Page 165 - Russia

Sunak speaks with Zelenskyy; Russia says 'no hopes' for better ties with UK

Newly appointed UK PM Rishi Sunak held a conversation with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy and expressed UK's solidarity and support for the Ukrainian people

Vladimir Putin scrambles to boost weapons production for Ukraine war

Russian President Vladimir Putin, facing bureaucratic delays and mounting losses, urged his government Tuesday to cut through bureaucracy to crank out enough weapons and supplies to feed the war in Ukraine, where a Western-armed Ukrainian counteroffensive has set back Russia's forces. In other developments, Ukrainian authorities asked citizens not to return home and further tax the country's battered energy infrastructure, and Western countries mulled how to rebuild Ukraine when the war ends. The Russian military's shortfalls in the eight-month war have been so pronounced that Putin had to create a structure to try to address them. On Tuesday, he chaired a new committee designed to accelerate the production and delivery of weapons and supplies for Russian troops, stressing the need to gain higher tempo in all areas. Russian news reports have acknowledged that many of those called up under a mobilisation of 300,000 reservists Putin ordered haven't been provided with basic equipment .

Russian exports jump over 25% to $431 billion in January-September

Russian exports jumped by 25.4 per cent year on year to $431 billion in the first nine months of 2022, a senior official has said.

Progressive Democrats urge Biden to seek diplomatic solution on Ukraine

The 30 Democrats, led by Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal, said in a letter to Biden that it was in the interest of the US and Ukraine to avert an extended conflict

Foreign pressures, propaganda won't disrupt Iran's pursuit of progress: FM

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said that foreign "pressures and propaganda" will not disrupt the determination of the Iranian nation and govt in treading the path of progress

Iran signs contract to export 40 homegrown gas turbines to Russia

Iran has signed a contract with Russia to export 40 homegrown gas turbines to the country.

Russian warplane falls on residential building in Siberia; 2 pilots die

A Russian warplane slammed into a residential building in the Siberian city of Irkutsk on Sunday, killing both crewmembers, authorities said. It was the second time in less than a week that a combat jet crashed in a residential area in Russia. The Irkutsk region's governor, Igor Kobzev, said the Su-30 fighter jet came down on a private, two-story building housing two families. He said that there were no casualties on the ground as the building's five residents were out at the moment of the crash. He said the residents would be offered temporary accommodation and compensation. The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known and an official probe has started. On Oct. 17, an Su-34 bomber crashed near an apartment building in the Sea of Azov port of Yeysk and exploded in a giant fireball, killing 15 and injuring another 19. The crashes might reflect the growing strain that the fighting in Ukraine has put on the Russian air force. The United Aircraft Corporation, a state-controlled .

Russian oil logistics in chaos with weeks until EU sanctions bite

With about six weeks until the bloc's measures enter into force, little clarity exists on whether these steps will really suffice to help Russia to get much of its output to fend off a supply shock

Fears over Russian threat looms on Norway's energy infrastructure

Norwegian oil and gas workers normally don't see anything more threatening than North Sea waves crashing against the steel legs of their offshore platforms. But lately they have noticed a more troubling sight: unidentified drones buzzing in the skies overhead. With Norway replacing Russia as Europe's main source of natural gas, military experts suspect the unmanned aircraft are Moscow's doings. They list espionage, sabotage and intimidation as possible motives for the drone flights. The Norwegian government has sent warships, coastguard vessels and fighter jets to patrol around the offshore facilities. Norway's national guard stationed soldiers around onshore refineries that also were buzzed by drones. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre has invited the navies of NATO allies Britain, France and Germany to help address what could be more than a Norwegian problem. Precious little of the offshore oil that provides vast income for Norway is used by the country's 5.4 million inhabitants. ..

Ukraine bombards Russian positions at river crossing; Kherson a fortress

Ukrainian forces bombarded Russian positions in the occupied and illegally annexed southern Kherson region, targeting resupply routes across a major river while inching closer to a full assault on one of the first urban areas Russia captured after invading the country. Russian-installed officials were reported desperately trying to turn the city of Kherson, a prime objective for both sides because of its key industries and major river and sea port, into a fortress while attempting to evacuate tens of thousands of residents. The Kremlin poured as many as 2,000 draftees into the Kherson region one of four Moscow illegally annexed and put under Russian martial law to replenish losses and strengthen front-line units, according to the Ukrainian army's general staff. The Dnieper River figures prominently in the regional battle because it serves critical functions crossings for supplies, troops and civilians; drinking water for southern Ukraine and the annexed Crimean Peninsula; and pow

Ukraine piles pressure on Russian-held Kherson, targets resupply routes

Ukrainian forces piled pressure on Russian positions in occupied Kherson, targeting resupply routes across a major river while inching closer Friday to making a full-scale assault on one of the first urban areas Russia captured after invading the country. As many as 2,000 Russian draftees have poured into the Kherson region - one of four provinces illegally annexed by Moscow - to replenish losses and strengthen units on the front line," according to the Ukrainian army's general staff. The deputy head of the Kremlin-installed regional administration in Kherson, Kirill Stremousov, said Ukrainian shelling of a Dnieper River crossing killed at four civilians late Thursday. Vadim Ilmiyev, the top health official, said 13 others were wounded in the attack. Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for Ukraine's southern operational command, confirmed the Antonivskyi Bridge was struck but only after the start of a 10 p.m. local curfew to avoid civilian casualties. We do not attack civilians and ..

