- Unknown facts revealed about how Lavrov is connected to Putin’s family
- US to impose sanctions on Russian oil and gas buyers – India reacts immediately
- US Congress passed a package of “hellish sanctions” against Russia
Find the latest news about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine HERE.
Unknown facts revealed about how Lavrov is connected to Putin’s family
09:36
Sergei Lavrov has turned out to be close to Vladimir Putin’s family – the Russian minister and his mistress regularly fly to vacation with Alina Kabaeva’s mother.
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The leader of the “United Russia” list in the State Duma elections, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his mistress Svetlana Poliakova regularly fly abroad to vacation together with Lyubov Kabaeva – the mother of Vladimir Putin’s beloved. This was discovered by “Project” investigators based on a large-scale investigation of officials’ flights, which will be published in the coming days.
The investigation should show how closely the Russian leadership is connected with oligarchs and among themselves – these connections help understand some important events and decisions of the Russian leadership.
S. Lavrov, S. Poliakova, and the elder Kabaeva flew twice to Croatia – in 2017 and 2018 – and also to Turkey in 2021. In all three cases, they chose expensive business class planes, one of which was regularly used by CSKA president Yevgeny Giner. On several flights, they were accompanied by the families of businessmen Vitaly Mashchitsky and Alexander Chigirinsky. Thus, both the Russian Foreign Minister and the de facto mother-in-law of the country’s president maintain friendly relations with successful businessmen capable of financing expensive vacations, writes the “Agentstvo” portal.
Apparently, L. Kabaeva and S. Poliakova maintain friendly relations – they flew twice more to Italy without S. Lavrov in 2016 and 2018, both times using an aircraft regularly flown by Tatiana Yumasheva, daughter of the first Russian president Boris Yeltsin, and also to Croatia in 2019. During the last trip to Croatia, they were accompanied by Leisian Kabaeva – the younger sister of V. Putin’s beloved.
Why Lavrov has been in office for 22 years
It is likely that this closeness could explain why S. Lavrov remains the only member of the Russian government who has been in office for 22 years. In the State Duma elections starting on Friday, he also became one of the leaders of the “United Russia” list. However, this fact has fueled rumors in recent months about a possible resignation of S. Lavrov.
Three “Project” interlocutors – a presidential administration employee, a top-level state propaganda manager, and a person close to Russian and Ukrainian negotiations – believe that S. Lavrov’s resignation would be a logical decision.
“Russia practically has no foreign policy,” one of them said. The source noted that S. Lavrov at least publicly does not even participate in Russian-Ukrainian negotiations, where the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev, businessman Roman Abramovich, and presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky are more visible.
“Agentstvo” previously reported that K. Dmitriev’s participation in negotiations in Saudi Arabia was unexpected for S. Lavrov.
Will the Russian Foreign Minister change?
All three “Project” interlocutors emphasized that they do not know whether the decision to change the foreign minister has already been made. However, two of them heard that the new head of the ministry should not be a diplomat. As an example, one interlocutor mentioned Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, representing Russia in the OPEC organization.
According to one interlocutor, S. Lavrov himself also apparently does not rule out the possibility of resignation. Because of this, he may have recently strengthened “patriotic” rhetoric, including sharp confrontation with Japan. This, according to the source, demonstrates loyalty. Regardless of the decision about S. Lavrov, officials traditionally expect personnel changes after the Duma elections.
“Project” obtained information about S. Lavrov’s and the elder Kabaeva’s flights from a leaked border crossing database. It analyzed thousands of officials’ and their companions’ flights over ten years. The authors of the investigation claim to have found out where, with whom, and at whose expense the Russian government travels, as well as many exclusive stories from V. Putin’s inner circle life.
16 people injured in attack in Kyiv – including a 10-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy
10:24
During the night from Wednesday to Thursday, at least 16 people were injured in Russian missile and drone attacks in Kyiv, local officials reported.
The Kyiv city military administration stated on the social network “Telegram” that attacks were recorded at more than 10 locations.
Among the injured are a 10-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy.
The Ukrainian Air Forces reported that during the night attack they destroyed or neutralized 131 targets.
The main strikes hit the Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa regions. In total, strikes were recorded at 36 locations, and debris from downed targets fell in five places. According to the forces, ballistic and cruise missiles and 157 drones and decoy targets were used in the attack.
In the Dnipro district, a warehouse, office building, residential houses, and cars were damaged, according to the report. In the Solomyanka district, a warehouse was affected, and in the Darnytsia district, another warehouse and cars were damaged.
In the Podil district, officials said the roof of a non-residential building was damaged.
US to impose sanctions on Russian oil and gas buyers – India reacts immediately
10:16
India on Thursday stated it will continue to buy oil from “various” suppliers, after US lawmakers approved sanctions aimed at pressuring Russia over its war in Ukraine.
US legislation targets Russia’s energy and defense sectors, President Vladimir Putin, and other high-ranking officials. It also aims to restrict Moscow’s shadow tanker fleet used to circumvent Western sanctions.
The law grants US President Donald Trump the authority to impose up to 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India, to limit revenues funding Moscow’s war.
Looking after its own interests
However, India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated the country “remains firmly committed to ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion population.”
“This will continue to be done by diversifying sources and considering changing market dynamics,” said New Delhi.
Moscow is one of India’s key strategic partners and military equipment suppliers.
“The Indian side has also clearly expressed its determination to take all necessary measures to protect its trade and economic interests,” the ministry added.
India has mitigated the energy crisis, partly caused by the US-Iran conflict, by turning to Russia, despite Moscow’s war in Ukraine and pressure from Washington and other Western capitals.
