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Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, who was detained and accused of espionage, stands inside a defendants' cage during his verdict hearing in Moscow, Russia June 15, 2020. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan was attacked by another inmate in a Russian prison while serving a 16-year sentence on espionage charges, Russia's prison service said on Wednesday, after Whelan's brother publicised the incident. The Mordovia regional prison service confirmed to the Interfax news agency that the attack on Whelan had happened. There was surveillance TV footage of the incident and the prison service was looking into it further before submitting a report to the police, Interfax reported. Arrested in 2018 in Russia, Paul Whelan was convicted of espionage in 2020 and handed a 16-year sentence.

Persons: U.S . Marine Paul Whelan, Maxim Shemetov, Former U.S . Marine Paul Whelan, Whelan, Dave Whelan, Paul, Vladimir Putin, Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Andrew Osborn, Susan Heavey, Guy Faulconbridge, Timothy Organizations: U.S . Marine, REUTERS, Former U.S . Marine, Embassy, State Department, U.S . State Department, U.S, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Former, U.S, Russia's Mordovia, American, Mordovia, Turkey, Washington

REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Former U.S. marine Paul Whelan has been attacked by another inmate in a Russian prison while serving a 16-year sentence on espionage charges, Russia's prison service said on Wednesday, after Whelan's brother publicised the incident. After repeated requests, the prisoner hit Paul in the face, breaking Paul's glasses in the process, and attempted to hit him a second time," Dave Whelan said. The Mordovia regional prison service confirmed to the Interfax news agency that the attack on Whelan had happened. There was CCTV footage of the incident and the prison service was looking into it further before submitting a report to the police, Interfax reported. Arrested in 2018 in Russia, Paul Whelan was convicted of espionage in 2020 and handed a 16-year sentence.

Persons: U.S . Marine Paul Whelan, Maxim Shemetov, Paul Whelan, Whelan, Dave Whelan, Paul, Vladimir Putin, Evan Gershkovich, Andrew Osborn, Guy Faulconbridge, Timothy Organizations: U.S . Marine, REUTERS, U.S, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Former U.S, Russia's Mordovia, American, Mordovia, Turkey, Washington

☆ Chechen leader's 16-year-old son named to post in rifle battalion
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Ramzan Kadyrov, head of Russia's Chechnya, waits before an annual state of the nation address attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, December 1, 2016. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 29 (Reuters) - Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov's teenage son, who was shown beating a prisoner in custody this year, has been named as an observer in a new battalion that is part of Russia's defence ministry forces, a senior Chechen official said late on Tuesday. On Tuesday, Adam Delimkhanov, who heads the Chechen division of the Russian national guard and is also a member of Russia's parliament, said the young Kadyrov was named a curator, or observer, of a rifle battalion. The Chechen rifle battalion was created earlier this month, according to Russia's state media. Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Raju GopalakrishnanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ramzan Kadyrov, Vladimir Putin, Maxim, Ramzan Kadyrov's, Adam Kadyrov, Adam, Adam Delimkhanov, Kadyrov, Delimkhanov, Lidia Kelly, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Kremlin, REUTERS, Chechen, Russian, Thomson Locations: Chechnya, Russian, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Melbourne

☆ Iran finalises deal to buy Russian fighter jets - Tasnim
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A Russian Sukhoi Su-35S jet fighter performs a flight during the Aviadarts competition, as part of the International Army Games 2021, at the Dubrovichi range outside Ryazan, Russia August 27, 2021. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Iran has finalised arrangements for the delivery of Russian made Sukhoi su-35 fighter jets and helicopters, Iran's deputy defence minister told Iran's Tasnim news agency on Tuesday, as Tehran and Moscow forge closer military relations. Iran's air force has only a few dozen strike aircraft, including Russian jets as well as ageing U.S. models acquired before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. "Plans have been finalised for Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters, and Yak-130 jet trainers to join the combat units of Iran's Army," Iran's deputy Defence Minister Mehdi Farahi said. In 2018, Iran said it had started production of the locally-designed Kowsar fighter for use in its air force.

