Articles from The Moscow Times (1074)
Russia Orders Expulsion of British Diplomat Accused of Espionage
Russia’s FSB security service on Thursday accused an employee of the British Embassy in Moscow of being an undercover spy and ordered him to leave the country within two weeks.
U.S. Suspends Immigrant Visa Processing for 75 Countries, Including Russia – White House
The United States said Wednesday it was suspending the processing of immigrant visas from 75 countries including Russia, President Donald Trump's latest move against foreigners seeking to come to America.
Poland Accuses Russia of Launching Major Cyberattack on Energy Grid
The Polish government accused Russia of launching a cyberattack on the country’s power grid last month that they claim nearly caused a nationwide blackout.
Russian Regions Reintroduce Huge Sign-On Bonuses for Contract Soldiers After Lowering Payments in 2025
Authorities in at least five Russian regions have sharply raised sign-on bonuses for contract soldiers after cutting them to the federal minimum late last year, the exiled news outlet 7x7 reported...
Russian Military Blames Ukraine for Drone Attack on Greek-Owned Oil Tanker in Black Sea
Russia’s Defense Ministry on Wednesday accused Ukraine of launching drones that struck a Greek-owned oil tanker off the Black Sea coast a day earlier, the latest in a string of maritime attacks in...
Police Arrest Chief Physician and Intensive Care Head at Siberian Hospital Where Newborns Died
Russian police have arrested the chief physician and the acting head of intensive care at a maternity hospital in the Siberian city of Novokuznetsk after nine newborns died there earlier this...
Russians Feel Inflation Is Higher Than Officials Say. Are They Correct?
Opinion | People generally have little faith in statistics and the overwhelming majority of Russians are convinced that Rosstat deliberately understates inflation.
Moscow Court Charges Top Streaming Executives With LGBTQ+ ‘Propaganda’
Law enforcement authorities have pressed administrative charges against the top managers of some of Russia’s largest online streaming services over alleged violations of LGBTQ+ “propaganda” laws,...
Chechnya’s Kadyrov Is Reportedly Gravely Ill (Again). Here’s What We Know.
Russian and Ukrainian media recently reported that Ramzan Kadyrov, who has ruled the North Caucasus republic of Chechnya for nearly two decades, may be suffering from kidney failure and has been...
Former Ryazan Region Governor Charged With Taking $3.5M in Bribes
The former governor of the central Ryazan region has been charged with taking millions of rubles in bribes, the head of Russia’s Investigative Committee told state media Wednesday.
Chechnya’s Kadyrov Is Reportedly Gravely Ill. Here’s What We Know.
Russian and Ukrainian media recently reported that Ramzan Kadyrov, who has ruled the North Caucasus republic of Chechnya for nearly two decades, may be suffering from kidney failure and has been...
China Posts First Annual Decline in Trade With Russia Since 2020
The flow of trade between Russia and China contracted for the first time in five years in 2025 amid falling demand for Chinese car imports in Russia and a drop in the value of Russian crude oil...
Ukrainian Drone Strikes on Southern Russia Kill 3
At least three people were killed and several others were wounded in Ukrainian drone attacks against regions in southern Russia overnight, local authorities said early Wednesday.
Russia’s Magnit Food Retailer Eyes Expansion Into Occupied Ukraine – Kommersant
Magnit, one of Russia’s largest grocery retailers, is preparing to expand into Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, the Kommersant business daily reported Tuesday, potentially marking the...
Russia’s Leading Publisher Shutters Queer-Interest YA Imprint Months After ‘Extremism’ Arrests
Russia’s largest book publisher Eksmo has shut down its embattled young-adult literature subsidiary Popcorn Books, which became a primary target of the Kremlin’s crackdown on so-called “LGBT...
One in 3 Russian Rescue Hubs Lack Aircraft as Carriers Decline Unprofitable State Contracts
Nearly one-third of Russia’s search-and-rescue hubs are operating without the aircraft necessary to respond to aviation and maritime disasters, the pro-Kremlin Izvestia newspaper reported Tuesday.
Drone Hits Tanker Scheduled to Load Kazakh Oil at Russian Port
A drone crashed into a Kazakh-chartered oil tanker en route to a Russian Black Sea port earlier Tuesday, causing an explosion but no serious damage, Kazakhstan's state energy firm Kazmunaygas said.
Almost Half of Putin’s 2025 Decrees Kept Secret – Vyorstka
Around 45% of more than 1,000 executive decrees signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2025 were never made public, according to an analysis by the exiled investigative outlet Vyorstka...
Russia Plans New Economics Textbook Reviving Stalin-Era Ideas
Russia is preparing a new economics textbook for university students that aims to challenge what its authors call a “myth” that democracy drives economic growth and to revive the socialist...
Snow Storm Paralyzes Kamchatka
A major winter storm hit Far East Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula overnight on Tuesday, burying entire neighborhoods, triggering urban avalanches and forcing officials to deploy their vehicle fleet...
Russia Summons Polish Envoy Over Archaeologist Detention
Russia has summoned Poland's ambassador to protest Warsaw's detention of a Russian archaeologist on a Ukrainian arrest warrant, Moscow's foreign ministry said Tuesday.
Russia Strikes Power Plant, Kills 4 in Ukraine Barrage
Russia battered Ukraine with more than two dozen missiles and hundreds of drones early Tuesday, killing four people and pummelling another power plant, piling more pressure on Ukraine's brittle...
Lada Sales Plunge 25% in 2025 as High Interest Rates, Recycling Fees Bite
Sales of Russia’s flagship car brand Lada fell by nearly 25% in 2025, the Kommersant business newspaper reported Tuesday, citing data compiled by market research firm Avtostat.
Russia Probes Death of 9 Newborns at Siberian Hospital
Russian investigators have launched a criminal probe into the deaths of nine newborns at a maternity hospital in the Siberian city of Novokuznetsk, officials said Tuesday.
Russian Orthodox Church Holds Nationwide Anti-Abortion Prayer
The Russian Orthodox Church launched a nationwide prayer service this weekend that urges women against having an abortion, coming amid government efforts to reverse the country’s population decline.
Russia’s Ukraine War Lasting Longer Than Its WWII Fight Shatters Its Myth of Military Supremacy
Opinion | January 11 marked a new milestone for the war in Ukraine: 1,418 days.
Families of Russian Soldiers in Primorye Region Accuse Commanders of Sexualized Violence and Extortion
Relatives of Russian servicemen in the Far East Primorye region have appealed to military prosecutors over alleged sexualized violence and extortion at a local army unit, the news outlet...
Ukraine Civilian Deaths in 2025 Highest Since 2022, UN Says
United Nations monitors recorded more civilian deaths in Ukraine in 2025 than in any other year except 2022, as hostilities flared along the front line and Russia expanded its use of long-range...
Belgorod Region Reels From Largest Power Outage of Ukraine War
Russia’s Belgorod region was still struggling to restore power, heating and water amid subzero temperatures on Monday after a Ukrainian strike triggered its worst blackout since the start of the...
In Photos: Moscow Braves Record Snowfall
Gallery |
Russian Army Claims Oreshnik Missile Struck Aircraft Repair Plant in Lviv Region
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed Monday that it hit an aviation repair plant in Ukraine’s western Lviv region last week with an Oreshnik ballistic missile, marking the first time either side has...
Woman Who Bought Larisa Dolina’s Moscow Apartment Requests Singer’s Forced Eviction
A woman who purchased a luxury Moscow apartment from pop singer Larisa Dolina has asked court authorities to forcibly evict the performer after she allegedly refused to hand over the keys, Russian...
Russian Air Defenses in Venezuela Failed During U.S. Operation – NYT
Russian-supplied air defense systems in Venezuela were largely non-operational and failed to respond to a large-scale U.S. strike that preceded an American special forces operation to seize...
Russian Embassy Employee in Cyprus Found Dead
The Russian Embassy in Cyprus said Monday that one of its employees died last week, with local media reports suggesting the cause of death was suicide.
Finland Releases Ship Suspected of Damaging Undersea Cable on New Year’s Eve
Finnish police said Monday that they lifted the seizure of a cargo ship suspected of damaging an undersea cable in the Gulf of Finland on New Year’s Eve after it departed from a port in Russia.
AvtoVAZ Returns to 5-Day Workweek After Sales Slump in 2025
Car manufacturer AvtoVAZ has resumed production following the New Year’s break and returned its employees to a five-day workweek after reducing operations last year, the head of the company’s...
At Least 19 Russian Generals Killed Since Invasion of Ukraine – Report
Russia has lost at least 19 generals killed since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago, investigative outlet The Insider reported, citing open-source data and...
Russia Hits Ukraine With Hypersonic Missile After Rejecting Peacekeeping Plan
Russia hit Ukraine with its hypersonic Oreshnik missile overnight after rejecting the latest post-war peacekeeping plan, as part of a massive attack that set apartment blocks ablaze and killed at...
Moscow Says U.S. Released 2 Russian Crew From Seized Tanker
The United States has decided to release two Russian crew members of a Russian-flagged oil tanker that Washington seized this week, Moscow said Friday.
Russia’s Parallel Imports of Western Goods Fall Nearly 50% in 2025
Russia’s parallel imports of Western goods fell sharply in 2025 as tighter government controls and border disruptions narrowed a key supply channel created after Western companies exited the...
Kyiv Mayor Calls for Temporary Evacuation Over Heating Outages
Mass heating outages caused by Russian strikes on Kyiv are set to last into the weekend, as the capital's mayor called on residents to temporarily leave the city with sub-zero temperatures...
'Unhappy' Putin Sends Message to West With Ukraine Strike on EU Border
Russia's Oreshnik missile attack in Ukraine near the EU border aims to intimidate Kyiv's Western allies and signals Vladimir Putin's displeasure at recent foreign policy setbacks including in...
Kyiv Says Russia Hit 2 Cargo Vessels in Black Sea, Syrian Crew Member Killed
Ukraine said Friday that Russia had hit two cargo ships off its south coast in the Black Sea, killing a Syrian crew member on board one of the vessels.
Italian PM Says EU Should Talk to Russia Over Ukraine
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Friday the European Union should resume high-level dialogue with Russia as Brussels seeks to end the Ukraine war, urging the appointment of a special envoy.
Store Closures Sweep Russia’s Fashion Market as Profits Come Under Pressure
Russian fashion retailers closed hundreds of stores in 2025, and further shutdowns are expected next year as weak consumer demand and rising costs erode profitability, industry experts said.
What We Know About Russia's Oreshnik Missile Fired on Ukraine
An intermediate-range ballistic missile — dubbed "Oreshnik" — used by Russia in an overnight strike on Ukraine is, according to the Kremlin, a "state-of-the art" weapon that cannot be intercepted.
Russia Joins Chinese, Iranian Warships for Drills Off S. Africa
A Russian warship arrived off South Africa's main naval base Friday to join Chinese and Iranian vessels in military exercises that risk further damaging Pretoria's relations with Washington.
Regions Calling: What Will 2026 Bring for Russia’s Regions? This Is What Experts Say
Hello and welcome to Regions Calling by The Moscow Times, a newsletter spotlighting Russia’s regions and ethnic republics. The days between Orthodox Christmas on Jan. 7 and Epiphany on Jan. 19...
Russian Strikes Leave 1M Without Water, Heat in Ukraine
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight left more than one million people in the Dnipropetrovsk region without water supplies or heating, a Ukrainian minister said Thursday, as temperatures dipped...
French Researcher Back in France After Prisoner Swap With Russia
French researcher Laurent Vinatier arrived in France on Thursday following a prisoner exchange involving a Russian basketball player wanted in the United States, officials said.
For Russia, U.S. Control of Venezuela Brings Reputational Blow but Limited Fallout
In May 2025, President Vladimir Putin “warmly” welcomed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to the Kremlin and wished him “all the very best” as the two signed a strategic partnership agreement.
Russia Releases French Researcher in Prisoner Exchange
Russia has exchanged jailed French researcher Laurent Vinatier for a Russian basketball player who was being held in France, state media reported Thursday, citing the Federal Security Service...
Russia Accuses U.S. of Stoking 'Military-Political Tension' With Tanker Seizure
Russia on Thursday accused the United States of stoking tensions and threatening international shipping with its seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic a day earlier.
Russia Slams Ukrainian-European Plan for Peacekeeping Force
Moscow on Thursday labeled Ukraine and its European backers an "axis of war," warning agreements they had reached for the deployment of a peacekeeping force were far from anything Russia could...
Russia Sends Submarine to Escort Tanker Pursued by U.S.
Russia sent a submarine to escort an empty oil tanker the U.S. military has been pursuing and attempting to seize for weeks, according to U.S. media reports.
Putin Casts Ukraine War as 'Sacred Mission' in Orthodox Christmas Remarks
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russian soldiers were carrying out a sacred mission comparable to that of Jesus Christ as he marked the Orthodox Christmas holiday on Wednesday.
U.S. Seizes Russia-Linked Oil Tanker Chased to North Atlantic
The United States on Wednesday seized a Russia-linked oil tanker in the North Atlantic after pursuing it from off the coast of Venezuela, in an operation condemned by Moscow.
U.S. Seizes Russia-Flagged Oil Tanker: What We Know
U.S. officials said that they had seized a massive Russian-flagged tanker linked to sanctioned Venezuelan oil in the North Atlantic on Wednesday, a move that risks inflaming tensions between the...
Moscow Demands U.S. Allow Swift Return of Seized Tanker's Russian Crew
Russia has urged the United States to allow the swift return of Russian crew members from a tanker seized by Washington in the North Atlantic.
Here’s What it Means to Be an ‘Extremist’ in Today’s Russia
Opinion | A Russian court has declared Pussy Riot an extremist organization.
U.S. Should Topple Chechen Leader After Maduro, Zelensky Says
The United States should pressure Russia by "carrying out some sort of operation" to remove Chechen head Ramzan Kadyrov from power, just like it did with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro,...
Moscow Slams U.S. Use of Force Against Russia-Flagged Tanker
Moscow on Wednesday slammed the United States over the seizure of a Russian-flagged tanker in the North Atlantic that Washington's forces had pursued from the coast of Venezuela.
U.S. Says It Seized Russian-Flagged Oil Tanker in Atlantic
The United States military on Wednesday announced the seizure of a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic for sanctions violations, bringing an end to a multi-week pursuit by American forces.
Russian Security Forces Raid Moscow Punk Concert – Reports
Russian security forces disrupted a punk music festival at a Moscow nightclub Tuesday evening, stopping concertgoers and checking their phones for subscriptions to opposition and anti-war Telegram...
Ukraine's European, U.S. Allies Meet in Paris on Security Guarantees
Key European allies of Ukraine and top U.S. envoys are meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris on Tuesday in their latest bid to agree security guarantees for any ceasefire in Russia's war...
Gas Explosion Kills One in Russia's Tver
A gas explosion in an apartment block in the Russian city of Tver killed one person early Tuesday, regional authorities said, after earlier blaming a Ukrainian drone attack.
Zelensky Hails 'Substantive' Declaration on Ukraine Security Guarantees
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday welcomed security guarantees for Ukraine that were put forward by allies and would come into force in the event of a ceasefire in the war against invading...
Western Allies Agree Ukraine Guarantees After Paris 'Progress'
Ukraine's Western allies on Tuesday agreed key security guarantees for Kyiv including a U.S.-led monitoring mechanism and a European multinational force that would be deployed after a ceasefire in...
Russia Backs Venezuela's Interim Leader After U.S. Ousts Maduro
Russia has voiced support for Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodríguez after the United States seized leader Nicolás Maduro in a shock military raid on the capital city of Caracas.
Gas Explosion Kills 1 in Russia's Tver
A gas explosion in an apartment block in the Russian city of Tver killed one person early Tuesday, regional authorities said, after earlier blaming a Ukrainian drone attack.
I Did Nothing To Stop Russia's Decline Into Tyranny. Should I Be Blamed?
Opinion | At New Year’s, it’s customary to take stock, to celebrate achievements, to lament failures. And so, 2025, by virtue of its sheer hopelessness, has led me to the following conclusions.
New Car Prices Rise in Russia as Tax Hikes Take Effect
Prices for new cars in Russia rose across the market at the start of 2026 as automakers moved to offset higher taxes and recycling fees, industry analysts said.
U.S. Would Lead Ukraine Ceasefire Monitoring, Back Multinational Force – Draft Statement
The United States would lead a "ceasefire monitoring and verification mechanism" with European participation if a peace deal is agreed in the Russia-Ukraine war, Kyiv's allies said in a draft...
$500M in Telegram Bonds Frozen in Russia Due to Sanctions – FT
Around $500 million worth of bonds issued by the Telegram messaging app in Russia have been frozen due to Western sanctions, the Financial Times reported Tuesday.
Russia’s New-Build Home Sales to Fall in 2026, State Housing Agency Says
Russia’s housing market avoided the downturn many analysts had feared last year, but state housing agency Dom.RF expects sales of newly built homes to fall sharply in 2026 as mortgage subsidies...
Russian Courts Hand Down Record Number of Life Sentences in 2025
Russian judges sentenced 100 people to life imprisonment between January and November 2025, the highest annual total in at least two decades, the state-run TASS news agency reported Monday, citing...
Kadyrov Appoints 20-Year-Old Son as Acting Deputy Prime Minister of Chechnya
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said on Monday that he had appointed his 20-year-old son, Akhmat Kadyrov, as acting deputy prime minister of the republic.
Ukraine Allies to Meet in Paris as Russian Strike Kills 2
Russian strikes on Ukraine early Monday killed two people and forced nighttime evacuations into freezing temperatures, a day ahead of Ukrainian allies meeting in Paris to revive diplomatic efforts...
3 Hurt in Polar Bear Attack in Remote Siberian Village
Three members of a family, including a child, have been injured by a polar bear in a rare attack in the far north of Siberia, Russian officials said Monday.
For Pro-Kremlin Figures, Maduro’s Capture a Stark Reminder of Failed Zelensky Ouster
Pro-Kremlin figures and military bloggers have slammed the United States’ ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro while pointing out Russia’s own failure to capture Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky.
Russia Warns Citizens Against Travel to Venezuela After U.S. Ousts Maduro
Russia on Monday urged its citizens to refrain from traveling to Venezuela after the United States seized leader Nicolás Maduro in a shock military raid on the capital city of Caracas.
With Maduro Gone, Putin Risks Being Pushed Out of the Western Hemisphere
Opinion | The first 72 hours of 2026 seem like the prelude to a year to remember.
Russia Needs Men To Fight in Ukraine in 2026. Where Will They Come From?
Russia’s regions and ethnic republics have borne a disproportionate share of the burden in supplying manpower for the front lines in Ukraine since the onset of Moscow’s full-scale invasion. With...
Russia Says Captured Village in Ukraine’s Sumy Region
Russia on Monday said it had seized the village of Hrabovske in Ukraine's Sumy region, from where Kyiv last month accused Moscow of forcibly relocating dozens of residents in a "medieval raid."
2 Killed in Series of Russian Attacks on Ukraine
Russia bombarded Ukraine early Monday, killing two people in the Kyiv region, authorities said on the eve of a diplomatic summit in France.
Vessel Coming From Russia Dragged Anchor Before Subsea Cable Damaged — Finnish Police
The anchor of a vessel that damaged an undersea cable linking Helsinki and the Estonian capital Tallinn dragged along the seabed "at least several tens of kilometres" before it hit the line,...
Russia Demands Release of Maduro After U.S. Military Strikes Venezuela
Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday called for the release of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife from U.S. custody after President Donald Trump announced that they were captured...
Russia Condemns U.S. Military Strikes Against Venezuela
Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday condemned what it called a U.S. act of “armed aggression” against Venezuela, urging restraint and warning against further escalation after a series of...
Russia’s Economy in 2026: More War, Slower Growth and Higher Taxes
With Western sanctions tightening and military demands on the budget due to the war in Ukraine showing little sign of easing, Russia is likely to slide from a phase of “managed cooling” into...
Ukrainian Drones Kill 28 in Occupied Kherson Resort Town, Pro-Kremlin Governor Says
At least 28 people were killed and dozens more wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack on a town in occupied southern Ukraine, Kremlin-installed authorities said, accusing Kyiv of deliberately...
Russian Army Makes Biggest Territorial Gains in 2025 Since First Year of Full-Scale Invasion
Russia made its largest territorial gains in Ukraine last year since the early months of the full-scale invasion in 2022, according to an AFP analysis.
Ukrainian Drones Kill 27 in Occupied Kherson Resort Town, Pro-Kremlin Governor Says
At least 27 people were killed and dozens more wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack on a town in occupied southern Ukraine, Kremlin-installed authorities said Thursday, accusing Kyiv of...
Finland Seizes Cargo Ship Suspected of Damaging Undersea Cable
Finnish police said Wednesday that they had seized a cargo vessel suspected of damaging a telecommunications cable linking Helsinki and Tallinn earlier in the Gulf of Finland.
U.S. Finds Ukraine Did Not Attack Putin’s Valdai Residence – WSJ
U.S. intelligence officials have concluded that Ukraine did not attack one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
For Russia’s Wartime Diaspora, New Year’s Traditions Become a Tether to Home
Ahead of New Year’s Eve, the biggest holiday in Russia, Sergei, 30, a Russian IT specialist based in Romania, said he would try to watch “The Irony of Fate,” the 1975 romantic comedy that is a New...
Russian Volunteer Corps Leader Is Still Alive, Ukraine’s GUR Says
The founder and leader of the Russian Volunteer Corps, a far-right paramilitary group fighting alongside Ukrainian forces, is alive, Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency said Thursday, days...
Ukrainian Drones Kill 24 in Occupied Kherson Resort Town, Pro-Kremlin Governor Says
At least 24 people were killed and dozens more wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack on a town in occupied southern Ukraine, Kremlin-installed authorities said early Thursday, accusing Kyiv of...
Ukrainian Drones Killed 24 in Occupied Kherson Resort Town, Pro-Kremlin Governor Says
At least 24 people were killed and dozens more wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack on a town in occupied southern Ukraine, Kremlin-installed authorities said early Thursday, accusing Kyiv of...
Russian Military Reveals More Details of Alleged Drone Attack on Putin’s Residence
Russia’s Defense Ministry on Wednesday provided its first detailed account of an alleged Ukrainian drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s Valdai residence, saying that more than half of the...
2025 Saw the Biggest Change in U.S.–Russia Relations Since the October Revolution
Opinion | 2025 saw the greatest and fastest change in United States-Russia relations since the 1917 Russian Revolution.
