🎙 Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's answer to a media question about the situation around the Russian Consulate General in Gothenburg and the Swedish Consulate General in St Petersburg

❓ Question: Commenting on Russia's decision to close down the Russian Consulate General in Gothenburg while revoking Moscow's consent for the activity of the Swedish Consulate General in St Petersburg, Swedish FM Tobias Billström expressed his regret & described the Swedish consular mission as “a driving force in the bilateral people-to-people cooperation between Russia and Sweden.” Can you comment on this?

💬 On May 25, Swedish Ambassador to Russia Malena Mard was served with a note from the Russian Foreign Ministry stating that given Sweden’s confrontational course towards the Russia, the Russian side had decided to terminate the activity of the Russian Consulate General in Gothenburg with effect from September 1 of this year. At the same time, the Swedish side was informed Russia was revoking its consent for the activity of the Swedish Consulate General in St Petersburg from the same date.

❗️ The responsibility for this decision lies entirely on the Swedish party. It was Sweden’s initiative to terminate contacts with Russia, & disrupt all cooperation, even at the level of regions & city governments, including in science, education, culture, sports & economic cooperation.

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The work of our diplomatic missions in Sweden continues to be complicated. Provocations threatening the safety of Russian employees & demonstrations held with the tacit consent of the Swedish law enforcement have become the norm. Offences are regularly committed against the Consulate General, its staff & visitors, but none of them have been solved by the Swedish police.

☝️ Given Sweden's policy towards Russia, the Swedish consular mission in St Petersburg can hardly be described as a “driving force” of the ruined Russian-Swedish relations. Our decision was a direct consequence of the Swedish leaders’ hostile policy.

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Det har inte ens gått en månad sedan nordeuropeiska journalister frågades när de skulle börja betrakta fåglar eller fiskar som spioner. Media kallade då den här retoriska frågan för «ryska ilskan mot Sverige».

Och hör och häpna, «en rysk spionval som rymt från ett uppdrag» hittas utanför svenska kusten. Här är det ju så att en kommentar bara gör det värre.

⚡️ Президент России В.В.Путин прокомментировал налёт беспилотников на Москву и Московскую область

💬 В.В.Путин: Мы уже говорили о возможности нанесения ударов по штабам принятия решений, по центрам принятия решений. Разумеется, к этой категории относится и штаб военной разведки Украины, по которому был нанесён удар два-три дня назад.

В ответ, как известно, киевский режим выбрал другой путь – путь попыток запугивания России, запугивания граждан России и ударов по жилым зданиям. Это, конечно, явный признак террористической деятельности.

Они провоцируют нас на зеркальные действия. Посмотрим, что с этим делать.

Но граждане Украины, которые, конечно, сейчас слова не имеют, поскольку на Украине развязан тотальный террор против гражданского населения, всё-таки должны знать, к чему подталкивает нынешнее руководство этой страны, и просто понимать, что есть ещё другие угрозы, связанные, например, с попытками дезорганизовать работу на Запорожской атомной электростанции или использовать какие-то «грязные» устройства подобного рода, связанные с атомной промышленностью. Мы уже об этом говорили неоднократно: мы знаем, что у них на уме.

☝️ Понятно, что, что бы мы ни говорили, всегда будут искать виноватых именно в России, но это не так: не мы развязали эту войну, повторю, в 2014 году – киевский режим развязал войну в Донбассе – и не мы используем те средства, которые используют украинские воротилы.

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⚡️ МИД России решительно осуждает попытки террористических атак ВСУ, имевшие место рано утром 30 мая на территории Москвы и Московской области.

По информации Минобороны России, атаки были совершены с задействованием восьми БПЛА самолётного типа. Все они были поражены российскими средствами ПВО и РЭБ. Пять дронов были сбиты зенитно-ракетными пушечными комплексами «Панцирь-С», ещё три беспилотника были подавлены средствами радиоэлектронной борьбы, в результате чего они потеряли управление и отклонились от намеченных целей.

К сожалению, потерявшие управление дроны упали на многоэтажные жилые дома в районе совхоза «Московский», на Ленинском проспекте и Профсоюзной улице. По данным профильных служб, серьёзно пострадавших от их падения нет

Следственный комитет России возбудил по данному факту уголовное дело. Уверены, что все причастные к нему лица обязательно будут найдены и понесут суровое наказание.

