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U.S. Charges Russian Spy Who Tried To Infiltrate War Crime Court

The U.S. Justice Department unveiled spying charges Friday against a Russian who, under a Brazilian alias, studied at a Washington university and then...

UN Says Both Russia and Ukraine Summarily Executing Prisoners of War

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said it had documented killings by both sides in recent months.

Poland Voices Concern About 'Dangerous' Russia-China Alliance

Poland's prime minister has branded the growing ties between China and Russia as "dangerous" after Chinese leader Xi Jinping wrapped up a three-day state...

Moldova Smashes Pro-Moscow Subversion Ring - Police

"People came from Russia with a very specific training role," said police chief Viorel Cernauteanu.

Russia's Wagner Group Opens Dozens of Recruitment Centers

Wagner group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin announced the opening of recruitment centers in dozens of cities across Russia on Friday.

'we are europe'

Russia Says Mass Protests in Georgia Are Western Coup Attempt

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the protests in Tbilisi were "being orchestrated from abroad" with the aim of creating "an irritant on the...

Russia's Biggest Bank Announces Huge 2022 Fall in Profits

Russia's Sberbank on Thursday announced its net profit dropped nearly 80% in 2022 in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russia's Wagner Group Claims to Hold 'Eastern Part' of Bakhmut

Pressure has been mounting on Ukrainian troops trying to hold the city against Russian soldiers.

'historic event'

Checkmate Europe: Russia To Join Asia’s Federation

Russia's governing body for chess said Tuesday it had been admitted into the game's Asian federation and will leave Europe as Russian players face restrictions...

stabilized drop

Russian Economy Contracts by 2.1% In 2022 — Rosstat

The Russian economy contracted by 2.1% last year, the government's statistics agency Rosstat said Monday, absorbing Western sanctions over Moscow's military...

'a serious problem'

U.S. Says China Mulling Weapons for Russia in Ukraine War

The comments appeared to be among the clearest warnings yet that China might be poised to expand its support for Russia.

two weeks to depart

Dutch Expel Russian Diplomats, Close Trade Mission

The Netherlands accused Moscow of using diplomatic cover for spying.

Wagner Boss Claims Advance on Bakhmut Continues as Village Captured

The leader of the Russian mercenary group Wagner claimed on Sunday that forces under his control had taken a village a few kilometers from the key...

war of attrition

Russia Likely Lost Half its Heavy Tanks in Ukraine: U.S.

Half of Russia's main battle tanks have likely been destroyed or captured by Ukraine, a senior United States defense official said Friday. Russia "has...

Russia Says Held Air Defense Training in Moscow Region

The Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday that it held a training exercise on repelling air attacks in the Moscow region. "In the Moscow region, a training...

international sanction

U.S. Designates Russia's Wagner Mercenaries a 'Criminal Organization'

The United States on Friday designated Russia's Wagner mercenary group a "transnational criminal organization," piling pressure on the private Russian...

'found and liquidated'

Russian Soldier Killed After Deserting Military Base

Russian authorities on Wednesday announced having killed a soldier who left his military base, with state media identifying the man as an armed deserter...

New Year's strike

Russian Families Bury Troops Killed in Makiivka

Russian families on Sunday buried servicemen killed in a Ukrainian New Year's strike on troops in the eastern town of Makiivka. At least nine men were...

Christmas message

At Christmas, Pope Urges End to ‘Senseless’ Ukraine War

Pope Francis on Sunday appealed for an end to the "senseless" war in Ukraine, in his traditional Christmas message from St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican...

'divide and conquer'

Putin Says West Aiming to 'Tear Russia Apart'

President Vladimir Putin has blasted the West for trying to "tear Russia apart" and said in a nationally broadcast interview on Sunday that his offensive...

sabotaged supplies

Critics Slam 16-Year Term for Belarus 'Railway Partisan'

Belarus' opposition criticized Friday a lengthy prison sentence handed to a man accused of sabotaging railway equipment in the ex-Soviet country that Russia...

