TheNewsGuru

Tag: Russia

  • Just in: Helicopter conveying 22 tourists vanishes in Russia

    Just in: Helicopter conveying 22 tourists vanishes in Russia

    A search-and-rescue operation has been launched in Russia’s far-east following the disappearance of a helicopter with 22 people on board, most of them tourists.

    The Mi-8T helicopter took off from a base near the Vachkazhets volcano in the Kamchatka peninsula, the emergencies ministry said on Saturday.

    That area of the peninsula is a popular tourist destination, famous for its rich landscapes and active volcanoes.

    Officials say the helicopter disappeared from radar shortly after take off, adding that thick fog is hampering rescuers’ efforts.

    The helicopter, owned by Vityaz-Aero, was carrying out a trip to the volcano. Designed during the Soviet-era, the Mi-8 helicopter remains popular and widely used in Russia.

    It disappeared from radar and crew members failed to make contact from around 16:15 (04:15 GMT), the governor of Kamchatka said. An emergencies ministry source told the state-owned news agency Tass that the crew did not report any difficulties before the disappearance.

    Vladimir Solodov said it had 19 passengers and three crew members on board.

    The aerial search continuing into the night but there was poor visibility.

    Others have joined the search on foot, along the Bystraya River valley, along which the helicopter was supposed to move.

    The mountainous Kamchatka peninsula – more than 6,000 km (3,730 miles) east of Moscow – is popular among tourists.

    But there have been several air crashes over the years – two in just two months in 2021 alone.

  • Over 120,000 people evacuated as fighting escalate in Russian, Ukraine border region

    Over 120,000 people evacuated as fighting escalate in Russian, Ukraine border region

    Russian authorities have ordered the evacuation of another district in the Kursk region, partly controlled by Ukrainian troops, according to Governor Alexey Smirnov. Residents of the Glushkovsky district are being relocated for safety, he announced late on Wednesday.

     

    The Glushkovsky district, located about 10 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, had over 17,500 registered inhabitants before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

     

    Earlier in the day, Smirnov reported an air raid alert in the Kursk area due to the threat of missile attacks from Ukraine. He urged residents to follow the recommendations of security forces and local authorities.

     

    The Glushkovsky district is approximately 150 kilometers from the regional capital, Kursk. Smirnov advised people in other regions with air alerts to seek safety in shelters or rooms without windows. Over 120,000

  • Protests: Poland appeals to Nigeria to release seven nationals arrested for waiving Russian flag

    Protests: Poland appeals to Nigeria to release seven nationals arrested for waiving Russian flag

    The government of Poland has appealed to Nigeria for the release of the seven Polish who were arrested in Kano for allegedly  raising the Russian flag during the recent hunger protest in that city.

    Jakub Wisniewski, the deputy foreign minister met with Nigeria´s charge d´affaires in Warsaw where he made a case for the release of the arrested persons – a lecturer and six students.

    They had come from Warsaw University to take part in a Hausa language programme.

    “During the meeting, I conveyed that I was convinced that the students´ behavior could have resulted from their ignorance of local customs, culture and laws.

    “I appealed for the possibility of their return to Poland, to their homes, where their families are waiting for them,” Wisniewski said.

    But Wisniewski refused to believe that the students carried Russian flags apparently because of rare pro-Russian sentiment in his country.

    The Central European country has bad memories of suffering under Russian rule in the past and the citizens are deeply critical of what they see as Russian aggression in Ukraine.

    According to Wisniewski  the seven Poles were taken to Abuja and are safe.

    Poland´s consul was scheduled to meet with them yesterday afternoon.

    However, the Department of State Services (DSS) announced on Wednesday that the seven polish arrested were undergoing interrogation.

    The Federal Government warned against foreign interference in the protests, saying “appropriate action” would be meted out to any “foreign entity residing in Nigeria” that directly or indirectly played a role in the demonstrations.

    Six Spaniards were also arrested for their alleged involvement in the protests.

    Spokesman for the DSS, Dr. Peter Afunanya, said of the arrested Poles and others: “For the persons we have picked up from Kano because of where they were found during the protest and display of the foreign flag, that was two days ago.

    “As a responsible security organisation, we owe it an obligation to do some verification and ascertain basic reasons and circumstances for some cases.

    “They were picked as a result of security enforcement because of where they were when the incident happened.

