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US economic pressure threatens entire global financial system — Iran’s MFA

According to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the so-called economic ‘D-Day’ is a diversion from America’s own crisis

TEHRAN, August 20. /TASS/. Washington's announcement of the start of exerting economic pressure on Iran is a "diversion" from the United States’ domestic problems, which poses a threat to the entire global financial system, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump compared the start of the economic war and isolation against Iran, which he announced on Wednesday, to the Normandy landings on June 6, 1944 (known as D-Day in the West).

"The so-called economic ‘D-Day’ is a diversion from America’s own crisis: unprecedented debt and surging interest costs. <…> US economic terrorism threatens global economy and sovereignty worldwide," the minister wrote on social media X.

The US leader has also warned that countries whose financial institutions, businesses, airports, or government entities provide support to Tehran would face serious economic consequences from the United States.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula

North Korean missile falls outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone in Sea of Japan

No damage to vessels has been reported

Zelensky’s position threatened most since 2022 by Fyodorov’s comment — WSJ

According to the publication, Mikhail Fyodorov’s words are interpreted in Kiev "as the opening gambit in a potential run for the presidency"

Russian Emergencies Ministry aircraft arrives in Serbia to help fight major wildfires

The aircraft landed at Nis airport

New batch of Pantsir-S, Pantsir-SMD systems delivered to troops — Rostec

The system has shown itself as one of the most effective means of countering air targets

Rada may change location for safety reasons — agency

The Rada building is located in the center of Kiev

UN deputy chief declines to assess Ukraine coordinator’s remarks

Tom Fletcher's statement followed a question about whether he considered Matthias Schmale’s actions to be a violation of Article 100 of the UN Charter, which requires UN staff to be impartial and independent

Ukraine plans to legalize disposal of missing soldiers' bodies as surgical waste — source

According to the Russian security source, the measure is being considered in part because Ukrainian morgues are overcrowded with unidentified remains

Some EU countries whipping up Russophobic hysteria to delegitimize elections — diplomat

Maria Zakharova said it was not ruled out that such media campaigns might complicate the situation around the voting

French politician calls Fyodorov's speech disaster for Zelensky

Florian Philippot advised that the former Ukrainian defense minister watch his safety

Russia exploring railway routes to Indian Ocean — Deputy Prime Minister

Specifically, the so-called eastern bypass of the Caspian Sea is being ramped up

Ukrainian forces attack minibus on Novorossiya highway in DPR

Russian athletes’ problems with entry visas to last for no more than one year — minister

Mikhail Degtyarev believes the sports federations will start withdrawing from the countries that assume the most anti-Russian position

Iran has enough currency to buy goods, medicine in coming months — Central Bank

Abdolnasser Hemmati says Iran is using "alternative solutions to ensure a sustainable supply of resources"

Russia’s trade infrastructure resilient despite terrorist attacks — Putin

The Russian president admitted that operations are running under intense pressure

China may reduce reliance on Straits of Hormuz and Malacca via NSR — Fortune

According to the publication, interest in the Arctic route has surged following the effective suspension of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz due to the war involving the US, Israel, and Iran

NABU charges former deputy head of Zelensky’s office — lawyer

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine also searched two locations

Ukraine's cabinet initiates suspensions of Sense Bank leaders amid scandal

The bank is mentioned in newly released recordings by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine

Investigators probe into crimes of French mercenaries who killed Russian prisoners of war

It is reported that Russia’s Investigative Committee will establish all the circumstances of what has happened to hold accountable all those responsible for committing this crime

Russia’s grain harvest to reach 100 mln metric tons in coming days

Russian Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut noted that the volume harvested this year is higher than last year

Death toll from earthquake in Colombia climbs to 319

According to the latest official update, the earthquake destroyed almost 31,000 houses and damaged 151,995 buildings

Damage reported at Ufa oil refinery as Russia intercepts 453 Ukrainian drones overnight

A medical university student from India was injured in the attack

Russian forces hit Fire Point facility manufacturing attack drone components in Kiev

The enterprise also assembled and stored boosters used in Flamingo cruise missiles

Russia, China to oppose Japan’s attempts to obtain nuclear weapons — Chinese ambassador

Zhang Hanhui also said that Moscow and Beijing think it necessary to "resolutely oppose Japan's accelerated remilitarization"

Kiev building up forces to fight for Dobropolye in Donetsk region — Russian combatant

