Russian oligarchs’ assets frozen in Cyprus at US’s request

The Russian billionaires who have been placed under US sanctions have been hit by massive audits of their offshore accounts.

Oleg Deripaska and Viktor Vekselberg, who were blacklisted by the US Treasury Department in April, have been cut off from their assets in Cyprus.

The island’s banks have frozen Deripaska’s and Vekselberg’s accounts since April 6, when the US sanctions were announced and came into effect. This was reported by RBC, citing the US Treasury Department’s report on opposing …


Germany rejects Putin’s request to help restore Syria

The German Government believes that it is premature to raise the question of providing assistance for the reconstruction of Syria because a political truce must first be established there, said Steffen Seibert, spokesman for the Federal Government and head of the Federal Press Office on Monday, August 20.

“The German federal government does not believe that the problem of Syria’s restoration should be addressed immediately’, dpa news agency quotes Seibert as saying.  He added that the Syrian …


Russian Foreign Minister: UN issued a secret directive prohibiting countries from taking part in restoration of Syria

The political department of the UN Secretariat issued a “secret directive” that prohibits all bodies of the organization from participating in the restoration of the Syrian economy, Interfax reports  citing Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov.

“Only humanitarian aid, nothing else,” the Minister added. He said that this was an attempt by a group of countries to manipulate the UN Secretariat “for their own geopolitical benefit.” According to Lavrov, the directive stipulates that …


President Poroshenko promises to cover ammunition needs of the Ukrainian Army

The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko announced that the tests of 152-mm shells for the Giatsint artillery system have been completed and that the news shells will be sent to the Ukrainian Army. “Now, the state joint-stock holding company Artem will start serial production of 152-mm shells for supply to Ukraine’s Armed Forces,” Ukrainian President wrote on his Facebook page.

The next step will be the quick transition to the manufacturing of shells for other artillery systems, from 100-mm …


Prosecutor proposes to return Yanukovych to Ukraine with the help of special forces

If the court passes a guilty verdict, the former president of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych could be returned to the country with the help of special forces, believes the prosecutor Ruslan Kravchenko, reports Hromadske.

According to the prosecutor, the law enforcement bodies of Ukraine need to do everything possible to ensure that the court enforces the decision on Yanukovych.

"It is possible to create a special unit, for example, like the Israeli Mossad. They can ensure that the special forces …