Russia

Russian elites trembled as Wagner rebellion took hold

By Guy Faulconbridge, Darya Korsunskaya and Gleb Stolyarov Fears of civil war rose in world's biggest nuclear power Mercenaries posed biggest threat to Putin in 23-year rule 'Anyone with anything…

Read More Here

CIA director called Kremlin to assure US had no role in aborted mutiny

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - CIA Director William Burns called Russian spy chief Sergei Naryshkin after last week's aborted mutiny in Russia to assure the Kremlin that the United States had no…

Read More Here

Russian clinics to help patients “overcome” homosexuality and various sexual “mental disorders”

Russian clinics will soon be staffed with sexologists to help patients "overcome" homosexuality and various sexual "mental disorders", a health ministry order said, in the latest Kremlin attack on what…

Read More Here

Lavrov, asked about failed mutiny aftermath, says Russia always emerges stronger from trouble

By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW, June 30 (Reuters) - Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, asked about Russia's stability in the aftermath of a failed mercenary mutiny, said on Friday that his country…

Read More Here

Wagner merch soars in price after abortive mutiny

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Online prices for merchandise bearing the insignia of Russia's Wagner group - a human skull against a black and red backdrop - have shot up since its…

Read More Here

UPDATED: Pope warns Ukraine war seems to have “no end” as envoy returns from Moscow

VATICAN CITY, June 30 (Reuters) - Pope Francis said on Friday there was no apparent end in sight to the war in Ukraine as his peace envoy wrapped up three…

Read More Here

Russia’s Prigozhin told Wagner Group would no longer fight in Ukraine

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was told that his Wagner group would no longer fight in Ukraine as he had refused to sign contracts to bring his…

Read More Here

Where are Russia’s top generals? Rumours swirl after mercenary mutiny

By Andrew Osborn Two top Russian generals disappear from public view Their fate is unclear as Putin seeks to reassert authority Mercenary boss had demanded defence minister's removal Yet Sergei…

Read More Here

Papal envoy to meet Patriarch Kirill in Moscow

MOSCOW, June 29 (Reuters) - Papal envoy Cardinal Matteo Zuppi and Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, will meet in Moscow on Thursday, the RIA news agency…

Read More Here

UPDATED: Kremlin refers questions about General Surovikin’s fate to the defence ministry

MOSCOW, June 29 (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Thursday declined to answer questions about Russian General Sergei Surovikin, whose status and location have not been made public since an abortive…

Read More Here

Pope Francis’ peace envoy to visit Moscow

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, (Reuters) - An Italian Cardinal tasked by Pope Francis with trying to help end the war in Ukraine will visit Moscow this week as a…

Read More Here

US targets Wagner Group in curbs on gold firms suspected of funding mercenary force

By Daphne Psaledakis and Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON, June 27 (Reuters) - The United States took aim at Russia's Wagner Group and imposed sanctions on companies it accused of engaging in…

Read More Here

UPDATED: Lukashenko says Putin wanted to ‘wipe out’ Prigozhin during mutiny attempt

By Guy Faulconbridge and Lidia Kelly MOSCOW, June 28 (Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he persuaded Russian President Vladimir Putin not to "wipe out" mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin,…

Read More Here

Senior Russian lawmaker calls for professional army of seven million

A senior Russian lawmaker who has been involved in a number of negotiations related to Moscow's campaign in Ukraine called late on Monday for a professional army seven-million strong to ensure that no…

Read More Here

‘We didn’t want to overthrow government’ – Prigozhin

Russia mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Monday that a one-day mutiny by his Wagner force had been intended not to overthrow Russia's government but to register a protest over…

Read More Here

Mutiny lays bare prospect for Putin of ‘forever war’ in Ukraine

Mutiny exposes Russia's thin reserve forces Insurrection may not hand Kyiv sudden breakthrough Turmoil could deal blow to Russian troop morale Questions swirl, Kyiv exults over Russian 'chaos' By Tom…

Read More Here

Russian PM urges citizens to rally behind Putin after aborted mutiny

MOSCOW, June 26 (Reuters) - Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Monday that the country had faced "a challenge to its stability" and must remain united behind President Vladimir…

Read More Here

UPDATED: Russia’s Prigozhin remains under investigation for mutiny

MOSCOW, June 26 (Reuters) - Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin remains under investigation by the Federal Security Service (FSB) on suspicion of organising an armed mutiny, the Kommersant newspaper reported…

Read More Here

Russia seeks calm after aborted mutiny, West sees cracks in Putin’s power

June 26 (Reuters) - Russia sought to restore calm on Monday after an aborted mutiny by Wagner Group mercenaries over the weekend, while Western allies assessed how President Vladimir Putin…

