A Russian court on July 19 released opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who was convicted on July 18 of embezzlement and sentenced to five years in prison, AP reported.
A Chinese naval fleet was spotted July 14 sailing through the Soya Strait from the Sea of Japan to the Sea of Okhotsk, the Japanese Defense Ministry said, AFP reported, citing Kyodo.
Russian security forces killed Chechen militant leader Doku Umarov's bodyguard, along with another militant, during a shootout in Ingushetia's Sunzha district, officials said July 13, Reuters reported.
Roughly 160,000 servicemen are participating in Russia's snap military drills, nearly double the initial reported number of 81,000, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said July 13, RIA Novosti reported.