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France 24
14-07-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Tug of war over Russian Orthodox churches in France: Moscow reclaims cultural sites
Europe 06:31 Issued on: 06:31 min About 20 years ago, the Russian state began a large-scale operation to take control of Orthodox parishes all over Europe. Some of these had, over time, broken ties with the Moscow patriarchate. They're now the object of legal cases pitting the Russian Federation against local associations created to run these expatriate churches during the Soviet era. In April, a court in the French city of Nice ruled that a church and historic cemetery there rightfully belonged to Russia, rather than to the local cultural association. For some of its parishioners, seeing the French justice system side with the country waging war against Ukraine has been hard to accept. Descendants of the Russian tsars, on the other hand, welcome this decision. FRANCE 24's Elena Volochine reports.
Asharq Al-Awsat
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Russia Says It Struck Military-industrial Facilities in Kyiv
Russia's defense ministry said on Thursday that its forces had successfully carried out strikes on military-industrial facilities in Kyiv and on a military airfield in Ukraine. "The armed forces of the Russian Federation launched a group strike with high-precision long-range weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles against enterprises of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine in Kyiv and on the infrastructure of the military airfield," the ministry said. Reuters could not independently verify battlefield reports.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former deputy chief of Russian army's general staff jailed for 17 years in fraud case
MOSCOW (Reuters) -The former deputy chief of the Russian army's General Staff was sentenced to 17 years in prison on Monday over a scheme involving the theft of over 1 billion roubles ($12.7 million) from Defence Ministry contracts, the TASS news agency reported. A closed-door military court found Khalil Arslanov, a colonel general, and others guilty of stealing some 1.6 billion roubles from state contracts with Voentelecom, a company that provides telecommunications services and equipment to the Russian military. Arslanov was also found guilty of extorting a 12 million rouble bribe from the head of a military communications company. Two other men, Colonel Pavel Kutakhov, and Igor Yakovlev, whom TASS described as a military pensioner, were found guilty alongside Arslanov and received seven and six years in prison, respectively. A former head of the Russian military's communications unit, Arslanov served as deputy chief of the army's General Staff from 2013 until he was removed from office in 2020. He was named a colonel general in 2017. Russia has stepped up prosecutions of top defence officials as a series of corruption scandals have engulfed the highest echelons of the Russian military establishment in the past year. This month, former deputy defence minister Timur Ivanov was sentenced to 13 years on corruption charges, the harshest sentence yet in the string of graft cases. ($1 = 78.6955 roubles)
The Sun
29-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Putin unleashes huge onslaught of 500 missiles & drones in night of hell for Ukraine as Nato warplanes scrambled
VLADIMIR Putin has unleashed another night of hell over Ukraine with a 500 missile and drone onslaught. Nato was forced to scramble its warplanes after the Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk was hit in an apocalyptic blast which turned the skies a crimson red overnight. 2 2 The city was attacked by Putin's forces with cruise missiles, hypersonic missiles, and Iranian-designed Shahed attack drones simultaneously. Four Kinzhal and seven Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles were also fired at Ukraine. Putin ordered his Tu-95 strategic bombers and MiG aircraft to carry out the heinous air assaults. It was the most powerful blitz on the city since the start of the war back in 2022. Ukraine claimed to have downed 475 out of 537 aerial targets. Poland's operational command quickly announced that Nato fighter jets were scrambled because of the intensity of the Russian onslaught. They said in a statement: "Due to the attack by the Russian Federation carrying out strikes on objects located in the territory of Ukraine, Polish and allied aviation has begun operating in our airspace. "The Operational Commander of the [armed forces] has activated all available forces and resources at his disposal. "The on-duty fighter pairs have been scrambled, and the ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems have reached the highest state of readiness. "The steps taken are aimed at ensuring security in the areas bordering the threatened areas." Putin also mounted attacks across much of Ukraine in what is reported to be one of the heaviest bombardments of the three year conflict so far. A missile strike on Zaporizhzhia left an industrial facility on fire. Mykolaiv and Donetsk region were also both badly hit. The Russians targeted Lviv in western Ukraine as well. Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said Russian forces attempted to strike critical infrastructure, but no civilians or residential buildings were damaged. A Ukrainian F-16 supersonic fighter supplied by the West was shot down with the loss of a 'hero' pilot amid a desperate operation to counter 500-plus strikes by Vladimir Putin's forces. Pilot Lt-Col Maksym Ustimenko, born in 1993, shot down seven air targets using all his weapons before he was hit. 'The pilot used the entire complex of on-board weapons, and shot down seven air targets,' said the Ukrainian air force. 'During the last exercise, his plane was damaged and began to lose altitude. 'Maksym Ustimenko did everything possible, took the plane away from a settlement, but did not have time to eject... 'He died like a Hero!'
