in the Kursk Region.

On August 6, Russia’s borderline Kursk Region came under a massive attack from Ukraine. A state of federal emergency is in effect in the region. According to the Emergencies Ministry, over 122,000 people have been evacuated from nine border municipalities in the Kursk Region, with temporary accommodation centers set up in 28 Russian regions. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Kiev has lost more than 4,400 troops and 65 tanks since fighting began in the Kursk area. The operation to destroy Ukrainian troops continues.

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Ukraine crisis Germany

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The Russian leader wished the participants of the exercise "success in accomplishing the assigned tasks"

UK already permitted Kiev to use Storm Shadow, but will not admit it publicly — paper

The report quotes anonymous sources as saying that "it would be considered unnecessarily provocative" in London to make a public announcement of this kind

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"Our armed forces hit only those infrastructure facilities that are directly related to the organization of combat operations, only those facilities on which the actions of Ukrainian troops on the line of engagement depend, and especially those to be used to attack Russian territory, I mean the Kursk Region first of all," the top Russian diplomat said

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"We thank the fighters of the Air Defense Forces and defenders of the state border," region's acting Governor Alexey Smirnov said

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According to Vasily Prozorov, the attack might be a result of infighting between Kirill Budanov and Alexander Syrsky

Russia assumes Iran heard its position on Zangezur Corridor — Foreign Ministry spokeswoman

"We have provided all necessary explanations in this regard," Maria Zakharova stressed

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At the same time, a Ukrainian military officer told the newspaper that the situation in the area was difficult for Ukrainian forces

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Earlier, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto called for honesty on EU enlargement and criticized its leaders for playing a joke on the Western Balkan countries with accession to the EU

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Russia’s borderline Kursk Region came under a massive attack from Ukraine on August 6

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Ukraine suffers heavy losses after repeated attempts to advance in Kursk Region — army

Apty Alaudinov emphasized that "the situation remains difficult but under control"

Hamas rejects any new preconditions for Gaza ceasefire agreement, regardless of author

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Ka-52M helicopters hit Ukrainian manpower, equipment in Kursk border area — top brass

The ministry added that the attack was carried out with air-to-air missiles on reconnaissance targets of the enemy

Russian troops rescue over 200 civilians of Krasnogorovka — commander

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Harris rejects Trump's claims about meeting with Putin days before special op start

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Three enemy drones downed over northwestern Russia’s Murmansk Region — governor

As a precaution to ensure the safety of civilian aircraft, flights at Murmansk and Apatity airports have been temporarily suspended

West trying to add so-called Crimean platform into its formats on 'peace summit' — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister pointed to the fact that the Kiev regime had repeatedly voiced its real intentions regarding Crimea

Musk believes Harris to be in charge of US office already

The televised debate between Trump and Harris organized by ABC News was held on Tuesday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Russia, Bolivia to build lithium carbonate producing plant

The Russian company’s project envisages the launch of production in the second half of 2025

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The Russian leader reiterated that the government should "think about certain restrictions on supplies to the foreign market" of these and a number of other goods

Trump says he wants to end Ukrainian conflict

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Yury Borisov recalled the December 2022 loss of pressure in Soyuz MS-22’s external radiator cooling loop, which resulted in a decision not to use it for crew return

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According to Dmitry Peskov, "this raises significantly the degree of the collective West’s involvement in this war around Ukraine"

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According to Maria Zakharova, "the anti-Russian rhetoric of the official Chisinau is taking on increasingly grotesque forms"

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The projectile splashed down outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone

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Dmitry Peskov cautioned "against treating reports of various digital media or media-like outlets as primary sources"

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Islamists win over 30 seats in Jordan’s 138-seat parliament — election authority

In accordance with the 2022 election law, 30% of all seats - or 41 seats in total - are allocated to political parties

Russia says its forces liberated 10 settlements in Kursk Region over past two days

Reconnaissance and search operations continue in wooded areas to detect and destroy enemy sabotage groups attempting to infiltrate deeper inside Russia, the Defense Ministry said

Russia simulates firing Kalibr missiles in Lake Ladoga during massive naval maneuvers

Also, the warships practiced causing jamming during the maneuvers, the ministry said

Russian army hits airfields, Ukrainian military’s energy facilities

Russia’s battlegroup West has repelled three Ukrainian counterattacks over the past day, eliminating up to 445 enemy servicemen, the Defense Ministry emphasized

Ukrainian forces attempt to eliminate their own troops captured by Russian units

"Look at us: there are injuries but these wounds came from the drones that attacked us," the Ukrainian soldier said

Restrictions on Russian nickel exports may cause deficit, price surge worldwide — expert

This will hit especially hard industries using nickel to produce batteries and electric vehicles, Yaroslav Kabakov noted

