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☆ Russia Increases Maximum Size of Armed Forces by 170,000 Servicemen
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to increase the maximum number of servicemen in the Russian armed forces by 170,000 people, the Kremlin and the Defence Ministry said on Friday. According to the document, the regular strength of the armed forces is now set at 1,320,000 servicemen. "The increase in the full-time strength of the armed forces is due to the growing threats to our country associated with the special military operation and the ongoing expansion of NATO," the Russian defence ministry said. The ministry also said that the increase in the number of servicemen is due to the recruitment of contract personnel, and the military has no plans to significantly increase conscription or carry out a new wave of mobilisation. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said on Friday that more than 452,000 people were recruited to the Russian military under contract from Jan. 1 to Dec. 1 2023.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Medvedev, Maxim Rodionov, Sandra Maler Organizations: Reuters, Kremlin, Defence Ministry, NATO, Russia's Security Locations: Russian

☆ Russia increases maximum size of armed forces by 170,000 servicemen
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Russian servicemen line up during a rehearsal for the Victory Day parade, which marks the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia May 7, 2021. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 1 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to increase the maximum number of servicemen in the Russian armed forces by 170,000 people, the Kremlin and the Defence Ministry said on Friday. According to the document, the regular strength of the armed forces is now set at 1,320,000 servicemen. "The increase in the full-time strength of the armed forces is due to the growing threats to our country associated with the special military operation and the ongoing expansion of NATO," the Russian defence ministry said. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said on Friday that more than 452,000 people were recruited to the Russian military under contract from Jan. 1 to Dec. 1 2023.

Persons: Maxim, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Medvedev, Maxim Rodionov, Sandra Maler Organizations: Nazi, REUTERS, Kremlin, Defence Ministry, NATO, Russia's Security, Thomson Locations: Nazi Germany, Red, Moscow, Russia, Russian

☆ Wife of Ukraine’s top military intelligence official hospitalized with apparent heavy metals poisoning
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Katie Bo Lillis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —The wife of Ukraine’s top military intelligence official has been hospitalized with apparent heavy metals poisoning, according to Ukrainian and western officials. American and western intelligence officials have not independently verified the poisoning but believe Ukrainian reports to be accurate, sources familiar with the matter tell CNN. According to the GUR representative, she has been hospitalized for a week and had felt poorly for some time prior to being hospitalized. In England in 2018, Russian agents used a nerve agent to poison Sergei Skripal, a former Russian military officer and double agent for British intelligence agencies. While initial reports indicated that they suffered from poisoning, later reports indicated the they were sickened due to an environmental factor, not poisoning.

Persons: Marianna Budanova, Kyrylo Budanov, GUR, Andriy Yusov, Budanova, Edward Boyer, ” Boyer, “, Russia –, –, Sergei Skripal Organizations: Washington CNN, Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, CNN, Defense Intelligence, University of Massachusetts Locations: Ukrainian, Russia, Ukraine, Soviet Union, England, Russian, United States, Turkey

☆ Russian opposition group report says it's identified another superyacht belonging to Vladimir Putin
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Katherine Long | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Russian military plant built Vladimir Putin a 71-meter superyacht, according to a new report. The report was written by the Dossier Center, a Russian opposition group funded by an exiled oligarch. AdvertisementVladimir Putin's newest known superyacht is 71 meters long, cost an estimated $50 million to build, and can carry up to 28 people, according to a new report from Russian opposition group the Dossier Center. Construction on the yacht began in 2005 at a Russian military facility that typically produces nuclear submarines, according to the report, citing unnamed sources close to Putin. Spokespeople for the Russian president and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, oligarch, Putin's, —, Vladimir, Putin, Mikhail Khodorkovsky –, Russia –, lina K Organizations: Dossier, Service, NATO, ust Locations: Russian, Victoria, Sochi, Istanbul, Russia

Ukrainian forces say they have have “gained a foothold” on the left (eastern) bank of the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine. In March, EU member states agreed to provide Ukraine with 1 million rounds of artillery ammunition for Ukraine to be delivered within 12 months. Both Ukraine and Russia need to replenish extraordinary amounts of ammunition as a grinding war of attrition continues in Ukraine’s east and south. Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, pictured in court in 2014, has received a presidential pardon after doing a stint fighting in Ukraine. The visit was previously unannounced and comes amid concerns that the Israel-Gaza conflict will divert international attention from the war in Ukraine.

