Russian diplomat and Kremlin spokesman since 2012
An improvised explosive device has detonated outside the Balzi Rossi restaurant on Kudrinskaya Square in central Moscow on Saturday evening, killing at least three people and injuring dozens. Authorities have identified a woman carrying the device as the immediate source of the blast; investigators are treating the incident as a terrorist attack while exploring whether a high-ranking military figure attending a private event was the intended target.
Tashiev has been charged in Kyrgyzstan in a move that could destabilize the country’s power-sharing arrangement with Japarov. The charges carry up to 20 years in prison and the trial is to be held behind closed doors with reporting banned.
Vladimir Putin has overseen a scaled-down Victory Day parade in Moscow under heavy security, has said "the matter is coming to an end," and has offered to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a third country only after a final peace treaty is agreed. A US-brokered three-day ceasefire and a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner swap have been announced for the holiday.
EU leaders dismiss Putin’s suggestion that Schröder could represent Europe in Ukraine peace talks, with Kallas calling the move an attempt to stack the deck. Ministers are pressing ahead with discussions on a European role in any future talks, while U.S.-led negotiations show little progress.
Putin has indicated a willingness to hold direct talks with Ukraine's President Zelenskiy in Moscow or a neutral country, as Russia and Ukraine observe a short ceasefire backed by the United States and continue prisoner exchanges. Russian attacks have caused casualties and front-line engagements persist, while Moscow seeks new security arrangements in Europe.
Ukrainian forces have continued to strike targets inside Russia while drone and missile attacks on Ukraine have intensified after a three-day ceasefire has ended. Multiple cities report damage, civilians have been killed or injured, and Ukraine says it is coordinating with allies to defend against ballistic missiles.
Drones traced from Ukraine have entered Baltic airspaces in Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, with several incidents causing damage and prompting political crises. NATO is scrambling jets and increasing air-defence readiness as Russia-backed electronic interdiction is blamed for misrouting. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have seen government resignations and heightened security measures.
Andrey Zvyagintsev has used his Cannes Grand Prix acceptance for Minotaur to appeal directly to Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, saying millions on both sides "dream" of an end. The director has sent the message to the Kremlin through official channels; the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has refused to relay it.
A Russian-installed official says a Ukrainian drone strike hit a student dormitory in Starobilsk, killing multiple people and injuring dozens. Ukraine has not commented; Russia says it targeted a civilian facility where students and teachers were sleeping. Rescue efforts are continuing as investigations begin.
Rising warnings from Moscow signal a plan to escalate missile strikes on Kyiv, while Ukraine confronts a bill affecting missing soldiers. Ukrainian forces retain some ground amid recent counterstrikes, and international diplomacy shows signs of waning.
Ukraine reports renewed Russian strikes and warns of further escalation; Zelenskiy calls for air-defence support and sanctions while Russia cites drone and missile activity. Multiple attacks have left casualties and raised international concern over potential retaliation and broader escalation.
A Shahed drone has struck a fuel‑reception building near the decommissioned Chornobyl plant on 7 June 2026, causing significant structural damage and a localized fire that was extinguished. Ukraine and the IAEA have said no spike in radiation has been detected and no spent fuel was stored in the damaged building. The IAEA is preparing a site inspection.
Ukraine has launched long-range drone strikes that hit a fuel terminal in St. Petersburg and a military facility, with smoke rising over the port. Putin attends the St. Petersburg forum as tensions escalate and oil facilities target Moscow’s war effort.
Ukraine has used long-range drones to hit strategic targets deep inside Russia this week, striking St Petersburg's oil terminal, the Kronstadt naval base and supply lines to occupied Crimea. Russian authorities have reported hundreds of intercepted drones, governors have ordered residents to shelter indoors, and Crimea is facing severe fuel shortages that are disrupting travel and tourism.
Russians are adapting to Kremlin internet controls, using VPNs and multiple devices while officials push state-backed apps like MAX to enforce digital sovereignty. The crackdown disrupts services and has sparked discontent ahead of elections, with warnings from critics that MAX could track users.
Two car bombs have wounded and killed people in Moscow and its outskirts as investigations identify a teenage suspect network. Authorities report controlled detonations and ongoing inquiries into the perpetrators and motives. The events follow a pattern of high-profile attacks targeting Russian officials after the invasion of Ukraine.
Ukraine has intensified drone strikes on Russian refineries, depots and fuel convoys. Russia has introduced local rationing, banned gasoline and jet-fuel exports, and is weighing a diesel export ban while opening antitrust probes, forming an industry task force and planning imports and subsidies to stabilise supplies.
