TIG Post

Tag: Putin

  • Russia denies Trump told Putin to restrain Ukraine war efforts

    Russia denies Trump told Putin to restrain Ukraine war efforts

    The Kremlin has rejected media reports suggesting that US President-elect Donald Trump had a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in which he allegedly warned Putin about escalating the war in Ukraine.

    The call, which was first reported by the Washington Post on Sunday, was said to have occurred on Thursday.

    During the reported conversation, Trump is believed to have mentioned the significant military presence of the US in Europe.

    However, the Kremlin swiftly denied the existence of such a conversation, labeling the claims as “pure fiction.”

    Trump’s team, when contacted by the BBC, declined to comment on the matter, with communications director Steven Cheung stating, “We do not comment on private calls between President Trump and other world leaders.”

    He did, however, confirm that leaders have started reaching out to the president-elect.

    Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, reiterated the denial, describing the reports as “completely untrue” and “false information.”

    “This is completely untrue, it is pure fiction. That is, this is simply false information. There was no conversation,” Peskov said.

    While Trump has repeatedly stated his commitment to ending the conflict in Ukraine, he has not yet outlined a clear strategy.

    Bryan Lanza, a former adviser to Trump’s campaign, suggested over the weekend that the incoming administration would focus on achieving peace in Ukraine, rather than solely aiming to reclaim occupied territories.

    A spokesperson for Trump distanced the president-elect from these remarks, clarifying that Lanza “does not speak for him.”

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned against any territorial concessions to Russia, stressing that without US support, Ukraine would be unable to win the war.

    On the other hand, Dmitry Peskov spoke of “positive” signals from the new US administration. In contrast, other international figures, including British Defence Secretary John Healey, are confident that the US will continue to support Ukraine.

    “This is a warning for the ones who say, this war has to end, so let’s finish it as soon as possible no matter how. How matters,” he said.

    Healey expressed his expectation that the US would stay alongside its allies, particularly the UK, “for as long as it takes to prevail over Putin’s invasion.”

    During a visit to Ukraine, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell cautioned that any peace settlement must be sustainable. He warned against those pushing for an immediate end to the war without considering the long-term implications, emphasizing that “how” peace is achieved matters.

    In Washington, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan indicated that President Joe Biden would stress to Trump that walking away from Ukraine would lead to increased instability in Europe.

    In Germany, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock raised concerns that Putin could exploit the US transition period to gain an upper hand in Ukraine. She urged European Union members to boost their support for Ukraine immediately, asserting, “We don’t have time to wait until spring.”

    The war continues to escalate, with Russia and Ukraine launching their largest drone attacks since the conflict began. Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed it intercepted 84 Ukrainian drones over six regions, including some approaching Moscow, leading to airport diversions. Ukraine’s air force reported shooting down most of the 145 Russian drones launched on Saturday night.

    On Monday, Russia’s airstrikes killed at least six people and injured 21 others in Ukraine. Zelensky condemned the strikes, criticizing Russia for targeting civilians and calling for stronger global support to counter the aggression.

    Russian forces have also made territorial advances. Moscow’s Ministry of Defence reported capturing the village of Kolisnykivka in the Kharkiv region. According to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War, Russian territorial gains in October were the largest since March 2022.

  • Russia-North Korea to partner against ‘any enemy’ in event of attack in new level ties – Putin

    Russia-North Korea to partner against ‘any enemy’ in event of attack in new level ties – Putin

    Vladimir Putin has announced that Russia and North Korea have elevated their relationship to a “new level,” committing to mutual assistance in the event of an attack, marking a “breakthrough” partnership.

    This declaration came during the Russian president’s rare visit to North Korea.

    As Putin commenced his first visit to North Korea in 24 years, thousands of North Koreans lined the city’s broad streets, chanting “welcome Putin” and waving Russian and North Korean flags, along with bouquets of flowers.

    The visit featured a meticulously arranged display of influence in the authoritarian state.

    During the visit, the two leaders signed a new strategic partnership agreement, replacing previous deals from 1961, 2000, and 2001, as reported by Russian state news agency TASS.

    He said the deal encompasses the “political, trade, investment, cultural spheres, and the security sphere as well,” calling the pact “truly a breakthrough document.”

    Putin said joint drills involving the United States, South Korea and Japan were “hostile” toward North Korea,” characterizing the US policy as “confrontational.”

    Kim, meanwhile, called the new “alliance” a “watershed moment in the development of the bilateral relations.”

    But the deal between the two autocrats raised many questions, too – including whether Russia’s nuclear deterrent now extends to North Korea, and vice versa, or whether the two nations will now hold joint military drills.

    Putin received an enthusiastic welcome during a ceremony at Kim Il Sung Square in North Korea’s capital, where mounted soldiers, military personnel, and children with balloons cheered under large portraits of both leaders.

    They introduced their respective delegations and stood side by side as the Russian national anthem played. Later, they rode together in an open-top limousine, smiling and waving to the crowds.

    The event underscored North Korea’s close ties with Moscow and likely served as a reminder to the West of Putin’s enduring influence, despite global criticism following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

    The partnership holds significance for Russia as well. While several governments have accused Pyongyang of supplying arms to Moscow during its conflict in Ukraine, both countries have consistently denied these allegations, despite substantial evidence suggesting otherwise.

    On Wednesday, Putin gifted Kim an Aurus car during their exchange of presents, as reported by Russian state media. This marks the second time Putin has bestowed this model upon his North Korean counterpart.

    Additionally, Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov mentioned that the Russian leader also gave Kim a tea set. Ushakov didn’t specify what gifts Putin received but described them as “also good gifts.”

    Putin arrived in North Korea early on Wednesday local time, exactly 24 years after his last visit to Pyongyang.

    The visit underscores the deepening alignment between the two nations amidst shared hostility towards the West and growing concerns over their enhanced military cooperation on the international stage.

    Before their talks commenced, Kim expressed his full support and solidarity with the Russian government, military, and people. He specifically referenced Moscow’s actions in Ukraine, emphasizing their efforts to safeguard sovereignty, safety, and territorial stability.

    “Situations continue to be complicated and ever-changing, but I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that we will continue to strengthen and closely engage in strategic communication with the (Russian) leadership,” Kim added.

    North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin exit a welcome ceremony at Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang on June 19. Gavriil Grigorov/Pool/AFP/Sputnik/Getty Images

    Putin hailed the countries’ ties as based on “equality and mutual respect,” and said an expected new bilateral agreement would “form the basis of relations between the two states for many years to come,” according to Russian state agency TASS.

    He also added that he hoped Kim would visit Moscow for their next meeting.

    The burgeoning relationship has sparked concern in both Seoul and Washington, not only over North Korea’s arms transfers to Russia, but also the prospect of Moscow transferring its superior military technology to aid Pyongyang’s heavily sanctioned weapons program

  • Putin warns Europe for providing Ukraine with greater military aid

    Putin warns Europe for providing Ukraine with greater military aid

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy got promised $1 billion in military help from the United States on Tuesday. This happened during his quick visit to three European Union countries. At the same time, President Vladimir Putin said that using weapons from the West on Russian land could make the war even more dangerous.

    Belgium promised to give money to Ukraine and also said they will provide 30 fighter jets in the next four years.

    “We need to use the first F-16 on the battlefield this year to strengthen our positions,” Zelenskyy said.

    After that, he went to Portugal and said it was important for Ukraine’s supporters not to be tricked by Russia and to keep fighting the war.

    The Russian army is attacking Ukraine in the east and northeast. This is the biggest test for Ukraine’s military since Russia invaded in February 2022.

    Ukraine’s Western friends are taking a long time to help them. The US military aid is also delayed. This has made Ukraine vulnerable to Russia’s larger army and air force.

    European countries have been talking about sending soldiers to help Ukraine. They have also been discussing giving Ukrainian money that Russia has taken, which has made Russia very angry.

    Putin has said many times that the West should not join the fight more, and he has talked about the possibility of a nuclear war.

    Putin said that if Ukraine uses powerful weapons from the West to attack Russia, it could make the situation more dangerous. He said this while talking to reporters in Uzbekistan.

    Putin said that using these weapons would depend on information from Western intelligence and involve NATO military personnel. He also warned NATO about the potential consequences.

    He said that leaders of countries in NATO, especially those in Europe, should be careful about their actions. He also mentioned that smaller countries with crowded populations should be extra cautious.

    The Netherlands said they will work fast with important EU countries to put together a Patriot air defense system. Zelenskyy thinks this is very important to stop Russia from attacking Ukraine’s power grid, cities, and also military targets with powerful glide bombs.

    NATO leader Jens Stoltenberg said he was glad about the decision, but he also said that there was still a lot of work to do.

    “We have seen some improvements, but Ukraine urgently needs more progress and more air defense systems,” said Stoltenberg as he went into a meeting with EU defense ministers.

    Before going back to Ukraine, Zelenskyy went to Portugal and signed a new agreement between the two countries. Portugal is not very rich and has a smaller military than other countries in the European Union. The leader of Portugal, Luis Montenegro, said that they are giving more money and military help to Kyiv, which is the capital of Ukraine. This is part of a big plan to work together.

    On Monday, Zelenskyy made a deal with Spain to give Ukraine 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) for weapons and soldiers in 2024, and 5 billion euros ($5.4 billion) by 2027.

    Providing aid to both sides is important because the 27 countries in the group are having trouble getting Hungary to agree to the EU giving a lot of money in military aid to Kyiv.

    The Hungarian government led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban has stopped about 6. 5 billion euros ($7 billion) from being used. Orban is known for being a strong supporter of Russia in the European Union. Each individual country has the power to stop decisions, and Hungary has been blocking money meant to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses for a long time.

    “We have the money and the ability, but we still need to make decisions about giving aid to Ukraine,” explained Josep Borrell, the EU’s foreign policy leader.

    Zelenskyy talked with the Prime Minister of Belgium, Alexander De Croo, and got money and a security agreement. The agreement means Ukraine will get military help until it joins NATO.

    Zelenskyy says Ukraine needs seven more US air defence systems because Russia attacked in Kharkiv.

    Putin says that the Russian government’s soldiers are trying to create a “buffer zone” in Kharkiv to stop Ukraine from attacking across the border there.

    The Defense Minister of the Netherlands, Kajsa Ollongren, met with other EU leaders and said that a Patriot system will be built quickly. The Netherlands has some important parts for the system, and other EU countries will add more parts and weapons.

    “Ukraine is also joining Europe in the fight,” she said.

    Zelenskyy was going to travel to Belgium and Spain but he had to cancel his trips because Russia attacked Ukraine and the Ukrainian military is facing a difficult situation.

    In other news, the head of the UN’s atomic agency was in Kaliningrad, Russia to discuss safety concerns related to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.

    The Russian army took control of the plant at the beginning of the war. None of the reactors have been running since then. Regular bombing near Europe’s biggest nuclear plant has made people around the world worried about keeping the plant safe from danger.

    Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, met with Alexei Likhachyov, who leads Russia’s nuclear energy company, Rosatom. The Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported that Grossi said they agree on what needs to be done to make the nuclear plant safer, but right now it doesn’t seem possible to start it again.

    Likhachyov repeated that he wants to reopen the plant, and also promised that it is ” completely safe” as it is now.

  • Putin wants truce in Ukraine on the front lines right now

    Putin wants truce in Ukraine on the front lines right now

    Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to stop the fighting in Ukraine if both sides agree to a ceasefire and the current borders are accepted. But if Ukraine and the West don’t agree, he is ready to keep fighting.

    Three people who know about the conversations in Putin’s circle said that the experienced Russian leader had talked to a few advisers about being annoyed with what he sees as Western attempts to stop negotiations and the Ukrainian President’s decision to not have talks.

    Another person who knows Putin well said that Putin is willing to keep fighting for as long as necessary, but he is also open to stopping the war and having a ceasefire.

    He, like the others mentioned in this story, spoke anonymously because the topic is sensitive.

    Reuters talked to five people who have worked closely with Putin in politics and business for this story. The fifth source did not say anything about stopping the war where it is now.

    Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said that Russia is open to talking to achieve its goals. He also said that Russia doesn’t want to be in a never-ending war.

    Ukraine’s foreign and defense ministries did not answer the questions.

    Some people think that when economist Andrei Belousov was appointed as Russia’s defense minister last week, it meant that Russia is getting ready for a long war by focusing on the economy.

    It happened after Russia kept fighting and gaining more land in the past few weeks.

    However, the people said that Putin, who was elected again in March for another six years, would prefer to use Russia’s current progress to end the war. They did not talk about the new defence minister directly.

    Two people who know about conversations in the top levels of the Russian government said that Putin thinks that the progress in the war is good enough to convince the Russian people that they have won.

    The biggest fight in Europe since World War Two has caused many deaths on both sides, and has resulted in Western countries punishing Russia’s economy.

    Three people said that Putin knew that making big new advances would need another nationwide mobilization, but he didn’t want that. One person, who knows Putin, said that his popularity went down after the first mobilization in September 2022.

    The government asked some people to join the military in Russia, and it scared many people. As a result, hundreds of thousands of young men left the country. Surveys showed that fewer people liked Putin than before.

    Peskov said that Russia doesn’t need to call up its regular army and instead is getting people to volunteer to join the armed forces as contractors.

    The chances of stopping the fighting or having a discussion about peace right now are unlikely.

    Zelenskyy has said many times that he will not agree to peace on Putin’s terms. He promised to recapture land that was taken, including Crimea, which Russia took over in 2014. In 2022, he made a rule that said having discussions with Putin is not allowed.

    One source said there might be no agreement while Zelenskyy is in charge, unless Russia bypasses him and makes a deal directly with Washington. But US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Kyiv last week that he doesn’t think Putin wants to have real talks.

    Swiss discussions

    Ukraine is getting ready for a meeting in Switzerland next month. The meeting is about getting countries to agree on how to stop the war. The meeting was organized by Zelenskyy, who said that Putin should not come. Switzerland did not ask Russia to come.

    Moscow said the discussions are not believable if they are not involved. Ukraine and Switzerland want Russia’s friends, including China, to come to the meeting.

    On May 17th, while talking in China, Putin mentioned that Ukraine might use the talks in Switzerland to get more countries to support Zelenskyy’s request for Russia to completely withdraw. Putin thinks this demand is more of a forced condition than a real effort to make peace.

    The Swiss foreign ministry did not reply right away when asked for a comment.

    We are prepared to talk. “We never said no,” Putin said in China.

    The Kremlin is not talking about how its military operation in Ukraine is going. But, they have said that they are willing to have talks based on the current situation in Ukraine.

    When asked about this story, a spokesperson from the US State Department said that any plan for peace in Ukraine should follow the country’s borders that are recognized around the world. They also said that Russia is the only thing stopping peace in Ukraine.

    “The Kremlin has not shown any real interest in stopping the war, on the contrary,” the spokesperson said.

    In the past, Kyiv didn’t believe Russia was really ready to talk because it seemed like Russia was trying to blame them for the war.

    Kyiv says Putin cannot be trusted to keep any deal because his team denied planning a war before invading Ukraine in 2022.

    Russia and Ukraine are worried that the other side will use a ceasefire to get more weapons.

    Kyiv and the countries that support it are hoping that a $61 billion aid package from the US and more military aid from Europe will help turn around what Zelenskiy called “one of the toughest times” in the war.

    Ukraine is having trouble getting enough ammunition because the US is taking a long time to approve it. They are also having a hard time finding enough soldiers, so they have decided to lower the age for drafting men to 25 instead of 27.

    Land or area

    Putin is not willing to change his mind about securing any progress on the battlefield in a deal, according to all the sources.

    Putin is okay with keeping the land he has now and stopping the fighting at the current front lines. Four people said this.

    One person said Putin will claim we won and that NATO attacked us but we kept our independence. They also said Putin will say we have a road to Crimea, which is true.

    Stopping the fighting where it is now would mean that Russia keeps control of big parts of four Ukrainian regions that he took in September 2022, but doesn’t have complete control over any of them.

