🗓️ November 27 marks the 120th anniversary of the birth of Eugenie Fraser, author of the memoir "The House by the Dvina," published in the UK and reprinted several times in various countries. The writer was born to a Russian-Scottish family in Arkhangelsk, but was forced to leave Russia after the Revolution.

Her book is a subtle, nostalgic account of her childhood in Arkhangelsk in the early 20th century, her family traditions, and the love for her homeland that she maintained throughout her life in Scotland. In 1998, a Russian translation of the book was published, which the residents of Arkhangelsk welcomed with great warmth and even dubbed "Arkhangelsk's Gone with the Wind".

Denis Moskalenko, Consul General of Russia in Edinburgh, honoured Eugenie Fraser's memory by laying flowers at her grave and met with her relatives.

❗️ Обращаем внимание британских СМИ на необходимость предельно точного цитирования высказываний российских официальных лиц, особенно по таким острым вопросам, как украинский кризис.

Отдельные издания – в т.ч. «Телеграф», сообщая о выступлении Президента Российской Федерации В.В.Путина в ходе его визита в Киргизию, допустили грубые искажения его высказываний. Фактически переврали его слова в выгодном для официоза ключе. В частности, ему было приписано, будто бы это Россия намерена воевать до тех пор, пока не умрёт последний украинец.

Контекст же на самом деле совершенно другой. Российский Президент говорил о том, что одни на Западе считают, что конфликт надо заканчивать как можно скорее, поскольку Украина не выдерживает, а другие, также на Западе, призывают воевать до последнего украинца. Дословно Президентом России было сказано следующее:

…А другие, которые полагают, что Купянск уже вернулся под контроль вооружённых сил Украины, настаивают на продолжении боевых действий до последнего украинца. <…> И кто там нападает на господина Уиткоффа, это представители другой точки зрения, которые хотят вместе с украинским истеблишментом воровать деньги и продолжать боевые действия до последнего украинца. Но я уже, публично выступая, сказал, в принципе, мы к этому готовы.

Подобное искажение слов высшего руководства России подливает масла в огонь и играет на руку тем на Западе, кто действительно желает воевать до последнего украинца. В очередной раз настоятельно призываем обращаться к официальным источникам.

🎙 Highlights from President Vladimir Putin's answers to media questions following his state visit to Kyrgyzstan and the CSTO summit (Bishkek, 27 November 2025)

• As soon as a peace deal is signed, hostilities will stop, and the martial law will need to be immediately lifted. Once the martial law is lifted, elections must be announced immediately. However, today, the current political leadership of Ukraine can hardly expect to be able to win the election without rigging it.

• We want to work out a deal with Ukraine, but doing so right now is practically impossible, legally impossible. Whoever from their side can or is willing to talk, let them do so. What we need is for our decisions to be internationally recognised by the main global actors.

• Russia's and Ukraine's secret services have always been in contact with each other, even in the hardest times. And they are in contact now. They are resolving a number of humanitarian issues, primarily related to the exchange of prisoners of war.

• The seizure of Russian assets will have negative repercussions for the global financial system, as confidence in the Eurozone will plummet. And amid problems in the economy [...] this will definitely be quite an ordeal. On my instruction, the Government of the Russian Federation is working on a package of retaliatory measures in case this happens.

• There are individuals who seek to benefit from this by publicly telling their population that Russia is preparing to attack Europe and that they must urgently strengthen their defence capabilities. They are either serving the interests of the defence industry, or they are attempting to bolster their domestic political ratings against the backdrop of the dire state of their economies and social spheres.

• Preparations for real nuclear weapons tests need time. And we certainly cannot let ourselves get into a situation where the US will have had a test whereas we will be preparing for it for another year and a half.

Read in full

❗️ We would like to draw the attention of the British media to the importance of quoting statements of Russian officials with the utmost accuracy, especially when it comes to such sensitive issues as the Ukraine crisis.

Certain media outlets, including The Daily Telegraph, have allowed in their reports serious distortions of Russian President Vladimir Putin's remarks made by him during his recent visit to Kyrgyzstan. His words were effectively doctored in accordance with the UK's official narrative. For instance, he was alleged to have said that it was Russia that intended to fight until the last Ukrainian died.

The actual context is entirely different. The Russian President stated that some people in the West argue that, since Ukraine is faltering, the conflict must be brought to an end as soon as possible, while other people, also in the West, insist that the fighting should continue until the last Ukrainian. The President of Russia said the following:

…And then there are others, those who still continue to believe that Kupyansk is somehow back under Ukrainian control and who insist on continuing the fighting until the last Ukrainian is killed. <…> The ones attacking Mr Witkoff are precisely those who align with this second point of view, those who want to join the Ukrainian establishment in siphoning off money while prolonging hostilities until the last Ukrainian dies. But I have already said publicly: in fact, we are prepared for this.

