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75 years since the outbreak of World War II

ITAR-TASS recalls the very first days of WWII when people were already dying though the West hadn't yet realized the danger of the situation

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On September 1, 1939, German and Slovak troops started a massive invasion of Poland

German troops bring down a barrier on the border with Poland

Adolf Hitler makes a speech in the Reichstag several hours afer the start of the invasion. Formally, Hitler didn't declare war on Poland

On the same day, Great Britain started evacuating citizens of big cities

Clildren first took the evacuation as an extra holiday. Over three million women, children and people with disabilities were evacuated from London

People read headlines on the start of war near the US State Department building in Washigton, D.C.

German troops in Poland, September 1939

German soldiers guard surrendered Polish troops

Londoners go into a bomb shelter during the first air-raid warning

A policeman rides a bicycle announcing the end of the first air-raid warning in London on September 3, 1939

German troops in Poland, 1939

© Reproduction by Fotokhronika TASS

Acting Town Crier and Saltbearer of the City of London reads a war proclamation from the steps of the Royal Exchange, in London, on September 4, 1939

© AP Photo/Putnam

German embassy gets ready to move after the procalmation of war on September 4, 1939

A boy sits on the ruins of his house after a German air-raid on Warsaw in September 1939

© AP Photo/Julien Bryan

People make sand bags to protest houses from German air-raids in London, September 5, 1939

A London policeman stands next to a one-person bomb shelter, September 6, 1939

British soldiers march before being sent to France on September 10, 1939

A woman bids farewell to her French friend before his departure to France on September 6, 1939

On September 1, 1939, German and Slovak troops invaded Poland thus starting the Secaond World War which lasted six years and took the lives of millions of people.

The first to declare war on Gemany was France, followed by Great Britain, together with Australia, New Zealand, India, Canada and the Union of South Africa.

Almost two years had passed before the USSR declared war on Germany after Hitler's troops invaded the Soviet Union in 1941.

The very first days after the German invasion of Poland in this photo gallery by ITAR-TASS.

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Scholz says he would like to hold phone talks with Putin again

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The source said that attempts to recruit more pilots in Poland and other Eastern European countries were not particularly successful

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29 people had been hospitalized

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Termination of transit of Russian gas to kill Ukraine’s gas transport system — experts

Moreover, Ukraine will have to reorganize the flows of gas on the domestic market and resolve respective issues with keeping pressure in the eastern and central parts of the gas transport system, experts added

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"But the political dialog at a summit and high level is actually frozen to date," Dmitry Feoktistov added

Oreshnik missile systems still few, but they are enough — Putin

According to the head of state, the system's serial production has begun

Foreign powers seek to provoke mass riots in Syria — source

On December 27, security forces formed by the new Syrian government blocked districts of the city of Tartus, where Alawites organized riots

Russian forces break through Ukrainian defense lines in Kharkov Region — expert

Marochko added that the operation allowed Russian troops to "expand their zone of control" in the area

Parliament impeaches South Korean acting president

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Russia says it carried out 38 strikes with high-precision weapons over past week

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Buildup of Russian presence in Arctic region critical amid West’s statements

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Mohammed Al Sudani stressed that Baghdad respects the will of the Syrian people, hoping for progress toward a comprehensive political process

Serbia’s Vucic suggests Trump may bring ceasefire in Ukraine closer

Aleksandar Vucic also believes that, under Trump, the White House "will not provide as much financial support to Ukraine as the current administration" of outgoing US President Joe Biden

Ukraine’s General Staff admits tense situation along entire frontline

The Ukrainian army reported earlier on Friday that its forces were retreating to the border of the Dnepropetrovsk Region from the Kiev-controlled territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic "to the last defensive line" in that area

UN Secretary-General condemns escalation between Israel, Yemen

Guterres calls "for all parties concerned to cease all military actions and exercise utmost restraint"

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Russia prepared to respond to Western missile strikes on its territory — Serbian leader

According to Aleksandar Vucic, "anyone who believes that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will refrain from using these powerful weapons is mistaken"

CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

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On December 25, Reuters reported that Finland’s police and border guards have detained an oil tanker, which flies under the flag of the Cook Islands, suspecting that an anchor of the vessel may have damaged the EstLink 2 cable

Russia persuades most states it is essential to address causes of Ukrainian crisis — MFA

"This position was conveyed to the leadership of a number of NATO and EU countries, including Austria, Hungary, Malta, Slovakia, the United States, Turkey, and Germany, as well as the Vatican and Switzerland in direct contacts with them at the highest and highest levels," the commentary says

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Press review: US, Israel aim to curb Turkey’s gains while Moscow, Tehran strengthen ties

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Russia’s Chechnya ships 200 ‘Jihad mobile’ vehicles for special military operation

The authorities of Chechnya handed over 200 "Jihad mobile"

No confidence vote, Bundestag's dissolution, early elections: political crisis in Germany

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Pentagon mum on F-16 fighter jet downed in Zaporozhye Region

The US Department of Defense "has no statement or information to provide," a department’s spokesperson said

Osamu Suzuki, who headed Japanese carmaker for 40 years, dies at 94

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Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet returns back to Baku shortly after takeoff

"The passenger aircraft landed at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport at 10:13 a.m. local time [6:13 a.m. GMT]," the statement noted

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Pumping also continues through the Sudzha station, where military activities are ongoing

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Two families with children return to Russia from Syria — commissioner

An aircraft landed in the Moscow Region, Maria Lvova-Belova said

Canadian ministers going to US for consultations with Trump’s administration — TV

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It also indicated that specialized agencies are investigating the causes of the crash

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Project 885M latest nuclear-powered submarine Arkhangelsk joins Russian Navy

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Yahya Saria also said the group's drone strike destroyed a "critical target of the Israeli enemy" near Tel Aviv

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Scientists present Russia's first 50-qubit cold atom quantum computer — MSU

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Houthis report attacking Santa Ursula vessel in Arabian Sea

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Crew of plane that crashed in Kazakhstan lost control due to system failure

Kazakh Transport Minister Marat Karabayev noted that the information was also received that "after providing data on the weather in Makhachkala and Baku, the crew decided to fly to Aktau"

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The Belarusian leader believes that Germany should restore relations with Russia for the sake of its own economy

Putin says he receives information about frontline situation round the clock

There is always something new at certain sections of the front, the head of state emphasized

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Aleksandr Dubinsky recalled the unsuccessful financing of Ukraine in the middle of the year

Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency investigates passenger jet’s crash near Aktau

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No politics behind current absence of Russian ambassador in US — Lavrov

The top diplomat stressed that it was not a demarche

Russian fighters advance in Volchansk in Kharkov Region, force Volchya River — expert

Andrey Marochko added that Russian servicemen "start preparing the way for further advancement southwest of this locality"

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Aleppo taken by 350 militants while 30,000 gov’t troops retreated without fight — Putin

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Kazakhstan’s Aktau Airport was aware of oxygen cylinder blast before plane’s crash

KazAeroNavigation’s flight director immediately notified all emergency services

Decision-making centers in Kiev may be targets of Russia’s strikes, says Lavrov

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Voting on acting president’s impeachment expected in South Korea

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Press review: Putin discusses EU gas supplies and Russia open to Ukraine talks with Trump

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, December 27th

Spanish coordination center orders Norwegian captain not to take Ursa Major sailors

Maritime Rescue Coordinating Center in Cartagena ordered not to take crew from vessel in distress on board as their rescue boat was on the way to the scene

Trump's words on Greenland escalate tensions in the Arctic — Russian ambassador to Norway

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Ukraine’s army reports forced retreat to ‘last defensive line’ in Donbass area

Ukraine’s General Staff admitted earlier that the frontline situation remained tense for the Ukrainian army

Azerbaijan Airlines states its passenger jet crashed due to external mechanical damage

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El Al suspends Tel Aviv - Moscow flights

The airline will assess the situation in the upcoming weeks and will decide whether the flights will resume depending on the assessment

Russia shortens temporary stay term for foreigners to 90 days — Foreign Ministry

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