Melting snow in Russia's Ural Mountains caused severe flooding, with over 10,400 homes flooded in 39 regions. The Ural River swelled, leading to a state of emergency in the Orenburg region. President Putin formed a special commission to address the floods in Orenburg, Kurgan, and Tyumen regions. Thousands were evacuated as rivers in the Urals, western Siberia, and Volga area reached dangerous levels, with Orenburg expecting the worst flooding in decades. The Kremlin warned of inevitable floods in western Siberia's Kurgan and Tyumen regions, necessitating evacuations and emergency measures.
Heavy rainfall in the Russian city of Orsk has caused a dike to rupture, putting over 4,000 houses and 10,000 people at risk of flooding. The Orenburg region has seen over 1,800 homes flooded and more than 3,000 evacuations. Efforts are underway to repair the dike and evacuate residents to temporary accommodation centers. The flooding is a result of extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change.
Over 4,000 people, including 1,019 children, have been evacuated in the Orenburg region of Russia near the Kazakhstan border after a dam on the Ural river burst due to heavy rainfall, impacting more than 2,500 homes. Thousands of residents were rescued via lifeboats and the flood has been described as one of the largest natural disasters in Kazakhstan in 80 years. The Russian government has opened a criminal investigation into the dam breach for negligence and violation of construction safety rules, attributing the incident to poor maintenance.
A Russian cruise missile strike in Ukraine's Lviv region left one dead, destroyed a building, and caused a fire. Thousands in Odesa region lost power after a downed Russian drone sparked a blaze. Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure led to significant damage in various regions. Russia escalate attacks, with 80% of Ukraine's largest private energy firm, DTEK's generating capacity lost. France commits hundreds of armoured carriers to aid Ukraine. Russian forces maintain advantage over Ukraine in munitions and personnel. Paris mayor bans Russian and Belarusian athletes from Olympics in response to conflict. European countries urged to increase defence investments by Polish prime minister
Russia started voting in an election to extend President Vladimir Putin's rule, facing criticism from Kyiv, which labeled the vote a 'farce.' Border clashes with Ukraine escalated as Kyiv intensified aerial bombardments of Russian regions near the border. The Kremlin prohibited protests, claiming the vote will demonstrate support for Russia's actions in Ukraine. The election process saw Putin's critics either deceased, imprisoned, or in exile, with limited genuine competitors. Moscow authorities warned against protests, citing legal consequences.
A terrorist attack on concertgoers in Moscow left over 137 people dead, making it one of Russia's deadliest attacks in recent history, second only to the Beslan hostage incident in 2004. Russia, amid ongoing conflict with Ukraine, faces a challenging period. President Putin's spokesman declared Russia to be in a state of war. The attack, occurring after Putin's re-election, aimed to destabilize Russia. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility, but discrepancies in the attack's modus operandi raise questions about the true perpetrators.
Ukraine conducted a kamikaze drone strike on a key Russian airbase that houses nuclear-capable aircraft in the Saratov region. Pro-Putin sources accused Kyiv of also targeting a nuclear power plant in the Kursk region. The attacks on border regions Belgorod and Kursk have caused alarm, with civilian casualties reported. Russian President Putin suggested creating a buffer zone between Ukrainian and Russian territories to counter Ukraine's aerial assaults. Russia has increased its aerial assaults on Ukrainian towns and cities, with recent incidents involving intercepted drones and missile strikes.
Ukraine's military intelligence dismissed Russian President Putin's claim of Ukraine's involvement in the Moscow concert hall attack as false and absurd, stating the border is heavily guarded with obstacles preventing infiltration. Ukrainian officials reiterated that Kyiv had no connection to the attack and emphasized the ongoing conflict with Russia. Putin had accused suspects of trying to flee to Ukraine, citing a 'Ukrainian trail' in the incident. The Kremlin was accused of using the tragedy to escalate repression within Russia, while Russian propagandists dismissed an Islamic State confession as fake.
Russia claimed to have killed 234 pro-Ukraine fighters in a major armed incursion near the border village of Tyotkino. The Freedom of Russia Legion, Siberian Battalion, and Russian Volunteer Corps posted videos of the conflict in Russia's western regions. The Russian Defense Ministry blamed the attack on the 'Kyiv regime' and Ukraine's 'terrorist formations.' Russia launched devastating strikes in central Ukrainian cities, resulting in casualties including children.
