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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...

Pipeline politics

Putin Says 'Ball in EU's Court' on Restarting Nord Stream Deliveries

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said his country was a reliable energy supplier and blamed the West for disruptions on the market at an energy...

Conduit Closure

Russia-Germany Oil Pipeline Partly Shut After Leak

The Druzhba oil pipeline linking Russia and Germany has been partly shut after a leak was discovered in Poland, the Polish PERN operator said on Wednesday...

Putin Tells IAEA's Grossi Moscow is 'Open to Dialogue' on Ukraine Nuclear Plant

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday told UN nuclear agency chief Rafael Grossi he was "open to dialogue" on Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in...

TERRORIST STATE

Ukraine Denounces Russia as 'Terrorist State' in UN Meeting

Ukraine denounced Russia as a "terrorist state" at an urgent United Nations General Assembly meeting Monday following its neighbor's latest attacks, as...

nationwide strikes

Putin Vows More 'Severe' Attacks After Russian Missiles Batter Ukraine

Russian forces launched a barrage of fatal bombardments across Ukraine early on Monday and President Vladimir Putin vowed even more "severe" retaliation...

Financial Freefall

Moscow Stock Exchange Down Nearly 12% at Opening

The Moscow stock exchange plunged nearly 12% in early trading on Monday following multiple strikes on Ukrainian cities and a weekend explosion that partially...

‘God Put You in Power’: Russian Orthodox Leader Tells Putin on 70th Birthday

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church Patriarch Kirill said Friday that Vladimir Putin's reign over Russia had been mandated by God, congratulating the...

Command economy

Belarus Leader Bans Price Rises to Tackle Inflation

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday banned price increases with immediate effect to curb galloping inflation in the former Soviet country...

to be determined

Russia to 'Consult' Locals on Annexed Ukraine Regions' Borders – Kremlin

Russia plans to confer with residents in two Moscow-annexed regions in Ukraine while determining the exact borders of the areas to be integrated into Russia...

European Heads Condemn Russian Annexations in Ukraine

The presidents of nine NATO countries in central and eastern Europe declared on Sunday they would never recognise the annexation by Russia of Ukrainian...

Putin Eases Citizenship for Foreigners in Russian Army

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree making it easier for foreigners to obtain Russian citizenship if they join the army, a document published...

U.S. Announces 'Severe' Sanctions on Russia Over Annexations

The United States on Friday announced "severe" new sanctions on Russia in response to what President Joe Biden called Moscow's "fraudulent" claim to have...

Russia's Patriarch Kirill Ill With Covid – Church

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, 75-year-old Patriarch Kirill, has Covid and will self-isolate, his church said in a statement Friday. "All planned...

annexing ukraine

Kremlin Set to Annex Four Ukraine Territories at Ceremony

Russia is expected to annex four occupied regions of Ukraine at a lavish Kremlin ceremony on Friday that follows a threat by President Vladimir Putin to...

Putin Expects 'Record' 150-Million-Ton Grain Harvest in 2022

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday his country expected a record-high grain harvest in 2022 as Moscow blames Western sanctions over Ukraine...

Russia Shuns Oscars as Ukraine Standoff Hits Arts

Russia has decided not to put forward a film to compete in the Oscars this year, as Moscow's deteriorating ties with the West over Ukraine have...

critical errors

Kremlin Admits Call-Up ‘Errors’ but No Decision to Close Border

The Kremlin admitted Monday that errors had been made during the mobilization of reservists for the military action in Ukraine and said no decision had...

Turkey to Pay for Quarter of Russian Gas in Rubles: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday Turkey would pay for a quarter of its Russian natural gas imports in rubles under a new set of deals designed...

filtration program

UN: Evidence of Russia Taking Ukrainian Children

Moscow was accused of removing children from the war zone to hand over to adoptive parents inside Russia.

looming referendum

Russia Ruling Party Proposes Nov. 4 Annexation Votes For Occupied Ukraine

"It would be right and symbolic," said top United Russia official Andrei Turchak.

'turbine problems'

Nordstream Gas Pipeline to Germany Shut Indefinitely — Gazprom

Deliveries via the pipeline which runs under the Baltic Sea had been due to resume on Saturday.

On Risky Mission, UN Team Reaches Ukraine Nuclear Plant

After entering Russian-held territory, the 14-strong UN group reached the facility in the afternoon.

travel restrictions

EU Ministers Agree to Suspend Russian Visa Facilitation Deal

EU foreign ministers agreed to suspend a 2007 visa facilitation deal with Russia but stopped short of a wider ban.

Kremlin Vows Response to Restrictions on EU Visas for Russians

"Brussels and individual European capitals demonstrate an absolute lack of reason," said spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

fewer restrictions

Kremlin Makes It Easier for Ukrainians to Live, Work in Russia

The new measure allows Ukrainian citizens to work in Russia without a work permit and to live in the country "without a time limit."

Risk of Radioactive Leak at Ukraine Nuclear Plant - Operator

Energoatom said Moscow's troops had "repeatedly shelled" the site of the plant in southern Ukraine over the past day.

strong opposition

Russia Blocks Adoption at UN of Nuclear Disarmament Text

Russian representative Igor Vishnevetsky said the draft final text lacked "balance."

Putin Pushes Russia's Combat-Tested Arms for Export

Putin said Russian weapons are valued by military professionals for their "reliability, quality and most importantly — high efficiency."

Russia, U.S. in Talks Over 'Merchant of Death' for Griner – Moscow

This is the first time Russia has said the talks concerned exchanging arms trafficker Viktor Bout for two-time Olympian Brittney Griner.

security concerns

France Reverses Russia Ban After Chateau Turns Away Visitors

Security guards at the Chateau de Vincennes denied two Russian women access to the monument on July 28.

'significant victory'

Russia Hails Reelection of Ex-Deputy PM to Chess Body

Arkady Dvorkovich saw off Ukrainian challenger, grandmaster Andriy Baryshpolets, who accused him of being part of Moscow's "war machine."

fresh restrictions

Finland Preparing to Limit Russian Tourist Visas

As flights from Russia to the EU have been halted, Finland has become a transit country for many Russians seeking to travel further into Europe.

China Has Right to Take Measures to Protect 'Sovereignty': Moscow

Moscow said Tuesday that ally China had every right to take measures to protect its sovereignty and called U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit...

aligning with beijing

Russia Condemns Potential Pelosi Visit to Taiwan as ‘Provocation’

Faced with international isolation over its military campaign in Ukraine, Russia has sought closer ties with China.

Russia Suspends Gas Supplies to Latvia

EU states accuse Russia of squeezing supplies in retaliation for Western sanctions over Moscow's intervention in Ukraine.

'playing with fire'

Kremlin Expresses Solidarity With China Over Taiwan

Russia's assault on Ukraine has heightened fears that Beijing might similarly follow through on threats to annex Taiwan.