Contents tagged with Russia
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China and Saudi Arabia halt crucial MDI chemical shipments to Russia amid sanctions
In a significant development, China and Saudi Arabia have stopped the supply of irreplaceable chemical products to Russia. Currently, Russia is entirely dependent on imported MDI, especially following the European Union's 14th sanctions package.
According to the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita, Chinese giant Wanhua Chemical Group and Saudi firm Sadara Chemical have ceased shipments of isocyanates (MDI) to Russia. This chemical is crucial in sectors like automotive, construction, and household …
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Germany foils Russian drone attack attempt on NATO's airbase
Russia had plans to execute a sabotage operation using drones at a NATO airbase located in Geilenkirchen, Germany, according to German intelligence sources cited by Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). This NATO facility, nestled in North Rhine-Westphalia, was targeted, raising serious international security concerns.
Last week, NATO's Geilenkirchen-Teveren airbase was put on "Charlie" status, the second highest level of combat readiness, due to a precautionary measure following warnings from the U. …
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Finland to station up to 5,000 NATO troops near Russian border
In a strategic move to bolster its defense capabilities against external threats, Finland has agreed to station a NATO armored brigade on its soil. The new unit, consisting of 4,000 to 5,000 soldiers and officers, is being formed and will be based in the city of Mikkeli, near the Russian border, reports the Finnish news outlet Iltalehti, citing sources within the North Atlantic Alliance and security services.
"Finland's Defense Forces and the government have concluded that the presence of NATO …
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Indian PM Modi offers to mediate between Ukraine and Russia amid war-torn diplomatic landscape
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed a willingness to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow. "We stand for dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace and stability as soon as possible. India is ready to contribute to this effort alongside friendly nations," Modi stated on Thursday, August 22, in Warsaw, following his meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. He also added, "India firmly believes that no problem can be resolved on the battlefield." Modi's visit to Poland comes just …
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Intense fire at Rostov oil depot persists for fifth day after Ukrainian drone attack
A fire at an oil depot in Proletarsk, Rostov region, persists into its fifth day following a Ukrainian drone attack, reported the Russian news agency RBC. A powerful explosion last night exacerbated the blaze, according to local news outlet 161.ru.
Residents could see the glow from the neighboring settlements. "I live 10 km from the oil depot; the flash looked like a sunset," commented a local resident to 161.ru.
Meanwhile, TASS cites regional medical services reporting that 47 people have …
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Moscow court sentences ex-FSB officers for bribery involving Catholic Church officials
In a landmark ruling, the 235th Moscow Garrison Military Court has sentenced two ex-employees of FSB's Second Service, the unit responsible for Constitutional Order Protection, to nine years in a high-security penal colony for taking bribes from Roman Catholic Church representatives. According to Kommersant, Evgeny Lobanov and Denis Karmanov were found guilty of receiving bribes on a large scale (Article 290, Part 6).
Karmanov was also convicted under charges related to illegal arms and …
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China shifts oil imports from Russia to Middle East
In a significant shift, China has increased its purchases of oil from the Middle East, seemingly at the expense of Russian imports. This development follows Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to Beijing. According to Chinese customs data cited by The Moscow Times, the trend of declining Russian oil imports into China accelerated after the trip in May.
Russian oil companies are grappling with a stark drop in demand from China. In July, Russian oil exports to China fell by 7.4% year- …
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Chinese suppliers seek to reroute goods to Russia via third countries amid sanctions
Chinese suppliers have started requesting routing goods destined to Russia via third countries, reports the Russian news outlet Izvestia.
Russian businessmen have noted that these constraints have been apparent since mid-July. These restrictions predominantly impact products that have landed on Western sanctions lists, with electronics being a primary concern.
Chinese suppliers typically request shipping goods through third countries when they cannot accept payments through Chinese banks or …
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Major fire erupts at Bashkiria Chemical Plant following gas pipeline explosion
In Bashkortostan, Russia, a fire erupted at the "Sterlitamak Petrochemical Plant" (SNHZ). Local residents first heard "explosions" before seeing a column of black smoke. The official cause of the incident is suspected to be safety protocol violations rather than external factors, according to the Investigative Committee of Russia. The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia detailed the incident's impact on their Telegram channel.
The first report of the blaze in Sterlitamak emerged online …
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Ukrainian cyber attack paralyzes Russian nuclear weapons developer
In a significant blow to Russia's defense infrastructure, Ukrainian hackers have paralyzed operations at a leading nuclear weapons developer. Ukrainian cyber specialists targeted an internet service provider supporting the Russian arms manufacturer.
Collaborating with hacker group "VO Team," Ukrainian intelligence operatives disrupted the enterprise responsible for Russia's nuclear armament. According to an announcement on Telegram, the team launched a successful cyberattack on "Vega," the …