Latest news with #Bryansk
Russia Today
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Russian Orthodox Church in Africa not to colonize it
The Russian Orthodox Church has never been a church of colonizers, and its growing mission in Africa should not be associated with colonial ideology, George Maximov, a priest and chairman of the Missionary Department of the Patriarchal Exarchate of Africa, has told RT. Maximov made the remarks on the sidelines of a training workshop for African bloggers held last week in the Russian city of Bryansk, where he spoke about the Orthodox faith and its role across the continent. 'We work with full respect to people, and only in countries where people invite us. We don't want to fight with someone in Africa, or against someone in Africa,' he said when asked whether Africans should be concerned about the increasing activities of the church in their countries. 'Nobody should worry. We came for people who decided to be members of our church and they have this right because in all African countries the freedom of belief is legal,' Maximov added. The Russian Orthodox Church has recently expanded its footprint in several African nations, with parishes in more than 30 states, including Angola, Burundi, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and South Africa. The outreach comes amid broader Russian engagement on the continent, strengthening its diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation. Maximov dismissed suggestions of Kremlin influence, saying the church conducts its work independently and only engages with government or business representatives when advocating for the social needs of parishioners. He told RT that, unlike many international organizations that provide food aid to African countries and create long-term dependency, the church promotes a model focused on economic empowerment. In February, the patriarchal exarchate launched a project to provide clean drinking water to villages in northern Cameroon, following similar initiatives in Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia. 'We want to find ways to help them. For example, not just giving them food, but providing fertilizer at better prices so that local farmers can feed themselves. It is just one example of our position, and we try to present this position to businessmen and to our government,' he noted. Speaking on the promotion of homosexuality by Western countries, Maximov criticized donor responses that suspend humanitarian support for African governments over local anti-LGBTQ policies. 'It is an inhuman action,' he said, likening the withdrawal of aid, such as over Uganda's anti-LGBTQ laws, to punishing 'innocent' children for decisions made by political leaders. 'I am very impressed by African leaders who stay strong. In my opinion, now Africa is a leader in the defense of traditional family values from this destructive ideology,' the priest added.
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
African bloggers to use digital skills to strengthen Russia-Africa ties (PHOTOS)
African bloggers in Russia have said they intend to use their digital media platforms as a 'bridge' to promote cultural exchange and deepen public understanding of growing ties between Moscow and African countries. The commitment followed the 'From Kilimanjaro to Desna: Content School' workshop held July 16-20 in Bryansk, Russia, where 30 African media students, bloggers, and aspiring content creators were trained in digital storytelling, video production, and social media strategy. It was organized by the African Initiative News Agency, the African Union of Bloggers, the Union of Bloggers of Russia, and Bryansk State University of Engineering and Technology. Kevin Abala, a Cameroonian journalist who took part, said he plans to publish content that helps 'Russian and African people know more about each other.' 'We have the possibility to write well the history of Africa because there is a fake conception of Africa. It's our generation to say that we are a new Africa, Africa who thinks, Africa who believes,' Abala added. Togolese blogger Germain Koffi Adediha said the skills gained will help him continue 'showing the realities' in Russia on his Telegram channel, where he shares his experience of studying in the country and provides information to others seeking similar opportunities. He noted, however, that while Russia is expanding cooperation in several areas with African countries, including Togo, partnerships in education remain one-sided. 'The main field through which Russia is collaborating with Africa is education. This education must be reciprocal. You from Africa are learning in Russia and we need young people from Russia to know more about Africa,' Adediha said. 'We have lithium, yes, but also culture and stories,' Namory Tamba Keita from Mali said, adding that his country's cultural contributions could strengthen relations with Moscow, which is already supporting Bamako in military and energy cooperation. Participants of the workshop also developed group projects on expanding Russia-Africa ties, competing for cash prizes ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 rubles ($250-$600). Organizers said the winning proposals will be submitted for funding and implemented jointly with the bloggers.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Russia says it downed 73 Ukrainian drones, including 3 flying to Moscow
Workers repair a damaged apartment building following a Ukrainian drone attack in Moscow. (EPA Images pic) MOSCOW : Russian air defences destroyed 73 Ukrainian drones overnight, including three heading for Moscow, Russia's defence ministry said on Friday. Most of the drones were downed over Russia's southwestern regions, including 31 over the Bryansk region that borders Ukraine, the ministry said on the Telegram messaging app. Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin, writing on Telegram, made no mention of casualties or damage but said emergency services were examining the area where drone fragments fell to the ground. The federal aviation agency, Rosaviatsia, briefly ordered the suspension of operations at two airports near the capital, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky, but services were later resumed. Operations were halted well after midnight at a third Moscow airport, Vnukovo, before being reinstated by the morning. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine about the attacks. Kyiv says that its strikes inside Russia are necessary to destroy infrastructure key to Moscow's efforts in its war against Ukraine, now in its fourth year.
Reuters
5 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Three drones downed en route to Moscow, some flights suspended, officials say
MOSCOW, July 19 (Reuters) - Russian air defence systems shot down three drones en route to Moscow on Saturday, city mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on his Telegram account. Two Moscow airports - Vnukovo and Domodedovo - suspended arrivals and departures for safety reasons but later resumed operations, Russian aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia said. The Russian Defence Ministry said its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed 27 Ukrainian drones in total from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Moscow time (1200-1600 GMT), including four over Moscow region, 15 over Bryansk region, six over Kaluga region and two over Tula region.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russian air defences intercept Ukrainian drones headed for Moscow, mayor says
(Reuters) -Russian air defences intercepted drones heading for Moscow in a series of attacks, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said. Sobyanin, writing on Telegram, made no mention of casualties or damage in his accounts of air defence activity, but said 13 drones had been downed or destroyed after midnight. He said specialists were examining fragments where they had landed. A tally of his posts showed 10 more drones were intercepted or destroyed in the previous 11 hours. Russia's Defence Ministry, in a separate post, said its air defence units had downed 87 Ukrainian drones in different areas across central, western and southern Russia in a period of nearly five hours. Forty-eight of the drones were downed in Bryansk region, on the Ukrainian border. The acting governor of Rostov region, on Ukraine's eastern border, said Ukrainian drones had triggered fires or knocked down power lines in a number of districts. Ukraine has for some time launched drones against long-distance Russian targets, many associated with energy. In one attack last month, dubbed "Operation Spiders Web," Russian long-range military aircraft were targeted at several air bases. Russia's military has in recent weeks intensified its attacks by swarms of drones and missiles against Ukrainian cities. Solve the daily Crossword
