DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ A Ukrainian war reporter's story: Why I refused to make a 'deal with the devil'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

He was a student at Mariupol State University in 2014 when war broke out in the Donbas, and Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula. "I refused to make a deal with the devil. Ponomarenko said he believes the war has "shown what ordinary people are capable of" and has helped reveal "their true selves," pointing to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as evidence. AdvertisementCapturing it would put Russian forces within striking distance of Ukrainian operational and supply centers in the area. "Bucha was the greatest moment for me because it shows that life prevails," Ponomarenko said.

Persons: —, Ponomarenko, Viktor Yanukovych, Libkos, Rushing Organizations: Service, Mariupol State University, Business, Kyiv, Kyiv Independent Locations: Volnovakha, Ukraine's, Donetsk, Russia, Kyiv, Dnipro, Avdiivka, Ukraine

☆ Georgia rocked by protests as government pushes Putin-style ‘foreign agent’ bill
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —After spending his days making wine in the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains, Tsotne Jafaridze returns home to Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, and begins his new routine. Jafaridze, who also owns a travel business and says he receives 95% of his income from foreign sources, says he would “immediately” be listed as a foreign agent under the broadly-written law. But the government reintroduced the same bill in March and appears determined to force it through, despite protests that grow fiercer every week. Despite recent Russian aggression against Georgia, Georgian Dream has long been accused of harboring pro-Russian sympathies and its billionaire founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili, made his fortune in the Soviet Union. Bidzina Ivanishvili addresses a rally in support of the "foreign agent" law in Tbilisi, April 29, 2024.

Persons: Jafaridze, ”, Vladimir Putin, “, Giorgi Arjevanidze, isn’t, ” Natalie Sabanadze, –, Levan Khabeishvili, Khabeishvili, Bidzina Ivanishvili, ” Buziashvili, Ivanishvili, Bidzina, Shakh, Sabanandze, Irakli Kobakhidze, Kobakhidze, ” Sabanadze, Viktor Orban, Europe’s, Matthew Miller, Washington, Georgia “, Irakli Gedenidze, Viktor Yanukovych, doesn’t Organizations: CNN, European Union, Getty, EU, United National Movement, National Security Council, Soviet Army, Soviet Union, Belarus ’, Party, Georgian, Conservative Political, United, State Department, Protesters, Reuters Locations: Caucasus, Tbilisi, Georgia’s, Russia, Georgian, Russian, Soviet, AFP, Brussels, Georgia, Belarus, Ukraine, Soviet Union, Hungary, Hungarian, United States, stoke, ”

But with Russian forces still inside the country and millions of Ukrainians displaced from their homes, fighting on the frontlines, or living overseas, there is no election in sight. Although Sunday is the day the constitution says Ukraine should be voting, it also does not allow it during wartime. He would have voted for Zelensky five years ago if he had had the chance and would vote for him now. Last August, President Zelensky was asked for his position in an interview on Ukrainian television and sounded sympathetic to holding a poll. As the United States Congress continues to dither over new military aid, elections in Ukraine became folded into the debate by some Republicans.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Viktor Yanukovych, Mykola Lyapin, Kateryna Bilokon, Yanukovych, ”, Jamie Oliver, ‘, ’, Oleksiy Koshel, Zelensky’s, Vivek Ramaswamy, Lindsey Graham, “, ” Zelenskiy, Valentyn Ogirenko, Graham, Ruslan Stefanchuk, ” Stefanchuk, disenfranchisement, Oleksandr Voitko, Valerii, Maria Kostenko, Victoria Butenko Organizations: CNN —, Republicans, Sunday, Putin, CNN, Zelensky, Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, Russia, United States Congress, Republican Party, South, 47th Brigade, “ Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv’s, Europe, United States, “, South Carolina, Kyiv, Russian, Avdiivka, Italy, Russia

☆ The 'accidental' politicians: Meet three women risking everything to fight for democracy
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Silvia Amaro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

