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For the Ukrainian border town of Vovchansk, they’re getting worse. Locals in the town lived through occupation and liberation for seven grueling months in 2022. The Russian military claims the action has left close to a dozen villages under its control. Maria, 85, evacuates the Ukrainian town of Vovchansk. The Russians held our boys there.” There has been widespread reporting of mistreatment of Ukrainian civilians under Russian occupation, allegations the Kremlin has typically dismissed as fake.

Persons: they’re, Vladimir Putin’s, Mykola, –, “, ”, Maksim, Maria, haltingly, Inna, they’ve, Vovchansk Organizations: Ukraine CNN —, Locals, CNN, Russian Locations: Vovchansk, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Moscow, Kyiv, Russia, Kharkiv

☆ A Russian Defector’s Killing Raises Specter of Hit Squads
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Michael Schwirtz | José Bautista | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

The men who killed Maksim Kuzminov wanted to send a message. This was obvious to investigators in Spain even before they discovered who he was. Not only did the killers shoot him six times in a parking garage in southern Spain, they ran over his body with their car. They also left an important clue to their identity, according to investigators: shell casings from 9-millimeter Makarov rounds, a standard ammunition of the former Communist bloc. “It was a clear message,” said a senior official from Guardia Civil, the Spanish police force overseeing the investigation into the killing.

Persons: Maksim Kuzminov, ”, “ Organizations: Communist, Guardia Civil, Spanish Locations: Spain

☆ Russia knew of Moscow terrorist attack plot weeks ago, Ukraine's military spy chief says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Law enforcement officers stand guard near the Crocus City Hall concert venue following a reported shooting incident, near Moscow, Russia. Chief of the Military Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, attends the Kyiv Stratcom Forum 2024 in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 27, 2024. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesThe Islamic State (IS) militant group claimed it was behind the Moscow attack last Friday in which 143 died. Global Images Ukraine | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesBudanov claimed Russia knew where the combat groups would come from, and which countries the attackers would travel through to reach Russia. The damaged Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow, Russia, following an attack by gunmen.

Persons: Maksim Blinov, Budanov, Ukrinform, Kyrylo Budanov, Putin, Dmytro Kotsiubailo, Vladimir Putin, Alexander Bortnikov, Nikolai Patrushev —, —, Patrushev, Maria Zakharova, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Vyacheslav Oseledko Organizations: Crocus City Hall, Sputnik, AP Russia, Hall, Russian Federation, Kyiv Stratcom, Military Intelligence, Nurphoto, Islamic, Kremlin, Directorate of Intelligence, Getty, Russia, concertgoers, Russia's Federal Security Service, Russian Ministry of Emergencies, Anadolu, Security, RIA Novosti, Russian Foreign, U.S, CNBC, Economic, Afp Locations: Crocus, Moscow, Russia, Syria, Ukraine, Kyiv, U.S, Russian, Bishkek

☆ Putin expected to use deadly Moscow attack to Russia's advantage, whoever's to blame
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

U.S. officials and defense experts agreed that it's highly likely that IS was responsible for the attack. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that "what happened yesterday in Moscow is obviously just Putin and the other scum trying to blame it on someone else." Moscow openly rebuffed and ignored a warning from the U.S. earlier in March that "extremists" had "imminent plants" to attack large gatherings in Moscow. Law enforcement officers stand guard near the Crocus City Hall concert venue following a reported shooting incident, near Moscow, Russia. Just days before the attack, Putin instructed Russia's security services to focus their efforts on supporting Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Metzel, Vladimir Putin's, Olga Maltseva, hasn't, Ukraine —, Putin, Ali Cura, Dmitry Medvedev, Medvedev, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Maksim Blinov, Maximilian Hess, Hess, Putin's, Tatyana Makeyeva Organizations: Sputnik, Afp, Getty, Hall, Islamic State, Ukraine, West, Crocus City Hall, Anadolu, Russia's Security, NBC News, Foreign Policy Research Institute, CNBC, Islamic Locations: Russian, Moscow, Russia, Crocus, Ukraine, Kyiv, Europe, Basmanny, U.S, Chechen, Islamic State, Syria, Afghanistan

