The Russian government has approved new measures to streamline the conscription process, making it easier to draft young men into the Armed Forces, including those who previously evaded service, The Moscow Times reported on Jan. 27.
The reforms, …
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Spies, Lies, and Algorithms
Amy B. Zegart
Ukraine
Russia
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Russia approves conscription reforms to target draft evaders, streamline recruitment
Ukraine
Russia
Protests
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After Lukashenko's latest sham election win, exiled Belarusians reflect on lessons learned from 2020's lost revolution
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko declared himself the winner in the country’s so-called presidential elections, in which zero members of the country’s opposition were allowed to take part.
According to the country’s …
Ukraine
Russia
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Russia introduces history textbook that redefines war against Ukraine as justified defense
Military History of Russia, a new textbook introduced in Moscow on Jan. 27, frames the war in Ukraine as a continuation of the Soviet battle against Nazi Germany, portraying the invasion as a necessary reaction to Western threats, Reuters reported. …
Ukraine
Russia
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EU agrees to ease sanctions on Syria following Assad's fall, chief diplomat says
The European Union’s foreign ministers reached a political agreement on Jan. 27 to ease sanctions on Syria following the collapse of dictator Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
The move comes as opposition forces captured Damascus on Dec. 8 in a …
Ukraine
Russia
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USA
Lithuania, Estonia pledge 5% defense spending, following Trump's call, FT reports
Lithuania and Estonia have become the first NATO members to meet U.S. President Donald Trump’s call to raise defense spending to more than 5% of GDP, Financial Times reported on Jan. 27.
Trump reiterated his demand on Jan. 7, urging NATO allies …
Ukraine
Russia
Protests
Photos
EU suspends visa privileges for Georgian officials over democratic backsliding
The European Union suspended parts of its visa facilitation agreement with Georgia on Jan. 27, citing concerns over the country’s democratic backsliding.
“Fundamental rights and democratic values are core principles of EU integration. …
Ukraine
Photos
Procurement for Ukrainian forces may be blocked due to legal conflict, Defense Procurement Agency's head says
The acquisition of ammunition through the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) may be blocked due to a legal conflict, Maryna Bezrukova, the head of the agency, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
On Jan. 23, the DPA’s supervisory board …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
USA
Trump needs to 'understand where the threat is,' UK lawmaker says
U.S. President Donald Trump needs to “understand where the threat is” and not “force Ukraine into a bad deal,” U.K. lawmaker Iain Duncan Smith told the Kyiv Independent.
In an interview in Kyiv alongside another U.K. lawmaker …
Russia
Protests
Photos
Kremlin backs Lukashenko's 'victory' in Belarus election, dismisses Western criticism
The Kremlin on Jan. 27 welcomed Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko’s claimed election victory, dismissing Western criticism of the vote as “expected."
Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994 and is Russian President …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
EU to continue talks with Ukraine on gas supplies to Europe, including Hungary, Slovakia, Reuters reports
The European Commission will continue negotiations with Ukraine on gas supplies to Europe, including Hungary and Slovakia, according to an EU diplomat’s statement obtained by Reuters on Jan. 27.
Ukraine ended Russian gas supplies to Europe on …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
Russia intensifies attacks near Pokrovsk, seeks to encircle Ukrainian forces
Russian forces have intensified their assaults near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, deploying small groups in an attempt to encircle Ukrainian troops, Victor Trehubov, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Khortytsia group of forces, said on Jan. 27 on …
Ukraine
Russia
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EU screening of Ukraine’s legislation to continue until fall of 2025
The bilateral screening process of Ukrainian legislation for compliance with EU standards will continue until the fall of 2025, European Pravda reported on Jan. 27, citing the European Commission’s spokesperson.
Ukraine applied for EU membership …
Ukraine
Russia
Photos
Mural depicting top presidential aide Yermak appears in Kyiv, is painted over soon after
A mural depicting Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak was covered with white paint within a day after a picture of it emerged online, the Glavcom media outlet reported on Jan. 27.
The mural was painted on the bank of the Dnipro River in Kyiv by an …
Ukraine
Russia
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USA
Shadowing Russian hybrid warfare ships in the Baltic Sea
Editor’s Note: Foreign correspondence is probably the most expensive type of journalism out there – to say nothing of the risks, the stresses and the danger.
As you consider who to support for your news in this critical point in history, we hope …
