Russia
Russian oil deliveries to Hungary off again after third attack on Druzhba pipeline as Ukraine ups attacks on Russian oil assets
Russian crude deliveries to Slovakia and Hungary were suspended on August 21 after a third attack on the Druzhba pipeline system in less than two weeks, officials confirmed. Flows are expected to remain offline for at least five days.
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China willing to supply Ukraine peacekeepers if there is a UN mandate
China has indicated its readiness to send troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping mission, but only if such a deployment is authorised by the United Nations, Welt am Sonntag reported on August 24, citing European Union diplomats.
Ukraine’s defence industry could triple its capacity, if Europe provides the contracts
Ukraine’s defence factories could triple their current output tomorrow. The technology is ready, the workers are trained, the production lines are in place. What is missing is money.
Mapping global drought risk - Statista
By 2050, more than 1.6bn people, including almost 20% of the African population, will be exposed to severe and extreme droughts, if a pessimistic scenario plays out, according to a report by INFORM Climate Change.
Russia’s car industry stalls under weight of Chinese dominance and structural decline
The Russian automotive sector is showing signs of systemic failure. After a brief post-crisis rebound in 2023 (+69%) and 2024 (+48%), the market has sharply reversed course in 2025, revealing deep-rooted vulnerabilities that go beyond a slowdown.
Forest carbon credits are facing a reckoning over albedo risks
Planting trees should reduce the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere right? Well, its not so easy as that. Trees also provide shade and prevent sunlight from reaching the ground that could reflect it back into space, cooling the plant.
Russia builds major signals intelligence hub near Nato borders in Kaliningrad
Russia is constructing a large-scale signals intelligence facility near Chernyakhovsk, in the Kaliningrad exclave, less than 100 kilometres from the borders of Poland and Lithuania, United24 Media reported on August 24.
Inflation slowing in the majority of Russia's regions
Annual inflation slowed in most Russian regions (74) in July despite the indexation of utility rates, the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) reported on August 22.
Are Ukraine's Flamingo cruise missiles really made in Ukraine?
Secret factory A camera crew from Associated Press was granted access to the Fire Point factory at an undisclosed location inside Ukraine to witness the production of Ukraine’s new Flamingo cruise missile.
Russia deliberately destroys a US factory based in Ukraine
Russia launched a record number of drones and missiles on August 21 and specifically targeted US company Flex's factory in Ukraine.
Ukraine hits Russia’s Druzhba oil pipeline again with drones
Ukraine has carried out another strike on the Druzhba oil pipeline, hitting the Unecha oil pumping station in the latest of a series of incidents targeting the Soviet-era pipeline.
Russian government draws up action plan to tighten control over internet
The Russian government has approved a sweeping action plan mandating operators to monitor user activity and granting law enforcement agencies powers to restrict communication services.
Serbia in talks with Russia on long-term gas deal
Energy Minister Dubravka Dedovic Handanovic says Serbia is in advanced negotiations with Russian energy giant Gazprom.
As a potato crisis sweeps CIS countries, Russia halts potato imports from Georgia
Russia ceased importing potatoes from Georgia in July, ending nine consecutive months of uninterrupted shipments.
T-Technologies posts 83% jump in revenue and near-doubling of net profit for Q2 2025
T-Technologies, formerly Tinkoff Bank and now the Russian technology group developing a financial and lifestyle ecosystem, reported a sharp increase in revenue and profits for the second quarter and first half of 2025.
Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refineries drive up petrol prices, shortages looming
Russian wholesale gasoline prices are soaring to record levels following a series of Ukrainian drone strikes on critical refinery infrastructure. Analysts warn that Russia is facing fuel shortages in the coming weeks, Meduza reported on August 21.
US will play minimum role in Ukraine’s security guarantees – Politico
The Pentagon’s top policy official Elbridge Colby says the US will play a minimal role in any Ukraine security guarantees, Politico reported on August 21.
Western reliance on peacekeepers and arms sales in lieu of real security guarantees doom Russo-Ukraine peace talks to failure
The coalition of the willing plan to send “reassurance forces” to Ukraine and buy Kyiv $100bn worth of new US weapons in lieu of giving Kyiv real collective security guarantees will doom imminent Russo-Ukraine peace negotiations to failure.
Russians have mixed feelings about Stalin, but only 2% condemn him
In May of this year the world was shocked by the Moscow City government decision to unveil a grand bas-relief of Stalin at the Taganskaya metro station in the heart of Moscow.
CENTRAL ASIA BLOG: Might Russia be kicked out of Kazakhstan’s nuclear building programme entirely?
Of three NPP contracts made available by the Central Asian country, two have gone to China. The winner of the other one, Russian state corporation Rosatom, is, meanwhile, struggling with financing issues.