❌ Эти атаки были спланированы и совершены неонацистским киевским режимом, для которого использование методов актов террора стало зловещей практикой. Его представители давно и открыто призывали нанести по Москве «удары возмездия». Подобные атаки, не имея никакого смысла с военной точки зрения, судя по всему, направлены исключительно против гражданского населения с целью посеять панику среди мирных жителей.

Поддержка Западом киевского режима подталкивает украинское руководство к всё более безрассудным преступным деяниям, включая акты терроризма, нарушение международного гуманитарного права и военные преступления.

Заверения официальных лиц стран НАТО в том, что киевский режим не будет наносить удары вглубь российской территории, оказываются абсолютно лицемерными.

❗️ Российская сторона оставляет за собой право принять самые жёсткие меры в ответ на террористические атаки киевского режима.

❗ Объявленное 29 мая Правительством Дании решение о выделении в 2023 году дополнительно 7,5 млрд датских крон и 10,4 млрд датских крон в 2024 году на закупки новых вооружений для Украины – это путь не к достижению мира, а к дальнейшей эскалации конфликта. Это инвестиция не в обеспечение безопасности, а, напротив, – в рост конфликтного потенциала в Европе и усиление противостояния России и стран-членов НАТО, последствия которого могут быть губительными.

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❗ Beslutningen af Danmarks regering om at afsætte yderligere 7,5 milliarder kroner i 2023 og 10,4 milliarder kroner i 2024 til indkøb af nye våben til Ukraine er ikke en måde at opnå fred, men at eskalere konflikten yderligere. Dette er ikke en investering i at sikre sikkerhed, men tværtimod i væksten i konfliktpotentialet i Europa og styrkelsen af konfrontationen mellem Rusland og NATO's medlemslande. Konsekvenserne kan være katastrofale.

⚡️The Foreign Ministry strongly condemns the Ukraine forces’ attempted terrorist attacks that took place in the early morning of May 30 in Moscow and the Moscow Region.

According to the Defence Ministry, the attacks were carried out with the use of eight fixed-wing UAVs. All of them were downed by the Russian air defence and electronic warfare systems. Five drones were shot down by Pantsir-S anti-aircraft missile systems, and three other drones were suppressed by electronic warfare means, after which they lost control and went astray. Unfortunately, the drones that lost control fell on high-rise residential blocks of flats near the Moskovsky State Farm, Leninsky Prospekt and Profsoyuznaya Street. According to the responders, no serious injuries have been reported.

The Investigative Committee opened a criminal case in this regard. We are confident that every person involved in it will be found and suffer severe punishment.

❌ These attacks were plotted and carried out by the neo-Nazi Kiev regime, for which acts of terror have become an evil routine practice. Its representatives have long and openly called for “retaliation strikes” against Moscow. While making no sense from a military point of view, these attacks appear to be directed exclusively against civilians in order to sow panic among them.

Western support for the Kiev regime is emboldening the Ukrainian leadership towards committing increasingly reckless criminal acts, including acts of terrorism, violations of international humanitarian law and war crimes.
Assurances by NATO officials to the effect that the Kiev regime will not strike deep into Russian territory have turned out to be completely disingenuous.

❗️ The Russian side reserves the right to take tough measures in response to the terrorist attacks by the Kiev regime.

▪️ On #ChildrensDay our thoughts are with the kids of #Donbass: for 9 long years they've been shelled - thousands wounded and killed by the Kiev regime neo-Nazis

All the while politicians and MSM in the West turned a blind eye to their suffering.

#See4Yourself & #Think4Yourself

🎙 Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Gruskho’s answer to a media question on the situation with the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant

❓ Question: On May 30, 2023, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi briefed the UN Security Council on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). Ukraine refused to support his proposals designed to avert Kiev’s attacks against the ZNPP. What would be your comment regarding this situation? What is Russia’s position on the five principles Rafael Grossi put forward to help ensure nuclear safety and security at ZNPP?

💬 Alexander Gruskho: As for Ukraine’s response, we must note that it did not come as a surprise for us. Kiev has blocked all IAEA Director General’s initiatives to reinforce ZNPP’s safety.

