DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ How surging trade with China is boosting Russia’s war
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +15 min

Mikhail Tereshchenko | Afp | Getty ImagesThe defense ministries of China and Russia did not respond to CNBC's request for comment on the trade flows. Trade of 'dual-use' goods spikesTotal bilateral trade between Russia and China hit a record high of $190 billion in 2022, up 30% from 2021. Semiconductor sales to Russia from China and Hong Kong more than doubled in 2022 as Western sanctions took hold. Meantime, construction equipment has played an "underappreciated" but significant role in China's contribution to Russia's war efforts, having helped bolster its defenses against Ukraine's counteroffensive, Joseph Webster, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said. The findings add to the growing list of Chinese goods and companies reported to be supplying Russia's military, including state-owned enterprises.

Persons: Vladimir Putin's, Mark Cancian, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Mikhail Tereshchenko, Wang Yi, China's, Putin, Li Shangfu, —, Qilai Shen, Antonia Hmaidi, Cancian, they've, Hong Kong Retekess, Legittelecom, It's, Silva, Hmaidi, Joseph Webster, Webster, that's, Ramzan Kadyrov, Russia's Organizations: CNBC, for Strategic, International Studies, Kremlin, Afp, Getty, Ukraine's Defense Ministry, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Bank of Finland's Institute, Emerging, Semiconductor, CNBC CNBC, Federal, Service, SZ DJI Technology, Robotics, Iflight, SZ, Technology, Bloomberg, Rostov, R Technology, Beijing KRnatural International Trade Co, Mercator Institute for China Studies Defense, Industry, Hong, Mercator Institute for China Studies, Moscow, ImportGenius, Ukraine's, Atlantic Council, Atlantic, U.S, China Taly Aviation Technologies, China Poly Technologies, EU, Beijing, National Security Council Locations: Ukraine, China, Washington, Russian, Moscow, Russia, Beijing, U.S, Kyiv, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, DJI, Liaoning, Shanghai, Berlin, Buryatia, Hubei, Korea, Pyongyang, Russia's, Amur, Chechen Republic, Qianwan, Qingdao Port, Shandong Province, deniability

☆ Russian troops have put up dozens of surveillance towers across Mariupol to track Ukrainians' conversations and digital activity
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia put up towers in Mariupol that track Ukrainians' digital activity, an advisor to the city's exiled mayor says. He described the Russian troops' activities as Orwellian. "This is equipment for monitoring conversations and Internet traffic of Mariupol residents," Andryushchenko wrote alongside a video. The Russians are also using the towers for military communications, he wrote, adding that Russian troops have erected 40 such towers in Mariupol over the last three months. Old Orwell would simply be amazed how all his fictions became the reality of Mariupol," Andryushchenko wrote, referring to "1984" author George Orwell.

Persons: Petro Andryushchenko, —, Andryushchenko, Orwell, George Orwell, Andryushchenko's, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, ISW Organizations: Service, Kyiv Post, Ukraine, Institute for, Russian, Telegram, New York Times Locations: Russia, Mariupol, Ukrainian, Kherson, Odessa, Kharkiv, Ukraine

☆ Here's what needs to happen for Ukraine to make a breakthrough against Russia's defensive lines, according to war analysts
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

War analysts say three conditions must be true for Ukraine to make a breakthrough against Russia's defensive lines. First, Russia can't have the combat power and reserves to keep up its attacks in western Zaporizhzhia. Second, Ukraine will need combat power to keep moving after breaking through Russia's combat power. And third, Russia's defensive positions are not well prepared or heavily mined. That's according to the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington, DC-based think tank that closely monitors developments in Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine.

