Jim Heintz

A Ukrainian serviceman checks his weapon as he stands in a trench on the frontline with Russia-backed separatists near Zolote village, in the eastern Lugansk region, on January 21, 2022.(Anatolii Stepanov/AFP)

January 23, 2022, 7:06 pm

Russia rejects UK claim it is seeking to overthrow Ukraine government

Moscow says London’s accusation that Ukrainian politicians are colluding to form replacement administration is ‘more evidence NATO, led by Anglo-Saxons, are escalating tensions’

By Jim Heintz and Jill Lawless

An armed riot police officer detains a protester during a security anti-terrorists operation in a street after clashes in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Jan. 8, 2022 (AP Photo/Vasily Krestyaninov)

January 9, 2022, 2:44 pm

Kazakhstan says 164 people killed in unrest, including 3 children

Most deaths are in Almaty; death toll is significant increase over previous tallies; over 2,200 injured; presidential office says around 5,800 people have been detained

By Jim Heintz

Karim Masimov poses for a photo during a meeting in Sochi, Russia, Aug. 12, 2016 (Alexander Astafyev, Sputnik, Government Pool Photo via AP, File)

January 8, 2022, 2:18 pm

Kazakhstan’s former anti-terror chief detained on suspicion of treason amid protests

No details given about what Karim Masimov was alleged to have done that would constitute an attempted government overthrow

By Jim Heintz

Protesters take part in a rally over a hike in energy prices in Almaty, Kazakhstan on January 5, 2022 (Abduaziz MADYAROV / AFP)

January 6, 2022, 11:57 am

Dozens killed in Kazakhstan protests; Russia-led bloc to send ‘peacekeeper troops’

Authorities says dead include 12 police officers, one of whom was beheaded; government resigns; PM claims ‘terrorist bands’ behind unrest

By Jim Heintz

Gravediggers carry a coffin with a body of a patient who died of coronavirus at the Novo-Yuzhnoye cemetery, which serves as one of the burial grounds for those who died of the coronavirus outside Omsk, Russia, Oct. 22, 2021 (AP Photo)

October 23, 2021, 1:39 pm

Russia sets new death, infection records as COVID-19 surge persists

Russians to stay away from work next week as country tries to stem infections; only about one-third of population is vaccinated amid high levels of skepticism, misinformation

By Jim Heintz

In this handout photo released by the Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov speaks on the side of the meeting dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the House of Russian Diaspora named after Alexander Solzhenitsyn in Moscow, Russia, October 18, 2021. (Russian Foreign Ministry Press Service via AP)

October 18, 2021, 7:54 pm

Russia suspends mission to NATO after alleged spies expelled

Moscow also orders closure of the alliance’s office in the Russian capital; FM Lavrov: NATO is ‘becoming more and more aggressive’

By Jim Heintz

Police detain a man during a protest against the jailing of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow, Russia, January 31, 2021. (Dmitry Serebryakov/AP)

January 31, 2021, 5:34 pm

Russia arrests 3,800 as tens of thousands demand release of jailed oppositionist

Demonstrations supporting Putin critic Alexei Navalny held across the country; US condemns ‘harsh tactics’ by authorities

By Jim Heintz and VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV

Alexei Navalny is surrounded by journalists inside the plane prior to his flight to Moscow in the Airport Berlin Brandenburg (BER) in Schoenefeld, near Berlin, Germany, January 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov)

January 17, 2021, 9:38 pm

Kremlin critic Navalny lands in Moscow, is immediately detained

Putin’s most prominent foe spent 5 months in Germany recovering from a nerve agent attack he blames on the Kremlin

By MSTYSLAV CHERNOV and Jim Heintz

In this March 10, 2011, file photo, US Vice President Joe Biden, left, shakes hands with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia. (AP/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)

November 9, 2020, 6:39 pm

Putin won’t congratulate Biden until legal challenges subside, Kremlin says

Russian holdout allows delay in addressing fraught question of how to improve ties; leaders of China, Brazil, Mexico and Turkey also yet to wish the US president-elect well

By Jim Heintz

Russian servicemen wearing historical uniforms march in Red Square during a military parade, which marks the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, in Moscow on June 24, 2020. (Pavel Golovkin / POOL / AFP)

June 24, 2020, 5:37 pm

Putin hails victory over Nazis in Red Square parade delayed by virus

14,000 soldiers take part in annual event, marking 75th anniversary of World War II victory

By Jim Heintz

People walk along a seafront promenade in Barcelona, Spain, May 2, 2020 (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

May 2, 2020, 2:13 pm

Western Europe relaxes virus restrictions as Russia sees spike in infections

Spaniards can exercise for 1st time in 7 weeks as part of complex plan varying by province; Italy to allow jogging; Germany opens zoos; Russia worried hospitals may be overwhelmed

By Joseph Wilson, David Rising and Jim Heintz

Protesters clash with police during an unsanctioned rally in the center of Moscow, Russia on July 27, 2019. (AP/Pavel Golovkin)

July 27, 2019, 7:46 pm

Russian police arrest over 1,000 at Moscow election protest

Several opposition members detained prior to demonstration, some city council candidates barred from running due to alleged insufficient signatures on their nominating petitions

By Jim Heintz

Russian servicewomen march through Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in downtown Moscow on May 9, 2019. (Mladen ANTONOV / AFP)

May 9, 2019, 6:48 pm

On anniversary of Nazi defeat, Putin vows to strengthen Russian military

At annual parade marking WWII Allies victory in Europe, president says Russian armed forces ready to cooperate with others combating ‘terrorism, neo-Nazism and extremism’

By Jim Heintz

This image taken from video provided by Instagram user @artempetrovich, shows the SSJ-100 aircraft of Aeroflot Airlines on fire during an emergency landing in Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, May 5, 2019. (@artempetrovich via AP)

May 6, 2019, 3:38 am

At least 40 dead in Russian plane’s fiery emergency landing

Aeroflot airliner with 73 passengers and five crew members on board bursts into flames while making an emergency landing at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport

By Jim Heintz

Undated photo of Paul Whelan, who was detained in Russia in late December 2018 (Courtesy of the Whelan Family via AP)

January 6, 2019, 4:27 am

Russia: Too early to consider exchange of US spy suspect

Paul Whelan’s arrest in December has sparked speculation Moscow could be using him as a bargaining chip

By Jim Heintz