Russia in Canada

🎙 Excerpts from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's interview with VGTRK broadcasting company (Moscow, August 14, 2026) ❓How can we win if the other side is so crooked? The values we share are completely at odds and are far removed from these terrorist attacks. 💬 Moreover, after every terrorist attack of this kind, the regime’s representatives use social media and other resources to boast about striking a beach, a dormitory for young women aspiring to become teachers, and other civilian sites. [...] We will not sink to their level. Instead, we will adopt much harsher methods to destroy everything that enables the West to fuel Kiev’s war machine. We are already doing this, and they are already moaning. It is no coincidence that there have been more voices across our shared space calling for an immediate cessation [of hostilities]. But this is not the way things work. ❗️You need a lasting, reliable and sustainable settlement to stop. If we were to suddenly stop at the line of contact, this would effectively betray the feats of our forefathers who defeated Nazism. This option is not on the table. We are talking about something that goes beyond ensuring that people can live in comfort today. People are suffering, and people are dying in these terrorist attacks. This is a matter of our responsible attitude towards the millennia-long history of the Russian state.

🎙 Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's comment regarding the Ukraine crisis (August 13, 2026)   💬 With each passing day, the Kiev regime’s ability to withstand Russia’s special military operation diminishes. <...> The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), unable to deliver effective strikes against Russian military facilities, persist in their attempts to attack civilian infrastructure across various regions of Russia and to target civilian population. The following serve as illustrative examples 👇 ▪️ Belgorod Region. From August 5 to 11, as a result of AFU strikes, 12 civilians were killed and over 100 were wounded, including two boys, aged four and nine. ▪️ Bryansk Region. From August 5 to 11, two persons were killed and 12 were wounded by strikes perpetrated by Banderites. ▪️ Voronezh Region. On the night of August 11, a civilian was killed and two others were wounded as a result of an enemy drone attack on Voronezh. ▪️ Donetsk People’s Republic. From August 5 to 11, as a result of shelling and AFU drone strikes, four persons were killed and at least 31 were wounded, including a boy born in 2014 and a girl born in 2009. ▪️ Zaporozhye Region. On August 6, in the village of Dolina, a drone attacked a passenger bus as passengers were boarding at a stop, wounding six civilians. ▪️ Krasnodar Territory. In Novorossiysk on August 9, a civilian was injured by falling debris from a downed Ukrainian drone; whilst on the night of August 12, as a result of a large-scale drone attack, a child aged eight was killed and eight others were wounded, including a child aged six and a woman <...>. ▪️ Kursk Region. From August 5 to 11, as a result of AFU drone and artillery attacks, three civilians were killed and 14 others were wounded. Another civilian lost both legs and an arm after triggering a mine camouflaged as a box, which detonated in a forest belt. In the border districts of the region, explosive devices scattered by Ukrainian militants and concealed in juice cartons have been discovered. ▪️ Lugansk People’s Republic. From August 5 to 11, at least 12 local residents were affected by AFU attacks. ▪️ Republic of Tatarstan. According to updated data, as a result of Ukrainian drone strikes on Nizhnekamsk on August 10, 13 persons were killed, including a child; among them, eight were citizens of Uzbekistan and one was a citizen of Tajikistan. Seventy-five others were injured, including 20 foreign nationals. In regard to this incident, the Russian MFA issued a comment underscoring that the crime committed by the Kiev regime was perpetrated in an attempt to cause significant casualties among citizens of states friendly to Russia. ▪️ Republic of Crimea. On August 7, two civilians were killed and one other was wounded by a drone strike on an apartment building in Kerch. On August 12, one person fell victim to Ukrainian drones in the community of Novoselovskoye. ▪️ Kherson Region. On August 8, in the residential community of Novaya Mayachka, a Ukrainian drone attacked an ambulance that was en route to a man suffering a heart attack, wounding both the paramedic and the driver. <...> *** Russian law enforcement agencies continue to gather evidence with a view to holding the functionaries of the Kiev regime, militants and commanders of the AFU, and foreign mercenaries criminally accountable. <...> ❗️ The neo-Nazi Kiev regime is threatening the entire international community. It has repeatedly demonstrated that it is capable of conducting terrorist and sabotage operations and provocations under foreign flags. <...> The evidence of NATO countries’ direct involvement in the Kiev regime’s terrorist activity is mounting. The media has widely disseminated documentary proof — so-called hybrid threat specialists from NATO-affiliated bodies – in particular, a man named Bart De Wachter – provided the Security Service of Ukraine with data on “priority” targets on Russian territory, incl the coordinates of fuel and energy facilities and commercial ships carrying cargo in Russia’s interests <...>. Read in full

✉️ President of Russia Vladimir Putin sent a message of congratulations to Great Patriotic War veteran Yevgeny Znamensky, whose battle path stretched from the Battle of Moscow to the storming of Berlin, on his 101st birthday on August 13. 💬 The message reads, in part: A man of remarkable resilience, a front-line soldier, courageous and strong in spirit, you followed a glorious combat path, took part in the Battle of Stalingrad, the liberation of Europe from Nazism and met the victorious spring in Berlin. Following the Great Patriotic War, you devoted many years to honest service for the good of the Motherland. Thank you for your feats of arms and achievements in labour, for your deep sense of responsibility for the fate of the Fatherland, and for your contribution to the patriotic education of younger generations of Russian citizens. I wish you sound health and all the very best. *** 🥇 Yevgeny Znamensky was born in 1925. He was drafted into the Red Army in January 1943. He first took part in the defence of Moscow and, after completing basic military training, served as a submachine gunner and artillery scout. He fought in the Battle of Stalingrad and took part in the storming of the Reichstag, as well as operations to liberate Ukraine, Belarus, Poland and Germany. ✍️ On May 2, 1945, he left his now-legendary inscription on the wall of the defeated Reichstag: “Znamensky. Serpukhov!” During the war, Yevgeny Znamensky crossed the Don, Vistula, Oder and Spree rivers, survived a wound and two severe concussions. His decorations include two Medals “For Courage”, the Order of the Patriotic War and medals for the liberation of European cities. #Victory81

🇷🇺🇨🇺 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. *** #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.

