Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex Carries Out First Launch of Aframax Tanker Main Engine
The Zvezda Shipbuilding complex successfully carried out the first launch of the main engine of Vladimir Mohomakh Aframax tanker.
Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Sept. 9
Russia has confirmed 1,041,007 cases of coronavirus and 18,135 deaths. Sept. 9: What you need to know today Russia has launched Phase 3 trials of its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine to determine the jab’s long-term safety and effectiveness, authorities said Wednesday. A group of prominent scientists and doctors has questioned the published results of the vaccine’s initial trials. Russia’s…
Russia Begins Final Trials of Sputnik V Coronavirus Vaccine
Russia has launched Phase 3 trials of its highly touted coronavirus vaccine to determine the jab’s long-term safety and effectiveness, authorities said Wednesday as questions surrounded the results of its Phase 1 and 2 trials. Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said 31,000 out of the announced 40,000 volunteers have been recruited for the study, the state-run…
Unknown People Try to Enter Belarus Nobel Laureate Alexievich’s Apartment Amid Opposition Arrests
Belarusian Nobel Literature Prize winner Svetlana Alexievich said unknown people tried to enter her apartment on Wednesday amid an intensifying crackdown by President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime over a disputed election. Alexievich, 72, is now the last free leading member of the Belarusian opposition’s Coordination Council still in the country after masked men detained lawyer Maxim…
‘Don’t Give In to Lies,’ Belarus Opposition Leader Tells Russians
Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya urged Russians on Wednesday to resist what she called state media efforts to smear her country’s post-election protests as anti-Russian. Tikhanovskaya, 37, made the comments a day after President Alexander Lukashenko’s interview with Russian state media, where he warned that “if Belarus collapses today, Russia will be next.” Moscow has been…
Belarus Opposition Lawyer Detained by ‘Masked Men’
One of the last remaining members of the Belarusian opposition’s Coordination Council at large, lawyer Maxim Znak, was detained by masked men on Wednesday, his colleagues said. Znak, who had worked as a lawyer for jailed presidential hopeful Viktor Babaryko, had been due to participate in a video call but did not show up, instead…
Putin Cancels Annual Q&A Marathon Due to Coronavirus
President Vladimir Putin has canceled his annual call-in session with the public due to the coronavirus pandemic, his spokesman announced Wednesday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin “has already been conducting the Direct Line the past few months,” referring to his several video addresses announcing support measures for Russians during the Covid-19 outbreak. “It would…
All Options Open on Sanctions Against Russia Over Navalny: German Minister
Germany will keep all options open on possible sanctions against Russia over the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the country’s minister for Europe told AFP. “We have made it very clear that we will look at the entire set of instruments,” Michael Roth said in an interview, responding to a question on what action…
Navalny-Backed Opposition Candidates in Siberia Attacked With Foul-Smelling Chemical
Assailants have spilled a foul-smelling liquid at the office of Siberian opposition candidates backed by Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny ahead of upcoming regional elections, the candidates said Tuesday. The attack is the latest attempt to disrupt the work of a coalition of opposition candidates planning to challenge pro-Kremlin incumbents in the Novosibirsk city council elections…
Leading Scientists Question ‘Highly Improbable’ Russian Vaccine Results Published in Lancet
A group of prominent scientists and doctors has questioned the results of Russia’s research into a Covid-19 vaccine. The group said there are a number of unexplained apparent duplications in Russia’s data — published in scientific journal The Lancet on Friday — concerning the antibody response of volunteers who took part in early stage trials…
Russia Says Ready to Help Ease Tensions in East Mediterranean
Moscow is prepared to help ease tensions in the eastern Mediterranean where Cyprus and Greece are embroiled in a standoff with Turkey over maritime and energy rights, visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday. “Russia considers that any further escalation would be unacceptable and calls on all parties to settle all conflicts exclusively through dialogue…
