Russian Tu-160 bombers practised launching cruise missiles over the Barents Sea on Tuesday during joint military drills with Belarus, as part of the Zapad 2025 exercises.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Tuesday that its nuclear-capable Tu-160 strategic bombers carried out simulated cruise missile launches during a four-hour flight over neutral waters in the Barents Sea, escorted by MiG-31 fighter jets. The manoeuvres were part of the ongoing Zapad 2025 military exercises conducted jointly with Belarus.
The five-day drills, which Moscow says are intended to test combat readiness, have heightened regional concerns, coming days after NATO and Polish forces shot down Russian drones that violated Polish airspace. In response, Poland temporarily closed its border with Belarus.
Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin was expected to observe another component of the exercises on Russian territory on Tuesday, which his ministry said would be held “in conditions as close as possible to combat”.
Belarus, a close Russian ally, has supported the war in Ukraine politically and logistically but has not deployed troops. President Alexander Lukashenko has permitted Russian forces to base tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil.
U.S. President Donald Trump has recently moved to thaw relations with Belarus, easing sanctions last week following the release of 52 detainees, including political prisoners. In a rare move, U.S. military officers were invited to observe part of the Zapad exercise in Belarus on Monday.
The Barents Sea, located north of Scandinavia, is strategically significant due to its proximity to NATO-member Norway and Russia’s Northern Fleet bases. The Zapad drills, which are held every four years, traditionally focus on Russia’s western military district and border areas.
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Senior representatives from the U.S., Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye have held talks in Miami to assess progress on the Gaza ceasefire and lay the groundwork for its next phase, according to a statement issued by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
Swedish customs officials have boarded a Russian freighter anchored in Swedish waters after confirming that the vessel and its owners are subject to European Union and U.S. sanctions.
Senior officials and media leaders from Turkic states have met in Ankara to strengthen cooperation against disinformation and deepen coordination in the information sphere.
Japan and five Central Asian nations have unveiled a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening critical minerals supply chains and fostering broader regional cooperation, following their first summit in Tokyo on Saturday.
The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has risen to 161, after forensic analysis confirmed one more victim among the charred remains at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, more than three weeks after the blaze began, authorities said on Saturday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump on 29 December in Florida, where he is expected to present a package of military options regarding Iran, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported on Saturday.
The United States seized a second merchant vessel carrying oil off the coast of Venezuela in international waters on Saturday, as part of Washington’s sanctions enforcement campaign, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
US intelligence assessments indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to seek full control of Ukraine and to expand Russia’s influence in parts of Europe formerly under Soviet rule, contradicting repeated claims that Moscow poses no threat to the continent.
A major power outage swept across San Francisco on Saturday, leaving up to 130,000 customers without electricity, disrupting traffic and forcing some businesses to close temporarily, officials said.
The Russia-Ukraine war has brought renewed scrutiny to the systems of power surrounding Moscow, as financial networks, political influence, and regional leverage come under examination alongside the conflict itself.
A major power outage swept across San Francisco on Saturday, leaving up to 130,000 customers without electricity, disrupting traffic and forcing some businesses to close temporarily, officials said.
U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said on Sunday that the U.S. intelligence community does not believe Russia has the capability to conquer Europe, or even to conquer and occupy Ukraine.
Swedish customs officials have boarded a Russian freighter anchored in Swedish waters after confirming that the vessel and its owners are subject to European Union and U.S. sanctions.
Senior officials and media leaders from Turkic states have met in Ankara to strengthen cooperation against disinformation and deepen coordination in the information sphere.
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