🎙 President of Russia Vladimir Putin's statement on the terrorist attack by the Kiev regime on the Starobelsk Pedagogical College (May 22, 2026)

The statement was made during President of Russia Vladimir Putin’s meeting with graduates of the first cohort of the Time of Heroes educational programme.

💬 On May 22, the neo-Nazi regime that seized power in Kiev carried out a terrorist attack on the student dormitory of the Starobelsk Pedagogical College. At night, while the students were asleep.

According to the reports I have been receiving throughout this time, as of now, six people have been killed, 39 injured, and 15 are listed as missing, as debris removal continues. We will, of course, do everything to help the victims and the families of those killed.

I want to stress – this is important – that there are no military facilities, no intelligence or related service facilities near the dormitory. Therefore, there are no grounds whatsoever to claim that the projectiles hit the building as a result of our air defence or electronic warfare systems. No one can say that they were trying to strike some other facility, while the UAVs were allegedly intercepted by our own systems and accidentally hit this building.

☝️ The strike was not accidental: it came in three waves, with 16 UAVs hitting the same site.

Of course, we will investigate the details. The appropriate conclusions will be drawn. But it is clear to us – and once again becomes obvious – who we are dealing with, who we are fighting, and what we are fighting for. This is a manifestation of neo-Nazism. It once again confirms the terrorist nature of the Kiev regime.

The reasons behind the Kiev regime’s criminal conduct are clear. Constant failures at the front, surrendering positions, populated areas and territories.

For the AFU, the situation at the front is gradually turning from difficult and critical into catastrophic. Neither Western aid – which is regularly stolen, they simply cannot resist stealing it – nor forced mobilisation helps, when people are rounded up in the streets like stray dogs and then thrown to the front. Against this backdrop, desertion is also growing catastrophically for the enemy. It is becoming large-scale.

The situation for the ruling clique is further aggravated by all-consuming corruption that is corroding society and is covered up by the regime’s ringleaders. In fact, they themselves are part of these corruption schemes, which is why they later help one another flee the country and escape to Israel and other countries abroad.

Everyone knows perfectly well – both in Ukraine and around the world – that the Ukrainian authorities steal from absolutely everything. It has even reached military property and personal protective equipment intended for those very people who are driven to the front like cattle – driven to die for those who are plundering Ukraine and foreign aid.

The Kiev regime undoubtedly needs such crimes in order to divert attention from what is happening at the front and inside the country, to provoke a response from Russia, and then – as we know, and have seen many times before – to blame everything on us, on Russia, on our country: all escalations and all consequences of such crimes.

👉 Russia's Foreign Ministry has been instructed to inform international organisations and the international community about this crime.

But, of course, you and I understand that in such cases, MFA statements alone cannot suffice. Therefore, Russia's Defence Ministry has been ordered to submit its proposals.

◾️ I would now ask everyone to rise and honour the memory of those who were killed (a minute of silence).

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⚡️ Russian Foreign Ministry Statement on the AFU strike on the college of Lugansk State Pedagogical University in Starobelsk (May 22, 2026)

On the night of May 22, the Kiev neo-Nazi regime used four fixed-wing UAVs to carry out a gruesome terrorist attack on the academic building and dormitory of the college of Lugansk State Pedagogical University in Starobelsk, LPR.

At the time of the barbaric strike, 86 children aged 14 to 18 were inside the five-storey dormitory building, which collapsed down to the second floor as a result of the attack.

At present, 40 people are known to have been injured. Tragically, four people were killed. Rescue operations are underway at the scene. Nearby administrative buildings, residential houses and social facilities were also damaged.

The Investigative Committee of Russia has opened a criminal case into the terrorist attack.

👉 All those responsible will be identified and face inevitable severe punishment. None of the perpetrators will be shown mercy.

This strike could not have been accidental. It was a deliberate attack on civilians, carried out in the spirit of the German Nazis. None of those inside the building were or could have been taking part in hostilities, and there are no military facilities near the college.