Persons: —, Russia's, aren't, ISW, Russia doesn't, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Putin Organizations: Service, Institute for, Ukraine, Analysts Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Zaporizhzhia, Washington, DC, Bakhmut, Kherson, Odessa, Kharkiv, Kremlin

☆ An insider claims Putin ordered his defense minister to stop Ukraine's counteroffensive within a month — and it may explain why Russia is making costly attacks, war analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Putin has reportedly given his defense minister until early next month to stop Ukraine's counteroffensive. These demands could explain why Russia is launching relentless counterattacks even if they come at a steep cost to the Russian military. The general also claimed he was removed from his post after raising concerns about issues Russian forces were facing on the frontlines in Ukraine. Ukraine's counteroffensive has had slow progress as Kyiv's forces try to take back Russian-occupied land in the country's east. But recently, Ukrainian forces have pushed through some Russian defenses.

Persons: Putin, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, ISW, Ivan Popov Organizations: Service, Institute for, Russian, Telegram Locations: Ukrainian, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Kherson, Odessa, Kharkiv, Russian, Ukraine

☆ Azerbaijan pounds Karabakh as Russia and US call for calm
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Felix Light | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Ethnic Armenians in Karabakh said Azerbaijan had triggered a new war against the 120,000 people living in an area they consider their homeland. Armenians in Karabakh, known by Armenians as Artsakh, said fighting was continuing with varying intensity. As the Soviet Union crumbled, what is known as the First Karabakh War erupted (1988-1994) between Armenians and their Azeri neighbours. RUSSIAIn 2020, after decades of skirmishes, energy-rich Azerbaijan began a military operation which became the Second Karabakh War, swiftly breaking through Armenian defences. Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey, won a resounding victory in the 44-day war, taking back parts of Karabakh.

Persons: Nikol Pashinyan, Karabakh, Antony Blinken, Ilham Aliyev, Pashinyan, Aliyev, Blinken, Antonio Guterres, Baku's, Guy Faulconbridge, Lidia Kelly, Chris Reese, Lincoln, Gareth Jones Organizations: Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defence, Azerbaijan, Wednesday, Nagorno, Armenian, U.S, Washington, Residents, United Nations, European Union, TASS, Thomson Locations: Armenia, Nagorno, Karabakh, Russia, U.S, Azerbaijan, YEREVAN, United States, Baku, Yerevan, Turkey, Ukraine, Soviet Union, South Caucasus, Iran, Artsakh, Russian, France, Germany, RUSSIA, Moscow, Melbourne

☆ Azerbaijani forces strike Armenian-controlled Karabakh, raising risk of new Caucasus war
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Karabakh, a mountainous area in the volatile wider South Caucasus region, is internationally recognised as Azerbaijani territory. Karabakh has been at the centre of two wars - the latest in 2020 - since the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union. The European Union, France and Germany also condemned Azerbaijan's military action, calling on it to return to talks on the future of Karabakh with Armenia. Loud and repeated shelling was audible from social media footage filmed on Tuesday in Stepanakert, the capital of Karabakh, called Khankendi by Azerbaijan. Karabakh separatist authorities said 25 people had been killed, including two civilians, and 138 injured due to Baku's military action.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Hikmet Hajiyev, Ilham Aliyev, Nikol Pashinyan, Hajiyev, Nikol, Baku's, Dmitry Peskov, Blinken, Ruben Vardanyan, Vardanyan, Andrew Osborn, Mark Heinrich, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Soviet Union . U.S, European, Reuters, Armenian, . Security Council, Russian, Kremlin, TASS, Security, Thomson Locations: Khankendi, Azerbaijan, Nagorno, Karabakh, Artsakh, Baku, Armenia, BAKU, Caucasus, Soviet, European Union, France, Germany, Stepanakert, Yerevan, Russia, South Caucasus, Ukraine, Turkey, Republic of Azerbaijan, Moscow, United States

☆ Russia's Corvette Carries Out Firing Drills at Baltic Sea - Russia's Defence Ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

(Reuters) - Russia's Stoikiy corvette of the Baltic Fleet carried out firing drills at mock targets in the Baltic Sea, the Russian defence ministry said on Wednesday. The crew of the small warship conducted a series of scheduled exercises, firing at surface and air targets in a "difficult jamming environment" with the use of electronic countermeasures of a possible enemy, the ministry said. "The sea range of the Baltic Fleet, where the exercise took place, was declared temporarily dangerous for civil shipping and aviation flights," the ministry said in a statement on the Telegram messaging platform. It was not clear when the drills took place. The Baltic Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy is headquartered in Kaliningrad, a Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania, both NATO member states, on the Baltic Sea.