    This plan would not meet Moscow’s goals when it said it controlled all of four regions in Ukraine – Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.

    Peskov said that Russia won’t give back the four regions because they are now part of Russia according to its constitution.

    Another reason why the leader of Russia wants the war to end is because the longer it goes on, the more experienced soldiers will come back to Russia. These soldiers may not be happy with the jobs and money they can get after the war, and this could cause problems in society. This information comes from someone who has worked with Putin.

    ‘Russia will keep moving forward’

    In February, three people from Russia told Reuters that the United States said no to Putin’s idea of stopping the war with a ceasefire.

    If there’s no agreement to stop fighting, Putin wants to take over as much land as he can to make Ukraine feel more pressure. He also wants to take advantage of any sudden chances to get even more land, according to three people.

    Russian forces are in charge of about 18% of Ukraine and recently moved into the northeastern region of Kharkiv.

    Putin thinks that Russia has a lot more people than Ukraine, so they will have more soldiers without needing to call everyone to join the military. The soldiers will also get paid a lot of money to persuade them to join.

    “Russia will continue to advance,” said the person who has experience working with Putin.

    Putin will take more land little by little until Zelenskyy makes a deal to stop. The Russian leader thinks the West won’t give Ukraine enough weapons, which will make Ukraine feel less confident.

    Leaders from the US and Europe have promised to support Ukraine until it is safe and its independence is protected. NATO countries and their friends are working to speed up the delivery of weapons.

    The State Department said that Russia can stop the war by pulling its army out of Ukraine, instead of attacking Ukraine’s cities, ports, and people every day.

    All five sources said that Putin told his advisers that he doesn’t plan to take over any NATO territory, which is the same thing he has said publicly. Two sources said that Russia is worried about the situation in Ukraine getting worse and possibly leading to a conflict with the West, including a nuclear conflict.

    The State Department said that the United States has not changed its plan for nuclear weapons, and has not seen any indication that Russia is getting ready to use a nuclear weapon.

    “We are still watching the situation carefully and are prepared,” said the spokesperson.

  • Putin replaces Russian minister of defence in an uncommon cabinet shuffle

    Putin replaces Russian minister of defence in an uncommon cabinet shuffle

    Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has made some changes to his Cabinet on Sunday. He suggested replacing Sergei Shoigu as defense minister as he starts his fifth term as president.

    According to Russian law, the whole Russian Cabinet quit on Tuesday after Putin’s impressive inauguration at the Kremlin. Most members are expected to stay in their jobs, but it’s unclear what will happen to Shoigu.

    On Sunday, Putin chose Shoigu to be the secretary of Russia’s national security council. Putin suggested that Andrei Belousov should become the new defense minister instead of Shoigu. The appointment was announced soon after Putin’s proposal.

    Belousov’s application has to be accepted by the upper part of the Russian parliament, called the Federation Council. On Sunday, it was reported that Putin suggested changes for other government jobs, but only Shoigu will be replaced as a minister. On Saturday, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, who was reappointed by Putin on Friday, suggested a few new people for federal minister positions.

    Timur Ivanov, who is the second in command to Shoigu, was arrested last month for taking bribes. He has to stay in jail until the investigation is finished. Ivanov’s arrest was seen as a possible sign that Shoigu could be fired, even though he is close to Putin.

    Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin chose to appoint a civilian as the defence minister so that the ministry can be open to new and advanced ideas. Belousov, who was a deputy prime minister, is the best choice for the job.

    Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior member at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said online that Shoigu’s new job in Russia’s Security Council means that the Russian leader sees it as a place to keep political power.

    People like Dmitry Medvedev, who used to be the president of Russia, have been given roles in the security council. Medvedev has been the deputy chairman of the council since 2020.

    “The Security Council is filling up with people who used to work closely with Putin and are still important to him, but don’t have a specific job. ” Stanovaya wrote on social media.

    Shoigu has a new job. 12 people died and 20 got hurt in Belgorod. A building fell after Ukraine attacked.

    In Ukraine, many more innocent people have run away from Russia’s new attack in the northeast of Ukraine. The attack used a lot of weapons like artillery and mortar to hit towns and villages. Officials talked about this on Sunday.

    The intense fighting made a Ukrainian unit leave the Kharkiv region, giving up more land to Russian forces in the areas with fewer defenses along the Russian border.

    On Sunday afternoon, the big town of Vovchansk became a key area in the battle. The head of the Kharkiv regional police said that Russian forces were getting close to the town from three directions.

    “There’s fighting happening with the infantry already,” he said.

    A big Russian tank was seen on a road heading to the town. This shows that Moscow is not worried and is ready to use strong weapons.

    A group of journalists from the Associated Press, who were in a nearby village, saw big clouds of smoke coming from the town while Russian forces fired shells. Evacuation teams worked all day to help elderly residents get to safety.

    At least 4,000 non-military people have left the Kharkiv region since Friday, when Moscow’s forces started their operation, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov wrote on social media. There were intense battles in the northeast, where Russian forces attacked 27 towns in the last day.

    Experts believe that Russia is trying to take advantage of a lack of ammunition before the promised Western supplies can arrive at the front line.

    Ukrainian soldiers said that the Russian government is using a common tactic of attacking with a lot of firepower and troops to tire out the Ukrainian army. Russian forces are fighting harder in a place where there wasn’t much fighting before, and they are trying to trap Ukrainian forces in the northeast. They are also fighting a lot in the south and are winning more territory there too.

    Russia increased its attacks in March, focusing on energy infrastructure and settlements. Analysts believed this was done on purpose to prepare for an offensive.

    At the same time, a tall apartment building in Belgorod near the border fell down a little bit, killing at least 12 people and hurting 20 more. Russian officials said the building fell down because of attacks from Ukraine. Ukraine has not said anything about the event.

    The Russian military said on Sunday that they took control of four villages near the border with Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. They also said they captured five villages the day before. These places were probably not well protected because there was a lot of fighting and bombing, which made it easier for the Russians to move forward.

    Ukraine’s leaders have not said that Moscow has made any progress. However, Tymoshko, the leader of the police in Kharkiv, said that Russian soldiers had taken control of Strilecha, Pylna, and Borsivika. They were using these areas to bring in infantry and launch attacks on other villages like Hlyboke and Lukiantsi.

  • Prime minister of Armenia holds discussions with Putin in Moscow

    Prime minister of Armenia holds discussions with Putin in Moscow

    The Prime minister of Armenia went to Moscow and met with the Russian President Putin on Wednesday. Armenia and Russia are having a lot of problems with each other.

    Putin and Nikol Pashinyan met to talk after attending a summit of the Eurasian Economic Union, which is an economic alliance dominated by Moscow. The talks happened the day after Putin started his fifth term as President in a fancy ceremony at the Kremlin.

    In short, Putin briefly commented at the beginning of the talks that trade between the two countries was increasing, but he also mentioned some concerns about security in the region.

    Pashinyan, who last went to Moscow in December, said that “some problems have built up since then. ”

    Armenia and Russia are not as close as they used to be because of a conflict in September. Azerbaijan wanted to take back control of the Karabakh area from Armenia, and this ended a long period of rule by Armenian separatists.

    Armenian leaders say that Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh did not stop Azerbaijan’s attack. Moscow has a military base in Armenia. It says its troops did not have permission to get involved and has denied the accusations.

    The Kremlin is upset because Pashinyan is trying to make friends with the West and move away from Moscow’s control over his country’s security and economy.

    While Pashinyan was in Moscow on Wednesday, Armenia’s Foreign Ministry said the country will stop giving money to the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which is run by Russia. Armenia stopped being part of the group because Pashinyan wanted to make stronger connections with the European Union and NATO.

    Russia was upset that Armenia decided to join the International Criminal Court because they had indicted Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

    Moscow is worried about the conflict between Ukraine and Yerevan, but they are trying to not make a big deal out of it.

    Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that there are some problems in our relationship with another country, but we are still willing to talk and work things out.

  • Putin takes office for fifth term, maintaining tight control over Russia

    Putin takes office for fifth term, maintaining tight control over Russia

    Vladimir Putin made his fifth trip through the Grand Kremlin Palace to the St Andrew’s Throne Hall. There, he promised to do his job and became Russia’s president for another six years.

    We are one strong group of people. “We will work together to overcome challenges and achieve our goals. We will succeed together,” President Putin said to a group of important people.

    Vladimir Putin may have recognized the red carpet route. A lot of things have changed since President Putin first became president in May 2000.

    A long time ago, President Putin promised to “keep and improve democracy” and to “look after Russia. ”

    It has been twenty-four years since the leader of the Kremlin started a war against Ukraine. Russia has suffered a lot of losses in this war. At home, President Putin has been making democracy weaker, not stronger: he has been putting people who disagree with him in jail and getting rid of the rules that limit his power.

    Fiona Hill, who used to work for the White House, thinks that Putin now sees himself as a powerful leader like a Russian king.

    “If we think about Putin’s first two terms as president, I think we would have a pretty good opinion of him. ” He helped the country to become stable politically and financially strong again. The Russian economy and system were doing very well compared to before.

    The fighting in Ukraine, which started with the takeover of Crimea 10 years ago, has greatly changed the path of events. He’s acting like an emperor instead of being practical.

    It’s amazing to think that since Vladimir Putin became leader, America has had five different presidents and Britain has had seven prime ministers.

    For almost 25 years, Mr. Putin has been in charge of Russia and has definitely left his legacy. In the past, people didn’t talk much about “Brezhnevism”, “Gorbachevism”, or “Yeltsinism”.

    “Andrei Kolesnikov from the Carnegie Eurasia Russia Centre says that we have another -ism in our history: Stalinism. ”

    I think Putinism is like a new version of Stalinism. He acts like Stalin. He has a lot of control, like Stalin did. He likes to use strict political control. Just like Stalin, he is willing to stay in power until the end of his life.

    The problem for the West is how to handle a Russian leader who is becoming more and more controlling and wants to make Russia powerful again. He’s like a king in today’s world and he has nuclear weapons.

    Fiona Hill thinks there is a lot we can do about nuclear weapons. “China, India, and Japan are very worried about Putin’s threatening behavior in Ukraine with nuclear weapons, and they have strongly opposed it. ” We can control Russia by making a plan with other countries to stop them from talking about using nuclear weapons.

    “Maybe that’s a way we can handle Vladimir Putin, who is like a rogue leader in many ways. ” We need to make it harder for him to do the things he wants to do.

    Vladimir Putin won over 87% of the votes in the March presidential election. But, no one really tried to compete with him in the election, which was not seen as fair or open to everyone.

    To find out, I drove 70 miles from Moscow to the town of Kashira. There is a really big picture of Putin on the side of a building.

    In Kashira, Big Vladimir is keeping an eye on you.

    Valentina, an older woman selling flowers on the side of the road, says she likes him.

    “Putin has good thoughts and helps many people. ” Yes, our pensions are not very large. “But he can’t fix everything all at once. ”

    “I want to point out that he has had almost 25 years. ”

    “But I don’t know who would come after Putin,” Valentina answers.

    “You have to think like everyone else in Russia,” says Victoria as she walks past the picture of Putin.

    My husband gets really angry if I say anything bad about Putin. He even said he would divorce me if I do. He really likes Putin a lot. He says life would be really hard here without Putin, like it was in the 1990s.

    When I ask someone named Alexander what he thinks about the president, he says it can be risky to share an opinion. No response

    Most people I talk to say they don’t even notice Putin’s portrait when they walk past it. They are accustomed to it.

    Just like they are used to one man leading Russia and there is no sign of change in the Kremlin.

  • Putin didn’t order Navalny’s killing – US intel suggests

    Putin didn’t order Navalny’s killing – US intel suggests

    The Wall Street Journal’s report has it that on Saturday, U.S. intelligence agencies have determined that it’s unlikely Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the killing of opposition politician Alexei Navalny at an Arctic prison camp in February.

    Navalny, aged 47 at the time of his death, was known as Putin’s most vocal domestic critic. Despite being labeled as extremists by the authorities, his allies have accused Putin of orchestrating his murder and pledged to provide evidence to support their claim.

    The Kremlin has consistently denied any state involvement. Last month, Putin described Navalny’s death as “sad” and stated he had been willing to exchange the jailed politician with the West, on the condition that Navalny never returned to Russia. Navalny’s allies claim negotiations toward such an exchange were in progress.

    The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, stated that U.S. intelligence agencies had concluded that Putin probably did not order Navalny’s killing in February.

    However, Washington has not absolved Putin of overall responsibility for Navalny’s death, given that the opposition politician had been a target of Russian authorities for years, was imprisoned on charges deemed politically motivated by the West, and had been poisoned with a nerve agent in 2020.

    The Kremlin has repeatedly denied any state involvement in the 2020 poisoning incident.

    Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday he had seen the Journal’s report, which he said contained “empty speculation”.

    “I’ve seen the material, I wouldn’t say it’s high quality material that deserves attention,” Peskov told reporters when asked about the matter.

    Reuters could not independently verify the Journal report, which cited sources as saying the finding had been “broadly accepted within the intelligence community and shared by several agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the State Department’s intelligence unit.”

    According to the paper’s sources, the U.S. assessment drew upon a variety of information, including classified intelligence, and an examination of public events, such as the timing of Navalny’s death coinciding with Putin’s re-election in March.

    Leonid Volkov, a senior aide to Navalny, dismissed the U.S. findings as naive and ridiculous, as reported by the paper.

  • Gunmen who broke into Moscow theatre tried to escape to Ukraine – Putin

    Gunmen who broke into Moscow theatre tried to escape to Ukraine – Putin

    People attending a concert in suburban Moscow were targeted by gunmen. The building was destroyed by fire and there were more than 130 people dead. Russian authorities have arrested four suspects. President Putin said that they were caught while trying to leave and go to Ukraine.

    Kyiv said it wasn’t involved in the attack on the music venue in Krasnogorsk, and a group from Afghanistan’s Islamic State claimed they did it.

    Putin did not talk about IS in his speech, and Kyiv said he and other Russian politicians are lying about Ukraine being involved in the attack to make people more excited about Russia’s war in Ukraine, which has been going on for three years.

    US officials who gather information confirmed the IS affiliate’s claim that it was responsible for the attack, a US official told The Associated Press. American spies found out that the IS group was planning to attack Moscow. They told the Russian government about it a few weeks ago. The official was told about the issue but wasn’t allowed to talk about the secret information publicly. They spoke to the AP anonymously.

    Putin said that 11 people were arrested for the attack. More than 100 people at the concert were hurt and the venue in Moscow was left destroyed. He said it was a terrible and violent attack by terrorists. The Russian authorities caught four suspected gunmen as they were trying to escape to Ukraine through a prepared route on the border.

    Russian news showed videos of people being arrested and questioned. One person said he was paid by someone he didn’t know to take part in the attack.

    The Russian news said the shooters were from Tajikistan, a country in Central Asia that used to be part of the Soviet Union. It is mostly Muslim and next to Afghanistan. Around 15 million people from Tajikistan have worked in Russia and some of them are now Russian citizens.

    Tajikistan’s foreign ministry said it didn’t know about other Tajiks involved in the raid. They didn’t respond to a request for comment about the arrests on Saturday.

    Many Russian people who strongly disagree with Tajik immigrants wanted the government to take strong action against them. But Putin said no, and he believes that no one will be able to create problems or divisions in our diverse society using force.

    He said that Sunday will be a day of sadness and that more security rules were made in all of Russia.

    The attack was the deadliest in Russia in a long time. It’s a big problem for the Russian leader and happened just a few days after he secured his position in power for another six years. This came after a harsh crackdown on people who disagreed with the government, which was the strictest since the time of the Soviet Union.

    133 people died in the attack, making it the worst in Russia in a long time.

    The raid was a big problem for the Russian leader and it happened soon after he got more power in the country for six more years. He had cracked down on people who disagreed with him before the vote.

    Some people on Russian social media were wondering how the government, which has been cracking down on any opposition and controlling the media, did not stop the attack even though they knew about it. Be careful, be safe, take caution.