Persons: Sukhoi Su, Maxim, Iran's, Mehdi Farahi, Elwely, Parisa Hafezi, Alison Williams, Ed Osmond Organizations: International Army, REUTERS, Rights, Sukhoi, Iran's Army, Thomson Locations: Sukhoi, Ryazan, Russia, Rights DUBAI, Iran, Tehran, Moscow, United States

☆ Russia vows retaliation over Moldova decision to join EU sanctions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] The state flag of Moldova (L) flies outside the country's embassy in central Moscow, Russia December 18, 2017. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Russia views Moldova's decision to join EU sanctions against it as a hostile step aimed at destroying ties with Moscow and will retaliate, the Russian foreign ministry said on Friday. Among its provisions are regulations concerning action to be taken against individuals and institutions subject to sanctions imposed on Russia in connection with the Kremlin's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Sandu has denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine and accused Moscow of trying to oust her in a coup. Moscow denies the allegations and says Sandu is infusing anti-Russian sentiment in the country lying between Ukraine and Romania.

Persons: Maxim, Maia Sandu's, Sandu, Alexander Tanas, Maxim Rodionov, Andrew Osborn, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, EU, European Union, Moldovan, Maia Sandu's Party of Action, Solidarity, Socialist Party, of Europe, European Commission, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Moldova, Moscow, Russia, Russian, Moldovan, Chisinau, Ukraine, Venice, Romania

☆ Russia's sanctioned Sovcombank requests US licence to make UN climate payments
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Elena Fabrichnaya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A view shows a board with the logo of Sovcombank at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 17, 2022. "We have funds in foreign currency for these payments, but we have not received any response from them yet, unfortunately." Avtukhov said Sovcombank was in dialogue with the UN on the matter. "We have not suspended our membership in international organisations," Avtukhov, who also sits on Sovcombank's board, said. There are certain difficulties with making payments in general for Russian participants of this programme," Avtukhov said.

Persons: Maxim, Sovcombank, Mikhail Avtukhov, Avtukhov, Elena Fabrichnaya, Alexander Marrow, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: St ., Economic, REUTERS, U.S . Treasury, United, Reuters, European Union, Foreign Assets, United Nations Environment, Finance Initiative, U.S, Treasury, UN, Thomson Locations: St, St . Petersburg, Saint Petersburg, Russia, Ukraine MOSCOW, Russian, United Nations, Sovcombank, Ukraine, Washington, Moscow

☆ Russian companies' scaled-down IPOs in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A customer walks in a store of Russian clothing retailer Henderson in Moscow, Russia October 31, 2023. IPO/DPO- Biotech startup Genetico (GECO.MM) raised 179 million roubles in an IPO in April. - CarMoney, a fintech service owned by SmartTechGroup (STG) raised 978 million roubles in a direct public offering (DPO) in July. - Technology company Astra (ASTR.MM) raised 3.5 billion roubles in an October IPO. - Men's clothing chain Henderson (HNFG.MM) attracted 3.8 billion roubles through its IPO in early November.

Persons: Maxim Shemetov, Uzhuralzoloto, Vladimir Putin's, Softline, Alexander Marrow, Kevin Liffey Organizations: Henderson, REUTERS, Biotech, SmartTechGroup, Technology, Astra, SPO, State, VTB Bank, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, IPOs

☆ Sberbank CEO expects 'serious cooling' in Russian mortgage market
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Elena Fabrichnaya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Russia's biggest bank Sberbank (SBER.MM) expects a sharp cooling of the mortgage market following an expected 80% rise in mortgage lending this year, CEO German Gref said on Wednesday. Gref said the bank's mortgage issuance for the whole of 2023 was expected to reach 4.6 trillion roubles ($50.1 billion). VTB, Russia's number two bank, expects mortgage loans across the entire sector to total 7.2 trillion roubles this year, falling to between 5 and 5.5 trillion roubles in 2024. Vyacheslav Dusaleyev, head of retail business at Rosbank, gave corresponding forecasts of 7.3 trillion roubles this year and 5 trillion next year. Mortgage demand has remained buoyant in part because of the wide range of preferential offers available, according to the central bank.

Persons: Maxim, Gref, Sberbank, Vyacheslav Dusaleyev, Olga Polyakova, Elena Fabrichnaya, Mark Trevelyan, Christina Fincher Organizations: St ., Economic, REUTERS, Rights, Mortgage, Thomson Locations: St, St . Petersburg, Saint Petersburg, Russia, Moscow, Rosbank

☆ Russian rouble gives up gains after soaring to 3-month high
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A view shows the newly designed Russian 1000-rouble banknote inside a currency detector during a presentation in Moscow, Russia October 16, 2023. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Oct 31 (Reuters) - The Russian rouble weakened on Tuesday, pulling back after soaring to a three-month high past 92 to the dollar earlier in a volatile session, supported by high interest rates, but facing a month-end reduction in foreign currency sales. By 1324 GMT, the rouble was 0.5% weaker against the dollar at 93.28 . "But at the same time, growth in the money supply is continuing and this will definitely result in rouble weakening." The rouble has strengthened from beyond 100 to the dollar since the decree was announced.

