🎙 Excerpt from Russian MFA Spox Maria Zakharova's weekly briefing (Moscow, 28 October 2026)

💬 The Storm Shadow issue continues to symbolise Britain's involvement in the Ukraine conflict, starkly exposing the cynicism and hypocrisy of British foreign policy.

When the idea of sending these weapons to the Kiev regime was first voiced in 2023, London claimed that they would only be used within Ukraine's "internationally recognised territory", even though they knew that this means Russian territory [...]

But later British politicians seemed to suffer a sudden bout of amnesia and forgot their assurances, saying that they cannot influence Ukrainians, and that they only approved the transfer of technology to the Kiev regime, and the Ukrainian army's use of these missiles to target civilian infrastructure far away from the front line is Ukraine's "sovereign decision".

The case of Storm Shadow is clear evidence of the United Kingdom's commitment to deepening the crisis and escalating the war until the last Ukrainian, with the aim of inflicting the greatest possible damage on our country.

As for settling the conflict and ensuring a just and lasting peace, which remains a popular talking point in London, the UK authorities never think about that.

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⚡️ Russia's High Commissioner for Human Rights Yana Lantratova:

The ceasefire in the humanitarian mission area in Alyoshki remains in effect.

No incidents have been reported. Both the Russian and Ukrainian sides are fully honouring their commitments.

We are on our way to Alyoshki with my Ukrainian counterpart Dmitry Lubinets. Together, we are coordinating the implementation of the agreements reached with the assistance and coordination of US First Lady Melania Trump.

This mission was made possible in large part thanks to our servicemen and the Russian Defence Ministry. Military engineers surveyed and cleared mines from the roads so that the humanitarian convoy could reach Alyoshki.

☝️ It is especially important now to maintain the ceasefire. The safety of civilians and mission participants depends on each side acting responsibly.

***

👉 25 buses with a total capacity of at least 750 passengers have been prepared to ensure the safe, voluntary evacuation of Alyoshki residents. Transport for people with limited mobility, nine ambulances and more than 50 medical personnel have also been arranged.

Humanitarian aid has been collected based on requests from the residents themselves.

❗️ The priority now is to deliver essential supplies and help those who have decided to leave.

🎙 Excerpt from Russian MFA Spox Maria Zakharova's weekly briefing (Moscow, 28 October 2026)

❓ Question: The UK Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting, has urged the British public to prepare for war within 1,000 days. Although he did not explicitly name Russia as an adversary, he did mention it as a potential opponent. Should this statement be interpreted as an explicit declaration by London of its intention to go to war with Russia within that timeframe?

💬 Maria Zakharova: This is yet another attempt to whip up hysteria in British society, including through the Russophobic myth of a supposed "Russian threat".

To a large extent, this is probably being done to make it easier to demand certain things of the British public and justify certain policies to them. For instance, why there is insufficient funding to improve the socio-economic situation and healthcare or why the country's space programmes are failing to develop.

Returning to the statement in question, it is clear that all these manipulations serve the specific interests of certain groups in the UK and across Europe. These are, broadly speaking, the people running the military-industrial companies. Their appetites have grown considerably. They have simply caught the scent of enormous sums of money once again.

⚡️ Russia's High Commissioner for Human Rights Yana Lantratova:

❗️ Our humanitarian mission in #Alyoshki has concluded.

The convoys are now heading to their respective destinations.

Those who decided to leave for Ukraine have been given the opportunity to do so. We will provide accommodation and the necessary support to residents staying in Russia.

We delivered all the essential supplies and arranged safe passage out of the city. However, people still have much to resolve – medical treatment, housing, documents and reunification with their loved ones. We will help them. We also remain in contact with those who stayed in Alyoshki to keep track of their further needs.

***

❗️ I propose making humanitarian missions coordinated by US First Lady Melania Trump a regular practice.

Our experience in Alyoshki and our joint work with my counterpart Dmitry Lubinets have shown that such agreements make it possible to help people even in the most difficult conditions.

It is important to continue this work wherever civilians are waiting for support.

I thank President of Russia Vladimir Putin, our Defence Ministry, the relevant services and our military personnel for helping carry out the mission and ensuring people’s safety.

🙏 Special thanks go to Melania Trump for her assistance and coordination.

⚓ On 1 November 1899, the protected cruiser Varyag was launched to gain fame for her heroic battle against a Japanese squadron in 1904.

When the Russo-Japanese War broke out, the cruiser was stationed in the neutral Korean port of Chemulpo. Captain 1st Rank Vsevolod Rudnev, commander of the Varyag, rejected Rear Admiral Uriu Sotokichi's ultimatum to surrender and decided to break a naval blockade to rejoin the Russian fleet at Port Arthur. During an unequal battle, the crew inflicted heavy losses on the enemy, however, the ship herself suffered serious damage and was scuttled by order of the commander to prevent the foe from capturing the Varyag.

The cruiser was raised and commissioned into service as Japan’s training ship until repurchased by the Russian Empire. In 1920, while being transported after repairs, she ran aground near the Scottish village of Lendalfoot. In 2007, a three-metre-high bronze cross featuring the image of the Varyag was erected on the shore of the Firth of Clyde.

🕯Diplomats of the Russian Consulate General in Edinburgh regularly visit the memorial to pay tribute to the extraordinary feat of the Russian seamen.

