Russia Watch

Danish authorities will acquire ‘enhanced capabilities’ after drones shut down Aalborg airport – Europe live | Denmark– www.theguardian.com

pgnewser September 25, 2025 0

Danish authorities will acquire ‘enhanced capabilities’ after drones shut down Aalborg airport – Europe live | Denmark– www.theguardian.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

The officials are getting quite a lot of pushback over their decision not to shoot the drones down, particularly over the Skrydstrup airbase, which hosts Denmark’s fighter jets.

They say it was part of “an overall assessment” of the situation, stressing risks of taking drones down in busy areas.

Russian Troops Are War-Weary, but Want to Conquer More of Ukraine ...

‘Russian troops retreat’ as Ukraine claims to have turned tide on front in brutal counter-offensive– www.thesun.co.uk

pgnewser September 23, 2025 0

Russian Troops Are War-Weary, but Want to Conquer More of Ukraine ...

‘Russian troops retreat’ as Ukraine claims to have turned tide on front in brutal counter-offensive– www.thesun.co.uk
Source Link
Excerpt:

UKRAINE claimed its troops have turned the tide in a key part of the eastern front.

Kyiv’s top general Oleksandr Syrskyi said his troops had recaptured some 60 square miles in a major reversal since August.

He also claimed Putin’s invaders had abandoned positions in a further 70 square miles north of the bomb-blitzed town of Pokrovsk.

The advances are welcome successes for Kyiv after months of Russian assaults wore down Ukraine’s morale.

Gen Syrskyi claimed Russian forces had suffered eye-watering losses including 1500 killed in action, another thousand wounded and at least 12 main battle tanks destroyed.

In a statement on Monday Gen Syrskyi said: “Control has been restored in seven settlements and nine more have been cleared of enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups.

“As of 12pm on 22 September 2025, a total of 164.0 km² have been liberated and another 180.3 km² cleared of enemy sabotage groups.”

Moldova | History, Population, Map, Flag, Capital, & Facts ...

Moldova detains 74 over alleged Russian plot to stir up unrest around key election– www.euronews.com

pgnewser September 23, 2025 0

Moldova | History, Population, Map, Flag, Capital, & Facts ...

Moldova detains 74 over alleged Russian plot to stir up unrest around key election– www.euronews.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

Authorities in Moldova said they had carried out 250 raids and detained dozens of people on Monday as part of an investigation into an alleged Russia-backed plan to incite “mass riots” and destabilise the country in the run-up to critical parliamentary elections.

The raids targeted more than 100 people and took place in multiple localities across the country, police said.

Seventy-four people were detained for up to 72 hours, said Victor Furtuna, Moldova’s chief prosecutor from the Office for Combating Organised Crime and Special Cases.

Moldova’s police said that the unrest plot was “coordinated from the Russian Federation, through criminal elements.”

Furtuna said that most of the suspects “systematically traveled” to Serbia, where they received training and that they were aged between 19 and 45 years old.

Moldovans will vote on Sunday to choose the new 101-seat legislature, in an election many view as a choice between the country’s continued path toward European Union membership or closer ties with Russia.

Online disinformation aimed at discrediting Moldova’s pro-European government in the run-up to the vote.

Fears grow Putin ‘planning armed revolt’ in Europe | World | News– www.express.co.uk

pgnewser September 23, 2025 0

Fears grow Putin ‘planning armed revolt’ in Europe | World | News– www.express.co.uk
Source Link
Excerpt:

Russia is shipping weapons and ammunition to Italy using mafia networks, according to a new investigative report. Officials in Rome are reportedly worried that Vladimir Putin is trying to destabilise Europe through the illicit shipments.

They suspect the Kremlin tyrant may be trying to provoke armed conflict either inside Italy or elsewhere in Europe. The consignments consist of unmarked Kalashnikovs, newer assault and sniper systems, and ammunition manufactured between 2010 and 2020. The illicit cargo enters Italy through Sicilian ports – including in Catania – and via border crossings in Friuli Venezia Giulia.

The investigation into the Russian arms smuggling was carried out by the Italian online newspaper Linkiesta. Russia‘s so-called shadow fleet has helped to transport the munitions to Italian ports.