Belarus Leader Admits to Staying ‘Too Long’ in Power in Russian State TV Interview
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Tuesday that his 26 years in office may have been excessive, but vowed to maintain his grip on power despite widespread protests against his rule. Lukashenko’s rare admission has been a rallying cry for hundreds of thousands of demonstrators who flooded the streets of Belarusian cities for the past month…
Belarus Opposition Figure Detained at Ukraine Border
Belarus said Tuesday that a leading opposition figure, Maria Kolesnikova, had been detained while trying to cross the Ukrainian border, but Kiev said she was being held after resisting a forced deportation. Kolesnikova played a major role in the campaign of opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who claimed victory over President Alexander Lukashenko in a disputed…
Russian ‘Cossacks’ Hunt Down LGBT Youth During Pride Week
Dozens of men in Cossack military uniforms have been filmed patrolling the streets of Russia’s fourth-largest city of Yekaterinburg during its Pride Week, local media reported Monday. The group briefly detained at least one “absolutely heterosexual” student because he had dyed hair and wore an earring, according to the e1.ru news website. “Why’d you dress…
Russian Actor Yefremov Jailed for Fatal Car Crash
Mikhail Yefremov, a well-known Russian actor who cultivated an image of a jolly drunk throughout his 30-year career, was sentenced to eight years in jail Tuesday for driving drunk and killing a van driver in a head-on crash this summer. Yefremov’s jailing follows a whirlwind trial over the June 8 crash in central Moscow that…
Rosneft increases the reliability of oil pipelines
The experts of RN-Purneftegaz (Rosneft’s producing asset) reduced the accident rate at infield pipelines by 35 per cent in five years (2015-2019).
Russia Begins Coronavirus Vaccine Rollout
Russia has begun releasing its coronavirus vaccine to the general public, the Health Ministry announced Tuesday as developers prepare to conduct large-scale clinical trials while administering the shot to civilians. Its developer has said that a yearlong mass vaccination campaign would begin as soon as the Sputnik V vaccine entered civil circulation. “The first batch…
Explosion Opens New ‘Pit to Hell’ Crater in Russian Arctic
An explosion believed to have been caused by subterranean gases has opened up a massive hole in the ground in Russia’s Arctic, the latest natural phenomenon to affect the fast-warming region amid a record-setting summer. Russian scientists discovered the 50-meter crater on an expedition to the Yamal Peninsula above the Arctic Circle in July, according…
Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Sept. 7
Russia has confirmed 1,030,690 cases of coronavirus and 17,871 deaths. Sept. 7: What you need to know today Saudi King Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Monday the possible joint production of a Russian coronavirus vaccine, the Kremlin said. Russia’s coronavirus cases continue to rise as the country confirmed 5,185 new coronavirus infections Monday, bringing the country’s official number of…
Putin, Saudi King Discuss Joint Vaccine Production – Kremlin
Saudi King Salman and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed Monday the possible joint production of a Russian coronavirus vaccine, the Kremlin said. In early August, Russia said it had developed the world’s first vaccine against the virus and claimed that more than a billion doses had been pre-ordered by 20 countries, including Saudi Arabia. Russia’s sovereign wealth…
Russian FM Meets Syria’s Assad on Rare Visit
Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad discussed economic cooperation Monday with Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, as Moscow’s envoy made his first visit to war-torn Syria since 2012, the presidency said. Assad said “the Syrian government was determined to continue working with Russian partners” to implement signed agreements, and encourage the “success of Russian investments in Syria,”…
Navalny Comes Out of Coma, Berlin Hospital Says
Prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has been taken out of his medically induced coma and is being gradually taken off a ventilator, the Charité hospital in Berlin where he has been undergoing treatment for the past two weeks said Monday. German authorities have said that Navalny, Russia’s de facto opposition leader, was poisoned with a…
Explainer: What is Nord Stream 2 and Why Might Navalny’s Poisoning Stop Its Completion?
