Russian lawmakers have proposed new legislation allowing them to shutter media outlets that “disrespect” the country’s government — even without a court order. 

Russian authorities already have the power to ban publications that “discredit” the Russian military and other state bodies abroad, but need a court ruling in order to do so.  

The draft

Russian soldiers dug trenches in the highly-radioactive soil of the Chernobyl exclusion zone when they controlled the defunct nuclear power plant, a Ukrainian official confirmed to the U.S.-funded Voice of America (VOA) outlet Thursday.

Russian forces captured the Chernobyl plant, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster, on the first day of

Russia's state communications watchdog said Thursday it would ban U.S. internet giant Google from advertising its services in the country, accusing YouTube of spreading "fake news" about its military campaign in Ukraine.

Russia has moved to block access to non-state media and information resources and fears are mounting that Google could be next in