Russia

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Ukraine Strikes Russia's 'Christmas Present'

Russian naval ship reportedly destroyed as Russian troops seize Marinka

(Newser) - Ukrainian aircraft dropped guided missiles at a naval base in Russian-occupied Crimea, reportedly destroying a large Russian landing ship, as Boxing Day dawned. Russian officials acknowledged the early morning attack at the naval base in Feodosia that killed at least one person and injured several others without confirming the ship,...

Navalny Speaks From Prison: 'I Am Your New Santa Claus'

Russian dissident releases a statement a day after his whereabouts were revealed

(Newser) - "It is almost impossible to get to this colony; it is almost impossible to even send letters there. This is the highest possible level of isolation from the world," said Alexei Navalny's chief strategist Monday of the prison colony above the Arctic Circle where the Russian opposition...

Russian Dissidents: We've Located Navalny

Opposition leader found in remote penal colony after 3 weeks of radio silence

(Newser) - Associates of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said Monday that he has been located at a prison colony above the Arctic Circle nearly three weeks after contact with him was lost . Navalny, the most prominent foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is serving a 19-year sentence on charges of...

Putin Pokes West, Ukraine in Eye, Sees Victory Ahead

'The enemy has suffered heavy casualties and to a large extent wasted its reserves'

(Newser) - Russian President Vladimir Putin declared Tuesday that the military has seized the initiative on the battlefield in Ukraine after repelling Kyiv's counteroffensive and is well positioned to achieve Moscow's goals. Putin's speech at a meeting with top military brass came a day after he presented documents to...

More and More Are Asking: Where in the World Is Navalny?

He failed to appear in court as scheduled Monday

(Newser) - Allies of the imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said they were searching for him for a 13th day after he failed to appear in court Monday. Navalny's spokesperson Kira Yarmysh wrote on X that Navalny had multiple hearings scheduled, some of which were suspended after the 47-year-old could...

Putin Makes First Comments on Evan Gershkovich

Russian leader says he wants to 'find a solution,' but US isn't so sure he's been acting in good faith

(Newser) - The US said earlier this month that Russia recently rejected a "substantial offer" to free two Americans, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and ex-Marine Paul Whelan. According to Vladimir Putin, however, he's still open-minded on striking a deal, noting during his annual end-of-year presser on Thursday that...

US Report: Russia Has Lost a Stunning Number of Troops

Putin reportedly believes battered Russian military will outlast Western support for Ukraine

(Newser) - Russia has lost 87% of the ground troops and 62% of the tanks it had at the start of its war with Ukraine, according to a declassified US intelligence assessment. It paints a picture of Russia's military as struggling, though it's pushing forward despite the losses in the...

Brittney Griner Makes a 'Sweeping' Deal With Disney

WNBA star will tell her story in ESPN documentary, scripted series for ABC Signature

(Newser) - Practically a year to the day after she was released from a Russian prison, Brittney Griner has some big news. Deadline reports that the 33-year-old center for the Phoenix Mercury has signed a "sweeping" deal with Disney that will include not only an ESPN documentary, but also a scripted...

Russian Propagandists' New Weapon: Cameo Videos

Celebs including Elijah Wood, Priscilla Presley appear in doctored videos, researchers say

(Newser) - While they apparently haven't gotten to George Santos yet, Russian propagandists have been using Cameo videos from other celebrities to make it appear that Volodymyr Zelensky is seeking help for substance abuse issues, Microsoft researchers say. According to Microsoft's Threat Analysis Center , "unwitting American actors" including Elijah...

Vladimir Putin Will Seek Another 6 Years in Power

It's widely expected the Russian president will win March 2024 election, with only token opposition

(Newser) - Vladimir Putin moved on Friday to prolong his repressive and unyielding grip on Russia for another six years, state media said, announcing his candidacy in the 2024 presidential election that he's all but certain to win, per the AP . Putin still commands wide support after nearly a quarter century...

