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Telegram founder’s arrest on criminal charges mirrors Assange case, source says

The fact that Durov holds French citizenship will largely untie the hands of prosecutors, he added

BRUSSELS, August 25. /TASS/. Telegram messenger CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest on criminal charges mirrors the case of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, a judicial source in Brussels told TASS.

"Durov’s case actually mirrors that of Assange. In both situations, the founder of a major independent international media outlet was targeted through the use of criminal charges," the said.

The fact that Durov holds French citizenship will largely untie the hands of prosecutors, he added. However, the source believes that no matter what passports Durov has, the media will continue to look at him as a Russian national, which considerably reduces the possibility that the public in Europe will support him.

According to the source, Durov’s arrest in Paris is fully in line with the spirit and principles of the European Union's Digital Services Act, which says that operators of social media networks and online platforms are responsible for any content posted. In order to escape punishment, an operator must automatically delete content banned by the European regulator. Still, the Digital Services Act does not provide for individual criminal responsibility, the source added.

France’s LCI TV channel reported earlier that Durov had been arrested at Le Bourget Airport late on August 24. TF1 said that he might be charged with terrorism, drug trafficking, fraud, money laundering and child pornography.

US decision to strike deep into Russia won’t solve Ukrainian problems — newspaper

It is pointed out that Washington has tempered its expectations of what Kiev can achieve in the near future

Less volunteers join Ukrainian army due to command's poor attitude — POW

It is reported that servicemen were deployed to build fortifications near the front line and could be left out of contact for an indefinite period

IMF supports Turkey's decision to join BRICS — fund representative

Earlier Julie Kozak stated that the IMF supports the expansion of BRICS in order to take advantage of global integration

Putin meets with BRICS representatives on security in St. Petersburg

After the meeting with them, bilateral talks with some of the visiting BRICS representatives are also possible

Ukrainian trench system discovered in settlements liberated on way to Krasnoarmeysk

DPR head Denis Pushilin announced that he had visited Karlovka, Novosyolovka Pervaya, Peski and seven other settlements

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

Russian air defenses destroy 20 Ukrainian drones above 6 regions overnight

Later, Oryol Region Governor Andrey Klychkov reported that one Ukrainian drone was jammed by electronic warfare systems and the other - by aviation equipment

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"

Death toll climbs in Vietnam after devastating Typhoon Yagi

The emergency services also reported significant property damage to northern Vietnam

Israel close to eliminating Hamas' military and political power — Netanyahu's office

According to Dmitry Gendelman, "the military defeat of Hamas brings closer" the release of hostages held in Gaza

US intends to adjust aid to Ukraine — Blinken on strikes deep into Russian territory

The high-ranking official avoided directly answering the question about strikes deep into Russian territory with US-made weapons

Press review: UK may jettison Russian sanctions and Berlin eyes olive branch on Ukraine

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, September 10th

BRICS security leaders convene in St. Petersburg to discuss new world order

According to the preliminary agenda, the representatives of the BRICS group, chaired this year by Russia, intend to talk about how to work together to counter the "rules-based order" imposed by the West

Ukraine is running low on Storm Shadow missiles — The Daily Telegraph

Reports on whether Kiev is authorized to use the UK-supplied missiles for deep strikes on Russia have been controversial over the past few months

Biden could allow strikes inside Russia with European missiles, but not ATACMS — report

The US President could greenlight the use of UK’s Storm Shadow missiles and French Scalp missiles

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

The US diplomat also noted that he discussed strikes at Russia during the meeting with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and his British counterpart and plans to report on the outcome of his negotiations to US President Joe Biden

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

Defense firm builds four Su-57 fifth-generation fighters for Russia’s Aerospace Force

The Sukhoi Su-57 is a Russian-made fifth-generation multirole fighter designed to destroy all types of air, ground and naval targets

Double standards unacceptable while resolving Ukraine, Mideast conflicts — minister

In Dong Jun's opinion, root causes of these conflicts need to be studied in order to resolve them

