Free Republic

Thursday, during his show’s opening monologue, FNC host Tucker Carlson speculated why Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) was a vociferous proponent of a war against Russia. According to Carlson, Raskin’s public remarks showed he was against Russia because it was an “orthodox Christian country with traditional social values.”

Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin has signed a decree establishing June 8 as an official state holiday, Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. On this day the Orthodox Church commemorates Ss. Prince Peter and Princess Fevronia of Murom, revered as patrons of Christian marriage. Mr. Vladimir Legoida, the Chairman of the Russian Orthodox Church Department for Relations with the Society and Media, has remarked on this occasion: - "Once again, the President has underscored the importance of the family for our nation. Let me remind you that the holiday has been celebrated in Russia since 2008. It has come a...

Chechnya’s strongman leader Ramzan Kadyrov issued a warning to those spreading “rumours” about Putin’s health, telling them it is “better to shut your mouths”. Kadyrov also rubbished claims Putin is in a coma, saying he had spoken the Russian despot recently and he was “cheerful”. In a recording posted to his Telegram channel, he said he had “read that our president had fallen into a coma" and that "they are looking for a replacement right now". He added of seeing Putin recently: “He has a very cheerful voice, a commanding voice, and he is ready to complete the special operation...

Russia has "strategically lost" the war in Ukraine and is a "more diminished power", the head of the UK's armed forces has said. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said Vladimir Putin had lost 25% of Russia's land power for only "tiny" gains. And while Russia may achieve "tactical successes" in the coming weeks, he said any notion the war had been a success was "nonsense". Admiral Radakin, who is the UK's chief of defence staff, said Russia was running out of troops and advanced missiles and would never be able to take over all of Ukraine. -snip- Admiral Radakin said: "This...

Since the Russian army attacked Ukraine nearly four months ago, thousands of civilians have been killed and whole towns reduced to rubble, while millions of Ukrainians have fled their homes. But on Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov looked me in the eye and told me things were not as they seemed. "We didn't invade Ukraine," he claimed.

Ukraine's newest heroes: Brave Russian defectors have joined Kyiv's forces on frontlines against Putin's regime to liberate their beloved country from his rule Scores of Russians have defected to fight alongside Ukrainian armed forces They risk severe treatment and most likely the death penalty if they are captured But fighters say they see Putin and the Kremlin as a 'cancer' preventing peace Like all his Ukrainian army comrades, Volodymyr Grotskov is fuelled by deeply-held patriotism as he risks his life on the bloodstained frontline of the brutal war against Russia. The 48-year-old electrical engineer says he loves his country and...

Russia summons Israeli Ambassador following airstrike on Damascus airport attributed to Israel Israeli Ambassador to Russia Alex Ben-Zvi was summoned for a reprimand by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov following last week's attack on the Damascus airport Bogdanov protested to the ambassador and claimed that the attack caused damage at the civil and humanitarian level and that he also claimed that the justification for the attack provided Israel was not convincing and therefore Russia was awaiting clarifications.

Two little-noticed news stories capture the true picture of the state of the global culture war today. The first is from the American deep red state of Idaho, where The Satanic Temple is holding a "Pride" event that features a "Drag Dance Party" and "Unbaptisms" – a ritual in which people who were once baptized as Christians publicly renounce Jesus Christ.The other is from Russia, where the national Duma (legislature) has just introduced legislation to expand its 2013 ban on LGBT propaganda to children to include ALL LGBT propaganda throughout the society.To my knowledge, I am the only culture war...

Russian forces could be just weeks away from seizing control of the key Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine — as Ukrainian officials continued to appeal for more heavy weapons and ammunition from the West. An unnamed senior US defense official told The Washington Post that the cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk, which have seen some of the fiercest battles in recent weeks, could fall to Russia in the coming days. Russia has been making steady gains in the strategically important Donbas region — comprised of Luhanks and Donetsk — by pounding the area with heavy artillery day after day and...