• Demand surges in Russia for counterfeit Ukrainian passports amid refugee status perks in the west

    In a bizarre twist, Russians are showing an increasing desire to obtain Ukrainian passports as merchants of forged documents claim these can facilitate relocation to Europe and access the benefits accorded to Ukrainian refugees.

    The Russian news outlet Fontanka reports that there is a spike in demand for counterfeit Ukrainian passports among Russians. According to the newspaper, while most offerings online are legitimate services provided by lawyers to help Ukrainian refugees who have …

  • Polish authorities detain and deport two Ukrainian journalists investigating Russia-Poland trade

    Two Ukrainian journalists investigating trade between Poland and Russia have been detained in Poland, as reported by Rayon.in.ua.

    The agency reported that editor Yuriy Koncevich and cameraman Oleksandr Pilyuk were detained on March 7 while documenting the crossing of the border by cargo train between the Kaliningrad region of Russia and Poland.

    "Rayon.Zakordon traveled to the north of Poland, near the border with the Kaliningrad region of Russia, to see how gas and grain are still being …

  • Ukraine's intelligence chief: ICJ's ruling on Russia’s involvement in MH17 crash is a disgrace

    Kirill Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, has labeled the International Court of Justice's decision regarding the downing of MH17 flight as mistaken, reports the French newspaper Liberation.

    The court concluded that the Russian Federation could not be deemed a sponsor of terrorism merely because the Russian-made Buk missile system, which was used to down MH17 in 2014, qualifies as a weapon rather than financial support. Liberation …

  • President Zelensky reportedly delays dismissal of Ukraine's military chief Zaluzhny due to a data leak

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had plans to dismiss the country's top military commander, Valeriy Zaluzhny, on January 29 but postponed the decision following a data leak about the dismissal, The New York Times reported on Tuesday. According to a former high-ranking Ukrainian official cited by the newspaper, the process of removing Zaluzhny from his position is now being slowed down.

    A Ukrainian parliamentarian familiar with the leadership's plans confirmed the information, adding that …

  • Ukraine's President Zelensky initiates first-ever dialogue with Bahrain's King Hamad, invites him to Davos event

    Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky held the first historic phone conversation with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, reported the Ukrainian presidential press service.

    "I hope that the establishment of contacts at the highest level will open a new chapter in Ukrainian-Bahraini relations," said Zelensky.

    The leaders discussed bilateral cooperation, global food security, and the support for Ukraine's Peace Formula.

    Furthermore, Zelensky briefed the King of Bahrain on Ukraine's …