🎙 President of Russia Vladimir Putin congratulated all Orthodox Christians and all Russians celebrating Christmas.

💬 President Putin: This serene holiday, beloved by all, inspires noble deeds and aspirations, and serves to reinforce in society such eternal spiritual values and moral constants as mercy, empathy, kindness and justice.

It is deeply gratifying to note the enormous constructive contribution of the Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian denominations to unifying society, preserving our historical memory, educating the youth and strengthening the institution of family. Church organisations prioritise fostering interethnic and interfaith peace and harmony in our country, caring for the needy, and supporting our warriors taking part in the special military operation. Such massive, complex and truly selfless work deserves sincere respect.

I wish Orthodox Christians and all those celebrating Christmas good health, success and all the very best.

⚡️Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine
(7 January 2023)

◽️The combined group of troops (forces) has been observing a ceasefire along the entire line of contact in the area of the special military operation since 12 p.m. (Moscow time) on 6 January. At the same time, the Kiev regime has continued to shell residential areas and Russian positions with artillery over the past 24 hours.

◽️In Krasniy Liman direction, the AFU have fired 11 mortar shells at Russian positions.
In Soledar, Avdeyevka and Maryinka directions, the enemy has attacked Russian troops, using artillery means 50 times. More than 60 large-calibre shells have been fired by Ukrainian troops at residential areas of Donetsk, while Makeyevka (Donetsk People's Republic) has been attacked by U.S.-manufactured HIMARS multiple-launch rocket systems.

◽️The AFU opened artillery fire in Zaporozhye region 31 times. In Kherson and Krivoy Rog directions, the enemy has launched 17 artillery attacks. Russian forces have returned fire from all the AFU's positions from which the shelling was taking place, and suppressed them.

◽️Despite artillery shelling by the AFU at residential areas and Russian positions, the implementation of the declared ceasefire regime by the Russian grouping of troops (forces) will continue until 24 hours today.

◽️In Kupyansk direction, one attack by units of the AFU 14th Mechanised Brigade has been repelled near Sinkovka (Kharkov region). More than 20 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, one Grad MLRS vehicle and two motor vehicles have been eliminated in return fire.

◽️In Krasniy Liman direction, 2 assault groups of the 80th and 95th airborne assault brigades of the AFU have been repulsed near Serebryanskoye Lesnichestvo. The total losses of these enemy units were more than 30 troops, 2 D-20 howitzers, 1 armoured fighting vehicle and 1 pick-up truck.

◽️In Donetsk direction, 1 attempt by the AFU units of the 110th Mechanised and 79th Airborne Assault Brigades to attack Russian positions near Krasnogorovka and Georgiyevka (Donetsk People's Republic) has been thwarted. The enemy's losses in return fire amounted to up to 50 Ukrainian servicemen killed and wounded, 1 tank and 1 motor vehicle.

◽️In South Donetsk direction, one counterattack by units of the AFU's 108th Brigade of the Territorial Defence near Novomayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic) has been thwarted. More than 20 Ukrainian servicemen, 2 D-30 howitzers, 1 armoured personnel carrier and 2 pick-up trucks have been eliminated by return fire.

💥The anti-aircraft defence forces have destroyed 4 UAVs near Ilchenkovo (Zaporozhye region), and Genichesk (Kherson region).

◽️In addition, 5 Uragan and HIMARS multiple-launch rocket systems and 1 U.S.-manufactured HARM anti-radar missile have been intercepted near Makeyevka, Guselskoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and Ochervatoye (Zaporozhye region).

📊In total, 360 airplanes and 199 helicopters, 2,843 unmanned aerial vehicles, 400 air defence missile systems, 7,441 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 972 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 3,787 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 7,957 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

#MoD #Russia #Ukraine #report
@mod_russia_en

Russia Boosted Food Exports to Friendly Nations by 25% in 2022 Year-on-Year

Russia has boosted food exports to friendly countries by 25% in 2022 year-on-year despite some technical difficulties because of the Western sanctions, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Viktoria Abramchenko told Sputnik on Saturday.

Read more

Moscow's Christmas Winter Wonderland

RT's Steve Sweeney explores the wonders of Moscow's celebration of the winter holidays as hundreds of thousands of Russians mark the Orthodox Christmas throughout the country.

