Russian MFA 🇷🇺

🚀Yuri Gagarin’s Visit to Canada (August 5–6, 1961) 🇨🇦 Just a few months after his historic spaceflight, the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin, visited Canada. At the invitation of Canadian-American industrialist, financier and philanthropist Cyrus Eaton (1883–1979), Gagarin arrived in the province of Nova Scotia. 🛬On August 5, 1961, en route from Brazil, the aircraft carrying the Soviet delegation landed at Halifax Stanfield International Airport. More than 300 people gathered to greet the first cosmonaut. From there, Gagarin immediately traveled to the village of Pugwash (Cumberland Municipality) — the site of the renowned Pugwash Conferences, which became an important platform for international dialogue during the Cold War. Along the route, local residents lined the roads to welcome him. As no conference was taking place at the time, an improvised program was arranged. In central Pugwash, Gagarin was greeted by the “Amherst Legion Brass Band” and the “Dunvegan Girls Pipe Band”. He also visited “Thinkers’ Lodge”, the residence where the Pugwash Conferences were held. 🎙 Gagarin, together with the Soviet Ambassador to Canada A.Arutyunyan and C.Eaton, addressed a crowd of approximately 2,500 people. The event was described in the press as “an abbreviated version of the Gathering of the Clans.” 💬 Speaking to journalists, Gagarin noted: New achievements of Soviet space exploration will follow in the very near future. 🏡 In the evening, he arrived at Eaton’s estate in Deep Cove, expecting a short rest. However, early in the morning of August 6, he was urgently awakened with news that the spacecraft Vostok-2, carrying Gherman Titov, had been launched in the USSR. ✈️ Gagarin immediately decided to return to the Soviet Union. He departed Halifax later that same day. Despite a flight delay of nearly two hours, around 1,000 people gathered at the airport to see him off. The first cosmonaut’s visit to Canada lasted less than 30 hours, yet it became a vivid episode of international dialogue during the unfolding space race. 🎬Archival footage #GagarinTime #Gagarin65#ForeverFirst#RussiaInSpace

🎙Statement by the Delegation of the Russian Federation at the General Debate of the session of the United Nations Disarmament Commission (New York, 9 April 2026) Key points: • The current session of the Commission is taking place against the background of unprecedented developments in the world, indicating profound changes in the present system of international relations. Among them are the military operation and the subsequent humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, the armed invasion of Venezuela and the capture of its legitimate President N.Maduro, the energy blockade of Cuba, unprovoked attacks against Iran with the aim to change legitimate authority under the pretext of supposed concern for non-proliferation. • Ignoring the fundamental pillars of international law (IL) in order to achieve geopolitical objectives, refusing to recognize and take into account the core interests of other states, attempts to attain indisputable military superiority at all costs create a fundamentally new reality in the field of international security. • Acting on the principle of “who is stronger is right” can undermine the foundations of sovereign equality and non-interference in the internal affairs – key principles on which the present world order, established after the end of the Second World War, was built. • These events provoked the profound crisis of confidence in intergovernmental institutions and formats, including the UN. The principles and parameters of ensuring security stipulated in treaties and agreements are no longer perceived as inviolable, while international structures demonstrate their helplessness in the face of a new reality. • Aggression against Iran and bombing of its peaceful nuclear facilities placed under IAEA safeguards have become a direct attack on the NPT and a major blow to its regime. This Treaty and the non-proliferation rhetoric were used as an excuse to solve problems unrelated to non-proliferation. • We are extremely concerned by the revealed information about London and Paris considering the idea of covertly transferring elements of nuclear weapons or a “dirty bomb” to the Kiev regime. This is not only a direct threat to Russia’s national security, but also a flagrant violation of Articles I and II of the NPT, according to which nuclear-weapon states undertake not to transfer nuclear weapons, as well as not to encourage anyone to acquire them, and non-nuclear-weapon states – not in any way to acquire such weapons. • The actions of the current US administration, specifically President Trump’s order as of October 2025 regarding the resumption of nuclear testing, create serious doubts about the prospects of the CTBT’s entry into force. • We still consider the #UNDC to be an optimal forum to discuss the issue of new technologies in the context of international security due to its specialized and inclusive nature, as well as the proven effectiveness of the decisions taken. • Current international landscape demands more than ever cooperation and dialogue aimed at de-escalation, reducing tensions, restoring trust, as well as reaffirming commitment to existing agreements in the field of ACDN. Read in full

