Russia

Read recent news stories and current events about Russia on Newser.com

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Biden Calls Brittney Griner's Wife After Her Plea for Help

Reassures Cherelle Griner he's working toward her release

(Newser) - Update: President Biden on Wednesday called Brittney Griner's wife and assured her he's working to free the WNBA star, who remains jailed in Russia and recently wrote to Biden asking for help. VP Kamala Harris also spoke to Cherelle Griner, who has criticized the US handling of her...

Star Goalie&#39;s Career Takes Unexpected Turn in Russia
Star Goalie's
Career Takes
Unexpected Turn
in Russia
the rundown

Star Goalie's Career Takes Unexpected Turn in Russia

Ivan Fedotov, under contract with Philadelphia Flyers, detained over military service at home

(Newser) - Ivan Fedotov is a 25-year-old star goalie in Russia who seemed destined to duplicate the feat in the NHL, especially after the Philadelphia Flyers signed him to a contract in May. Now, however, his hockey future is very much in doubt—he was detained last week in Russia as a...

Russia Arrests Terminally Ill Laser Scientist

Dmitry Kolker died 2 days after he was taken to Moscow prison

(Newser) - A Russian physicist undergoing treatment for terminal cancer was taken from his hospital bed in what relatives say was a "ridiculous arrest" for treason and espionage. Dmitry Kolker, a quantum and laser specialist, died two days after officers from the FSB security service took him from a hospital in...

Bulgaria Expels Russian Diplomats as Tensions Soar

Petkov accuses Moscow of bringing down government with 'hybrid war'

(Newser) - Two Russian airplanes departed Bulgaria on Sunday with scores of Russian diplomatic staff and their families amid a mass expulsion that has sent tensions soaring between the historically close nations, a Russian diplomat said. Filip Voskresenski, a high-ranking Russian diplomat, told journalists at the airport in Bulgaria's capital Sofia...

As Brittney Griner Trial Starts, Acquittal Looks Like a 'Fantasy'

Some experts think Russian proceedings will be for show only, with a near-certain conviction

(Newser) - The trial of WNBA star Brittney Griner starts Friday in Russia, and the odds don't look good that she'll be set free at its conclusion. The 31-year-old WNBA star, arrested in February at a Moscow airport and accused of having cannabis oil in her bags, has been held...

Snake Island No Longer in Russian Hands

Russia's defense ministry says troops pulled back in goodwill gesture

(Newser) - Ukrainian forces have recaptured Snake Island on the Black Sea after Russian troops pulled back in what Russia's defense ministry claimed was "a gesture of goodwill." While Ukraine said it had forced Russian troops to flee the small, strategically-located islet overnight on two speed boats following an...

Putin Hits Back at Western Leaders Over Topless Digs

'Undressed,' they 'would be a disgusting sight,' Russian president tells reporters

(Newser) - Russian President Vladimir Putin shot back at Western leaders who mocked his athletic exploits, saying they would look "disgusting" if they tried to emulate his bare-torso appearances, per the AP . Putin made the comment during a visit to Turkmenistan early Thursday when asked about Western leaders joking about him...

At NATO Summit, a Biting Description of Russia

Russia called 'most significant and direct threat'

(Newser) - NATO declared Russia the "most significant and direct threat" to its members’ peace and security, as the military alliance met Wednesday to confront what NATO’s chief called the biggest security crisis since World War II. The leaders are also set to publish NATO’s new Strategic Concept, its...

On Russia's Latest 'Stop List': Biden's Family

First lady Jill Biden, president's daughter Ashley are banned from entering the country

(Newser) - Russia on Tuesday announced it was banning the wife and daughter of President Biden from entering the country, in response to widening sanctions against Russia. The nation's Foreign Ministry said 25 names were being added to the country's "stop list," including Biden's wife Jill and...

For First Time in Century, Russia Defaults on Debt

Moscow blames sanctions, not a lack of money

(Newser) - Russia disagrees, but the rest of the world is of the opinion that Moscow has defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time since the Bolshevik Revolution more than a century ago. A 30-day grace period on interest payments originally due May 27 expired Sunday, per the AP . That...