💬 Russia's High Commissioner for Human Rights Yana Lantratova: Together with the Russian Defence Ministry and the relevant agencies, we regularly provide the Ukrainian side with lists of our citizens who are expected back home. ❌ Unfortunately, Kiev often rejects the proposals we put forward – it does not want to take back all of its own people and, most importantly, is in no hurry to return ours. That is precisely what has happened once again. It is necessary to set the record straight on a situation the Ukrainian authorities are trying to distort. The Ukrainian side has published lists of our people from the LPR, DPR and Republic of Crimea who have been held captive since 2014 and 2022, claiming that “Moscow refuses to include them in exchange lists”. I believe it is necessary to give a clear and principled assessment of the situation. For our part, we are ready for an exchange. In the past month alone, we proposed three different lists – including ordinary soldiers and individuals convicted in Russia under various criminal statutes. But Ukraine refuses to take back its own citizens. We have already agreed on a list of 224 people. These are Ukrainian nationals convicted of various crimes committed on our territory. We are ready to exchange them as early as tomorrow morning, with one goal in mind – to bring OUR people home – those from the DPR, LPR and Crimea who have been waiting to return since 2014 and 2022. But Ukraine refuses to take the mentioned 224 people. It needs PR, not people’s lives. 👉 The Ukrainian authorities, which refuse to take back their own convicted citizens, in reality treat them as expendable. They are the ones feeding them false hope through video appeals while refusing to approve an exchange. We are ready for a wide range of exchange formats. Our goal is to secure the release of our people held captive. We are publishing the list of Ukrainian citizens whom we are ready to exchange for ours. 📄 List of 224 Ukrainian citizens proposed by Russia for exchange

🎙Excerpts from President Putin's remarks during the final stage of the Pacific Fleet drills (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, August 12, 2026) 📍Arctic 💬 There is growing tension in the neighbouring Arctic zone, as has been mentioned already, which relates to operating the Northern Sea Route. Russia has always upheld its unwavering commitment and reaffirms its readiness to work with others in the Arctic to benefit from the advantages the Northern Sea Route has to offer. Of course, this must be done in keeping with the international law of the sea. ❗️Countries that want and are interested in working with us primarily include our friends: China, India, and other countries. They have been discussing these questions with us, and we will definitely welcome opportunities for working with our friends, as well as all countries willing to take part in this instrumental and extremely promising initiative to expand global logistics. 📍Maritime Security 💬 There is another problem I wanted to draw your attention to. The Commander has just mentioned the escorting of our ships in the Pacific Fleet’s area of responsibility. I would like to note the recent decisions of the European Union. We can see that the officials of some countries are attempting to restrict the movement of our economic operators’ vessels by peaceful means in violation of International Maritime Law, but recently it occurred to them that they can seize our vessels and sell our looted property. This is nothing short of piracy and plunder. If this happens, we will have to reciprocate – not necessarily in the waters where they plan to raid our own ships but anywhere we consider necessary or reasonable, including in the Pacific Fleet’s area of responsibility. ❗️I would like to draw your attention to this. The Defence Ministry has received corresponding instructions and I know that they have been conveyed to the command of the Pacific Fleet. Read in full

🎙 Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin's interview with TASS News Agency (August 11, 2026) Key points: • Zelensky has no interest in peace. For him and his clique, prolonging the conflict is the only way to stay in power and evade responsibility for the crimes they have committed. • We are not closing the door to negotiations. At the same time, we are left with no choice but to continue pursuing, by military means, the objectives of demilitarising and denazifying Ukraine and eliminating the threats emanating from its territory. • Our principles and approaches to a lasting and just settlement remain unchanged. They were set out by President Vladimir Putin in his address at the Russian Foreign Ministry on June 14, 2024. • There have been no official contacts with Germany on the Ukraine settlement, nor are any likely given the German political leadership’s extremely aggressive anti-Russian rhetoric and actions. Informal meetings between representatives of Russian and German public organisations, however, have taken place and continue. • Any attempt to destabilise the situation or stage provocations against Belarus, our ally, will be regarded as an attack on the Union State as a whole. We hope our Western partners have enough common sense to restrain the Zelensky regime from provocations that could have irreparable consequences for the European continent. • The Moldovan leadership and the Kiev regime must understand that any armed aggression against Transnistria, home to more than 220,000 Russian citizens, would have catastrophic consequences for the aggressors themselves. • The referendum in Armenia is intended to establish what the country’s people actually think about the EU and the EAEU. The issue is not an abstract one – whether they would like to join the EU – but a very practical one: are they prepared to give up EAEU membership for the far from certain prospect of joining the EU in the future? • We thank the leadership of Kazakhstan for its attention to the situation around Ukraine. However, as President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated, there can be no “freeze” without addressing the root causes of the crisis. • We remain open to further expanding pragmatic ties with Tbilisi. It is clear that Georgia’s successful development lies not in confrontation, but in cooperation with Russia. Read in full

🎙Комментарий Посла России в Канаде О.В.Степанова информационному агентству ИТАР-ТАСС (Оттава, 10 августа 2026 г.) О новом «раунде» канадских санкций Очередной санкционный жест Оттавы может только позабавить. В кабинете премьер-министра М.Карни понимают, что такого рода акции не имеют практического наполнения. И знают, что в России на это внимания не обращают. ❗️Пустое позерство. Ничего нового.