The Russian president is facing pressure not only from a stalemate on the battlefield but also from a battered economy that is fueling discontent.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday voiced confidence of victory in Ukraine as he oversaw a military parade on Red Square commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II — a show that didn't include heavy weapons for the first time in nearly two decades.

Reuters.com is your online source for the latest news stories and current events, ensuring our readers up to date with any breaking news developments

Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed that what he called the world’s most powerful missile system — dubbed “Satan II” by NATO — will be ready for “combat duty” by the end of the year after a successful test on Tuesday.

Vladimir Putin said that the nuclear-armed Sarmat missile would enter combat service at the end of the year. It was built to replace the aging Soviet-built Voyevoda.

Set in Russia in the years following the fall of communism, The Wizard of the Kremlin doesn't always work dramatically. But you leave with a better understanding of how Vladimir Putin came to power.

Some well-known analysts and journalists have detected a subtle change in the mood toward Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine, now well into its fifth year. There is a sense in Russian society, they write,

The Russian leader is walking a tightrope: acknowledging public discontent while offering no indication that he might give up on his demands.

For years, Russia’s Victory Day parade has symbolized the country’s military strength and power, with a dazzling display of heavy military equipment and a stream of visiting dignitaries.

Putin, Shoigu, Gerasimov, Bortnikov, Zolotov, Medvedev, Patrushev, Lukashenko and others - today they all got their ticket to The Hague," Sibiga said. He also emphasized that over the past centuries Ukraine has experienced too many atrocities,