<p>Russia on Friday (May 24) said that Islamic State executed the March concert hall attack in Moscow in coordination with unnamed entities in Ukraine. The terror attack which killed over 140 people was the deadliest attack on civilians in Russia in two decades.</p>

<p>"In the course of the investigation... it has been established that the preparations, the financing, the attack and the retreat of the terrorists were coordinated via the internet by members of Khorasan Province (IS-K)," an IS branch active in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Alexander Bortnikov, the head of FSB, was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/moscow-concert-hall-attack-russia-detains-eighth-suspect-amid-torture-concerns-704641">Moscow concert hall attack: Russia detains eighth suspect amid torture concerns</a></strong></p>

<p>The Islamic State has claimed responsibility on multiple occasions for the March 22 attack but Moscow linked Ukraine and the West with the attack.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bortnikov, while delving upon the Ukrainian angle in his statements on Friday (May 24), said that "upon completing the attack, the terrorists received clear instructions to move toward the Ukrainian border, where from the other side a 'window' had been prepared for them."</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Terror attack in Moscow: Moscow concert hall updates</strong></p>

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<p>"The investigation is ongoing, but it is already safe to say that Ukrainian military intelligence is directly involved in this attack," the state news agency quoted Bortnikov as saying.</p>

<p>Ukraine has denied any involvement in the incident.</p>

<h2><strong>Moscow concert attack: What happened?</strong></h2>

<p>Terrorists stormed the Crocus City Hall venue on the outskirts of Moscow before setting the building on fire in March killing over 140 people.</p>

<p>More than a dozen suspects have been arrested including the four assailants, who are all from the Central Asian nation of Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic on Afghanistan's northern border.</p>

<p>The United States has said it had publicly and privately warned Russia in early March that terrorists were planning an attack on a concert hall in Moscow.</p>

<p>A number of unnamed US intelligence officials told the US media outlets after the massacre that they had told Moscow it was the Crocus City Hall specifically that IS was planning to attack.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Russia on Friday (May 24) said that Islamic State executed the March concert hall attack in Moscow in coordination with unnamed entities in Ukraine. The terror attack which killed over 140 people was the deadliest attack on civilians in Russia in two decades.

Russia on Friday (May 24) said that Islamic State executed the March concert hall attack in Moscow in coordination with unnamed entities in Ukraine. The terror attack which killed over 140 people was the deadliest attack on civilians in Russia in two decades. "In the course of the investigation... it has been established that the preparations, the financing, the attack and the retreat of the terrorists were coordinated via the internet by members of Khorasan Province (IS-K)," an IS branch active in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Alexander Bortnikov, the head of FSB, was quoted as saying by the RIA Novosti news agency. Also read | Moscow concert hall attack: Russia detains eighth suspect amid torture concerns The Islamic State has claimed responsibility on multiple occasions for the March 22 attack but Moscow linked Ukraine and the West with the attack. Bortnikov, while delving upon the Ukrainian angle in his statements on Friday (May 24), said that "upon completing the attack, the terrorists received clear instructions to move toward the Ukrainian border, where from the other side a 'window' had been prepared for them." Also watch | Terror attack in Moscow: Moscow concert hall updates × "The investigation is ongoing, but it is already safe to say that Ukrainian military intelligence is directly involved in this attack," the state news agency quoted Bortnikov as saying. Ukraine has denied any involvement in the incident. Moscow concert attack: What happened? Terrorists stormed the Crocus City Hall venue on the outskirts of Moscow before setting the building on fire in March killing over 140 people. More than a dozen suspects have been arrested including the four assailants, who are all from the Central Asian nation of Tajikistan, a former Soviet republic on Afghanistan's northern border. The United States has said it had publicly and privately warned Russia in early March that terrorists were planning an attack on a concert hall in Moscow. A number of unnamed US intelligence officials told the US media outlets after the massacre that they had told Moscow it was the Crocus City Hall specifically that IS was planning to attack. (With inputs from agencies)

Russia says Ukraine gave refuge to fleeing Islamic State terrorists after Moscow concert attack

Russia's Foreign Ministry warned the United Kingdom on Thursday that if Ukrainian forces use British weapons to assault Russian territory, Moscow may strike British targets.

