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rare cooperation

Russia Says Dismantles REvil Hacker Group at U.S. Request

The hacking group, which is believed to be based in Russia, carried out a high-profile attack last year on IT software company Kaseya.

Russian Baby Tiger Fights for Life after Frostbite, Surgery

This year's harsh winter has "significantly complicated" life for Russia's tiger population, an environmental expert said.

mission complete

Russia-Led Troops to Begin Leaving Kazakhstan in 2 Days — President

The CSTO mission of more than 2,000 troops was despatched at the peak of the crisis last week.

new year's message

Putin Says Russia 'Firmly' Defended Interests in 2021

The Russian president delivers a televised message every New Year's Eve at midnight.

Putin Says 'Effective Dialogue' With U.S. Possible

Tensions remain high between Russia and the U.S. over Moscow's military build-up on the border with Ukraine.

'considerable step'

Putin Hails Multiple Launch Test of Hypersonic Missile

It was the first time Russian authorities reported a successful simultaneous launch test of several Tsirkon missiles.

Ex French PM Fillon Joins Russian Company Board

A number of former senior European politicians have joined Russian energy companies in the past.

ukraine tensions

Russia Expects Security Talks With U.S., NATO in January

Foreign Minister Lavrov reiterated that although Russia did not want conflict, it was prepared to take steps to defend itself.

international affair

Russian Businessman Appears in U.S. Court After Swiss Extradition

The United States accuses Kremlin insider Vladislav Klyushin, of insider trading to the tune of tens of millions of dollars.

Russia Expels 2 German Diplomats in Tit-for-Tat Move

Russia on Monday expelled two German diplomats in response to a spat with Berlin over a recent German court's ruling.

diplomats attacked

Belarus Says Diplomat Hurt in London Embassy 'Attack'

The Belarusian foreign ministry said that its embassy in London was attacked by suspects it suggested belonged to a "radical immigrant group."

clowning around

Clowns Celebrate Russian Master Comic Nikulin

The beloved clown and actor would have turned 100 on Saturday.

'comfortable conditions'

Russia Defends Health Check Law for Foreigners

Foreigners present in Russia for more than three months will soon be required to pass a litany of medical exams every quarter.

ongoing conflict

Ukrainian Soldier Killed as Tensions with Moscow Soar

The latest death brings Ukraine's toll in the simmering conflict to 65 since the start of the year.

Russia Defends Veto of UN Climate Change Resolution

Diplomats said Russia's opposition was hard to understand given that the resolution itself "was not radical."

sanctioned mercenaries

EU Imposes Sanctions Targeting Russia's Wagner Group

The shadowy private military company is accused of acting to destabilize Ukraine and parts of Africa on behalf of the Kremlin.

rate your driver

Taxi for Vladimir: Putin Says He Drove Cab After Soviet Fall

Putin said the disintegration of the Soviet Union three decades ago remains a "tragedy" for "most citizens."

dismissed concerns

Declaring Novaya Gazeta 'Foreign Agent' Would Be 'Stupid' – Muratov

The independent newspaper's editor-in-chief received the Nobel Peace Prize for efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.

russophobia accusations

Putin Says Conflict in Eastern Ukraine 'Looks Like Genocide'

The United States and its allies accuse Russia of planning an invasion of Ukraine and massing troops along Kiev's borders.

'history returns home'

Russia to Return Pre-War Jewish Archives to Greece

The archives, which Nazi forces plundered in 1942, had been transferred to Moscow after the Red Army took Berlin.

Putin Says Russia Has 'Right to Defend its Security' Amid NATO Tensions

The comments are Putin's first public remarks since his high-profile talks with U.S. leader Joe Biden.

monopoly challenged

Rosneft Told to Present Gas Export Proposal to Putin

The move comes as Europe grapples with record-high gas prices that some blame on Russia, which provides a third of all European gas.

political playing field

Kremlin Slams U.S. Olympics Boycott, Says Games Should Be 'Free of Politics'

The U.S. will not send any diplomatic or government officials to the Winter Olympics in Beijing over China's human rights record.

from the altar to a prison cell

Rogue Russian Monk Sentenced to 3.5 Years in Prison

Father Sergiy he rose to fame after publicly denying the existence of Covid and calling on Russians to resist virus restrictions.

