The Dispatch

West decries Putin’s election win, China, India vow closer ties

Western governments lined up on Monday to condemn Vladimir Putin's landslide election victory as unfair and undemocratic, but China, India and North Korea congratulated the veteran Russian leader on extending…

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Kremlin says the only way to protect Russia is to create a buffer zone with Ukraine

MOSCOW, March 18 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday that the only way to protect Russian territory from Ukrainian attacks was to create a buffer zone that would put…

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What are Putin’s top challenges in new six-year term?

By Mark Trevelyan LONDON, March 18 (Reuters) - Vladimir Putin has won six more years in the Kremlin with a landslide victory in an election where he faced no serious…

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UPDATED: Reactions abroad to Russia’s presidential election

Following are reactions from foreign governments and officials to Russia's presidential election, which handed Vladimir Putin a landslide win and another six-year term in office, according to first official results…

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Ukraine downs 17 out of 22 Russia-launched drones, air force says

KYIV, March 18 (Reuters) - Ukrainian air defence systems shot down 17 out of 22 Russian drones over nine Ukrainian regions in an attackthat caused a fire in a residential…

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Azeri president says peace with Armenia is closer than ever

March 18 (Reuters) - Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said on Sunday his country is "closer than ever" to a peace with Armenia, half a year after Azerbaijan recaptured its Karabakh…

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Putin warns the West a Russia-NATO conflict is just one step from WW3

Putin warns West over sending troops to Ukraine Putin says NATO personnel already in Ukraine Russia may take buffer zone out of Ukraine regions Putin says he approved exchange of…

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Putin wins Russia election in landslide with no serious competition

By Guy Faulconbridge and Andrew Osborn Putin wins 88% of vote - exit poll New term gives Putin six more years in power War hung over the election Ukraine strikes…

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UPDATED: Breakaway Georgian region is discussing becoming part of Russia

MOSCOW, March 17 (Reuters) - South Ossetia, a region that broke away from Georgia and calls itself an independent state, has discussed becoming part of Russia with Moscow officials, Russian…

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UPDATED: Putin tightens grip on power in Russian election but thousands join noon protest

Putin due to win six more years in power War hangs over the election Ukraine strikes Russia with drones and rockets Thousands come out for 'Noon against Putin' protest More…

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UPDATED: Ukrainian drones have hit 12 Russian oil refineries, Kyiv source says

KYIV, March 17 (Reuters) - Long-range Ukrainian attack drones launched by the SBU domestic security service have hit 12 Russian oil refineries during the war so far, a Ukrainian intelligence…

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Ukrainian drones attack Russian oil refinery in Kaluga region

March 15 (Reuters) - Ukraine attacked a small oil refinery in Russia's Kaluga region with drones early on Friday, causing damage in an operation that was conducted by the GUR…

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Putin on brink of six more years in power as Russians vote

MOSCOW, March 15 (Reuters) - Russia began three days of voting on Friday in an presidential election that is set to extend the rule of Vladimir Putin by six more…

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Kremlin says Putin didn’t threaten to use nuclear weapons, U.S. took him out of context

MOSCOW, March 14 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said that comments on nuclear weapons that Russian President Vladimir Putin made in an interview with state media did not constitute a threat…

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EU’s Borrell says outcome of Ukraine war will be decided this spring and summer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said, after holding meetings in Washington, that securing new support for Ukraine could not wait since the outcome of the…

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Ukraine official: two Russian border regions are now active combat zones

A senior Ukrainian intelligence official said that armed groups he described as Russians opposed to the Kremlin were pressing an incursion into Russian territory and had turned two border regions…

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Russian election 2024: List of candidates and barred Putin challengers

By Andrew Osborn Russia will hold a presidential election on March 15-17 which President Vladimir Putin is certain to win, barring an unexpected development. That will give the longest serving…

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Russia’s presidential election: the who, what and when?

