Advertisement
Advertisement
World /

Russia & Central Asia

Related Topics:
Russia's alleged election meddling
Ukraine
Russia
Vladimir Putin
Espionage
Russian honour guards adjust their uniforms in a mirror at the Kremlin. The UK has sanctioned 85 individuals and entities accused of Kremlin-funded 'information warfare'. Photo: AFP
Britain

UK targets Russian ‘information warfare’ with new sanctions

Sanctions package hits 85 people and entities, two-thirds of them related to alleged Russian propaganda operations.

Ukraine war

Ukraine and Russia trade blame for breaking US-brokered ceasefire

videocam
Ukraine war

Putin says he thinks Ukraine conflict is coming to an end

videocam
9
Russia

Putin criticises Nato at Victory Day parade in Moscow

At this year’s event, marking WWII victory, troops were told that in Ukraine they face ‘an aggressive force’ armed by the military alliance.

videocam
6
Russian service members take part in a military parade in Moscow on Saturday on Victory Day, marking the 81st anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany. Photo: Reuters
Russian service members take part in a military parade in Moscow on Saturday on Victory Day, marking the 81st anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany. Photo: Reuters
Ukraine war

Russia and Ukraine trade attacks ahead of Moscow war parade

Russia has threatened a massive strike on the heart of Kyiv if Ukraine disrupts the Victory Day parade on Saturday.

Ukraine war

Russia urges foreigners to leave Ukraine capital over Victory Day threat

Moscow says it will respond to any attempt by Ukraine to disrupt Saturday’s commemorations.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Malaysia

Well-oiled diplomacy: Malaysian king visits Moscow as Anwar eyes Russian energy

Though Sultan Ibrahim’s visit is officially ceremonial, its timing coincides with the energy squeeze plaguing Malaysia and much of Asia.

videocam
Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim meets Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on August 6, 2025. Photo: Reuters
Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim meets Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on August 6, 2025. Photo: Reuters
Ukraine war

Russian attacks kill 27 in Ukraine before proposed rival ceasefires

Zelensky slams Russia’s ‘utter cynicism’ as strikes shatter ceasefire hopes and underscore war’s deepening impasse.

Ukraine war

Putin and Zelensky announce rival ceasefires ahead of Russia’s Victory Day

Moscow threatens ‘massive’ strike on Kyiv if May 9 parade is disrupted, as Ukraine plans own truce starting Tuesday night.

Diplomacy

Strait of Hormuz woes, US-Nato ‘crisis’: 7 global relations reads

From a possible Trump-Iran joint venture to Russia-China talks, here are highlights from the SCMP’s overseas correspondents in April 2026.

An Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy speedboat approaches the cargo ship Epaminondas during what state media described as the seizure of one of two vessels accused of violations in the Strait of Hormuz on April 21. Photo: Tasnim News Agency via AP
Ukraine war

Drone hits upscale Moscow tower as city readies for Red Square parade

Tower just kilometres from the Kremlin hit after Russia scales back May 9 parade over security concerns.

The damaged facade of the high-rise Moscow building following the drone attack. Photo: Reuters
The damaged facade of the high-rise Moscow building following the drone attack. Photo: Reuters
Ukraine war

Russia’s inching advance in Ukraine approaches eastern fortress belt

Kostiantynivka, along with other cities in eastern Ukraine, forms part of a so-called fortress belt well-fortified against Russian attack.

videocam
US, Israel war on Iran

Trump hails ‘very good’ Putin call as Iran talks stall and Ukraine war drags on

US president says Russian leader offered help on Iran’s enriched uranium and discussed a Victory Day ceasefire in Ukraine.

Russia

Russia to hold equipment-free Red Square parade as Ukraine war grinds on

Moscow will exclude military equipment from its May 9 celebrations, citing ‘Ukrainian terrorist activity’.

Russian servicemen at last year’s Victory Day military parade. Photo: EPA
Ukraine war

Trump’s Ukraine envoy stepping down amid stalled peace talks with Russia

The State Department denied a report that Julie Davis’ departure was out of frustration and differences with the US president.

Julie Davis, US charge d’affaires ad interim to Ukraine, attends a session of Ukrainian parliament in Kyiv in May 2025. Photo: Reuters
Julie Davis, US charge d’affaires ad interim to Ukraine, attends a session of Ukrainian parliament in Kyiv in May 2025. Photo: Reuters
Ukraine war

Deadly record: Ukraine shoots down 33,000 Russian drones in 1 month

The figure, for March, is the highest monthly number of intercepted drones since Moscow began its attack on its neighbour in February 2022.

videocam
Ukraine war

‘Serious incident’: drone attack on Russian oil refinery causes major fire

The blaze at the Black Sea Tuapse site, where operations were already halted due to a previous attack, led to the evacuation of some streets.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
North Korea

North Korea’s Kim renews pledge to support Russia at memorial for fallen troops

More than 6,000 North Korean soldiers are estimated to have died while fighting Ukrainians in Russia’s Kursk region.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ((right) greets Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov with a hug in Pyongyang on Sunday. Photo: Russian Defence Ministry/EPA
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ((right) greets Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov with a hug in Pyongyang on Sunday. Photo: Russian Defence Ministry/EPA
Ukraine war

Strikes in Ukraine and Russia kill at least 16 on Chernobyl disaster anniversary

Ukraine’s Zelensky marks 40th anniversary with a warning that Russian attacks risk repeating history.

European Union

Ukrainians gather to remember Chernobyl disaster despite Russia’s war

The 1986 disaster shone a spotlight on lax safety standards and government secrecy in what was then the Soviet Union.

videocam
United States

Taliban, Congo? Afghans stuck in Qatar who helped US war face more stress

After reports the US could send 1,100 Afghans who assisted the US to the DRC, the Taliban urged them to instead head back to their homeland.

videocam
A woman carries a child as they arrive in Qatar with other evacuees from Afghanistan in 2021, following the US withdrawal. Photo: AFP
Ukraine war

At least 6 die in Ukraine, over 30 wounded, in massive Russian attack

Moscow launched 619 drones and 47 missiles overnight, said Kyiv, with explosions in several cities.

videocam
Rescue workers clear the rubble of a residential building destroyed by a fatal Russian strike in Dnipro, Ukraine, on Saturday. Photo: AP
Rescue workers clear the rubble of a residential building destroyed by a fatal Russian strike in Dnipro, Ukraine, on Saturday. Photo: AP
US, Israel war on Iran

Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt: the Middle East’s new power brokers?

‘Fear of US abandonment’ is helping forge a new Middle East – but don’t expect an Islamic Nato just yet.

Russia

Russia says US using coups, kidnappings to ‘defend its well-being’ at any cost

‘The United States has officially declared that no one can dictate to it,’ Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says.

videocam
6
Russia

Russia arrests German woman over bomb plot it says is linked to Ukraine

There have been arrests of Western citizens by Russia amid the Ukraine war, typically on espionage charges that are widely seen as baseless.

videocam
The Kremlin’s Spasskaya tower and St. Basil’s cathedral in downtown Moscow. Russia says it has arrested a German woman over a planned “terrorist attack” linked to Ukraine. Photo: AFP
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW