Hans-Georg Maassen, who currently serves as President of Germany’s Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, blamed Russia for a recent large-scale cyberattack on German power grids and energy companies in an interview with media group Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland’s newspaper. 

"The modus operandi is in fact only one of [multiple] indications that point to Russian control of the attack campaign," he said. Hans-Georg Maassen did not reveal details of the investigation.

Germany’s …

 “The U.S. remains troubled by reports of increasing Syrian regime operations in southwest Syria within boundaries of de-escalation zone negotiated between U.S., Jordan and Russia. U.S. continues to warn both Russia and the Assad regime of the serious repercussions of these violations,” wrote the US state department spokesperson, Heather Nauert, on Twitter.

In a statement issued by the US State Department's press service, Washington warned Moscow and Damascus about "serious repercussions" if …

Ukraine understands US concern about the effectiveness of the work of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), as stated in a commentary by Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Sergiy Kyslytsya, that was released on Wednesday, June 20.

"We understand the position of the United States of America and their concerns about the effectiveness of the HRC. The US decision on early termination of membership in the Council was not a surprise. More than a year ago, the United States, at a meeting of the UN …

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko hosted a meeting with the Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Poroshenko’s press service announced that prospects of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Donbas were discussed at the meeting.

The Ukrainian President thanked Latvia for its ongoing support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, for solidarity and assistance countering Russian aggression, and also for the condemnation of the Crimea’s illegal annexation.

Poroshenko expressed  …

A Tu-154M aircraft belonging to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs spent about a minute in Estonian airspace, the Estonian Defense Forces announced.

“A Ty-154M that belongs to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation entered our airspace today over the Vaindloo island without permission,” the Defense Forces announced in their statement reported by TASS.

According to Estonia, the Russian aircraft spent about one minute in Estonian airspace with a transponder on—however, …

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is asking the Russian authorities to provide all available information about the state of health of the Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov, who is on the 38th day of a hunger strike, reported Natasha Dobreva, Sentsov’s lawyer at the ECHR and a representative of the international human rights group Agora.

"The Court sent a request to the Government of Russia on information on compliance with the requirements of articles 2 (the right to life), 3 ( …

The Russian economy’s longest recession in 20 years has eliminated 20% of the middle class and made savings a luxury unavailable to the overwhelming majority.

In May 2018, only 19% of Russians belonged to the middle class, that is, people who can easily buy not only clothing and food, but also durable goods. Before the start of the crisis it was 24%, and the current proportion is the lowest in 5 years, data from a NAFI survey indicates.

In fact, the middle class is even smaller: a salary of …

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree relieving Russian ambassador to Argentina Viktor Koronelli, who informed the Argentine authorities about the discovery of cocaine in the back room of the school attached to the embassy. Another presidential decree appointed Koronelli to the post of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Russia in Mexico, relieving his predecessor, Eduard Malayan, from office.

Viktor Koronelli called his appointment to the post a great honor and trust, …