INSIDE RUSSIA
Russian asset freeze has backfired against the West
The freezing of Russian assets has ultimately hurt the West, a senior aide to President Putin has said
The freezing of Russia’s sovereign assets by the Western countries which have rolled out sanctions against the country has undermined trust in global financial systems, according to Maksim Oreshkin, deputy head of President Vladimir Putin’s administration.
Since the start of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, the US and EU have frozen more than $300 billion in Russian state assets. In May, the EU approved a plan to channel profits from those assets to support Ukraine, while some member states have pushed for outright confiscation.
In an interview which aired Sunday on Rossiya-1, Oreshkin argued that the move has backfired. “This whole situation is a major blow to the Western financial system and Western countries,” he said. “This isn’t something that might happen – it already has. The damage is done.”
Putin echoed this sentiment during a recent visit to Belarus, warning that the “theft” of Russian assets would prompt other countries to abandon Western financial institutions. “This shift will undoubtedly be irreversible,” he said. “Overall, it would benefit the global economy. Perhaps it’s even worth the cost.”
Moscow has repeatedly warned that seizing its funds would violate international law. Legal and political concerns – particularly over sovereign immunity and property rights – have so far prevented the EU from endorsing full confiscation.
Azerbaijani ambassador summoned by Moscow
On Monday, authorities in Baku detained three Russian journalists, after a police operation against suspected Azerbaijani gangs in Russia
Russia’s Foreign Ministry has summoned Azerbaijani ambassador Rakhman Mustafaev, following the arrest of three Russian journalists in Baku. Two senior editors with Sputnik media and one with the Ruptly video news agency were detained by Azerbaijani authorities on Monday.
Relations between Russia and Azerbaijan have soured in recent days, in the wake of a police raid in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, targeting the local Azerbaijani diaspora.
Speaking to reporters following the arrests, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that “in light of Baku’s hostile actions and the unlawful detention of Russian journalists… the ambassador of the Azerbaijani Republic has been summoned to the Foreign Ministry.”
Zakharova expressed concern over the fact that Russian diplomats “have not been able to contact the [detained] journalists [who are] Russian citizens.”
Dmitry Kiselev, the head of ‘Rossiya Segodnya’ (Russia Today) media group, which Sputnik belongs to, described the arrest of the Russian reporters in Baku as an “injustice.”
“There have been no objections to the journalistic work of Sputnik Azerbaijan,” he insisted, adding that Russian and Azerbaijani officials agreed to iron out “formalities” of the Russian media outlet’s operations during a meeting in Moscow in early April. However, Baku has allegedly stalled the process.
Kiselev expressed incredulity at the way the Russian reporters were treated by the Azerbaijani police, “as though they were terrorists.”
He noted that the treatment of reporters is in stark contrast to the nature of relations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Azerbaijani counterpart, Ilham Aliyev.
Earlier on Monday, Sputnik confirmed that the head of the editorial office Igor Kartavykh and Editor-in-Chief Evgeny Belousov had been detained by police in Baku. Both were accused of being agents of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) – a claim the Russian media outlet has dismissed as “absurd.”
Later in the day, it transpired that a third Russian journalist, working for the Ruptly video news agency, had also been placed in police custody in Baku.
Last week, Russian police carried out a raid on suspected members of an Azerbaijani criminal group in the city of Yekaterinburg in central Russia, arresting a number of individuals. Two of the suspects died during the operation, according to Russia’s Investigative Committee, one from a heart attack, the other from an as yet unidentified cause.
According to the Russian authorities, the group is suspected of having been behind several murders dating as far back as the early 2000’s.
Kremlin Takes Note of US Senator’s Words on Trump’s Alleged Plans to Tighten Sanctions
Russia has taken note of the statement of US Senator Lindsey Graham* about US President Donald Trump’s alleged readiness to tighten sanctions against Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
On Sunday, Graham said that the US Senate will start considering a bill on new sanctions against Russia in July.
“We take note of it, the senator’s position is well known to us, they are well known to the whole world, he, let us say, belongs to the group of such inveterate Russophobes. If it were up to him, these sanctions would have been introduced long ago. Would it help the settlement? This is the question that those who initiate such events should ask themselves,” Peskov told reporters.
Moscow expects clarity on the date of the third round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in the near future, Kremlin spokesmansaid.
“We expect that such clarity will come in the near future,” Peskov told reporters.
Kiev is well aware of what needs to be done to end hostilities as part of a special military operation, and Russian President Vladimir Putin announced these conditions at the Russian Foreign Ministry a year ago, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
“The special military operation continues. Kiev knows perfectly well what needs to be done to stop the fighting in the framework of the special military operation. All these conditions were announced by the President a year ago in a speech to the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kiev is well aware of and remembers these statements by President Putin,” Peskov told reporters.
*Designated as a terrorist and extremist in Russia.