That's what one Ukrainian lawmaker said of the wife of the late Alexei Navalny, who vowed to continue her husband's political work fighting for democracy in Russia after he died in a Siberian prison last month. As the first reports of Navalny's death started to emerge, Navalnaya was in Munich at a security conference. Yulia Navalnaya (L) is applauded by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola after addressing the European Parliament on Feb. 28, 2024. "I will continue the work of Alexei Navalny. Belarusian political opposition in exile leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya clutches a folder with a portrait of her husband, jailed opposition figure Sergei Tikhanovsky, in November, 2023 Sean Gallup | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Persons: Yulia Navalnaya, Alexei Navalny, Kai Pfaffenbach, Navalnaya, Alexei, Roberta Metsola, Frederick Florin, Lisa Yasko, Cristina Quicler, Yasko, Viktor Yanukovych, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Monique Jaques, Aleksandr Lukashenko —, Vladimir Putin, Tsikhanouskaya, Lukashenko, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, Sergei Tikhanovsky, Sean Gallup Organizations: Munich Security, Afp, Getty, European Union, CNBC, Zoom, Corbis, Munich, Conference Locations: Munich, Germany, Russia, Ukrainian, Georgia, Kyiv, Kiev, Ukraine, Belarus, Belarusian

☆ A decadelong secret partnership between the CIA and Ukraine has been critical for lethal operations against Russia: NYT
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ten years ago, the CIA cautiously partnered with Ukraine to help gather intelligence on Russia. The agency initially made clear that it would not help Ukraine conduct lethal operations, per NYT. AdvertisementUkraine has relied on a decadelong secret partnership with the CIA to gather critical Russian intelligence and, more recently, carry out lethal operations during the war, according to a new report from The New York Times. The CIA made clear that it would not help Ukraine carry out lethal operations against its adversary, the Times reported. The Biden Administration greenlighted the CIA to provide intelligence critical for Ukraine's lethal operations against Russia, the report said.

Persons: —, Viktor Yanukovych, Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, Nalyvaichenko, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: CIA, Service, The New York Times, Kremlin, Times, Ukraine's Security, MI6, Biden Administration greenlighted Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Crimea

☆ Zelenskyy's aides kept an emergency escape train on standby for him at the start of the war. He never took it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Zelenskyy's aides had a train ready for him to escape on in February 2022, a new book says. Zelenskyy refused to use the train and defiantly stayed to lead Ukraine's defense against Russia. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAt the outbreak of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's security service kept a train idling in Kyiv to enable a quick escape out of the city, according to a new biography. Ukraine's then-defense minister, Oleksiy Reznikov, said that Russia was trying to make Zelenskyy panic and run, according to Shuster.

Persons: Zelenskyy's, Zelenskyy, —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy's, Volodymyr Zelensky, Simon Shuster, Shuster, Ukraine's, Oleksiy Reznikov, Olena Zelenska, Pierre Crom, Viktor Yanukovych, Joe Biden —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Russia, Service, Reuters, Armed Forces of Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Kyiv, Kyiv's, Russia, Poland, Armed Forces of Ukraine

☆ ‘A hero every day’: He joined Ukraine’s Maidan protests at 16. At 24, he died fighting Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Anna Coren | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Kyiv, Ukraine CNN —Taras Ratushnyy remembers receiving a phone call from his son Roman during Ukraine’s deadly 2013 Maidan Revolution. Both his parents were previously activists and journalists; his mother Svitlana Povalyaeva, also a writer and poet, took part in the Maidan Revolution alongside her two sons. A young Roman Ratushnyy, who joined the Maidan Revolution at just 16 years old. It was the 10th anniversary of the Maidan protests; Taras had just one day at home before he returned to the battlefield. CNNFighting for a European futureThe Maidan protests were sparked by Ukraine’s then-President Viktor Yanukovych abruptly scrapping a trade deal with the European Union.