Suffering defeats on the battlefield, the Kiev regime is opening a new chapter in the armed conflict by unleashing open, inhuman terror against defenceless children.

Such strikes using long-range weapons supplied to the Kiev regime by NATO countries, including UAVs, are carried out with technical assistance from foreign specialists from certain NATO countries. We have reliable information that Western capitals are providing the AFU with intelligence data and assisting with target designation.

By committing this atrocity against children in Starobelsk, the Kiev regime and its handlers assume full responsibility for the escalation of hostilities and the undermining of political and diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.

This happened against the backdrop of Kiev’s hypocritical lamentations about the fate of children affected by military actions. The entire world has now seen just how cynical Zelensky’s regime is, as it turns children into targets of terror.

◼️ We express our deepest condolences to the families of those killed and wish the injured a speedy recovery.

We call on international organisations, national governments and the global public to give an honest assessment of the criminal actions of Zelensky’s regime and to resolutely condemn the bloody terrorist attack in Starobelsk.

Silence will amount to complicity in the gruesome acts of Kiev’s terrorists and indifference to the fate of innocent children who were killed and injured.

Yury Trutnev, Presidential Plenipotentiary Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, has invited a Chinese delegation to take part in the EEF.

The invitation was extended in Harbin during a meeting of the Russia-China Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation and Development of the Far East and the Baikal Region of Russia and the Northeast of the People's Republic of China.

Additionally, the third meeting of the Business Council of the Russian Far East and Northeast China took place in Harbin. It was attended by approximately 200 representatives from more than 100 Russian and Chinese companies.

👉 The Roscongress Foundation acted as a co-organizer of the Business Council and provided support in arranging business networking sessions and meetings.

RoscongressDirect

📆 #OTD in 1524, the Novodevichy monastery was founded

Few Russian sites intertwine sanctity, tragedy, dynastic ambition, and folklore as vividly as Moscow’s #NovodevichyConvent. Beyond its striking crimson-and-white walls lies a living testament to history, where royal women were secluded, rebels met brutal ends, and legends still linger. Blending beauty, tragedy, and myth, it attracts visitors keen to explore Moscow’s past. Here are a few remarkable facts about it:

500-Year Chronicle of Russian History

Founded in 1524 to celebrate reclaiming Smolensk, the monastery sits on Moscow's Devichya Pole meadows. Only its cathedral was stone; other structures remained wooden, causing frequent destruction. Over centuries, the complex survived the Polish invasion, Napoleon's wars, Soviet closure after 1917, and reopened after World War II.

👑 A Refuge for Exiled Queens

Some historians believe the monastery was founded to exile Vasily III’s childless first wife, Solomonia Saburova. Forced to become a nun after a 20-year marriage, Solomonia actually died at Pokrovsky Monastery in Suzdal rather than Novodevichy. Vasily subsequently married Elena Glinskaya, giving birth to Tsar Ivan the Terrible.

👑 The Monastery's Royal Connections

Under Ivan IV, Novodevichy became a royal sanctuary for widows like Princess Juliana and Tsarevna Elena. However, its most notable resident was Peter the Great’s elder sister, Tsarevna Sophia Alexeevna. She vastly expanded the complex, overseeing the construction of the bell tower, new churches, and refectories.

👑 Sophia Alexeevna’s Complex Legacy

Removed from power in 1689, Sophia was imprisoned at Novodevichy Convent and forced to become a nun. The ghosts of her executed rebels, the Streltsy, are said to haunt the nearby pond. Ironically, her prison tower is now considered a miraculous shrine where visitors tuck written prayers and wishes into the brickwork.

👑 Boris Godunov Accepted the Russian Throne Here

In 1598, Novodevichy Convent hosted a major Russian power transition. Following the heirless death of Tsar Fyodor I, his widow, Tsarina Irina, retreated there to renounce the throne. Her brother, Boris Godunov, accompanied her and accepted the tsardom inside the Smolensk Cathedral after three delegations of boyars urged him to rule. Under his subsequent reign, the convent prospered with restored frescoes, lavish icons, and new chambers, solidifying its status as a vital spiritual hub.

