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Russia Today
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Russia Today
Was Peter the Great Russia's Antichrist – or its saviour?
Russia's Channel One is airing a new TV series, 'The Sovereign', about Peter the Great. It joins a long tradition of cinematic portrayals of the country's first emperor, stretching back to 1937. In one adaptation, the actor Vladimir Vysotsky even played Peter as a black man. So why another series now? Surely everything that can be said about Peter has already been said? Perhaps. But each generation needs to reimagine its foundational figures. Every era craves its own definitive image of the man who forged the modern Russian state. Early in the series, we hear Peter declare: 'I am defending the state from turmoil and destruction.' This comes as he, Alexander Menshikov, and their allies suppress the Streltsy rebellion of 1698, beheading its leaders. The series frames the rebellion not as a social uprising, but as a political coup linked to his regent and half-sister Sophia's ambitions. That may be historically accurate. But more importantly, the show makes clear that Peter's primary mission was to impose order. Not to expand liberty, not to celebrate freedom – but to build a functional, centralized state. We often associate Peter with Russia's turn to the West. And the West, in the modern imagination, is a place of liberty. But this is a projection. In the 17th century, the West was admired not for its freedoms, but for its effective statehood. Liberty without a state is meaningless. Peter understood this. His task was not to liberalize, but to organize. What was the context? Russia was blessed with vast territory, but cursed with climate. Until the late 19th century, oil and gas meant little. What counted was fertile land and sunshine. Russia had little of either. It wasn't backwardness by choice or culture – but by circumstance. Compare Peter's Russia with the France of Louis XIV. Both ruled over similar-sized populations, but Louis drew far more wealth from his lands. France's climate yielded olives, grapes, and abundant crops that could be stored, traded, and taxed. These natural advantages funded a glittering court and a centralized bureaucracy. Peter lacked these assets. But he compensated through force of will and ruthless reform. He borrowed institutional models from the West and bent them to Russian needs. He transformed the Muscovite Tsardom into an Empire – a structure capable of absorbing diverse peoples while enforcing uniform rule. Just as Christ said, 'I bring not peace, but a sword,' Peter brought not freedom, but structure. His legacy includes the colleges, the Senate, the Table of Ranks, the General Regulations, and a new administrative order. He built a police system. He founded a modern army and navy – the latter essentially from scratch, modelled on Western prototypes. This wasn't imitation; it was intelligent adaptation. The new series embraces this narrative: Peter as the architect of Russian statehood. Was it harsh? Certainly. Was it traumatic? Unquestionably. But the scale of his achievements is undeniable. Take St. Petersburg. The very idea of building a European imperial capital on a swamp, without a robust financial system or local expertise, was absurd. Yet 300 years later, the city remains one of Europe's jewels and a source of national pride. Konstantin Plotnikov plays Peter with fierce intensity – the role demands little more than a penetrating stare. Evgeny Tkachuk, as Menshikov, is more nuanced: cunning, impulsive, charming, drunk, and politically shrewd. His performance conveys both loyalty and ambition, making him a compelling foil to the tsar. The early episodes unfold in the Sloboda, a German quarter reminiscent of gentrified Elektrozavodskaya. That visual parallel may help the show resonate with younger viewers. Yet not everything is pitch-perfect. At one point, Menshikov flirts with a German waitress. Peter, handing her a coin, says 'Fille danke' instead of the correct 'vielen Dank.' A small slip – but you wonder how no one on the production team caught it. It's the sort of clumsy foreign-language moment we used to mock in old Hollywood films. Still, such details don't detract from the show's power. The main thing is that it tells a coherent story – a story that matters. Because Peter the Great is not just a historical figure. He's a symbol. He represents the hard choices required to pull a sprawling, disorganized nation into modernity. He chose order over liberty because Russia, at that moment, needed order to survive. And that's why Russian art keeps coming back to him. In times of uncertainty, we look for clarity. Peter offers that. He reminds us that statehood is never accidental. It must be built – with sweat, blood, and vision. His legacy isn't comfort. It's structure. Not freedom, but foundation. Every generation has to decide what it values most. This series suggests that, for Russia, the answer is still clear. Order first. The rest will article was first published by the online newspaper and was translated and edited by the RT team
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia claims gains in Ukraine as US attention focuses on Iran war
Russia on Monday evening claimed to have captured the entirety of Ukraine's Luhansk region, marking the first time since its illegal invasion began three years ago that it may fully occupy an entire region. Fox News Digital could not independently verify the claim made by Leonid Pasechnik, the Moscow-appointed leader of Luhansk, which Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed in 2022 along with the regions of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Kyiv has not yet commented on Pasechnik's claims issued Monday evening when speaking with Russian state TV outlet Channel One, in which he said "literally two days ago" he had received a report that "100%" of the region was now fully occupied, first reported the Associated Press. Ukraine Moves Toward Withdrawing From Treaty Banning Anti-personnel Mines Russia is still assessed to occupy less than 20% of Ukraine, which includes Luhansk as well as some 70% of the other three regions it has claimed to have annexed, according to Reuters – though it is unclear if this figure also includes Russia's occupation of Crimea. Reports on Monday showed that Russia had amassed some 50,000 troops on Ukraine's