Corey Flintoff

Russia's military buildup in Syria has raised alarms in the West, but many Russians see it as necessary to counter Islamist extremism. Russian analysts say Putin risks involvement in a quagmire.

Russia has launched a huge project to re-equip its armed forces with modern weapons. But the obstacles, including delays caused by sanctions and a cash crunch due to a drop in oil prices, are massive.

The conviction of a Ukrainian filmmaker is one of several cases in Russia that have drawn protests from human-rights groups and Western governments, including the U.S.

Russian authorities have smashed, burned and buried more than 900 tons of allegedly contraband food. In a country that once suffered famine, many are deeply distressed to see food destroyed.

The country's failed bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics disappointed LGBT activists. They'd hoped global attention would lead to greater tolerance in a country where they live in a "state of fear."

Kazakhstan lost its bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics to Beijing, but a number of Kazakhs see this as an opportunity, not a loss.

Local journalists and volunteers in Odessa are working to make sense of dozens of recent bombings — and prevent future attacks. They say that Russians have infiltrated the security services.

The U.S. won't give the Ukrainian army lethal weapons to fight separatists and their Russian allies, but it has sent 300 trainers to help the beleaguered, bedraggled Ukrainian military.

As president of Georgia, Mikheil Saakashvili boldly took on much larger Russia in 2008. He promptly lost. Now he's a governor in Ukraine, which is also doing battle with Russia.

Russia celebrated the 70th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat with massive displays of power and accusations that the West is distorting the Soviet Union's rightful role in history.