Russia Conflicted on Ukraine Winter Offensive, Senior U.S. Official Says

The Russian leadership has conflicting views on whether to launch a winter offensive in Ukraine, which has warned of a fresh Russian attempt to seize Kyiv...

consulting the generals

Putin Meets Top Military Brass to Discuss Ukraine Strategy: Kremlin

President Vladimir Putin has held extensive meetings with the military top brass overseeing Russia's campaign in Ukraine, where Moscow has stepped up bombardments...

nickels and dimes

U.S. Financial Sanctions Target Russian Oligarch Vladimir Potanin

The U.S. announced financial sanctions targeting one of Russia's wealthiest men, Vladimir Potanin, the Treasury Department and State Department said Thursday...

withdrawal complete

Swedish Clothing Giant H&M Shutters Last Stores in Russia

Swedish fashion retailer H&M announced on Thursday that it had closed its last remaining stores in Russia and Belarus, wrapping up its progressive...

exchange of troops

Prisoner Swap with Russia Frees 64 Ukrainians and one U.S. Citizen

Ukraine announced that it had secured the release 64 Ukrainians and one U.S. citizen in its latest prisoner swap with Russian forces on Wednesday. "64...

Kremlin Says Russia Has No Plans for Holiday Ceasefire in Ukraine

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that it had not received any proposals from Kyiv to halt fighting in Ukraine during the upcoming holiday period and that...

Western Balkans

Moscow Calls for ‘Diplomatic’ Solution to Kosovo Tensions

The Kremlin on Monday called for a "diplomatic" resolution to a recent flare-up in tensions in Kosovo following attacks targeting the police. "We are in...

Russia Sought to Swap Ex-U.S. Marine for 'Assassin' Held in Germany

U.S. efforts to negotiate the freedom of a former Marine held in Russia as part of the swap involving basketball star Brittney Griner were thwarted by...

Erdogan Tells Putin to 'Clear' Kurdish Forces From Northern Syria

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Sunday that it was imperative the Kremlin "clear" Kurdish forces from...

ARMS PRODUCTION

Russia Ramping Up Production of 'Most Powerful' Weapons: Medvedev

Russia's ex-president Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday the country was ramping up production of new-generation weapons to protect itself from enemies in...

ICC Prosecutor Warns Over Russia Tribunal Plan

The investigation of the war in Ukraine by the International Criminal Court (ICC) should not be "set up to fail" by plans to create a separate special...

testing the waters

Putin Visits Crimea Bridge After October Blast

President Vladimir Putin on Monday visited the bridge that links Moscow-annexed Crimea to the Russian mainland weeks after the vital link was hit by a...

Putin Says Strikes on Ukraine Infrastructure 'Inevitable'

President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia's strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure were "inevitable" as the Kremlin rejected U.S. President Joe...

Ukraine Blasts Moscow-Appointed Nuclear Plant Boss

Ukraine on Thursday formally sacked and branded a traitor the Ukrainian engineer appointed by Moscow to head Europe's largest nuclear facility, the Zaporizhzhia...

Western Sanctions

Swiss Freeze Nearly $8Bln in Russian Assets

Switzerland said Thursday that it has to date frozen a total of 7.5 billion Swiss francs ($7.9 billion) in Russian assets, in connection with the sanctions...

provocative remarks

Chechen Leader Says Pope ‘Fell Victim to Propaganda'

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov on Wednesday said Pope Francis "fell victim to propaganda" after the pontiff singled out the alleged role of Russian ethnic...

Russia Blames U.S. 'Toxicity and Animosity' for Canceled Arms Talks

Moscow on Tuesday blamed U.S. "toxicity and animosity" for the postponement of key arms control talks with Washington as tensions continued to peak over...

Oleksandra Matviichuk

Nobel Peace Laureate Calls for Weapons to Free Ukraine

In an unusual move for a Nobel Peace laureate, the head of one of this year's prizewinning organizations on Monday called for weapons to help Ukraine defend...