northern border near the Sumy region, sparking concerns that Putin could be planning another major offensive. Read On The Fox News App Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces had been moved to the region a week ago in preparation of any Russian offensive. "The Russian plan for an offensive in Sumy is not being realized, and that is thanks to every Ukrainian unit operating in the area," he said in a social media post on Telegram. When asked about Russia's plans on Tuesday, President Donald Trump told reporters, "We will see what happens, I'm watching it very closely." Moscow over the last two months has drastically intensified its war efforts in Ukraine despite attempts by Trump to push a ceasefire and an end to the war. While Ukraine has agreed to Washington's ceasefire proposals, Putin has flatly rejected all attempts and broken deadlines set forth by Trump. In June, Russia launched more than 5,300 Shahed-type drones in a series of mass attacks that have become more frequent and more deadly, reported the Kyiv Independent, citing the Ukrainian Air Force. The 5,337 kamikaze drones fired at Ukraine last month alone reportedly shattered Moscow's previous record of 4,198 drones fired in March – a record that coincided with the renewed outbreak of war against Iran as first Israel, and then the U.S., targeted Tehran's nuclear infrastructure in June. While European nations have remained steadfast in their support of Ukraine, Washington's support since Trump re-took office in January has wavered from the Biden administration as the U.S. has turned its attention to Israel's war in Gaza, returning the hostages and addressing Iran's nuclear threat. Russia Launched Its Largest Aerial Attack Of The War, Ukraine Says U.S.-led attempts to broker a Ukraine-Russia ceasefire appear to have stalled, and little communication has been reported between Washington and Moscow following Trump's previous call with Putin in mid-June. Trump maintains that Putin is looking for a way to end the war, and told reporters during a NATO news conference last week, "I know one thing – he'd like to settle." "He'd like to get out of this thing. It's a mess for him," he added. But NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who has managed to establish a positive relationship with the U.S. president despite Trump's previous criticism of the alliance, has warned that he estimates Putin has ambitions beyond Ukraine and could attack other parts of Europe within three to five years. Trump gave Putin a two-week deadline in May to show he was serious about ending the war, or whether he is "tapping [the U.S.] along." But the deadline has long passed, and the president has not made clear what his next steps will be. The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's questions on what the president plans to do next when it comes to U.S. attempts to end Russia's war in Ukraine, or when Trump plans to next speak with article source: Russia claims gains in Ukraine as US attention focuses on Iran war
The Mainichi
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Russia says Moscow now occupies all of Ukraine's Luhansk region, illegally annexed in 2022
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) -- A Russia-appointed official in Ukraine's occupied Luhansk region said Monday that Moscow's forces have overrun all of it -- one of four regions Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in September 2022 despite not fully controlling a single one. If confirmed, that would make Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia after more than three years of war and as recent U.S.-led international peace efforts have failed to make progress on halting the fighting. Russian President Vladimir Putin has effectively rejected a ceasefire and hasn't budged from his demands, which include Moscow's control over the four illegally annexed regions. There was no immediate comment from Kyiv on the claim made by the Moscow-installed leader of the occupied region, Leonid Pasechnik. In remarks to Russia's state TV Channel One that aired Monday evening, Pasechnik said he received a report "literally two days ago" saying that "100%" of the region was now under the control of Russian forces. Germany's top diplomat visits Kyiv The development came just hours after the top German diplomat said that Germany aims to help Ukraine manufacture more weapons more quickly as Kyiv looks to strengthen its negotiating position in peace talks with Russia. "We see our task as helping Ukraine so that it can negotiate more strongly," Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said during a visit to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, accompanied by German defense industry representatives. "When Putin speaks of peace today, it is pure mockery," Wadephul told a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. "His apparent readiness to negotiate is only a facade so far." Russia's invasion shows no sign of letting up. Its grinding war of attrition along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line and long-range strikes on civilian areas of Ukraine have killed thousands of troops and civilians. Ukraine is outgunned and shorthanded on the front line and international aid has been vital for Ukraine's resistance against its neighbor's bigger army and economy. Germany has been Ukraine's second-largest military backer after the United States, whose continuing support is in doubt. "We want to build new joint ventures so that Ukraine itself can produce faster and more for its own defense, because your needs are enormous," Wadephul said while standing next to Sybiha. "Our arms cooperation is a real trump card -- it is a logical continuation of our delivery of material," Wadephul said. "And we can even benefit mutually from it -- with your wealth of ideas and your experience, we will become better." Wadephul was also due to meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Russia's aerial attacks on Ukraine continue The top German diplomat's trip to Kyiv came less than 48 hours after Russia launched its biggest combined aerial attack against Ukraine over the weekend, Ukrainian officials said, in an escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in peace efforts. Ukraine's air force said Monday it detected 107 Russian Shahed and decoy drones in the country's air space overnight. Strikes in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region