U.S. President Donald Trump has offered to help end the Russia-Ukraine war in a nearly 90-minute call with Vladimir Putin and has agreed with Volodymyr Zelenskyy to continue negotiations at next week’s NATO summit in Ankara. Ukraine has struck oil and naval facilities near St. Petersburg, and Russia has responded with heavy missile and drone strikes on Kyiv.
The European-led response to Russia's shadow fleet has intensified, with France and Britain intercepting suspected vessels near Sicily as Kyiv reports further strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. Zelensky has authorized a 40-day operation aimed at pressuring Moscow to end the war, while Moscow archives a substantial collection of Ukrainian books.
Ukraine asserts control of Kostiantynivka as Russia claims victory; both sides report ceasefire talks and a potential body-handling pause. Trump opened dialogue with Kyiv and Moscow, while Ukraine and Russia trade claims over the town amid tensions ahead of NATO summit.
Ukraine has struck oil depots and tankers across Russia, triggering a fuel shortage and rationing in multiple regions. Trump pledges Patriot licenses as Kyiv seeks faster domestic production.
The International Olympic Committee has provisionally lifted its suspension of the Russian Olympic Committee, restoring Russian athletes' access to many international qualifiers ahead of Los Angeles 2028 while leaving decisions on flags, anthems and full national symbols unresolved. Several international federations, including World Athletics, are maintaining bans and legal challenges are being signalled.
Europe’s leaders are pursuing a global, integrated missile defense against future threats, while Ukraine seeks faster air-defense and a European-backed, lower-cost system. At Paris talks, Macron and Zelenskyy outline steps toward a coalition of the willing and the Freyja project to supplement, not replace, existing defenses.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Maj. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi as Ukraine’s commander-in-chief after mass protests over the dismissal of reform-minded ex-defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Drapatyi, 43, is being welcomed as a moderniser; Fedorov has refused offered alternatives and his supporters are continuing street demonstrations while Russia keeps striking Ukrainian cities.
UN rights monitors document a sharp rise in civilian deaths and injuries in the first half of 2026 as Russia and Ukraine widen strikes. FPV drones are reshaping daily life near front lines, while attacks on shipping and oil depots widen the conflict’s reach.
The FBI director is planning a visit to Russia in the fall, with stops in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The trip would be the first by an FBI director to Russia since 2013, and hosts are likely to be the FSB. The move comes as lawmakers push for tougher sanctions over Ukraine and as U.S.-Russia tensions remain high.
The US and Russia remain engaged in diplomatic talks aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Rubio has described constructive discussions with Lavrov in Manila, emphasizing a possible role for the US in brokering a settlement, while Lavrov reiterates Moscow’s readiness for a political solution. Talks come amid broader regional tensions and Middle East concerns.
Ukrainian drone strikes have targeted Wildberries’ warehouses in Russia, hitting facilities in Elektrostal and Tambov and prompting disruptions to delivery. Kyiv says the strikes aim to pressure Russia’s economy by hitting a major online retailer that stores and ships goods for thousands of merchants.
Since July 18 Ukraine has struck multiple Wildberries warehouses across Russia, causing fires, deaths and major stock losses. The campaign has put at least 1.5 million sq m of warehouse space out of operation, forced evacuations and pushed merchants toward bankruptcy. Wildberries and Russia are discussing compensation and possible state support.
Ukraine has carried out long-range strikes in the Caspian Sea that hit vessels Kyiv says were carrying Iranian-linked military cargo to Russia. Iran has summoned Ukraine’s diplomat, said one sailor was killed and another wounded, and warned retaliation; Ukraine’s foreign ministry has denied intent to target civilians and called Iran’s threats unjustified.
Kazakhstan’s leader has urged a freeze on the Ukraine conflict and a return to Istanbul-style talks, while Ukraine and Russia signal potential diplomacy. The move comes as oil disruptions hit Kazakhstan’s CPC export routes and Moscow-Kazakhstan ties loom large.
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu are in Washington for the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham. They are seeking stronger defense cooperation with the United States as Kyiv presses for Patriot missile licences and co-production talks, while Iran’s role in the Middle East remains a focal point after a tense U.S.-Israel dynamic.
Russia's FSB has accused Telegram of failing to remove channels, chats and bots that it says Ukrainian intelligence and extremist groups used to coordinate sabotage, terrorism and cyber-fraud inside Russia, and has placed founder Pavel Durov on an international wanted list; Telegram responded by posting an image of Durov making a rude gesture.
The latest published pieces show a widening strike pattern across the Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and nearby states. Tehran’s campaign targets civilian and strategic assets, while Gulf and U.S.-backed defenses intercept most threats. Diplomatic channels persist even as attacks resume, hinging on a broader security architecture rather than a single guarantee.