Latest news about Russia and the war in Ukraine

Russia has arrested the deputy chief of the Army General Staff, Lt. Gen. Vadim Shamarin, on suspicion of large-scale bribery, Russian media reported on Thursday. It is the latest arrest in a series of high-ranking military officials.

The newspaper Kommersant reported that Shamarin had been arrested in connection with suspected fraud and his apartment had been searched.

This is the fourth arrest of a high-ranking defense minister since April, when Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was taken into custody on suspicion of bribery.

Since then, Lieutenant General Yuri Kuznetsov, chief of personnel at the Defense Ministry, and Major General Ivan Popov, former commander of Russia's 58th Army, have also been arrested.

The series of arrests came amid major changes in Russia's defense apparatus after President Vladimir Putin this month ousted longtime minister Sergei Shoigu and replaced him with former deputy prime minister Andrei Belousov.

— Reuters

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

“Last night there was an attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack using the Vilkha multiple rocket launcher, the Vampire multiple rocket launcher and an unmanned aircraft of the type [drone]on targets on the territory of the Russian Federation has been stopped,” the Russian Defense Ministry said on Telegram on Thursday.

CNBC was unable to confirm the claims, but Belgorod, which borders Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region where Russian forces are waging an intense offensive, is under daily attack by Ukrainian forces.

Russia says the aim of the offensive is to conquer the entire Kharkiv region and create a “buffer zone” to protect Russian border regions such as Belgorod from attacks.

— Holly Ellyatt

Norway will further restrict entry for Russian tourists and block almost all entries due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Nordic country's Ministry of Justice announced on Thursday.

NATO member Norway, which shares a nearly 200-kilometer-long border with Russia in the Arctic, imposed restrictions on Russian tourist visas for the first time in 2022.

“The decision to tighten entry requirements is in line with Norway’s approach to stand with its allies and partners in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which violates international law,” Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl said in a statement.

Russian citizens whose purpose is tourism and other non-essential travel will be turned away when entering the country via the external border. Exceptions could be granted in cases such as visits to close family members residing in Norway, the ministry said.

The new directive will come into force on 29 May.

“The change implies that the police can deny entry to Russian citizens who fall under the order,” the ministry said.

—Reuters

A draft government decree changing Russia's border in the Baltic Sea was deleted from an official document portal by the Russian Defense Ministry on Wednesday.

“The draft has been deleted,” said the address of the site where the document was previously visible.

—Reuters

The German, Finnish and Lithuanian governments say they are waiting for more clarity from Russia after the country's Defense Ministry proposed a change in how the Baltic Sea maritime border is determined.

“Of course we are monitoring the situation closely,” a German government spokesman said at a regular press conference on Wednesday, according to Reuters.

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Helsinki would monitor the Russian proposal, but tried to downplay concerns by reportedly saying any review by Moscow would likely be routine and not a cause for concern, Reuters reported.

Lithuania's Foreign Minister said any plan to change the boundaries of the country's territorial waters in the Baltic Sea would be an escalation against NATO and the EU.

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

Russia has sent mixed messages over a purported Russian Defense Ministry proposal to change the measurement of Russia's maritime border. An unnamed “military-diplomatic” source was quoted by Russia's new authorities denying the report, but the Kremlin neither confirmed nor denied the move. when asked whether the proposal was politically motivated.

– Holly Ellyatt

Russian energy facilities are being repaired quickly after drone attacks, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview with Russia-1. This is according to comments from the state news channel Tass translated by Google.

“Of course, one cannot rule out [attacks] 100%. “Sometimes such situations happen,” he noted. “Nevertheless, recovery measures are progressing quickly to ensure the full operation of companies.”

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

On Sunday, Moscow reported that Ukraine had launched a large-scale attack using 62 drones on Russian regions, Reuters reported. The Interfax news agency said that the oil refinery in Slavyansk stopped work after the offensive.

Russia is a major global oil and gas producer. Threats to its hydrocarbon infrastructure are increasing supply pressure on the energy market.

— Ruxandra Iordache

Russian forces have captured the village of Klishchiyivka in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, the country's Defense Ministry said on Telegram on Wednesday.

The village is near 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