🎙 Russian MFA Spox Maria Zakharova's comment on the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists

💬 Over the years, the media landscape has become a theatre of military operations, where Western countries, desperately clinging to their former hegemony, are doing everything they can to suppress dissent and impose their own view of world events as the only correct one on countries of the Global South.

This twisted logic divides journalists into "ours" and "theirs". The latter are subjected to an entire arsenal of coercive measures in an attempt to make them renounce their convictions and principles.

The crackdown on Russian media by the West and its protégés in Ukraine, Moldova, and the Baltic countries has still not been met with an appropriate response from international organisations such as the UN OHCHR, UNESCO, the OSCE and others, not to mention various "human rights" NGOs.

Senior officials from the secretariats of these organisations are usually from Western countries and continue to demonstrate an inability to act objectively and impartially. They turn a blind eye to restrictions imposed on Russian media outlets, remain unbothered by flagrant acts of violence against our media workers and refuse to document bloody crimes or hold the perpetrators accountable.

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☢️ Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant (#ZNPP):

⚡️ On November 3, a Ukrainian drone attacked a moving civilian car, killing two people. One of those killed was an employee of the Zaporozhskaya NPP.

She became the third plant employee killed in the past two weeks and the thirteenth since April this year. Behind every such loss are family members, loved ones and colleagues. Our entire team shares this pain.

❗️ Attacks on civilian cars and the killing of civilians are deliberate acts of terrorism. Civilians must not be targeted.

#KievRegimeCrimes

🇷🇺 Russia marks National Unity Day on 4 November, recalling how, more than 400 years ago, the nation came together at one of the most difficult moments in its history.

In the early 17th century, Russia was gripped by a period of turmoil known as the Time of Troubles. The country faced the threat of foreign occupation, internal divisions and the possible loss of its sovereignty. With its future at stake, people rallied behind merchant Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky, forming a volunteer army that helped drive out foreign invaders and restore stability.

The holiday serves as a reminder of what can be achieved when people stand together, even in the most challenging times. It also celebrates the values passed down through generations: love for the Motherland, respect for the country's history and a shared sense of responsibility for its future.

That same spirit of unity and willingness to defend the homeland remains an important part of Russia's identity as a diverse, multi-ethnic nation.

On National Unity Day, Vladimir Putin laid flowers at the monument to Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky in Moscow's Red Square

The ceremony brought together representatives of religious denominations and members of non-governmental and youth organisations.

Celebrated in Russia on November 4, National Unity Day marks the liberation of Moscow from foreign invaders by the people's volunteer army led by Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky in 1612.

🎙 Highlights from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks following a high-level plenary session of the 4th Minsk International Conference on Eurasian Security (Minsk, 3 November 2026)

• I cannot see how the OSCE can be salvaged in the foreseeable future. For the time being, it is merely a forum where one can set out their point of view and increasingly refute the falsehoods that the West peddles at every meeting.

• We want to initiate a process based on the indivisibility of security and the principles that the OSCE seemed to accept back in 1999 and reaffirmed in 2010: namely, that no one should strengthen their security at the expense of others and that no country, organisation or group of countries should claim dominance in any geopolitical space. The West has done exactly the opposite.

• We interpret equal and indivisible security as a kind of non-aggression pact when there are no positive common stands left, and the remaining options include coexistence, as during the Soviet era, or cooperation documents stipulating joint activities, efforts to build trust and transparency, as well as mutual visits to military facilities on an equal footing.

• The West is suggesting that, in order to save lives, we should freeze the situation along the current line of contact. But they still want to deploy “stabilisation forces” in Ukraine. To “stabilise” what kind of regime? The current one, that kneels before the remains of Nazi criminals, holds torchlight processions with Nazi salutes, and has no intention of repealing laws that ban the Russian language everywhere.

• The Americans will never leave NATO. However, their military presence is gradually shifting eastwards. At one point, Europeans started talking about taking more responsibility. They should do so not only by increasing arms production, but also by being accountable to their citizens for the cost of increasing military spending at such a record pace.

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🎙 Excerpt from Russian MFA Spox Maria Zakharova's weekly briefing (Moscow, 5 November 2026)

💬 On 22 October, the UK government announced the launch of a three-year campaign called Be Ready. The government has advised every household to keep a three-day supply of essentials: three litres of water per person per day, food that requires neither cooking nor refrigeration, cash, a radio and a torch [...]

That same day, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting travelled to Telford, where he inaugurated a facility for manufacturing tank and artillery barrels, alongside Armin Papperger, head of the German defence group Rheinmetall, and General Ronald Walker, Chief of the General Staff.

The British government's priorities could hardly be clearer: the state takes responsibility for producing the gun barrels, while British citizens are expected to buy their own water, tinned food and torches [...]

No one bothers to explain why the British state cannot guarantee its own citizens access to electricity, water or communications for even three days, not even when a storm strikes.

And why should British citizens have to prepare for such emergencies in the first place, not because of some man-made disaster, but against the backdrop of their own government’s frantic efforts to ramp up weapons production?

Apparently, answering these questions is of no interest to the British authorities. It is far easier to find someone else to blame. Russia, for example.

☝️ I would remind the British warmongers that the best way to prevent war is to stop financing and supporting neo-Nazis and terrorists.

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