‘Hoping for an End to the War’: Russians Share Their New Year’s Wishes for 2026
As 2025 draws to a close, many Russians are looking to the new year in the hope it might bring an end to the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine, which has killed tens of thousands on both sides and...
Vladimir Putin Uses New Year’s Address to Rally Russians Around War
President Vladimir Putin used his traditional New Year’s address on Wednesday to project an image of Russians as united behind the country’s armed forces and the war in Ukraine, vowing victory on...
Ukrainian Drones Strike Energy Sites and Homes Across Russia, Officials Say
Ukrainian drone attacks in southern Russia damaged energy infrastructure and several residential buildings, officials said Wednesday morning, as other regions across the country reported downing...
Russian Army Releases First Images of Oreshnik Launch System
Russia’s Defense Ministry on Tuesday for the first time released images of the launch system for its new nuclear-capable hypersonic ballistic missile, codenamed Oreshnik, as it announced the...
How Did Russia’s War Effort Change in 2025?
By 2025, Russia’s war against Ukraine had hardened into a grinding conflict of attrition, with neither side achieving a decisive strategic breakthrough. While the front line moved more this year...
Whether Supporters of the War or Not, Russia’s Youth Have More in Common Than They Think
Opinion | Young Russians are split between a majority that is content with the state and their place in it and a minority that suffers from isolation and dictatorship.
Gazprom’s Gas Exports to Europe Fall to Lowest Level Since Early 1970s
Russia’s Gazprom cut gas supplies to Europe by a further 44% in 2025, reducing flows to 18 billion cubic meters (bcm), Reuters reported Tuesday. Reuters' calculations were based on data from the...
Putin Authorizes Call-Up of Military Reservists to Guard Critical Infrastructure
President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order on Tuesday authorizing the military to summon members of its mobilization reserve next year for “special” assemblies aimed at protecting critical...
Navalny Team Claims Putin Owns Luxury Estate on Crimea’s Black Sea Coast
Allies of the late opposition activist Alexei Navalny on Tuesday released an investigation alleging that a luxury palace built along the Black Sea coast in annexed Crimea belongs to President...
India’s Russian Oil Imports Set to Fall to Lowest Level Since 2022 – Bloomberg
India’s imports of Russian crude are set to drop to around 1.1 million barrels per day (bpd) in December amid U.S. sanctions pressure, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing Kpler data.
Former Opposition Mayor of Yaroslavl Freed From Prison After Serving Sentence for Corruption
The former mayor of the central Russian city of Yaroslavl was released from prison on Tuesday after spending more than 10 years in prison on corruption charges that he and his supporters long...
Latvia Completes 280-Kilometer Fence Along Russian Border
Latvia has completed construction of a 280-kilometer (174-mile) fence along its border with Russia, the Delfi news website reported Tuesday, citing the state real estate company that oversaw the project.
Valdai Residents Report No Signs of Claimed Ukrainian Drone Attack on Putin Residence
Residents of the town of Valdai in Russia’s Novgorod region said they neither heard nor saw signs of a large-scale drone attack overnight on Monday despite official claims that nearly 100...
Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport to Go Up for Auction After State Seizure
The Russian government plans to sell Moscow’s Domodedovo airport early next year, the Finance Ministry said Tuesday, several months after taking ownership of the facility over allegations it had...
Citigroup Approves Sale of Russian Operations, Flagging $1.2Bln Loss
Citigroup announced Monday that its board had approved a plan to sell the last of its business operations in Russia, with the banking group expecting to take a $1.1 billion loss in the process.
Russia’s Regions Scale Back New Year’s Celebrations, Citing War in Ukraine
Authorities in several Russian regions have again canceled or scaled back New Year’s celebrations, citing the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Vedomosti business daily reported Monday.
Russia Designates George Washington University ‘Undesirable’ Organization
Russia’s General Prosecutor’s Office on Monday designated the George Washington University an “undesirable” organization, accusing the U.S.-based institution of promoting anti-Russian sentiment...
Ukraine Launched Drone Attack on Putin’s Valdai Residence, Lavrov Claims
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed Monday that Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on President Vladimir Putin’s residence in northwestern Russia.
Moscow Judge Tosses WhatsApp Users’ Class Action Lawsuit Against Roskomnadzor
A Moscow municipal judge has tossed out a class action lawsuit against state media regulator Roskomnadzor and the Digital Development Ministry filed by a group of WhatsApp and Telegram users in Russia.
Where Does Russia Stand After a Year of Recalibration in the Caucasus?
Opinion | That the Caucasus is a zone of diverging political interests is nothing new.
Russia Has No Intention of Attacking NATO, Estonian Spy Chief Says
There is no indication that President Vladimir Putin is planning to attack the Baltic states or NATO despite mounting warnings from European officials that a direct conflict between the West and...
Mariupol Theater Destroyed in Russian Siege Reopens After Reconstruction
A theater destroyed in one of the most notorious attacks of Russia’s siege of Mariupol in early 2022 has reopened following reconstruction, Russian authorities said Sunday, as the Kremlin...
Putin Signs Law Allowing Russia to Ignore Criminal Rulings of Foreign and International Courts
President Vladimir Putin signed legislation Monday relieving Russia of any obligation to enforce criminal rulings issued by foreign courts or international judicial bodies to which it does not belong.
Russian Manufacturing Activity Falls for Seventh Straight Month as 2025 Ends
Russia’s manufacturing sector continued to weaken at the end of 2025, with business activity declining for a seventh consecutive month, according to a survey by S&P Global.
Iran Says It Launched 3 Satellites Into Space From Russia
Iran launched three domestically built observation satellites into space from Russia on Sunday, state television reported, marking a new step for Tehran's space program despite Western sanctions.
Russian Business Leaders Ask Putin to Ease Wave of Nationalizations – Kommersant
Russian business leaders have appealed to President Vladimir Putin to rein in a wave of state asset seizures that has affected factories, ports and major corporations worth more than 4 trillion...
Russia’s Syzran Oil Refinery Targeted in Overnight Ukrainian Drone Strike – Reports
Ukrainian drones attacked six Russian regions overnight, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Sunday, with the main strike hitting the southern Samara region, where air defenses destroyed 12 drones.
Zelensky Looks to Close Out Ukraine Peace Plan in Meeting With Trump
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will sit down with Donald Trump on Sunday and seek to secure the U.S. president's stamp of approval for a new proposal to end the nearly four-year conflict...
North Korea’s Kim Stresses Shared Bloodshed in New Year Message to Putin
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un highlighted on Saturday how his nation and Russia had shared "blood, life and death" in the Ukraine war, as he sent President Vladimir Putin New Year's greetings.
Russian Barrage on Kyiv Kills 1, Leaves Hundreds of Thousands Without Power
A Russian drone and missile barrage on Kyiv and its suburbs Saturday killed one person, wounded 24 and cut off heating and electricity for hundreds of thousands of people left in freezing temperatures.
Leader of Russian Volunteer Corps Killed Fighting For Kyiv
The founder and leader of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), a far-right paramilitary unit fighting alongside Kyiv’s army, has been killed in action on the front lines in Ukraine, the group...
Moscow Court Jails Ex-Foreign Ministry Employee for Passing Classified Information to U.S.
A Moscow court on Friday sentenced a former Foreign Ministry employee who once worked at one of Russia’s consulates in the United States to 12 years in prison for passing information to U.S....
St. Petersburg Opens First 2 Stations on New Metro Line
The city of St.
Leftist Activist Sergei Udaltsov Jailed 6 Years for ‘Justifying Terrorism’
A Moscow military court on Thursday sentenced leftist activist Sergei Udaltsov to six years in prison after finding him guilty of “justifying terrorism.” The verdict was handed down by Moscow’s...
Putin Signals Support for Online Marketplaces in Dispute With Banks – The Bell
President Vladimir Putin has signaled support for online marketplaces in their dispute with major banks over discounts and loyalty programs, the exiled business news outlet The Bell reported...
Ex-Kursk Lawmaker Jailed 5.5 Years for Border Defense Embezzlement
A judge in the southwestern Kursk region on Friday sentenced former regional lawmaker Maxim Vasilyev to 5.5 years in prison on embezzlement charges stemming from border defense construction...
Animated Putin Appears in Children’s Cartoon ‘Prostokvashino’
Russian streaming platform Okko released a special New Year’s episode of the popular children’s cartoon series “Prostokvashino” on Friday featuring an animated portrayal of President Vladimir Putin.
The Lessons of the Decembrist Revolt Aren’t What Russia’s Opposition Wants to Hear
Opinion | Dec. 26 marks 200 years since the Decembrist uprising in St.
Zelensky to Meet Trump in Florida on Dec. 28 – Reports
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky will meet with U.S.
Ukrainian Drone Attack Kills Man in Kursk Region
Ukrainian drone strikes in the southwestern Kursk region killed one man and injured a firefighter, regional authorities said Friday afternoon.
Did Russia’s Defense-Sector Boom Peak in 2025?
Commenting on the prospect of Russia’s war spreading beyond Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin said this month that his country was ready to take on Europe in a direct military conflict if needed.
Meduza Publisher Galina Timchenko Jailed 5 Years in Absentia
A Moscow court on Friday handed a five-year prison sentence to Galina Timchenko, the exiled founder and publisher of the Latvia-based news outlet Meduza, on charges related to the outlet’s...
Ukrainian Drone Attack Sparks Blaze at Fuel Storage Facility in Southern Russia
Ukrainian drone strikes sparked fires at a fuel storage facility in the southern Krasnodar region, local authorities said Thursday, as other regions across the country reported downing dozens of...
Moscow Animal Rights Activist Sentenced to 15 Years on Treason Charges
A Moscow military court has sentenced animal rights activist Yevgenia Konforkina to 15 years in prison on treason and terrorism-related charges after she was accused of filming a helicopter...
Kremlin Slams Zelensky’s ‘Uncouth’ Christmas Address
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Christmas address as “uncouth” and “bitter,” saying it questioned his ability to engage in ongoing...
‘Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears’ Star Vera Alentova Dies at 83
Acclaimed Soviet and Russian actress Vera Alentova, best known for her starring role in the Oscar-winning film “Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears,” has died at the age of 83, the Pushkin Drama...
Ukrainian Drone Attacks Spark Blazes at Seaport and Oil Refinery in Southern Russia
Ukrainian drone strikes sparked fires at a seaside fuel storage facility and an oil refinery in southern Russia, local authorities said Thursday, as other regions across the country reported...
Prosecutors Seek 5-Year Prison Sentence for Meduza Publisher Galina Timchenko
State prosecutors are seeking a five-year prison sentence for Galina Timchenko, the exiled founder and publisher of the Latvia-based news outlet Meduza, on charges related to the outlet’s...
French and Russian Officials in Talks About Jailed Researcher Vinatier, Kremlin Confirms
The Kremlin said Thursday that it had made a “proposal” to France regarding Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher jailed in Russia and facing espionage charges that could carry a sentence of up to...
FSB Agents Shoot and Kill Man Accused of Planning Bomb Attacks in Kaluga Region
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said Thursday that its agents shot and killed a man who opened fire on them as they tried to arrest him on suspicion of planning bomb attacks in the central...
Russia's Economy in the Late 2020s Will Look a Lot Like the Late Soviet Economy
Opinion | Because of my work, I am obliged to read closely, watch attentively and listen carefully whenever Russian politicians and officials talk about the economy.
Nizhny Novgorod Villagers Decry Internet Blackouts Amid Government Mobile Network Shutdowns
Villagers in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region are decrying a total loss of mobile internet access that have left over 1,500 people without connectivity, local media outlet NN.ru reported Thursday.
Regions Calling: 2025 Wrapped
Merry Christmas and welcome to Regions Calling, a newsletter by The Moscow Times shedding light on life beyond the Russian capital. For this final newsletter of the year, we asked our special...
Russian-Backed Donetsk Court Sentences Colombian to 19 Years for Fighting for Ukraine
A Russian-backed court in occupied Ukraine on Wednesday sentenced a Colombian man to 19 years in prison for fighting for Kyiv's army.
2 Years On, a Journalist’s Imprisonment Offers a Grim Look Into the Kremlin’s Press Crackdown
When prison officials said that Nika Novak could not be seen, her friends and family assumed the worst.
Russia Adds Record Number of Minors to ‘Terrorist and Extremist’ Register in 2025
Russia added 341 minors to its national register of “terrorists and extremists” in 2025, marking the highest annual figure in at least seven years, the exiled news outlet Vyorstka reported Wednesday.
Russia’s Tax Service Demands $121M in Back Taxes From Road Builders
Russia’s Federal Tax Service (FTS) has demanded that dozens of road construction companies pay an additional 9.5 billion rubles ($120.7 million) in back taxes, the pro-Kremlin daily Izvestia...
When Russia Finally Protested – Over a Condo
Opinion | This article was originally published on Mikhail Zygar’s Substack, The Last Pioneer.
Russian Streaming Platforms Censor Pro-Kremlin Director’s Oscar-Winning Film
At least two Russian streaming platforms have censored scenes from pro-Kremlin director Nikita Mikhalkov’s Oscar-winning 1994 film “Burnt by the Sun,” exiled media reported Wednesday.
Russia’s Restaurant Sector Shrinks for First Time Since 2022 as Costs Rise and Demand Slows
The number of cafés, restaurants and other food service outlets in Russia has fallen for the first time since 2022, as rising costs and more cautious consumer spending squeezed the sector, the...
The Biggest Stories From Russia in 2025
From stalled peace efforts to mobile internet blackouts and the blocking of the hugely popular gaming platform Roblox, 2025 has been yet another eventful — and turbulent — year in Russia.
Russian Army Recruited 417K Contract Soldiers in 2025, Medvedev Claims
The Russian military has recruited 417,000 contract soldiers in 2025, former President Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday during a meeting of Russia’s Security Council, a government body where he now...
Moscow Court Seizes Chubais’ Assets in Rosnano Case
A Moscow arbitration court has ordered the seizure of 11.9 billion rubles ($152 million) from exiled former Kremlin insider Anatoly Chubais and 12 co-defendants in a civil lawsuit over a failed...
Zelensky Reveals New 20-Point Plan to End Ukraine War
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday revealed details of the latest U.S.-led plan to end the war with Russia, saying it had been agreed between negotiators from Kyiv and Washington...
Explosion in Southern Moscow Kills 2 Police Officers
An overnight explosion in southern Moscow killed three people, including two police officers, near the site where a Russian general was killed by a car bomb earlier this week, law enforcement...
Russian Investigative Journalist Roman Anin Stripped of Citizenship
Russian authorities have revoked the citizenship of investigative journalist Roman Anin, citing his 2025 conviction for spreading so-called “fake” news about the Russian military, the Yaroslavl...
Serbia Signs Short-Term Gas Deal With Russia
Serbia has agreed to extend its gas supply arrangement with Russia for three months, President Aleksandar Vučić said on Tuesday, as the country continues to seek a long-term contract.
Russian Air Attacks Kill 2, Knock Out Power Across Ukraine
Several regions across Ukraine experienced power outages on Tuesday amid freezing winter temperatures after Russia carried out airstrikes against the country’s energy infrastructure. “Russia once...
Rosobrnadzor Suspends License of Shaninka University
Russia’s state education watchdog on Monday suspended the license of Moscow’s Higher School of Social and Economic Sciences, better known as Shaninka, effectively halting its ability to teach...
Russian MFA Denies Evacuating Embassy Staff From Venezuela
Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday denied reports that it was evacuating staff from its embassy in Venezuela as the United States steps up pressure on the government of President Nicolás Maduro.
Russia’s Supreme Court Says Criticism of Politicians Does Not Constitute Hate Speech
Russia’s Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that criticism of politicians, public figures and organizations does not qualify as a criminal offense under the country’s anti-extremism laws.
Mordovian Court Issues Russia’s First Fine for ‘Coercing’ a Woman to Have an Abortion
A judge in the republic of Mordovia has issued Russia’s first fine under a regional law banning the “coercion” of women into having abortions, an Orthodox-aligned anti-abortion group said Monday.
State Duma Fires 15 Aides Accused of Selling Access to Parliamentary Meetings
Fifteen aides in Russia’s lower-house State Duma have been fired after an internal investigation found they were involved in selling seats at parliamentary roundtable discussions, the RBC news...
Russia Sees Wave of Criminal Cases Over Defense Contract Failures
Russian authorities have criminally charged at least 34 people over failures to fulfill state defense contracts since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported Monday, citing documents...
Russia’s Gas Export Revenues Set for Third Straight Year of Decline
Russia’s federal budget is set to record a third consecutive year of declining gas export revenues as Gazprom’s supplies to Europe fall to their lowest levels in more than half a century and...
Ukrainian Troops Withdraw From Eastern Town of Siversk
Ukrainian troops have withdrawn from the eastern town of Siversk, the General Staff said Tuesday, as Russia doubled down on its recent advances across the lengthy front line.
Annexed Crimea Joins Russia’s Ulyanovsk in Restricting Internet Until War’s End
Mobile internet access will be restricted in annexed Crimea for the duration of Russia’s war in Ukraine as a security measure, the peninsula’s Moscow-installed governor Sergei Aksyonov said...
Russia Faces Growing Oil Glut as Cargos Linger Offshore – Bloomberg
Russia is finding it increasingly difficult to secure buyers for its crude oil, with the volume stored aboard tankers rising by 48% since late August, Bloomberg reported Monday.
Telegram and WhatsApp Users File Class-Action Lawsuit Against Roskomnadzor
A group of WhatsApp and Telegram users in Russia has filed a class-action lawsuit against state media regulator Roskomnadzor and the Digital Development Ministry over call restrictions on both...
Russian State Companies’ Payment Arrears to Businesses Surge in 2025
Payment arrears by Russian state-owned companies to domestic businesses have surged in 2025, rising nearly threefold year-on-year, the Vedomosti business daily reported Monday, citing data from...
Russian Oil Producers Feel Increasing Strain as U.S. Sanctions Push Prices to Pandemic Lows
Russian oil prices have tumbled to their lowest levels since the pandemic after the U.S. sanctioned Rosneft and Lukoil, further squeezing producers already facing sharp profit declines this year.
Russian General Killed by Car Bomb in Moscow
A Russian general was killed early Monday when a bomb detonated underneath his car in southern Moscow, Russian law enforcement authorities said, making it the third such killing of a senior...
Russia Sends Weapons to Madagascar Following Military Coup
Russia has delivered a shipment of weapons to Madagascar’s military rulers who seized power in an October coup, the speaker of the country’s National Assembly said Monday.
Miami Talks on Ukraine War End With No Sign of Diplomatic Breakthrough
American and Ukrainian officials said on Sunday that talks held in Miami had been “productive and constructive,” but offered no indication of a breakthrough in efforts to end the war with Russia.
Russia Becomes China’s Second-Largest LNG Supplier in November
Russia ranked second among China’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) suppliers in November, overtaking Australia after more than doubling exports, Chinese customs data showed.
Azerbaijan’s Aliyev Skips Informal CIS Summit in St. Petersburg
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev chose not attend an informal summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States in St.
Russia Pledges 'Full Support' for Venezuela Against U.S. 'Hostilities'
Russia on Monday expressed "full support" for Venezuela as the South American country confronts a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers by U.S. forces deployed in the Caribbean, the two governments said.
Ukraine and Russia Repatriate Citizens in Humanitarian Exchange
Russia returned 60 Ukrainians to their home country last week, including people facing deportation and others with disabilities, Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova said Monday.
Russia to Cut 45K State-Funded University Slots in 2026-27 Academic Year
Russia’s government plans to eliminate 45,000 state-funded university slots in the 2026–27 academic year, Education and Science Minister Valery Falkov said Monday, citing concerns about teaching...
Not Even Pro-War Russians Find This Ukraine War Comedy Funny
Opinion | President Vladimir Putin and his propagandists have tried to portray the aggression in Ukraine as a people’s war since the beginning.
These Women Fled Abuse in Russia's North Caucasus. Then They Were Found Dead.
Aliya Ozdamirova, the daughter of a former Chechen deputy sports minister, was buried in her home republic of Chechnya on Nov. 12. Ozdamirova had escaped to Georgia weeks earlier after reporting...
Sheremetyevo Airport to Raise Airline Service Fees in 2026
Sheremetyevo Airport, Moscow’s largest aviation hub, plans to raise service fees for both domestic and foreign airlines starting in January, Russian media reported on Monday, citing the airport.
Putin Offers Condolences to Tajik President After Fatal School Stabbing
President Vladimir Putin on Monday expressed his condolences to Tajikistan’s Emomali Rahmon over the killing last week of a 10-year-old Tajik student at a school outside Moscow, describing the...
Russia Hits Sunflower Oil Storage in Relentless Odesa Strikes
Russia struck sunflower oil storage in relentless strikes on Ukraine's Black Sea Odesa region that continued for a second day in a row, Kyiv and a seed oil trader said on Saturday.
Kremlin Denies Trilateral Talks With U.S. and Ukraine Under Discussion
The Kremlin on Sunday denied that three-way talks involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States were under discussion, as diplomats gathered in Miami for negotiations aimed at ending the war.
Russian Envoy Dmitriev to Join Ukraine Talks in Miami
Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev said on Saturday he was heading to Miami, where another round of talks to settle the Ukraine war was set to take place.
Turkey Says Crashed Drone Believed to Be Russian-Made
Turkey said a drone that crashed on Friday in a rural area of northwestern Turkey following a series of incidents linked to the Russia-Ukraine war was of Russian origin.
Leader of Far-Right Russian Group Fighting in Ukraine Dies in Unknown Circumstances
Espanola, an ultranationalist paramilitary group fighting on Russia’s side in Ukraine, confirmed on Friday the death of its leader, Stanislav Orlov, under unclear circumstances.
‘Dogs of War Go to Heaven’: The Russian Rappers Celebrating the Military
“As troops followed their commander’s orders, the relocants sped off in all directions on their scooters,” runs a line from “The Best in Heaven,” a song honoring Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine.
EU Agrees to New Ukraine Loan, But Russian Asset Plan Fails
EU leaders agreed Friday to provide Ukraine with a loan of 90 billion euros ($105 billion) to stabilize the war-torn country’s finances, but failed to reach consensus on a more ambitious plan to...
France’s Macron Calls for Re-Engagement With Putin
French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday he believed it would be “useful” for Europe to re-engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin as U.S.
Russian Oil Prices Sink Below $35 Per Barrel
Russian oil prices continue to plunge under the pressure of U.S. sanctions that have disrupted established export flows to India and China.
