Eastern Europe / News
Intense fighting around Pokrovsk as Russia targets logistics hub
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 26 that fierce battles are raging around the key logistical hub eastern city of Pokrovsk, which Russian forces make making an intensified effort to capture.
Kyiv mayor Klitschko and former president Poroshenko face criminal charges
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has chosen to end what was probably his worst week in office since he was elected in 2019 by sparking a fresh scandal. Prosecutors are preparing criminal charges against two of his biggest political rivals.
Ukrainian President Zelenskiy backtracks on law enforcement bill following mass protests
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy seeks to restore the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies after a controversial law gutting Ukraine’s anti-corruption reforms sparked protests.
Strike breaks out at construction site where Russia is building Turkey’s first nuclear power plant
Rosatom blames unpaid wages on “unfriendly countries” blocking project funds. Launch of first reactor years behind schedule.
India's Reliance Industries gets ready for the worst
India’s Reliance Industries Ltd. is facing renewed scrutiny over its crude procurement practices following the European Union’s latest round of sanctions targeting diesel derived from Russian oil
Russia’s HIV crisis accelerates due to wartime strains
Russia’s HIV epidemic, already severe before the invasion of Ukraine, has worsened dramatically under the pressures of war, with health authorities now facing what may become one of the country’s gravest long-term demographic crises.
Hungary holds trilateral talks on construction of new oil pipeline to Serbia with Russia
Hungary and Serbia are moving ahead with plans to build a new cross-border oil pipeline that could transport up to 5mn tonnes per year of crude, as both countries deepen energy ties with Russia despite EU sanctions.
Serbia facilitated arms transit to Ukraine despite Russian warnings
Serbia continued to permit arms shipments destined for Ukraine to transit its territory even after receiving direct warnings from Moscow, according to a BIRN investigation.
Zelenskiy faces EU backlash over bill that guts Ukraine’s anti-corruption efforts
The mood has shifted fast as European leaders lined up to criticise, albeit in mild tones, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s decision to sign into law a controversial bill rammed through the Rada on July 23.
Kyiv sees first anti-government wartime protests as Zelenskiy attempts to gut anti-corruption bodies
Ukrainian lawmakers forced through a controversial law giving unlimited power to the general prosecutor that civil rights groups say will gut Ukraine’s anti-corruption reforms, sparking anti-government protests.
Breakthrough moment for Trans-Afghan Railway project hailed by Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan
Three countries agree to prepare feasibility study. Russia too would benefit from infrastructure linking Central Asia to Arabian Sea coast.
Ukraine’s key logistical hub of Pokrovsk falls to Russian forces
Ukraine’s key logistic hub of Pokrovsk has fallen to the Armed Forces of Russia (AFR) after more than a year of fighting marking a major strategic defeat for Kyiv. Russian forces have entered the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk.
Ukraine’s NGOs up in arms over a new law that guts anti-corruption reforms
Ukraine’s NGOs are up in arms over a new law No. 12414 passed on July 22, which they say will destroy Ukraine's anticorruption reforms.
EU approves eighteenth sanctions package after Slovakia drops veto
The EU has approved the eighteenth sanctions package after Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico agreed to drop his veto, saying that he had run out of negotiating options on July 18.
Iranian ambassador confirms Russia-Iran partnership treaty has entered into force
A comprehensive strategic partnership treaty between Iran and Russia has entered into force and is "binding for implementation," creating stronger ties between the two sanctioned countries.
Zelenskiy offers Trump a mega drones-for-weapons deal, as allies scramble to find spare Patriot systems
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy offered US President Donald Trump a “mega-deal” on July 17: we send you our advanced drones, you send us missiles.
Fico claims Slovakia has obtained energy guarantees from EU and will unblock latest sanctions package against Russia
Slovakia’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico said it would be "counterproductive" to continue blocking the EU’s 18th sanctions package against Russia.
Central Asia wary Russia will turn on ruble “printing press” to cope with cooling economy, say experts
If Russian economy slips into recession a consequent fall in migrant remittances would particularly hit Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Ukrainian ambassador summoned in Budapest over church arson case
Ukrainian nationalists blamed for arson attack on a Greek Catholic church in Ukraine's western Transcarpathian region — but similar provocations were traced back to Russian operatives.
Russian Railways to propose more tariff changes
State rail operator Russian Railways (RZD) plans to revise freight tariffs, proposing a rebalancing that would raise rates on raw materials and fuel while cutting them for finished metal products