• Kremlin ‘can’t rule out’ death penalty for captured Americans

    Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Russia “can’t rule out” a possible death penalty for two captured Americans who were fighting in Ukraine.

    Referring to Alexander J. Drueke, 39, and Andy Tai Huynh, 27, both U.S. military veterans from Alabama who were recently captured by the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, Peskov reiterated the Kremlin line that Moscow does not control the judicial system in the separatist republic.

    “We can’t rule anything out, because these are court …

  • Russia begins military exercises in Kaliningrad region

    After Lithuania’s decision to restrict transit of goods to and from Kaliningrad, Russia began military exercises in the region.

    The Russian Defense Ministry announced that, on June 20, servicemen of the Russian Baltic Fleet began exercises in the Kaliningrad region. The exercises will involve Grad and Uragan MLRS systems, large-caliber artillery systems 2S5 Giatsint-S, self-propelled howitzers Msta-S, 2S3 Akatsiya and 2S1 Gvozdika. About a thousand soldiers are involved in the drills, …

  • DPR head Pushilin says Azov commanders were taken to Russia

    The head of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, Denis Pushilin, confirmed that the commanders of the Azov regiment, who were captured at Azovstal plant in Mariupol, were taken to Russia.

    "Our investigators have done their work in DPR, now Russian specialists are working on it. Comprehensive information should be gathered in preparation for the tribunal. Its first stage will take place before the end of the summer, this is for sure," Pushilin said on the air of the TV channel Russia 24. …

  • Lithuania restricts transit of goods from Russia to Kaliningrad region, Kremlin threatens to retaliate

    Lithuania has imposed restrictions on the transit of about half of the goods delivered by rail to the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation, said the Russian regional governor, Anton Alikhanov.

    According to him, the restrictions will affect from 40% to 50% of products delivered to or from Russia through Lithuania, in particular building materials, cement and metal.

    The representative of Lithuanian Railways Mantas Dubauskas explained that the restrictions were imposed due to the EU …

  • Merkel says she is ready to mediate talks between Ukraine and Russia

    Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel does not rule out that in the future she may become a mediator in the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

    In an interview with RND news agency Merkel was asked if she was ready to be a mediator. "To date, this question has not been raised," she replied.

    Merkel also noted that last year she tried to discuss with Putin the "Normandy format" and the new order of European security, but he was not ready for the conversation.

    “On the one hand, Putin was …