Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko recognized soldiers who demonstrated heroism, courage and professionalism during combat missions in the Donbas region, the president’s press service reported. Of the 300 medals given by Poroshenko, 22 were awarded posthumously.

Of those honored 282 were members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (including 22 killed and 51 wounded), 17 were members of the National Guard, and one was a serviceman of the State Border Service.

All awarded soldiers proved …

The French company Danone, one of the largest producers of dairy products in the world, will close two factories in Russia. According to a statement made by company representatives to the newspapers Izvestia, the French company will close its plants in Tomsk and Cheboksary.

“After a company-wide reorganization, the Tomsk dairy plant will be closed. There will also be a consolidation of production facilities in Kemerovo and Krasnoyarsk. The Cheboksary dairy plant will also be closed and its …

Secretary of the National Security Service of Ukraine, Aleksandr Turchynov, has proposed changing the date of Christmas in Ukraine to December 25th.

"Perhaps the time has come for Ukraine to start celebrating Christmas on December 25th with the majority of civilized countries. But a decision on this matter should come first of all from the Council of Christian Churches of Ukraine. During the transition, I think we could celebrate both, on December 25th and January 7th,” he said.

The Orthodox …

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko has voiced his dissatisfaction with the investigation of FIFA corruption.  The Minister said that the International Football Federation is under serious pressure from investigators from the US and Switzerland who are in charge of the probe.

"We can see how FIFA is put under a lot of pressure by the law enforcement systems of the United States and Switzerland; they professionally and methodically examine international football piece by piece. He who seeks …

Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak announced that the UkrOboronProm state arms manufacturer plans to expand production of guided missiles and T-84 Oplot tanks next year.

"For the first time in the history of Ukraine, we'll start manufacturing almost completely new aircraft for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, according to government contract, including the production of guided missiles, and Oplot tanks. I wish this contract took effect today, but the appropriate decision has already been …

At a meeting with cabinet members, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for increasing the amount of high-quality but inexpensive Russian products on the market. Putin said that profiteering has led to a decline in living standards in the country, and has produced an unjustified increase in the cost of products, goods, and services.

“Today, unreasonable, frankly profiteering price hikes on goods and services are leading to lower living standards. We need to use all market instruments …

On Friday night, Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada passed legislation allowing for foreign troops to participate in military exercises on Ukrainian territory next year.

239 deputies voted in favor of the draft submitted by President Petro Poroshenko.

"The adoption of the law will ensure the implementation of tasks in the sphere of security and defense in the entire context of fulfilling the foreign policy priorities of the state," the bill’s summary reads.

The document states that Ukraine will host …

The Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) of the OSCE said that armed members of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic did not allow observers to go past the main street of the village of Kominternove during the mission’s investigation on Thursday.

The SMM had been trying to reach the village for two days to follow-up on reports that DPR militants had occupied the village. The mission had not been able to investigate due to security concerns, and was denied access by armed DPR militants at a …