    The attack happened two weeks after the United States. The US Embassy in Moscow warned Americans to stay away from busy places because extremists are planning to attack large gatherings like concerts. Many other embassies from Western countries also gave the same warning. Earlier this week, Putin criticized the warning as an attempt to scare Russians.

    On Saturday, investigators searched through the burned remains of the hall to find more victims. Officials said the number of people who died may increase.

    Putin said the attackers tried to escape to Ukraine. Russian lawmakers also blamed Ukraine right after the attack.

    The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, strongly disagreed with Moscow’s accusations. He said that Putin and his team are trying to blame Ukraine for their actions and are not taking care of their own people.

    “They are setting fire to our cities and trying to blame Ukraine,” he said in a message on his app. “They hurt and sexually assault our people, and then they say it’s their fault. ” They brought a lot of their fighters here to Ukraine to fight us, and they don’t care what happens in their own country.

    Pictures from Russian state media showed that there were still ambulances and fire trucks outside the destroyed Crocus City Hall. The building was able to hold more than 6,000 people and it hosted many important events, such as the 2013 Miss Universe beauty pageant with Donald Trump.

    On Friday, many people went to a place to see a concert by the Russian rock band Picnic.

    Videos on the internet showed people with guns shooting at close range at the place, and hurting innocent people. Russian news said that the attackers threw bombs that caused a fire in the building. The fire became big and destroyed the building’s roof.

    Dave Primov, who was able to stay safe during the attack, told the AP that the gunmen were shooting at the people in the front rows without aiming. He said the hall was a mess because people at the concert started to panic, run, and bump into each other as they tried to get out. Some people fell and others walked over them.

    After he and others crawled out of the hall and into nearby rooms, he heard small explosives going off and smelled something burning as the attackers set the building on fire.

    IS has been trying to harm Russia for a long time, especially after Russia’s military attack in Syria. IS’s Afghanistan branch said it attacked a big group of “Christians” in Krasnogorsk, in a statement on their Aamaq news agency.

    On Saturday, the group said on Aamaq that four men attacked using guns, a pistol, knives, and firebombs. The attackers shot at the crowd and used knives to kill people at the concert. They did this because they believe Islam is being fought against by other countries.

    In October 2015, a bomb made by IS caused a Russian plane to crash in Sinai, and all 224 people on board died. Most of them were Russian tourists coming back from Egypt.

    The group mostly works in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa. They have also said they did several attacks in Russia’s volatile Caucasus and other areas in recent years. It got soldiers from Russia and other places that used to be part of the Soviet Union.

    The Afghanistan branch of the group is called ISIS-K or IS-K. It got its name from Khorasan Province, a place that was big in the past and covered parts of Afghanistan, Iran, and Central Asia.

    The affiliate has lots of fighters who have done many attacks in Afghanistan since the Taliban took over in 2021. They are enemies with the Taliban.

    ISIS-K did the suicide bombing at Kabul airport in August 2021. It killed 13 American troops and about 170 Afghans during the US withdrawal. They also admitted to causing a bomb attack in Kerman, Iran, in January. The attack killed 95 people at a memorial procession.

    On March 7, the US Embassy warned about possible attacks, and Russia’s top security agency said they stopped an attack on a synagogue in Moscow and killed some members of a group linked to IS near the Russian capital. A few days ago, the Russian government said that six people believed to be members of the IS group were shot and killed in a fight in Ingushetia, a region in Russia.

    Reporters Michael Balsamo in Washington and Colleen Long in Wilmington, Delaware, helped with this article.

  • Putin promises to avenge Ukraine over attacks during Russia’s presidential election

    Putin promises to avenge Ukraine over attacks during Russia’s presidential election

    Vladimir Putin has promised to punish Ukraine for trying to ruin Russia’s election by attacking Russian land and sending 2,500 soldiers to cross into Russia. 

    On the first day of the election, there were problems like dye being poured into ballot boxes, a Molotov cocktail thrown at a polling station in Putin’s hometown, and cyber attacks.

    Millions of people in Russia voted in an election that will probably give Putin six more years as president. The voting took place in 11 different time zones over three days.

    The Ukraine war had an impact on the election. Putin said that Russia’s western regions were being attacked and some people from Ukraine tried to enter Russian territory in two different regions.

    Putin said that the attacks from our enemies will not go without punishment. He was very angry when he said this at a meeting with important military and government officials.

    Putin said that armed groups from Ukraine attacked the Belgorod region four times and the Kursk region one time. There were about 2,500 attackers. He said they had 35 big war machines and 40 heavily protected vehicles, and that 60 out of every 100 soldiers were killed.

    Ukrainian officials said on Friday that armed groups from Russia who are against the government attacked in the Belgorod and Kursk regions.

    During the war in Ukraine, which is the worst conflict in Europe since World War Two, a 71-year-old leader named Putin has a lot of power in Russia’s politics. The other three candidates on the ballot don’t seem to have a real chance of winning against him.

    Over 114 million Russians can vote, including in areas of Ukraine that Russia says belong to them. These areas are controlled by Russian forces, but not completely. Ukraine says the elections there are not allowed and do not count.

  • Putin mentions Navalny’s name for the first time after election victory

    Putin mentions Navalny’s name for the first time after election victory

    The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has mentioned Alexei Navalny’s name for the first time after his election victory on Monday, saying he agreed with the suggestion to let opposition leader Alexei Navalny go free in exchange for another prisoner. This happened just a few days before Navalny’s biggest enemy passed away.

    In his first words about Navalny’s death, Putin said, “It happens. ” You can’t do anything about it. “It’s the way things are. ”

    The comments were strange because he kept saying Navalny’s name, which he hasn’t done in years. They appeared at a late-night news conference while the results were coming in from a presidential election. The election extended his time as leader for six more years. The Kremlin stopped the opposition and weakened independent media.

    Navalny’s friends said they were talking to Russian and Western officials about exchanging prisoners. The politician’s friend, Maria Pevchikh, said they were close to making a deal with Russia to exchange a person held in Germany for two Americans. This happened just before the politician died in a prison in the Arctic.

    She said Putin wanted to harm Navalny without trading him, but she didn’t prove it, and others couldn’t check if it was true.

    Putin said on Monday that a few days before Navalny died, some of his colleagues mentioned to him the idea of swapping Navalny for other people held in prisons in Western countries. He said he agreed with the idea, but did not provide any proof.

    Putin said that the person he was talking to didn’t finish their sentence before he agreed with what they were saying, in response to a journalist’s question about Navalny’s death. He said the one thing he wanted was for Navalny to not go back to Russia.

    “Unfortunately, whatever happened, has happened,” said Putin.

    American officials said that Russia and the United States have not talked about exchanging Alexei Navalny for prisoners from the West.

    Jake Sullivan, who is in charge of keeping our country safe, said that American officials have been talking to Russia for a long time about releasing American prisoners. But in all these conversations, the Russian officials have not mentioned the name of Alexey Navalny for a prisoner swap.

    Navalny was a famous opposition leader in Russia. He died last month while in jail for charges he said were unfair. He was 47 years old. His friends, relatives, and officials from Western countries said that the Kremlin was responsible for the death, but the Kremlin has said it is not true.

    The politician’s friends said that the officials wrote “natural causes” on the papers that Navalny’s mother was given when she was trying to get his body.

    Navalny went to jail in January 2021 after he came back to Moscow from Germany, where he had been getting better from being poisoned. He said that the Kremlin was behind the poisoning. He got arrested right away. The Kremlin strongly denies that it was responsible for the poisoning.

    Pevchikh said that there was a plan to trade Navalny and two Americans in Russia for Vadim Krasikov. He was in prison in Germany for the rest of his life because he killed a man named Zelimkhan “Tornike” Khangoshvili in Berlin in 2019. Khangoshvili was a 40-year-old man from Georgia with Chechen heritage. German judges said that Krasikov did what the Russian government told him to do.

    She didn’t find out who the American citizens were that were supposed to be involved in the agreement. A few people are being held in Russia. One of them is Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal. He was arrested for spying. Another person in custody is Paul Whelan, who works in corporate security in Michigan. He was found guilty of spying and is now in prison for a long time. They disagree with the charges brought by the US government.

    Sullivan said on Monday that the US is talking to important Russian people and has made some offers to get the two men released. “It’s very important to us to get the men out of Russia,” Sullivan said.

    German officials did not say anything when asked if Russia tried to trade Krasikov.

    Putin said that the Kremlin is willing to talk about Gershkovich. He showed a man who was put in jail in a country that is friends with the US for killing someone who had harmed Russian soldiers in a fight in Chechnya. Putin didn’t say any names but seemed to be talking about Krasikov.

  • Putin celebrates his unassailable election win as Russians silently demonstrate

    Putin celebrates his unassailable election win as Russians silently demonstrate

    Russian President Vladimir Putin enjoyed a big win on Monday that was expected, as early election results showed him easily winning a fifth term against weak challengers and silencing opposition.

    Russians lined up outside voting stations on Sunday to show their disagreement with Putin. However, the upcoming landslide showed that the Russian leader wants full control of the country’s political system as he continues to rule for another six years.

    Putin praised the early results as a sign that people trust and believe in him – but some people think the results show that the election was already decided before it happened.

    “Yes, we have a lot of things to do in the future. ” But I want to be clear: When we were together, nobody was able to scare us or control us. “They didn’t succeed before, and they won’t succeed in the future,” Putin said at a meeting with volunteers after the voting ended.

    British Foreign Secretary David Cameron posted on X, which used to be called Twitter, that the voting in Russia has ended. He mentioned that the elections were held in Ukraine illegally, the voters did not have many options to choose from, and there was no independent OSCE monitoring. This is not how elections are supposed to be.

    No one is allowed to openly criticize Putin or his war in Ukraine. The independent media have been severely damaged. His biggest political rival, Alexei Navalny, died in a prison in the Arctic last month, and other people who criticize the government are either in jail or living in other countries.

    Apart from the fact that voters had few options, there was very little independent oversight of the election. According to Russia’s Central Election Commission, Putin has 87 percent of the votes with 90 percent of the precincts counted.

    In a very strict place, Navalny’s friends told people who didn’t like Putin or the war in Ukraine to go vote at noon on Sunday. There were long lines at many polling stations in Russia and at its embassies worldwide.

    Yulia Navalnaya, who is the wife of Navalny, went to Berlin with many other people when they were called to come. Some people in the crowd clapped and chanted her name when they saw her.

    She waited in line for over five hours and said to reporters after voting that she wrote her late husband’s name on the ballot.

    Navalnaya said, “I don’t want to send any messages to Mr. “There could be no talks or deal with Mr. Putin is a bad person because he has killed people and is involved in criminal activities.

    But Putin ignored the success of the protest.

    “Some people asked for votes at noon. ” This was meant to show disapproval. If people were asked to vote, then. “I highly admire this,” he said at a news conference after the voting ended.

    Surprisingly, Putin mentioned Navalny by name for the first time in many years during the news conference. He was told about a plan to free the opposition leader from jail a few days before he died. Putin said okay to the idea as long as Navalny doesn’t come back to Russia.

    Some people from Russia are waiting to vote in the city of Moscow. Petersburg told The Associated Press that they were joining the protest, but it wasn’t clear if everyone in line was protesting.

    A woman in Moscow named Yulia said she was voting for the first time.

    “Even if my vote doesn’t make a difference, I will still feel good about my choice. ” She said she wants to see a better future for our country. Just like everyone else, she didn’t tell her full name because she was worried about safety.

    Another person from Moscow, who only gave his first name, Vadim, said he wants things to be different, but he doesn’t think it’s going to happen.

    At the same time, people who support Navalny went to his grave in Moscow. Some of them brought voting papers with his name written on them.

    Meduza, a large independent news source in Russia, showed pictures of ballots from their readers. One had “killer” written on it, another had “thief,” and yet another had “The Hague awaits you. ” Putin has a warrant for his arrest from the International Criminal Court. They say he is responsible for taking children from Ukraine.

    Some people said they were glad to vote for Putin. This is not surprising because in Russia, the media is controlled by the government, and speaking out against Putin can be dangerous.

    Dmitry Sergienko voted in Moscow and said, “I am happy with everything and I want everything to stay the same. ”

    Voting happened for three days in polling stations all over the country, including in regions of Ukraine that were taken over illegally, and also online. As voters were casting their ballots on Sunday, the Russian government claimed that Ukraine had launched a large-scale attack on Russia, resulting in the deaths of two people. This shows the difficulties the Kremlin is dealing with.

    Even though there were strict rules, many polling stations still got damaged during the voting time.

    Many people were taken by the police, including in Moscow and St. PetersburgIn Petersburg, some people tried to start fires or set off explosives at voting places. Others were stopped and arrested for putting green antiseptic or ink into ballot boxes.

    Stanislav Andreychuk, who helps watch over elections, said that police are pressuring voters more than ever before.

    In a post on social media, he said that Russians were checked when they went into voting places, and there were also attempts to look at completed ballots before people put them in the box. There was even a report that said police asked for a ballot box to be opened so they could take out a ballot.

    “This is the first time I’ve seen such ridiculous things in my life,” Andreychuk wrote on the messaging app Telegram. He also said he began watching over elections in Russia 20 years ago.

    The OVD-Info group, which keeps track of political arrests, stated that 80 people were taken into custody in 20 cities throughout Russia on Sunday.

    This didn’t leave much space for people to show they were unhappy. But Ivan Zhdanov, who leads Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, said that the opposition’s request to protest had worked.

    Outside embassies in big cities, like London, Berlin, Paris, Milan, and Belgrade, long lines formed around lunchtime. Many Russian people living in these cities left their homes after Putin invaded Ukraine.

    Protesters in Berlin showed a statue of Putin in a bathtub of blood with the Ukrainian flag nearby, and they also had shredded voting papers in boxes.

    Russian TV and government officials said that many people in other countries came out to vote.

    In Tallinn, lots of people waited in a long line that curved around the streets to the Russian Embassy. Tatiana, who is 23 years old, said she came to join the protest.

    She said it’s important to use any chance to protest if we have the option to do so. She only gave her first name.

    Boris Nadezhdin is a politician who wanted to run for election on a platform against war. But he was not allowed to run by election officials. He hopes that many Russians will vote against Putin.

    He said that he thinks Russian people can show how they really feel about what’s going on by not voting for Putin, but for other candidates or in a different way. That’s what he did when he voted in Dolgoprudny, a town near Moscow.

  • Russia ready to use nuclear weapons if its sovereignty threatened – Putin

    Russia ready to use nuclear weapons if its sovereignty threatened – Putin

    President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia is willing to use nuclear weapons if its freedom or independence is in danger. This is a strong warning to the Western countries just before an election where he is almost guaranteed to win another six-year term.

    The Russian leader keeps saying he is ready to use nuclear weapons since attacking Ukraine in February 2022. In his recent speech, he warned the West that getting more involved in the fighting in Ukraine could lead to a nuclear war.

    In an interview, Russian state TV asked Putin if he has thought about using nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Putin said there was no need for that. However, his comments seemed to be a warning to the West that he is willing to do whatever it takes to defend his accomplishments there.

    He said that countries who don’t set limits for Russia should know that Russia won’t set limits for them either.

    During the interview, Putin said that US President Joe Biden is an experienced politician who knows the risks of making things worse. He also said he doesn’t think there will be a nuclear war in the world.

    He also said that Russia’s nuclear forces are ready and prepared from a military perspective.

    Putin said that if Russia’s safety is at risk, they are ready to use nuclear weapons.

    He also said that Ukraine and its friends from the West will have to agree to a deal on Russia’s terms in the end.

    “He said that instead of giving the enemy time to prepare for war again, we should have a serious discussion about making sure Russia is safe and protected. ”

    Putin said that Ukrainian drones are attacking deep inside Russia to try to stop the country’s presidential election. It starts on Friday and Putin is expected to win by a lot because he has control over Russia’s political system and has silenced any opposition.