left two civilians dead and eight injured, including a 6-year-old child, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said Monday. The aerial onslaughts are calculated by Russia to squeeze Ukraine into submission, according to the Institute for the Study of War. "Russia is continuing to use increasingly large numbers of drones in its overnight strike packages in order to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses and enable subsequent cruise and ballistic missile strikes," the Washington-based think tank said late Sunday. "The increases in Russia's strike packages in recent weeks are largely due to Russia's efforts to scale up its defense industrial production, particularly of Shahed and decoy drones and ballistic missiles," the institute added. Sybiha thanked Germany for its contribution to Ukraine's air defense and urged Berlin to send more antimissile systems. The Russians "are attacking civilian targets in order to create panic, to influence the mood of our population," he said. "The key is the air defense system." Berlin has balked at granting Zelenskyy's request to provide Ukraine with powerful German- and Swedish-made Taurus long-range missiles, which could potentially hit targets inside Russia. That is due to fears such a move could enrage the Kremlin and draw NATO into Europe's biggest conflict since World War II. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged in May to help Ukraine develop its own long-range missile systems that would be free of any Western-imposed limitations on their use and targets.
Korea Herald
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Russia says Moscow occupies Luhansk
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Russia-appointed official in Ukraine's occupied Luhansk region said Monday that Moscow's forces have overrun all of it — one of four regions Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in September 2022 despite not fully controlling a single one. If confirmed, that would make Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia after more than three years of war and as recent US-led international peace efforts have failed to make progress on halting the fighting. Russian President Vladimir Putin has effectively rejected a ceasefire and hasn't budged from his demands, which include Moscow's control over the four illegally annexed regions. There was no immediate comment from Kyiv on the claim made by the Moscow-installed leader of the occupied region, Leonid Pasechnik. In remarks to Russia's state TV Channel One that aired Monday evening, Pasechnik said he received a report 'literally two days ago' saying that '100 percent' of the region was now under the control of Russian forces. The development came just hours after the top German diplomat said that Germany aims to help Ukraine manufacture more weapons more quickly as Kyiv looks to strengthen its negotiating position in peace talks with Russia . 'We see our task as helping Ukraine so that it can negotiate more strongly,' Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said during a visit to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, accompanied by German defense industry representatives. 'When Putin speaks of peace today, it is pure mockery," Wadephul told a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. "His apparent readiness to negotiate is only a facade so far.' Russia's invasion shows no sign of letting up. Its grinding war of attrition along the roughly 1,000-kilometer front line and long-range strikes on civilian areas of Ukraine have killed thousands of troops and civilians. Ukraine is outgunned and shorthanded on the front line and international aid has been vital for Ukraine's resistance against its neighbor's bigger army and economy. Germany has been Ukraine's second-largest military backer after the United States, whose continuing support is in doubt. 'We want to build new joint ventures so that Ukraine itself can produce faster and more for its own defense, because your needs are enormous,' Wadephul said while standing next to Sybiha. 'Our arms cooperation is a real trump card — it is a logical continuation of our delivery of material,' Wadephul said. 'And we can even benefit mutually from it — with your wealth of ideas and your experience, we will become better.' Wadephul was also due to meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The top German diplomat's trip to Kyiv came less than 48 hours after Russia launched its biggest combined aerial attack against Ukraine over the weekend, Ukrainian officials said, in an escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in peace efforts. Ukraine's Air Force said Monday it detected 107 Russian Shahed and decoy drones in the country's air space overnight. Strikes in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region left two civilians dead and eight injured, including a 6-year-old child, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said Monday. The aerial onslaughts are calculated by Russia to squeeze Ukraine into submission, according to the Institute for the Study of War. 'Russia is continuing to use increasingly large numbers of drones in its overnight strike packages in order to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses and enable subsequent cruise and ballistic missile strikes,' the Washington-based think tank said late Sunday. 'The increases in Russia's strike packages in recent weeks are largely due to Russia's efforts to scale up its defense industrial production, particularly of Shahed and decoy drones and ballistic missiles,' the institute added. Sybiha thanked Germany for its contribution to Ukraine's air defense and urged Berlin to send more antimissile systems. The Russians 'are attacking civilian targets in order to create panic, to influence the mood of our population,' he said. 'The key is the air defense system.' Berlin has balked at granting Zelenskyy's request to provide Ukraine with powerful German- and Swedish-made Taurus long-range missiles , which could potentially hit targets inside Russia. That is due to fears such a move could enrage the Kremlin and draw NATO into Europe's biggest conflict since World War II. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged in May to help Ukraine develop its own long-range missile systems that would be free of any Western-imposed limitations on their use and targets.