Russian military personnel based in Crimea piloting Iranian drones: US

The US has alleged that Russian military personnel based in Crimea have been piloting Iranian drones and asserted that it will pursue all means to expose, deter and confront Iran's provision of these munitions against the Ukrainian people. John Kirby, NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications, also claimed that there was clear evidence that Iranian military personnel were on the ground in Crimea. We can confirm that Russian military personnel that are based in Crimea have been piloting Iranian UAVs, using them to conduct strikes across Ukraine, including strikes against Kyiv in just recent days, Kirby told reporters during a conference call here on Thursday. We assess that Iranian military personnel were on the ground in Crimea and assisted Russia in these operations. Russia has received dozens of UAVs so far and will likely continue to receive additional shipments in the future, he said. Furthermore, in light of Russia's ongoing supply shortages, he said the US is concerned tha

Ukraine's vital infrastructure threatened by Russia in war's new phase

When a missile struck a power station less than a mile from his apartment on the outskirts of Kyiv, Oleksander Maystrenko didn't panic, run to a bomb shelter or consider evacuating, even though he lives close to what suddenly has become the Russian military's main target in the war: anything related to Ukraine's vital infrastructure. His neighbours also haven't budged, despite the fact that Tuesday's attack marked by a loud explosion killed three people, severely damaged two facilities inside the plant's compound and temporarily knocked out power to about 50,000 households, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko. We aren't afraid because we aren't just prepared logistically; we are morally prepared, Maystrenko said outside his apartment building, where he and two neighbours sat on a bench and smoked only hours after the attack. This is what the latest phase of Russia's nearly eight-month-old war in Ukraine looks like. Moscow has openly declared its intention to increasingly ..

UCO Bank, Yes Bank in talks with Russia to finalise trade mechanism: Report

Indian lenders UCO Bank and Yes Bank are in talks with their Russian counterparts over a payment mechanism for trade between the two countries

Russia asks Philippines to honour purchase deal of 16 military helicopters

Russia wants the Philippine government to honour a signed contract to purchase 16 military heavy-lift helicopters, which the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte had cancelled due to fears of possible US sanctions. Moscow's ambassador to Manila, Marat Pavlov, told reporters on Wednesday night that the Philippine government has not officially notified Russia of its decision to cancel the deal and a Russian company was proceeding to manufacture the Mi-17 helicopters after the Philippines made an initial payment. Filipino pilots, who would operate the helicopters, have undergone Russian training, he said. The Russian aircraft manufacturer was ready to deliver one of the helicopters in June but unfortunately, it was not accepted by your government, the ambassador said. We are ready to fulfill all our obligations as a reliable partner of the Philippine side in the field of technical military cooperation and we consider that it will also be done by the Philippines, Pavlov .

Russia-Ukraine war: Putin finds himself tested even by most reliable allies

Central Asia remains tethered to Russia through basics like trade and pipelines, and that won't change overnight

Putin declares martial law in four unilaterally annexed regions of Ukraine

Putin also instructed the government to set up a special coordinating council under Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to work with Russia's regions to boost Moscow's war effort in Ukraine

Spotty policies, Ukraine war darken India's climate change targets

The conflict will hamper further India's slow progress in meeting key goals

Russia's Iran made drones complicate Israel's balancing act with the West

The Iranian-made drones that Russia sent slamming into central Kyiv this week have complicated Israel's balancing act between Russia and the West. Israel has stayed largely on the sidelines since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last February so as not to damage its strategic relationship with the Kremlin. Although Israel has sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine, it has refused Kyiv's frequent requests to send air defense systems and other military equipment and refrained from enforcing strict economic sanctions on Russia and the many Russian-Jewish oligarchs who have second homes in Israel. But with news of Moscow's deepening ties with Tehran, Israel's sworn foe, pressure is growing on Israel to back Ukraine in the grinding war. Israel has long fought a shadowy war with Iran across the Middle East by land, sea and air. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a military spokesman, said the suicide drone attack in Ukraine had raised new concerns in Israel. We're looking at it closely and thinking about how

Russian commander admits situation 'tense' in Ukraine's Kherson region

Sergei Surovikin, the new unified Russian battlefield commander in Ukraine, has admitted that the situation in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson is "tense"