Ukraine Battles Separatists to Control Border with Russia
Ukrainian border guards stand grim-faced and nervous at the remote Marynivka checkpoint on the frontier with Russia, fearing an attack by pro-Moscow separatists at any time.
Ukraine
Poroshenko sworn in as Ukraine’s president
Ukraine’s new president on Saturday called for pro-Russian rebels in the country’s east to lay down their arms and welcomed dialogue with the insurgents, but said he wouldn’t negotiate with those he called “gangsters and killers” and struck a defiant tone on the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula.
G7 willing to step up sanctions on Russia over Ukraine
The world’s leading industrialized nations threatened on Wednesday to impose harder-hitting sanctions on Russia if it does not help restore stability to eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian militias continue to operate at will.
Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan Establish New Alliance
The leaders of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan on Thursday created an economic union that intends to boost cooperation between the ex-Soviet neighbors, a pact which was at the source of the crisis in Ukraine.
World Bank sounds alarm on rising global food prices
World food prices rose in the first quarter of the year for the first time since their all-time high in August 2012, driven by rising demand in China, drought in the United States and unrest in Ukraine.
Ukraine Helicopters Strike Rebel-Held Airport
Ukrainian government helicopters have launched an unprecedented airstrike against pro-Russian rebels who seized an airport terminal in the eastern city of Donetsk, with reports of civilian casualties.
Hungary Detains Metals Plant Director in Toxic Spill Probe (Exclusive)
Hungarian police on Monday detained the managing director of a metals plant where a reservoir burst last week, flooding several towns with toxic waste – killing at least eight people and injuring more than 100 others. Before his arrest, Zoltan Bakonyi told Worthy News that his company was not guilty of negligence, as authorities contend.
Russia Sits Under Potential Radiation Cloud
Fires in Russia have scorched forests contaminated with radiation from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine, but it was unclear how dangerous the toxic smog might be according to Russian officials, Worthy News monitored on August 12.
NEWS WATCH: Ukraine’s Prime Minister Challenges Election Results
Ukrainian election officials say they will not consider Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s complaints of presidential election fraud. Results show opposition leader Victor Yanukovich defeated Tymoshenko by 3.5 percentage points in the February 7 runoff election.
NEWS WATCH: Lithuania Shuts Down Its Only Nuclear Power Plant
Lithuania has closed down its Soviet-built nuclear power plant as part of an agreement with the European Union, ushering in a new era of energy uncertainty for the country.
NEWS WATCH: US VP Warns Europe of Missile Threats
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has called on America’s European allies to step-up their defense efforts, saying they the face growing security threats from outside Europe.
Europe Concerned Over Dependency On Russian Gas
Amid a major global financial crisis, Eastern European governments were anxiously awaiting Thursday, January 29, if and when European Union funding will come for the Nabucco pipeline, in hopes of making Europe less dependent on Russian natural gas.
Russia’s Putin Orders Halt To Gas Shipments Via Ukraine
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin asked state-run energy giant Gazprom to cease all deliveries of natural gas into Ukraine, destined for Europe, Russian state media reported Wednesday, January 7, despite reports that over a dozen people in Europe already froze to death as temperatures dropped.
Russia Blames Ukraine for Europe’s Gas Shortages
The European Union was to hold a special meeting Monday, January 5, to discuss a major energy crisis, after Russia accused Ukraine of stealing natural gas destined for Europe.
Fire Damages Christian Orphanage In Ukraine; Dozens Displaced
As winter sets in, dozens of children and adult women and men remained displaced Thursday, November 15, after a fire destroyed parts of a Christian orphanage near the western Ukrainian city of Rivne, missionaries told BosNewsLife.
Uzbekistan Church Leaders in Hiding amid Beatings and Deportations
Fearing beatings, detentions and deportations “many” Uzbek Protestant church leaders and their families were in hiding Friday, September 1, as Uzbekistan celebrated its 15th anniversary of independence, Christians said.
Nearly 100 Christian Radio Outlets in Russia Forced Off the Air Temporarily
All but two of the nearly 100 outlets affiliated with New Life Radio (NLR), a Russian satellite network operated by Christian Radio for Russia with HCJB World Radio as the principal partner, have been forced to go off the air temporarily.
Uzbekistan Crackdown on Christians and NGO’s, Sources Say
There was mounting concern Wednesday, July 26, over a new crackdown on Christians in Uzbekistan after authorities closed down US-based aid group Central Asia Free Exchange (CAFE) on charges of “illegal religious activities,” including preaching the Gospel.
President Flees Kyrgyzstan, Raising Hopes for Persecuted Christians
Persecuted Evangelical Christians and missionary workers in Kyrgyzstan were awaiting a new dawn late Thursday, March 24, as lawmakers of this former Soviet republic appointed a new interim president, news reports suggested.
Thugs Attack Christian Publisher in Ukraine
A brutal attack on a Christian book publisher in Ukraine has underscored the high stakes struggle over human rights and religious liberty in the former Soviet republic preparing for a re-run of a sharply contested presidential election.