Russia has defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time since 1918, the year following the Bolshevik Revolution. Moscow, however, claims the necessary payments were made on May 27th.

Moscow failed to pay approximately $100 million in interest on two bonds during a 30-day grace period that expired Sunday.

The White House has said the default showed the effect of Western sanctions on Russia.

"This morning's news around the finding of Russia's default, for the first time in more than a …

Author: Nataliia Naidiuk, Ukrainian journalist living in Chernihiv, Ukraine.

Andriy Evmenenko is a fire brigade commander in Chernihiv. As a child, Andriy would look at colorful photos of red fire engines in the family album. They were his father’s pictures from when he had served in the fire department in Moscow. Who would have thought that many years later, Andriy would be putting out fires, in his native Chernihiv. Fires started by Russian bombs and shells.

This is a story about a fireman, …

The Russian Army is focused on capturing Lysychansk, which remains the last unoccupied city in the Luhansk region, said the head of the Luhansk regional administration Serhiy Haidai.

"After capturing Severodonetsk, the enemy concentrated all its forces on capturing the last fortress of the Luhansk region - Lysychansk," said Haidai.

According to Haidai, the enemy carries out airstrikes on the city, and is also shelling the town of Bila Hora.

"There is a lot of destruction. Lysychansk is …