TASS

The An-24 aircraft that crashed in Russia’s Amur Region caught fire during its descent, and no survivors were spotted during an aerial inspection of the site, the regional civil defense and fire safety center told TASS: vk.cc/cNX0Mh

Charges against Gagauz autonomy’s head Evghenia Gutsul are absolutely unfounded and must be dropped, leader of Moldova’s Party of Socialists and former president of the country, Igor Dodon told TASS: vk.cc/cNWCoC

Russia and Ukraine held the third round of direct talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul. The parties agreed to exchange not only service members but also civilians, a source told TASS: vk.cc/cNWu1r

The delegations of Russia and Ukraine have concluded the third round of talks in Istanbul, a source told TASS: vk.cc/cNWleR

Air defenses have destroyed six drones over the Crimean city of Sevastopol and the Black Sea, Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said: vk.cc/cNWhD3

The heads of the Russian and Ukrainian delegations, Vladimir Medinsky and Rustem Umerov, are holding a one-on-one meeting at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, a source told TASS: vk.cc/cNWgzR

Vladimir Medinsky is aware that the Ukrainian delegation will push for a summit between the country’s leaders at today’s talks, he said upon arrival in Istanbul: vk.cc/cNW3Ta

Press review: Moscow to prioritize its own interests in talks with Kiev as US quits UNESCO. Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, July 23rd: vk.cc/cNVCjQ

The delegations from Russia and Ukraine will start negotiations in Istanbul this evening, a source in the Russian delegation confirmed to TASS: vk.cc/cNVBV6

The Russian delegation has departed Moscow bound for Istanbul to take part in the third round of negotiations with Ukraine, a source told TASS: vk.cc/cNVsf5

Air defense systems shot down 33 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over Russian regions overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. TASS has compiled the key facts about the incident: vk.cc/cNVbGz

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will resign in the wake of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s electoral defeat, with formal announcement expected until the end of August, The Mainichi newspaper reported: vk.cc/cNUXbS

Iran is not seeking to obtain nuclear weapons, but will continue enriching uranium in accordance with norms of the international law, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Al Jazeera in an interview: vk.cc/cNUWdR

A pattern of chronic disregard for and failure to implement peace agreements has emerged in recent years, Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said, citing Kiev's sabotage of the Minsk agreements as an example: vk.cc/cNUNxC

Ukraine’s Mirage 2000 fighter jet crashed in the Volyn Region, the Ukrainian Air Force said: vk.cc/cNUMts

Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne has died at the age of 77, his family said in a statement: vk.cc/cNUKSW

Trump neither confirmed nor denied whether he would meet with his Russian counterpart Putin when he comes to China later this year: vk.cc/cNUDIW

FACTBOX: What to know about search in office of Russia’s news outlet Baza: vk.cc/cNUyNu

American actor Steven Seagal resigned as CEO of Five Elements LLC on July 17 and was replaced by Vladislav Kazak, a member of the Vodstroy Board of Directors, Kommersant daily reported quoting the Unified State Register of Legal Entities as saying: vk.cc/cNUsjd

Russia’s grain exports this season may reach 53-55 mln tons. In the previous agricultural season, Russia exported approximately 53 mln tons of grain, including 44 mln tons of wheat: vk.cc/cNUj6A