    Russian officials said that there was a big attack from drones from Ukraine on Wednesday. The military said they shot down 58 drones in six areas. A drone crashed into an oil refinery in the Ryazan region, hurting at least two people and starting a fire. Another flying robot was shot down as it was getting close to a factory near St. Saint Petersburg

    Ukraine said there were more Russian attacks on Wednesday.

    A Russian attack in the town of Myrnohrad in eastern Donetsk killed two people and injured five others. The town is about 30 kilometers (about 20 miles) from the front line.

  • Putin pledges to make military gains after meeting his campaign crew

    Putin pledges to make military gains after meeting his campaign crew

    President Putin said on Wednesday that he will make sure Ukrainian forces stay away from Russia. He also met with people helping him in his campaign for the March presidential election, which he is likely to win.

    When asked about the military plan in Ukraine, Putin said that they need to move the line where fighting is happening further away from their country. They want to do this so that they are safe from the long-range guns that Ukraine is getting from the West and using to attack cities.

    He said that the Russian military has been pushing the enemy away from important cities.

    “Our guys are fighting and risking their lives there to protect the Motherland and our people,” he said.

    Ukraine has attacked inside Russia recently, including a Dec. 30 attack happened at Belgorod. It killed 25 people and hurt more than 100.

    Putin also said that Russian investigators found that Ukraine used air defense systems from the U. Sto shoot down a Russian military plane in the Belgorod region on Jan. The text is missing, so it cannot be rewritten in simpler words. Russian officials said that the crash killed all 74 people on the plane, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were being taken to exchange with others.

    Ukrainian officials didn’t say they didn’t shoot down the plane, but they also didn’t admit it. They want people from other countries to investigate.

    Putin said Russia wants to have an international investigation into what he called a “crime” by Ukraine and would demand it.

    Putin, who is 71 years old, is running for president without belonging to any political party. He has been in power for 24 years and has a strong grip on Russia’s political system.

    With important people who disagree with him in jail or living in other countries, and most news sources that report without bias are not allowed, he will most likely win the presidential election on March 15-17.

    “Russia had to protect its interests using the military,” Putin said during the meeting with his campaign team. He also mentioned that Russian troops were making progress near the town of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine during the meeting.

    “We are going through a tough and important time for our country. We are working on making our country strong and independent in every way,” he said. “Dirt that is always there is getting cleaned away little by little. ”

    After changing the constitution, Putin can run for president two more times, and potentially stay in power until 2036. He has been the leader of the Kremlin for longer than anyone since Josef Stalin, who was the leader until he died in 1953.

    Three more people from political parties in the government are also running for election: Nikolai Kharitonov from the Communist Party, Leonid Slutsky from the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party, and Vladislav Davankov from the New People Party.

    All three groups have mostly agreed with the Kremlin’s rules. Kharitonov competed against Putin in 2004 and came in second place, far behind.

    Boris Nadezhdin, who is 60 years old and works in local government near Moscow, wants to run for office. He has said that the fighting in Ukraine should stop and we should talk to the West.

    Many Russians signed papers to support Nadezhdin, showing they disagree with the strict rules of politics. This could be a problem for the government. On Wednesday, Nadezhdin gave 105,000 signatures to the Central Election Commission. They will check them in the next few days.

  • Putin cautions the West from deploying forces in Ukraine

    Putin cautions the West from deploying forces in Ukraine

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned the Western countries not to send soldiers to Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin said that the results of that decision would be very bad.

    In his yearly speech to the country, President Putin said that the West is trying to get Russia into a competition to build more weapons. He said that Russia needs to make its defenses stronger on the western border because Sweden and Finland are joining Nato.

    President Putin said that the West started the fighting in Ukraine and keeps lying by saying that Russia plans to attack Europe.

    Perhaps talking about what French President Emmanuel Macron said earlier this week, President Putin said that sending Nato ground troops to Ukraine is not out of the question. He also said that there will be consequences for anyone who tries to intervene. Sad and unfortunate.

    “We also have weapons that can attack targets on their land,” he said.

    This could lead to a big fight using nuclear weapons and the end of society. Do they understand that.

    Many Nato countries, like the US, Germany, and the UK, said they won’t send soldiers to Ukraine.

    President Putin said that Russia has very advanced weapons, like super-fast planes and unmanned vehicles that can go underwater. He also said that Russia’s nuclear forces are ready for action.

    President Putin called the conflict in Ukraine a “war” even though he usually tries to say it’s a “special military operation. ”

    He said most Russians agreed with his decision to invade Ukraine, and that the Russian people were now working together to resist the Western countries trying to make Russia weaker.

    He also criticized the US for accusing Russia of making nuclear weapons for attacking satellites in space.

    The speech happened a little more than two weeks before the Russian president election. Many people think President Putin will win a fifth time.

    Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the speech could be seen as Putin’s plan for the upcoming election.

    Yes, a lot of the speech talked about things happening in Russia, like changing the tax system and helping people save for retirement. It also talked about trying to increase the number of babies being born in Russia.

    He also said we need to make our nation healthier. He announced plans to help Russians live longer because right now, they don’t live as long as other Europeans.

    Encouraging people to exercise more and drink less alcohol, he made a joke: “Quit drinking and go skiing. ”

    President Putin is skiing while wearing a red outfit.

    The speech went on for a very long time, two hours, and was heard by important politicians, the leaders of big oil and gas companies, and religious leaders from all different beliefs.

    It was shown on big screens in Moscow and some cinemas in Russia showed it for free.

    As expected, they didn’t talk about the death of Alexei Navalny, the opposition leader who died in a prison in Siberia two weeks ago. Many people thought he was President Putin’s biggest enemy.

    Navalny will be laid to rest in Moscow on Friday. He died on February 16th under circumstances that are still not fully understood. His wife Yulia says that President Putin was to blame.

  • Putin kills priest at a church bombing in Ukraine

    Putin kills priest at a church bombing in Ukraine

    At least four people including a priest were killed after Russian soldiers detonated a large bomb on a church in Ukraine.

    Several days following the commencement of a significant conflict by Russia, they unleashed large bombs on the Kharkiv region.
    A Ukrainian priest was found under the debris of a church in the front line city of Kupiansk. He was one of the victims.

    His name was Yuriy Klymko and he was 58years old. He was also a chaplain in the Ukrainian military.

    The Church of Jesus Christ was reported to have been struck. A 58year old pastor was found trapped under the collapsed building, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said.

    The body of a 39-year-old man was found near the church, in a damaged café. His body had blood on it.

    Kharkiv’s leader, Oleh Synehubov, said five people were hurt in the city, which is about 40 miles from the border with Russia.

    A little girl and her grandpa, who were 48yearsold, were killed in the village of Velykyi Burluk.

    Earlier today, at least 12 houses were damaged in the attack.

    Before the war, Kupiansk was a busy train station with around30,000 people living there.

    Russian forces briefly took over the area, but Ukraine was able to take it back later that year.

  • Putin’s nuclear war plan exposed through leaks

    Putin’s nuclear war plan exposed through leaks

    Sensitive documents detailing Vladimir Putin’s war strategy have been released, revealing his willingness to readily deploy nuclear weapons.

    “Will Russia’s president use nuclear weapons. ” This question has been asked since Russia started invading Ukraine.

    The individuals holding authority in the Kremlin, like former president Dmitry Medvedev, have been making deliberate declarations of potential consequences to the West.

    New military papers, displayed by the Financial Times, explain the level for using small nuclear weapons as lower than Russia has ever said publicly.

    “We’ve never seen documents like this in public before,” said Alexander Gabuev, who works at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin.

    ‘They prove that it doesn’t take much for countries to use nuclear weapons if they can’t get what they want using regular methods. ‘

    Russia has small nuclear weapons that are meant to be used in battles in Europe and Asia. They can’t reach as far as the big nuclear weapons that could reach the US.

    The documents made from 2008 to 2014 talk about how to use weapons at sea in war simulations and presentations for naval officers.

    Even though the files are 10 years old or more, it is said that they are still important for the current Russian military plans. One way this could happen is if an enemy enters Russia’s land and Russia decides to react.

    Another reason for concern would be if 20 percent of the Kremlin’s important missile submarines were destroyed.

    If three big ships, three airfields, or 30% of its nuclear attack submarines get destroyed, it could lead to an attack.

    China and Russia are working together closely, but the papers also show that they do not fully trust Xi’s government. If China attacks, Russia might use small nuclear weapons to stop the South from sending more troops.

    The leader has ordered to use nuclear weapons if the enemy sends more troops and the South is getting ready to attack. The order comes from the top commander.

    Putin’s spokesperson talked about the leak on Wednesday. He said that the rules for using nuclear weapons are very clear and written in the doctrine.

  • Putin suffers severe setback following loss of his ninth fighter jet in ten days

    Putin suffers severe setback following loss of his ninth fighter jet in ten days

    Ukraine shot down another advanced Russian bomber and also took down seven fighter jets in one week.

    After successfully avoiding Ukraine’s air defenses on Monday, Russia quickly realized it had not actually had a good week in the sky.
    Commander Mykola Oleschuk announced that another Su-34 fighter jet was lost in the Ukrainian Air Force today in the morning.

    The high-ranking military officer said: “Yesterday, Russian pilots were able to avoid our missiles, but they won’t always be able to do that. “

    That’s why I suggest people who are leaving to visit their family before they go, just in case.

    ‘Because we don’t know if he will be fortunate this time or not. ‘

    Ukraine said they shot down another Su-34 fighter jet at around 2pm on Tuesday. Oleschuk said on Telegram, “Russia needs to stop attacking with airstrikes for a while. “

    The Russian military has to spend a lot of money when they lose one of their Su-34 jets, because each one costs around £40 million.

    Ukraine said they shot down five more planes in the last ten days, as well as two Su-35 planes.

    This means there was one Su-34 on February 21, one Su-34 and one Su-35S on February 19, one Su-34 on February 18, and two Su-34 planes and one Su-35 on February 17.

    Besides the fighter jets, the Air Force says they shot down two A-50 planes in one day on February 23.

    Russia uses a special plane to watch Ukraine’s air defenses. It can hold up to 15 people and costs about£236 million each.

    Ukraine’s military says Russia has lost about 340 planes since the war began.

    During the night and early morning on February 27, Russia sent many drones and missiles to attack Ukraine.

    This included 13 drones made in Iran and five missiles.

    The Ukrainian Air Force stopped 11 drones and two missiles from entering their airspace.

  • Putin threatens to start nuclear war with Europe if he doesn’t get his way

    Putin threatens to start nuclear war with Europe if he doesn’t get his way

    President of Russia, Vladimir Putin has issued a terrifying threat of nuclear war in the event that Ukraine attempts to retake Crimea and joins NATO.

    Russia has gathered more than 100,000 soldiers on the Ukrainian border and increased military drills, leading to a diplomatic impasse with the West.

    The Kremlin says they are not planning to invade, and they blame Nato for expanding eastwards in Europe.

    Western leaders like Boris Johnson have said that Ukraine can make its own alliances without Russia getting in the way.

    New video shows the use of powerful new nuclear missiles called Kinzhal in Kaliningrad, a part of Russia next to Poland and Lithuania.

    Putin said his meeting with the French president went well, but he also said that there could be a nuclear war if Ukraine joins Nato and tries to take back Crimea from Russia.

    He said, “I want to emphasize it again. ” I’ve been telling you, but I really want you to listen to me and share it with your audience in newspapers, on TV, and on the internet.

    ‘So, you know if Ukraine joins Nato and tries to take back Crimea by force, then European countries will have to fight Russia. ‘

    Putin said that Moscow has a very strong military, much stronger than Nato’s, but he also said that Russia is one of the top countries with nuclear weapons.

    “There won’t be any winners, and you will be forced into this fight even if you don’t want to,” he said.

    ‘You won’t have time to blink when you use Article 5 to help NATO members. ‘

    “President Macron and I don’t want this, that’s why he’s here, questioning me for six hours. ”

    Putin said that for 30 years Russia has been trying to convince the West not to move Nato towards the east. He said that they didn’t care about what we wanted or needed.

    Putin used the informal way of saying “you” to Macron, which shows that they have a good relationship.

    At the same time, a new video shows one of two very fast MiG-31K aircraft in Russia’s farthest west area of Kaliningrad.

    The fighter jet is said to be equipped with new very fast Kinzhal missiles that are launched from the air.

    The Kinzhal is a big missile that is 24 feet long and weighs one ton. It can carry regular or nuclear bombs. It can travel 1,250 miles and attack Ukrainian soldiers and defenses without getting too close to the country.

    It seems that the MiG-31Ks with big bombs were moved from Nizhny Novgorod to Chernyakhovsk air base in Kaliningrad.

    It is thought that Russia has about 20 MiG-31K planes that can work with the Kinzhal missile.

    In the Black Sea, a high-tech Russian Ivan Khurs intelligence ship was spotted just 20 nautical miles away from the Ukrainian naval port Odessa.

    Russia said no to UN soldiers being put on the borders of rebel-held Donbas.

    The leader of the Russian foreign ministry’s international organizations department, Pyotr Ilyichev, said: “No, we don’t need to do that. ” Peacekeepers cannot fix the problems in the conflict within Ukraine.

    ‘The Ukrainians have to have a conversation with the LPR and DPR’

    Russia said that the upcoming visits by the UK’s Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace are not likely to make relations between the two countries better.

    The Russian ambassador to London, Andrei Klein, said that he doesn’t think the current situation will improve the relationship between countries. He is saying this because of the statements made by Liz Truss and Ben Wallace.

  • Putin destroys Ukraine’s healthcare system with devious strategy

    Putin destroys Ukraine’s healthcare system with devious strategy

    Medical workers in Ukraine joke that Vladimir Putin‘s soldiers see the Red Cross on ambulances as a target.

    When Russian tanks entered Ukraine on February 24, 2022, it was clear that the rules of war were ignored, marking a new era in Eastern European history.

    The Kremlin is targeting hospitals, medical centers, pharmacies, and paramedics in the conflict.

    Every day for the past three years, Ukraine’s health system has been attacked almost two times per day, totaling 1,336 attacks.

    The media found nearly 1,000 attacks like this, showing Russia’s plan to ruin important buildings and systems.

    The data shows that 699 attacks harmed or ruined hospitals and medical facilities. 75 of these attacks affected hospitals for children and 54 affected hospitals for women’s health.

    Meanwhile, 198 people who work in health were attacked and killed, and 137 were hurt.

    Canadian volunteer combat medic Brandon Mitchell almost died two times while he was in Ukraine.

    His team had to leave a medical checkpoint in Zaporizhzhia because they heard on a captured radio that the Russian military was going to bomb it.

    Less than a day later, the center was burned in the attack after escaping from the position.

    “Russia knew it was a medical area, so they destroyed it, but we had already left and that’s just usual,” he told Metro. couk

    Brandon drove an ambulance through two enemy mines during an evacuation and set off an explosion.

    It’s amazing that the 37-year-old person lived. He got very hurt and had to stay in the hospital for six weeks to get better. Until now, the attack still makes him feel very scared and upset.

    Before the explosion, the paramedic saved four children, but he still felt bad about it.

    ‘After I got out of the ambulance, I felt like I had done enough. ‘ Brandon said he doesn’t have to do anything else.

    I don’t need to show that I am a man again. I was really afraid that week, it was hard.

    Afterwards, I felt bad for feeling relieved and happy, but it’s normal for people to feel that way.

    I don’t know how you write that stuff. I’m sorry for using that language, but it’s true.

    Russia often waits for 30 minutes after bombing civilians, then attacks again when the first responders arrive.

    Just like in the war in Syria, Brandon said that this “double tap” attack is what often causes emergency workers to get killed or hurt.

    This is how some of his friends died in the attack at the train station in the city of Kramatorsk in April 2022.

    Brandon came to Ukraine not long after the invasion started. He brought help like food, medicine, and other things from Lviv to Kharkiv.

    In the end, he joined a group of volunteer medics called the Hospitallers. They help injured Ukrainian soldiers in the war area by giving them first aid and bringing them to safety.

    He took a short break from working on the frontline to go to the UK. He toured cities with a bombed ambulance from Kherson that was brought over for the two-year anniversary.

    Kateryna Pryimak, who started a group for Ukrainian women veterans, went to London to work with a team of paramedics. She was seen holding a sign that said, “I am a medic from Ukraine and I brought this ambulance that Russia tried to destroy. ” There are many more.

    In 2014, when there was a war in eastern Ukraine, she didn’t want to stay at home, so she joined the Hospitallers.

    She worked as a paramedic for 11 months in the areas near Donetsk airport that were very hot.

    In 2022, when Putin came back strong, she started giving humanitarian help instead.

    Kateryna has seen some really scary things during the invasion – like women soldiers carrying grenades to protect themselves from the Russians, and attacks on ambulances carrying injured people.

    She said: “We live in a world that your mind can’t understand. ” It’s similar to a video game, like Call of Duty. We are very sad.

    As a medic, you can’t do much when big bombs come every 10 minutes. I didn’t have a gun to keep myself safe.

    Kateryna remembered a time in 2014 when Russians took a Ukrainian radio and used it to ask for medical help in the east.

    When they got there, the enemy soldiers started shooting at them using a strategy that the Russians used a lot during the war.

    She said: ‘If soldiers kill all the medics, then nobody will be able to treat Ukrainian troops and civilians. ‘

    Russian soldiers are not only attacking the health system, but also arresting and scaring healthcare workers.

    People in Ukrainian territories that are controlled by another country have been forced to change their citizenship in order to get medical treatment. This process is called “passportization”.

  • Types of weapons Ukraine is using to fight Russia

    Types of weapons Ukraine is using to fight Russia

    Even before Nato started giving military help to Ukraine, there were stories of bravery in the first weeks of Russia’s big war. This shows that Vladimir Putin won’t win quickly like he wanted to.

    No one was as impressive as a grandmother in Kyiv who reportedly took down a drone by throwing a jar of pickles at it, causing it to crash to the ground. It’s not clear if this really happened.

    In Ukraine, regular people used Molotov cocktails as a way to fight back when their cities were attacked.

    Two years later, the Russian army, which is still powerful despite being damaged, just had a big win in the city of Avdiivka. Ukraine now needs more help from the West.

    The Russian warship, the Caesar Kunikov, sank after sea drones attacked it near occupied Crimea. At least 89 enemy soldiers were killed in Makiivka when a building they were in was hit by HIMARS rockets.

    Ivan Stupak, a person who helps keep Ukraine safe, said to the media that weapons from the West have helped Ukraine in fighting, but having a lot of them is important.

    The specialist explained which weapons have really helped in the conflict.

    First Person View Drones

    Russia and Ukraine make many FPV drones every year.

    In the beginning of the year, Volodymyr Zelensky said that a new part of the military called the Unmanned Systems Forces will be created just for drones.

    Mr Stupak has talked media many times about what his country needs to stop Putin’s aggression, and he always says the same thing: FPV drones.

    He says it is one of Ukraine’s best weapons, often used in the Kherson region, because it is cheap and easy to make, costing up to $800.

    They have different jobs, like spying and watching, but Mr Stupak said they are usually used together, which Russians don’t like.

    “It’s a terrible noise in the sky, Russians are not happy about the buzzing,” he said.

    Ukraine’s plan is to use two drones together – one to wait for the enemy’s bus and the other to film what happens.

    If the first doesn’t work, the second one will do it.

    Mr Stupak said we want to make a lot of drones, up to a million by 2024. Regular people can also build them at home with YouTube videos.

    FPV drones from different brands and models can fly up to a mile away. This lets pilots see and gather information, and also launch attacks.

    The speed usually goes from 19 to 50 miles per hour, and they fly from a few hundred meters to a mile above the ground. Most of the time, about two out of every three soldiers are killed by the enemy’s gunfire.

    HIMARS
    HIMARS stands for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. It is a mobile rocket launcher that can launch missiles from a vehicle.

    Made by an American company called Lockheed Martin, HIMARS is short for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.

    The White House gave 39 rocket-launchers with wheels, and Russian forces have not destroyed any of them yet.

    We don’t know the exact cost of the rocket system now, but back in 2014, one unit of HIMARS cost about $5. 1

    This is a problem that has been causing trouble for Russians in Ukraine.

    A few days ago, a Ukrainian attack near the village of Trudovske in occupied Donetsk killed 63 Russian soldiers who were waiting to meet their commander.

    HIMARS can shoot rockets and missiles that can travel up to 186 miles. It is put on a very movable M142 Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL) vehicle.

    This helps the military move quickly and change position easily, making it more likely to survive and be able to adapt in battle.

    Mr Stupak said that unlike old Soviet equipment, HIMARS almost always hits its target on the first try.


    Cluster munitions

    Ukraine used cluster munitions from the US to continue their summer offensive, even though they are banned by over 100 countries because of human rights issues.

    In August 2023, Ukraine used cluster bombs to free the village of Urozhaine in Donetsk.

    Video from a drone showed Russian soldiers leaving while there were at least 12 explosions nearby.

    Cluster munitions are big weapons that release lots of smaller bombs.

    Mr Stupak said they are usually used against enemy soldiers coming towards them and the small bombs can spread out over an area as big as a football field.

    One big problem with cluster bombs is that they can hurt or kill many people without being careful about who they hit.

    Submunitions may not explode when they hit the ground, and they can stay there as a danger to people even after a war is over.


    Drones that can move in the ocean.

    Ukraine’s Sea Baby drones were used for the first time to attack the Russian-built Kerch Bridge in 2022.

    Sea drones are different from flying drones. They work in or under the water and have been getting better since the start of the war.

    Mr Stupak said they were very advanced but also cost a lot of money.

    Some reports say that just the communication system costs around $300,000.

    But he said that Ukraine is at an advantage because a sea drone attacked the $300 million Caesar Kunikov in the Black Sea.

    ‘There was no way to compare.

  • Putin to ”grab” another land in a different European nation

    Putin to ”grab” another land in a different European nation

    Worries are mounting over the possibility of Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, making moves to claim more land in Europe, especially after the invasion of Ukraine in the past.

    Many people are guessing that the pro-Russian area of Transnistria in eastern Moldova might ask to become a part of Russia.

    It is thought that he might use a speech to the Russian government on February 29 to give approval for the annexation.

    Gennady Chorba, an opponent in Moldova, said that lawmakers will meet in Tiraspol, the capital of Transnistria, to ask Russia to take the territory into the Russian Federation.

    He said that this would let Putin attack Moldova, including Transnistria, ‘for any reason’, and could use it as a base for attacks on the Ukrainian port Odesa, which is seen as a much more important target.

    Moldovan officials said Russia is spreading lies to cause trouble in the area.

    The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said that a vote to join Russia would help Russia’s plans to take over the country, which wants to become part of the EU and NATO.

    The ISW warned that the pro-Russian area of Transnistria might decide to have a vote or plan to join Russia at a meeting on February 28.

    The reason for making this call would be to say that Russia needs to protect its citizens and people who are similar to them in Transnistria from dangers from Moldova or NATO, or both.

    The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, might say that Russia is taking over Transnistria when he speaks to the Russian government on February 29, but it probably won’t happen.

    Putin will probably support whatever the Transnistrian Congress of Deputies does and give his thoughts on the situation.

    With help from Russia, a piece of land between the Dniester River and the Ukrainian border separated from Moldova in 1990.

    In September 2006, there was a vote for independence that Moldova and other countries didn’t agree with. It didn’t change anything, but it showed how Russia kept supporting the government.

    Transnistria is all set to join Russia and Putin has 2,000 soldiers there to keep peace.

    Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said that Russia will not abandon its citizens in Transnistria if they are in trouble.

    Last year, Moldova’s President Maia Sandu said that she believed Russia was plotting to overthrow the government in her country.

  • Kidnapped children of Ukraine still missing after two years of Putin’s invasion

    Kidnapped children of Ukraine still missing after two years of Putin’s invasion

    As Vladimir Putin continues to attack Ukraine for the 2nd year, families have little hope of getting their kidnapped children back soon.

    At least 20,000 kids were taken from their homes and brought to other countries where they were hurt, starved, and kept away from their families.

    Russia has been accused of taking a lot of children from their families, and people think that the actual number is even bigger.

    Maria Lvova-Belova, who works for the Russian government, said proudly that the state has moved 300,000 Ukrainian children from their destroyed homes.

    Putin’s forces even attacked orphanages, so now many children are being brainwashed by the Russians without anyone looking for them.

    “It will take many years and continue for generations,” said Wayne Jordash, a top prosecutor for war crimes, to Metro.

    Mr Jordash spends his time listening to parents who lost their children to Putin’s forces.

    He said the stories he hears are really terrible and will always be in his memory.

    He said that it’s hard to forget when a parent talks about their missing child.

    But the saddest part is when the parents are no longer alive to tell Mr. Jordash about their children on their own.

    “I talked to the neighbors to find out what happened to the children who may have been taken to Russia because their parents died in a missile attack,” he said.

    ‘Sometimes grown-ups talk about their sadness, fear, and worry in a way that is even more surprising than how kids talk about it. ‘

    We are still learning about what is happening to children, but it is clear that they are being made to have a military-style education to make them stop feeling at home.

    Kids have said they can’t get things they need, and only older kids can tell people what’s going on at home.

    The International Criminal Court said that Russia tried to make the children learn new things and threatened to hurt them if they didn’t.

    A teenager was told that he would be taken to a boarding school where he would learn and understand everything.

    We were sitting in the hall when someone yelled, “Glory to Ukraine. ” Then they were removed from the hall. I don’t know what happened to him.

    One mom, Inesda Vertosh, said her son doesn’t want to talk about his time in the camp yet.

    “He looks at me and says, ‘Mom, I don’t want to tell you because it would keep you up at night. ‘”

    “We are hearing that the kidnapped children are being treated badly. They don’t have enough food, medical care, or love. They know that their families in Ukraine miss them. ”

    ‘These kids have been very hurt mentally and are scared they won’t see their families again. ‘

    Only 300 children who were taken have come back, and it doesn’t seem like more will come back.

    In March, the International Criminal Court put out warrants for Putin and Lvova-Belova for moving children unlawfully.

    This is the first time a court has issued an arrest warrant for the leader of a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, but bringing them back home is taking a long time.

    Many people have forgotten about the children who were taken from their parents. This is one reason why the problem still exists.

    Mr Jordash said that the media is not giving enough attention to the terrible crimes and it doesn’t seem like they are treating it with the horror it deserves.

    ‘There are many bad crimes happening, and people are losing interest because the news is always on. ‘

    It’s really important to understand how children can be brainwashed and treated badly by invading forces, especially now with the threat of World War Three hanging over Europe.

    In 2017, a report showed that 1,600 children were taken and made to fight by a group called Al-Shabaab in Somalia.

    In the early 2000s in northern Uganda, the Lord’s Resistance Army kidnapped children and sexually assaulted them.

    Mr Jordash said that taking children is not only happening in Ukraine. Many times in wars during colonial times, we have seen the same thing happen again and again, and it’s dangerous for us.

    The Ukrainians are going through a tough time because they are facing the same crimes and horrors. The US Congress is delaying military aid to help them.

  • Kremlin hits out in response to Biden’s derogatory jab at Putin

    Kremlin hits out in response to Biden’s derogatory jab at Putin

    The Kremlin said that Joe Biden is trying to act like a tough action movie character, like a cowboy from Hollywood, after he called Vladimir Putin a “crazy SOB”.

    MrBiden talked about the danger of nuclear war at a public fundraising event in California on Wednesday.

    In reply, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said it was a bad attempt to look like a “Hollywood cowboy. ”

    He said that using that kind of language makes America look bad.

    In a short talk in San Francisco, Mr Biden said: “We have to worry about people like Putin and others causing trouble, and we always have to worry about nuclear war, but the biggest danger to humanity is climate change. ”

    The US president has used the offensive term before, not for the first time. In 2022, Mr. Biden accidentally used some bad language when he called a Fox News journalist a “son of a bitch” with a hot mic.

    He has also said in the past that Mr Putin is a “butcher” and a “war criminal”.

    The Kremlin spokesperson said it was “unlikely to go against our President, President Putin. ” “But it makes people look bad when they use those words. ”

    Mr Peskov said that the comment was likely an attempt to seem like a cowboy from Hollywood. Honestly, I don’t think it can happen.

    Has Mr Putin ever said anything rude to you. No, he has never done that. So, I believe that using this kind of language makes America look bad,” he said.

    In California, Mr. Biden criticized Donald Trump, who he may compete against in the presidential election in November.

    Mr Trump seems to be comparing himself to Alexei Navalny, the Russian political opponent who died in prison last week.

    The Republican did not blame Mr. Putin for Navalny’s death, but Mr. Biden said there is no doubt that the Russian president was responsible.

    MrBiden said that if he had talked about all this 10 to 15 years ago, you would have thought he was crazy.

    Last week, Mr Putin surprised people when he said he would prefer Mr Biden to become president in November instead of Mr Trump.

    “He knows a lot, he acts in a way that can be expected, he follows traditional political methods,” said Mr. Putin on Russian television.

  • Alexei Navalny: Mum demands Putin give back her son’s body

    Alexei Navalny: Mum demands Putin give back her son’s body

    Alexei Navalny’s mother wants President Putin to give her son’s body back.

    She said in a video that she had been trying to find him for five days, but didn’t know where he was. He died on Friday at the colony.

    Navalny’s wife Yulia asked the officials to let his family say goodbye to him.

    The family has been told that they won’t be able to get his body for two weeks.

    His mother was told that the substance is being tested by experts, a spokesperson for Navalny said.

    Russian authorities haven’t confirmed where the body is and have stopped efforts to find it multiple times.

    Yulia Navalnaya said that her husband’s body was being kept until the nerve agent Novichok poisoning was gone. Navalny didn’t die when someone tried to kill him with poison in 2020.

    Dmitry Peskov, who speaks for the Kremlin, said the accusations are not true and rude. He also said he wouldn’t say more because Ms Navalnaya’s husband recently died.

    Navalny’s mom asked President Putin for help outside the prison in Siberia where Navalny died on February 16th.

    She says she hasn’t seen him for five days, they won’t give his body to her, and they won’t tell her where he is.

    I need you, Vladimir Putin. It’s all up to you. I want to see my son now. I want Alexei’s body to be released right away so I can bury him properly.

    Her daughter-in-law posted a strong message on X (formerly known as Twitter) that echoed her words.

    She said she doesn’t care at all about what the murderer’s press secretary, Mr. Peskov, says about her words. She says Mr Putin killed her husband.

    “She said to return Alexei’s body and allow him to be buried properly, and not to interfere with people saying their final goodbyes to him. ”

    She made these comments after talking to the European Union and the Munich Security Conference. She also released a video on Monday where she promised to keep fighting for a “free Russia” like her husband did.

    She told EU leaders not to accept Russia’s presidential elections on 16 March and to go after the people close to Mr. Putin who are still trying to avoid sanctions.

    Navalny died in prison on Friday. The people in charge of the prison in Siberia where he was staying said he never woke up after he fell down during a walk.

    Authorities later said that Navalny had experienced “sudden death syndrome”.

    His mom and lawyer went to the faraway place as soon as they heard he died.

    The prison mortuary and local authorities have repeatedly stopped people from finding the body.

    On Monday, the government is still looking into Navalny’s death and hasn’t found out anything yet.

    Later, Kira Yarmysh, who speaks for Navalny, said that the investigators told Navalny’s mother, Lyudmila, that they will not give back his body for two weeks. They want to do some tests on it first.

    Navalny, a leader of the opposition in Russia for the past 10 years, was in prison for 19 years for charges that were thought to be politically driven.

    Western leaders are saying that President Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death. The EU and the US are thinking about imposing more punishments on Russia.

    The UK Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, said he thinks Britain and other wealthy countries in the G7 will put new penalties on Russians connected to the death.

  • Putin gifts Kim of North Korea high-fancy car

    Putin gifts Kim of North Korea high-fancy car

    Russian President Vladimir Putin gave North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a fancy car made in Russia.

