Ukraine crisisZelensky calls Russian ballistic missiles 'main threat' to Ukrainian military industry Ukrainian military officials and politicians regularly mention shortage of air defense missiles and ask Western countries to increase deliveries of such weaponsMOSCOW, August 20. /TASS/. Russian ballistic missiles are the main threat to Ukraine’s military-industrial complex, Vladimir Zelensky said, commenting on the Russian Armed Forces’ strike against targets in Kiev and the Kiev region. "The greatest threat is ballistic missiles. And this is something that depends entirely on the supply of missiles for the Patriot system to Ukraine, which means it depends on our country’s partners," he wrote on his Telegram channel. Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported carrying out a massive overnight high-precision strike against facilities of the military-industrial complex in Kiev and the Kiev region. Specifically, the industrial enterprise Fire Point LLC in Kiev was struck. The enterprise produced components for strike drones and assembled and stored boosters used in Flamingo cruise missiles. The Russian Armed Forces also struck the Antonov State Enterprise, an aviation assembly plant where the An-196 Lyuty long-range fixed-wing drone was assembled, as well as an ammunition depot in Kiev where M-900 thermobaric aerial bombs and ammunition for Baba Yaga-type hexacopters were stored. Ukrainian military officials and politicians regularly speak about shortage of air defense missiles and ask Western countries to increase deliveries of such weapons. However, Russian security agencies previously told TASS that the Ukrainian military is facing serious shortages of missiles for their Patriot systems and may have a hidden stockpile of ammunition. TagsUkraine crisisUkraine crisisUkrainian women in EU must now prove compliance with military duties — ECThe measure was initially expected to apply only to men of conscription ageRead moreEx-deputy head of Zelensky’s office Mudraya detained — lawmakerIrina Mudraya is currently under an investigative procedure at the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of UkraineRead moreRussian forces strike logistics center in Kiev Region with Geran UAVs — top brassThe strike destroyed the targetRead moreRussia, China to oppose Japan’s attempts to obtain nuclear weapons — Chinese ambassadorZhang Hanhui also said that Moscow and Beijing think it necessary to "resolutely oppose Japan's accelerated remilitarization"Read morePress review: Ukraine conflict fuels EU ultra-right as Trump seeks Iran pressure via OmanTop stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, August 19thRead moreWeakening US 'nuclear umbrella' increases risk of nuclear proliferation — TVResearchers note that many US allies perceive Washington as increasingly distant and unreliable in providing nuclear deterrenceRead moreUkrainian attack kills one, wounds two civilians in Belgorod RegionThe regional emergency headquarters reported that a woman sustained shrapnel wounds to her shoulder, thigh, and knee joint, and was hospitalizedRead moreIsrael won't put up with Turkey's military presence in Syria — NetanyahuThe Israeli prime minister said that the prior warnings on the issue were not heard "clearly enough"Read moreRussia entitled to view UK as party to Ukrainian conflict — LavrovThe Russian foreign minister said he feels sorry for the UK if it stays with Ukraine until the very endRead moreRussia’s Battlegroup West downs 124 Ukrainian dronesSpokesman Ivan Bigma said that the battlegroup had also destroyed 98 Ukrainian hexacopters and five HIMARS projectilesRead moreNorth Korea’s Kim Yo Jong warns Japan of strike in response to possible threatKim Yo Jong stated that the DPRK is closely monitoring Japan’s attempts to build up its military capabilitiesRead moreRussia’s grain harvest to reach 100 mln metric tons in coming daysRussian Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut noted that the volume harvested this year is higher than last yearRead moreZelensky’s office unhappy with US appointment of its people to key positions in UkraineDeputy head of Vladimir Zelensky’s office Irina Mudraya expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of control over head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office Alexander KlimenkoRead moreNorth Korea launches approximately 10 missiles toward Sea of Japan — South Korean militaryThe Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that they "maintain vigilance for additional launches"Read moreDamage reported at Ufa oil refinery as Russia intercepts 453 Ukrainian drones overnightA medical university student from India was injured in the attackRead moreEuropean gas storage facilities could be depleted by April 2027 — HandelsblattIf the pace of purchases remains unchanged, storage facilities will be only 69% full by November 1, in which case they could be depleted by April, when Europe’s heating season ends, the newspaper said Read moreDovod delivery platform for FPV drones to have greater payload capacityCurrently, the platform is capable of carrying up to four FPV drones at a timeRead moreZelensky’s position threatened most since 2022 by Fyodorov’s comment — WSJAccording to the publication, Mikhail Fyodorov’s words are interpreted in Kiev "as the opening gambit in a potential run for the presidency"Read moreRussian Su-25 plane safely