V. Putin and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks last week in New Delhi ahead of the BRICS summit.
“This issue has been discussed at a high level with various US representatives in recent months,” the ministry added.
“The Indian side has clearly outlined the possible consequences not only for bilateral relations but also for the international energy market.”
Indian refineries in March, weeks after the war in the Middle East began, nearly doubled crude oil imports from Russia to 2.25 million barrels per day, helped by temporary US exemptions.
According to trade data company Kpler, imports reached a record 2.81 million barrels in July but fell to 2.07 million barrels last month.
Up to $100,000 launched into the air: calculated how much damage Ukrainian capture drones caused to Russians
09:52
Since the beginning of September, Ukraine’s 55th Brigade has destroyed several Russian drones, including five BM-35 drones, each valued at about $22,000, and one unmanned aerial vehicle “Kniaz Veshchiy Oleg,” valued at approximately $100,000.
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Drone units of Ukraine’s 55th Brigade demonstrated several operations intercepting Russian unmanned aerial vehicles, drawing attention to the increasingly used specialized interception drones designed to destroy enemy drones. The video was published on September 15 by Ukraine’s “East” operational command.
According to the command, Russian forces have started using new strike UAV “Molniya” modifications. These drones are increasingly becoming targets of Ukrainian capture drone crews. Their task is to destroy enemy drones before they reach their intended targets.
Read more HERE.
US – important meetings between Ukrainians and Americans
09:44
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the country is preparing for meetings in the United States with its partners.
In a Wednesday evening address, he stated that negotiations and issues related to energy, weapons, and food security will be discussed during the meetings in the US.
“We are preparing meetings in the US with our partners. This concerns negotiations – bringing peace closer – and some other important issues, including energy, food security, and weapons. There will be new support packages for Ukraine, especially in air defense,” the president said in an address published on his official website.
Ukraine struck Russian military airfield, oil refinery caught fire
06:51
Ukrainian forces struck a military airfield in Russia’s Rostov region on Thursday night, and a fire broke out at the Yaroslavl oil refinery following reports of a drone attack.
Ukraine’s monitoring channel “Exilenova+” published a video capturing the moment of the attack on the military airfield in the Rostov region. A second video posted by the channel appears to show another explosion at the same location.
Rostov region governor Yuri Slyusar stated on “Telegram” that drones were destroyed overnight in the Millerovo and Kamensk districts as Russian forces repelled an air attack on the region.
There are several Russian military aviation facilities in the Rostov region, and it has been targeted multiple times by Ukrainian forces.
More than 10 powerful explosions thundered in Kyiv at night
06:31
More than 10 powerful explosions thundered in Kyiv last night, with officials in the Ukrainian capital warning of missile threats, AFP news agency correspondent reported.
In recent months, both Russia and Ukraine have increasingly used long-range missiles to strike each other’s territories.
“Air danger due to missile strike threat declared in Kyiv. We urge residents to go to the nearest shelters,” Kyiv city military administration wrote on the “Telegram” network.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that a residential and office building was damaged in the city’s Dnipro district.
According to Ukrainian officials, at least 12 people were injured in Kyiv, including two children.
Officials also reported an attack in the southern port city of Odesa, where a 19-story apartment building was damaged and several of its floors destroyed, the Odesa city military administration posted on “Telegram.”
US Congress passed a package of “hellish sanctions” against Russia
06:23
The US House of Representatives on Wednesday approved strict legislation by final vote that would impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying Russian oil and gas, reports the “Kyiv Independent” newspaper.
After months of delay, the legislation was sent to President Donald Trump for signature.
This bipartisan bill, initiated by the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, grants US President Donald Trump the authority to set tariffs of up to 100% on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and natural gas, as well as five countries helping Moscow circumvent energy sanctions.
The bill passed with 262 votes in favor and 159 against. 203 Republicans, 56 Democrats, and one independent voted for the bill. Seven Republicans and 152 Democrats voted against it.
In early August, the bill received overwhelming support in the Senate, less than a month after L. Graham unexpectedly died from illness following a trip to Ukraine.
However, the bill faced much stronger opposition in the House, as some Democrats fear it would give D. Trump too much authority over tariffs but not actually require sanctions on Russia.
Nevertheless, the House approved the bill on September 15 in the first procedural vote by a narrow margin of 214–211.
Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat who co-authored the bill with L. Graham, welcomed the bill’s passage in the House.
“This day is a historic victory for democracy – ours and Ukraine’s – showing that America can still unite both parties in the fight for freedom,” said Blumenthal in a statement.
The vote on the L. Graham bill was closely watched in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky urged US lawmakers on September 11 to pass the bill, emphasizing the need for decisive “personal decisions by President Trump.”
Speaking before the vote, Blumenthal said, “It is important for both America and Ukraine to show Vladimir Putin that we will resist him because he only understands force and strength.”
The bill targets countries buying Russian energy products. China, India, and Turkey are among the largest buyers of Russian oil, while the European Union, China, and Turkey are the main importers of Russian natural gas.
The list of countries subject to restrictions would be reviewed every 180 days. Countries importing less than 15% of total Russian natural gas exports and actively reducing this import would be exempt.
The legislation would also impose sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and other high-ranking officials; major Russian financial institutions, including the Central Bank, Sberbank, and Gazprombank; and Russian state-owned enterprises.
Additionally, it would target foreign entities supporting Russia’s defense industry base, key Russian energy projects, and Moscow’s so-called “shadow fleet,” which helps Russia continue exporting oil despite Western sanctions.
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