Russia

U.N. publicly rejects Russia’s call for secret vote on Ukraine

The United Nations General Assembly voted on Monday to reject Russia's call for the 193-member body to hold a secret ballot later this week on whether to condemn Moscow's move to…

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Ukraine vows to strengthen armed forces after Russian strikes

Ukraine vowed to strengthen its armed forces after Russia launched its biggest aerial assaults on cities since the beginning of the war, forcing thousands to flee to bomb shelters and prompting Kyiv to…

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Biden condemns Russian missile strikes, says U.S. will continue to impose costs

U.S. President Joe Biden condemned Monday's widespread Russian missile attacks in Ukraine, saying they targeted civilians and served no military purpose, and vowed that the United States and its allies will continue to impose costs on…

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Blackouts after Russian strikes deepen Ukraine’s concerns before winter

Russian missile strikes on Ukraine's power network caused blackouts in many parts of the country on Monday, deepening fears of outages this winter and prompting Kyiv to halt electricity exports. Attacks that…

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Key facts about the Kerch bridge linking Russia to the Crimean peninsula

(Reuters) - The road-and-rail bridge linking Russia and the Crimean peninsula was damaged in a powerful blast on Saturday, hitting a crucial supply route for Russian forces in Ukraine. Following…

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UPDATED: Belarus’s Lukashenko warns Ukraine, deploys troops with Russia

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Monday he had ordered troops to deploy with Russian forces near Ukraine in response to what he said was a clear threat to Belarus…

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FACTBOX: Where have Russians been fleeing to since mobilisation began?

BERLIN, (Reuters) - Russians have piled across the border to neighbouring states since President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilisation on Sept. 21 for the war in Ukraine. Here is…

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Putin orders seizure of Exxon-led Sakhalin 1 oil and gas project

MOSCOW/HOUSTON, (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Friday that establishes a new operator for the Exxon Mobil Corp-led Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project in Russia's Far…

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Russia’s Sberbank offers payment holidays on loans for servicemen

This content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine MOSCOW, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Russia's largest lender Sberbank has started arranging payment…

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Amid war crisis, Putin turns 70 with a prayer for his health

LONDON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin turned 70 on Friday amid fawning congratulations from subordinates and a plea from Patriarch Kirill for all lay and clergy to pray…

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Two Russians fleeing military service seek U.S. asylum in Alaska

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - Two Russians fleeing military service have claimed asylum in the United States after arriving by boat in Alaska, authorities said on Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin last…

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Q+A: The killing of Russia’s Dugina: who did it?

LONDON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Darya Dugina, the daughter of a prominent Russian nationalist ideologue, was killed on Aug. 20 when a car bomb ripped through the Toyota Land Cruiser…

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Ruminating on rebellion, Putin says the state must be strong

(Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday questioned a Russian teacher at length about an 18th century rebellion which shook Empress Catherine the Great's Russia, offering his own view on…

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Kremlin says annexation and retreat are not a contradiction amid Ukrainian successes

LONDON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - As President Vladimir Putin completed paperwork for the annexation of four regions of Ukraine on Wednesday, the Kremlin said there was no contradiction between Russian…

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Russian TV protester confirms she has gone on the run

Oct 5 (Reuters) - Russian TV journalist Marina Ovsyannikova, famous for staging an on-air protest against Russia's war in Ukraine, confirmed she had escaped house arrest over charges of spreading…

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Russia says over 200,000 drafted into army since Putin’s decree

(Reuters) - Over 200,000 people have already been drafted into Russia's armed forces since President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilisation two weeks ago, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said. Shoigu…

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Russians fleeing mobilisation will not automatically get French visas – minister

PARIS, Oct 5 (Reuters) - French Junior Minister for European Affairs Laurence Boone said on Wednesday that Russians fleeing their country to avoid being mobilised in the Russian army would…

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Gazprom says it will resume gas exports to Italy via Austria

This content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine MOSCOW, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Russian energy giant Gazprom said on Wednesday it…

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U.S. military aid to Ukraine boosts risk of clash -Russian envoy

Oct 5 (Reuters) - Washington's decision to send more military aid to Ukraine poses a threat to Moscow's interests and increases the risk of a military clash between Russia and…

