VIDEO REPORTS
Putin Blames Kyiv For Escalation In Eastern Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the Ukrainian government of provoking this week's flare up in fighting with Russia-backed separatists in the east of the country.
Intense Fighting Prompts Evacuations In Eastern Ukraine
Civilians have been bearing the brunt of artillery and rocket battles amidst renewed fighting in villages near Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
Suspicions Of Smuggling Swirl Around Airline Tragedy In Kyrgyzstan
Luxury cigarette lighters, expensive phones, and other electronic gadgets were among the wreckage found after a Turkish cargo plane slammed into a village near Kyrgyzstan’s Manas International Airport.
From Ivory Coast With Love: A Migrant In Moscow
Traoré Kajale left war-torn Ivory Coast in 2012 with dreams of playing professional soccer in Moscow.
OTHER NEWS
Ukraine Braces For Escalation In Eastern War
Ukraine has bolstered its defenses with scores of troops and large-caliber artillery, including main battle tanks, as Russia-backed separatists stepped up attacks against Ukrainian government forces in Avdiyivka for a fifth straight day.
U.S. Treasury Eases License Sanctions On Russia's FSB
The U.S. Treasury Department has eased some financial sanctions imposed on Russia's lead domestic security agency, a move experts said appeared to be aimed at helping U.S. technology companies.
U.S. Ambassador Says No Lifting Of Sanctions Until Crimea Returned
The new U.S. ambassador to the United Nations has expressed "strong condemnation of Russia's actions" in eastern Ukraine and warned that Ukraine-related sanctions against Russia will not be lifted until Crimea is returned to Kyiv.
Lukashenka Says Russia Tries To 'Grab Us By The Throat'
Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka lashed out at Russia during a high-profile news conference, accusing the Kremlin of violating treaties between the closely linked neighbors and using energy supplies to "grab us by the throat."
Hungarian Leader Calls For Improved EU-Russia Ties During Putin Visit
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says he hopes relations between the European Union and Russia will improve in the near future and encouraged all parties to increase cooperation.
Baku Denies Man Captured By Separatists Is Azerbaijani Soldier
Azerbaijan has denied a statement by separatist authorities in the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region that a man captured by separatist forces is an Azerbaijani soldier.
Fugitive Kazakh Banker Ablyazov Faces New Charge
Fugitive Kazakh tycoon and opposition figure Mukhtar Ablyazov faces a new charge in his home country.
Mobile VPN Access Reportedly Blocked In Turkmenistan
With less than two weeks before presidential elections on February 12, mobile users in Turkmenistan are reporting problems with accessing VPN services, a popular means of bypassing government controls that restrict access to social networks, independent news websites, and instant messengers. (In Russian, Turkmen Service)
Tajikistan Eyes Prenuptial Pacts To Help To Destitute Divorcees
Addressing concerns that women are increasingly being left destitute as divorce rates rise and living standards fall, Tajik lawmakers are making prenuptial agreements mandatory and legally binding for marrying couples.
COMMENTARY: Is Proposed Ukraine NATO Referendum Policy Or Politics?
Critics of a proposal by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to hold a referendum on joining NATO have dismissed it as a political move, while others have argued that even a “yes” vote will have no impact on membership talks. Proponents say, if the “yes” vote wins, it would signal readiness among voters to join the alliance. (Ukrainian Service)
POLYGRAPH.Info: Lavrov Claims U.S. Diplomats ‘In Disguise’ At Protests
INFOGRAPHIC: Domestic Violence: What Laws In The Region Say