Enforcement measures

EU Members Unanimously Agree to Punish Russian Sanctions Busters

The European Union has granted itself legal authority to take action against anyone who helps Russia avoid its sanctions, the EU presidency announced on...

reluctant allies

Putin and Kazakhstan's Tokayev Reaffirm Ties After Ukraine Tensions

Kazakhstan's president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Monday, with the allies reaffirming historic ties...

renewed attacks

Ukraine Warns of Fresh Russian Missile Strikes

Ukraine said on Monday that Russia was preparing for a fresh wave of missile attacks on its energy grid that have plunged swathes of the country into the...

Belarus Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei Dies Suddenly

The foreign minister of Belarus, who earlier this year dismissed international concerns over a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine being launched from...

'aggravated espionage'

Swedish Brothers Go on Trial in 'Unique' Russian Spy Case

Two Swedish brothers, one a former intelligence official, went on trial in Stockholm on Friday accused of "aggravated espionage" for allegedly spying for...

Putin Warns of 'Grave Consequences' to Oil Price Caps

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Western plans to introduce oil price caps could have "grave consequences" for energy markets, during a telephone...

virtual response

EU Parliament Website Attacked After MEPs Slam Russian 'Terrorism'

The European Parliament website was hit by a cyberattack claimed by pro-Russian hackers on Wednesday, shortly after lawmakers approved a resolution calling...

Kyrgyzstan Mulls Building Nuclear Plant With Russian Help

Kyrgyzstan announced on Wednesday that it was looking into the possibility of building its first nuclear power plant, with Russian help, to tackle frequent...

unprecedented crackdown

Russia Court Extends Kremlin Critic Yashin's Detention by 6 Months

A Russian court on Wednesday extended by six months the detention of opposition politician Ilya Yashin, who risks being jailed 10 years for denouncing...

prison sentence

Russian Jailed in Norway for Illegal Drone Flight

A Russian man was sentenced to 90 days in jail in Norway on Wednesday for flying a drone over the country in violation of a ban adopted in response to...

U.K. to Send Helicopters to Ukraine For 'First' Time

Britain is to send helicopters to Ukraine for the first time since Russia's invasion, the defense ministry in London said on Wednesday. Ten crews of Ukrainian...

civilian deaths

Blasts Kill Three in Russia's Belgorod Region

Explosions killed three people in two villages in Russia's Belgorod region on the border with Ukraine on Tuesday, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov...

Russia Unveils Nuclear Icebreaker in Push For Arctic Dominance

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday oversaw the launch of a new nuclear-powered icebreaker as Russia pushes to develop the Arctic and seeks new energy...

'transit imbalance'

Gazprom Threatens Further Gas Delivery Cuts to Europe Over Ukraine

Russian energy giant Gazprom on Tuesday accused Ukraine of diverting natural gas supplies transiting its territory to Moldova and threatened to cut deliveries...

world heritage site

Ukraine Raids Famed Monastery Over Suspected Russia Links

Ukraine's security service said Tuesday it had raided a historic Orthodox monastery in Kyiv over suspected links to Russian agents. The Kremlin denounced...

'unprecedented and provocative'

Poland Barring Russia’s Lavrov From Regional Security Talks ‘Provocative’ – Ministry

Russia Saturday blasted Warsaw's refusal to allow Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to attend a meeting next month of the Organization for Security and Cooperation...

Russia Accuses Ukraine of Executing at Least 10 Prisoners of War

Updates with comments and background The Russian Defence Ministry on Friday accused Kyiv of executing at least 10 prisoners of war in what Moscow said...

precautionary measure

Finland Unveils Plan to Build High-Security Fence Along Russian Border

Finland unveiled a plan on Friday to build a 200-kilometer fence along its border with Russia, amid increased security concerns since Moscow's invasion...

diplomatic fallout

Dutch Foreign Ministry Summons Russian Envoy Over MH17 Verdict

The Netherlands summoned the Russian ambassador on Friday after Moscow accused a Dutch court of a politically motivated verdict in the downing of Malaysia...

new expectations

Russia Says Hopes for Prisoner Swap with U.S.

Russia said Friday it hoped the United States will return notorious Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout in a prisoner swap after American basketball star...

Chilling accounts

'Horrific' Scale of Torture in Kherson Seen After Russia Retreat – Official

The scale of torture that has been discovered in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson taken back from Russian troops this month is "horrific," a Ukrainian...

