Page 167 - Russia

Nato holds nuclear talks amid war tensions, Russian President Putin threats

NATO's secretive Nuclear Planning Group met Thursday as the military alliance presses ahead with plans to hold a nuclear exercise next week as concerns deepen over President Vladimir Putin's insistence that he will use any means necessary to defend Russian territory. Defense ministers led the session, which usually happens once or twice a year, at NATO headquarters in Brussels. It comes against a backdrop of high tension as some NATO allies, led by the U.S., supply Ukraine with advanced weapons and munitions to defend itself against Russian aerial attacks. NATO is keeping a wary eye on Russia's movements, but has so far seen no change in its nuclear posture. But additional uncertainty comes from the fact that Russia is also due to hold its own nuclear exercises soon, possibly at the same time as NATO or just after, according to NATO diplomats. That could complicate the 30-country military organisation's reading of the war and of Moscow's intentions. Russia will also be conducting

UN principles must be upheld: India after abstaining on UNGA vote on Russia

After abstaining from the UNGA resolution condemning Russia, India expressed deep concern at the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, including the targeting of civilians

Ukrainian capital Kyiv region hit by Iranian-made kamikaze drones

Ukraine's capital region was struck by Iranian-made kamikaze drones early on Thursday morning, sending rescue workers rushing to the scene as residents awoke to air raid sirens for the fourth morning in a row following Russia's massive, deadly assault across the country on Monday. Kyiv regional governor Oleksiy Kuleba said the strike occurred in the area around the capital city. It was not yet clear if there were any casualties. In the southern city of Mykolaiv, overnight shelling destroyed a five-story apartment building as fighting continued along Ukraine's southern front. Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkovych said the building's top two floors were completely destroyed in a single strike and the rest of the building was left in rubble. It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties.

Ukrainian military responsible for Crimean Bridge blast, says Russia

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has said that the Ukrainian military was responsible for a recent deadly explosion on the Crimean Bridge

West pledges to bolster Ukraine air defence; nuke plant loses power

Unbowed Western powers pledged to supply Ukraine with more potent air defence systems following a furious barrage of retaliatory Russian missile strikes, including one that temporarily knocked Europe's biggest nuclear plant off the invaded country's electrical grid on Wednesday. The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant suffered a blackout when a missile damaged a distant electrical substation, Ukraine's state nuclear operator said. The power loss increased the risk of a radiation emergency because the plant needs electricity to prevent its reactors from overheating. Energoatom said the external power source was repaired after about eight hours and that the plant's emergency diesel generators which rely on uncertain fuel deliveries in the war zone provided backup in the meantime, but a similarly hazardous interruption could happen at any time. Russia has seized the plant and is not taking any steps to deescalate. On the contrary, it is shelling important infrastructur

UNGA demands Russia immediately reverse 'illegal' annexations in Ukraine

The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to condemn Russia's attempted illegal annexation of four Ukrainian regions and demand that Moscow immediately reverse its actions. The vote in the 193-member world body was 143-5 with 35 abstentions, the strongest support from the General Assembly for Ukraine and against Russia of the four resolutions it has approved since Russian troops invaded their smaller neighbour February 24. Western nations engaged in intense behind-the-scenes lobbying ahead of the vote while Russia's ally Syria warned against isolating Moscow.

China focused on Indo-Pacific, Putin's war reduced Russia's status: US

The Biden administration released a key policy document on Wednesday, underlining the threat posed to the US by both China and Russia

Russia ready to resume gas supplies to EU via Nord Stream 2: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Moscow is ready to resume gas supplies to Europe via a link of Germany-bound Nord Stream 2 pipeline under the Baltic Sea. Speaking at a Moscow energy forum, Putin again charged that the U.S. was likely behind the explosions that ripped through both links of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline and one of the two links of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, causing a massive gas leak and taking them out of service. The U.S. has previously rejected similar allegations by Putin.

Zelensky calls for fresh sanctions on Russia over 'new wave of terror'

In the wake of Russian missile strikes all across Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for fresh sanctions against Moscow for "such a new wave of terror".