US Hits 4 Russian Soldiers With War Crimes Charges

DOJ says soldiers kidnapped, tortured an American in Ukraine

(Newser) - The Department of Justice on Wednesday said it has filed war crimes charges against four members of the Russian military accused of abducting and torturing an American during the invasion of Ukraine in a case that's the first of its kind. The four Russians are accused of kidnapping the...

US: Russia Rejected 'Substantial' Deal to Free Americans

Sources say deal would have involved a prisoner swap for Gershkovich, Whelan

(Newser) - The US recently made a "substantial" offer that would have seen two Americans freed from Russian captivity, but Russia rejected the deal, a US State Department spokesperson says. The deal would have freed Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter whose detention was just extended after eight months behind...

Police Raid Moscow Gay Bars After Anti-LGBTQ+ Ruling

Supreme Court decision effectively outlaws movement

(Newser) - Russian security forces raided gay clubs and bars across Moscow on Friday night, less than 48 hours after the country's top court banned what it called the "global LGBTQ+ movement" as an extremist organization. Police searched venues across the capital, including a nightclub, a male sauna, and a...

Navalny on New Charges: 'No Idea What Article 214 Is'

Opposition leader serving 30 years says new allegations are part of Kremlin obsession with him

(Newser) - Imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been handed new charges by Russian prosecutors. The 47-year-old is already serving more than 30 years in prison after being found guilty of crimes including extremism—charges that his supporters characterize as politically motivated. In comments passed to his associates, Navalny said he'd...

Gershkovich's Detention Extended After 8 Months Behind Bars

'Wall Street Journal' reporter to remain in Russian custody until at least Jan. 30

(Newser) - A court in Moscow on Tuesday extended the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, arrested on espionage charges, until Jan. 30, Russian news agencies reported. The hearing took place behind closed doors because authorities say details of the criminal case against the American journalist are classified, the AP...

Wife of Ukraine Spy Chief Was Poisoned
Wife of Ukraine Spy Chief
Is Poisoned

Wife of Ukraine Spy Chief Is Poisoned

Marianna Budanova is recovering, as suspicions turn to Russia

(Newser) - The wife of Ukraine's spymaster was poisoned with heavy metals and is now recovering in the hospital, say Ukrainian officials. Marianna Budanova, a psychologist, is the wife of Kyrylo Budanov, who heads the GUR military intelligence agency, reports Reuters . Russia has a long history of poisoning its enemies , per...

Russia: Ukraine Just Launched Major Drone Attack on Crimea

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials say Russia has upped its attempts to overtake city of Avdiivka

(Newser) - Ukraine launched one of the biggest drone attacks on the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula since the full-scale war that started with Russia's invasion 21 months ago, Russian officials said Friday. They didn't mention any casualties or damage. At the same time, Ukrainian officials reported that the Kremlin's forces...

'Russia Started This': Finland Closes Border Crossings

Country of 5.6M accuses Russia of sending migrants without visas to its borders

(Newser) - Finland says Russia is sending hundreds of migrants from African and Middle Eastern countries across its border illegally and has closed all but one border crossing in response. Finland closed four of eight land border crossings last week, but reported "organized" crossings had continued and expanded north. It now...

South: We'll Know Within Days if North's Spy Satellite Works

Spy agency says intelligence shows North Korea had help from Russia

(Newser) - South Korea has concluded that Russian support likely enabled North Korea to put a spy satellite into orbit for the first time this week, and it should be clear in several days whether it is functioning properly, officials said Thursday. In a closed-door briefing, South Korea's spy agency cited...

North Korea Gets Some Russian Help in Latest Rocket Launch

Another rocket launch after 2 failures, ostensibly to deploy a spy satellite

(Newser) - North Korea has launched a rocket in what may be its third attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit, according to South Korea's military. A rocket was launched late Tuesday, the military in Seoul said, but no further details were immediately available, reports the AP . In North Korea'...

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