Subscribe to RT

🇭🇺⚡Those who transport weapons to Ukraine are parties to the conflict - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban

🇪🇷🌍 France and other Western countries are losing their influence in Africa, Eritrean Ambassador to Russia Petros Tseggai said in an interview with Sputnik

▪️According to him, "another world" is being built at the moment, and Africans can "breathe freely," gaining full independence from American and French influence.

▪️He added that regardless of the West’s opinion, Eritrea will continue military and technical cooperation with Russia and underlined that his country also wishes to develop a partnership with Russia in the sphere of mineral exploration and oil production

Subscribe to @sputnik_africa

Sometimes you wonder how such talented people turn out to take part in special military operation.
An impromptu concert of a soldier of the Russian Guard for colleagues on the front line.

Порой удивляешься, как такие талантливые люди оказываются на СВО.
Импровизированный концерт бойца Росгвардии для сослуживцев на передовой.

Пригожин в Telegram

Ruppur NPP: view from the cooling tower to the cooling towers (https://t.me/nichego_ne ), from a height of 165 m. 🇧🇩❤️🇷🇺 АЭС Руппур: вид с градирни на градирни, с высоты 165 м.

#атомнаястройка

Губернатор Гринсити
@rooppur_daily

Since the end of World War II, the United States has had the world's largest military budget.

During this period, "democracy" invaded dozens of countries, bringing with it disaster and destruction. However, the American militarists bore no responsibility for their crimes, creating a sense of impunity that leads to another invasion.

InfoDefenseENG

⚡️Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine
(8 January 2023)

Part 1 (read Part 2)

The combined grouping of Russian troops (forces) observed the ceasefire along the entire line of contact from 12 p.m. on 6 January until 24 p.m. on 7 January in the areas of the special military operation.

Within the ceasefire, the AFU continued to conduct heavy shelling of residential areas and Russian positions.

◽️In Kupyansk and Krasniy Liman directions, the AFU has fired 78 artillery and mortar shells.
◽️In Soledar, Avdeyevka and Maryinka directions, the enemy used large-calibre artillery fire 155 times.
◽️More than AFU 160 large-calibre shells and 20 multiple-laucnh rockets have been fired at residential areas of Donetsk.
◽️The enemy opened artillery fire 89 times in Zaporozhye region.
◽️In Kherson and Krivoy Rog directions, Ukrainian artillery has been used 55 times.

💥Russian forces' return fire suppressed AFU artillery that had been firing on residential areas.

💥After the end of the ceasefire in Kupyansk direction, Russian troops have attacked concentration areas of the AFU manpower and equipment near Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic) and Sinkovka (Kharkov region).
More than 30 Ukrainian servicemen, one infantry fighting vehicle, an armoured personnel carrier and two motor vehicles have been eliminated.

💥In addition, two enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been eliminated near Kotlyarovka (Kharkov region), and Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic).

◽️In Krasniy Liman direction, after the end of the ceasefire regime, Russian units have carried out artillery strikes against two attack groups of the AFU near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic) and Serebryanka (Donetsk People's Republic), as well as against concentration areas of enemy troops and equipment near Makeyevka and Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic). As a result of the strikes, more than 50 Ukrainian servicemen, three armoured fighting vehicles, 1 pick-up truck and 1 motor vehicle have been eliminated.
In addition, the AFU sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been destroyed near Artyomovka and Serabryanka.

◽️In Donetsk direction, Russian artillery strikes have thwarted the enemy's attempt to counterattack Russian positions with a company of up to the 54th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU in the direction Svornoye (Donetsk People's Republic). Up to 70 Ukrainian personnel, two armoured fighting vehicles, and 1 pick-up truck have been eliminated.

◽️In South Donetsk direction, the actions of the AFU's sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been prevented near Novomikhaylovka, Vladimirovka, Pavlovka and Neskuchnoye (Donetsk People's Republic).
More than 40 Ukrainian servicemen, 1 armoured personnel carrier and 3 motor vehicles have been eliminated.