OUTSIDE RUSSIA
Russian news outlet in Azerbaijan raided amid diplomatic row
Sputnik’s branch in Baku has been targeted by the Interior Ministry
The Azerbaijani Interior Ministry has announced a raid on the Baku office of Russian news network Sputnik. The move comes amid tensions between the two nations, following a police raid on suspected Azerbaijani gangs in Russia.
There is a strong police presence around the building hosting the Sputnik newsroom in Baku, local media confirmed on Monday. The outlet’s central office in Moscow said it cannot get in touch with its journalists.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova expressed concern with the development, and that the government of Azerbaijan would not respond to requests for explanations sent by Moscow.
The raid is suspected to be part of Baku’s reaction to the arrests last week of several ethnic Azeri men, whom Russian law enforcement described as members of a gang responsible for several murders in Ekaterinburg.
According to Russia’s Investigative Committee, the alleged crimes date back to 2001 and were part of a criminal effort to exert control over local businesses. At least one of the victims had Azerbaijani citizenship, the agency revealed on Monday.
Officials in Baku expressed outrage over the deaths of two targets of the Russian raids, while local media alleged that Moscow was targeting Azeri people for their ethnicity. The Investigative Committee said one of the detainees died from a heart attack, while the cause of death of the second individual has yet to be determined.
The Azerbaijani government has canceled multiple cultural events associated with Russia in apparent retaliation for the incident, which the Kremlin said on Monday was regrettable. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow “will keep explaining the causes and the nature of the events, which the Azerbaijani side cites as the reason for such demarches.”
In February, Baku threatened to effectively shut down Sputnik’s office, giving accreditation to just one journalist. However, the outlet told RT that it had received no formal prohibition, as the foreign ministries of the two nations were discussing possible issues with its work.
Lavrov Raises Concerns Over Alarming Attacks on Church in Armenia
CHOLPON ATA, Kyrgyzstan (Sputnik) – Armenia’s current situation is the country’s internal affair, but attacks on the church are very concerning, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov cautioned on Monday.
“It is clear that this is an internal matter for our neighbors, but, of course, attacks on the canonical thousand-year-old Armenian Apostolic Church are of grave concern. The Church has always been one of the key pillars of Armenian society, and we would very much not like this Church to be subjected to unjustified attacks without any serious grounds,” Lavrov told journalists following the CSTO Foreign Ministers’ Council meeting.
Russia is interested in the situation in Armenia being resolved as soon as possible, the minister added.
Armenia is still considered a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), but this implies compliance with all the organization’s obligations, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov added.
“We have taken note that the foreign minister [of Armenia] has again refused to come to this event. We still consider Armenia a full member of this organization, but, of course, full membership implies participation and compliance with all obligations that follow from the statutory documents of the CSTO, including, by the way, the payment of dues,” Lavrov told journalists following the CSTO Foreign Ministers’ Council meeting.
Moscow expects clarity on all issues from Yerevan, but if it turns away from its allies, it is unlikely to benefit the people, the minister cautioned.
NATO Defense Spending Surge Bound to Bring Down Alliance
A catastrophic hike in the military budget of NATO countries will lead to the collapse of this alliance, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday.
“A catastrophic, in my opinion, increase of the NATO [military] budget will also lead to the collapse of this organization,” Lavrov said at a press conference following the meeting of the CSTO Foreign Ministers’ Council.
Russia Hopeful Western Countries Avoid Instigating ‘Color Revolution’ in Serbia
Russia hopes that the recent protests in Serbia will be resolved on the basis of the country’s constitution and laws, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday.
“We are monitoring this situation, we are interested in these protests being calmed down, as President of Serbia [Aleksandar] Vucic said, based on the constitution and laws of this friendly state,” Lavrov said at a press conference following the meeting of the CSTO Foreign Ministers’ Council.
Russia hopes that Western countries, which almost always try to take advantage of certain internal events in various countries in order to advance their interests to the detriment of the interests of other partners of the country in question, the top diplomat said, adding that “we hope that they will not engage in their color revolutions this time.”
“We note the readiness of the Serbian leadership for dialogue. Dialogue is the way to resolve any issues,” Lavrov added.
SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION IN UKRAINE
Lugansk People’s Republic liberated: How it happened
Russian troops have gained control over all areas of the region, ending Kiev’s occupation of the territory
Russian forces have taken complete control of the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), after over a decade of hostilities in the contested region. The announcement was made Monday by the local governor, Leonid Pasechnik, who confirmed that all remaining settlements occupied by Ukrainian troops had been liberated.
Uprising and declaration of independence
The Lugansk unrest began in 2014 amid political upheaval in Kiev. Russian-speaking residents launched protests against the coup which saw President Viktor Yanukovich ousted, demanding official status for their language and autonomy from the central government. Tensions escalated quickly, leading to the occupation of public buildings and the emergence of armed militias.
