Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
🇷🇺🇨🇺 August 13, 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Fidel Castro, Leader of the Cuban Revolution.
Fidel Castro is rightly regarded as a legendary figure without whom the history of the 20th century would be unimaginable.
Having overthrown Cuba’s pro-American dictatorial regime in 1959, the Comandante and his comrades went on to build the first socialist state in the Western Hemisphere.
The economic blockade of the island that followed almost immediately became a manifestation of the US neo-colonial approaches in Latin America.
Against the backdrop of the Cold War, Cuba’s break from American influence posed a major geopolitical challenge to the US while serving as an inspiring example for left-wing movements around the world.
✊ Fidel’s rallying cry, “Homeland or Death”, became a symbol of the struggle for independence worldwide.
Fidel Castro went down in history not only as a revolutionary, but also as a prominent statesman. Under his leadership, Cuba achieved major socioeconomic transformations and strengthened Havana’s standing on the international stage.
From the moment he came to power, hundreds of assassination attempts were made against Fidel Castro. Yet the Leader of the Cuban Revolution outlived most of his detractors and passed away at the age of 90 on November 25, 2016.
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#RussiaCuba: Fidel Castro made an enormous personal contribution to strengthening the friendly relations between our countries. In Russia, he is remembered as a true friend, and his numerous visits to our country left the warmest memories.
One particularly memorable episode was the meeting between Fidel Castro and Yuri Gagarin in Havana in 1961. After an official reception, the two exchanged headwear for a photograph that became a symbol of friendship between the USSR and Cuba.
Fidel Castro first visited the USSR in 1963. During the trip, which lasted more than 40 days, he visited more than a dozen cities, receiving a warm welcome from local residents everywhere he went.
Until the end of his life, Fidel Castro retained warm feelings towards Russia, closely followed developments in our country and attached particular importance to Russia’s role in world affairs.
In 2022, Moscow hosted a ceremony unveiling a monument to Fidel Castro, attended by the leaders of Russia and Cuba, Vladimir Putin and Miguel Díaz-Canel.
💬 President of Russia Vladimir Putin, speaking at the unveiling ceremony for the monument to Fidel Castro (November 22, 2022):
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#Fidel100: In February 2026, during a meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia and Cuba would jointly commemorate the centenary of Fidel Castro’s birth.
A Russian delegation headed by Special Representative of the President for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy is currently in Havana to take part in the commemorative events.
As part of the First International Colloquium “Fidel: Legacy and Future” in Havana, Mikhail Shvydkoy read out messages of congratulations from the President of Russia addressed to Army General Raúl Castro and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel.
A series of events is also being held in Russia, including an exhibition organised by the Communist Party of the Russian Federation at the State Duma, thematic meetings held by the Russian Society of Friendship with Cuba, as well as lectures prepared by the Civic Chamber of Russia and the Russian State University for the Humanities.
Fidel Castro is rightly regarded as a legendary figure without whom the history of the 20th century would be unimaginable.
Having overthrown Cuba’s pro-American dictatorial regime in 1959, the Comandante and his comrades went on to build the first socialist state in the Western Hemisphere.
The economic blockade of the island that followed almost immediately became a manifestation of the US neo-colonial approaches in Latin America.
Against the backdrop of the Cold War, Cuba’s break from American influence posed a major geopolitical challenge to the US while serving as an inspiring example for left-wing movements around the world.
✊ Fidel’s rallying cry, “Homeland or Death”, became a symbol of the struggle for independence worldwide.
Fidel Castro went down in history not only as a revolutionary, but also as a prominent statesman. Under his leadership, Cuba achieved major socioeconomic transformations and strengthened Havana’s standing on the international stage.
From the moment he came to power, hundreds of assassination attempts were made against Fidel Castro. Yet the Leader of the Cuban Revolution outlived most of his detractors and passed away at the age of 90 on November 25, 2016.