    Pyongyang’s official news said that Mr. Kim’s top aides received the limousine on Sunday.

    Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the gift was a big fancy car called an Aurus, just like the one Mr. Putin drives

    The two countries, which were not very connected to the rest of the world, have become close friends since Russia attacked Ukraine.

    North Korea is believed to be giving Russia weapons like guns, rockets, and missiles for the war, even though both countries are supposed to follow international rules against it. Both sides say they did not break the rules about sanctions.

    Last September, Mr. Putin greeted Mr. Kim at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Russian Far East. This was Mr. Kim’s first trip to another country in four years.

    During the visit, the leader of North Korea looked at Mr. Putin’s fancy car and was asked to sit in the back. They also exchanged guns as presents.

    It is thought that Kim Jong-un likes cars and has a lot of expensive ones from other countries.

    Kim’s sister Yo Jong said that the gift shows how close the leaders of the two countries are. Her comments were reported by the North Korean state news agency KCNA.

    South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said that giving the gift broke the rules from the United Nations Security Council. They have sanctions against North Korea that say certain types of vehicles, like luxury cars, can’t be given to them.

    BBC’s Steve Rosenberg in Moscow says that although the two leaders are not like best friends, they both understand the advantages of having a closer relationship. Unlike Kim and former US President Donald Trump, they don’t have a very close or friendly relationship.

    Russia and North Korea have said that Mr Putin will go to Pyongyang soon.

  • Body of Alexei Navalny to be kept for “chemical analysis” for two weeks

    Body of Alexei Navalny to be kept for “chemical analysis” for two weeks

    Reportedly, Alexei Navalny’s family have been told that they will not get his body for two weeks after his death in a Russian prison. Navalny was a critic of Putin.

    His mother was told that it was being kept for “chemical analysis,” a spokesperson for Navalny mentioned.

    Russian authorities have not said where the body is, and they keep stopping efforts to find it.

    The wife of the Russian opposition leader who passed away has said that they are hiding something.

    On Monday, Yulia Navalnaya said in a video that she will keep fighting for a “free Russia” and directly blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for her husband’s death. She also claimed that his body was being kept until any signs of Novichok poisoning had gone away.

    Navalny was able to stay alive after someone tried to kill him with Novichok in 2020.

    Ms Navalnaya’s voice was sometimes shaky with sadness and anger. She asked people to support her and feel the same anger and hate towards the people who killed their future.

    Navalny died in prison on Friday. The people in charge of the prison in Siberia said he never woke up after he passed out during a walk.

    His mother and lawyer went to the faraway colony right after they found out he had died.

    Efforts to find the body have been stopped by the prison morgue and local officials many times.

    The Kremlin said they are still investigating Navalny‘s death on Monday, but they haven’t found any results yet.

    Later, Navalny’s spokesperson Kira Yarmysh said that the investigators told Navalny’s mother Lyudmila that they would not give back the body for two weeks because they need to do a “chemical analysis”.

    In her video, Ms Navalnaya said she thinks Navalny was poisoned. The video looked similar to the ones her husband used to make.

    “They are not letting his mother see his body and they are lying about it. ” “She said she is waiting for Putin’s latest Novichok to go away. ”

    Navalny, who was a important leader for the Russian opposition for the last 10 years, was in jail for 19 years for reasons that many people think were political.

    Western leaders say President Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death.

    On Monday, President Joe Biden said that Putin is to blame for the situation, whether he ordered it or not.

    At a meeting with reporters on Monday, the EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said that Putin’s government in Russia slowly killed Navalny while he was in jail.

    The EU and the US are thinking about putting more restrictions on Russia after Navalny died.

    The UK’s top diplomat, Lord Cameron, also stated that he believes Britain and the other wealthy G7 countries will put new penalties on Russians connected to the person’s death.

    Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the comments made by Western politicians about Navalny’s death were disrespectful and not okay.

    The Russian prison officials said that Navalny had experienced something called “sudden death syndrome” over the weekend.

  • They attack me through criminal prosecution – Navalny (flashback)

    They attack me through criminal prosecution – Navalny (flashback)

    In 2017, BBC Hardtalk interviewed Alexei Navalny, a leader who opposes the government, before he tried to run against Vladimir Putin for president of Russia.

    Navalny talked openly to Stephen Sackur about his feelings. He discussed his relationship with Putin, how corruption is a big problem in Russia, and what he wants for the future of the country.

    “I’ve always been in trouble with the law my whole life,” Navalny said in a scary conversation. “They fight me in this way. ”

    Sackur said the activist was being very careful, but if they push too hard, they might end up in jail.

  • Wife of Alexei Navalny claims “Putin killed Her husband”

    Wife of Alexei Navalny claims “Putin killed Her husband”

    Putin is being blamed for the death of Alexei by Alexei Navalny’s wife.

    Alexei Navalny’s wife made a video saying that she thinks Russian President Vladimir Putin is the reason her husband died.

    She said: “Hello. I am Yulia Navalnaya, someone else should be here instead of me. “”But that person was murdered by Vladimir Putin. “

    Russian officials said that the politician from the opposing party passed away in jail on Friday. The strong opponent of President Vladimir Putin was put in jail in 2021 for reasons believed to be unfair and driven by politics.

    More update on this story soon.

  • Putin’ should be answerable’ for Navalny’s demise – David Cameron

    Putin’ should be answerable’ for Navalny’s demise – David Cameron

    UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron said that Vladimir Putin should be responsible for Alexei Navalny’s death. He did not say what consequences the Kremlin should face.

    During the Munich Security Conference, Cameron said that Navalny is very brave for fighting against corruption. He gave up everything for what he believed in.

    Cameron thinks there should be no question about how bad Putin’s government is in Russia after what just happened.

    More update on this story soon

  • Alexei Navalny: who was he?

    Alexei Navalny: who was he?

    Alexei Navalny was born to factory owners in a village near Moscow and became a very well-known critic of Vladimir Putin.

    His involvement in politics, where he looked into high-level corruption and tried to become mayor of Moscow, made him well-known. Many people thought he could be a danger to Mr Putin.

    In August 2020, his disagreement with the Russian president became big news around the world.

    He got very sick on a plane from Siberia to Moscow, so they flew him to Berlin while he was still unconscious.

    His group said the Russian government made him sick, but the Russian government said it didn’t.

    Doctors in Germany said he was poisoned with a Russian nerve gas called novichok. It took him a long time to get better.

    Although it was dangerous, Mr. Navalny chose to go back to Russia. He was arrested, found guilty of charges he believed were unfair, and stayed in Russian prisons until his reported death today.

  • Alexei Navalny, critic of Putin, dies in prison

    Alexei Navalny, critic of Putin, dies in prison

    Updates on the passing of Alexei Navalny are coming from the Kremlin. Moscow claims to be unaware of the reason behind the death of the individual who spoke against Putin.

    Dmitry Peskov, who speaks for the government, also said that the prison service is checking everything they need to about his death.

    The Russian state media site TASS says that Vladimir Putin has been told about his death.

    Political Analyst says this is a terrible event and a bad mark on Russia’s reputation.

    Alexei Navalny has been getting sicker and has been kept alone in a cell for most of the time since he was put in jail in Russia.

    But she thinks it’s very surprising that his health got so bad that he died.

    Lately, Mr Navalny has been seen in videos at court. He seemed happy and had a strong presence on social media.

    “He’s a 47-year-old man and he’s been through a lot in prison, but we didn’t expect him to die so suddenly,” Magnay said.

    “I’m just thinking about whether something specific happened to him instead of him getting worse slowly over time. ”

    She said it was a big surprise, and he had just been transferred to the Russian prison where he was living.

    “It is very sad for the idea of a free Russia, a Russian democracy, and the future of Russia, which is what Alexei Navalny dedicated his life to. ”

    She says: “Even from jail, he has been speaking out for what is right in Russia and against the lack of freedom for his people. “

    More update on this story soon

  • Putin supports second term for Biden

    Putin supports second term for Biden

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed a preference for a Joe Biden presidency over Donald Trump ahead of the US election in November.

    Putin stated that Biden is the more experienced and predictable candidate, remarks that are likely to surprise many. This is a shift from Putin’s previous praise of Trump before his 2016 election campaign.

    Biden has been a vocal critic of Putin for years, even referring to him as a “killer” before the invasion of Ukraine. Putin also commented on his recent interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson, expressing disappointment that the questions were not sharp enough.

    Speaking to Russian TV in an on-camera interview on Wednesday, Mr Putin said Mr Biden’s leadership would be better for Russia because he was a “more experienced person, he is predictable, he is a politician of the old formation”.

    Putin dismissed questions about Joe Biden’s age and mental health, stating that when they last met in 2021, he had not noticed anything peculiar.

    “Even then [three years ago] people were saying that he was incompetent, but I did not see anything of this sort,” he said.

    “Yes, he kept looking at his papers, but to be honest I kept doing the same. So there was nothing peculiar.”

    Mr Putin clarified that Russia would work with anyone who “gains the trust of the American public” and wins the presidency.

    It wasn’t all glowing feedback for Mr Biden, however: Mr Putin described the US president’s condemnation of the war in Ukraine as “extremely harmful and erroneous”.

    In the lead-up to the 2016 US election, Mr Trump had suggested he and Mr Putin would “get along very well”.

    Mr Trump recently sparked outrage when he suggested that he would “encourage” Russia to attack any NATO member that did not meet the alliance’s financial contribution target of 2% of their GDP.

    In response, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg urged Mr Trump not to “undermine” the alliance’s collective security guarantee.

  • 2024 US election: Putin chooses Joe Biden over Trump as his preferred presidential nominee

    2024 US election: Putin chooses Joe Biden over Trump as his preferred presidential nominee

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that he prefers Joe Biden to win the US election in November rather than Donald Trump.

    Mr Biden said something that will surprise people. He is more experienced and predictable.

    Prior to running for president in 2016, Mr. Putin had said good things about Mr. Trump, calling him “outstanding and talented”.

    Mr Biden has been strongly against Mr. Putin for a long time. He called him a “killer” even before the invasion of Ukraine.

    The Russian president said he didn’t like his recent interview with US journalist Tucker Carlson because the questions were not tough enough.

    In a TV interview on Wednesday, Russian President Putin said that he thinks Mr. Biden would be a better leader for Russia because he has more experience, is predictable, and is an old-school politician.

    He ignored questions about Mr. Biden’s age and mental health. He said that when they met in 2021, he didn’t notice anything strange.

    “Three years ago, some people were saying he wasn’t good at his job, but I didn’t see any evidence of that,” he said.

    “Yes, he kept looking at his papers, but honestly, I did the same. ” So there was nothing strange.

    Mr Putin said Russia will work with anyone who the American people trust and elect as president.

    Not everyone liked what Mr. Putin said it was bad and wrong for him to criticize the war in Ukraine.

    Before the 2016 US election, Mr. Trump said he and Mr. Putin would “get along very well. ”

    Mr Trump made people very angry when he said he would support Russia if they attacked a Nato member who doesn’t spend 2% of their GDP on the US-led alliance.

    Nato leader Jens Stoltenberg told Mr Trump not to weaken the alliance’s promise to keep everyone safe.

  • Watch Tucker Carlson’s full interview with Vladimir Putin on why he invaded Ukraine

    Watch Tucker Carlson’s full interview with Vladimir Putin on why he invaded Ukraine

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has provided insights into his latest perspectives on the Ukraine war during a significant two-hour interview with Tucker Carlson on Thursday night.

    The interview, which captured global attention, offered viewers a rare glimpse into Putin’s thoughts and intentions regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

    Putin responded to American conservative pundit Tucker Carlson’s question about the Ukraine war by saying, “I understand that my long speeches probably fall outside of the genre of the interview. That is why I asked you at the beginning, are we going to have a serious talk or a show?”

    In a bombshell two-hour interview with American conservative pundit Tucker Carlson, Vladimir Putin revealed his thoughts on the Ukraine war, including the pivotal moment he decided to launch the invasion.

    Putin, known for his assertive rhetoric, provided historical context to the conflict, tracing back to the foundation of Russia in 862 and highlighting key events such as the Bolshevik revolution and the formation of the Soviet Union. He particularly emphasized Russia’s historical ties to Ukraine and disputed its independence.

    The Russian president pointed to the Maidan Uprising in 2014, which resulted in the ousting of pro-Kremlin Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, as a catalyst for his decision to invade Ukraine. Putin alleged CIA involvement in the uprising, characterizing it as a coup and citing it as justification for Russian intervention.

    He said: “Why the coup? Why the victims? Why threaten Crimea? Why launch an operation in Donbas? This I do not understand. That is exactly what the miscalculation is. CIA did its job to complete the coup.”

    “It was they who started the war in 2014. Our goal is to stop this war. And we did not start this war in 2022. This is an attempt to stop it,” Putin insisted.

    When asked whether Russia have achieved its aims, Putin responded “no,” saying that one of its aims that has yet to be achieved was Ukraine’s “de-Nazification”.

    His aim to “denazify” the country, citing World War II, has long served as a justification for his invasion.

    He also accused the US-led Western coalition such as Germany and France, of prolonging the conflict, saying that peace talks – referring to the Minsk agreements that sought to end the 2014 conflict between Ukraine and Russian separatist groups in the Donbas region – with Ukraine were “almost finalized.”

    “But after we withdrew our troops from Kyiv, as I have already said, the other side threw away all these agreements and obeyed the instructions of Western countries, European countries and the United States to fight Russia to the bitter end.”

    https://twitter.com/everymovieplug/status/1755738568712987011?s=46


    Between October and November 2021, Russia initiated a significant buildup of troops and military assets along its border with Ukraine, marking a concerning escalation in tensions in the region.

    The buildup continued in the subsequent months, with additional forces deployed to Belarus, purportedly for joint exercises with Belarusian counterparts. Moreover, Russian troops were dispatched to the Russian-backed separatist enclave of Transdniestria in Moldova and to Russian-occupied Crimea.

    By February 2022, Western defense analysts estimated that the number of Russian troops encircling Ukraine had reached staggering levels, with figures reaching as high as 190,000. This substantial military presence raised alarm bells among analysts, who warned of the imminent possibility of a Russian incursion into Ukraine.

    The buildup of Russian forces along the Ukrainian border and in neighboring territories heightened concerns about the potential for further conflict in the region.

  • Putin takes command as Carlson allows Kremlin unrestricted access

    Putin takes command as Carlson allows Kremlin unrestricted access

    Vladimir Putin talked, told jokes and got a little angry sometimes, but not at the person who invited him.

    Tucker Carlson laughed and listened a lot.

    During the meeting with the Russian president, the American looked interested but his expression changed a few times.

    Especially when Putin’s promise of a quick history lesson turned into a long, angry speech that lasted more than 30 minutes.

    However, Carlson mostly seemed to enjoy and believe what Russia’s president was saying.

    Putin was in control of the meeting, and the person interviewing him hardly had a chance to speak for a long time.

    Instead of confronting the Russian leader, who is accused of committing war crimes, about his invasion of Ukraine and false claims, Carlson changed the subject to talk about God and the Russian people’s spirituality.

    A journalist held against their will.

    The American said his meeting with Putin was a success for free speech because he was going where no other Western news outlets would go.

    That’s not true. The Kremlin is very careful about who Putin talks to. It usually picks someone who doesn’t know the country or the language, so they struggle to challenge him.

    Carlson’s statement also didn’t acknowledge that Russia’s president has been making sure people can’t speak freely in his country for the last 20 years.

    He recently made it illegal to tell the truth about Russia attacking Ukraine.

    Many critics, including Vladimir Kara-Murza and Ilya Yashin, are currently in jail for speaking out.

    He took two hours in the interview before asking about Evan Gershkovich, a US journalist. He got taken by the police in Russia while he was working and they said he was spying.

    Carlson said that Putin might let the reporter go with him, giving him something to bring back from his trip.

    What Putin gave was a strong clue about what he wants back.

    He mentioned a Russian who killed a criminal in a European city, which suggests that Russia wants to exchange prisoners for Vadim Krasikov.