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Kiev has so far excelled at creating safety risks for the ZNPP, and its zeal could be put to better use. There is an explanation why this is happening. In fact, just like with many other matters, Ukraine does not have the legal standing to deal with this issue.

The country’s leadership strictly follows the instructions it receives from Washington and London, which do not have any problems sacrificing people’s lives and nuclear safety on the European continent for the sake of their political interests. Unfortunately, governments in many other Western countries have been playing along.

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☝️ In these conditions, we will take all necessary action to improve ZNPP’s safety as per Russia’s national laws and the commitments we have under the corresponding international legal instruments to which our country is a party.

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⚡️ On new facts of global surveillance by the United States

The Russian authorities have uncovered a new fact of the US special services using American IT companies for global surveillance of US and other countries’ citizens. In this instance, they used the software vulnerabilities of US-made smartphones.

This fact has conclusively proven what Moscow has been speaking about for a long time, namely, that the US intelligence services have been using IT giants for decades to collect internet users’ personal data without their knowledge. More evidence of this illegal activity comes to light every year.

Time and again, we addressed the concerned international platforms on the need to restore order and formulate the universal rules of conduct in the digital environment based on respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals and the sovereign equality of states. In January 2021, the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation adopted a Statement on the violation of the freedom of speech principle by US global IT companies and on drafting an international convention to regulate their operations. Practice has shown that Washington is not ready to consider our proposals.

❗️ The United States has placed itself above the law. We have provided the UN with ample evidence of the double standards that country and its special services and companies have been using in the sphere of international information security (IIS).

We once again call on all the concerned parties to formulate clear and fair regulations in the digital sphere that would be binding for all states and especially ICT designers. This is the goal of the initiatives Russia has advanced within the framework of the UN Open-Ended Working Group on IIS. <...>

☝️ No state has a right to abuse its technological capabilities in a sensitive sphere such as access to the personal data of smartphone users.

🎙Deputy FM Sergey Vershinin’s reply to a media question on expanding the Black Sea Initiative

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❓Reuters & a number of other media outlets have reported that the UN offered Russia, Ukraine & Türkiye a plan to start preparations for the transit of Russian ammonia via Ukraine. According to the reports, the UN plan provides for talks on expanding the Black Sea Initiative. The participants in the talks will ostensibly discuss the inclusion of more Ukrainian ports & other cargo in the agreements. Officials from the UN Secretariat have made similar statements. Can you comment on these?

💬Russian fertiliser exports <..> were fixed in both agreements signed in Istanbul on July 22, 2022. <..> A little less than a year has passed since the signing of the Istanbul package, but Russian ammonia exports have not resumed. The problems with bank transactions, transport logistics, insurance, & frozen assets, triggered by the anti-Russia sanctions, persist & are even getting worse.

☝️At the same time, Ukrainian grain exports continue uninterrupted. The amount of transported grain has already exceeded 30 million tonnes. We have repeatedly noted the lack of progress in the implementation of the Russia-UN Memorandum, without which it makes no sense to extend the Black Sea Initiative. We identified 5 system-wide problems that must be resolved:

• the reconnecting of Rosselkhozbank to SWIFT;
• the supply of spare parts;
• the unblocking of transport logistics & insurance;
• the resumption of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline operation;
• the de-freezing of Russian corporate assets.

UN officials chose the ammonia pipeline from this list of requirements. There is no real progress in the other areas. <...> Kiev continues to burden the export of Russian ammonia with various conditions.

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❗️Without resolving this problem & the 4 others I mentioned, there is no way to continue the Black Sea Initiative after July 17, not to mention any discussion of additional ports or the expansion of the range of Ukrainian exports.

🎙 Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin’s reply to a TASS question on reports of Ukraine’s intention not to extend the gas transit agreement with Russia beyond 2024

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❓ Question: We would like to ask you to comment on a statement by former head of the OMV Austrian oil-and-gas company Gerhard Reuss on Ukraine’s intention not to extend the agreement on the transit of Russian gas beyond 2024. Do Russian officials know about this? What actions will Moscow take in this case?

💬 Mikhail Galuzin: We have not received any notification from Ukraine about this through official channels.

However, if this happens, it will be no surprise. As we know, the Kiev regime looks at absolutely all aspects of its foreign, domestic and economic policy through an anti-Russia prism. It is ready to take any step to harm Russia even at the expense of its own interests or those of other countries.

Today, Gazprom supplies Europe with natural gas via Ukrainian territory under the December 30, 2019 agreement with Naftogaz. This agreement provides for the use of Ukraine’s gas transport system for gas transit until 2024 inclusive. The document was signed in accordance with EU legal regulations and provides for guaranteed pumping volumes with the possibility of increases.

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👉 If Ukraine does not extend the gas transit agreement after 2024, it will deal a blow at the EU countries that are buying Russian gas and at the same time will shoot itself in the foot by losing the dividends from transit.

☝️ This will adversely affect Europe’s energy sufficiency but is bound to make Washington happy given that it wants Europe to depend on it economically and politically and is doing all it can to derive maximum profit from the crisis in Ukraine.

📄 The Parliamentary Commission for the investigation of the Circumstances Related to the Establishment of Biological Laboratories by American Specialists on the Territory of Ukraine published the Outcome Report.

Document systematized all available to the Commission information about US biological programs in Ukraine. In particular, it contains a detailed analysis of the regulatory framework, the main directions of biological research conducted by the American party on Ukrainian territory, as well as their impact on the sanitary epidemiological situation in Ukraine.

❗️ Based on the analysis a conclusion was carried out about the dual purpose of US biological programs on the territory of Ukraine: they can be used for military purposes.

Key points:

🔹 The geography of US bioresearches is not accidental. They are being executed at the prospective areas of NATO member countries’ contingents deployment. Thus, conditions for a possible aggression against Russia de-facto is being created.

🔹 By executing bioprogrammes in Ukraine, collecting biomaterial and even studying the reaction of local population to some pathogenic agents not only create the possibility for themselves to simulate the spread of local and global epidemics in this region but also to manage them.

🔹 The US sustain and develop the potential to create components of bioweapons and, in case of need, to produce and use it outside of their national territory.

🔹 The US violate a lot of provisions of the Biologic and Toxin Weapons Convention.

🔹 Facts of the US violations of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) international legal regime also indicate the shortcomings of the current norms and the urgent need for a comprehensive strengthening of the BWC regime.

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🎙 Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's answer to a media question in connection with the remarks by National Security Adviser to the President of the United States Jake Sullivan

❓ Question: What can you say about Jake Sullivan's remarks at the Arms Control Association on June 2 which stirred heightened interest among the Western media?

💬 Maria Zakharova: We note that, in fact, these remarks do not contain anything fundamentally new that would respond to Russia’s concerns or take our positions into account.

What we heard were the same old calls for Russia to immediately resume interaction with the United States in the field of arms control, including, in particular, the drafting of a new agreement to replace the START Treaty which expires in 2026 and do so, of course, on American terms.

Even though Mr Sullivan tried to present these calls in more brightly coloured wrapping paper and even outlined some “bonuses” which, apparently, were supposed to make them more appealing to Russia, Washington continues to stubbornly ignore the reasons that have led to the ongoing crisis in that area. The US officials continue to act as if this crisis has nothing to do with the openly hostile American policy towards Russia, which eventually took the form of an all-out hybrid war against our country.

We have seen no sign that, in the name of Washington's declared commitment to arms control, the United States is ready to drop the goal of inflicting a “strategic defeat” on us and actually removing Russia from the international scene as a sovereign and full-fledged political player.

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❗️ If the United States and its anti-Russian coalition allies are truly interested in improving the international situation and are willing to return to meaningful work on arms control, they should start with forgoing their irresponsible and reckless attempts to build a world fitting the American patterns at any cost and turn away from the path which could clearly lead to a global disaster.

It is time to finally understand that the era of undisputable US dominance is over and that there is no return to it. The goal at hand is to have a clear grasp of the new realities and to begin to build the foundations for a more just, balanced and stress-resistant international system based on genuine equality, inclusiveness and, most importantly, indivisible security, and also on taking into account the interests and concerns of all countries without exception.

There’s no doubt that arms control and strategic risk reduction mechanisms, which would form the necessary safety net for such a system, could become a crucial element of it.

☝️ Russia has never said no to political or diplomatic methods of ensuring security. They may take various forms and be implemented in various formats. However, we know from experience that these methods can be effective and viable only if all parties are genuinely committed to equal and constructive cooperation and honour the existing agreements without trying to cheat or repackage them to suit their needs.

