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☆ A Russian lawmaker wants to boost Russia's army by using 'large' and 'aggressive' stray dogs as military assets
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Aditi Bharade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Russian lawmaker has floated the idea of using "large" and "aggressive" stray dogs in the military. The dogs could be trained to rescue wounded troops, and to sniff out hidden mines. His proposal came just before Kyiv's military claimed 200,000 Russians had been killed in the war. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyA Russian lawmaker has made an outlandish proposal to boost Russia's army — using "aggressive" stray dogs as military assets. While Ukrainian soldiers have not trained stray animals for combat, some have turned to them for companionship, a report by AFP revealed.

☆ Ukraine's military may not be able to retake Crimea, but it can make life hell for Russians there, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Retaking the peninsula would be tough, but Ukrainian forces can isolate it, two US experts say. Supplying Russian forces on the peninsula — including the Black Sea Fleet — would require far more airlift capacity than Russia has. "Rattled by attacks, short of supplies, and somewhat isolated, Russian forces in Crimea could become less capable." It is possible that Russia could devise some defense or countermeasure against USVs, especially if they have naval and air superiority over the Black Sea. Sapping the capabilities and morale of Russian forces by disrupting their supply lines is one thing.

☆ Putin has banned top officials from resigning as Russian casualties mount in Ukraine, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kremlin officials have been banned from resigning, a Russian independent media outlet says. Those who do try to leave are threatened with prosecution, according to the report. Those who do try to leave are threatened with prosecution, according to the report. The report said that under the mobilisation decree signed by President Vladimir Putin in September 2022, FSB officials are banned from resigning even after their contract expires. The Kremlin has clamped down on expressing opposition to the Ukraine war, introducing draconian laws outlawing dissent, and jailing scores of critics.

☆ The CIA launched a Telegram channel to get Russians to spy for them, with one former spook saying now is 'probably the best period of recruiting Russians that we've had'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The CIA is attempting to recruit Russian spies with video posts on Telegram. As of Tuesday, the new CIA Telegram account had almost 5,000 followers. A screenshot from a CIA recruitment video aimed at Russians posted online on May 15, 2023. A screenshot from a CIA recruitment video aimed at Russians posted online on May 15, 2023. James Olson, a former counterintelligence chief, told CNN that this is "probably the best period of recruiting Russians that we've had."

☆ Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin says Russian troops are running away from the front lines and threatens to spill more details if Putin doesn't send ammunition
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The boss of the Wagner Group said Russian troops fled from the front lines of the war in Ukraine. Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin made the claims in a scathing video posted on Tuesday. In a video published to Telegram on Tuesday, Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin mocked the Russian troops as he detailed how they ran from their positions near the war-torn Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. "So today, one of the units of the Ministry of Defense fled from one of our flanks, abandoned their positions," Prigozhin said. Wagner Group fighters have played a key role in the battle that has been playing out in Bakhmut for months.

☆ China's defense minister applauds Putin for 'promoting world peace' amid Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

China's defense minister applauded Putin for "promoting world peace" as they met in Moscow. Beijing and Moscow have maintained warm ties in spite of Russia's brutal war in Ukraine. The war in Ukraine — the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II — has left Ukrainian cities in ruins and wreaked havoc on the global economy. As Europe curtails Russian energy imports in response to the war in Ukraine, China remains a major buyer. Meanwhile, China in February unveiled a peace plan for the Ukraine war, which was met with major skepticism in Washington.

Evan GershkovichEvan Gershkovich is a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, where he covers Russia, Ukraine and the former Soviet Union. President Biden and news organizations around the world have joined the Journal in calling for Mr. Gershkovich’s immediate release. Mr. Gershkovich, the American son of Soviet-born Jewish exiles, grew up in New Jersey. Before joining the Journal in January 2022, Mr. Gershkovich was a reporter for Agence France-Presse and the Moscow Times. Find more information about Mr. Gershkovich here.

☆ The Kremlin throws cold water on China mediating peace in Ukraine as Macron urges Xi to 'bring Russia to its senses'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Moscow threw cold water on the potential for China to play the role of mediator in the Ukraine war. This came after Macron urged Xi to push Russia to see reason when it comes to the Ukraine war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has invited Xi to visit Ukraine and repeatedly expressed a desire to speak with him. China has claimed that it's neutral in the Ukraine war and unveiled a peace plan in February on the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion. That said, Xi showed no signs that China would provide Russia with weapons during a recent visit to Moscow.

[1/2] Reporter for U.S. newspaper The Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich appears in this handout picture taken in Moscow, Russia, 2019. The Moscow Times/Handout via REUTERSBRUSSELS/WASHINGTON, April 5 (Reuters) - The United States is working through the process to determine whether Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich's detention by Russia is "wrongful", U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday, adding it would soon be completed. The Wall Street Journal has denied Gershkovich was spying. Legislation passed by Congress in 2020 lists 11 criteria to help determine whether a U.S. citizen is "wrongfully detained." The Biden administration has secured the release of at least 25 "wrongfully detained" Americans.

