Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree immediately increasing the size of the Russian armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel, of whom 1,550,500 are military. The decree replaces all previous staffing decrees and marks the seventh expansion of the army's authorised strength since the start of the war in Ukraine.

An update on the Ukraine war claims Russian forces are suffering major setbacks across the entire eastern front, describing the situation as a big loss for Moscow and saying Putin is reacting hysterically. The claim is circulating widely among people following daily battlefield developments in the conflict.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the UN General Assembly, branding Vladimir Putin the 'patient zero' of the war and pressing world leaders on Russia's invasion. In his speech he also referenced Donald Trump and urged continued international support for Ukraine, warning against any concessions to Moscow as the war grinds on.

Russia has started rationing fuel following a large Ukrainian drone strike that hit fuel infrastructure. Reports say Ukrainian long-range drone technology is outmatching Russia's jet-powered drones, forcing Moscow to restrict petrol supplies in parts of the country. The strikes mark an escalation in the drone war between the two countries, with Ukraine targeting refineries and depots deep inside Russian territory.

President Putin has signed off on an expansion of Russia's armed forces, adding 15,500 active personnel and raising the total to 1.55 million troops. The move signals Moscow's continued effort to grow its military despite heavy losses in the war against Ukraine. The increase, announced via a decree, is being widely covered as a sign that the Kremlin is preparing for a prolonged conflict.

German outlet Der Spiegel has released 'Inside Russia (2)', a SPIEGEL TV documentary presenting exclusive reporting on life under Vladimir Putin's increasingly isolated dictatorship. The film offers viewers rare insights into how ordinary Russians and the political leadership are coping amid the country's international isolation and the ongoing war in Ukraine. It is drawing heavy attention internationally, with hundreds of thousands of viewers engaging with the documentary within days of release.

A Kyiv Post analysis examines what Vladimir Putin prioritizes more: protecting Russian oil refineries from Ukrainian drone strikes, or retaliating against Ukraine. The piece reflects ongoing debate over whether Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy infrastructure are forcing the Kremlin to divert air defenses and reconsider its strategy in the war.

Reports say Donald Trump is weighing inviting Vladimir Putin to the G-20, a move that would put the Russian leader at the same table as Western heads of state despite the war in Ukraine and international sanctions. Commentators describe the potential summit as an unprecedented diplomatic spectacle, with debate over whether it signals a serious push for peace talks or an uncomfortable rehabilitation of Moscow on the world stage.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a new expansion of Russia's military, according to reporting picked up by international outlets including The Brussels Times. The decree adds to a series of build-ups announced since the invasion of Ukraine, as Moscow seeks to enlarge troop numbers and strengthen its armed forces. The move is being watched closely by NATO members and European governments concerned about long-term Russian military capacity.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree expanding the size of the Russian armed forces for the fourth time in 2025, according to Euronews. The move comes as Russia's war in Ukraine continues to generate heavy troop losses, forcing the Kremlin to repeatedly raise recruitment targets. It underscores the mounting strain the conflict is placing on Russia's manpower and military planning.

Ukraine launched drone attacks on Moscow during Russia's presidential election, in which Vladimir Putin was seeking another term. The strikes marked an escalation in long-range attacks on Russian territory, timed deliberately to coincide with the three-day vote. Commentators highlighted the symbolism of hitting the capital as Russians went to the polls, with many seeing it as Kyiv's message that the war continues regardless of the election.

Russian forces carried out large-scale strikes on Kyiv, with claims that targets included military hubs and 'NATO specialists' in the Ukrainian capital. The reports come from Russian-aligned sources and have not been independently verified. The strikes fit an ongoing pattern of aerial attacks on Ukrainian military infrastructure as the war continues.

Vladimir Putin has ordered an increase of 15,500 active-duty troops to Russia's military, raising the total authorised force to 1.55 million personnel. The move continues a pattern of regular troop enlargements since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and analysts see it as a signal that Moscow intends to sustain a prolonged war effort despite heavy casualties.

Russia has accused European governments of obstructing peace negotiations over Ukraine, while Donald Trump urged Volodymyr Zelenskyy to "settle" with Vladimir Putin. The statements highlight growing pressure on Kyiv to reach a deal and deepen tensions between Washington, Moscow and European allies over how to end the war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree raising the official size of the Russian armed forces to 2,441,630 personnel, according to Russian state agency TASS. The increase continues a pattern of expansion since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and signals Moscow's intent to sustain a prolonged military campaign.

Ukraine's Defense Forces reportedly struck the Ilsky Oil Refinery in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, with additional hits reported on the Azov Optical-Mechanical Plant. In parallel developments, Japan allocated a further $51.5 million to Ukraine, while a bipartisan group of 14 U.S. senators urged President Trump to take a harder line against Putin. Commenters are highlighting the combination of deep strikes inside Russia and continued Western financial and political support for Kyiv.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Ukraine of carrying out provocations that are escalating tensions, remarks reported by Chinese state media outlets China Daily and its global edition. The comments come as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues, with both sides trading blame over the deteriorating situation on the ground and stalled prospects for peace.

President Trump's nominee-ambassador to NATO says Ukraine's strikes inside Russia are pressuring Vladimir Putin toward the negotiating table. The comments frame Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory as strengthening Kyiv's position rather than provoking escalation. The remarks add to debate in Washington and Europe over whether deep strikes into Russia should be encouraged or restrained.

The Times reports that Vladimir Putin is preparing a military base intended for so-called doomsday nuclear strikes. The claims are based on what the newspaper describes as newly revealed information about Russian preparations. Details of the base's location and capabilities have not been independently confirmed, and Moscow has not responded to the report.

Anthropic has reached a $12 billion agreement with Akamai for AI computing capacity, according to Bloomberg. The deal gives the AI company a major new infrastructure partner, extending its access to the computing power needed to train and run its models. It marks a notable shift toward diversified cloud partnerships among leading AI developers.

Donald Trump delivered a hard-hitting address to the United Nations, but Bloomberg reports the rhetoric did little to move his main targets. China's Xi Jinping, Russia's Vladimir Putin and Iran showed no sign of being swayed or deterred by the president's bluster, underscoring the limits of Trump's UN platform in shaping the behaviour of US adversaries.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved the official staffing strength of Russia's Armed Forces, according to Russian media. The decree fixing the authorized number of military personnel is drawing attention as the war in Ukraine continues, with readers discussing how large the Russian military will now be and what the figure signals about Moscow's military plans and manpower needs.

Russian authorities have moved to restrict public access to data on oil refineries and energy exports, according to reports covering the 1,678th day of the war in Ukraine. The move comes as Ukrainian drone strikes continue to target Russian energy infrastructure, and observers say the Kremlin may be trying to conceal the extent of damage and export losses.

Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter detained in Russia in 2023 and freed in a 2024 prisoner swap, is drawing renewed attention after an exclusive one-on-one interview with ABC News. A New Yorker piece about prison life in Russia, tied to his case, is also circulating, alongside reports of a Putin table-slamming meltdown. The coverage is refocusing attention on his detention experience.