Persons: Lidia Kelly, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Reuters, Baltic Fleet, Baltic, Fleet, Russian Navy, NATO Locations: Baltic, Kaliningrad, Russian, Poland, Lithuania, Melbourne

☆ Russia is exhausting its resources and 'a reckoning is coming,' says Ukraine's spy chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia is running out of military resources, Ukraine's spy chief told The Economist. "Contrary to what the Russian Federation declares, it has absolutely no strategic reserve," Kyrylo Budanov told The Economist in an interview published on Sunday. "If everything is fine and Russia has enough resources, why are they looking for them all over the world? While Russia is reportedly poised to step up its mobilization drive, Budanov told The Economist that head count is the only obvious advantage that Russia retains over Ukraine. AdvertisementAdvertisementWhen it comes to Russian human resources "the quality is low, but the quantity is sufficient," he said.

Persons: Kyrylo Budanov, Kim Jong, Budanov, Vladimir Putin's, It's, That's, Burdanov Organizations: Service, Russian Federation, North Korean, Arms Army, UK Ministry of Defence Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine

☆ An Austrian former minister who controversially danced with Putin at her wedding flew to Russia with her ponies on a military plane, says report
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Austria's former foreign minister Karin Kneissl has moved to St. Petersburg to manage a think tank. A Russian military plane flew her and her ponies to Russia. She said she had decided to move to Russia to run a think tank at St. Petersburg University, reported Russia's state-owned Tass news agency. I decided to move to St. Petersburg for this work." AdvertisementAdvertisementKneissl said on social media that she took a Russian military plane to St. Petersburg along with her possessions — and ponies — as due to sanctions against Syria there were no commercial flights or DHL.

Persons: Karin Kneissl, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Kneissl Organizations: Service, Russian, Petersburg University, Tass, Gorki, Austrian Freedom Party, BBC, DHL, Guardian, Kneissl Locations: St, Petersburg, Russian, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Austrian, St . Petersburg, Syria, Austria, France, Lebanon

☆ North Korea's Kim inspects Russian nuclear-capable bombers, hypersonic missiles
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Summary Kim inspects nuclear-capable bombersKim shown hypersonic missilesPutin's defence minister greets KimKim inspects war ship of Russia's fleetVLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept 16 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected Russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers, hypersonic missiles and warships on Saturday, accompanied by President Vladimir Putin's defence minister. Shoigu showed Kim Russia's strategic bombers - the Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 - which are capable of carrying nuclear weapons and form the backbone of Russia's nuclear air attack force, Russia's defence ministry said. "It can fly from Moscow to Japan and then back again," Shoigu told Kim of one aircraft. Putin told reporters Russia was "not going to violate anything", but would keep developing relations with North Korea. While in Vladivostok, Kim watched the first act of the ballet "Sleeping Beauty", staged by St Petersburg's Mariinsky theatre, the RIA news agency reported.

Persons: Kim, Kim Kim, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin's, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Kim Russia's, Alexander Matsegora, Oleg Kozhemyako, Nikolay Yevmenov, Shaposhnikov, KIM, Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Washington, Guy Faulconbridge, Kevin Liffey, William Mallard, Mark Potter, Nick Macfie Organizations: Russian, Defence, North, Russia's, Navy, Russian Pacific, RUSSIAN PACIFIC, Pyongyang, Kim's, West, Russia, Kremlin, St, Mariinsky, Reuters, Thomson Locations: VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Knevichi, Pacific, Vladivostok, United States, South Korea, Pyongyang, Ukraine, Moscow, Japan, North Korea, Vladivostok's Primorye, Russian, Primorsky, RUSSIAN, Russian Pacific, Soviet Union, Washington, U.S

