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Russia begins withdrawal of military forces from Syria
Russia has begun pulling its military forces from Syria, according to media reports and satellite imagery. Reuters, citing an anonymous source within the Syrian security forces, reports that on Saturday, a cargo plane departed Russia’s Khmeimim Airbase in Latakia province for Libya. The source, whose affiliation with either Assad’s security services or the new regime remains unspecified, indicated that more flights are expected in the coming days. Cargo helicopters have also been spotted at the …
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Former Russian executives sentenced in secret bunker embezzlement case
In a high-stakes case involving allegations of corruption and fraud, the Second Western District Military Court has announced sentences for those implicated in the embezzlement scandal surrounding secret underground bunker construction for the Ministry of Defense. According to TASS, former deputy director of LLC "Atlas," Dmitry Pipko, and former general director of LLC "M-Stroy," Andrey Epifantsev, received sentences of seven years and three years in a general regime penal colony, with fines of …
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UAE banks halt transactions for Russian companies amid U.S. pressure
Russian businesses face increased payment scrutiny as UAE banks are now blocking and delaying transactions linked to Russian companies amidst a fresh wave of U.S. sanctions. These new restrictions add to the immense challenges the Russian economy faces due to Western-imposed sanctions, tightening the financial noose as overseas anti-sanction "hubs" fall apart under the threat of secondary sanctions.
The UAE had emerged as a crucial financial "hub" for Russian entities, facilitating their trade …
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Assad seeks sanctuary in Russia: a new addition to Moscow's 'collection' of exiled leaders
Bashar al-Assad and his family have been granted asylum in Russia on "humanitarian grounds." While there are no official photos yet of Assad settling into his new surroundings, speculation is rife about what he might owe Vladimir Putin for this hospitality and who his new neighbors might be, Digi 24 reports.
Columnist Mark Galeotti suggests that the discredited Syrian ruler will make his home in Barvikha, an upscale enclave for Russia's affluent near Moscow. Historically, this area housed …
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Medvedev urges Ukraine to embrace Russian influence or risk disappearance
In a push from Moscow to assert Russia's indispensability to Ukraine, Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president, suggests that Ukrainians need to "tame the pride of their distinctiveness."
Russian policymakers have advised Ukraine to "curb its pride and stop opposing everything Russian" to avoid disappearing from the world's map. These remarks come from Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council and former president, in an article for "International Affairs" magazine. …