Wetherspoons pulls Russian beer from pubs in protest - including Putin's hometown brew

invasion of Ukraine turns into a grim and costly slog, Russian leader Vladimir Putin is looking to his overseas allies to reinforce his flagging army. A video has emerged that appears to show a large group of Syrian mercenaries cheering as they prepare to ship out to Ukraine and Putin has announced that some 16,000 fighters from the Middle East will soon be deployed alongside Russian troops in Ukraine's Donbas region.

Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers have allegedly been told to condemn Russia and Vladimir Putin, or 'never come back' to the BBC show.

Vladimir Putin’s "secret girlfriend" is living a life of luxury in a Swiss chalet with locals ordered to keep a lid on her location, an insider has claimed.Alina Kabaeva, an Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast, reportedly travelled to a “very private and very secure” chalet near Lugano with her and Putin’s young children as Russia was invading Ukraine.The 38-year-old was once described as “Russia’s most flexible woman” and is believed to be the mother of Putin’s two sons and a daughter – or possibly two twin daughters.A source in the Swiss city told the Daily Mirror: “Before the coronavirus pandemic there was often gossip about Putin’s mistress being in town.“They are known to have strong connections here, but anyone who knows them has been sworn to secrecy.“While Russia falls apart because of the sanctions, this is the perfect place for Putin to send Alina and their kids.”Claims of Putin’s links to Lugano first surfaced seven years ago, when in February 2015, a local TV station reported that Kabeava had given birth at a private VIP maternity clinic in Sorengo, on the peripheries of the city.They were said to have reserved two rooms at the discreet private maternity hospital Clinic Sant’Anna – a favourite of wealthy Russians.To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.One suite was for the birth, while the second was for family and bodyguards.According to insiders, President Putin was present.The Kremlin dismissed the rumours, as it does any query about Putin’s private life.Kabaeva, one of the most decorated rhythmic gymnasts in history, has never confirmed whether they have one daughter, or twin girls, nor has ever addressed claims they got married in a secret

whose assets were frozen by the British government Thursday over Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, and Mikhail Fridman, the sanctioned co-founder of Alfa Bank.He is also said to have cultivated relationships with Russia’s most important museum, run by a close associate of President Vladimir Putin.With Ukrainian artists and others calling for more sanctions in the cultural sector, such relationships may soon be under scrutiny, analysts say.The Gagosian Gallery in New York did not return The Post’s calls and an email seeking comment this week.Gagosian, who owns several galleries around the world, has long held close ties to Abramovich, the owner of the UK’s Chelsea football club, helping him and ex-wife Dasha Zhukova build up a massive art collection. It includes pieces by artists Francis Bacon and Damien Hirst, whose work has been represented by Gagosian’s galleries.

Several major supermarkets are removing a number of items from their shelves this week in protest of the invasion of Ukraine.

Russian soldiers are living in fear of being killed if they are sent back home after being captured by Ukrainian soldiers. At a press conference in Kyiv, one of the soldiers spoke of being killed by firing squads when they are returned to Russia following a prisoner exchange.

Mila Kunis shed more light on her feelings about Russia, and the government’s invasion into her home country of Ukraine during a new interview with Maria Shriver. The 38-year-old actress admitted that even as Russian forces attack Ukraine, she doesn’t want people think of Russian people as the “enemy.” While she didn’t name Russian President Vladimir Putin by name, she pointed to those in power as the root of the problem.

sanctions against Russian oligarchs yesterday.Most notable was the news that Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich has been sanctioned. As he has had his UK assets seized, this has a direct impact on the club, who cannot purchase or sell players, nor sell new tickets.Chelsea players will still be paid their wages but the club cannot gain any income from ticket sales and only season ticket-holders can attend the rest of the season's home games.

Russian spy who trained on the same military program as Vladimir Putin has warned that the Russian President 'will go to the end' in Ukraine. Aliia Roza now lives in a £15million California mansion running a multi-million-dollar fashion PR business, but previously had a drastically different lifestyle.

