What to expect from Russia in 2018

Russia has confirmed the capture of the strategic town of Lyman after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed resistance in the Donbas region.

The leader of South Ossetia, the breakaway region of Georgia, has scrapped plans to hold a referendum on joining Russia. However, a vote could still be held after consultations with Moscow.

Senegal's President Macky Sall appeals to the West to ease sanctions on Russia to facilitate the export of grain to Africa. Millions on the continent face hunger amid a global food crisis sparked by the Ukraine war. We talk to David Laborde, senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute. Also in this edition: Sudan marks the three-year anniversary of the June 3 massacre of pro-democracy protesters, and refugees in Cameroon prepare to return home to the Central African Republic.

At a UN General Assembly meeting, China and Russia explained their vetoes of a proposal that would have imposed new sanctions on North Korea.

In an online video, a train is seen transporting tanks. Claims on social media have suggested that these images show Finland sending military equipment towards the Russian border. The video was seen by some as a sign of imminent conflict and an escalation of the war in Ukraine. FRANCE 24's Georgina Robertson and Sophie Samaille take a look at the video in more detail.

Would Beijing back away from its strategic partnership with Moscow if the war in Ukraine goes nuclear?

Germany sees massive dip in Russia exports, uptick in China imports. Despite trying to wean itself off of Russian energy imports, Germany is paying record prices for them. At the same time, Berlin has built up a large import surplus with Beijing.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says NATO members must do more to help Ukraine. Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy says the outcome of fighting in the Donbas will indicate the course of the war. DW has the latest.

Navalny's lawyer went to visit him in prison, but was told by guards that "there is no such convict here." Russian authorities have not said where they have taken the opposition leader.

In Russia, critics of the war in Ukraine are increasingly being reported to the police. DW spoke with Russians who have been betrayed by their own relatives, friends, colleagues and neighbors.

"What a special moment," European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said after signing the gas memorandum. Europe is looking for alternate sources of energy since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A viral video on Facebook, claims that Russia transported seven trucks worth of Iskander nuclear missiles to its border with Finland, in response to Finland's NATO bid. We tell you more in this edition of Truth or Fake.