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Ukraine arrests Russian ship in Odessa region

The prosecutor’s office is probing into the case of illegal sand extraction, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General says

© AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky

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Ukrainian border service plans to detain all ships travelling to and from Crimea

KIEV, April 10. /TASS/. Ukraine has arrested a Russian dredge ship in the Odessa region under a case of illegal sand extraction, Tatiana Tikhonchik, a spokeswoman for the so-called Crimean prosecutor’s office (part of the Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office), told TASS on Tuesday.

"On April 10, 2018, the investigating judge upheld a motion of the Crimean prosecutor’s office and arrested a ship owned by a Russian trespasser company, which is currently staying at the port of Yuzhny in the Odessa region," she said.

Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Yuri Lutsenko wrote earlier on his Facebook account that the prosecutor’s office was probing into the case of illegal sand extraction in the Black Sea’s Karkinit Bay "on temporarily occupied territories." "It has been found out that sand extraction is carried out by a dredge ship owned by Trans Services Maritime Co., with a home port in Russia’s Tuapse," Lutsenko wrote, adding that sand "is used for illegal construction" near Kerch.

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West, Kiev indulge in nuclear blackmail by demanding control of ZNPP — Russian MFA

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Nord Stream AG's refusal to pay compensation destroys Western insurance system — diplomat

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US veto for Palestinian membership proves Washington’s anti-Palestinian stance — Hamas

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Tasnim refuted foreign media reports about an incident at a nuclear site in Isfahan

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Military base near Iran’s Isfahan hit following attack — newspaper

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Sounds in Isfahan due to air defense work to repel attacks by suspicious objects — general

According to Iranian media reports, three drones were downed by air defenses in the skies over the city of Isfahan

Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

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US gives nod to Israeli operation in Rafah in exchange for canceling major attack on Iran

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Iran has no plans to immediately retaliate to attack on its soil — agency

"We have not received any external attack, and the discussion leans more towards infiltration than attack," a senior Iranian official reported

Putin sees increasing life expectancy as key policy goal for Russia

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Israel assesses effectiveness, consequences of strike on Iran — media

A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces declined to comment on the reports of the strike

Iran says drones downed over Isfahan launched from country's territory

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Russia’s defense chief inspects production of tanks, flamethrowers at Siberian enterprise

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Russia’s advanced radar in Kaliningrad to monitor entire territory of Europe — source

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Nearly half of those present in UN Security Council hall walk out before Israel’s address

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Colombian president displays interest in country’s entry into BRICS

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Germany fails to present evidence in case of espionage suspects — Russian embassy

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Ukraine’s military loses positions near Avdeyevka, says DPR

Igor Kimakovsky said that Ukrainian forces suffered heavy casualties among personnel and military hardware, including Western equipment

Ukrainian front may collapse this summer — newspaper

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Shoigu orders additional tank protection sets for Ukraine operation

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EU summit calls to continue work on duties on Russian, Belarusian agricultural produce

The European Commission suggested introducing duties on agricultural products from Russia and Belarus earlier

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Iran threatens to attack Israel's "nuclear centers" in case of aggression on its part

Ahmad Haqtalab argued that Israel had been conducting "subversive and terrorist activities" against the Islamic republic's nuclear infrastructure for year

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Germany moves to exclude Russia from concentration camp liberation celebrations

According to Maria Zakharova, Moscow "regards this provocative attack as the latest move by the German side aimed at further twisting history, painting the course and outcome of World War II in an anti-Russian manner"

US deploying missiles in Philippines to endanger global security — Russian envoy

Anatoly Antonov has urged the US "not to open Pandora's Box" and follow Russia’s suit "by taking all necessary steps to ensure global stability and predictability"

Agents in Ukrainian, Poland foil attempt to kill Zelensky, security officials in Kiev say

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French, US, British nukes all interwoven — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova described France’s decision to place its aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, directly under NATO control as a symbolic move marking the end of "the era of an independent Paris in the international arena"

Chinese analyst sees US veto on Palestine as reflection of arrogance, double standards

Wang Wen stated that it’s still very hard to achieve a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

UN Security Council vote exposes practically full isolation of US — Russia’s UN mission

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Maria Zakharova noted the need to "wait for official information from the investigation"

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French president says creating Israeli-type air defense network for Ukraine impossible

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William Burns said "there is a very real risk that the Ukrainians could at least put Putin in a position where he could essentially dictate the terms of a political settlement"

Russia can join top three countries by lithium reserves — governor

Infrastructure is required to implement the investment project, both power transmission lines and the railroad, Andrey Chibis noted

US 'not forgetting' to help itself with aid to Ukraine — Kremlin

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Iran intends to bolster military cooperation with Russia — envoy to Moscow

Kazem Jalali noted that Iran had demonstrated its ability to ensure security and nudge the region toward a de-escalation

