Russia Caught Red-Handed Plotting Murders, Stealing Ukrainian Grain

**Russia Caught Red-Handed Plotting Murders, Stealing Ukrainian Grain** Moscow is escalating its covert war against Ukraine and its allies, with new evidence revealing Russian military intelligence orchestrated an assassination plot in Lithuania and is systematically stealing and selling Ukrainian grain to buyers in Africa and the Middle East. Lithuanian authorities announced this week that they have arrested suspects linked to a Russian GRU (military intelligence) plot to kill people, including a fundraiser for Ukraine [134815]. Ukrainian officials separately confirmed they uncovered a Russian-coordinated scheme to assassinate two people in Lithuania: a Russian opposition figure living in exile and a Lithuanian citizen who has publicly supported Ukraine [134578]. Meanwhile, Ukraine is tracking multiple vessels carrying grain stolen by Russian forces from occupied Ukrainian farmland. The dispute has now expanded to ports in Egypt and Algeria, where shipments of stolen grain have arrived [135493]. In a dramatic move, Ukraine stopped an Israeli cargo ship it accuses of carrying stolen grain [134815]. On the battlefield, Russian forces are shifting tactics in eastern Ukraine. After heavy armor failed to break through at Chasiv Yar—one of the last major barriers blocking a Russian advance on the strategic city of Kramatorsk—Moscow is now pulling from the same strategy that allowed them to capture Pokrovsk earlier this year [134805]. Russian strikes over the weekend injured more than 10 people across Ukraine, with the port city of Odesa bearing the brunt of the latest attacks [134037]. The Kremlin’s financial strain is also deepening. Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked the country's wealthy oligarchs for direct donations to support Russia’s military budget, as defence spending surged 42% last year and a widening budget deficit forces tax increases [112938]. Indonesia has defied new European Union sanctions by moving forward with importing 150 million barrels of Russian oil [135094]. Across Southeast Asia, governments are scrambling to buy Russian oil and gas to ease fuel shortages caused by the crisis at the Strait of Hormuz [134743]. Lithuania arrests plotters over Russian GRU murder plan. Ukraine also detains Israeli ship with stolen grain. Ukraine says Russia plotted to assassinate dissident in Lithuania Ukraine Tracks Ships with Stolen Grain as Grain Dispute Reaches Egypt and Algeria Chasiv Yar: Russia Turns to the Pokrovsk Playbook Odesa hit hard as Russian attacks injure over 10 in Ukraine Putin Seeks Oligarch Donations to Fund War as Defence Budget Strains Indonesia Defies EU Sanctions, Buys 150 Million Barrels of Russian Oil Russia emerges as Southeast Asia's emergency fuel supplier amid Strait of Hormuz crisis