Commissioner informs Putin on Kursk Region residents return, foreign media in Starobelsk The Russian president noted that Yana Lantratova has actively started working as the commissioner for human rightsMOSCOW, June 29. /TASS/. Russia’s new Commissioner for Human Rights Yana Lantratova isn't wasting any time getting work done, President Vladimir Putin said. Lantratova told Putin about the return home of all Kursk Region residents illegally detained in Ukraine. She also noted that foreign media who visited Starobelsk confirmed that children were living in the college attacked by Ukraine. There were no military facilities there. TASS has compiled the key statements made at the meeting. Lantratova's new position - The president noted that Lantratova has actively started working as the commissioner for human rights: "You have recently assumed the duties of the commissioner for human rights in Russia. I see that you haven't wasted any time getting to work." Lantratova thanked the president for his trust: "For me, this is, of course, an honor. I will do everything in my power to justify this trust." Results of work - Lantratova said that all the Kursk Region residents illegally detained by Ukraine returned to Russia: "We have managed to persuade the Ukrainian side and return home all the Kursk Region residents who were illegally detained on the territory of Ukraine. They've all come home." - She noted that the foreign media that visited the Starobelsk college attacked by Ukraine made sure that children lived there, confirming that there were no military facilities there: "When all this happened, it could not be called anything but a war crime. I went to the territory. We organized the arrival of 50 journalists from different countries. So we went into every room of this college together, and, of course, they didn't see any military base there. They saw a bloodstained blanket, personal photos, and children's toys." - Lantratova said that she played a role in the return of 550 Russian prisoners of war from Ukraine: "During this month, 550 of our guys were able to return home, of course, in close cooperation with the Defense Ministry, with the relevant special services, with institutions of the Federal Penitentiary Service, with colleagues from the Republic of Belarus who help." - She said she had to establish communication with her colleague in Ukraine, Dmitry Lubinets. TagsRussia's domestic policyNothing unseemly about Russia's military presence in Armenia — deputy foreign ministerMikhail Galuzin noted that some political forces and some pro-Western Armenian NGOs are trying to denigrate the Russian military presence in ArmeniaRead moreVenezuelan journalist projects earthquake death toll to count in tens of thousandsJuan Barreto says rescue efforts continue in La Guaira state, and an enormous number of destroyed buildings can be seenRead moreProtection against UAV attacks, AI use: statements by Russia’s defense chiefAndrey Belousov said that Russia is actively introducing artificial intelligence systems in its air defenses and the results will be seen by NovemberRead moreRussia’s security, inviolability of its borders to be guaranteed — Putin"The West has preferred to turn a blind eye to all this Kiev’s terrorist attacks", Putin saidRead moreIRGC delivers retaliatory strike on key US infrastructure in Kuwait, BahrainThe IRGC also warned that Tehran’s future response to potential US aggression will be even more decisiveRead moreWestern attempts strangle Russia financially, economically fail — diplomatRussian Foreign Ministry’s Ambassador-at-Large Alexander Trofimov stressed that Russia has withstood the sanctions-driven economic blitzkrieg thanks to the consistent efforts of the government, society, and the business communityRead moreRussian troops liberate settlement of Novoskelevatoye in Dnepropetrovsk region — top brassTroops from Battlegroup West in Krasny Liman seized five strongpoints and captured 57 buildings over the past 24 hours, according to the reportedRead moreMost US citizens want to restore relations with Russia — Marjorie Taylor GreeneWhen asked why Washington is taking virtually no meaningful action to improve relations with Moscow, even though US President Donald Trump has repeatedly declared his willingness to do so, the former House of Representatives member replied that people constantly call him and demand meetingsRead moreIraq ready to host meeting between Iran, Gulf Arab nations — top diplomatAccording to Hussein, as Iraq maintains "perfect relations with the United States," Baghdad "expresses its readiness to help both Tehran and Washington put an end to the war between them."Read moreUkraine’s 124 UAVs shot down over Russian regions, Black Sea in one day — Defense MinistryDuring the day, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Moscow timeRead moreRussian troops liberate two settlements in Dnepropetrovsk, Zaporozhye regionsUnits of Battlegroup East moved deeper into enemy defenses, liberating the settlement of Pisantsy and the settlement of NovosyolovkaRead moreWhat is known about largest Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow Region in two yearsAccording to Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, air defenses downed more than 190 drones since the start of the dayRead moreIran, Qatar agree to unfreeze $6 bln in Iranian assets in emirate — PezeshkianThe Iranian president said the necessary work to return the remaining portion of the funds is also continuingRead moreRussian stock market rises by more than 1%The MOEX index was trading at 2,314.72 points, up 1.27%, while the RTS index stood at 946.25 pointsRead moreIranian attack damages residential building — Bahraini Interior MinistryThere were no casualtiesRead moreLionel Messi emerges as top scorer in 2026 World Cup group stageThe Argentine forward scored six goals in three matches, setting a new tournament recordRead moreUnited States, Iran agreed to stop strikes — AxiosWashington and Tehran also reached an agreement to hold consultations in Doha on TuesdayRead moreRussia living through crucial time — Putin"The United Russia party, our leading political party, is holding a congress at a crucial time for the country as the entire world, too, is undergoing a radical, systemic transformation," the Russian head of state saidRead moreKiev resorts to terrorism as Ukrainian troops retreat on battlefield — Putin"The Kiev regime is retreating along the entire line of engagement, and therefore it has resorted to openly terrorist activities," the Russian leader said, referring to deliberate attacks on civiliansRead moreIsraeli army strikes three Hezbollah command centers in response to ceasefire violationsThe IDF attacks targeted the areas of Nabatieh and Mayfadoun in southern LebanonRead moreRussian artillery destroys two Ukrainian army deployment sites near KonstantinovkaAccording to the Russian Defense Ministry, artillery crews of the 6th Motor Rifle Division are conducting combat operations in the Konstantinovka direction round-the-clockRead moreMayor of Zaporozhye nuke plant host city dismisses evacuation reportsAccording to Maxim Pukhov, the city’s authorities and all services continue to operate normallyRead moreRussia may begin exploration and development of Moon resources after 2036Among the main projects through 2036, Roscosmos also proposes including the exploration of the Moon using automated spacecraftRead moreSeoul, Tokyo reaffirm commitment to Korean Peninsula denuclearizationNotably, North Korea has repeatedly stressed that its nuclear status is non-negotiableRead moreNo signs of nuclear infrastructure being deployed in Finland — Russian embassyAccording to the statement, even the theoretical possibility of its appearance seriously affects security in the regionRead moreFinland lifting its ban on nukes requires Russian response, diplomat saysMaria Zakharova lambasted the move as unfounded, given repeated statements from leading Finnish politicians and relevant agencies in the Nordic country that Russia does not pose a direct military threat to FinnsRead moreUkraine as transit hub, Kiev’s cooperation with drug cartels: statements by SVRUkraine’s security agencies "deliberately show indulgence towards the increasing drug transit from Latin America to Europe"Read morePakistani security forces eliminated 29 militants at the border with AfghanistanMinister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar also reported the destruction of three targets including weapons and ammunition depotsRead moreRelations between Russia, China should evolve without regard to secondary sanctionsDeputy General Director of the Russian International Affairs Council Dmitry Kiku added that a new page in relations between the two countries is neededRead moreMoscow will not ignore ban on use of Russian symbols at competitions — Foreign MinistryThe only possible and logical response from the Russian side was to refuse to participate in the competition, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said in a commentaryRead moreRussia standing firm on its feet, ready to fight for its core interests — Putin"Russia is standing firm on its feet, as it declares its fundamental, core interests and is ready to fight for them and our future, way of living, sovereign ideology, foundations, and living principles," the president statedRead morePress review: NATO drills rehearse Ukraine logistics and quake strengthens Venezuela powerTop stories from the Russian