Russia

EU says it has proof China trained Russian troops fighting in Ukraine

The European Union has confirmed it possesses evidence that China trained hundreds of Russian military personnel who later fought in Ukraine, adding a new dimension to already strained EU-China relations as Brussels advances trade measures targeting Beijing and diplomatic meetings…

Ukraine recaptured over 600 sq km in 2026, top commander says

Ukrainian forces have recaptured more than 600 square kilometers of territory since the start of 2026, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced on Monday, in what Reuters described as "the latest sign of shifting momentum after years of slow but relentless Russian…

Iran touts $25B nuclear deal with Russia as US talks stall

Iran's ambassador to Russia revealed this week that Tehran and Moscow signed a $25 billion memorandum of understanding for nuclear cooperation, describing the agreement as the largest joint nuclear project ever undertaken between the two countries. The announcement came amid…

Armenia’s Pashinyan rejects Russia’s call for EU referendum

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Sunday to congratulate him on his 51st birthday, a gesture of diplomatic courtesy that contrasted sharply with the escalating pressure Moscow has placed on Yerevan in recent weeks over…

Japan calls Russian criticism of its military buildup ‘ridiculous’ at UN

Japan's UN ambassador on Thursday rejected Russia's criticism of Japan's defense expansion as "ridiculous," pushing back against Moscow's accusations during a UN Security Council open debate on upholding the principles of the UN Charter.

Putin signs decree canceling debts for new Ukraine war recruits

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Monday canceling debts of up to 10 million roubles — roughly $140,000 — for new military recruits and their spouses, the Kremlin announced, as Moscow continues to deploy financial incentives to sustain…

Russia developing seabed nuclear missiles, German investigation finds

NATO intelligence services have been closely tracking Russia's Northern Fleet amid growing concerns that Moscow is advancing a secret program to deploy nuclear-armed missiles on the Arctic Ocean seabed, according to an investigation published on May 21 by German public…

World Gymnastics lifts all sanctions on Russian, Belarusian athletes

The International Gymnastics Federation, known as World Gymnastics, has removed all restrictions on athletes from Russia and Belarus, allowing them to compete under their national flags and anthems at all international gymnastics events. The decision, taken by the federation's executive…

Moscow bans media from publishing drone strike aftermath

Moscow's city government has prohibited the publication of photos, videos, and text describing the aftermath of drone strikes and what officials termed "terrorist attacks," extending a pattern of information control that has spread across more than 30 Russian regions since…

Kremlin drafts plan to sell peace deal as victory, leaked documents show

Internal documents from Russia's Presidential Administration reveal the Kremlin has been developing a propaganda strategy since late winter 2026 to frame a potential negotiated end to the war in Ukraine as a Russian victory, according to an investigation published by…

Pussy Riot storms Russia’s pavilion at Venice Biennale

Members of the Russian punk collective Pussy Riot and the Ukrainian feminist group FEMEN swarmed the Russian pavilion at the Venice Biennale on Wednesday, May 6, staging a protest against Russia's return to the international art exhibition for the first…

IOC lifts restrictions on Belarus athletes, keeps Russia suspended

The International Olympic Committee announced Thursday it is lifting all recommended restrictions on Belarusian athletes, clearing them to compete under their national flag in international competitions while maintaining its suspension of Russia.

WADA concludes Russia doping probe with 302 sanctions

The World Anti-Doping Agency announced on Thursday that its years-long probe into Russia's state-sponsored doping program has resulted in 302 sanctions against 291 Russian athletes, marking the conclusion of what WADA called the most far-reaching anti-doping investigation ever conducted.

EU moves to cut Venice Biennale funding over Russia’s return

The European Union escalated its standoff with the Venice Biennale on Tuesday, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas declaring that Russia's participation in the storied art exhibition is "morally indefensible" as the bloc moves to strip funding from the…

Russian court bans Oscar-winning ‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin’

A court in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk has banned the distribution of "Mr. Nobody Against Putin," the documentary that won Best Documentary Feature at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, ordering its removal from three online video platforms.…

EU threatens to cut Venice Biennale funding over Russian pavilion

The European Commission warned on March 10 that it could suspend or terminate grant funding for the Venice Biennale after organizers allowed Russia to reopen its national pavilion at the 2026 exhibition, marking Moscow's first participation since its full-scale invasion…

Italy urges reversal of decision allowing Russia to compete under its flag at Paralympics

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sharply criticized the International Olympic Committee for disqualifying skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, calling the decision a betrayal of Olympic values as a parallel controversy erupts over the decision…

Ukraine to boycott Winter Paralympics over Russian flag decision

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky harshly criticized the International Paralympic Committee's decision to permit Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags at the upcoming Winter Paralympics, calling it "dirty" and "unjust" during a live interview with Piers Morgan…

Russian drone damages historic Odessa synagogue

A Russian drone strike severely damaged a historic synagogue in Odessa, Ukraine, just hours after the Jewish mourning period of Tisha B'Av ended, marking the latest in a troubling pattern of attacks on Ukrainian Jewish sites amid Russia's ongoing invasion.

US auctions seized $325M Russian superyacht for first time

The United States has opened its first auction of a seized Russian superyacht since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, offering the $325 million luxury vessel Amadea for sale in a sealed bid process that closes September 10. The auction comes…