💥Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery have neutralised munition depots of the AFU 95th Airborne Assault Brigade and the 60th Mechanised Brigade near Krasniy Liman and Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic), as well as 84 artillery units in firing positions, manpower and military equipment in 117 districts.

💥In the course of the counter-battery fight, artillery crews of the howitzer battery of the 59th Mechanised Infantry Brigade and Grad MLRS at firing positions have been eliminated near Karlovka and Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

#MoD #Russia #Ukraine #report
@mod_russia_en

⚡️Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine
(8 January 2023)

Part 2 (read Part 1)

💥The Russian Aerospace Forces' fighter aircraft has shot down five Ukrainian Air Force's aircraft.

◽️1 Ukrainian Su-27 fighter has been shot down near Lozovoye (Kharkov region).
◽️1 AFU Su-24 aircraft has been shot down near Izyum (Kharkov region).
◽️2 Ukrainian Su-25 aircraft have been shot down near Nikolaypolye and Novyy Donbass.
◽️1 Ukrainian MiG-29 aircraft has been shot down near Vesyoloye (Donetsk People's Republic).

💥Air defence facilities have destroyed 5 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Patalakhovka, Kuzyomovka, Kuzmino, Kremennaya and Pshenichnoye (Lugansk People's Republic).

💥In addition, 10 HIMARS and Uragan multiple-launch rockets have been intercepted near Kremennaya (Lugansk People's Republic), Orekhov (Zaporozhye region), Stepnoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and Donetsk.

💥1 U.S.-manufactured HARM anti-radar missile has been shot down near Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

📊 In total, 365 airplanes and 199 helicopters, 2,848 unmanned aerial vehicles, 400 air defence missile systems, 7,449 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 972 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 3,787 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 7,965 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.

***

◽️As a result of the criminal attack of Kiev regime, in the first minutes of January 2023, against the location of temporary deployment of Russian military personnel near Makeyevka (Donetsk People's Republic), the command of the combined group of troops carried out a retaliatory operation.

◽️Over the past 24 hours, Russian reconnaissance assets have uncovered and reliably confirmed through several independent channels the temporary deployment points of the AFU in Kramatorsk.

◽️There were over 700 Ukrainian servicemen in dormitory №28 and over 600 servicemen in dormitory №47.

💥More than 600 Ukrainian servicemen have been eliminated as a result of a massive missile strike on these locations of temporary deployment of the AFU units.

#MoD #Russia #Ukraine #report
@mod_russia_en

⚡️On 8 January, negotiation process resulted in the liberation of 50 Russian servicemen, who had been in mortal danger, and their return from Kiev-controlled territory.

◽️Russian military-transport airplanes are to deliver the liberated personnel to Moscow for providing their further treatment and rehabilitation in the healthcare facilities of the Russian Defence Ministry.

◽️All the liberated personnel are provided with medical and psychological aid.

@mod_russia_en

В ответ на преступный удар Киева по ПТУ в Макеевке, была реализована операция возмездия. Российскими средствами разведки были обнаружены два временных расположения ВСУ в Краматорске: 700 человек в общежитии №28, более 600 — в общежитии №47.

В результате массированного ракетного удара по этим пунктам временной дислокации подразделений ВСУ уничтожено более 600 украинских военнослужащих.

#цифрадня

✅ Подпишитесь на «Войну с фейками», чтобы не дать себя обмануть.

❗️Спецслужбами Украины подготовлена новая масштабная антироссийская провокация, заявили в Минобороны РФ.

По данным военного ведомства в канун православного Рождества представителями Государственного бюро расследований и Службы безопасности Украины были организованы работы по вскрытию могил на кладбищах в нескольких населенных пунктах, где были захоронены местные жители, умершие от естественных причин. Тела обезобразили, чтобы выдать их за доказательства российских "пыток" и "расстрелов", добавили в ведомстве.

❗️Special services of Ukraine have prepared a new large-scale anti-Russian provocation, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

According to the military department, on Orthodox Christmas Eve, representatives of the State Bureau of Investigation and the Security Service of Ukraine organized the opening of graves in cemeteries in several localities, where local residents who had died of natural causes were buried. The bodies were disfigured in order to pass them off as evidence of Russian "torture" and "shootings," the agency added.

