Europe Russia Two maritime patrol aircraft have made a 30-hour Arctic flight, including a mid-air tanking that would account a the first-ever North Pole aerial refueling; for the unique mission, the crews reportedly entered the Book of Records of the Armed Forces
Europe Russia A hypersonic, nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile was among 36 other missiles and over 200 drones launched in one of Russia's largest attacks on Ukraine; Kyiv and Lviv were hit, homes damaged, water supplies and heating disrupted in freezing temperatures
Europe Russia Russia's main stock market index, the MOEX, rose to 2765 points on yesterday 30 December 2025; over the past month the index has climbed 2,92%, though it remains 2,23% lower than a year ago, according to benchmark index trackings from Russia
Europe Russia In Tiksi, Yakutia, the thermometer dropped to -56°C, the lowest temperature currently recorded in a populated area, and it could drop further as a snowstorm has paralyzed the village for three days burying streets and house entrances
Europe Russia Bezymianny volcano in Kamchatka has emitted strong pyroclastic flows since 25 November, with ash reaching an altitude of 32.000 ft, or 7.000 meters, causing the diversion of flight routes across the region and setting an alert for the population
Europe Russia Halloween was a day of costumes, candy and all things spooky even in Russia, as Muscovites celebrated like fellow trick-or-treaters around the world, notwithstanding Halloween being irritant for politicians, pro-Kremlin activists and the Orthodox Church
Europe Russia Three earthquakes struck off the coast of Kamchatka in a period of heightened seismic activity in one of the world’s most geologically active regions; a series of quakes measuring up to magnitude 4,8; no reports of damage or injuries, no tsunami alerts
Europe Russia Russia is not committing to a meeting between Ukrainian President Zelensky and President Putin, which US President Trump has encouraged as a next step toward ending the war; Foreign Minister Lavrov argued any meeting should be prepared “gradually”
Europe Russia A lack of clear results in the Alaska meeting between president Putin and US President Trump has empowered Russia's leader to carry on with the war, according to experts opinions reported by the Moscow Times
Europe Russia Despite its 8,8 magnitude, damage caused by the earthquake that struck the Kamchatka peninsula on 30 July was relatively minor; lack of devastation and fatalities was attributed by Kremlin spokesperson to high-quality construction and local preparedness
Europe Russia Ukraine and Russia launched a wave of air attacks along the Black Sea coastline a few hours after direct peace talks between the two nations ended without any breakthrough on a ceasefire
Europe Russia Russia formally recognized government in Afghanistan on 3 July 2025, becoming the first country to do so since the Taliban's return to power in 2021; the decision followed Russia's removal of the Taliban from list of banned terrorist groups in April 2025
Europe Russia After a two-hour phone call with US President Trump, President Putin revealed no breakthroughs and told reporters he would be ready to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine, repeating his demand for broad concessions