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Minsk, Pyongyang to sign visa-free travel agreement soon - top Belarusian diplomat

They will sign it in the near future, Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov said

MINSK, August 23. /TASS/. Belarus and North Korea will soon sign a vise-free travel agreement, Belarusian Foreign Minister Maxim Ryzhenkov said.

"The agreement is ready, with only several technical aspects remaining. We will sign it in the near future," he told the Belarus-1 television channel.

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North Korea Belarus

Minsk, Pyongyang to sign visa-free travel agreement soon — top Belarusian diplomat

Maxim Ryzhenkov added that the agreement is ready, with only several technical aspects remaining

IN BRIEF: Putin comments on Kiev’s provocative moves and Russia’s retaliatory strikes

The enemy is trying to intimidate Russians and disrupt the upcoming parliamentary elections, due in September, but these attempts will fail, the president said

Ukrainian Abrams tank hit by Russian Upyr FPV drone in Avdeyevka area

It was the third Abrams tank to be struck near Avdeyevka

US actions created global nuclear instability — Iran’s Security Council

According to Mohsen Rezaei, Washington’s moves have prompted many countries to consider obtaining a nuclear weapon

Intensity of attacks on Donbass, Novorossiya directly linked to Western subsidies — envoy

Rodion Miroshnik said that after the 90-billion-euro loan to Ukraine was approved by the EU in April, a sharp escalation began

Kiev glorifies those behind killing hundreds of thousands of Russians, Poles, Jews — Putin

The basis of the Ukrainian statehood today is based on this neo-Nazi ideology, Russian President said

Kiev builds up grouping near Druzhkovka to contain Russia — expert

According to Andrey Marochko, there is an influx of enemy personnel and equipment both in the settlement of Raiskoye and in Alekseyevo-Druzhkovka

Shock from massive drone attacks on Donbass and Novorossiya mostly over — envoy

Rodion Miroshnik said that Russian authorities are finding ways to reduce the pressure from Ukraine and to create acceptable living conditions for the civilian population

Voting at Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections over

Voting at overseas polling stations continue

Small aircraft crashes into water near beach in Florida — police

The sole occupant of the plane was taken to hospital

Air defense system repels attack by six drones flying towards Moscow — mayor

Sergey Sobyanin says emergency services specialists are working at the site where the debris fell

Putin describes attempt to defeat Russia in 40 days as another provocative move

The president said the 40-day deadline expired on August 5

Russian troops hit Ukrainian army’s energy, transport infrastructure sites in past day

Targets attacked by operational/tactical aviation, attack drones, missile forces, and artillery

Russia’s Iskander missiles destroy up to 40 trucks modified for UAV launches near Kiev

Throughout the day, the Russian armed forces continued to strike drone launch sites, as well as ships and seaports used by the Ukrainian military, the Russian Defense Ministry said

Ukraine has only 72% of minimum gas volume required for winter by end of summer

If the current rates are maintained, Ukraine will put no more than 12.1 bcm into the storages by November 1 out of the required 13.2 billion cubic meters

Russian forces strike Ukrainian military airfield, energy facilities over past day

Russian air defenses downed 11 glide bombs and 1,053 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over the past day

Polish prime minister defends Nord Stream sabotage — TV

Donald Tusk opined that those who built the pipeline should be held accountable, not those who destroyed it

German politician warns against further escalating Ukrainian conflict

Sahra Wagenknecht noted that German technologies and German money are used to attack Moscow

West welcome to join work on Eurasian security without connivance with Brussels — Lavrov

Countries across entire Eurasia are invited to take part in efforts to build a continental security architecture, Russian Foreign Minister emphasized

Warsaw moving closer to control of Kiev’s Soviet-era gas transit system — spokeswoman

Maria Zakharova noted that Warsaw is benefiting from re-exporting US liquefied natural gas to Ukraine

Press review: US tightens Iran pressure while Russia expands nuclear power projects abroad

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, August 21st

Nearly 270 Ukrainian drones taken down over Russian regions during day

Russian air defense systems intercepted and destroyed Ukrainian fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles over Crimea, the Arkhangelsk, Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, Kursk, Oryol, Rostov, Smolensk, Tula, Moscow, and Krasnodar Regions, and the Black Sea, he Russian defense ministry said