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<p>A recent study published in the journal Current Biology says that greater spotted eagles which have migratory routes through Ukraine have shifted their flight paths to avoid the ongoing war.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>About the study</strong></h2>

<p>According to researchers from University of East Anglia (UEA), the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Estonian University of Life Sciences, GPS data found that the eagles skirted around artillery fire, jets and tanks as well as troops amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and took large detours to do it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study also suggests that in addition to the detours, the greater spotted eagles also reduced the number of breaks they took along their journeys or avoided them altogether.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Russia ramps up attack on Ukraine's power grids</strong></p>

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<p>Every year during spring, the greater spotted eagles make their way all the way from Greece and Sudd in South Sudan to their breeding grounds in Belarus. The females travel from Greece while the males travel from sites in east Africa.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study published on Monday (May 20) was based on the data collected and analysed from 19 tagged birds as they flew through Ukraine to breeding grounds in southern Belarus in March and April 2022, weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The war in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on people and the environment. Our findings provide a rare window into how conflicts affect wildlife, improving our understanding of the potential impacts of exposure to such events or other extreme human activities that are difficult to predict or monitor,” said lead author Charlie Russell, in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-begins-tactical-nuclear-drills-near-ukraine-in-response-to-western-threats-724056">Russia begins tactical nuclear drills near Ukraine in response to Western ‘threats’</a></strong></p>

<p>Russell also noted how these disturbances also significantly impact the behaviour, and also potentially affect the fitness of the eagles. “For individuals breeding in these areas, or other species that are less able to respond to disturbance, the impacts are likely to be much greater,” the lead author added.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What did the researchers find?</strong></h2>

<p>The data collected during the war was compared with that recorded from 20 birds between 2018 and 2021.</p>

<p>The researchers found that the birds flew further and less directly to breeding grounds travelling as much as 85 kilometres extra on an average. The journey also took 55 hours longer, on average after the war started.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the study, fewer birds were stopped in Ukraine before returning to their breeding grounds.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Out of 19 birds, only six took breaks, according to the latest data when compared to 18 out of 20 in 2018-21 while some important stopover sites in Ukrainian Polesia were not used at all in 2022.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


A recent study published in the journal Current Biology says that greater spotted eagles which have migratory routes through Ukraine have shifted their flight paths to avoid the ongoing war.

A recent study published in the journal Current Biology says that greater spotted eagles which have migratory routes through Ukraine have shifted their flight paths to avoid the ongoing war. About the study According to researchers from University of East Anglia (UEA), the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Estonian University of Life Sciences, GPS data found that the eagles skirted around artillery fire, jets and tanks as well as troops amid the ongoing war in Ukraine and took large detours to do it. The study also suggests that in addition to the detours, the greater spotted eagles also reduced the number of breaks they took along their journeys or avoided them altogether. WATCH | Russia ramps up attack on Ukraine's power grids Every year during spring, the greater spotted eagles make their way all the way from Greece and Sudd in South Sudan to their breeding grounds in Belarus. The females travel from Greece while the males travel from sites in east Africa. The study published on Monday (May 20) was based on the data collected and analysed from 19 tagged birds as they flew through Ukraine to breeding grounds in southern Belarus in March and April 2022, weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. “The war in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on people and the environment. Our findings provide a rare window into how conflicts affect wildlife, improving our understanding of the potential impacts of exposure to such events or other extreme human activities that are difficult to predict or monitor,” said lead author Charlie Russell, in a statement. Also Read | Russia begins tactical nuclear drills near Ukraine in response to Western ‘threats’ Russell also noted how these disturbances also significantly impact the behaviour, and also potentially affect the fitness of the eagles. “For individuals breeding in these areas, or other species that are less able to respond to disturbance, the impacts are likely to be much greater,” the lead author added. What did the researchers find? The data collected during the war was compared with that recorded from 20 birds between 2018 and 2021. The researchers found that the birds flew further and less directly to breeding grounds travelling as much as 85 kilometres extra on an average. The journey also took 55 hours longer, on average after the war started. According to the study, fewer birds were stopped in Ukraine before returning to their breeding grounds. Out of 19 birds, only six took breaks, according to the latest data when compared to 18 out of 20 in 2018-21 while some important stopover sites in Ukrainian Polesia were not used at all in 2022. (With inputs from agencies)

Eagles forced to shift migration route amid war in Ukraine, say scientists

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Russia-Ukraine war: Zelensky pushes allies for direct involvement in war

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently mentioned that Washington was ready to discuss the possibility of using US weapons for attacking targets deep in the Russian territory, with Kiev . Soon afterwards, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said, that Kiev is taking provocative actions aimed at embroiling the United States and other NATO members into a head-on collision with Russia. WION's Shivan Chanana discusses with Amb. Volker Stanzel, Former German Ambassador to China and Japan, Senior Distinguished Fellow at SWP (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik)

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<p>Russia on Tuesday (May 21) announced that its forces have started the first stage of exercises near Ukraine ordered by President Vladimir Putin to simulate preparation for the launch of tactical nuclear weapons, in what Moscow said was a response to Western “threats”.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Russia begins drills</strong></h2>

<p>Amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Moscow has repeatedly made veiled threats to use nuclear weapons and boasted about the readiness of its arsenal if it senses an existential threat.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Moscow holds nuke drills near Ukraine</strong></p>