☆ North Korea's Kim views Russian nuclear-capable bombers, hypersonic missiles
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Summary Kim inspects nuclear-capable bombersKim shown hypersonic missilesPutin's defence minister greets KimKim inspects war ship of Russia's fleetVLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept 16 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspected Russian nuclear-capable strategic bombers, hypersonic missiles and warships on Saturday, accompanied by President Vladimir Putin's defence minister. Shoigu showed Kim Russia's strategic bombers - the Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 - which are capable of carrying nuclear weapons and form the backbone of Russia's nuclear air attack force, Russia's defence ministry said. Kim was shown asking about how the missiles were fired from the aircraft, at times nodding and smiling. Acquire Licensing RightsAfter the aircraft and missiles, Kim inspected the warship of Russia's Pacific fleet in Vladivostok, where he was due to watch a demonstration by the Russian navy. Putin told reporters Russia was "not going to violate anything", but would keep developing relations with North Korea.

Persons: Kim, Kim Kim, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin's, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Kim Russia's, Kim Jong, Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Washington, Guy Faulconbridge, William Mallard Organizations: Russian, Defence, North, REUTERS, Acquire, Pyongyang, Kim's, West, Russia, Kremlin, Reuters, Thomson Locations: VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Knevichi, Pacific, Vladivostok, United States, South Korea, Pyongyang, Ukraine, Moscow, Japan, Artyom, Primorsky, Russia's Primorsky Krai, Russian, North Korea, U.N, Soviet Union, Washington, U.S

☆ British commandos have trained hundreds of Ukrainian marines in the 'art' of amphibious raids
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

For six months, British Royal Marines have been training hundreds of Ukrainian marines in "the art" of conducting commando raids and complicated amphibious operations. The British Royal Marines Commandos are one of the best amphibious-warfare units in the world. Ukrainian marines training with British Royal Marines in March 2023. Ukrainian marines training in the UK in February 2023. Ukrainian marines could also join the shadowy fight taking place in the marshes and inlets of the Dnipro River Delta.

Persons: Mark Johnson, Ben Wallace, Wallace, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Stavros Atlamazoglou Organizations: British Royal Marines, Ministry of Defence, British Royal Marine Commandos, British Royal Navy, Royal Navy, British Commandos, UK Royal Marines, British Royal Marines Commandos, Commandos, Royal Marines, Argentine, British Marines, Naval Center of Special, Hellenic Army, 575th Marine Battalion, Army, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins School, International Studies, Boston College Law School Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Crimean, Crimea, British, Argentina, East Falkland, Dnipro, Russian, Delta

☆ There are 5 things the West could do to put even more pressure on Russia's struggling economy, think tank says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Russia's economy is crumbling - but the West needs to put more pressure on Moscow, researchers say. There are five things the West could do to up the ante on Moscow's economy, according to one think tank. But Russia has also gotten better at evading sanctions, researchers said, giving the economy an unexpected buffer. That suggests stronger price controls are needed for Russian oil, considering that crude is one of Moscow's main revenue sources. That means the West could enforce a full embargo on Russia's financial sector, researchers said, isolating Russia even further from the rest of the global economy.

Persons: crimp, Vladimir Putin's, Putin Organizations: Service, Atlantic Council, US, Justice Department, Kremlin Locations: Moscow, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine

☆ Myanmar receives first shipment of Russia's Su-30 fighter jets - RIA
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Visitors walk near a model of the Sukhoi Su-30SME multirole fighter at the 53rd International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Airport near Paris, France June 23, 2019. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 10 (Reuters) - Myanmar has received the first shipment of two Russian Su-30 fighter jets, Charlie Than, Myanmar's trade minister, told the Russian RIA state news agency in remarks published on Sunday. "Two aircraft have already been delivered," Than told RIA on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, Russia's annual forum aimed at developing economic cooperation in the region and encouraging foreign investment, which starts on Sunday in the port of Vladivostok. Russia and Myanmar signed a contract in September 2022 for the delivery of six Su-30SME fighter jets, RIA said. The Sukhoi Su-30SME multi-role fighter jet is designed for enemy's aerial targets engagement, aerial reconnaissance, combat employment and pilot training, according to Rosoboronexport, Russia's state-controlled arms exporter.