April 10, in our country and across the world, marks the International Day of the Resistance Movement. #OTD we cherish the memory of all those who, despite everything, courageously engaged the fight against the Nazi evil, having defeated defeating the German fascist invaders on the territories occupied by the Third Reich and its satellites during #WWII. The fight against the fascist occupants was international in nature: setting aside their differences, partisans of the Resistance movement united for a common goal — to collectively fight Hitler's aggression and eradicate the criminal Nazi ideology. The Resistance reached its greatest scale in the USSR, Yugoslavia, Italy, Poland, Czechoslovakia, France, Bulgaria, Norway, and the Netherlands — throughout all territories occupied by the Nazis, anti-fascist underground groups were formed, cooperating with the intelligence services of the anti-Hitler coalition Allies. #WeAreProud#OurHeroes 🌟 In our country, which bore the most terrible and devastating strike of the Nazi war machine, the partisan movement reached an unprecedented scale. During the years of the #GreatPatrioticWar, more than 6'000 units and 300 formations operated in the enemy rear. Among partisans there were men, women, and even teenagers — people of various nationalities and faiths — united by the common goal: to expel the enemy from the territory of our Motherland. Soviet partisan forces inflicted enormous damage on the Germans and drew up to 1/10 of all enemy ground troops on the Soviet-German front, undermining the morale and combat effectiveness of the Wehrmacht. In the Soviet Union, as well as in Nazi-occupied countries of Eastern and Southeastern Europe — where the enemy committed the most horrific atrocities — the mass partisan movement played a significant role in the subsequent liberation. In many countries, resistance to the Nazis took the form of a national liberation movement against fascism. The selfless fight of partisans in the USSR and members of the Resistance movement in other countries made an enormous contribution to the overall Victory over fascism and hastened the end of the most devastating war in human history. Today, despite attempts in a number of foreign countries to rewrite history and consign to oblivion the immortal feat of those who fought against fascism, on the International Day of the Resistance Movement we continue to preserve the memory of the true heroes of the partisan and underground movements who gave their lives in the fight against the Nazi plague. ❗️ Unlike many countries, #WeRemember the heroes of the Resistance and hold their memory sacred.

🇷🇺🇨🇺On April 9, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov held political consultations in Havana with Cuba's First Deputy Foreign Minister Gerardo Penalver and Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio. Sergey Ryabkov was also received by Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Perez-Oliva, and Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez. The contacts, held in the spirit of the Russia-Cuba allied strategic partnership, featured a substantive exchange of views on current bilateral, regional and international issues. The Sides noted that their approaches align on the overwhelming majority of key issues on the contemporary agenda. They reaffirmed their unchanged position on the inadmissibility of unilateral coercive measures, interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, and the use of force to remove “undesirable” governments. ❗️The Russian Side expressed solidarity with the Government and people of Cuba, strongly condemned the US economic, trade and financial blockade, as well as the energy embargo imposed by Washington on the island. The need to remove Cuba from the US State Department’s so-called list of state sponsors of terrorism was also underscored. 🤝Russia reaffirmed its firm commitment to providing Cuba with the necessary support, including material assistance, in its just struggle to uphold its state sovereignty, as well as to further steadily strengthen the Russia–Cuba dialogue across the broadest possible range of areas. #RussiaCuba

💬 We have noted Defence Secretary John Healey’s lofty claim that the UK spent a month heroically repelling the “aggression” of an alleged Russian submarine in the North Atlantic’s neutral waters, using only a single vessel and a surveillance aircraft. Needless to say, it is impossible to either believe or verify this statement. That, apparently, is precisely its purpose. However, this comes against the backdrop of genuine aggression against Iran, which the UK government supports both politically and militarily. As a country with a long history of maritime presence in the most remote corners of the world’s oceans — often without invitation and, at times, in defiance of local populations’ wishes — Britain appears peculiarly sensitive to the presence of Russian vessels in international waters. London has recently issued extremely aggressive statements and threats targeting merchant ships operating in the interests of Russian companies and our partners. It must be clearly understood that, if these threats are translated into action, there will be consequences. ❗️Russia does not threaten undersea infrastructure, which is of critical importance to the UK. Nor do we employ aggressive rhetoric in this regard. Nevertheless, it should be recalled that responsibility for the actual attack on undersea infrastructure — namely, the sabotage of Nord Stream — rests with Western countries. The score isn't settled.

⚡️On the delivery of Russia's humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe Russia donated to Zimbabwe 117 tons of sunflower oil enriched with vitamins A and D and 352 tons of yellow split peas as part of our county’s contribution to the UN World Food Programme. 🇷🇺🤝🇿🇼 The handover ceremony was held on April 9 in Malalume, Matabeleland South. The Embassy of Russia was joined there by high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare of the Republic of Zimbabwe and representatives of the WFP country office. Zimbabwe officials expressed the profound gratitude to Russia for the substantial and timely assistance. It was emphasized that the government in partnership with the UN WFP will distribute the food received from Russia among the most vulnerable families with many children. #RussiaHelps#RussiaZimbabwe#RussiaAfrica

🎙Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's statement on developments in Lebanon(April 9, 2026) 💬 On April 8, Israel launched massive missile and air strikes against Lebanese territory, including residential areas of Beirut. According to the Lebanese authorities, the death toll from the unprecedented bombing of the capital and other populated areas has already exceeded 250, with more than 1,100 people injured. April 9 has been declared a national day of mourning in the country. ▪️ We extend our condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. ❗️We strongly condemn this Israeli attack on Lebanon, which has resulted in numerous casualties among innocent civilians and large-scale destruction of civilian infrastructure. It is particularly noteworthy that it was carried out almost immediately after the US-Iranian agreement on a two-week ceasefire entered into force, at a moment when an opportunity had emerged for a diplomatic settlement of the acute military-political crisis in the region. Such aggressive actions threaten to derail the emerging negotiation process and sharply increase the risks of a renewed large-scale armed confrontation in the Middle East. We call for an immediate ceasefire in the zone of the Israeli-Lebanese conflict and for returning the situation to the track of political and diplomatic efforts, including in the interests of ensuring the comprehensive implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which clearly sets out the obligations of the parties. We reaffirm our principled position in support of the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Lebanon. We remain committed to close coordination with regional and international partners with a view to ensuring sustainable stabilisation in Lebanon and the Middle East as a whole.

🎙Statement by Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Lyubinsky at the plenary session of the High-Level Conference of the International Conference on Humanitarian Action, Remedy and Responsibility in unilateral sanctions environment(Geneva, 9 April, 2026) 💬We live in an era when the architecture of international law – built over decades – is being deliberately dismantled. So-called 'unilateral coercive measures' [aka unilateral sanctions] have become, among other things, the instrument of that destruction. <...> Russia's position on this issue is unwavering: any restrictions imposed in circumvention of the Security Council decisions are unacceptable. At the same time, unilateral coercive measures have become the weapon of choice for "old democracies" desperately trying to hold on to what they once believed was their unshakable dominance on the global stage, which is increasingly slipping from their grasp. As their political influence fades and economic leadership shifts to new centres of power, the collective West is resorting to dictatorship in international relations. Without exaggeration, we are dealing with a modern form of colonial policy. Behind the plausible slogans of defending some democratic values lies a desire to restrain the development of states that the West considers undesirable. This is nothing other than an attempt to artificially slow socioeconomic progress and impose its will on those who have chosen the way of independence and sovereignty. <...> Experience proves that the main target of these restrictions is not the authorities or the so-called elites – it is millions of ordinary citizens. Depriving ordinary people of access to food and medicine is not a political measure; it is a true crime against humanity, and that must be properly reflected in international law. Those who impose sanctions are under the illusion that sovereignty can be bought or traded away for comfort. However, the experience of Cuba, Iran, and North Korea clearly demonstrates that pressure doesn't work. <...> Today, they are trying to apply the same scenario against Russia. It has become clear that these sanctions are not temporary or targeted measures – they are a mechanism for systemic, strategic pressure on our country. No matter the situation, no matter the system of international relations, our Western competitors will always seek to contain Russia and weaken its economic and technological capacity. Moreover, while the collective West once tried to maintain at least a veneer of decency in its opposition, now it seems that it no longer feels the need to hold back. Not only do they regularly threaten Russia with new sanctions – they also churn out one sanctions package after another. <...> ❗️ However, the endless conveyor belt of sanctions packages from the European Union and the United States fails to bring them closer to their real goals. On the contrary, we see our society consolidated and our economy adapted. Our country's internal stability and our foreign policy course remain unwavering, while the sanctions machine continues to drain the resources of those who set it in motion. <...> The countries that imposed unilateral coercive sanctions against Russia have suddenly realized that the sanctionssword cuts both ways. The European Union's self-imposed embargo on Russian energy imports, adopted in the context of the war against Iran, has plunged Europe into a severe energy crisis. <...> Unilateral coercive measures are a neo-colonial practice with a destructive impact on all states and all segments of the population. The time has come to recognize their illegitimacy. 👆 The era of unilateral dominance is irrevocably over. It must be replaced by an era of equitable, mutually respectful dialogue and cooperation among sovereign states. Read in full

⚡️By decision of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, a ceasefire has been declared ahead of the Orthodox Easter – from 4:00 p.m. on April 11 until the end of April 12, 2026. The Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation Andrey Belousov and the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation – Commander of the Joint Grouping of Forces – Army General Valery Gerasimov have been instructed to halt combat operations in all areas for this period. 👉Russian troops are to remain ready to repel any possible provocations by the enemy, as well as any aggressive actions on its part. We proceed from the assumption that the Ukrainian side will follow Russia’s example.