press on Friday, June 26thRead moreIN BRIEF: No injuries reported as Russia downs total of 209 Ukrainian drones overnightAs many as 29 UAVs were downed in Sevastopol over the past day, Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev saidRead moreKremlin delivers remarks on Putin-Lukashenko talks, Ukraine dialogue channelsRussian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed that Russia's position on Ukraine, outlined by Vladimir Putin during his address at the Russian Foreign Ministry two years ago, remains unchangedRead moreIran warns third countries against interfering in Hormuz Strait — top diplomatAccording to Abbas Araghchi, navigation through the Strait of Hormuz could return to pre-conflict levels within 30 days, provided all existing obstacles were removedRead moreEmergency outage covered significant part of Zaporozhye RegionDamage assessment is underway, Governor Yevgeny Balitsky saysRead moreWest fails to defeat Russia on battlefield, attempts to destabilize nation futile — Putin"Russia is under rude and unprecedented pressure from Western elites", Putin saidRead moreEU discussing new loan to Ukraine of 30-45 billion euros after 2027The financing will be provided in the event that the conflict continues after 2027, Pekka Toveri, member of the European Parliament, saysRead moreRussia’s energy chief blames US trade war for current oil pricesRussia reduces crude oil production by 100,000 barrels per day in July, the energy minister saysRead moreECHR decision to register same-sex marriages violates Russian constitution — PeskovEarlier, the court recognized the refusal to marry three same-sex couples as a violation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human RightsRead moreWhat to know about FSB thwarting arson attack on synagogue in YaroslavlAccording to Russia's Federal Security Service, the perpetrator purchased components and chemicals to manufacture incendiary devices on instructions from a handler in SyriaRead moreRussia plans to complete clinical trials of tuberculosis vaccine by end of 2026Scientists intend to register it in 2027, Irina Vasilyeva, Director of the National Medical Research Center for Phthisiopulmonology and Infectious Diseases, saysRead moreBelarusian president embarks on East, Southeast Asia tourAlexander Lukashenko will visit a number of countries and hold high level talksRead moreNATO no longer needed today — descendant of Otto von BismarckAlexander von Bismarck says many people in Germany share this opinionRead moreGlobal ocean shipping rates hit two-year high due to US tariffs — FTAccording to digital shipping platform Freightos, the cost of shipping a standard 40-foot container from China to the US East Coast surged to $7,880Read moreRussia destroys two Ukrainian MiG-29 aircraft at Voznesensk airfield in Nikolayev regionRussian Armed Forces used Geran-4 Seeker UAVsRead moreRussia under unprecedented pressure from Western elites — Putin"Russia is under rude and unprecedented pressure from Western elites," the Russian leader notedRead morePress review: Ceasefire strain amid US-Iran tensions and Finnish nuclear plans near RussiaTop stories from the Russian press on Monday, June 29thRead moreRussian man kills National Guard member, wounds policeman, kills himself after family spatA woman called police amid a family spat, when a police car approached the house, the husband opened gunfire at itRead moreRussia ready to continue discussing Anchorage modalities with US — PutinThe president added that Moscow is ready to continue the talksRead moreMaduro sends solidarity to his nation as he quotes from Bible — CNNThe earthquake struck Venezuela late on June 24, when about 40 seconds separated two series of tremors of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5Read morePutin orders to minimize impact from Kiev’s terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure"I would like to reiterate that the impact from terrorist attacks on our civilian facilities and infrastructure should be minimized," the Russian head of state saidRead moreEurope 'getting a taste' for producing UAVs for Ukrainian strikes against Russia — expertDmitry Kuzyakin highlighted that Ukraine itself no longer hosts significant large-scale UAV manufacturing facilitiesRead moreSerbia will not give up friendship with Russia but will honor EU commitments — presidentAleksandar Vucic added that Serbia values "these friendly ties"Read morePutin extends ban on Russian oil exports under price cap through end-2027The presidential decree prohibits supplies of Russian oil and petroleum products to foreign legal entities and individuals if contracts for such supplies directly or indirectly provide for the use of a price cap mechanismRead moreEleven