Persons: Maxim Shemetov, Alexei Antonov, Vladimir Putin's, Brent, Alexander Marrow, Christina Fincher, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Bank of Russia, Financial Times, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Russian

☆ Russia's weaker hand undermines case for Power of Siberia 2 gas link to China
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Vladimir Soldatkin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Russia currently exports gas to China through the Power of Siberia 1 pipeline, which began operating in 2019 and runs through eastern Siberia into China's northeastern Heilongjiang province. Moscow has not said how much the 2,600 km (1,616 miles) Power of Siberia-2 would cost or how it would be financed. Russia aims to increase supplies via Power of Siberia 1 to 38 bcm annually by 2025. If the plans for Power of Siberia 2 and another link from Russia's far eastern island of Sakhalin come to fruition, Russia's pipeline gas exports to China would rise to almost 100 bcm per year by 2030. "This fact will require CNPC to build on its own all the necessary gas transportation infrastructure in China," Kondratov wrote.

Persons: Maxim, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Kondratov, Kondratov, Sergey Vakulenko, Vakulenko, Viktoria Abramchenko, Andrew Hayley, Chen Aizhu, Oksana Kobzeva, Mark Trevelyan, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, Russia, East, Power, Gazprom, Economics, Russian Academy of Science, Carnegie Endowment, International, Soyuz, Thomson Locations: Siberia, Svobodny, Amur, Russia, East Power, Turkmenistan, MOSCOW, China, Europe, Yamal, Mongolia, Baltic, Moscow, Ukraine, Beijing, China's, Heilongjiang, Russian, Power, Russia's, Sakhalin, That's, Nord, Turkey, Japan, United States, Qatar, Australia, Singapore

Oleg Tsaryov, a Ukrainian politician supporting the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, attends a news conference dedicated to a new law on the battle flag of Novorossiya (New Russia) in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, August 22, 2014. A source in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) intelligence agency said the shooting was a special operation conducted by the agency. The source gave few details of the operation but described Tsaryov as an "absolutely legal target". The attack took place in Yalta in Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Tsaryov, who runs hotels in Crimea, said Reuters' account had "very little to do with reality".

Persons: Oleg Tsaryov, Maxim, Ally, Russia's, Oleg, Vladimir Rogov, Tsaryov, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Andriy Yusov, Darya Dugina, Vladlen Tatarsky, Stanislav Rzhitsky, Rzhitsky, Tom Balmforth, Yuliia, Giles Elgood, Ron Popeski, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Security Service of Ukraine, Kyiv, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Donetsk People's Republic, New Russia, Donetsk, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Kyiv, Yalta, Crimea, Russian, United States

☆ Where's the Su-57? The war in Ukraine is what fifth-generation fighter jets were made for, but Russia's Felon has largely been missing in action
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Russian state media has touted the Su-57 fighter jet as a formidable, fifth-generation aircraft. Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jets perform at the MAKS 2019 air show in Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, Russia, August 27, 2019. Sukhoi Su-57 jet fighter performs during International military-technical forum "Army-2020" at Kubinka airbase in Moscow Region, Russia August 25, 2020. So why is it that the Su-57 isn't doing what a true fifth-generation stealth fighter should theoretically be able to do in Ukraine? AdvertisementAdvertisementSukhoi Su-57 fighter jets perform at the MAKS 2019 air show in Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, Russia, August 27, 2019.

Persons: it's, —, there's, Mike Dahm, Sukhoi Su, Aleksey Nikolskyi, haven't, They're, Assad, Sergei Shoigu, Maxim Shemetov There's, Su, Russia's, Justin Bronk, Bronk, Vladimir Putin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Maxim Shemetov, Dahm, There's, that's Organizations: Aviation, intel, Service, NATO, US, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, Sputnik, REUTERS, Russian, Ukraine, International, Army, Sukhoi, Royal United Services Institute, Aircraft Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Zhukovsky, Kremlin, Syria, Kubinka, Moscow Region, Russian, Ukrainian, NATO

☆ Russia-China energy cooperation in focus as Putin visits Xi
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

It insists the ties do not flout international norms, and China has the prerogative to collaborate with whichever country it chooses. According to China's customs data, the growth of China's exports and imports with Russia on a year-on-year basis quickened in September from August. China is Russia's second-largest buyer of Russian oil after India. Russia's main gas export route is a 4,000-km (2,500-mile) pipeline Power of Siberia that links East Siberian fields to northeast China. Russia aims to build a second gas pipeline to China, Power of Siberia 2, with capacity for 50 bcm a year to run via Mongolia.

