Russia puts German retailer Metro’s assets under temporary administration
Russia has placed the local assets of German retailer Metro AG under temporary administration, according to a presidential decree published on Monday.
The assets have been transferred to Russian company UK Torg RUS, which was established on 8 September and is wholly owned, according to Russian corporate data, by Johannes Tolay, the chief executive of Metro’s Russian business.
The decree did not give a reason for the transfer of control, but it followed a rare weekend meeting between Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and German counterpart Johann Wadephul on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss Ukraine.
Lavrov complained that he had learned nothing new from Wadephul, whose country is a staunch supporter of Ukraine.
In a statement on Monday, Metro AG said it no longer had operational control over its Russian subsidiary and that it was evaluating further implications of the move.
Metro expanded into the Russian market in 2001. Today it operates 91 wholesale stores and employs 9,000 people in Russia, the company says.
In a separate statement, Metro’s Russian subsidiary did not comment directly on the decree but said it was operating as normal and fulfilling all obligations to shoppers at its retail outlets and online stores.
Shweta Sharma29 September 2026 07:00
Pictures show attack on National Academy of Sciences
Two people were killed after Russian forces allegedly carried out a strike at the National Academy of Sciences in central Kyiv on Monday.
The attack on Monday came as Russia pounded the heart of the Ukrainian capital with some of the most persistent drone strikes since the start of the war.
Emergency services said later in the evening that one of the dead had been recovered from under rubble.
The National Academy of Sciences building burns after a Russian drone strike in the center of Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday (Copyright 2026. The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
A man runs in front of a hospital damaged after a Russian drone strike in central Kyiv, Ukraine (Copyright 2026. The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
(AP)
Shweta Sharma29 September 2026 06:00
Putin orders increase in size of Russian army
Russian president Vladimir Putin has ordered an increase in the size of the country’s army to 1.55 million active servicemen, according to a presidential decree issued on Monday.
The latest expansion comes as Russia and Ukraine face mounting casualties more than four and a half years into the war.
Under the decree, the overall strength of Russia’s armed forces will rise to 2,441,630 personnel, including 1.55 million active servicemen – an increase of 15,500 troops.
The move follows a similar expansion ordered by Putin in August.
Shweta Sharma29 September 2026 05:00
Explosions were heard across the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early on Tuesday as Russia continued its near-daily attacks on the country.
Missile debris fell in the courtyard of a residential building, while a non-residential building caught fire elsewhere in the city, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram.
The latest attack came a day after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said nine people had been killed and more than 80 injured in Russian drone strikes across the country, including in Kyiv.
(Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Shweta Sharma29 September 2026 04:24
Zelensky says North Korea prepares to deploy another 10,000 troops to Russia
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday there are more than 8,000 North Korean troops on Russian territory and preparations are underway to deploy another 10,000 troops.
Citing “new data” on the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia, Zelensky said in a post on X they were “being selected for training and subsequent deployment to Russia.”
The Ukrainian president said in August that up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers could be sent to fight for Russia, and called on South Korea to provide support for Ukraine’s air defence.
South Korea announced in July a $100m aid package for Ukraine, although it excluded lethal weapons.
Zelensky’s comments on Monday came after Seoul and Kyiv were at odds over his announcement last week that Ukraine had transferred two captured North Korean soldiers to South Korea.
Shweta Sharma29 September 2026 03:47
Watch: We choose not to die or lose our freedom, says ZelenskyWe choose not to die or lose our freedom, says Zelensky
Nicole Wootton-Cane29 September 2026 03:00
Russia puts German retailer Metro’s assets under temporary administration amid Ukraine tensions
Russia has placed the local assets of German retailer Metro AG under temporary administration, according to a presidential decree published on Monday, amid heightened Ukraine-linked tensions between Moscow and Berlin.
The assets have been transferred to Russian company UK Torg RUS, which was established on 8 September and is wholly owned, according to Russian corporate data, by Johannes Tolay, the chief executive of Metro’s Russian business.
The decree did not give a reason for the transfer of control, but it followed a rare weekend meeting between Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and German counterpart Johann Wadephul on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss Ukraine.
Mr Lavrov complained that he had learned nothing new from Mr Wadephul, whose country is a staunch supporter of Ukraine. Germany this month said it had concluded that Russia was responsible for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport and ordered a series of measures in response, including closure of a consulate and a Russian cultural centre in Berlin. Moscow denied the allegations, saying they had been fabricated.
In a statement on Monday, Metro AG said it no longer had operational control over its Russian subsidiary and that it was evaluating further implications of the move.
Nicole Wootton-Cane29 September 2026 02:00
Recap: Top NATO commander urges states to condemn Russian acts of sabotage
A NATO chief has said that the best way for European countries to respond to Russian sabotage and other destabilising acts was to state when Moscow was to blame and strengthen their support for Ukraine.
Acts of sabotage, cyberattacks, drone sightings and other so-called hybrid attacks attributed to Russia have multiplied in the past months in many European countries and include a drone attack in Leipzig and a Russian strike on a train in Ukraine near the Polish border earlier this month.
“Bringing that attribution out publicly will let state sponsors know that we understand what they’re doing and that increases costs on them,” Alexus Grynkewich told EU lawmakers in a Parliament committee on Monday.
“They will realise that their networks are ineffective and that they have to modify their behaviour and that, in and of itself, has some deterrent effect,” he added.
Russian activity in Europe aims at breaking allies’ will in continuing to support Kyiv, he said.
The supreme commander added that NATO initiatives such as the Eastern Sentry mission launched on September 11 and comprising assets from allies such as Denmark, France, Britain, Germany have already had an effect on the ground.
“The Russians have been much more careful to avoid coming across the border with drones in the Baltics or into Poland since we implemented Eastern Sentry,” he said.
Nicole Wootton-Cane29 September 2026 01:00
Watch: Putin claims peace is ‘on the table’ for Ukraine – yet warns of further strikesPutin claims peace is ‘on the table’ for Ukraine – yet warns of further strikes
Nicole Wootton-Cane29 September 2026 00:00
Putin preparing to deploy 10,000 new troops from North Korea, Zelensky claims
North Korea is preparing to send 10,000 fresh recruits to fight in Russia’s war in Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed.
In a post on X, the Ukrainian president accused Vladimir Putin of embarking on a recruitment drive from foreign countries, and warned foreign governments to “counter” this.
“We also have new data on the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia,” he wrote.
“There are currently more than 8,000 North Korean troops on Russian territory. In addition, preparations are underway to deploy another 10,000 troops – they are being selected for training and subsequent deployment to Russia.
“In return, Russia is paying, among other things, with technology: production of shahed-type attack drones has been established in North Korea with Russian technical support. This is how evil encroaches, and how a threat to life in one part of the world spreads to other parts. This can only be overcome together.”
Nicole Wootton-Cane28 September 2026 23:26