"Putin's Challenger Submits 105,000 Signatures for Russian Presidential Election Bid Amid Ukraine War Criticism"

A challenger to Russian President Vladimir Putin has submitted 105,000 signatures in support of his election campaign. This comes amidst heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with Putin accusing Kyiv of downing a Russian plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war. Meanwhile, a Lithuanian general has dismissed the possibility of Putin attacking NATO, questioning politicians' qualifications for offering military advice. Additionally, Russia has convicted a Putin-critic, Igor Girkin, for "inciting extremism" in relation to the MH17 plane crash, sentencing him to a four-year prison term.