NEWS FEED

Ukraine war latest: Russia imposes restrictions near Estonian border amid mobilization concerns

Ukraine war latest: Russia imposes restrictions near Estonian border amid mobilization concerns

*Russia imposes restrictions near Estonian border amid mobilization concerns *Ukraine confirms strikes on 2 Russian oil refineries in Ufa, Samara *SBU says it foiled FSB-linked plot to assassinate K-1 kickboxing federation president in Kyiv *Trump says he'll use Graham bill's Russia sanctions 'if necessary' *Ukraine strikes Russian drone storage and launch site in Oryol Oblast, damages 5 launchers
Who are Usmanov and Fridman, the Russian oligarchs France helped remove from the EU sanctions list?
Europe

Who are Usmanov and Fridman, the Russian oligarchs France helped remove from the EU sanctions list?

The European Union is expected to lift sanctions on two high-profile Russian oligarchs — Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman. The ruling will come after days of intense negotiations that could have seen the entire package of EU sanctions, imposed since 2022, go to waste. The push was spearheaded by Slovakia, yet it was France that held the new round of sanctions extensions hostage. The Financial Times previously reported that Paris wants to delist Usmanov because Azerbaijan has made it a condi
Trump says he'll use Graham bill's Russia sanctions 'if necessary'

Trump says he'll use Graham bill's Russia sanctions 'if necessary.'

"Last week, in honor of Senator Lindsey Graham, I signed a powerful new law passed by Congress, providing me with enormous new tariff authorities," Trump said in his address at the U.N. General Assembly in New York. "And, if necessary, I will have to use them. It's time to stop the killing."
Fertilizers: End the free pass for the merchants of death
Opinion

Fertilizers: End the free pass for the merchants of death

Ever since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Russian fertilizer industry has had a sanctions-free pass. One can see why such a free pass was granted. When it came to Russian fertilizer exports, both the U.S. and the EU prioritized food security. They did not want to increase food prices and reduce food security by banning Russian fertilizer. While that was an understandable reaction, it overlooked the role that fertilizer plays in munitions production. Fertilizer produc
Ukraine’s defense tech partnerships surge, but many deals stall, new report finds
Business

Ukraine’s defense tech partnerships surge, but many deals stall, new report finds

International joint ventures in Ukraine's defense tech sector are on the rise, with at least 180 partnerships in manufacturing, R&D, and maintenance confirmed by a new report from the Kyiv School of Economics Institute. But export restrictions and fragmented procedures are slowing some deals. A third of those partnerships were signed in the past 12 months as Ukraine's defense tech sector has matured and consolidated. German companies lead the group with 36 partnerships, followed by Denmark with
As Putin edges towards mobilization, Russian reservists are already panicking
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Russia's election is over. Could mobilization be next?

Nobody expected Russia's parliamentary election to wrest power from President Vladimir Putin, with preliminary results on Sept. 21 showing the Kremlin-backed United Russia party winning once again with nearly 58% of the vote. Instead, the question after the election is whether, when, and in what form the Kremlin will launch a new mobilization wave that Kyiv has warned could follow the vote — and which Russia may ultimately need to pursue its war objectives. Russia remains committed to capturin
Russia's rigged election gives Putin a mandate for all-out war
Russia

Russia's rigged election gives Putin a mandate for all-out war

Observers described the Sept. 18-20 parliamentary election as the "dirtiest" vote in Russia's modern history. In a country that has not held free and fair elections for nearly three decades, that might seem like a difficult result to achieve. All independent media were banned soon after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, ensuring a media landscape where no criticism of the authorities is allowed during elections. All genuine opposition parties were also banned from running. Even a mode
Ukraine war latest: Russia's oil refining capacity falls as damage from Moscow strikes sets in

Ukraine war latest: Russia's oil refining capacity falls as damage from Moscow strikes sets in

Key developments on Sept. 21: * Russia's total oil refining capacity down 45% after mass attack on Moscow * Exclusive: EU readies biggest-ever sanctions package targeting Russia's war machine * Russia 'lost control' of its oil refining industry due to Ukraine's attacks, Trump says ahead of Zelensky meeting * 69% of Russian soldiers on Zaporizhzhia front line have criminal records, Ukrainian military says * Ukraine's Culture Ministry announces major fundraising initiative to help publishers
Campaign for Putin, be a star in Washington?
Opinion

Campaign for Putin, be a star in Washington?

Last week, offices across Washington were actively discussing the signing of the Lindsey Graham sanctions bill, which would significantly increase pressure on Russia. And, a bit unexpectedly, sports have once again become part of that conversation. Usually, when we say "sports," we think of competitions, athletes, or another record being broken. Yet this time in Washington, the talks were centered on a very particular topic. The star and captain of the Washington Capitals, Russian hockey playe