Pro-Ukrainian Hackers Target Russian Defense Contractors – Reuters
Several Russian defense contractors specializing in air defense, advanced electronics and other weaponry have been targeted by a pro-Ukrainian cyberespionage group using AI-generated documents as...
100 Years of Protest Art in Russia: From Tsarism to Putinism
Video | The Artists Against the Kremlin exhibitions, organized by The Moscow Times and the All Rights Reversed gallery at the De Balie art center in Amsterdam in 2024 and 2025, have been the...
Russia Returns Bodies of Over 1K Ukrainian Soldiers
Russia and Ukraine have exchanged the bodies of 1,029 soldiers killed in combat, Kremlin adviser and chief peace negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said Friday.
Putin Fields Questions on War, Economy and Aliens at Annual Press Conference
President Vladimir Putin held his annual news conference on Friday, which was once again folded into his televised “Direct Line” call-in show, fielding a wide range of questions, from the Ukraine...
Putin Promises to Look Into Case of French Researcher Jailed in Russia
President Vladimir Putin said Friday that he would look into the case of French researcher Laurent Vinatier, jailed in Russia for failing to register as a “foreign agent” and facing 20 years on...
Kyiv Claims Drone Strike Against Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker in Mediterranean
Ukraine said Friday that it struck a Russian “shadow fleet” tanker with aerial drones in neutral waters of the Mediterranean Sea, the first such strike in the Mediterranean in the nearly four-year war.
Russia’s War Losses Fuel Surge in Funeral Industry Revenue
Russia’s war in Ukraine, which Western estimates say has inflicted the country’s heaviest military losses since World War II, has driven a sharp increase in revenue for the country’s leading...
Russian Central Bank Slashes Key Rate to 16%
Russia’s Central Bank cut its key interest rate by a modest half percentage point on Friday, bringing it down to 16% in what marks the fifth consecutive reduction this year.
Ukrainian Drone Strikes Cause Blackouts in Rostov, Oryol Regions
Ukrainian drone strikes caused power and heating outages in central Russia’s Oryol region and the southern Rostov region, local authorities said early Friday. “An enemy attack damaged utilities...
Russian Central Bank Says It Will Seek Damages From European Lenders
Russia’s Central Bank said Thursday that it would seek damages from European banks after officials in Brussels immobilized billions of Russian sovereign assets that the bloc hopes to use to...
State Duma Votes to End Annual Financial Disclosures for Officials
Russia’s lower-house State Duma on Thursday passed a package of bills exempting government officials from filing annual public financial declarations, a move lawmakers said would modernize oversight.
Ukrainian Drone Attacks on Rostov Region Kill At Least 3
Ukrainian drone strikes on the southern Rostov region killed three people, including two sailors aboard a cargo ship, regional authorities said early Thursday.
How the Scamming of a Pro-Putin Pop Star Rattled Russia's Housing Market
A Putin loyalist and one of Russia’s most famous singers is scammed into selling her apartment to an unwitting buyer.
Finland Seizes Sanctioned Billionaire Boris Rotenberg's Villa – Yle
Finnish authorities have seized a seaside villa owned by sanctioned Russian billionaire Boris Rotenberg in the town of Hanko over unpaid property taxes amounting to several thousand euros, public...
Russian Spy Chief Unveils Monument to Iconic Soviet TV Series
Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service chief Sergei Naryshkin and Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova on Thursday unveiled a monument in Moscow honoring the creators of the iconic Soviet television...
EU Convenes for High-Stakes Summit on Tapping Russian Funds for Ukraine
European leaders will gather in Brussels on Thursday for a high-stakes summit focused on whether to use frozen Russian assets to finance aid for Ukraine, with Belgium under mounting pressure to...
Freeing Political Prisoners Does Not Cure the Disease of Dictatorship
Opinion | The Belarusian authorities have released 123 political prisoners following negotiations with the United States.
U.K. Targets Tatneft in Latest Update to Sanctions Against Russia
The British government on Thursday imposed additional sanctions on 24 individuals and entities linked to Russia, accusing them of being involved in attempts to destabilize Ukraine and undermining...
3 Russia-Themed, Anti-War Films Shortlisted for Oscars
Three films about anti-Kremlin journalists and activists have been shortlisted for the Oscars in what film critics said sent a clear anti-war, anti-authoritarian message.
Russians Expected to Slash New Year Spending as Inflation Bites
Russians plan to cut their spending on New Year's celebrations in 2025 amid economic pressure, the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday, citing consumer surveys and analysts.
Moscow Warns Trump Against Making ‘Fatal Mistake’ as Tensions With Venezuela Rise
Russian officials on Thursday warned the Trump administration against making what they called a “fatal mistake” as tensions between the United States and Venezuela escalate, while saying Moscow...
Prisoners’ Rights Activist Arrested in Yekaterinburg and Charged With Treason
A judge in the city of Yekaterinburg has ordered local human rights activist Alexei Sokolov to be placed in pre-trial detention after he was arrested and charged with treason, the exiled news...
Putin Says Oreshnik Missile Will Be Deployed by End of 2025
President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Russia’s new intermediate-range ballistic missile, codenamed Oreshnik, will be ready for combat deployment by the end of this year.
AvtoVAZ Recalls Over 33K Lada Grantas Due to Driveshaft Defect
Automaker AvtoVAZ is recalling more than 33,000 of its Lada Granta because of a potential defect in the driveshaft of the vehicles, the company’s press service told state media on Wednesday.
Tajikistan Calls for Impartial Investigation Into Moscow Region School Stabbing
Tajikistan’s Foreign Ministry summoned Russia’s ambassador in Dushanbe on Wednesday to demand an impartial investigation into the fatal stabbing of a 10-year-old student at a school outside Moscow.
Roskomnadzor Signals Willingness to Unblock Roblox
Russia’s state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor indicated Wednesday that it might restore access to the online gaming platform Roblox if the U.S.-based company takes steps to comply with Russian law.
Armed Guards Spotted on Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Vessels, Sweden Says
Armed personnel in uniform have been spotted aboard vessels linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” Sweden’s navy said, as Moscow steps up its military presence along key shipping routes in...
Roskomnadzor Seizes Domains Including Moscowtimes.ru Without Court Order
Russia’s state communications watchdog has started seizing .ru website domains without waiting for parliamentary approval of a proposed law, The Moscow Times has learned.
U.K. PM Warns Abramovich 'Clock Is Ticking' Over Chelsea Sale Fund
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday warned former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich "the clock is ticking" over the frozen £2.5 billion ($3.4 billion) generated from the sale of the...
The Kremlin’s Cost-Benefit Calculations Sell Kursk Residents Short
Opinion | On Dec. 6, Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov and Kursk region Governor Alexander Khinshtein announced that monthly payments of 65,000 rubles ($808) to refugees displaced by Ukraine’s...
Yekaterinburg Court Jails 5 Leftist Activists Over Alleged Coup Attempt
A military court in the city of Yekaterinburg sentenced five self-described Marxists from the neighboring republic of Bashkortostan to lengthy prison terms on terrorism and attempted coup charges,...
Russian Justice Ministry Outlaws German Broadcaster Deutsche Welle
Russia’s Justice Ministry on Tuesday designated the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle as an “undesirable” organization, making it the latest foreign news outlet to be blacklisted in the country...
Netherlands to Host International Claims Commission for Ukraine
Top European officials met on Tuesday to establish an international body that will rule on tens of billions of euros of eventual reparations to compensate Ukraine for Russia's full-scale invasion.
Putin Signs Controversial Law Allowing Logging Near Lake Baikal
President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed into law a long-contested measure allowing limited logging along the shores of Lake Baikal, finalizing legislation that scientists and some officials have...
Repair Work at Baikonur Launchpad to Last Until Early 2026
Russia’s space agency Roscosmos said Tuesday that it plans to complete repairs to a damaged launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan by the end of February 2026. The launchpad’s service...
Putin Signs Controversial Law Allowing Limited Logging Near Lake Baikal
President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed into law a long-contested measure allowing limited logging along the shores of Lake Baikal, finalizing legislation that scientists and some officials have...
10-Year-Old Student Killed in School Stabbing Near Moscow
A 10-year-old student was killed in a stabbing attack at a school in the affluent Moscow-region suburb of Gorki-2 on Tuesday morning, local authorities said.
Ukraine Claims It Hit Russian Submarine in Wartime First
Ukraine said Monday that its underwater drones had for the first time successfully struck a Russian submarine docked at the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.
Rosnano Sues Former Chief Chubais Over Failed Memory Chip Project
Russian state nanotechnology fund Rosnano is seeking 11.9 billion rubles ($150 million) in damages from its former head Anatoly Chubais and other ex-executives over a failed project to produce...
Ukraine Says Hit Russian Submarine in Wartime First
Ukraine said on Monday its underwater drones had for the first time in the war with Russia successfully struck a Russian submarine docked at the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.
Wildberries & Russ Acquires Cosmetics Chain Rive Gauche
Wildberries & Russ (RWB) has acquired Rive Gauche, one of Russia’s largest cosmetics retail chains, the Interfax news agency reported Monday, citing open corporate records.
St. Petersburg High Schooler Stabs Teacher Over Bad Grade, Police Say
A ninth-grade student stabbed a teacher at a high school in St.
Russia's Roblox Ban Makes Censorship Look Silly
Opinion | The blocking of the gaming platform Roblox once again confirmed that the Russian state is stuck in the last century.
EU Sanctions Target Russia’s ‘Shadow Fleet’ Backers and Disinformation Network
The European Union on Monday imposed a new round of sanctions on 23 individuals and entities linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, as well as figures accused of spreading...
Russia’s Central Bank Seeks $230Bln From Euroclear Over Frozen Assets
Russia’s Central Bank has filed a lawsuit seeking 18.2 trillion rubles ($229 billion) in damages from Europe’s largest securities depository Euroclear, the Interfax news agency reported Monday.
Moscow Court Labels Pussy Riot ‘Extremist’ Organization
Moscow’s Tverskoy District Court on Monday designated the exiled feminist protest group Pussy Riot an “extremist” organization, effectively banning its activities in Russia and putting anyone...
Yandex Updates Maps to Reduce Navigation Errors Amid GPS Disruptions
Yandex on Monday rolled out updates to its Maps service aimed at reducing navigation errors in areas where GPS signals are weak or unreliable, following months of user complaints in major cities...
Syria’s Assad Shunned by Kremlin in Isolated but Luxurious Moscow Exile – Guardian
Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has retreated into a secluded life in Moscow after losing power and is no longer of interest to his longtime backer Vladimir Putin, The Guardian reported Monday.
Ukraine Says Russian Drone Hit Turkish Cargo Vessel in Black Sea
Ukraine on Saturday accused Russia of striking a Turkish vessel transporting sunflower oil in the Black Sea, a day after a Russian attack triggered a fire on a Turkish-owned ship at a Ukrainian port.
Zelensky Says Will Seek U.S. Support for Freezing Front Line at Berlin Talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday he hoped the United States would back the idea of freezing the front line in Ukraine along its current shape at their meeting in Berlin.
Zelensky Says He Will Seek U.S. Support for Freezing Front Line at Berlin Talks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday he hoped the United States would back the idea of freezing the front line in Ukraine along its current shape at their meeting in Berlin.
Ukrainian Drones Kill 2 in Saratov
A Ukrainian drone attack on the central Russian city of Saratov killed two people on Saturday, local authorities said.
Belarus Frees Protest Leader, Nobel Laureate in Deal With U.S.
Belarus has released 123 prisoners, including protest leader Maria Kalesnikava, Nobel Peace Prize-winning rights activist Ales Bialiatski and ex-presidential candidate Viktar Babaryka, in exchange...
North Korea Acknowledges its Troops Cleared Mines for Russia
North Korea sent troops to clear mines in Russia's Kursk region earlier this year, leader Kim Jong Un said in a speech carried on Saturday by state media, a rare acknowledgement by Pyongyang of...
Russia’s Shift Workers Face Mounting Wage Payment Delays
Shift workers across Russia are increasingly reporting delayed or unpaid wages, the pro-Kremlin daily Izvestia reported Friday.
Indian Manpower Is No Silver Bullet for Russia's Labor Shortage
Opinion | Last week, President Vladimir Putin visited India for the first time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, marking his 10th state visit there in the quarter-century that he has...
EU Agrees to Indefinite Freeze of Russian Central Bank Assets
European Union member states including Belgium have agreed to impose an indefinite freeze on Russian Central Bank assets held in Europe, Reuters and the Associated Press reported Friday.
Russia Jails ICC Judges, Prosecutor in Absentia Over Putin Arrest Warrant
A Moscow court has issued in absentia verdicts against the chief prosecutor and eight judges of the International Criminal Court over their indictment of Russian President Vladimir Putin for...
Mobile Internet Issues Continue in St. Petersburg Despite Lifted Drone Threat
Mobile internet remained inaccessible for a second consecutive day in St.
Russian Central Bank Sues Euroclear as EU Advances Plan to Tap Frozen Assets for Ukraine
Russia’s Central Bank (CBR) announced Friday that it has filed a lawsuit in a Moscow commercial court against Euroclear, accusing one of Europe’s largest securities depositories of unlawfully...
Germany Blames Russia for Cyberattack on Air Safety, Election Interference
Germany on Friday accused Russia of a cyberattack targeting its air traffic control and spreading disinformation ahead of February's general election, charges dismissed by Russia as "absurd" and...
Lukoil Taps Ex-Trump Adviser to Assist With Overseas Asset Sale
Russian oil major Lukoil has hired Brian Lanza, who served as a senior adviser for Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, to assist with the sale of its international assets as a U.S....
Turkish Ship Damaged in Russian Strike on Ukraine's Odesa Region
A Russian air strike damaged a Turkish-owned vessel in a port in Ukraine's Black Sea region of Odesa, Kyiv and the operator said in statements Friday.
Ukraine Says Recaptured 2 Settlements in Northeastern Kharkiv Region
Ukraine on Friday said it had retaken two settlements in the northern Kharkiv region and pushed Russian troops back in Kupiansk, a key railway hub that Russia claimed to have seized last month.
Ukraine Claims Destruction of 2 Vessels Transporting Russian Arms in Caspian Sea
Ukraine’s special forces said Friday they had carried out an operation with a Russian rebel group that allegedly destroyed two Russian cargo vessels they claimed were transporting arms and...
Erdoğan Pushes Putin on 'Limited Ceasefire' at Ports, Energy Facilities
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for a "limited ceasefire" concerning attacks on ports and energy facilities in the Russia-Ukraine war, in face-to-face talks Friday with his Russian...
Russia Floats National Guard, Police Deployment in Contested Ukrainian Regions After Kyiv’s Withdrawal
A senior Kremlin official has proposed a post-war arrangement that would see Russian National Guard and police forces replacing Russian troops in contested Ukrainian territories should Kyiv agree...
Russia Says 7 Wounded Northwest of Moscow After Ukrainian Attack
Ukrainian drone debris triggered a fire in an apartment block northwest of Moscow, wounding seven people, Russian authorities said Friday.
Putin Reaffirms Support for Venezuela's Maduro Amid U.S. Tensions
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday reaffirmed his support to Venezuela in a phone call with longtime ally President Nicolás Maduro, the Kremlin said.
Russia Says Captured Siversk in Ukraine's Donetsk Region
Russia said Thursday its troops had seized full control of Siversk, a Ukrainian city in the eastern Donetsk region where fighting has intensified in recent weeks, though Ukraine denied the key...
What to Do When You’re Wanted by Interpol
Opinion | It is all too common to hear about Russians, Belarusians and citizens of many other countries who have left — or been forced to leave — their home states for political reasons are being...
Regions Calling: Winter’s Arrival Sets Off Infrastructure Breakdowns
Welcome to Regions Calling, your guide to developments beyond the Russian capital from The Moscow Times.
Erasing Magadan's Gulag Past Enables Today's Violence
Opinion | For nearly half a century, Oct. 30 has marked the annual remembrance day for victims of political repression in Russia.
Arkady Volozh’s Second Act
It looked like Arkady Volozh’s days at the top of the Russian tech world were over.
Sberbank Files to Bankrupt Major Russian Electronics Distributor TFN
Russia’s largest lender Sberbank has filed a bankruptcy claim against TFN, one of the country’s largest smartphone distributors, Forbes Russia reported Wednesday.
Russia Reports Steep Inflation Drop as High Interest Rates Weigh on Economy
Russia reported the steepest drop in annual inflation so far this year, data from the state statistics agency showed Wednesday, as high interest rates cool off the war economy.
Russia’s Rostselmash Warns of Reduced Working Hours in 2026 as Demand Slumps
Russian agricultural machinery maker Rostselmash expects to again introduce reduced working hours next year as weak demand continues to weigh on production, co-owner Konstantin Babkin told the...
Ukraine Detains Cargo Ship Linked to Russia’s ‘Shadow Fleet’ in Odesa Port
Ukrainian security officials have detained a cargo vessel in the port of Odesa that authorities say is part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said Wednesday.
AvtoVAZ Says It's Considering Building a Rival to BMW X5
AvtoVAZ has the technical capability to develop and mass-produce a crossover comparable to the BMW X5 but does not intend to pursue such a project in the near future, the carmaker’s head of...
Italy's UniCredit Moves Toward Russia Exit as Top Executives Quit and Leasing Assets Sold
Italy’s UniCredit, one of the last major Western banks still operating in Russia, has started taking concrete steps toward exiting the country as several senior executives resign and the group...
Russia Says No Survivors in Military Cargo Plane Crash
Russia on Tuesday said there were no survivors in a military plane crash east of Moscow, with state media reporting earlier there were seven people onboard.
Russian Soldiers Returning From Ukraine Linked to Over 1K Killings and Injuries Inside Russia
Russian soldiers returning from the war in Ukraine have killed or injured more than 1,000 people inside Russia since the invasion began nearly four years ago, according to a review of court...
India Explores Deepening Defense Co-Production With Russia – Reuters
India is considering expanding joint defense ventures with Russia as it reassesses its arms procurement strategy, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing three sources familiar with the matter.
Russians Bring Money Home Despite Easing of Capital Controls, Central Bank Data Shows
Russia’s decision to scrap most restrictions on foreign transfers is doing little to stem the flow of money back into the country, as households continue repatriating funds from overseas accounts,...
Russian Oil Prices Fall to Lowest Level Since Ukraine Invasion – Bloomberg
Prices for Russian crude shipments from its Black Sea and Pacific ports have fallen to their lowest levels since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Bloomberg reported Tuesday,...
Putin Adds War Supporters to Russia’s Human Rights Council
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday added more supporters of the war in Ukraine to the presidential Human Rights Council (HRC) ahead of his meeting with the consultative body this week.
Head of Altai Republic Demands Last Abortion Clinic Give Up License
The last private hospital that offers abortions in Siberia’s republic of Altai must give up its license by the end of 2025, regional head Andrei Turchak said Tuesday, amid state efforts to reverse...
In Russia’s Karelia, Neighboring Finland’s NATO Membership Deepens Divides
Finland and Britain on Saturday wrapped up the Northern Axe 25 joint military exercises, one of several early winter drills held by the Northern European nation and attended by NATO allies this...
Kursk Protest Leader Detained, Released After Questioning
Authorities in the southwestern Kursk region detained and hours later released one of the displaced residents who protested the end of state support payments, media reported Tuesday.
Russia Downs 3 Drones on Approach to Moscow
Russian air defense systems destroyed three drones as they were approaching Moscow on Tuesday evening, according to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
Children Flood Putin With Complaints About Roblox Ban, Kremlin Says
Children in Russia have flooded the Kremlin with complaints about authorities banning the Roblox gaming platform, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman said Tuesday.
Russian Rental Prices Flat for First Time Since 2022 – Data
Russia’s rental housing market saw no annual price growth for the first time since 2022, according to data from real estate platform CIAN covering 40 cities with populations above 500,000. In the...
Russian Supreme Court Voids European Convention on Human Rights
Russia’s Supreme Court on Tuesday formally removed the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) from its legal framework.
Russia's Opposition Is Leaving Indigenous People Behind. We Will Not Remain Silent.
Opinion | In mid-November, Politico published an article, “What the Russian Opposition Wants,” by Yulia Navalnaya.
Ukrainian Drones Injure 14 in Russia’s Republic of Chuvashia
At least 14 people, including one child, were injured in an early morning Ukrainian drone strike on the Volga republic of Chuvashia, local health authorities said Tuesday.
Dutch Court Freezes Assets of TurkStream Operator Over Crimean Seizures – Vedomosti
A Dutch court has frozen the assets of TurkStream operator South Stream Transport as part of a bid by Ukrainian businesses to recover losses stemming from Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, the...
Russia’s Ambassador in North Korea Dies at 70
Russia’s ambassador to North Korea has passed away at the age of 70, the Foreign Ministry said Monday, without disclosing the cause of his death.
Court in Occupied Donetsk Jails Russian Soldiers in Killing of American Fighter
A judge in the occupied Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine on Monday sentenced four Russian soldiers to prison for the torture and killing of an American man who had fought alongside pro-Moscow forces.
Supreme Court Designates Ponomaryov’s Congress of People’s Deputies a Terrorist Organization
Russia’s Supreme Court on Monday designated the Congress of People’s Deputies, a Poland-based political movement led by exiled former State Duma lawmaker Ilya Ponomaryov, as a terrorist organization.
Global Business Didn't Save Russia in the 1990s. It Won't Today, Either.
Opinion | For relations between Russia and the United States, the 1990s are back.
Russian State Property Chief Steers Assets to Putin Allies – The Insider
Russia’s top privatization official has overseen a system that funneled major state assets to businessmen close to the Kremlin, including billionaire Arkady Rotenberg, the exiled investigative...
Zelensky Says Kyiv Has No Right to Cede Land to Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that Kyiv had no legal or moral right to give up land to Russia in any deal aimed at ending Moscow's nearly four-year invasion.
Russian Prosecutors Accuse Dozens of Top Ukrainian Officials of Genocide in Donbas
Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office announced Monday that it has indicted 41 former and current Ukrainian officials on accusations of committing genocide against ethnic Russians in eastern Ukraine.
‘Fragmented Presence’: One Year After Assad’s Fall, Moscow Struggles to Maintain Its Influence in Syria
In 2017, as Russia’s intervention in the Syrian Civil War was at its height, Moscow’s Defense Ministry mistakenly reported that Syrian rebel leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani had “lost” an arm in a...
Russia’s MKB Flags Deepening Loan Losses as Bad Debt Surges Eightfold
One of Russia’s largest “systemically important” banks has disclosed severe financial strains as overdue loans mount across the corporate sector.
