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☆ Ukraine's heavy artillery, not high-tech anti-tank missiles, is what stopped Russia's rush to Kyiv, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-21 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Coverage of the fighting often focused on the role of anti-tank missiles in stopping that advance. Many people believe the initial Russian offensive was halted in large part by Ukraine's diverse arsenal of anti-tank missiles. This was enough to pin down Russian armor, hit targets of opportunity, and engage Russian tanks from beyond the range their cannons. However, "delivering large volumes of fire against concentrated units is best achieved by artillery," Watling said. Many Russian tanks — and Ukrainian tanks, which are upgraded Soviet-era designs — are designed to fire anti-tank guided missiles from their cannons.

☆ Exclusive: Afghan government officials helped smugglers sneak almost $1 billion in cash and gold out of Afghanistan as the US-backed government neared collapse, documents show
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Mattathias Schwartz | Edris Lutfi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

The office of Ashraf Ghani, the US-backed Afghan president, had been informed about the problem, insiders say. The smuggling flouted Afghan laws requiring travelers to declare cash or gold worth $10,000 or more and a strict ban on exporting $20,000 or more. The documents identify the two men as being part of the 2021 smuggling ring; they do not allege who was behind the $824 million smuggled in 2019 and 2020. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani meets with President Joe Biden in June 2021. The UAE is also the home of Ghani and Noor, the former provincial governor with alleged ties to the Hairatan smuggling ring.

☆ Fact Check-Biden was referring to Trump’s views in rally speech
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Biden was referring to the views of former U.S. President Donald J. Trump. In the clips being shared, Biden can be heard saying: “I’m going to take down those rapists Mexicans…”The clip is from a speech Biden gave at a rally in San Antonio on Dec. 13, 2019, visible (here). They’re sending people that have lots of problems and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re sending us not the right people.”A transcript of the speech can be seen (here). The clip shows U.S. President Joe Biden referring to former U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s views about Mexican people.

☆ Finland to spend $143 million on Russia border fence
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HELSINKI, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Finland's government on Thursday proposed spending 139 million euros ($143.4 million) to build fences along parts of the country's border with Russia, fulfilling a promise made in the wake of Moscow's February invasion of Ukraine. Finland, which is applying for membership in the Western military alliance NATO, has a history of wars with Russia, but the forest-covered border is still only marked with signs and plastic lines for most of its 1,300 km (810 mile) length. The country's border guard authority has said it ultimately aims to construct between 130-260 km of fences, covering 10-20% of the overall length, focusing primarily on border crossing points and adjacent areas in southeast Finland. Prior to Thursday's spending proposal, parliament had only allocated 6 million euros for a trial project. ($1 = 0.9691 euros)Reporting by Essi Lehto, editing by Terje SolsvikOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[1/2] People carry Polish flags and flares during a march to mark the 104th anniversary of Polish independence in Warsaw, Poland November 11, 2022. REUTERS/Kacper PempelWARSAW, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Thousands of people gathered in Warsaw on Friday for an annual march organised by Poland's far-right to mark Independence Day, with a handful carrying white supremacist or anti-gay banners and firing off red flares. Marchers, including families with children as well as representatives of far-right groups, waved white and red Polish flags and chanted "God, Honour, Homeland" as they walked through central Warsaw amid a heavy police presence. "Poland will be independent only if everybody's rights to life are equal and abortion is fully banned," said one marcher, Malgorzata Kurzeja, 42, an anti-abortion activist. Reporting by Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczewska, Editing by Angus MacSwan and Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Russia and Ukraine swap around 50 prisoners of war - officials
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Russia and Ukraine carried out the latest in series of prisoner of war exchanges on Saturday, with both sides returning around 50 people, officials in Moscow and Kyiv said. Ukraine's military intelligence directorate reported the return of 52 detainees, among them soldiers, sailors, border guards, national guard members and doctors. Russia's defence ministry said Ukraine handed over 50 prisoners of war after talks. Earlier on Saturday, Denis Pushilin, the Moscow-backed head of the Donetsk region - one of four regions of Ukraine that Russia unilaterally proclaimed as its territory last month - also said a prisoner swap with Ukraine was taking place. Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and David LjunggrenOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Russia and Ukraine swap around 50 prisoners of war
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Russia and Ukraine carried out the latest in series of prisoner of war exchanges on Saturday, with both sides returning around 50 people, officials in Moscow and Kyiv said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that since March, Russia had freed a total of 1,031 prisoners. Russia's defence ministry said Ukraine handed over 50 prisoners of war after talks. Earlier on Saturday, Denis Pushilin, the Moscow-backed head of the Donetsk region - one of four regions of Ukraine that Russia unilaterally proclaimed as its territory last month - also said a prisoner swap with Ukraine was taking place. Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and David Ljunggren, Editing by Franklin PaulOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Iranian authorities did not respond to requests for comment for this story. His comments have angered Iranian authorities, who placed him under a travel ban in 2017. The supreme leader's office wrote back and said Iran's government does not allow discrimination or inequality. Iranian officials have occasionally counted on him in times of crisis. The group, denounced by Tehran as terrorists, has carried out repeated attacks on Iranian security forces.