Persons: Ukraine CNN — Taras Ratushnyy, Roman, “, ” Roman, Taras, blaring, Svitlana Povalyaeva, Ratushnyy, Volodymyr Zelensky, –, ” Taras, Taras Ratushnyy, Ukraine’s, Viktor Yanukovych, Yanukovych –, Vladimir Putin, —, ”, Efrem, Marci Shore, Molotov, Yanukovych, Roman –, Boris Dralyuk, I’ll, Genya Savilov Organizations: Ukraine CNN —, CNN, European Union, Supporters, Europe, Getty Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Kyiv’s, Europe, Russia, Crimea, Izium, Ukraine’s Kharkiv Oblast, Moscow, Independence, Russia’s, Maidan, ”, Ukraine’s, Sumy Oblast, Ukrainian, American, AFP

☆ For eastern Ukrainians, the ordeal of war is entering its second decade
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

It is now close to the front line between Ukrainian and Russian forces, and many of its buildings are damaged or destroyed. Like most people from Chasiv Yar, Tkachov has moved further from the fighting though some remain. All of them have lived through nearly a decade of war, a reminder that for millions in eastern Ukraine the conflict has rumbled on since 2014, long before Russia's full-scale invasion in February last year grabbed the world's attention. BUILD-UPUkraine and its Western allies say Russia infiltrated eastern Ukraine with fighters and intelligence operatives to stage a coup in Donbas in 2014 which Moscow subsequently supported with regular troops. FULL-SCALE WARThe U.N. human rights office estimated that more than 14,000 military personnel and civilians were killed in eastern Ukraine from early April 2014 to the end of 2021.

Persons: Tkachov, Alina Smutko, CHASIV, Chasiv Yar, Vladimir Putin, Viktor Yanukovych, Yanukovych, Max Hunder, Mike Collett, White Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Russian, Russia, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Kostiantynivka, Ukraine, Donetsk region, Donbas, CHASIV YAR, Chasiv, Russian, Russia, Moscow, Donetsk, Luhansk, Soviet Union, Ukrainian, CRIMEA, Kyiv, Crimea, Sloviansk, Soviet

Ousted Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych made his first public appearance since disappearing last weekend. At a press conference in Rostov on Don, Russia, Yanukovych struck a defiant tone. Photo: APThe European Union will recommend on Wednesday that the bloc begins membership talks with Ukraine soon, boosting President Volodymyr Zelensky , who has made EU accession a central goal. Even though membership talks would take years to complete, a positive EU recommendation would offer Zelensky and Ukraine rare good news at a tense time.

Persons: Viktor Yanukovych, Yanukovych, Volodymyr Zelensky Organizations: European Union Locations: Rostov, Don, Russia, Ukraine, Zelensky

☆ EU report says Ukraine is ready to start process of joining
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

The same report suggests that accession talks with Moldova should also begin. Ukraine has held ambitions to join the EU for more than a decade. The aim of joining the bloc – along with NATO - has formally been part of Ukraine’s constitution since 2019. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky applied for EU membership in February 2022, shortly before Russia invaded his country. With Ukraine currently at war, it is unclear and unlikely that those conditions will be met any time soon.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, ” Von der Leyen, Viktor Yanukovych’s, Volodymyr Zelensky Organizations: CNN, EU, European Union, NATO, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Moldova, Russia, Crimea

☆ EU accession: List of countries to join the bloc
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

CANDIDATE COUNTRY STATUSTURKEY (candidate since 1999). While still officially a candidate country, Turkey's accession talks with the EU have long been frozen, largely over human rights and governance concerns. It was given the green light for accession talks in 2020 after changing its name from Macedonia to North Macedonia to satisfy Greek sensitivities. The small Balkan country applied for EU membership in 2008. Since 2016, the EU has had a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Kosovo that serves as a basis for its accession path.

Persons: Viktor Yanukovych, Jan Strupczewski, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Union, EU, NORTH, European Commission, Commission, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Granada, TURKEY, NORTH MACEDONIA, Macedonia, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, MONTENEGRO, SERBIA, ALBANIA, EU, Albania, MOLDOVA, Moldova, UKRAINE, Kyiv, Russia, Ukraine, Crimea, BOSNIA, HERZEGOVINA, Bosnia, GEORGIA, Georgia, Tbilisi, KOSOVO, Brussels, Kosovo, Serbia

According to Maiboroda, Mykytas used Tatarov for difficult tasks, including bribe payments on behalf of Ukrbud Development. "He knew about law enforcement and warned us to be careful about saying almost anything on the phone," Maiboroda told Reuters. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) said experts would need to study the material to verify it. "The main thing is that a person is honest," Zelenskiy told reporters several days after Tatarov's appointment. Zelenskiy told Ukrainian television network ICTV in October 2021 that the offshore arrangement was to protect his TV production business from political pressure by the Yanukovych government.

