Russian MFA 🇷🇺

🇷🇺🇷🇸📞 On March 30, at the initiative of the Serbian Side, President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic had a telephone conversation. The Presidents discussed current issues on the Russia-Serbia strategic partnership agenda, including cooperation in the energy sector and in the oil and gas and nuclear industries, as well as preparations for the next meeting of the Intergovernmental Russian-Serbian Committee on Trade, Economic, and Scientific and Technical Cooperation, due to be held in April. Aleksandar Vucic expressed appreciation for the continued stable deliveries of Russian gas, which are of vital importance for ensuring the country’s energy security. The Leaders also held a detailed exchange of views on the situation around Ukraine and the current large-scale escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. The President of Serbia shared his assessments of the situation in the Balkans. Both Sides underscored the fundamental importance of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 for the settlement of the Kosovo issue, as well as the need to ensure the rights of Republika Srpska within Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with the Dayton Agreement. 🤝 It was agreed to continue contacts. #RussiaSerbia

⚡️Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's statement on the strike on the residence of Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq(March 30, 2026) 💬 Moscow is seriously concerned over the continuing armed confrontation in the Persian Gulf area, as well as the growing number of attacks on administrative and civilian infrastructure. According to incoming information, on March 28, the residence of Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, in Dohuk came under attack by an unidentified suicide drone. ❗️We strongly condemn this act, whose organisers clearly sought to further expand the geographical scope of the unprecedented military and political crisis in terms of both scale and destructiveness, triggered by the unprovoked US-Israeli aggression against Iran. Russia firmly advocates an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to a political and diplomatic settlement. We consistently call on all parties to the conflict to refrain from any attacks on non-military targets.

#Announcement 🎙 On Wednesday, April 1, Russia’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova will hold her weekly briefing on current foreign policy issues. 🕛 12:00 pm MSK 🕘 9:00 am GMT 🕙 10:00 am CET 🕔 5:00 pm CST For accreditation inquiries, please contact the MFA Press Centre. Accredited journalists will receive details on the technical aspects of submitting questions. The Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman will answer media questions received by the call centre. ❗️Accreditation is open until March 31, 10:00 am MSK

⚡️ On March 30, Chargé d’Affaires of the UK in Russia Danae Dholakia was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry and issued a strong protest over newly uncovered information that one of the diplomatic staff members of the British Embassy had deliberately provided false personal details when applying for permission to enter Russia. By doing so, he violated Paragraph 2 of Article 26 of the Federal Law “On the Procedure for Exit from the Russian Federation and Entry into the Russian Federation” No. 114-FZ of August 15, 1996. Russian authorities have also obtained information indicating this staff member’s affiliation with the UK special services and identified signs that he had been conducting intelligence and subversive activities on the territory of our country. In connection with the violation of Russian law and in accordance with Article 9 of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the British side was informed that this individual’s accreditation had been revoked. The British side was also told that previously uncovered cases of some British diplomats deliberately submitting false information about themselves had already prompted a firm response from Russia. A request was also conveyed to London to strongly recommend that British nationals – especially embassy staff – provide only truthful information about their background when submitting visa applications. It was particularly emphasized that Moscow will not tolerate the activities of undeclared British intelligence operatives on Russian territory, and that Russia’s uncompromising line on this matter will continue to be shaped in accordance with its national security interests. In addition, a warning was issued that, should London choose the path of escalation, the Russian side will respond without delay.

🇷🇺🇨🇬On March 28, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of the Congo approved the official results of the presidential election held on March 15. The incumbent Head of State – Denis Sassou Nguesso – won the election with 94.9% of the vote. Moscow welcomes the successful conduct of the popular vote in the Republic of the Congo and its outcome. The Russian Side reaffirms its commitment to further deepening constructive dialogue and multifaceted mutually beneficial cooperation with this friendly country on the basis of equality, respect and due regard for national interests.

#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 March 23-29, 2026: ▪️March 23 – shelling of a private residential area in Mikhailovka, Zaporozhye Region. Two women were killed. ▪️March 24 – a UAV strike targeted a civilian passenger car in the vicinity of Vasilyevka, Zaporozhye Region. Three civilians were injured. ▪️March 24 – a kamikaze drone struck an ambulance vehicle in Kherson Region. A medical worker was injured. ▪️March 25 – a UAV attack targeted a private house in Alyoshki, Kherson Region. Two civilians were killed. ▪️March 26 – a UAV strike targeted a petrol station in Vasilyevka, Zaporozhye Region. Two civilian women were injured. ▪️March 26 – a UAV attack targeted a parking area at an agricultural enterprise in Maslova Pristan, Belgorod Region. ▪️March 27 – an FPV drone struck a civilian vehicle in Golovchino, Belgorod Region. ▪️March 27 – a fixed-wing UAV struck an apartment building in Donetsk, DPR. ▪️March 27 – a UAV strike targeted a commercial lorry in Nezhegol, Belgorod Region. The driver was injured. ▪️March 29 – a fixed-wing UAV struck an apartment building in Krasnodar. Three civilians were injured.