    A person who might be working for the Russian government shot and killed a Chechen rebel in a park in Berlin in 2019.

    Putin said that talks were happening and a deal might be made.

    We know that those difficult conversations involve three countries and probably at least two American prisoners, and this is not new.

    Classes

    The meeting at the Kremlin started with a lesson about history.

    Putin wrote a long essay before the war that said Ukraine is not a country. He seems to have memorized it now.

    He presented his thesis with a lot of passion, while Carlson seemed bored and disbelieving.

    For people who continued watching, they got to see Putin repeating his best, confusing points.

    He complained that Nato was moving into an area that Russia thinks should be its own. Putin said that we never agreed to let Ukraine join Nato.

    However, Ukraine wants more security because it has a powerful and unpredictable neighbor like Russia.

    Putin has always said that the big protests in Kyiv ten years ago were supported by the West and were like a “coup”, but they were not.

    He also said that the fighting in eastern Donbas, which was started by Moscow, is like a war between people in the same country.

    This is all part of how Putin explained why he invaded Ukraine almost 2 years ago. He said he was trying to remove any Nazi influences from Ukraine, but this is still ongoing.

    Kyiv strongly disagrees with every part of it.

    At one time, Putin said that the two countries will be friends again. They will get better.

    However, I have met a lot of people from Ukraine who used to speak Russian before the attack, and they would often go there.

    After two years of fighting with no reason and being attacked with missiles, many people have started using a different language and they say they only feel hate.

    This is just one example of how Vladimir Putin is far from the truth and the real world. In February 2022, he sent Russian soldiers to Kyiv, hoping they would be welcomed as heroes.

    Opportunities for peace.

    It looks like Putin agreed to this chat because he is in a strong position.

    The fighting in Ukraine has stopped. Kyiv’s friends in the Western countries have been unsure about giving more military help, especially the US.

    President Zelensky just fired his top military leader, saying that there needs to be a fresh start and new energy in the fight.

    The situation is unstable and uncertain.

    Putin was very confident when he said that Russia is prepared to talk and make deals.

    He wants to take advantage of any uncertainty among Ukraine’s supporters and any hesitations among Ukrainians themselves about continuing to fight.

    Putin said that eventually there will be an agreement because Nato is realizing that they can’t beat Russia in a war.

    It’s just Putin being his usual self and Tucker Carlson allowed him to do as he pleased.

    Not all interviews have to be hostile. It is good to let people speak and show who they are. But this one really went all out with that idea.

    No one questioned the main points of Putin’s statements.

    He didn’t have to explain the missiles that hit homes in Ukraine and killed civilians.

    The American did not pressure Putin to stop locking up people who speak out against the war.
    Excitement is a feeling of being really happy or full of energy.

    Carlson received an amazing celebration in Moscow. The TV hosts who usually criticizes the West as an enemy were closely following and reporting on his every move with excitement.

    Russia felt happy and excited when it suddenly received attention, like a person who had been ignored and then suddenly noticed.

    And it looks like Carlson was also affected by what happened to him.

    His interview finished with Putin talking about souls after being asked about the supernatural.

    Both men stopped talking for a few seconds, and then the leader of Russia spoke again.

    “Should we stop now. ”

    Carlson closed and opened his eyes quickly. “Thanks, President”

    He didn’t know about the true facts of his full-scale attack, like the accusations of war crimes in Bucha, Irpin, and other places.

  • Putin’s opponent disqualified from running for president of Russia

    Putin’s opponent disqualified from running for president of Russia

    Russia’s election committee said no to Boris Nadezhdin, who wanted to run for president and is against the war.

    Mr Nadezhdin has spoken out against Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine, but in Russia, not many people are allowed to disagree.

    He tried to prove that the election commission was wrong about more than 15% of the signatures on his application being wrong.

    However, the commission said no to his offer.

    Mr Nadezhdin said on social media that he won’t give up and will take the decision to Russia’s Supreme Court.

    I got over 200,000 people’s names in Russia. We gathered things in a fair and honest way.

    The Election Commission said that Mr Nadezhdin‘s 9,000 signatures were not valid.

    He was very close to getting the 100,000 signatures he needed, but he ended up with 95,587 names, said commission member Andrei Shutov.

    Russia will choose a president between 15-17 March. It’s already known that only candidates approved by the Kremlin are running, so the result is not a surprise.

    A decision on who can participate in the election will be made on Saturday.

  • Putin to be interviewed by Tucker Carlson

    Putin to be interviewed by Tucker Carlson

    Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News host, says he will soon have an interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

    In a video on X, also known as Twitter, Carlson said he wanted to do the interview because he believes that Americans should know all they can about a war that they are involved in.

    Mr Putin hasn’t talked to a Western reporter one-on-one since he invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

    The Kremlin has not said anything yet.

    Several hours later, Russian reports said that the interview had lasted for about two hours and would be released “soon”.

    Ukraine’s deputy defense minister Hanna Maliar said: “The only safe interview in this situation is the questioning in The Hague. ”

    She said that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin. They are accusing him of war crimes and illegally sending children from Ukraine to Russia.

    Russian state media has been talking a lot about Tucker Carlson’s visit to Moscow, and they have been covering everything he does.

    “Interviews like this can have risks, so we have been thinking about it carefully for many months,” Carlson said in his announcement video.

    Carlson said he paid for the trip to Russia and did the interview because most Americans don’t know about the conflict that is changing the world, and he blames the mainstream media for it.

    Ever since the war in Ukraine started, he said that reporters from Western countries have talked to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky several times, even though he had called Zelensky a “dictator” before.

    But they are “excited meetings” that are meant to make Mr. Zelensky’s request for more US involvement in the war sound even stronger, Carlson said.

    “That’s not real news – it’s just the government trying to control what people think. ”

    At the same time, Tucker Carlson said that no Western journalist has taken the effort to interview Vladimir Putin.

    Steve Rosenberg, who reports on Russia for the BBC, said that the BBC has asked the Kremlin for information multiple times in the past 18 months. “We never say ‘yes’. ”

    The head of the FT’s office in Moscow, Max Seddon, said it was surprising to say there aren’t enough American reporters covering the Russian side of the invasion when two American journalists are currently in jail for doing just that. Evan Gershkovich from The Wall Street Journal and Alsu Kurmasheva from Radio Free Europe have been in jail since last year before their trials.

    Russian journalist Yevgenia Albats said that she and many other reporters had to leave their country to keep working, while Carlson was staying in an expensive hotel room in Moscow.

    Russian reporters have been told not to call the situation a “war” and to use the term “special military operation” instead.

    Russia attacking Ukraine has caused a lot of damage and suffering to the country and its people.

    The United Nations said that Russian soldiers have been causing a lot of harm in Ukraine, including raping people, torturing them, and killing them.

    Russia took over four more areas of Ukraine, in addition to Crimea, in 2014.

    Tucker Carlson has been a vocal supporter of Mr Putin since the war started. Shortly before Russia attacked, he said that “the main goal of America’s foreign policy is to hate Putin,” but he wanted his viewers to think about why that is.

    “Did Putin ever call me a racist. Has he said he’ll get me fired for disagreeing with him. ” Carlson asked as Russian troops gathered on Ukraine’s border. “These are good questions, and the answer to all of them is: No. Vladimir Putin didn’t do any of that.

    After Russia attacked, he spoke a little differently in another show and said “Vladimir Putin began this war. ” “He is the reason for what we are seeing tonight in Ukraine. ”

    It’s not clear when the interview will happen, but Carlson said it will be posted live and unedited on his X account. Elon Musk, the owner of the platform, said he won’t stop or block the interview.

    Tucker Carlson used to be a popular TV host on Fox News, but he suddenly left the channel last year.

    While working at the US network, his shows often influenced the ideas and goals of conservatives and the Republican party.

    He was really important as the main host of a popular political talk show from 2016 to 2023, and now he has his own show on X.

  • Putin continues to insist US missiles brought down Russian jet

    Putin continues to insist US missiles brought down Russian jet

    Vladimir Putin seems to be strongly sticking to his claims that Western weapons caused the Russian IL-76 military plane to crash.

    The leader of Russia said that Ukraine used a US missile system to shoot down a plane near Belgorod.

    The expert study has proven that already. We want people from different countries to investigate this. He said no global groups want to do this.

    Putin said Ukraine shot two missiles at the plane, causing it to explode in the sky.

    Video shown on Russian TV shows people investigating the disaster that happened last week.

    A few burnt pieces with English writing on them, believed to be from the US missile, were shown on the screen.

    However, Putin went even further and said that Ukraine used a weapon from the US to attack the plane.

    The Kremlin said that the crash killed all 74 people on the plane, including 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were going to be exchanged.

    The Russian Defence Ministry said that Ukraine is to blame for the plane being shot down.

    Ukraine hasn’t said if it shot down the plane or not. It wants proof of who was on the plane.

    However, a Ukrainian military intelligence officer stated on Tuesday that Russia has not been willing to return the bodies.

    Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson, said on the Suspilne broadcaster that Russia is saying our prisoners were there, but we can only trust what they say for now.

    ‘They are not ready to move the bodies from the other place right now. ’

  • Putin’s opponent files for presidential candidature in Rusia

    Putin’s opponent files for presidential candidature in Rusia

    Boris Nadezhdin, who is challenging the Kremlin , says he has gathered enough signatures to run for president in Russia.

    The old local politician has become known for speaking his mind about Mr. Putin and Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine.

    Mr Nadezhdin said he gave the electoral authorities more than 100,000 signatures they needed.

    The group in charge of elections needs to look at his application now.

    Vladimir Putin, the current president, has signed up to run for the election as an independent candidate in March. It is likely that he will win and serve another six years as president.

    Mr Nadezhdin, 60, was a member of the local government for more than 30 years. In a country where people who disagree have been arrested or killed, he has been able to criticize Mr. Putin without getting in trouble, at least for now.

    He just said the president has almost ruined the important parts of Russia’s government, and he told the BBC that if he’s chosen, his first job will be to stop the war in Ukraine.

    Right after the deadline today, Mr. Nadezhdin posted a picture of himself standing next to some boxes filled with papers that have his supporters’ signatures on them.

    This is something I am very proud of – the result of the hard work of many people working tirelessly for many days. He said on X (Twitter) that the things you waited for in long lines in the cold are in those boxes.

    Many Russians stood in line in the cold all over the country to add their name to the list of people supporting Mr.

    Vladimir Putin has been in charge of Russia’s politics since 2000. In 2020, they changed the rules so he could stay in charge past 2024.

    If he wins in March, he will be the president until 2030. After that, he can serve for six more years until 2036 if he chooses to run for election again.

  • ‘Ultra-patriot’ Russian imprisoned for insulting Putin

    ‘Ultra-patriot’ Russian imprisoned for insulting Putin

    I saw Igor Girkin five years ago in a stairwell at a news agency in Moscow.

    “Can I interview you. ” I said “NO,” he said firmly and quickly ran off.

    I saw him again today. I saw him once more today. No stairs This time, Girkin was in a locked area with police around him in the Moscow City Court.

    We were permitted to film him along with other media for just one minute at the end of his trial.

    A dog trained to help the police wouldn’t stop barking. Girkin thought it was funny. The verdict is not as much. A few minutes later, he was judged to be guilty of extreme behavior and was given a four-year prison sentence.

    He had been convicted before.

    In 2022 in The Hague, Girkin was found guilty of killing 298 people on Malaysian Airlines flight MH17, even though he wasn’t there in person.

    Russian forces in Ukraine destroyed a Boeing plane in 2014.

    Girkin was one of three men who were given a life sentence in prison. He didn’t listen to the judgement.

    One year after we first met in the stairwell, I finally talked to Girkin on the phone and asked him about the Hague.

    He said he doesn’t believe in the Dutch court’s power for this issue.

    “I am a soldier and I don’t think it’s right for a court in another country to punish someone for fighting in a war that wasn’t their own, just because some of the local people were killed. ”

    “Do you know who caused the plane to crash. ”

    “The rebels didn’t bring down the Boeing plane. ” I have nothing left to say.

    “I asked if the Russian soldiers were the ones responsible since it wasn’t the rebels. ”

    “That’s all” “Goodbye,” he said and then ended the call.

    Now he will be in jail. But not for killing a lot of people at once. Not forever

    Who is Girkin, also known as Igor Strelkov, and why did a Moscow court put him in jail.

    He used to work for the Russian security service called the FSB. In 2014, he was an important part of the fighting in Ukraine’s Donbas region. The conflict was planned and directed by Moscow.

    He led groups of people who supported Russia in eastern Ukraine.

    The court in the Netherlands decided that Russia was in charge of the groups fighting for independence in eastern Ukraine. Also, Girkin was involved in bringing the missile system that shot down flight MH17 into Ukraine.

    After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, ultranationalist Girkin became a popular blogger who supported the war.

    He started to be more and more critical of how the Russian government was fighting the war. He thought they were not putting in enough effort.

    He started a group called The Club of Angry Patriots, which believed in strong nationalism.

    He had problems when he started to show his anger towards President Vladimir Putin.

    People said mean things about the Russian president in public. Last year, Girkin said Putin is “meaningless” and “a cowardly person who is not useful”.

    A couple of days after that, he got taken by the police. Now he’s been found guilty in court.

    Certainly, a four-year prison punishment is not as severe as other punishments given by Russian courts lately.

    Last year, a pro-democracy activist named Vladimir Kara-Murza was given a 25-year prison sentence for being found guilty of treason. He and his supporters say that the case was motivated by politics.

    How would the “Angry Patriots” respond to Girkin going to prison. Would they go out on the streets to show their anger.

    No, not exactly. A small group of fans got together outside the Moscow City Court and shouted “Freedom to Strelkov. ” but they didn’t sound very hopeful.

    “Denis says they are trying a Russian person who loves their country. ” I want our people to wake up and start fighting. I’m sorry, but we don’t see people disagreeing much. “Everyone is staying hidden. ”

    Also in the crowd was a retired army colonel named Vladimir Kvachkov who is known for being very patriotic and vocal about his beliefs.

    Mr Kvachkov told me that Russia will always be an enemy of the West and said that the United Kingdom will break up. He also said that Girkin is being punished for going against the system.

    In the past few years, the government has focused on getting rid of Russian political figures who support democracy and the West.

    Girkin’s prison sentence shows that Russia is now cracking down on critics who are extreme patriots.

    The mutiny led by Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner mercenaries last year might be the cause.

    The Putin government overcame the challenge. However, the Kremlin will now be aware of the potential risks from very motivated nationalistic and patriotic people in Russian society.

  • Russians becoming more alcoholic due to Putin’s war in Ukraine

    Russians becoming more alcoholic due to Putin’s war in Ukraine

    Vladimir Putin wants to control Ukraine and this is causing more Russians to become addicted to drugs.

    More and more people in Russia are becoming addicted to alcohol and experiencing alcohol-related mental health problems. This is happening for the first time in 10 years, and it’s happening as the war enters its third year.

    Russian men abroad are often seen with a scruffy face, red cheeks, holding a bottle of alcohol, and saying ‘Na Zdorovie’. This has been a common image of them for a long time.

    People in Russia used to drink more alcohol than people in most other countries, but they started drinking less since the early 2000s, but now they are drinking more again.

    During Dmitry Medvedev’s time as president, the government tried many times to solve the country’s problems with alcohol.

    Several rules about alcohol were made. They included not being able to drink alcohol on the street and not being able to advertise it. These rules worked well until the war started.

    A problem that is getting bigger.

    In 2022, Rosstat found that over 54,000 people were newly diagnosed with alcohol addiction, which is more than the 53,000 diagnosed the year before.

    Experts say that the decrease is because of the Covid pandemic, changes in the economy, and increasing tensions between countries.

    Svetlana Gordeeva, a professor at Perm University, said there’s nothing surprising here.

    People tend to drink more alcohol during tough times like a pandemic or economic crisis, and this can lead to more cases of alcohol-related mental health problems.

    The effects of war

    A doctor who studies addiction said that Putin’s war has also caused more people to drink alcohol.

    “When people were told to get ready for war, the number of people with alcohol-related mental health problems went up the most in places where they had to wait three to six months before going to the battle. ”

    Family members of the people who were called to work told me that lots of vodka was delivered there and no one was checking how much was being sold. As a result, people drank so much that they became mentally ill.

    I don’t think these cases were included in the official numbers, but it’s possible that they were discovered.

    If that’s true, then we likely got around a thousand new cases from these camps that were moved.

  • Anger over a Russian move against Ukrainian youngsters

    Anger over a Russian move against Ukrainian youngsters

    Ukraine is angry about a new rule signed by President Putin that allows Russian citizenship to be given to Ukrainian children who go to live in Russia.

    In March, the International Criminal Court ordered the arrest of President Putin because Russia was sending children away against their will.

    The Ukraine government said the order was against the law.

    However, Russia says it is taking the children away from danger.

    On 4 January, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a decision to speed up the process for foreigners and people without a country to become Russian citizens.

    The Ukrainian foreign ministry said that Ukrainian children without parents can quickly become Russian citizens if the president allows it or if the institution taking care of them asks for it.

    The rule says that a child’s legal guardian or the head of a Russian organization in charge of the child can apply for their citizenship.

    The Ukrainian government believes that Russia is trying to fix its population problem by taking children from Ukraine. This is against the laws of Ukraine and other countries, and it is also not fair to the children.

    The ministry said that the decree shows that Russia is trying to make Ukrainian children act like Russians, and that they are also committing crimes against Ukraine.

    Ukraine’s human rights leader, Dmytro Lubinets, says that Russia is giving citizenship to the children so that they won’t be seen as Ukrainians moved to Russia.

    The Ukrainian government found out that more than 19,000 Ukrainian kids were sent to Russia since the big attack started in February 2022.

    According to the Children of War database in Ukraine, only 387 kids have been brought back.

    In November 2023, the BBC’s Panorama TV show said that a friend of Mr. Putin adopted a child taken from a Ukrainian children’s home.

    Sergey Mironov, a 70-year-old leader of a Russian political party, is listed as the adoptive parent of a two-year-old girl who was taken in 2022 by the woman he is now married to, according to documents seen by Panorama.

    In March, the International Criminal Court said that Mr Putin might have committed war crimes in Ukraine and they want to arrest him. The ICC said he was in charge of taking children from Ukraine to Russia in a way that was against the law.

    Maria Lvova-Belova, a person from Russia who helps children, was accused of the same things. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan said it’s not right to use children as prizes in war, and that Putin might be brought to trial.

  • Another Putin’s top combat commander killed in an attack – Report

    Another Putin’s top combat commander killed in an attack – Report

    Russia is not saying anything about the claim that Putin’s top military leader has been killed in an attack.

    Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk from Ukraine said his crews did great in a fight with a Russian military post near Sevastopol in Crimea.

    The news in the area says that General Valery Gerasimov, who is Vladimir Putin’s top war commander, may have been killed in an attack. It is not confirmed if he was at the command post at the time.

    Nataliya Humenyuk, who speaks for the Ukrainian southern defense forces, did not say if Gerasimov had died. She said, “We are gathering the information you want to know. ”

    “Once it’s confirmed, it will be shared with the public. ” Right now, all we can say is what we already know – the control point has been reached.

    A big boom and lots of smoke were seen on video from a possible attack with a missile called Storm Shadow at a military headquarters in Yukharin Balka.

    Another army place in Crimea in the village of Uyutnoye, near Yevpatoria, in Saki district was also said to be attacked.

    Ukrainian sources said a lot of ambulances were seen at both places.

    Putin’s chosen governor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, said: “It was the biggest attack in a long time. ”

    Gerasimov was last seen on December 29th giving awards to soldiers who did a good job during the fighting in Marinka, Ukraine. He hasn’t been seen since then.

    However, this week is an important Russian holiday, and he has disappeared from public view for long periods before.

    Newsweek said that some people are saying that Gerasimov is dead, but it’s not proven. It seems like this started after WarVehicleTracker shared a picture from a Russian Telegram channel called “Ordinary Tsarism. ”

    “The message said that Valery Gerasimov was killed in an attack on Crimea while he was at a command post near Sevastopol. ”

    There is no proof that the general, who was against Yevgeny Prigozhin, was in Crimea or was injured in the attack there.

    Russia has not said anything about the claims yet.

    Shortly after the attack, Oleshchuk said, “I thank the Ukrainian Air Force pilots and everyone who planned the operation for their excellent work in combat. ”

    He said that Russian propaganda might tell lies about the attacks, and he expects them to do the same on January 4th like they did before.

  • Putin vows to ‘intensify’ his assaults on Ukraine

    Putin vows to ‘intensify’ his assaults on Ukraine

    President Vladimir Putin vowed to “intensify” attacks on Ukraine after days of aerial bombardment by both sides in the long war.

    Speaking during a visit to a military hospital in Moscow, Putin said the military would continue to target Ukraine’s “military facilities.

    ” He called Ukraine’s airstrike on the Russian town of Belgorod “a deliberate attack against civilians.

    ” Twenty-four people were killed and more than 100 injured in Saturday’s attack. Speaking to Russian troops on Monday, Putin said the war was turning in Moscow’s favor and he wanted it to end quickly, but only on Russia’s terms.

    He said Ukraine’s Western backers were the biggest obstacle to ending the conflict, but their rhetoric began to change as they began to realize they could not “destroy” Russia.

    On Sunday, Putin sent his traditional New Year’s message in which he praised Russian soldiers as “heroes” without explicitly mentioning the war in Ukraine.

    In his own New Year’s message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promised to sharply increase the number of weapons produced by the country by 2024, pledging to build at least one million drones.

    Russia and Ukraine have continuously had deadly attacks in recent days.

    Ukraine bombed the Russian-held city of Donetsk on New Year’s Eve, killing at least four people and wounding 13 others, according to Moscow-appointed officials and on Saturday, Ukrainian forces launched a series of attacks on targets in southwestern Russia, including one on Belgorod that Mr. Putin called a “terrorist attack.

    ” Last week, Russia launched a widespread attack in several cities in Ukraine, killing at least 45 people. This attack was described by Kiev as Russia’s largest missile bombardment of the war so far.

  • Putin retaliates by launching additional drone strikes against Ukraine

    Putin retaliates by launching additional drone strikes against Ukraine

    Vladimir Putin shelled Ukraine’s largest cities in the hours before New Year’s Eve, after Russia accused Volodymyr Zelensky of bombing the Belgorod border region.

    Dozens of people have been killed in both countries in the past 24 hours and more than 100 people have been injured. Most attacks in Ukraine have been focused on the south and east, but explosions were also reported in Kiev.

    Russia said it was retaliation for Saturday’s attack on Belgorod, a town about 35 miles from the border, that killed at least 24 people.

    Three children were among those killed in one of the deadliest attacks on Russia since Putin launched the invasion, the region’s governor said.

    Hours later, air strike warnings sounded across Ukraine, urging people to take shelter. Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said today that at least six rockets hit Kharkov, injuring at least 28 people and striking residential buildings, hotels and medical facilities.

    Earlier, Ukrainian officials said two boys aged 14 and 16 and a security adviser for a group of German journalists were among those injured in the city.

    Around midnight, as part of a broader bombardment of Ukraine that also targeted Kiev, several waves of drones struck residential buildings in the center.

    Mayor Ihor Terekhov said: “On New Year’s Eve, the Russians wanted to threaten our city, but we are not afraid, we are invincible. ” Images from Kharkiv showed several damaged buildings, including a hotel whose entire floor was destroyed.

    The Ukrainian Air Force said the military shot down 21 of 49 drones launched by Russia overnight. In another attack, three people were killed when Russian forces shelled a village in the Kharkiv region, near the front line.

    Ruslan Stefanchuk, Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, reacted to the scenes of destruction in Kharkov: “Crazy Russian terrorists attacked a peaceful city.

    “Apartments and private houses, hospitals, hotels, kindergartens – these are the buildings damaged after the attack. None of these buildings are military installations.

    “Nor did the civilians affected by the attack. Meanwhile, Russia called Ukraine’s airstrikes on Belgorod “indiscriminate”, but a Ukrainian security source told the BBC that only military infrastructure was targeted.

    But images from the city showed destroyed residential buildings and burned-out cars in the middle of the street.

    Russia’s Kommersant newspaper cited a source close to the Russian Investigative Committee as saying that Ukraine conducted an attack with a multiple rocket launcher in the Kharkov area.

    Both sides stepped up bombing in the final week of 2023, with Russia killing at least 31 civilians on Friday in its biggest airstrike in the 22-month war against Ukraine.

  • Putin informs Russia his military goals remain same

    Putin informs Russia his military goals remain same

    Russian President Vladimir Putin said that there will only be peace with Ukraine when Russia accomplishes its goals.

    He is having a big press meeting for the first time since he started a full-scale attack on Ukraine in February 2022.

    Mr Putin talked to the Russian people on the phone while also answering questions from journalists.

    The event did not happen last year.

    The beginning of this marathon event is mostly about what Mr. Putin is calling the “special military operation in Ukraine”.

    He first thinks about how important it is for Russia to be in control of its own country.

    “Our country cannot exist without being in control. ” “It will just not be there,” he tells Channel One host Yekaterina Berezovskaya.

    MrPutin thinks Russia’s economy is good during the war and then he starts talking about Ukraine.

    ‘Why is mobilization important. ‘

    Mr Putin says that he believes peace will come to Ukraine once his goals are achieved. He says the goals are still the same: to remove Nazi influence, reduce military power, and stay neutral. These are the important topics he has focused on since the war began.

    He said that about 486,000 people signed up to be contract soldiers and 300,000 people were called up last year.

    “He said there are still many men ready to defend our country with weapons. ” In total, there will be almost 500,000 men by the end of this year. Why do we need to get people together and ready.

    A secret US intelligence report said that about 315,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or injured since the war started. This is nearly 90% of Russia’s military at the beginning of the invasion.

    A journalist from a Russian newspaper in Luhansk, Ukraine, asked Mr Putin about Ukraine’s recent control of the east side of the Dnipro river, which Russia had previously occupied.

    President Putin says that Ukraine’s military had some success in a small area and was trying hard to get to Crimea. So, Russian forces decided to move back a little into the woods to protect their soldiers. He says that Kyiv wants to show the West that it needs more money for its military.

    “I don’t understand why they are doing it. They are forcing their own people to get killed. It’s a dangerous mission for the Ukrainian forces. ” The reasons for this are political because Ukrainian leaders are asking other countries for help.

    Mr Putin says that Russian forces are winning in Ukraine.

    “At almost all the places where our soldiers are fighting, they are getting better,” he says during his long press conference.

    There hasn’t been much action on the front line lately, but Russia is attacking two towns in the Donetsk region. The towns of Mariinka and Avdiivka.

    Russia can keep making progress even though there are sanctions against it.

    Mr Putin also talks about how Russia gets along with the United States and the European Union.

    He says the US is a big country but says it does bad things by taking over other countries. He asks America to be polite to other people and countries. He also says Russia is willing to fix its relationship with America once this happens.

    While the leader of Russia is talking, the Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg holds a press meeting in Brussels and says that if Putin wins in Ukraine, he may continue to be aggressive in other places too.

    Mr Putin says Russia can still make progress even though it’s facing economic punishments and being left out by other countries because it invaded Ukraine.

    Russians sent more than two million questions to Mr.

    Mr Putin spends up to four hours answering questions during his phone-ins, while Russian and international journalists also ask him lots of questions at the same time.

  • Alexei Navalny: leader of Russian opposition’removed from penitentiary colony’

    Alexei Navalny: leader of Russian opposition’removed from penitentiary colony’

    The Russian government took Alexei Navalny out of the prison where he was and now no one knows where he is. His spokesperson shared this information.

    Kira Yarmysh wrote on social media that the officials from the Melekhovo prison said he was no longer listed there.

    The White House expressed serious worry about the reports.

    Mr Navalny’s helpers thought he would be sent to a more strict prison after his sentence was made longer.

    They say his vanishing is connected to the new information about the elections.

    On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he wants to run for president again next March.

    In August, Mr. Navalny was accused of starting and financing a group that the government thinks is dangerous. He says he didn’t do it, but he was given 19 more years in prison.

    He was already given a nine-year sentence for breaking the rules of his release from prison, committing fraud, and disrespecting the court. Many people think that the accusations against him are driven by politics.

    He was told he would have to stay in a special kind of prison called a “special regime colony. ” These prisons are usually for very serious criminals, repeat offenders, and those who have been sentenced to life in prison.

    Mr Navalny’s friends said earlier today that they hadn’t heard from him in six days.

    He missed some recent court appearances that he usually attended through video. The prison authorities said that the missing people were because of problems with the colony’s technology.

    Ms Yarmysh said that the lawyers who were waiting for news outside Melekhovo and a nearby colony were told that he was not registered in either place.

    His assistant, Leonid Volkov, said that it is not a coincidence at all and that the Kremlin is directly controlling everything.

    Putin knows who his main opponent is in these ‘elections’, it’s not a secret.

    He wants to stop Navalny from speaking. Each of us needs to speak up for Navalny.

    For over ten years, Mr. Navalny tried to uncover corruption within the Russian government. His videos have been seen by tens of millions of people online.

    He was a very likeable leader who could get a lot of people in Russia to join protests against the government.

    But in 2020, he was poisoned in Siberia by a nerve agent confirmed by Western labs.

    A new report by Bellingcat and The Insider said that some FSB agents were involved in the attack.

    After Navalny got better from the attack, he went back to Russia in 2021 even though he was warned that he might get arrested. He got arrested as soon as he got to an airport in Moscow.

  • Putin intends to run for fifth term as president of Russia

    Putin intends to run for fifth term as president of Russia

    Media reports say that Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced he will run for a fifth term in office.

    Russian authorities said that he talked about what he wanted to do during a meeting with people who are involved in the war in Ukraine.

    It comes the day after officials picked 15-17 March 2024 as the days for the presidential election.

    It is very likely that Mr Putin will be elected again because there is almost no one opposing him and he controls the Russian media completely.

    He has been ruling Russia for a long time, longer than anyone since Josef Stalin. If he gets another term, he will stay as president until at least 2030.

    Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, said that a lot of people want Putin to keep leading, but it’s up to him when he announces his decision.

  • Putin under fire as Ukraine destroys supersonic fighter over Black Sea

    Putin under fire as Ukraine destroys supersonic fighter over Black Sea

    Video has been found of Ukraine shooting down a cutting-edge Russian bomber over the Black Sea, which is a big victory against Vladimir Putin’s military.

    The very fast warplane with two engines was getting ready to attack in the Odesa region when it got shot down by Ukrainian air defenses near Snake Island, also known as Zmiinyi Island.

    Russian searchers looked really hard but couldn’t find the two pilots who were supposed to have been thrown out of the aircraft.

    Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky praised his air defences for shooting down the Su-24M tactical bomber in the incident.

    Mr Zelensky said in his talk at night that a Russian warplane was shot down today near Snake Island in the Black Sea.

    The plane was going to attack the Odesa area. The terrorists lost again.

    We will keep working to make sure the terrorists lose. “We are making our air defense system stronger. ”

    Video has been found of the time Ukraine shot down a modern Russian plane over the Black Sea, showing that they won against Vladimir Putin’s army.

    The fast military plane was getting ready to attack in the Odesa region when it was shot down by Ukrainian air defenses near Snake Island, also known as Zmiinyi Island.

    The Russian search for the two crew members was not successful. They couldn’t find the two pilots, who were said to have been thrown out of the aircraft.

    The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has praised his air forces for shooting down the Su-24M bomber in the incident.

    Mr Zelensky said on TV tonight that a Russian plane got shot down in the Black Sea near Snake Island.

    The plane was going to attack the Odesa region. The terrorists have lost again.

    We will keep working to make sure the terrorists lose. We are making our air defense system stronger.