    It is not a targeted operation on behalf of the DSS and Nigeria.

    “But we have a plea. In the cause of the discharge of our duty, we will also see that some Nigerians definitely would want to use foreign lands as a launch pad to attack domestic peace and stability.

    “We plead that you do not offer your country to some persons who may be deviant or have a terrorist inclination.

    “Nigeria is a country with a large population and I believe that the support other countries will give will help us.”

    He said that the arrests were not a targeted attempt on Polish nationals.

    Afunanya warned that the government would not spare anyone found guilty of funding the protests.

    Also speaking during a diplomatic corps briefing, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar stressed the value the government placed on the “cordial relationships it has with many foreign nations,” but said Nigeria would not fold its hands and watch foreign entities meddle in its internal affairs.

    He said: “The government would take appropriate action against any foreign entity residing in Nigeria that is found to have directly or indirectly supported the protesters by whatever means or seeks to interfere in the internal affairs of the country.

    We are always ready for further protests, say Police.

    The Police said yesterday that they were ready to forestall any breakdown of law and order following reports that the organisers of the cost of living protests were mobilising for the ‘grand finale’ today.

    Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the police would not be taken unaware, adding that the conduct of the protesters would be handled professionally nationwide.

    Adejobi said: “We are always ready for any eventuality. We are not taking anything for granted. The situation will be handled professionally.”

    On those arrested during the protests, Adejobi said they would  be charged to court.

  • Diplomatic tension rises as Ukraine demands Putin’s arrest in Mexico

    Diplomatic tension rises as Ukraine demands Putin’s arrest in Mexico

    The Ukrainian embassy in Mexico requested on Wednesday that the Mexican government arrest Russian leader Vladimir Putin if he attends the inauguration of president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, to which he has been invited.

     

    Kyiv’s delegation, referring to Putin as a “war criminal,” expressed gratitude to Mexico for also inviting Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to the ceremony on October 1.

     

    “We are confident that the Mexican government would comply with the international arrest warrant by handing over the aforementioned (Putin) to the United Nations judicial body in The Hague,” the Ukrainian embassy stated.

     

    In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Putin on charges of war crimes related to the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia following Moscow’s invasion in early 2022.

     

    Juan Ramon de la Fuente, who is expected to be Sheinbaum’s foreign minister, said it is “standard protocol” to invite the leaders of all countries with which Mexico has diplomatic relations to the inauguration, including both Russia and Ukraine.

     

    Sheinbaum, set to become Mexico’s first female president, achieved a historic victory in the general election on June 2 and will start her six-year term in October.

     

    Putin and Zelensky were among the world leaders who congratulated her on her victory.

  • Russia reacts to use of its flag by Nigerian protesters

    Russia reacts to use of its flag by Nigerian protesters

    The Russian Embassy in Nigeria has denied any involvement with a group of protesters in northern Nigeria who were seen waving Russian flags.

    Protesters in some parts of the country were seen marching on the streets, waving Russian flags and chanting slogans, while others held placards with various messages.

    The Embassy in a statement, said that Russia does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, including Nigeria.

    “The Embassy has noted the reports in Nigerian media and the circulation of videos and images in digital media depicting protesters in northern states of the country carrying Russian flags and chanting slogans to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

    “The Government of the Russian Federation as well as any Russian officials are not involved in these activities and do not coordinate them in any way.

    “As always, we emphasize that Russia does not interfere in the domestic affairs of foreign states, including Nigeria. These intentions of some protesters to wave Russian flags are personal choices of individuals, and they do not reflect any official position or policy of the Russian Government in the issue.

    “We respect Nigerian democracy and believe that peaceful demonstrations in conformity with the Nigerian law are a manifestation of democracy. However, should these events lead to any disruptions or acts of violence we strictly condemn them.”

     

  • Protest: Tailor sewing Russian flag for protesters arrested in Kano

    Protest: Tailor sewing Russian flag for protesters arrested in Kano

     

    A Kano based  tailor accused of manufacturing flags resembling those of Russia for protesters in Kano has been apprehended,

    His arrest was made known by a social media user, @FS Yusuf, who shared images of the arrest.

    This development comes after demonstrators in Kano were seen carrying Russian flags during a protest, urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to intervene in their situation.

    The protesters expressed frustration that their concerns were being neglected by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.”

    Consequently, as a result of the violence that erupted in neighbouring Kaduna during the hunger protest on Monday  the state government has  imposed 24 hours curfew in the state.