Russia Falls into Recession

Russia's economy has entered a recession as gross domestic output fell by 4% in the third quarter, according to first estimates published Wednesday by...

Turkey Becomes New Route for Russian Oil to EU – Think Tank

Moscow's revenues from fossil fuel exports fell in October to their lowest levels since the Ukraine invasion, but Turkey has become a new route for Russian...

heightened tensions

Poland Military on Alert After Missile Strike

Poland's military was on high alert Wednesday after a deadly missile strike on a village near the border with war-ravaged Ukraine. In Indonesia's Bali...

Russia Says U.S. Driving Southeast Asian Militarization

Russia's foreign minister on Sunday accused the United States of driving increased militarization in Southeast Asia, saying that Washington was trying...

Russia's Wagner Mercenary Group Announces Border Militia Plan

The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said on Friday that his organization had started training civilians in Russian regions...

Russia Vows to Defend 'Traditional Values' Against 'Gay Propaganda'

Russia on Wednesday vowed to defend its "traditional" values against threats from the United States and so-called "gay propaganda" in a document signed...

pessimistic prospects

Kremlin Says Ties With U.S. Will Remain 'Bad' After Midterm Elections

The Kremlin said Wednesday that Moscow's ties with Washington were likely to remain at rock bottom regardless of the results of the U.S. midterm elections...

North Korea Dismisses as 'Groundless' U.S. Claims of Arms Supplies to Russia: State Media

North Korea said Tuesday that claims by the United States that Pyongyang is supplying artillery ammunition to Moscow for its war in Ukraine were groundless...

Fire Kills 15 at Bar in Russian City of Kostroma

A fire Saturday killed at least 15 people at a bar in the Russian city of Kostroma, Russian news agencies reported. The night-time fire at the popular...

pushing for peace

Germany's Scholz Calls on China to Use 'Influence' on Russia

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Friday that he had urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to use Beijing's "influence" on Moscow to stop the war in Ukraine...

'energy terrorism'

Russian Strikes Leave 4.5 Million Without Power in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of "energy terrorism" on Thursday night, after renewed strikes on the country's energy infrastructure...

global food supply

UN Reports 'Progress' on Talks to Allow Russian Fertilizer Exports

Negotiations underway to unblock exports of fertilizer from Russia have made "important steps forward," one of the main United Nations negotiators said...

Diplomatic Blow Back

Russia Warns U.K. of 'Dangerous Consequences' After Black Sea Attack

Russia summoned the UK ambassador to Moscow to the Foreign Ministry on Thursday and warned London of "dangerous consequences" after accusing it of helping...

short-term relief

Ukraine Shipments Resume But Russia Casts Doubt on Grain Deal

Grain ships left Ukraine's ports on Thursday, a day after Russia rejoined an international agreement to guarantee their safe passage through the Black...

'catastrophic consequences'

Russia Says 'Top Priority' Is to Avoid Clash of Nuclear Powers

Russia said Wednesday that the world's "top priority" should be to avoid a clash of nuclear powers, stressing it could lead to "catastrophic consequences...

no proof provided

Russia to Hand 'Evidence' of U.K. Role in Crimea Strike to Envoy

Moscow will "in the near future" summon the British ambassador to hand over "evidence" of its claim that the U.K. helped orchestrate an attack on the Russian...

global food supply

Putin Demands 'Real Guarantees' From Kyiv Before Restoration of Grain Deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday that he wanted "real guarantees" from Kyiv before potentially rejoining...

media crackdown

Russian Court Fines Wikipedia Over Ukraine Content

A Russian court on Tuesday fined Wikipedia 2 million roubles ($32,600) over articles related to Moscow's offensive in Ukraine. A Moscow-based group that...

U.S. Accuses Russia of 'Extortion' Over Ukraine Grain Demands

The United States on Monday accused Russia of extortion at the expense of the developing world after it demanded Ukrainian security guarantees on its Crimea...

Moscow Puts Official's Son on Wanted List After Italy Arrest

Russia on Friday put the son of a senior official arrested in Italy on a U.S. order for alleged sanctions evasion on a wanted list, potentially paving...