Persons: Maxim Shemetov, Wang Wentao, Vladimir Putin's, Russia's Novatek, Vladimir Soldatkin, Guy Faulconbridge, Alison Williams Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Commerce, Vortexa, Russia's, Reuters, European, VEB, Supplies, CNPC, Thomson Locations: Siberia, Svobodny, Amur, Russia, China, United States, Beijing, Moscow, Ukraine, Russian, India, Kpler, Kozmino, Baltic, Brazil, Urals, Oman, European Union, That's, Europe, Power, Mongolia, Sakhalin, Qatar

☆ Russia can gain from Middle East turmoil — but it could backfire if the war spirals out of control
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Putin likely wanted to show that Moscow is still important in the Middle East by visiting Iran, said John Drennan of the U.S. Institute of Peace. It could present an opportunity for them but also could present a very, very disastrous outcome for their influence in the Middle East too if the conflict spirals out of control," Ramani said. Analysts also believe Russia will use the war in Israel and Gaza to sow disinformation about Ukraine and discord among its allies. As such, the war between Israel and Hamas also provides Russia with an opportunity to flex its diplomatic muscles in the Middle East, after something of a hiatus from the global stage. So this shows that Russia is not isolated in the Middle East, and Russia still maintains the same array of diplomatic partnerships that it had before the war," he noted.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Ebrahim Raisi, Putin, John Drennan, Sergei Savostyanov, Samuel Ramani, Ramani, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Joe Biden, Jim Watson, Volodymy Zelenskyy, Sergei Karpukhin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Maxim Shemetov, They've, they've, Bashar al, Assad Organizations: Getty, Palestinian, Hamas, U.S . Institute of Peace, AFP, Royal United Services Institute, CNBC, Kremlin, Ukraine, Analysts, White, U.S, Congress, NATO, Afp, International Energy Agency, Russia, Israeli, Iraqi Locations: Sochi, Russia, Israel, Gaza, Moscow, Iran, Ukraine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, U.S, Europe, Washington ,, Brussels, Russian, OPEC, Turkey, Egypt, Tehran

REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Russian rouble climbs to over 2-week high vs dollarMove comes after Putin reimposes currency controlsRouble had slumped to over 18-month low this weekAnalysts expect rouble to firm more in coming weeksOct 12 (Reuters) - Russia's rouble leapt against the U.S. dollar on Thursday after President Vladimir Putin ordered the mandatory sale of foreign currency revenues for some exporters to buttress the currency. The rouble collapsed to a record low in the weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine last year, before Moscow imposed similar capital controls that saw it recover to a seven-year high. Kogan warned, however, that by 2025-2026 businesses would form plans based on a rouble rate of 100-105. The central bank endorsed the measures, a shift in its stance, after it previously warned of the inefficiency of currency controls. "The rouble is even less tradable for foreign investors after Russia re-imposed some capital controls," Piotr Matys, senior FX analyst at In Touch Capital Markets.

Persons: Maxim Shemetov, Putin, Rouble, rouble, Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Kogan, Kogan, Gref, Andrei Belousov, Piotr Matys, Dmitry Polevoy, Brent, Alexander Marrow, Amruta, Robert Birsel, Mark Potter, Varun, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Russia's Higher, of Economics, TASS, Wednesday, Bank of Russia, FX, Touch, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, outflows, Locko, Bangalore

An employee counts Russian 1000-rouble banknotes in a bank office in Moscow, Russia, in this illustration picture taken October 9, 2023. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/Illustration/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 10 (Reuters) - The Russian rouble dived towards a more than an 18-month low on Tuesday before paring most losses in a volatile session, under pressure from domestic demand for foreign currency and a drop in oil prices. By 1034 GMT, the rouble was 0.3% weaker against the dollar at 99.63 . It had lost 0.8% to trade at 105.55 versus the euro and shed 0.4% against the yuan to 13.64 . "The bank may show a record profit of 1.5 trillion roubles for the year."

