Contents tagged with Russia

  • Intense fire at Rostov oil depot persists for fifth day after Ukrainian drone attack

    A fire at an oil depot in Proletarsk, Rostov region, persists into its fifth day following a Ukrainian drone attack, reported the Russian news agency RBC. A powerful explosion last night exacerbated the blaze, according to local news outlet 161.ru.

    Residents could see the glow from the neighboring settlements. "I live 10 km from the oil depot; the flash looked like a sunset," commented a local resident to 161.ru.

    Meanwhile, TASS cites regional medical services reporting that 47 people have …

  • Moscow court sentences ex-FSB officers for bribery involving Catholic Church officials

    In a landmark ruling, the 235th Moscow Garrison Military Court has sentenced two ex-employees of FSB's Second Service, the unit responsible for Constitutional Order Protection, to nine years in a high-security penal colony for taking bribes from Roman Catholic Church representatives. According to Kommersant, Evgeny Lobanov and Denis Karmanov were found guilty of receiving bribes on a large scale (Article 290, Part 6).

    Karmanov was also convicted under charges related to illegal arms and …

  • China shifts oil imports from Russia to Middle East

    In a significant shift, China has increased its purchases of oil from the Middle East, seemingly at the expense of Russian imports. This development follows Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to Beijing. According to Chinese customs data cited by The Moscow Times, the trend of declining Russian oil imports into China accelerated after the trip in May.

    Russian oil companies are grappling with a stark drop in demand from China. In July, Russian oil exports to China fell by 7.4% year- …

  • Chinese suppliers seek to reroute goods to Russia via third countries amid sanctions

    Chinese suppliers have started requesting routing goods destined to Russia via third countries, reports the Russian news outlet Izvestia.

    Russian businessmen have noted that these constraints have been apparent since mid-July. These restrictions predominantly impact products that have landed on Western sanctions lists, with electronics being a primary concern.

    Chinese suppliers typically request shipping goods through third countries when they cannot accept payments through Chinese banks or …

  • Major fire erupts at Bashkiria Chemical Plant following gas pipeline explosion

    In Bashkortostan, Russia, a fire erupted at the "Sterlitamak Petrochemical Plant" (SNHZ). Local residents first heard "explosions" before seeing a column of black smoke. The official cause of the incident is suspected to be safety protocol violations rather than external factors, according to the Investigative Committee of Russia. The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia detailed the incident's impact on their Telegram channel.

    The first report of the blaze in Sterlitamak emerged online …

  • Ukrainian cyber attack paralyzes Russian nuclear weapons developer

    In a significant blow to Russia's defense infrastructure, Ukrainian hackers have paralyzed operations at a leading nuclear weapons developer. Ukrainian cyber specialists targeted an internet service provider supporting the Russian arms manufacturer.

    Collaborating with hacker group "VO Team," Ukrainian intelligence operatives disrupted the enterprise responsible for Russia's nuclear armament. According to an announcement on Telegram, the team launched a successful cyberattack on "Vega," the …

  • Ukrainian Special Forces capture advanced Russian T-80BVMP Tank

    A T-80BVMP, the most advanced Russian tank model of 2023, has been captured by Ukrainian Special Operations Forces (SSO). Analysts are calling this event as a tactical victory for Ukraine given the tank’s significant enhancements in armor and firepower capabilities.

    The T-80BVMP tank, known for its upgraded weaponry, protection, and mobility, was discovered abandoned and subsequently captured by a Ukrainian SSO unit. This tank has been safely transported into Ukraine, according to OSINT …

  • Ukrainian Forces capture two settlements from Wagner mercenaries amid intense clashes in Kursk region

    The ex-Wagner mercenaries have lost control of two settlements. On his Telegram channel "Frontline Thoughts", a Ukrainian soldier with the call sign "Shadow" claims that while the Russians possess plenty of courage and spirit, they lack intelligence. "Wagner" has been taking hits consecutively for two days, leading to widespread panic among regular troops,” Shadow noted.

    The soldier goes on to mention that the former Wagner members have already lost two settlements. He reiterates that while …

  • Double standards: Russian propagandist sends son to Spain despite Anti-EU rhetoric

    Elena Karaeva, a key figure at state-run RIA Novosti, has sparked controversy by claiming that the European Union wants to "rob and destroy" Russia, only to have sent her son on vacation to Spain.

    Karaeva, who holds a French passport, was once a vocal critic of Russia and an admirer of France. However, her narrative took a dramatic shift in recent years.

    Karaeva's recent column on RIA Novosti discusses the Ukrainian Armed Forces' operations in the Kursk region, painting them as part of a Euro- …

  • Concern and controversy: Russia continues deploying conscripts to Kursk region amid rising capture reports

    Recent social media posts from residents of various Russian regions, particularly Murmansk and Kaliningrad, indicate that conscripts from local military units are being deployed to the Kursk region. Often, these stories are recounted by the sons or husbands who are serving mandatory military service. For example, the decision to send conscript soldiers to Kursk appears to be planned by the 80th Motorized Rifle Division, stationed in Murmansk.

    According to a statement from the relatives of the …