Trump frames upcoming midterms as battle to defeat communists who he says never laugh

US President said he has never seen a happy communist

Russian troops liberate 11 communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brass

Russian troops delivered one massive and nine combined strikes by precision-guided weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles on Ukrainian military-industrial facilities, logistics centers and cruise missile launch sites over the week

Ukraine attacks Donetsk People’s Republic eight times in 24 hours, wounding two people

Six residential buildings, a car, and three civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged

Russian Defense Ministry delegation discusses cooperation with its Indian colleagues

The issues and prospects for the development of cooperation were negotiated in the framework of the working subgroup of the intergovernmental commission

Bering Strait tunnel project requires massive infrastructure development — senator

"The implementation of the ambitious Bering Strait tunnel concept will be, without exaggeration, a major technological milestone of the 21st century," Elena Perminova said

Kiev sends elite units to stabilize front in Dobropolye, DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko says Ukrainian command is trying to stabilize the situation amid a panic-ridden sentiment in the army caused by the advance of Russian forces

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"

Press review: US, Iran opt for war of attrition as Kiev diverts focus with Russia attacks

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, August 17th

At least 250 drones destroyed over Russian territory since morning

Theu were intercepted over the regions of Arkhangelsk, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kaluga, Kirov, Kursk, Krasnodar, Oryol, Ryazan, Samara, Saratov, Tver, Tula, Ulyanovsk, the Moscow Region, the Republic of Crimea and the waters of the Black and Azov seas

Nvidia in $6 billion deal to create competitor to Chinese AI models — WSJ

According to sources cited by the newspaper, the deal will allow the company to use AI startup Poolside’s technologies and hire most of its engineers

Prince Harry and his family not to return to Britain permanently — The Times

A source close to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex told the newspaper that they are not sure how long their stay would last

New corruption scandal in Kiev directly involves Zelensky, former PM says

Nikolay Azarov added that the new scandal involves "people who came to his office almost every day"

Ukraine attacks Ozon warehouse in Orenburg with drones — official

There are no casualties

Russian forces strike Darnitsa locomotive depot in Kiev — top brass

Russian forces also struck the Brovary logistics center, a major sorting facility of Nova Poshta, where components for UAVs were stored, in an attack on the Kiev Region

Press review: Ukraine crisis nears peak as Israel-Turkey tensions rise over Syria

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, August 20th

US sanctions against Iran will backfire on US economy, Iranian parliament speaker warns

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf illustrated the boomerang effect by several photos showing that economic pressure on Iran and disruptions in energy markets would ultimately have consequences for the United States

American lawmakers’ visit to Russia to help in fight against Russophobia in US

Dialogue is always better than silence, independent candidate for US President Diane Sare said

Russia not to put up with Kiev holding neo-Nazism as basis of state ideology — Putin

The current Ukrainian government has laid the foundation for the state the neo-Nazism ideology, Russian President said

Russian forces strike two trains transporting military cargo in Ukraine

The Russian defense ministry published footage of Geran drones hitting two rail locomotives

Russia expands control zone in Novogrigorovka in DPR with drones — expert

Andrey Marochko says almost all Ukrainian units have retreated from the settlement

Russian military strikes trains delivering military cargo in two regions of Ukraine

The Russian defense ministry said that "regular strikes on rail infrastructure and locomotives used for supplying troops, disrupt the logistics of the Ukrainian armed forces"

Diplomat calls West’s silence on Kiev’s nuclear terrorism 'strange'

The Zaporozhye NPP has been without an external power supply for over a day due to the shutdown of the last 330 kV high-voltage power supply line

Germany’s top diplomat arrives in Kiev on unannounced visit

Johann Wadephul's agenda includes meetings to discuss assistance to Ukraine and bilateral cooperation in security

Fake news on Armenian NPP aimed at undermining ties with Russia — diplomat

Earlier, foreign media started to publish rumors about an alleged safety threat posed by the NPP

AfD to withdraw Germany from eurozone, Schengen Agreement if comes to power - leader

Germany was much better off before the introduction of the euro, co-chair of the Alternative for Germany Alice Weidel said

82,000 square meters of St. Petersburg warehouse on fire — Emergencies Ministry

The warehouse building measures 680 by 120 meters

Lavrov sees West fighting against Russia, using `bodies’ of Ukrainian regime

The West is being busy pumping the Kiev regime with weapons, Russian Foreign Minister said