Persons: Maxim Shemetov, Sber, Yevgeny Kogan, Alexander Marrow, Ed Osmond, Gareth Jones Organizations: REUTERS, Bank of Russia, Russia's Higher, of Economics, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Russian, Brent

☆ As Israel goes to war, Russia must now decide where its loyalty lies in the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Kremlin in Moscow on January 30, 2020. Maxim Shemetov | Afp | Getty ImagesThe outbreak of bloodshed, violence and outright war between Israel and Hamas has put Russia in an awkward position, with Moscow traditionally treading a fine diplomatic line between Israel and its allies in the Middle East. Russia has enjoyed warm and constructive relations with Israel in recent years. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi hold a meeting in Tehran on July 19, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their meeting at the Kremlin on April 21, 2016.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Maxim Shemetov, Tatiana Stanovaya, Ebrahim Raisi, Sergei Savostyanov, Stanovaya, Saudi Arabia —, Vladimir Putin's, Bashar Assad's, Bashar Assad, Sergei Shoigu, Alexei Nikolsky, Netanyahu, Putin, Mohammed Shia, Al Sudani, Mikhail Svetlov, tellingly, Russia's, Ian Bremmer, Antony Blinken, Petroleum Javad, Erdogan Organizations: Israeli, Kremlin, Afp, Getty, Hamas, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, AFP, Saudi, Russian Defense, Sputnik, AP Putin, Iraqi, . Security Council, Israel, Eurasia Group, ., Ukraine, Ministry of Defence, Institute for, Petroleum, Turkish Locations: Moscow, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Russian, Tehran, Syria, Eastern, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, Umayyad, Damascus, U.S, Palestinian, China

REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsOct 9 (Reuters) - The rouble rebounded after slumping to a more than 18-month low against the dollar on Monday in a volatile session, still hampered by reduced foreign currency supply but eventually latching on to higher oil prices to gain ground. By 1500 GMT, the rouble was 0.7% stronger against the dollar at 99.75 , recovering from hitting 102.3450 earlier, its weakest point since March 23, 2022. The Russian currency tumbled to a record low 121.5275 in the weeks after Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The rouble had gained 0.5% to trade at 105.24 versus the euro and firmed 0.6% against the yuan to 13.64 . The rouble-based MOEX Russian index (.IMOEX) was 0.9% higher at 3,172.2 points, earlier reaching a near one-month high.

Persons: Maxim Shemetov, rouble, Alexei Antonov, Alexander Marrow, Angus MacSwan, Mark Potter, Gareth Jones Organizations: REUTERS, Bank of Russia, Reuters, Brent, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine

A view shows a Russian one rouble coin in front of a screen in this illustration picture taken August 22, 2023. By 1125 GMT, the rouble was 1.8% weaker against the dollar at 102.18 , its weakest point since March 23, 2022. The Russian currency tumbled to a record low 121.5275 in the weeks after Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The rouble had lost 1.9% to trade at 107.76 versus the euro and shed 2.1% against the yuan to 14.01 . The rouble-based MOEX Russian index (.IMOEX) was 1.3% higher at 3,184.6 points, a near one-month high.

Persons: Maxim Shemetov, rouble, Alexei Antonov, Alexander Marrow, Angus MacSwan, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Bank of Russia, Reuters, Brent, Thomson Locations: Russian, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine

Putin on Thursday said Russia's nuclear doctrine did not need updating but that he was not yet ready to say whether or not Russia needed to resume nuclear tests. The Kremlin chief said that Russia should look at revoking ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) as the United States had signed it but not ratified. Just hours after Putin's words, Russia's top lawmaker, Vyacheslav Volodin, said the legislature's bosses would swiftly consider the need to revoke Russia's ratification for the treaty. "At the next meeting of the State Duma Council, we will definitely discuss the issue of revoking the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty," Volodin said. Putin's words, followed by Volodin's, indicate that Russia is almost certain to revoke ratification of the treaty, which bans nuclear explosions by everyone, everywhere.

Persons: Vyacheslav Volodin, Maxim Shemetov, Putin, Vladimir Putin, peaker Volodin, Volodin, Volodin's, Guy Faulconbridge, Sonali Paul, Stephen Coates Organizations: Nazi, REUTERS, Soviet Union, Comprehensive, Cuban Missile Crisis, Kremlin, State Duma Council, Soviet, United Nations, United, United States Air Force's National Air and Space Intelligence Center, Thomson Locations: Russia's, Nazi Germany, Red, Moscow, Russia, MOSCOW, United States, Washington, Brussels, State, Ban, Soviet Union, India, Pakistan, North Korea

The government said the lifting of restrictions applies to companies that supply at least 50% of the produced diesel fuel to the domestic market. Restrictions on railway diesel exports remain in place, with the exception on exports to some ex-Soviet states. A resumption of Russian diesel exports will have the biggest impact on Turkey and Brazil, Russia's two biggest buyers this year. Traders expect the lifting of the diesel ban could mean Asian diesel cargoes which would have replaced Russian exports in Africa and Turkey will now stay in the region, adding to already ample supplies. The diesel ban will have the biggest impact because Russia is the world's top seaborne exporter of the fuel, just ahead of the United States.

Persons: Transneft, Serena Huang, Maxim, Alexander Novak, Vortexa, William Maclean Organizations: TASS, Traders, REUTERS, Kommersant, Kremlin, FGE Energy, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, LONDON, SINGAPORE, Russia, Soviet, Baltic, Turkey, Brazil, Africa, Konstantinovo, Moscow, United States

[1/2] A view shows a Russian one rouble coin in front of a screen in this illustration picture taken August 22, 2023. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/Illustration/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 5 (Reuters) - The Russian rouble weakened past 100 to the dollar to a more than seven-week low as President Vladimir Putin spoke on Thursday, hurt by reduced foreign currency supply from exporters early in the month. By 1535 GMT, the rouble was 0.7% weaker against the dollar at 100.30 , its weakest point since Aug. 14. The rouble has lost support of a favourable month-end tax period that usually sees exporters convert FX revenues to meet local liabilities. "But this will happen either in the second half of the month or when the exchange rate goes above 100 roubles per dollar," Antonov said.

Persons: Maxim Shemetov, Russian rouble, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Bogdan Zvarich, Alexei Antonov, Antonov, Alexander Marrow, Angus MacSwan, Paul Simao, William Maclean Organizations: REUTERS, Brent, Thomson Locations: Russian, Sochi, United States, Ukraine, Moscow, Alor

☆ Pirelli's Chinese investors terminate shareholder agreement
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A tyre produced by the Italian company Pirelli is on display at a dealership in Moscow, Russia, March 23, 2023. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMILAN, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Pirelli's (PIRC.MI) Chinese investors Sinochem and Silk Road Fund have decided not to extend their agreement to work together on some issues at the tyremaker, the Italian group said on Tuesday. The two investors, which hold stakes of 37% and 9% respectively, had initially signed the shareholder agreement in 2020. As part of it, Silk Road Fund had committed to follow Sinochem's votes at Pirelli shareholder meetings on selected matters for a stake comprising 5% out of their total 9%. The agreement terminated due to its expiry on Sept. 29, Pirelli said in a statement, without providing reasons for the decision.

Persons: Maxim, Pirelli, Sinochem, Camfin, Marco Tronchetti Provera, Giulio Piovaccari, Keith Weir Organizations: Pirelli, REUTERS, Silk, Fund, Formula, Thomson Locations: Italian, Moscow, Russia, Sinochem

By 1150 GMT, the rouble was 0.6% stronger against the dollar at 99.17, having hit 100.2550 in early trade, a more than seven-week low. "There is still no cause for concern," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "Expensive oil and an increase in the key rate are improving the outlook for the rouble, but in the medium-term," Promsvyazbank analysts said. They expected the rouble to make a short-lived move beyond 100 to the dollar in the absence of new support measures from the authorities. "This level (100) is not a technical resistance, it's an important psychological barrier," said Alor Broker's Alexei Antonov.

Persons: Maxim Shemetov, Dmitry Peskov, Brent, Vladimir Putin's, Alexei Antonov, Lidia Kelly, Alexander Marrow, Andrew Heavens, Alison Williams Organizations: REUTERS, Bank of Russia, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russian, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Melbourne, London

☆ Russia's gasoline, diesel prices continue to slide after export ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view shows petrol pump nozzles at a fuel station of Neftmagistral company in Moscow, Russia, September 8, 2023. Diesel prices were down 4.97% on the day at 59,130 roubles per ton according to the data from the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange (SPIMEX). Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Saturday that the fuel export ban started to produce positive results with a decline in gasoline and diesel prices. Russia's Federal Anti-Monopoly Service opened last week six cases looking into violations of the fuel market. ($1 = 98.7850 roubles)Reporting by Alexander Ershov; writing by Vladimir Soldatkin, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Maxim, Alexander Novak, Alexander Ershov, Vladimir Soldatkin, Ed Osmond Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, St . Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange, Monopoly Service, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, St, Russian, Federal

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