Russia’s defense spending surges to record levels, media reports
Russia’s spending on “national defense” reached an unprecedented $43 billion in the third quarter of 2024, The Moscow Times reported on Dec. 9.
Vladimir Putin
Russia seeks Turkey’s help to withdraw troops from Syria, CNN Turk reports
According to the outlet’s correspondent in Ankara, Russia has proposed relocating its forces to Turkish-controlled areas of Syria before transporting them to Russia by air.
Trump 'formulating a concept' to end Russia-Ukraine war
Russian President Vladimir Putin should seek an end to the war as he lost 700,000 people to hostilities, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said in comments for the New York Post published on Dec. 8.
Trump urges Putin it's 'time to act' on ceasefire negotiations with Zelensky
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to take action toward negotiating a truce, saying on Dec. 8: "I know Vladimir well. This is his time to act. China can help. The World is waiting!"
Syria's Assad, his family have arrived in Moscow after being granted asylum, sources tell Russian news agencies
Russian news agencies reported on Dec. 8 that Syria's Bashar al-Assad and his family have arrived in Russia, where they have been granted asylum on "humanitarian grounds."
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine has lost 43,000 soldiers in action since start of invasion, Zelensky says
Key developments on Dec. 7-8: * Ukraine has lost 43,000 soldiers in action since start of invasion, Zelensky says * Russia claims control of village in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine has not confirmed capture * Situation in Zaporizhzhia Oblast 'difficult,' but 'predicted,' Freedom of Russia Legion spokesperson says * Ukrainian sea drones
Trump tells NBC News Ukraine should likely prepare for reduced US aid
Trump reiterated that he is working to end the hostilities in Ukraine, reinforcing his earlier campaign claim that he could resolve the war within 24 hours if he were in charge.
Russia withdraws ships, weapons from Syria, Ukrainian intelligence reports
The withdrawal comes as rebels advancing from Damascus push toward Syria's coastal provinces, including Latakia, Hama and Tartus, where Russian military bases are located, Ukraine's military intelligence agency said.
Ukraine war latest: Zelensky unveils new Ukrainian new missile-drone 'Peklo'
Key developments on Dec. 6: * Zelensky unveils new Ukrainian new missile-drone — 'Peklo' * Crimean Bridge closed after reported Ukrainian drone strikes on Kerch * Ukrainian partisans sabotage railway line linking Moscow to Kursk Oblast, group claims * Estonian company to test AI-guided anti-drone missiles in Ukraine, CEO says * Putin replaces Kursk Oblast governor
Lukashenko asks Putin to deploy Oreshnik missile systems in Belarus, Russian state-controlled media says
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko asked Russian President Vladimir Putin on Dec. 6 to deploy Oreshnik missile systems in Belarus, a weapon Russia recently used to strike Ukraine, Russian state-controlled news agency RIA Novosti reported.
Russia's alliance of convenience with China is a ticking time bomb
The recent BRICS+ summit in Kazan, Russia — featuring Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — had some observers hailing it as the dawn of an anti-Western world order, led by Moscow and Beijing. The partnership between Russia and China is undeniably formidable. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi
Belarus Weekly: Russians tortured Ukrainians in Belarus at start of full-scale invasion, investigation shows
Russian troops operated a torture chamber on Belarusian state-owned property in 2022, journalistic investigation reveals. Over 150 Russian drones flew into Belarusian airspace in November — three times the previous monthly record of incursions. The European Parliament urges stronger sanctions on Belarus, Iran, and North Korea for aiding Russia’s war
Putin replaces Kursk Oblast governor due to management 'chaos' after Ukraine incursion, media reports
Verstka cited claims that Alexei Smirnov’s handling of defensive structures along the Ukrainian border contributed to his dismissal.
US enforces visa restrictions on Russian officials linked to Ukrainian child deportations
Since February 2022, at least 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted from Russian-occupied territories and sent to other Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine or to Russia itself.