🇷🇺🤝🇿🇦 On 27 March 2026 the Embassy of Russia in South Africa representatives participated in the commemoration of the 29th anniversary of the establishment of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) at the North-West University (NWU), Mahikeng Campus. The International #IORADay celebrations under the theme: “Strengthening Connections Amongst the People of IORA” were organized by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the NWU and saw the presence of senior South African Government officials, members of diplomatic corps, academia and students. 💬Vladimir Poluektov, First Secretary (Political), conveyed a welcome message by H.E. Mr Roman Ambarov, Russian Ambassador to South Africa, to the organizers and attendees of the meeting, as well as delivered remarks on the Russian inputs to IORA activities, including within the six priority areas and two cross-cutting issues of Association. ☝️He emphasised that Russia, being IORA Dialogue Partner since 2021(South Africa is a coordinator), considers the Association to be a very important platform to address shared challenges in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), advancing mutually beneficial cooperation, prosperity and sustainable development. While acknowledging greater role of coastal areas and oceans as well as its resources for ensuring global and regional food and energy security, achieving SDGs, maritime security and safety, it was also stated that there's a need to increase IORA visibility in international affairs, boost public awareness of its activities. 🇷🇺❗️Russia stands in favour of practical depoliticized cooperation within IORAin order to prevent the Association from being dragged into any kind of block confrontation policies and to ensure its adherence to the principle that IORA should become a zone of peace, security and prosperity. #IORACelebration #IORADay #RussiaSouthAfrica

⚡️ Chargé d’Affaires of the UK in Russia was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

⭐️ On March 28, Cape Town joined the international initiative #GardenOfMemory — an important event uniting people around a common goal: to preserve historical memory and honour the heroism of generations who gave their lives during the Great Patriotic War. 🇿🇦🌍 This was the first time the project took place in South Africa — and the first participation on the African continent. The Cape Town event marks an important milestone in the initiative, which continues to grow every year and resonate worldwide. The project aims to plant 27 million trees — one for every life lost during the Great Patriotic War. The initiative was organized by Anastasia Predunova, coordinator of the “Victory Volunteers” movement. It took place at the historic Castle of Good Hope, one of Cape Town’s oldest landmarks. 🇷🇺 Among the guests were Ambassador of the Russian Federation to South Africa, Roman Ambarov; Consul General of Russia in Cape Town, Ruslan Golubovskiy; and Russian saxophonist Igor Butman, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation and Artistic Director of the Moscow Jazz Orchestra. 💬 Ambassador Roman Ambarov: “The ‘Garden of Memory’ serves as a living bridge between past and present, connecting generations and countries through shared remembrance. Events like this strengthen friendship and understanding between nations, and ensure the sacrifices of those who fought in the Great Patriotic War are never forgotten.” In his welcoming address, Igor Butman, who is visiting South Africa for the Cape Town Jazz Festival (27–28 March), also highlighted the importance of preserving historical memory, respecting the courage of our ancestors, and maintaining spiritual connections between generations. During the commemorative event, six saplings were planted, including South African native species and Russian trees, such as viburnum. This selection symbolized the unity of #Russian-#SouthAfrican cultures, mutual respect, and shared values. #Victory81#RussiaSouthAfrica