Kiev’s attacks increasingly barbaric amid worsening front line situation for it — Putin

The special military operation is ongoing, Russian President said

Russia’s oldest resident seeks medical care after minor trauma

Her condition is stable and not life-threatening, local doctor Lida Akhmadova said

US may be forced to take unpopular measures over mounting debt — WP

The story says that the US pays about $1 trillion annually in interest on the national debt

Magnitude 5.9 earthquake rattles Tokyo area

No damage or casualties have been reported

Magnitude 6.0 earthquake strikes off Japan’s Hokkaido

No casualties of damage were reported

American rapper Lil Pump says loves Putin

"God bless Putin," the rapper said after his concert in Moscow

Russian plane makes five missions to tackle Serbian wildfires on day three

The Il-76 plane dropped 210 metric tons of water during its efforts

Militants carried out more than 10 attacks injuring two people in southern Thailand

The perpetrators set fire to vehicles belonging to utility services, damaged cell phone towers, and attacked administrative buildings and a shop, Thai PBS reported

Israel could cease to exist after the Middle East conflict — senior Russian officer

Apty Alaudinov says Israel’s objective is to drag both the US and the entire NATO bloc into the struggle

Kiev should beg Moscow for peace to save Ukraine — former Zelensky spokesperson

Yulia Mendel said this is now a matter of the country’s "survival"

Putin adamant upcoming Duma election will reaffirm nation’s sustainability

Russian President said that the upcoming election also will reaffirm the maturity of russian political system

Trump loses trade war with Canada — The Atlantic

According to the article, the pressure directed at Ottawa has not proven effective

West's war on Russia, Russian flag as symbol of justice — Lavrov’s remarks

The foreign minister emphasized that the West will try to disrupt the September elections to the State Duma, but "these plans will thwarted"

More than 20 people injured in earthquake near Tokyo

No abnormal situations were recorded at the nuclear facilities, the fire service reported

Witkoff, Kushner’s visit to Moscow delayed — source

This visit is unlikely to take place before the end of August, the source said

Iran has scenario to avoid impacts of US sanctions — IRGC spokesman

In Hossein Mohebi's words, the Iranian authorities "are developing economic ties right under the United States' nose, bypassing them, and the results will be seen in the near future"

Putin, Trump to talk to each other at APEC summit if both are there — presidential aide

According to Yury Ushakov, there are no signals or hints in this regard yet as the summit is still three months away

Nearly 70 houses damaged, 15 people injured in fire and explosion in Taiwan — newspaper

According to Taipei Times, by now, the fire was extinguished

Russian Embassy in UK denies allegations on Moscow’s plans to lower relations with London

As for the state of Russia-UK relations across all areas, they have deteriorated to an unprecedentedly low level entirely on London's initiative, the Russian Embassy said

Russian deputy premier names main sources for dealing with fuel shortages in Russia

Russia expects to resolve its fuel shortage issue by importing more and producing lower-class fuel, Alexander Novak said

Putin assesses Russia’s grain export potential at no less than 60 million tons

According to the Russian president, wheat is among the main items of Ukrainian exports, but logistical problems caused by Russia’s retaliatory strikes, will not lead to a shortage on global markets

Voter turnout at Kazakhstan parliamentary elections exceeds 65% by late afternoon

The lowest turnout was reported in the country’s largest city of Almaty at 36.65%, and the largest in the Kyzylorda region at 81.38%, according to the CEC

Candidate for US president calls for more active humanitarian exchanges with Russia

There are far more similarities than differences between the two nations, Diane Sare said

Countries unsympathetic with Russia note Nazism heroization in Ukraine — Putin

Despite the well-known Russophobia in Polish politics, the Polish authorities are paying serious attention to the fundamental foundations of today's Ukrainian statehood, Russian President said

NATO, EU to be unable to talk their way out publicly from assisting Ukraine — Lavrov

Russian Foreign Minister pointed out that Russia will be taking into account everything that "openly Russophobic elites are doing now in Britain, in Brussels, in Paris, in Berlin, in other NATO and EU countries, in the vast majority of these countries"

Russian military keeps attaining special op’s goals, accelerate offensive — Putin

