Latest news on Russia and the war in Ukraine

Russia has detained the deputy head of the army’s general staff Lieutenant General Vadim Shamarin, on suspicion of large-scale bribe-taking, Russian media reported on Thursday, the latest in a series of arrests of top military officials.

The Kommersant newspaper reported that Shamarin had been detained in connection with alleged fraud, and that his home had been searched.

It is the fourth arrest of a high-ranking defense figure since April, when Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was placed in pre-trial detention for suspected bribe-taking.

Since then, Lieutenant General Yuri Kuznetsov, head of personnel at the defense ministry, and Major General Ivan Popov, former commander of Russia’s 58th army, have aso been arrested.

The series of arrests comes amid major changes in Russia’s defence establishment, after President Vladimir Putin this month removed long-serving Sergei Shoigu as minister, replacing him with former deputy prime minister Andrei Belousov.

— Reuters

Russia has detained the deputy head of the army’s general staff Lieutenant General Vadim Shamarin, on suspicion of large-scale bribe-taking, Russian media reported on Thursday, the latest in a series of arrests of top military officials.

The Kommersant newspaper reported that Shamarin had been detained in connection with alleged fraud, and that his home had been searched.

It is the fourth arrest of a high-ranking defense figure since April, when Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was placed in pre-trial detention for suspected bribe-taking.

Since then, Lieutenant General Yuri Kuznetsov, head of personnel at the defense ministry, and Major General Ivan Popov, former commander of Russia’s 58th army, have aso been arrested.

The series of arrests comes amid major changes in Russia’s defence establishment, after President Vladimir Putin this month removed long-serving Sergei Shoigu as minister, replacing him with former deputy prime minister Andrei Belousov.

— Reuters

Russia said its air defense systems shot down 35 rockets and three drones over the border Belgorod region overnight.

“During the past night, an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack using the ‘Vilkha’ multiple launch rocket system, the ‘Vampire’ multiple launch rocket system and an aircraft-type UAV [drone]on targets on the territory of the Russian Federation was stopped” the Russian Ministry of Defense said on Telegram Thursday.

CNBC was unable to verify the claims but Belgorod, adjacent to Ukraine’s northeast Kharkiv region where Russian forces are waging an intense offensive, has found itself under daily attack by Ukrainian forces.

The offensive is aimed at capturing the entire Kharkiv region and to create a “buffer zone” to protect Russian border regions, like Belgorod, from attack, Russia says.

— Holly Ellyatt

Norway will further restrict access for Russian tourist travellers due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, blocking almost all entry, the Nordic country’s justice ministry said on Thursday.

NATO member Norway, which shares a border with Russia in the Arctic measuring almost 200 kilometres (124 miles), first imposed restrictions on Russian tourist visas in 2022.

“The decision to tighten the entry rules is in line with the Norwegian approach of standing by allies and partners in reaction to Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine,” Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl said in a statement.

Russian citizens whose purpose is tourism and other non-essential travel will be rejected upon entry across the external border. Exceptions may be granted in cases such as visits to close family residing in Norway, the ministry said.

The new policy takes effect on May 29.

“The change implies that the police can refuse the entry of Russian citizens who are covered by the instruction,” the ministry said.

— Reuters

A Russian defence ministry proposal for a draft government decree to change the Russian border in the Baltic Sea was deleted from an official Russia document portal on Wednesday.

“The draft is deleted,” the site said on the address where the document had earlier been visible.

— Reuters

The German, Finnish and Lithuanian governments say they are awaiting more clarity from Russia following a proposal by the country’s defense ministry suggesting a change to how its Baltic Sea maritime border is determined.

“Of course we are observing the situation closely,” a German government spokesperson told a regular press conference on Wednesday, according to Reuters.

Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said that Helsinki will monitor Russia’s proposal, but tried to downplay concerns by reportedly saying that any review by Moscow is likely to be routine and not something to worry about, Reuters noted.

Lithuania’s foreign minister said that any plan to amend the borders of the country’s territorial waters in the Baltic Sea is an escalation against NATO and the EU.

“Another Russian hybrid operation is underway, this time attempting to spread fear, uncertainty and doubt about their intentions in the Baltic Sea,” Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on social media platform X.

Russia has sent mixed messages over a reported proposal by the Russian defense ministry to change how Russia’s maritime border is measured. An unnamed “military-diplomatic” source was quoted by Russian state new agencies denying the report, but the Kremlin neither confirmed nor denied the move. when asked if the proposal was politically motivated.

— Holly Ellyatt

Russian energy facilities are being rapidly restored following drone attacks, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview with Russia-1, according to Google-translated comments carried by state news outlet Tass.

“Of course, it is impossible to exclude [attacks] 100%. Sometimes the situations that happened happen,” he noted. “Nevertheless, restoration is proceeding at a rapid pace in order to ensure the operation of enterprises in full.”

Moscow is also improving the protection of its energy infrastructure, he noted, adding that this work is currently ongoing.

On Sunday, Moscow reported that Ukraine launched an extensive 62-drone attack on Russian regions, Reuters reported. The Interfax news agency said that the oil refinery in Slavyansk halted work following the offensive.

Russia is a key global oil and gas producer, with threats against its hydrocarbon infrastructure adding to supply-side pressures in the energy market.

— Ruxandra Iordache

Russian forces have seized the village of Klishchiivka in Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, the country’s defense ministry said on Telegram Wednesday.

The village is close to the city of Bakhmut, a hotspot of intense fighting before its capture in May 2023. CNBC was unable to verify the claim and Ukraine has not commented.

— Holly Ellyatt