How Russia’s war against Ukraine forced Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to shift gears Dmitry Astakhov / TASS Mikhail Mishustin has been Russia’s prime minister for more than two and half years — despite constant rumors about his impending resignation. Moreover, throughout his career, Mishustin has cultivated a public image as an effective manager. Nevertheless, on February 24, he was caught flat footed.

The Siemens turbine for the Nord Stream gas pipeline, which the Canadian authorities sent to Russia after repairs, got stuck on the way in Germany because the Russian side did not give permission for its transportation. Reuters was told about this by sources familiar with the situation.

The European Union has officially announced new restrictions against Russia because of the war in Ukraine. The sanctions lists included 57 Russians and structures from the Russian Federation, according to the official journal of the EU.

Why Russia’s rise in drug overdose deaths is unlikely to end soon Valery Sharifulin / TASS According to data from Russia’s Federal Statistics Service (Rosstat), over 10,000 Russians died from drug use in 2021. That’s 37 percent more than in 2020 — and twice as many as in 2019.

Alexander Lukashenko has signed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Belarus that will allow for trials in absentia of defendants who are outside the country, the state agency Belta reported, citing Lukashenko's press service. Such special judicial proceedings are permitted to be conducted in relation to defendants in criminal cases of terrorism, genocide, mercenarism, treason, sabotage, creation of an extremist group, mass riots, and calls for sanctions.

An agreement on the creation of a corridor for the export of grain from Ukraine will be signed on July 22 in Istanbul. This was reported by TASS, the administration of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The document signing ceremony will begin at 16:30 local time (coincides with Moscow time) in the Dolmabahce Palace. It will be attended by representatives of Ukraine, Russia, Erdogan and UN Secretary General António Guterres.

Updated. A protocol for "discrediting" the Russian army (Part 1 of Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation) was drawn up against Novosibirsk City Council deputy Helga Pirogova. She was released from the police station. In Novosibirsk, plainclothes police officers detained city council member Helga Pirogova.

Israel will send a delegation to Moscow for negotiations Evgenia Novozhenina / Reuters / Scanpix / Leta The Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation filed a lawsuit against the liquidation of the organization "dry" , which helps the repatriation of Jews. This became known on July 21 from the message of the Basmanny Court, which will consider the lawsuit on July 28. Claims, as Interfax said in court, are related to violation of Russian legislation.

Russian journalists identify mercenary recruiters thanks to Wagner Group billboards in the regions PMC Wagner Altai Krai In mid-July, Meduza published an in-depth report about Russia mobilizing mercenaries to fight in Ukraine. Not long after, billboards began popping up in a number of Russian cities featuring thinly veiled recruitment ads for the Wagner Group — the notorious private military company financed by Kremlin-linked catering tycoon Evgeny Prigozhin.

The Economist spoke about such technologies John Moore / Getty images On February 24, Russian troops invaded Ukraine and soon reached Kyiv, but a month later retreated under the pretext of changing priorities in hostilities. It is believed that the Russian command did not expect serious resistance and planned to capture the capital of Ukraine in a few days, but what were the chances of the success of such an ambitious operation?

The Military-Civil Administration (MCA) of the Kharkiv region, appointed during the Russian occupation, has begun paying local residents of the territories pensions in rubles. This was reported by Vitaly Ganchev, whom TASS calls "the head of the MCA." "The first tranche has been received and distributed among the districts of the Kharkiv region. We can say [that we have started paying]. It is already July, we are paying for June, soon people will receive for July," Ganchev said.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky published a video message in which he denied the information that he was hospitalized. “I am in the office. As strong as now, I have never felt myself. And bad news for everyone who launches such fakes: I'm not alone, there are 40 million of us. And with all due respect to the elderly: 44 is not 70,” Zelensky said. The President of Ukraine turned 44 in January 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin will turn 70 in October.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella has signed a decree dissolving the country's parliament. This is stated in a statement on the website of the head of state. Mattarella later stated that elections should be held within 70 days. The exact date will be determined by the government. Most likely, it will be the end of September, writes Reuters. Update. Parliamentary elections in Italy will be held on 25 September.

The Solntsevsky District Court of Moscow sentenced former Yeralash director Ilya Belostotsky to 14 years in a maximum security penal colony for sexual abuse of a minor. This was reported by the Moscow prosecutor's office. As Kommersant notes , the court hearing was held behind closed doors; it is unknown whether the convicted man admitted guilt. Belostotsky was arrested in October 2020 on charges of sexual intercourse with a minor.

But it is early to rejoice: “United Russia” prepares a similar initiative Maxim Grigoryev / TASS On July 18, a group of deputies from the Communist Party and “Fair Russia” introduced a bill to the State Duma on the ban on “denial of family values” and “propaganda of non -traditional sexual relations”.