Displaced Kursk Residents Protest End of State Support Payments
A group of residents in the southwestern Kursk region on Monday organized a protest in response to the regional government’s recent decision to end monthly compensation payments for those whose...
Russia Plans Limits on Cash and Gold Exports in Push to Curb Shadow Economy
Russia is preparing new restrictions on the export of cash rubles and gold as part of a broader push to clamp down on the shadow economy, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Monday.
Changes to U.S. Security Strategy 'Largely Consistent' With Russia's Vision – Kremlin
Russia has welcomed changes in the U.S.
Julia Ioffe’s Debut ‘Motherland’ Tells the Story of Russia Through Its Women
Julia Ioffe is an award-winning Russian-born American journalist and author specializing in Russia-U.S. relations and politics.
Russian Ambassador Slams EU Frozen Assets Plan for Ukraine
A European Union plan to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine's fight against Russia would have “far-reaching consequences” for the EU, Moscow's ambassador to Germany warned on Friday.
Overnight Russian Strike on Ukraine Triggers Heating, Water Cuts
An overnight Russian drone and missile attack that targeted critical infrastructure, including energy sites and railways, triggered heating and water outages for thousands of Ukrainian households,...
Half of Russians Cannot Predict Household Income Beyond 6 Months – Survey
Russian households are finding it increasingly difficult to forecast their earnings despite incomes being on the rise for nearly three years, according to a new survey by the Public Opinion...
Pro-Kremlin RT Network Launches India Service With Putin’s Blessing
President Vladimir Putin on Friday presided over the launch of RT India, the Kremlin-funded broadcaster’s newest regional channel, during his visit to the South Asian country this week. “I...
Reported Ukrainian Drone Attack Damages High-Rise Near Kadyrov’s House
A suspected Ukrainian drone strike damaged a high-rise building in the Chechen capital of Grozny early Friday, in what would be one of the closest attacks yet to the residence of regional leader...
Roscosmos Exploring Rocket Engine Sales to India
Russia’s space agency Roscosmos is in talks with Indian officials about selling its rocket engines to India and licensing their production, the agency’s head told state media Friday. “The main...
Shlosberg Charged With Spreading ‘Fakes’ About Russian Army
Authorities in the northwestern city of Pskov have filed a new criminal charge against opposition politician Lev Shlosberg, accusing him of spreading “false information” about the Russian...
Putin Pledges Steady Oil Supplies to India as He Meets Modi in New Delhi
President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russia was prepared to continue “uninterrupted” crude oil shipments to India despite sanctions and tariff pressures from the Trump administration, which...
How Customer Discounts Ignited a Battle Between Russia’s Banks and E-Commerce Giants
Imagine JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon accusing Jeff Bezos of cheating the U.S. government out of billions in tax revenue by offering discounts to Amazon shoppers.
Russian Railways Launches High-Speed Double-Decker Train Between Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod
State rail operator Russian Railways (RZD) on Wednesday inaugurated a high-speed double-decker train on the route between Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod, marking a return of the Burevestnik service...
Russia’s Central Bank to Lift Restrictions on Foreign Currency Transfers
Russia’s Central Bank announced Friday that it will lift limits on money transfers abroad for Russians and non-residents from “friendly” countries starting next week, more than four months ahead...
Russia Could Face Systemic Banking Crisis by Late 2026, Kremlin-Linked Think Tank Warns
Russia could face a systemic banking crisis by October 2026 if problem assets continue to rise and depositors start withdrawing funds en masse, analysts at the Kremlin-aligned Center for...
Putin Arrives in India for First Visit Since 2022 Invasion of Ukraine
President Vladimir Putin will begin a two-day visit to India on Thursday, his first trip there since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as he looks to shore up defense and trade ties with New...
Trump’s Ukraine Peace Push Was Always a Naked Cash Grab
Opinion | When the Trump administration’s 28-point peace plan for the Ukraine war leaked last month, its evident pro-Russian bent was treated with a mixture of disdain and confusion in Kyiv and...
Putin Found 'Morally Responsible' for Nerve Agent Death in U.K.
The U.K. on Thursday sanctioned Russia's intelligence service and summoned Moscow's ambassador after an inquiry found President Vladimir Putin bore "moral responsibility" for the death of a...
Roskomnadzor Confirms It’s Blocking Snapchat and FaceTime Calls
Russia’s state communications watchdog has intensified its campaign against foreign messaging platforms, blocking Snapchat on Thursday just hours after restricting access to Apple’s FaceTime service.
Defense Ministry Found Liable for Deadly Fighter Jet Crash in Krasnodar Region
A judge in the southern Krasnodar region has found the Russian Defense Ministry liable for damages stemming from a military jet crash in October 2022 that killed 16 people, the Kommersant business...
Russia Returns 7 Ukrainian Children to Their Families, U.S. Says
Russia has returned seven Ukrainian children to their families with the help of U.S.
Moscow Scientist Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison on Treason Charges
A Moscow region judge has sentenced physicist Artyom Khoroshilov to 21 years in a maximum-security prison for treason, Russian media reported Thursday.
Major Winter Storm Hits Kamchatka as Schools Close and Workday Shortens
Far East Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula is battling its first significant winter storm as a disruptive mix of snow, ice and rain prompted schools in the regional capital to close and authorities to...
Russia May Have Won a Company, but Lost a Friend in Serbia
Opinion | “To others his example is a lesson.” Those words from Pushkin’s “Eugene Onegin” seem strangely apt for the unfolding drama around Serbia’s oil company NIS.
Far East City of Blagoveshchensk Orders Mask Mandate as Flu Cases Rise
Authorities in the Far East city of Blagoveshchensk, located near the Chinese border, said Wednesday that they would impose a two-week mask mandate amid a sharp uptick in respiratory illness cases...
Roskomnadzor Confirms It’s Blocking FaceTime Calls
Russia’s state media regulator said Thursday that it was restricting voice and video calls on Apple’s FaceTime, making it the latest foreign-made app to be effectively blocked inside the country.
Russia Returns 7 Ukrainian Children to Their Families in Initiative Backed by Melania Trump
Russia has returned seven Ukrainian children to their families with the help of U.S.
Putin Heads to India in First Visit Since 2022 Invasion of Ukraine
President Vladimir Putin will begin a two-day visit to India on Thursday, his first trip there since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as he looks to shore up defense and trade ties with New...
Ex-Khabarovsk Governor Furgal Given Additional 23-Year Prison Sentence
A judge in Moscow has handed former Khabarovsk region Governor Sergei Furgal a new 23-year prison term, adding to the 22-year sentence he is already serving on double murder charges, his support...
EU Strikes Deal to Ban All Russian Gas Imports by 2027
European Union negotiators reached an agreement early Wednesday to phase out all imports of Russian gas by the fall of 2027, a move aimed at choking off a major source of revenue for Moscow nearly...
Ukraine Struck Druzhba Pipeline for Fifth Time This Year, Intelligence Sources Say
Ukraine’s military struck the Druzhba oil pipeline inside Russia this week, military intelligence sources in Kyiv told media outlets on Wednesday, marking at least the fifth attack on the key...
Russians Pour Record Funds Into Domestic Securities as Rates Fall
Russian retail investors pumped a record amount of money into domestic securities in the third quarter, the Central Bank said Wednesday, as falling interest rates pushed savers toward bonds.
Compromise on Ukraine Still Elusive After Meeting With U.S. Delegation, Kremlin Says
Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov said Wednesday that peace talks in Moscow with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner failed to produce...
Russia’s Oil and Gas Revenues Fall 34% Year-on-Year in November
Russia’s oil and gas revenues fell sharply again in November, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday, underscoring mounting pressure on the federal budget from a combination of sanctions, weak crude...
American Jailed for Assaulting Russian Police Officer Handed New 8-Year Prison Sentence
An American jailed in Russia for assaulting a police officer has been sentenced to an additional eight years in prison for attacking guards at the correctional facility where he is being held,...
Georgia Says Breakaway Regions ‘Non-Negotiable’ in Any Restoration of Ties With Russia
Georgia will not restore diplomatic relations with Russia unless Moscow reverses its recognition of the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Wednesday.
Russian Cosmonaut Removed From SpaceX Mission After Alleged Security Breach
A Russian cosmonaut has been removed from an upcoming SpaceX mission to the International Space Station after reportedly mishandling sensitive technical materials during training in the United States.
Sanctioned Dagestan Senator Revealed as Major Investor in U.S. Data Centers
Chicago-based investment firm IPI Partners has agreed to pay $11.5 million to settle “apparent violations” of U.S. sanctions on Russia, the U.S.
Did Russia Really Have a Gasoline Crisis? New Data Suggests Otherwise.
Opinion | The way events unfold in Russia today bears little resemblance to the way those same events are portrayed in the media.
Hundreds of Endangered Seals Found Dead on Russia’s Caspian Coast
Nearly 500 endangered Caspian seals have washed up dead along Russia’s Caspian Sea coast, prompting officials in the republic of Dagestan to launch a multi-agency investigation, regional...
Turkish Shipping Company Ends Russia-Linked Voyages After Tanker Explosions
Turkish tanker manager Besiktas Shipping said Wednesday it would halt all operations involving Russia, a week after one of its ships was struck by a series of explosions off the coast of Senegal....
Russia Shelves Northern Siberian Railway to China Over $644Bln Price Tag
Russia has shelved plans to build a proposed railway line from Siberia to northwestern China due to its eye-watering price tag, the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday, citing a source...
Court Ruling Clears Path for Russian and Belarusian Skiers to Compete at 2026 Olympics
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Tuesday overturned a ban that had barred Russian and Belarusian skiers from qualifying for the 2026 Winter Olympics, opening the way for them to compete...
State Duma Strips United Russia Lawmaker of Mandate Amid Bribery Investigation
Members of Russia’s lower-house State Duma on Tuesday adopted a resolution stripping a fellow lawmaker of his parliamentary mandate as he faces a criminal investigation on charges of bribery.
Europe’s Anti-Russian Sabotage Plans Miss the Real Problem
Opinion | Russia believes itself to be already at war with the West — or at least the European part of NATO — and the Kremlin is prepared to apportion the rhetoric, finances and personnel...
Moscow Graduate Arrested on Treason Charges After ‘Carousel Arrests’
A judge has placed a 22-year-old graduate of Moscow’s Higher School of Economics (HSE) in pre-trial detention on charges of state treason after two months of being rotated in and out of detention,...
Majority of Reported Drone Incidents in Europe Not Linked to Russia – Trouw
The vast majority of recent reports of drone activity across Europe have not shown any evidence of Russian involvement, according to analysis by the Dutch newspaper Trouw, undercutting warnings...
Incidents Involving Russian Airliners Quadruple in 2025
Russia has seen a sharp rise in aviation incidents in the fourth year of Western sanctions that cut off access to spare parts for foreign-made aircraft, an investigation by the exiled news outlet...
Hundreds of Porsche Owners in Russia Unable to Start Cars After System Failure
Hundreds of Porsche vehicles across Russia have been rendered undriveable after a failure in their factory-installed satellite security system, according to reports from owners and dealerships.
Ukrainian Drone Strikes Damage Energy Sites in Oryol Region, FSB Building in Chehnya
An overnight Ukrainian drone strike on the western Oryol region sparked fires at several fuel and energy sites, local officials said Tuesday, while unconfirmed reports suggested a Federal Security...
Turkey Says Another Tanker Was Attacked in the Black Sea
Turkish authorities said Tuesday that another tanker has come under attack in the Black Sea while traveling from Russia to Georgia, the latest in a series of incidents that have raised concern...
Russian Army Claims Capture of Key City of Pokrovsk in Eastern Ukraine
The Kremlin said Monday that Russia's armed forces captured the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a major logistical hub, as well as Vovchansk in the northeast.
If Europe Wants War With Russia, 'We Are Ready,' Putin Says
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Russia was "ready" for war if Europe seeks one, accusing the continent's leaders of trying to sabotage a deal on the Ukraine conflict before he...
Russia’s Claimed Capture of Pokrovsk Comes at a Steep Cost
Russia has spent enormous resources trying to seize Pokrovsk, the key logistical hub in eastern Ukraine that Moscow claimed to have captured on Monday, military experts said.
Russia Claims Capture of Key City of Pokrovsk in Eastern Ukraine
Russia said Monday its forces had captured the city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine, a key military logistics hub, as well as the city of Vovchansk in the northeast.
Russia Orders Underwater Inspections of All Foreign Ships Entering Its Ports
Russia has ordered port operators to carry out underwater inspections of foreign ships for explosive devices and other suspicious items, the Kommersant business daily reported Tuesday, citing a...
Putin Signs Order Granting Visa-Free Entry to Chinese Travelers
President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed an executive order temporarily waiving visa requirements for Chinese nationals, a reciprocal step after Beijing lifted visa requirements for Russian...
Russian Missile Strike on Dnipro Kills At Least 4
A Russian missile attack killed four people and wounded nearly two dozen others on Monday in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, the governor of the region said.
Third Tanker Carrying Russian Oil Hit by Explosions
A tanker carrying Russian oil products suffered four external explosions off the coast of Senegal, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing the vessel’s manager Besiktas Shipping.
Ukraine Launches Record Number of Strikes on Russian Oil Refineries in November
Ukraine carried out at least 14 drone attacks on Russian oil refineries in November in a new monthly record, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing public statements from both countries. Kyiv has...
Third Tanker Carrying Russian Oil Hit by Explosions – Bloomberg
A tanker carrying Russian oil products suffered four external explosions off the coast of Senegal, Bloomberg reported Monday, citing the vessel’s manager Besiktas Shipping.
Drivers Stranded on Baikal Highway Amid Subzero Weather
Motorists were stranded for several hours in a traffic jam along the snowbound Baikal Highway in southern Siberia, regional authorities said Monday.
Witkoff and Putin Will Meet Tuesday Afternoon to Discuss U.S. Peace Plan
President Vladimir Putin will meet with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the Trump administration’s latest proposal to end the war in Ukraine, the Kremlin...
FSB Agents Shoot and Kill Ukrainian Accused of Trying to Assassinate Russian Military Officer
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said Monday that its agents killed a Ukrainian man and arrested another during an operation to thwart an alleged assassination attempt of a senior Russian...
Rapper Face Charged With Violating ‘Foreign Agent’ Law
Russian law enforcement authorities have pressed charges against rapper Face for violating the country’s “foreign agent” law, the exiled news outlet Mediazona reported Monday.
Ex-Detention Center Warden in Irkutsk Jailed 5 Years for Abusing Inmates
A judge in the Irkutsk region has sentenced a former detention center warden to five years in prison for abusing inmates, the regional court’s press service said Monday.
Rosneft’s Net Profit Plunges 70% in First 9 Months of 2025 as Falling Oil Prices and Sanctions Bite
Russia’s largest oil producer Rosneft reported a 70% year-on-year drop in net profit in the first three quarters of the year, according to its IFRS financial statements published Friday.
The System Built to Manage Russia’s Nuclear Legacy Is Crumbling
Opinion | For more than three decades, Russia has been burdened with the remains of the Soviet nuclear project: a vast, sprawling, largely invisible inheritance of contaminated territories,...
Ukrainian Delegation Heads to U.S. for Peace Talks
Ukrainian negotiators are due to hold talks in the United States on Sunday to discuss the Trump administration's plan to end the war with Russia, with Kyiv facing pressure on both the military and...
Verified Russian Deaths in Ukraine War Surpass 150K – Independent Tally
Verified Russian military deaths in Ukraine have risen to at least 152,142 since the full-scale invasion, according to a joint count by BBC Russian and Mediazona.
Black Sea Tanker That Sustained Blast Hit Again
Turkey's Transport Ministry said one of two empty oil tankers hit by blasts in the Black Sea late Friday had been struck again early on Saturday, blaming an unmanned sea vehicle.
Black Sea Tanker That Sustained Blast Hit Again – Turkey
Turkey's Transport Ministry said one of two empty oil tankers hit by blasts in the Black Sea late Friday had been struck again early on Saturday, blaming an unmanned sea vehicle.
South Africa Arrests 4 Suspected of Wanting To Fight for Russia
South African police have arrested four Russia-bound men at Johannesburg's airport suspected of having signed up to fight for the Russian army, the force said on Saturday.
Naval Drones Halt Operations at Russian Oil Terminal
A major Russian oil terminal near the southern port of Novorossiysk halted operations early Saturday after a naval drone attack damaged one of its three mooring points.
Sanctioned Oil Tankers Hit by Blasts, Fire En Route to Russia, Turkey Says
Turkish authorities on Friday said they had taken crews off two oil tankers in the Black Sea after explosions and fires, suggesting they may have been hit by devices.
Russian Drone Strike on Kyiv Kills One, Several Wounded – City Officials
A Russian drone attack targeted the Ukrainian capital in the early hours of Saturday, killing one person and wounding seven, authorities in Kyiv said.
Hungary’s Orbán Arrives in Moscow for Energy Talks With Putin
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to discuss continued access to Russian oil and gas, as well as ongoing efforts to end the war in Ukraine....
First Russian, Belarusian Figure Skaters Cleared for 2026 Winter Olympics
The International Olympic Committee has approved a small group of Russian and Belarusian figure skaters to compete as neutral athletes at the 2026 Winter Games, the organization said Thursday.
Moscow Rehab Center Owner Arrested Following Abuse Accusations
Russian law enforcement authorities said Friday that they arrested the owner of a private rehab center outside Moscow following accusations that minors there were subjected to physical abuse, one...
Baikonur Launchpad Damaged After Russian Rocket Launch to ISS
Russia’s Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan was damaged on Thursday following the launch of a manned Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station, the Roscosmos space agency said.
China’s Foreign Minister to Visit Moscow for Security Talks
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Russia next week for routine strategic security consultations, China's foreign ministry announced Friday.
China’s Foreign Minister to Visit Russia for Security Talks
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Russia next week for routine strategic security consultations, China's foreign ministry announced Friday.
‘Demotivating and Unjust’: In Russia’s Regions, Medical Students Decry New Work Placement Policy
Upon graduating from medical school, Russia’s aspiring medical specialists and surgeons are expected to complete a residency to gain specialized knowledge in their planned field of practice.
Russia Blacklists Human Rights Watch as ‘Undesirable’
Russia’s Justice Ministry on Friday designated Human Rights Watch as an “undesirable” organization.
Justice Ministry Blacklists Human Rights Watch as ‘Undesirable’
Russia’s Justice Ministry on Friday designated the international nonprofit Human Rights Watch as an “undesirable” organization.
Roskomnadzor Threatens to Block WhatsApp Over Alleged Legal Violations
Russia’s state media regulator said Friday that it was imposing new restrictions on WhatsApp for what it called repeated violations of Russian law, and warned the messaging service could be...
Putin Signs Law Raising Russia’s Value-Added Tax to 22%
President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed a sweeping tax overhaul that will raise Russia’s value-added tax to 22% from 20% next year, a move aimed at closing the fiscal gap created by soaring...
Handing the Donbas to Moscow Will Doom its People to Suffering
Opinion | Remember how everyone recently laughed at the UN for publishing a tearful report saying that no one reads its reports?
Baikonur Launchpad Damaged After Rocket Launch to ISS
Russia’s Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan was damaged on Thursday following the launch of a manned Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station, the Roscosmos space agency said.
Kremlin Insider Dmitry Kozak Criticized War in Letter to Putin Before Resigning – Agentstvo
President Vladimir Putin’s former deputy chief of staff wrote a letter criticizing Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and presented it to the president before stepping down earlier this year, the...
VTB Plans Small-Scale Staff Cuts to Improve Efficiency
Russia’s VTB Group is planning limited staff reductions as part of a broader effort to improve efficiency, the bank’s first deputy CEO and CFO Dmitry Pyanov said Friday.
Belgium Slams EU Plan to Use Frozen Russian Assets for Ukraine
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has renewed his criticism of an EU proposal to use frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine, calling the plan “fundamentally wrong” and warning it could expose...
Regions Calling: Life With No Internet Is the New Normal
Welcome to Regions Calling, your guide to developments beyond the Russian capital from The Moscow Times.
How Russia’s Cultural Life Continues Despite the War
Opinion | For the fourth year in a row, Russia has been constructing a new order of life.
Supreme Court Designates Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Group a Terrorist Organization
Russia’s Supreme Court on Thursday designated Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation as a terrorist organization, escalating a yearslong crackdown on the late opposition leader’s network and...
Putin Says He’s Open to Discussing Trump’s Peace Plan But Warns Ukraine Faces Defeat
President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he may be open to some elements of a U.S. plan to end the war in Ukraine, but issued a defiant warning that Russian forces would continue their advance...
Chinese Travel Bookings to Russia Surge Amid Visa-Free Talks and Japan Tensions
President Vladimir Putin’s pledge to allow Chinese citizens to travel to Russia without a visa, along with recent tensions between Beijing and Tokyo, has sent searches and bookings from China...
International Judo Body Allows Russian Athletes to Compete Under Flag Again
Russian judokas are once again allowed to compete under their national flag, the International Judo Federation (IJF) said Thursday, ending the neutral status imposed after Russia’s full-scale...
Russia Shutters Poland’s Consulate in Irkutsk in Tit-for-Tat Measure
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday that it will close Poland’s last remaining diplomatic mission outside Moscow, ordering the shutdown of the Polish consulate in the Siberian city of Irkutsk...
Military Court Sentences 8 to Life in Prison Over Crimean Bridge Bombing
A Russian military court on Thursday sentenced eight men to life in prison over the 2022 bombing of the Crimean Bridge, a key symbol of Russia’s claim to the peninsula it annexed in 2014. The Oct....
Ukrainian Drones Target Rosneft Refinery in Samara – Reports
Ukraine launched dozens of drones at targets across Russia regions overnight, with media and Ukrainian-linked sources claiming that an oil refinery in the southern Samara region was among the sites hit.
Russian Industry Sentiment Falls to Late-1990s Lows – Report
Sentiment in Russia’s industrial sector fell to levels seen in the late 1990s in November, according to calculations by the Institute of Economic Forecasting of the Russian Academy of Sciences...
Russia’s Forestry Industry Faces Steep Production Slump in 2026, Official Says
Russia’s forestry sector could face a deep contraction next year as sanctions tighten, interest rates remain high and the ruble stays strong, Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Mikhail Yurin said Thursday.
Russian Corporate Losses Surge in 2025 as More Firms Slip Into the Red
Russian companies have reported a sharp rise in losses so far this year, with total negative results jumping nearly 25% year-on-year to 6.52 trillion rubles ($83.3 billion) in the...
