The prospect of another ally falling in the Middle East will be a worrying one for Moscow, particularly after it has seen other alliances collapse recently.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday that the United States was fragmenting the very international system which Washington helped to create by undertaking what he said was an illegal operation to topple Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and by threatening Iran with attack.

Four years after David Barnes was charged in Russia with abusing his children in Texas despite not being charged with a crime in the U.S., he is now in a penal colony.

It is difficult to determine how many foreigners have joined Russia's military. BBC Russian's analysis - which also looked at the number of foreigners killed and injured - suggests at least 20,000 may have signed up, including from countries such as Cuba, Nepal and North Korea.

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched a second major drone and missile bombardment of Ukraine in four days, officials said Tuesday, aiming again at the power grid and apparently snubbing U.S.-led peace efforts as the war approaches the four-year mark.

Moscow said the overnight strike was in response to an alleged Ukrainian drone strike on a residence used by President Vladimir Putin, which the U.S. and others said did not happen.

Russia says it used its new Oreshnik hypersonic missile and other weapons in a massive strike on Ukraine​. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says a drone hit the Qatar embassy.

Russia and China allegedly expanding Arctic presence for military reasons, conducting joint patrols near Alaska and Canada, top NATO commander warns.