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Niger bans issuing visas to US citizens — agency

According to the sources, the measure is based on the principle of reciprocity

NAIROBI, December 25. /TASS/. Niger has decided to impose a total ban on issuing visas to American citizens, Agence Nigerienne de Presse (Nigerien Press Agency — ANP) reported.

According to the agency’s sources in diplomatic circles, Niger "fully and definitively halted the issuance of visas to all US citizens and imposed an indefinite ban on their entry into the country."

The agency notes that the measure is based on the principle of reciprocity and was made in response to Washington's decision to remove Niger from its list of countries whose citizens are eligible for a visa.

Iranian special forces officer eliminated in Lebanon — IDF

Spokesman Avichay Adraee said Hussein al-Jawhari had led operations against Israel in Syria and Lebanon in recent years

After WWII CIA, MI6 replaced Abwehr as Bandera's handlers — historian

According to Alexander Cheremin, "it appears that the Anglo-Saxons became the direct successors of the German secret services that had originally established this anti-Soviet foundation"

Russian diplomat refutes Bloomberg article on Russia's intentions to amend Ukraine plan

"This media outlet does not have any reliable sources close to the Kremlin," Maria Zakharova said

Belgium shocked by US sanctions against five EU citizens — foreign minister

Maxime Prevot said that EU digital legislation is not directed against the United States, but serves to ensure that EU citizens have the same security and dignity in the digital space that they enjoy in their public lives in Europe

FACTBOX: How Catholics celebrate Christmas

The first records of Christmas being celebrated as an independent holiday date back to the 4th century

Ukraine unable to keep 800,000-strong army — German general

Harald Kujat noted that the 800,000-strong Ukrainian army, as required by the Europeans, would constitute a significant increase from the pre-conflict number

Zelensky's new peace plan not to work for Russia, says expert

The expert focused on the political points of the plan and on the security guarantees demanded by Kiev

Press review: Zelensky peace plan is no-go for Russia and Trump puts on peacemaker hat

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, December 25th

This year’s final batch of Su-35S fighters delivered to Russian Defense Ministry — Rostec

The company noted that the state corporation's aircraft manufacturers are already working on a fighter production plan for 2026

EU loan will not lead to improvement in Ukrainian military’s situation — Guardian

The Guardian draws attention to the low level of recruitment into the Ukrainian armed forces

US military reports Santa Claus flying over Russia

For 70 years, NORAD has been "tracking" the journey of Santa Claus on the night before Christmas

Kiev loses about 20 battalions in fighting near Vilcha — expert

Vitaly Kiselev added that, despite heavy losses and massive, combined attacks by the Russian army, the Ukrainian army brigades have "a very large number of soldiers that go AWOL"

Honduras election authority says Trump-backed candidate won presidential election

Nasry Juan Asfura Zablah received 40.27% of the vote

US Department of Justice gets more documents as part of Epstein case files

Their release may take a few more weeks

Some 20,000 Muscovites voluntarily sign contracts for military service annually — mayor

Sergey Sobyanin said that Moscow is one of the largest centers for the recruitment of military personnel for the special military operation

Putin sends New Year greetings to Kim Jong Un

The Russian leader stressed that the "past one year was of special significance in the relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang"

Japan’s chief cabinet secretary refrains from comments on MP’s visit to Russia

Muneo Suzuki, a member of the Japanese parliament’s upper chamber from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, departed to Russia on a visit earlier in the day

Annual inflation in Russia to total 6% or slightly lower by year-end — Novak

This indicator is lower than the Economic Development Ministry forecast, the deputy PM noted

Moldovan border guards cut off channel for transfer of draft dodgers from Ukraine

The police said the suspects charged each evader $10,000

Refusal to take path of peace is Ukraine’s tragedy — German general

Harald Kujat opined that the West’s massive support created an illusion for Kiev that "it can turn the strategic situation into its favor"

Plotter of terrorist attack on oil pipeline neutralized in Tyumen Region — FSB

According to the FSB’s Public Relations Center, the suspect, a Russian citizen originally from Vinnitsa in Ukraine, resisted arrest and was subsequently neutralized during the operation

Putin already sent Trump telegram wishing him a Merry Christmas — Kremlin

Kremlin Aide Yury Ushakov previously announced Moscow's plans to congratulate the US president on the winter holidays

European Union disintegrating before our eyes — Orban

The Hungarian PM noted that "EU decision-makers are constantly forced to backtrack"