🇷🇺🇵🇦 March 29 marks the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relationsbetween Russia and Panama Bilateral ties have a much longer history though: consular and trade relations were first established in November 1903, when the Russian Empire recognised the independence of the Central American state almost immediately after it was declared. Following the formation of the USSR, Panama closed its existing consulates in our country, although the two nations continued to maintain diverse and mutually beneficial cooperation. During World War II, Panama joined the Allied Powers, demonstrating solidarity in the fight against Nazism. #Victory81: One of the most significant episodes in the history of bilateral relations was the passage of a Soviet submarine squadron through the Panama Canal in November-December 1942. The aim was to help protect the Allied Arctic convoys, which supplied military equipment and goods to the USSR via the North Atlantic under the Lend-Lease programme. This support underscored the friendly and cooperative relations between the USSR and Panama, as well as their unity in the shared fight against Nazism. 🤝 Today, cooperation between our countries is grounded in the provisions of the 1997 Treaty on the Principles of Relations and Cooperation, as well as the preceding Declaration of the same name signed in 1994 during a visit to Moscow by Panama’s Foreign Minister José Raúl Mulino, who now serves as the country’s President. #Panamais a promising trade and economic partner for Russia, with its unique geographical location and well-developed trade and financial infrastructure. 💬 Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova during her weekly briefing (March 25, 2026): “The Russian-Panamanian ties have much potential. Its implementation is consistently achieved through a constructive political dialogue, promotion of inter-parliamentary and inter-agency contacts, and expansion of scientific, educational and academic exchanges and cultural-humanitarian cooperation as a whole.” 🎉 Congratulations to our colleagues and the people of Panama on this shared occasion! We wish you well-being, prosperity, and success. #RussiaPanama#RussiaLatinAmerica

🇺🇳On March 28, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific marks its 7️⃣9️⃣th anniversary The decision to establish #ESCAP was taken at the 4th session of the UN Economic and Social Council in 1947, to ficilitate socio-economic development of the countries of the Asia Pacific Region. 🇷🇺Russia has been a member of the Commission since its establishment. Our country views ESCAP as a unique dialogue platform to help the states implement the UN 2030 Agenda and is using the Commission’s capacities to promote Russian approaches and developments in the regional cooperation agenda. With Russia's expert and financial involvement ESCAP developed and adopted a number of significant international legal documents: the 2013 ESCAP Intergovernmental Agreement on Dry Ports of international importance, the 2016 ESCAP Framework Agreement on the Facilitation of Cross-border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific, and the 2016 trilateral (Russia-Mongolia-China) Intergovernmental Agreement on the Asian Highway Network. Our country is among ESCAP’s major donors. Russian financial support has helped to implement over70 various technical assistance projects worth $18.4 million across all key sectors within the ESCAP mandate: energy, transport, trade, development finance and social issues, environment and sustainable development, information and communication technologies, etc. The geographical priority of such projects is the #CIS nations. The execution of these initiatives has made a significant contribution to strengthening the socio-economic potential of the recipient countries. 🤝Russia appreciates the Secretariat’s efforts inrendering assistance to the Asian-Pacific states and developing the formats of regional and subregional cooperation. Our country is going tosupport this activity both through its expert and analytical input in the implementation of the ESCAP work programme and through its voluntary payment to the Commission’s budget and thereby funded technical assistance projects for friendly countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

#FacesOfVictory 🗓Marina Raskova, a legendary navigator, a symbol of courage and a source of inspiration for thousands of young women who dreamed of flying, was born on March 28, 1912. Her aviation career began in 1931, when she was hired as a draftswoman in the air navigation laboratory of the Zhukovsky Air Force Academy in Moscow. Marina was a technical assistant of the laboratory head, pilot Alexander Belyakov, and attended lectures at the academy, where she became keen on navigation, subsequently enrolling at the correspondence department of the Leningrad Institute of Aviation. ✈️ In 1934, she received the diploma of navigator, and a year later she learned to fly at the Central Flying Club in Moscow. She took part in flights since 1935, setting several world flight distance records. Her main achievement was the famous non-stop flight of the Rodina aircraft from Moscow to the Far East with an all-female crew, which made her a national celebrity. 🎖 In 1938, Marina Raskova, Valentina Grizodubova and Polina Osipenko became the first women to be awarded the titles of Hero of the Soviet Union for that flight. When the Great Patriotic War began in 1941, Raskova was instructed to establish female air force units. In October 1941, she created the night bomber aviation regiment that flew the U-2 (Polikarpov Po-2) aircraft, and a dive bomber regiment flying the Petlyakov Pe-2 planes. In December 1942, one of these regiments was deployed near Stalingrad, where fierce fighting was underway. The famous 46th Taman Guards Night Bomber Regiment, which Raskova created, instilled uncontrollable fear in the Germans, who called it the Night Witches. 🕯 Marina Raskova did not take part in fighting. On January 4, 1943, her plane crashed on its way to the frontline near the village of Mikhailovka, Saratov Region, due to bad weather. The urn with her ashes was buried in the Kremlin Wall on Red Square in Moscow. #Victory81