Russia

VLADIVOSTOK, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Russia plans to launch its Luna-25 moon probe from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Far Eastern region of Amur on August 22, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency reported Friday.

This would be Russia's first mission to the Moon in 46 years, said Alexander Mitkin, Deputy General Designer for Electrical Systems at NPO Lavochkin, a spacecraft building factory where Luna-25 was made.

The last lunar mission, Luna-24, was undertaken by the former Soviet Union in August 1976, which proved presence of water in samples brought back from the Moon.

MOSCOW, April 8. /TASS/: The euro declined to 79 rubles for the first time since June 2020 during the trading session on the Moscow Exchange.

The euro tumbled 3.01% to 79 rubles. The dollar lost 1.58% to 74.55 rubles.

The euro dropped later to 77.37 rubles, minus 5%. The dollar declined to 72.36 rubles (down 4.47%).

MOSCOW, April 8. /TASS/: The decision of the European Union to cancel import of Russian coal will after its member-states in the first instance, Russian Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov said, cited by the official Telegram channel of the Ministry.

MOSCOW, April 8. /TASS/: Russia will redirect coal supplies to alternative markets after the European Union refuses the shipments, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.

"Shipments of coal, as Europe refuses [its] consumption, …, will be redirected to alternative markets," he said. "Of course, coal is still a very popular commodity," Peskov stressed.

MOSCOW, April 8. /TASS/: The current unprecedented sanctions against Russia will cause further collapse of all international institutions, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev said.

MOSCOW, April 7. /TASS/: Kiev presented its draft agreement on April 6, which marks a departure from the provisions that were recorded at a meeting held in Istanbul on March 29, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.

"Ukraine presented its draft agreement to the negotiating group yesterday, which marks a clear departure from the most important provisions that were recorded at the Istanbul meeting on March 29 in a document signed by the Ukrainian delegation’s head Arakhamia," he pointed out.

MOSCOW, April 7. /TASS/: Russia’s COVID-19 case tally rose by 14,355 over the past day to 17,955,120, the anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Thursday.

In relative terms, the growth rate reached 0.08%.

As many as 2,612 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Russia over the past day, down 29.7% from a day earlier. The number of hospitalized patients decreased in 66 regions, while in 12 regions the figure increased. The situation remained unchanged in seven regions. A day earlier, 3,713 people were rushed to hospitals.

MOSCOW, April 7. /TASS/: Russia’s COVID-19 case tally rose by 14,355 over the past day to 17,955,120, the anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Thursday.

In relative terms, the growth rate reached 0.08%.

As many as 2,612 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Russia over the past day, down 29.7% from a day earlier. The number of hospitalized patients decreased in 66 regions, while in 12 regions the figure increased. The situation remained unchanged in seven regions. A day earlier, 3,713 people were rushed to hospitals.

April 7 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Thursday it was bewildered by the U.S. decision to impose sanctions against President Vladimir Putin's adult daughters, describing the move as part of a broader Western frenzy against Russia.

Fresh U.S. sanctions against Moscow over its military intervention in Ukraine on Wednesday targeted Russian banks and elites, including Putin's daughters Katerina and Maria, who U.S. officials believe are hiding their father's wealth. 

April 7 (Reuters) - Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday that his country must be involved in negotiations to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and that he expected to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the next few days.

"There can be no separate agreements behind Belarus's back," Lukashenko was quoted as saying by the Belarusian state news agency Belta.

"Since you dragged us into this - principally Western countries - the position of Belarus naturally needs to be heard at these negotiations."