✍️On April 9, President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed the Federal Law On Amendments to Articles 2434 and 3541 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. The Federal Law was adopted by the State Duma on March 24, 2026, and approved by the Federation Council on April 1, 2026. The Federal Law establishes criminal liability for socially dangerous acts committed against the burial sites of victims of the genocide of the Soviet people and memorials commemorating them, as well as for denying the fact of the genocide of the Soviet people and insulting the memory of its victims. 📄 From the explanatory note to the draft law: Historical memory is the foundation of a national and cultural identity that ensures continuity between generations, civic unity and the resilience of the state. The deliberate destruction or distortion of the memory of key, defining events such as the Great Patriotic War and the genocide of the Soviet people constitutes a direct threat to state security. It severs the spiritual bond between generations, fragments society, erodes moral reference points and, as a result, weakens the country’s sovereignty. This legislation is aimed at strengthening the legal foundations for protecting historical memory and at creating reliable mechanisms for safeguarding national security. The draft law improves the principles already enshrined in Article 3541 of the Criminal Code and Article 6 of Federal Law No. 80-FZ of May 19, 1995, On Perpetuating the Victory of the Soviet People in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, which concern the inadmissibility of insulting the memory of the defenders of the Fatherland and degrading the honour and dignity of Great Patriotic War veterans. Liability for such acts has already been established. It is now proposed to introduce similar legal protection for the memory of the victims of the genocide of the Soviet people – civilians and POWs who suffered at the hands of the Nazis and their accomplices – by supplementing Article 3541 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation with liability for insulting the memory of genocide victims.

#Victory81 🌟 On April 9, 1945, the Red Army captured the Nazi fortress city — Königsberg — during the East-Prussian offensive. The German Wehrmacht’s troops in East Prussia — powerful fascists' units on the Eastern Front — were totally destroyed once and for all. The 3rd Belarussian Front of the Red Army carried out the Königsberg operation and crushed the Nazis withinjust three days. The first line of the enemy defences was breached within the first 24 hours, the fortress city surrounded the next day, with the last pockets of Nazi resistance being eliminated on April 9. *** #Königsbergserved as a ToO with fierce and bloody battles during #WWII. The city itself, which was regarded as the most impregnable citadel of the Third Reich, was fortified with then cutting-edge military technology and prepared for long-term resistance in conditions of complete isolation. The city area of about 200 square kilometres was turned into a complicated network of fortifications, which, combined with numerous stone buildings in the suburbs, provided conditions for long-term defence. The citadel was termed by the Nazis the “iron door of Germany.” The Red Army soldiers and officers who took part in the assault on Königsberg recalled that only the 305mm artillery guns could penetrate the several-metres thick walls. The fall of Königsberg delivered a heavy blow to the Nazi war machine — the enemy lost the strategic Pillau naval base on the Baltic Sea, with the main German troops of the Samland and East Prussian armies being completely defeated. 🔉Excerpt from the Soviet "Sovinformburo" communique on April 9, 1945: On April 9, the forces of the 3rd Belarussian Front stormed and captured <...> the Königsberg fortress — the capital of East Prussia and a strategic hub of Nazi defences on the Baltic Sea. By 8 pm, our armies took as prisoners over 27'000 Nazi soldiers and officers, seized a large amount of weapons and various military equipment. 👉The fall of Königsberg and East Prussia accelerated the defeat of the Nazi war machine. The end of the Third Reich was a foregone conclusion, but the enemy, fearing just retribution for the numerous crimes it had committed, continued to fight desperately. #LestWeForget: The Red Army soldiers and officers demonstrated high combat readiness and mass heroism: 235 soldiers were later awarded the title of #HeroOfTheSovietUnion. To commemorate their feat, the 'Medal For the Capture of Königsberg' was established and awarded to 760'000 Soviet soldiers and officers. By decisions of the Potsdam Conference following the end of WWII in Europe, a large part of East Prussia was assigned to Poland, while a third of its territory with Königsberg was incorporated into the Soviet Union and the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (the Kaliningrad Region). 🎖 On November 17, 2025, President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin signed an executive order on establishing a new commemorative date — April 9, Day of the Heroic Assault and Capture of Königsberg. #WeRemember

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