Persons: “, Vladimir Saldo, Pilipey, Saldo, ” Boris Pistorius, Pistorius, Josep Borrell, Dimitar Dilkoff, Anna Politkovskaya, Vladimir Putin, Sergey Khadzhikurbanov, Politkovskaya, Khadzhikurbanov’s, Alexey Mikhalchik, Putin, ” Mikhalchik, Khadzhikurbanov, ”, Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, Pavel Golovkin, David Cameron, Zelensky, ” Cameron, Cameron, ” Cameron –, Alexandra Skochilenko, Skochilenko “ Organizations: CNN —, Defense Forces, CNN, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, Getty, Novaya Gazeta, Russian Ministry of Defense, Khadzhikurbanov, AP, Armed Forces, Russian Federation Locations: CNN — Ukraine, Dnipro, Kyiv, Germany, Ukraine, Kherson, Russia, Russian, AFP, Krynky, Crimea, Brussels, EU, Ukraine’s, South, North Korea, Moscow, British, Israel, Gaza, St, Petersburg, St . Petersburg, Skochilenko

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

Four former Russian inmates who fought with Wagner in eastern Ukraine said they had received calls and messages offering new military contracts in recent weeks, confirming recent reports by Russian military bloggers. Three former fighters said they were specifically urged to join Rosgvardia, Russia’s militarized national guard. Originally envisioned as a rear-guard force, Rosgvardia has gained prominence since the invasion of Ukraine under the leadership of Victor Zolotov, a former bodyguard of President Vladimir V. Putin. “Wagner is officially becoming a unit of Rosgvardia,” read a recruitment text received by a former Wagner fighter last week and seen by The New York Times. “The entire structure, methods of work and commanders remain the same.”

Persons: Wagner, Rosgvardia, Victor Zolotov, Vladimir V, Putin, Mr, “ Wagner, ” Organizations: Kremlin, Rosgvardia, The New York Times Locations: Ukraine

☆ Russia, Ukraine give conflicting Zaporizhzhia frontline accounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] A Ukrainian serviceman inspects a former Russian position outside the village of Robotyne, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near a front line in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine November 4, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer Acquire Licensing RightsNov 6 (Reuters) - Russia and Ukraine gave clashing accounts over the weekend about what is going on along the frontline in the Zaporizhzhia region, with Moscow saying it has stopped Kyiv's counter-offensive and Ukraine's army saying it keeps pressing on. The Russian defence ministry said in its daily briefing on Sunday that Russian forces have repelled Ukraine's attacks near Verbove and Robotyne. Ukraine's General Stuff also said that Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations in the Melitopol direction, in the western Zaporizhzhia region, "exhausting the enemy all along the frontline" there. Russia said over the weekend its air defence forces repelled Ukrainian air attacks there.

Persons: Stringer, Kyiv's, Yevgeny Balitsky, Balitsky, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Valery Zaluzhnyi, Lidia Kelly, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, Staff, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Russian, Robotyne, Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia region, Russia, Zaporizhzhia, Moscow, Shcherbaky, Verbove, Washington, Melbourne

☆ Carlsberg would rather lose its Russian business than negotiate a deal with Moscow, and it shows how hard it is for companies to exit the market
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The CEO of Danish brewer Carlsberg says Moscow has "stolen" its business in Russia. Moscow seized Carlsberg's assets in July, weeks after the brewer announced it had found a buyer for its Russian business. Carlsberg said it's cutting ties with its Russian business as it can't find an acceptable solution to resolve the issue. AdvertisementAdvertisementDanish brewer Carlsberg operates eight breweries and employs more than 8,000 people through its Russian unit, Baltika Breweries. However, on July 16, Russia seized Baltika.

