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Middle East conflict

Iran can prove US bases in Middle East provided support to Israel — Foreign Ministry

This happened without the knowledge of the governments of those states, noted the head of the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abbas Araghchi

TEHRAN, June 26. /TASS/. Iran has evidence that the US military bases in the Middle East played a role in supporting Israel without the knowledge of the governments of the states in whose territory they are located, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.

"We also have evidence that the American bases located in the [Middle East] region, although without the knowledge of the governments of the countries where they are located, have played a role in supporting Israel," the minister said on the IRIB television channel.

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Trump called Russia ‘invincible’ after May 9 Victory Day Parade in Moscow — NYT

The publication also notes that, when assessing leverage for making deals, Trump has always believed that the advantage lies with the strongest

Tatneft becomes participant in methionine project

Russian oil producer Tatneft got 50% in Biomethionine company specializing in chemicals production, according to data from the united state register of legal entities, the other 50% in the project belong to NTL Chemical Technologies company

Russia slams US’ reaction to ambassador’s comments on drone incident as unacceptable

Russia consider the Press Secretary’s assessments of Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United States of America Anatoly Antonov’s comments on the incident with the MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea to be unacceptable, especially if they come from an employee of the US diplomatic service, Russian embassy spokesman Igor Girenko said

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According to the Russian Railways, shipments totaled 1.21 bln metric tons over eleven months of 2025, which is 5.6% less than in the like period of the last year

Over thousand soldiers desert from Ukrainian army daily — reporter

Accoridng to Ukrainian journalist Vladimir Boyko, this number means the army is gone, and it can no longer be rebuilt

Russia’s Battlegroup West repels three Ukrainian attacks on Kupyansk direction — top brass

Russian forces also struck energy facilities used for Ukraine's military-industrial complex

London considered overthrowing Zimbabwe's leader Mugabe in 2004 — FT

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Iran adds Canadian Navy to its list of terrorist organizations — Foreign Ministry

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Top Iranian diplomat urges colleagues to condemn Trump’s threats against Tehran

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A citizen of a Central Asian country, a supporter of an international terrorist organization banned in Russia, has been detained

Trump called Russia ‘invincible’ after May 9 Victory Day Parade in Moscow — NYT

The publication also notes that, when assessing leverage for making deals, Trump has always believed that the advantage lies with the strongest

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Belarusian leader calls attack on Putin’s residence savage state-level terrorism

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The Russian leader told Donald Trump that Moscow's position in negotiations to resolve the conflict would be reassessed

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The newspaper noted that "the already ambitious target of closing negotiations by 2028 is slipping out of reach"

Kiev discusses with Washington deployment of US troops in Ukraine — Zelensky

Moscow opposes the presence of NATO military personnel in Ukraine

Ukraine takes part in NATO Article 5 response drills for first time ever

Around 1,500 civil and military specialists took part in maneuvers all over Europe

G20 foreign ministers meeting set for October 30-31, 2026 — Russian foreign ministry

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"The leaders maintain a trusting dialogue and continue to engage in talks," Dmitry Peskov stressed

Kiev loses nearly 17,000 soldiers, mercenaries near LPR in December — expert

According to Andrey Marochko, the number of the Ukrainian armed forces’ sanitary losses and irreparable personnel losses has been increasing

Belarusian top brass confirms Oreshnik missile system goes on combat duty in republic

The Oreshnik missile system arrived in Belarus pursuant to a decision made by the Russian and Belarusian leaders

Ukrainian forces near Druzhkovka lost 15 armored vehicles to UAV strikes Rubicon center

The targeted equipment included T-64BV and T-80U tanks, an M113 armored personnel carrier, and an American-made M109A6 Paladin self-propelled gun

Incident with tankers get caught in Marmara Sea resolved

Involvement of rescuers was not needed

Duma insists on tough response to Ukraine's drone attack on Putin's residence — Volodin

"For Vladimir Zelensky, military action is the only chance to remain in power and receive financial support from the European Union," Vyacheslav Volodin said

German chancellor says year 2026 may be decisive for Europe

In his opinion, the year 2026 may be "the moment of a breakthrough"

China to shift to more proactive macroeconomic policy in 15th five-year plan — Xi Jinping