Read More Here

Russian diplomat flies to Beijing as Putin faces challenge to his power

BEIJING, June 25 (Reuters) - Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko flew to Beijing for talks with China on "international" issues, amid a major challenge by Russian mercenaries to President…

Read More Here

Rebel Wagner mercenaries return to base under deal ending advance on Moscow

Prigozhin says his men will return to base Kremlin says mercenary leader will move to Belarus Wagner fighters leave Rostov, regional governor says Belarus says brokered deal in return for…

Read More Here

Russia’s Rostov-on-Don calm after Prigozhin leaves

June 25 (Reuters) - The situation around the headquarters of Russia's Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don was calm and street traffic resumed, RIA state news agency said on Sunday after…

Read More Here

Russia mum on number of nuclear warheads in Belarus

(Reuters) - Russia will not inform the U.S. about the number of nuclear warheads it is stationing in Belarus or tests of its nuclear-capable Poseidon torpedo, the Interfax news agency…

Read More Here

UPDATED: Russia urges Moscow residents to avoid key highway

Russia's Federal Road Agency urged residents of the Moscow region on Sunday to refrain from travelling along the M-4 "Don" major expressway until 10 a.m. (0700 GMT). The agency had…

Read More Here

Prigozhin to move to Belarus as rebel Russian mercenaries halt advance on Moscow

Prigozhin says his men will return to baseKremlin says mercenary leader will move to Belarus Wagner fighters leave Rostov, regional governor says Belarus says brokered deal in return for rebels'…

Read More Here

Mutinous Russian mercenary boss turn his fighters back from Moscow to avoid bloodshed

MOSCOW, June 24 (Reuters) - Mutinous Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Saturday he had ordered his fighters advancing on Moscow in convoy to turn around and return to their bases to avoid…

Read More Here

Update: Rebel Russian mercenaries barrel towards Moscow

ROSTOV-ON-DON/VORONEZH, Russia, June 24 (Reuters) - Mutinous Russian mercenary fighters barrelled towards Moscow on Saturday after seizing a southern city overnight, with Russia's military firing on them from the air but seemingly…

Read More Here

How mercenary revolt has gathered pace in Russia

June 24 (Reuters) - Mutinous Russian mercenary fighters barrelled towards Moscow on Saturday after seizing a southern city overnight, with Russia's military firing on them from the air but seemingly incapable of…

Read More Here

Moscow mayor urges people to refrain from trips around the city

MOSCOW, June 24 (Reuters) - Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin on Saturday asked people to refrain from trips around the city as far as possible given a counter-terrorism operation had been declared and…

Read More Here

Turmoil in Russia: Reactions from foreign governments

June 24 (Reuters) - Following are reactions from foreign governments to the news from Russia, where President Vladimir Putin vowed on Saturday to crush what he called an armed mutiny after rebellious…

Read More Here

Russia says it detained Caesium smugglers working for a Ukrainian citizen

MOSCOW, June 23 (Reuters) - Russia's FSB security service said on Friday it had detained five people who were trying to buy 1 kg of radioactive Caesium-137 for $3.5 million…

Read More Here

Macron would be inappropriate guest at BRICS summit, says Russia

MOSCOW, June 22 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron would be an inappropriate guest at the BRICS summit, the RIA news agency quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as…

Read More Here

Nabiullina says adding Moscow to FATF blacklist would be politically motivated

MOSCOW, June 21 (Reuters) - The governor of Russia's central bank Elvira Nabiullina said on Wednesday that there were no reasons for Russia to be added to the Financial Action Task Force…

Read More Here

UK to keep Russia assets frozen until Ukraine is compensated

Britain on Monday introduced legislation that will allow it to keep sanctions against Russia in place until Moscow pays compensation to Ukraine, and announced a new route for frozen assets…

Read More Here

Russia says one of its warships rescued 68 passengers from boat in Mediterranean

MOSCOW, June 19 (Reuters) - A Russian warship and cargo ship rescued 68 people overnight from a boat in the Mediterranean Sea, Russia's Defence Ministry said on Monday. It said…

Read More Here

Russia says it thwarted ‘Ukrainian terrorist plots’ against Russian-backed officials

June 19 (Reuters) - Russia's FSB security service said on Monday it had thwarted a series of Ukrainian "sabotage and terrorist plots" targeting Russian-backed officials on Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine…

Read More Here

Deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus not time-limited – senior Russian diplomat

MOSCOW, June 19 (Reuters) - Russia's deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus is not time-limited, state news agency TASS quoted a senior Russian diplomat on Monday as saying. Russia…

Read More Here

Blinken says there are no indications that Russia preparing to use nuclear weapons

