Eastern Europe

The bridge connecting Estonia with Russia is seen in Narva, Estonia, on July 24, 2024.
Eastern Europe

In Estonia’s border town, Russian-speaking majority enjoys NATO’s shield, remains mute on Russia’s threat

by Maria Yeryoma

NARVA, Estonia — On both sides of the Narva River, fishermen stand knee-deep in the water between two medieval castles just 101 meters apart. Above them, the flags mark where NATO ends and Russia begins. For years, experts have been warning of the so-called "Narva scenario" — a plan in which Russia might attempt to grab an Estonian border city using its old tune, "protecting the Russian-speaking population." Following Europe's inability to handle Russia's now recurring drone incursions, the mo

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Ukraine war latest: Russia's recruitment of foreign nationals 'amounts to human trafficking'

Key developments on Sept. 10: * Russia's recruitment of foreign nationals amounts to human trafficking, Amnesty International says * US destroys 5 Iranian oil tankers, 3 linked to Russia's shadow fleet, Ukrainian official says * NATO allies disrupt Russian exercise involving secret weapon targeting subsea cables, Reuters reports * 4 dead after Russian attack on Pavlohrad shopping center * Russian drone attacks hit Kyiv morning and evening, injuring 4 Russia exploits and deceives foreign n

'Until safer times' — Kyiv’s cultural life pauses as the city adjusts to new drone threats

In a post on Instagram, Alyona Gudkova sits with her head in her hands. The founder of Kurazh, a popular Kyiv festival combining a flea market, food, music, dancing, and fundraising, had just announced that the project would suspend operations "until safer times." Another post on Instagram showed a crowd dancing at Kurazh, with Light Dark Light Again by Angie McMahon as the soundtrack — capturing the rhythm of Kyiv in the fifth year of full-scale war, moving between moments of normality and su

Global grain prices rise as Russia-Ukraine war escalates in Black Sea

Global grain prices are rising steeply as Ukraine and Russia intensify attacks upon one another's main export infrastructure on the Black and Azov seas — leaving both countries struggling to find alternative outlets with the harvest in full swing. Russia and Ukraine are both major grain producers, with the bulk of their exports bound for the Global South — particularly the Middle East and Africa — via the Black Sea, through which around a third of the world's supply passes. The obstruction of

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