Russia

US envoy Steve Witkoff arrives in St Petersburg to meet Putin after constructive talks with Zelensky

Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s special envoy, landed in St Petersburg to discuss the Ukraine conflict with President Vladimir Putin following a positive meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo. The talks aim to open a pathway for further diplomatic engagement.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

LAS News Desk · 21 Oct 2026, 09:45 WAT · 8 sources

Ukraine drone strike sets Saint Petersburg refinery ablaze, kills one

A large‑scale Ukrainian drone attack on Saint Petersburg on 18 October 2026 caused fires at an oil refinery and depot, killing one person and hospitalising five. The strike, part of a broader conflict, follows accusations of breaches of an energy cease‑fire.

LAS News Desk · 19 Oct 2026, 23:46 WAT · 3 sources

Ukraine refutes Russian claim of capturing 1,800 sq km and 100 settlements since September

Ukraine’s military spokesperson dismissed Russia’s assertion that its forces had taken over 1,800 square kilometres and nearly a hundred settlements, including Dobropillia, saying Ukrainian troops have actually liberated more ground since early autumn.

LAS News Desk · 18 Oct 2026, 05:15 WAT · 3 sources

Trump signs order waiving Russia sanctions, easing pressure on Moscow

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on 17 October 2026 that temporarily waives sanctions and tariffs on Russian energy, a move that marks a significant shift in U.S. policy towards Russia and a decline in support for Ukraine.

Photo: The White House / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

LAS News Desk · 17 Oct 2026, 16:16 WAT · 7 sources

IMF chair notes global resilience amid Russian‑Ukraine dispute walkout

At the IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok, chair Mohammed Al‑Jadaan said the global economy remains resilient but warned against complacency, while about half of delegates walked out in protest of Russia’s finance minister’s remarks on the Ukraine war.

LAS News Desk · 17 Oct 2026, 13:15 WAT · 2 sources

Ukraine lifts US‑backed pause on Russian oil refinery attacks, sparking Trump criticism

Ukraine announced it will restart strikes on Russian oil refineries after a three‑day halt requested by the United States, prompting President Donald Trump to denounce the move as a disgrace amid rising fuel prices and upcoming US midterm elections.

LAS News Desk · 17 Oct 2026, 00:15 WAT · 8 sources

Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv leave casualties and widespread power cuts

Russian strikes on Kyiv on 14 October 2026 killed at least three people and injured around twenty, while more than 600,000 residents across Ukraine were cut off from electricity as energy facilities were hit.

LAS News Desk · 14 Oct 2026, 09:36 WAT · 3 sources

Japanese reporter detained in Russia on espionage accusations amid Kuril dispute

A Hokkaido Shimbun journalist, Yuki Imai, was arrested in Sakhalin on charges of gathering defence information for Japan, with Russian authorities planning a trial later this year, while diplomatic tensions over the Kuril Islands continue to rise.

LAS News Desk · 14 Oct 2026, 05:30 WAT · 2 sources

UK intelligence confirms Russian meddling in Brexit vote but finds little effect

MI5 director-general Ken McCallum said Moscow attempted to influence the 2016 EU referendum through state media and social‑media trolls, but assessments indicate the campaign did not alter the outcome, a view echoed by the prime minister and opposition figures.

LAS News Desk · 14 Oct 2026, 04:12 WAT · 4 sources