The confirmation that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with Novichok has heightened calls for Germany to review its support for Nord Stream 2 — Gazprom’s mega gas pipeline project linking the two countries. German Chancellor Angela Merkel will not rule out consequences for the project if Russia fails to thoroughly investigate the incident,…
Gerard Depardieu Converts to Orthodox Christianity
French actor and naturalized Russian citizen Gerard Depardieu has continued his religious journey by converting to Orthodox Christianity, the Valeurs Actuelles weekly news magazine reported Saturday. One of France’s most prolific actors and a popular figure in Russia, Depardieu was granted Russian citizenship in 2013 as he sought to avoid tax hikes in his native…
Belarus Opposition Leader ‘Kidnapped’ By Masked Men – Reports
Belarusian opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova has been kidnapped by masked men in central Minsk, media reported Monday, citing eyewitnesses. Kolesnikova, 38, was one of a trio of women who united to challenge Lukashenko in last month’s presidential elections after other opposition candidates were either jailed or driven to flee Belarus. She is the only member…
Russia’s ‘Basic Instinct’ Dig Provokes Spat With Ally Serbia
Serbia accused Russia of “primitivism and vulgarity” on Sunday after Russia’s diplomatic spokeswoman appeared to mock Serbia’s president on social media, marking a rare criticism toward Belgrade’s longtime ally. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova struck a nerve Saturday when she posted a photo of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic alongside a screengrab of Hollywood star…
Belarus Protesters Keep Pressure on Lukashenko With New March
Thousands of Belarusians staged a peaceful new march on Sunday, keeping the pressure on strongman Alexander Lukashenko who has refused to quit after his disputed re-election and turned to Russia for help to stay in power. Holding red-and-white flags and placards, protesters including many students took to the streets of the capital Minsk despite authorities…
UK Says Russian State Link Likely in Navalny Poisoning
Britain on Sunday said Russia had “a very serious set of questions to answer” about the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, suggesting some form of state involvement in the high-profile case. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said it was “clear” the Kremlin critic was poisoned with the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok, which was previously used…
Germany Threatens Sanctions Against Russia Over Navalny Poisoning
Germany, the current head of the European Union, will discuss possible sanctions against Russia over the poisoning of Alexei Navalny if the Kremlin does not provide an explanation soon, its foreign minister said Sunday. Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption campaigner Navalny fell ill on a flight last month and was treated in a Siberian hospital…
Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Sept. 6
Russia has confirmed 1,025,505 cases of coronavirus and 17,820 deaths. Sept. 6: What you need to know today Russia recorded more than 30,000 excess deaths in July as the coronavirus pandemic continued to sweep across the country, new data from the country’s statistics service Rosstat has shown. Russia’s coronavirus cases continue to rise as the country confirmed 5,195 new coronavirus infections Sunday,…
Trump: U.S. Has seen ‘No Proof Yet’ of Navalny Poisoning
U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he had not yet seen proof that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny had been poisoned as stated by Germany. “I don’t know exactly what happened. I think it’s tragic, it’s terrible, it shouldn’t happen,” Trump said. “We haven’t had any proof yet, but I will take a look…
Russia Records 30K Excess Deaths in July, Most Monthly Fatalities in Decade
Russia recorded more than 30,000 excess deaths in July as the coronavirus pandemic continued to sweep across the country, new data from the country’s statistics service Rosstat has shown. A total of 181,479 deaths were registered in July 2020, according to data compiled by regional registry offices — compared to an average of around 150,000…
Belarus Opposition Leader Urges Sanctions in UN Address
Belarus opposition challenger Svetlana Tikhanovskaya on Friday appealed for help from the United Nations and called for sanctions against those responsible for alleged electoral fraud and rights violations in her ex-Soviet country. Addressing a meeting of the UN Security Council by video link, Tikhanovskaya said the global body should urgently send a mission to Minsk.…
Germany Finds Nerve Agents in Navalny’s Blood, Skin, Urine, Water Bottle – Spiegel
German medics have found traces of the toxic substance used to poison prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny in his blood, skin, urine and a water bottle he drank from, the German news magazine Der Spiegel reported Friday. The German government said Wednesday it had unequivocal proof that Navalny was poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent…
Russia Defies West as NATO Urges Cooperation Over Navalny
Russia defied threats of new Western sanctions Friday in a staring match over the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, as NATO demanded Moscow uncover its Novichok nerve agent programme. A new crisis in ties between Russia and the West broke out after Germany said this week there was “unequivocal evidence” that President Vladimir Putin’s top foe…
Rosneft presents a series of online lectures on biology of the Black and Azov Seas
Rosneft presents a series of online lectures on biology of the Black and Azov Seas
Zvezda Shipbuilding complex starts metal cutting for the first MR-class product carrier tanker
Zvezda Shipbuilding complex started cutting metal for the first MR-type product carrier tanker powered by natural-gas-based motor fuel.