Handcuffed Brittney Griner Appears in Russian Court

WNBA star's trial is to start July 1 amid speculation of a possible prisoner swap

(Newser) - More than four months after she was arrested at a Moscow airport for alleged cannabis possession, a Russian court set a trial start date of July 1 for US basketball star Brittney Griner. The Phoenix Mercury star was also ordered on Monday to remain in custody for the duration of...

World Leaders Now Going After Russia's 2nd-Largest Export

G-7 nations will ban gold shipments

(Newser) - President Biden said Sunday in Germany that the US and other Group of Seven nations will ban imports of gold from Russia—Moscow's second largest export after energy. A formal announcement was expected Tuesday as the leaders hold their annual summit. Senior Biden administration officials said banning gold would...

Drones Set Russian Oil Refinery Ablaze
Drones Light Up
Russian Oil Refinery

Drones Light Up Russian Oil Refinery

Officials blame 'terrorist actions' across the border in Ukraine

(Newser) - Two drones allegedly controlled by Ukraine crashed into a major Russian oil and gas refinery on Wednesday, setting the place ablaze. Footage shared by Russian state media showed black smoke pouring from the Novoshakhtinsk Refinery OAO in the Rostov district, about 5 miles from the border with eastern Ukraine, as...

Russian McDonald's Are No More, but Now There's This

Rebranded restaurants opened to great demand, says new CEO

(Newser) - Update: You can't get a Big Mac in Russia anymore, but you can get a burger at Vkusno & tochka—and plenty of people apparently did on opening day. About 50 of the successor restaurant to McDonald's opened in the Moscow area over June 12 and 13 under...

Moscow Slams EU Nation's Move Against Russian Exclave

Lithuania is banning transit of some sanctioned goods to Kaliningrad

(Newser) - Lithuania on Monday defended its decision to bar rail transit of goods hit by European Union sanctions from Russia to a Russian Baltic Sea exclave, in a move that drew Moscow's strong anger amid high tensions in the region. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said his country was simply...

Russian Tennis Pro Finds a Way to Dodge Wimbledon Ban

Natela Dzalamidze changes nationality to Georgian to get around ban spurred by war in Ukraine

(Newser) - Since the war in Ukraine, Russians have faced fallout—especially in the sports arena , where Russian athletes have been increasingly banned. One athlete, women's tennis pro Natela Dzalamidze, has decided she doesn't want her country of origin to get in the way of her chances to play in...

Putin: Western World Order 'Is Finished'

Major speech rips Americans for declaring themselves 'God's own representatives on Earth'

(Newser) - Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a change in the world order on Friday in a scathing attack on the US and its leadership of the West. "When they won the Cold War, the US declared themselves God's own representatives on Earth, people who have no responsibilities—only interests,...

Alleged Russian Spy Tried to Infiltrate War Crimes Court

Dutch authorities say man posed as Brazilian

(Newser) - Dutch authorities say they've stopped a Russian spy from infiltrating the International Criminal Court, which is investigating alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine and Georgia. The suspected operative of Russia's GRU military intelligence service posed as a 33-year-old Brazilian named Viktor Muller Ferreira, who'd successfully applied for...

Navalny Sent to 'One of the Toughest' Penal Colonies

Official says dissident has arrived at Melekhovo prison; Navalny camp says it hasn't verified claim

(Newser) - Update: In May, Alexei Navalny had written in a Telegram post that he'd heard inmates at the notorious penal colony in Melekhovo were building a "prison within a prison" for him. He may now be detained in that disturbing-sounding confinement: Per CNN , the head of a regional public...

Moscow Extends Griner&#39;s Pre-Trial Detention
Russia Extends Detention
of WNBA's Griner
UPDATED

Russia Extends Detention of WNBA's Griner

She will be held at least until July 2

(Newser) - Update: A Russian court has extended the pre-trial detention of WNBA star Brittney Griner until at least July 2, reports CNN , citing Russian state media. The American basketball player has been held since February after vape cartridges with cannabis were allegedly found in her luggage at a Moscow airport. The...

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