Persons: Carlsberg, Moscow, —, Jacob Aarup, Andersen, Dmitry Medvedev, Medvedev, they'd, Baltika, Carlsberg's Organizations: Service, Carlsberg, Baltika Breweries, Carlsberg Group, Financial Times, Russian, Unilever Locations: Moscow, Russia, Carlsberg, Ukraine, British

☆ Putin Ally Warns 'Enemy' Poland: You Risk Losing Your Statehood
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A top ally of President Vladimir Putin warned Poland on Thursday that the NATO member state was now considered a "dangerous enemy" by Russia and could end up losing its statehood if it continued on its current course. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, made the comments in an 8,000-word article on Russian-Polish relations, saying Moscow now had a "dangerous enemy" in Poland. "We will treat it (Poland) precisely as a historical enemy," Medvedev said. "If there is no hope for reconciliation with the enemy, Russia should have only one and a very tough attitude regarding its fate." Poland, which has backed Ukraine, accuses Russia of trying to destabilise the country with disinformation campaigns and espionage.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Medvedev, Medvedev, Guy Faulconbridge, Andrew Osborn Organizations: NATO, Russia's Security, Kremlin Locations: MOSCOW, Poland, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, Warsaw

☆ Putin ally warns 'enemy' Poland: you risk losing your statehood
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, made the comments in an 8,000-word article on Russian-Polish relations, saying Moscow now had a "dangerous enemy" in Poland. "We will treat it (Poland) precisely as a historical enemy," Medvedev said. "If there is no hope for reconciliation with the enemy, Russia should have only one and a very tough attitude regarding its fate." The war in Ukraine has sent already tense relations between Warsaw and Moscow to new lows. Poland, which has backed Ukraine, accuses Russia of trying to destabilise the country with disinformation campaigns and espionage.

Persons: Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin, Medvedev, Guy Faulconbridge, Andrew Osborn Organizations: Nazi, Sputnik, Rights, NATO, Russia's Security, Kremlin, Thomson Locations: Nazi Germany, Red, Moscow, Russia, Poland, Ukraine, Warsaw

REUTERS/Andrew Kelly Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev sneered at the Danish brewer Carlsberg (CARLb.CO) on Wednesday for having thought it could quit Russia without penalty after the West sanctioned Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. Carlsberg CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen on Tuesday said Russia had stolen its business when President Vladimir Putin in July granted temporary control of its majority stake in the Russian brewer Baltika to the federal government. "Like their brethren in the Western menagerie, they abandoned everything in Russia for political reasons ..., refused to fulfil their obligations to Russian contractors. Carlsberg had eight breweries and about 8,400 employees in Russia, and took a 9.9 billion Danish crown ($1.4 billion) write-down on Baltika last year. ($1 = 7.0694 Danish crowns)Reporting by Reuters in Moscow and Alexander Marrow in LondonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Dmitry Medvedev sneered, Jacob Aarup, Andersen, Vladimir Putin, Baltika, Carlsberg, Medvedev, they'd, Alexander Marrow Organizations: Carlsberg, REUTERS, Rights, West, Russia's Security, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Copenhagen, Denmark, Russian, Danish, Moscow, Ukraine, Russia, London

The government in the predominantly Muslim republic said that the outburst had been calmed and vowed to prevent further clashes. Russian aviation authorities said that the airport, in Makhachkala, the republic’s capital, would reopen on Tuesday. Dmitri S. Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesman, said on Monday that Mr. Putin had been receiving reports about the events in Dagestan. Some people in the videos held Palestinian flags and carried signs opposing the war in Gaza, and some chanted “God is great” in Arabic. The local authorities in Dagestan blamed “extremist” outlets administered by “Russian enemies” for inciting the unrest.

Persons: Vladimir V, Putin, Dmitri S, Peskov, “, ”, Sergei Melikov, Ilya Ponomaryov, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Aric Toler Organizations: The New York Times, Red Wings, The Times, Telegram, Kremlin Locations: Makhachkala, Dagestan, Russian, Tel Aviv, Russia, Kremlin, Israel, North Caucasus, Ukraine, Gaza, ”, Caucasus, Khasavyurt

☆ Ukraine says it created a whole battalion from Russians who signed up to fight their own country
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Siberian Battalion largely consists of people from ethnic minorities in Russia. The battalion is expected to be sent to fight against Russia very soon, Bloomberg reported. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkraine said Wednesday that it had created a whole battalion from Russians who wanted to fight their own country. The battalion does not recruit captured Russian soldiers, he added, as per the Kyiv Post. He called his battalion the Siberian Battalion.