A major spring storm brought heavy snow, rain, and high winds to the Northeast, causing power outages and transportation disruptions. The storm resulted in over 680,000 power outages, with the majority in Maine and New Hampshire. Travel became treacherous in northern parts of New England and New York, leading to accidents and closures. Schools and government offices were closed in affected areas. Cleanup efforts were underway in states hit by tornadoes and severe weather. The storm also impacted New York City, leaving residents dealing with crushed cars, downed utility poles, and debris. Thousands were left without power in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Gunmen wearing combat fatigues killed at least 40 people and wounded over 100 at a concert hall in Moscow. The attackers threw explosives causing a massive blaze, and reports suggest children were among the dead. The incident is being investigated as terrorism, marking Russia's deadliest attack in recent years. Security has been heightened in Moscow, with President Putin staying updated on the situation.
Russian President Putin claims that the suspects of a terrorist attack in Moscow were attempting to escape to Ukraine, while Ukraine officials deny any involvement. Prior to the attack, the U.S. embassy issued a warning to Americans about imminent plans for an attack at large gatherings, which was later claimed by ISIS. Putin dismissed U.S. warnings as blackmail days before the attack, and the State Department confirmed U.S. intelligence on the planned attack in Moscow. The attack at the concert hall resulted in over 130 casualties.
East Ural Nature Reserve (Russian: Восточно-Уральский заповедник) is a Russian 'zapovednik' (strict nature reserve) that is near the site of the 1957 Kyshtym disaster, the world's second highest radioactivity release after Chernobyl. As a state "radiation reserve", the site functions for the protection of a contaminated area, and for long-term scientific study of the effects of radiation on the forest-steppe ecology on the east slope of the southern Ural Mountains. The reserve is situated in the Ozyorsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast. It was formally established in 1968, and covers 16,600 ha (64 sq mi; 166 km2). The reserve, as of 2007, is under the control of Rosatom, a state-run corporation, which conducts regular radiation and radio ecological monitoring.
The Kremlin considers Pope Francis' call for talks to end the war in Ukraine as understandable, while NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg emphasizes that now is not the time for Ukraine to surrender as it would be a tragedy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismisses the Pope's call for talks with Russia as virtual mediation. Ukraine has summoned the Vatican's envoy after the Pope suggested raising the white flag against Russia, causing anger in Kyiv. The US faces deadlock in providing military aid to Ukraine with concerns about potential aid reduction depending on the outcome of the upcoming presidential election.
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who is the President of Russia. Putin has held continuous positions as president or prime minister since 1999: as prime minister from 1999 to 2000 and from 2008 to 2012, and as president from 2000 to 2008 and since 2012. He is the longest-serving Russian or Soviet leader since Joseph Stalin.Putin worked as a KGB foreign intelligence officer for 16 years, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel before resigning in 1991 to begin a political career in Saint Petersburg. In 1996, he moved to Moscow to join the administration of President Boris Yeltsin. He briefly served as the director of the Federal Security Service (FSB) and then as secretary of the Security Council of Russia before being appointed prime minister in August 1999. Following Yeltsin's resignation, Putin became acting president and, in less than four months, was elected to his first term as president. He was subsequently reelected in 2004. Due to constitutional limitations of two consecutive presidential terms, Putin served as prime minister again from 2008 to 2012 under Dmitry Medvedev. He returned to the presidency in 2012, following an election marked by allegations of fraud and protests, and was reelected in 2018. In April 2021, after a referendum, he signed into law constitutional amendments that included one allowing him to run for reelection twice more, potentially extending his presidency to 2036.During Putin's initial presidential tenure, the Russian economy grew on average by seven percent per year, driven by economic reforms and a fivefold increase in the price of oil and gas. Additionally, Putin led Russia in a conflict against Chechen separatists, reestablishing federal control over the region. While serving as prime minister under Medvedev, he oversaw a military conflict with Georgia and enacted military and police reforms. In his third presidential term, Russia annexed Crimea and supported a war in eastern Ukraine through several military incursions, resulting in international sanctions and a financial crisis in Russia. He also ordered a military intervention in Syria to support his ally Bashar al-Assad during the Syrian civil war, ultimately securing permanent naval bases in the Eastern Mediterranean. In his fourth presidential term, he launched a significant invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which prompted international condemnation and led to expanded sanctions. In September 2022, he announced a partial mobilization and forcibly annexed four Ukrainian oblasts into Russia. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes related to his alleged criminal responsibility for illegal child abductions during the war.Under Putin's rule, Russian political system has been transformed into an authoritarian dictatorship. His rule has been marked by endemic corruption and widespread human rights violations, including the imprisonment and suppression of political opponents, intimidation and censorship of independent media in Russia, and a lack of free and fair elections. Putin's Russia has consistently received low scores on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, The Economist Democracy Index, Freedom House's Freedom in the World index, and the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that his country is prepared for a nuclear confrontation but clarified that he made no direct threats regarding the use of nuclear weapons. The Kremlin accused the U.S. of distorting Putin's comments, emphasizing that he was discussing the scenarios that could lead to nuclear weapon usage. White House criticized Russia's nuclear rhetoric as reckless and irresponsible. Putin also mentioned that he never considered using tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine, despite tensions escalating with NATO over the conflict.
