Russia imported more than 1 million tons of coal from the separatist-held territories of eastern Ukraine in 2016
In 2016, roughly 1.04 million tons of coal was exported from the Donbas territories which are not controlled by Ukraine into Russia, LIGA.net reports, citing Russian railway data. In 2015, the volume of smuggled exports was somewhat larger – 1.3 million tons.
The mined coal is enriched at Donetsk and Luhansk factories and transported through the border with Russia that is not controlled by the Ukrainian authorities. Later on the fuel is exported to European and African countries. Some of the …
Human rights activist: Not only gays end up in 'secret prisons' in Chechnya
The topic of “secret prisons” in Chechen territory has already been around for much more than a year, said Igor Kalyapin, head of the Committee to Prevent Torture, in an interview with the Rosbalt news outlet. According to Kalyapin, “undesirables” of all kinds are put in these prisons.
“Unfortunately, facts of this kind are encountered not only in Chechnya. But for this republic the problem remains particularly relevant. As far as I know, even now in the Chechen Republic people continue to be …
Medvedev: Russia is negotiating with Greece and Bulgaria an entry point for the second branch of the Turkish Stream pipeline
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev stated that Russia is in talks with Greece and Bulgaria regarding an entry point to Turkey for the “Turkish Stream”, reports RIA Novosti.
"We, within the framework of negotiations that are being conducted with a number of European countries, are determining where it is better to establish an entry point to Europe. There are different proposals. Negotiations are being conducted with a number of European countries, these are both Greece and Bulgaria. Well, and …
NATO considers ban on Russian social networks a question of security for Ukraine
Ukraine's introduction of sanctions against Russian companies – specifically owners of social networks and search engines - is a matter of national security, as stated by the Director of the NATO Information and Documentation Centre, Barbora Maronkova.
"NATO analyzed these decisions by Ukraine and has come to the conclusion that this is a matter of security, not freedom of speech," she said on Monday in Kyiv, speaking at the International Forum "Communications Crisis: Communication and Content …
Two Russian officers killed in Syria
Two military advisers from Russia have been killed in Syria: Captain Evgeny Konstantinov and Major Aleksander Skladan, commander of the reconnaissance battalion, as reported by RBC news outlet, citing Sergei Minko, the Chairman of the regional branch of “Boevoe Bratstvo” (“Military Brotherhood”) in the Jewish Autonomous Region of Russia.
In Minko’s words, the retreating Syrian army left the Russian military alone with the enemy.
“The Syrian army stopped providing covering fire, and retreated. …