• After a small growth in February, Russian industrial production continues to decline

    In March 2016, the industrial production growth index began to decline again in Russia. After small growth in February, it suffered a 0.5% decline for the year.

    The Index of Industrial Production for Russia in March 2016 declined by 0.5% as compared to the first month of last spring, as indicated by Rosstat Materials. Industrial production in February rose for the first time in a year, increasing by 1%. However, as compared to 2015, there were 29 days in February this year.

    Earlier, experts …

  • Ukrainian intelligence: The bodies of 38 Russian soldiers were transported across the border from Donetsk

    According to the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the bodies of 38 Russian soldiers who fought near Avdiivka were transported across the border to Russia, Interfax-Ukraine reported.

    "The Armed Forces [of Russia], engaged in sabotage and intelligence actions in the area around Avdiivka… On the night of April 15th-16th, at the former Russian checkpoint  ‘Donetsk’ [Russia] transported 38 bodies of dead Russian soldiers,” a statement released by the Main …

  • The IMF is ready to cooperate with Ukraine's new government

    The IMF representative said that the fund will have a meeting with the new government of Ukraine

    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is prepared to continue cooperation with the new members of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. This was announced on April 15, 2016, by the Director of the IMF’s European Department, Poul Thomsen, at a press briefing of the annual "Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group", Radio Svoboda reported.

    "We are ready to continue …

  • Forbes: Kirill Shamalov became Russia's youngest billionaire

    A member of the board of directors of Sibur, 34-year-old Kirill Shamalov, became the youngest billionaire in Russia, according to Forbes’ list of richest businessmen published in the new issue of the magazine.

    Shamalov was ranked 64th on the list, with a wealth of $1.2 billion, in the 13th edition of the 200 richest businessmen in Russia made by Forbes. This is the first year he is among the billionaires, having taken 1476th place in a world rating of billionaires in 2016.

    Kirill Shamalov is …

  • Chinese investor to build high-speed railways in Ukraine

    A major Chinese investor is willing to invest in the construction of high-speed railway lines that will connect Kiev-Lvov-Warsaw-Berlin and Kiev-Odessa

    Volodymyr Omelyan, the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, said that his department is preparing to sign a memorandum with one of the largest Chinese investor companies to build high-speed railway lines connecting Kiev-Lvov-Warsaw-Berlin and Kiev-Odessa.

    "We are preparing to sign a memorandum with one of the largest Chinese investors on the …

  • Court in Kiev to sentence Yerofeyev and Alexandrov on April 18th

    The Goloseevsky District Court in Kiev will sentence Russian servicemen, Evgeny Yerofeyev and Alexander Alexandrov, on Monday, April 18th. Sentencing will take place around 14:00, as stated by the presiding judge in this case, Nikolai Didyk, on April 15th after the judicial debates and statements by the accused at the end of the proceedings.

    Earlier, on April 15th, during the judicial debates, Evgeny Yerofeyev and Alexander Alexandrov asked the court to find them innocent.

    The Public …

  • Russian-Crimean Prosecutor's Office begins investigation into Crimean Tatar batallion

    The Moscow-controlled prosecutor's office of Crimea has begun preliminary investigations into the creation of an alleged Crimean Tatar battalion, Krym.Realii reported. Natalya Poklonskaya, the Russian-appointed prosecutor, informed RIA Novosti that collected evidence will be attached to an existing criminal case about the formation of a voluntary battalion named after Noman Celebicihan.

    "Other facts about the creation and function of similar military formations have already been checked. If …

  • Polish Foreign Minister: Russia poses a larger threat to Europe than the so-called Islamic State

    According to Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski, Russia poses a larger threat to Europe than the so-called Islamic State. Waszczykowski stated this at an international security conference in Bratislava, Slovakia, Glavnoe reported.

    According to him, Russia is a threat to the very existence of Europe, because "these actions can destroy the state."

    When asked about the danger of the so-called Islamic State, the Polish Foreign Minister said that it was a very serious concern, but “this …

  • Kerry tells Lavrov that the US 'strongly objects' to the maneuvers of Russian aircraft over the Baltic

    US Secretary of State John Kerry held a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Friday, in which the former “strongly objected” to the maneuvers of Russian aircraft earlier this week when two Su-24s buzzed a US naval destroyer in the Baltic Sea, a State Department press release reported.

    The Russian attack aircraft reportedly made 11 passes over the USS Donald Cook on Monday. On at least one occasion, the aircraft came within an estimated 10 meters of the naval …

  • US State Department: Ukraine's main problems are the Donbas, Crimea, and corruption

    On Thursday, April 14th, the US State Department published the annual report on human rights violations in Ukraine. Among the main problems in Ukraine are the situations in the east and in Crimea, corruption and oppression of ethnic, religious and sexual minorities as well as the official impunity of the perpetrators of violations of human rights.

    The separatists, supported by the Russian military, continue to control parts of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, the report stated. At the start of …