The weapons are broken down and hidden in barrels of oil, fuel or lubricants to avoid inspections and preserve the arms from corrosion. Their onward distribution mirrors established narcotic routes.

Catania appears to have become one of the main centres of the trade.

Weapons caches tied to the Santapaola-Ercolano clan’s Nizza group were seized by police in March 2022, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Putin says Russia will comply with pact on nuclear arms for 1 more year – National– globalnews.ca

pgnewser September 23, 2025 0

Putin says Russia will comply with pact on nuclear arms for 1 more year – National– globalnews.ca
Source Link
Excerpt:

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Moscow will adhere to nuclear arms limits for one more year after the last remaining nuclear pact with the United States expires in February.

Putin said that the termination of the 2010 New START would have negative consequences for global stability. Speaking at a meeting with members of Russia’s Security Council, he said that Russia would expect the U.S. to follow Moscow’s example and also stick to the treaty’s limits.

The New START, signed by then-Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev, limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers. Its looming expiration and the lack of dialogue on anchoring a successor deal have worried arms control advocates.

Macron Says Europe’s Russian Energy Imports Are ‘Marginal’ Issue– financialpost.com

pgnewser September 22, 2025 0

Macron Says Europe’s Russian Energy Imports Are ‘Marginal’ Issue– financialpost.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

(Bloomberg) — French President Emmanuel Macron called the European Union’s remaining energy imports from Russia “very marginal,” challenging Donald Trump’s calls for the bloc to reduce its dependence if it wants the US to step up pressure on Moscow to end the war in Ukraine.

Russian jets violating Estonia airspace ignored NATO warning, officials say – National– globalnews.ca

pgnewser September 22, 2025 0

Russian jets violating Estonia airspace ignored NATO warning, officials say – National– globalnews.ca
Source Link
Excerpt:

Russian pilots ignored signals from Italian jets responding from NATO’s Baltic Air Policing Mission when they violated Estonian airspace, a senior Estonian military official said Saturday.

The 12-minute incursion was the latest test of the alliance’s ability to respond to Russian airborne threats after around 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace on Sept. 10.

Russia’s Defense Ministry on Saturday denied its aircraft flew into Estonia’s airspace, after Tallinn reported three fighter jets crossed into its territory on Friday without permission.

Estonian officials dismissed the denial, saying the violation was confirmed by radar and visual contact and suggested it could be a tactic to draw Western resources away from Ukraine.

The Russian MIG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace between 9:58 a.m. and 10:10 a.m. local time Friday in the area of Vaindloo, a small island located in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea, the Estonian military said. A ministry statement said it was the fourth airspace violation by Russia this year.

Putin sacks top general after Ukraine grinds Russia’s summer offensive down as Vlad helps out on military exercise– www.thesun.co.uk

pgnewser September 22, 2025 0

Putin sacks top general after Ukraine grinds Russia’s summer offensive down as Vlad helps out on military exercise– www.thesun.co.uk
Source Link
Excerpt:

VLADIMIR Putin has fired his top general amid ongoing humiliating blows from Ukraine.

General Alexander Lapin, 61, was reportedly sacked for failing to sweep through the Sumy region – considered one of the tyrant’s key war goals.

Almost Surrounded By Russian Forces, Residents Of Kostyantynivka Hold Out– www.rferl.org

pgnewser September 22, 2025 0

Almost Surrounded By Russian Forces, Residents Of Kostyantynivka Hold Out– www.rferl.org
Source Link
Excerpt:

 

Russian forces are trying to advance on Kostyantynivka from several directions, probing for weak spots in Ukrainian defenses. The Kremlin wants to cut off Ukrainian forces’ access to supply routes, which make this city a prime target. Despite constant shelling and disruptions to the water and electricity supply, some locals are hanging on — but are clearly rattled.

Trump says Putin has “really let me down,” as he wraps up historic second state visit to U.K.– www.cbsnews.com

pgnewser September 22, 2025 0

Trump says Putin has “really let me down,” as he wraps up historic second state visit to U.K.– www.cbsnews.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

U.S. companies will be investing 150 billion pounds, the equivalent of over $200 billion, in the U.K. as part of a landmark package announced this week.