According to the serviceman, the Russian troops are operating in a coordinated manner, eliminating enemy forces attempting to redeploy to better positions

The Economist reports panic in Ukraine over shortage of Patriot missiles

As winter approaches, Ukraine has requested at least 300 interceptor missiles for Patriot systems

China, Russia insist that results of WW II regarding Japan are indisputable

Zhang Hanhui says Beijing and Moscow think it essential "to resolutely oppose any erroneous actions or statements aimed at rewriting the history of Japanese colonial aggression"

Netanyahu weighs confrontation with Trump — media

According to the sources, Donald Trump has shifted to issuing ultimatums in his talks with Benjamin Netanyahu that give little consideration to Israel’s interests

Kusturica slams blocking of his YouTube channel as 'war on truth'

Official reason for the channel's removal was not specified

Cyprus taking precautions against potential threats — news agency

The source said that four Greek Air Force F-16 fighter jets, as well as the Nikiforos Fokas frigate, are currently stationed in Cyprus

US fighter jet flies over Baltic Sea near Russia’s Kaliningrad Region — source

The aircraft flew in from Reykjavík, passing through the airspace of Norway and Sweden along the way, and also flying over Poland

US remains main threat to North Korea’s security — Kim Jong Un’s sister

Kim Yo Jong also noted that Pyongyang attaches no significance to the reduction in joint military exercises with South Korea announced by US President Donald Trump

Authorities expect fuel situation to improve as refineries return from maintenance

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said the Russian government is monitoring the fuel market on a daily basis and working with companies to redirect fuel supplies to regions facing shortages

Russia not going to terminate agreements with NATO, EU, WTO, IMF — envoy

Garry Minkh says these documents can still be used as instruments for dialogue with the West

Russia to respond proportionately to Kiev’s terror attacks — diplomat

Maria Zakharova pointed out that the Kiev regime demonstrated a complete inability to negotiate

Fuel imports to Russia: statements by Novak and overview of market situation

Russian authorities expect a number of oil refineries to complete maintenance work soon, leading to a significant improvement in the fuel market situation

Russian Baltic Fleet ships conduct naval drills with gun practice

According to the exercise scenario, the naval crews detected approaching enemy UAVs, put the ships’ air defense systems on combat alert, and analyzed the obtained air situation data

No proposals on new contacts with US negotiators so far — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova said that Moscow is "ready to hear Washington’s constructive initiatives" on the settlement

Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkovka turned into ‘ghost cities’ by Ukrainian army — expert

Andrey Marochko said that Ukrainian militants are using abandoned civilian facilities for military purposes

Zelensky’s office unhappy with US appointment of its people to key positions in Ukraine

Deputy head of Vladimir Zelensky’s office Irina Mudraya expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of control over head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office Alexander Klimenko

ISU grants neutral status to four more Russian figure skaters — statement

The four Russian athletes at the issue are Kira Domozhirova, Viktor Potapov, Milana Kuzmina and Dmitry Studenikin

Some 250 drones were flying toward Moscow Region during night

Mayor Sergey Sobyanin says most of them were destroyed at distant locations

Russian forces hit Ukraine’s military warehouses in Chernomorsk, Yuzhny ports — top brass

Targets were hit on the evening of August 19

Russian Su-25 plane safely returns to airfield in Ukraine sortie after Stinger strike

The aircraft is "quite survivable in combat conditions", a navigator of a Russian air squadron noted

Novak, Siluanov comment on Russia’s GDP growth, additional support for regions

TASS has compiled the key statements on the economic situation in Russia

Russia is China’s most reliable supplier of energy sources — Russian senator

Andrey Denisov says oil supplies from Russia to China grew by 92% in the first seven months amid the crisis around the Strait of Hormuz

Strike on Abu-Duhur could provoke military clash between Israel, Turkey, Syria — US envoy

According to Tom Barrack, the lack of clear channels of communication between the states could have made the situation "much more serious"

Russia’s Matvey Safonov ranked 10th among world’s best goalkeepers — ESPN

The ranking of the world’s best goalkeepers is topped by Spain’s David Raya from England’s Arsenal FC

Russian forces strike logistics center in Kiev Region with Geran UAVs — top brass

The strike destroyed the target

European gas storage facilities could be depleted by April 2027 — Handelsblatt

If the pace of purchases remains unchanged, storage facilities will be only 69% full by November 1, in which case they could be depleted by April, when Europe’s heating season ends, the newspaper said

