Global News Summary for January 11, 2025 — Updated Until 5:00 PM

VII. Iran’s state television aired footage on Friday showing commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps inspecting an underground missile base used to launch attacks against Israel—just hours after Israeli militants had infiltrated Tehran. Russia-Ukraine Updates: I. Valery Dorosh, a resident of Chasov Yar in the Donetsk People’s Republic, told Sputnik News that Ukrainian soldiers were openly using drugs—particularly synthetic narcotics—in front of civilians. II. The Russian Ministry of Defense informed reporters that a drone unit of the Russian Navy’s Northern Fleet, operating under the ‘Dnipro’ grouping of forces, discovered and destroyed a Ukrainian mortar near Kherson Oblast’s Kakhovka direction on the right bank of the Dnipro River. III. According to a report by Britain’s Guardian citing statements from an Azov Regiment commander, the Ukrainian nationalist Azov Regiment (designated and banned as a terrorist organization in Russia) is attempting to replenish its ranks amid severe personnel shortages by forming an international battalion composed of English-speaking mercenaries. IV. Sputnik News Moscow, January 11: According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, a Russian Aerospace Forces Mi-28NM helicopter disrupted Ukrainian troop rotations in Russia’s Kursk Oblast, destroying Ukrainian armored vehicles and personnel. V. Sputnik News Moscow, January 11: The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that, in the early hours of today, Russian round-the-clock air defense systems shot down 85 Ukrainian drones over six Russian regions as well as over the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. VI. Vladimir Rogov, Chairman of the Sovereignty Issues Committee of the Russian Civic Chamber and Co-Chairman of the Coordination Committee for Integration of New Territories, told Sputnik News that Russian forces are rapidly approaching the border between the Donetsk People’s Republic and Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, with distances narrowing to approximately five kilometers in certain sectors. VII. Sergei Lebedev, Coordinator of the pro-Russian resistance movement in Mykolaiv Oblast, told Sputnik News that at dawn on January 11, a military equipment concentration area in Bucha City’s Kyiv District was struck, resulting in the elimination of Ukrainian military personnel. VIII. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to meet with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. U.S.-Europe Updates: I. According to U.S. Department of the Treasury registration records, the United States has imposed sanctions on Chinese companies involved in constructing and transporting modules for Novatek’s Arctic LNG 2 project. II. According to the White House, U.S. President Joe Biden will deliver a farewell address to the nation on January 15 regarding the outcome of his presidential term.

The 'Russian Meng Wanzhou' Incident: America Extends Its 'Long Arm' into Russia

Top Russian CFO Arrested for Alleged Tax Evasion According to a U.S. Department of Justice statement: 'From 2005 to 2016, Yevgeny Yevtushenko concealed ownership and control of substantial overseas assets from the U.S. government, designating his then-wife—a Russian citizen—as the beneficiary of those assets. The total value of these assets exceeded $93 million.' Additionally, Yevtushenko is accused of failing to report millions of dollars in personal income to U.S. authorities over more than a decade, thereby evading taxes. After posting an exorbitant $80 million bail with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Yevtushenko was released on bail pending trial, scheduled for September 30. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Yevtushenko dismissed the tax evasion charges as baseless: 'I have pleaded not guilty and will vigorously contest these allegations.' Compared with Yevtushenko’s fiery rhetoric, the Russian government and Novatek have responded with notable restraint. A Novatek spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal that the company had no prior knowledge of the CFO’s arrest and had received no notification whatsoever from U.S. authorities. 'This case will have no impact whatsoever on Novatek’s operations or financial condition.' Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the Russian government cannot directly intervene in the case, given Yevtushenko’s dual U.S.-Russian citizenship—but added, 'We will provide all necessary consular assistance.' 'Russia’s stance is flexible,' observed Li Yonghui. Having completed the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline project, Russia has achieved its primary strategic objective and now controls nearly two-thirds of Europe’s energy supply market; thus, it adopts a relatively detached posture toward the U.S. arrest of a Novatek executive—and seeks to avoid further deterioration in U.S.-Russia relations. According to TASS, Yevtushenko was born in the United States in 1957, began working in Russia in 1995, joined Novatek in 2003, and was elected to its board of directors four years later. He currently serves as Deputy Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Novatek. Over the past decade and a half, Novatek has grown from obscurity into one of Russia’s top liquefied natural gas (LNG) producers—and Yevtushenko has been hailed by Russian media as 'the top CFO in Russia’s and Europe’s oil-and-gas industry.' Following the 2014 Crimea crisis, the U.S. imposed sanctions on multiple Russian entities and individuals—including Novatek. Under the sanctions order, U.S. companies and citizens are prohibited from financing sanctioned Russian enterprises. To circumvent these restrictions, the Russian government granted Yevtushenko Russian citizenship, enabling him to continue working in Russia as a Russian national. Novatek’s Rapid Ascent in Global Advanced Energy Yevtushenko’s arrest coincides with Nord Stream 2’s breakthrough against U.S. opposition and its push for operational approval from Germany and the European Union. Germany’s energy regulator recently announced it will issue a draft decision on Nord Stream 2 within four months and submit that draft to the European Commission for further review. Li Yonghui believes the U.S. chose this moment to strike because it is frustrated and enraged by its inability to halt Nord Stream 2’s completion. However, Li also argues that the U.S.’s relentless targeting of Novatek stems more immediately from competition over the global liquefied natural gas market.

US LNG Project Developer Funded by Russia’s Novatek, FT Says

1 day ago

Financial Times reports an Alaska LNG developer received funding from sanctioned Russian firm Novatek prior to US Treasury approval. The project aims to start gas deliveries from Alaska's North Slope by 2030 amid ongoing regulatory compliance reviews.

bloomberg

2026-10-23

US LNG Project Developer Funded by Russia’s Novatek, FT Says

US LNG Project Developer Funded by Russia’s Novatek, FT Says

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