Tag: Ukraine

Russia says ‘repelled’ drone attack on Crimea port

Moscow, Russia | AFP | Monday 4/24/2023 Russian authorities said Monday they had “repelled” a drone attack on the port of Sevastopol in Moscow-annexed Crimea, adding that there was no damage nor casualties. The peninsula, seized by Russia from Ukraine in 2014, is home to Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet and has been hit by a series of drone attacks since the Kremlin’s special military operation in Ukraine in February last year. “An attempted attack on […]

‘Ukrainian’ drone found outside Moscow

A “Ukrainian” drone has been found outside Moscow, an official said on Monday, adding this had led local authorities to call off a Victory Day parade for security reasons. Moscow has accused Ukraine of being behind a number of drone attacks on military infrastructure deep inside Russian territory. On Monday, Igor Sukhin, head of the Bogorodsky city district outside the capital Moscow, said that a local resident had found a “Ukrainian” drone in a forest. […]

Some rebel Russian far-right groups join Ukraine’s side

Paris, France | AFP | Friday 4/21/2023 by Didier Lauras with Anna Malpas in Kyiv Russia’s far-right groups have splintered over the war in Ukraine, with some of them now fighting alongside Kyiv’s forces and organising moves to embarrass the Kremlin. In March, the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVK) came out of the woodwork when it claimed responsibility for a violent incursion in Russia’s Bryansk border region. The group represents a “complex mixed threat of cross-border […]

Blast rocks Russian city as fighter jet loses ammunition

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Russia said one of its fighter jets lost ammunition over Belgorod near the Ukrainian border on Thursday, after local authorities reported a blast that injured two people and left a huge crater in the city. Russian jets have regularly flown sorties over Belgorod since the launch of Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine in February 2022. On Thursday evening, local officials reported a massive explosion in Belgorod, saying the blast had left a […]

Biden, Macron talk to ease tensions after French leader’s China trip

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — US President Joe Biden and President Emmanuel Macron signaled efforts Thursday to ease tensions in the wake of the French leader’s recent remarks on Taiwan and the European security relationship with Washington. The White House and Elysee said in separate statements after the phone call that the leaders discussed Macron’s state visit in the first week of April to Beijing, where he spent several hours with President Xi Jinping. As […]

Zelensky asks Mexico to help organize summit with Latin America

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked Mexico for its support Thursday to organize a summit with Latin American countries to help end the Russian invasion, in a message to Mexican lawmakers. “Ukraine has already proposed to the Latin American community to organize a special summit and show its unity and position on important global principles of territorial integrity, peace and respect between peoples,” Zelensky said through an interpreter. Mexico could help […]

Seoul says military aid for Ukraine ‘depends on Russia’

SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — South Korea’s decision on whether to send military aid to Kyiv depends on Russia’s actions, Seoul’s presidential office said Thursday, adding that a possible large-scale civilian attack could tip the balance. Seoul has a long-standing policy against providing weapons to countries in active conflict, which it has repeatedly said makes it difficult to supply arms directly to Ukraine. South Korea has supported the US-led sanctions on Moscow and has sent […]

Russia warns South Korea against arming Ukraine

Moscou, Russia | AFP | Russia on Wednesday warned South Korea against sending weapons to Ukraine after Seoul opened the door to possible military aid to Kyiv in the event of a large-scale civilian attack. An ally of Washington, Seoul has provided non-lethal and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, but has so far ruled out military aid. But South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol told Reuters on Wednesday that “if there is a situation the international […]

‘Join forces’ against sanctions ‘blackmail’ urges Russia’s Lavrov

CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called Tuesday for like-minded countries to “join forces” against Western sanctions “blackmail,” as the longtime diplomat continued his tour of Latin America. Discussing Russia’s war on Ukraine with Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil in Caracas, Lavrov referred to allies Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua as countries “that choose their own path.” All are, like Russia, the subject of damaging economic sanctions, he pointed out. “It is necessary to […]

Under fire, Brazil’s Lula ‘condemns’ invasion of Ukraine

Brasília, Brazil (AFP) — Under fire for “parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda,” Brazil’s President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva on Tuesday made clear his condemnation of Russia’s “violation of the territorial integrity” of Ukraine. The White House on Monday had criticized Lula’s remarks during a recent trip to China that Washington was “encouraging the war” in Ukraine and that Kyiv shared blame for the conflict. “Brazil is parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda without at all […]

US reporter denied bail at first public Russian court hearing

Moscow, Russia | AFP | Tuesday 4/18/2023 US reporter Evan Gershkovich appeared at a Moscow court on Tuesday, in the first partly open hearing since his arrest for alleged espionage, in a case that has drawn international condemnation. Wearing jeans and a blue checked shirt, Gershkovich crossed his arms and smiled before the start of the appeal hearing against his pre-trial detention. But, after a short hearing, his request for release on bail was turned […]

Moscow summons western envoys over ‘gross interference’

Moscow, Russia | AFP | Tuesday 4/18/2023 Moscow said on Tuesday it had summoned the US, British and Canadian ambassadors for “gross interference” in Russia’s domestic affairs. Russia’s foreign ministry did not say precisely why the envoys were called in, but Moscow already blasted them for their statement denouncing a 25-year sentence against Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza on Monday. The ambassadors were summoned for “gross interference in Russia’s internal affairs and activities that do not […]