***
#RussiaCuba: Fidel Castro made an enormous personal contribution to strengthening the friendly relations between our countries. In Russia, he is remembered as a true friend, and his numerous visits to our country left the warmest memories.
One particularly memorable episode was the meeting between Fidel Castro and Yuri Gagarin in Havana in 1961. After an official reception, the two exchanged headwear for a photograph that became a symbol of friendship between the USSR and Cuba.
Fidel Castro first visited the USSR in 1963. During the trip, which lasted more than 40 days, he visited more than a dozen cities, receiving a warm welcome from local residents everywhere he went.
Until the end of his life, Fidel Castro retained warm feelings towards Russia, closely followed developments in our country and attached particular importance to Russia’s role in world affairs.
In 2022, Moscow hosted a ceremony unveiling a monument to Fidel Castro, attended by the leaders of Russia and Cuba, Vladimir Putin and Miguel Díaz-Canel.
💬 President of Russia Vladimir Putin, speaking at the unveiling ceremony for the monument to Fidel Castro (November 22, 2022):
For many generations of our citizens, the image of the Comandante has always been associated with romantic glory, courage and victories.
The words of the famous Soviet song, “Cuba, My Love!” reflected our sincere and enthusiastic feelings not only towards the Island of Freedom and the entire Cuban people, but also towards Fidel himself.
Cuba has been, is and, I am confident, will always remain our consistent strategic partner and ally in world affairs.
***
#Fidel100: In February 2026, during a meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia and Cuba would jointly commemorate the centenary of Fidel Castro’s birth.
A Russian delegation headed by Special Representative of the President for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy is currently in Havana to take part in the commemorative events.
As part of the First International Colloquium “Fidel: Legacy and Future” in Havana, Mikhail Shvydkoy read out messages of congratulations from the President of Russia addressed to Army General Raúl Castro and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel.
A series of events is also being held in Russia, including an exhibition organised by the Communist Party of the Russian Federation at the State Duma, thematic meetings held by the Russian Society of Friendship with Cuba, as well as lectures prepared by the Civic Chamber of Russia and the Russian State University for the Humanities.
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🎙 Excerpt from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview with Russian media outlet VGTRK
❓ The EU has announced inspections of Russian merchant vessels and calls them a "shadow fleet". What is this actually about? What does it mean, and what's really behind these inspections?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: The EU invented this term a long time ago. It doesn't appear in any legal document whatsoever.
The EU has decided to apply its own version of "law" – if you can call Brussels' unlawful decisions "law" at all – to the goal of restricting Russia's ability to earn money on world markets.
They have effectively imposed a ban on trade in Russian energy resources. And any vessel that doesn't comply with the EU, regardless of its flag, gets branded part of the "shadow fleet".
This is a very dangerous path to go down, because they are effectively claiming that their own decisions rank above international law.
They have granted themselves the right not merely to stop and inspect vessels, but to seize their cargo and sell it off to raise revenue – and then hand that revenue over to Ukraine, so it can carry on bolstering its Nazi regime.
President Putin has stated very clearly and firmly that we will respond to this robbery, this piracy, in kind.
❗️ We will choose our own targets. Those will be vessels operating in the interests of countries that have made piracy and plunder their official policy.
❓ The EU has announced inspections of Russian merchant vessels and calls them a "shadow fleet". What is this actually about? What does it mean, and what's really behind these inspections?
💬 Sergey Lavrov: The EU invented this term a long time ago. It doesn't appear in any legal document whatsoever.
The EU has decided to apply its own version of "law" – if you can call Brussels' unlawful decisions "law" at all – to the goal of restricting Russia's ability to earn money on world markets.
They have effectively imposed a ban on trade in Russian energy resources. And any vessel that doesn't comply with the EU, regardless of its flag, gets branded part of the "shadow fleet".
This is a very dangerous path to go down, because they are effectively claiming that their own decisions rank above international law.
They have granted themselves the right not merely to stop and inspect vessels, but to seize their cargo and sell it off to raise revenue – and then hand that revenue over to Ukraine, so it can carry on bolstering its Nazi regime.
