Latest news with #BalticRegion
Telegraph
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Russia ‘using nuns as spies to spread propaganda'
The Kremlin is using nuns at a remote convent in the Baltic region to spread pro-Russian propaganda for its hybrid war on Europe, Estonia's government has warned. Estonian officials say the Pühtitsa Convent in eastern Estonia, which claims it has renounced all worldly affairs, is promoting a pro-Putin narrative that claims religious freedoms are under threat in the West. Nuns at the Russian Orthodox convent are in an ongoing dispute with the Estonian government over a new law that requires them to sever ties with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the church's spiritual leader and an ardent supporter of the war on Ukraine. The convent has refused to disown the Moscow Patriarchate, citing canonical rules, and has accused Tallinn of trying to force it to abandon a neutral stance on geopolitical issues. But Estonia's interior ministry has denied that the convent is neutral and says it is part of a subtle 'Russian information warfare' campaign which depicts the West as bullying innocent Russian Orthodox nuns. The ministry also denied that it is trying to close down the convent via the new law, as the nuns have suggested. 'The convent should be seen not simply as a religious institution, but also as a symbol of the Russki Mir ideology on Estonian soil – an ideology promoted by the Russian state and the Moscow Patriarchate that blends religion, nationalism, and imperial nostalgia,' Martin Tulit, a senior Estonian government official, told The Telegraph. Referring to Filareta Kalatšova, the abbess of Pühtitsa, he added: 'Patriarch Kirill of Moscow appointed the current abbess in 2011. She has expressed narratives portraying Estonia's history through a lens that closely aligns with the official Russian position.' The religious row has created a dilemma for Estonia, which views Russia as an existential threat and is among the EU's strongest backers of Ukraine – but also hosts a Russian-speaking minority of around 300,000 people. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has sought to present Kyiv and its European allies as autocratic regimes that bully Russian-speaking minorities. The tactic is part of a wider hybrid warfare campaign in the West, in which Russia uses acts of sabotage, cyber-attacks and assassination attempts to punish Nato allies for their military support of Kyiv. Claims that Russian minorities need to be protected by Moscow were also a key pillar of Putin's pretext to invade Ukraine in 2014 and 2022 – and Western officials fear the same tactic could be used in the Baltic to justify future aggression. Speaking to The Telegraph, Abbess Filareta Kalatšova strongly denied her convent had any links to pro-Moscow activism, and insisted that her nuns wished only to lead a life of quiet reflection and prayer. 'Our life in the convent is very simple, it consists of praying and working,' said the abbess. 'We came to the convent to leave the secular world behind, to get away from these problems and dedicate our time to serving the Lord.' When asked about the Moscow Patriarchate's support for the war – such as the blessing of weapons before they were launched on Ukrainian cities – the abbess said her convent should not be held responsible for Patriarch Kirill's statements. She stressed her strong opposition to wars in general but declined to express a view on whether the Russian invasion of Ukraine was justified. 'Any war is a tragedy, it's a lot of death, it's a very strong pain for us. During war not only people who carry weapons die, but many ordinary people die as well, children, women, elderly people. Bullets and grenades don't distinguish between what they have in front of them – a baby or a soldier,' she said. 'All people with common sense understand that war is a great tragedy. 'The only thing we are asking is to be left to live our monastic life. If we as nuns allow ourselves to plunge into the secular atmosphere, we cease to be nuns,' she added, speaking through a Russian interpreter. Asked why the convent could not join another Orthodox church, such as Constantinople, she said this would be a violation of canonical rules. 'The main requirement of this law is breaking canonical ties with the Russian Orthodox Church,' she said, adding that this would amount to the 'sin of schism'. The Estonian law at the centre of the dispute will ban churches from having links to any group which 'incites, supports, or funds activities aimed at violently altering the independence, territorial integrity, or constitutional order of the Republic of Estonia'. The Moscow Patriarchate is considered as one such group due its outspoken support for the invasion of Ukraine. The law was initially vetoed by Alar Karis, the president of Estonia, for being too broad in scope. But an amended version of the law was resubmitted to parliament this week and passed by 68 votes in favour and 17 against. The new law is similar to efforts in Ukraine aimed at curbing the influence of the Russian Orthodox church, amid fears that it is being used to spread pro-Russian influence within the country and aid in espionage efforts. The abbess suggested that the convent had no intention of complying with the new law. 'If we have to choose, if we voluntarily break our ties [with the Moscow Patriarchate] or stay with Christ, I can tell you that we will choose the latter and stay with Christ,' she said. 'We will not violate any rules for monastic vows; this is something we would never do.' Estonia's government strongly denies that their law violates religious freedoms and dismissed fears by the convent that it may have to close if it insists on maintaining links with the pro-Putin Moscow Patriarchate. 'This claim, as well as the assertion that the convent is being forced by the state to switch affiliation from Moscow to Constantinople, reflects a narrative aligned with Russian information warfare,' said Mr Tulit, the Estonian interior ministry official. 'The amendments would mean the convent can no longer operate as a legal entity with special privileges under Estonian law if it remains subordinate to Moscow. It may still function as a religious community, although without privileges of religious association.' The convent vehemently denies the Estonian government's accusations. 'These allegations are both insulting and unfounded. It is ridiculous to suggest they are endangering the Estonian people and Estonia's national security. The nuns haven't done anything of that sort, and the government has no facts to support their absurd statements,' a legal representative of the convent said. 'The Pühtitsa Convent has existed for over 130 years, surviving the oppression of the Nazis and the Soviet Union. The government's allegations are false and are indeed threatening religious freedom in Estonia.'