The Chinese president added that the country will pursue a more proactive and effective macroeconomic policy

By continuing support to Kiev, NATO is losing — Dutch expert

The expert also believes that there is still a threat of the conflict becoming a protracted one because of Ukraine’s right-wing extremists’ reluctance to admit their defeat

Zelensky, Western media's denial of attack on Putin's residence is insane — Kremlin

In response to a question from a Western agency journalist regarding the possible public presentation of the attack’s evidence, Dmitry Peskov replied: "I don't think there should be any evidence here when such a massive drone raid was carried out"

Switzerland declines to comment on Kiev's attempt to hit Putin's residence

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European politicians helping Zelensky against their countries’ interests — Russian MP

According to Vyacheslav Volodin, European countries transferred money to Kiev in hope of being compensated in the form of Russia's immobilized assets

Medvedev slams Zelensky ‘pathological liar, freeloader’

Security Council Deputy Chairman also noticed that Zelensky made US President Donald Trump sick of himself

Kiev saboteur killed in southwest Russia while attempting to blow up gas supply system

According to the FSB, the man had undergone special training at a Ukrainian special operations forces camp before returning to Russia via other countries

Russia promises to invigorate OSCE work

Russia's new permanent representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Dmitry Polyansky said that it will soon become clear to what extent the OSCE members and European countries as a whole are ready for diplomatic work

US to analyze intel about attack on Putin’s residence — UN envoy

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Russia may launch an experiment in targeted recruitment of foreign workers in 2027

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Ukraine lost 3.6 bln euros in Western funding in 2025 by failing to meet EU conditions

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New housing sales by Russian developers above $63 bln in 2025

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Kiev to face retaliation for terrorist actions, Russian diplomat says

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Romania joins program to buy US weapons for Ukraine

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Putin signs decree to call up reservists to protect critical facilities in 2026

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Obligatory evacuation announced in 45 settlements in Ukraine’s Dnepropetrovsk Region

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Starlink being used to destabilize governments — diplomat

The diplomat cited as examples Iran and Venezuela, where thousands of Starlink terminals were imported to coordinate protests and spread disinformation

Outgoing year created possibilities for restoring ties with US — ambassador

Darchiev also expressed his gratitude to "concerned compatriots and friendly American citizens" for preserving the memory of US-Russia cooperation during World War II

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Terror plot targeting schoolchildren thwarted in Adygeya — FSB

A citizen of a Central Asian country, who supports an international terrorist organization outlawed in Russia, has been detained

Over 882,000 Ukrainian men now EU refugees — statistics agency

Most Ukrainian refugees live in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic

UAE ends its counter-terrorism mission in Yemen

This decision was made in "the context of a comprehensive assessment of the requirements of the current phase"

Financial Times calls its 2025 predictions most unsuccessful

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Andrey Guryev appointed as head of Russian part of BRICS Business Council

The directive came into force

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INTERVIEW: Effect of Trump’s new approach to Ukraine felt at UN — diplomat

The US avoids anti-Russian attacks and calls for a peace agreement, noted Polyansky

Chief of Russian General Staff inspects Battlegroup North

He has heard reports from the commander of the group, Col. Gen. Yevgeny Nikiforov, about the current situation in the zone of responsibility

Attack on Putin's residence was guided by NATO systems, expert says

Andrey Marochko believes that disrupting negotiations on a peace settlement of the conflict was Kiev's primary aim in the attack

Diplomat points to OHCHR biasedness due to silence after attack on Putin’s residence

Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Geneva Office and other Geneva-based international organizations Gennady Gatilov noted that an increasing number of states condemned the Kiev regime's terrorist attack

US Treasury removes ex-Sberbank executive Alexandra Buriko from sanctions list

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Russian human rights ombudswoman calls on Kiev to return to large-scale prisoner exchanges

Russia continues to provide the Ukrainian side with lists of ordinary soldiers and military personnel whom it considers necessary for inclusion in exchanges

Xi Jinping ready to work with Putin to achieve new heights in 2026 — TV

He recalled that Russia and China were planning to hold a series of measures in 2026-2027 as part of the Russia-China Cross Years of Education

