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James Kilner

0745GMT//Russia to increase VAT to pay for war in Ukraine; Trump says Ukraine can win back all of its territory; Russia denies it flew drones at EU airports

VAT INCREASE TO FUND WAR IN UKRAINE: The Kremlin plans to increase VAT in Russia to 22% from 20% to fund its war in Ukraine. The VAT increase will be introduced on Jan. 1 on all goods other than "basic goods" such as bread, dairy products, meat, baby

0745GMT//Kremlin 'bribes' Moldovan voters; Russia begs UN for spare parts for planes; Putin (sort of) offers US a nuclear olive branch

TRASHING MOLDOVAN DEMOCRACY: Police in Moldova said that they have raided 250 sites across the country to stop Russia-backed sabotage plans against parliamentary elections this weekend. Maia Sandu, Moldova's president, accused Russia of sending "hundreds of millions of euros" to "subvert the country's

0715GMT//Vietnam wins revamped Soviet song contest in Moscow; Russian fighter jets breach EU air space; Kremlin tightens Telegram propaganda reach

THE KREMLIN'S EUROVISION: Vietnam on Saturday won a revamped Soviet-era Intervision song contest in Moscow, the Kremlin's answer to Eurovision. Twenty-two countries sent an entry to the contest, mainly pro-Russian allies of the Kremlin from Latin America, Africa, Central Asia, China and the Middle East. The

0635GMT//Longterm Putin ally quits the Kremlin; UK arrests Russian spies; lower interest rats expected

PUTIN ALLY QUITS KREMLIN: Dmitry Kozak, one of Vladimir Putin's closest Kremlin allies and the only one to speak out publicly against the invasion of Ukraine, has quit the Russian government. Kozak was deputy head of the Presidential Administration and is perhaps the only high-ranking Russian government official

0650GMT//Putin wears military uniform to watch wargames; Russia is in a recession, says Academy of Sciences; Kremlin snooping apps spurs old smartphone sales

PUTIN WATCHES WARGAMES: Vladimir Putin dressed in a military uniform for only the second time since the start of his invasion of Ukraine to watch the Zapad-2025 wargames in Belarus. He gave a short videoed speech at his seat in the command centre, saying the wargames were designed to protect

0655GMT//Putin's United Russia party wins (most) regional elections in Russia; Communist Party causes upset in Siberian city; India sends military unit to Russia-Belarus wargames

REGIONAL ELECTIONS: Final results on Monday from Russia's regional elections secured wins for 19 United Russia governor candidates. United Russia is the party of Vladimir Putin. The only non-United Russia candidate to win a governor's position was Oleg Nikolaev, a member of the pro-Kremlin A Just

0642GMT//Two railway sabotages in Russia kill four people; Ukrainian drones hit Russia's fifth largest oil refinery; interest rate cut disappoints business

OIL REFINERY STRIKE: Ukrainian drones struck the oil refinery in Kirishi in Leningrad oblast, north Russia, on Sunday. The refinery is the fifth-largest in Russia. The extent of the damage is unclear, but officials reported that a fire had broken out. (COMMENT: There is no doubt that Ukraine's

0657GMT//The Kremlin denies hitting Poland with drones; North Korea art goes on display in Moscow

DRONE STRIKE ON POLAND: Russian officials denied that the Kremlin deliberately targeted Poland with drones on Wednesday. Poland said that it shot down four Russian drones in "the most serious breach of Nato security" since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Feb. 2022. (COMMENT: The drone strikes

0657GMT//Poland shoots down Russian drones; Putin the 'workaholic'

POLAND SHOOTS DOWN RUSSIAN DRONES: Poland said on Wednesday that it had shot down several Russian drones that had entered its airspace. Donald Tusk, the Polish PM, convened an emergency government meeting and said that he was in "constant contact" with Nato. (COMMENT: Russia has been "testing&

0554GMT//Argentina accuses Russia of plot to destabilise; Putin gives top soldier 'order of courage' award

ARGENTINA ACCUSES RUSSIA OF MEDDLING: Russia's foreign ministry summoned Argentina's ambassador to Moscow to complain about comments made by Argentine National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich, who accused the Kremlin of trying to destabilise Argentina. Bullrich said Russian agents had wiretapped the Presidential Palace in Argentina. (COMMENT: