Russia & Caucasus

Smoke and flames rise over during the shelling near Kyiv, as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 26. 
Ukraine war

Russia troops attack Kyiv army base but repelled: Ukraine military

Soldiers trying to capture one of the city's power stations -- report

26 February 2022
A thermal power plant in eastern Ukraine after being shelled. The violence has led multinationals to suspend operations in the interest of worker safety.
Ukraine war

Suzuki, Japan Tobacco caught up in Ukraine's economic shutdown

Carlsberg close plants while Lufthansa suspends flights as multinationals scramble

26 February 2022
Servicemen of the Ukrainian National Guard take positions in central Kyiv.
Ukraine war

Russian forces close in on Kyiv; Putin ready to negotiate

Ukraine says it shot down cruise missiles in capital's airspace

26 February 2022
Smoke rises from an air defense base in the aftermath of an apparent Russian strike in Mariupol, Ukraine, on Feb. 24: efforts will also be needed to deter similar actions by China.
Opinion

China remains the primary threat to U.S. hegemony

Western alliance should expand strategic support to Taiwan

26 February 2022
St. Basil's Cathedral, left, and the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin, as seen through a gate in central Moscow.
Ukraine war

New sanctions bite Russia but stop short of 'nuclear' option SWIFT ban

80% of assets in banking sector targeted by Western and Japanese restrictions

26 February 2022
Japan has already agreed to send hundreds of thousands of tons of LNG to Europe.
Ukraine war

EU seeks extra LNG from Japan, hedging against Russia cutoff

Emergency supplies to come on top of March commitments amid Ukraine conflict

26 February 2022
Speaking in Vietnam, former U.S. secretary of state John Kerry says Russian President Vladimir Putin made a "disgusting" choice to bully Ukraine. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Ukraine war

Ex-top U.S. diplomat Kerry calls Ukraine invasion 'grotesque'

Vietnam War veteran and climate envoy blasts Russia's Putin and coal power

25 February 2022
Damages to runways and airport facilities are seen on this photo of military airfield in Mykolaiv. (Satellite image by Planet Labs, processed by Nikkei)
Ukraine war

Satellite images reveal how Russia's Ukraine invasion unfolded

Strategic targets including aircraft, runways and oil storage depots damaged

25 February 2022
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying criticized Western media for describing Russia's push into Ukraine as an invasion.
Ukraine war

Beijing says little as West blasts Ukraine invasion

China's social media lights up with messages supporting Russian leader Putin

25 February 2022
Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, speaks during a press conference in Tokyo on Feb. 25. (Screenshot from FCCJ You Tube)
Ukraine war

U.S. envoy to Japan warns of global contagion from Ukraine war

Rahm Emanuel says lack of coordinated response can threaten peace in Indo-Pacific

25 February 2022
The gas receiving station of the Nord Stream 2 near Lubmin, Germany, pictured on Jan 7: the new pipeline may stand empty.
Opinion

Vital energy revenues are the chink in Putin's armor

Ukraine conflict will have severe repercussions for Moscow

25 February 2022
ASEAN is caught between Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Opinions within the block vary, but the conflict's effects will be felt by all. (Source photos by AP)
Ukraine war

ASEAN faces fallout from Russian invasion of Ukraine

Conflict to increase food prices, experts warn; responses from bloc members vary

25 February 2022
Vladimir Putin. Pro-Russia users found plenty of space on Weibo to voice their support for the Russian president.
Ukraine war

China's netizens split on Ukraine war as crude joke sparks anger

Crack about 'sheltering' young refugees condemned; others hail Putin's boldness

25 February 2022
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a news conference at the prime minister's official residence on Feb. 25.
Ukraine war

Japan to impose sanctions on Russia and restrict chip exports

Ukraine invasion raises concerns over 'not only Europe but also Asia'

25 February 2022
U.S. President Joe Biden says "Putin chose this war, and now he and his country will bear the consequences."
Ukraine war

Biden unveils new Russia sanctions, keeps quiet on China's role

U.S. targets two largest banks to make Moscow 'bear the consequences'

25 February 2022
In a phone call, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin for a halt to the violence in Ukraine.
Ukraine war

Modi urges Putin to immediately end violence in Ukraine

Phone call comes as India seeks to evacuate thousands of its citizens

25 February 2022
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson records an address at Downing Street after he chaired an emergency Cobra meeting to discuss the U.K. response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine of Feb. 24.
Ukraine war

G-7 leaders condemn Ukraine invasion and announce Russia sanctions

U.K.'s Boris Johnson unveils financial and export measures targeting Moscow

25 February 2022
A video posted by a pro-Russian militia via the Telegram messaging app purportedly shows a man being rescued after losing part of his leg to Ukrainian shelling. (Screen capture of video)
Ukraine war

Video of Ukraine shelling victim likely faked by pro-Russia militia: analysis

Unedited version suggests man's leg had already been amputated

25 February 2022
People waited to board planes at Boryspil International Airport in Ukraine after Russia launched military operations in the country. 
Ukraine war

Hitachi prepares Ukraine evacuation of 7,200 employees

Russian attack forces Japanese companies to secure safety of workers

25 February 2022
Vladimir Putin, pictured in Moscow on Feb. 23: the Russian President's biggest fear is not so much an expansion of the NATO alliance to Ukraine but democracy on his doorstep.
Opinion

Vladimir Putin stakes it all on Ukraine

Russian leader driven by his belief in the narrative of Western decline

25 February 2022
A military vehicle on the outskirts of the city of Donetsk on Feb. 23.
Ukraine war

Major Twitter accounts reporting on Ukraine blocked

Social media company blames 'human error' but others suspect Russian involvement

24 February 2022
U.S. President Joe Biden said Thursday that the world will hold Russia accountable for an "unprovoked and unjustified" attack on Ukraine, after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a military operation in the country.  (Nikkei montage/Maxim Guchek/BelTA/Reuters)
Ukraine war

Markets sink as U.S., Asia allies blast Russia invasion of Ukraine

Stock markets tumble, while oil hits $100; China says it isn't an 'invasion'

24 February 2022
Vladimir Putin speaks about authorizing a special military operation in Ukraine's Donbass region during a special televised address on Feb. 24: it is possible to see the Ukraine crisis creating an uptick in U.S.-China relations.
Opinion

Ukraine conflict will have a significant impact on Asia

Look for the crisis to consolidate alignment among Asia's democracies

24 February 2022
The Moscow International Business Center. Most Russian businesses will see little impact from the initial round of U.S. sanctions.
Ukraine war

First U.S. sanctions take narrow aim at Russian finance

Nord Stream 2 operator also targeted, but energy sector mostly spared for now

24 February 2022
Bellingcat thinks the vehicle in the video is a BTR-70M armored troop carrier. Ukraine's military does not operate the BTR-70M. (Screen capture from video)
Ukraine war

Videos of Ukrainian 'attacks' could be pro-Russia fake news: analysis

Metadata and details in footage hint at false flag operation

23 February 2022