Major Ukrainian drone attacks sow chaos at Moscow's airports
Videos published by Russian media showed people sleeping on the floor of Sheremetyevo, Russia's busiest airport by passenger numbers, amid long queues.
Russia's defence ministry said it had downed 117 drones overnight, including 30 over the Moscow region, after downing 172 drones, including 30 over the Moscow region, the previous day.
Russia's civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsiya, briefly imposed restrictions on flights overnight at Moscow's main airports - Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovskiy.
Several thousand people were stranded in the far east of Russia due to the cancellation of flights in European Russia, while extra trains were put on to bring passengers back to Moscow from the northern Russian city of St Petersburg, Russian media said.
Moscow and its surrounding region has a population of at least 21.5 million.
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The Guardian
39 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Abramovich business associate Eugene Shvidler fails to overturn UK sanctions
A business associate of the oligarch Roman Abramovich has failed to overturn sanctions imposed on him after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, after a supreme court judgment seen as a test case for the UK's sanctions regime. Eugene Shvidler served on the board of companies owned by the former owner of Chelsea football club and now lives in the US. He was placed under sanctions by the UK government in March 2022 as part of measures to target Russia-linked oligarchs and officials after Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine. Shvidler, who was born in the USSR in 1964, grew up in Moscow but is now a British citizen, had challenged his designation at the high court in 2023 and then appealed against that decision last year. He argued the measures caused disproportionate hardship and discriminated against him as a Russian-born person, while also claiming he was not closely associated enough to Abramovich to justify the Foreign Office's move. On Tuesday, a majority decision of four supreme court justices to one dismissed the businessman's appeal, saying that sanctions had to be tough to be effective. The judgment stated: 'Sanctions often have to be severe and open-ended if they are to be effective. The object of the designation in relation to Mr Shvidler is that he should so far as possible be disabled from enjoying his assets and pursuing his wealthy lifestyle.' The judges added: 'We accept that [the government's] evidence establishes that there is a rational connection between the designation of Mr Shvidler and the aim of this sanction … as the courts … correctly recognised in Mr Shvidler's case, the effectiveness of a sanctions regime depends on the cumulative effect of the measures imposed under that regime. The imposition of sanctions in relation to Mr Shvidler contributes to that cumulative effect.' However, in a 20-page dissenting judgment, Lord Leggatt said he disagreed with the majority's decision that the sanctions were lawful, describing it as 'Orwellian' and arguing he did not consider the government had shown a rational connection between the freezing of Shvidler's assets and the objective of sanctions. 'I do not consider that the reasons relied on by the government come close to justifying such a drastic curtailment of his liberty,' he wrote. Shvidler said: 'This supreme court judgment brings me back to the USSR, which I left as a stateless refugee 36 years ago, seeking sanctuary in the US. Back then, individuals could be stripped of their rights with little or no protections and that is how I feel about this judgment.' The UK government imposed sanctions on Shvidler on grounds including that he was associated with Abramovich, who in turn had obtained a benefit from or supported the government of Russia. The Foreign Office argued the men were associated because Shvidler was a long-serving director of Evraz, a steel and mining company in which Abramovich was a leading shareholder. It said he had also served as chair of Millhouse LLC, the Moscow-based arm of the UK company that managed assets for Abramovich and Shvidler himself. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion In a related case, the judges unanimously dismissed an appeal by Dalston Projects Ltd, a St Kitts and Nevis company that owns a luxury yacht that has been detained at a London dock. The ultimate owner of the yacht is Sergei Naumenko, a Russian citizen and resident who said he had been prevented from earning substantial income from chartering the vessel. The best public interest journalism relies on first-hand accounts from people in the know. If you have something to share on this subject you can contact us confidentially using the following methods. Secure Messaging in the Guardian app The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said. If you don't already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS/Android) and go to the menu. Select 'Secure Messaging'. SecureDrop, instant messengers, email, telephone and post See our guide at for alternative methods and the pros and cons of each.