☆ Russia says 60 dead, 145 injured in concert hall raid; Islamic State group claims responsibility
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Gunmen who opened fire at a Moscow concert hall killed more than 60 people and wounded over 100 while sparking an inferno, authorities said on March 23, 2024, with the Islamic State group claiming responsibility. The prosecutor's office said several men in combat fatigues entered the concert hall and fired on concertgoers. Working to extinguish the blaze continues at Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow, Russia after reports of a shooting incident on March 23, 2024. Working to extinguish the blaze continues at Crocus City Hall concert venue near Moscow, Russia after reports of a shooting incident on March 23, 2024. An injured woman is transported to an ambulance near the Crocus City Hall concert venue following a reported shooting incident, near Moscow, Russia.

Persons: Stringer, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Sobyanin, Putin, fatigues, Ali Cura, Dave Primov, Primov, Aymenn Jawad, Dmitry Medvedev, Mykhailo Podolyak, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, John Kirby, Maksim Blinov Organizations: Crocus City, Gunmen, Islamic, Afp, Getty, Associated Press, Moscow, Health, Crocus City Hall, Anadolu, Russian, U.S, AP, Soviet Union, Russia's Security, White House National Security Council, Embassy, Sputnik Locations: Russian, Crocus, Krasnogorsk, Moscow, U.S, Afghanistan, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow's, Sinai, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Africa, Soviet, Islamic State, Kaluga, Ingushetia, Russia's Caucasus

☆ Names of Moscow Concert Attack Victims Begin to Emerge
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Oleg Matsnev | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As emergency services combed the scene of the attack on a concert hall in Moscow, details on some of the victims began to emerge from officials and local news media. Alexander Baklemyshev, 51, had long dreamed about seeing the band, his son told local media, and had traveled solo from his home city of Satka, some 1,000 miles east of Moscow, for the concert. His son, Maksim, told the Russian news outlet MSK1 that his father had sent him a video of the concert hall before the attack. “All that was left is the video, and nothing more.”Irina Okisheva and her husband, Pavel Okishev, also traveled hundreds of miles to attend the concert — making their way from Kirov, northeast of Moscow. “Very painful and scary,” Ms. Okisheva’s colleagues wrote on a social media page for a photo studio where she worked.

Persons: Alexander Baklemyshev, Maksim, ”, Irina Okisheva, Pavel Okishev, Okishev, Ms, Okisheva’s Organizations: Komsomolskaya Pravda Locations: Moscow, Russian, Satka, Kirov

☆ From the ocean views to naming the crocodiles: 4 Citadel employees open up about life in Miami two years after Ken Griffin made Florida his new home
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Emmalyse Brownstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

Two of the people we spoke with moved from New York City, one from London, and one from Seattle. Citadel's Miami office overlooks the Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami. Citadel and Citadel Securities also cover the cost of a weeklong visit to Miami for employees and significant others who are considering moving there. Cupjin Huang just started his job as a quant researcher for Citadel Securities this year. AdvertisementCupjin Huang, a quant researcher at Citadel Securities, in Miami with his dog Rufus.

Persons: —, it's, Ken Griffin, Thoma Bravo, Goldman Sachs, Griffin, Lin, Manuel Miranda's, Hamilton, Maksim Solovjov, Miami doesn't, Rich Cummings, there's, Liz Boyhan, Cupjin Huang, Huang, Rufus, Pitbull, that's, Cummings, Solovjov, It's, you'll, Alexander Spatari, Inrix, she's, haven't, Fortune, he's, Boyhan, I've, fiancé Organizations: Service, Southeast Financial Center, Citadel Securities, Business, Bloomberg, Citadel, Citadel Citadel, Miami Dolphins, Miami, Prix, Citadel's, Downtown, Alibaba, BI, Key, New, New York City, Transportation, Fairchild, Botanic, Miami - Dade, Miami Beach, Google, UBS Locations: Miami, Biscayne Bay, Fisher, South Beach, York, Wall, New York, United States, New York City, London, Seattle, Magic, Bay, Florida, Downtown Miami, Brickell, Chihuahua, Hawaii, —, Orlando, Los Angeles, Coral Gables, Fairchild, Italian, Tua, Solovjov, Manhattan