Moscow Says West, Ukraine Threaten Russia Security

Putin declined to say whether Moscow planned to move troops across Ukraine's border as the West has been alleging for weeks.

coordinated actions

Putin Calls for Mutual Approval of Covid Vaccines

Russia has not approved any foreign vaccines for use, while its own vaccines are still awaiting WHO and EMA approval.

Russia Says Developing Sputnik Omicron Booster

Sputnik V's backers said the Omicron-adapted version of the vaccine "can be ready for mass-scale production in 45 days."

Russia Launches Classified Military Satellite

The satellite is believed to be part of the Kremlin's early warning anti-missile system.

deconfliction dialogue

U.S., Russian Military Chiefs Speak on the Phone

Western countries have raised alarm over reported Russian military activity near Ukraine.

Putin to Host Armenia, Azerbaijan Leaders as Fighting Renews

The planned summit follows some of the worst fighting between the Caucasus foes since last year's war over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Russia Spy Agency Dismisses Claims of Ukraine Invasion Plan

The U.S. is "painting a frightening picture" of Russian tanks crushing Ukrainian cities, the SVR said in a rare statement.

lack of contact

Belarus Leader Says EU Refusing to Discuss Migrants

Lukashenko said Germany's Angela Merkel promised him that Brussels would discuss the fate of the 2,000 migrants stranded in Belarus.

Russia's Putin Gets Covid Booster Jab

Authorities are struggling to convince people to get vaccinated even as a fresh wave of the virus is killing record numbers.

pointing fingers

Kremlin Slams U.S. 'Hysteria' Over Ukraine Conflict

Western countries have accused Moscow of a troop build-up near Ukraine's borders in recent weeks.

U.S. Adds Russia to Religious Freedom Blacklist

A report by U.S. diplomats accused Russia of misusing extremism law "to restrict the peaceful activities of religious minorities."

direct dialogue

Kremlin Hails EU-Belarus Contact Over Migrant Crisis

Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko's phone call with Germany's Angela Merkel was his first with a Western leader since last year.

'unacceptable' behavior

Russia Criticizes Polish Use of Tear Gas on Migrants

Polish forces fired tear gas at stone-throwing migrants trying to cross the border from Belarus on Tuesday.

pointing fingers

Putin Tells Macron U.S. Leading 'Provocative' Exercises in Black Sea

Putin's comments came after Western countries raised alarm over Russian military activities near Ukraine.

outside influence

Macron, Putin Agree on 'De-Escalation' of Belarus/Poland Crisis – France

Tensions have soared as coordinated efforts by migrants to cross from Belarus into EU member Poland were thwarted.

Poland Says Large Group of Migrants Gathering at Belarus Border Crossing

Videos appeared to show hundreds of migrants in front of lines of Polish police and soldiers.

2 Russian Paratroopers Die in Belarus Drills Jump

Belarus and ally Russia held joint military drills near the western border with Poland where a migrant crisis is unfolding.

seeking answers

Russian Movements at Ukraine Border 'Rather Worrying' – EU

Washington this week demanded explanations from Moscow over reports of "unusual Russian activity near Ukraine."

'systematic violations'

Russia Moves to Close Respected Rights Group Memorial

Prosecutors accuse Memorial of systematically violating Russia's "foreign agents" law.

anti-terrorism support

Moscow Vows Military Support for Mali, Denies Wagner Links

The Kremlin came under scrutiny this year over a reported deal to send 1,000 fighters from the Kremlin-linked Wagner mercenary group to Mali.

Smuggled Russian Royal Jewels Rake in $900K at Auction

The jewels belonged to grand duchess Maria Pavlovna the Elder, the aunt of the last tsar, Nicholas II.

Russia Drops Case Against Prison Torture Whistleblower

Sergei Savelyev fled Russia and asked for asylum in France after leaking videos of torture inside a Russian jail.

Putin, Lukashenko Discuss Migrant Stand-Off on Poland-Belarus Border

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki later accused Putin of orchestrating the unprecedented wave of migrants trying to enter Poland from Belarus.

Denmark Detains Russian Research Ship in Legal Dispute

The state-owned Akademik Ioffe was detained over its previous commercial activities providing passenger trips.

