Some of Belarus’s most prominent opposition figures react to their surprise return to freedom Maria Kalesnikava speaks at a press conference in Chernihiv, Ukraine, 14 December 2025. Photo: Dmytro Durnev A press conference was held in the Ukrainian city of Chernihiv, north of Kyiv, on Sunday, after Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko released some 123 political prisoners on Saturday in exchange for the United States agreeing to lift its sanctions on the key Belarusian export potash.

A compromise on the “peace plan” has not yet been found: the American side demands that Kyiv cede Donbass, Zelensky rejects this Steve Witkoff, Vladimir Zelensky and Friedrich Merz at the Federal Chancellor's Office in Berlin, Germany, December 14, 2025.

A person crosses the street during a power outage in Kyiv, Ukraine, 29 November 2024. Photo: EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO Ukraine’s energy grid is at risk of collapse amid widespread Russian strikes this winter, potentially leading to a complete blackout in the east of the country, The Washington Post (WP) reported on Monday.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Berlin, Germany, 14 December 2025. Photo: EPA/Guido Bergmann / German government press office Talks being held in Berlin on Monday on a potential peace deal between delegations from Ukraine, the US and Europe have come to an end with no breakthrough being made on the contentious issue of Kyiv ceding some of its territory to Russia, The Guardian has reported .

Photo: Klintsy Info The Klintsovsky City Court of the Bryansk Region found former United Russia deputy Vladimir Reuk guilty of fraud and attempted fraud on a large scale and sentenced him to ten years in prison. This was reported by the press service of the Bryansk courts. In addition, the former official was fined 960 thousand rubles. The defendant did not admit his guilt.

People with flashlights on the street in Kyiv during a power outage. Photo: Sergey Dolzhenko / EPA Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure have become more intense and widespread this year than ever before. Because of this, Kiev and the eastern regions of Ukraine were on the verge of a complete blackout, The Washington Post (WP) reported , citing sources. People with flashlights on the street in Kyiv during a power outage.

Russian football, even in isolation, is in the spotlight. What has happened in it over the past six months? Valery Karpin. Photo: fcdynamo.ru Russian football, in the absence of European Cups, went on a long pause until spring. The first part of the RPL was marked by high-profile scandals, the departure of Valery Karpin from Dynamo and another super-expensive transfer of Zenit from Brazil. The first part of the football Premier League season has ended in Russia.

Krasnodar residents attend a rally against the building of a new church, 14 December 2025. Photo: Alexander Safronov / Telegram Approximately 1,000 residents of the southern Russian city of Krasnodar came out to record an appeal to Vladimir Putin in a rare mass protest against the building of a new church, local lawmaker Alexander Safronov wrote on his Telegram channel on Sunday.

The thriller “Anniversary” by Jan Komasa was quietly and modestly released at the worldwide box office, but unexpectedly raised a wave of discussions in Russian-language social networks Photo: Owen Behan/Lionsgate Georgetown University professor and family mother Ellen (Diane Lane) and her husband, restaurateur Paul (Kyle Chandler), are celebrating 25 years of marriage.

Russian group Pussy Riot performs on stage at an event marking 35 years of the fall of the Berlin Wall in Berlin, Germany, 10 November 2024. Photo: EPA / HANNIBAL HANSCHKE A Moscow court has declared feminist punk band Pussy Riot an “extremist” organisation and banned its activities in Russia, independent news outlet SOTAvision reported from outside a closed court hearing on Monday.

Protests by residents of Krasnodar against the “temple construction” in the park revived the protracted battle of the Russian Orthodox Church TV channel “Spas” with the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Protesters against the construction of a temple in Krasnodar.

Photo: Pussy Riot/Instagram The Tverskoy District Court of Moscow upheld the claim of the Prosecutor General's Office and recognized the punk group Pussy Riot as an “extremist” organization. A SOTAvision correspondent reports this. The court hearing was held behind closed doors, the decision was made by judge Maria Moskalenko. Pussy Riot's interests were represented in court by lawyer Leonid Solovyov. In connection with what the group was recognized as an “extremist” organization is unknown.

Ukraine’s military continued its targeted airstrikes on Russian energy infrastructure overnight on Sunday, with a missile strike reported on a thermal power plant in Russia’s southwestern Belgorod region, as well as a large number of drones intercepted en route to the Russian capital.

Their son has been detained in connection with the murder of the couple. Rob and Michelle Reiner, photo: Ron Sachs/EPA American director and actor Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle Singer were found dead in their home in Los Angeles. Variety writes about this with reference to a statement from the family. “It is with deep sadness that we announce the tragic death of Michelle and Rob Reiner.

Screenshot: YouTube Pianist and composer, People's Artist of Russia Levon Oganezov died at the age of 84. This is stated in a message published on his Facebook page. Screenshot: YouTube The publication says that Oganezov died on December 13 after a long battle with cancer. The last years of his life the musician lived in the USA. Farewell to the composer will take place on December 16; he will be buried at Kensico Cemetery in New York.