Persons: Sukhoi Su, 30SME, Pascal Rossignol, Charlie Than, Min Aung Hlaing, Lidia Kelly, Muralikumar Organizations: International Paris Air, Le, REUTERS, Eastern Economic, RIA, Russian TASS, East Economic, United, Thomson Locations: Le Bourget, Paris, France, Myanmar, Russian, Vladivostok, Russia, Rosoboronexport, Russia's, United States, Melbourne

☆ Russia's VTB to make record profit in 2023 but dividends unlikely, CEO tells RBC
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of VTB bank is seen at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg, Russia June 15, 2022. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Russia's state-owned VTB bank (VTBR.MM) will make a record profit this year, even though dividends are unlikely, the lender's CEO Andrei Kostin told Russian newspaper RBC in an interview published on Monday. RBC quoted Kostin as saying: "Our profit forecasts this year are good, the year is going well. Our target for net profit is 400 billion roubles ($4.13 billion), but I think we will eventually exceed this level and earn record profits." On the urgent recommendation of the central bank, we have suspended ... dividends," the newspaper quotes Kostin as saying.

Persons: Maxim, Andrei Kostin, Kostin, VTB, Elena Fabrichnaya, Felix Light, Christina Fincher Organizations: St ., Economic, REUTERS, Rights, Russian, RBC, United Shipbuilding Corporation, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: St, St . Petersburg, Saint Petersburg, Russia, Ukraine, India

☆ Myanmar Receives First Shipment of Russia's Su-30 Fighter Jets - RIA
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-10 | by ( Sept. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Myanmar has received the first shipment of two Russian Su-30 fighter jets, Charlie Than, Myanmar's trade minister, told the Russian RIA state news agency in remarks published on Sunday. "Two aircraft have already been delivered," Than told RIA on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, Russia's annual forum aimed at developing economic cooperation in the region and encouraging foreign investment, which starts on Sunday in the port of Vladivostok. Russia and Myanmar signed a contract in September 2022 for the delivery of six Su-30SME fighter jets, RIA said. The Sukhoi Su-30SME multi-role fighter jet is designed for enemy's aerial targets engagement, aerial reconnaissance, combat employment and pilot training, according to Rosoboronexport, Russia's state-controlled arms exporter. Russia's defence minister and top diplomat have visited Myanmar, while junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has been to Russia several times since 2021 and was given an honorary doctorate.

Persons: Charlie Than, Sukhoi Su, Min Aung Hlaing, Lidia Kelly, Muralikumar Anantharaman Organizations: Reuters, Eastern Economic, RIA, Russian TASS, East Economic, United Locations: Myanmar, Russian, Vladivostok, Russia, Rosoboronexport, Russia's, United States, Melbourne

☆ Volvo's Russian assets transferred to Russian investor - industry ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Volvo logo is seen in truck for sale in Linden, New Jersey, U.S., May 23, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Swedish truck maker Volvo AB's Russian assets (VOLVb.ST) have been transferred to an undisclosed Russian investor, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said in a statement. Volvo suspended all sales, service and production in Russia in February 2022, and said last October that further write-downs might be necessary. In 2021, Russia accounted for about 3% of its net group sales of about 372 billion Swedish crowns ($33.4 billion). The invasion triggered a host of Western economic sanctions, and threats by Russia to seize Western businesses based there.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Igor Kim, Alexei Sannikov, Kim, Kevin Liffey, David Evans Organizations: Volvo, REUTERS, Rights, Ministry of Industry, Trade, carmakers Volkswagen, Mercedes, Benz, Nissan, Toyota, Renault, BMW, Kia, Hyundai, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Linden , New Jersey, U.S, Swedish, Russia, Kaluga, Ukraine