Kalashnikov Concern dispatches AK-15K assault rifles in Multicam colors to customer

The newest shortened AK-15K assault rifle was first unveiled at the IDEX 2025 International Defense Exhibition & Conference in Abu Dhabi in February 2025

Thief conks jewel courier on head in Paris, steals sapphire priced at 150,000 euro

The injured courier was hospitalized

Fire area in Temryuk port reach 4,000 sq m

Two tanks with oil products are on fire

EU goods imports into Russia exceed exports — Eurostat

Exports of Russian goods to the EU amounted to 21.7 bln euro, while imports of goods from the EU into Russia totaled 22.2 bln euro

MP from Japan’s ruling party, Muneo Suzuki, departs to Russia on visit

He is expected to meet with a number of Russian officials

Several points of Zelensky’s so-called plan unworkable, expert says

Alexander Dudchak doubts that Kiev is really ready to carry out an "all-for-all" prisoner swap according to the plan

Negotiations on Ukraine should be kept secret, Kremlin believes

Dmitry Peskov refrained from giving further comments

Ruble becomes strongest-performing currency in 2025 — Bloomberg

As Bloomberg noted, the ruble’s rise has been influenced by reduced demand for foreign currency in Russia.

Taking Gulyaipole to expand bridgehead along Gaichur River — Russian defense source

According to the report, the enemy's resistance is complicated by harsh weather conditions

Macron tries to turn EU into 'digital gulag' — Durov

The sanctioned architect of the EU’s censorship law is a close ally and appointee of Emmanuel Macron, Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov said

Humanitarian aid convoy from Dagestan comes under attack in border area

"Magomednabi Gadzhiyev, head of the Shamilsky District from where the convoy departed, and two members of the Self-Defense public organization, were killed," Sergey Melikov, leader of the North Caucasus region, said

AI breakthrough, personnel training, low unemployment: Putin’s statements

According to the head of state, the next 10 to 15 years will bring an unprecedented technological breakthrough in world history

US believes sides approaching settlement on Ukraine — NATO envoy

US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker emphasized that there are still matters that need to be resolved in a way that both sides can agree

Hungarian PM gives hot take on biggest threat of war facing Europe

"The military tensions Europe is seeing now stem from the decline of Western Europe and the European Union," Viktor Orban said

Kiev deploying most combat-fit UAV units, assault groups to Gulyaipole — defense source

Russia’s Battlegroup East forces continue steadily advancing in Gulyaipole, a source in Russian defense circles said

Russian army destroys Ukraine's underground bunkers in Zaporozhye Region

Zaporozhye Region Governor Yevgeny Balitsky stressed that the seizure of Gulyaipole would pave the way for the liberation of the entire Zaporozhye Region

US has mostly resolved security issues with Ukrainians — NATO envoy

"It’s going to come down to, ultimately, the territory, and how that territory is divided up," Matthew Whitaker said

Russian troops liberate Svyato-Pokrovskoye community in Donetsk region over past day

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted more than 215 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and six armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

US can gain control of Greenland without 'firing a shot' — EP member

Anders Vistisen also noted that Denmark "cannot defend Greenland alone"

AZAL plane presumably damaged by warhead elements — Kazakh authorities

The commission concluded its examination of the GPS cassettes recovered from avionics modules No. 1 and No. 3

Mobilization in Ukraine, NATO near Kaliningrad: Foreign Ministry statements

TASS has compiled the key statements by the official representative of the Foreign Ministry

Putin-Trump call can be arranged quickly if needed — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov pointed out that everything slows down during Christmas time

KVN drones destroy Ukrainian equipment worth two German armies — Ushkuynik

According to CEO Alexey Chadayev, after the invasion of the Kursk Region, the Ukrainian armed forces "were unable to carry out a single successful attack with the mass use of mechanized military equipment"

Putin warned Bush that NATO membership would split Ukraine — declassified documents

During their meeting in Sochi in April 2008, Bush asked the Russian leader why Russia opposes to Ukraine’s NATO membership

Italian expert says Zelensky's new peace plan step in wrong direction

Ukraine has submitted the 20-point peace plan, which, according to Kiev, should consolidate the country's security, attract international assistance and establish long-term guarantees from NATO and the EU

Air defenses destroy 29 more Ukrainian UAVs over Russian regions within three-hour period