US presidential debate mere dog and pony show — Russian diplomat

"Is that big news that we could see yet another show performed by people who clearly take no responsibility whatsoever for their words?" Maria Zakharova asked rhetorically

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

Kiev lost some 7,000 troops in Sudzha district of Kursk Region — commander

According to Apty Alaudinov, Ukraine is taking heavy casualties

Defense minister says UK accelerating military support to Ukraine

"The support announced in April - including air defense missiles, equipment for F-16 fighter jets, AS90 self-propelled guns and spare barrels, military boats, and maritime guns - have now been delivered," the statement said

Ambassadors of friendly countries visit Russian ship in Angola

During the call at the Luanda port, the Baltic Fleet’s training ship Smolny will replenish water, fuel and food supplies and undergo technical maintenance

Ukrainian troops captured: situation in Kursk Region

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

West moves closer to giving Kiev official go-ahead for strikes inside Russia — Lavrov

"Now attempts are being made to wrap it in a nice package for the public to see," Russia’s top diplomat explained

Russia has no doubt Baku fully assesses risks of interaction with NATO — MFA

Maria Zakharova recalled that there was a large number of examples of the US infiltrating the national security sphere of other countries under the pretext of improving the situation there

Russian diplomat says Washington, London stand behind Ukrainian strike on Ramenskoye

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Russia to take additional measures to support Cuba — Shoigu

The Security Council secretary noted that Moscow and Havana will develop their strategic cooperation in a wide array of areas

Moldova approves new Russian ambassador’s candidacy — top diplomat

Mihai Popsoi expressed hope that the Russian diplomatic mission in Chisinau will operate in strict compliance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations

US military-industrial complex may instigate new conflicts after Ukraine — diplomat

Maria Zakharova pointed out the "explosive growth of the American military-industrial complex’s income," but added that "the path of total militarization of the economy is a dead end," because "switching back to the peaceful track is oftentimes very costly"

US’ Blinken admits Ukraine’s discussion of strikes at Russia may cause escalation

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Washington tasks Kiev with attacking ordinary Russians — ambassador

Anatoly Antonov added that Washington strategists use provocative slogans about alleged Moscow's plans to take over almost half of the world

Soyuz MS-26 takes new crew, including new TASS correspondent, to ISS

The spacecraft carries Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner and NASA astronaut Donald Pettit

Iran criticizes UK, Germany, France over air service termination

According to Nasser Kanaani, Tehran will respond "proportionately"

Army liberates Krasnogorovka after taking enemy by surprise — Russian serviceman

According to the report, all the assault operations in Krasnogorovka were carefully planned

China to take 'effective measures' if US missiles deployed in Asia — general

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Iran delivers no ballistic missiles to Russia — foreign minister

Abbas Araghchi believes that all those supporting the anti-Iranian sanctions should ask themselves: "How is Iran able to make and supposedly sell sophisticated arms?"

Kiev pulling militants to stabilize situation near Kupyansk, Kremennaya — military expert

Kiev may have deployed Azov militants for reinforcement and for "stabilizing the situation at problem sectors of the front line," Andrey Marochko surmised

Russia pushing Ukrainian troops out of Kursk Region, will undoubtedly succeed — Lavrov

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Russian army approaches Seversk to increase range of weapons used — military expert

Andrey Marochko noted that this development will allow Russian troops to "increase pressure" on the enemy and "expand the range of weapons used"

Russia says its battlegroup North inflicted up to 180 casualties on Ukrainian troops

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Mi-28NM copter hits Ukrainian armored vehicles in Kursk border area — Defense Ministry

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Xi accepts Putin invitation to attend BRICS summit in Kazan, China’s top diplomat says

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Number of Ukrainian troops going AWOL on the rise — report

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Russian troops take full fire control of LPR's Makeyevka — military expert

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Musk warns of looming World War Three if US approves strikes on Russian soil

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Talk of Kiev’s potential strikes inside Russia seeks to pressure Moscow — Russian diplomat

This is an element of psychological warfare, which in turn is part of the hybrid war that Washington has waged against our country for a long time, Ryabkov said

Ukrainian troops execute comrades attempting to surrender in Kursk — army

Major General Apty Alaudinov added that getting captured Ukrainian soldiers out of the combat zone is no easy task

West's reaction to situation around Nord Streams just show — Lavrov

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Tajikistan’s Chief Mufti Abdulkodirzoda wounded in assassination attempt — police

The suspected assailant had been detained at the scene

None of Russian regions can be disputed in talks on Ukraine — diplomat

Maria Zakharova commented on a statement by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said that the return of Crimea was allegedly a provision of international law

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Russia calls for tougher IAEA response to Kiev’s threats to Kursk NPP — diplomat

Mikhail Ulyanov recalled that IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi visited the facility in late August and had a chance to see the consequences of Ukrainian attacks with his own eyes