Russian News Agency — a state-backed wire since 1904
Ukrainian drones have struck a major Moscow oil refinery for the second time this week, producing large fires, black smoke and reports of at least 16–17 wounded. Russian air defences have shot down hundreds of incoming drones across multiple regions, closed Moscow airports and prompted threats of "massive" Russian retaliation.
Ukraine’s long-range strikes have hit oil refineries and energy facilities across Russia, fueling a fuel shortage in several regions. Attacks have disrupted refining capacity from Omsk to Yaroslavl, triggering rationing and price pressures while Moscow promises restoration efforts.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has carried out a surprise cabinet reshuffle that has removed defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov, nominated Serhii Koretskyi as prime minister and named SBU head Yevhenii Khmara as acting defence minister. The moves have provoked mass protests in Kyiv and other cities, prompted at least one senior military resignation and raised questions about unity in Kyiv’s war effort.
North Korea has reinforced its strategic partnership with Russia as Moscow and Pyongyang expand military and political cooperation. Choe Son Hui’s Moscow visit follows high-level exchanges with China, underscoring a widening alignment against the West. Experts say Kim Jong Un’s regime is pursuing tech and defense gains in exchange for economic and diplomatic support.
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.
A drone has crashed into a busy Gelendzhik beach on the Russian Black Sea coast, injuring around 40 people. Russian officials say the incident was a deliberate attack by Kyiv, while Kyiv denies civilian targeting. A specialist medical team is at the scene; several victims are in serious condition. The event follows Russian missile strikes on Kyiv and related incidents in Ukraine.
Vladimir Tkachuk, founder and CEO of Uraldronzavod, has been hospitalised in grave condition following an explosion in Bolshoy Istok, near Yekaterinburg. The Upyr drone is cited as central to recent sanctions and war efforts. Authorities have opened a murder investigation as details remain unclear.
Syria and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding that will transfer civilian control of Hmeimim airport and the commercial Tartus berth to Damascus and repurpose military areas at Hmeimim and Tartus into joint training centres, with the transition scheduled within three months, Syrian state media and Russian officials have said.
Russia's Supreme Court has upheld a suit by the pro‑Kremlin Rodina party and removed Yabloko's federal candidate list from the State Duma ballot. Yabloko, the country's last registered anti‑war party, has said it will appeal. Hundreds of mainly young supporters protested outside the courthouse after the ruling on Monday.