The Russian armed forces keep successfully coping with their tasks until the goals of the special military operation are achieved, Russian President said

Government must keep under control situation with fuel — Putin

There are certain inconveniences for people, Russian President said

No party to gain significant advantage in US Congress after midterm elections — expert

The president’s party almost always loses seats in the Senate and the House in the midterms, so that is the baseline expectation, Professor of Political Science from the California Institute of Technology Rod Kiewiet said

Iran to attack other oil export routes if Gulf countries support US sanctions — official

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Mohsen Rezaei said that "not a single drop of oil will be shipped from the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz" if Iran's neighbors join the sanctions

Top Iranian diplomat compares US sanctions to movie seen many times before

According to the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the United States’ new anti-Iranian course is doomed to failure, as were all of its previous attempts

West may replace Zelensky with ‘cheaper character’ — expert

According to Alexander Dudchak, a leading researcher at the Institute of CIS Countries, Vladimir Zelensky puts too much into his pocket

Finland closes border with Russia to prepare for military conflict — war correspondent

Claims that Russia is waging some kind of hybrid war against Finland using Middle Eastern migrants are absolute nonsense, Kosti Heiskanen said

Deaths of ‘Iranian leaders’ hindering deal with US — Trump

The US leader emphasized that Washington was successfully achieving its goals in the conflict with Iran

Seven people injured in earthquake in Tokyo area

The victims suffered mostly bruises, the fire service reported

Putin says Russia developing despite all difficulties

Russia launches large-scale projects for economic growth, development in the social sphere and improvement of the quality of public administration and defense capabilities, Russian President said

Gaining control of Kudiyevka, Russia advances on two settlements at once — expert

Andrey Marochko says Russian troops are advancing towards Bugayevka and Goptovka

Protests in Ukraine unlikely to change regime, expert believes

Alexander Dudchak, a leading researcher at the Institute of CIS Countries, said that the protests "can be used as a formal pretext" if there is an order "to replace Zelensky"

Putin says economy behind motives of Polish PM Tusk's words about Nord Stream

The Russian president noted that initially the Nord Stream-2 route was planned to stretch across Poland

Iranians not fighting for Hezbollah in southern Lebanon — official

Mahmoud Qamati, deputy head of the Hezbollah political council, also condemned the Lebanese government’s intention to disarm all illegal groups in the country

Ukraine signs documents on drone production in Finland

Vladimir Zelensky and Finnish President Alexander Stubb took part in a roundtable meeting on defense cooperation in Kiev

Shutodown of Armenian NPP to make Yerevan more dependent on other states — diplomat

Maria Zakharova noted that the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant is a "system-forming element in the republic’s energy balance"

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

Dry cargo ship carrying weapons hit in port of Chernomorsk

Moreover, seven fuel storage tanks were hit, the Russian Defense Ministry said

Two killed, five wounded as drone fragments hit passenger bus in Crimea

Three of the injured are in critical, and the remaining two - in moderately severe condition

Kiev attacks civilian targets to exert political pressure on Russia — envoy

Rodion Miroshnik added that his working trip to Novorossiya confirmed information about attempts to blockade entire cities, complicate logistics, disrupt the delivery of food, priority goods and medicines, and the supply of energy and water

First South Korean container ship departs on journey via Northern Sea Route

The entire mission is expected to take 45 days

Ozon evacuates more than 500 staff amid drone attack on its warehouse in Samara Region

A fire ensued as a result of the attack

Akhmat Kadyrov's name to be forever inscribed in history of Russia — Putin

The Russian president pointed out that "Akhmat-Khadzhi was a courageous man, who understood very well how hard the burden was and what risks he was going to take on"

Moscow region targeted with more than 2,500 enemy drones over past week — mayor

As many as 493 drones were destroyed on the approach to Moscow, the mayor of the Russian capital Sergey Sobyanin added

Resolution of fuel issues underway, PM Mishustin keeps situation under control — Putin

A special commission has been set up, Russian President said

Ukraine lacks over $36 billion in funding from Western partners

Kiev acknowledges that the country has completely exhausted its domestic resources, making it increasingly difficult to raise funds

India expects to boost ties with Moscow during top diplomat’s visit — source

Speaking about Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar’s planned meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, the government source said that along with bilateral issues, the top diplomats will also "discuss geopolitical, international and regional topics"