Contents tagged with Russia

  • Russia protests Japan-U.S. military drills near Hokkaido, citing concerns over border proximity

    Russia's Foreign Ministry expressed a "strong protest" to Japan on Friday, October 11, over Tokyo's plans to conduct large-scale military exercises with the United States later this month. The drills, specifically in regions near the island of Hokkaido, are described as being "in close proximity to Russian borders," according to the ministry.

    The Russian ministry deemed these joint exercises "categorically unacceptable" and warned the Japanese embassy in Moscow about "inevitable adequate …

  • Russia tightens exit regulations for foreign businesses, imposing heavier financial penalties

    In a move potentially complicating the departure of foreign businesses, the Russian Finance Ministry has enforced stricter conditions under Kremlin directives. As reported by the Russian newspaper Kommersant, the minimum discount rate on the sale of foreign assets in Russia is set to increase from 50% to 60%. Additionally, the mandatory gratuitous contribution to the Russian budget will now rise from the current 15% to 35% of the asset's market value. The Finance Ministry has distributed these …

  • Russian scientist proposes nuclear submarine for gas transport amid LNG sanctions

    Mikhail Kovalchuk, a close associate of Vladimir Putin and the Director of the Kurchatov Institute, is once again making headlines with a bold new proposal. Kovalchuk, a known confidant of the Russian president, has suggested the development of a nuclear submarine designed to transport natural gas from Russia, reports the Russian news agency RBC, publishing a video presentation of the project.

    According to the engineers at the Kurchatov Institute, the plan envisions a nuclear submarine …

  • Chinese companies limit raw material exports to Russian pharma amid sanctions

    Amid a backdrop of international sanctions, Chinese companies are reportedly limiting shipments of raw materials to Russian pharmaceutical manufacturers. This development comes as a result of the latest restrictions that target specific trade codes related to intermediates, assets, and reagents now barred from entering Russia. The information was shared by Alexander Semenov, president of the Russian pharmaceutical company Aktivny Komponent, during remarks at the BIOTECH-PROM 2024 forum, …

  • Slovak PM Fico advocates for renewed Russia ties post-Ukraine conflict

    Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico has expressed a desire to reestablish relations with Russia after the conflict in Ukraine concludes. According to reports from Spravy, Fico emphasized the necessity of economic restoration and normalized diplomacy with Russia, highlighting the mutual need between the European Union and the Russian Federation.

    Fico affirmed, “If the war ends during this government’s mandate, I will do everything possible to restore economic and normal relations with the …

  • Israel limits Russia ties to critical security concerns amid Iran tensions, says Ambassador

    Israel maintains communication with Russia strictly based on vital interests, says Israel’s ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky, in an interview with ZN.UA.

    “We are deeply concerned about the cooperation between Russia and Iran, especially in the military sphere. We have openly expressed this on multiple occasions. Iran poses a major threat to us in the Middle East; it supports terrorism and seeks nuclear weaponry. If it acquires nuclear arms, it will be a massive destabilizing factor in …

  • Russia set to remove Taliban from terrorist organizations list

    Russia is set to remove the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations. A decision already made at the highest level, reports TASS, citing Zamir Kabulov, the Russian President's Special Envoy for Afghanistan. According to Kabulov, only formalities remain to be completed.

    "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with the FSB and several other Russian agencies, is finalizing the legal work to exclude the Taliban from Russia's list of terrorist organizations. It's not about desire; the …

  • Russian citizens in Kursk region turn towards Ukraine amid dissatisfaction with Moscow's handling of regional conflict

    According to Alexey Dmitrashkovsky, a representative of the Ukrainian military command in the Russian Kursk region, Russian citizens are expressing dissatisfaction with their government for leaving them to fend for themselves amid ongoing military operations. While the local population has developed a positive attitude towards Ukraine's Forces, the continued presence of the Ukrainian armed forces in the Kursk region for nearly two months has led some residents to seek refuge in Ukraine. …

  • The hidden costs: Ukraine's financial burden of sustaining Russian POWs amidst rising prisoner counts

    The military operation by the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) in the Kursk region has significantly expanded the exchange pool. However, some Russian captives have been held in Ukraine since the onset of the broader conflict.

    The number of captured Russian soldiers keeps rising as the full-scale conflict drags on. The commencement of the AFU’s operation in the Kursk region has opened new avenues for increasing the exchange pool. According to the "I Want to Live" project, on September 27, there …

  • Russia to draft 40% of defendants awaiting trial for military service under new legislation

    Russian authorities are planning to deploy up to 40% of individuals awaiting trial for military service, enabled by a new law passed in late September. Previously, only those in pre-trial detention or already convicted were eligible to sign contracts with the armed forces, reports the news outlet Important Stories, citing a source in the Ministry of Defence.

    According to the source, military officials tasked with recruiting contract soldiers have been directed to identify which defendants are …