OHCHR closely registers reports of civilian casualties of Ukrainian attacks — spokeswoman

On Wednesday, the Russian delegation, which takes part in the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, criticized the HRC’s partiality in assessment of violations of rights and freedoms

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," Sergey Ryabkov 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

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

According to Wang Yi, the two leaders will "build on their strategic interaction" at the summit

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

According to Apty Alaudinov, Ukraine is taking heavy casualties

Witnesses confirm Ukrainian citizen’s involvement in journalist Dugina’s assassination

The court ruling on Natalya Vovk’s arrest in absentia says that files presented to the judge prove that suspicions of her involvement were justified

Destruction in Gaza unprecedented, international aid needed — Palestinian premier

Mohammad Mustafa said that restoring security and the rule of law in Gaza will require "restructuring its police force"

Finland’s territory not to be used to attacks against Russia — General Staff

Finnish Defense Forces General Staff noted that it monitors the situation around the attack of Ukrainian drones in the Murmansk Region

No weapon can become game changer for Kiev — Pentagon

In Washington’s opinion, Ukraine should focus on employing capabilities currently at its disposal

NATO making plans of sending its troops to Ukraine — Russian deputy defense minister

According to Alexander Fomin, this may lead to a direct military confrontation of nuclear powers

Qatar to discuss AI technologies in media during BRICS Media Summit — QNA

Ahmed bin Saeed Al Rumaihi announces plans for broader presence in Russia

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

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

NATO views Russia as ‘most significant and direct threat’ now and in long term

The experts claimed that Iran’s alleged supplies of ballistic missiles to Russia "represents a substantial escalation"

US delays solution to Ukrainian conflict, causes destabilization in Europe — North Korea

The statement came in response to remarks by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

India’s PM adviser shares with Putin possible ways of settling Ukraine crisis — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov stressed that it was not "a clear-cut peace plan"

Russia must be ready to repel military aggression from any direction — Putin

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

European elites seek to bring iron curtain back, which is way to nowhere — Lukashenko

The Belarusian president noted that at times it seems as though people coming to the country "leave their mutual quarrels, reproaches, and grudges at the border crossings"

Russian-Chinese 2024 military cooperation plan lists over 100 events

Such events include strategic exercises, drills for various services and braches of the armed forces, training of military specialists, sharing experience, etc.

Russia puts some foreign reporters on wanted persons list over illegal border crossing

They are Italy’s RAI television reporter Stefania Battistini, Deutsche Welle reporter Nicholas Simon Connolly, CNN reporter Nick Paton Walsh and Ukrainian reporters Natalya Nagornaya, Olesya Borovik and Diana Butsko

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

The foreign minister pointed out that "it is the West that supplies Ukraine with offensive weapons that are used in terrorist attacks"

Over 80% of all Gaza enterprises destroyed or damaged — UNCTAD

The organization noted that "the staggering scale of economic devastation and unprecedented decline in economic activity far surpasses the impact of all previous military confrontations in 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2021"

Russia, China, countries of global South seek just world order — Putin

"We will do everything to prepare relevant decisions on the basis of consensus, customary in our relations," the Russian leader stressed

West pushes Moldova towards catastrophe after testing it in Ukraine — Russian MFA

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

Kremlin calls for critical approach to reports of drones flying into Russia from Norway

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

Iran has no intent to change relations with Russia, intends to develop them — official

Ali Akbar Ahmadian also relayed salutations and best wishes to the Russian President from Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

Putin invites Cabinet to consider restricting exports of uranium, titanium, nickel

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

Group of Ukrainian pilots trained to fly F-16s in Romania — defense minister

Rustem Umerov also said that a new Patriot air defense system, pledged by Romania, will be delivered to Ukraine soon

Roscosmos offered its help to NASA in Starliner situation — head

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

Top Polish diplomat laughs with pranksters, talking about Nord Streams sabotage

Radoslaw Sikorski added that "the Americans had advance knowledge of it and didn’t stop it"