Its Bell Tower Is a Jewel of Russian Baroque

Soaring approximately 72 meters high, the convent’s bell tower is a masterpiece of Russian Baroque architecture. Its beauty lies in contrast: delicate white stone ornamentation gives its massive, sturdy walls a weightless appearance. Each of its six tiers features unique decorative details, creating a grand yet lace-like delicacy.

☦️ It Safeguards One of Russia’s Most Revered Icons

The convent houses the Smolensk Mother of God, a revered Russian Orthodox icon. Legend says the original arrived from Byzantium in 1046 with Princess Anna Monomakh before traveling between shifting borders. When Smolensk returned to Russian control, the original returned there, but an exact copy was made for the Kremlin. The Novodevichy icon descends from that 16th-century copy, serving as a spiritual protector of cities, armies, and families.

It Remains a Living Monastery

Despite centuries of revolution and invasion, Novodevichy remains an active convent and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Around 30 novices and nuns reside here, tending gardens, raising chickens, sewing vestments, and painting icons. The monastery also operates a shelter for vulnerable young mothers.

#DiscoverRussia

🎙 Russian MFA Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova:

On May 25, on behalf of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, a traditional official reception will be held in Moscow with the participation of the African diplomatic corps accredited in Russia to mark Africa Day, celebrated annually around the world.

The holiday symbolizes the victory of African nations in their struggle for independence and their aspiration for peace, unity, and prosperity.

🌍 On this day in 1963, 32 independent African states signed the Charter of the Organization of African Unity in Addis Ababa, laying the foundation for Africa’s political and economic integration. Today, the African Union continues these traditions, representing the collective interests of the continent on the international stage and strengthening Africa’s role as an influential center of global politics.

Russia provided comprehensive and selfless support to national liberation movements in Africa, contributing to the strengthening of sovereignty and the socio-economic development of newly independent states.

🇷🇺🤝🌍 Today, Russia-Africa relations continue to demonstrate steady and progressive growth.

We consistently attach the highest importance to expanding multifaceted cooperation with the African continent.

#RussiaAfrica #AfricaDay2026

#KievRegimeCrimes

⚡️ Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rodion Miroshnik:

💬 On May 22, Ukrainian neo-Nazis attacked the Starobelsk branch of Lugansk Pedagogical University (a total enrolment of more than 1,500 students) with drones. It was yet another deliberate targeted strike against civilians, namely students.

Up to 18 students and lecturers may be trapped under the rubble.

Eyewitnesses report “devastating destruction” on the campus, with the main strike hitting the academic building and student dormitory.

Rescue operations are underway.

🎙Statement by Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at the UN Security Council Meeting on the Situation in the Middle East

📍 New York, May 21, 2026

💬 The Security Council recently received the first semi-annual report of the “Peace Council” pursuant to UNSC Resolution 2803.

❌ Russia abstained during the vote on this resolution, as it made no mention of Israel’s obligations, the role of UNRWA, the situation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, or the internationally recognized two-state solution.

Unfortunately, our concerns proved justified. The report fully reflects the “gap between written frameworks and real actions benefiting the people of Gaza.”

Six months after the vote on Security Council Resolution 2803, the so-called “Trump Plan” remains largely a dead letter, with declarative successes only serving as a smokescreen to conceal the grim reality in the Gaza Strip.

❗️In fact, since the ceasefire was announced on October 10, 2025, Israeli strikes have been killing Palestinian civilians literally each and every day – more than 880 people have died and over 2,600 have been wounded.

According to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), most of them died as a result of sniper fire or explosions of tripwire bombs which were positioned at access points to water sources.

On the whole, since October 7, 2023, the number of Palestinian casualties has amounted, by the most modest estimates, to approximately 73,000 dead and 173,000 injured, with tens of thousands still missing and buried under the rubble.

