Reports of Russian mercenaries taking part in the war with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine have dogged the conflict since its 2014 start. But how to distinguish between rumor and reality? Current Time tracked down some of the alleged Vagner fighters to the Soviet-era industrial hub of Tolyatti in Russia and spoke with Ukraine's Security Service for further details.
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In an exclusive interview with Current Time, Vladimir Uglyov, one of the creators of the Novichok nerve agent, explains why he believes that the toxin, produced by both the Soviet Union and Russia, was used to poison former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia.
At the Madina bazaar in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital, shoppers can buy a label or tag for dozens of international luxury brands, and then order a copy of designer clothing on the spot. International brands have complained about Kyrgyzstan's role as a trans-shipper for counterfeit designer clothes, but less attention appears to have been paid to its role creating these clothes itself.
It was supposed to be at the heart of a Soviet missile defense system. When it was closed, it became a gold mine for military personnel, their families, and anyone else who lived nearby.
As China’s scrap-metal needs evolve, small, scrap-metal factories in neighboring Tajikistan that long have sparked complaints about environmental pollution are beginning to close. Only three such factories out of a former 25 still remain in the capital, Dushanbe.