Medvedev doubts prospects of century-long UK-Ukraine partnership

Kiev is unlikely to last even a quarter of this term, he said

China, BRICS partners to promote equitable multipolar world order — foreign minister

China will continue to fully support Russia as BRICS chair this year and promote the full success of the October summit in Kazan, Wang Yi stated

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

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that Washington’s intention to let Kiev use its long-range projectiles for strikes deep into Russia’s interior is another step in escalating the conflict

ECB lowers base interest rate to 3.65% per annum from 4.25%

The regulator notes that the incoming inflation data in the eurozone are in line with the ECB's expectations and the forecasts presented in June

EU prolongs individual sanctions against Russia, removes two persons from blacklist

The EU Council stressed that the blacklist against Russia currently includes more than 2,200 individuals and legal entities

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

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

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

Russian MFA says Ukraine set up ‘something like concentration camps’ in Kursk Region

"For example, from 70 to 100 civilians were forcibly taken into the basements of the Sudzha boarding school, where they were subjected to psychological abuse and used for filming propaganda stories by Ukrainian and foreign journalists," the report says

Russia’s Su-34 fighter-bomber destroys Ukrainian troops, equipment in Kursk Region

The strike involved aviation bombs with universal planning and correction modules, which allow precise strikes from a safe distance from the line of contact

US goal of inflicting strategic defeat on Russia unrealistic — Russian ambassador

The US government is "ready to sacrifice the well-being of the citizens by delivering weapons and ammunition worth billions of dollars to the Kiev regime"

West directly coordinates Kiev regime’s strikes on civilian infrastructure in Russia

"Besides supplying Ukraine with extended range strike weapons, NATO states also provide Kiev with its military and space-based intelligence data," the Russian foreign minister stressed

Former Austrian Foreign Minister Kneissl confirms West’s plans to split up Russia

Some people in the Atlantic Council, and this is not only Americans, but also British, even German and Austrian scholars, said that Russia could be divided just as the Federation of Yugoslavia was divided

Russian deputy defense minister presents Russia’s approaches to security issues in Beijing

Alexander Fomin met with heads of delegations from China, Brunei, Laos, Mongolia and Iran

Liberating settlements: developments in Kursk Region

The Russian military also foiled Ukrainian attempts to attack the settlements of Cherkasskaya Konopelka, Borki and Fanaseyevka

Press review: US keeps itself at arm's length from Kiev and Russia, China flex naval power

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, September 11th

UK Foreign Office's Eastern Europe Directorate works to defeat Russia — FSB

It is reported that the FSB detected signs of intelligence and subversive activities in their work

Russia hits only military-linked energy facilities in Ukraine — Lavrov

"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

Scholz calls for peace talks on Ukraine to meet people’s will — MP

Steffen Kotre is very skeptical about the chances that the chancellor "will do everything in his power"

Poland has zero desire to defend Ukraine, top Polish diplomat says

According to Radoslaw Sikorski, Poland is now discussing whether to shoot down Russian cruise missiles over Ukraine's airspace from its own airspace without entering the Ukrainian territory

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

Kim Jong Un oversees tests of new 600mm multiple rocket launcher

The trials included "the driving test and volley test"

Press review: US moves to allow strikes inside Russia and Trump, Harris trade debate blows

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, September 12th

India’s PM adviser says never conveyed any statements from Zelensky to Putin — Kremlin

Ajit Kumar Doval described the main content of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's contacts in Kiev and the main basics of Modi's approach to resolving the conflict over Ukraine, Dmitry Peskov said

NASA delays Crew Dragon mission with Russian cosmonaut aboard by one day

Alexander Gorbunov and his launch partner, NASA astronaut Nick Hague, will arrive at Cape Canaveral launch facility in Florida to spend the next two weeks in routine preflight quarantine

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

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

Countries need to grasp consequences of hosting US military bases — Foreign Ministry

Maria Zakharova cited Germany, which portrays itself as a democratic state with a well-developed legal system, as an example