At Least 5 Dead in Cargo Plane Crash Over Siberia

The Antonov An-12 aircraft "disappeared from radars" during its final approach outside the city of Irkutsk.

continued contact

CIA Head Meets Russian Security Council Chief in Moscow

The meeting comes with Russia's ties with the West at their lowest levels in years.

innovation instruction

Putin Calls for Boost to Drone Arsenal With AI

Drone development is part of a major push for weapons development under Putin.

unexplained movements

Ukraine Denies Russian Military Buildup on Border as Defense Minister Quits

The reports of a Russian military buildup raised fears of a new escalation in fighting with pro-Moscow separatists.

Russia Warns of Strain on Doctors as Virus Spreads

The Kremlin said doctors working in red zones were facing "extreme physical and emotional stress" with the recent rise in cases.

scythian dispute

Russia Slams Dutch Ruling on Crimean Gold as 'Dangerous Precedent'

Kiev hailed this week's court decision to return a priceless collection of Crimean gold to Ukraine as a victory over Moscow.

Russia to Delay Champagne Label Law by 2 Months – France

Only Russian producers of sparkling wines can use the term in Cyrillic, a move that caused outrage in France's Champagne region.

call for engagement

Russia Urges West to Engage With Taliban

The Russian presidential envoy to Afghanistan said the European Union would be right to re-open its mission in the country.

Russians Now Must Travel to Warsaw for U.S. Immigrant Visas

The U.S. says Moscow's limit on the number of diplomatic staff it can keep in Russia has hindered its ability to issue visas.

out in the cold

Gazprom Could Cut Gas to Moldova if Contract Not Signed

Moldova declared a 30-day state of emergency after Moscow — its traditional supplier — raised prices.

'abundance of caution'

Namibia Halts Use of Russian Sputnik Jabs After S.African HIV Fears

Sputnik V's developer has said it would produce information to show that South Africa's concerns were "completely unfounded."

'great responsibility'

Navalny Calls Sakharov Prize an 'Honor,' Thanks European Parliament

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought went to Navalny after he was passed over for this year's Nobel Peace Prize.

FBI Raids U.S. Properties of Sanctioned Russian Oligarch

Oleg Deripaska, a close ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, has been under U.S. sanctions since 2018.

Russia's St. Petersburg Tightens Virus Controls

The country's second-largest city is clamping down amid a new surge in Covid-19 cases.

Putin Says Talk of Succession 'Destabilizes' Russia

"The situation must be safe and stable in order for power structures and state structures to work in a confident manner," Vladimir Putin said.

immunity waiver

Russia Seeks to Prosecute U.S. Diplomats for Stealing Backpack

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that if their request was denied, the diplomats should "immediately" leave Russia.

mounting penalties

Russia Threatens Facebook with Massive Fine

The fine calls for a total of "5 to 10 percent" of Facebook's "annual revenue" for repeatedly ignoring requests to remove banned content.

Russia Develops Tech for Monitoring 'Deviant' Behavior

The tech is said to "quickly track the spread of destructive subcultures among young people," preventing them from harming themselves and others.

gas-in procedure

Nord Stream 2 Operator Begins Filling Controversial Pipeline

With gas prices skyrocketing in Europe, the International Energy Agency has urged Russia to open the taps on the newly completed pipeline.

Get Sputnik Jab, Putin Tells Erdogan

The Russian president boasted of high antibody levels as he hosted the Turkish leader for talks.

Navalny Accuses Google, Apple of Becoming Putin's 'Accomplices'

Both tech companies took down his voting app during Russia’s parliamentary election last week.

bubbling dispute

France, Russia in Talks on Halting Champagne Label Law

Russia banned the use of the Russian translation of champagne on imported bottles, sparking outrage in France's Champagne region.

'private conversation'

Top U.S., Russian Generals Meet in Helsinki

The meeting comes amid Washington's hopes for support to continue surveillance of extremists in Afghanistan.

Russian Opposition Politician Loses Vote Marred by Doppelgangers

Boris Vishnevsky made headlines after he claimed that two other candidates had changed their names and appearance to match his.

'Neutralized' threat

Russia Says 2 Militants Killed in Anti-Terror Raid

The militants were killed when they opened fire after being told to surrender, Russian counter-terror forces said.

where there's smoke

Astronauts Smell Smoke, Burning on Russia's ISS Module

The incident is the latest in a string of problems to spur safety concerns over conditions on the Russian segment.

