Section: Voice of America (USA)
FBI Breaks Up Russian Spy Ring in New York City
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder says federal agents have broken up an alleged Russian spy ring in New York City where three suspects tried to recruit U.S. residents. The FBI arrested Evgeny Buryakov in the Bronx section of New York Monday. Two other suspects — Victor Podobnyy and Igor Sporyshev — are no longer in the United States and have...
Lawyer Says Ukrainian Woman Pilot Could Die in Russian Detention
A Ukrainian female army pilot may die in detention in Russia where she is on hunger-strike, her lawyer said on Monday, calling on President Vladimir Putin to release her. Nadiya Savchenko was captured by pro-Russian rebels while fighting in a volunteer battalion in east Ukraine last June. Kyiv says the rebels spirited her into Russia where she...
Russian Ruble, Stocks Slide on News of Possible New Sanctions
The ruble and Russian stocks fell sharply on Monday, following a return to full-scale warfare in eastern Ukraine and threats of further Western sanctions against Russia. At 10:25 EST (1525 GMT), the ruble was down 3 percent against the dollar to 66.23 and 3.5 percent weaker against the euro at 74.71. Russian stocks were also down, with the...
Seven Soldiers Killed in Ukraine
Ukraine’s military said Monday seven of its soldiers have been killed in the past day during fighting in the separatist, war-torn eastern region. Officials say at least 24 soldiers have been wounded in the violence. Fighting between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russia rebels in recent days has been at the worst level since agreement on a...
New Sanctions on Russia Threatened After Rebels Attack Mariupol
U.S. President Barack Obama has blamed Russia for an attack by Ukrainian separatists that left dozens dead in the port of Mariupol and cast further doubt on the viability of last year’s cease-fire with the Kyiv government. VOA’s Michael Bowman reports from Washington. …read more Source: Voice of...
Poroshenko: De-escalation is Priority in East Ukraine
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said on Sunday de-escalating the conflict with pro-Russian rebels was the priority for the Kyiv government, which stands by a September peace deal signed in Minsk. Fighting between government troops and separatists in eastern Ukraine has intensified in recent days after the rebels ruled out more peace talks....
Shelling in Eastern Ukraine Leaves 10 Dead
Police in eastern Ukraine say rocket fire has killed at least 10 people in the port city of Mariupol, just hours after the top rebel leader in the Donetsk region said there will be no further peace talks with Kyiv. Reuters (new agency) quotes the police chief as saying rebels shelled a residential sector of the city. On Friday, Russian-backed...
UN: Ukraine Conflict Death Toll Exceeds 5,000
The United Nations human rights agency says the death toll from the conflict in eastern Ukraine has passed 5,000. Spokesman Rupert Colville told reporters Friday that the death toll could be far higher than the official estimate of 5,086 deaths, based on data collected by U.N. human rights monitors since the beginning of hostilities in April....
Ukraine Rebel Leader Vows to Launch New Push for Territory
A pro-Russian separatist leader in Ukraine said he will not push for new peace talks with the Ukrainian government, vowing instead to gain control of more territory in the east. Russian news agencies quoted rebel chief Alexander Zakharchenko, based in the eastern city of Donetsk, saying Friday that his forces are launching a new offensive to...
Brzezinski: US, Allies Should Deploy Deterrent Force to Baltics
A former top U.S. official says the United States and its allies should deploy troops to the Baltic states to deter possible Russian aggression there. Speaking Wednesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee, former national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski said he feared that Russian President Vladimir Putin might try to invade the...
