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Eastern Europe
Belarus Weekly: Moscow, Minsk sign agreement on nuclear weapons in Belarus
Eduard Babaryka, the son of jailed ex-presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka, goes on trial after spending three years in a pre-trial detention center. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison. In an unprecedented move, Belarusian authorities "pardon" jailed Belarusian activist Raman Pratasevich, who was given an eight-year
Belgorod incursion: Meet the anti-Kremlin militia behind the attack inside Russia
Editor's Note: The Kyiv Independent, together with a number of journalists, was taken to a location in northern Ukraine to interview the members of the units that took part in the military operation inside Russia. Not revealing the exact location was the only precondition for the interview. Northern Ukraine – At
Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko makes brief public appearance following rumors of his poor health
Belarusian authorities publish footage of dictator Alexander Lukashenko conducting work trips in an attempt to refute rumors of his poor health. His voice remains hoarse, his hand bandaged, just like at the Victory Day celebrations, after which he disappeared from the public eye. The European Parliament issued a resolution calling
Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko’s showing at Victory Day celebration sparks rumors about his health
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko’s swift departure from the Red Square Victory Day events sparks rumors about the dictator’s health. Belarusian blogger and political prisoner Mikalai Klimovich dies in custody. The 61-year-old was sentenced to a year in prison for “liking” a caricature of Lukashenko posted on social media.
Belarus Weekly: Imprisoned opposition leader hospitalized; Top activist jailed
Viktar Babaryka, who ran against dictator Alexander Lukashenko in the 2020 presidential election and is now a political prisoner, was hospitalized with a punctured lung and signs of physical abuse. Belarusian authorities continue to crack down on political activists, as a Minsk court sentences activist Raman Pratasevich to eight years
Army of hired guns: How Russia’s 'PMCs' are becoming the main invasion force
Private armies are illegal in Russia, so naturally, Moscow has been using them for decades. Now, it’s making them the main invasion force. The rate at which Russia creates new private military company-like units sped up after 2014 but it really took off during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine,
Belarus Weekly: Number of political prisoners in Belarus reaches 1,500, likely much higher
President Volodymyr Zelensky visits northwestern Volyn Oblast and checks border with Belarus. Belarus prepares for the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear missile systems as local units complete training in Russia. The number of political prisoners in Belarus reaches 1,500 people, with experts suggesting the actual figure may be much
Russia tries to conceal its dwindling nuclear stockpile
The main rule of Russia's power diplomacy says: If something goes wrong with their war effort in Ukraine, reach for the nuclear intimidation card. That’s what the Kremlin did two months ago, when Vladimir Putin announced Russia would "suspend" its participation in the New START, the only remaining U.
Belarus Weekly: Turkey helps Russia, Belarus evade sanctions, leak documents allege
Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko meets in Minsk with the head of Russia’s proxies in occupied parts of Donetsk Oblast, offering to provide industrial and agricultural assistance. Meanwhile, Minsk continues to propel Moscow’s nuclear rhetoric, claiming that Belarus has the equipment, aircraft, and sites necessary to accommodate Russian nuclear
Belarus Weekly: Lukashenko wants Russia to defend Belarus 'like its own territory'
In a meeting with Russia's defense minister, Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko requested that Moscow defend Belarus "as its own territory" in the event of an attack. Meanwhile, Belarus' foreign minister meets with his Hungarian counterpart in Budapest to discuss the countries' continued economic cooperation. Two high-profile cases against Belarusian opposition
Belarus Weekly: Russia likely delivering missiles to Belarus, Lukashenko asks for strategic nukes
Nuclear disarmament The Spotlight segment provides readers with the historical context of contemporary events in Belarus. Subscribe to the Newsletter Belarus Weekly Join us Five years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Belarus went from having the world's eighth-largest stockpile of nuclear weapons to becoming an entirely non-nuclear state.
Belarus Weekly: Putin threatens to place tactical nukes in Belarus
Spotlight Freedom Day - Dzen Voli March 25 marks one of the most important days in Belarusian history. On this day in 1918, the Belarusian Democratic Republic proclaimed its independence from Russia. Pahonia was adopted as the coat of arms, and the white-red-white flag became official. These symbols have been
Can Russia afford to commit to a years-long war?
When Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an all-out war against Ukraine, U.S. intelligence claimed that Russian forces planned to sweep Kyiv within days. More than 13 months on, Ukraine's defenses still stand firm. But Ukrainians are now faced with a different threat – the Kremlin appears to be trying to
'It's a cult-like mentality': Historian Ian Garner on the militarization of Russian society
In the second year of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Moscow has shown its intent to fight and win the war without regard for the lives of its servicemen, or the damage caused to Russia’s economy and social fabric. The Kremlin’s choice to announce “partial” mobilization in
Belarus Weekly: European Parliament resolution urges more sanctions against Belarus
A European Parliament resolution calls for additional sanctions on Belarus. The statement also concerns the "so-called integration" of Russia and Belarus. A report issued by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights suggests that ongoing repressions against dissidents in Belarus may constitute "crimes against humanity." Belarusian authorities sentence TUT.by
Estonian Defense Minister: 'Russian army has not changed in 100 years'
Estonia, a country of 1.4 million people bordering Russia, is one of the most vocal supporters of Ukraine. It's also one of the West's front line states facing an increasingly aggressive Russia. Before Russia launched its all-out war, Estonia was among the handful of countries that provided Ukraine with
Editors' Picks
War from above: A day with drone unit defending Ukraine's south
‘I work, then I cry’: Exhausted medics near Bakhmut fight for every life
Belarus Weekly: European Parliament resolution urges more sanctions against Belarus
Ukraine war latest: Japanese PM visits Kyiv; US to speed up Patriot, Abrams delivery
Ukrainian State-Owned Enterprises Weekly – Issue 80
Ukraine war latest: Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Mariinka under heavy fire
