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Image: Artyom Geodakyan/ITAR-TASS/IMAGOImage: Artyom Geodakyan/ITAR-TASS/IMAGO

Russia

Russia has the largest area of any country, extending over northern Asia and large parts of Eastern Europe. It is a permanent member of the UN Security Council. In February 2022, it launched an invasion of Ukraine.

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All Content on this topic

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in front of Russian and North Korean flags

North Korea ratifies defense treaty with Russia

The announcement comes after Kyiv said its forces clashed with North Korean units in the Russian border region of Kursk.
PoliticsNovember 12, 2024
A silhouette of US President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a photo taken at a G20 summit in 2019

Trump talks Ukraine in separate calls with Putin, Scholz

Questions persist over Washington's commitment to Ukraine's defense under the incoming Trump administration.
PoliticsNovember 11, 2024
A night-time view of firefighters working at the site of a Russian drone strike in Odesa

Russia, Ukraine step up drone warfare

The port city of Odesa was the main target of Russia's attacks.
ConflictsNovember 10, 202401:38 min
US President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump both ready to talk

The Kremlin chief said Trump's past remarks about Ukraine and restoring relations with Russia warranted attention.
PoliticsNovember 8, 2024
Sudan | Soldaten der RSF (Archiv-Foto)

Sudan: War, humanitarian crisis a 'failure of elites'

Millions have fled Sudan's civil war. Abdalla Hamdok tells DW the crisis is 'worse than Ukraine and Gaza combined.'
PoliticsNovember 7, 202426:04 min
Matryoshkas, traditional Russian wooden dolls, including a doll of U.S. President Donald Trump, top, are displayed for sale in Moscow, Russia

Trump's US election win puts Putin relationship in spotlight

How will a second Trump presidency influence the relationship between Russia and the United States?
PoliticsNovember 6, 202402:18 min
Alexander, a deserter from the Russian army, stands on a beach with the ocean behind him.

Russian army deserter flees Ukraine front lines to France

Alexander fled Russia's war in Ukraine, not wanting to kill or be killed. He is now trying to help other army deserters.
ConflictsNovember 5, 202403:23 min
The Russian corvette Gromkiy is seen at the Indonesian port of Surabaya

Indonesia and Russia hold first joint naval exercises

The Indonesian and Russian navies began five days of joint exercises in the Java Sea.
PoliticsNovember 4, 2024
Russian marine beeing welcomed by dancers

Russia and Indonesia hold first joint military drills

Indonesia is nevertheless trying to remain non-aligned in international politics, says DW’s Jakarta correspondent.
PoliticsNovember 4, 202403:47 min
Tracers and searchlights are seen in the night sky as Ukrainian servicemen search and fire at a drone during a Russian drone strike in Kyiv, Ukraine

Russian drone strikes cause destruction in Kyiv

The Russian air attack on on the Ukrainian capital damaged buildings, roads and several power lines in the city.
ConflictsNovember 3, 2024
A row of soldiers are seen from behind, rifles slung over their shoulders

Fleeing Ukraine war, Russian deserters find refuge in France

France has become the first EU country to admit former Russian soldiers without ID, who are hoping to apply for asylum.
ConflictsNovember 2, 2024
Russian and North Korean flags waving at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Amur region

Ukraine says North Korean troops to join Russia

Ukraine and its allies expect that thousands of North Korean soldiers will be deployed to assist Russia's war effort.
ConflictsNovember 1, 2024
People at a train station in Seoul watch a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test on October 31

North Korea ballistic missile launch draws condemnation

Japan's Coast Guard and Pyongyang say North Korea has fired what seemed to be a ballistic missile.
ConflictsNovember 1, 2024
Cyril Ramaphosa in a dark striped suit in front of a microphone

Why is South Africa's new government arguing about Ukraine?

South Africa's new unity government is arguing about visa-free travel for Ukrainian diplomats.
PoliticsOctober 31, 2024
Italien | Wolodymyr Selenskyj in Rom

US election: What's at stake for Ukraine and Russia

Both major candidates for US president have very different views of Russia's war in Ukraine and American support.
PoliticsOctober 30, 2024
Russland Sankt Petersburg | Präsident Wladimir Putin bei der Marineparade

Conflict Zone — Does Putin want war with the West?

Estonia's intel chief shares his assessment of Russia's war in Ukraine and Zelenskyy's "victory plan."
PoliticsOctober 30, 202426:04 min
Dmitri Sytyi with long dark hair and in a grey shirt, in front of colorful drawing in the Russian cultural center

Is Russian influence in Bangui disguised as culture?