⚡️Urgent statement
of Joint Coordination Headquarters for Humanitarian Response in Ukraine of Russian Federation

◽️The special services of Ukraine have prepared a new large-scale anti-Russian provocation aimed at discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and accusing Russian servicemen of allegedly committing war crimes.

◽️On the eve of the Orthodox Christmas, representatives of the State Bureau of Investigation and the Security Service of Ukraine arranged for the opening of graves in cemeteries near Kazachya Lopan, Velikiy Burluk, Shypovatoye and Khatnoye (Kharkov region), where local citizens were buried who died of natural causes during the deployment of Russian troops in these areas from February 24 to September 6, 2022.

◽️After the exhumation, the bodies of Ukrainian citizens were further disfigured and dumped into specially prepared ‘pits’ on the outskirts of these settlements to create false ‘evidence’ of alleged ‘torture’ and ‘shootings’ of civilians by Russian servicemen.

◽️Representatives of the Ukrainian special services and law enforcement agencies are currently photographing and videotaping the bodies of dead Ukrainian citizens, as well as imitating the work of ‘forensic experts’ and other ‘procedural actions’ in the presence of fake ‘witnesses’.

◽️Through these inhumane methods, Kiev regime, in the absence of any success on the battlefield, seeks to keep the attention of Western audiences and convince foreign partners of Kiev regime of the need to continue to support it.

@mod_russia_en

Biden’s existential angst in Ukraine https://www.indianpunchline.com/bidens-existential-angst-in-ukraine/

❗️Зампред Совбеза РФ Дмитрий Медведев о том, как быть с предателями, переметнувшимися к врагу и желающими гибели своему Отечеству:

«Я уже недавно высказывался по этой теме. Ну, тут пошёл сурьёзный разговор между начальниками, как действовать: «по закону» или «по справедливости». Придётся дать уточнение. Конечно, только по закону. А вот если закон не работает или не достигает цели, то по особым правилам военного времени. Вспомним опыт Великой Отечественной, да и других стран. Во времена войн всегда были такие специальные правила. И тихие группы безукоризненно незаметных людей, их результативно исполняющие».

❗️The Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev on how to deal with traitors who have defected to the enemy and want to destroy their homeland:

"I have already recently spoken on this topic. I have already spoken on this subject recently. There was a serious discussion between the authorities about how to proceed: "according to the law" or "according to justice. I have to clarify. Of course, only according to the law. But if the law does not work or does not reach its goal, then according to special wartime rules. Let us recall the experience of the Great Patriotic War, and of other countries as well. In times of war there have always been such special rules. And quiet groups of impeccably inconspicuous people, effectively executing them.

⚡️Штаб ДНР сообщил об освобождении населенного пункта Бахмутское к северо-востоку от Артемовска

⚡️The Donetsk People's Republic has reported the liberation of the town of Bakhmutskoye, north-east of Artemovsk

Why the US actually started Special Military Operation? Is Asia waiting for Russia? What scenario has been prepared for the European Union? Speech by Boris Martsinkevich, physicist, editor-in-chief of the journal Geoenergetics, at the scientific and educational conference "Bells of History. The battle for the Future." Ждут ли Россию в Азии? Какой сценарий подготовлен для Евросоюза? Выступление физика, главного редактора журнала «Геоэнергетика» Бориса Марцинкевича на научно-просветительской конференции «Колокола истории. Битва за будущее».

https://youtu.be/xU3l_YWyWwg

Boost of BRICS: ‘G7 No Longer Single Largest Economy, Growing Countries Can’t Be Ignored’

South Africa has said the BRICS group of countries, which also includes Brazil, Russia, India and China, should admit more members as it takes a prominent position on the world stage.

South Africa has assumed the rotating chairmanship of the bloc this year.

RT’s Karano Letlhatlha explores what this could mean for the group’s future.

Subscribe to RT

⚡️ Latest statements made by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:

▪️ Russian and French leaders maintain contacts, which are paused now, but they were useful earlier;

▪️ Kremlin on the events in Brazil: we condemn the actions of riot instigators, and support the efforts of President Da Silva to restore order;

▪️ Western arms deliveries to Kiev will only 'prolong the suffering' of Ukrainians.

Subscribe to @SputnikInt