Russian police have uncovered a factory producing counterfeit alcohol, including fake Johnnie Walker Black Label and other brands.

Kyiv’s bartenders are fighting back against the Russian invasion, as Hamish Smith discovers.

Businesses all over the world have boycotted Russian vodka in a show of solidarity with Ukraine, but what does this mean for the wider vodka market?

The Old Hem was completely destroyed and two people were killed by Russian shelling on the Eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Monday, according to reports by the Kharkiv prosecutor's office.

Sweden’s alcohol monopoly, Systembolaget, has removed all Russian-made vodka and other types of Russian alcohol from its shelves with immediate effect, in protest of the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

Nordic wine and spirits company Anora has decided to suspend all sales to Russia and donate €50,000 to the Ukrainian Red Cross.

An industry expert believes that boycotts on Russian vodka across the US will have little impact on the war due to the divide between ‘control states’ and those under the three tier system.

A new law in Russia ordering French champagne to be labelled sparkling wine has caused unrest among producers.

Global spirits groups and aspiring brands were present at the second annual Moscow Bar Show (MBS) this week to capitalize on Russian bartenders and distributors’ growing interest in international spirits. 

La Martiniquaise, the French spirits group, has announced that, Russian Alcohol Group  the Russian subsidiary of CEDC, will be the exclusive distributor of Label 5 scotch whisky in Russia from January. Label 5 claims to be the fast-growing tenth largest worldwide scotch brand.

Russian Standard Corporation has proposed the additional acquisition of nearly 20% of Central European Distribution Corporation’s (CEDC) shares as part of a "strategic alliance". 

Vodka company Russian Standard has purchased a 9.9% share in CEDC (Central European Distribution Corporation) for $25.35 million.

Russian Standard Vodka, which claims to be Russia’s number one premium vodka, has announced the appointment of John Palatella as executive vice president of sales & distribution for the US.

SABMiller, has formed a strategic alliance for Turkey, Russia, the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States, former Soviet republics), central Asia and the Middle East with the Turkish brewer, Anadolu Efes.

Russian Standard vodka owner Roust and Rémy Cointreau have announced the expansion of their partnership in Russia which will include the distribution of additional Rémy Cointreau brands.

Rémy Cointreau Global Travel Retail (GTR) is attempting to raise awareness of vodka brand Russian Standard, with its new campaign Vodka As It Should Be.

Russian Distiller has launched two new ‘bread wines’, Rye Polugar and Rye Malt Polugar.

Diageo has announced the launch of super premium vodka Smirnov Titul to the Russian market.

Russian Distiller has launched Krivach, a malted rye distillate that is said to be the first of its type in Russia for 120 years.

UK: Russian Standard Vodka has launched an on-pack music promotion. Consumers will have the chance to win free tickets to music gigs as part of the Russian Standard Vodka Originals brand campaign.

Russian Standard has launched Russian Standard Gold into the travel retail market. The company launched the brand at TFWA Asia Pacific in Singapore.

US: Pernod Ricard and Russian Standard Vodka have reached a settlement of claims brought by Russian Standard against Pernod Ricard. According to Pernod Ricard, the dispute revolved mainly around the allegations brought by Russian Standard Vodka and Roust Trading Limited pursuant to which promoting Stolichnaya as "Russian vodka" resulted in false advertising.

Russian Standard is to launch its luxury Russian Standard Gold into the UK market.