CTV News
16-06-2025
- CTV News
Armed forces contingent leaves Edmonton for ongoing NATO mission in Latvia
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces board a plane for Latvia on June 15, 2025, at the Edmonton International Airport. Several members of the Canadian Armed Forces left Edmonton on Sunday for Latvia to join its major ongoing mission in Europe. The soldiers will be used in Operation Reassurance, the armed forces' largest overseas mission, for which it supports North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) defensive measures in central and eastern Europe. Under the NATO operation, the Canadian Armed Forces have deployed a task forces for maritime, air and land efforts. In Latvia, located in Europe's Baltic region, Canadian forces expect to have a full complement of up to 2,200 personnel by 2026. There are currently 1,900 Canadian armed forces members there. NATO's presence in Latvia began in 2017 with a Canadian-led contingent.
Russia Today
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Baltic and Black seas are ‘NATO areas'
Secretary General Mark Rutte has stated that NATO now considers the Baltic and Black Seas areas of strategic responsibility. Rutte made the remarks on Wednesday ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers. He was responding to a question about rising tensions in the Baltic region, following incidents involving damaged undersea communication cables. In recent months, several undersea cables in the region have sustained damage, triggering speculation that Moscow was behind what was suspected to be sabotage. Western investigators, however, have failed to present any proof that of deliberate state-orchestrated sabotage. 'When it comes to the Baltic region, but this is also true for the Black Sea and for other NATO areas, there is a constant threat of attacks on our critical undersea infrastructure,' Rutte said. He also threatened NATO's 'devastating' response, when asked if it is prepared for a potential 'Russian hardcore attack' in the Baltic region, adding that the US-led military bloc must ramp up defense spending. Russia has repeatedly ridiculed similar accusations made by Western officials, which claim Moscow intends to attack NATO or EU countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously dismissed such statements as 'nonsense.' A series of incidents over the past 18 months involving damage to power and communications infrastructure has led some NATO and EU officials to accuse Moscow of 'hybrid warfare.' The events, linked to vessels traveling to and from Russian ports, include the October 2023 damage to a gas pipeline in the Gulf of Finland and the rupture of the EstLink 2 power cable in December. Investigators believe the cables may have been dragged by ship anchors, with each case reportedly involving Russia-linked vessels. Although no evidence linking Russia to the cable ruptures was found, in January, NATO launched a new patrol mission 'Baltic Sentry' in the waterway under the pretext of protecting undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. Moscow, which considers the Baltic Sea a strategic area for its naval operations and energy exports, has repeatedly dismissed the allegations of sabotage and accused the West of spreading a false narrative that frames routine accidents as evidence of its culpability. Russia's Baltic Fleet, based in Kaliningrad Region, plays a crucial role in protecting Russia's western maritime borders and maintaining access to the Baltic Sea. The fleet is seen as a vital asset in Russia's military posture toward NATO's eastern flank. Russia's Black Sea Fleet is headquartered in the port city of Sevastopol, Crimea, and is a key component of the country's naval power.