☆ A $200 Russian smartphone aiming to replace the iPhone isn't getting much love — fewer than 1,000 units have been sold since its debut
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's AYYA T1 smartphone has sold just 905 units since its October 2021 launch, per Vedomosti. Russia's smartphone market is dominated by Chinese brands, with Xiaomi in the lead, per Statista. The AYYA T1 smartphone — touted as a homegrown alternative to the iPhone — hasn't been very popular. That's about 18% of the 5,000 AYYA T1 smartphones produced for the Russian market so far, per Vedomosti. Russian officials touted the AYYA T1 as a potential alternative to Apple's iPhone, the Moscow Times reported on March 23.

☆ Putin said Finland joining NATO didn't pose a threat, but now that it's a done deal, Russia is warning it will have to take action
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Finland joining NATO is one of the most significant consequences of Russia invading Ukraine. Putin said at that time that Finland joining NATO didn't pose an "immediate threat" to Russia. Less than a year ago, however, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggested that Finland joining NATO wouldn't make "much difference." Finland joining NATO marks one of the most significant geopolitical consequences of Russia's invasion of Ukraine to date and represents a dramatic realignment of Europe's security framework. But now, as a result of invading Ukraine, Russia has seen its land border with NATO double in size.

☆ Russia arrests WSJ reporter Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Mattathias Schwartz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Russian FSB says it arrested a Wall Street Journal reporter. The reporter, Evan Gershkovich, has been accused of espionage. The Wall Street Journal issued a statement denying the allegations and demanding Gershkovich's immediate release. According to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), Gershkovich was detained in Yekaterinburg, a city in the Ural mountains. The headquarters of the Federal Security Service (FSB) in central Moscow on February 25, 2021.

Summary Russia accuses detained U.S. journalist of spyingSays he was trying to gather state/military secretsWall Street Journal denies the allegationsMove latest blow to dire Russia-U.S. tiesLONDON, March 30 (Reuters) - Russia's FSB security service said on Thursday it had detained a reporter for U.S. newspaper The Wall Street Journal on suspicion of spying for Washington, the most serious public move against a foreign journalist since Russia invaded Ukraine. The Wall Street Journal said in a statement it was "deeply concerned" for Gershkovich's safety and that it "vehemently denies the allegations from the FSB and seeks the immediate release of our trusted and dedicated reporter". TOUGH CENSORSHIP LAWS[1/5] Reporter for U.S. newspaper The Wall Street Journal Evan Gershkovich appears in an undated handout image taken in an unknown location. Other foreign journalists covering Russia expressed support for Gershkovich online, saying he was a professional reporter, not a spy. Gershkovich, who has covered Russia since 2017, previously worked at The Moscow Times newspaper and at Agence-France Presse news agency before joining the Wall Street Journal's Moscow bureau in January last year.

☆ How an elite brigade of Russian marines was repeatedly mauled in Ukraine and became an emblem of the invasion's failures
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

An elite brigade within Russia's military is a shadow of itself after taking huge losses in Ukraine. In many ways, the journey of the 155th reflects the larger struggles of the Russian military, which entered Ukraine expecting a quick victory but has instead suffered embarrassing setbacks. Baev said that its members are supposed to be better trained and more professional than other parts of the Russian military, which can rely on conscripts. And, as the fighting dragged and more marines died, the Russian military kept reinforcing the 155th with fresh recruits, which brought its own problems. Yet earlier this month Ukraine claimed that commanders in the brigade were refusing to fight near the city of Vuhledar.

☆ Ukraine said it was 'watching with pleasure' as footage showed a lethal fire at a building of Russia's FSB security service near border
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A fire broke out at a Russian FSB building on Thursday, causing fuel tanks to explode. At least one person has been killed and two injured, Russian media reported. The FSB is Russia's primary security agency and the main successor to the Soviet Union's notorious KGB. It is responsible for internal security, counterintelligence, border security, and counter-terrorism. The building where the fire broke out belonged to the FSB's regional border patrol section, according to the BBC.

☆ Russia is recruiting female convicts to serve in Ukraine amid growing battlefield losses, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Reports have emerged of Russian efforts to recruit female convicts to fight in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials said a carriage full of female prisoners was seen heading towards Donetsk. The report suggested that Russia was seeking to find new sources of fighters against a backdrop of heavy losses. The region borders occupied Ukraine by way of the Kerch bridge that connects Russia to Crimea. Prigozhin later announced that he was ending this policy, amid reports that inmates were put off by the mounting death toll.

☆ Russia shoots down China's peace plan for the Ukraine war as Beijing becomes more entangled in the conflict a year into the fighting
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Kremlin said the conditions are not right to pursue China's plan for peace in Ukraine. China introduced a peace plan last week, which has been met with skepticism by the West. China's peace plan calls for the territorial integrity of all countries to be upheld but does not push for Russian troops to leave occupied Ukrainian territories. US President Joe Biden in an interview that aired on Sunday told ABC that China's plan would overwhelmingly benefit Russia. China's peace plan was also unveiled days after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that Beijing could send lethal weapons to Russia to be used in Ukraine.