Elvira Nabiullina, Russia's central bank governor since 2013, has effectively stabilized the country's economy under immense pressure from sanctions through strategic monetary policies and capital controls. While credited for preventing economic collapse, her support for President Putin's regime is seen as a betrayal by Western officials. Nabiullina was once admired internationally but is now criticized for her role in Russia's war against Ukraine. Despite facing criticism, her actions have played a vital role in maintaining Russia's economic stability during times of geopolitical tensions.
Vladimir Putin is running uncontested for a fifth term in the Russian presidential election, with opposition candidates banned. The Kremlin seeks a landslide victory to maintain power and continue the war in Ukraine. While official polls show high support for the war, independent polls indicate only 17% consistent supporters. A minority openly opposes the war and Putin's regime, demonstrated by protests and opposition activities. Calls for a protest vote aim to challenge Putin's expected victory, highlighting divisions in Russian society and the struggle for legitimacy.
In the aftermath of a mass shooting in Moscow that killed 145 people, Russian security forces face criticism for their response. The Kremlin officials, including a top official, suggested sending hit squads to assassinate Ukrainian officials and reinstating capital punishment. President Vladimir Putin vowed to hunt down the masterminds of the attack linked to Ukraine, despite denials from Kyiv. Critics claim that the focus on cracking down on dissent has led to security failures in addressing real threats.
Ukrainian President Zelenskiy accused Russian President Putin of trying to shift blame onto Ukraine for the Moscow concert hall attack that killed 133 people. Moscow claimed capturing the village of Ivanivske near Bakhmut. Zelenskiy denied Ukrainian involvement in the attack, attributed to the Islamic State group. Russian forces seized multiple frontline settlements, while Ukraine conducted air attacks on the Russian border. Putin accused Ukraine of collaborating with the attackers, leading to Zelenskiy denouncing the claims. The situation remains tense between the two countries.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia views itself in a state of war with Ukraine, shifting from calling the conflict a special military operation. This change follows Western involvement in support of Ukraine. Peskov emphasized the need for internal mobilization, suggesting a potential second wave of mobilization to bolster military ranks. Russia faces prosecution under censorship laws for referring to the conflict as a war. President Putin has framed the war as Russia's fight for survival against the West. The situation escalated after Peskov's comments coincided with significant Russian attacks on Ukraine.
A Russian court in Labytnangi rejected a lawsuit by Lyudmila Navalnaya, Alexey Navalny's mother, regarding his inadequate medical care in the Arctic penal colony where he died. The court stated that only Navalny himself could make the complaint. Navalny's widow, Yulia, mentioned that the lawsuit was denied to avoid disclosing video and other information about his death. Russian prison authorities claimed Navalny died of natural causes in February 2024. Navalnaya faced difficulties in burying Navalny without a public funeral, and supporters accused President Putin of involvement, a claim denied by the Kremlin.
French President Emmanuel Macron faced criticism and isolation after suggesting that Western troops could be sent to Ukraine. Macron's comments prompted outrage from other European leaders, leading French officials to clarify his remarks. The Kremlin warned of inevitable conflict if NATO sends combat troops, while Russian President Putin mentioned the risk of a global nuclear conflict. Macron's remarks come amidst evolving European attitudes towards supporting Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February 2022.
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