The Independent
05-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Revealed: Princess Cruises to offer round-trip sailings from Southampton in 2027
UK passengers will have the choice of two Princess Cruises ships sailing from Southampton in 2027. The cruises are part of 86 itineraries in the UK and Europe, ranging from seven to 46 days and spanning 108 destinations. The cruises went on sale to loyal passengers with Captain's Circle membership status this week. Sky Princess and Majestic Princess will return to the UK in 2027 to sail round-trip itineraries from Southampton, with 45 departures across the season, compared to 32 in 2026. Sky Princess will operate northern European and Mediterranean itineraries from March to October 2027, including a 31-night 'Mediterranean Marvel,' which provides a month-long exploration of Spain, France, Italy, Turkey, Greece and Malta. Fares start from £2,749 per person. Majestic Princess, which will sail its first-ever round-trip Southampton season in 2026, will return to the UK in March 2027 to sail the British Isles and northern Europe. Fares start from £1,104 per person for a 12-day British Isles sailing including stops in France and Belfast. You don't have to worry too much about the British weather either, as Majestic Princess is one of the few ships in the fleet that has an indoor pool. Beyond UK departures, Caribbean Princess will sail round-trip Copenhagen itineraries for the first time, taking guests to ports of call across the Baltic region, including Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki. The ship will offer nine 12-night itineraries from May through to August 2027, with fares starting from £1,064 per person. It will also make a maiden call for the Princess brand in Aberdeen, Scotland, as part of a 16-night 'British Isles and Canadian' transatlantic cruise from Copenhagen, Denmark, to Boston, United States. Guests can enjoy excursions, including spotting the bottlenose dolphins and exploring the Speyside Whiskey Trail. Princess will also offer two 'Total Solar Eclipse' voyages in 2027, providing the opportunity to view the eclipse from southern Spain during a 14-night Mediterranean cruise on either Enchanted Princess from Rome or Sky Princess from Southampton on August 2, 2027. Both cruises depart July 24, 2027, and fares start from £2,804 per person. When booking a UK and Europe 2027 voyage before June 30, guests can currently benefit from up to £500 off per cabin. In addition, Captain's Circle members, which includes anyone who has sailed with Princess at least once, will receive savings of up to £300 per stateroom when booking before June 17. The 2027 itineraries go on general sale from June 10. Eithne Williamson, vice president of Princess Cruises UK and Europe, said: 'From castles to coastlines, our 2027 UK and Europe cruise programme provides ample opportunities for guests to explore the continent's rich history and breathtaking landscapes. 'Guests can immerse themselves in thoughtful tourism experiences with our programme, including 100 Unesco World Heritage Sites, and overnight stays in iconic cities like Istanbul and Stockholm, providing even more time for exploration. 'We are delighted to offer Captain's Circle members exclusive savings when booking early, meaning that they can secure the cruise they desire and the stateroom of their choice at a fantastic price. "With an expansive selection of itineraries, ships and destinations, we're proud to offer something for every type of traveller – whether they're seeking cultural immersion, scenic beauty or relaxing escapes. Our commitment to great value ensures that guests enjoy unforgettable holiday happiness without compromise.'
Al Bawaba
29-05-2025
- Business
- Al Bawaba
flydubai strengthens presence in Europe with four new destinations
flydubai, the Dubai-based carrier, continues to grow its network with the launch of flights to four new destinations. This includes the start of flights to Chișinău and Iași from September 2025 in addition to Riga and Vilnius from December 2025, expanding the carrier's network in Europe to 35 destinations across 20 announcement makes flydubai the first UAE carrier to offer direct flights between Dubai and Iași International Airport (IAS) in Romania. The carrier first started operating to Romania in 2012 with the launch of flights to also marks the carrier's first entry into the Baltic region with a direct service to Riga International Airport (RIX) in Latvia and Vilnius International Airport (VNO) in Lithuania, increasing the number of underserved markets on its network to more than 100 Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at flydubai, said: 'the expansion of our network reflects our unwavering commitment to opening up underserved markets and stimulating free flows of trade and tourism, and we are pleased to see this happen with the launch of our latest destinations in Europe. Today, we have built a diverse network of more than 135 destinations, 75% of which are underserved routes from Dubai. With our new services to Eastern Europe and the Baltic region, we look forward to strengthening the UAE's trade and cultural links and supporting Dubai's position as an international aviation hub.'Commenting on the launch of flights, Jeyhun Efendi, Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, said: 'Europe remains an important market for flydubai and we are excited to grow our network with the addition of Chișinău, Iași, Riga and Vilnius. These gateways into Eastern Europe and the Baltic region will enable more passengers to enjoy an enhanced travel experience with a convenient service to Dubai and further beyond on the flydubai network as well as the Emirates network through our codeshare partnership.'Situated on the river Bîc, Chișinău is considered one of the greenest cities in Europe. Famous for its historic white limestone buildings, unique architecture and sprawling natural parks, Moldova's capital is the ideal destination for those who want to travel off the beaten Romania's second-largest city, is a vibrant hub with a rich history. One of the oldest cities in the country, Iași features stunning historical sites and charming capital cities of these Baltic states, Riga in Latvia and Vilnius in Lithuania offer visitors the chance to discover their magnificent architecture and UNESCO World Heritage old details for the four destinationsFlights to Chișinău International Airport (RMO) and Iași International Airport (IAS) will operate from Terminal 2, Dubai International (DXB).Return Business Class fares from DXB to RMO start from AED 8,000 and Economy Class Lite fares start from AED 1, Business Class fares from DXB to IAS start from AED 8,000 and Economy Class Lite fares start from AED 1, to Vilnius International Airport (VNO) and Riga International Airport (RIX) will depart from Terminal 3, Dubai International (DXB).Return Business Class fares from DXB to VNO start from AED 7,500 and Economy Class Lite fares start from AED 2,200. Return Business Class fares from DXB to RIX start from AED 7,500 and Economy Class Lite fares start from AED 1,800.
