Russia

MOSCOW, August 9. /TASS/: Western countries' statements about providing security guarantees to Ukraine are empty, groundless excuses, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

"Security guarantees presuppose the words 'guarantees' and 'security' and, overall, a range of certain characteristics as well, but these are missing here. No one here can even say anything about it, so these are empty, absolutely groundless excuses that are becoming more and more numerous," the diplomat told Sputnik Radio.

MOSCOW, August 9. /TASS/: Poland is planning to form a joint Polish-Ukrainian military unit ostensibly for security, but with the ulterior motive of occupying western Ukraine, Russian Defense Minister Army General Sergey Shoigu said.

He drew attention to the dangers associated with Poland’s militarization. "there are plans to create a permanent so-called Polish-Ukrainian formation ostensibly to ensure the security of Western Ukraine, but in fact - for the subsequent occupation of this territory," he said.

MOSCOW, August 9. /TASS/: Russian assault groups continued their advance in the Kupyansk area over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Wednesday.

"In the Kupyansk direction, assault teams of the western battlegroup capitalizing on the results of air and artillery strikes continued their offensive on a wide front in their areas of responsibility and improved their tactical position," the spokesman said.

MOSCOW, August 9. /TASS/: The dollar surpassed 98 rubles on the Moscow Exchange for the first time since March 25, 2022.

The dollar grew by 0.95% to 98.03 rubles and later slowed down to 98.01 rubles (+0.94%). At the same time, the euro rose by 1.21% to 107.75 rubles, the yuan - by 1.04% to 13.56 rubles.

The MOEX index added 0.99% and reached 3,115.99 points, the RTS index was at the level of 1,001.64 points (+0.18%).

MOSCOW, August 9. /TASS/: EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell is simply twisting the facts, putting forward unfounded, untenable arguments in his statements concerning the Black Sea grain deal and Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.

Aug 9 (Reuters) - Russia will build up forces at its western borders following Finland's accession to the U.S.-led NATO alliance, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told the governing board of the ministry on Wednesday.

In opening remarks to the Collegium of the Defence Ministry, Shoigu said NATO-member Poland had already announced plans to strengthen its military, and that he expected significant NATO forces and weaponry to be deployed in Finland, whose inclusion has almost doubled the length of Russia's land border with NATO.

MOSCOW, August 8. /TASS/: Russia is strong enough to achieve all of the goals of its special military operation despite facing an almost direct confrontation with all of NATO, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev wrote on Telegram.

He drew parallels between the current conflict and the developments that took place in South Ossetia in August 2008.

MOSCOW, August 8. /TASS/: Moscow is hoping that Tbilisi will adopt a more constructive approach to the Geneva International Discussions on Security and Stability in the South Caucasus because progress on this track is in the interests of all countries in the region, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in her commentary on the 15th anniversary of the onset of Georgia’s military aggression in South Ossetia.

MOSCOW, August 8. /TASS/: Russian air defense forces intercepted five rockets of the US-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket system and destroyed 17 Ukrainian combat drones over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Tuesday.

MOSCOW, August 8. /TASS/: The Russian News Agency TASS and the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation have signed a partnership agreement, which, among other things, is aimed at raising awareness about voter rights and providing them with information.

The document was signed at the agency's press center by Ella Pamfilova, Chairperson of Russia’s Central Election Commission, and Andrey Kondrashov, Director General of TASS.