Prices for Church Rites in Russia Have Risen Nearly 40% Since Start of Ukraine War
Suggested donations for baptisms, weddings and funerals in Russian Orthodox churches have risen by nearly 40% since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, The Moscow Times’ Russian service reported.
North Korea Makes Russian Language a Required School Subject, Minister Says
Authorities in North Korea have made Russian language a mandatory subject for children beginning from elementary school, a senior Russian official said Thursday, as both countries strengthen their...
Russia Designates Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Group a Terrorist Organization
Russia’s Supreme Court on Thursday designated Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation as a terrorist organization, escalating a yearslong crackdown on the late opposition leader’s network and...
Russian Homebuyers Struggle as Rising Prices Outpace Income Growth
Russian homebuyers are finding it increasingly difficult to save for a mortgage down payment as housing costs rise far faster than wages, according to new data from Sberbank and state housing...
Russian Ambassador Slams Authorities in Moldova After Being Summoned Over Drone Incursion
Russia’s Ambassador to Moldova on Wednesday criticized authorities in Chisinau for their approach to bilateral relations after he was summoned over drone incursions earlier this week that were...
Ex-Vladivostok Mayor Has Bribery Sentence Cleared After Receiving Military Award
Former Vladivostok Mayor Oleg Gumenyuk had his 12-year prison sentence for bribery overturned after receiving a state award while serving in the Russian military, the Primorye region’s court...
3 Arrested in Paris Suspected of Spying and Acting for Russia
French authorities have arrested three people on suspicion of spying for Russia and acting to promote its war propaganda, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Kremlin Says U.S. Peace Plan Wasn’t Discussed in Abu Dhabi as Trump Sends Envoy to Moscow
Top Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov told state media on Wednesday that Russian and U.S. officials did not discuss the White House’s latest plan to end the war in Ukraine during talks...
Witkoff Advised Kremlin Official on Ukraine Deal and Trump – Bloomberg
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff advised a senior Kremlin official on how Russia's Vladimir Putin should pitch a Ukraine peace deal to President Donald Trump, according to a transcript of their...
Lukoil Co-Founder Leonid Fedun Sells Back His Stake in Company
Lukoil co-founder Leonid Fedun has sold his entire shareholding in the Russian oil major back to the company, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing three sources familiar with the deal.
Moscow Rehab Center Employee Arrested After Claims of Abusing Teenagers
Russian law enforcement authorities said Tuesday that they arrested the administrator and an 18-year-old resident of a privately run rehab center outside Moscow following accusations that minors...
Russian State Media Stays Light on Coverage of U.S.-Backed Ukraine Peace Deal
Pro-Kremlin media offered muted coverage of the United States’ renewed push to end the war in Ukraine on Wednesday as the Kremlin said it had seen the White House’s new peace plan but offered...
U.S. Envoy Advised Kremlin Official on Ukraine Deal and Trump – Report
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff advised a senior Kremlin official on how Vladimir Putin should pitch a Ukraine peace deal to President Donald Trump, according to a transcript of their conversation...
Putin Courts Kyrgyzstan’s Support as Central Asian Leaders Thread Geopolitical Needle
President Vladimir Putin met with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on Wednesday as Moscow seeks to shore up regional alliances while Central Asian leaders increasingly try to balance their relations...
Putin Arrives in Kyrgyzstan for Three-Day Visit
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday, marking the start of a three-day trip during which he is expected to meet with regional leaders. “The visit will be an important...
Meet the Political Blogger Speaking to Young, Anti-War Russians. His Views Might Surprise You.
Blogger Alexander Shtefanov rose to fame in 2023 after filming an anti-war documentary from occupied Mariupol called “Ordinary Denazification.” He was designated as a “foreign agent” and expelled...
Ex-Officer Gets Suspended Sentence for Selling Police Files to Journalist Nephew
A court in Yekaterinburg handed a four-year suspended sentence to a former police officer who admitted to selling confidential criminal reports to his journalist nephew, the court press service...
FSB Arrests Teenager Over Alleged Plot to Attack Kaliningrad Church
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said Tuesday that it arrested a 17-year-old in the western Kaliningrad region for allegedly trying to attack a Russian Orthodox church.
Russia Eyes Rescue Plan for Debt-Laden Rail Monopoly
Russia’s government is weighing options to prop up state rail operator Russian Railways (RZhD) as it reels from a sharp deterioration in its finances and a multi-trillion-ruble debt load, Reuters...
Coal Mines in Occupied Luhansk Face Risk of Closure Without $505M Injection
Coal mines in the Russian-occupied Luhansk region are facing shutdown unless they receive $505 million in government financing as the industry grapples with high interest rates and low global coal...
More Than Half of Russia's Regions Are Running Budget Deficits, Study Says
More than half of Russia’s regions ran budget deficits in the first nine months of the year, the Vedomosti business daily reported Tuesday, citing an analysis by ratings agency Expert RA.
Matviyenko Urges Russians to Rethink Their Views on Early Parenthood as Demographic Crisis Deepens
Federation Council speaker Valentina Matviyenko said in an interview published Tuesday that Russians need to rethink their attitudes toward early parenthood, reframing it as the “norm” amid...
Trump Says Envoy Witkoff Will Meet Putin in Moscow as Peace Deal 'Close'
Donald Trump said Tuesday he is sending his envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow as the U.S. president seeks to close out a deal to end the war in Ukraine.
3 Killed in Rostov Region as Russia and Ukraine Exchange Overnight Air Attacks
At least three people were killed in a major Ukrainian drone attack on the southern Rostov region, local authorities said early Tuesday, as several people were reported to have been killed in...
Ukraine Agrees to Terms of U.S. Peace Plan – ABC News
Ukraine has agreed with the United States on the terms of a potential deal to end the war, ABC News reported Tuesday, citing an unnamed U.S. official who said only “minor details” remain before...
Satellite Images Locate Ukrainian Kids Abducted by Russia – Lab
Researchers at a Yale University lab in the United States are using satellite imagery to locate Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, and have uncovered 210 re-education and military camps...
Russia’s AvtoVAZ Expects Lada Output to Drop 40% in 2025 – Reports
Production of Lada cars at AvtoVAZ’s flagship plant in the Volga River city of Tolyatti is expected to fall 40% this year to 274,000 vehicles, Interfax reported Monday, citing City Duma documents...
FSB Agents Shoot and Kill 2 Alleged Railroad Saboteurs in Siberia’s Altai Region
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said Monday that its agents killed two men who were allegedly trying to carry out a sabotage attack on a railway line in Siberia’s Altai region over the weekend.
Lithuania Jails Ukrainian for Carrying Out Arson Attack Blamed on Russia
A court in Lithuania on Monday sentenced a young Ukrainian man to three years and four months in prison for setting fire to an IKEA store in Vilnius last year.
Russia Sees Surge in Cash Circulation Amid Internet Outages and Tighter Bank Scrutiny
Russia saw a sharp increase in cash circulating in the economy between July and September, with the volume of banknotes in use increasing by 659 billion rubles ($8.4 billion), the pro-Kremlin...
Kremlin Says It’s Waiting for More Details About U.S. Peace Plan After Geneva Talks
The Kremlin said Monday that it has received no further details from the White House about its latest peace proposal following talks between Ukrainian and U.S. officials in Geneva, but added it...
Putin to Visit Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday
Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday for a three-day visit, authorities in Moscow and Bishkek said Monday. “The visit will be an important event in the development...
Ozon Denies Central Bank’s Claim That Marketplace Discounts Distort Competition
E-commerce giant Ozon on Monday rejected allegations of unfair competition after Russia’s Central Bank was reported to have backed major banks as they seek restrictions on how online marketplaces...
China Hikes Prices on Dual-Use Goods Exports to Russia – Study
Chinese exporters have hiked prices on critical goods, particularly items with military uses, for Russian military-industrial buyers, according to a new study by the Bank of Finland Institute for...
British Navy Intercepts Russian Warships in English Channel
The British Royal Navy intercepted two Russian warships transiting through the English Channel sometime in the past two weeks, British media reported Sunday, citing the U.K.
Russia’s Nuremberg Revival Is About the Future, Not the Past
Opinion | The Russian state last week celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Nuremberg Trials at a sprawling “international forum” in central Moscow.
Apple Cracks Down on India’s Re-Exports of iPhones to Russia – Reports
Apple has tightened oversight of iPhone shipments in India in an effort to stop devices from being re-exported to Russia and other markets where the company no longer operates, the Indian business...
Released St. Petersburg Street Musician Reportedly Flees Russia
Authorities in St.
European Officials Express Doubt Over Trump Peace Plan
The “centrality” of the European Union's role must be “fully reflected” in a peace plan for Ukraine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Sunday.
Ukraine Says New Draft of U.S. Plan Reflects Its ‘Key Priorities’
The latest version of the U.S. draft plan for ending the war in Ukraine now includes most of Kyiv's “key priorities,” its negotiator said Sunday, after holding a few rounds of talks in Geneva.
Belarus Pardons 31 Ukrainians Under Lukashenko-Trump Pact
Belarus, a close Russian ally, pardoned 31 Ukrainian citizens, state TV said on Saturday, as part of an agreement between President Alexander Lukashenko and U.S. counterpart Donald Trump.
Ukraine, U.S. to Start Talks in Switzerland on Trump's Plan to End War
Ukraine and the U.S. will soon meet in Switzerland to discuss Washington's plan for ending the war with Russia, Kyiv said Saturday, as it seeks to fix the draft that heeds to some of Moscow's...
Moscow Court Jails Man 25 Years Over Car Bombing That Maimed GRU Officer
A Moscow military court on Thursday sentenced a Russian man to 25 years in prison for planting a car bomb that severely wounded a military intelligence officer and his wife last year Yevgeny...
Putin Says U.S. Plan Could 'Lay Foundation' for Ukraine Peace Deal
President Vladimir Putin said Friday a U.S. plan could "lay the foundation" for a Ukraine peace deal, confirming for the first time that Moscow had received a copy from the United States.
Ukraine Risks Losing Dignity or U.S. Support, Zelensky Says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed Friday that he would not "betray" his country as he publicly pushed back against a U.S. plan that would end the war on terms widely seen as favorable...
Russia’s Central Bank Plans Firearms Training for Employees
Russia’s Central Bank is preparing to have some of its employees undergo firearms training, public procurement records appear to show, coming after previous failed attempts to allow senior...
Russia’s Share of Households With Savings Falls to 8-Year Low – Survey
The share of Russians reporting they have any savings has dropped to its lowest level in eight years, according to a survey by the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) conducted between Nov. 1-14 for...
Kremlin Says It Has Received No New Peace Proposal From U.S.
The Kremlin said Friday that it had received no official peace proposal from Washington, despite reports that Russian and U.S. officials had quietly drafted a new Ukraine ceasefire plan, and...
Trump’s Peace Plan Favors Russia. Putin Still Won’t Accept It.
Opinion | The Ukraine war peace plan proposed by the Trump administration has, unsurprisingly, triggered a storm of reactions across the press, social media and among experts.
Russian Stock Market Rallies on News of Ukraine Peace Plan
Russia’s stock market rallied at the start of Friday’s trading session amid reports of a new Trump administration plan to end the war in Ukraine, raising hopes that officials in Kyiv and Moscow...
Shuttered Airports Ready to Reopen After Military Approval, Rosaviatsia Says
Russian civil aviation authorities said Friday that all airports closed after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine are prepared to reopen as soon as the Defense Ministry grants final approval.
Russia Wielded Migration Against Europe Earlier Than You Think
Opinion | Since 2020, stories about the instrumentalized use of migrants have regularly appeared in the news.
Balalaika Instructor Arrested in Yekaterinburg for Allegedly Trying to Suffocate Children
A Yekaterinburg court placed a local music teacher in pre-trial detention after he was accused of trying to suffocate children to death, the court’s press office said Friday.
Sberbank Using AI to Cut 20% of Staff by End of 2025, Gref Says
Russia’s largest lender Sberbank will lay off 20% of its employees by the end of 2025 after using artificial intelligence systems to detect “inefficient” workers, the bank’s CEO German Gref said...
Russian Army Says It Captured Key City of Kupiansk as Putin Visits Command Post
The Russian army claimed on Thursday to have again captured the Ukrainian city of Kupiansk, a key bastion for Kyiv in the eastern Kharkiv region where Russia's soldiers have been steadily advancing.
Russia’s Central Bank Starts Selling Physical Gold From Reserves
Russia’s Central Bank has for the first time begun selling physical gold from its reserves as part of Finance Ministry operations to fund the state budget, the Bank said on Wednesday.
Ukraine Receives Bodies of 1K Soldiers in Latest Exchange With Russia
Ukraine said Thursday that it received the remains of 1,000 killed Ukrainian soldiers from Russia, the latest repatriation exchange between the two warring sides.
The U.S. Plan for Ending the Ukraine War: What Do We Know?
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet senior U.S. army figures in Kyiv on Thursday, after Washington presented a plan to Ukraine that would end the war on terms favorable to Moscow.
Russia Says Captured Key City of Kupiansk as Putin Visits Army Command Post
The Russian army claimed on Thursday to have again captured the Ukrainian city of Kupiansk, a key bastion for Kyiv in the eastern Kharkiv region where Russia's soldiers have been steadily advancing.
China Imports Record Volume of Russian LNG in September
China imported a record 1.299 million metric tons of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in September, according to Chinese customs data released Thursday.
Supreme Court Disbands Boris Titov’s Party of Growth
Russia’s Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the dissolution of the small pro-business Party of Growth, founded by President Vladimir Putin’s former business ombudsman Boris Titov.
Ukrainian Strikes Cut Power in Kursk Region and Reportedly Ignite Fire at Ryazan Refinery
Ukrainian air attacks knocked out power to parts of the southwestern Kursk region overnight, officials said Thursday, while drone strikes reportedly ignited a fire at one of the country’s largest...
‘Chaos in Ukraine’s Political Sphere’: Russia Cheers Kyiv Corruption Scandal
Russian officials and pro-Kremlin media are relishing in the biggest corruption scandal to engulf Ukraine since Moscow’s full-scale invasion, slamming Western aid to the embattled country and...
Russia’s Inflation Expectations Jump to One-Year High, Central Bank Says
Russia’s slowing inflation is doing little to reassure households, with a new survey showing a sharp rise in perceived price growth and inflation expectations despite official data pointing to a slowdown.
Yaroslavl Shipyard That Builds Defense Ministry Ships Freezes Workers' Pay
Workers at a Russian vessel producer under international sanctions for its ties to the country’s defense industry have not received pay for nearly two months, employees told local media.
Pro-Kremlin Activists Harass Polish Ambassador in St. Petersburg
Poland’s ambassador to Russia was confronted and nearly assaulted in St.
State Duma Passes 2026-28 Budget and Tax Increase Bills
State Duma lawmakers on Thursday passed Russia’s three-year federal budget and a package of tax increases, bills aimed at shoring up government revenues as spending on the war against Ukraine...
Russia and Togo to Open Embassies as Relations Grow
Russia and Togo will open embassies in each other’s capitals next year, the countries’ leaders said Wednesday, as Moscow pushes to expand its presence in Africa.
Kremlin Says Ukraine Stance Unchanged After Report of Backchannel Talks With U.S.
The Kremlin said Tuesday that its stance on a potential Ukraine peace agreement has not shifted since President Vladimir Putin met with U.S.
Kremlin Programs Promoting War Veterans Aim to Avoid Potential Putin Rivals – Vyorstka
Russian programs that place Ukraine war veterans in official roles deliberately favor low-profile participants to prevent the emergence of potential rivals to President Vladimir Putin, the exiled...
When Russia Is Upset, 'Accidents' Keep Happening
Opinion | On Nov. 14, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry summoned Moscow’s ambassador after Baku’s embassy in Kyiv was struck during Russia’s latest drone and missile attacks that day.
Russia Met With Iranian Nuclear Experts in Second Secret Visit – FT
Iranian nuclear scientists made a second secret trip to Russia last year in what the U.S. says was an effort to obtain sensitive technologies with potential nuclear weapons applications, the...
Russian Oil Revenues Slide to 2.5-Year Low as Sanctions Drive Asian Buyers Away
Russia’s weekly oil export revenues have fallen to their lowest level in nearly three years as deep discounts and a sharp pullback from key Asian customers weigh on the market.
Russia's Lukoil Calls On Bulgaria Not to Hinder Sale of Sanctioned Assets
Russian oil giant Lukoil on Wednesday called on Bulgarian authorities not to interfere with its efforts to sell its assets in the country, after the government seized control of them following...
Japan Sees Record Number of Russian Tourists in 2025
Russian tourism to Japan has already surpassed its pre-pandemic peak with two months left in the year, according to data published by the Japan National Tourism Organization.
Poland to Close Russia’s Last Consulate in Response to Sabotage Accusations
Poland will revoke permission for Russia’s last operating consulate in the country, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said Wednesday, after Warsaw accused Moscow of orchestrating acts of...
Russian Owners Agree to Sell Controlling Stake in Serbian Oil Firm, Belgrade Says
Russian stakeholders in Serbia’s state-linked oil company NIS have agreed in principle to sell their controlling share, Serbia’s energy minister said Wednesday, a move aimed at lifting U.S....
Russia Blacklists Ukrainian Maker of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Video Game Series
State prosecutors on Tuesday designated GSC Game World, the Ukrainian studio behind the popular S.T.A.L.K.E.R. video game franchise, an “undesirable” organization over its alleged financing of the...
Russia Adds Khodorkovsky, Gudkov to ‘Terrorist and Extremist’ List
Russia’s financial watchdog Rosfinmonitoring on Wednesday added former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and exiled opposition figure Dmitry Gudkov to its list of “terrorists and extremists.” The...
Britain Warns Putin as Russian Military Ship Enters Its Waters
The U.K. government warned the Kremlin on Wednesday after saying a Russian military ship had entered British waters and directed lasers at U.K. pilots.
U.S. Peace Proposal Requires Ukraine to Cede Land, Cut Army Size – Reports
Ukraine has received a new peace proposal from the United States that would require it to cede land controlled by Russia and reduce the size of its military by more than half, terms that closely...
Yekaterinburg Court Sentences Man Who Criticized Child’s Pro-War Hat to 4.5 More Years in Prison
A military court in Yekaterinburg has sentenced a jailed man to an additional four and a half years in prison for allegedly praising the killings of prominent pro-war figures, the exiled news...
Putin Hails Installation of First Reactor at Egypt’s Russian-Built Nuclear Plant
President Vladimir Putin and Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Wednesday marked the installation of the first reactor at Egypt’s inaugural nuclear power plant, one of the largest joint...
Russian Attack Leaves 25 Dead in Western Ukraine’s Ternopil
An overnight Russian attack on the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil left at least 25 people dead and dozens of others wounded, Ukrainian authorities said on Wednesday, making it one of the...
Is Cheburashka a Soviet Jew? Budget Hearing Re-Ignites Debate Over Cartoon’s Origins
Russian lawmakers have re-ignited an old debate: is beloved Soviet cartoon character Cheburashka Jewish?
The Truth About Kremlin Elite Nepotism Isn't So Simple
Opinion | The investigative outlet Proekt released a blockbuster report into Russia’s elite, which found that 76% of 1,329 senior officials had “relatives who also work in government...
Russian Companies Face Record Debt Burden as High Rates Squeeze Profits – Think Tank
Russian businesses are under mounting pressure from debt servicing as interest payments consumed a record 39% of pre-tax, pre-interest profits in September, according to estimates by the...
Poland Says 2 Ukrainians Working for Russia Suspected in Railway Sabotage
Two Ukrainians acting on behalf of Russian intelligence agencies are suspected of carrying out separate acts of railway sabotage in Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk told parliament on Tuesday.
Shoigu Targeted in Alleged Ukrainian Assassination Plot, Pro-Kremlin Media Claim
The pro-Kremlin newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets claims to have identified Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu as the target of a foiled assassination plot that law enforcement...
Russian Firms Plan Price Increases Ahead of Tax Changes – Central Bank Survey
Russian companies expect to raise prices significantly in the coming months as tax increases loom, the Central Bank has said, citing its November survey of more than 10,000 enterprises.
Putin Envoy Dmitriev Discussed Prisoner Swap With White House Officials
President Vladimir Putin’s economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev told Axios on Tuesday that he had discussed a potential prisoner swap between Moscow and Washington during a meeting with White House...
Gazprom Takes Control of Luxury Carmaker Aurus After Buying 51% Stake
Gazprom has taken control of Russian luxury carmaker Aurus after acquiring a 51% stake in mid-2025, the Vedomosti business daily reported Tuesday, citing three sources familiar with the matter.
Moscow Court Arrests Ex-Skolkovo Technopark Head on Bribery Mediation Charges
A Moscow court has ordered the arrest of the former CEO of the Skolkovo Technopark on charges of acting as an intermediary in a large-scale bribery scheme, the Skolkovo Leaks Telegram channel...
Chinese Nationals Will Soon Be Able to Visit Russia Visa-Free, Putin Says
President Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday that Chinese citizens will soon be able to visit Russia without a visa, coming months after Beijing lifted visa requirements for Russian nationals.
Voronezh Deputy Mayor Slams ‘Toxic and Ungrateful’ Residents Amid City Waste Crisis
A deputy mayor in the Russian city of Voronezh has called local residents “toxic and ungrateful” after weeks of public anger over uncollected household waste, local media reported Tuesday.
Ukrainian Strikes Leave Majority of Occupied Donetsk Without Power for Second Night, Proxy Leader Says
Nearly two-thirds of energy customers in eastern Ukraine’s occupied Donetsk region were left without power on Tuesday following a second consecutive night of Ukrainian strikes on local energy...
Top Moscow Humanities University Loses Accreditation
Moscow’s Higher School of Social and Economic Sciences, better known as Shaninka, had the accreditation for several of its degree programs revoked on Monday by Russia’s state education...
Pro-Putin Activist Complains of ‘Prison-Like’ Conditions at Russian Consulate in Australia
An Australian pro-Putin activist who has spent nearly three years sheltering inside the Russian Consulate in Sydney to avoid prison now says he is living in “prison-like conditions” imposed by his hosts.
Gas Pipeline Blast Near Omsk Forces Industrial Shutdowns
An explosion on a major underground gas pipeline near the Siberian city of Omsk sent a column of fire into the air on Tuesday, forcing several industrial plants to cut off gas supplies, regional...
