Russia

MOSCOW, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Wednesday hailed late Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev as an extraordinary global statesman who helped end the Cold War, but said he had been badly wrong about the prospect of rapprochement with the "bloodthirsty" West.

The comments underlined President Vladimir Putin's feelings about the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, which Gorbachev unwittingly presided over, and which Putin has lamented as the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century which he would reverse if given a chance.

MOSCOW, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Russia welcomes the idea that IAEA experts could stay at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant on a permanent basis, Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's representative to the international organisations in Vienna, said on Wednesday.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said the agency hoped to set up a permanent mission at the plant. U.N. nuclear inspectors set off for the plant earlier on Wednesday.

MOSCOW, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed deep condolences over the death of former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency reported Wednesday.

"President Putin expresses deep condolences over the death of Mikhail Gorbachev," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying.

"In the morning he will send a telegram of condolences to Gorbachev's family and friends," the spokesman added.

MOSCOW, August 30. /TASS/: The Russian financial system requires "serious adjustment" in conditions of sanctions, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Tuesday.

"Our financial system requires serious adjustment in the environment of sanctions and restrictions, primarily to establish efficient mechanisms that will make possible to saturate our economy with sufficient liquidity, ensure stable operations of our business and entire industries, and keep jobs," Mishustin said.

MOSCOW, August 30. /TASS/: Ukraine’s military lost over 1,200 personnel in the past day upon its attempt to launch an offensive in the Nikolayev-Krivoi Rog and other areas on order by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Tuesday.

The enemy suffered heavy casualties as a result of the rout of the Ukrainian military’s offensive in the Nikolayev-Krivoi Rog and other areas, the spokesman said.

MOSCOW, August 28. /TASS/: The West is seeking to disregard objective historic processes, which may slow down the forming of a multipolar world but will never stop it, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the Zvezda television channel, which was posted on the foreign ministry’s website on Sunday.

"Regrettably, our Western partners, who have ceded the reins of power to the United States, <…> are seeking to disregard objective historic processes, which may slow down the formation of a multipolar world but will never be able to stop it," he said.

MOSCOW, August 29. /TASS/: The Vostok 2022 strategic command and staff drills that will run on September 1-7 under the command of the chief of the Russian General Staff will practice military security of Russia and its allies within the responsibility area of the Eastern Military District, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Monday.

MOSCOW, August 29. /TASS/: The IAEA mission will arrive in the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant within days, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Monday.

According to Zapkarova, the mission has already left Vienna. "[The mission] is expected to arrive in the site within days," she said in an interview with the Rossiya-24 television channel.

MOSCOW, August 29. /TASS/: Russia’s COVID-19 case tally rose by 39,658 over the past day to 19,445,581, the anti-coronavirus crisis center reported on Monday.

A day earlier, 46,857 daily cases were recorded.

As many as 1,988 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Russia over the past day, down 15% from a day earlier. The number of hospitalized patients increased in 30 regions, while in 49 regions the figure decreased. The situation remained unchanged in six regions. A day earlier, 2,340 people were rushed to hospitals.

MOSCOW, August 29. /TASS/: Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed satisfaction with development of bilateral ties between Russia and countries of the Asia-Pacific Region and cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union, the Shanghai Cooperation Agreement, BRICS, APEC and ASEAN.