returns to airfield in Ukraine sortie after Stinger strikeThe aircraft is "quite survivable in combat conditions", a navigator of a Russian air squadron notedRead moreAuthorities expect fuel situation to improve as refineries return from maintenanceDeputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said the Russian government is monitoring the fuel market on a daily basis and working with companies to redirect fuel supplies to regions facing shortagesRead morePutin has no plans for now to meet with head of Vatican's diplomatic service — KremlinPaul Richard Gallagher's visit to Moscow will take place from August 25 to 28Read moreUkraine’s losses from port shutdowns exceed $2 blnVessel traffic data show that large foreign commercial ships are not entering Odessa, Chernomorsk and YuzhnyRead moreSome EU countries whipping up Russophobic hysteria to delegitimize elections — diplomatMaria Zakharova said it was not ruled out that such media campaigns might complicate the situation around the votingRead moreSome 250 drones were flying toward Moscow Region during nightMayor Sergey Sobyanin says most of them were destroyed at distant locationsRead moreTrump says North Korea has 57 'very powerful' nuclear weaponsDonald Trump added that he would not have allowed it, had he been president earlierRead moreFyodorov's statements undermine Zelensky's position — mediaThe former minister's address also deepened skepticism toward Kiev in Washington, the newspaper wroteRead moreUkrainian army facing serious shortages of Patriot missiles — Russian defense sourceThe source noted that the global shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles had intensified following their large-scale use in the Middle EastRead moreFACTBOX: Putin’s statements on positive economic growth, impact of Ukrainian attacksBoosting investment activity is the primary condition for economic growth in Russia, the head of state saidRead moreJapan has enough plutonium to make 5.500 nuclear warheads — Chinese ambassadorZhang Hanhui concluded that Japan's "transformation into a nuclear power no longer looks like a fantasy"Read moreIN BRIEF: What we know about Russia’s massive attack targeting defense-tech sites in KievRussian forces struck a Fire Point plant, a Kiev-based assembly site owned by the Antonov aircraft manufacturing factory and an arsenal with M-900 thermobaric bombs and munitions for Baba-Yaga dronesRead moreRussia to respond proportionately to Kiev’s terror attacks — diplomatMaria Zakharova pointed out that the Kiev regime demonstrated a complete inability to negotiateRead morePutin stresses need to strengthen Russia’s sovereigntyThe president highlighted that Russia was already implementing a plan for structural changes in the economyRead moreRussia’s ombudswoman sends 60 letters to UN over Kiev's war crimes against civiliansMost of them remain unansweredRead moreNABU charges former deputy head of Zelensky’s office — lawyerThe National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine also searched two locationsRead moreUS fighter jet flies over Baltic Sea near Russia’s Kaliningrad Region — sourceThe aircraft flew in from Reykjavík, passing through the airspace of Norway and Sweden along the way, and also flying over Poland Read moreDate for new Russia-US contacts on removing ‘irritants’ being agreed upon — diplomatMaria Zakharova added that Russia is ready to cooperate with the US partners "to move toward substantive discussions on the issues that are of priority for us"Read moreLiberation of Kudiyevka creates logistical difficulties for Ukrainian troops — officialThe Russian Defense Ministry reported that the Kudiyevka settlement was liberated on August 16Read moreRussia reminds Japanese ambassador that it paid huge price for Kurils — MFARussia summoned the Japanese ambassador following Tokyo’s protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the Kuril Island of IturupRead moreRussia’s key task is transition to sustainable economic development model — NovakAccording to the Russian deputy prime minister, this is precisely what the structural transformation plan is aimed atRead moreLarge-scale NATO air force activity recorded near Kaliningrad — Russian war correspondentYevgeny Poddubny reported that multiple reconnaissance aircraft operated simultaneously close to the Russian borderRead moreSlavyansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkovka turned into ‘ghost cities’ by Ukrainian army — expertAndrey Marochko said that Ukrainian militants are using abandoned civilian facilities for military purposesRead moreNew batch of Pantsir-S, Pantsir-SMD systems delivered to troops — RostecThe system has shown itself as one of the most effective means of countering air targetsRead moreNATO vows to defend US bases in Europe — ReutersEarlier, the anonymous sources claimed that Iran is allegedly prepared to launch strikes against US bases not only in the Middle EastRead moreKusturica slams blocking of his YouTube channel as 'war on truth'Official reason for the channel's removal was not specifiedRead moreUS establishes corridor in Strait of Hormuz for covertly transporting oil — news outletAccording to sources cited by Axios, between 15 and 20 tankers pass through the strait’s southern channel along the coast of Oman every day, exporting roughly half of the pre-war level of oil from the Middle EastRead moreJapan indulging in dangerous