NATO chief Stoltenberg says 'closely monitoring' Russia's nuclear forces

Nato's secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said the alliance is "closely monitoring" Russia's nuclear forces

UN, G7 decry Russian attack in Ukrainian cities as possible war crime

Russian forces showered Ukraine with more missiles and munition-carrying drones Tuesday after widespread strikes killed at least 19 people in an attack the UN human rights office described as particularly shocking and amounting to potential war crimes. Air raid warnings sounded throughout the country for a second straight morning as Ukrainian officials advised residents to conserve energy and stock up on water. Strikes in the capital and 12 other regions Monday caused power outages and pierced the relative calm that had returned to Kyiv and many other cities far from the war's front lines. It brings anger, not fear, Kyiv resident Volodymyr Vasylenko, 67, said as crews worked to restore traffic lights and clear debris from the city's streets. We already got used to this. And we will keep fighting. The leaders of the Group of Seven industrial powers condemned the bombardment and said they would stand firmly with Ukraine for as long as it takes. Their pledge defied Russian warnings tha

Japanese automaker Nissan says it is pulling out of Russia amid war

Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co. said on Tuesday that it plans to sell its Russian operations to its local partner and withdraw from manufacturing there. The company said its executive committee approved the sale to Russia's Central Research and Development Automobile and Engine Institute, or NAMI. The sale includes Nissan's factory and R&D facilities in St. Petersburg and its sales and marketing centre in Moscow, it said. The company will operate under a new name. Nissan did not give a dollar value for the sale but said it would log a 100 billion yen (USD 680 million) impact" from its exit from Russia. While we cannot continue operating in the market, we have found the best possible solution to support our people," Nissan President and CEO Makoto Uchida said in a statement. Nissan began making SUVs in St. Petersberg in 2009. It suspended manufacturing in Russia in March after the invasion of Ukraine. The company said the terms of the sale give Nissan the option to buy back it

Russia's financial monitoring agency adds Meta to 'extremists' list

Rosfinmonitoring has added the US tech giant to its list of 'terrorists and extremists', the Interfax news agency reported

India votes against Russia's demand for secret ballot on Ukraine in UNGA

India voted to reject Russia's demand for a secret ballot in the UN General Assembly on a draft resolution to condemn Moscow's illegal annexation of four regions of Ukraine, with New Delhi favouring a public vote on the text along with over 100 other nations. The 193-member UN General Assembly on Monday voted on a motion by Albania that action on the draft resolution that would condemn Russia's illegal so-called referendums and attempted illegal annexation of the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine be taken by a recorded vote. Russia had demanded that the resolution be voted upon by secret ballot. Moscow's demand for a secret ballot was rejected after 107 UN member states, including India, voted in favour of a recorded vote. Only 13 nations voted in favour of Russia's call for a secret ballot while 39 abstained. Russia and China were among the countries that did not vote. After the motion to hold a recorded vote was adopted, Russia appealed against the .

New Russian commander Surovikin brings violent Syria playbook to Ukraine

Sergei Surovikin, the new unified Russian battlefield commander in Ukraine, has been described as "absolutely ruthless, with little regard for human life"

Hong Kong to implement UN sanctions on Russian-owned superyach, not US ones

Hong Kong's leader John Lee said Tuesday he will only implement United Nations sanctions, after the U.S. warned the territory's status as a financial center could be affected if it acts as a safe haven for sanctioned individuals. Lee's statement Tuesday came days after a luxury yacht connected to Russian tycoon Alexey Mordashov docked in the city. Mordashov, who is believed to have close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, was sanctioned by the U.S., U.K. and the European Union in February after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Hong Kong authorities have said that they do not implement unilateral sanctions imposed by other governments. We cannot do anything that has no legal basis, Lee told reporters. We will comply with United Nations sanctions, that is our system, that is our rule of law, he said. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said in a statement Monday that the possible use of Hong Kong as a safe haven by individuals evading sanctions from multiple jurisdictions furthe

Nord Stream breaches reminder of vulnerabilities in undersea infrastructure

The greatest single release of potent greenhouse gas ever recorded was caused by four breaches of Russia's Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines, located near the territorial seas of Denmark and Sweden

Ukraine-Russia conflict: Experts assess Crimean bridge blast damage

Early on Saturday, local time, a massive blast shook the Crimean Bridge (also known as the Kerch Bridge)

Will weigh what Russia offers on Sakhalin-1 ownership revamp: Hardeep Puri

India maintains a "healthy dialogue" with Russia and will look at what is offered following announced ownership revamp to the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project, Hardeep Singh Puri said

Alarmed UN meets after Russian strikes kill nearly 14 people in Ukraine

The UN General Assembly started debating on Monday whether to demand that Russia reverse course on annexing four regions of Ukraine a discussion that came as Moscow's most extensive missile strikes in months alarmed much of the international community anew. The assembly's special session was planned before Monday's barrage, but countries spoke out on the widespread, Monday morning rush-hour attacks that killed at least 14 people and wounded scores. Ukrainian Ambassador Sergey Kyslytsya said some of his own close relatives were imperiled in a residential building, unable to take cover in a bomb shelter. By launching missile attacks on civilians sleeping in their homes or rushing toward children going to schools, Russia has proven once again that it is a terrorist state that must be deterred in the strongest possible ways, he said. Russia said it targeted military and energy facilities. But some of the missiles smashed into civilian areas: a park, a commuter minibus, and more. Russ