First Look Russian activists brave backlash to honor Soviet victims Russian activists are fighting to remember the millions of victims of Soviet repression, even as Vladimir Putin’s government seeks to downplay the historical crimes of the USSR. | View caption Hide caption | If history is written by the victors, then a small group of…
Russia has inflicted a brutal wave of devastation on Ukraine, bombarding 118 towns and villages in the country within 24 hours – a grim new record. In total, 10 of Ukraine’s 27 regions came under attack as Vladimir Putin attempted to test the resolve of President Zelensky’s people. In particular, Russian shelling was focused on…
Video has emerged of an inferno on a key train link in Russian-occupied Donetsk after heavy shelling by Ukraine. Kyiv’s forces have launched pinpoint strikes on fuel tankers in the eastern industrial city captured by Vladimir Putin’s forces one year ago. Disrupting transportation networks – – has been a primary tactic in diminishing the threat…
First Look Creeping abortion restrictions in Russia spark outrage Recent proposals by authorities to restrict access to abortion have struck a nerve across Russia. While abortion remains legal, new regulations and mandates from the Health Ministry are designed to discourage women from seeking terminating pregnancies. | View caption Hide caption | Despite its last-minute scheduling,…
Peace Europe Seeking neutrality, Kremlin stays on sidelines of Israel-Hamas war | View caption Hide caption The Kremlin has cultivated warm ties with both Israelis and Palestinians, which it hopes to maintain by staying out of the current war. Public opinion seems to approve. As the West, led by the United States, lined up unequivocally…
The Explainer Rules of war: What are they? Will they matter in Israel-Gaza conflict? | View caption Hide caption More than 1,000 miles to the north, it’s clear that some Russian units invading Ukraine made a practice of summarily executing and raping civilians, and that officials in Moscow – allegedly including President Vladimir Putin – masterminded the deportation…
Russia’s children’s rights commissioner has spoken for the first time about accusations that the country abducted and brainwashed thousands of Ukrainian children. Maria Lvova-Belova, 38, who has “adopted” a teenage boy from Mariupol herself, insisted that Russia is just trying to “help” them. An unknown number of orphans and children have been taken from occupied…
First Look One year in office, has Italian Premier Meloni proven skeptics wrong? Giorgia Meloni took office one year ago as Italy’s first post-war far-right premier. But so far, Ms. Meloni has surprised skeptics. Notably, she has backed NATO support for Ukraine despite running an election campaign “raging against Europe.″ | View caption Hide caption…
sent a body double to meet to meet counterpart because the real president “is living out the last days of his earthly life”, a Russian political analyst has claimed. with many of his critics claiming president is suffering from a life-threatening illness. There have also been numerous theories that on occasions when These extraordinary claims…
Peace Europe After Karabakh: Why peace in Azerbaijan could unsettle larger Russian sphere | View caption Hide caption While the resolution of a frozen conflict is generally positive, the manner of that resolution matters – and can end up prompting resentment and violence if mishandled. The most immediate effects are likely to be the realignment…