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The lawless London tourist hotspot in the shadow of Parliament: How Westminster Bridge has become a magnet for violent street scammers, illegal traders and pickpocket gangs
Sickening footage of scammers spitting at a man when he filmed them fleecing tourists on Westminster Bridge is the latest proof of the crime-wave gripping one of London's most iconic landmarks. Swindlers tricking visitors into betting on impossible-to-win 'cup and ball' games have become a common sight on the bridge, which sits in the shadow of the Houses of Parliament. Keen to expose the predators, a social media user filmed them - only to be shoved, abused and spat on. Westminster Bridge has become notorious as a hotbed for lawbreakers of all forms, from pickpockets, bag thieves and unlicensed pedicab riders to illegal traders hawking hot nuts, ice cream and hotdogs. Susan Hall, leader of the Conservatives in the London Assembly, told MailOnline: 'This is happening right under the nose of New Scotland Yard - which overlooks the bridge. You must ask yourself why the hell this is allowed to carry on.' One recent victim of the bridge's growing lawlessness was volunteer policeman Ned Donavan - a grandson of Roald Dahl - who was punched, kicked and choked by a mob when he tried to stop one of their accomplices pickpocketing a female tourist. Britain's 'revolving door' borders are one factor hindering police, with Romanian career criminal Ionut Stoica arrested on the bridge last year for illegal gambling and deported from the UK - only to be caught at almost the same spot just weeks later. The scammers themselves are highly organised, with spotters recruited to look out for police and council inspectors. This prompted a pair of enterprising officers to snare two of them by dressing up as Batman and Robin. The TikTok video, entitled 'five minutes of unedited scammers', was shared online earlier this month. Cup and ball games involve betting on where a ball is concealed under one of three cups. Tourists are lured in by accomplices who loudly celebrate to make it seem like they have just won money. But in reality, the game is impossible to win. The scam is a Europe-wide problem, with groups of criminals travelling between different cities to carry out the con. Members of the public who confront the gangs are often met with violence, as shown by the experience of TikToker @londonscammers. As he films several groups of scammers, the criminals - some of whom are dressed in designer gear - shout abuse and demand he delete the footage, before spitting at him when he bravely refuses. Susan Hall, who previously stood as Tory candidate for London Mayor, worries about the damage such scenes cause to the capital's reputation. 'The people who are getting scammed are tourists, so that doesn't send a good signal about London,' she said. 'I was recently driving a black cab along the bridge and watching it going on. These people are putting two fingers up to the police and saying ''we can do what we want'', which it seems they can.' Spotters employed by the scammers wait by the side of the bridge and send a text if they see inspectors approaching. To get around this problem, two Met Police officers recently went undercover dressed as Batman and Robin before grabbing two men they caught scamming tourists. Following the operation, Costica Barbu was remanded by police and fined £925. Eugen Stoica fled the country and was convicted at Croydon Magistrates Court in his absence. Ms Hall described the operation as 'fantastic' but questioned why they could not happen more regularly. London has a well documented problem with street thefts, with numerous incidents reported on Westminster Bridge. Ned Donovan, who volunteers as a special constable, intervened to try and stop a pick pocketer last August, only to be attacked by other members of his gang. 'Walking across Westminster Bridge, I saw a man in the act of pickpocketing a female tourist,' he previously said. 'I grabbed him and stopped him before he could disappear. 'Unfortunately, several of his accomplices appeared and began to punch me, kick me and choke me to get me to release their friend, which I wasn't going to let happen.' The Met Police appealed for witnesses at the time. Illegal street traders are another major issue on Westminster Bridge, alongside ice cream vans who block traffic to serve customers - despite the road being a red route. Westminster Council recently handed out £20,000 in fines to illegal traders and pedicabs following a much needed crackdown. The street traders had been selling peanuts, balloons and hot dogs on the bridge without having a licence or paying any tax on their earnings. One of the vendors was convicted for the second time in two months for previously selling hotdogs. Nine pedicabs operators - several of them repeat offenders - were handed fines totalling £9,075 following concerns rogue operators are ripping off tourists and operating unsafe vehicles. Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Public Protection Cllr Aicha Less said: 'This is Westminster, not the Wild West. These fines send a clear message: if you break the rules in our city you will end up out of pocket and out of excuses.' 'Whilst we work with TfL to finalise a structured the licencing scheme is being finalised, our City Inspectors continue to prosecute pedicab drivers and partner with our neighbours in Lambeth and in the Metropolitan Police to ensure unsuspecting tourists are not ripped off.' Westminster Council recently fined illegal traders flogging goods such as peanuts, balloons and hot dogs A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'Our officers conduct regular patrols on Westminster Bridge as part of our work to tackle criminal behaviour and protect Londoners and tourists. 'This is seeing results, with two repeat offenders convicted in April for illegal gambling. 'We are going further this summer, with an enhanced police and local authority presence in London's town centres and high streets to tackle anti-social behaviour, theft and street crime.'
Coin Geek
10 hours ago
- Coin Geek
Russia looks to Kyrgyzstan's crypto industry to evade sanctions
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... A new report has indicated that Russian actors are using Kyrgyzstan's digital asset ecosystem to evade international sanctions and purchase dual-use goods for its ongoing war in Ukraine. According to research from U.K.-based blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs, published in a July 21 blog post, Kyrgyzstan-registered exchanges have 'repeatedly facilitated transactions linked to sanctioned Russian entities.' It noted that 'many of these virtual asset service providers (VASPs) show indicators of being shell companies — including the reuse of identical residential addresses, founders, and contact information across multiple entities.' The report also found that several of these Kyrgyz exchanges exhibited similar on-chain heuristics to Garantex, a Russian digital asset exchange that was the subject of an international operation to disrupt its operations due to facilitating terrorist financing and sanctions violations. 'The high-risk exchange Grinex—likely a rebranded successor to Garantex—was also registered in Kyrgyzstan,' said the report. 'On-chain analysis suggests that Grinex and other Kyrgyz-based exchanges may have played a role in moving funds after the takedown, underscoring Kyrgyzstan's growing importance as a conduit for post-sanctions Russian financial activity.' TRM Labs observed increasing instances of Russia-linked actors exploiting Kyrgyz-registered exchanges to circumvent international sanctions and move funds. Some of these exchanges, said the report, 'display behavioral heuristics similar to the sanctioned Russian exchange Garantex and appear to have served as conduits for funds following law enforcement action against Garantex in 2025.' This pattern was found in several other entities as well, according to the report. Russia's route out of its sanctions hole Russia has been the subject of massive and unprecedented international sanctions since its illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, making it the most sanctioned nation on Earth. With an ailing economy—some suggesting it is on the brink of collapse—and in the face of such severe restrictions as being shut out from the international financial messaging system, Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), Russia has increasingly turned to the digital asset space for a reprieve. The appeal to a heavily sanctioned nation of being able to exchange and transfer funds instantaneously via an anonymous (or pseudonymous) and decentralized peer-to-peer network, not controlled by any antagonistic nation, is obvious. However, the ability to track and trace funds on the blockchain and the increasing legitimization of the digital asset space have made this route to international monetary freedom more difficult. Many popular exchanges and crypto-companies, such as and LocalBitcoins, and Kraken, have felt the need to comply with international sanctions against Russia, including European Union-mandated bans on all digital asset wallets, accounts, or custody services to Russian entities and accounts. Suspiciously booming Kyrgyzstan industry The TRM report noted that, since Russia invaded Ukraine, its economic ties with Kyrgyzstan have deepened significantly. While Russia-linked activity accounted for almost all of Kyrgyzstan's digital asset industry after the invasion, before February 2022, it was 'virtually nonexistent.' In January 2022, Kyrgyzstan passed digital currency-friendly legislation which, amongst other measures, recognized digital assets as property and established a registration regime for virtual asset service providers (VASP). Since then, the Central Asian Republic, formerly part of the USSR, has rapidly emerged as a crypto hub. According to TRM Labs, 'by October 2024, Kyrgyzstan had issued 126 VASP licenses, fueling a sharp rise in digital asset activity. Transaction volume by licensed VASPs surged from USD 59 million in 2022 to USD 4.2 billion in just the first seven months of 2024.' This booming industry would not be a problem, were it not for the fact that VASPs registered in Kyrgyzstan shared 'suspicious' on- and off-chain overlap with Russian entities, including identical registration addresses at private residences, phone numbers and emails tied to freight companies or other VASPs, named founders linked to multiple other providers, no discernible background in business or digital currency, and/or no functional user registration processes. As well as the example of Garantex and Grinex, the report pointed to the Kyrgyz exchange Envoys Vision Digital Exchange (EVDE), which registered a digital currency wallet address tied to the Rusich Group, a Russian paramilitary organization sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in 2022 for its involvement in the war in Ukraine. 'Beyond its on-chain exposure, the exchange also shows several off-chain links to cross-border logistics firms and a Chinese financial institution, suggesting a wider support infrastructure that warrants further scrutiny,' said TRM Labs. Plugging the hole? In terms of what can be done about this sanction loophole that Russia appears to have found, TRM Labs recommended several measures. If Kyrgyzstan is being exploited rather than complicit, the report suggested implementing stronger ownership requirements, such as mandating the physical presence or local residency of company principals, which would raise barriers for foreign bad actors. Similarly, increasing transparency around funding sources would reduce the appeal of Kyrgyzstan as a destination for shell entities.' However, if Kyrgyzstan is an equal partner in facilitating Russia's sanctions evasion, 'governments and law enforcement agencies seeking to counter Russia's sanctions evasion toolkit need to urgently engage directly with Kyrgyz authorities on compliance.' Without proactive intervention, argued the report, the model Russia has implemented in Kyrgyzstan can be easily exported: 'If left unchecked, Russia could replicate these same playbooks in neighboring jurisdictions — further weakening the global sanctions regime and enabling the continued flow of funds to fuel aggression, procurement, and destabilization.' Watch | Tech of Tomorrow: Diving into the impact of tech in shaping the future title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""> Garantex Kyrgyzstan Russia Sanctions SWIFT TRM Labs Ukraine