Israel won't put up with Turkey's military presence in Syria — Netanyahu

The Israeli prime minister said that the prior warnings on the issue were not heard "clearly enough"

NATO vows to defend US bases in Europe — Reuters

Earlier, the anonymous sources claimed that Iran is allegedly prepared to launch strikes against US bases not only in the Middle East

Russia reminds Japanese ambassador that it paid huge price for Kurils — MFA

Russia summoned the Japanese ambassador following Tokyo’s protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the Kuril Island of Iturup

Russia entitled to view UK as party to Ukrainian conflict — Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister said he feels sorry for the UK if it stays with Ukraine until the very end

Russian Emergencies Ministry sends aircraft to Serbia at its request to fight wildfires

The Russian Il-76 aircraft is equipped with specialized firefighting equipment, including water-dropping systems for combating large blazes

Japan seeks to integrate into NATO, Chinese ambassador to Russia says

According to Zhang Hanhui, the official Tokyo's steps are steadily eroding the peaceful nature of the Japanese Constitution

Russian troops liberate Vodyanskoye community in Donetsk region over past day — top brass

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted roughly 380 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reported

Russia has begun importing fuel to boost domestic supplies — Novak

The Russian government earlier decided to extend the import damper mechanism to diesel fuel, a move intended to provide additional economic incentives for supplying imported diesel to the domestic market if necessary

Dialogue with US to be fruitless, unless Iran combat ready — Majlis speaker

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said "it is Washington and the war it unleashed that are causing instability in the region and disrupting normal trade routes"

FACTBOX: Putin’s statements on positive economic growth, impact of Ukrainian attacks

Boosting investment activity is the primary condition for economic growth in Russia, the head of state said

Russia’s Battlegroup West downs 124 Ukrainian drones

Spokesman Ivan Bigma said that the battlegroup had also destroyed 98 Ukrainian hexacopters and five HIMARS projectiles

Cuba wants to become BRICS’ full-fledged member — embassy

According to the embassy, this step is a top priority for the country amid the unprecedented escalation of the US economic war against it

Russia’s ombudswoman sends 60 letters to UN over Kiev's war crimes against civilians

Most of them remain unanswered

Press review: Ukraine conflict fuels EU ultra-right as Trump seeks Iran pressure via Oman

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, August 19th

Ex-deputy head of Zelensky’s office Mudraya detained — lawmaker

Irina Mudraya is currently under an investigative procedure at the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine

Weakening US 'nuclear umbrella' increases risk of nuclear proliferation — TV

Researchers note that many US allies perceive Washington as increasingly distant and unreliable in providing nuclear deterrence

Liberation of Kudiyevka creates logistical difficulties for Ukrainian troops — official

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Kudiyevka settlement was liberated on August 16

Western countries on UNSC refuse to compromise on peace, security issues — Russian envoy

Vasily Nebenzya stated that decisions that are not adopted unanimously do not carry the same weight on the ground as consensus resolutions

IN BRIEF: What we know about Russia’s massive attack targeting defense-tech sites in Kiev

Russian forces struck a Fire Point plant, a Kiev-based assembly site owned by the Antonov aircraft manufacturing factory and an arsenal with M-900 thermobaric bombs and munitions for Baba-Yaga drones

Deflation in Russia stands at 0.02% from August 11 to 17, 2026 — Rosstat

Consumer prices in Russia have declined by 0.08% since the beginning of August

Russian forces deliver strike on Antonov plant assembling Lyuty UAVs in Kiev — top brass

The enterprise also developed and manufactured various types of manned aircraft

Khmara appointed defense minister by decision of Zelensky’s Western patrons — expert

Sergey Yurchenko added that the situation at the front and on the international stage will not change after this appointment, since it is too late for Ukraine to make any changes

China calls on Japan not to play with fire on nuclear weapons matters — ambassador

Zhang Hanhui said that a nuclear arms race in the region could erupt at any moment if Tokyo decides to develop nuclear weapons

Japan has enough plutonium to make 5.500 nuclear warheads — Chinese ambassador

Zhang Hanhui concluded that Japan's "transformation into a nuclear power no longer looks like a fantasy"

20 Brazilian mercenaries eliminated in special military operation zone

An official in Russian law enforcement structures said that after being recruited via social networks, they came to Colombia and signed contracts with the Ukrainian army

