Russia

Restrictions on import of Russian diamonds to G7, EU countries take effect on January 1

MOSCOW, January 1. /TASS/: Restrictions on the importation of Russian diamonds into G7 countries and restrictions on deliveries of diamonds to the European Union under the EU’s 12th package of sanctions have taken effect as of today, January 1, 2024, but experts surveyed by TASS doubt that the ban will be very effective.

Russia: OPEC+ cartel begins voluntarily reducing oil output by 2.2 mln bpd until end of 1Q 2024

MOSCOW, January 1. /TASS/: Several OPEC+ countries, including Saudi Arabia and Russia, have begun voluntarily reducing their oil production by an aggregate additional volume of 2.2 mln barrels per day (bpd) in January. The policy will be in force throughout the first quarter and, depending on market conditions, the petroleum producers’ cartel may begin progressively returning reduced volumes to the market.

Putin lauds Russian unity in his New Year’s address as Ukraine war overshadows celebration

MOSCOW  (AP) —Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Russia’s “united society” in his prerecorded New Year’s address to the nation, the country’s state news agencies reported Sunday.

Putin addressed Russians in a video that ran under four minutes long, significantly shorter than the New Year’s speech he gave last year, according to state news agency RIA Novosti. Millions of people were expected to watch the new address when it airs on TV as each Russian time zone region counts down the final minutes of 2023 on Sunday.

Russia: Putin briefed about Ukraine’s shelling attack on Belgorod — Kremlin spokesman

MOSCOW, December 30. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin has been informed about Ukraine’s shelling attack on the Russian city of Belgorod, Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.

"President Vladimir Putin has been briefed about Ukraine’s strike on residential quarters in Belgorod," he said, adding that the president ordered to send a Russian health ministry team led by Minister Mikhail Murashko and emergencies ministry’s rescuers to the city to help those affected.

Ukrainian losses in Donetsk area amount up to 350 troops in 24 hours — Defense Ministry

MOSCOW, December 30. /TASS/: Ukraine’s armed forces have lost up to 350 personnel in the Donetsk area over 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

According to its statement, the Ukrainian losses amounted to 350 troops killed and wounded, two armored vehicles and six pick-up trucks. Counterbattery work has wiped out a M777 artillery system and a US-made Paladin self-propelled howitzer.

Russia says it thwarted a Kyiv drone attack following its own aerial assault against Ukraine

MOSCOW (AP) —Thirty-two Ukrainian drones were shot down over Russia on Saturday, Moscow officials reported, a day after an 18-hour aerial barrage across Ukraine killed at least 39 civilians.

Drones were seen in the skies over Russia’s Moscow, Bryansk, Oryol, and Kursk regions, the country’s defense ministry said in a statement. It said that all of the drones had been destroyed by air defenses.

EU, Lithuania not complying with agreements on transit of goods to Russia — diplomat

MOSCOW, December 28. /TASS/: Growing traffic jams at crossings on the Russian-Lithuanian border, caused by Vilnius’ obstruction, ultimately stem from the inability of Lithuania and the EU to comply with existing agreements on the transit of goods, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a commentary.

Russia says redirected most oil exports to China, India

MOSCOW, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia has redirected its oil exports from Europe to China and India, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said, almost two years after Moscow was hit by Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict.

After President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022, Western countries hit Russia with a slew of sanctions including a European Union embargo on its seaborne oil deliveries.

“We previously supplied a total of 40 to 45 percent of oil and oil products to Europe,” said Novak, who is in charge of energy policy.

Russian plane lands on frozen river by mistake

MOSCOW, Dec 28 (Reuters) - A Soviet-era Antonov-24 aircraft carrying 30 passengers landed on a frozen river near an airport in Russia's far east on Thursday because of pilot error, transport prosecutors said.

The Polar Airlines An-24 landed safely on the Kolyma river near Zyryanka in the Yakutia region, the prosecutors said.

"According to preliminary information, the cause of the aviation incident was an error by the crew in piloting the aircraft," a spokesperson for the Eastern Siberian transport prosecutor said in a statement.

Russia, India closer to joint military equipment production - minister

MOSCOW, Dec 27 (Reuters) - Russia and India have made tangible progress in talks on plans to jointly produce military equipment, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday, after talks with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Moscow.

Speaking at a news conference, Lavrov said such cooperation was of a strategic nature and was in both countries' interests and would help ensure security on the Eurasian continent.

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