“I promised that my government would deliver jobs, growth and opportunity for working people. Today we have secured a historic £150bn of investment commitments from US companies into the UK. Creating 7,600 high quality jobs and driving growth across the country,” Starmer said in a social media post Thursday morning before he welcomed President Trump to his country house, Chequers.

The deal includes the equivalent of over $136 billion in investment in the U.K. from Blackstone over the next decade, according to the British government. It also includes investments from Prologis, Palantir, Amentum, Boeing and STAX.

Maps: 7.8-Magnitude Earthquake Off Russia Prompts Brief Tsunami Advisory in Alaska– www.nytimes.com

pgnewser September 19, 2025 0

Maps: 7.8-Magnitude Earthquake Off Russia Prompts Brief Tsunami Advisory in Alaska– www.nytimes.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

A major, 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck in the North Pacific Ocean on Friday, according to the United States Geological Survey. The earthquake prompted a brief tsunami advisory, the second-highest alert level, for some coastal portions of western Alaska, which was lifted about two hours later.

The temblor happened at 6:58 a.m. Kamchatka time about 80 miles east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, data from the agency shows.

Tsunamis are a series of long waves caused by a large and sudden displacement of water in the ocean, usually from a large earthquake on or below the ocean floor. Tsunamis radiate in all directions from the epicenter and can cause dangerous coastal flooding and powerful currents that can last for hours or days.

The tsunami advisory had been in place for parts of the Alaskan coast that were closest to the earthquake. Farther away, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu said there was no threat to Hawaii. “Based on all available data, a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected,” it said.

In late July, the same region was hit by an 8.8-magnitude earthquake. That quake, one of the strongest ever recorded, set off tsunami waves that reached as far away as Hawaii and California.

Russia-backed network behind detonating parcels in Europe, Lithuania says– www.euronews.com

pgnewser September 18, 2025 0

Russia-backed network behind detonating parcels in Europe, Lithuania says– www.euronews.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

Fifteen people have been charged over an alleged Russia-backed operation that planned arson attacks across Europe through courier services, Lithuanian prosecutors have said.

In a statement on Wednesday, Lithuania’s prosecutor general’s office in Vilnius said investigations had revealed that suspects with ties to the GRU, the Russian military intelligence service, had led the operations.

The suspects included citizens from Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Ukraine.

The network is believed to have hidden home-made explosive devices, containing the highly flammable substance thermite, inside massage pillows and tubes of cosmetics.

Some of these incendiary devices exploded last year in the UK, Germany and Poland while being transported by the courier services DHL and DPD.

Four packages were posted on 19 July 2024 by a member of the network, prosecutors say.

Ukraine expects €2.9bn fund for US weapons to fight Russia, Zelenskyy says– www.euronews.com

pgnewser September 18, 2025 0

Ukraine expects €2.9bn fund for US weapons to fight Russia, Zelenskyy says– www.euronews.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

Ukraine expects to have around $3.5 billion (€2.9 billion) in a fund by next month to buy weapons from the United States and help sustain its war effort against Russia’s full-scale invasion, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday.

The financial arrangement known as the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) pools contributions from NATO members, with the exception of the United States, to purchase American weapons, munitions and equipment.

“We received more than $2 billion from our partners specifically for the PURL program,” Zelenskyy said at a joint news conference in Kyiv with visiting European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

“We will receive additional money in October. I think we will have somewhere around $3.5-3.6 billion.”

Zelenskyy declined to provide details of what weapons the first shipments would include, but said that they would definitely contain missiles for Patriot air defence missile systems and munitions for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).

The Russian Camp Where Abducted Ukrainian Children Reportedly Made Drones– www.rferl.org

pgnewser September 18, 2025 0

The Russian Camp Where Abducted Ukrainian Children Reportedly Made Drones– www.rferl.org
Source Link
Excerpt:

Evidence has been found for the first time that abducted Ukrainian children were used by Russia to assemble military equipment, according to the head of a Yale University team investigating the fate of nearly 20,000 minors reported to have been kidnapped or forcibly displaced.

“It’s the first time we’ve seen any such description of children involved in making devices for military operations,” Nathaniel Raymond, head of Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab, told RFE/RL.