Russia Tightens Legal Penalties for Terror and Sabotage Acts Among Minors
President Vladimir Putin on Monday approved a package of legal amendments that tighten penalties for acts of sabotage, which have soared in numbers since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Russian Oil Prices Sink as India and China Cut Purchases Ahead of U.S. Sanctions Deadline
Russian oil prices have slid sharply as refiners in India and China pulled back from purchases ahead of a U.S. sanctions deadline targeting state-controlled producers Rosneft and Lukoil.
Putin Signs Law Introducing Work Placement Requirements for Young Doctors
President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed a law requiring students enrolled in state-funded residency programs at medical universities to undergo a work placement at public hospitals and clinics...
Russian Warehouse Market Sees Sharp Decline as Economy Slows
Russia’s warehouse property market has recorded one of its steepest downturns in years, reflecting weaker economic activity and falling consumer demand, the consultancy IBC Real Estate has said.
Chevron Weighs Purchase of Lukoil’s Overseas Assets After U.S. Eases Restrictions – Reuters
Chevron is exploring potential purchases of some of Lukoil’s foreign assets after the U.S.
Thousands of Car Carriers Backed Up at Russia’s Borders as Importers Rush to Beat Fee Hike
Russia is facing major backlogs of car carriers on its borders with China and Kazakhstan as importers rush to bring in vehicles ahead of a sharp increase in the country’s recycling fee, the...
Russia’s Rusal to Shutter Major Silicon Plant as Industry Cuts Deepen
Russia’s largest silicon plant will suspend operations from Jan. 1, 2026, its owner announced Monday.
Russia Adds Former PM Kasyanov to 'Terrorists and Extremists' List
Russia has added former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov to its federal database of “terrorists and extremists,” according to state financial monitoring agency Rosfinmonitoring’s website.
What Do Russians Have to Look Forward to in 2026?
Opinion | Ksenia* is a dear friend and an admirable person.
Novorossiysk Oil Terminal Resumes Operations After Ukrainian Attack
Oil shipments from Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk have resumed, energy officials in Kazakhstan said on Monday, just days after a Ukrainian air attack damaged terminal infrastructure in the area.
Europe Unprepared for Potential Russian Drone Attacks, Defense Chief Warns
Europe is "not ready" to effectively respond to potential Russian drone attacks and must integrate Ukraine's "battle-tested" capabilities to protect itself better, EU Defense and Space...
Half-Million Left Without Power in Occupied Donetsk After Ukrainian Drone Strikes
Around half a million energy customers in eastern Ukraine’s occupied Donetsk region were left without power on Monday morning following what Kremlin-installed officials in the area described as...
St. Petersburg Deploys AI Patrols to Spot Hazardous Icicles
Authorities in St.
Moscow Police Arrest Mother of Boy Whose Severed Head Was Found in Backpack
Russian law enforcement authorities on Monday said they arrested the mother of a six-year-old boy whose severed head was reportedly discovered inside a backpack left at a pond in northeastern...
Finland Deports Alleged Ex-Wagner Fighter Back to Russia
Finland deported a Russian man who illegally crossed the border between the two countries in June, the border guard told AFP Monday, with local media reporting that he was a former mercenary for...
Russia Claims To Have Seized 2 New Villages In Southern Ukraine
The Russian army on Sunday claimed to have captured two more villages in southern Ukraine, where its troops are slowly gaining ground against outnumbered Ukrainian forces.
Russian Economy Barely Grows in Q3 as War Spending Bites
Russian economic growth was close to zero in the third quarter, the state statistics agency said Friday, as the costs of the Ukraine war and Western sanctions start to bite.
Major Ukrainian Drone Strike Halts Oil Deliveries at Novorossiysk Terminal
Oil deliveries to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk were suspended after Ukrainian strikes damaged key energy infrastructure in one of the most disruptive overnight attacks on the...
Russia Designates Exiled Political Analyst Shulmann, Philanthropist Zimin as ‘Terrorists and Extremists’
Russia’s financial watchdog Rosfinmonitoring on Thursday added exiled political analyst Ekaterina Schulmann and philanthropist Boris Zimin to its list of “terrorists and extremists.” The...
Exiled Politician Leonid Gozman Jailed 10 Years in Absentia for ‘Justifying Terrorism’
A Moscow military court sentenced exiled politician Leonid Gozman to 10 years in prison in absentia for “justifying terrorism,” authorities announced on Friday.
Moscow Court Finds Man Accused of Organizing LGBTQ+ Tours Guilty 1 Year After Suicide in Police Custody
A Moscow court has posthumously found the owner of a travel agency guilty of organizing extremist activities linked to the banned “LGBT movement” nearly a year after he died in police custody, the...
Russian Seaborne Oil Exports Drop to 3-Month Low Amid New U.S. Sanctions
Russia’s seaborne oil shipments fell to a three-month low last week as Moscow rushed to reroute shipments following U.S. sanctions on major Russian energy companies, the Kommersant business...
Online, Russia Invents Ukrainians Who Cheer On Its Occupation
On Russian social media, they sound like ordinary residents of occupied Ukrainian towns praising Moscow’s “reconstruction” efforts, commending Russian soldiers for their bravery in battle and...
YouTuber Yury Dud Jailed Nearly 2 Years in Absentia for Breaking ‘Foreign Agent’ Law
A Moscow court sentenced exiled journalist and YouTuber Yury Dud to 1 year and 10 months in prison in absentia for violating Russia’s “foreign agent” law, authorities said Friday.
Two Fighter Pilots Killed in Jet Crash in Republic of Karelia
A Russian fighter jet crashed in the northwestern republic of Karelia on Thursday, killing both crew members on board, the military and regional authorities said.
Samara Court Sentences Exiled Cult Leader Svetlana Lada-Rus to 8 Years in Prison
A court in the southwestern Samara region on Friday sentenced exiled cult leader and fringe opposition figure Svetlana Lada-Rus to eight years in prison in absentia.
Epstein Tried Contacting Lavrov to Discuss Trump, Emails Reveal
The late American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein attempted to pass a message to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about U.S.
Moscow Risks Losing a Key Ally in Latin America as Trump Ramps Up Pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro
As the United States deployed warships and submarines to the Caribbean and escalated strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug-smuggling boats in recent months, President Nicolás Maduro appealed to a...
Ukraine’s Top General Denies Encirclement Claims in Battle for Pokrovsk
Ukraine’s top military commander on Wednesday denied claims that his troops were encircled in the city of Pokrovsk, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky left open the possibility of a...
Regions Calling: Kremlin’s New Holidays Offer a Hollow Embrace of Indigenous Peoples, Activists Say
Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of Regions Calling, your guide to developments beyond the Russian capital from The Moscow Times.
Ukraine Says It Used ‘Flamingo’ Rockets in Overnight Attacks on Russia
Ukraine’s military said Thursday that it used domestically developed long-range Flamingo rockets in overnight airstrikes targeting sites inside Russia and parts of occupied Ukraine. The General...
Exiled Rapper Morgenshtern Banned From Entering Lithuania for 10 Years
Lithuania has banned the exiled Russian rapper Morgenshtern from entering the country for 10 years, local media reported on Thursday.
Wildberries Targets First African Market With Ethiopian Expansion
Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries has signed a cooperation agreement with Ethiopia’s largest state-owned investment firm as part of its push to expand into Africa, the state-run news agency...
Congratulations to Russia's Agriculture Ministry for Soaring Food Prices
Opinion | Let me start with good news: there are now plenty of eggs in Russia.
Putin Approves Sale of Citibank’s Russian Unit to Renaissance Capital
President Vladimir Putin has authorized the sale of Citibank’s Russian subsidiary to local investment firm Renaissance Capital, according to a decree published on Wednesday, effectively completing...
My Revolut Account Was Frozen for Having the Wrong Passport
Opinion | “Europe failed…” You can fill in the blank in that sentence with almost anything, from digital sovereignty, responding to the war in Ukraine since 2014, delivering on green transition,...
Finance Ministry to Debut Borrowing in Chinese Yuan in December
Russia will issue government bonds denominated in Chinese yuan for the first time next month, the Finance Ministry announced Wednesday.
Visa Bans Don't Hurt the Russians With True Power
Opinion | The European Union has just banned Russians from obtaining multi-entry Schengen visas, billing the move as tightening the screws on the Kremlin.
Lukoil Halts Iraqi Operations After Sanctions, Declares Force Majeure – Reuters
Lukoil has declared force majeure at a major oilfield in southern Iraq after Western sanctions disrupted its operations, Reuters reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.
As Russia Closes In on Pokrovsk, Ukraine Fights to Buy Time
KYIV, Ukraine — Fierce fighting continues to engulf the eastern city of Pokrovsk as Russian forces press a prolonged campaign to seize this industrial hub in Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
Russia's Defense Ministry Is Undergoing Generational Change
Opinion | Debates about Russia’s internal authoritarian politics have long been defined by questions over the relative importance of security or military elites compared to their civilian counterparts.
Russian Artist Erik Bulatov Dies at 92
Renowned Soviet and Russian artist Erik Bulatov has died in Paris at the age of 92, media reported Sunday.
Ukrainian Strikes Across Russian Border Regions Leave Thousands Without Power
Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure left more than 20,000 people without power in border regions on Sunday, local authorities said.
Massive Russian Attack Hits Ukraine Energy Infrastructure – Kyiv
A massive Russian attack hit Ukraine's energy infrastructure, killing one person and prompting power cuts in several regions, Kyiv authorities said Saturday.
Russian Investigators Probe Killing of Convicted Crypto Fraudster in UAE
Russian investigators have opened a criminal case into the suspected murder of a St.
4 Dead in Dagestan Helicopter Crash
Four people were killed and three others injured when a private helicopter crashed in Russia’s North Caucasus republic of Dagestan, authorities said Friday.
Lavrov Out of Favor With Putin?: Reports Force the Kremlin to Comment
The Kremlin has had to dismiss reports that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had "fallen out of favor" with President Vladimir Putin amid speculation that Lavrov’s diplomacy led to the cancellation...
Zabaikalsky Region Appeals for Federal Help Addressing Fuel Shortage
Authorities in Russia’s Far East Zabaikalsky region have appealed to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin for emergency assistance to resolve a fuel shortage that has left gas stations without regular...
Russia’s Economy Could Slip Into Recession by Year-End, Central Bank Warns
Russia’s economy could slip into recession by the end of the year after three consecutive quarters of slowing growth, the Central Bank has warned.
Russia Sentences 2 Colombians Who Fought With Ukraine to 13 Years
They are the latest foreign fighters to get lengthy jail terms as “mercenaries” by Russian-installed authorities after joining Ukraine's army. “For participating in hostilities on the side of the...
EU Bans Russians from Multi-Entry Schengen Visas
The European Union will no longer issue multi-entry visas to Russian citizens residing in the country, its latest move to raise pressure on Moscow over its nearly four-year war on Ukraine. “From...
Gunvor Pulls $22Bln Lukoil Deal After U.S. Labels Company ‘Kremlin Puppet’
Swiss commodities trader Gunvor has withdrawn its $22 billion bid to acquire the overseas assets of Russia’s Lukoil after the U.S.
Bulgaria Adopts Law to Take Control of Russia's Lukoil Refinery
Bulgaria's parliament on Friday adopted legal changes to place a major Lukoil refinery in the east of the country under state control following U.S. sanctions against the Russian oil giant.
Russia Plans 24-Hour Internet Blackout for Dormant or Returning SIM Cards
Russia plans to introduce a 24-hour blackout period for domestic SIM cards that have been inactive for more than three days or have just returned from international roaming, the business newspaper...
Hungarian Refiner MOL Says Most Russian Oil Replaceable If Druzhba Pipeline Dries Up
Hungary’s largest oil and gas company MOL said Friday it could source most of its crude from outside Russia if flows through the Druzhba pipeline were disrupted, in what was described as a shift...
Russian Orthodox Priests Don’t Practice What They Preach
Opinion | A video of a bearded man wearing headphones and repeatedly firing a pistol at a shooting range recently triggered a frenzy on social media.
‘Hidden Mobilization?’: What Russia’s New Reservist Law Could Mean for the War in Ukraine
President Vladimir Putin this week signed legislation allowing Russia’s reservists to be sent to “special training” to protect critical infrastructure.
St. Petersburg Authorities Seize Instruments in Crackdown on Street Music
Authorities in St.
By Blocking Russian Exiles’ Accounts, Revolut Is Hitting the Wrong Targets
Opinion | In recent days, Russian citizens who hold long-term European visas found that Revolut had frozen their accounts.
With 'Russian Houses,' Moscow Expands Soft Power Push Into Africa
The curtains were drawn, the chairs were set and a projector was lowered.
Russia Opens First Case Under Law Punishing Online Searches for 'Extremist' Content
Authorities in Russia’s Sverdlovsk region have launched the first known case under a new law that penalizes online searches for extremist materials, local media reported.
Russia’s Oil Revenues Plunge 27% Year-on-Year in October
Russia collected 888.6 billion rubles ($9.7 billion) in taxes from oil and gas producers in October, a 27% decline from the same month last year, Russia’s Finance Ministry said Thursday.
Putin Has Elevated 24 Relatives to Official Roles in Likely 100-Year Record
President Vladimir Putin has elevated at least 24 relatives to government positions or jobs in state companies, likely a record number for Russian rulers over the last 100 years, the independent...
Russia’s Richest Woman Settles Divorce 1 Year After Deadly Office Confrontation
Tatiana Kim, the founder of online retailer Wildberries and Russia’s wealthiest woman, and her ex-husband Vladislav Bakalchuk have finalized a settlement in their high-profile divorce proceedings,...
Russian Military Officer Jailed 10 Years for Bribery in Defense Procurement
A Russian court has sentenced a senior military officer to 10 years in prison for taking bribes in connection with defense procurement contracts, investigators said Thursday.
Perm Singer Sentenced to Community Service Over Stoptime Support
A court in the Russian city of Perm has sentenced a local street musician to 60 hours of community service for holding an outdoor concert in support of the detained St.
Cargo Checks at Kazakhstan Border Paralyze Russian Imports, Trigger Supply Fears
Mass inspections of freight shipments on Russia’s border with Kazakhstan have halted a significant share of imports and could soon lead to shortages of consumer goods, The Moscow Times' Russian...
1 Killed, Power Plant and Refinery Hit by Overnight Ukrainian Drone Strikes
At least one civilian was killed and energy infrastructure damaged in at least two Russian regions as Ukrainian drones struck multiple areas overnight, officials and media reported Thursday.
Central Asian Leaders Arriving in Washington for Trump Summit
This story was originally published by Eurasianet.
Russia to Slow VAT Threshold Cut for Small Businesses After Backlash
Russia will phase in its plan for a value-added tax (VAT) hike for small businesses over time after entrepreneurs warned that abrupt changes could devastate the sector, Prime Minister Mikhail...
Shoigu Calls for ‘New Industrialization’ in Siberia to Revive Russia’s East
Russia aims to turn Siberia into the center of a new industrialization push and attract workers eastward, Security Council Secretary and former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Thursday.
Putin Orders Preparations for Possible Nuclear Tests in Response to Trump
Russia may prepare to resume nuclear weapons testing if the United States carries out tests first, President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday in response to U.S.
Russian Black Sea Port Halts Fuel Exports After Ukrainian Strike
Fuel exports from the Russian Black Sea port of Tuapse have been suspended, and its local oil refinery has stopped processing crude after a Ukrainian drone strike damaged infrastructure, Reuters...
Russian Retail Chains Forced to Sell Assets as Sales Fall and Costs Rise
Russian retail chains struggling with declining sales are offloading assets at a record pace, the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday, citing data from consulting firm NF Group.
Russia to Introduce ‘Children’s SIM Cards’
Russia’s Digital Development Ministry is set to introduce a new type of SIM card for children, state media reported Wednesday.
Opposition Politician Shlosberg Sentenced to 420 Hours of Community Service for Breaking ‘Foreign Agent’ Law
A court in the northwestern Russian city of Pskov has sentenced opposition politician Lev Shlosberg to 420 hours of community service on charges of failing to comply with “foreign agent” rules,...
FSB Arrests Moscow Man on Treason Charges for Alleged NATO Contact
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said Wednesday it had detained a Moscow resident on suspicion of treason for allegedly sharing the personal data of opposition members with an unspecified...
At Least 15 Russian Regions Recruiting Reservists to Guard Oil Facilities Against Drone Attacks – Vyorstka
Authorities in at least 15 Russian regions are recruiting residents into a new mobilization reserve to guard strategic infrastructure, including oil refineries targeted by Ukrainian drones, the...
Putin Names Antitrust Official as Acting Governor of Tver Region
President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday appointed senior antitrust official Vitaly Korolyov as acting governor of the Tver region more than a month after the post was vacated.
Ukrainian Drones Strike Oil Facilities in Russia’s Yaroslavl Region
Early morning Ukrainian drone strikes damaged oil pumping stations in the Yaroslavl region north of Moscow, local authorities said Wednesday. “An attack by enemy drones on energy infrastructure in...
Moldova Moves to End Cultural Centers Deal With Russia
Moldova on Wednesday approved a bill to cancel a 1998 agreement with Russia on cultural centers, as ties continue to deteriorate over Moscow’s full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine.
Saratov Region Cuts Military Contract Bonus
Southern Russia’s Saratov region has become the latest federal subject to reduce enlistment bonuses for soldiers signing military contracts, with one of its most populous districts slashing...
Russian Charged With Spying in Poland Admits Passing Data to FSB – Polish Media
A Russian national charged in Poland with spying for Russian intelligence has admitted to passing information to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), Polish media reported Monday, citing case files.
Italy Slams Zakharova’s ‘Vulgar’ Comments on Rome Tower Collapse
The Italian Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador Tuesday over comments made by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova about the partial collapse of the Torre dei Conti in...
Russia Faces New Jet Fuel Risks After Gasoline Market Turmoil
Russia may soon face turbulence in its jet fuel market following months of disruption in gasoline supplies caused by Ukrainian drone strikes, an executive at the country’s largest private fuel...
Zelensky Visits Troops Near Threatened Pokrovsk
President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday said he visited troops near the embattled city of Pokrovsk, as Ukraine scrambles to defend the logistics hub that Russia has tried to capture for months.
‘Belarus’ Strategic Importance Cannot Be Ignored’: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
When Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya speaks about Belarus today, she begins with a clarification: “We cannot talk about Belarus as a unified entity — we must separate the [Alexander] Lukashenko regime...
North Korea Sends 5K Construction Troops to Russia – Seoul
North Korea has sent about 5,000 construction troops to Russia since September to help with "infrastructure reconstruction," a South Korean lawmaker said Tuesday after a briefing by Seoul's spy agency.
Putin Orders Development of Rare Earths Plan
President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday instructed the Russian government to develop a roadmap for the long-term production of rare-earth minerals as Moscow tries to boost its resources.
Putin Signs Law Moving Russia to Year-Round Military Draft
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a law moving the military toward a year-round conscription model starting next year, amid the Kremlin’s efforts to expand manpower for its war in Ukraine.
Russia's Self-Imposed Isolation Reaches a New Frontier: Medicine
Opinion | There are two contrasting opinions about Russia’s pharmaceutical market.
Spill Discovered in Black Sea After Ukrainian Strike on Tuapse Oil Terminal – BBC
A Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s Tuapse oil terminal has caused an oil spill stretching several kilometers into the Black Sea, according to a BBC analysis of NASA satellite images taken after...
Ukrainian Drones Strike Industrial Facility in Russia's Bashkortostan
Ukrainian drones struck an industrial complex in Russia’s republic of Bashkortostan far from the front line, regional head Radiy Khabirov said Tuesday.
Russian PM Opens China Trip With Premier Meeting
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin met with his Chinese counterpart, Premier Li Qiang, in Hangzhou, China on Monday, Russian media reported. Mishustin arrived in Hangzhou Monday to open a...
How Russia’s Auto Industry Ran Out of Road
Russia’s carmakers are facing mounting problems as falling sales and deteriorating finances put the industry under strain.
Mazda Becomes First Foreign Automaker to Lose Russian Joint Venture Buyback Rights
Japanese automaker Mazda has lost the right to repurchase its former 50% stake in a joint venture in Russia's Far East, Reuters reported Monday, citing its former Russian partner Sollers.
Perm Street Musician Detained Over Stoptime Support
A court in the central Russian city of Perm sentenced street musician Yekaterina Romanova to seven days in detention after she participated in a street concert in support of Stoptime, the St.
Russia Makes Steady Gains in Ukraine in October – Analysis
The Russian army made steady gains in Ukraine in October as it focused attacks on the eastern Donetsk region, an AFP analysis of data from the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) showed.
Russia’s Vologda Unveils 9-Meter Statue of Ivan the Terrible
The northwestern Russian city of Vologda has erected a 9-meter-tall statue of Tsar Ivan IV, better known as Ivan the Terrible, the Kommersant business daily reported Monday.
Don't Blame Putin Alone for Russia's Misdeeds – It's the System
Opinion | There is an idea firmly rooted among the politically active segment of Russian society — both inside the country and among emigres — that the Russian state as something absolutely personalistic.
Chinese Refiners Cut Russian Oil Imports Ahead of New U.S. Sanctions – Bloomberg
Chinese oil refiners are scaling back imports of Russian crude after the U.S. announced new sanctions targeting oil majors Rosneft and Lukoil, Bloomberg reported Monday.
Ukrainian Drones Strike Saratov Oil Refinery
Ukrainian drones struck the Saratov Oil Refinery in southern Russia’s Saratov overnight, Ukraine’s General Staff said Monday.
Covert Curricula
Podcast | Russia Underground takes you on a journey to meet the Russians who continue to battle for free speech, artistic freedoms and basic human rights despite Putin’s brutal wartime crackdown,...
2 Children Among Dead in Russian Blitz on Ukraine – Officials
A wave of Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine overnight Saturday to early Sunday killed six people, including two children, and cut power to tens of thousands, officials said.
2 Children Among Dead in Russian Blitz on Ukraine
Russia fired a wave of drones and missiles at Ukraine overnight, killing at least six people including two children and cutting power to tens of thousands, officials said Sunday.
Russian Missile Strikes on Ukraine Hit 2.5-Year High
Russia fired more missiles at Ukraine in October than in any month since at least the start of 2023, an AFP analysis of Ukrainian data showed.
Russia Plans First-Ever Yuan-Denominated Bond Issue to Plug Growing Budget Deficit – Reuters
Russia’s government plans to issue domestic bonds denominated in Chinese yuan for the first time as it seeks to cover a ballooning federal budget deficit that is now expected to reach nearly five...