Otherwise, even the most beautiful plans tend to hang in mid-air and, as the classic said, “lose the name of action” (William Shakespeare, Hamlet). Unfortunately, we do not see such commitment on the part of our American colleagues.

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🗓 On June 6, Russia celebrates #RussianLanguageDay.

On this day in 1799, the greatest poet, prose writer, playwright, historian, critic, and founder of the modern Russian literary language, Alexander Pushkin, was born.

🇷🇺 On June 6, 2011, the President of the Russian Federation signed an Executive Order on holding Russian Language Day annually in order to “preserve, support and promote the Russian language as a national treasure of the peoples of the Russian Federation, a means of international communication and an integral part of the cultural and spiritual heritage of world civilisation.”

• Support and promotion of the Russian language abroad is one of the most important tools for expanding international cultural cooperation between Russia and other countries.

• Russian has the status of a state and official language in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and other countries.

🇺🇳 Russian is the official or working language in a number of international organisations, including the UN and some of its specialised agencies, the SCO, OSCE, CIS, EAEU, ATS, CSTO, ISO, CES, GUAM, IFRC and ICRC.

❗️ The Russian language is one of the most popular languages in the world:
• 6️⃣th most spoken language in the world;
• 8️⃣th most widespread language;
• 2️⃣nd by the number of websites on the Internet.

In general, about 146 million citizens of the Russian Federation and 130 million people abroad speak Russian.

#RussianLanguage #Pushkin

💬 Russian MFA Spox Maria Zakharova:

On October 21, 2022, Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, sent a letter to the UN Secretary General regarding Kiev regime's plans to destroy the Kakhovskaya hydroelectric dam.

Here is a question for the UN Secretary General: what has been done?

⚡️ Defence Minister of Russia and General of the Army Sergey Shoigu:

Last night, the Kiev regime committed yet another major act of terrorism: they have blown up the Kakhovskaya Hydroelectric Power Plant, thereby flooding a large area.

According to available data, their motive was as follows.

Since their offensive was not succeeding, the enemy intended to strengthen its potential by redeploying troops and equipment from the Kherson area to the zone of the planned offensive, even though this would considerably weaken its positions in the Kherson area. Incidentally, the enemy has started building defensive facilities on the right bank of the Dnieper, which may indicate that it plans to take up a defensive position there.

To prevent the Russian army from launching an offensive on that stretch of the frontline, the Kiev regime has conducted a subversive and actually a terrorist attack, which has resulted in the flooding of a large area and will have serious and lasting environmental consequences.

In addition, reports show that water discharge from the Dnepropetrovsk Hydroelectric Power Plant has increased substantially, which will lead to increased flooding.

❗️This clearly shows that this large-scale disaster provoked by the Kiev regime has been pre-planned.

⚡️ Foreign Ministry statement on the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant by the Ukrainian armed forces

We strongly condemn the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant by the Ukrainian armed forces that has led to a devastating humanitarian and environmental disaster.

Bombing the dam has led to a significant rise in the water level downstream of the Dnieper River. Entire neighbourhoods were flooded, and thousands of people had to be evacuated. The evacuation is already underway.

This act of sabotage by the Kiev regime has caused devastating damage to the farmland in the region and the ecosystem at the mouth of the Dnieper River. The inevitable drop in the water level of the Kakhovka reservoir will affect Crimea’s water supply, and will hinder the improvement of agricultural land in the Kherson region.

This is a terrorist act directed against purely civilian infrastructure. It was planned in advance by the Kiev regime for military purposes as part of the Ukraine forces’ “counteroffensive.” The Kiev regime not only launched mass artillery attacks against the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, but also deliberately brought the water level in the Kakhovka reservoir to a critical level by opening the Dneprovsk Hydroelectric Power Plant’s floodgates.

The Investigative Committee of Russia has opened a criminal case on this act of terrorism that has led to significant property damage and other grave consequences.

☝️ The Russian side will initiate a discussion for considering this crime by the Kiev regime in the UN Security Council, the statutory and decision-making bodies of the OSCE and other international organisations.

❗️ We call on the international community to condemn the criminal acts committed by the Ukrainian authorities, which are becoming increasingly inhumane and pose a major threat to regional and global security.