☆ Poland mulls barrier on Kaliningrad border, says top official
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Poland accuses Russia and its ally Belarus of using migrants as part of a "hybrid warfare" campaign to destabilise Europe. Poland built a 5.5 metre (18 feet) tall steel barrier, equipped with motion sensors and cameras, stretching for about 187 km (116 miles) on the Belarus border. Poland had previously said the border guard had received funds to build an "electronic barrier" of sensors and cameras on the Kaliningrad border. Since Feb. 24, 7.26 million Ukrainians have entered Poland, according to the Polish Border Guard. Sobolewski also said there were signs of larger groups of migrants appearing at the Belarus border.

☆ Kyrgyzstan asks Russia-led bloc to send peacekeepers to Tajik border
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BISHKEK, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Kyrgyzstan has asked a Russia-led security bloc to deploy peacekeeping troops at its disputed border with Tajikistan to ensure a ceasefire holds between the two ex-Soviet Central Asian countries, a senior Kyrgyz official said on Wednesday. At least 100 people were killed last month in fighting involving the use of tanks, aircraft and rocket artillery on a disputed section of the border. read moreAlthough the ceasefire agreed on Sept.16 has held up so far, Tajikistan's border guard service accused Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday of bringing more military hardware close to the border and building fortifications with "malevolent plans". Both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan maintain close ties with Moscow and host Russian military bases. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Olga Dzyubenko; Additional reporting by Nazarali Pirnazarov in Dushanbe; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Alex RichardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Russia and Ukraine just completed one of the war's biggest prisoner swaps, with Russia freeing 108 Ukrainian women in exchange for 110 Russians
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukrainian officials said it was the biggest all-female prisoner exchange between both nations. "We managed to return 108 Ukrainian women: officers, sergeants, privates, army, navy, territorial defense, national guards, border guards," he said. Ukrainian women pose for a photo after re-uniting with their relatives as part of all-female prisoner swap with Russia on October 17, 2022 in Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed two Ukrainian women marked for the swap voluntarily declined to return to Ukraine before the exchange. Ukrainian women reunite with relatives during all-female prisoner swap deal with Russia since the war began in Ukraine on October 17, 2022.

☆ Belarus's Lukashenko warns Ukraine, deploys troops with Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The remarks from Lukashenko, who has held power in Belarus since 1994, indicate a potential further escalation of the war in Ukraine, possibly with a combined Russian-Belarus joint force in the north of Ukraine. "Their owners are pushing them to start a war against Belarus to drag us there." Lukashenko said that a warning was delivered to Belarus through unofficial channels that Ukraine planned "Crimean Bridge 2", though he did not give details. On Sunday, the head of Belarus's border guards accused Ukraine of provocations at the border. Russian forces used Belarus as a staging post for their Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, sending troops and equipment into northern Ukraine from bases in Belarus.

☆ Russia's neighbor considers asylum for draft dodgers who can prove they were conscripted, but not young men afraid of being called up
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Russia's European neighbors say they will not take in Russians fleeing mobilization. But Latvia has told Insider it will consider giving asylum to men who can prove they've been drafted. Russia's European neighbors have largely rejected the idea that they would let in Russians fleeing out of fear that they will be sent to Ukraine. Pabriks echoed the reasoning given by Russia's other neighbors for not taking in fleeing Russians. Latvia's foreign ministry took a more cautious tone on Russians fleeing mobilization.

☆ Russian exodus shows no signs of easing as Ukraine war looms over recruits
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Yuliya-Talmazan-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Yuliya Talmazan | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

New satellite images released Monday appeared to show a large number of vehicles lining up at Russia’s border crossings with neighboring Georgia and Mongolia. On Tuesday, the Russian state news agency Tass quoted Russian border officials as saying that around 3,600 passenger cars were waiting to cross into Georgia. Kazak border authorities said 98,000 Russian citizens have entered Kazakhstan since the mobilization was announced, according to Russia’s state news agency Ria. NBC News reached out to border officials in both Kazakhstan and Finland for further comment. On Monday, Russian media reported cases of some men being turned back at Russian airports and barred from leaving the country.

Russians trying to avoid getting conscripted to fight in Ukraine appeared to be trying to cross the border into Georgia, Kazakhstan and even remote Mongolia, satellite imagery suggested Monday. Russian border guards didn’t appear to be trying to stop them. The Russians are fleeing to Georgia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and other countries because they don't require visas. Logvin said he waited 34 hours at the border before he was allowed to enter Georgia. According to Maxar, this satellite image appears to show a traffic jam near the Russian border with Georgia on Sunday.

☆ Satellite images show traffic jams at the border as Russians flee the country following Putin's decision to send more people to fight in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies. Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies. Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies. Satellite image ©2022 Maxar TechnologiesRussians have also tried to flee by crossing into Finland, which borders the country to the northwest. "Border traffic at Finnish Russian land border has remained on higher level than in previous weeks.

☆ Kremlin says no decisions taken on border closure amid mobilisation
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MOSCOW, Sept 26 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday that no decisions had been taken on closing Russia's borders, amid an exodus of military-age men since President Vladimir Putin declared a partial mobilisation last Wednesday. Asked about the possibility of border closures in a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "I don't know anything about this. Russian media have reported a string of cases of elderly or medically exempt men being called up for service in Ukraine. The comments come amid rising fears of a border closure, with Russia's frontiers seeing an unprecedented outflow of military-aged men since the partial mobilisation was declared last week. On Sunday, Novaya Gazeta reported that 261,000 men had left the country since partial mobilisation was declared, citing an unnamed source in Russia's presidential administration.

☆ Fact Check-Video of queues at Russia-Finland border was taken more than three weeks before Vladimir Putin’s partial mobilisation announcement
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The Russian president made the announcement on Sept. 21, marking the nation’s first mobilisation since World War Two amid a major battlefield reversal in Ukraine. Another user shared the same footage with the caption: “Border btw #Russia - #Finland after #Putin"s partial #mobilization” (here ). However, Reuters Fact Check has found the video predates Putin’s announcement. Both the director of Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Finnish Border Guard said on Sept. 21 that the situation at the Russia-Finland border was no different since Putin’s announcement, though this has now changed. Video showing lines at Russia Finland border predates Vladimir Putin’s announcement of partial mobilisation to fight in Ukraine.