people killed in light aircraft crash in France — mediaAccording to the L'Est Republicain newspaper, the victims include five instructors, five amateur parachutists and the pilotRead morePutin pledges to bring Russian economy to new technological level"We will bring the Russian economy to a brand new technological level across all key spheres", Putin saidRead moreUS no longer treats Israel as special ally — mediaPolitico points out that Vice President JD Vance has become the face of changes in Washington's approach to IsraelRead moreRussia, US have much more in common, than apart — former US lawmakerMarjorie Taylor Greene called for strengthening Russia-US ties in such fields as politics, economics and tradeRead moreCanadian national team qualifies for FIFA World Cup 1/8 finalsThe team defeated South Africa 1-0Read more"Michael" movie becomes highest-grossing biopic in historyAccording to Variety, the movie earned over $977 millionRead moreIsrael announced destruction of underground Hezbollah facilityIsrael notified the US and the American representative in Lebanon in advance of the operation, according to a statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel KatzRead moreHead of International BRICS Forum sees growing interest in Russian cultureAccording to Purnima Anand, "the Indians like Russian culture very much, and people in Russia like the Indian one"Read moreKiev, West not intending to implement Minsk Agreements — PutinThe Russian president added that it is important that Belarus has always provided its venue for talksRead moreIN BRIEF: Putin comments on Russia’s strategic goals, security, Duma electionRussia is living through a crucial time, the head of state said, as he pledged that the security of the nation will be ensuredRead moreSaudi Aramco helicopter crash kills 14 peopleAn investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crashRead moreTrump threatens to destroy Iran if it decides to resume military actionsThe president says that the US may become unable "to be reasonable" if the Iranian side does not learn lessonsRead morePutin describes reliance on traditional values as powerful basis for national unity"It is obvious to all statesmen and politicians that reliance on traditional values forms a solid ideological foundation that unites Russian society," the Russian leader said at a United Russia party congressRead moreKiev loses 10,000 troops, mercenaries over week — military expertAccording to Andrey Marochko, the trend towards the growth of losses among the Ukrainian military personnel has been observed for the sixth consecutive weekRead moreUS attacks violate agreements with Tehran — Iranian MFAThe Foreign Ministry stressed that Iran remained committed to defending its national sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with Article 51 of the UN CharterRead moreDialogue with Japan possible when Tokyo changes its stance on Ukraine — PutinRussian President added that unlike Japan, Russia did nothing that would mar bilateral tiesRead moreUS in search of quick, low-cost missile production options after Iran operation — mediaThe Financial Times points out that "the US Air Force has requested some $12 bln over the next five years for 28,000 missiles" Read moreTemperature record broken in Hungary — weather serviceTemperature in Budapest rose to 40 degrees Celsius on June 28Read moreRussian theatrical institute teachers give master class in JohannesburgThe session took place on the stage of the Joburg Theatre, the largest venue in the cityRead moreRussia adjusting plans based on situation, will implement strategic ones in full — Putin"Naturally, we have been adjusting certain plans, based on the situation", Putin saidRead moreRussian specialists develop Duplet double net launcher against dronesThe new net launcher has been created based on requirements from combat personnelRead moreRussia succeeds in creating strike UAV industry comparable to nuclear industry — expertDmitry Kuzyakin underscored that the integration of drones into modern warfare marks a fundamental shift from previous conflictsRead moreUK’s outgoing PM Starmer eyeing role of NATO secretary general — weeklyStarmer’s plans would need some sustained government backing, the weekly wroteRead moreKuwait’s Defense Ministry reports interception of two ballistic missilesThe armed forces identified two enemy ballistic missiles in Kuwait’s airspace, which were intercepted and neutralised in line with the authorised operational proceduresRead moreRussia reports downing 72 Ukrainian drones over its regions, Sea of Azov during 12 hoursAlert air defense capabilities intercepted and destroyed drones over the Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, Krasnodar, Kursk, Moscow, Oryol, Smolensk, and