Page 2 - Peter Tesch News Today

An Irish national thrown into immigration detention after ASIO alleged she had repeated contact with a suspected Russian intelligence officer says she is determined to clear her name.

An Irish national thrown into immigration detention after ASIO alleged she had repeated contact with a suspected Russian intelligence officer says she is determined to clear her name.

ASIO alleges Marina Sologub, 39, is a Russian agent tasked with gathering and sharing sensitive information and passing it on to a Russian intelligence officer working under diplomatic cover.

With Russia and Ukraine now preparing for what is likely to be the most violent – and decisive – stage of this war, three of Australia's leading Russia experts give their assessments of how the next year could unfold, writes John Lyons.

Experts are sceptical Ukraine and the domestic opposition were behind the bombing death of Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky and say there are others with potential motives — including factions within the Russian establishment.

Experts are sceptical Ukraine and the domestic opposition were behind the bombing death of Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky and say there are others with potential motives — including factions within the Russian establishment.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that their two countries share the “same” goals as the pair meet in Moscow for high-level talks.

“Our organisation is helping Russians who were afraid to raise their voices,” says one member of the Svoboda Alliance.

Analysis - The Wagner Group has been called everything from 'Putin's ghost army' to 'hired killers', John Lyons writes.

Dozens of prominent Australians, from the Australian Financial Review’s editor-in-chief to Mike Cannon-Brookes have been branded “Russophobic” and banned from travel to Russia.