Russia warns Israel not to attack Iran (Reuters) - Wed, 22 Feb 2012
Reuters - Russia warned Israel on Wednesday that attacking Iran would be a disastrous and played down the failure of a U.N. nuclear agency mission to Tehran, saying there is still a chance for new talks over the Iranian atomic programme.

Putin woos police with wage promises ahead of poll (Reuters) - Tue, 21 Feb 2012
Reuters - Russia's Vladimir Putin sought to bolster his authority ahead of a March presidential election on Tuesday by promising hefty pay rises for police in Moscow where opposition activists are gearing up for more protests demanding political change.

Russian officials feed pelicans in frozen Caspian (AP) - Tue, 21 Feb 2012

AP - Authorities are scrambling to save hundreds of starving and endangered Dalmatian pelicans after the Caspian Sea froze for the first time in years.

Russia proposes sending UN envoy to Syria (AP) - Tue, 21 Feb 2012
AP - Russia on Tuesday urged the United Nations to send a special envoy to Syria to help coordinate security issues and the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

Russia's president meets with critics on reforms (AP) - Mon, 20 Feb 2012
AP - Russia's president held an unprecedented meeting Monday with opposition leaders, who said they were encouraged by his promises to make it easier for anti-Kremlin parties to take part in elections, but he was unwilling to meet protesters' main demands.

Fearing West, Putin pledges biggest military buildup since cold war (The Christian Science Monitor) - Mon, 20 Feb 2012
The Christian Science Monitor - Russia needs to launch a major military buildup to prepare for life in a dangerous world where international law is breaking down, the West feels free to intervene in sovereign countries, and rivals could invade Russia to seize its rich trove of natural resources, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has warned.

Russian official hints sub may have been armed in fire (Reuters) - Mon, 20 Feb 2012
Reuters - A senior Russian official suggested Monday an atomic-powered submarine could have been carrying nuclear weapons when it was engulfed by fire during repairs at a dockyard in December.

Putin to win Russian election in first round: poll (Reuters) - Mon, 20 Feb 2012

Reuters - Vladimir Putin will be elected president in the first round of March's election with more than half the vote, avoiding a runoff that would dent his authority on the eve of his planned return to the Kremlin's top job, a state pollster predicted Monday.

Putin says before poll Russia needs stronger army (Reuters) - Mon, 20 Feb 2012
Reuters - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Monday Russia needed a stronger military to protect it from foreign attempts to stoke conflicts around its borders.