Contents tagged with Russia

  • Russia expects Ukraine to pay back $3 billion for Yanukovych debt

    Russia believes that it has every reason to expect Ukraine to pay back $3 billion for the debt of Viktor Yanukovych, news agency Tass reports.

    “The High Court of London made a decision, and at the beginning of next year the appeal will be considered. I am confident that an objective decision will be made, and we will have every reason to demand from our neighbor the fulfillment of its obligations,” said Russian Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov on Sunday on the Russia 1 television station.

    “ …

  • Netherlands forms ruling coalition consisting of anti-Russian parties

    The formation of a coalition government was completed in the Netherlands on October 26. This process, which took over seven months, had become the longest in the history of the country. According to observers, the country's new government may act against Russia's interests.

    The ruling coalition included the party of Prime Minister Mark Rutte, the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), as well as right-wing liberals, the centrist Democrats D66 party, and two Christian parties - the …

  • Media: Russia may reduce its military presence in Syria

    The Russian authorities are considering the option of reducing the military contingent in Syria, reports Russian newspaper Kommersant, citing its sources.

    According to two military-diplomatic sources, the plan assumes a partial reduction in the equipment from the composite air group at the Khmeimim air base, as well as the departure of a portion of the military contingent from Syria back to their permanent duty stations in Russia.

    However, one of the newspaper's sources said that "in any case, …

  • Human rights activist: The drafting of Crimeans into the Russian army is classified as a war crime

    In September, the UN reminded Russia through its report that, according to Article 51 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, an occupying state is prohibited from coercing protected persons to serve in its armed or auxiliary forces. Pressure and propaganda in favor of voluntary entry into the army are also prohibited, writes Ukrainian human rights activist Mykola Mirnyj in his article for ZN.UA. The author notes that transferring citizens of Ukraine to serve in the regions of Russia also violates …

  • Russian Defense Ministry: 1500 school students joint ‘Youth Army’ movement in Crimea

    The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that roughly 1 500 school students from Sevastopol have “joined the ranks” of the Russian military and patriotic social movement “Yunarmia” (Youth Army), reported   the press service of Russia’s Southern Military District.

    “At present, the Youth Army movement in Sevastopol has been joined by 55 general secondary education institutions, children’s social and sport organizations,” the report states.

    The report notes that the Sevastopol school students …

  • Ukrainian Ambassador to Austria: Russian translator distorted Steinmeier's words about the annexation of Crimea

    Russian translators and the media have distorted the words of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who made a visit this week to Moscow, attributing to him a quote about "the reunification of the Crimea with Russia". The Ukrainian Ambassador to Austria, Olexander Scherba, noted the translation error on his Facebook page.

    "In about the 8th minute of the 15th second you can see how totalitarian fake news works. Steinmeier speaks in German: ‘Annexion.’ The interpreter fumbles and translates: …

  • Ukrainian MP: Resolution on UN peacekeeping mission in Donbas may be prepared by end of 2017

    A UN Security Council resolution on a peacekeeping mission in the Donbas may be drawn up by the end of 2017, Ukrainian MP from the Petro Poroshenko Bloc Volodymyr Ariev wrote on Facebook after the meeting of parliamentarians with Kurt Volker, the US State Department Special Representative for Ukraine.

    According to Ariev, the major points of the resolution will be drawn up by Volker himself.

    In Volker’s opinion, “the blue helmets must control the entire territory, including the border, and …

  • US Representative for Ukraine Volker: Russia must withdraw its forces before UN peacekeepers enter Donbas

    Russia must withdraw its forces so that the UN peacekeeping mission can start its work in the Donbas, and Ukraine must coordinate with the UN, US Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker told Hromadske in an interview.

    According to him, initially the parties must agree on the mission’s mandate and determine the composition and number of its staff. These matters are the topic of current negotiations.

    He added that the mission’s presence must become a necessary element in the area of …

  • As sand storm covers Der ez-Zor, ISIS launches offensive on Syrian forces

    According to reports, ISIS forces have approached the city of Mayadin from the south and have entered the suburbs of the city.

    While Syrian forces supported by the Russian military are fully engaged in the fight for Der ez-Zor, ISIS chose to attack in Mayadin. It’s the fighters of Hezbollah and Afghan Liwa Fatemiyoun who are trying to repel ISIS attacks in Mayadin.  

    Due to a sand storm, in conditions of poor visibility, the air support is minimal.

     The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights ( …

  • Media: Russia preparing new ambushes on Ukrainian border guards

    The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) is preparing new ambushes on the border with Ukraine with the intent to capture Ukrainian border guards, as reported by UNIAN with reference to the source familiar with the situation.

    "According to our information, the Russian side plans to continue to kidnap our border guards. After the situation in the Sumy region, they want to do the same thing in Luhansk region, "- said the interlocutor.

    According to the source, currently, the Russians are  …