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Lawyers overwhelmed by requests to help Russians avoid fighting in Ukraine

Swamped by panic-stricken requests for help to avoid being drafted, Russian lawyers say they are working flat out to offer advice to those at risk of being sent to fight…

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Half of mobilised men in Russian region sent home, commissar fired

The military commissar of Russia's Khabarovsk region was removed from his post after half of the newly mobilised personnel were sent home as they did not meet the draft criteria, the…

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Two Putin allies ridicule Russia’s war machine in public

The withdrawal of Russian forces from a strategically important town in eastern Ukraine has prompted two powerful allies of President Vladimir Putin to do something rare in modern Russia: publicly…

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Ukrainian forces advance in south as Russia yields on second front

Ukrainian forces were reported to be recapturing towns along the west bank of the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine on Monday, with Moscow forced to yield territory along a second major front line just…

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Gas outflow from last Nord Stream leaks has ended, Denmark cites company as saying

COPENHAGEN, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Denmark's Energy Agency said on Sunday it had been informed by Nord Stream AG that stable pressure had been achieved in the damaged Nord Stream…

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Russia blocks SoundCloud citing spread of “false information” -Ifx

This content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine MOSCOW, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Russia has restricted access to music-streaming app SoundCloud…

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Moldova says Russia’s Gazprom cuts gas supplies by 30%

CHISINAU, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Russia's Gazprom GAZP.MM cut natural gas supplies to Moldova on Saturday by around 30%, the director of gas firm Moldovagaz, Vadim Ceban, said. A day earlier, deputy Prime Minister…

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Russia aiming to fly solo without Airbus and Boeing

This content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine MOSCOW, (Reuters) - Russia's aviation industry will aim to go it alone without…

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Q+A: Nord Stream gas ‘sabotage’: who’s being blamed and why?

WARSAW, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Major leaks that suddenly erupted in the Nord Stream gas pipelines that run from Russia to Europe under the Baltic Sea have generated plenty of…

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Factbox: The four regions that Russia is poised to annex from Ukraine

LONDON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will proclaim the annexation of four Ukrainian regions at a Kremlin ceremony on Friday, a major escalation in the seven-month war.…

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Patriarch Kirill, head of Russia’s Orthodox Church, tests positive for COVID

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, has tested positive for COVID-19, the Church's press service said on Friday. The Church said Kirill, 75, had cancelled…

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Russian spy chief: we have evidence West involved in ‘sabotage’ of Nord Stream pipelines

Sept 30 (Reuters) - Russia's top spy said on Friday that Moscow had materials which indicated the West had a role in ruptures to the undersea Nord Stream pipelines that…

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FACTBOX: Russia’s annexation plan in Ukraine: Kremlin signing ceremony

LONDON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin will host a signing ceremony in the Kremlin on Friday to incorporate four Ukrainian regions into Russia, a major step towards formally…

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Russian region limits incoming cars amid queues at Georgia border to escape draft

LONDON, (Reuters) - Russia's North Ossetia republic imposed restrictions on cars arriving from other parts of the country as an exodus of military-age men led to a queue of over…

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UPDATED: Moscow calls for ‘objective’ investigation into Nord Stream damage

MOSCOW, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Russia called on Thursday for an international investigation into ruptures of the Nord Stream gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea to be "objective", amid an…

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EU executive proposes eighth batch of sanctions against Russia

BRUSSELS, Sept 28 (Reuters) - The European Union executive proposed on Wednesday an eighth round of sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, including tighter trade restrictions, more individual blacklistings and an oil price cap…

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Russians resorting to private jets to get out of the country

Russia is experiencing an unprecedented demand for private jets in the aftermath of the first mobilisation since World War II ordered by Vladimir Putin. Wealthy Russians are seeking ways to…

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Russia issues new nuclear warning as contested Ukraine referendum ends

LONDON/ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine, Sept 27 (Reuters) - The head of the upper house of the Russian parliament said on Tuesday that it could consider the incorporation of Russia-controlled parts of four Ukrainian regions…

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Over 96% said to favour joining Russia in first vote results from occupied Ukraine regions

LONDON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - First partial voting results from four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine showed overwhelming majorities in favour of becoming part of Russia, Russian state news agency RIA said on…