President Putin has stated very clearly and firmly that we will respond to this robbery, this piracy, in kind.
❗️ We will choose our own targets. Those will be vessels operating in the interests of countries that have made piracy and plunder their official policy.
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🎙 Excerpt from Russian MFA Spox Maria Zakharova's comment on Ukraine crisis
💬 The Kiev regime has continued the reburial campaign for the 20th century Ukrainian Nazi collaborators buried abroad.
On 11 August, Zelensky pompously reported the exhumation of the remains of Yevgeny Konovalets, the leader of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), at the Crooswijk Cemetery in Rotterdam. It was announced that his remains would be reburied at the National Military Memorial Cemetery in Kiev.
In May 2026, another Nazi collaborator, OUN’s Andrey Melnik, was reburied at the cemetery.
It is worth recalling that, judging by Zelensky’s statements, Kiev’s agenda includes yet another disgusting idea of creating a “Ukrainian national pantheon” in the territory of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, which is a shrine revered by all Russians. According to a bill approved by Verkhovna Rada on July 1, this necropolis is to “perpetuate the memory” of commanders of the Carpathian Sich National Defence Organisation, which included as its fighting core the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). In all evidence, the remains of Andrei Melnik and Yevgeny Konovalets will also be transferred there at a later date.
Thus, the Kiev-based neo-Nazis seem to be willing to achieve two goals: first, to create a pedestal for Hitler’s stooges, and, second, to commit an outrage upon a place sacred for the Russian Orthodox World.
The “dancing on graves” and the perverse national memory policy, or to be more precise, complete oblivion, is one of the pillars, upon which the Kiev regime is erecting the edifice of modern Ukrainian state.
Read in full
💬 The Kiev regime has continued the reburial campaign for the 20th century Ukrainian Nazi collaborators buried abroad.
On 11 August, Zelensky pompously reported the exhumation of the remains of Yevgeny Konovalets, the leader of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), at the Crooswijk Cemetery in Rotterdam. It was announced that his remains would be reburied at the National Military Memorial Cemetery in Kiev.
In May 2026, another Nazi collaborator, OUN’s Andrey Melnik, was reburied at the cemetery.
It is worth recalling that, judging by Zelensky’s statements, Kiev’s agenda includes yet another disgusting idea of creating a “Ukrainian national pantheon” in the territory of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, which is a shrine revered by all Russians. According to a bill approved by Verkhovna Rada on July 1, this necropolis is to “perpetuate the memory” of commanders of the Carpathian Sich National Defence Organisation, which included as its fighting core the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). In all evidence, the remains of Andrei Melnik and Yevgeny Konovalets will also be transferred there at a later date.
Thus, the Kiev-based neo-Nazis seem to be willing to achieve two goals: first, to create a pedestal for Hitler’s stooges, and, second, to commit an outrage upon a place sacred for the Russian Orthodox World.
The “dancing on graves” and the perverse national memory policy, or to be more precise, complete oblivion, is one of the pillars, upon which the Kiev regime is erecting the edifice of modern Ukrainian state.
Read in full
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💬 Russian MFA Spox Maria Zakharova: We have been hearing more calls from around the world for a ceasefire and for settling the Ukraine situation based on the well-known half-measures.
Our position on these calls, and on the issue as a whole, remains unchanged. A lasting and sustainable settlement of the Ukrainian crisis can only be achieved by addressing its root causes.
First and foremost, this means addressing the security threats created by NATO’s eastward expansion and efforts to bring Kiev into the North Atlantic Alliance. It is equally important to secure guarantees for the restoration and protection of the legitimate rights of Russian and Russian-speaking people in the territories that remain under the control of the Kiev regime.
Read in full
Our position on these calls, and on the issue as a whole, remains unchanged. A lasting and sustainable settlement of the Ukrainian crisis can only be achieved by addressing its root causes.
