Contents tagged with Russia

  • Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council approves Savchenko sanctions list

    The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) has approved the list of sanctions against persons involved in the illegal convictions of Nadiya Savchenko and other Ukrainian citizens in Russia as reported by the Press Secretary of the President, Svyatoslav Tsegolko, on Facebook.

    "The National Security Council has approved the 'Savchenko and Sentsov sanctions list' against those who fabricated the case against the Ukrainians in Russia. This list will later be expanded to include …

  • Russia to deploy missile systems on Kuril Islands

    The coastal missile systems Bal and Bastion, as well as a new generation of drones will be available during a planned upgrade on the Kuril Islands in 2016, the Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, said on Friday.

    "A planned re-equipment of formations and military units are being carried out in the Kuril Islands. This year the shore-based missile complexes Bal and Bastion, and new generation unmanned aerial vehicles, Eleron-3 will be accommodated here," Shoigu said at the a meeting of the …

  • Putin backs Kadyrov to stay on as head of Chechnya

    Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree appointing Ramzan Kadyrov as the acting head of the Chechen Republic.

    "On the fifth of April, your term will expire," the head of the state said to Kadyrov. "Based on what has been done in recent years for the Chechens, for the inhabitants of the republic, first of all, and as a derivative for the whole Russia, I have signed a decree today appointing you acting head of the Chechen Republic, with your further success, hopefully, in the elections …

  • Ukrainian Intelligence: Protest sentiments are growing in Crimea

    Protest sentiments are growing in Crimea, and clear proof of this is an emergence of pro-Ukrainian inscriptions and symbols in the annexed territory, as stated by a representative of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Vadim Skibitskiy, Krym.Realii reported.“The problems with the electicity and water supply remain unresolved. Public-sector employees wages are declining. Meanwhile, the cost of living is increasing in the occupied Crimea. Such situation leads …

  • Hug: OSCE’s data indicate that Russia is directly involved in the war in eastern Ukraine

    The Principal Deputy Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine, Alexander Hug, said information collected by the organization indicates that Russian troops have been directly involved in the war in eastern Ukraine since the conflict first erupted in the spring of 2014.

    At the same time, speaking at a press conference in Odessa, Hug stressed the mission itself only reports on what it sees and hears, and refrains from drawing conclusions.

    "From the beginning, we wrote in …

  • Russia to deploy newly-formed motorized rifle division to the Rostov region

    A new motorized rifle division with approximately 10,000 soldiers will be deployed by the end of 2016 to the Rostov region, as reported by TASS, citing a source from the Southern Military District headquarters.“The new ‘full-blooded’ motorized rifle division will be created by the end of this year in accordance with the directives of the Chief of General Staff and the Commander of the Southern Military District troops. Three military compounds are to be built in order to accommodate this new …

  • Poll: More than half of Russians belive Stalin played a positive role in the country's history

    According to a poll conducted by the Levada Center, 54% of Russian citizens believe that Josef Stalin played a positive role in the country’s history, Vedmosti reported. Approximately the same number of respondents believe that Stalin was a wise leader who led the Soviet Union to prosperity. The majority of respondents (60%) would not want to live under such a head of state, falling from 74% in 2008.

    At the same time, two-thirds of respondents considered Stalin to be a tyrant, responsible for …

  • Mercedes decides to build plant in Poland instead of Russia

    Mercedes has abandoned its plans to build its car factory in Russia, favoring Poland.

    In January, the Head of Mercedes-Benz Daimler Dieter Zetsche stated that the construction of the Mercedes plant in Russia was still in the plans of the auto giant despite the situation with the Russian economy.

    In 2015, new car sales in Russia dropped to 36%, or 1.6 million cars. 2016 is likely to be more significant. The Hyundai plant in Saint-Petersburg brought 1 billion rubles ($14.6 million) inlosses to …

  • Putin advises Russian businessmen to wait to sell their assets in Ukraine

    On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), and later held a meeting with major businessmen behind closed doors. During the public part of the meeting, Putin praised the business leaders for their "mature and responsible" work, and assured them that the government is working on reducing the fiscal burden brought on by the economic crisis. The Russian President also said that he supports “easing the law” for …

  • Bank that gave loan to French National Front went bankrupt in Russia

    The Central Bank of the Russian Federation has established an interim administration for the first Czech-Russian bank, which is known for providing loans to the National Front political party (France), headed by Marine Le Pen. “The interim administration will quickly prepare proposals regarding the future activities of the bank,” as reported on the bank’s website.

    Russian media had previously reported on problems at the bank. In particular, on the 13th of March, the daily newspaper Vedomosti …