MOSCOW, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Russia plans to seek clarification from the United States about new U.S. restrictions on Venezuela's oil business, the Kremlin said on Wednesday. The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday issued a general license to facilitate the exploration and production of oil and gas in Venezuela.

WhatsApp says the move aims to push its 90 million users in Russia to a "state-owned surveillance app".

Russian troops have advanced at a glacial pace in recent months, but gains in southern and eastern Ukraine could give Moscow an edge in U.S.-mediated peace talks.

By Mrinmay Dey and Chandni Shah Feb 11 (Reuters) - Russia has attempted to "fully block" Meta Platforms-owned WhatsApp in the country, a company spokesperson told Reuters on Wednesday, as it promotes home-grown platforms and seeks greater control over its internet space.

Estonia intelligence assessment reveals Russia rebuilding military for long-term conflict despite massive Ukraine losses, shifting to mass production.

Russian authorities have begun restricting access to Telegram, one of the country’s most popular social media apps, as the government continues to push everyday Russians toward its own tightly controlled alternatives to foreign tech platforms.

Russia is preparing to dispatch crude oil and fuel cargoes to Cuba in the near future, Izvestia newspaper said on Thursday, citing the Russian embassy in Cuba.

A senior European intelligence chief says Russia cannot launch an attack on NATO this year or next but is planning to increase its forces significantly along the alliance’s eastern flank, depending on the outcome of the war in Ukraine.

A Ukrainian-born Russian citizen has been extradited to Moscow from Dubai on suspicion of gravely injuring one of Russia's most senior