Russia

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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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'…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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)…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Russia warns United States: don’t brandish ultimatums on arms control

Russia warns U.S. against ultimatums Russia: U.S. must cease its hostile stance U.S. to stop giving Russia some New START data Russia: 1988 missile launch agreement still works By Guy…

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UPDATED: Pro-Kyiv group reports second day of fighting in Russia’s Belgorod

June 2 (Reuters) - A group of pro-Ukrainian forces said on Friday they were fighting Russian troops on the outskirts of a village just inside Russia's western border, a day…

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Russia’s FSB says discovered U.S. intelligence operation using Apple phones

MOSCOW, June 1 (Reuters) - Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday that it had uncovered a U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) plot using previously unknown malware to penetrate specially made backdoor…

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Russian mercenary boss slams army ‘clowns’ as he marks birthday at training camp

MOSCOW, June 1 (Reuters) - Russia's most powerful mercenary, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said his Wagner group would fight on in Ukraine if his men got a separate section of the front…

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Dmitry Medvedev: Britain is Moscow’s “eternal enemy”

Russian security council deputy chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday that Britain was Moscow’s “eternal enemy” and that any British officials who facilitated the war in Ukraine could be considered…

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Russia has given passports to 1.5 million people in annexed Ukraine

(Reuters) - Russia has given passports to almost 1.5 million people living in the annexed parts of Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions since last October, Russian Prime Minister…

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Russia launches third attack on Kyiv in 24 hours

At least one person died and four were injured as a result of Russia's third attack on Kyiv in 24 hours, official said early on Tuesday, with Ukraine's air defence…

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Kremlin says ‘vacuum’ emerging in arms control

The Kremlin said on Monday that a "vacuum" was emerging in the area of arms control as a result of poor relations between a number of states and said Russia…

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Russia puts U.S. Senator Graham on wanted list

MOSCOW, May 29 (Reuters) - Russia's interior ministry has put U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham on a wanted list, Russian media reported on Monday, citing the ministry's database. In an edited…

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Kremlin says Russia’s security services ‘know their job’ after Ukraine says Putin tops its kill list

By Andrew Osborn (Reuters) - The Kremlin said that Russia's security services knew what they were doing after a top Ukrainian intelligence official said President Vladimir Putin was number one…

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Mercenary Prigozhin says Kremlin blanking him on state media will provoke backlash

By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW, May 28 (Reuters) - Russia's most powerful mercenary said on Sunday he was convinced that senior Kremlin officials had banned reporting about him on state media,…

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Defeat would leave Russia brutal and vindictive even if Putin ‘disappeared’, says RAF chief

Defeat in its war against Ukraine would leave Russia “vindictive” and “brutal” and posing a threat to Nato countries, the outgoing head of the RAF said. Air Chief Marshal Sir…

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Don’t lecture us on nuclear deployments, Russia tells US

By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW, (Reuters) - Russia on Saturday dismissed criticism from U.S. President Joe Biden over Moscow's plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, saying Washington had for…

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Putin orders stronger Russian border security

May 28 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin on Sunday ordered stronger border security to ensure "fast" Russian military and civilian movement into Ukrainian regions now under Moscow control. Speaking in…

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Russia’s Medvedev warns West is underestimating risks of nuclear escalation over Ukraine

MOSCOW, May 26 (Reuters) - A senior ally of President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that the West was seriously underestimating the risk of a nuclear war over Ukraine, cautioning…

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Mercenary Prigozhin warns Russia could face revolution unless elite gets serious about war

(This story contains language that readers may find offensive in paragraph 5) MOSCOW, May 24 (Reuters) –Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner mercenary group, warned that Russia could face…

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Russia, China sign economic pacts despite Western criticism

By Andrew Hayley BEIJING (Reuters) - Russia's prime minister signed a set of agreements with China on Wednesday during a trip to Beijing, describing bilateral ties at an unprecedented high,…

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