☆ Ukrainian medic says they 'rarely' evacuate wounded soldiers during the day to avoid Russian drone strikes
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Ella Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine's medics often operate at night to evade Russian drone strikes when evacuating wounded troops. It's not always possible to get soldiers help during the 'golden hour' optimal for soldier survival. AdvertisementUkraine's combat medics often move to get wounded soldiers off the battlefield at night to avoid becoming Russia's new drone strike targets, one said this week. AdvertisementMaksim and other Ukrainian medics may be tasked with driving up to seven miles to pick up injured soldiers after waiting hours in underground shelters for a call via radio. "The Russian's have more vehicles, more weapons, more men," said another Ukrainian combat medic, Artem.

Persons: It's, —, Maksim, CNN's Nick Paton Walsh, it's, Mark Milley, We'll, I'm, Artem Organizations: Service, Ukraine's 59th Infantry Brigade, Combat, US Army, Army, Staff, North Korea — Locations: Russian, North Korea, Russia, Ukrainian

☆ A Russian Military Blogger Dies After Criticizing Army Losses
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Anatoly Kurmanaev | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

A pro-war Russian military blogger died on Wednesday, his lawyer said, after the blogger wrote the country’s military pressured him to remove a post exposing the scale of its losses in a recent battle in Ukraine. The blogger, Andrei Morozov, claimed in his post that Russia had lost 16,000 men and 300 armored vehicles in its assault on the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka, which the Russians captured last week. He deleted the post on Tuesday after what he said was a campaign of intimidation against him. The following morning, Mr. Morozov published a series of posts on Telegram outlining the complaints he had received from Russian military command and Kremlin propagandists about his exposé. His lawyer, Maksim Pashkov, confirmed the death in a written response to questions.

Persons: Andrei Morozov, Morozov, Maksim Pashkov Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, Avdiivka

☆ Russian Pilot Who Defected to Ukraine Is Believed Dead in Spain
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Michael Schwirtz | Constant Méheut | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Maksim Kuzminov pulled off a daring escape last summer when he defected to Ukraine and handed his military helicopter over to Ukrainian commandos in exchange for half a million dollars. Ukrainian intelligence officials warned Mr. Kuzminov that his life was in danger and urged him not to leave the country. But he ignored them, and was believed to have moved with his money to a small resort town of pastel houses on Spain’s Mediterranean coast. Now Mr. Kuzminov, 28 at the time of his defection, appears to have met the harsh fate Ukrainian officials warned of. Two Spanish police officials with knowledge of the case said the body of a man found riddled with bullets last week in the coastal town of Villajoyosa belonged to Mr. Kuzminov.

Persons: Maksim Kuzminov, Vladimir V, Kuzminov Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Villajoyosa

☆ Russian milbloggers slam Kremlin propagandists for ignoring huge Russian losses and 'blunders' in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewRussian military bloggers have hit out at Kremlin propagandists after they ignored recent "blunders" made by the Russian army, the think tank the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said. In the assault, Russian forces reportedly came under attack from Ukrainian drones and sustained heavy losses, losing a column of armored vehicles, including several T-72 tanks and infantry fighting vehicles. Russian military bloggers slammed the scenes, which were shared by Ukraine's Ministry of Defense on X, formerly Twitter. So that [senior Russian army commanders] can report they are taking decisive action, and so that they can earn medals by throwing away the lives of their own people?" AdvertisementBloggers also criticised Russian military commanders following the assault, with one accusing them of "complete stupidity and incompetence," the ISW said.

