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Developments in eastern Ukraine

Kiev not ready to start political settlement in Ukraine’s east — Russian OSCE envoy

After completing weaponry withdrawal Kiev should be ready to act in accordance with the Minsk agreements and launch political process on determining formats for holding local elections, Kelin says

© EPA/ROMAN PILIPEY

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Kiev may be deliberately disrupting weapons withdrawal plan — LPR negotiator

VIENNA, March 11. /TASS/. Russia does not see Kiev’s readiness for launching the process of political settlement of the situation in Ukraine’s east, Russia’s Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Andrey Kelin said on Wednesday.

"After completing [weaponry] withdrawal, which will happen by March 14, the Ukrainian side should be ready to act in accordance with the Minsk agreements and launch political process on determining formats for holding local elections," Kelin said.

According to Andrey Kelin, a buffer zone in eastern Ukraine would be divided into six sectors which would be monitored by OSCE officials.

The OSCE is holding talks with Schiebel, a Vienna-based UAV maker, on the lease of additional vehicle for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, Russia's envoy went on to say.

Andrey Kelin told TASS that the number of UAVs used by the SMM could be doubled or tripled.

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OSCE Eastern Ukraine

Middle East conflict

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Russia’s Velikiye Luki submarine dives to depth of 100 meters as part of tests

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Almost 440,000 Russians sign up for military service this year — Medvedev

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Shelling on Donetsk decreases as frontline shifts — DPR head

Denis Pushilin noted that shelling in Donetsk’s Kirovsky and Petrovsky districts is expected to diminish further once Kurakhovo is liberated

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Lavrov cautions against challenging Russia's resolve

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Russian scientists have lots of new ideas in nuclear sphere — researcher

Mikhail Kovalchuk also reiterated that for a long time, Russia has been and remains a guide for other countries in the sphere of developing technologies, including space

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

According to Alexander Stepanov, strikes are systematic efforts to gradually wipe out the military capabilities of Ukraine

Azerbaijan publishes list of passengers on board crashed plane in Kazakhstan

Media reports say that at least 28 people have survived

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Deployment of Moldovan troops to Transnistria to violate settlement accords — expert

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Major General Aleksey Rtishchev said that branches of the US National Naval Military Medical Center are stationed in Ghana and Djibouti where active work is carried out in natural disease foci, isolation and sequencing of pathogens

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Initiative along entire frontline in Russian forces’ hands — Polish general

According to Waldemar Skrzypczak, Russian troops' daily advances amount to 1-2 kilometers (0.6-1.2 miles)

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Putin bestows order upon Hermitage director general

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Shopping mall in Russia’s North Caucasus city of Vladikavkaz catches fire after explosion

Regional head Sergey Menyailo said that the blast had killed a woman inside the building

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

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Russia doesn’t need ceasefire in Ukraine, it needs legally binding guarantees — Lavrov

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Greece continues to ship munitions to Ukraine en masse — website

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

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According to the Turkish newspaper, the former Syrian president did it to ensure his own safety

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According to the Kazakh Transport Ministry, the plane belonged to Azerbaijan Airlines

Damascus warns Iran against sowing chaos in Syria — foreign minister

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Flights from Istanbul, Almaty, Tomsk heading to Kazan diverted to Samara

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Putin, Rakhmon converse briefly ahead of bilateral talks

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Without Ukrainian transit, gas to become much more expensive for Europe — expert

According to Karin Kneissl, in some households, people are already paying more for electricity and heating than for their rent

Biden considers new sanctions against Russian energy sector — The Washington Post

According to the newspaper’s sources, possible options also include revoking the license that allows banks to handle transactions with Russian energy resources

Assassination attempt on defense executive thwarted near Moscow — FSB

The attackers’ activities were coordinated by Ukrainian special service agents through foreign internet messengers, as evidenced by data retrieved from seized communication devices, the FSB added

Russian embassy refutes reports on Sudan’s refusal to host Russian base

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Kremlin admits legal action over transfer of $1 bln from Russian assets to Ukraine

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Ukrainian deserters abroad are hunted through Interpol — parliament member

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Russian expert suspects Ursa Major sank due to act of sabotage

Alexander Stepanov remarked that such attacks are virtually impossible to identify and track down

Only Western countries present nuclear war scenarios, says Lavrov

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Armenian premier says will skip CIS meeting in St. Petersburg due to COVID-19

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Serious conflict between Israel, Turkey possible — Russian expert

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Russia has no illusions that Ukraine conflict can be resolved easily — top diplomat

"We have never stated that the incoming administration of [US President-elect Donald] Trump will necessarily give a start to negotiations on global security, on Ukraine," Sergey Lavrov noted

Continued terror attacks by Kiev to be met with increasingly tougher response — Lavrov

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Trump doesn’t want repeat of Minsk agreements — Kellogg

He expressed hope that the US president-elect will be able to achieve a settlement of the conflict in Ukraine in a "relatively near term."

Russian forces gain control over road between Gulyaypole, Velikaya Novosyolka — official

According to Vladimir Rogov, actions by the Russian Armed Forces will compel the garrison of the Ukrainian armed forces in Velikaya Novosyolka to face difficulties with supplies and reinforcements

Turkey’s, US defense chiefs discuss Syria, security issues

A conversation took place between National Defense Minister Yasar Guler and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin

Twenty-five people survive passenger plane crash in Kazakhstan — Emergencies Ministry

According to the report, twenty-two people have been taken to a hospital

Georgia became inconvenient for 'friends' after rejecting Ukrainian scenario — official

According to Kakha Kaladze, the country faced unprecedented pressure because of this

Passenger plane crashes near Kazakhstan's Aktau — Emergencies Ministry

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Russia not closing its border with Estonia — MFA

Russian border crossings near the Estonian border are functioning as usual, Maria Zakharova said

Pakistani forces attack Afghan province just across border

Taliban-controlled Afghan Defense Ministry condemned the attack, saying it violated international law and didn’t represent a solution to any issue

IN BRIEF: What is known about sinking of Ursa Major cargo ship in Mediterranean Sea

According to reports, fourteen crew members were rescued and two are missing

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

The experiment that allowed testing the supercomputer prototype took place on December 19, the Moscow State University said

Former Austrian minister names 4 suspect countries in connection with Nord Stream sabotage

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Is Gaddafi's gloom prophecy in regard to Europe bound to be fulfilled?

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United Kingdom’s defense expenditures up by 14% in past decade — The Times

According to the article, Iran’s military budget grew by 57%, China’s - by 60% and Russia’s - by 34% in the reported period

Europe should support Sino-Brazilian initiative on Ukraine — Swiss newspaper

The article’s author believes that Russa’s absence during the peace conference in Burgenstock, Switzerland, was 'a crucial mistake'

No Russians killed in Magdeburg car attack, information on injured being updated — embassy

At least five people got killed and 235 were injured as a result of the attack