Ukraine continues to cripple Russia's energy sector by hitting numerous oil refineries, depots, chemical plants, and more with drones.

Reliance on Russia’s military offerings has become increasingly prevalent in parts of Africa, amid an aggressive push by Moscow to lessen Western influence on the continent.

A top adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin was asked on Friday if Moscow will be sending a representative to President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration following news China's vice president will attend the event.

The Group of Seven on Friday said the Kremlin had funded and directed covert efforts by state entities to undermine elected goverments around the world by using global disinformation and influence campaigns.

The agreement is focused more on trade than military issues, but it will bring two countries with a shared desire to challenge the West closer together.

Russia has long used its plentiful energy resources as a tool to exert control over the region, where independence from Russian energy is tied to political sovereignty.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday signed a 20-year strategic partnership treaty that includes closer defence cooperation, something likely to worry the West.

Russia signed a strategic partnership treaty with Iran on Friday that follows similar pacts with China and North Korea. All three countries are adversaries of the United States, and Russia has used its ties with them to help blunt the impact of Western sanctions and boost its war effort in Ukraine.

Russia will facilitate Vietnam’s participation in the BRICS bloc of developing economies as a “partner country.”

The trio were arrested as authorities intensified pressure on the jailed Kremlin critic, who died last February.