Authorities in Russian-Occupied Zaporizhzhia Order Phone Checks on Residents

Russian-installed authorities in Ukraine's occupied region of Zaporizhzhia ordered phone checks on local residents on Thursday, announcing the implementation...

'illegal' uncovered

Russia Denounces Norway's 'Spy Mania'

Russia's Embassy in Oslo criticized what it called Norway's "spy mania" on Wednesday, a day after the Scandinavian country announced the arrest of a suspected...

Russia Discusses Ukraine in Calls with France, Turkey

Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu held phone calls Sunday with his French and Turkish counterparts, during which they discussed Ukraine, the Russian...

Renewed attacks

Power Cuts Across Ukraine After Fresh Russian Strikes

Fresh Russian missile strikes on Saturday targeted energy infrastructure in Ukraine's west, the country's energy operator Ukrenergo said, with officials...

Jailhouse blues

Navalny Says New Charges Could Mean Up to 30 Years Jail Time

Jailed Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny said Thursday he was slapped with new terrorism and extremism charges that he says could put him behind...

Diplomatic Spat

Ukraine Recalls Ambassador to Kazakhstan After Row With Moscow

Ukraine has removed its ambassador to Kazakhstan in Central Asia, according to a decree published on the presidential website, after remarks he made about...

Espionage Fears

German Cybersecurity Chief Sacked Over Alleged Russia Ties

Germany's cybersecurity chief has been sacked after a TV satire show accused him of having ties to the Russian intelligence services, an interior ministry...

Estonian MPs Declare Russia a 'Terrorist Regime'

Estonian lawmakers on Tuesday condemned Moscow's annexation of Ukrainian territory and declared Russia a "terrorist regime." The statement was adopted...

Conscription Cancelled

Moscow Mayor Announces End of Mobilization in the Capital

Army draft offices will close in Moscow from Monday as the Kremlin's quotas for recruiting reservists to fight in Ukraine have been met in the capital...

border shelling

New Strikes in Russian Belgorod Region Bordering Ukraine – Governor

The Russian Belgorod region bordering Ukraine was hit by strikes on Sunday, leaving at least four people injured in the latest attacks in the area, Russian...

Russian pressure

Zelensky Says Situation 'Most Difficult' Near Bakhmut in Donetsk

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday the situation was "the most difficult" near the eastern town of Bakhmut, a few days after pro-Russian...

spying suspicions

Norway Detains Second Drone-Carrying Russian

Norway said Saturday it arrested a Russian national carrying a drone and camera equipment after he was seen taking photos of an airport in the far north...

Russia Says 11 Killed in 'Terrorist' Attack at Military Site

Iran Denies Providing Russia With Weapons 'to be Used' in Ukraine

Iran has once again rejected allegations that it has supplied Russia with weapons "to be used in the war in Ukraine," its Foreign Ministry said Saturday...

Appetite for 'De-Russification' Builds in Ukraine

At a bookshop in Kyiv, 33-year-old Yulia Sydorenko was dumping an entire collection of old books – some gifts from childhood friends – that...

Danone Plans to Withdraw From Most of its Business in Russia

French food giant Danone announced plans on Friday to transfer the control of its essential dairy and plant-based business in Russia, retaining only its...

End of the road

IKEA announces 10,000 layoffs in Russia

Swedish furniture giant IKEA announced that it would be making around 10,000 of its remaining Russian staff redundant on Thursday, despite posting a 6%...

pipeline politics

Russia Denounces Exclusion From Nord Stream Leaks Probe

Russia's foreign ministry said Thursday it had summoned envoys of Germany, Denmark and Sweden to express "bewilderment" over Moscow's exclusion from an...

Putin Tells Erdogan Russia Could Create ‘Gas Hub’ in Turkey

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday told his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Moscow would consider developing a "gas hub" in Turkey...

'Everything Has Collapsed': Mobilization Tanks Small Businesses

In his brand new co-working space in Chelyabinsk, a city in central Russia, entrepreneur Maxim Novikov is counting the empty seats. The space is usually...