Japan’s Mazda has surged to sixth place in Russian car sales despite leaving the market in 2022, according to data from Autostat.

Ukraine’s military intelligence said Tuesday it was behind explosions near the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok, while Russian officials attributed the incident to a gas malfunction, News.Az reports, citing The Moscow Times.

Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged that the Central Bank is “struggling” to lower interest rates without sparking new inflation, warning that a sharp cut would drive up prices. Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, he said, “If inflation overwhelms the economy, nothing good will come of it.”

China and Russia are set to hold joint naval exercises, dubbed Maritime Interaction 2025, off Russia’s Pacific coast near Vladivostok this August, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday.

The Beibu/Interaction 2024 joint naval exercise between Russia and China has officially commenced in Vladivostok, located in Russia's Far East, according to the Pacific Fleet.