Over 30 shelling attacks by Ukrainian troops reported in DPR in past day

Five houses, six civilian infrastructure facilities, several trucks, passenger cars and other vehicles were damaged

Tehran virtually halts oil exports to foreign markets — central bank governor

Abdolnaser Hemmati says that the country has foreign exchange reserves

Russian troops clear 400 buildings of Ukrainian forces in liberating Vodyanskoye

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the settlement was liberated on August 19

Russian aircraft to begin firefighting in Serbia on August 20 — group head

Aircraft Commander Andrey Vilkov says the city of Nis "is welcoming us with open arms and wonderful people"

US establishes corridor in Strait of Hormuz for covertly transporting oil — news outlet

According to sources cited by Axios, between 15 and 20 tankers pass through the strait’s southern channel along the coast of Oman every day, exporting roughly half of the pre-war level of oil from the Middle East

Japan indulging in dangerous experiments in sphere of nuclear policy — Chinese diplomat

Zhang Hanhui noted that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi avoids clearly stating that her country will not import nuclear weapons

Ukrainian attack kills one, wounds two civilians in Belgorod Region

The regional emergency headquarters reported that a woman sustained shrapnel wounds to her shoulder, thigh, and knee joint, and was hospitalized

Putin stresses need to strengthen Russia’s sovereignty

The president highlighted that Russia was already implementing a plan for structural changes in the economy

Readiness to ask no questions led Khmara to defense minister’s seat — DPR politician

Alexey Muratov added that a similar principle was used in the case of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga, whose main task is "to sell Kiev to Western sponsors, begging for money and weapons in exchange for guarantees Kiev cannot fulfill"

Trump says pipelines can reduce Hormuz Strait's importance

Record numbers of pipelines are being built, the US president added

Ukraine’s Zelensky should resign before he is forced into it — German daily

The author of the German-based Berliner Zeitung article believes that instability and weakening of negotiating positions are not the main threat to the country

Ukraine’s losses from port shutdowns exceed $2 bln

Vessel traffic data show that large foreign commercial ships are not entering Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny

Large-scale NATO air force activity recorded near Kaliningrad — Russian war correspondent

Yevgeny Poddubny reported that multiple reconnaissance aircraft operated simultaneously close to the Russian border

West intends to monitor war financing in Ukraine with help of Khmara, expert says

According to Vitaly Kiselyov, at present the West is monitoring every personnel appointment in Ukraine, including those in the cabinet

Trump says blockade of Hormuz Strait was successful, now it is open

"No boats have gotten into Iran" since the blockade started, the US president said

Ukrainian army facing serious shortages of Patriot missiles — Russian defense source

The source noted that the global shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles had intensified following their large-scale use in the Middle East

Trump announced unprecedented economic war against Iran

The US president said that Tehran 'failed' to seize the opportunity to make a deal

Russia seeks sustainable peace in Ukraine conflict — Kremlin spokesman

According to Dmitry Peskov, The Ukraine process is currently on hold

Trump says North Korea has 57 'very powerful' nuclear weapons

Donald Trump added that he would not have allowed it, had he been president earlier

With Khmara as defense minister Ukraine to continue sabotage against Russia — MP

Alexander Boroday noted that Khmara essentially remains an "SBU special forces operative", which is why he will use the same methods in his new position that he used previously

North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong warns Japan of strike in response to possible threat

Kim Yo Jong stated that the DPRK is closely monitoring Japan’s attempts to build up its military capabilities

What to know about new '103 for 103' POW exchange between Russia, Ukraine

The Russian servicemen are currently in Belarus

Trump says he is only US president to establish contact with Kim

The US president added that Japan, South Korea, and other nations are "a lot safer if I'm president than somebody else is president"

Russia awaits interesting proposals from Vatican envoy — Federation Council

Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Grigory Karasin noted that Russia welcomes visits by foreign officials and politicians who come to reach agreements

Russia’s key task is transition to sustainable economic development model — Novak

According to the Russian deputy prime minister, this is precisely what the structural transformation plan is aimed at

Date for new Russia-US contacts on removing ‘irritants’ being agreed upon — diplomat

Maria Zakharova added that Russia is ready to cooperate with the US partners "to move toward substantive discussions on the issues that are of priority for us"

Trump leaves open possibility of further sanctions on Iran

The US president said "very draconian sanctions" were being considered