The Hindu
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Russia says Moscow now occupies all of Ukraine's Luhansk region, illegally annexed in 2022
A Russia-appointed official in Ukraine's occupied Luhansk region said Monday (June 30, 2025) that Moscow's forces have overrun all of it — one of four regions Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in September 2022 despite not fully controlling a single one. If confirmed, that would make Luhansk the first Ukrainian region fully occupied by Russia after more than three years of war and as recent U.S.-led international peace efforts have failed to make progress on halting the fighting. Russian President Vladimir Putin has effectively rejected a ceasefire and hasn't budged from his demands, which include Moscow's control over the four illegally annexed regions. There was no immediate comment from Kyiv on the claim made by the Moscow-installed leader of the occupied region, Leonid Pasechnik. In remarks to Russia's state TV Channel One that aired Monday evening, Mr. Pasechnik said he received a report 'literally two days ago' saying that '100%' of the region was now under the control of Russian forces. The development came just hours after the top German diplomat said that Germany aims to help Ukraine manufacture more weapons more quickly as Kyiv looks to strengthen its negotiating position in peace talks with Russia. 'We see our task as helping Ukraine so that it can negotiate more strongly,' Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said during a visit to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, accompanied by German defense industry representatives. 'When Putin speaks of peace today, it is pure mockery," Mr. Wadephul told a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. "His apparent readiness to negotiate is only a facade so far.' Russia's invasion shows no sign of letting up. Its grinding war of attrition along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line and long-range strikes on civilian areas of Ukraine have killed thousands of troops and civilians. Ukraine is outgunned and shorthanded on the front line and international aid has been vital for Ukraine's resistance against its neighbor's bigger army and economy. Germany has been Ukraine's second-largest military backer after the United States, whose continuing support is in doubt. 'We want to build new joint ventures so that Ukraine itself can produce faster and more for its own defense, because your needs are enormous,' Wadephul said while standing next to Sybiha. 'Our arms cooperation is a real trump card — it is a logical continuation of our delivery of material,' Wadephul said. 'And we can even benefit mutually from it — with your wealth of ideas and your experience, we will become better.' Mr. Wadephul was also due to meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The top German diplomat's trip to Kyiv came less than 48 hours after Russia launched its biggest combined aerial attack against Ukraine over the weekend, Ukrainian officials said, in an escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in peace efforts. Ukraine's air force said Monday it detected 107 Russian Shahed and decoy drones in the country's air space overnight. Strikes in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region left two civilians dead and eight injured, including a 6-year-old child, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said Monday. The aerial onslaughts are calculated by Russia to squeeze Ukraine into submission, according to the Institute for the Study of War. 'Russia is continuing to use increasingly large numbers of drones in its overnight strike packages in order to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses and enable subsequent cruise and ballistic missile strikes,' the Washington-based think tank said late Sunday. 'The increases in Russia's strike packages in recent weeks are largely due to Russia's efforts to scale up its defense industrial production, particularly of Shahed and decoy drones and ballistic missiles,' the institute added. Sybiha thanked Germany for its contribution to Ukraine's air defense and urged Berlin to send more antimissile systems. The Russians 'are attacking civilian targets in order to create panic, to influence the mood of our population,' he said. 'The key is the air defense system.' Berlin has balked at granting Zelenskyy's request to provide Ukraine with powerful German- and Swedish-made Taurus long-range missiles, which could potentially hit targets inside Russia. That is due to fears such a move could enrage the Kremlin and draw NATO into Europe's biggest conflict since World War II. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged in May to help Ukraine develop its own long-range missile systems that would be free of any Western-imposed limitations on their use and targets.
