Russian invasion

The world's response
NATO's ÖB: We want to be more proactive towards Russia

NATO is considering adopting a more proactive stance towards Russia in response to hybrid threats from the East, says the alliance's Supreme Allied Commander for European Forces Alexus Grynkewich.

- If Russia is trying to create dilemmas for us, perhaps there are ways for us to create dilemmas for them, he says according to international news agencies without going into details.

He emphasizes that there is nothing offensive in the new strategy and that NATO is a defense alliance.

Sanctions
US allows Lukoil gas stations in the country despite sanctions

The US Treasury Department gives the green light for Russian Lukoil gas stations to continue their operations in the country, international news agencies report. This means that parts of the sanctions against the Russian energy giant are now suspended.

In October, President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on both Lukoil and Rosneft due to Russia's war in Ukraine. Although the gas stations are now allowed to continue, the US is still stopping the money from reaching Russia.

According to Reuters, today's decision is valid until the end of April 2026.

Pilots: Armed guards in Russian uniforms on many ships in the Baltic Sea

Oil tankers from the Russian shadow fleet travel every day from the Gulf of Finland to Denmark via the Baltic Sea – with armed guards in Russian military uniforms on board. This is stated by pilot Bjarne Cæsar Skinnerup, whose task is to help them navigate through the narrow Danish straits, for the investigative news site Danwatch and Finnish Yle.

– I don't know what the Danish intelligence service is doing about it, but the politicians have done nothing at all. They look the other way, Bjarne Cæsar Skinnerup tells Yle.

He has raised the alarm to the authorities, but has not received a response. Danwatch has also been referred around when they tried to clarify what is happening with the pilots' observations, but has not even managed to confirm whether the Danish defense is aware of the military-clad people on the ships.

- The threshold for intervening is quite high. But if there is a threat, Denmark even has an obligation to act, says professor of maritime law Henrik Ringbom to Yle.

Around 30 sanctioned Russian ships move in the Gulf of Finland every week, according to a previous review by Yle.