Russian military vehicles crossed into Ukraine during the night, according to Nato and Ukraine, and the Ukrainian president said most of them were quickly destroyed by his troops.

Personal belongings of one of the British victims of the MH17 Malaysia Airlines crash have been stolen, his brother-in-law has said.

The Kremlin was not responsible for supplying weapons to separatist rebels accused of bringing down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine, Russia’s ambassador to London has said.

Moscow officials have ordered stepped-up security measures for the Russian capital’s underground transportation system.

Former Russian Nuclear Energy Minister Yevgeny Adamov was arrested at the request of US officials who have demanded his extradition, a Swiss official said today.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said today that Washington was hoping to make progress toward more open inspections of Russian nuclear installations before a May meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President George Bush.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was due to arrive in Moscow today for talks with President Vladimir Putin and other high-ranking officials.

Russia is making final preparations to hold nationwide celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the World War II victory over Nazi Germany.

A top anti-Syria Lebanese opposition leader headed to Moscow today for talks on the scaling back of Syria’s military presence in his country, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas opened his visit to Moscow today by expressing his high regard for Russia’s role in the Mideast peace process.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Moscow today for an official visit as part of his first foreign trip since his election earlier this month.

A bus with 26 commuters on board was hijacked as it travelled from Marathon to Athens by two armed men, believed to be Albanians, today,

Ukraine’s two rivals for power failed in nearly three hours of talks to resolve the political stalemate over who will lead the bitterly-divided nation.

Russia has decided to grant the Dalai Lama a visa, reversing course after refusing earlier requests amid China’s objections.

FOUR Italians working as private security guards for a US company in Iraq and nine Americans were among 40 hostages being held in Iraq yesterday.

President Mikhail Saakashvili put Georgia’s military on alert today after the restive Adzharia region barred him from entering, but he pledged his goal was to take control of the region without bloodshed.

President Mikhail Saakashvili put the Georgia’s military on alert today after the restive Adzharia region barred him from entering, but he pledged his goal was to take control of the region without bloodshed.

Chief UN arms inspector Hans Blix is pushing ahead with plans to send an advance team to Iraq this month, despite US demands that a tough new resolution be in place before they arrive.

Nato chief Lord Robertson was flying east today for talks aimed at strengthening Russia’s relationship with the military alliance and devising ways of making joint decisions in the war against terror.

Russia will present a proposal to the United Nations Security Council on July 3 for a new system of sanctions on Iraq - including a clear timetable for ending them, foreign minister Igor Ivanov said today.