Is the CAR a testing ground for Moscow's Africa policy? Dmitri Sytyi's ties to the Wagner Group raise questions.
ConflictsOctober 28, 2024
TV-Videostill | Mutmaßliche Truppen aus Nordkorea in Russland

Evidence of North Korean troops in Russia emerges

The West fears that North Korean troops will join the fight against Ukraine.
ConflictsOctober 28, 202403:08 min
The silhouette of a man against a brighter background

Why are young Russians becoming 'saboteurs'?

Since Russia invaded Ukraine, arson attacks by juveniles on rail infrastructure and military have increased.
ConflictsOctober 27, 2024
A Russian flag with the emblem of Russia on hang on the monument in the CAR

How the Russian Wagner Group is entrenching itself in Africa

The Russian Wagner Group has been active in many African countries for years. Now, it's expanding its range of services.
ConflictsOctober 27, 2024
A group of individuals in an inflatable boat are seen near the floating capsule of the SpaceX Crew Dragon shortly after it landed in the Gulf of Mexico early Friday morning

ISS astronauts hospitalized after SpaceX splashdown

A crew of US and Russian astronauts were treated after landing off the coast of Florida on Friday.
ScienceOctober 25, 2024
USA Washington | Interview mit John Kirby (USA), Sprecher des Nationalen Sicherheitsrates

North Korean troops in Russia 'show how desperate Putin is'

US National Security Spokesperson John Kirby spoke to DW about Russia's deployment of North Korean troops.
ConflictsOctober 25, 202402:25 min
People watch a TV screen of a South Korean news program. The program shows what it says are soldiers from North Korea as they stand in line to receive supplies from Russia.

Ukraine says North Korean troops in Russia

South Korea, NATO and the US say North Korean troops have been training for combat in Russia's east.
ConflictsOctober 25, 202402:11 min
Russia's President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at a ceremony

How North Korea is changing Russia's war in Ukraine

Signs are growing that North Korean soldiers are to fight on Russia's side in Ukraine.
ConflictsOctober 25, 2024
World leaders at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia

Putin ends BRICS summit overshadowed by Ukraine war

Meanwhile, the UN chief faced criticisms for traveling to Russia for the BRICS meeting amid Moscow's war in Ukraine.
PoliticsOctober 25, 2024
A Russian flag with the emblem of Russia on it hangs on a monument to Russian instructors in Bangui, Central African Republic.

Wagner: What's Russia up to in the Central African Republic?

DW met Dimitri Sytyi, a key player of Russia's Wagner Group in Africa. Two experts provided an analysis of his comments.
PoliticsOctober 24, 202420:10 min
Emmanuel Koya Pelengue learns Russian at the Russian cultural center in the Central African Republic's capital Bangui

How Russia uses its soft power in Central African Republic

Russia's cultural center in Bangui offers courses for Central Africans hoping to study in Russia.
PoliticsOctober 24, 202403:09 min
Modi and Xi Jinping, seen here shaking hands, agreed to boost cooperation to improve ties

India's Modi, China's Xi seek to boost ties at BRICS summit

Modi and Xi held a meeting at a summit, days after agreeing to running joint patrols along their disputed border.
PoliticsOctober 23, 2024
Military personnel look at an image of the new CTF Baltic logo

Germany rejects Russian criticism of new naval headquarters

Russia threatened "a corresponding response" and "extremely negative consequences" for Germany over a new Baltic Sea HQ.
ConflictsOctober 22, 2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands during their meeting

Russia's Putin hosts leaders of India, China at BRICS summit

The Kremlin has invited world leaders, including Putin's "dear friend" Xi Jinping, to show that Russia is not isolated.
PoliticsOctober 22, 2024
external

Putin's Fleet: Russian espionage in the Baltic Sea

Western intelligence services are warning of the threat of a Russian shadow war against European states. Germany is possibly one of the targets of this hybrid warfare. Authorities have observed suspicious ship movements in the Baltic Sea.
PoliticsOctober 22, 202428:34 min
This symbolic picture shows flags of Iran, China, Russia and North Korea merged into a collage.

How Russia, N. Korea, Iran and China are forming new bonds

China, Russia, Iran and North Korea, or CRINK, have developed closer ties, benefitting Russia's war efforts in Ukraine.
PoliticsOctober 21, 202402:08 min
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva addresses the 79th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, United States, on September 24, 2024

Brazil's Lula cancels trip to BRICS following accident

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been told to avoid long-haul flights after an accident at home.
PoliticsOctober 20, 2024
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un surrounded by military personnel

Ukraine war: What is extent of North Korea's involvement?

