Nerve agent Novichok, which was used to poison former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Julia, was explored in the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and at least one more western country, reports the German newspaper Der Spiegel.

The publication emphasizes that these countries could have studied Novichok only to develop an antidote for it.

In 2006, the U.S. Representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) assured the Allies that his …

The Press Secretary of the Russian President, Dmitry Peskov commented on the proposal of the Head of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin to temporarily nationalize Rusal, a Russian company that fell under US sanctions.

Peskov noted that the Cabinet of Ministers, on behalf of Chairman of the Government Dmitry Medvedev, is engaged in providing possible support to companies who are faced with the pressure of the sanctions. He noted that this topic is " …

Russian billionaires Alexander Skorobogatko and Alexander Ponomarenko have hired professional lobbyists in the US after they were included in the US Department of Treasury’s “Kremlin list” this past January. A corresponding notice from the lobby firm Qorvis MSLGROUP appeared last week in a special US Senate database.

The services that the company will provide to the Russian businessmen are rather abstract: "business interests [on behalf of Skorobogatko and Ponomarenko] and relations with the …

At least four people died an unnatural death in the Simferopol pre-trial detention center (SIZO-1) controlled by Russian authorities. Two were Crimean Tatars, reported the Crimean Human Rights Group.

"The Crimean Human Rights Group has information that on April 6, Server Bilyalov, 69 years old, and Oleg Goncharov, 46 years old were allegedly found hanged. On April 12, 23-year-old Dmitry Shipovnik was also found hanged in the punishment cell," human rights activists said. On April 13, in cell …

The Verkhovna Rada has prepared a list of 25 Italian citizens who fought against Ukraine in the Donbas, stated an MP of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc faction, Andriy Antonischak in comments to Ukrainian news outlet LB.ua.

"A group of MPs sent an enquiry to the Military Prosecutor's offices and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). We received a list with data including mobile phone numbers of 25 Italians, who have been taking part in the war against our state in the Donbas," he said, showing the …

Russian specialists are studying two cruise missiles which failed to detonate during the missile strike on Syria on April 14,RIA Novosti reported with reference to Viktor Murakhovsky, a member of the expert council of the Military and Industrial Commission.

According to Murakhovsky, specialists will be able to learn about the latest developments in the missiles, and improve the Russian anti-missile defense and electronic warfare systems accordingly.

“These findings could be very helpful for …

Russia demands that Ukrainian border guards allow the crew members of the detained fishing vessel "Nord" to go to the annexed Crimea via Russia.

A statement released by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: "We demand that the bullying of Russian citizens be stopped and demand that they are given an opportunity, finally, to return freely to their homes, their families. Our patience has limits. We reserve the right to respond strongly.”

"Coercing people to take Ukrainian nationality …

At a press briefing, Pentagon spokesperson Dana White said that she considers the Russian-made air defense systems that Damascus used to respond to the West's attack on Syria to be "absolutely ineffective". She also said that the missiles used by Washington and its allies appear to have hit all targets.

 White also accused Moscow of allegedly presenting false information. "Following our operations, Russia falsely claimed Syria air defenses shot down a significant number of missiles, when in …