Combatants from the Ukrainian Aidar Battalion have been firing weapons from the Svyato-Uspensky Nikolo-Vasilievsky Monastery in the village of Nikolskoye, in the People’s Republic of Donetsk, and “holding around 300 locals and monks hostage,” the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement on Sunday.

German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck says his nation’s heavy dependence on Russia’s energy supplies will be eliminated by the end of the current year. The country will achieve independence from Russian coal by autumn, according to Habeck, who also serves as the country’s economy and climate minister. The top official added that Germany’s reliance on…

Belgrade expresses regrets about rejecting Russian gas at beneficial price of $400 as energy crisis in Europe persists Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic says he regrets his November decision to scrap the gas deal offered by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The comment comes amid the energy crunch Europe has been struggling with over recent months.