First and foremost, this means addressing the security threats created by NATO’s eastward expansion and efforts to bring Kiev into the North Atlantic Alliance. It is equally important to secure guarantees for the restoration and protection of the legitimate rights of Russian and Russian-speaking people in the territories that remain under the control of the Kiev regime.
Read in full
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🇷🇺 Russia offers a wide range of travel experiences – from its rich cultural and historical heritage to its diverse landscapes and traditions.
🗺 VisitRussia.online provides information to help you explore Russia and plan your trip.
✈️ VisitRussia.app makes it easy to book the services you need.
Come #visitRussia at your own pace.
🗺 VisitRussia.online provides information to help you explore Russia and plan your trip.
✈️ VisitRussia.app makes it easy to book the services you need.
Come #visitRussia at your own pace.
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Russian Embassy to the UK
🎨 Today, we bring you the penultimate publication in our series exploring Russian history through art. The 19th century saw Russia confront Napoleon, expand across the Caucasus and Central Asia, sell Alaska to the United States, and undertake major reforms…
🎨 Today is the final post in our series exploring different eras of Russian history through paintings. We’re ending with a visual journey across 20th century Russia.
🖼 Wojciech Kossak. “Bloody Sunday”, 1905
The violent suppression of a peaceful workers’ demonstration became the catalyst for the First Russian Revolution.
🖼 Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin. “In the Line of Fire”, 1916
World War I, huge losses and a growing crisis led to the February Revolution and the fall of the monarchy.
🖼 Vladimir Serov. “Lenin Proclaims Soviet Power”, 1962
The weakness of the Provisional Government allowed the Bolsheviks to seize power in October 1917, followed by the Civil War.
🖼 Yuri Pimenov. “Give Us Heavy Industry!”, 1927
The USSR launched rapid industrialization to build a powerful industrial and military base.
🖼 Pyotr Maltsev. “Meeting the Heroic Crew”, 1938
Soviet aviation set record after record, with pilot Valery Chkalov becoming one of the era’s celebrated heroes.
🖼 Pyotr Krivonogov. “Defenders of the Brest Fortress”, 1951
The heroic defense of the Brest Fortress became one of the symbols of the first months of the Great Patriotic War.
🖼 Pyotr Krivonogov. “Victory”, 1948
From Stalingrad and Kursk to Berlin, the Red Army’s advance ended in victory over Nazi Germany - at an enormous human cost.
🖼 Andrey Plotnov. “Goodbye, Earthlings!”, 1979
Yuri Gagarin’s flight into space on 12 April, 1961 became one of the defining events of the 20th century.
🖼 Anatoly Kalinnikov. “Brezhnev in Tula”, 1979
The “Era of Stagnation” brought political stability and rising living standards, but also growing censorship and economic slowdown.
🖼 Semyon Faibisovich. “Portrait of Mikhail Gorbachev”, 1989
Perestroika brought economic and political reforms and freedom of speech, but ultimately ended with a deep crisis and the collapse of the USSR in 1991.
🖼 Wojciech Kossak. “Bloody Sunday”, 1905
The violent suppression of a peaceful workers’ demonstration became the catalyst for the First Russian Revolution.
🖼 Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin. “In the Line of Fire”, 1916
World War I, huge losses and a growing crisis led to the February Revolution and the fall of the monarchy.
🖼 Vladimir Serov. “Lenin Proclaims Soviet Power”, 1962
The weakness of the Provisional Government allowed the Bolsheviks to seize power in October 1917, followed by the Civil War.
🖼 Yuri Pimenov. “Give Us Heavy Industry!”, 1927
The USSR launched rapid industrialization to build a powerful industrial and military base.
🖼 Pyotr Maltsev. “Meeting the Heroic Crew”, 1938
Soviet aviation set record after record, with pilot Valery Chkalov becoming one of the era’s celebrated heroes.
🖼 Pyotr Krivonogov. “Defenders of the Brest Fortress”, 1951
The heroic defense of the Brest Fortress became one of the symbols of the first months of the Great Patriotic War.
🖼 Pyotr Krivonogov. “Victory”, 1948
From Stalingrad and Kursk to Berlin, the Red Army’s advance ended in victory over Nazi Germany - at an enormous human cost.
🖼 Andrey Plotnov. “Goodbye, Earthlings!”, 1979
Yuri Gagarin’s flight into space on 12 April, 1961 became one of the defining events of the 20th century.
🖼 Anatoly Kalinnikov. “Brezhnev in Tula”, 1979
The “Era of Stagnation” brought political stability and rising living standards, but also growing censorship and economic slowdown.
🖼 Semyon Faibisovich. “Portrait of Mikhail Gorbachev”, 1989
Perestroika brought economic and political reforms and freedom of speech, but ultimately ended with a deep crisis and the collapse of the USSR in 1991.
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Forwarded from Russian MFA 🇷🇺
#KievRegimeCrimes
⚡️ Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rodion Miroshnik:
PHOTO FACTS & EVIDENCE of crimes committed by Ukrainian armed forces over the week of August 10-16, 2026:
▪️ August 10 – a large-scale attack by fixed-wing UAVs on a civilian industrial facility in Nizhnekamsk, Republic of Tatarstan. 13 civilians were killed and 78 injured.
▪️ August 10 – an FPV drone struck a civilian passenger vehicle in Shebekino, Belgorod Region.
▪️ August 12 – a large-scale attack by fixed-wing UAVs on residential neighbourhoods in Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Territory. 60 apartment buildings were damaged. Three civilians, including a child, were killed and 24 injured.
▪️ August 13 – a UAV struck an EMERCOM truck in Lisichansk, LPR.
▪️ August 14 – a UAV struck an apartment building in Bryansk. One civilian was killed and nine injured.
▪️ August 14 – a UAV struck a civilian cargo vehicle in Nikolayevka, Kherson Region.
▪️ August 14 – an FPV drone struck a civilian cargo vehicle in Oktyabrsky, Belgorod Region. One civilian was injured.
▪️ August 16 – a follow-up UAV strike targeted an EMERCOM emergency vehicle in the DPR. Two rescuers were injured.
▪️ August 16 – a fixed-wing UAV struck the Galaktika shopping centre in Donetsk, DPR.
▪️ August 16 – a UAV struck a civilian cargo vehicle on a road near Druzhbovka, Kherson Region. A married couple were killed in the attack.
⚡️ Ambassador-at-Large of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rodion Miroshnik:
PHOTO FACTS & EVIDENCE of crimes committed by Ukrainian armed forces over the week of August 10-16, 2026:
▪️ August 10 – a large-scale attack by fixed-wing UAVs on a civilian industrial facility in Nizhnekamsk, Republic of Tatarstan. 13 civilians were killed and 78 injured.
▪️ August 10 – an FPV drone struck a civilian passenger vehicle in Shebekino, Belgorod Region.
▪️ August 12 – a large-scale attack by fixed-wing UAVs on residential neighbourhoods in Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Territory. 60 apartment buildings were damaged. Three civilians, including a child, were killed and 24 injured.
▪️ August 13 – a UAV struck an EMERCOM truck in Lisichansk, LPR.
▪️ August 14 – a UAV struck an apartment building in Bryansk. One civilian was killed and nine injured.
▪️ August 14 – a UAV struck a civilian cargo vehicle in Nikolayevka, Kherson Region.
▪️ August 14 – an FPV drone struck a civilian cargo vehicle in Oktyabrsky, Belgorod Region. One civilian was injured.
▪️ August 16 – a follow-up UAV strike targeted an EMERCOM emergency vehicle in the DPR. Two rescuers were injured.
▪️ August 16 – a fixed-wing UAV struck the Galaktika shopping centre in Donetsk, DPR.
▪️ August 16 – a UAV struck a civilian cargo vehicle on a road near Druzhbovka, Kherson Region. A married couple were killed in the attack.
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