• Moscow court sentences ex-FSB officers for bribery involving Catholic Church officials

    In a landmark ruling, the 235th Moscow Garrison Military Court has sentenced two ex-employees of FSB's Second Service, the unit responsible for Constitutional Order Protection, to nine years in a high-security penal colony for taking bribes from Roman Catholic Church representatives. According to Kommersant, Evgeny Lobanov and Denis Karmanov were found guilty of receiving bribes on a large scale (Article 290, Part 6).

    Karmanov was also convicted under charges related to illegal arms and …

  • Chinese banks halt payments from Russian importers amid sanctions concerns

    Several Chinese banks have started refunding payments for goods already delivered to Russian importers by their Chinese business partners, reports Vedomosti, citing four businessmen who have encountered this issue recently.

    Russian business representatives have yet to determine the reasons behind the payment rejections in Chinese banks. One source suggested that the issue might be related to compliance checks. However, these incidents are becoming increasingly common.

    The payment problem …

  • Ukraine needs up to 75 ATACMS missiles to strike nearest Russian airfields, experts say

    Ukraine will need between 35 to 75 ATACMS missiles to hit the three nearest Russian airfields, explained experts from Defense Express. Their estimates utilized satellite photos of the airfields and data on the destructive range of various Western missiles.

    Western partners are hesitant to authorize Ukraine to launch strikes on Russian airfields, citing a limited number of ATACMS missiles. Surrounding Ukraine’s borders are roughly two dozen Russian runways, each requiring anywhere from five to 2 …

  • Kremlin prepares Russians for prolonged clashes in Kursk region, pushes 'New Normal' narrative

    In a significant development, the Kremlin is reportedly anticipating that the ongoing clashes in the Kursk region could last several months, according to optimistic assessments. The Russian authorities are gearing up the public for a "new normal" under Ukrainian military control of Russian territory. This information comes from unnamed sources close to the Kremlin and the government, as reported by Meduza.

    One source close to the Kremlin revealed that there was initial confusion regarding the …

  • Covert negotiations in Qatar: Kursk incursion derails Ukrainian and Russian ceasefire talks

    Prior to the Ukrainian Armed Forces' advance into Russia's Kursk region, attempts were made to hold mediated talks in Qatar between Kyiv and Moscow to agree on refraining from inflicting mutual damage to each other's energy sectors, said Anatoliy Burmych from the "Reconstruction of Ukraine" parliamentary faction during a broadcast on "Novini.LIVE."

    "I have information that there was an attempt even before the Kursk operation to hold negotiations in Qatar through intermediaries, to discuss how …

  • Czech Senate calls for investigation into Russian Orthodox Church over potential influence operations

    The head of the Security Committee of the Czech Senate, Pavel Fischer, has called on the government to instruct security services to investigate the threat posed by the Russian Orthodox churches within the country. Fischer stated that these institutions could potentially be misused for Russian influence operations, reports ČTK.

    Additionally, Fischer emphasized that the Czech Minister of Culture, Martin Baxa, should examine whether the Russian Orthodox Church in the Czech Republic and the …

  • Ukrainian Forces encircle Russian troops in strategic maneuver near Malaya Loknya, Kursk region

    According to Russian war correspondents, Ukraine's 95th Air Assault Brigade encircled units of Russia's 18th Motorized Rifle Division in Malaya Loknya, Kursk region.

    The Ukrainian Armed Forces have successfully surrounded Russian units in Malaya Loknya, located in the Kursk region, reports Censor.net.

    Journalists indicate that Ukraine's 95th Air Assault Brigade cornered Russia's 18th Motorized Rifle Division in Malaya Loknya, using a flanking maneuver to cut off the main road. Notably, …

  • Multiple drone and missile attacks reported across Russia’s Belgorod, Rostov, and Moscow regions

    Early August 21, Belgorod, Rostov, and Moscow regions came under massive drone attacks.

    Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported the downing of three drones aimed at the Russian capital, while Rostov Region Governor Vasily Golubev claimed the Russian Air Defense forces intercepted a missile.

    “Around one o'clock in the morning, an Air Defense missile interception occurred in western Rostov Region. Preliminary reports indicate no casualties or damage from the missile debris,” reported Governor of …

  • Russia establishes new military groups along Ukrainian border

    The Russian Ministry of Defense has announced the creation of three new military groups named "Belgorod", "Bryansk", and "Kursk". Previously, Russian military groups operated exclusively within Ukraine.

    These groups will be overseen by the Coordinating Council for Military Security of Border Territories, as announced on August 20th by Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov. The council includes deputy ministers, regional leaders, and representatives of the Russian General Staff, meeting at …

  • Life in Sudzha: residents adapt to Ukrainian military presence

    In Sudzha, located in the Kursk region, the majority of residents have evacuated following the arrival of Ukrainian armed forces, with only those who could not or chose not to leave remaining behind. How these residents live, their views on the Ukrainian military, and their understanding of Ukraine’s presence were reported by journalists from Ukrainian Pravda.

    According to the report, Sudzha differs significantly from the devastated border towns in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, …