Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarus' counterpart Alexander Lukashenko met in Sochi to discuss the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, which is set to begin in early July. This is the first time Russia has deployed nuclear weapons outside of its borders since the fall of the Soviet Union, and is seen as a warning to the U.S.-led NATO military alliance. The deployment of nuclear weapons is a way for Russia to demonstrate its commitment to its ally and to deter any potential aggression from the West.
Posts tagged as “the Soviet Union”
Robert Hanssen, a former FBI agent convicted of espionage and treason in 2001, was found dead in his prison cell on Monday morning. He was serving 15 consecutive life sentences for his crimes, which included selling highly classified material to the Soviet Union and Russia. His death serves as a reminder of the consequences of treason.
Key takeaways: China launched a new three-man crew to the Tiangong space station to replace three fellow “taikonauts” who had been in space for six…
Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine wrongfully detained in Russia since December 2018, has expressed his concern about the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has called for the release of Whelan and other wrongfully detained Americans in Russia, and the Biden administration has yet to comment on the situation. Whelan remains hopeful that he will be released soon, expressing confidence that the wheels are turning.
Viktoria Nasyrova, a 47-year-old Brooklyn woman, was sentenced to 21 years in prison on Wednesday for attempting to kill her lookalike friend with a poisoned cheesecake. The chemical used was phenazepam, a benzodiazepine developed by the Soviet Union, and the jury deliberated for two days before convicting Nasyrova of attempted murder and other counts. The Queens district attorney’s office said the case was a reminder that justice will be served no matter the circumstances.
Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter and American citizen, has been charged with espionage by Russian investigators. Gershkovich has denied all accusations and has been ordered to remain in custody until at least May 28. The case has been seen as a sign of increasing tensions between the United States and Russia, and has been widely condemned by international organizations.
In response to the West's increasing military support for Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced plans to station tactical atomic weapons in Belarus. The U.S. has not seen any indications that Russia is preparing to use its weapons, but Ukraine has called for an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council to "counter the Kremlin's nuclear blackmail." It is unclear how the U.N. Security Council meeting will address the situation.