The Latest Breaking News from Kremlin

As the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, held his carefully stage-managed annual phone-in and press conference to answer questions from journalists and ordinary Russians, EU leaders were hosting Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky in Brussels at their final meeting of the year. Unsurprisingly, the war in Ukraine loomed large at both events.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold his annual end-of-year press conference Thursday, almost three years into his Ukraine offensive and two days after a Kyiv-orchestrated killing of a general on the streets of Moscow.

A man from Uzbekistan detained for killing Russian military official in Moscow, linked to Ukraine. Tensions rise over chemical weapons accusations.

In today’s newsletter: Kyiv assassinated Igor Kirillov inside enemy territory, in its most audacious operation since the war began – how will Russia respond?

Stubborn inflation, exorbitant borrowing costs, bankruptcy risks and a growth slowdown: the Russian economy is facing a slew of negative headlines, as the costs of the Ukraine war and Western sanctions mount.

A prominent Russian opposition politician freed as part of the largest East-West civilian prisoner swap since the Cold War says that fears of his mother’s poisoning in Berlin have proven false

Editorial: Kyiv’s targeted killings expose the reach of its intelligence services, challenging the Kremlin’s war machine while sticking to the laws of war

Igor Kirillov, a Kremlin mouthpiece, made baseless accusations against Ukraine before his death in Moscow.

Lt Gen Igor Kirillov killed along with his deputy after device attached to escooter exploded

As Germany heads for elections, its security services warn that Russia and its sympathisers may step up meddling and disinformation to boost extremist parties and sow doubt about the democratic process.

The EU on Monday targeted Russian military intelligence agents with its first ever sanctions over so-called "hybrid" attacks aimed at destabilising Europe, including with disinformation, cyber strikes and arson.