Belarus Leader Lukashenko to Avoid EU Sanctions Over Protest Crackdown – Die Welt
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is poised to escape personal sanctions the European Union is drafting in response to his post-election crackdown, the German daily Die Welt reported Friday. EU foreign ministers agreed in mid-August to draw up a list of targets in Belarus for a fresh round of asset freezes and travel bans expected in…
Russia Vaccine Passes Early Trial Test – The Lancet
Patients involved in early tests of a Russian coronavirus vaccine developed antibodies with “no serious adverse events”, according to research published in The Lancet Friday, but experts said the trials were too small to prove safety and effectiveness. Russia announced last month that its vaccine, named “Sputnik V” after the Soviet-era satellite that was the…
Travel Ban, Oil Supplies on Russia-Belarus Agenda
Russia and Belarus are preparing to reopen borders that were closed because of the coronavirus pandemic and are discussing rerouting Belarusian oil exports through Russia, news outlets reported after high-level talks Thursday. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and his delegation met Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and his government in Minsk amid continuing protests against his…
Typhoon Maysak Batters Russia’s Far East
At least three people died and dozens were injured when Typhoon Maysak hit Russia’s Far East on Thursday. The storm unmoored a floating dry dock, causing it to slam into some of the vessels making up Russia’s Pacific Fleet. Regional prosecutors said two of nine crew members were killed when a floating crane beached onto…
Zvezda Shipbuilding complex is finishing dry dock construction
Construction of dry docks, one of the largest world, at Zvezda Shipbuilding complex is coming to an end.
Russian Doctor Blames Diet, Stress for Navalny Coma
A Russian toxicologist said Friday that opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s health could have deteriorated due to dieting, stress or fatigue, insisting no poison had been found in his samples in Siberia. Russia faces the threat of new sanctions after Germany said this week that President Vladimir Putin’s top foe had been targeted with Novichok, a…
The West Is Outraged By Navalny’s Novichok Poisoning. That’s No Guarantee of Tough Sanctions
Lawmakers across Europe and the U.S. are scrambling to respond to the revelation that Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was poisoned with Novichok — a lethal Soviet-era military nerve agent — with the possibility of fresh sanctions against Russia on the cards. In Germany — where Navalny remains in a medically induced coma in intensive care…
Typhoon Maysak Kills 3, Unmoors Floating Dock in Russia
At least three people died and dozens were injured as Typhoon Maysak battered Russia’s Far East on Thursday, local authorities said. Video footage also showed the storm unmooring a floating dry dock, causing it to slam into the Russian Navy’s warships and submarines in Russia’s Primorye region 6,500 kilometers east of Moscow. Regional prosecutors said…
Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | Sept. 5
Russia has confirmed 1,020,310 cases of coronavirus and 17,759 deaths. Sept. 5: What you need to know today Russia recorded more than 30,000 excess deaths in July as the coronavirus pandemic continued to sweep across the country, new data from the country’s statistics service Rosstat has shown. Russia’s coronavirus cases continue to rise as the country confirmed 5,205 new coronavirus infections Saturday,…
NATO to Meet on Poisoning of Putin Critic Navalny
The poisoning of Alexei Navalny will be discussed at an urgent NATO meeting on Friday after European leaders threatened fresh sanctions against Moscow, which has furiously denied targeting the Russian opposition leader. The 44-year-old lawyer, one of President Vladimir Putin’s chief critics, fell ill on a flight last month and was evacuated to Germany for…
Navalny Ally Says Poisoning ‘New Chapter’ in Kremlin Crackdown
Alexei Navalny’s top ally said Thursday that the Russian opposition leader’s poisoning opened a “new chapter” in a crackdown on dissent and accused the Kremlin of seeking to avoid responsibility for the attack. Allies like Ivan Zhdanov put the blame for the 44-year-old Navalny’s poisoning with a Novichok nerve agent squarely on President Vladimir Putin’s…
Belarus Leader Replaces Security Chiefs as Russian Prime Minister Visits
Belarus strongman Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday replaced his security chiefs and said progress was being made on plans to bring Moscow and Minsk closer. Lukashenko, who is under huge pressure from protesters to step down after last month’s disputed election, replaced the heads of the KGB security service, the security council and the state control…
