The conflict in Ukraine is about to enter a new high-intensity phase as Kyiv’s troops gear up for an anticipated counteroffensive. Ukraine’s persistent lobbying of allies has yielded significant results as NATO members have gradually relented to supplying high-tech weapons. The fighting in the coming weeks is likely to be bloody, as Ukraine aims to … Read moreWill Ukraine’s new weapons help its fight against Russia?
Japan scrambled fighter jets after spotting Russian “intelligence-gathering” aircraft off its coasts along the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Japan on Thursday, the country’s defence ministry has said. One Russian aircraft travelled from Japan’s north down along part of its west coast, while the other took a similar route along the opposite coast and returned … Read moreJapan says scrambled fighter jets after Russian planes spotted
Fifteen months after Moscow’s troops invaded Ukraine, one of the largest and most daring cross-border attacks since the war began has been carried out in Russia. On Monday, two anti-Kremlin groups – the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC) and Freedom of Russia Legion – claimed responsibility for the incursion in the Belgorod region. Fighting continued for … Read moreAttacks in Russia’s Belgorod: What we know so far
Moscow has acknowledged that its forces had fallen back north of the battlefield city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, in a retreat that the head of Russia’s Wagner private army called a “rout”. The setback for Russia comes after reports of Ukrainian advances around the city and suggests a coordinated push by Kyiv to encircle … Read moreRussian troops ‘fall back to regroup’ north of Ukraine’s Bakhmut
Victory Day was one of the most important celebrations across the Soviet Union. Moscow chose to celebrate the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 on May 9, a day later than the West, because it was already past midnight in the Soviet capital when the instrument of surrender was signed in defeated Berlin. For Russian … Read moreThis Victory Day, Putin has no victory to celebrate
Drones, missiles and cross-border artillery took centre stage during the 62nd week of Russia’s war in Ukraine, as the 63rd began with a dramatic allegation from Moscow – that Ukraine made an attempt on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s life. Ukraine may have targeted Russian fuel depots – a possible preamble to its expected counteroffensive. Russia, … Read moreUkraine targets Russian fuel sites ahead of counteroffensive
An explosion derailed a freight train for the second day in a row in a Russian region bordering Ukraine, sending both the locomotive and some cars off the tracks, authorities said. Tuesday’s incident occurred in the western Bryansk region, which borders both Ukraine and Belarus. Russian officials say pro-Ukrainian sabotage groups have made multiple attacks … Read moreBlast causes another train to derail in Russia near Ukraine
The United Kingdom and France’s sports ministers have insisted that Russian and Belarusian athletes must never compete as neutrals as recommended by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) because they could still be funded by their governments. The IOC sanctioned Russia and Belarus after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022 with Minsk’s support, but last month … Read moreUK and France demand ban on Russia, Belarus state-funded athletes
President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree that takes temporary control of the Russian subsidiaries of two foreign energy firms, signalling that Moscow could take similar action against other international companies if Russian assets abroad are seized. The decree — outlining possible retaliation if Russian assets abroad are harmed — showed Moscow had already taken … Read morePutin signs decree to control two foreign firms’ assets in Russia
Ukraine’s military has reported “bloody battles unprecedented in recent decades” in the eastern city of Bakhmut as the death toll from a Russian attack on residential buildings in nearby Sloviansk climbed to 11. The reported battles on Saturday came as the Russian defence ministry said fighters from its Wagner mercenary group had captured two more … Read moreUkraine reports ‘unprecedented bloody battles’ in Bakhmut