Contents tagged with Russia

  • Russian soldiers caught on camera looting children's store in Kursk region

    In the small town of Korenevo, less than 20 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, Russian soldiers have been caught on video looting a children’s clothing store named ‘Kapitosha’. The footage, posted by Michael Naki from the store's surveillance cameras, shows a uniformed Russian soldier removing cash from the store's register. “And this is our Russian army, our defenders,” a female voice off-camera comments on the video, captured on August 12th.

    A local resident, who chose to remain anonymous, …

  • Russian billionaires acquire stake in UK's largest oil and gas producer

    Russian billionaires Mikhail Fridman and Petr Aven have acquired a 15% stake in Harbour Energy, the UK’s largest oil and gas production company, according to a BBC report.

    Though the deal grants them a piece of the profits, their company, LetterOne, will not have voting rights. The source also indicates that LetterOne itself is not under Western sanctions, nor is there a direct connection between Fridman, Aven, and the company.

    Presently, Harbour Energy stands as one of the leading companies …

  • New payment verification requirements hamper Russian imports of Chinese goods

    Russian buyers importing Chinese goods are encountering new challenges, as Russian banks now require written guarantees of payment acceptance for transactions with China. According to a report from Russian newspaper Vedomosti, Russian banks that still manage to send money to China are demanding written assurances from importers that the payments will be accepted. This has created complications for buyers of Chinese products in Russia.

    Vedomosti's sources indicate that Chinese suppliers must …

  • Renowned Russian scientist sentenced to 15 years for alleged treason

    In a significant development from Russia, Dr. Alexander Shiplyuk, the Director of the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SO RAN), has been sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of state treason. Specializing in hypersonic research, Shiplyuk has maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings.

    Moscow City Court handed down the 15-year sentence on September 3, according to Russian media and Telegram channels.

    The First Department, a …

  • Chinese exporters demand prepayment from Russian clients amid sanction-driven economic shifts

    In a significant development, Chinese exporters have suspended shipments to Russia without prepayment, a stark shift from prior practices. This move reportedly comes in response to sanctions against Russia, reports Izvestia, citing Vadim Filatov, President of the Association of Automobile Cargo Carriers and Forwarders.

    According to Filatov, Russian companies that previously enjoyed trusted credit terms now face unprecedented challenges due to payment reversals. Additionally, new Russian …

  • Kazakh banks sever ties with sanctioned Russian payment system Zolotaya Korona

    In an unexpected move, several major Kazakh banks, including HalykBank, Bank RBK, and Eurasian Bank, have suspended transactions through the "Zolotaya Korona" payment system. The abrupt suspension of transactions comes "for technical reasons," according to a report from Russian news agency TASS on Thursday.

    Freedom Bank was the pioneer in this wave of suspensions, citing "technical work" as the reason for halting operations with the payment system. The bank emphasized that future steps will be …

  • China and Saudi Arabia halt crucial MDI chemical shipments to Russia amid sanctions

    In a significant development, China and Saudi Arabia have stopped the supply of irreplaceable chemical products to Russia. Currently, Russia is entirely dependent on imported MDI, especially following the European Union's 14th sanctions package.

    According to the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita, Chinese giant Wanhua Chemical Group and Saudi firm Sadara Chemical have ceased shipments of isocyanates (MDI) to Russia. This chemical is crucial in sectors like automotive, construction, and household …

  • Germany foils Russian drone attack attempt on NATO's airbase

    Russia had plans to execute a sabotage operation using drones at a NATO airbase located in Geilenkirchen, Germany, according to German intelligence sources cited by Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). This NATO facility, nestled in North Rhine-Westphalia, was targeted, raising serious international security concerns.

    Last week, NATO's Geilenkirchen-Teveren airbase was put on "Charlie" status, the second highest level of combat readiness, due to a precautionary measure following warnings from the U. …

  • Finland to station up to 5,000 NATO troops near Russian border

    In a strategic move to bolster its defense capabilities against external threats, Finland has agreed to station a NATO armored brigade on its soil. The new unit, consisting of 4,000 to 5,000 soldiers and officers, is being formed and will be based in the city of Mikkeli, near the Russian border, reports the Finnish news outlet Iltalehti, citing sources within the North Atlantic Alliance and security services.

    "Finland's Defense Forces and the government have concluded that the presence of NATO …

  • Indian PM Modi offers to mediate between Ukraine and Russia amid war-torn diplomatic landscape

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed a willingness to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow. "We stand for dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace and stability as soon as possible. India is ready to contribute to this effort alongside friendly nations," Modi stated on Thursday, August 22, in Warsaw, following his meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. He also added, "India firmly believes that no problem can be resolved on the battlefield." Modi's visit to Poland comes just …