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia will hold a presidential election on March 15-17 which President Vladimir Putin is certain to win, barring an unexpected development. That will give the longest serving…

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Moldova says Russia illegally printed ballots for election in separatist region

By Alexander Tanas CHISINAU, (Reuters) - A senior official in ex-Soviet Moldova said Moscow was breaking laws by printing ballot papers in the separatist region of Transdniestria ahead of this…

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Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant reports shelling by Ukraine army

MOSCOW, March 14 (Reuters) - The Russian-controlled management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, said on Thursday that the Ukrainian army had shelled a critical infrastructure…

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Russia warns Ukraine war could spin out of control due to action of one or two NATO countries

MOSCOW, (Reuters) - Russia warned that the war in Ukraine could spin out of control and expand geographically due to the ill-considered actions of one or two member states from…

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UPDATED: Ukraine calls Russia’s election on occupied territories null and void

March 14 (Reuters) - Ukrainian foreign ministry called voting for Russia's presidential election that is also being held in Ukraine's occupied territories illegal and void and called on its international…

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Putin warns the West: Russia is ready for nuclear war

President Vladimir Putin warned the West on Wednesday Russia was technically ready for nuclear war and that if the U.S. sent troops to Ukraine, it would be considered a significant…

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Russian elite expects Putin to reshuffle some positions after election win

Russia's elite is expecting President Vladimir Putin to reshuffle government positions to bring in younger people after what it sees as the formality of his resounding election victory this weekend, four sources…

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Vatican says Russian aggression must end to allow peace in Ukraine

The first condition for any negotiations to end the war in Ukraine is that Russia should halt its aggression, the second in command to Pope Francis said in a newspaper…

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Ukrainian drones and missiles strike Russian oil refineries, says Moscow

Ukraine pounded targets across Russia on Tuesday with at least 25 drones and seven missiles, Russia's defence ministry said, in a sweeping attack that one local official said had left…

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Russia to hold warship drills with Iran and China

MOSCOW, March 11 (Reuters) - A group of Russian warships has arrived in Iran for military exercises in which China will also take part, the Russian defence ministry said on…

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Kremlin declines comment on report U.S. prepared for Russian nuclear strike in Ukraine

MOSCOW, March 11 (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Monday declined to comment on a CNN report that the United States began preparing rigorously in late 2022 for Russia potentially striking…

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Putin’s spy chief says U.S. trying to meddle in Russian election

MOSCOW, March 11 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin's foreign intelligence chief said on Monday that the United States was trying to meddle in Russia's presidential election and that Washington even…

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UPDATED: Pope not asking Ukraine to surrender – Vatican press office

Pope Francis is not asking Ukraine to surrender in an interview to a Swiss TV station that is to be broadcast later this month but a portion of which was…

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Armenia is considering seeking EU membership

March 9 (Reuters) - Armenia is considering applying for European Union membership, foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan said on Friday, as it seeks to forge closer ties with the West in…

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Ukraine to receive 6 bln euro from EU in next two months

Ukraine will receive 6 billion euros ($6.6 billion) from the European Union via its four-year Ukraine facility in the next two months, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. The government expects…

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UPDATED: U.S. embassy warns of imminent attack in Moscow by ‘extremists’

U.S. embassy warns of imminent attack by "extremists" It tells citizens to avoid concerts and mass events FSB says it foiled an attack on a synagogue in Moscow FSB says…

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UPDATED: Ukraine’s Zelenskiy to visit Turkey on Friday

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will visit Turkey on Friday and meet Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish Presidency said. Turkey is expected to emphasise its continued strong support for Ukraine's…

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Russia says it neutralized ISIS cell plotting attack on Moscow synagogue

MOSCOW, March 7 (Reuters) - Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday it prevented an attack on a synagogue in Moscow that was plotted by an Islamic State cell,…

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Senior Russian officer warns Ukraine conflict could escalate into full-scale war in Europe

Russia must re-organise its security, says senior officer The West may boost 'proxy forces' against Russia, he says MOSCOW, March 7 (Reuters) - A senior Russian military officer has warned…

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Ukraine aims to conduct counter-offensive actions in 2024

The Ukrainian military will stabilize the battlefield situation shortly and aims to form units for counter-offensive actions later this year, a top military commander said. Ukrainian forces experienced a setback…

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Lithuania predicts Russia can fight on in Ukraine for at least two years

By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS, March 7 (Reuters) - High oil prices, sanctions evasion and state investment are providing Russia with enough resources to fight on in Ukraine at the current…

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Kremlin says Russia will not meddle in the U.S. presidential election

Kremlin: we will not interfere in 2024 election Kremlin: we never meddled in U.S. elections U.S. said Russia meddled in 2016 and 2020 Peskov: relations with U.S. have never been…

