Kazakhstan

The student’s family alleges he is “being held by force” by the mercenary group: “Warn your relatives whose children are studying in Russia.”

While Putin touts his strong alliances during wartime, several countries in Russia’s defense bloc are participating in military exercises with the U.S. like it’s business as usual.

The Russian president is sending a clear message to the rest of the world by deploying troops from a Moscow-led military alliance to foreign soil for the first time.

Russia’s been prepping for invasion of Ukraine for months. But a sudden escalation in violence in neighboring Kazakhstan might throw a wrench in Putin’s plans.

Police in Almaty said they killed dozens of demonstrators, while at least two members of law enforcement were said to be found decapitated.