     

  • War: Russia attack Ukraine capital, Kyiv

    War: Russia attack Ukraine capital, Kyiv

    Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyiv’s military administration, has urged residents of Ukraine’s capital to remain indoors following multiple missile attacks by the Russian military.

    According to The Guardian, UK, Ukraine’s air defense systems are actively working to repel the Russian assault on Kyiv and other parts of the country.

     

    The Ukrainian military announced on Sunday that it has activated its defense systems. “Air defense systems are being activated on the approaches to Kyiv,” Popko stated on Telegram. He also advised residents to “stay in shelters until the air raid alarms are lifted.”

    Russia and Ukraine have been at War since February 2022.

  • UN Human Rights Office condemns Russia’s attack on children’s hospital in Kiev

    UN Human Rights Office condemns Russia’s attack on children’s hospital in Kiev

    The UN Human Rights Office has found out that the children’s hospital destroyed in Kiev was hit directly by a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile.

    This was revealed by the head of the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine ,Danielle Bell on Tuesday morning.

    According to her, specialists have reached this conclusion after analysing video footage and directly examining damage on site.

    She called it “one of most egregious attacks we have seen since the onset of the invasion”.

    Staff brought young patients to safety in the bunker shortly before the attack on Monday, she said. Otherwise, the number of victims would have been significantly higher.

    She said two people died in the attack.

    All 600 of the hospital’s young patients had been transferred to other health facilities.

    The hospital, where many children with cancer and other serious illnesses were treated, was badly damaged and could no longer be used without extensive repairs, she said.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) office in Kiev showed the situation on the ground on X.

    It has counted almost 1,900 attacks on hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, ambulances and similar targets since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

    According to universally applicable international humanitarian law, such healthcare facilities may not be attacked, the International Committee of the Red Cross has often said on X.

  • Russian court sentences U.S. soldier to jail

    Russian court sentences U.S. soldier to jail

    A U.S. soldier detained in Russia in early May has been sentenced to three years and nine months in prison by a court in Vladivostok for theft and death threats.

    According to local media reports on Wednesday, the court found that the man had stolen 10,000 rubles (120 U.S. dollars) from his girlfriend and threatened her.

    The defence had demanded an acquittal.

    The court’s sentence fell short of the four years and eight months in prison sought by the prosecution.

    The U.S. soldier had been detained in Pacific port city of Vladivostok.

    According to the U.S. Army, the soldier had completed his service in South Korea on April 10.

    Instead of returning to the mainland United States, he travelled to Vladivostok via China “for personal reasons.”

    The soldier had not sought official permission for his trip from the Department of Defense, the U.S. authorities said.

    He had joined the army in 2008 and had served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

    Local media reported that the man had wanted to visit a woman in Russia with whom he allegedly had a romantic relationship.

    During an argument, he reportedly grabbed his girlfriend by the throat, which she perceived as life-threatening.

    He also stole money from her, the report said.

    The detention of U.S. citizens in Russia often leads to complicated negotiations between Moscow and Washington over a release or exchange.

    According to the Kremlin, negotiations are ongoing regarding the detained Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich.

    His trial is set to begin on June 26 behind closed doors.

    Since late 2018, former U.S. soldier Paul Whelan has also been held in Russian custody after being convicted of espionage.

  • BREAKING: Pilots feared killed as Russian military jet crashes

    BREAKING: Pilots feared killed as Russian military jet crashes

    The Russian Defence Ministry on Tuesday announced that its Su-34 supersonic bomber has crashed, killing the two pilots.

    The incident happened when the jet was flying a routine training mission at the country’s mountainous North Ossetia-Alania region, RT reports.

    Preliminary assessment suggests that the aircraft had suffered a technical failure, the MOD said, as quoted by the TASS news agency.

    North Ossetia is located in the North Caucasus, bordering South Ossetia and Georgia from the south.

    The twin-seat plane is capable of striking ground targets with high-precision bombs and missiles. Russian Su-34s have flown multiple combat missions in Syria and Ukraine.

    The incident occurred two months after a Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber crashed in southern Russia when returning from a raid in Ukraine, killing two of its four crew members.

    In October 2022, a Russian Su-34 suffered an engine failure and crashed into an apartment block in the southern city of Yeysk, killing 16 people. Both pilots survived.