☆ Russia will sell natural gas to China at almost a 50% discount compared to European buyers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia expects to sell gas to China at almost half the price compared to European buyers, Bloomberg reported. Gas for China will average $271.6 per 1,000 cubic meters in 2024, versus $481.7 for buyers in Europe and Turkey. Buyers in Europe and Turkey, on the other hand, will face an average price of $481.7. AdvertisementAdvertisementThis year, meanwhile, Russia expects to sell gas to China at an average of $297.3 per 1,000 cubic meters, while the remaining clients in Europe and Turkey will pay an average of $500.6. Meanwhile, Moscow anticipates state-run energy giant Gazprom to supply natural gas to China on a $400 billion contract, via the Power of Siberia connection.

Persons: Mikhail Mishustin, Vladimir Putin, —, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, Buyers, Gazprom, Yale Locations: Russia, China, Gas, Europe, Turkey, Wall, Silicon, Moscow, Siberia, Ukraine

☆ Russia strikes Ukraine grain port ahead of Putin-Erdogan talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 4 (Reuters) - Russia launched an overnight air attack on one of Ukraine's major grain exporting ports, Ukrainian officials said, hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart, Tayyip Erdogan, were due to hold talks. Ukraine's air force urged residents of Izmail port, one of Ukraine's two major grain-exporting ports on the Danube River in the Odesa region, to seek shelter after midnight on Monday. Putin and Erdogan were to meet on Monday in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi as Ankara and the United Nations seek to revive a Ukraine grain export deal that helped ease a global food crisis. After quitting the Black Sea grain deal, Moscow has launched frequent attacks on the ports of the Danube River, which has since become Ukraine's major route for exporting grain. Monday's attack - the scale of which was not immediately known - followed Russia's strikes on Sunday on the other major Danube port of Reni, in which the port's infrastructure was damaged and at least two people injured.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Tayyip Erdogan, Putin, Erdogan, Lidia Kelly, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Turkish, United Nations, United, Thomson Locations: Russia, Izmail, Odesa, Ukraine, Russian, Sochi, Ankara, United Nations, Turkey, Moscow, Reni, Melbourne

☆ Ukrainian drone attacks Russian town near major nuclear plant
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Summary Drone attacks nuclear townNo damage to nuclear power stationKursk power station is one of biggestUkrainian drone shot down near MoscowMOSCOW, Sept 1 (Reuters) - A Ukrainian drone attacked a town in western Russia which is home to one of the country's biggest nuclear power stations, though there was no damage reported to the plant, Russian officials said. Governor Roman Starovoit said a Ukrainian drone had damaged the facade of a building in the town of Kurchatov, just a few kilometres from the Kursk nuclear power station, early on Friday. Starovoit did not mention any potential damage to the Kursk nuclear power plant. The Soviet-era Kursk nuclear power station has the same graphite-moderated reactors as the Chernobyl nuclear plant. Russia and Ukraine have in the past accused each other of plotting to attack the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station in Ukraine.

Persons: Roman Starovoit, Starovoit, Sergei Sobyanin, Vyacheslav Gladkov, Guy Faulconbridge, Clarence Fernandez, Michael Perry Organizations: Kremlin, Thomson Locations: Kursk, Moscow MOSCOW, Ukrainian, Russia, Kurchatov, Soviet, Soviet Ukraine, Europe, Ukraine, Russian, Moscow, Moscow's Vnukovo, Belgorod

☆ Former Kremlin official blames the ruble's crash on Russia's stockpile of rupees that's stranded in India
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Mikhail Zadornov, Russia's former minister of finance, attributed the ruble's recent crash to the Kremlin's stockpile of rupees that are stuck in India. In his view, the ruble's current 95-per-dollar level is in part the result of Russia's inability to convert rupees it earned via exports into its own currency, leaving the rupees stranded. It's state-run Tass agency said Russia's Energy Ministry denied he statements that stranded rupees weakened the ruble. Russia and India previously suspended negotiations over using rupees for trade between the two countries. Russia and India remain deadlocked in a currency dispute that has also frozen weapons sales between the two countries.