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⚠️ The key provisions of the plan — a ceasefire, large-scale humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza, the transfer of governance to a Palestinian technocratic committee, the deployment of international stabilization forces, and promises to turn Gaza into a “Middle Eastern Riviera” with “miracle cities,” “new life,” and a “special economic zone” — have not been implemented.

☝️ We see no alternative to returning to a comprehensive peace process based on universally recognized international legal foundations and the two-state formula, ensuring the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people to their own state, coexisting in peace and security with Israel.

Instead of urging Security Council members to support clearly counterproductive initiatives, international efforts should focus on implementing fundamental decisions on the Middle East settlement.

🎓 Tomsk State University (#TSU) and the Russian Embassy in South Africa have launched an extensive educational initiative aimed at teaching Russian to South African residents, as reported by the university's press service.

The course spans 120 academic hours from February to August 2026, featuring online classes two to three times a week, each lasting 1.5 hours. Students begin at an A0 level (complete beginner) and progress to A1 (elementary proficiency). Initially, 1,300 applications were submitted, leading to the creation of 14 open groups.

The course organizers have outlined three key objectives📍

✅ to establish a foundational Russian language system for basic communication in everyday, educational, and socio-cultural contexts;
✅ to provide a solid basis for further independent language development;
✅ to introduce students to Russian national culture and expand their educational perspectives.

🇷🇺🤝🇿🇦 Irina Ilyicheva, Deputy Director of the State Testing Center for Russian as a Foreign Language at TSU's Institute of Distance Education, noted that graduates will achieve A1-level proficiency. They will also have opportunities to further their studies at Russian universities, participate in academic and cultural exchanges, and utilize the language in their work and daily life. She also emphasized that the TSU course, developed in partnership with the Russian Embassy, goes beyond merely teaching a language; it serves as a "soft power" tool that strengthens academic ties between Russia and South Africa. This initiative aims to enhance TSU's visibility on the African continent and create more opportunities for collaboration between universities.

The main participants in the course are students, who constitute approximately 90% of the total, while the remaining 10% include civil servants, teachers, doctors, entrepreneurs, engineers, and workers.

⭐️ Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive; students have praised the convenient format, the professionalism of the instructors, the well-organized materials, and the practical assignments. Additionally, several African students have expressed interest in continuing their studies in Russia.


#StudyRussian

🎙 Statement by Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Chumakov on the Occasion of the Adoption of the UN General Assembly Resolution on the Fourth Industrial Development Decade for Africa (2026–2035)

📍 New York, 20 May 2026

💬 The Russian Federation supports the adoption of the resolution and, of course, welcomes the proclamation of the Fourth Industrial Development Decade for Africa for 2026–2035.

Africa’s industrial development is inseparably linked to the establishment of mutually beneficial strategic partnerships.

The Russian Federation acts as a reliable and time-tested partner. Our cooperation is founded on longstanding and unwavering friendship with the majority of African states.

🤝We consistently support our friends in implementing large-scale industrialization projects. We actively contribute to the implementation of NEPAD and other initiatives aimed at financing the continent’s sustainable development.

📈Russia-Africa trade turnover continues to grow significantly. In 2025, it reached nearly $30 billion. We are convinced that this is far from the limit.

Within the framework of industrial development objectives, we note the growing contribution of Russian regions. Trade and economic ties with countries across the African continent are maintained, to varying degrees, by 81 constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

Russian goods, services, and technologies are in demand on African markets. We see tangible results from the participation of business missions from Russian regions in congress and exhibition events held across Africa. Their number continues to grow steadily.

Joint work on projects aimed at developing industrial infrastructure is also yielding results. A good example is the creation of the Russian Industrial Zone on the eastern bank of the Suez Canal, which will serve as a hub for the participation of Russian businesses in the economic development of the entire continent.

🇷🇺🌍The key upcoming event on our foreign policy calendar is the Third Russia-Africa Summit, scheduled to take place in Moscow at the end of October.