Persons: Oleh Maiboroda, Maiboroda, Oleh Tatarov, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Tatarov, Maiboroda's, Ukraine's, Zelenskiy, Kyiv pollsters, Oleksii Reznikov, Reznikov, Daria Kaleniuk, Nicola Mirto, Mirto, Viktor Yanukovych, Yanukovich's, Maxym Mykytas, Mykytas, Maiborada, NABU, Yanukovych, –, General Iryna Venediktova, Artem Sytnyk, Sytnyk, didn't, Oleksiy Symonenko, Symonenko, Andriy Yermak, Yermak, Denys, Dmytro Shtanko, Liudmyla, Sergey Shefir, Shefir, Vyacheslav Shapovalov, Yaroslav Zheleznyak, Zheleznyak, Zelensky, Ihor, Kolomoisky, Semen Kryvonos, Kaleniuk, ”, Stephen Grey, Dan Peleschuk, Janet McBride Organizations: Reuters, Ukrbud, Prosecutors, Ukraine's, European Union, International Monetary Fund, Kyiv, Kyiv Independent, Tatarov, Ministry, Interior Ministry, Virgin Islands, ICTV, National Agency for, Ministry of Defence, Kiel Institute, NATO, Thomson Locations: VIENNA, KYIV, Vienna, Ukraine, Tatarov, Russia, Europe, European, Kyiv, Italian, Ukrainian, Soviet Ukraine, Zelenskiy's, Switzerland, Spain, Soviet, United States, Irpin

"Unless Zelenskiy gets rid of Tatarov, he won't be seen as serious in purging the country of corruption," she told Reuters. "He knew about law enforcement and warned us to be careful about saying almost anything on the phone," Maiboroda told Reuters. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) said experts would need to study the material to verify it. "The main thing is that a person is honest," Zelenskiy told reporters several days after Tatarov's appointment. Zelenskiy told Ukrainian television network ICTV in October 2021 that the offshore arrangement was to protect his TV production business from political pressure by the Yanukovych government.

☆ Ukraine Court Orders Ex-Government Minister Detained on Suspicion of Treason
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - A Ukrainian court on Friday ordered a former government minister detained for 60 days with no option of bail on suspicion of espousing pro-Russian sentiments and committing treason. A video of a Kyiv court ordering Shufrych's detention circulated on numerous Ukrainian news sites. The investigators said Shufrych had been carrying out instructions by Russian and pro-Russian officials to promote pro-Moscow policies inside Ukraine. He held talks with separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and urged Ukraine's authorities to consider making a deal with Moscow over the creation of pro-Russian territories there. Authorities said a search of Shufrych's home on Friday found documents on creating separatist entities in eastern Ukraine as well as Russian medals and other regalia.

Persons: Nestor Shufrych, Shufrych, Viktor Yanukovych, Viktor Medvedchuk, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Grant McCool Organizations: Reuters, Public Suspilne Television, Emergency Services, Investigators, Authorities Locations: Moscow, Ukraine, Crimea, Russia

CNN —Belarus would be willing to use the nuclear weapons given by close ally Russia in the face of foreign “aggression,” President Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday, as tensions rise around the country’s borders with NATO nations. In June, Russian nuclear warheads were reportedly delivered to Belarus for “deterrence,” according to Russian President Vladimir Putin. We will use the entire arsenal of our weapons for deterrence.”“We didn’t bring nuclear weapons here in order to scare someone,” he added. “Yes, nuclear weapons represent a strong deterring factor. But these are tactical nuclear weapons, not strategic ones.

Persons: Alexander Lukashenko, Vladimir Putin, Belta, Lukashenko, “, ”, Wagner, Putin, ” “ Putin, ” Lukashenko, Ukraine Lukashenko, –, Viktor Yanukovych – Organizations: CNN, NATO, Latvia –, US Defense Intelligence Agency, DIA, European Union Locations: Belarus, Russia, Minsk, Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, NATO, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Latvia – Belarus, Europe, “, Polish, Crimea, Crimean

☆ 'Obama,' 'Trump gets impeached twice' and the other top political references in Fall Out Boy's new cover of the Billy Joel classic 'We Didn't Start the Fire'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Fall Out Boy's new cover of the 1989 Billy Joel classic covers a lot of the bases the original touch. "Cambridge Analytica" (2018): The British consulting firm had been around for years, but bombshell reporting by The New York Times and The Guardian in 2018 sparked a scandal. Obama went on to defeat Republican presidential nominee John McCain en route to becoming the nation's first Black president. "Trump gets impeached twice" (2021): President Donald Trump became the first president to be impeached twice in the wake of the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Video later showed that Rice, who was 12 years old, was killed within two seconds of officers arriving, The New York Times reported.

Persons: Billy Joel, Obama, Trump, —, Billy Joel's, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Dwight D, Eisenhower, It's, Egypitan Hosni Mubarak, Muammar Gaddafi, Rodney King, King, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Viktor Yanukovych, Russia's, Donald Trump's, Alexander Nix, Cambridge Analytica, Osama bin Laden's, Illinois Sen, Barack Obama, New York Sen, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Donald Trump, acquit Trump, Roberto Schmidt, Timothy McVeigh, Alfred P, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice, Bland, Rice, George Floyd, Derek Chauvin, Chauvin, Kerem Yucel, Gore, George W, Bush, Al Gore, Sandra Day O'Connor, Tom Delonge Organizations: Service, Cubs, Israel, NPR, National Guard, Russia, Cambridge, The New York Times, Guardian, London Thomson Reuters, US, New York, Democratic, Affordable, Republican, AFP, Getty, Murrah Federal Building, Georgia Republican, Minneapolis Police, Civil, Hennepin County Government Center, Texas Gov, Electoral College, Washington Post, CNN, Fox News, The Washington Post, New York Times Locations: Suez, Israel, Egypt, United Kingdom, France, British, Tunisia, North Africa, California's, Crimea, Ukraine, Azov, Kerch, Moscow, Russian, London, Afghanistan, Illinois, Iowa, Washington, Oklahoma, Georgia, The, Hennepin County, Minneapolis , Minnesota, AFP, Florida

☆ Without a hint of irony over Ukraine, Putin rages against countries that meddle in other states
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-24 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrive for a working breakfast of the leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) in Moscow, Russia May 9, 2023. Vladimir Smirnov | Sputnik | ReutersRussian President Vladimir Putin slammed countries that he said were trying to "impose their dominance" and rules on others, saying Wednesday that those that do were "completely ignoring the sovereignty" of other states. Russian President Vladimir Putin on a screen at Red Square as he addresses a rally and a concert marking the annexation of four regions of Ukraine — Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia — in central Moscow on Sept. 30, 2022. Putin said Tuesday that Russia was going through "difficult times" as it continued its military campaign in Ukraine, but said national pride was growing. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov looks on, next to Russian President Vladimir Putin, as they wait for the US-Russia summit at the Villa La Grange, in Geneva on June 16, 2021.

☆ Factbox: What is the International Criminal Court?
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, March 17 (Reuters) - The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of responsibility for the war crime of illegal deportation of children from Ukraine. It can prosecute crimes committed by nationals of member states or on the territory of member states by other actors. It has 123 member states. * The ICC website says there have so far been 31 cases before the court, with some cases having more than one suspect. * The ICC has convicted five men of war crimes and crimes against humanity, all African militia leaders from Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali and Uganda.

