Contents tagged with Russia

  • President of Lithuania: The main threat to the Baltic countries is 'the existence of Russia and Belarus in the east'

    Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite called the existence of Russia and Belarus in the east a major threat to the Baltic States and Poland. She made this announcement to the local press on June 5 before setting off on a state visit to Estonia.

    The head of the Lithuanian state reminded journalists that the Baltic countries and Poland are the "eastern border area of NATO" and that having Russia and Belarus in the same neighborhood is a threat. The militarization of Kaliningrad region plus …

  • Chubarov insists that Russia has increased persecution of Crimean Tatars

    Despite the judgment of the UN International Court of Justice on the renewal of Mejlis activity in the annexed Crimea, Russia has increased repressions against Crimean Tatars, according to Crimean Tatar leader Refat Chubarov.

    “[The repressions] remain systematic and are increasing. There is no evidence that the occupiers will with any regard for the UN judgment. This is a paradox concerning the UN International Court of Justice. Russia can’t help but to carry out the judgment. Not only was it …

  • Despite sanctions Russian Yandex online services still accessible in Ukraine

    Services Yandex.Maps, Yandex.Taxi and Yandex.Traffic are accessible again in Ukraine through different internet service providers, as reported by Strana.ua news website citing internet users  as well as  Olexandr Fedienko, the Chairman of the Management Board of the Internet Association of Ukraine.

    “Access has been available for two days. But this is not because operators stopped blocking it. This is rather due to Yandex services moving to other cloud network and being hosted there now. Now …

  • Russia demands explanations from U.S. about new sanctions

    Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Vladimir Safronkov, said at a meeting of the Security Council of the UN that was held on Friday, June 2, that the Russian authorities expect to receive an explanation from the U.S. regarding sanctions imposed against Russians and some Russian companies suspected by Washington of cooperating with North Korea, as reported by Novosti.

    "We would like to hear explanations from the American side regarding the June 1 expansion of U.S. sanctions …

  • Russian space company buys 12 rockets from Ukrainian state-owned enterprise

    The Ukrainian enterprise "Southern Machine Building Plant" ("Yuzhmash") has concluded a contract with the Russian company S7 Sea Launch for the production and delivery of 12 Zenit launch vehicles. This was reported on the website of the Ukrainian company.

    "The contract stipulates the production of 12 launch vehicles for use in the Sea Launch and Ground Launch programs," the report said. The company explained that rockets are needed "for the exploration and use in outer space for peaceful …

  • Kyiv bans Ukrainian banks from serving Russian companies hit by sanctions

    The National Bank of Ukraine approved a procedure for banks to implement the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) on the application of personal special economic sanctions against a number of Russian companies, including Russian social networks VKontakte, Odnoklassniki, and resource sites Yandex, Mail.ru and accounting program 1C, as reported by UNIAN, citing Resolution No. 46 on the website of The National Bank of Ukraine.

    As noted, beginning June 3, banks …

  • Montenegro joins EU imposing sanctions on those responsible for aggression against Ukraine

    Montenegrin authorities have banned 149 citizens of Russia and Ukraine from entering the country and possessing property because of their involvement in the annexation of the Crimea and the war in the Donbas, B92 news outlet reports.

    The list of citizens who are banned from entering Montenegro was formulated on the basis of the European Council’s ruling.

    “Montenegro is restricting the entry and management of property and assets of the people who bear responsibility for actively supporting the …

  • Security Service of Ukraine accuses W-net internet provider of having ties to the Russian FSB

    The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted searches in the offices of W-Net internet provider, as reported by Elena Hitlyanskaya, press secretary of the Security Service of Ukraine, on her Facebook page.

    “The SBU confirms that it is conducting sanctioned searches in the office of internet provider W-net Ukraine LLC. The investigative activities are taking place in the framework of an open criminal case according to sec. 3 art. 110-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (financing actions …

  • Russia to build two helicopter carriers

    Russia will build two amphibious assault ships with diesel-gas turbine power plants by the end of 2026. This was reported by TASS, citing a source in the defense structures of the country.

    According to the interlocutor, research and development work on helicopter carriers will begin in 2018; the beginning of construction is planned for 2020. "Production of the only serial ship is scheduled for 2022, with delivery in 2026," the agency source said. The source also added that the helicopter …

  • Russian Foreign Ministry believes that relations with Ukraine will eventually be restored

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia has no doubts that Ukraine and Russia will eventually come to the restoration of full-fledged ties between the two countries and peoples. The Ministry made the statement on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of signing the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Partnership between the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

    "Concluding this treaty in 1997, the leaders of Russia and Ukraine were determined to have close cooperation and a deeper relationship. …