Eastern Europe / News
Russia bringing in de facto visa regime for Central Asia nationals, say critics
Rights campaigners, meanwhile, hit out at digital controls on migrants in country that they say will be used to corner people into joining armed forces.
Ukraine and Russia trade missile and drone attacks as the war enters a new phase
Russian rockets and drones rained down on cities across Ukraine over the weekend of June 7, targeting, amongst other things, a children’s railway park. Dozens were killed and more injured.
Kyrgyzstan takes down tallest statue of Lenin
Monument in Osh replaced with a flagpole. Officials move quickly to explain why Moscow should not be offended.
Slovak parliament passes resolution against anti-Russian sanctions after opposition boycott backfires
The Slovak parliament has passed a resolution urging members of the populist left-right cabinet of Robert Fico not to vote against new sanctions directed against Russia.
Ukraine defaults on $2.6bn GDP warrants as restructuring talks stall
Ukraine has defaulted on $2.6bn worth of sovereign debt after opting not to make payments due June 2 on GDP-linked warrants, the country’s finance ministry confirmed, citing the need to prioritise broader economic stability and recovery.
Russian farmers ask Putin to deal with Kazakh antelope invasion
Half a million saiga have crossed border. Protected animals are devastating crops and polluting water supplies.
Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb destroyed fewer Russian bombers than claimed
Ukraine’s spectacular Operation Spiderweb on June 1 destroyed fewer Russian strategic bombers than Kyiv first claimed, according to satellite evidence released by the US firm Maxar.
EU selects 13 global strategic raw materials projects to boost supply security
European Commission publishes list with projects in Emerging Europe, Central Asia, Africa and elsewhere as bloc strives to reduce dependency on a handful of global suppliers.
Orban vows to “do everything” to keep Ukraine out of the EU
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has vowed to “do everything” in his power to prevent Ukraine from joining the European Union, he said in a social media post on June 3, escalating tensions over the bloc’s enlargement policy.
Russia’s Gazprom has quietly shelved Turkey gas hub plan, says report
Project praised by Putin no longer seen as viable, sources at energy giant cited as saying.
Ukraine’s secret services hit Kerch bridge with a 1,100kg bomb
Ukraine’s security services have claimed responsibility for a major underwater explosion that damaged the Kerch Bridge on June 3, the critical road and rail link between Russia and the occupied Crimean peninsula.
Russia demands Ukraine's de facto capitulation with Istanbul demands
Russian and Ukrainian delegations met in Istanbul for the second direct ceasefire talks on June 1 that made little progress in laying out the groundwork for the mooted 30-day ceasefire suggested by the Trump administration in March.
START missile treaty exposed Russia’s nuclear bombers to Ukrainian drone attack
The conditions of the START missile treaty signed between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Joe Biden in January 2021 exposed Russia’s strategic nuclear bomber fleet to the devastating Operation Spiderweb drone attack.
Russo-Ukraine ceasefire talks in Istanbul break up with no progress
Russia and Ukraine held direct talks for the third time since the war started on June 2, but the meeting broke up with no real progress made.
Ukraine’s audacious Operation Spiderweb drone attack destroys nuclear bombers deep inside Russian territory
Operation spiderweb unleashed a swarm of Ukrainian drones, launched from trucks, that destroyed a third of Russia’s nuclear-capable long-distance bombers, parked on the runway thousands of kilometres from the front line.
COVID is back - a new "NB.1.8.1" strain is spreading across continents
The coronavirus (COVID-19) is back. Reports from health authorities around the world have detected a new highly contagious strain of the virus that has been spreading through Asia and has now reached Russia.
China launches international mediation organisation in Hong Kong
China has launched a new international mediation organisation in Hong Kong on May 30, signed by 31 countries
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Bolivia's $2bn lithium deals with China and Russia suspended by court ruling
A court in Potosí halts $2bn lithium projects with Russia’s Uranium One and China’s CBC in Bolivia, home to the world’s largest lithium reserves, over legal and environmental concerns tied to direct lithium extraction plans.
Critical delay hits Russia’s building of Turkey’s first nuclear plant as $7bn fails to show up
Moscow believed to be seeking financial concessions from Ankara.
Washington receives Ukraine draft of conditions for ceasefire deal with Russia
The United States has received a draft proposal for implementing the ceasefire from Ukraine and is now waiting for the Russian version, US Special Representative for Ukraine, during remarks reported by Vedomosti on May 27.