experiments in sphere of nuclear policy — Chinese diplomatZhang Hanhui noted that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi avoids clearly stating that her country will not import nuclear weaponsRead moreRussia has begun importing fuel to boost domestic supplies — NovakThe Russian government earlier decided to extend the import damper mechanism to diesel fuel, a move intended to provide additional economic incentives for supplying imported diesel to the domestic market if necessaryRead moreRussian forces hit Ukraine’s military warehouses in Chernomorsk, Yuzhny ports — top brassTargets were hit on the evening of August 19Read moreUS economic pressure threatens entire global financial system — Iran’s MFAAccording to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the so-called economic ‘D-Day’ is a diversion from America’s own crisisRead moreRussia has no plans at present to sever agreements with NATO, EU, WTO or IMF — politicianGarry Minkh explained Russian ministries’ position, saying that the aforementioned documents, including the Russia-EU agreement, "have not exhausted 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carry the same weight on the ground as consensus resolutionsRead moreCollective Security Treaty Organization, CIS border troops drill interaction in crisesAccording to the CSTO, the main objective of the joint command-staff exercise was to improve coordination between border guard and other agencies of the CIS member statesRead moreChina, Russia insist that results of WW II regarding Japan are indisputableZhang Hanhui says Beijing and Moscow think it essential "to resolutely oppose any erroneous actions or statements aimed at rewriting the history of Japanese colonial aggression"Read moreFuel imports to Russia: statements by Novak and overview of market situationRussian authorities expect a number of oil refineries to complete maintenance work soon, leading to a significant improvement in the fuel market situationRead moreRussian aircraft to begin firefighting in Serbia on August 20 — group headAircraft Commander Andrey Vilkov says the city of Nis "is welcoming us with open arms and wonderful people"Read moreChina calls on Japan not to play with fire on nuclear weapons matters — ambassadorZhang Hanhui said that a nuclear arms race in the region could erupt at any moment if Tokyo decides to develop nuclear weaponsRead moreRussian forces deliver strike on Antonov plant assembling Lyuty UAVs in Kiev — top brassThe enterprise also developed and manufactured various types of manned aircraftRead moreWest intends to monitor war financing in Ukraine with help of Khmara, expert saysAccording to Vitaly Kiselyov, at present the West is monitoring every personnel appointment in Ukraine, including those in the cabinetRead moreRussia’s trade infrastructure resilient despite terrorist attacks — PutinThe Russian president admitted that operations are running under intense pressureRead moreUS remains main threat to North Korea’s security — Kim Jong Un’s sisterKim Yo Jong also noted that Pyongyang attaches no significance to the reduction in joint military exercises with South Korea announced by US President Donald TrumpRead moreRussia is China’s most reliable supplier of energy sources — Russian senatorAndrey Denisov says oil supplies from Russia to China grew by 92% in the first seven months amid the crisis around the Strait of HormuzRead moreThe Economist reports panic in Ukraine over shortage of Patriot missilesAs winter approaches, Ukraine has requested at least 300 interceptor missiles for Patriot systemsRead moreCivilians injured, 726 UAVs downed: aftermath of attacks on Russian regionsAccording to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Ukrainian drones were intercepted over 19 Russian regionsRead moreJapan begins converting ships into aircraft carriers — Chinese ambassador to RussiaFor the first time, the country has re-exported Patriot missiles and begun exporting military frigates, Zhang Hanhui notedRead moreReadiness to ask no questions led Khmara to defense minister’s seat — DPR politicianAlexey Muratov added that a similar principle was used in the case of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga, whose main task is "to sell Kiev to Western sponsors, begging for money and weapons in exchange for guarantees Kiev cannot fulfill"Read moreTrump leaves open possibility of further sanctions on IranThe US president said "very draconian sanctions" were being consideredRead moreTrump says blockade of Hormuz Strait was successful, now it is open"No boats have gotten into Iran" since the blockade started, the US president saidRead moreRussian Emergencies Ministry aircraft arrives in Serbia to help fight major wildfiresThe aircraft landed at Nis airport Read more20 Brazilian mercenaries eliminated in special military operation zoneAn official in Russian law enforcement structures said that after being recruited via social networks, they came to Colombia and signed contracts with the Ukrainian armyRead moreTehran virtually halts oil exports to foreign markets — central bank governorAbdolnaser Hemmati says that the country has foreign exchange reservesRead moreUkraine plans to legalize disposal of missing soldiers' bodies as surgical waste — sourceAccording to the Russian security source, the measure is being considered in part because Ukrainian morgues are overcrowded with