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Yulia Navalnaya urges Russians to join election day protest against Putin

LONDON, March 6 (Reuters) - Yulia Navalnaya, widow of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, called on Russians to join an election day protest at noon on March 17 and to vote…

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Russia does not recognise ICC arrest warrants, Kremlin says

MOSCOW, March 6 (Reuters) - Russia does not recognise arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for two Russian commanders suspected of war crimes in Ukraine, the Kremlin…

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France and Moldova to sign defence and economic accords on Thursday

PARIS, March 6 (Reuters) - Moldova and France will sign defence and economic cooperation accords during a visit by Moldovan President Maia Sandu to Paris on Thursday, the French presidency…

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Russia oil fleet shifts away from Liberia, Marshall Island flags amid US sanctions crackdown

By Jonathan Saul and Timothy Gardner This content was partly produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine. LONDON/WASHINGTON, March 6 (Reuters) - Dozens…

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Putin’s spy chief scolds Macron for extremely dangerous remark on Ukraine

By Guy Faulconbridge Russian spy chief: European leaders lack common sense SVR chief: Macron showed irresponsibility with remark Macron opened door to European soldiers in Ukraine U.S. and other allies…

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Russia says it is considering putting a nuclear power plant on the moon with China

Russia and China are considering putting a nuclear power plant on the moon from 2033-35, Yuri Borisov, the head of Russia's space agency Roscosmos said on Tuesday, something he said…

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Moldova spy chief warns on new destabilisation attempts by Russia

Moldova's spy chief said on Tuesday that Russia was planning fresh attempts to meddle in the country's internal affairs by provoking protests, interfering in upcoming presidential elections, and disrupting plans…

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Russia says Western ambassadors are meddling in Russia’s affairs

Russia's foreign ministry on Tuesday accused Western ambassadors in Moscow of meddling in Russia's internal affairs and said their behaviour raised questions about the point of such envoys. The war…

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Putin ally says Ukraine is ‘definitely Russia’, rules out talks with Zelenskiy

MOSCOW, March 4 (Reuters) - Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council and an ally of President Vladimir Putin, said on Monday that Ukraine was part of Russia and…

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Ukraine’s Zelenskiy: Political will in West required to secure needed supplies

(Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday called for Ukraine's Western partners to summon the political will to provide Kyiv with necessary military supplies or the world will face "one…

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UPDATED: Six militants killed in special operation in Russia’s Ingushetia region – TASS

March 3 (Reuters) - Russian security forces killed six alleged militants in a special operation in Russia's North Caucasus republic of Ingushetia, TASS news agency reported on Sunday, citing local…

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Russia says Ukraine attacked Crimea with 38 drones

March 3 (Reuters) - Russian air defence systems destroyed all 38 drones that Ukraine launched at the Crimean Peninsula early on Sunday, Russia's defence ministry said, after reports on Ukrainian…

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Moldova says Russia has no right to lecture on democracy

By Alexander Tanas CHISINAU, (Reuters) - Russia has no right to lecture on democracy, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry said in a statement, as tensions between the two countries have risen…

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Russia diverts LNG supplies for Asia around Africa to avoid Red Sea, LSEG data shows

MOSCOW, (Reuters) - Russia is diverting China-bound cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) on a longer route via the Cape of Good Hope due to the heightened risk of attacks…

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Ukraine expects to get 16 bln euro in 2024 from EU, says PM

KYIV, March 1 (Reuters) - Ukraine expects to get 16 billion euros ($17.30 billion) this year from the European Union under its four-year loan facility, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said…

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Putin “weaponising” immigration into Europe

The Telegraph in an article revealed that Russia is using private militias to control and “weaponise” immigration into Europe. The Kremlin has influence over a number of the main routes…

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UPDATED: Alexei Navalny funeral draws thousands

Thousands of mourners gathered in front of a church in Moscow as the funeral service for Russia’s most prominent Putin critic, Alexei Navalny, began. Crowds were heard shouting “Navalny, Navalny!”…

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Ukraine says it has shot down three more Russian warplanes

KYIV, Feb 29 (Reuters) - Ukraine's military said on Thursday it had shot down three more Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers, the latest successes it has reported against Moscow's air force. "After…

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