Russia

MOSCOW, December 3. /TASS/: The crew of the cutting-edge missile corvette Ingushetia successfully test-fired artillery systems during state trials at a Black Sea Fleet naval range, the Fleet’s press office reported on Tuesday.

"The artillery firings were conducted as part of the ship’s state trials before its inclusion in the Black Sea Fleet’s combat structure," the press office said in a statement.

MOSCOW, December 3. /TASS/: More than 50 instances of violations of airspace over crucial public facilities by drones have been registered in Russia since 2017, the chief of the CIS Anti-Terrorist Center, Andrei Novikov, told TASS in an interview.

"Experts identified a certain growth in the number of legal violations involving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Russia. According to some estimates, more than 50 instances of violations of air space over important public facilities by drones have been registered since 2017," Novikov said.

MOSCOW, December 3. /TASS/: Russia and Ukraine may hold talks to resolve gas issues on December 5, if Gazprom and Naftogaz are ready, Russia’s Minister of Energy Alexander Novak said on Tuesday.

"No date has been set yet, as work is still going on between the companies," Novak said.

"If the companies are ready by this time, then we are ready to hold the meeting on the 5th (December - TASS)," he added, commenting on the proposal of the Ukrainian side to conduct negotiations on December 5.

MOSCOW, December 3. /TASS/: Investigators have wrapped up an investigation into the criminal case regarding the Sheremetyevo Airport crash against the captain of Sukhoi Superjet-100, Denis Yevdokimov, who pled not guilty to violating security regulations. Attorney Pavel Gerasimov, who is representing six families, told TASS on Tuesday.

"A preliminary investigation into the case against Yevdokimov has been completed. The victims have started studying the case materials, which contains 20 volumes which were photographed in full, yesterday," the lawyer said.

MOSCOW, Dec 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed legislation requiring all smartphones, computers and smart TV sets sold in the country to come pre-installed with Russian software.

The law, which will come into force on July 1 next year, has been met with resistance by some electronics retailers, who say the legislation was adopted without consulting them.

SIMFEROPOL, December 2. /TASS/: Crimea has hit the tourist flow record over post-Soviet years, over 7 million people spent vacations on the peninsula by the beginning of the winter, Deputy Chairman of Crimea’s Council of Ministers and Permanent Presidential Envoy Georgy Muradov told TASS.

"This year, we exceeded the number of 7 million tourists. Crimea is Russia’s second most visited region for tourism and recreation after the Krasnodar Region," Muradov sai.

VLADIVOSTOK, December 2. /TASS/: Russia's Pacific Fleet servicemen will take part in three international drills with the fleets of the Asia-Pacific region states in the new training year, which started on Monday, the Pacific Fleet’s press service reported.

MOSCOW, December 2. /TASS/: Moscow’s Basmanny District Court has rejected Meduza news website reporter Ivan Golunov’s appeal against the inaction of the Russian Investigative Committee’s official looking into allegations of police officers’ offense against the journalist, a TASS correspondent reported from the courtroom.

"The Court hereby rejects the appeal," a judge said.

The prosecution pointed out that a probe was underway into Golunov’s claim that law enforcement officers could have planted drugs on him but it was too early to draw conclusions.

MOSCOW, December 2. /TASS/: Russia’s Research Institute of Machine Building in Nizhnyaya Salda, the Sverdlovsk Region, will create the first sample of rocket engine using an environment-friendly propellant by 2024, the CEO of the research and industrial association NPO Energomash, Igor Arbuzov, told TASS in an interview.

"The institute in Nizhnyaya Salda was contracted to develop engines using environment-friendly propellant components. This work is already in progress. The first sample is to be delivered in 2024," Arbuzov said.

SOCHI, December 2. /TASS/: The launch of the Power of Siberia gas pipeline brings energy cooperation between Moscow and Beijing to a new level, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the launch ceremony via a TV link-up on Monday.