Russia Desk

The Eastern Herald’s Russia Desk covers Russia, the Russia-Ukraine war, Russian foreign policy, NATO-Russia relations, Eastern European security, the Baltic region and major geopolitical developments involving Moscow and its neighbors.

Lead photograph accompanying Al Jazeera's report on the Russian diesel agreement

Easing Diesel Export Ban Will Not Affect Russian Consumers, Novak Says

Russia's partial lifting of its diesel export ban will not affect domestic consumers, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said, as exports resume under the Putin-Trump deal.

October 10, 2026

by Russia Desk

German security forces at Leipzig Airport following the GRU drone incident in August 2026

Three European Spy Chiefs Warn Russia Could Test NATO Within Months, Citing Leipzig Airport Drone

Three European intelligence chiefs issued a rare joint warning Sunday that Russia could test NATO's collective defence in months, not years, citing the Leipzig Airport drone incident as a decisive shift in Moscow's hybrid warfare tactics. Their assessments diverged internally

September 21, 2026

by Russia Desk

Drone strike damage in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, September 2026

Russia Strikes Back at Ukraine’s Cities After Biggest Moscow Attack of the War

Russia launched 172 drones at Ukrainian cities overnight, killing two in Zaporizhzhia, where apartment blocks burned

Voters at a polling station in Russia during the 2026 State Duma election

United Russia Claims Duma Victory as Fraud Reports Mount

Russia's Duma election closed September 20 with United Russia leading exit polls at 53.5% as fraud

Smoke rising from Kapotnya oil refinery in Moscow after Ukraine drone strike during Russia Duma elections

Ukraine Strikes Moscow Refinery in Largest Drone Attack on Capital as Russia Votes

Ukraine fired more than 1,000 drones at Russia overnight, striking the Gazprom Neft refinery in Kapotnya in what Moscow's mayor called the largest-ever drone attack on the capital — a calculated blow

September 20, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

Voters queue at polling stations during Russia's State Duma election September 2026

Russia Votes on Day Two of Wartime Duma Election as Annexed Territories Cast Ballots for First Time

Russia's three-day parliamentary election enters its second day with a historic first: 3.5 million residents of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia voting in a federal election as citizens of Russia. United Russia

September 19, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·Government and Politics·News

Polling station in Donetsk during Russia State Duma election 2026 annexed territories

Russia Concludes State Duma Vote With Annexed Ukrainian Regions Casting Ballots for the First Time

Russia's State Duma election concluded Sunday with 3.5 million voters in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia casting ballots for the first time since annexation in 2022. Moscow frames it as integration complete;

September 19, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·Government and Politics·News

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announces €3.3 billion disbursement to Ukraine for drones and missiles

EU Disburses €3.3 Billion to Ukraine for Drones and Missiles in Fourth Defence Tranche

The European Commission disbursed €3.3 billion to Ukraine Thursday for drones and missiles, the fourth defence tranche under the €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan. Four payments in four months have consumed nearly

September 18, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

Soyuz-2.1b rocket carrying Progress MS-35 lifts off from Baikonur Cosmodrome on September 16 2026

Russia’s Progress MS-35 Reaches Orbit After Soyuz Defect Forced Seven-Day Delay

Russia's Progress MS-35 lifted off from Baikonur on September 16, ending a seven-day hold after Roscosmos engineers fixed a Soyuz third-stage defect. The spacecraft carries 2.4 metric tons for the ISS including

September 16, 2026

Astronomy·News·Science

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks at the International Youth Festival in Yekaterinburg on BRICS expansion

Russia’s Lavrov Says BRICS Expansion on Track, Backs Bloc’s Global Future

Russian FM Lavrov declared at the Yekaterinburg International Youth Festival that BRICS's sweeping 2024 expansion is settling in ahead of expectations, with India's New Delhi summit delivering on all key global issues

September 16, 2026

Government and Politics·News

Russia and North Korea's first road bridge across the Tumen River opened September 7 2026

Kim Jong Un Calls Russia’s War in Ukraine Sacred in Letter to Putin

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told Vladimir Putin in a letter that Russia's war in Ukraine is a 'sacred war' worth fighting, pledging 'invariable support' for Moscow. The message, timed to

September 15, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·Government and Politics·News

Damaged locomotive at Yahodyn railway station after Russian drone strike near Ukraine-Poland border, September 2026

Russian Drone Hits Yahodyn as Diplomatic Train With Boris Johnson Departs Minutes Early

A Russian drone hit a locomotive at Yahodyn on Sunday, minutes after a train carrying Boris Johnson, Carl Bildt, and EU security advisers cleared the Ukraine-Poland border crossing. Ukraine's state rail operator

September 14, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant exterior view as Rosatom accuses Ukraine of attacking diesel convoy

Rosatom Accuses Ukraine of Nuclear Provocation After Fuel Convoy Attack Near Zaporozhye

Ukraine struck Zaporozhye's emergency diesel convoy on September 11, killing two Russian soldiers near Europe's largest nuclear plant, Rosatom says; IAEA told to condemn Kyiv.

September 13, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a press conference amid Russia Germany diplomatic expulsions

Germany Closes Last Consulate in Russia as Lavrov Invokes World War II

Germany's consulate general in St. Petersburg closes September 18 as Russia and Berlin trade diplomatic expulsions over the Leipzig airport drone incident. Sergei Lavrov has warned the rupture marks 'the beginning of

September 13, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·Government and Politics·News

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Russia Desk

Easing Diesel Export Ban Will Not Affect Russian Consumers, Novak Says

Three European Spy Chiefs Warn Russia Could Test NATO Within Months, Citing Leipzig Airport Drone

Russia Strikes Back at Ukraine’s Cities After Biggest Moscow Attack of the War

United Russia Claims Duma Victory as Fraud Reports Mount

Ukraine Strikes Moscow Refinery in Largest Drone Attack on Capital as Russia Votes

Russia Votes on Day Two of Wartime Duma Election as Annexed Territories Cast Ballots for First Time

Russia Concludes State Duma Vote With Annexed Ukrainian Regions Casting Ballots for the First Time

EU Disburses €3.3 Billion to Ukraine for Drones and Missiles in Fourth Defence Tranche

Russia’s Progress MS-35 Reaches Orbit After Soyuz Defect Forced Seven-Day Delay

Russia’s Lavrov Says BRICS Expansion on Track, Backs Bloc’s Global Future

Kim Jong Un Calls Russia’s War in Ukraine Sacred in Letter to Putin

Russian Drone Hits Yahodyn as Diplomatic Train With Boris Johnson Departs Minutes Early

Rosatom Accuses Ukraine of Nuclear Provocation After Fuel Convoy Attack Near Zaporozhye

Germany Closes Last Consulate in Russia as Lavrov Invokes World War II

Radical Islam is being appreciated by Indian authorities too

Bangladesh; India’s Biggest Ally or China’s Dragon Nest?

Ahmadis in Bangladesh face fresh threat of persecution

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