MOSCOW-A group of lions mauled a zookeeper to death at one of Europe’s largest big-cat parks on Oct 16 after a door inside their enclosure was left unlocked, investigators said. The mauling occurred at the Taigan safari park on the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula, one of the largest breeding grounds for lions in Europe and home to around 60 of the predators.“ A criminal case has been opened over the death of an employee at the Taigan lion park as a result of a predator attack, ” the Moscow-ins

Given the political uncertainty which has permeated Russia since the parliamentary elections last year, tensions with the military represent a potentially dangerous liability for the Kremlin. Putin and his advisers no doubt recall that it was the military (and the KGB) that overthrew the last Sovie

BILLIONAIRES linked to Gazprom, the Russian gas giant blamed for Europe’s supply crisis, have snapped up a string of UK mansions. Andrey Goncharenko, 48, was chief executive of a Gazprom subsidiary when he bought four properties in London over the past decade worth ￡260million.... But the market share in Europe is expected to stay above 30 per cent, rising to 40 per cent by 2040.A Whitehall source said: “ Unlike the UK, the continent is drunk on Russian gas.... It’s obvious Moscow is choking o

Former MI6 officer gives verdict on Ukraine war Ex-MI6 spy warns Putin will be gone'in a year'( Image: Getty Images) Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s 20-year reign will come to an end within a year, a former MI6 spy has predicted, adding that his replacement will be terrifying.... More infoSUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you.... This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understandi

Putin has changed his policy toward his team. He has come to see that abuses of power and corruption have grown to a scale that threatens the survival of the regime.