Ukraine stages drills near Belarus amid fears of Russian assault

RIVNE REGION, Ukraine (Reuters) -The crackle of gunfire and roar of armoured vehicles reverberated around sleepy west Ukrainian towns near the Belarusian border on Wednesday as Kyiv's forces tr...

Poland to give Ukraine Leopard tanks as part of coalition

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland has decided to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine as part of an international coalition, the Polish president said on Wednesday, as Warsaw seeks to play a leading role in r...

Russia could expand draft age as soon as this spring, lawmaker says

(Reuters) - Russia could raise the upper age limit for citizens to be conscripted into the armed forces as soon as this spring, a senior lawmaker has said, as part of Moscow's plans to boost th...

Russia puts Gerasimov in charge of Ukraine invasion, relieves Surovikin

KYIV/NEAR BAKHMUT, Ukraine (Reuters) - Russia ordered its top general on Wednesday to take charge of its faltering invasion of Ukraine in the biggest shake-up yet of its malfunctioning military...

Fighting rages over Ukraine's Soledar despite Wagner’s claim of control

KYIV/NEAR BAKHMUT, Ukraine (Reuters) - Russian and Ukrainian forces were engaged in intense fighting on Wednesday over the town of Soledar in eastern Ukraine - a stepping stone in Moscow's push...

US to increase number of anti-ship missiles in Japan, sources say

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will significantly increase its anti-ship missile capabilities in Japan as part of a broader effort to deter China, three U.S. officials told Reuters on...

Tigray forces begin handing over weapons to Ethiopian army

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Tigray forces, who fought a two-year war against Ethiopia's federal government, began handing over heavy weaponry to the national army as part of an African Union-led pe...

Canada to buy US-made SAMs for Ukraine

OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canada will buy a U.S.-made National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) for Ukraine, a statement from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office said after a meeting ...

SKorea, US plan February nuclear tabletop drills to deter North

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea and the United States will hold tabletop exercises next month as the allies move to better counter the North's nuclear threats, South Korea's defence minister said ...

NATO, EU to boost protection for pipelines, other infrastructure

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO and the EU are launching a task force to boost protection of critical infrastructure in response to last year's attack on the Nord Stream gas pipelines and Russia's "w...

Taiwan officer reveals details of interaction with NATO

HSINCHU, Taiwan (Reuters) - A Taiwan air force officer revealed details on Wednesday of a rare interaction between the island's military and NATO, describing how he had attended a six month aca...

Explainer: Why the US is overhauling its Marines on Japan's Okinawa

TOKYO (Reuters) - The United States plans to shake up its marine force on Japan's Okinawa islands as Tokyo undertakes its biggest military build up since World War Two that will double defence ...

Al-Qaida succession after Zawahiri's death still unclear, says US official

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The succession of Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, who was believed to have been killed in a U.S. raid last year, remains unclear, a U.S. intelligence official said on ...

Russia presses assault on Ukraine's Soledar

KYIV (Reuters) -Ukrainian forces are facing waves of assaults by Russian forces on the small salt-mining town of Soledar, Kyiv officials said on Tuesday, as Moscow strives to make its first bre...

Russia and Ukraine exchange 50 soldiers each in prisoner swap

(Reuters) - Russia and Ukraine swapped 50 captured soldiers each on Sunday in a deal that both sides welcomed even as they fought one another in eastern Ukraine. Russia's defence ministry said the...