Vladimir Putin

What is it like to live in constant fear of attack or imprisonment by the Russian state? The very harsh reality is described to Kathimerini by the creator of the Russian feminist protest art collective Pussy Riot, Nadya Tolokonnikova.

The tension between Russia and NATO has escalated to a level of "direct confrontation," according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. He pointed out that the US-led alliance's involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, coupled with its continued expansion toward Russia's borders, has exacerbated the situation.

Russian air attacks killed six people in northeast Ukraine on Thursday, authorities said, as President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of cynically targeting civilians.

Russian forces have stepped up their aerial bombardment of Ukraine in recent weeks, resulting in power cuts for thousands of people as the country's electricity grid is targeted.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a bill reducing the age for military mobilization by two years, bringing it down from 27 to 25. The move, which came into effect on Wednesday, aims to increase the number of troops available to Ukraine as it faces dire conditions in the war against Russia.

Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) is reportedly planning the destruction of the Crimean bridge within the next three months. The bridge, which connects Russia to the occupied Crimean peninsula, has long been a contentious symbol of Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has reported a significant increase in the number of individuals expressing willingness to join the war in Ukraine, citing the recent attack on Crocus City Hall in the Moscow region as a primary motivator.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has pledged more forceful retaliation against Russian attacks, following a recent escalation of hostilities in the ongoing war between the two nations. The promise comes in the wake of Russian airstrikes targeting the Ukrainian city of Sumy, resulting in damage to civil infrastructure, according to reports from the regional administration.

The Netherlands, in collaboration with key international partners, is spearheading a conference in The Hague aimed at addressing the war crimes perpetrated by Russia in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia has no intention of attacking NATO countries such as Poland, the Baltic states, or the Czech Republic. However, he issued a stark warning that Russian forces would shoot down any F-16 fighter jets provided to Ukraine by Western powers.

During a rally in North Carolina, US President Joe Biden condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "butcher," asserting that the United States has the capacity to shield Ukraine from Russian aggression.