Persons: —, Vladimir Solovyov's, milblogger Maksim Kalashnikov, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Service, for, Ukraine's 72nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Business, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, 72nd Mechanized Brigade, —, Russia, US Institute of Peace Locations: Russian, Novomykhailivka, Donbas, Ukraine, Ukrainian, @DefenceU, Kyiv

☆ The Kremlin may be retaliating against anti-war Russian celebs abroad — even trying to get countries to send them back, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

On January 25, seven members of Bi-2, a popular Russian-Belarusian rock band, were arrested in Thailand before a planned performance. The band left Russia after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has been performing for Russian expats abroad while also speaking out against the war. VPI Event, the concert organizer, said it had obtained the incorrect permit, according to The Times, but said the band members' arrest was unusual. But Dmitri Gudkov, an exiled Russian politician who knows the band, told The Times the push to send the band to Russia was a "special operation." Maksim Galkin, an anti-war Russian comedian, also said he was being targeted by Russia.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Dmitri Gudkov, Ekaterina Schulmann, Schulmann, Maksim Galkin, Galkin, wouldn't Organizations: Service, Russian, Business, Authorities, Human Rights Watch, The Times, Russian Foreign Ministry, New York Times, Times, Bloomberg, Russia's Foreign, Russia Locations: Ukraine, Thailand, Indonesia, Russian, Belarusian, Russia, Moscow, Israel, Australia, Germany, Bali

☆ Russian Court Jails Woman Over Blast That Killed Influential Military Blogger
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Ivan Nechepurenko | More About Ivan Nechepurenko | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

A Russian court on Thursday sentenced a woman to 27 years in prison for delivering a bomb that killed an influential military blogger in a St. Petersburg cafe last year, a lengthy sentence that underscored the Kremlin’s efforts to deter violent opposition to its war in Ukraine. The activist, Daria Trepova, 26, was convicted on charges of terrorism, illegal possession of explosives and document forgery. She handed a statuette to the blogger, Maksim Fomin, who was known more popularly as Vladlen Tatarsky, as he gave a public talk in a cafe in April. Mr. Tatarsky was killed and others were injured at the event when a bomb inside the statuette exploded. The prosecution had argued that Ms. Trepova knew about the explosive device in the statuette, which was in the blogger’s likeness.

Persons: Daria Trepova, Maksim Fomin, Tatarsky, Trepova Organizations: Mr Locations: St, Petersburg, Ukraine

☆ Fire erupts at Russia's Novatek Baltic Sea terminal after explosions heard
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - 2022/06/15: Novatek Logo seen on the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2022 (SPIEF 2022). (Photo by Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)A fire broke out at a Baltic Sea terminal belonging to Novatek, Russia's largest liquefied natural gas producer, regional officials said on Sunday, amid reports of explosions and Ukrainian drone sightings in the area. "There were no casualties as a result of the fire at the Novatek terminal in the port of Ust-Luga. St. Petersburg-based news outlet Fontanka said at least two drones were spotted in the sky flying towards St. Petersburg before the terminal caught fire. That came a day after an attack on a Russian Baltic Sea oil terminal that Russian officials said was unsuccessful.

Persons: Maksim Konstantinov, Alexander Drozdenko, Drozdenko, Fontanka, Novatek Organizations: St ., Economic, Getty, Leningrad region's, Moscow, Kyiv Locations: SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA, St, St . Petersburg, Novatek, Finland, Ust, Leningrad, Petersburg, Russia, Ukraine, Russia's, Bryansk, Baltic, Russian

How the Russian Government Silences Wartime DissentJust days after invading Ukraine, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia signed a censorship law that made it illegal to “discredit” the army. The indignities of the crackdown, and the long arm of the Russia law, is being lost in the numbers. Nanna Heitmann for The New York TimesIn dry legalese, the court documents recount the Russian state’s case against these statements and protests. People’s “negative assessment” of the Russian military could adversely affect its performance, the court said, presenting a national security risk. And I very much don’t want this.”Sergei Platonov at district court in Moscow listening to his guilty verdict in November.