Russia’s Central Bank Tightens Rules on Lending to Heavily Indebted Firms Amid Rising Corporate Risks
Russia’s Central Bank will double capital requirements for banks lending to highly indebted companies from December, citing rising financial risks in the corporate sector.
2K Trucks Stuck in Belarus After Lithuania Closes Border – Association
Some 2,000 trucks were stranded Friday in Belarus after Lithuania closed its border in response to recent airspace disruptions, a truckers association said.
Russian Billionaire's Seized Superyacht Sold to Family of Trump-Linked Dubai Tycoon – Vyorstka
A superyacht formerly owned by sanctioned Russian Senator Suleiman Kerimov has been sold at auction, likely to the family of Emirati billionaire Hussain Sajwani, the exiled news outlet Vyorstka...
Ukraine Says It Destroyed Oreshnik Missile Inside Russia
Ukraine’s president and security services said Friday they had secretly destroyed one of Russia’s new nuclear-capable Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missiles inside Russian territory before Moscow...
In First, Ukraine Extradites Captured Russian Soldier for War Crimes Trial
Ukraine on Friday said it had handed over a captured Russian soldier to Lithuania, where he will be put on trial for alleged war crimes, an extradition it hailed as a "historic" first.
How ‘Masha and the Bear’ Upset This Putinist Activist
Opinion | A certain Vadim Popov, a political scientist and activist, decided to make a name for himself by proposing that Russia restrict screenings of the beloved (indeed, globally beloved)...
Overnight Drone Strikes Injure at Least 11 in Sumy, Damage Energy Facilities
Russia launched a fresh wave of overnight drone strikes on the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy near the Russian border, injuring at least 11 people, including four children, local officials said...
Venezuela’s Maduro Seeks Russian Military Support Amid U.S. Buildup in Caribbean – Washington Post
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has asked Russian President Vladimir Putin for military assistance as the U.S. concentrates forces in the Caribbean, The Washington Post reported Friday, citing...
4 Killed, Over 20 Injured as Tram Derails in Tula
At least four people were killed and more than 20 injured Friday morning when a tram derailed and collided with two passenger minibuses in the central Russian city of Tula, regional officials said.
Kyiv Says Russia Using Missile That Sank INF Treaty Against Ukraine – Reuters
Russia has repeatedly fired a ground-launched cruise missile at Ukraine, whose secret development triggered the collapse of a landmark Cold War-era arms-control treaty, Reuters reported Friday.
Kursk Residents Still Paying Taxes on Property Destroyed by War
Residents of a border district in southwestern Russia’s Kursk region are still receiving tax bills for homes, cars and land destroyed during last year’s Ukrainian incursion, local media reported Friday.
India’s Top Refiner Resumes Buying Russian Oil Despite U.S. Pressure
India’s largest state-run oil refiner Indian Oil Corp (IOC) has resumed buying Russian crude despite U.S. efforts to pressure New Delhi to curb Moscow’s energy revenue, Reuters reported Friday,...
Is Flying in Russia as Deadly as it Seems?
Were it not for the pillar of smoke twisting above the thick pine forest, the scene might have resembled any other stretch of Russia’s vast and sparsely populated Far East.
Defense Minister Confirms New Civilian Deputy as Leadership Overhaul Continues
Russia has appointed senior civilian technocrat Vasily Osmakov as deputy defense minister, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov announced Friday at a meeting of post-Soviet republic chiefs in Kazakhstan.
Russian Lawmakers Still Prefer Telegram Despite Kremlin Push for State-Backed Max Messenger
Russian lawmakers continue to rely on Telegram as their main channel of communication with the public despite a Kremlin directive urging them to switch to the state-backed messenger app Max,...
U.S. Scrapped Trump-Putin Budapest Summit After Moscow’s Hardline Demands on Ukraine – FT
The United States canceled a planned summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest after Moscow reiterated sweeping demands on Ukraine, the Financial Times...
Polish Jets Make Second Consecutive Interception of Russian Spy Plane Over Baltic Sea
Poland’s military said Thursday its fighter jets had intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea for the second day in a row amid heightened regional tensions.
Lukoil Accepts Oil Trader Gunvor’s Offer to Buy International Assets After U.S. Sanctions
Russian oil giant Lukoil said Thursday it had accepted an offer from commodity trader Gunvor Group to buy its international subsidiary in what would be the most significant corporate asset sale...
Russian Strikes on Ukraine Kill One, Injure 17
Russian drone and missile strikes killed one person and wounded 17 others in Ukraine overnight, and left much of the country without power, authorities said on Thursday.
Russia Expands Bans on ‘Coercing’ Women Into Abortions to 27th Region
Two Siberian regions have become the 26th and 27th Russian regions to adopt legislation this week banning the “coercion” of pregnant women into terminating a pregnancy amid efforts by conservative...
At Least 100 Russian Officers Have Executed Their Own Comrades in Ukraine – Vyorstka
Russian commanders have been torturing and executing their own soldiers in Ukraine since the first year of the full-scale invasion, according to an investigation by the exiled news outlet Vyorstka.
Russia’s Economic Growth Slows for Third Straight Quarter – Ministry Data
Russia’s economy has continued to lose momentum for the third consecutive quarter, according to new data from the Economic Development Ministry.
Kremlin Denies Nuclear Testing After Trump Orders U.S. to Resume Tests
The Kremlin on Thursday rejected claims that Russia has resumed nuclear testing after U.S.
Yekaterinburg Court Sentences Former Anti-Corruption Chief to 4 Years in Jail for Bribery
The former anti-corruption chief of the Sverdlovsk region has been sentenced to 4 years in prison after being found guilty of accepting a bribe of 217 million rubles ($2.7 million), a court in...
Russia’s System Is Beginning to Eat Its Own
Opinion | Wartime Russia has seen an unprecedented wave of political arrests.
Russia Ties U.K. in Billionaire Count – Altrata
Russia has caught up with the United Kingdom in the number of U.S.-dollar billionaires despite Western sanctions and economic isolation over the war in Ukraine, according to a new global wealth...
Despite Costly Programs and an Intensified Family Values Campaign, Russian Women Aren’t Having More Children
Earlier this month, President Vladimir Putin said that “support for families” and stimulating birth rates were “the most important” of all of Russia’s national projects and strategic plans....
Russia Resumes Military Flights to Syria as Post-Assad Ties Thaw – Bloomberg
Russia has restarted military flights to its air base in Syria after a six-month pause in a sign of renewed presence in the country after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, Bloomberg reported...
Russian Border Region Forms Volunteer Militias as Finland Plans Military Drills
Authorities in Russia’s republic of Karelia say they are forming volunteer militias to help defend the country’s border with Finland following Helsinki’s announcement of large-scale military...
Media Investigation Uncovers Russian FM Spokeswoman’s Alleged Hidden Wealth
Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has, during the war in Ukraine, quietly amassed millions of rubles in property and income that far exceed her official earnings, the...
Carnegie Politika: Russia’s System Is Beginning to Eat Its Own
Opinion | Wartime Russia has seen an unprecedented wave of political arrests.
Ukrainian Drones Target 3 Russian Industrial Sites, 13 Airports Closed Overnight
At least two Russian oil refineries and a major petrochemical producer were targeted in overnight Ukrainian drone strikes, according to media reports and government officials Wednesday.
Russian-Installed Head of Occupied Ukraine Apologizes After Blaming Kursk Residents for Failing to Defend Region
The Kremlin-appointed head of the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region in southern Ukraine apologized Wednesday after accusing residents of southwestern Russia’s Kursk region of failing to...
Putin ‘More Dug In Than Ever’ on War in Ukraine – NBC
U.S. intelligence assesses that Russian President Vladimir Putin is more determined than ever to continue the war in Ukraine, NBC News reported Wednesday, citing two senior U.S. and congressional...
Death Toll in Russian Artillery Ammo Plant Blast Rises to 23
The death toll from a blast at a military factory in central Russia’s Chelyabinsk region earlier this month has risen to 23, authorities said Wednesday after completing search and rescue operations.
Tanker Carrying Russian Oil to India U-Turns After U.S. Sanctions Rosneft and Lukoil – Bloomberg
A tanker carrying Russian crude oil to India has turned around and gone adrift in the Baltic Sea after the United States imposed sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.
Putin and Aliyev Seek to ‘Turn the Page’ in Russia-Azerbaijan Ties, Kremlin Says
The Kremlin said Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev were working to “turn the page” in relations between Moscow and Baku.
Russian-Installed Zaporizhzhia Head Apologizes After Blaming Kursk Residents for Failing to Defend Region
The Kremlin-appointed head of the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region in southern Ukraine apologized Wednesday after accusing residents of southwestern Russia’s Kursk region of failing to...
Russia-Linked Figures Move to Help Romanian Mercenary Accused of Coup Plot – The Guardian
Two Russia-linked figures are trying to prevent the extradition of Romanian-French mercenary Horațiu Potra, who is being held in Dubai on charges of plotting a coup in Romania, The Guardian...
Putin Defies Trump With Second Nuclear Weapons Test in Days
Russia has successfully tested a nuclear-capable, nuclear-powered underwater drone, President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday, defying U.S.
Poland Says Intercepted Russian Spy Plane Over Baltic Sea
Poland’s armed forces said Wednesday that two of its fighter jets had intercepted and escorted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea one day prior.
St. Petersburg Street Musician Jailed Again Over Viral Anti-Putin Performance
A Russian court has sentenced 18-year-old street musician Diana Loginova to 13 days in jail for a second time this month over her viral performances of anti-Kremlin songs.
Putin Says Sarmat Nuclear Missile ’Not Yet Deployed,’ Walking Back Past Claims
President Vladimir Putin has admitted on Wednesday that Russia’s new intercontinental ballistic missile, the RS-28 Sarmat, is not yet on combat duty, but vowed that it would be deployed “soon.”...
Freight Costs for Chinese Goods to Russia Surge Amid Kazakhstan Border Gridlock
Shipping goods from China to Russia has become significantly more expensive as long queues at border crossings in Kazakhstan snarl trade routes, logistics firms and importers said.
Russians Snap Up Record Amounts of Gold as Sanctions Reshape Savings Habits
Russians have been buying gold at an unprecedented pace since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Western sanctions and restrictions on foreign currency transactions making the metal a...
Russia's Central Bank Has Lost What Remained of Its Independence
Opinion | The Russian Central Bank has cut the key interest rate again from 17% to 16.5%, as most experts had predicted.
Russia’s FSB Orders Banks to Install Surveillance Systems by 2027
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has ordered banks to install surveillance equipment that would allow authorities to monitor customer communications, the RBC news website reported Wednesday.
Germany Says Rosneft Subsidiaries Not Affected by U.S. Sanctions
U.S. sanctions targeting Rosneft will not affect the Russian oil giant's German subsidiaries, which were placed under state administration after Moscow invaded Ukraine, the German government told...
Orenburg Becomes Fifth Russian Region to Cut Military Sign-Up Bonus in October
Russia’s Orenburg region has slashed one-time enlistment bonuses for men signing military contracts to the minimum legal threshold, becoming the fifth region this month to scale back financial...
What New U.S. Sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil Mean for Russia’s Oil Trade
The United States’ first sanctions on Russia since Donald Trump’s return to the White House have targeted the country’s two largest oil producers in a move that could ripple through global energy markets.
Gerasimov Says Russia Encircled Pokrovsk and Kupiansk. Experts and Pro-War Bloggers Doubt It.
Military experts and Russian pro-war bloggers have dismissed what they say are inaccurate claims by Russia’s top general that Kyiv’s forces were encircled near the embattled cities of Pokrovsk and...
Russia's Nuclear-Powered Missile Test Was More for Show Than Substance
Opinion | Russian propagandists are trumpeting the “successful test” of the Burevestnik missile — a cruise missile with a nuclear-powered engine that supposedly gives it unlimited range.
Baltic Firms Supplied Fuel to Russia’s ‘Shadow Fleet,’ Investigation Finds
A network of companies in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia supplied fuel to tankers belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet” which Moscow uses to evade Western sanctions and export oil abroad, according...
Russia Moves to Year-Round Military Draft Amid Wartime Manpower Needs
Russia’s lower-house State Duma passed a bill on Tuesday that would move the military toward a year-round conscription model starting next year amid the Kremlin’s efforts to expand manpower for...
Russia Blocks World’s Largest Anime and Manga Database Over LGBTQ+ Content
Russian authorities have banned the world’s largest anime and manga platform MyAnimeList over “extremist” LGBTQ+ content, state media reported Tuesday.
St. Petersburg Street Singer Fined Over ‘Foreign Agent’ Song
A court in St.
Widespread Blackout Hits Sakhalin as Far East Region Races to Restore Power
A large-scale outage left thousands of residents in Russia’s Far Eastern Sakhalin region without power for much of Tuesday, with engineers racing to restore electricity supplies.
BMW Reclaims Top Spot Among Premium Foreign Car Brands in Russia Despite Sanctions
BMW has again become Russia’s best-selling premium foreign car brand for the first time since April 2022 despite Western sanctions that halted official imports of luxury vehicles.
Russia’s ESPO Crude Loses Premium After U.S. and EU Sanctions Hit Rosneft, Lukoil – Bloomberg
Prices for Russia’s Far Eastern ESPO crude have fallen after new U.S. sanctions targeting Rosneft and Lukoil, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing traders involved in the transactions.
2 Killed, Over 20 Injured in Floating Crane Collapse in Annexed Sevastopol
Two people were killed and more than 20 injured after a floating crane capsized in annexed Sevastopol’s southern bay, the city’s Moscow-installed Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said Monday.
Russia’s Central Bank Chief Forecasts Rate Cuts Through 2026
The Russian Central Bank will continue cutting interest rates throughout 2026, as the regulator seeks to rein in inflation without stalling economic growth, Governor Elvira Nabiullina said...
Kenyans Being Tricked Into Fighting for Russia – Foreign Ministry
Kenyans have been "lured" by recruiters into fighting for Russia in Ukraine, the Kenyan Foreign Ministry said in a statement Monday.
What We Know About Russia’s Latest Test of the Nuclear-Powered Burevestnik Missile
Russia announced Sunday that it had successfully carried out a final test of its Burevestnik nuclear-powered cruise missile, a move that came amid Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine and uncertainty...
Putin Hosts North Korean Foreign Minister in Moscow, Hails Deepening Ties With Pyongyang
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that his country's ties with North Korea were developing "as planned" as he hosted North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui in the Kremlin.
Russia's Lukoil to Sell Overseas Assets After U.S. Sanctions
Russian oil giant Lukoil will sell its overseas assets, the company said late Monday, after it was hit with U.S. sanctions over the war in Ukraine.
Putin Terminates Plutonium Disposal Agreement With U.S.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on Monday terminating an already defunct plutonium disposal agreement with the United States that aimed to prevent both sides from building more...
Police Foil Attempted Kidnapping of Zenit Midfielder in St. Petersburg
Russian police have detained several suspects accused of attempting to kidnap Zenit St.
Death Toll in Russian Artillery Ammo Plant Blast Up to 13
The death toll from an explosion at a Russian plastics manufacturing plant has risen to 13 people, the Chelyabinsk regional administration said Monday.
Moscow Court Jails Singer Monetochka in Absentia for Breaking ‘Foreign Agents’ Law
A Moscow court has ordered the arrest in absentia of anti-war Russian pop singer Monetochka on charges of evading foreign agent obligations, the city prosecutor’s office said Monday.
Lithuania Closes Border With Belarus Over Repeated Balloon Incursions
Lithuania will close its border with Belarus in response to repeated incursions of smuggler balloons into the NATO and EU member’s airspace, Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said Monday.
Number of New Brands Entering Russia Drops in 2025 – Report
The number of new brands entering the Russian market has plunged this year in a reflection of weakening consumer demand and tighter access to credit.
They Fled Discrimination in Russia. Now They're Swept Up in Trump's Immigration Crackdown.
Alexander Bolokhoev, a 41-year-old native of Russia’s republic of Buryatia, was rounded up by U.S.
Putin To Meet North Korean Foreign Minister in Moscow
Vladimir Putin on Monday will host North Korea's top diplomat in the Kremlin, the Russian president's spokesman said, as the two sides deepen military and political ties amid the war in Ukraine.
Russian Energy Minister Blames ‘Panic Buying’ for Summer Fuel Price Spike
Consumer panic, refinery maintenance and seasonal demand have triggered a sharp rise in fuel prices in Russia since the summer, Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilyov said Sunday.
Ukraine Strikes Russian Dam, Triggering Emergency in Belgorod Region
Russian authorities declared an emergency at a key reservoir after a series of Ukrainian strikes caused significant structural damage to a dam in the southwestern Belgorod region, officials said Monday.
Russia Says It Downed 193 Ukrainian Drones Overnight
Russia's Defense Ministry said Monday it had downed 193 Ukrainian drones overnight, with local authorities reporting that one person was killed in the attack. “Last night, air defense systems...
The Moscow Times
Podcast | Russia Underground takes you on a journey to meet the Russians who continue to battle for free speech, artistic freedoms and basic human rights despite Putin’s brutal wartime crackdown.
Russia Grounds Siberian Airline Following Fatal Crash
Russian authorities have banned the regional carrier Angara Airlines from operating commercial passenger flights starting next week, Russia’s aviation regulator Rosaviatsia said Monday.
Why Is the Russian Elite So Keen to Cozy Up to Trump?
Opinion | Russian President Vladimir Putin is clearly in no rush to spoil his relationship with his United States counterpart Donald Trump, despite occasional criticism from the latter.
Russian Stocks Slide as Ukraine Peace Talks Continue to Stall
Russian stocks plunged on Monday following Kremlin economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev's trip to the United States, which appeared to have produced no tangible results in easing tensions between Moscow...
Putin Says Russia Successfully Tested 'Burevestnik' Nuclear-Powered Missile
President Vladimir Putin said early Sunday that Russia has successfully carried out a test of its nuclear-powered intercontinental cruise missile Burevestnik.
Putin Envoy Slams ‘Attempts’ to Disrupt Dialogue With U.S.
Russia's top economic negotiator on Sunday slammed “titanic attempts” to thwart dialogue with the United States as he visited the country for talks with American officials after Washington imposed...
North Korea's Top Diplomat to Visit Russia From Sunday
North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui will visit Russia for a three-day trip from Sunday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Russian Drone Strike Kills 3 in Ukraine Capital, Mayor Says
An overnight Russian drone attack on Kyiv killed three people and wounded dozens, the mayor of the Ukrainian capital said on Sunday.
Russian Strikes On Ukraine Kill At Least 2
Russian drone and missile strikes killed at least two people and wounded more than a dozen in multiple regions of Ukraine, authorities said Saturday.
Ex-Mayor of Rostov-on-Don Arrested Over Alleged Abuse of Power
The former mayor of the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don has been arrested on charges of abuse of office that allegedly caused more than 47 million rubles ($583,300) in damages to the city...
Russian Police Search Home of U.S.-Based Independent Media Founder’s Mother
Russian law enforcement officers on Friday searched the apartment of the mother of the U.S.-based founder and editor-in-chief of the independent news outlet Astra, in the central city of...
Here's Why Plans for a Tunnel Between Russia and Alaska Are Insane
Opinion | No sooner had Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin hung up their phones than Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev announced an ambitious plan: Russia would build a tunnel under...
Putin Envoy Visits U.S. for Talks After New Sanctions – Reports
President Vladimir Putin’s economic cooperation envoy has arrived in the United States for talks, just days after U.S.
Russian Central Bank Cuts Key Rate to 16.5% as Economy Slows
The Russian Central Bank on Friday announced that it was cutting the key interest rate to 16.5%, down half a percentage point from 17%. The quarter-point reduction marks the fourth consecutive...
Russia’s Defense Industry Shows Signs of Slowdown After Years of Wartime Growth
Russia’s defense-industrial complex, the main driver of the country’s economy thanks to massive wartime spending, has shown its first signs of stalling after nearly three years of double-digit...
Russian Election Chief Clashes With Moscow-Backed Governor of Occupied Zaporizhzhia Over ‘Illegal’ Dismissal
Russia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) has accused the Kremlin-installed head of Ukraine’s partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region of overstepping his powers by firing the head of the local...
Russia Nationalizes Major Machine-Building Plant
Russia’s Supreme Court has ordered the nationalization of shares in the Ivanovo Heavy Machine Tool Plant (IZTS), overturning earlier rulings that had annulled a lower court’s decision, according...
Russian Central Bank Cuts Key Rate to 16.5%, Down From 17%
The Russian Central Bank on Friday announced that it was cutting the key interest rate to 16.5%, down half a percentage point from 17%. The move marks the regulator's fourth consecutive rate cut,...
School Ceiling Collapse Sparks Probe in Far East Russia’s Zabaikalsky Region
A classroom ceiling collapsed during a lesson in a school in the Far East Russian town of Baley in the Zabaikalsky region, sparking an investigation into safety standards.
Lithuania Slams Airspace Incursion Denied by Russia
Lithuania summoned a Russian diplomat in protest over what it said was the entry of two Russian planes into its airspace Thursday, though Moscow denied the violation.
Prosecution Seeks 440 Hours of Community Service for Opposition Politician Shlosberg
A Russian state prosecutor has requested 440 hours of compulsory community service for opposition politician Lev Shlosberg on accusations that he failed to comply with “foreign agent” laws, the...
Ukrainian Drone Attack on Moscow Suburb Injures 5 as Russia Reports Overnight Barrage
An overnight wave of Ukrainian drones struck multiple Russian regions, injuring at least five people, including a child, when one aircraft slammed into an apartment block outside Moscow, regional...
Putin Says U.S. Sanctions 'Serious' But Won't Significantly Hit Economy
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday the latest U.S. sanctions targeting two major oil firms were "serious," but not strong enough to significantly affect the economy.
China’s State Oil Giants Halt Seaborne Russian Crude Imports After New U.S. Sanctions – Reuters
At least four of China’s state-owned oil companies have temporarily suspended purchases of Russian oil shipped by sea following new U.S. sanctions on energy giants Rosneft and Lukoil, Reuters...
Russian Mercenaries in Africa Exacerbate Arms Control Crisis – Report
Countries that sell weapons to nations where Russian private military companies (PMCs) operate risk breaching global arms control rules, a new report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational...
Most Russian Businesses Plan to Raise Prices as Tax Hike Looms – Survey
A majority of Russian entrepreneurs plan to raise prices in response to upcoming tax increases while others say they may turn to informal practices to offset the impact, according to a survey by...
