It is difficult to determine how many foreigners have joined Russia's military. BBC Russian's analysis - which also looked at the number of foreigners killed and injured - suggests at least 20,000 may have signed up, including from countries such as Cuba, Nepal and North Korea.

Russia launched a second major drone and missile bombardment of Ukraine in four days, officials said Tuesday, aiming again at the power grid amid freezing temperatures in an apparent snub to U.S.-led peace efforts as Moscow's invasion of its neighbor approaches the four-year mark.

Russia has detained the chief doctor and acting head of the intensive care unit at a Siberian maternity hospital after the deaths of nine newborn babies, investigators said on Wednesday.

Moscow said the overnight strike was in response to an alleged Ukrainian drone strike on a residence used by President Vladimir Putin, which the U.S. and others said did not happen.

U.S. seizure of Russian tanker marks rare escalation in sanctions enforcement against "dark fleet," but experts say move unlikely to trigger confrontation.

China's trade with Russia in 2025 pulled back from a record level in 2024 and dropped for the first time in five years, Chinese data showed on Wednesday.

The state Investigative Committee said the suspected crimes were negligence, and causing death by negligence. It did not say who was under investigation.

Russia says it used its new Oreshnik hypersonic missile and other weapons in a massive strike on Ukraine​. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says a drone hit the Qatar embassy.

The hypersonic Oreshnik intermediate range ballistic missile hit Ukraine's western Lviv region late Thursday night, although officials there did not mention any casualties.

Grynkewich stated at Sweden’s National Security Conference that Russia and China are escalating joint patrols in the Arctic, extending their presence from the Russian northern coast to north of Alaska and near Canada.