10 of them were destroyed over the Belgorod Region

EU, UK hurt most by Washington’s Russia policy turn — expert

According to Andrey Sushentsov, the US was the first to realize that it’s impossible to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia

Putin warned Bush that admitting Ukraine to NATO will lead to Russia-US confrontation

The Russian leader stressed that this would create a threat of NATO moving its military bases and various arms systems to the exact proximity to the Russian border

Kiev troops shell DPR twice in past day, civilian killed

One civilian was reported to have been killed and two wounded

Beijing opposes US maritime blockade of Venezuela

According to He Yongqian, Beijing believes that a US blockade "could not only disrupt the normal functioning of international energy markets, but also pose additional security risks"

US sanctions against former European officials cast doubt on EU sovereignty — Kallas

The chief of the European diplomacy said that Europe will continue to defend its values of freedom of expression

Kremlin confirms Moscow-Paris contacts on case of French national Vinatier

Laurent Vinatier was detained in Moscow in early June 2024

Russia developing scenarios for using net guns against drones

These scenarios will form the basis for the methodology that will be taught to Russian military personnel at training centers

Moscow becomes major center producing UAVs for Russian army — Sobyanin

Moscow's mayor added that another important aspect is extensive support for the air defense forces which provide protection not only to the capital but also, to a significant extent, to other regions of Russia

Gold production in Russia rises 5.6% in November — Rosstat

Over January-November, gold production rose by 5.7% compared with the same period of 2024

EU had chance to prevent Russia conflict in 2022 — Hungarian PM

Viktor Orban said that Europe could have sent a peace mission to Moscow and Kiev instead of declaring their conflict its own war

Su-57 fighter jet successfully evades enemy radars and electronic warfare — Chemezov

Rostec CEO noted that the corporation received feedback on all equipment deployed in the zone of the special military operation

Kiev striking infrastructure in Krasny Liman with towed artillery used by NATO — expert

According to Andrey Marochko, Kiev dispatched its artillery unit equipped with M777 155mm howitzers near the locality of Mayaki in the Donetsk People’s Republic

Anonymous Japanese official who broke nation's 'nuclear taboo' unveiled

Japan adheres to three non-nuclear principles not to possess, develop or allow nuclear weapons into its territory

Ukraine’s major oil producer Ukrnafta sustains critical damage

The company did not specify the exact nature of the damage or where it occurred

Oreshnik system in Belarus is just first stage of its deployment on EU border — expert

According to Alexander Stepanov, the next stage could be the deployment of strategic instruments, including the Oreshnik missile system, in the Kaliningrad Region

At least 141 Ukrainian drones downed over Russian territory overnight — defense ministry

62 of them were destroyed over the Bryansk Region

FSB thwarts hostage-taking, prisoner escape from penal colony in Kurgan Region

A prisoner concealed a shiv in his punishment cell, where he was placed for violating prison rules

Ukrainian city of Odessa reports partial power cuts

According to the DTEK energy company, an accident occurred in the morning at another company’s energy facility

Russian troops liberate Zarechnoye in Zaporozhye Region over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted roughly 245 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy artillery guns in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Ukraine’s ex-premier describes Zelensky’s plan as attempt to stall talks

According to Nikolay Azarov, the plan does not resolve a number of important issues

Putin meets with businessmen in Kremlin — spokesman

The Russian government’s officials in charge of economy and social affairs, presidential administration officials, and Russian Central Bank chief Elvira Nabiullina attended the meeting

Almost all DPR supporters return from Ukraine after violence, torture — ombudsman

"Before the start of the special military operation on, as part of the work of the humanitarian subgroup of the Contact Group in Minsk, we managed to bring 879 DPR supporters home from Ukraine," DPR Commissioner for Human Rights Darya Morozova said

Social unity around grand goals is key to Russia's achievements, Putin says

The Russian president highlighted the readiness of millions to unite around shared, noble goals

Peace in Europe unattainable without review of West's anti-Russian policy — Medvedev

"It is crucial to recognize that the root cause of the conflict in Ukraine stems from the aggressive ‘Eastern policy’ pursued by Anglo-Saxon nations along with NATO and the European Union," the politician stated

Russian strategic bombers fly over neutral waters of Barents, Norwegian seas

Su-33 fighter jets of the Russian Navy escorted the long-range bombers

West 'understands nothing about Russians,' Rostec says in response to Reuters report

The Russian defense industry is currently focused on solving state problems, not on generating more profit

Ukraine lost 1-2 GW of power grid capacity as a result of December 23 explosions

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported earlier that Russian troops struck Ukrainian military-industrial complex facilities and energy facilities with Kinzhal missiles on the morning of December 23

Putin’s state of the nation address to take place 'in due time' — spokesman

Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov noted that the address will be delivered "when the president sees fit, first of all in terms of contents"

EU needs to understand Kiev never to repay its loans — Russian Foreign Ministry

"Any sane person understands that no reparations in the form that Zelensky talks about, calling it reparations, some kind of ‘duty’ of Russia, nothing like that will happen," Maria Zakharova stated

Russia not on board with all of Trump’s 'Make America Great Again' methods — diplomat

As Maria Zakharova noted, the figures and calculations showed that the country does indeed need saving

US to maintain naval blockade of Venezuela for at least two months — Reuters

The White House has ordered American forces in the region to focus almost exclusively "on the quarantine of Venezuelan oil"

Two oil storage tanks catch fire in Temryuk after drone attack

The total area of the fire is 2,000 square meters

Air defense systems destroy 132 Ukrainian UAVs over Russian Regions in 7 hours — top brass

The drones were destroyed between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. GMT

About 417,000 Russians have signed military service contracts — Medvedev

Additionally, more than 36,000 have voluntarily joined units dispatched to the zone of the special military operation, the politician stated

Uraldronzavod supplies first batch of Berdysh heavy combat drones to special op zone

During field testing, the drones have proven their reliability, Vladimir Tkachuk said

Zelensky's desire to maintain army size proves he is not thinking about peace — politician

According to the former Ukrainian PM, it was already a "big problem" for Ukraine to maintain an army of up to 180,000 servicemen before the conflict

Moscow calls detention of Russia’s Adler vessel by Sweden 'farce majeure'

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Sweden should apologize for the incident

Putin expects next decade to bring unprecedented breakthrough in technology

The Russian leader drew attention of regional and federal officials, and businessmen across all industries to the fact that actually the time of breakthrough was "already here for us"

Foreign intelligence services monitoring Oreshnik missile deployment in Belarus — KGB

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko earlier stated that a maximum of 10 Russian-made Oreshnik systems would be deployed in the republic

Pentagon’s report distorts reality of Chinese military developments — newspaper

The newspaper emphasizes that "it is crucial for China and the US to accurately understand each other's strategic intentions through dialogue"

Conflict in Ukraine can be resolved within 90 days — US envoy to NATO

Matthew Whittaker noted that the forthcoming winter may be very difficult for Ukraine

KVN becomes Russia’s main fiber-optic drone — manufacturer

CEO of the Ushkuynik Research and Production Center Alexey Chadayev said that the drone has become the most popular and widely used in its niche

Gloomy mood in European Commission’s headquarters — Politico

According to the newspaper, after months of discussions, EU leaders "delivered a harsh reality check, with the executive’s ambitions dashed by political and national red lines"

Russia ready to discuss form of document on absence of plans to attack NATO — diplomat

Maria Zakharova stressed that Russia remains open for serious talks

IN BRIEF: Putin's key statements on economy at cabinet meeting

The president said that Russia and its economy are in a good place, "despite numerous challenges"

Medvedev suggests encouraging separatism in West as countermeasure

"Separatism is a gamble that can be played by two," the politician noted

Dutch B4Ukraine, tracking Russian oil exports registered undesirable — Prosecutor’s office

According to the statement, programs and projects are being implemented in the Russian direction to discredit the leadership of the Russian Federation

IN BRIEF: Victims in Bryansk Region, fire in port: consequences of Ukrainian drone attack

A civilian in the village of Glinishchevo in the Bryansk Region was injured in a drone attack, Governor Alexander Bogomaz said

Tajikistan reports fatalities from border clash with Afghan terrorists

"This was the third armed attack, terrorist act and border infiltration from Afghanistan into Tajikistan in the past month, resulting in civilian and military fatalities," the Committee said

Press review: Ukraine mulls elections and Trump plans laser fleet as gold prices soar

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, December 24th

Polish officials not allowed to enter Russian consulate’s former building

Poland’s last operating Russian Consulate General located in the city of Gdansk closed down earlier this week

Trump wishes merry Christmas to all, including 'radical left scum'

Speaking of his administration’s achievements, the US president pointed out that the US no longer had "open borders, men in women’s sports, transgender for everyone, or weak law enforcement"