Persons: —, Andriy Yusov, HUR, Yusov, Vladislav Ammosov Organizations: Siberian Battalion, Bloomberg, Service, International Legion of, Armed Forces of, Defense, Main Intelligence, Russian Federation, Kyiv Post, New, Radio Free Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Kyiv, Russian, Eastern Siberia, Europe, Radio Free Europe

☆ Who is in Putin's delegation to China - and who stayed in Moscow?
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives for the opening ceremony of the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, October 18, 2023. Sputnik/Dmitry Azarov/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently on a visit to China, his second only trip outside the former Soviet Union since the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Who is in the Russian delegation with Putin - and who stayed in Russia? Before Putin left for China, he was shown at a meeting with defence and spy chiefs at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow. The following top officials are thought to be in Russia.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Azarov, Alexander Novak, Sergei Lavrov, Yuri Ushakov, Maxim Oreshkin, Dmitry Peskov, Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina, Anton Siluanov, Maxim Reshetnikov, Dmitry Shugaev, Yuri Chikhanchin, Dmitry Chernyshenko, Igor Morgulov, Igor Sechin, Alexei Miller, Alexei Likhachev, Andrei Kostin, Igor Shuvalov, Leonid Mikhelson, Oleg Belozyorov, Kirill Dmitriev, Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Nikolai Patrushev, Alexander Bortnikov, Dmitry Medvedev, Anton Vaino, Sergei Kiriyenko, Mikhail Mishustin, Viktor Zolotov, Sergei Naryshkin, Guy Faulconbridge, Muralikumar Organizations: Forum, Sputnik, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Soviet Union, Putin, Kremlin, Central Bank Governor, Federal Service for Military, Gazprom, VEB, Russian, Russian Direct Investment, Russia Security, Federal Security Service, Russia's Foreign Intelligence, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Ukraine, Russia, CHINA, North Korea, China BUSINESSPERSONS, Moscow, Russian

☆ Putin filmed in China accompanied by officers with Russian nuclear briefcase
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MOSCOW, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Rare footage was shown on Wednesday of Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing accompanied by officers carrying the so-called nuclear briefcase which can be used to order a nuclear strike. Putin, after a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, was filmed walking to another meeting surrounded by security and followed by two Russian naval officers in uniform each carrying a briefcase. Russia's nuclear briefcase is traditionally carried by a naval officer. The Russian defence minister, currently Sergei Shoigu, also has a nuclear briefcase. One of the nuclear briefcases used by former Russian President Boris Yeltsin is displayed in the Yeltsin Museum in Yekaterinburg.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Xi Jinping, Mount Cheget, RIA, satchel, RUPTLY, Sergei Shoigu, Valery Gerasimov, Boris Yeltsin, Guy Faulconbridge, Nick Macfie Organizations: Kremlin, U.S, White, Cuban Missile, Russian, Forum, REUTERS, Acquire, Comprehensive, Russia's Zvezda, Zvezda, Yeltsin, Soviet Union, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Beijing, Putin's, Ukraine, Moscow, Washington, China, United States, Yekaterinburg

☆ Russia says it's talking to both Israel and Palestinians as Putin blames failure of US policy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"I think that many people will agree with me that this is a vivid example of the failure of United States policy in the Middle East," Putin told visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani. The United States, Putin said, had ignored the interests of Palestinians, including their need for their own independent Palestinian state. He did not mention Russia's own role in the Middle East peace process over the years. Along with the United States, the United Nations and the European Union, it has since 2002 formed part of a "Quartet" of powers charged with helping to mediate. Moscow has said it is worried that the violence could escalate into a broader conflict in the Middle East.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Metzel, Putin, Mohammed Shia Al, Sudani, Washington, Dmitry Peskov, Peskov, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Mark Trevelyan, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Financial Security, Sirius, of Science, Art, Sputnik, Rights, Iraqi, United States, United Nations, European Union, Kremlin, stoke, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Krasnodar region, Russia, Israel, Moscow, States, United, United States, Gaza, Russian, Palestinian

☆ The Kremlin's propaganda machine will likely use the conflict in Israel to undermine the West's support for Ukraine: ISW
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Kai Xiang Teo | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian propagandists are capitalizing on the Israel conflict, per the Institute for the Study of War. The ISW says Kremlin narratives are now targeting "western audiences" to undermine aid to Ukraine. These "information operations" aim to reduce Western support for the Ukraine war, per the ISW. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Institute for the Study of War says Russia's propaganda machine will likely use the conflict in Israel to erode the West's support for Ukraine. The ISW wrote in its report that after the Hamas attacks on Saturday, the Kremlin amplified information campaigns that accused the West of ignoring Middle East conflicts to support Ukraine.

