Putin will seek another term as Russian president, aiming to extend his rule of over two decades
Vladimir Putin has moved to prolong his repressive and unyielding grip on Russia for at least another six years, announcing his candidacy in the presidential election next March that he is all but certain to win.
30 years ago, the Kremlin crushed a parliamentary uprising, leading to strong presidential rule
Three decades ago, the world held its breath as tanks blasted the Russian parliament building in central Moscow while the Kremlin moved to flush out rebellious lawmakers in a crisis that shaped the countryโs post-Soviet history.
A top Russian general linked to the head of a rebellious mercenary group is reportedly dismissed
Russian media reports that Gen. Sergei Surovikin, a former commander of Moscow's forces in Ukraine who was linked to the leader of an armed rebellion, has been dismissed from his job as chief of the air force.
Russia arrests a hard-line nationalist who accused Putin of weakness in Ukraine
A prominent Russian hard-line nationalist who accused President Vladimir Putin of weakness in Ukraine has been arrested on charges of extremism, a signal the Kremlin has toughened its approach with hawkish critics after last monthโs abortive rebellion by the Wagner mercenary company.
Video appears to show Russian mercenary chief Prigozhin for first time since short-lived mutiny
A new video appears to show Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin for the first time since he led a short-lived rebellion last month, and he is seen telling his troops they will spend time in Belarus training its military before deploying to Africa.
Armed rebellion by Wagner chief Prigozhin underscores erosion of Russian legal system
Russiaโs rebellious mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin walked free from prosecution for his June 24 armed mutiny, and itโs still unclear if anyone will face any charges in the brief uprising against the military or for the deaths of the soldiers killed in it.
Belarus leader welcomes Wagner forces but others in the country see them as a threat
As life in Russia returns to normal after an armed rebellion by a mercenary group, tensions are rising in and around its neighbor Belarus, where the exiled leader of the force and some of its fighters are settling in.
The reason US response to the Russia rebellion has been decidedly cautious
On the surface, the turmoil in Russia would seem like something for the U.S. to celebrate: a powerful mercenary group engaging in a short-lived clash with Russiaโs military at the very moment that Ukraine is trying to gain momentum in a critical counteroffensive.
Russian mercenary group revolt against Moscow fizzles but exposes vulnerabilities
The greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power has fizzled out after the rebellious mercenary commander who ordered his troops to march on Moscow agreed to go into exile and sounded the retreat.
Amid infighting among Putin's lieutenants, head of mercenary force appears to take a step too far
For months, the head of the Wagner private military contractor bombarded Russiaโs top military leaders with expletive-ridden insults in a rift that has weakened the countryโs forces amid the war in Ukraine.
African leaders to broach thorny issue of paying Russia for fertilizers in Kyiv and Moscow talks
A delegation of six African leaders set to hold talks with Kyiv and Moscow aim to โinitiate a peace processโ but also broach the thorny issue of how a heavily-sanctioned Russia can be paid for the fertilizer exports Africa desperately needs, a key mediator in the talks said.
Russian private army head claims control of Bakhmut but Ukraine says fighting continues
The head of the Russian private army Wagner claims his forces have taken control of the city of Bakhmut after the longest and most grinding battle of the Russia-Ukraine war, but Ukrainian defense officials have denied it.
Ukraine says it has retaken territory near embattled eastern city of Bakhmut
Ukrainian military commanders say their troops had recaptured more territory from Russian forces at the scene of the warโs longest and bloodiest battle, for the eastern city of Bakhmut, but it wasnโt clear if this marked the start of Kyivโs long-expected counteroffensive.
Russia's defense chief warns of 'dirty bomb' provocation
Russiaโs defense chief has alleged that Ukraine was preparing a โprovocationโ involving a radioactive device, a stark claim that was strongly rejected by Ukrainian and British officials amid soaring tensions as Moscow struggles to stem Ukrainian advances.
Moscow demands that Belarus free 33 detained Russians
In this photo taken from video released by Belarusian KGB, State TV and Radio Company of Belarus on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, Belarusian KGB officers detain Russian men in a sanitarium outside in Minsk, Belarus. (Belarusian KGB, State TV and Radio Company of Belarus via AP)MOSCOW The Kremlin demanded Friday that Belarus quickly release 33 Russian private security contractors it detained on terrorism charges, dismissing accusations of plots during the Belarus presidential campaign as bogus. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia expects Belarus to quickly free the detainees. He frequently accused the Kremlin of harboring plans to incorporate Belarus with Russia and vowed to resist them. Belarus election officials have blocked his two main challengers from being registered to run against him.
US sanctions companies linked to businessman close to Putin
WASHINGTON The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on companies connected to a Russian businessman who is close to Russian President Vladimir Putin and suspected of helping finance the covert social media campaign aimed at American voters ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The actions announced Wednesday take aim at front companies that officials say Yevgeny Prigozhin has relied on to process millions of dollars and to evade sanctions in Sudan, where the Trump administration says Russia has been involved in paramilitary operations and supporting authoritarian regimes. Todays actions will further limit attempts by Prigozhin and his backers to foment disorder or undermine democratic reforms in Sudan, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement announcing the sanctions by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Prigozhin, whose close relationship to Putin has earned him the nickname of Putin's Chef," attracted attention in 2018 after he and Russian companies he controlled were indicted in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into ties between Russia and the Trump campaign. He was accused of financing an effort to use social media posts to spread disinformation and to divide American public opinion on hot-button social issues ahead of the election.