Persons: Vladimir V, Putin, ”, — schoolteachers, —, That’s, Ukraine —, pollsters, Andrei Kolesnikov, Demyan, Aleksandr T, Olga V, ” Maksim L, Omsk Diana I, Denis V, Russia ”, “, Maksim P, Anna S, Maria V, people’s “, Russia’s, Zaynulla Gadzhiyev, Mr, Bespokoyev, Marina Tsurmast, scrawled, Nanna Heitmann, Tsurmast, Gadzhiyev, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Aleksandra Y, Skochilenko, Selimat, Vladimir A, Rustam I, ” Yelena L, Aleksandr K, Olga P, Dmitri D, Sergei V, Eve, Daria Ivanova, Ms, Ivanova, “ you’ll, Anton Redikultsev, Redikultsev, Jan, Marina, Sergei P, ” Yuldash, ” Dmitri S, Peskov, Putin’s, Sergei Platonov, Platonov, Russian Gestapo ”, Polina, Kolesnikov, Anna Sliva, Sliva Organizations: New York Times, Times, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, OVD, Penza Yuriy V, Russia, ”, Ukraine ” “, YouTube, Bucha, Ukraine, Police, The New York Times, Armed Forces, Russian Federation, VK, Russian Gestapo, The New York Locations: Russia, Russian, Ukraine, “, Omsk, Peace, Ukraine ” “ Ukraine, Bucha, Moscow, St, Petersburg, Iglino, ”, Novosibirsk, Siberia, Crimea, Ukrainian, Kalga, Russia’s, OVD, Coast, Primorye, Soviet

☆ Slovenia qualify for Euro 2024 after victory over Kazakhstan
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 20 (Reuters) - Benjamin Verbic scored a late winner as Slovenia secured qualification for the Euro 2024 finals in Germany, but opponents Kazakhstan will have to earn their place through March's playoffs following the 2-1 loss in Ljubljana on Monday. Slovenia finish runners-up in qualification Group H behind Denmark on head-to-head record. Kazakhstan needed victory for a first ever qualification, but knew they had secured a playoff spot at least before kick-off following their promotion to League B of the 2024-25 Nations League. Slovenia were awarded a penalty late in the first half after a Video Assistant Referee review when Yan Vorogovskiy fouled Petar Stojanovic in the box. Reporting by Nick Said Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Benjamin Verbic, Yan Vorogovskiy, Petar Stojanovic, Benjamin Sesko, Ramazan Orazov, Maksim, Jaka Bijol, Islambek Kuat, Nick Said, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Slovenia, Kazakhstan, League B, Nations League, Thomson Locations: Germany, Ljubljana, Denmark, South Africa, Kazakhstan, Maksim Samorodov’s

LONDON (AP) — Russia's State Duma took a step forward Wednesday towards approving its biggest-ever federal budget which will increase spending by around 25% in 2024, with record amounts going on defense. Part of the Russian budget is secret as the Kremlin tries to conceal its military plans and sidestep scrutiny of its war in Ukraine. Analysts suggest Russia is in third place globally for defense spending behind China and the United States, which spends around $850 billion a year. The main driver of that growth is Russia's war in Ukraine, which is now as important to the Kremlin economically as it is politically. If there is a reduction in military spending, or a need to reduce spending which impacts living standards, it could send shockwaves through the Russian economy and significantly impact ordinary people.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, ”, Richard Connolly, Farida Rustamova, Maksim Tovkaylo, Alexandra Prokopenko, Anton Siluanov, “, Connolly, they’ve, ” Prokopenko, Prokopenko, — — David McHugh Organizations: —, Duma, Kremlin, Royal United Services Institute, Independent, Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Russian Central Bank, Finance, Defense, Central Bank Locations: — Russia's, Russia, Ukraine, London, China, United States, Russian, West, India, Berlin, Frankfurt

☆ Billionaire FBI informant Peter Thiel dished about two Kremlin invites to private Putin meetings
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Mattathias Schwartz | Hans-Martin Tillack | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

