Violent explosions rocked the areas near Damascus on the evening of May 17.  According to the reports, the Israeli Air Forces conducted air raid against Iranian and Hezbollah  bases in Syria.

Earlier, the Syrian news agency SANA reported that the Syrian Army's air defense systems managed to down several missiles fired from the direction of the Quneitra province and the Golan Heights.

Al Mayadeen TV Channel belonging to Hezbollah reported that Israel had also attacked targets south of Damascus. …

At a meeting on developing air and space forces in the Russian Federation, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that a new type of weapon is being developed which, in his opinion, “will determine what the Russian army and navy is capable of in the XXI century”. He also noted that previously such targeting systems were “the stuff of science fiction”, RBC news agency reports.

Such weapons, according to Putin, would function as tactical-level combat laser complexes.

The President of the …

The Netherlands and Russia reached an agreement on the dispute over the detention of the Arctic Sunrise ship and its crew in 2013. On Friday, May 17, the Netherlands Foreign Office in The Hague reported that as part of the final settlement of the conflict the Russian Federation will pay 2.7 million euros compensation to the international organization Greenpeace, the owner of the ship.

In addition, as one of the dispute settlement points, the Netherlands and Russia agreed to conduct joint …

Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky returned to Ukraine on a flight from Israel on May 16 and announced his intention to live in Ukraine for the next five years in an interview to the program Skhemy.

"I explained why I did not come, there could be a situation when I wouldn't be able to leave," - said Kolomoisky. He said that he came not because Petro Poroshenko lost power. The businessman also added, "I decided to live in Ukraine for the next five years... Because I hope for the rule of law in …

The transit of Russian oil from Belarus to Ukraine has been suspended due to the lack of free tankers in Ukraine that could store contaminated  oil, reported the press service of the Belneftekhim Concern.

The oil routes leading to Ukraine are unstable and pumping has been suspended due to the lack of free tankers in Ukraine that could pump “dirty” oil through the pipelines. According to the new schedule, pumping will resume on night of May 19-20,” the concern noted.

Belneftekhim also said …

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin announced that we would submit his resignation and intends to become a deputy of the Ukrainian Parliament (the Verkhovna Rada).

"As promised, I have submitted a resignation. On Monday, the day of the inauguration, I will send it to the Verkhovna Rada and the new President of Ukraine," said Klimkin in a video message posted on Facebook.

Klimkin also said that he is ready to help the new government in the areas of "common principles and vision."

He also …

The Russian Federation was not invited to participate in the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected President Volodymyr Zelensky, reported The Press Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Kateryna Zelenko on the 112 Ukraine TV channel.

"The Russian Federation was not invited to these events. We invited only our partners and the countries that actively cooperate with Ukraine and who are our partners and friends," Zelenko said.

Earlier, it was reported that five presidents …

The secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksandr Turchynov wrote a letter of resignation, reports the NSDC press service.

“Given the ongoing armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, I am ready to further defend the country directly in military service in any military unit or military structure”, reads the statement addressed to President Petro Poroshenko.

Among the Turchynov’s achievements, the National Security and Defense Council …