Latest news with #AndreyKartapolov
Russia Today
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine hands 15-year sentences to Russian sports icons
Ukrainian courts have sentenced 12 Russian lawmakers, including former athletes, to 15 years in prison in absentia for actions that Kiev claims undermined the country's territorial integrity, TASS reported on Tuesday, citing court documents. Russian MPs Vladislav Tretyak, a former multiple-time world ice hockey champion, and Nikolay Valuyev, a former world boxing champion, were sentenced without being present by the Khmelnitsky district court in Ukraine. Andrey Kartapolov, head of the State Duma's defense committee, along with nine other deputies and former lawmaker turned Altai Prime Minister Aleksander Prokopyev, received the same sentence from various Ukrainian courts as well. The men are said to have violated Ukraine's territorial integrity. The charges reportedly relate to their support for parliamentary resolutions recognizing the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, which joined Russia following a referendum in February 2022, days before the start of Russia's military operation. Other convicted MPs include Vladislav Reznik, Ruslan Gadzhiev, Sergey Burlakov, Shamsail Saraliev, Rustam Kalimullin, Evgeny Popov, Ildar Gilmutdinov, Aydin Saryglar, and Viktor Vodolatsky. The sentences are symbolic, as the individuals reside in Russia and are unlikely to serve their terms unless apprehended elsewhere. The convictions add to a growing list of Russian officials sentenced in absentia by Ukrainian courts for their roles in the ongoing conflict. The Security Service of Ukaine (SBU) has been routinely filing charges in absentia against Russian political, military, cultural and public figures. Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky has also signed a series of decrees imposing sanctions on Russian individuals and entities, as well as on foreign nationals accused by Kiev of cooperating with Moscow. Russian actress Svetlana Khodchenkova, known in part for her roles in films featuring Zelensky, was earlier added to the website Mirotvorets (Peacemaker), a purported state-linked list of Ukraine's enemies. She appeared alongside Zelensky in 'Love in the Big City' (2009) and the 2011 comedy 'Office Romance – Our Time'. Last month, Russian hockey legend Alexander Ovechkin, who recently broke the NHL's all-time scoring record, was also added to the controversial database.
Russia Today
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine sentences Russian sports legends-turned MPs to 15 years in absentia
Ukrainian courts have sentenced 12 Russian lawmakers, including former athletes, to 15 years in prison in absentia for actions that Kiev claims undermined the country's territorial integrity, TASS reported on Tuesday citing court documents. Russian MPs Vladislav Tretyak, a former multiple-time world ice hockey champion, and Nikolay Valuyev, a former world boxing champion, were sentenced without being present by the Khmelnitsky district court in Ukraine. Andrey Kartapolov, head of the State Duma's defense committee, along with nine other deputies and former lawmaker turned Altai Prime Minister Aleksander Prokopyev, received the same sentence from various Ukrainian courts as well. The men are said to have violated Ukraine's territorial integrity. The charges reportedly relate to their support for parliamentary resolutions recognizing the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, which joined Russia following a referendum in February 2022, days before the start of Russia's military operation. Other convicted MPs include Vladislav Reznik, Ruslan Gadzhiev, Sergey Burlakov, Shamsail Saraliev, Rustam Kalimullin, Evgeny Popov, Ildar Gilmutdinov, Aydin Saryglar, and Viktor Vodolatsky. The sentences are symbolic, as the individuals reside in Russia and are unlikely to serve their terms unless apprehended elsewhere. The convictions add to a growing list of Russian officials sentenced in absentia by Ukrainian courts for their roles in the ongoing conflict. The Security Service of Ukaine (SBU) has been routinely filing charges in absentia against Russian political, military, cultural and public figures. Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky has also signed a series of decrees imposing sanctions on Russian individuals and entities, as well as on foreign nationals accused by Kiev of cooperating with Moscow. Russian actress Svetlana Khodchenkova, known in part for her roles in films featuring Zelensky, was earlier added to the website Mirotvorets (Peacemaker), a purported state-linked list of Ukraine's enemies. She appeared alongside Zelensky in 'Love in the Big City' (2009) and the 2011 comedy 'Office Romance – Our Time'. Last month, Russian hockey legend Alexander Ovechkin, who recently broke the NHL's all-time scoring record, was also added to the controversial database.