☆ Russia Is Blocked From Collecting $4.5 Billion in Ukraine Bond Dispute
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Alexander Osipovich | Eliot Brown | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

In 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin, holding a red binder, and Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine’s president, agreed that Moscow would bail out Kyiv’s cash-strapped government with bond purchases. The U.K.’s highest court sided with Ukraine in a dispute with Russia over more than $4.5 billion in debt, allowing Kyiv to make the case that it doesn’t need to repay bonds it has said were foisted upon it nearly a decade ago. Wednesday’s ruling by the U.K. Supreme Court means that Ukraine can go to trial to argue that the debt should be voided because it was forced to issue the bonds and sell them to Russia under duress.

☆ Ukrainian journalists fight another kind of war - against graft
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Dan Peleschuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

According to Transparency International's 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index, Ukraine ranked slightly better than Russia but still well below the global average. Their focus also shows civil society is embracing its role as a government watchdog even as the war grinds on. Many journalists are also turning their attention to uncovering Russian war crimes and assets in Ukraine. PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPSuch reports play a key role in Ukraine's fledgling anti-corruption system, created after the 2014 Maidan revolution toppled pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych. Romaniuk, director of the Institute of Mass Information, an NGO in Kyiv, said Ukrainian journalists' role as anti-corruption activists will become increasingly important as Kyiv maps out a more transparent future.

☆ 'Ultra-patriots' may try to overthrow Putin because of his army's failures in Ukraine, says Russian MP
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The biggest threat to Putin is ultra-nationalists, a pro-Kremlin Russian MP said. Oleg Matveychev said "ultra-patriots" could overthrow Putin over his army's performance. He said that for Putin "the situation is not so critical yet, but 2023 will be very dangerous," the Times reported. In Russia he's also faced backlash from pro-war figures, who are unhappy with the army's performance and want even more brutal tactics in Ukraine. A former Putin speechwriter said last month that a coup could happen in Russia as military generals are frustrated at their troops' defeats.

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy strips citizenship of several former politicians
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Nick Starkov | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends an International Human Rights forum, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine December 9, 2022. LVIV, Ukraine, Feb 5 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy revoked the citizenship of several former influential politicians on Saturday in the latest of steps to "cleanse" the country from pro-Russian influences. Zelenskiy would not list the names, but said they had dual Russian citizenship. According to Ukrainian state media, the list includes several top politicians from the office of Viktor Yanukovych, who served as Ukraine's pro-Russian president from 2010 until he was removed from office in 2014. Reporting by Nick Starkov, David Ljunggren and Lidia Kelly; Writing by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Meet M-TAC, the maker of Zelenskyy's casual sweaters and t-shirts that started out selling airsoft guns
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

M-TAC launched in 2005 selling airsoft guns and accessories and started a clothing brand in 2014. An M-TAC manager previously told Insider that Zelenskyy's olive green fleece was out of stock. Per the company's website, M-TAC has more than 50 suppliers in 15 countries of the world. Since Russia first invaded Ukraine, M-TAC has seen demand soar for Zelenskyy's fleece jacket, Taras Rudnytskyi, the Ukrainian manager of US operations for the company, previously told Insider. "We hope to restock it someday, maybe after our victory," Rudnytskyi told Insider in May, adding that hostilities have made it difficult to continue any type of production.

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Putin prepares the public for a long war in Ukraine; winter 'apocalypse' is a risk, Kyiv mayor warns
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin at an awarding ceremony at a youth forum on Dec. 5, 2022, in Moscow, Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin set the stage for a protracted war in Ukraine, telling officials it "may be a lengthy process," while downplaying speculation that a new round of mobilization could take place in Russia. Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned a nightmare scenario could befall the capital if Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure continue. "Kyiv might lose power, water, and heat supply. The apocalypse might happen, like in Hollywood films, when it's not possible to live in homes considering the low temperature," he told Reuters.

☆ Why isn't Ukraine already in NATO? Here's what it takes to join the 30-country alliance
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Ukraine's pursuit of NATO membership has been cited as a key factor in Russia's invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has long been vocal about his country's desire to secure both NATO membership and additional assistance. "So there were some formal reasons why the Alliance could say that Ukraine was not ready yet to join the Alliance." Will Finland and Sweden join NATO? Both countries submitted official letters of application to join NATO in May 2022 and were formally invited to join the alliance in June.

Search resuls for: "Viktor Yanukovych"

25 mentions found