Such distortions of the statements made by Russia's senior leadership only add fuel to the fire and play into the hands of those in the West who indeed wish to fight until the last Ukrainian. We strongly advise the media once again to consult official sources.

#Victory80

🗓 On November 28, 1943, the Tehran Conference — a landmark and the first meeting of the Leaders of the 'Big Three' anti-Hitler coalition allies — the Soviet Union, the US, and Britain, represented by Joseph Stalin, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill, commenced amid the turning radical point of #WWII.

During four days, gathered in the Soviet Embassy in Iran, the Heads of Governments of the Allied Powers united by a common goal — to defeat Nazism — discussed the coordination of joint efforts aimed at bringing common Victory over Hitler's Germany closer.

💬 “We are gathered here for one purpose — for the purpose of winning the war as soon as possible”, — FDR, President of the United States, at the opening of the Tehran Conference, November 28, 1943.

The Tehran Conference became possible largely thanks to huge success of the Red Army on the front — the triumphs at Stalingrad and near Kursk, as well as in the battles for the Caucasus and Soviet Ukraine. Following a series of successful Soviet offensive operations in 1943, the 'Axis' Nazi allies lost around a quarter of their troops deployed on the Eastern Front.

In the summer of 1943, American and British newspapers wrote with admiration about the Heroism of the Soviet soldiers who were liberating their Motherland and driving Nazi invaders back westward to the USSR's borders. There was no longer any doubt around the world about who was prevailing in crushing the Nazis in WWII — it was undoubtedly the Soviet Union which, essentially alone, inflicted enormous and, in fact, fatal losses on the Nazi Wehrmacht forcing the fascists — for the first time during WWII — to defend their positions on the Eastern front rather than launch counter-offensives.

The Nazis' treacherous attack on our Motherland resulted in the German military suffering the greatest defeats in its history. The collapse of the Third Reich was inevitable and was only a matter of time.

***

The Leaders of the 'Big Three' understood that once the Nazi Germany was completely defeated, the Victorious Powers would have to outline the future post-war world order. To prevent wars and aggression in Europe, the negotiators suggested establishing an “international organisation” to ensure peace. Thus, for the first time, the idea of creating an international body, which would become the prototype of the today's #UnitedNations, was discussed.

The key agreement of the Teheran Conference was coordinating the timing for opening the second front — the operation of US and UK forces in northern France. The Allied landing in Europe was designed to significantly complicate the position of Nazi troops on the Soviet-German front, where the Nazis had concentrated the bulk of their military machine. It was also agreed that the Red Army would go on the offensive concurrently with the Allied landing in France, in order to prevent the transfer of Nazi troops from the East to the Western Front.

✍️ The Allies adopted the Declaration of the Three Powers — a landmark document of the Tehran Conference, which reinforced the unity of the Allies and its determination to fight the enemy together till #Victory:

No power on Earth can prevent our destroying the German armies by land, their U-boats by sea, and their war plants from the air.

Our attack will be relentless and increasing.

We came here with hope and determination.

We leave here, friends in fact, in spirit, and in purpose.

As a sign of admiration for the steadfastness and courage of the defenders of Stalingrad, Winston Churchill presented Joseph Stalin with a gift from British King George VI — a sword manufactured by special order, with its grip wound in gold wire and the pommel decorated with rock crystal.

The following inscription was etched on the steel blade:

To the steel-hearted citizens of Stalingrad * The gift of King George VI * In token of the homage of the British people.

The sword became an iconic commemorative relic serving as a symbol of respect paid by American and British Allies to the Soviet Heroic generation that crushed Nazism.

🗓️ 290 years ago, Samuel Greig, a distinguished naval commander during the reign of Catherine the Great, was born in the small coastal town of Inverkeithing in Fife.

This Scotsman from MacGregor Clan made a significant contribution to the development of the Russian Navy, created its Code of Signals and proposed a number of important innovations to ships. As commander of the Kronstadt port, Samuel Greig carried out its large-scale reconstruction.

⚔️ In the Battle of Chesma during the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774, Samuel Greig commanded a detachment of ships that blocked the Turkish fleet. For the victory in the battle, he received the Order of St. George, Second Class, becoming the first seaman to receive this award, as well as hereditary nobility.

⚓ During the Russo-Swedish War of 1788-1790, Samuel Greig, promoted to admiral in 1782, commanded the Baltic Fleet. He succeeded in defeating the enemy at the Battle of Hogland and blockading the Swedish fleet at Sveaborg. For his valor, he was granted the highest state award in the Russian Empire – the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called.