Tver Regions as well as the Republic of CrimeaRead moreSpanish gas hub chief calls on EU to postpone Russian LNG ban — newspaperIvan Jimenez believes US President Donald Trump could keep pressure on the EU to maintain the Russian gas ban, given the boost it would provide to US exports to EuropeRead moreIN BRIEF: Putin’s key statements on proposal to limit combat zone, special op progressThe Russian president said that Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s infrastructure do not affect the situation at the front or the position along the line of engagementRead moreRussian, Chinese warplanes conducted joint six-hour patrolFighter air cover was provided along the entire joint patrol route by Su-30SM and Su-35S aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces and Jian-16 aircraft of the Chinese Air ForceRead moreRussia destroys up to platoon of Ukrainian troops in NovoskelevatoyeAssault units of the 36th separate motorized rifle brigade of the 29th army of Battlegroup East have liberated NovoskelevatoyeRead moreTime isn’t ripe yet for talks between EU, Russia, Finland’s top diplomat saysElina Valtonen added there should be no impression "that we in Europe are desperately seeking talks to achieve peace, regardless of the conditions"Read morePutin convenes meeting of government officials, Russian oil majors on fuel situationThe Russian president authorized efforts to minimize the impact of Ukrainian terrorist attacks on Russian civilian facilitiesRead moreCENTCOM says it struck ten military targets in IranThe US Central Command also published a video of the strikesRead moreAll districts in Kherson Region suffer power outageEnergy workers and emergency services are working on sites, Governor Vladimir Saldo saysRead moreNo war between Europe and Russia, descendant of Otto von Bismarck saysAlexander von Bismarck also warned that it was dangerous to direct threats toward MoscowRead moreMessi’s goal helps Argentina defeat Jordan in World Cup matchThe match ended with a score of 3:1Read more11-year old rescued in Venezuela after 70 hours under rubbleThe child was pulled from the rubble by Colombian rescuersRead moreMedvedev describes Western interference in Armenian election campaign as unprecedentedRussian Security Council deputy chairman pointed to the Armenian authorities’ persecution of Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of the Prosperous Armenia partyRead moreKiev builds up cooperation with Mexico’s largest drug cartels — Russia’s SVRAccording to the press release, Ukrainian security agencies deliberately show indulgence toward the increased drug transit from Latin America to EuropeRead moreFrontline developments reinforce confidence that Russia’s goals to be achieved — KremlinRussia's position on the settlement is well known and remains consistent, Dmitry Peskov said Read morePutin appoints new members of commission on Russia’s participation in G20Denis Agafonov, head of the expert department of the presidential administration and the Russian sherpa in G20, was appointed chair of the commissionRead morePutin commends participants in special military operation as Russia’s true elite"We should certainly create conditions so that such people who, as I have repeatedly stated, form the true elite of Russia can continue to serve the country - in civilian spheres, in politics", Putin saidRead moreRussian gunmaker Kalashnikov unveils new drone for Arctic operationThe ZALA Arctic drones are capable of successfully solving both civilian and military tasks, the manufacturer informedRead moreUkraine hopes to get at least $154 billion from its Western allies by 2030The Finance Ministry estimates that the country will need $46.4 billion in 2026 to maintain the functioning of its governmental bodiesRead moreDrones that attacked Moscow assembled through cooperation of NATO countries — expertThe origins of the components and systems powering the examined drones have been identified, the unmanned aircraft expert and general designer at Russia’s Center for Integrated Unmanned Solutions Dmitry Kuzyakin saidRead moreWar with Iran increases risk of US, Israel using nuclear weapons — Taylor GreeneThe former US House of Representatives member emphasized that the situation in the Middle East could spiral out of controlRead moreNavigation recovery in Hormuz Strait to take months due to minesThe available routes are extremely limited, CEO of Japan’s NYK Line Takaya Soga saysRead more
Turkey busy trying to revive negotiations on Ukraine — president
• What happened: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan announced efforts to revive negotiations aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict during a phone call with Germ...