Persons: ISW, —, Sergey Mardan, Dmitry Medvedev, Medvedev, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: for, Service, Ukraine, —, Security, of, Palestinian, Congress, Capitol Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Washington, Russian, of Russia, West

In that case, Britain accused Russia of an assassination attempt on its soil and expelled 23 Russian diplomats from the country. For its part, the U.S. expelled 60 Russian diplomats and ordered the closure of Russia's consulate in Seattle in solidarity with its British ally. If asked by Canada to expel a large number of Indian diplomats, these officials said, the U.S. would have little choice but to comply. This week, India told Canada to remove 41 of its 62 diplomats in the country, ramping up the confrontation. Trudeau and other Canadian officials, including Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, have hinted that Canada won't take reciprocal measures.

Persons: —, Biden, Justin Trudeau's, Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Sergei Skripal, Trudeau, “ I’m, we're, ”, Danny Russel, Barack Obama’s, Modi, Melanie Joly Organizations: WASHINGTON, Publicly, Canadian, U.S, NATO, Asia Society Policy Locations: Canada, India, U.S, Vancouver, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, Pacific, United States, Ukraine, China, Australia, Japan, Salisbury, England, Britain, Seattle, St . Petersburg, Indian, British, New York, New Zealand, New Delhi, Washington

☆ Kazakh fintech Freedom Holding is being investigated by DOJ, SEC, documents show
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The SEC's Boston regional office has been probing Freedom for months, according to documents seen by CNBC and people familiar with the matter. The U.S. Attorney's Office for Massachusetts is also making preliminary inquiries into Freedom, documents seen by CNBC show. Nearly 115,000 Freedom shares changed hands in the first half hour of trading, 1.25 times the stock's 10-day average. Turlov and Freedom are aware of the SEC probe, which has been going on for months, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC. An SEC spokesperson told CNBC that it doesn't comment on the existence or nonexistence of an investigation.

Persons: that's, Timur Turlov, Turlov, Hindenburg, Citron Organizations: Nasdaq, Securities, Exchange, CNBC, Boston, Attorney's, Massachusetts, SEC, DOJ, Justice, Hindenburg, Citron Research, Las, Trump, Financial, Financial Industry, Authority, Freedom Locations: Almaty, Kazakhstan, Russian, U.S, Kazakh, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, New York, Las Vegas, New

☆ Russia wields ‘silent weapon’ of grain exports to weaken Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Clare Sebastian | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

This will amount to 22.5% of global wheat exports, a market-leading share. In the same period, Ukraine’s share of global wheat exports has shrunk from 9% to an expected level of a little over 6% for this season. “Ukraine’s [grain] exports are vital to its economy and to feed the world,” Bridget A. S&P Global expects its wheat exports to fall by 3.7 million tons to 13.4 million in 2023-24, the lowest in nine years. And a significant reduction in the global wheat supply could yet lift prices, suggests Welsh.

Persons: Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin, ” Caitlin Welsh, Bridget A, Putin, Andrey Sizov, Stringer, ” Welsh, Sizov, Vladimir Nikolayev, Paul Hughes, ”, Olesya, Svitlana Vlasova Organizations: London CNN —, Russia’s Security, Global, CNN, Initiative, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Moscow, Twitter, Getty, Union, European Commission, EU, US Department of Agriculture, Reuters, Romania, P Global, “ Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Nedvigovka, AFP, Ukraine’s, Poland, mudslinging, Egypt, Siberian Novosibirsk, “ Ukraine