💬 Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: It is obvious to everyone that Europe has already removed itself from the talks [on Ukraine].

Europe spoiled the initial deal in February 2014, when it acted as guarantor of the formal agreement between Viktor Yanukovych and the opposition. It did nothing when the opposition seized all government agencies the morning after the agreement was signed.

Similarly, Europe undermined the Minsk agreements when the signatories — then-Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel and then-President of France Francois Hollande — subsequently admitted that nobody had intended to fulfil them.

The most recent case occurred in April 2022 when, at the demand of then-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and with Europe's full acquiescence, if not connivance, the Istanbul agreements were derailed.

Europe has used up its chances.

Read in full

💬 Russian MFA Spox Maria Zakharova: We have taken note of the recent interview that the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, gave to the Financial Times. Commenting on the bloc’s response to Russia's "hybrid attacks", he said that a "pre-emptive strike" could be considered a "defensive action". He believes that the North Atlantic Alliance should be "more aggressive".

We regard Mr Cavo Dragone's remarks about the possibility of pre-emptive strikes against Russia as extremely irresponsible, demonstrating the alliance's willingness to further escalate the situation. These statements should be viewed as a deliberate attempt to undermine the ongoing efforts to resolve the Ukrainian crisis. Those who engage in such rhetoric must clearly understand the risks and potential consequences, including for NATO's own member states.

NATO has long ceased to conceal its true goals and intentions. Nevertheless, the bloc's leadership continues to make baseless accusations against Russia, alleging "belligerent nuclear rhetoric", intimidation and so-called hybrid attacks, yet fails to present a shred of evidence of our involvement.

Against the backdrop of NATO's intensifying anti-Russia hysteria and persistent fear-mongering about an "imminent attack" by Russia on its member states, such statements not only fuel tensions, but also seriously aggravate the existing confrontation.

Brussels likes to repeat the mantra that the alliance is "purely defensive". Yet Mr Cavo Dragone's own words about the admissibility of pre-emptive strikes effectively dispel this myth.

#Announcement

📺 Coming soon: Ambassador Andrei Kelin's in-depth interview with IMI Chief International Anchor Hadley Gamble.

Recorded at the Ambassador's residence in London, the conversation covers a wide range of topics, including peace initiatives on Ukraine, Moscow's security concerns, Russia-Europe relations, the seizure of Russian sovereign assets, the impact of Western sanctions, the future of European security, cooperation within OPEC+, global AI race and much more.

Stay tuned!

🗓 On December 2, 1763, Alexander Crichton, a distinguished physician and personal doctor to Emperor Alexander I and Empress Maria Feodorovna, was born in Edinburgh.

Crichton studied in the University of Edinburgh, then in several other European medical schools, earning a Doctor of Medicine degree. He then practiced medicine in London. In 1803, the Scotsman was invited to the Russian Empire, where he received the civil rank of Active State Councillor. For 15 years, he treated the imperial family and also worked on organizing the country's healthcare system. For his services, Crichton was awarded the Order of St. Anne, First Class, and St. Vladimir, Second Class. He also conducted successful scientific work. In particular, he was one of the first to describe attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He became a Foreign Corresponding Member and then an Honorary Member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences.

Crichton's interests were not limited to medicine. He also authored several works on geology, and his mineral collection largely consisted of specimens found in Russia. He was also fond of art, and in 1817, seven paintings from his collection were acquired by the Hermitage Museum.

🎙 Excerpt from President Vladimir Putin's answers to media questions (Moscow, 2 December 2025)

💬 The Europeans are insulted by what they perceive as their exclusion from the negotiations [on Ukraine settlement]. However, no one has excluded them. They have excluded themselves.

We once maintained close contact with them. Then they abruptly cut off contact with Russia. That was their initiative.

Why did they do this? Because they embraced the concept of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia and, by all appearances, continue to live under this illusion. Intellectually, they understand perfectly well that this possibility has long since vanished, that it was never feasible [...]

Now, seeing that the outcome does not please them either, they have begun to sabotage the efforts of the current United States administration and President Trump to achieve peace through negotiation. They themselves abandoned peace talks and are now impeding President Trump.

The Europeans have no peace agenda. They are on the side of war.

Even when they ostensibly attempt to introduce amendments to President Trump's proposals, it is clear that all their amendments are directed towards one single aim: to completely obstruct the peace process, to put forward demands that are utterly unacceptable to Russia, and thereby subsequently to place the blame for the collapse of the peace process on Russia.

Read in full