IMF resumes article 4 consultations with Russia as economy stabilizing — fund official

According to Julie Kozak, the representatives of IMF will discuss with the Russian authorities "the country's economic developments, prospects and policies"

Russian forces advance in all directions, Kiev running out of resources — newspaper

Russia also sucessfully repelling the Ukrainian incursion into its borderline region of Kursk, the La Repubblica newspaper’s military columnist Gianluca De Feo wrote

Local residents testify to Ukraine's atrocities in Kursk Region

On September 9, the Investigative Committee announced that criminal cases had been filed against Ukrainian servicemen suspected of committing various crimes in the Kursk Region

Kim Jong Un gives instructions to boost production of weapons-grade nuclear materials

North Korean leader "stressed the need to further augment the number of centrifuges in order to exponentially increase the nuclear weapons", KNCA reported

UK to be remembered in history as sponsor of Ukrainian terrorists — Russian embassy

The Russian diplomatic mission said that "in an attempt to overcome their clients’ negative developments on the battlefield, the UK government seems to be close to stepping onto a yet another dangerous turn in the escalation spiral."

Ukraine’s failed attack on drilling rig may be sign of infighting in its military — expert

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

Zelensky complains West refused to use long-range weapons against Russia

"If restrictions are lifted on some weapons for which there are no missiles, that is not a lifting of restrictions," the Ukrainian president said

ICRC says three staff members killed in Kiev-controlled territory of DPR

ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric said that she strongly condemned the "attacks on Red Cross personnel"

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

Earlier, Andrey Marochko told TASS that the Ukrainian armed forces' command began pulling military personnel and equipment from Makeyevka after Russian servicemen successfully crossed the Zherebets River running in the settlement

Ukrainian troops use drones with thermite in special operation zone

It is stressed that they are a serious threat, given that the grass is very dry now, it doesn’t rain much here and the fire spreads to positions in all directions

Israeli military declares Hamas’ Rafah brigade obliterated

According to the IDF, in recent weeks Israeli units also operated in the Tell al-Sultan neighborhood in western Rafah

Ten settlements liberated: developments in Kursk Region

Russian troops also repelled four Ukrainian attempts to break through the border towards the settlements of Novy Put and Medvezhye

Army liberates Krasnogorovka after taking enemy by surprise — Russian serviceman

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

Trump refuses to hold new round of debates with Harris

US ex-President noted that Polls shows that he won last debate

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

Hungary believes in dialogue, not in 'lectures and sanctions' — Orban

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

Four US nationals convicted of conspiracy to work for Russia — US Justice Department

The statement alleged that they acted under the direction of Russian anti-globalization human rights activist Alexander Ionov

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

UK diplomats working in Russia engaged in harming Russian people — diplomat

"We fully share the Russian Federal Security Service's assessment of the activities of the so-called British diplomats," Maria Zakharova emphasized

Ukrainian withdrawal from Kursk Region to deal 'symbolic blow' for Kiev — newspaper

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

Stoltenberg to become new Munich security conference chairman — media

According to the report, Jens Stoltenberg will assume the office after the Munich Conference in February 2025

Colombia seeks to stop recruitment of its citizens to Ukraine via diplomatic channels

The Foreign Ministry is aware about three citizens, detained in Russia under charges of mercenarism for fighting on Ukrainian side

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

Russian arms get the job done in special op — senior military official

Alexander Fomin noted that "Western weapon systems, purportedly possessing some high performance characteristics, according to promotional ads, burn perfectly well on the battlefield without any chances for restoration"

Criminal case into Ukraine’s attack on Kursk has over 200 volumes — official

Among the charges that are now being investigated are murders, attempted murders and terrorism

Reaction to permission to hit Russian territory with Western weapons to follow — Kremlin

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

Trump’s plan on Ukraine envisages demilitarized zone, Kiev’s neutrality — running mate

Apart from that, "the Germans and other countries have to fund some Ukrainian reconstruction", David Vance said