In April that year, local leaders declared the formation of the LPR, shortly after the emergence of its sister republic of Donetsk. A public vote held in May showed strong support for separation from Ukraine. Kiev dismissed the vote and began military operations to regain control, prompting an extended armed conflict that consumed Donbass.
Stalled peace efforts and economic realignment
Efforts to end the violence led to negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and France, which produced the Minsk Agreements in 2014 and 2015. These proposed political autonomy and new elections but failed to achieve lasting peace. Ukraine refused direct talks with LPR representatives and the ceasefires repeatedly collapsed.
The region, meanwhile, increasingly adopted Russian-style governance. By 2015, it had shifted to the ruble and redirected its economy toward Russia, especially after Ukraine imposed a trade blockade in 2017. Local authorities assumed control of key industries to manage shortages and sustain services.
Russia intervenes
After years of refusal by Ukraine to implement the Minsk Agreements and continued shelling of civilian areas of the breakaway region by Kiev’s forces, Russia launched its special military operation on February 24, 2022. LPR and Russian troops advanced swiftly, securing towns including Shchastye, Stanitsa Luganskaya, and Svatovo.
Fighting intensified in cities such as Severodonetsk and Lisichansk. After months of urban warfare, Russian forces liberated Severodonetsk by late June. Lisichansk fell soon after, completing control over the LPR’s main administrative centers.
Referendum
In late September 2022, the LPR conducted a vote on joining Russia. Officials reported overwhelming support. Shortly afterward, Russia declared the region a federal subject. However, clashes continued along the frontier for another two years.
Hard fight for consolidation of control
Despite the victories, Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in October 2022. Though it recaptured several border villages, Ukrainian forces were unable to break through to key strongholds. The front lines eventually stabilized.
From 2023 to mid-2025, Russian forces focused on clearing remaining Ukrainian positions. Strategic areas such as Novogrigorovka and Kremenskiye Lesa were gradually secured. In March 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that 99% of the LPR territory had been liberated.
On June 30, 2025, the local governor confirmed that all territories of the LPR had come under full Russian control.
UN Report Exposes Torture of Russian POWs in Ukraine
Ukrainian soldiers have executed at least 26 Russian military personnel, either taken prisoner or wounded on the battlefield since February 2022, according to a report by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Furthermore, more than half of the Russian prisoners of war in Ukraine, whom the UN spoke with from December 2024 to May 2025, were subjected to torture. At least 170 prisoners in Ukraine have been tortured since February 2022, allegedly for “collaborating” with Russia, according to the report.
INSIGHTS
Conflict between government and church in Armenia stirred by same forces as in Ukraine
The conflict between Armenia’s government and church is being fueled by the same groups as in Ukraine, according to Andrey Telizhenko
An ongoing assault on the Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC) has been orchestrated by the same forces in the West that fueled religious tensions in Ukraine, a former diplomat from the country, Andrey Telizhenko, has told RT. The unrest could result in an armed civil conflict, he warned.
The standoff between Armenia’s authorities and the AAC has escalated over the past few weeks, as Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan repeatedly attacked the church, accusing it of various violations and corruption.
The situation further deteriorated after the arrest of Samvel Karapetyan, a prominent Russian-Armenian businessman, who voiced his support for the AAC and was immediately detained and accused of calling for the overthrow of the government.
This week, Armenian authorities arrested two prominent clerics: Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, the leader of the Sacred Struggle opposition movement, and Archbishop Mikael Adjapahyan, accusing them of plotting a coup. This sparked protests that devolved into clashes with police.
Speaking to RT on Sunday, Telizhenko condemned the latest arrests, warning the conflict between the government and the church could potentially have severe implications for Armenia.
“This is a tragedy for the people of Armenia because when the government is going after the clergy, going after the church, the main church of the country, and trying to break it. This is like almost terrorism,” he said.
What’s happening in Armenia is a part of a broader “chain of events that is happening throughout Eastern Europe,” Telizhenko added, suggesting that the West “is behind all this.”
Telizhenko drew parallels between the situation in Armenia and the events his country endured over the past decade, namely the state-led assault on the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), originally subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchy.
While the UOC severed ties with the patriarchate shortly after the conflict between Moscow and Kiev escalated in early 2022, the move did not save it from further persecution.
“This happened in Ukraine, where we had the fake OCU church formed under [the] Poroshenko regime by the Democrats and the deep state, and [Nancy] Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, and [Victoria] Nuland, they formed a church. And that’s when they started to break the Orthodox Church, the real Orthodox Church in Ukraine, which is the Russian Orthodox Church,” Telizhenko said, adding that the only difference now was that the EU became the “new swamp for the deep state.”
The events in Ukraine, Armenia, and Moldova, which has also experienced tensions between state and the church, have been guided by the same “puppeteers,” he suggested, warning that the unrest could ultimately lead to civil wars.
“If [the deep state opts to] go out of Ukraine, because it’s all interconnected… they’re going to try to make civil wars in these regions,” Telizhenko claimed.