It was Angermayer who introduced Bisslinger to Thiel at the party, Thiel would later tell the FBI. After some small talk, Bisslinger made a pitch to Thiel: Thiel should travel to Russia to attend the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. If Thiel chose to attend, Bisslinger said, Bisslinger would arrange for him to meet privately with Putin. "Even if Mr. Angermayer did introduce Mr. Thiel and Mr. Bisslinger," the lawyers wrote in another letter, "Mr. Angermayer is not—and cannot be—responsible for whatever Mr. Bisslinger and Mr. Thiel may or may not have discussed." At his 40th birthday, he connected Peter Thiel with a Russian diplomat, Thiel later told the FBI.

Persons: Peter Thiel, Christian Angermayer, Thiel, Daniil Bisslinger, Bisslinger, Vladimir Putin's, Angermayer, Putin, Maksim Konstantinov, —, Frank Figliuzzi, Vladimir Putin, — Charles Johnson —, Johnathan Buma, Johnson, Welt, Dmitry Peskov, John Lamparski, Donald Trump, — Thiel, Der Spiegel, he'd, Elon Musk, Musk, Thiel —, he's, Palantir, He's, Uma Thurman, Robbie Williams, Queen Latifah, Paul Kagame, Dan McCrum, John Kerry, Richard Grenell, Kerry, Sensei Biotherapeutics, Trump, Dmitry Medvedev, Medvedev, Maureen Dowd, Alexander Schütz, Eva Schütz, Schütz, — Heinz, Christian Strache, Markus Braun, Jan Marsalek, Marsalek, Caroline Haskins, Katherine Long, Jack Newsham, Mattathias Schwartz, Hans, Martin Tillack Organizations: Kremlin, Tech, Pentagon, CIA, Facebook, SpaceX, Kremlin's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russian Embassy, Thiel, St ., Economic, Getty, FBI, Atlantic, Bisslinger, Germany, Elon, Russia, NSA, US Special Operations Command, National Health Service, Apeiron Investment, Munich Security, intel, Trump, State Department, Angermayer's, PayPal, Nasdaq, Sciences, The New York Times, Deutsche Bank, Welt Locations: Silicon Valley, Schloss Neuwaldegg, Vienna, Silicon, Moscow, Russian, Berlin, Russia, St, St . Petersburg, Petersburg, Ukraine, Europe, Germany, NATO, Crimea, Ukrainian, Sevastopol, Palantir, Washington, Rwanda, Baltic, Belarus, Iran, Angermayer's Malta, Munich, China, China's, Austrian, Austria, Exxpress, Wirecard, schwartz79@protonmail.com

☆ Russia's armored trains are a valuable tool with some big vulnerabilities
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( Hope Seck | Sandboxx News | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Russia has used armored trains for military purposes for more than a century. Russia's use of armored trains for transport, mine-clearing, and resupply, however, has drawn particular scrutiny and criticism. Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesHowever, as details have emerged about these new armored transport trains used in Ukraine, observers have expressed bemusement. A video by the YouTube channel EngineerReact summarizes the primary problems with train warfare in the 21st century, calling Russia's armored trains "a terrible idea." "That was probably the best use of [military trains] in an offensive operation, in combat, in the recent wars," he said.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, luxuriously, trainspotter, Maksim Konstantinov, Richard Killblane, Scott Sturkol Killblane, Killblane, Taji, Jerome Bishop The, it's, there's Organizations: Service, Red Army, Russo, Museum of Russian Railways, Getty, YouTube, Ukraine's Territorial Defence Force, Army Special Forces, Army Transportation School, Army, US Army, Jerome Bishop The US Army, 757th Expeditionary Railway Center Locations: Russia, Ukraine, United States, Japanese, Germany, Soviet Union, Afghanistan, Russian, St . Petersburg, McCoy, Wisconsin, Iraq, Mosul, Taji, Sadr

☆ Ukraine reports a surge in Russians offering to defect after a helicopter pilot switched sides and took his chopper with him
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

More Russian soldiers are offering to defect via a surrender hotline, a Ukrainian official said. The rise in calls comes after a Russian helicopter pilot publicly defected to Ukraine last month. The official said the number of Russian appeals to defect jumped by about 70 percent daily. "After the successful operation Synytsia with the Mi-8 and the pilot, the number of Russian army servicemen considering such a scenario has increased," he added. AdvertisementAdvertisementBy March this year, around 10,000 Russian soldiers used the hotline to offer their voluntary surrender, officials said at the time.

