Charles Maynes

Putin forever? Russia's president goes into this week's election with no serious contenders, cementing his already quarter-century hold on the Kremlin through at least 2030.

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued explicit nuclear threats to the West, even as he assured Russians their country could both win the war in Ukraine and thrive economically.

Over a week since his death in an Artic prison, Russian authorities released the body of opposition leader Alexei Navalny to his mother.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, it expected a quick fight, like its 2014 annexation of Crimea. Two years in, the war grinds on.

Yulia Navalnaya appeared on her late husband's YouTube channel in a forceful challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of murder. Navalnaya says she will carry on her husband's work.

Supporters of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny are mourning his death, which was announced by Russian authorities on Friday.

The Federal Prison Service said in a statement that Navalny felt unwell after a walk on Friday and lost consciousness. The politician's team says it has received no confirmation of his death so far.

Ukraine and Russia are blaming each other for the downing of a Russian military transport plane this week, which Russia says had 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war aboard. All aboard were killed.

The Russian defense ministry said two missiles were fired from Ukrainian territory at the IL-76 military transport aircraft. It said 65 Ukrainian POWs were on board, headed for a prisoner swap.

In Russia, ballet fans brave sub-zero temperatures for a chance to see The Nutcracker at Moscow's famed Bolshoi Theatre.