☆ A missile system was spotted nearby as Putin spoke for just 4 minutes in Moscow, showing how the Russian city is becoming a war-time capital
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A missile system was spotted near the Moscow stadium where Putin gave a patriotic speech. Some locals fear the installation of these defensive systems hints the war could get worse, according to the Moscow Times. Russian news site Meduza reported that the Pantsir missile system was installed outside Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium where thousands had gathered — and some had been paid — to hear Putin speak on Wednesday. These types of missile systems are intended to prevent aircraft, cruise missiles, and drones from striking Moscow, according to the Guardian. No Russian cities have been attacked so far in the conflict with Ukraine, but Russian forces have launched missiles and shelled Ukrainian towns.

☆ A top Russian military official is dead after falling out of a 16th-floor window, the latest in a string of untimely deaths
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Russian defense official has died after reportedly falling out of a high-rise window. Marina Yankina, who worked for Russia's Western Military District, was found dead on Wednesday. Her death is the latest in a string of untimely deaths among officials and allies tied to Vladimir Putin. Before Yankina joined the Western Military District, she worked for the Federal Tax Service of Russia. Last September, 67-year-old Russian energy oligarch Ravil Maganov also died after falling from a hospital window, Insider reported at the time.

☆ A Russian marine who survived bitter fighting in Vuhledar says soldiers left alive are being treated like deserters: 'It would have been better if I had been captured'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Russian marine who survived a major battle in Vuhledar said survivors are treated as deserters. There were just eight survivors in one company, he told Russian media outlet 7x7. The marine, part of the 155th Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet, told Russian media outlet 7x7 that "it would have been better if I had been captured and never returned." So far things have not gone to plan, according to Russian military bloggers, Ukrainian officials, and reports of the battle. Ukrainian military drones have also captured the scenes of chaos, including Russian tanks running into minefields and being blown up, CNN reported.

☆ Russia spent the last year upgrading thousands of Soviet-era bomb shelters, report says, in a sign Putin fears an attack on his home soil
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia has spent the last year upgrading old Soviet-era bomb shelters, The Moscow Times reported. Putin says Ukraine could attack Russia, and has put the country on nuclear alert. "A decision to inspect the network of bomb shelters was made by the government in the spring," the official said, adding that the order came from ministries including the Emergency Situations Ministry and the Defense Ministry. Other current and former officials confirmed the work to The Moscow Times, which also viewed government tenders for bomb shelter upgrades. Authorities appear to be spending hundreds of millions of rubles – the equivalent of millions of dollars — The Moscow Times reported.

☆ As Ukraine war drags on, Russian lawmakers told to compare it to the bloody (but ultimately victorious) WWII Battle of Stalingrad
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russia's largest party told members to compare the Ukraine war with World War II's biggest battle. Politicians were told to talk about the Battle of Stalingrad, which turned the tide against Nazi Germany. Russia's war in Ukraine is dragging on and sees no end in sight, with casualties mounting. The Battle of Stalingrad was one of the biggest battles in World War II, helping to stop Nazi forces from advancing into the Soviet Union. Up to two million people died in and around Stalingrad, according to news agency AFP.

☆ Fact Check-Clip of 2021 military plane accident near Kubinka, Russia falsely attributed to Nepal crash in January 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A clip that featured in news reports of a military plane crash near Kubinka, Russia in August 2021 has been erroneously shared by users online saying it depicts an airplane crash in Nepal on Jan. 15. A reverse image search reveals that the clip featured in news reports of a military plane crash that occurred near the Kubinka airfield outside Moscow in August 2021 (here), (here), (here). Multiple geolocation factors confirm the clip was filmed near Kubinka. Given these angles, the video was likely filmed from an apartment block near Kubinka (55.602243, 36.694633), (archive.is/wip/gQ42t). The clip was featured in August 2021 news reports of a military plane crash near Kubinka airfield, Russia.

☆ Russian prisoners sent to the front lines in Ukraine have been publicly executed for not charging into enemy fire, captured inmates say
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Captured members of a Russian mercenary group say disobedient troops and deserters are being publicly executed in Ukraine. The infamous Wagner Group has recruited prisoners to fight on the front lines. One captured former inmate described many of the recruited prisoners as "completely insane." The Russian military has suffered staggering losses since Moscow launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine last February. In an effort to address worsening manpower issues, the Wagner Group has fought alongside the Russian military and has recruited Russian prisoners in the process.

☆ Russian lawmaker accuses Putin of breaking his own law with reference to Ukraine 'war,' asks prosecutors to investigate
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Russian lawmaker is calling for legal action against Putin for calling the Ukraine invasion a "war." Until Thursday, Putin had publicly referred to the war only as a "special military operation." Navalny remains behind bars, where he continues to criticize Putin and Russia's war in Ukraine. Yevgeny Roizman, a former mayor of the Russian city of Ekaterinburg, in August was detained on charges of "discrediting" the Russian military. Roizman told reporters he was detained after referring to Russia's war in Ukraine as an "invasion."

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