Dmitry Peskov

President Vladimir Putin on Monday acknowledged for the first time that "radical Islamists" were behind last week's attack on a concert hall outside Moscow, but suggested they were linked to Ukraine somehow.

Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for Russian President Vladimir Putin, officially declared Russia to be in a state of war. This marks a departure from the previous terminology of a "special military operation" (SVO).

The Kremlin said Friday it is in a "state of war" in Ukraine, escalating the official language it uses to describe the conflict, now in its third year.

Russia has presented its offensive on Ukraine as a "special military operation," banned media outlets from using the word "war" and prosecuted anti-offensive campaigners for using the word to describe Russia's military actions.

Russia has issued a stark warning to the European Union, threatening "decades of legal action" if the EU proceeds with plans to utilize proceeds from its frozen assets to support Ukraine.

Russia has replaced the commander-in-chief of its naval forces. The decision comes on the heels of a string of losses suffered by the Black Sea Fleet, according to reports from Telekanal "Дождь".

During a press conference at his campaign headquarters, Russian President Vladimir Putin disclosed that the late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny would have been part of a prisoner exchange with the West. Putin indicated that a deal involving Navalny had been agreed upon before his death, with a crucial condition that Navalny would not return to Russia.

The Kremlin has accused Germany's Bundeswehr of orchestrating plans to strike Russian territory, following the release of a leaked recording purportedly capturing discussions among high-ranking German military officials. The revelation has prompted scrutiny of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's leadership and raised concerns about potential military actions against Russia.

The Kremlin said on Monday that the content of a leaked conversation between German officials about potential strikes on Crimea proved Western countries were participating in the conflict in Ukraine.

In an embarrassing incident for Berlin, which is under pressure to supply missiles to Kiev, a recording of leaked talks was posted on social media on Friday.

Hundreds of mourners gathered near a church in southern Moscow on Friday, braving the prospect of arrests to pay their respects to late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

The ceremony comes two weeks after Navalny died in an Arctic prison. His supporters accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of murdering his top critic.

As French President Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of sending ground troops to Ukraine reverberates across the international stage, leaders from various countries have offered their reactions, painting a complex picture of diplomatic tensions and strategic considerations.