Persons: Mikhail Zadornov, Zadornov Organizations: Service, Russia's Energy Ministry, RBC, Russian Central Bank, Kremlin Locations: Wall, Silicon, Russia, India, Moscow, It's

☆ US accuses Russia of intimidation after ex-consulate worker charged with spying
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A woman uses her mobile phone in front of the Federal Security Service (FSB) building on Lubyanka Square in Moscow, Russia, June 24, 2023. The FSB said it planned to question U.S. embassy employees who were in contact with Shonov, who has been under arrest since May. "We strongly protest the Russian security services' attempts - furthered by Russia's state-controlled media - to intimidate and harass our employees," said Miller. The Russian embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Reporting by Reuters; additional reporting by Simon Lewis in Washington; editing Mark Heinrich and Rosalba O'BrienOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Maxim Shemetov, Moscow, Robert Shonov, Shonov, Matthew Miller, Washington, Miller, Simon Lewis, Mark Heinrich, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Federal Security Service, REUTERS, Washington, U.S . Consulate, State, U.S, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, United States, U.S, Ukraine, Russian, Vladivostok, Washington

☆ Russia says drone attack on Moscow thwarted, 3 killed near Ukrainian border
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/7] A view shows the damaged facade of a high-rise building in the Moscow City following an alleged Ukrainian drone attack in Moscow, Russia, August 23, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Russia said on Wednesday it had thwarted the latest Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow but three people were killed in a drone strike near the Ukrainian border. The governor of Belgorod region, which neighbours Ukraine and has come under frequent attack, said the drone hit a sanatorium in a village. The attempted attack in Moscow was not reported to have hurt anyone and only appeared to have caused minor damage. The state TASS news agency reported that glass planes on three floors of the high-rise building had been damaged.

Persons: Stringer, Felix Light, Mark Trevelyan Organizations: Moscow City, REUTERS, Rights, Defence Ministry, Moscow, Mozhaisky, TASS, Kremlin, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Ukrainian, Russia, Belgorod, Ukraine, Khimki

☆ The resilience of Russia's stock market and its economy is a complete mirage masking deeper pain, Yale researchers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( Jennifer Sor | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The functioning of Russia's stock market is an illusion, two Yale researchers told Insider. That apparently stellar performance of the Russian stock market this year is ultimately an illusion meant to mask deepening pain in the country's economy. It's a move that was intended to prop up Russia's stock market, the researchers said. "The Russian stock market performance is very misleading, It is a Roach Motel of assets," Sonnenfeld told Insider. Other experts have warned of more pain for Russia's economy as its costly war in Ukraine drags on.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Steven Tian, Ukraine haven't, that's, Tian, Sonnenfeld, Putin Organizations: Yale, Investments, Service, Yale School of Management, Putin, Levada Locations: Wall, Silicon, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Baltic, Russian, Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan

Russia's state space corporation, Roskosmos, said an "abnormal situation" occurred as mission control tried to move the craft into a pre-landing orbit at 11:10 GMT on Saturday, ahead of a planned touchdown slated for Monday. "During the operation, an abnormal situation occurred on board the automatic station, which did not allow the manoeuvre to be performed with the specified parameters," Roskosmos said in a short statement. Russia has not attempted a moon mission since Luna-24 in 1976, when Leonid Brezhnev ruled the Kremlin. Luna-25 was supposed to execute a soft landing on the south pole of the moon on Aug. 21, according to Russian space officials. It was not immediately clear from official sources how serious the "abnormal situation" was - and whether or not Moscow could save the situation.

Persons: Luna, Roskosmos, Yuri Gagarin, Leonid Brezhnev, Alexander Ivanov, Guy Faulconbridge, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Kremlin, India, Thomson Locations: Handout, MOSCOW, Moscow, Soviet, Russia, China, United States, Ukraine

Search resuls for: "Russia's St"

25 mentions found