☆ Finland says traffic on border with Russia remains busy
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Cars queue to cross the border from Russia to Finland at the Nuijamaa border check point in Lappeenranta, Finland, September 22, 2022. Lauri Heino/Lehtikuva/via REUTERSRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterVAALIMAA, Finland, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Traffic into Finland across its southeastern border with Russia was busy on Friday, the border guard told Reuters, adding that the number of Russians who entered the previous day was more than double the number who arrived the week before. Finland is considering barring most Russians from entering as traffic arriving from its eastern neighbour "intensified" on Thursday following President Vladimir Putin's order for a partial military mobilisation. "This morning it remains busy ... maybe increasing a little bit from yesterday," a spokesperson for the border guard said early on Friday. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Essi Lehto and Anna Ringstrom, writing by Stine Jacobsen, editing by Terje Solsvik, Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ 'I am leaving Russia': young men flee draft, Finland to restrict entry
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Essi Lehto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Cars queue to enter Finland from Russia at Finland's most southern crossing point Vaalimaa, around three hour drive from Saint Petersburg, in Vaalimaa, Finland September 23, 2022. Two days later, he was crossing the border into Finland. I am just for freedom, Russia (free) from Putin, democracy in Russia," he said, breaking into tears. Nikita was one of a dozen young men Reuters spoke to at the Vaalimaa border crossing in southeastern Finland, their number growing in the days since Putin announced the call-up of 300,000 military reservists. Traffic into Finland over its border with Russia was heavy on Friday.

☆ Finland says traffic on border with Russia increasing
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterHELSINKI, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Traffic arriving at Finland's eastern border with Russia has "intensified" during the night, the Finnish Border Guard said early on Thursday, while adding that the situation was under control. "The number clearly has picked up," the Finnish border guard's head of international affairs Matti Pitkaniitty told Reuters. read moreWednesday's number of people crossing the border was, however, lower than during the weekend, according to Pitkaniitty. He said 4,824 Russians arrived in Finland via the eastern border on Wednesday, up from the 3,133 a week earlier. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Stine Jacobsen, Essi Lehto and Gwladys Fouche, editing by Terje Solsvik and Kim CoghillOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

A man smokes while walking past a mural, which was painted on a multi-storey building in support of the Russian army, in Moscow, Russia September 21, 2022. read morePrices for air tickets out of Moscow soared above $5,000 for one-way tickets to the nearest foreign locations, with most air tickets sold out completely for coming days. $5,000 TICKETSA tourism industry source told Reuters that there was desperation as people sought to find air tickets out of Russia. Traffic arriving at Finland's eastern border with Russia "intensified" overnight, the Finnish Border Guard said. read moreRussian police detained more than 1,300 people in Russia on Wednesday at protests denouncing mobilisation, a rights group said.

☆ Russians fleeing Putin's draft and war in Ukraine could face traffic jams at the border, skyrocketing plane ticket costs, and up to 10 years in prison for desertion
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Jake Epstein | John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Many Russians are trying to flee the country after Putin declared partial military mobilization. Plane tickets have sold out or skyrocketed in price, and land border crossings are seeing increased traffic. In trying to avoid deployment, fleeing Russians are facing traffic jams at border crossings and plane tickets that are either incredibly expensive or simply sold out. "Incoming traffic at the eastern border increased during the night," Finland's border guard said in a Wednesday statement. Western officials, as well as former diplomats and Russia experts, say that Putin's partial mobilization shows that Russia is "failing" or "losing" in Ukraine.

☆ Explainer: What does Vladimir Putin's 'partial' mobilisation mean for Russia's military machine?
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Andrew Osborn | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The exact number of mobilised reservists in Ukraine is classified but official pronouncements suggest it is at least 400,000. * The immediate call-up of 300,000 military reservists who have previously served in the Russian army and have combat experience or specialised military skills. Western military analysts forecast it will therefore be several months before they see action. According to a copy of the legislation, seen by Reuters, voluntary surrender would become a crime for Russian military personnel punishable by 10 years in prison. * Western military analysts are divided on whether partial mobilisation is too little too late to alter the course of the war in Moscow's favour.

☆ Baltic states and Poland close doors to Russian tourists
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-19 | by ( Andrius Sytas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A general view of the bridge over Narva river at the border crossing point with Russia in Narva, Estonia September 18, 2022. Monday's entry ban is targeted at tourists and excludes Russian dissidents seeking refuge in the EU along with lorry drivers, refugees and permanent residents of EU countries as well as those visiting family members. The border guard told me I won't t be allowed to come here anymore," he told Reuters. "I will still be able to get to Estonia through other countries," he told Reuters shortly after crossing into Narva. Russia said it would retaliate against the curbs, but would not close itself off from the bloc.

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