unidentified remainsRead moreRussian troops clear 400 buildings of Ukrainian forces in liberating VodyanskoyeAccording to the Russian Defense Ministry, the settlement was liberated on August 19Read moreTrump says he is only US president to establish contact with KimThe US president added that Japan, South Korea, and other nations are "a lot safer if I'm president than somebody else is president"Read moreKiev building up forces to fight for Dobropolye in Donetsk region — Russian combatantAccording to the serviceman, the Russian troops are operating in a coordinated manner, eliminating enemy forces attempting to redeploy to better positionsRead moreNovak, Siluanov comment on Russia’s GDP growth, additional support for regionsTASS has compiled the key statements on the economic situation in RussiaRead moreRussian troops liberate Vodyanskoye community in Donetsk region over past day — top brassRussia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted roughly 380 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed six enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reportedRead moreRussian forces hit Fire Point facility manufacturing attack drone components in KievThe enterprise also assembled and stored boosters used in Flamingo cruise missilesRead moreNetanyahu weighs confrontation with Trump — mediaAccording to the sources, Donald Trump has shifted to issuing ultimatums in his talks with Benjamin Netanyahu that give little consideration to Israel’s interestsRead moreUN deputy chief declines to assess Ukraine coordinator’s remarksTom Fletcher's statement followed a question about whether he considered Matthias Schmale’s actions to be a violation of Article 100 of the UN Charter, which requires UN staff to be impartial and independentRead moreRussian Emergencies Ministry sends aircraft to Serbia at its request to fight wildfiresThe Russian Il-76 aircraft is equipped with specialized firefighting equipment, including water-dropping systems for combating large blazesRead moreTrump says pipelines can reduce Hormuz Strait's importanceRecord numbers of pipelines are being built, the US president addedRead moreStrike on Abu-Duhur could provoke military clash between Israel, Turkey, Syria — US envoyAccording to Tom Barrack, the lack of clear channels of communication between the states could have made the situation "much more serious"Read moreUkraine’s Zelensky should resign before he is forced into it — German dailyThe author of the German-based Berliner Zeitung article believes that instability and weakening of negotiating positions are not the main threat to the countryRead moreTrump announced unprecedented economic war against IranThe US president said that Tehran 'failed' to seize the opportunity to make a dealRead moreCuba wants to become BRICS’ full-fledged member — embassyAccording to the embassy, this step is a top priority for the country amid the unprecedented escalation of the US economic war against itRead moreNo proposals on new contacts with US negotiators so far — Russian diplomatMaria Zakharova said that Moscow is "ready to hear Washington’s constructive initiatives" on the settlementRead moreKhmara appointed defense minister by decision of Zelensky’s Western patrons — expertSergey Yurchenko added that the situation at the front and on the international stage will not change after this appointment, since it is too late for Ukraine to make any changesRead moreFrench politician calls Fyodorov's speech disaster for ZelenskyFlorian Philippot advised that the former Ukrainian defense minister watch his safetyRead moreRada may change location for safety reasons — agencyThe Rada building is located in the center of KievRead moreRussia exploring railway routes to Indian Ocean — Deputy Prime MinisterSpecifically, the so-called eastern bypass of the Caspian Sea is being ramped upRead moreIran has enough currency to buy goods, medicine in coming months — Central BankAbdolnasser Hemmati says Iran is using "alternative solutions to ensure a sustainable supply of resources"Read moreWith Khmara as defense minister Ukraine to continue sabotage against Russia — MPAlexander Boroday noted that Khmara essentially remains an "SBU special forces operative", which is why he will use the same methods in his new position that he used previouslyRead moreCyprus taking precautions against potential threats — news agencyThe source said that four Greek Air Force F-16 fighter jets, as well as the Nikiforos Fokas frigate, are currently stationed in CyprusRead moreJapan seeks to integrate into NATO, Chinese ambassador to Russia saysAccording to Zhang Hanhui, the official Tokyo's steps are steadily eroding the peaceful nature of the Japanese ConstitutionRead moreRussia not going to terminate agreements with NATO, EU, WTO, IMF — envoyGarry Minkh says these documents can still be used as instruments for dialogue with the WestRead moreDialogue with US to be fruitless, unless Iran combat ready — Majlis speakerMohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said "it is Washington and the war it unleashed that are causing instability in the region and disrupting normal trade routes"Read more
EU doesn't need Ukrainians, sees them as resource for conflict with Russia — senator
• What happened: Russian senator Igor Kastyukevich stated that the EU views Ukrainian refugees as a resource for its conflict with Russia, suggesting that their...