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German police investigating Russian billionaire Usmanov search yacht

German police investigating money laundering accusations against Russian billionaire businessman Alisher Usmanov have searched a motor yacht in northern Germany, prosecutors said on Tuesday. Prosecutors did not identify the yacht…

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Medvedev raises spectre of Russian nuclear strike on Ukraine

An ally of President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday outlined the scenario of a nuclear strike on Ukraine, saying that the U.S.-led NATO military alliance would be too scared of a 'nuclear…

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Pro-Putin Russian businessman admits link to Wagner mercenaries for first time

Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Monday that he had founded the Wagner Group private military company in 2014, the first public confirmation of a link he has previously denied…

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Kremlin says no decision yet on whether to seal Russia’s borders to stop men fleeing

The Kremlin said on Monday no decision had been taken on whether to seal Russia's borders to stop an exodus of military-aged men fleeing the country, after days of chaotic scenes during…

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Orthodox Church leader says Russian soldiers dying in Ukraine will be cleansed of sin

Sept 26 (Reuters) - The head of the Russian Orthodox Church has said that Russian soldiers who die in the war against Ukraine will be cleansed of all their sins,…

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UPDATED: Kremlin says no decisions taken on border closure amid mobilisation

This content was produced in Russia, where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine. MOSCOW, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday that no decisions…

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UPDATED: Swastika-wearing gunman kills 13 at Russian school

MOSCOW, Sept 26 (Reuters) - A gunman with a swastika on his teeshirt killed 13 people, including seven children, and wounded more than 20 at a school in Russia on…

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Russia’s Putin to meet Belarus’ Lukashenko later today

Sept 26 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko on Monday in Moscow, Belarus state media reported. Russia and Belarus are close allies, with…

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Moscow pledges ‘full protection’ to any areas annexed by Russia

Sept 25 (Reuters) - Russia has sought to defend its seven-month old war, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov telling the United Nations that regions of Ukraine where widely-criticised referendums are being held…

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Borrell: Putin not bluffing about nuclear weapons

The EU must take Vladimir Putin's threats he could use nuclear weapons in the conflict in Ukraine seriously, the bloc's foreign policy chief has said. Josep Borrell told the BBC's…

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Moscow “not threatening anyone” with nuclear weapons – Russia’s Ryabkov

This content was produced in Russia, where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that Moscow was…

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Hungary to continue issuing Schengen visas for Russians — foreign minister

Russian state-owned news agency TASS reportsHungary has no plans to deny Schengen visas, including multiple-entry visas, to Russian nationals. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said this in an interview with…

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Russia excludes some IT professionals, bankers and journalists from mobilisation

Russia said it was exempting some bankers, IT workers and journalists from being drafted into the army to serve in Ukraine under President Vladimir Putin's mobilisation. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu…

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Russian airlines staff start to receive conscription notices -Kommersant

Sept 23 (Reuters) - Russian employees at airlines and airports have started to receive conscription notices after President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial military mobilisation, the Kommersant newspaper reported on…

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Finland mulls barring Russians from entering as border traffic grows

VAALIMAA, Finland (Reuters) - Finland said it was considering barring most Russians from entering the country as traffic across the border from its eastern neighbour "intensified" following President Vladimir Putin's…

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Lavrov defends Russia at U.N. showdown rife with anger over Ukraine war

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov defended Moscow's war in Ukraine at the U.N. Security Council as the United Nations warned Moscow against annexing Ukrainian regions and…

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Czechs will not issue humanitarian visa to Russians fleeing mobilisation

PRAGUE, (Reuters) - The Czech Republic will not issue humanitarian visas to Russian citizens fleeing mobilisation orders, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said. Many Russians are trying to leave their country…

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Russian anti-draft protesters being ordered to enlist

LONDON/GDANSK, (Reuters) - Some Russians detained while protesting against President Vladimir Putin's partial mobilisation have been handed draft papers while in custody, the OVD-Info rights group said. Since Putin on…

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Russia’s Medvedev: new regions can be defended with strategic nuclear weapons

LONDON, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday that any weapons in Moscow's arsenal, including strategic nuclear weapons, could be used to defend territories incorporated…

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