Ukraine and South Korea have both indicated that North Korea is getting more involved in Russia's war against Ukraine.
PoliticsOctober 19, 2024
Three men and a woman (from left: journalists Konstantin Gabov, Antonina Favorskaya, Artyom Kriger and Sergey Karelin) stand in a glass courtroom box, two (Gabov and Favorskaya) are smiling

Russia: Journalists report inhumane conditions in custody

Detained Russian journalists Konstantin Gabov and Sergey Karelin are on trial for supporting the political opposition.
PoliticsOctober 18, 2024
A laptop sits on a chair. The laptop screen shows a ship.

Russia's spy ships comb the Baltic sea

Under the guise of research, Russian ships are spying on Western infrastructure.
ConflictsOctober 18, 202407:10 min
A headshot of Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukraine war: Zelenskyy presents victory plan to EU leaders

The Ukrainian president has promoted a plan he thinks can lead to victory against Russia within a year.
PoliticsOctober 17, 2024
A family with children walking in Perm, Russia

Russian lawmakers push through ban on childless 'propaganda'

Russia is seeking a crackdown on material that supposedly discourages having children.
PoliticsOctober 17, 2024
DW Fokus Europa | Italien: Neuer Streit über Staatsbürgerschaft

Focus on Europe – Spotlight on People

Will naturalization in Italy soon be possible after just a few years of study?
SocietyOctober 17, 202426:04 min
Film still from 'Of Caravan and the Dogs': people in a office sit and discuss.

Kurov documentary traces Russian crackdown on free speech

Askold Kurov's film "Of Caravan and the Dogs" shows how Russia shut down independent media after invading Ukraine.
FilmOctober 17, 2024
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaking in parliament to present his Victory Plan to MPs

Ukrainian president presents plan to end war with Russia

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced his long-awaited victory plan to end his country's war with Russia.
ConflictsOctober 16, 202402:07 min
A man holds a black and white picture of Victoria Roshchyna

Ukrainian reporter Roshchyna dies in Russian detention

Last year, journalist Victoria Roshchyna vanished in Russian-occupied Ukraine. Now, the courageous reporter is dead.
Press FreedomOctober 16, 2024
Russia's President Vladimir Putin is seen on the screen of a smartphone as he delivers a video address in 2023.

Russian disinformation is growing in Germany

Analysts say Russia's disinformation campaign is helping pro-Kremlin narratives seep into the country's politics.
PoliticsOctober 15, 2024
Masoud Pezeshkian shakes hands with Vladimir Putin

Russia's Putin and Iran's Pezeshkian hail close ties

The presidents of Russia and Iran have met as both countries seek to build a closer partnership.
PoliticsOctober 11, 2024
Russia's President Vladimir Putin meets with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of an international forum "Interrelation of times and civilizations - basis of peace and development" in Turkmenistan.

Russia and Iran increasingly turn to each other

In Turkmenistan, Russia's President Vladimir Putin has met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for the first time.
ConflictsOctober 11, 202402:35 min
An icon of the Discord social media platform

Discord: Why the messaging app is under scrutiny

Russia and Turkey have blocked the app, popular with the young, after accusing it of failing to remove illegal content.
TechnologyOctober 11, 2024
A cartoon of Putin removing the elements uranium, titanium and nickel from the periodic table

What if Russia blocks the export of its raw materials?

Putin is threatening to keep uranium, titanium and nickel from the West. DW explains how trade and industry would fare.
TradeOctober 6, 2024
A Malian man standing on a rooftop in Bamako poses in military garb and holds up a Russian flag alongside an Ethiopian flag

Nigerian FM on Russian motives in Africa: Trust but verify

What are Russia's goals? Yusuf Tuggar told DW Nigeria pursues "strategic autonomy" following series of coups in Africa.
PoliticsOctober 4, 202424:13 min
Journalists Konstantin Gabov, Antonina Favorskaya, Artem Kriger and Sergei Karelin stand inside an enclosure for defendants before a court hearing

Russia places four journalists on trial for 'extremism'

Four journalists have appeared in a Russian court charged with supporting the late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.
PoliticsOctober 2, 2024
A family pushing prams walking down a street

What's behind Russia's plan to ban 'child-free' ideology?

Russia's parliament is working on a "child-free" ideology ban. Is this another crackdown on women's rights?
PoliticsSeptember 28, 2024