Don’t Blame Us for Navalny Poisoning, Russia Says
There is no reason to accuse Russia of poisoning prominent Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, the Kremlin said Thursday, as the fallout from the case raises the threat of new Western sanctions against Moscow. Germany said Wednesday that Berlin has “unequivocal” proof that Navalny was poisoned with a nerve agent from the Novichok family. Britain in…
Chemical Arms Watchdog Voices ‘Grave Concern’ Over Navalny Case
The head of the world chemical arms watchdog expressed “grave concern” on Thursday after Germany said Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny had been poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok. Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Director-General Fernando Arias added that the Hague-based body was ready to help any member country that asked for…
Navalny Case Poisons Ties Between Germany, Russia
German Chancellor Angela Merkel faced mounting pressure Thursday to toughen her ambivalent stance toward Russia following her announcement that Berlin has “unequivocal” proof that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a deadly nerve agent. The Navalny case is only the latest in what Berlin has seen as a series of bitter provocations by…
Lukashenko Says ‘Intercepted Call’ Shows Germany ‘Falsified’ Navalny Poisoning Claims
Germany “falsified” its statement that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned, Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko told Russia’s visiting prime minister Thursday, citing an intercepted conversation. The German government said Wednesday that Navalny, 44, who remains in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator two weeks after falling ill on a flight, was poisoned…
A New Russian Law Could Ban Trans People From Officially Changing Their Gender
When Irma Veller, a 44-year-old transgender woman, found out about a new Russian law that would bar transgender people from changing their gender on their birth certificates, she decided it was finally time to leave the country. “I understood that my life is of no value here anymore,” Veller told The Moscow Times last week…
Europeans Turned Off Visiting Russia by High Costs, Low Awareness – Survey
Europeans avoid Russia because of low awareness of the country as a tourist destination and high costs of travel, according to a survey by the Moscow-based NAFI research center. Two-thirds of those polled told NAFI they had not encountered media information about tourist attractions in Russia. “The lack of information contributes to the spread of…
Almost All Arctic Wildfires Producing Record CO2 Emissions Are in Russia – EU
This year’s Arctic Circle wildfires, still ablaze, have already surpassed the record set in 2019 for CO2 emissions, adding to the carbon pollution humanity needs to curtail, the European Union’s Earth observation program said Thursday. Uncontrolled forest fires across one of the planet’s coldest regions has sent a quarter of a billion tonnes of CO2 spiraling…
Russia Plans to Resume Egypt, UAE, Maldives Flights Amid Pandemic
Russia has added Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and the Maldives to the list of countries it plans to restart flights with five months after closing its borders due to the coronavirus pandemic, a government decree said Thursday. Russia grounded most international flights in late March to slow the spread of Covid-19. Russia gradually lifted…
Germany Says Kremlin Critic Navalny Was Poisoned With Novichok
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a substance from the deadly Novichok family, the German government said Wednesday, demanding explanations from Moscow. “The Russian government is urged to explain the incident … the substance in Navalny’s organism is undoubtedly from the Novichok family,” said government spokesman Steffen Seibert in a statement. Prominent Kremlin…
How the World Is Reacting to the News That Navalny Was Poisoned With Novichok
On Wednesday, Germany said that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a substance from the deadly Novichok family. Novichok is a military-grade poison that was developed by the Soviet government toward the end of the Cold War. The news sent shockwaves around the West. Here’s an overview of how the world’s leading officials have so far…
Novichok, Feared Soviet-Designed Poison
The Soviet-designed nerve agent Novichok that Germany says poisoned Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny is a military-grade toxin banned as a chemical weapon after it was used in a previous attack in Britain. The newest class of nerve agent, the Novichok family of toxins was developed by the Soviet government towards the end of the…