North Korean leader arrives at public event in Aurus luxury car gifted by Putin

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Russia will not 'shake up' relations with Argentina due to its partnership with NATO — MFA

According to Sergey Ryabkov, Russia and Argentina maintain a good dialogue at various levels

Crimea, Donbass to forever remain within Russia, Slovak PM tells national parliament

Robert Fico believes Moscow will win in its confrontation with Kiev

Chief prosecutors of Russia, Venezuela sign cooperation agreement in Caracas

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Major Western investor accuses Zelensky's office of extorting millions of euros

Arnulf Damerau said that he provided details of the meeting, along with evidence and a list of names of those involved, to US and European intelligence agencies

Iran done with retaliation, calls for efforts to stop Israel from reckless steps — MFA

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Polish premier refuses to hand over his country’s Patriot systems to Ukraine

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Israeli Air Force attacks airfield in southern Syria during strike on Iran

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EU border checkpoint closest to Russia’s St. Petersburg to cut its working hours

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Situation in Iran’s Isfahan stabilizes after drone attack — media

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Kiev continues to openly announce terrorist attacks on Russia — diplomat

Maria Zakharova also pointed to the fact that Ukraine's special services do not give up attempts to "massacre their former compatriots"

EU plans to invest first profits from Russian assets in military aid to Kiev

"I think that the decision has been taken by the member-states - all 27 have agreed that we use the windfall profits following our proposal," Ursula von der Leyen said

Ukrainians abroad storming embassies to avoid mobilization, Russian diplomat says

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Vehicles, equipment participating in Victory Day parade depart for Moscow — ministry

The final rehearsal of the military parade will take place on May 5

Chinese car plant to start production at former Mercedes site in Moscow region in May

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US names lack of reforms as reason to block Palestinian membership resolution

US deputy envoy Robert Wood also noted that "Hamas - a terrorist organization - is currently exerting power and influence in Gaza, an integral part of the state envisioned in this resolution"

US blackmails other countries at United Nations — Russian mission

Dmitry Polyansky said "this shameful neocolonial tactics are fully exposed now in the context of Gaza War"

Press review: Ukraine, Israel vie for EU’s attention and Georgia passes controversial bill

Top stories from the Russian press on Thursday, April 18th

Hungary to not intervene in Ukrainian conflict on any side, PM says

Viktor Orban believes the first phase of the conflict, which included proposals on sending troops to Ukraine, is over

Press review: Iran fires back at Israel and Russia, West spar over AI rulebook

Top stories from the Russian press on Monday, April 15th

Putin points to high risk of new epidemic outbreaks

The Russian president pointed out that Moscow’s "program of assistance to the African countries in sanitary and epidemiological well-being provides for the delivery of ten mobile high-containment biological laboratories"

Palestinian envoy says Israel plans to destroy Palestine

"This is a plan of extremist government", Permanent Observer of Palestine to the UN Riyad Mansour said

Israel to not take responsibility for attack on Iran — newspaper

Israeli sources also said that they did not understand why the Pentagon had leaked information about Israel's involvement in the attack to the media

US blocks Security Council resolution granting full UN membership to Palestine

A total of 12 countries, including Russia and China, voted in favor of the document

Founder of neo-Nazi cell in Crimea flees to Georgia — source

According to the official, the investigation established that Mikhail Maurov planned to travel to Ukraine to join the ranks of a right-wing Ukrainian organization called the Freedom of Russia Legion

Palestinian president says US veto immoral, runs counter to global community’s will

In Mahmoud Abbas' opinion, Washington’s foreign policy constitutes "an outrageous aggression against the international law"

Tehran’s two major airports cancel international flights — Mehr

Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport suspended their operations until 10:30 a.m. local time

Yerevan's refusal to delimit borders with Baku to escalate regional tensions — PM

Nikol Pashinyan pointed out that the demarcation process also involves risks, but they are manageable, after which "Armenia will become ten times stronger"

Press review: Biden backs aid to Israel, Ukraine and Russia assets giving West legal fits

Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 19th

Russian forces destroy Ukrainian command post, two S-300 missile launchers over day

Russian forces improved their frontline positions and repelled a Ukrainian army counterattack in the Donetsk area where the enemy lost roughly 590 troops over the past day, the ministry reported

Moscow International Film Festival to open in Russian capital

The Moscow Film Festival was founded in 1935, which makes it the world’s second oldest film festival after the Venice event

Iran suspends flights above several cities amid reports of air attack — IRNA

Fox News said the Jewish state delivered a limited strike on Iran

Three Ukrainian soldiers swim across Dnieper to surrender to Russian troops — governor

Vladimir Saldo called on other Ukrainian servicemen to switch to the Russian side and request the corresponding assistance

At least 16 Syrian troops killed in terrorists’ ambush in east Syria — TV

According to the Al Hadath television, a military bus was ambushed by members of the Islamic State terrorist group

Pipeline explodes in Kharkov Region

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