☆ Russian journalist who staged TV war protest handed 8 1/2 year jail term in absentia
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Former Russian state TV employee Marina Ovsyannikova, who staged an anti-war protest on live state television and was later charged with public activity aimed at discrediting the Russian army amid Ukraine-Russia conflict, attends a court hearing in Moscow, Russia, July 28, 2022. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Oct 4 (Reuters) - A Russian court sentenced former state TV journalist Marina Ovsyannikova, who burst into a news broadcast with a placard that read "Stop the war" and "They're lying to you", to eight and half years in jail in absentia on Wednesday. Ovsyannikova was found guilty of "spreading knowingly false information about the Russian Armed Forces", according to a statement posted by the court on Telegram. She had staged her original protest less than three weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, in what it called a "special military operation". Writing by Maxim Rodionov; editing by Guy FaulconbridgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Marina Ovsyannikova, Evgenia, Ovsyannikova, Maxim Rodionov, Guy Faulconbridge Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Russian Armed Forces, Thomson Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Ovsyannikova

☆ Russia's Medvedev says British training troops in Ukraine could be legitimate targets
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Medvedev, who is deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, and has become an increasingly hawkish and anti-Western figure in Russian politics, said such steps by the West were bringing World War Three closer. "(This will) turn their instructors into a legal target for our armed forces," Medvedev wrote on Telegram. Medvedev then turned his focus to Germany, vilifying those who want Berlin to supply Ukraine with Taurus cruise missiles that could strike Russian territory and try to limit Moscow's supply to its army. Well, in that case, strikes on German factories where these missiles are made would also be in full compliance with international law," Medvedev said. "These morons are actively pushing us towards World War Three," Medvedev said.

Persons: Dmitry Medvedev, Medvedev, Grant Shapps, Alexander Marrow, Guy Faulconbridge Organizations: Russia's, Scientific, Machine, Sunday, Russia's Security, British Defence, NATO, Taurus, Thomson Locations: Reutov, Moscow, Russia, MOSCOW, Russian, Ukraine, Britain, Germany, Berlin

☆ One of Putin's guards who denounced the war and fled Russia says he's being pursued even in South America
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

He's one of the extremely rare FSO officers to do so — and says he's still being pursued for it. AdvertisementAdvertisementA former member of President Vladimir Putin's Federal Protective Service said that he has been pursued since he fled Russia and denounced the invasion of Ukraine. They appear to be the brutal consequences of his decision to publicly reject Putin's politics and the war in Ukraine. But much of his family was there, and an FSO job would be the peak of his career, offering a comfortable 68,000 rubles ($700) a month. Speaking outEven in Ecuador, Brizhaty doesn't feel safe from the Kremlin.

Persons: Vitaly Brizaty, Putin, he's, —, Vladimir Putin's, Vitaly Brizhaty, Brizhaty, Alexei Navalny, Navalny, didn't, nodded, — Putin, Thibault Spirlet Organizations: FSO, Service, Vladimir Putin's Federal Protective Service, Protection Service, Russian Locations: Russian, Russia, Ecuador, Ukraine, Crimea, Olivye, Ukrainian, Kremlin

[1/2] Vehicles of Russian peacekeepers leaving Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh region for Armenia pass an Armenian checkpoint on a road near the village of Kornidzor, Armenia September 22, 2023. Images of fleeing Armenians at Russia's own peacekeeping base at an airport in Nagorno-Karabakh have been harder for them to watch. But its handling of the Karabakh crisis has forced it into a blame game with Armenia and obliged it to defend its foreign policy in the region. It now accuses him of triggering the crisis by saying - after Russian peacekeepers were deployed to Karabakh in 2020 following Armenia's defeat in a 44-day war - that he recognised Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. Baku has long argued that Karabakh falls within its own borders, but Karabakh Armenians wanted Pashinyan to recognise their independence and unify them with Armenia.

Persons: Irakli, Alexander Baunov, Russia's, Sergei Markov, Pashinyan, Dmitry Medvedev, Medvedev, Margarita Simonyan, Andrew Osborn, Gareth Jones Organizations: REUTERS, Armenian, Soviet, Carnegie, Karabakh, Protesters, Kremlin, Russian, Security Council, NATO, Thomson Locations: Karabakh, Armenia, Kornidzor, Russia, Azerbaijan Moscow, Kabul, U.S, Afghanistan, Nagorno, Turkish, Moscow, Azerbaijan, Soviet Union, Turkey, Iran, Ukraine, South Caucasus, Stepanakert, Russian, America, Baku ., Yerevan, Baku, Pashinyan

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