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - There are no indications that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons and the United States sees no reason to adjust its own nuclear posture, Secretary of…

Read More Here

Putin says Russia positions nuclear bombs in Belarus as warning to West

By Andrew Osborn Putin confirms Russian nuclear warheads in Belarus Says more will be delivered by end of the year Says Moscow sees no need to use nuclear weapons for…

Read More Here

Putin: We had to raise defence spending to ensure security

MOSCOW, June 16 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that Russia's public finances were generally balanced and that it had had to increase defence spending to reinforce its…

Read More Here

Kremlin says Putin open to any contacts on Ukraine conflict resolution

MOSCOW, June 16 (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Friday said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is still open to any contacts to discuss the resolution of the Ukraine conflict, Russian…

Read More Here

Chechen fighters sent to Russian border with Ukraine

(Reuters) - Chechen fighters have been deployed in Russia's Belgorod region bordering Ukraine to prevent attacks from "Ukrainian sabotage groups", Chechnya ruler Ramzan Kadyrov said on Thursday. Belgorod region has…

Read More Here

Ukraine says Russian missile attacks kill three in Odesa, three in Donetsk

Overnight Russian missile attacks killed three people in the Black Sea city of Odesa and three in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian officials said on Wednesday.The three killed in…

Read More Here

New US military aid to Ukraine pushes Washington deeper in conflict – Russia

The new $325 million U.S. military aid package for Ukraine pushes Washington deeper into the "abyss" of the conflict, Russia's ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, said early on Wednesday. The…

Read More Here

ECB urges banks in Russia to leave quickly

Euro zone banks in Russia should leave quickly, the bloc's top supervisor said on Tuesday, making a rare explicit call on those lenders to wind down operations more than a…

Read More Here

Chechen force signs contract with Russia’s defence ministry that Wagner’s Prigozhin refused

June 12 (Reuters) - Russia's Defence Ministry said on Monday it has signed a contract with the Akhmat group of Chechen special forces, a day after Russia's powerful mercenary chief…

Read More Here

Prigozhin says Wagner will not sign any contract with Russian defence minister

Prigozhin says Shoigu's order does not apply to Wagner Prigozhin: Shoigu can't manage military formations Shoigu had ordered volunteer detachments to sign contracts By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW, June 11 (Reuters)…

Read More Here

Moscow court detains U.S. citizen on drug charges

June 11 (Reuters) - A U.S. citizen, a musician and a former paratrooper, has been detained in Russia on charges of organising a drug trafficking operation, a Moscow court said…

Read More Here

Russia says it repels Ukraine’s offensive in east and south

MOSCOW, June 10 (Reuters) - The Russian Defence Ministry said on Saturday that Ukraine's forces have continued "unsuccessful" attempts in the past 24 hours to launch attacks south of Donetsk and in…

Read More Here

In Russia, the talk is of ‘war’ – even from Putin

By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW (Reuters) - For more than 15 months Russia has been fighting a war in Ukraine that the Kremlin refused to call a war - but that…

Read More Here

Russia aims to block EU from hosting COP29 climate summit, emails show

Venue for 2024 UN climate talks uncertain Ukraine war, geopolitics complicate decision Russia vows to block EU countries from hosting Azerbaijan, Bulgaria both bid to host By Kate Abnett and…

Read More Here

Diverted Indian jet lands in middle of Russia airspace row

By Aditi Shah, Joanna Plucinska and Tim Hepher ISTANBUL, June 7 (Reuters) - The diversion of a U.S.-built Air India jetliner to Russia with engine problems has thrust industry tensions…

Read More Here

Russia says West trying to confuse the world over Nord Stream culprits

June 7 (Reuters) - The Russian embassy in the United States said on Wednesday that a report the United States knew of a Ukrainian plan to attack the Nord Stream…

Read More Here

WATCH: Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine is blown, unleashing flood of water

A vast Soviet-era dam in the Russian controlled part of southern Ukraine was blown on Tuesday, unleashing a flood of water across the war zone, according to both Ukrainian and…

Read More Here

Russia begins Baltic Sea drills one day after NATO

June 5 (Reuters) - Russia said on Monday it began holding naval drills in the Baltic Sea, one day after NATO member states kicked off their annual Baltic drills. On…

Read More Here

Russia starts naval exercises in Japan and Okhotsk Seas waters

June 5 (Reuters) - Russia's Pacific Fleet forces have started operational exercises in the waters of the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk that will last until June…

Read More Here

Russia’s air attack repelled on approach to Kyiv, Ukraine says

KYIV, June 4 (Reuters) - Russia launched a wave of air attacks on Ukraine early on Sunday, with air defence systems repelling all missiles and drones on their approach to Kyiv, the…

Read More Here