Ukraine’s parliament confirms Umerov as new defense minister

The Head of State Property Fund of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov speaks with the media in Kyiv, August 2022, in this image made available 04 September 2023. EFE/EPA/STR 27135

Kyiv, Sep 6 (EFE).- The Verkhovna Rada (parliament) of Ukraine on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of Rustem Umerov as the country’s new defense minister. The former Head of State Property Fund of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov speaks with the media in Kyiv, August 2022, in this image made available 04 September 2023. EFE/EPA/STR The former head … Read more

Russia charges cafe bombing suspect with terrorism

Darya Trepova, who has been detained on suspicion of involvement in the explosion at a cafe in St Petersburg, sits in a cage during the court hearing in the Basemany court in Moscow, Russia, 04 April 2023. EFE/EPA/YURI KOCHETKOV

Moscow, Apr 4 (EFE).- Russian investigators on Tuesday formally charged Darya Trepova with terrorism over the killing of a prominent Russian military blogger. Trepova is the main suspect in the explosion that killed Vladlen Tatarsky at a St Petersburg cafe on Sunday. Trepova faces a maximum of 20 years in prison under article 205 of … Read more

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

Ukraine says Bakhmut defense ‘paramount’ to constrain Russians

(R-L) Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, Commander in Chief of the Ukrainian armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi, and Chief of the General Staff of Ukraine's armed forces Serhii Shaptala attend the funeral of Ukrainian serviceman Dmytro Kotsiubailo in Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine, 10 March 2023. Commander Dmytro Kotsiubailo of the 67th brigade, call sign Da Vinci and awarded the title "Hero of Ukraine", was killed in action on the frontline in Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, on 07 March 2023. EFE/EPA/OLEG PETRASYUK

Kyiv, Mar 15 (EFE).- The head of Ukraine’s armed forces reiterated the country’s military commitment to defending the ravaged city of Bakhmut against Russia’s onslaught, saying it was key to holding firm along the entire frontline. Ukrainian troops have been dug in against a Russian offensive – spearheaded by the private mercenary Wagner Group – … Read more

Finnish PM Marin, Zelenskyy honor fallen ‘hero’ of Bakhmut

Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin (C-L) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C-R) attend the funeral of Ukrainian serviceman Dmytro Kotsiubailo, at the Saint Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine, 10 March 2023, amid the Russian invasion. Commander Dmytro Kotsiubailo, call sign Da Vinci, Hero of Ukraine, of the 67th brigade was killed in action on the frontline in Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, on 07 March 2023. EFE/EPA/OLEG PETRASYUK

Kyiv, Mar 10 (EFE).- Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended a funeral in Kyiv for Dmytro Kotsiubailo, a Ukrainian volunteer who died in the battle of Bakhmut. Accompanied by the Ukrainian president, Marin offered condolences to the family of the young man, who joined the army in 2014 to defend … Read more

Putin lauds China relations as foreign minister visits Moscow

Moscow, Feb 22 (EFE).- Russian president Vladimir Putin praised his country’s ties with China as he met with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in Moscow on Wednesday to discuss Beijing’s proposals to bring peace to Ukraine. During their meeting, Putin said cooperation between the two nations was “important for stabilizing the international situation.” “Sino-Russian relations … Read more