Russia Today
02-06-2025
- General
- Russia Today
Ukraine ‘a terrorist state'
A senior Russian lawmaker has accused Ukrainian intelligence services of orchestrating an explosion that damaged a bridge in Russia's Bryansk region, describing the incident as an act of terrorism aimed at intimidating civilians and provoking Moscow ahead of potential talks. On Saturday evening, as a result of an explosion, a bridge fell in front of a moving passenger train moving at high speed, derailing it. The crash killed seven people and injured 97 others. Several hours later, a railway bridge collapsed under a moving freight train in Kursk Region, wounding the driver and two of his assistants. 'This is clearly the work of Ukrainian special services. Everything points to Ukraine being a terrorist state,' Andrey Kartapolov, head of the Russian State Duma's defense committee, told Russian news outlet SHOT, on Sunday. Kartapolov said the blasts had no military significance but were designed to 'harden' Russia's stance and spread fear among the population. He added that Russian security services would investigate the incident and determine the circumstances. 'All of this is aimed at escalating Russia's position and provoking aggression before negotiations, as well as to intimidate people. But it won't work,' he said. The Investigative Committee said in a statement on Sunday that the bridges had been 'blown up' in both incidents. Later that same day, drones targeted military airfields in Murmansk Region in the country's north, in Ivanovo and Ryazan regions in western Russia, and in Irkutsk Region in Siberia and Amur Region in the Far East. Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky touted the 'absolutely brilliant result' saying that the strikes had been prepared for more a year and a half and targeted Russia's strategic aviation fleet. 'In total, 117 drones were used in the operation,' he said in a video message posted on X. Drones were reportedly smuggled into Russia and launched remotely off the back of trucks. In response to Kiev's raids, Russia has launched several retaliatory strikes targeting Ukraine's defense industry facilities, as well as military assembly points and warehouses. While Kiev has not officially claimed responsibility for the collapses of two bridges that caused train derailments in Russia, Ukrainian opposition MP Artyom Dmitruk said the incidents were 'another step toward peace according to Zelensky's formula,' referring to his proposed peace plan. 'Let me remind you, negotiations are scheduled for June 2,' the lawmaker added. The second round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks begins in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Monday. The two countries held their first direct negotiations in three years in May, where they agreed to submit detailed ceasefire proposals.
United News of India
31-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Russia to continue military campaign in Ukraine until resolution of core causes
Moscow, May 31 (UNI) Russia will not halt its military campaign in Ukraine until the underlying causes of the conflict are resolved and peace agreements are formally ratified, senior Russian officials have said. Andrey Kartapolov, chairman of the Russian State Duma's Defence Committee, ruled out any unconditional ceasefire, stating that Moscow would continue its assault unless things are not 'put into writing'. 'We will not agree to a ceasefire just for the sake of it,' he said on the country's federal TV agency Channel One, according to Russian-state-media-TASS. 'Only if everything is put in writing, passed into law, ratified by parliaments, and becomes part of a genuine, lasting agreement—only then can peace be considered. Until then, the special military operation will continue.' Stating that the Kremlin won't be deterred by any "false assurances", he referenced the West's 'empty promises' to Moscow in prior negotiations, and said Russia would not be 'deceived again by golden illusions". At the United Nations, Russia's ambassador Vassily Nebenzia echoed the same stance, stating that Moscow is willing to consider a ceasefire 'in principle", but only if Kyiv takes tangible steps toward a long-term settlement. 'A simple ceasefire is not enough,' he told the UN Security Council, reports Sputnik. 'We stood at this crossroads before with the Minsk agreements, which were consistently violated by Western-backed Ukraine.' Nebenzia added that Russia's military is capable of escalating operations if necessary. 'The Russian Armed Forces can continue and ramp up military operations for as long as it takes,' he said. Accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of deliberately prolonging the conflict to avoid facing democratic accountability and corruption allegations, Nebenzia said, 'Ending the war means elections, scrutiny, and questions about where the money went.' He also accused some 'warmongers' in Europe of stalling any peace talks, misleading the US and forcing them to stay engaged. 'European warmongers are determined to keep America in this,' he said. UNI ANV RN
Russia Today
30-05-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Russia prepared to strike Germany if Taurus missiles are used
Russia could authorize strikes on German territory if Ukraine uses German-supplied Taurus cruise missiles to attack Russian targets, a senior Russian lawmaker has warned. Andrey Kartapolov, chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee and a former deputy defense minister, said the long-range missiles require direct German military involvement to operate—making Berlin a potential participant in any such attack. Speculation about a potential transfer of Taurus missiles to Kiev resurfaced this week after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Ukraine would be allowed to use Western-supplied weapons without range limitations. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Merz confirmed that delivering the Taurus system was 'possible,' though he added that Ukrainian forces would require 'several months of training' to use them effectively. In an interview with on Wednesday, Kartapolov said Moscow is 'ready for everything' if Germany proceeds with such a transfer. 'We are prepared to intercept the Taurus missiles, strike the launch sites, the operators, and, if necessary, the locations from which they are delivered,' he warned. The Taurus KEPD 350 missile has a range of over 500 kilometers and is capable of reaching targets deep within Russian territory, including Moscow. Kartapolov emphasized that Ukraine lacks the technical expertise to operate such weapons independently. He claimed that earlier deliveries of long-range systems—including the U.S.-made ATACMS, Britain's Storm Shadow, and France's SCALP—have only been deployed with the assistance of Western military specialists. 'Ukrainian troops can press the launch button—that's not the problem,' he said. 'But they cannot program the targets. That data comes from American and European satellites. If Germany supplies these missiles, German personnel will inevitably be involved on the ground.' The German Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday that it would provide Kiev with an additional €5.2 billion ($5.6 billion) in military aid. Much of the funding, according to the ministry, will support the production of long-range weaponry inside Ukraine. Responding to the development, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Berlin of crossing a dangerous line. 'Germany's direct involvement in the war is now obvious,' he said, adding that the country 'is sliding down the same slippery slope it already followed a couple of times in the last century—toward its own collapse.'