Zawya
23-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Deputy President Mashatile concludes a successful Working Visit to Russia
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has returned to South Africa after concluding a successful Working Visit to the Russian Federation, spanning the two cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg, where he engaged in a number of activities aimed at strengthening the bilateral trade and economic relations between South Africa and Russia. At the conclusion of his visit, the Deputy President sat down with two of Russia's major television news networks, Russia Today and Sputnik Africa, where he reflected on some of the key take-aways from the Working Visit, including a particular focus on enhancing economic cooperation in sectors such as agriculture, automotive, energy and mining industries as well as science and technology cooperation. Deputy President Mashatile arrived in Moscow on 17 June 2025, where he was received by Russia's Deputy Head of State Protocol, Mr Andrei Milyaev; Deputy Director of African Department, Mr Andrei Stotlarov; and International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister, Alvin Botes. The Working Visit kicked off in earnest with the Deputy President laying wreaths at the Mausoleum of Moses Kotane and J.B Marks at the Novodevichy Cemetery and UN Heritage Site in Moscow. Moses Kotane and JB Marks were anti-apartheid activists active in the South African Communist Party and African National Congress and had a significant influence on South Africa's journey towards freedom and democracy. Initially buried for years in Moscow, their remains were subsequently returned by the South African Government and reburied in the North West Province in March 2015. In Moscow, Deputy President Mashatile also met His Excellency Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin at the House of the Government of the Russian Federation for a discussion on opportunities for bilateral political and economic cooperation between South Africa and Russia to unlock areas of further cooperation in trade&investment, mineral&energy, agriculture, health and education. Deputy President Mashatile then traveled to St. Petersburg State University, where he was warmly received by Acting Rector Professor Sergey Andryushin, ahead of a Public Lecture the Deputy President delivered under the theme - 'South Africa's G20 Presidency in a rapidly changing geo-political environment'. The Public Lecture audience included Faculty professors, students, the academic community as well as media and members of the Diplomatic Corps. Also in St. Petersburg, the Deputy President paid a courtesy call on President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation at the Constantine Palace as part of his Working Visit, where he had a bilateral meeting with President Putin and his Russian delegation that included Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov. The Deputy President expressed, on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Republic of South Africa, utmost gratitude to President Putin and the Russian people for the role they played in supporting the anti-apartheid struggle and the socio-economic emancipation beyond the attainment of freedom and democracy. "I have been tasked by the President to work tirelessly towards translation of the strong foundation of our strategic relations into higher trade and economic ties for the mutual benefit of our countries and our people," said Deputy President Mashatile. Later in the programme, the Deputy President delivered remarks at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF'25) plenary session, following the remarks of H.E. President Vladimir Putin. The theme for the Deputy President's main engagement of the visit, SPIEF'25, was: "Strengthening Multi-polarity for Sustainable Development", where the Deputy President highlighted that in its 28th year, the forum remained one of the foremost platforms for global dialogue on economic cooperation, investment, innovation, and inclusive growth. Deputy President Mashatile said: "As we look to the future, the importance of the Global South in shaping international economic governance is undeniable. Africa, in particular, is fast becoming a centre of global growth. With a population projected to exceed 2.5 billion by 2050, a rising middle class, and a youthful demographic dividend, the continent has the potential to drive the next wave of industrialisation, digital transformation, and sustainable development. Africa is not in search of handouts; rather, it is pursuing equitable partnerships. It seeks equitable access to markets, capital, knowledge, and technology. This is where global platforms like SPIEF become crucial." Other activities of the Deputy President included addressing the South African Trade and Investment Seminar at the SPIEF'25, attended by Russian and South African business and government leaders themed – 'Russia - South Africa: Business and Investment Cooperation'; a meeting with Chairperson of the Federal Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Mrs Valentina Matvienko, where he welcomed the continued cooperation between the Russian Federal Assembly and the South African Parliament over the years. 'We are pleased to note that through regular Parliamentary exchanges and engagements, we have been able to address common challenges, explore new opportunities for collaboration, and deepen our friendship,' said the Deputy President. The Deputy President also met with Chairman of the State Duma, Mr Vyacheslav Volodin and the bilateral discussion appreciated the continued cooperation between the Russian State Duma and the South African Parliament over the years as well as the importance of parliamentary diplomacy as a tool to amplify government efforts, foster dialogue and use legislative tools to unlock progress in trade and other areas. Finally, the Deputy President concluded the Working Visit with a guided tour and site visit to the St. Petersburg Port, where he met with the leadership and workers of the Port. The site visit took place following work by officials from Russia and South Africa during the 18th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), where the two countries concluded deliberations on cooperation in the maritime field and agreed to work with participants from the logistics industry and port authorities of both countries towards the mutually beneficial use of port infrastructure. The Deputy President was accompanied by International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Alvin Botes; Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina; Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau; Agriculture Deputy Minister Nokuzola Capa; Public Works and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala; Mineral and Petroleum Resources Deputy Minister Phumzile Mgcina, as well as Sport, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Peace Mabe. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.