Persons: Andrii Yusov, Radio Svoboda, Ysuov, Russia Yusov, Maksim Kuzminov, Kuzminov Organizations: Service, Defence Intelligence, Radio, Ukrainian Pravda, Putin, CNN, Russia, Russia's Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, Putin Russian, Russia, Russia's

BOSTON (AP) — A wealthy Russian businessman with ties to the Kremlin was sentenced Thursday to nine years in prison for his role in a nearly $100 million stock market cheating scheme that relied on secret earnings information stolen through the hacking of U.S. computer networks. Prosecutors had sought 14 years in prison, saying a stiff punishment was crucial to send a message to overseas cybercriminals. They then broke into the vendors’ computer systems to get filings before they became public, prosecutors said. Klyushin owned a Moscow-based information technology company that purported to provide services to detect vulnerabilities in computer systems. It counted among its clients the administration of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Ministry of Defense, according to prosecutors.

Persons: —, Vladislav Klyushin, Tesla, he's, Klyushin, who’s, ”, Prosecutors, Seth Kosto, ” Kosto, Maksim Nemtsev, Vladimir Putin, Klyushin's, Ivan Ermakov, Hilary Clinton’s, John Podesta, Ermakov Organizations: BOSTON, Kremlin, Authorities, Microsoft, U.S, Prosecutors, Securities and Exchange Commission, Ministry of Defense, Democratic Party, Democratic National Committee, Democratic Congressional Locations: Russian, Moscow, Boston, U.S, Switzerland, Russia

☆ Watch: Russian Attack Hits Market in Eastern Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Ukraine Releases Video of Russian Pilot Who DefectedA Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine last month spoke to reporters on Tuesday and said he had been helped by Ukraine’s HUR military intelligence service. Maksim Kuzminov said he reached out to the agency late last year after months lamenting the Russian invasion of Ukraine and his part in it. Photo: Kirill Chubotin/Zuma Press

Persons: Ukraine’s HUR, Maksim Kuzminov, Kirill Chubotin Organizations: Russian, Zuma Locations: Ukraine, Russian

☆ Enrique Tarrio, Proud Boys Leader, Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: Ukraine’s HUR, Maksim Kuzminov, Kirill Chubotin Organizations: Russian, Zuma Locations: Ukraine, Russian

☆ Ukraine Releases Video of Russian Pilot Who Defected
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

9/5/2023 12:22PMA Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine last month spoke to reporters on Tuesday and said he had been helped by Ukraine’s HUR military intelligence service. Maksim Kuzminov said he reached out to the agency late last year after months lamenting the Russian invasion of Ukraine and his part in it. Photo: Kirill Chubotin/Zuma Press

Persons: Ukraine’s HUR, Maksim Kuzminov, Kirill Chubotin Organizations: Zuma Locations: Russian, Ukraine

☆ Pro-Putin bloggers are posting propaganda videos from the Ukrainian frontlines — and say they're making big money
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian influencers are profiting from their war posts, a BBC investigation found. They say they can make big returns from advertising revenue with posts on Telegram. Some bloggers are also using the platform to criticize Russian military mistakes. The presence of Russian influencers on the frontline has at times provided crucial intel on the situation in the war, showing what it's like in the Russian trenches. But some bloggers have taken to using the platform to voice criticism about military blunders and setbacks.

Persons: That's, Andrew Wilson, Maksim Fomin, Makiivka Organizations: Service, BBC News, Facebook, Twitter, BBC, Borges's, Babel, University College London, intel, Ukraine Locations: Wall, Silicon, Russian, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow

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