Dozens of Russian aircraft arrive in Crimea for military exercises

Carrier-based aircraft from Russia’s Northern Fleet will hold exercises at the aviation training complex NITKA in the Crimea, Krym.Realii reported, with reference to the press service of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

“About ten decked Su-33s and Su-25UTGs arrived in Crimea. Also, the An-12, An-26, and An-72 naval aviation of the Northern Fleet delivered engineering and technical personnel and equipment for aircraft maintenance to the Peninsula,” the press service stated.

Many experts have …


Russia officially bans Crimean Tatar Mejlis

The Russian Supreme Court has approved a petition submitted by Russian-Crimean Prosecutor Natalia Poklonskaya to label the Crimean Tatar Mejlis an "extremist organization", and has officially banned it. The decision was announced by the Chairperson of the Board of Judges, Natalia Terentyev, TASS reported.

Previously, the activities of the Mejlis were suspended in order to “prevent violations of the law” in Russia.

As explained by Poklonskaya, the Mejlis are prohibited from using any type of …


Legal proceedings initiated against Russian pensioner who gave assistance to Ukrainian refugees

In Russia a case against a 74-year-old librarian, Larisa Ladatkina, was initiated for providing assistance to refugees from the Donbas region. According to Rosbalt, she faces up to three years in prison. The elderly woman is accused of providing assistance to refugees from Luhansk, a city in eastern Ukraine.

Reportedly, in the fall of 2015, the woman had registered and invited a family of Ukrainian immigrants to live in her apartment in Khimki (Moscow region). The registration period for the …


Savchenko's lawyer: The number of Russian servicemen held in Ukraine is more than reported

Nadiya Savchenko’s lawyer Ilya Novikov stated in an interview with the 5th Channel that there are other Russian servicemen, in addition to Evgeny Yerofeev and Alexander Alexandrov, who were detained by the Ukrainian side during hostilities in the Donbas. However, this information wasn't disclosed by the Ukrainian authorities.

According to Novikov, it would be better for Ukraine to reveal this information to the public because it would increase pressure on the President of Russia, Vladimir …


Chubarov: A military solution to the occupation of Crimea is unrealistic

The liberation of Crimea from Russian annexation is possible provided that several factors come together, not the least of which is the role of the military. This opinion was expressed by the head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Refat Chubarov, Krym.Realii reported.

"I am one of those people who reject the liberation of the Crimea through military action. This should be a combination of a few, but very important factors: political, economic, diplomatic and military too. But only the …