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#RussiaAfrica

🎙 Statement by Russia’s Permanent Representative Vassily Nebenzia at the UN Security Council Meeting on Ukraine

📍New York, 19 May 2026

💬 “We see no signals from Kiev indicating any readiness to make substantive progress toward a settlement. The negotiation process remains at a deadlock.

Zelensky should order a ceasefire, withdraw the Ukrainian Armed Forces from Russian regions, including Donbass, and move toward discussing concrete parameters for a truly comprehensive, just, and sustainable peace.

☝️ Until he realizes this, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will continue pursuing the objectives of the special military operation.

The Kiev regime has not ceased for a single moment its terrorist attacks against civilians — specifically against civilians, not military facilities — using all available weapons supplied by its Western sponsors, who have thereby become accomplices in the deaths of innocent people.

⚠️ In April alone, more than 100 civilians were killed and 667 injured by Ukrainian militants. Last week, the Ukrainian Armed Forces carried out a massive terrorist attack on civilian infrastructure in the Ryazan region, and over the weekend targeted Moscow.

Western handlers of Kiev are well aware that Ukrainian air defense missiles, after missing their targets, fall onto civilian areas, causing deaths and injuries among Ukrainian civilians.

👉 Despite this, they not only make no effort to prevent possible tragedies, but continue to escalate the conflict: increasing arms supplies, relocating weapons production to their own territories, and turning a blind eye to the use of their airspace for drone flights.

There are neither “servants of the people” nor “beacons of democracy” in Ukraine — only a group of criminals driven by greed and lust for power, turning their own population into slaves whose lives mean nothing to them.

❗️The so-called “collective West,” which cultivated such a regime and continues to finance it, bears full responsibility not only for the conflict it provoked, but also for the lives of all these people.

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🇷🇺🇧🇾 On May 21, President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko held nuclear forces exercises via videoconference, in line with the joint training plan of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.

💬 Vladimir Putin: Today, as part of the exercise, we are holding the first joint training session of the Russian and Belarusian armies on the command and control of strategic and tactical nuclear forces.

As I have already noted – and I would like to emphasise once again – the use of such weapons, nuclear weapons, is an extreme, exceptional measure to ensure the national security of our countries.

☝️ At the same time, given the growing tensions in the world and the emergence of new threats and risks, our nuclear triad must continue to serve as a reliable guarantor of the sovereignty of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, ensure strategic deterrence, and maintain nuclear parity and the balance of power globally.

During the joint training session, we will practise a broad range of tasks, above all the actions of officials in terms of command, control and coordination in the use of nuclear weapons, including those deployed on the territory of the Republic of Belarus.

Today, we will also carry out practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles.

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It is important to continue improving the training of strategic and tactical nuclear forces and developing all their components.

❌ At the same time, we have no intention of being drawn into an arms race. Our nuclear triad will remain at the level of necessary sufficiency.

Under the State Armament Programme, we plan to equip the Strategic Missile Forces with new missile systems, both silo-based and mobile.

As you know, the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, which has high tactical and technical characteristics and is capable of overcoming all modern and future missile defence systems, has recently been successfully tested.

We will continue commissioning modern nuclear-powered submarine cruisers into the Navy, and new and upgraded strategic bombers into the Aerospace Forces.

Naturally, we will enhance the combat readiness of other services and branches of the armed forces, and practise training and combat tasks taking into account the experience of the special military operation, including during joint drills and manoeuvres this year. Among them, I would highlight the CSTO Interaction 2026 exercise of the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces on Russian territory and the CSTO Indestructible Brotherhood 2026 exercise of the peacekeeping forces on the territory of Belarus.

Moreover, next year we plan to hold the Shield of the Union 2027 operational exercise of the Armed Forces of Belarus and Russia.

Such systematic and consistent steps are essential for strengthening the defence capabilities of our countries and reliably protecting the citizens of Russia and Belarus from potential threats from all directions.

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