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

Azerbaijan government in Baku after summoning Belgian and Dutch ambassadors over EU resolutions

Azerbaijan Summons Belgian, Dutch Ambassadors Over Resolutions Criticizing Baku

BAKU (SPUTNIK) — Azerbaijan escalated its diplomatic standoff with Europe on Monday, summoning the ambassadors of Belgium and the Netherlands in a forceful response to parliamentary resolutions that Baku says are grounded

April 20, 2026

News

Smoke rises over Tehran after US and Israeli airstrikes during Iran war

US–Israeli Attacks Trigger Regional War, Retaliation and Global Oil Fears

The war that now grips much of the Middle East began in the early hours of February 28, when the United States and Israel launched a coordinated wave of airstrikes across Iran,

April 20, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

Russian security forces arrest German woman in alleged Ukraine-linked bomb plot

Moscow Exposes Brutal Ukraine-Linked Bomb Plot Using Foreign Recruit

Moscow — In a development that underscores the increasingly shadowy nature of the Russia Ukraine War, Russian authorities on Monday claimed to have thwarted a bomb plot allegedly orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence,

April 20, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War

Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant after repeated power line disruptions during Russia Ukraine War

Repeated Nuclear Power Failures Force Moscow and Kiev Into Tactical Ceasefire at Zaporizhzhia

The latest effort by Russia and Ukraine to negotiate a localized ceasefire around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant reflects a recurring pattern driven not by diplomacy, but by repeated failures in critical

April 18, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

Iranian control over Strait of Hormuz with civilian vessels and oil tankers under IRGC monitoring

Iran Allows Civilian Vessels Through Strait of Hormuz Under Strict Military Coordination

(Sputnik) — Iran has begun allowing civilian vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz under tightly controlled conditions, requiring ships to follow designated routes and coordinate directly with Iranian military authorities, even

April 17, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron discuss Strait of Hormuz security initiative

Russia Rejects UK-France Strait of Hormuz Initiative, Calls It ‘Self-Serving’

Russia has sharply rejected a British-French initiative to secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, with senior officials in Moscow warning that the proposal reflects national interests rather than a genuine effort

April 17, 2026

News

Russia Ukraine war showing Patriot missile system as Europe expands military support to Kyiv

US Pullback, Europe’s Arms Surge and IMF Loans Reshape the Conflict’s Economic Backbone

WASHINGTON — The Russia Ukraine war is entering a decisive phase marked not only by shifting battle lines but by a deepening financial and military entrenchment of Western powers, raising fresh questions about

April 15, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

Russia Ukraine war destruction after Easter truce collapse and drone strikes escalation

Boris Johnson Documentary on Ukraine Frontline Faces Scrutiny, Easter Truce Collapse Reignites Fighting

The brief calm that descended over parts of eastern Ukraine during the Easter truce lasted barely long enough to be noticed. Within hours of the truce’s expiration, artillery fire, drone activity, and

April 13, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

Vladimir Putin announces Easter ceasefire in Ukraine during Kremlin meeting

Putin Declares Easter Truce in Ukraine War, Kremlin Urges Kyiv to Follow

MOSCOW (SPUTNIK) — President Vladimir Putin on Thursday ordered a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine to coincide with the Orthodox Easter holiday, directing Russian forces to halt hostilities for roughly 32 hours beginning

April 10, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News

Russia accuses Japan of acting as Western proxy in Ukraine drone war escalation

Moscow Summons Japanese Ambassador Over Kyiv Drone Deal, Calls Move ‘Openly Hostile’

This latest flashpoint in the Russia Ukraine War highlights how global alliances are increasingly shaping the battlefield beyond Eastern Europe. Moscow sharply escalated its rhetoric against Tokyo on Wednesday, summoning Japan’s ambassador

April 8, 2026

Conflicts, Military and War·News