Day: December 19, 2022
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Canada Moves to Seize $26M from Russian Oligarch Roman Abramovich
Canada’s government on Monday announced the start of a process to seize $26 million in assets from a company owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. While several of its Western allies have seized yachts, oil and gas ventures, and other assets of people close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, this is the first time…
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Russia Evacuates Diplomat Injured in CAR Terror Attack
The head of a Russian cultural center in the Central African Republic (CAR) who was hospitalized when an explosive device sent to him in the mail detonated was “urgently evacuated” to Russia, Moscow’s embassy in the country said Monday. The Russian Embassy in the CAR capital Bangui confirmed that Dmitry Sitiy was being evacuated to…
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Veteran Environmental Group Shutters Over Russian ‘Foreign Agent’ Label
A veteran environmental watchdog in Russia’s Far East announced its closure over the weekend after authorities labeled it a “foreign agent.” Sakhalin Environment Watch (SEW) said it “categorically disagrees” with Friday’s designation by the Russian Justice Ministry. “Someone at the top has suddenly decided that we are under ‘foreign influence’ and engaged in political activities,” SEW…
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Putin Arrives in Minsk for Rare Belarus Visit as Drone Strikes Batter Kyiv
Updates with Putin’s arrival in Minsk Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday arrived for a rare visit to neighboring Belarus, from where Moscow partially launched its invasion of Ukraine nearly 10 months ago, for talks with close ally and strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko. His arrival on an icy runway in Minsk came hours after Russian…
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Russian Jailed 12 Years in Crimea for Sharing Naval Info With Ukraine
A court in Moscow-annexed Crimea has sentenced a Russian citizen to 12 years in prison on charges of sharing details about the Russian Navy with Ukrainian intelligence prior to the invasion of Ukraine, Russian security services announced Monday. Yevgeny Petrushin collected and transmitted information to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Main Directorate of Intelligence as far…
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Moscow Pummeled By Historic Snowfall
Heavy snowfall blanketed Moscow on Sunday, disrupting traffic, delaying flights and leaving pavements buried with snow across the Russian capital. More than 60% of the monthly norm descended on Moscow over the past 24 hours, producing 25-centimeter-tall snow banks, municipal authorities said Monday. Two and a half months’ worth of snow has blanketed the capital…
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Pussy Riot Activists Detained at World Cup Final
Members of the anti-Kremlin activist group Pussy Riot were detained at the World Cup final in Qatar after they tried to storm the pitch to protest issues including the war in Ukraine, Reuters and German media reported Monday, citing activists. Pussy Riot associate Pyotr Verzilov, member Veronika Nikulshina and an unnamed Ukrainian member were stopped seconds…
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Russian Troops to Hold Drills in Ukraine’s Neighbor Belarus
Russian troops will conduct military exercises in Belarus, which neighbors Ukraine, the Interfax news agency said on Monday, citing the Defense Ministry in Moscow. In October, Belarus announced the formation of a joint regional force with Moscow with several thousand Russian servicemen arriving in the ex-Soviet country. “The final assessment of the combat capability…
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Drones Attack Kyiv as Ukraine Watches Belarus Border
Drones attacked Kyiv early Monday, days after the Ukrainian capital withstood one of the biggest missile attacks since the start of Russia’s February invasion. The latest strikes came as Russian President Vladimir Putin travels to Belarus, Ukraine’s neighbor in the north, where Moscow’s troops stationed as part of a regional force are due to hold…