Raymond said his team had seen Russian government documents which detailed how children aged 13-17 were given a class on assembling drones and other military equipment in April last year.

The incident, mentioned in a new report by Raymond’s team, took place at a beachside camp on the Black Sea called Change.

As negotiations for Ukraine’s EU accession near, everybody is talking about how to get around Orbán’s veto– rmx.news

pgnewser September 18, 2025 0

As negotiations for Ukraine’s EU accession near, everybody is talking about how to get around Orbán’s veto– rmx.news
Source Link
Excerpt:

According to Marta Kos, European Union Commissioner for Enlargement, the screening phase of Ukraine’s and Moldova’s EU accession process is almost complete.

However, of course, there is still that pesky Hungarian veto the EU must find a solution to, at least regarding Ukraine’s accession.

Kos, echoing sentiments expressed by Denmark’s Minister for European Affairs Marie Bjerre, assured the press that they will “proceed with the technical aspects,” even if the EU Council does not give its political approval, reports Magyar Nemzet.

Previously, Bjerre stated: “We are still trying to find a solution to get Hungary to give up its veto. If that doesn’t work, we are ready to consider all political and practical means to succeed [in opening negotiations], because our security is at stake.”

Readers should note that Denmark is the current president of the European Union, and it has made it clear that starting accession negotiations with Ukraine is a top priority of its presidency. As noted above by Bjerre, they are directly linking it to the security of the entire EU.

Denmark is not alone. Lithuania has actually presented a way to get around Hungary’s veto by simply starting negotiations without it. Although it is unclear as to how this would work, European Council President António Costa also believes that negotiations on Ukraine’s accession to the EU should continue, despite Hungary’s veto.

Ukraine may soon add warheads, interceptor drones to digital marketplace– www.army-technology.com

pgnewser September 18, 2025 0

Ukraine may soon add warheads, interceptor drones to digital marketplace– www.army-technology.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

Arsen Zhumadilov, director of Ukraine’s Defence Procurement Agency (DPA), revealed that the Ministry of Defence plan to introduce a new range of systems to the Ukrainian military’s digital marketplace, the DOT-Chain Defence platform, in 2026.

Last week, during DSEI 2025 in London, Zhumadilov revealed that the online marketplace may soon offer interceptor drones and warheads to Ukrainian military units for the first time.

What is the DOT-Chain Defence digital platform?

DOT-Chain Defence was launched in pilot mode only two months ago. Access to the IT system has only been granted to 12 brigades (deployed in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Kharkiv regions) out of more than a hundred.

Commanders can independently select and acquire systems using funds from the DPA.

The platform operates much like an online store but instead of civilian commodities it offers a range of weapons systems. Initially, DPA focused on supplying first-person view (FPV) uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), but this soon expanded to include other autonomous systems and radio electronic warfare (EW) devices. Currently, the marketplace offers products from 25 companies.

Putin responsible for murder? Navalny’s wife claims he was ‘poisoned’ in prison; demands laboratory report to be made public– timesofindia.indiatimes.com

pgnewser September 17, 2025 0

Putin responsible for murder? Navalny’s wife claims he was ‘poisoned’ in prison; demands laboratory report to be made public– timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny‘s wife claimed that independent lab tests on biological samples secretly taken abroad indicate he was poisoned while incarcerated in an Arctic prison in February 2024. Navalny, who was President Vladimir Putin’s most prominent critic, died under mysterious circumstances died under mysterious circumstances while serving a 19-year sentence on charges widely seen as political retribution, AFP reported. In a video statement, Yulia Navalnaya said laboratories in two countries had concluded he was “killed, specifically poisoned,” but withheld details about the substance or the labs involved, urging them instead to release their findings independently.She said his allies “were able to obtain and securely transfer biological samples of Alexei abroad”.”Laboratories in two countries came to the conclusion that Alexei was killed. Specifically: poisoned,” she said in a video posted on social media.“I demand that the laboratories that conducted the analyses publish their results,” she said. “I assert that Vladimir Putin is responsible for the murder of my husband, Alexei Navalny,” she said in the video. “Stop appeasing Putin for some higher ‘considerations’.

