• Russian Defense Minister arrives in Crimea to carry out military inspection

    Russian media has reported that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu arrived in the Crimea to inspect the combat readiness of Russian troops stationed on the Peninsula, as stated by a representative of the Defense Ministry, Igor Konashenkov. According to the spokesman, Shoigu will also inspect the construction of combat training facilities and social infrastructure in the annexed territory.

    The Head of the Russian Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, also visited the Crimea on Tuesday, where …

  • Millions more Russians living in poverty as economic crisis sinks in

    Russia’s economic crisis has driven the country’s poverty rate to a nine-year high, according to data provided by the Russian Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat).

    In 2015, the number of people living in poverty reached 19 million (13.4% of the population), up from 16 million in 2014.

    Rosstat reported that this is the highest rate since 2006.

    The Statistics Service also reported that real incomes fell by 6.7% in February of this year compared to the same month in 2015.

  • Russia begins importing Syrian fruits and vegetables to partially replace sanctioned Turkish produce

    Russia began importing Syrian produce to partially replace Turkish products which have been prohibited for import by Russian authorities since January 1st, Kommersant reported.

    General Director of Adyg Yurak Zao, Aslan Panesh, said last week that nearly 3,000 tons of citrus fruits, cabbage and tomatoes arrived in Novorossiysk. According to him, it was the second batch but there had been some problems importing from Syria. Supplies from Syria are organized by the French shipping company CMA CGM. …

  • Russia has charged Ukraine with penalty interest for Yanukovych's debt of $3 billion

    According to Russia, Ukraine's debt as of March 20th, together with the interest, amounts to 3.137 billion dollars. This follows the claim filed by the Law Debenture Trust Corporation company, which represents Russia, to the English Court against Ukraine, RBC reports.

    The lawsuit states that on December 21st, 2015, when the repayment of securities was due, Ukraine did not pay 3.075 billion dollars which violated the trust management agreement (Trust deed) with the Law Debenture Trust, the loan …

  • Savchenko sentenced to 22 years in prison

    A Russian court has found Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko guilty of complicity in the killing of two Russian journalists and sentenced her to 22 years in prison.

    The judge in the Russian town of Donetsk said Savchenko had been driven by "political hatred".

    "A propaganda machine is at work here, absent of justice and freedom," Savchenko’s lawyer wrote on Twitter.

    Nadiya Savchenko was found guilty of the murder of two Russian journalists. It is widely believed that Savchenko was in fact …