Fall of Aleppo deals blow to Russia's Middle East clout, may indirectly strengthen Ukraine's hand
The shock capture of Aleppo by Syrian forces opposed to Bashar al-Assad in recent days has dealt a humiliating blow to the regime and its backers, Russia and Iran, analysts have told the Kyiv Independent. The surprise offensive has also indirectly helped Ukraine, analysts say. "This is really quite the
Protests in Georgia, explained
For the fifth day in a row, Georgians are holding massive protests against their government in the country's capital, Tbilisi. The brewing dissatisfaction was ignited by the country's democratic backsliding under the leadership of the pro-Russian, increasingly illiberal government. The final straw appeared to be the parliament elections won by
Russia-friendly candidates surge in Romania's elections, a worrying signal for Ukraine
Romania's presidential and parliamentary elections saw a strong showing for far-right politicians critical of military support for Ukraine. Anti-NATO and Russia-admiring independent candidate Calin Georgescu came in first during the initial round of the presidential vote on Nov. 24, with nearly 23%, a shock result that contradicted previous polling. Nationalist
Putin approves Russia's budget with record spending on national defense
Spending on war and law enforcement agencies exceeds expenditures on education, healthcare, social policy, and the national economy combined.
Moscow nightclub raids target LGBTQ+ community amid Russia's crackdown on 'propaganda'
The raids coincide with the one-year anniversary of Russia’s Supreme Court decision to classify the LGBTQ+ movement as an "extremist organization." The ruling followed a years-long effort to suppress LGBTQ+ rights in the country.
Syrian rebels take over Aleppo as Russia pledges to assist Assad regime
Russia has promised Damascus additional military assistance that is expected to arrive in the next 72 hours, as rebel forces sweep the northwestern city of Aleppo, two sources in the Syrian military told Reuters.
Almost 40% of Russians think nuclear strike on Ukraine is justified, Russian sociologist says
Vladimir Putin's talks of a potential nuclear strike "gradually lead to an increase in the proportion of (Russians) who believe it is acceptable, in fact, morally justified," Russian sociologist Alexey Levinson said.
North Korea’s Kim pledges unwavering support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, media reports
Kim Jong Un reportedly emphasized that North Korea "will invariably support the policy of the Russian Federation to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity from the imperialists’ moves for hegemony."
Trump's pick for Ukraine envoy backs 'peace through strength,' security guarantees
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's Nov. 27 decision to choose Keith Kellogg as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia is not ideal for Kyiv but is an acceptable and reasonable choice for Ukraine, analysts say. Kellogg has co-authored a peace plan that would freeze the front line in Ukraine,
Can Russia sustain its war effort as ruble plummets, inflation soars?
With the purchasing power of the Russian ruble hitting the lowest point since March 2022, the economic toll of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine becomes glaring. Russia's expanding spending on the war has fueled inflation, prompting Russia's Central Bank to hike its interest rate to the highest level since the
'Putin wants to escalate' before Trump takes office — Zelensky hits back at Oreshnik threats
"Putin wants to escalate the situation now so that President Trump fails to end the war," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Trump ally Tucker Carlson slams Biden for giving Ukraine land mines, says 'killing is the point'
U.S. political commentator Tucker Carlson, a controversial figure who holds influence by having Donald Trump's ear, has slammed the outgoing administration's decision to provide Kyiv with landmines, warning the weaponry Ukraine claims it needs to defend itself from Russia's invasion will only "kill innocents." "There's no justification for using
Putin threatens to target 'decision-making centers' in Kyiv with Oreshnik missile
Speaking at the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) summit in Astana, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia's military leadership is now "choosing targets" in Ukraine to hit them with Oreshnik.
Gazprom plans for end of gas transit via Ukraine after 2024, Reuters reports
Kyiv has indicated it will not extend the transit deal, ending over 50 years of gas flows from Siberia to central Europe — a vital revenue stream for Russia since the Soviet era.
'Honestly, go f**k yourself' — Ukrainians react to Joe Rogan’s rant on Ukraine
Joe Rogan, one of the world's most popular podcasters, has sparked outrage in Ukraine, after claiming that Kyiv and its Western allies, rather than Russia, "are about to start World War III." In an episode of The Joe Rogan Experience last Friday, the U.S. host criticized the outgoing President
Despite popular uprising, Kremlin's grip on occupied Abkhazia runs supreme
When local council members gathered in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia last week to discuss new measures promoting Russian investment, a group of protestors rose to meet them. The proposed legislation, which would have legalized Russian investment and land ownership in the occupied region, had already sparked unrest. On
Air defense systems can counter Russia's Oreshnik missile, Zelensky says
"The world has air defense systems capable of countering such threats," Zelensky said, referring to Russia's new Oreshnik ballistic missile. Experts are currently analyzing the wreckage of the weapon, he said.
Mediazona confirms identities of almost 80,000 Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine
As Vladimir Putin boasted the new Oreshnik nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile, sparking renewed fears of nuclear escalation, an independent Russian outlet, Mediazona, reported nearly 2,700 additional Russian military deaths in Ukraine over the past two weeks.
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