Putin spokesman makes chilling WW3 comments as NATO ‘at war with Russia’– www.mirror.co.uk

pgnewser September 17, 2025 0

Putin spokesman makes chilling WW3 comments as NATO ‘at war with Russia’– www.mirror.co.uk
Source Link
Excerpt:

NATO countries are “at war with Russia” over Ukraine, the spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin has said.

“NATO is at war with Russia,” Dmitry Peskov told Russian state media on Monday. “This is obvious, and it does not require any additional evidence. NATO provides direct and indirect support to the Kyiv regime.” Peskov’s comments reiterated a familiar Kremlin narrative that Western backing of Ukraine amounts to active participation in the conflict.

Tensions soared last week between NATO’s Eastern European allies and Russia. A total of 19 Russian drones flew over Poland overnight on Wednesday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said, adding that at least three were shot down by Polish and NATO aircraft.

“This situation brings us the closest we have been to open conflict since World War Two,” Tusk warned. The incident marked the first time Russian drones were downed over NATO territory since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

In response to the incursion, Warsaw invoked NATO’s Article 4 on Thursday, which calls for discussions among allies over threats to territorial security. This is a step short of Article 5, which requires collective military defence from allies if a member state is attacked. Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski described the drone attacks as a test of the alliance’s resolve by Russia.

Drone Saturation: Russia's Shahed Campaign

Drone neutralised flying over government buildings in Warsaw, PM Donald Tusk says– www.euronews.com

pgnewser September 16, 2025 0

Drone Saturation: Russia's Shahed Campaign

Drone neutralised flying over government buildings in Warsaw, PM Donald Tusk says– www.euronews.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

Poland’s State Protection Service (SOP) has neutralised a drone flying that was flying over sensitive government locations in Warsaw, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in a post on X.

Two Belarusian citizens were detained in connection with the incident and police have launched an investigation into the incident, Tusk said.

The incident comes at a time of heightened regional tensions following a string of airspace violations.

Poland says its airspace was violated in the early hours of Wednesday by a record 19 drones, believed to be from Russia.

In response, the Armed Forces of Ukraine said it would send a team to Poland to provide anti-drone training.

The Polish government has traditionally been a staunch supporter of Ukraine’s war effort.

Total support to Ukraine from Warsaw totals approximately €3.3 billion, in both military and humanitarian assistance.

EU Delays New Sanctions on Russia – Politico– www.themoscowtimes.com

pgnewser September 16, 2025 0

EU Delays New Sanctions on Russia – Politico– www.themoscowtimes.com
Source Link
Excerpt:

The European Union has indefinitely postponed the adoption of its 19th sanctions package against Russia, Politico reported on Tuesday, citing officials familiar with the decision.

European capitals were informed of the delay on Monday afternoon, though it remains unclear when the package might be finalized or what prompted the holdup. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas had said that the bloc’s latest measures “should be ready” by the end of the month.

Some member states have pushed for the new sanctions to include tighter restrictions on visas for Russian citizens. Visa issuance currently falls under the authority of individual countries, leading to wide variation. Poland and the Netherlands, for example, stopped issuing tourist visas to Russians after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, while Spain and Slovakia recently reopened application centers in Moscow.

Putin crony threatens full scale war if NATO shoots down Russian drones– www.mirror.co.uk

pgnewser September 15, 2025 0

Putin crony threatens full scale war if NATO shoots down Russian drones– www.mirror.co.uk
Source Link
Excerpt:

Russian officials appear to have been rattled by proposals for NATO to police the airspace above Ukraine, preventing Putin drones from flying into member state nations

Russia has threatened the West with WW3 if NATO shoots down its drones(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Vladimir Putin’s top crony has threatened full-scale war with NATO if the military organisation shoots down Russian drones – less than a week after one strayed into two member states’ airspace.

Spooked Russian officials have reacted with alarm to renewed proposals from Poland for the military pact to enforce a no-fly zone over parts of Ukraine after a drone strayed into the country last week. The major incursion, dubbed a test by Moscow of NATO’s resolve, sparked immediate World War Three fears, and pact members have spent days discussing a response.

Proposals for a no-fly zone and for an enhanced aerial presence in Ukraine have been branded a “provocative idea” by Putin’s attack dog, who sensationally warned of “a war between NATO and Russia“.