A group of militants disguised as Ukrainian ATO (Anti-Terrorist Operation) fighters shelled residential areas in the Zaytsevo region, reported the ATO press center. The attackers appeared to be one of the pro-Russian, illegal armed groups poorly disguised as Ukrainian servicemen. The militants fired indiscriminately on Zaytsevo’s residential infrastructure using small arms.

“Criminals are trying to mislead local residents, accuse Ukrainian soldiers of ceasefire violations and discredit ATO …

Former KGB and FSB agent Boris Karpichkov was quoted in the Daily Mail as saying that the Kremlin deliberately blew up the A321 aircraft of Russian airline Kogalymavia over Sinai in Egypt.

The alleged reason was that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to receive the attention and sympathy of the world in order to recover his standing in the international arena. This was also a good opportunity to initiate open conflict with ISIL.

Karpichkov was promoted to Major during his ten years of …

The Permanent Representative of Russia to the EU, Ambassador Vladimir Chizhov, said that the real causes of the difficulties in relations between Russia and the EU lie in geopolitics.

According to Chizov, formal relations with the European Union have been continuing for 26 years, but this year was "perhaps the most difficult." In his opinion, the relations of the countries "have become hostages of the West's interests.” Formally, the ongoing difficulties are part of the "Ukrainian crisis" but …

Duma state deputy Yevgeny Fyodorov offered to grant Russian President Vladimir Putin emergency powers, he stated in an interview with Sobesednick news.

"We are experiencing an external aggression, a geopolitical war. Naturally, the importance of the role of the Commander in Chief in a time of a war rises sharply. And today, in my opinion, the head of state, Putin should be granted extraordinary powers for a while. For example, it can last until 2018. This has to happen in order for us to beat …

Defense Intelligence reported on Monday that the leaders of the militants from the occupied part of the Donetsk region went to Moscow to receive instructions.

"The so-called leader of the DNR, Alexander Zakharchenko and Secretary of Security Council of DNR Alexander Khodakovsky traveled to Moscow on December 26th in order to receive instructions from Kremlin curators," the statement said.

Intelligence further reported about the deaths of Russian soldiers in the Donbas region, citing new …

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has decreed that economic sanctions against Turkey will now include companies owned or controlled by Turkish citizens.

The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has signed a decree expanding the sanctions against Turkey. The full text of the decree has been published on the Kremlin’s website. To date, the Russian sanctions against Turkey applied only to companies located in Turkey. Now, any company controlled by a Turkish citizen, regardless of location, will …

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) prevented an attempt to damage the computer networks of Ukranian power distribution companies.

According to the Press Center of the SBU, malicious software was detected in the networks of some regional power distribution companies.  The virus attack was accompanied by a flood of continuous calls to the support services of the regional power distribution companies.

It is reported that the malicious software is localized.  Urgent investigative actions are …

A member of the State Duma from the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), Ivan Sukharev, has proposed prohibiting any foreign currency transactions within the territory of Russia.  In his opinion, this will help to strengthen the Russian Ruble, according to the newspaper Izvestia.

The MP has already prepared the bill indicating which foreign currency transactions (both cash and non-cash) will be banned for residents within the territory of Russia.  Sukharev proposes to ban payments in …