Russian president Vladimir Putin's apparent propaganda grip on his people is slipping if Russian media is anything to go by. According to local reports, one of the biggest talk shows in the country, hosted by pro-Russia, pro-Putin Vladimir Soloviyev had two guests on a recent episode – both of whom portrayed negative views about the invasion of Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin once got then US President George W. Bush to join him in a dance to a Cossack folk song in a bizarre moment between the two nations.The footage shows Putin and Mr Bush being joined by a number of Russian dancers in Sochi in 2008.Putin can be seen in the shot lightly moving with a dancer as Bush seems to pull out some awkward dad dancing, not in the style of the folk song.Although both are dancing, it is noticeable that Putin is positioned with a woman on stage as Mr Bush is being shown the ropes of Cossack dancing just off of it.The two then ended their performance with a handshake as they sat down at the dinner table together.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's daughters who have had to make their way through life in his tyrannical shadow.Although the 69-year-old despot keeps his private life incredibly private, it is public knowledge that he shares two daughters with his ex-wife Lyudmila Putina, who he separated from in 2013 after 30 years of marriage.These are 36-year-old Maria Faassen and her sister 35-year old Katerina Tikhonova. He is also rumoured to be the father of 18-year-old Luiza Rozova, though in charming Putin fashion he has never publically acknowledged his suspected progeny, reports the Mirror.

Vladimir Putin using dog poo to "insult" the Russian President and raise money for victims of the war in Ukraine. Dominic Murphy from Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, created the piece with the help of his dog Sybil and titled it "Poo-tin's a S**t".

officials are investigating the ownership of a superyacht anchored on the Tuscan coast.The yacht, worth £532 million, and measuring a staggering 459 feet, is believed to be owned by Russian president Vladimir Putin, but has never been confirmed.But now Italian law enforcement has been spotted swarming the boat, called Scheherazade, in an attempt to clarify the situation.The boat's captain Guy Bennett-Pearce told the New York Times: “They are looking hard.“They are looking at every aspect.“This isn’t the local coppers coming down, these are men in dark suits - I had no choice but to hand over documents.“I have never seen him. I have never met him.“I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that this will clear the vessel of all negative rumours and speculations” If it's proven to be owned by the man who ordered the invasion of Ukraine, the boat will be seized as part of a Europe-wide crackdown on Russia and Russian assets.

Major General has outlined Vladimir Putin's three 'disastrous miscalculations' in Ukraine, which may not only lose Russia the war but also see the 'end of his rule'. Taking to Twitter, former Australian Major General Mick Ryan explained exactly what has gone wrong for the Russian President, with the Armed Forces of Ukraine claiming today that more than 12,000 of his soldiers have been killed so far.

Roman Abramovich has become the latest Russian oligarch to be sanctioned as part of the British government’s response to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Major companies are pulling their business out of Russia as global economic pressure piles on the country following the invasion of Ukraine.

BBC presenter has been left astonished by a former Russian spy’s shocking claim that ‘Ukrainian Nazis’, including President Volodomyr Zelenskyy, are bombing their own citizens.Maria Butina is a Russian political activist, and was convicted of acting as a spy in the US in 2018. She is a member of the State Duma, or the lower house of the Russian parliament, which has supported Vladimir Putin in his decision to order the invasion of Ukraine.

Russian performers have begun canceling concerts in their home country and joining a larger "no to war" campaign condemning the Russia's invasion of Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops to invade Ukraine on Feb. 24 after recognizing the independence of two separatist regions in the country.

Editor’s note: In Hollie McKay’s newest special report for Deadline, the seasoned foreign affairs correspondent and Only Cry for the Living: Memos from Inside the ISIS Battlefield author is still in Ukraine, where Vladimir Putin’s invasion is turning increasingly brutal & resistance is intensifying.

Vladimir Putin piggyback fancy dress costume may just be the most offensive party outfit ever. The costume has been listed for sale on eBay while Russia's president wages war and widespread suffering on the people of Ukraine.