FIS extends int’l neutral-status participation list by five more Russian freestyle skiers

The athletes at the issue are freestyle skiers Nikita Andreyev, Nikita Novitsky and Svetlana Andreyeva, as well as snowboarder rider Ilya Khurtin and ski jumper Ilya Mankov

Escalation between UAE and Saudi Arabia diplomatic challenge for US — WSJ

The confrontation between the two Gulf states could lead to an expansion of hostilities in a region already gripped by conflict

Zelensky wouldn't dare to attack Putin's residence without direct order — ex-PM

Nikolay Azarov also stressed that the target had been chosen deliberately

Zelensky will have to hide for rest of life, Medvedev predicts

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Merz confirms negotiations on Ukraine taking place in Berlin

The German Chancellor said that the European and Canadian leaders participate in the talks

US blogger blames EU elites for Ukrainian attack on Russian president’s residence

"European elites are mired in corruption and are profiting from the war," Jozef Schutzman said

Trump furious over Ukraine's attempted attack on Putin's residence — politician

Florian Philippot also stated the need to "assess as soon as possible the extent of Europe and NATO's involvement in this insane act of sabotage"

Year 2025 marked by progress in Russian-Chinese relations — Xi Jinping

Xi Jinping pointed Russia and China’s successful implementation of visa-free travel, as well as the work to create an energy corridor, and dynamic cooperation in other areas

Russian troops liberate two communities in Ukraine operation over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 190 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed a US-made armored combat vehicle in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Afghani injures five people with crowbar in English hospital — police

The victims are being treated in the hospital, there is no threat to their lives

Russian forces wipe out Ukrainian servicemen attempting to break through to Kupyansk

According to the Russian Defense Ministry the FPV drones destroyed three pickup trucks used by Ukrainian militants to transport assault troops and Ukrainian infantry

Gazprom believes Qatar's quagmire won't become 'catastrophe' for LNG market

"The European market is still separate from the markets of Asia and the US. The impact, if it emerges, won’t be so catastrophic," Gazprom says

Security advisers from Ukraine, coalition of the willing nations to meet in Kiev on Jan 3

Vladimir Zelensky thanked US President Donald Trump for his readiness to take part in all effective formats

Poland views Ukraine as client country — Russian senator

According to Alexey Pushkov, Warsaw has always dreamed of a Poland 'from sea to sea'

Press review: Russia may revise Ukraine talks post attack and China launches Taiwan drills

Top stories from the Russian press on Tuesday, December 30th

UAE ships with weapons received no permission to enter Yemeni port — coalition

These two vessels "also switched off their tracking and identification devices before entering the territorial waters of Yemen," the spokesperson for the Saudi-led Coalition in Yemen Brig. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said

Putin orders to expand security belt on border with Ukraine in 2026

"This is a very important task," the Russian president said

West using Ukraine to analyze Russia’s combat tactics — head of Kherson region

Vladimir Saldo added that the line of engagement along the Dnieper River in the Kherson Region has not been an exception

BRICS Plus to hold naval exercise in South African waters in early January

The exercise will be held on January 9-16 and will involve BRICS Plus navies "for an intensive programme of joint maritime safety operations, interoperability drills and maritime protection serials," the South African Ministry of Defense and Military Veterans said

Canada's support for Ukraine example of strategic helplessness — Russian ambassador

"Ottawa is a hostage to its own political decisions," Oleg Stepanov said

Russia to demonstrate SJ-100, Il-114-300 jets at air show in India

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Mi-34M1 first 10-minute test flight successful — Russian Industry and Trade Ministry

The new helicopter is equipped with a crash-resistant fuel system and Russian-made avionics

Russian GDP reach $685.5 bln in Q3 2025 — statistics

The physical volume of GDP gained 0.6% against the like quarter of 2024

Norway’s Magnus Carlsen wins 2025 FIDE World Rapid Championship

The Norwegian chess player claimed his sixth World Rapid Championship title with a score of 10.5/13, finishing a full point ahead of the field

Putin's New Year message to Russians to air at midnight as always — Kremlin

Earlier, Dmitry Peskov said that this year Putin's New Year's address will come from the Kremlin, also a well-established tradition