#MOSCOW

Ukrainian forces have claimed to have destroyed more than two dozen Russian ships since the war started in February 2022.

Thousands of people turned up at polling stations across Russia on Sunday to take part in what the anti-Kremlin opposition said was a peaceful but symbolic political protest against the re-election of President Vladimir Putin.

March 16, 2024, marks the tenth anniversary of the sham referendum held in Crimea.

The Kremlin can produce around 250,000 artillery shells per month, totaling approximately 3 mln per year.

Russia has appointed Admiral Alexander Moiseev as acting commander-in-chief of the Russian navy, the Fontanka news outlet reported on Sunday, citing unidentified sources.

The U.S. embassy in Russia has issued a warning about imminent plans for an attack in Moscow by “extremists”, following a report from Russian security services about the thwarting of a planned shooting at a synagogue by a cell associated with the Afghan branch of the Islamic State.

Moldova’s spy chief stated on Tuesday that Russia was planning fresh attempts to meddle in the country’s internal affairs by provoking protests, interfering in upcoming presidential elections, and disrupting plans to join the European Union.

Police in Moscow have prevented mourners, including the Polish ambassador, from attending the funeral of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s funeral service and burial will take place in Moscow on Friday, his spokeswoman said, after a search for a hall to allow his supporters to bid farewell to him failed.

Poland, Germany, Britain, and other European countries said on Tuesday that they had no plans to send ground troops to Ukraine after France hinted at this possibility. “Poland does not foresee sending its units into Ukraine’s territory,” said the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Funeral homes in Moscow are refusing to organize the ceremony for the final farewell to the Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, citing restrictions from the city authorities, as reported by the Russian independent channel Mozhem Objasnit on Telegram.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion two years ago, giving the first official figure after more than a year. Zelenskyy said that Kyiv is planning another counteroffensive against Russia while adding that Moscow is also likely to attempt another in late May or summer.

Ukraine and its foreign partners could invite Russia to a future peace summit to discuss an end to Moscow’s two-year-old invasion on Kyiv’s terms, said Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian office of the President, on Sunday.

Ukrainian drones hit a major Russian steel factory overnight, causing a large fire, a Kyiv source said on Saturday, on the second anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Hungary announced on Friday it had signed a deal to purchase four Saab SAABb.ST JAS Gripen fighter jets from Sweden. This decision comes as Budapest finally prepares to approve Stockholm’s bid to join NATO after nearly two years of delays.

On Friday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced that it has dismissed Russia's appeal against an International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspension for recognizing regional organizations from territories annexed from Ukraine.