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<p>Russia has linked the recent drills to what it calls “militant statements” by Western officials, including the remarks made by French President Emmanuel Macron who floated the possibility of sending European troops to fight Moscow in Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Russian defence ministry said that the drills are taking place in the Southern Military District, which borders and includes parts of Ukraine that Moscow has claimed to annex amid the ongoing war. However, the specific location of the drills remained unclear.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A report by Reuters citing nuclear analysts said that the exercises are designed as a warning signal by Putin to deter the West from getting more involved in the war in Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-has-no-plans-of-capturing-ukraines-kharkiv-forces-creating-buffer-zone-putin-722547">Russia has no plans of capturing Ukraine's Kharkiv, forces creating 'buffer zone': Putin</a></strong></p>

<p>The drills are designed to test “the readiness of personnel and equipment of non-strategic nuclear weapons combat units to respond and to unconditionally ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian state,” said the Russian defence ministry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It added that they were a “response to provocative statements and threats by certain Western officials.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ministry also said that the first stage of the drills involved Iskander and Kinzhal missiles. The exercise also involves Belarus, where Russia said that it had deployed tactical nuclear weapons last year, a development that both Minsk and Moscow confirmed.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What were the ‘militant statements’?</strong></h2>

<p>Russian officials pointed to statements by the French president about NATO countries not ruling out the possibility of deploying troops to Ukraine as well as a statement by British Foreign Minister David Cameron who said Kyiv had the right to use weapons provided by the United Kingdom to strike targets inside the Russian territory.</p>

<p>Russia also cited the provision of long-range British, French and United States ATACMS missiles to Kyiv.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-claims-to-have-captured-another-village-in-kharkiv-region-ukraine-struggles-on-eastern-front-722910">Russia claims to have captured another village in Kharkiv region</a></strong></p>

<p>“The exercises are, obviously, a signal in response to discussion of NATO countries’ troops in Ukraine. The most important features are advance announcement and visibility,” Nikolai Sokov, a former Soviet and Russian arms control official, told Reuters.</p>

<p>He also said that the Western militaries will be watching the drills closely in an attempt to draw conclusions about how much warning time they would have before Russia deploys them for real, he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier this month, the Russian foreign ministry had said that the drills should send a “sobering signal” to the West and its “puppets” in Ukraine.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Russia on Tuesday (May 21) announced that its forces have started the first stage of exercises near Ukraine ordered by President Vladimir Putin to simulate preparation for the launch of tactical nuclear weapons, in what Moscow said was a response to Western “threats”.

Russia on Tuesday (May 21) announced that its forces have started the first stage of exercises near Ukraine ordered by President Vladimir Putin to simulate preparation for the launch of tactical nuclear weapons, in what Moscow said was a response to Western “threats”. Russia begins drills Amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Moscow has repeatedly made veiled threats to use nuclear weapons and boasted about the readiness of its arsenal if it senses an existential threat. WATCH | Moscow holds nuke drills near Ukraine Russia has linked the recent drills to what it calls “militant statements” by Western officials, including the remarks made by French President Emmanuel Macron who floated the possibility of sending European troops to fight Moscow in Ukraine. The Russian defence ministry said that the drills are taking place in the Southern Military District, which borders and includes parts of Ukraine that Moscow has claimed to annex amid the ongoing war. However, the specific location of the drills remained unclear. A report by Reuters citing nuclear analysts said that the exercises are designed as a warning signal by Putin to deter the West from getting more involved in the war in Ukraine. Also Read | Russia has no plans of capturing Ukraine's Kharkiv, forces creating 'buffer zone': Putin The drills are designed to test “the readiness of personnel and equipment of non-strategic nuclear weapons combat units to respond and to unconditionally ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Russian state,” said the Russian defence ministry. It added that they were a “response to provocative statements and threats by certain Western officials.” The ministry also said that the first stage of the drills involved Iskander and Kinzhal missiles. The exercise also involves Belarus, where Russia said that it had deployed tactical nuclear weapons last year, a development that both Minsk and Moscow confirmed. What were the ‘militant statements’? Russian officials pointed to statements by the French president about NATO countries not ruling out the possibility of deploying troops to Ukraine as well as a statement by British Foreign Minister David Cameron who said Kyiv had the right to use weapons provided by the United Kingdom to strike targets inside the Russian territory. Russia also cited the provision of long-range British, French and United States ATACMS missiles to Kyiv. Also Read | Russia claims to have captured another village in Kharkiv region “The exercises are, obviously, a signal in response to discussion of NATO countries’ troops in Ukraine. The most important features are advance announcement and visibility,” Nikolai Sokov, a former Soviet and Russian arms control official, told Reuters. He also said that the Western militaries will be watching the drills closely in an attempt to draw conclusions about how much warning time they would have before Russia deploys them for real, he added. Earlier this month, the Russian foreign ministry had said that the drills should send a “sobering signal” to the West and its “puppets” in Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies)

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