Kyiv slams Russia’s ‘vile’ and ‘illegal’ deportation of Ukrainian children

Russian servicemen control the boarding of a bus by the civilian people who were evacuated from Azovstal in Mariupol, Ukraine, 06 May 2022. EFE/EPA/ALESSANDRO GUERRA

By Marcel Gascon Kyiv, Mar 29 (EFE).- Ukrainian authorities claim to have documented nearly 20,000 cases of children who have been separated from their families or forcefully deported to the Russian Federation from territories occupied by Moscow’s invading forces. Kyiv said that some of these children have since been adopted by Russian families. “To take … Read more

The used bicycles given a new purpose in war-hit Ukraine

Mikael Colville-Andersen, one of the founders of Bikes 4 Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine on Mar 26, 2023. EFE/Marcel Gascón

By Marcel Gascón Kyiv, Mar 28 (EFE).- A Danish NGO is collecting secondhand bicycles from across Europe and sending them to Ukraine, where they are used by social workers and activists to access remote communities affected by Russia’s invasion. Mikael Colville-Andersen, one of the founders of Bikes 4 Ukraine, tells Efe that smaller framed bikes … Read more

Russia has committed war crimes in Ukraine: UN

(L-R)Commissioner of Inquiry on Ukraine Jasminka Dzumhur, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine Erik Mose and Commissioner of Inquiry on Ukraine Pablo de Greiff speak about the release of a comprehensive report by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine to the Human Rights Council, during a press conference at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, 16 March 2023. EFE/EPA/MARTIAL TREZZINI

Geneva, Mar 16 (EFE).- Russian authorities have committed war crimes not only across various regions in Ukraine but also in Russia, a UN-commissioned investigative body reported on Thursday. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine said in a report that Russian forces have carried out crimes against humanity during the wave of attacks on … Read more

At least 9 killed in Russian strikes that also shut down nuclear plant

Kyiv, Mar 9 (EFE).- At least nine civilians died Thursday after the latest wave of Russian missile attacks on Ukraine, officials said, which have also damaged energy infrastructure, completely cutting off the nuclear power plant at Zaporizhzhya from the power grid. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, told a board … Read more

Georgia drops ‘foreign agents’ bill after violent protests

Demonstrators protest against the adoption of the so-called 'Foreign Agents' bill in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi, Georgia, 09 March 2023. EFE/EPA/ZURAB KURTSIKIDZE

Tbilisi, Mar 9 (EFE).- Georgia’s ruling party announced Thursday that it will drop its “foreign agents” bill that provoked large, violent protests in the capital, Tbilisi. The draft law required individuals, civil society organizations and media outlets to register as “agents of foreign influence” if they received at least 20 percent of their funding from … Read more

US says Russia reportedly supplying enriched plutonium to China

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Alexey Likhachev (not pictured), Director General of State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (ROSATOM), to discuss projects in Russia and abroad, at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, 17 June 2020. EFE-EPA FILE/ALEXEI NIKOLSKY/SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL MANDATORY CREDIT

Washington, Mar 8 (EFE).- Russia is reportedly supplying highly enriched plutonium to China for its fast breeder reactors, which are designed to generate more fuel than they consume, a US official said Wednesday. “It’s very troubling to see Russia and China cooperating on this,” John F. Plumb, assistant secretary of defense for space policy, said … Read more

UN chief pledges to work towards ‘just peace’ for Ukraine

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (L) attend a joint press conference following their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, 08 March 2023. EFE/EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO

Kyiv, Mar 8 (EFE).- Antonio Guterres met with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday in Kyiv to “seek solutions” to achieve the ultimate goal of a “just peace,” the UN secretary-general said. “The sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine must be upheld within its internationally recognized borders,” Guterres said at the start of … Read more

Germany urges prudence over reports pro-Ukraine group blew up Nord Stream

Unused pipes for the Nord Stream 2 Baltic gas pipeline are stored on the site of the Port in Mukran, Germany, 30 September 2022. EFE/EPA/FILE/HANNIBAL HANSCHKE

Berlin, Mar 8 (EFE).- The German government on Wednesday warned against jumping to conclusions after new media reports suggested a pro-Ukrainian group may have carried out an act of sabotage against the Nord Stream gas pipeline last year. “I’m following this information with great interest,” Boris Pistorius, Germany’s defense minister, told the local Deutschlandfunk radio … Read more

Russian army, Taliban targeted by new EU sanctions for violence against women

An illustration on dress code for female students is seen at private Rana university as universities session reopened after holidays, in Kabul, Afghanistan, 07 March 2023. EFE/EPA/SAMIULLAH POPAL

Brussels, Mar 7 (EFE).- The European Union on Tuesday agreed on a package of sanctions against nine people and three organizations including Taliban ministers and high-ranking members of the Russian armed forces for sexual violence and large-scale abuse of women’s rights. This is the first time that the EU has adopted measures to defend women’s … Read more

Beijing-Moscow ties ‘not a threat,’ says China’s foreign minister

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang gestures after a press conference in Beijing, China, 07 March 2023. EFE/EPA/MARK R. CRISTINO

Beijing, Mar 7 (EFE).- Beijing’s close ties with Moscow advance global multipolarization and are not a threat to any country, China’s foreign minister said Tuesday. Holding his first public press conference since he replaced Wang Yi in December, Qin Gang spoke on the sidelines of the 14th National People’s Congress in Beijing. “China and Russia … Read more