Putin Says U.S. Presence in Afghanistan Ended in 'Tragedies'

Putin said the U.S. army tried to "engrain their norms" in Afghanistan for two decades, which he characterized as a futile exercise.

show of solidarity

Ukraine Marches With NATO Allies on 30th Independence Anniversary

Most of the marching Ukrainian soldiers had fought against pro-Russia separatists in an ongoing conflict in the eastern Donbass region.

lack of structure

Moscow-Led Bloc 'Concerned' Taliban Yet to Form Govt

Moscow is concerned about instability in Afghanistan spilling over to neighboring ex-Soviet states in Central Asia where it houses military bases.

Putin Warns of Influx of Afghan Militants Disguised as Refugees

"Who is among these refugees? How can we know?"

ready for liftoff

Russian Rocket Launches 34 New UK Satellites

It was the fifth launch this year for British operator Oneweb, which aims to provide broadband internet everywhere in the world.

Letter from prison

Jailed Navalny Calls on West to 'Take Action' on Global Corruption

"No money, no soldiers" are needed to implement these measures, he said, "only political will."

election pressure

Russia Brands Independent Monitor 'Foreign Agent' Ahead of Election

The decision is likely to hamper the monitor's work during the Sept. 19 vote.

Failure to comply

Russia Fines Google Again for Not Removing Banned Content

The fine is the latest in a series of escalating penalties against the U.S. tech giant.

early evaluation

Russia Hails 'Positive Signal' From Taliban

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised the Taliban for supporting "inclusive" political dialogue.

Russia Reports Record Virus Deaths Second Day in a Row

Russia, the fourth worst-hit country in the world in terms of cases, has since June been hit by a wave of infections driven by the Delta variant.

mounting pressure

Navalny Allies Face Fresh Criminal Charges

Both Leonid Volkov and Ivan Zhdanov now live outside Russia to avoid criminal prosecution on other charges.

back in business

Russian Tourists Fly in to Egypt's Red Sea Resorts After 6-Year Ban

Moscow had barred direct flights to Egypt after the 2015 bombing of a Russian airliner shortly after takeoff from a Red Sea resort.

opposition crackdown

Belarus Protest Leader Kolesnikova Goes on Trial

Maria Kolesnikova, who has become a symbol of the protest movement in Belarus, faces up to 12 years in prison.

IOC to Probe Belarus Officials Over Athlete's Forced Flight

Kristina Tsimanouskaya is expected to stay at the Polish embassy in Tokyo until her departure to Warsaw.

home confinement

Russia Extends Navalny Spokeswoman's House Arrest

Kira Yarmysh has been under house arrest since February on accusations of breaching Covid-19 restrictions at a protest in Navalny's support.

fear of prosecution

Russian Legal Group With Navalny Link Disbands

Team 29 is an association of lawyers and journalists fighting for freedom of speech in Russia and worked on high-profile espionage and treason cases.

U.S. Software Firm Moves to Restart After Huge Ransomware Attack Linked to Russia-Based Group

The White House reiterated the warning President Joe Biden gave to his counterpart Vladimir Putin about Russia harboring cybercriminals.

the show must go on

St. Petersburg Euro 2020 Quarter-Final to Go Ahead Despite Covid Surge – Organizers

The city has seen a surging outbreak due to the highly transmissible Delta variant first identified in India.

home confinement

Jailed Belarus Activist, Girlfriend Moved to House Arrest

Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskya described the move as "good news" but said the pair is "still being held hostage."

Finnish Football Fans Bring Virus Back From Russia

Thousands of Finnish fans traveled to Russia to support their team in the Euro 2020 championships.

Russian Military Helicopter Crash Kills 3

The Mi-8, which belonged to the Russian National Guard, went down "following an air incident" on a training flight.

'hostile actions'

Belarus Denounces 'Destructive' New Western Sanctions

The sanctions followed global outrage over the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk to arrest a regime critic.

unprecedented spread

Moscow Records Pandemic High for Covid Cases Second Day Running

The new cases are being driven by the highly infectious Delta variant first identified in India and have threatened to overwhelm Moscow's hospitals.

4 Dead After Plane Carrying Parachutists Crashes in Siberia

Local prosecutors said that the failure of one of the plane's engines caused the crash.

in the deep end

Heavy Rains in Crimea Trigger Floods, State of Emergency

Images on social media showed water rushing through Yalta's streets, sweeping aside cars and reaching up to the second story of buildings.

resumed postings

U.S., Russia Agree to Return Ambassadors – Putin

Diplomatic relations between Moscow and Washington had all but broken down since Biden took office.