Author: Blazingcatfur

Russian authorities are expanding their crackdown against internal opposition to President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine, with police detaining thousands in cities across Russia over the past several days, according to a key human rights group in the country.

At least 411 people were arrested in 13 Russian cities on Monday, according to the group, OVD-Info, bringing the total detained since the Ukraine invasion began on Feb. 24 to more than 6,400. A number of prominent Russian sports figures, entertainers and business leaders have also expressed opposition to the war on social media.

The United States and its European allies must not build any bases in the former Soviet Union or use those countries for military purposes, warned Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday.

Lavrov, quoted by Russian state-run news agencies RIA and TASS, said the Kremlin found it unacceptable that some European nations are hosting U.S. nuclear weapons and again said Russia is taking measures to stop Ukraine from obtaining similar weapons. He did not provide evidence for the claim.

“It is high time to bring American nuclear weapons home, and to completely eliminate the infrastructure associated with them in Europe,” he said at a U.N. video conference on Tuesday.

Superyachts owned by Russian billionaires who have ties to President Vladimir Putin are on the move as the United States and its allies prepare further sanctions on their property following the invasion of Ukraine.

Data reviewed by CNBC from Marine Traffic shows that at least four massive yachts owned by Russian business leaders have been moving toward Montenegro and the Maldives since a wide array of sanctions were announced in recent days by leaders from around the world, including the U.S. Treasury targeting Russia’s central bank. The Maldives doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the U.S., according to Nomad Capitalist.

A college student who became famous for tracking Elon Musk’s private jet on Twitter has now started following Russian oligarchs after the nation invaded Ukraine.

University of Central Florida freshman Jack Sweeney set up a Twitter account called @RUOligarchJets to track the movements of aircraft owned by top Russian billionaires.

Chilling symbols are popping up on potential prime Russian attack targets in Ukraine — the work of Kremlin saboteurs, according to Ukrainian authorities and photos.

Ukrainian officials are urging residents to be on the lookout for the symbols, including bright red X-marks-the-spot ones, everywhere from residential high-rise rooftops to gas pipes.

The first day of March swept in with an icy blast of wind and snow; the sixth day of Russia’s invasion unfolds with a gnawing sense of foreboding. Satellite images convey, with searing clarity, the pace of Russia’s progress towards Kyiv. A serpentine armoured convoy, some 65km (40 miles) long, bristling with tanks and troops, slowly snakes forward. It’s only 27km away.

Russia strikes Kharkiv government HQ as more forces join column outside Kyiv

Russian forces have bombarded the government headquarters in Ukraine’s second biggest city, killing at least 11 civilians, officials have said, as a huge armoured column rolling towards the capital, Kyiv, raised fears of more devastating Russian tactics.

Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba on Tuesday tweeted video of the explosion in Kharkiv’s Freedom Square, calling it a “barbaric Russian missile strike” and accusing the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, of “murdering innocent civilians”.

What are thermobaric weapons and how do they work?

Fears have risen over the use of thermobaric weapons by Russia after the Ukrainian ambassador to the US said a vacuum bomb – another term for the weapon – had been used during the invasion.

⚡️ Russian forces have struck Independence Square in central Kharkiv with a powerful explosion.

According to a video of the event, the blast detonated right in front of the headquarters of the Kharkiv Oblast government.

Video: Ukraine NOW/Telegram pic.twitter.com/poZjYcjRjD

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) March 1, 2022