Ukraine Says Russia Returned 1,000 Bodies
Russia on Thursday returned 1,000 bodies to Ukraine, which Moscow said were the remains of Kyiv's soldiers killed in battle, a Ukrainian government agency said.
Can Russians Be Trusted With Dollars? The Finance Ministry Doesn't Think So.
Opinion | President Vladimir Putin has opened a new front against his own citizens.
Russian Stocks Slide as U.S. Sanctions Hit Oil Majors
Russia’s stock market plunged Thursday as investors reacted to new U.S. sanctions targeting the country’s largest oil producers Rosneft and Lukoil.
In First, British Warship Shadows Russian Navy Vessel in North Sea Under NATO Command
A British Royal Navy destroyer has intercepted and shadowed a Russian warship near the U.K.’s northern coastline, Sky News reported Wednesday.
Oil Slick From Sunken Tankers Drifts Toward Russia’s Black Sea Coast, Krasnodar Governor Warns
A massive oil slick containing around 900 metric tons of fuel oil from the December 2024 sinking of two aging tankers is drifting toward southern Russia’s Krasnodar region, regional officials said...
Russia Says It Is Immune to New U.S. Oil Sanctions
Russia said Thursday that new U.S. sanctions on its oil industry risked hurting diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine war, and that it had developed a “strong immunity” to them.
EU Unveils Sweeping Sanctions Targeting Russian Energy, Banks and Crypto
The European Union on Thursday imposed its 19th package of sanctions on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine, targeting Moscow's key energy revenues, financial networks and technology supply chains.
Indian Refiners Move to Slash Russian Oil Imports After New Trump Sanctions – Reuters
India’s major refiners are preparing to sharply cut their purchases of Russian crude, following new U.S. sanctions targeting Moscow’s top energy producers, Reuters reported Thursday, citing...
Russian Court Frees French Cyclist Arrested for Illegal Border Crossing
A Russian court on Thursday freed a French cyclist who was detained for more than seven weeks on suspicion of illegally crossing the border, despite finding him guilty of the charge.
Russian Strikes Kill One, Damage Synagogue in Ukraine
Russian attacks overnight and into the early hours of Thursday killed one rescue worker in Ukraine, disrupted train services and damaged a synagogue, Ukrainian officials said.
Explosions and Drone Strikes Hit Russian Regions, Killing 12
A series of explosions and suspected drone strikes across multiple Russian regions overnight left at least 12 people dead and several others injured, officials and local media reported Thursday.
Russian Strikes on Kyiv Kill 2
Overnight strikes on Ukraine’s capital killed at least two people, a city official said Wednesday, as Russia bombarded the country’s energy infrastructure in a large-scale attack. “The death toll...
Telegram and WhatsApp Access Restricted in 34 Russian Regions – Monitor
Access to the popular messaging apps Telegram and WhatsApp has been restricted in about 40% of Russia’s regions, the independent monitoring project Na Svyazi said Wednesday. “Complaints about...
Russia’s Kazan Aircraft Plant to Deliver Only One Tu-214 Jet in 2025, Missing Target for Third Year – Reports
Russia’s Kazan Aircraft Production Association (KAZ) will deliver only one Tu-214 passenger jet in 2025, falling short of its revised target of three aircraft, the Kazan-based news website...
How the Kremlin's 'Foreign Agents' Law Strangled Freedom in Russia
Opinion | Russia’s law on “foreign agents” has been tightened again, allowing for criminal prosecution after only a single administrative fine.
Sensing War Fatigue, Kremlin Exploits Music Festivals to Subtly Cultivate Patriotism
“Mother Land, white birch-tree / For me, it’s Holy Rus, for others a splinter,” Tatyana Kurtukova sang from the stage at Moscow’s Poklonnaya Gora, the site of a museum dedicated to the Soviet...
New Rules Keep Tourists From Buying Russian SIM Cards, Operators Complain
Russia’s mobile operators say almost no foreign tourists bother to buy local SIM cards under new identification rules that have made the process too onerous, the RBC news website reported Wednesday.
Russian Domestic Violence NGO Nasiliu.Net Closes Amid State Pressure
Russia’s leading domestic violence support center announced Wednesday it was shutting down over intensifying government pressure and a loss of resources due to its “foreign agent” designation.
Russia Fines Yaroslavl Language School Over Link to ‘Undesirable’ British Council
A Russian court northeast of Moscow has fined a local language center for referencing the British Council, a U.K.-backed cultural organization banned earlier this year, independent media reported...
Russia Moves to Tighten Control Over Cryptocurrency Market While Legalizing Cross-Border Payments
Russian authorities are preparing sweeping new regulations for the country’s cryptocurrency market with plans to legalize cross-border transactions while sharply tightening penalties for other...
Putin Oversees Nuclear Forces Drills – Kremlin
President Vladimir Putin oversaw routine strategic nuclear forces exercises on Wednesday, the Kremlin said.
Kremlin Slams ‘Gossip and Speculation’ Surrounding Putin-Trump Summit
The Kremlin said Wednesday that preparations for a presidential summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are surrounded by “mostly incorrect” media reports despite the U.S. leader's...
Russia’s Defense Ministry Launches Major Bureaucracy Overhaul
Russia’s Defense Ministry has begun its largest internal reform in more than a decade, seeking to digitize the military’s massive bureaucracy in order to free commanders from clerical burdens, the...
Russian State Media Blames Europe, Western Media for ‘Disrupting’ Putin-Trump Summit
Russian state television has blamed European countries and Western media for the stalled preparations for a planned summit between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump aimed at ending the...
8 Aftershocks Rattle Kamchatka After Powerful Earthquake
At least eight aftershocks were recorded off the coast of Russia’s Far East Kamchatka peninsula in the past 24 hours, the regional Emergency Situations Ministry said Wednesday, nearly three months...
FSB Arrests Far East Man Accused of Sharing Military Data With Ukraine
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said Wednesday that it had arrested a man in the Far Eastern Amur region on suspicion of treason for allegedly helping Ukraine.
Moscow Denies Reports of Delayed Lavrov-Rubio Meeting Ahead of Planned Summit
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that top U.S. and Russian diplomats had not yet scheduled a meeting to arrange a presidential summit, in response to reporting that the pre-summit talks had...
Singing These Songs in Russia Could Land You in Jail
A group of young street musicians from St.
Chelyabinsk Official Facing Bribery Accusations Dies Fighting in Ukraine
The former deputy mayor and head of urban planning in the southern Russian city of Chelyabinsk has been killed in the war in Ukraine, local media reported late Monday, citing his friend.
Yekaterinburg Street Musician Detained After Performing in Support of Arrested Band
Police have detained a local street performer in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg after he played songs in support of an arrested St.
The Kremlin Bets on Terror Tactics as it Faces Autumn Dilemma
Opinion | Russia's 2025 summer offensive ended in a strategic defeat for the Kremlin.
Russia's Planned Tax Hike Would Put Hundreds of Thousands of Small Businesses at Risk of Closure, Lawmaker Warns
Thousands of small businesses in Russia could be forced to shut down as a result of government plans to raise the tax burden on entrepreneurs, a lawmaker warned during a meeting with Finance...
Russia Creates Database to Track and Block Cybercriminals
Russia has built a unified database of “digital traces” of cybercriminals to help authorities track down and block fraudulent networks, the newly appointed Prosecutor General Alexander Gutsan said Tuesday.
Poland Signals Readiness to Arrest Putin on ICC Warrant en Route to Trump Summit
Poland could intercept President Vladimir Putin’s aircraft and hand him over to The Hague if he chose to fly over its airspace to meet U.S.
Over 120 Fall Ill in Buryatia Food Poisoning Linked to Local Retail Chain
More than 120 people have fallen ill in Russia’s Siberian republic of Buryatia following a mass food poisoning outbreak linked to ready-made meals sold in a regional supermarket chain, local...
Russian Soldiers Confront PTSD, Alcoholism and Suicidal Thoughts After Fighting in Ukraine
Russian soldier Andrei Burychin, 22, was wounded while fighting in Ukraine. Last fall, he was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Yekaterinburg and later discharged with what his lawyer...
Russia Opens First Criminal Case Under New SIM Card Transfer Law
Russian police said Tuesday that they had opened the country’s first criminal case over a violation of a new law that bans the transfer of mobile phone numbers to others.
Russia’s Rostov Region Targeted in Ukrainian Drone Attack, Officials Say
Russia’s southern Rostov region was struck by a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack overnight, local Governor Yury Slyusar said.
Russia’s Household Deposits Growth Slows to 3-Year Low – Central Bank
Growth in household deposits at Russian banks slowed to its weakest pace in three years last month, rising by just 67 billion rubles ($824 million) to 62.7 trillion rubles ($771.2 billion), the...
Lavrov and Rubio Discuss Putin-Trump Summit
Russia’s top diplomat, Sergei Lavrov, and U.S.
EU Seeks Ways to Step Up Checks on Russia's ‘Shadow Fleet’
The European Union is looking to increase the ability of its member states to carry out inspections on Russia's “shadow fleet” of aging oil tankers, officials said on Monday.
A Russian Billionaire Was Fined for Environmental Damage. It’s Fake Accountability.
Opinion | While activists in the West demand to eat the rich — or at least tax them properly— Russia seems to be taking small steps in that direction.
Ukraine or Europe’s Role in Trump-Putin Summit Unclear, Kremlin Says
There are no details yet on whether Ukraine or European countries might participate in the planned summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S.
Russian Regions Face Deepening Budget Crisis as Reserves Run Dry
Russia’s regions are facing a looming fiscal crisis as falling tax revenues and mounting expenses have forced local governments to exhaust nearly all their financial reserves, according to data...
Over 150 Russian Teenagers Convicted of Terrorism or Sabotage Since Ukraine Invasion – Report
Russian courts have convicted at least 158 minors on terrorism and sabotage-related charges since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to Supreme Court data analyzed by the exiled...
EU States Agree to End Russian Gas Imports by End of 2027
EU energy ministers on Monday agreed to phase out their remaining gas imports from Russia by the end of 2027, breaking a dependency the bloc has been struggling to end since the full-scale...
Russia’s Severstal Reports Sharp Profit Drop, Negative Cash Flow
One of Russia’s largest steel producers has reported a steep decline in profit and revenue amid falling domestic demand and worsening conditions in the global metals market.
Moscow Using Facial Recognition to Detain Men Challenging Military Conscription, Rights Group Says
Moscow police are using facial-recognition technology to detain men who have appealed their military conscription orders, the Civil Alliance of Russia rights group said.
Body of Missing Chechen Woman Found in Armenia
The body of a missing Chechen woman who had reportedly fled domestic violence in her native republic of Chechnya to Armenia has been found in a rented apartment in Yerevan following a tip-off,...
‘You’re Afraid of Poems and Love’: Singer Monetochka Pens Verse in Support of Jailed St. Petersburg Street Musicians
Exiled Russian pop artist Monetochka has written a poem in support of three young St.
Food Poisoning Outbreak Hospitalizes 90 in Siberia’s Buryatia
Nearly 90 people, more than half of them children, fell ill in Russia’s Siberian republic of Buryatia following a mass food poisoning outbreak, regional authorities said Monday.
Russian Titanium Giant Cuts Workweek Amid Falling Demand
Russian titanium producer VSMPO-Avisma will shift part of its workforce to a four-day week from Dec. 1, citing the need to maintain operational stability as demand weakens, the company said.
Crimea Raises Gasoline Purchase Limit Amid Ongoing Shortages
Russian-backed authorities in annexed Crimea have increased the daily limit on retail gasoline sales a month after introducing fuel rationing measures to address shortages.
Zelensky Ready to Join Putin, Trump in Budapest If Invited
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he would be ready to join Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump at their upcoming summit in Hungary if he is invited.
Zelensky Urges Allies Against Appeasing Russia After U.S. Trip
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday urged allies against appeasing Russia, in a statement after he returned from a trip to the United States, where he failed to secure access to...
Trump Tells Zelensky to 'Make a Deal' as Tomahawk Plea Misfires
Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday to make a deal with Russia, pouring cold water on Kyiv's push for Tomahawk missiles as the U.S. leader pursues a diplomatic...
Work Begins to Repair Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant's Power Lines in Ukraine
Work has started to repair damaged power lines to Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant after a lengthy outage following the establishment of local ceasefire zones, the UN's nuclear watchdog said Saturday.
3 Killed in Blast at Russian Chemical Factory – Official
Three people were killed in an explosion at a chemical plant in Russia's republic of Bashkortostan, the regional head said Saturday without specifying what caused the blast.
Putin Plans to Meet Trump in Budapest. How Will He Get There?
“Next time in Moscow?” President Vladimir Putin asked in English, turning to U.S. counterpart Donald Trump as the two leaders addressed a room of officials and reporters after their August summit...
Hollywood Stars Back Jailed Russian Activist on Hunger Strike
Actors Martin and Janet Sheen, John Cusack and Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek have signed an open letter urging Russian prison officials to end the solitary confinement of jailed activist...
Russia Says Captured 3 Villages in Ukraine's East
Russia said on Friday it had captured three villages in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions, including areas Kyiv had retaken three years ago in a surprise counteroffensive.
Russia to Introduce Standardized School Textbooks Promoting ‘Patriotism’ and ‘Traditional Values’
Russia is preparing to introduce textbooks for school language and literature classes aimed at promoting “patriotism” and “spiritual and moral values” among students, the authors of the new...
Moscow Soldier Kills Comrade Before Dying By Suicide
A Russian serviceman fatally shot a fellow soldier and then died of self-inflicted wounds in the Moscow region overnight, the military said Friday. “The service member violated safety rules for...
Dutch Supreme Court Upholds $50Bln Payment in Yukos Case
A record $50-billion payment from Russia to shareholders of dismantled oil giant Yukos remains in force after the Dutch Supreme Court on Friday quashed a Russian appeal, ending a long-running legal saga.
Kremlin Envoy Floats U.S.-Russia ‘Putin-Trump Tunnel’ Using Elon Musk Tech
A Russian presidential economic envoy and key negotiator in Ukraine peace talks has proposed building an $8 billion undersea tunnel linking Alaska and Russia using Elon Musk’s tunnel construction company.
Ukrainian Drone Kills Russian State Media Correspondent
A Russian state media correspondent was killed in a Ukrainian drone strike in the Moscow-occupied part of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia region, his outlet, the news agency RIA Novosti, said Thursday.
Meet Russia's Most Harmless Terrorists – The Most Decent People You Could Meet,
Opinion | The Anti-War Committee of Russia and the war itself exist in entirely separate worlds.
Russia Shot Down Its Own Fighter Jet Over Crimea During Drone Attack, Ukraine Says
Russia’s air defense systems accidentally shot down their own Su-30SM fighter jet over annexed Crimea while attempting to repel Ukrainian drone strikes overnight, Ukraine’s Navy said Friday.
Polish Court Refuses Extradition of Nord Stream Sabotage Suspect
A Polish court on Friday refused a German extradition request for a Ukrainian man suspected of involvement in the 2022 sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines linking Russia with Europe.
Russia to 'Immediately' Start Preparing Putin-Trump Summit, Kremlin Aide Says
The Kremlin said on Thursday it would "immediately" start preparing a summit between Russian and U.S. presidents after Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump held an "extremely frank and trustful" phone call.
France Arrests 4 Suspected of Plot Against Russian Dissident
France has arrested four people in a probe into a suspected plot against an unnamed Russian dissident, anti-terror prosecutors said Thursday.
Trump Says to Meet Putin in Budapest After 'Great Progress' in Call
President Donald Trump said he would meet Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Budapest after making "great progress" in a call Thursday, just a day before Ukraine's leader is due at the White...
‘Battle-Forged Friends’: Pro-War Singer Shaman Dedicates New Song to Kim Jong-un
Russian popstar Shaman released a new song praising North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which he performed during a concert in Pyongyang last week, according to Russian media reports and video clips...
NATO Meets to Solidify Deterrence Against Russian Aggression as Tensions Rise
BRUSSELS — NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte struck a bullish note at the end of a meeting of the alliance’s defense ministers, saying its military and 25-fold economic superiority would be...
Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin to Resign – RBC
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin is expected to resign and be replaced by a civilian industry official, the RBC news outlet reported on Thursday, citing two people familiar with the plans.
Russia Allocates 5K Full-Ride University Scholarships for African Students
Russia has allocated more than 5,000 state-funded university places for students from African countries in the current academic year, the head of the state-sponsored cultural diplomacy agency...
A Former EU Politician Pleaded Guilty to Bribery. How Widespread Is the Problem?
Opinion | Nathan Gill, the former leader of the right-wing populist Reform UK party in Wales, pleaded guilty this September to eight counts of bribery.
Regions Calling: Governments Cut Back on Once-Lucrative Military Enlistment Payments
Hello and welcome to Regions Calling, your guide to developments beyond the Russian capital from The Moscow Times.
Georgian Police Arrest 5 Russians Over Crypto Scheme and Money Laundering
Police in the South Caucasus country of Georgia arrested five Russians accused of running an unlicensed cryptocurrency business and laundering money through illicit financial channels, authorities...
Russian Court Rules Repeat Drunk Drivers Can Lose Their Cars
Russian authorities can now confiscate vehicles from drivers convicted of repeat drunk driving offenses, state media reported on Thursday, citing a new ruling by a regional court.
U.K. Behind Major Drone Attack on Russian Airfields, FSB Chief Claims
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) on Thursday accused the United Kingdom of helping Ukraine coordinate a large-scale drone assault on Russian military airfields this summer.
United States Pressures Japan to Stop Buying Russian Oil and Gas
The United States is urging Japan to stop purchasing Russian oil and gas as President Donald J.
India Moves to Cut Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure – Reuters
India is preparing to scale back its imports of Russian crude oil following pressure from the United States, Reuters reported Thursday, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter.
Putin Signs Law Making It Easier to Prosecute ‘Foreign Agents’
President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday signed a law that makes it easier for authorities to bring criminal charges against individuals and organizations designated as “foreign agents,” further...
‘You’re F****** Fired’: Samara Governor Sacks Local Official on Camera
The governor of southern Russia’s Samara region on Tuesday abruptly fired a local district head during an inspection visit caught on camera, a video that has since gone viral for the governor’s...
By Sending Drones Into NATO States, Russia Is Repeating the Mistakes of 2022
Opinion | While the war in Ukraine remains virtually at a standstill, Russia has crossed a new line in Europe.
Russian State Giants Top Corporate Debt Ranking – Forbes
Russia’s largest state-owned companies topped the list of the country’s most indebted firms in 2024, according to a new Forbes Russia ranking released Wednesday.
Syrian President Meets With Putin in First Visit to Russia Since Assad’s Overthrow
Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa is set to meet with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday, in his first official visit to Russia since the overthrow of Moscow’s longtime ally Bashar al-Assad.
NATO Detects No ‘Malign Damage’ to Baltic Sea Infrastructure Since January, Official Says
BRUSSELS — NATO has not detected “malign damage” to critical infrastructure in the Baltic Sea since it launched its Baltic Sentry operation in January, the head of public communications at NATO...
United Kingdom Declares ‘Russian Oil Is Off the Market’ as it Sanctions Rosneft and Lukoil
The British government on Wednesday imposed sanctions against Russia’s two largest oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, four Chinese oil terminals and more than 40 “shadow fleet” tankers accused of...
Estonian Business Figures Linked to Russian War Profiteers – The Insider
Several Estonian citizens have maintained business ties with sanctioned Russian companies and individuals profiting from the war in Ukraine despite the Baltic country’s designation of Russia as a...
Putin Friend Timchenko Acquires Shell’s Former Stake in Western Siberia Oil Producer – Kommersant
Russian billionaire Gennady Timchenko has acquired British energy major Shell’s former 50% stake in a company producing oil in western Siberia, the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday,...
Chelyabinsk Court Orders Billionaire Strukov to Pay $50M Over Mining Accident
A court has ordered mining tycoon and Chelyabinsk region lawmaker Konstantin Strukov to pay 3.9 billion rubles ($49.3 million) in damages for environmental harm caused in one of Russia’s worst...
Role of Armed Russians Spotted Near Estonian Border Still Unclear, Defense Minister Says
BRUSSELS — Estonia has not yet identified the affiliation or purpose of a group of armed Russian men recently spotted near the Baltic country’s border, Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur told The Moscow Times.
Ukrainian Drone Strikes Slash Russia’s Fuel Exports to Lowest Level Since Early 2022 – Bloomberg
Ongoing Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure have reduced the country’s fuel exports to their lowest levels since the invasion of Ukraine, Bloomberg reported Wednesday.
Syrian President to Meet Putin in First Visit to Russia Since Assad’s Overthrow
Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa is set to meet with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday, in his first official visit to Russia since the overthrow of Moscow’s longtime ally Bashar al-Assad.
Russian Banks Slash Credit Card Issuance After 2 Months of Growth
Russian banks sharply cut back on issuing credit cards in September, with lenders approving 1.29 million cards worth a total credit limit of 141.5 billion rubles ($1.5 billion), the Kommersant...
Russia Charges Khodorkovsky, Other Exiled Dissidents With ‘Terrorism’
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) on Tuesday announced criminal charges against prominent exiled anti-war figures, including former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, accusing them of forming...
When Normal Life Becomes Impossible: Stories from St. Petersburg Nearly 4 Years Into War
Nearly four years after Russia launched a full-scale war on Ukraine, St.
Russians Were Asked to Vote on the New 500-Ruble Bill Design. It Became a Political Lightning Rod.
It started with an innocuous call by the Central Bank to choose the design of Russia’s new 500-ruble (about $5) note dedicated to the North Caucasus Federal District. It ended in a spat between...
IMF Cuts Russia’s 2025 Economic Forecast Again
The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday once again lowered its forecast for Russia’s economic growth in 2025, projecting an expansion of just 0.6% even as it raised its global outlook.
Pro-Kremlin Activist Arrested on Fraud Charges in Nizhny Novgorod – Reports
Law enforcement authorities arrested the local head of a pro-Kremlin political organization in the central Nizhny Novgorod region on suspicion of fraud, Russian media reported Tuesday, citing...
Russian Forces Attacked UN Aid Trucks in Kherson Region, Officials Say
Russian forces struck a United Nations aid convoy in the partially occupied Kherson region of southern Ukraine on Tuesday, Ukrainian and UN officials said, though no one was reported injured or...
Jailed Russian Opposition Activist Mikhail Kriger Declares Hunger Strike
Jailed Russian opposition activist Mikhail Kriger has been on a dry hunger strike since Friday in protest of his repeated placement in solitary confinement, his supporters said.
European Rights Court Orders Russia to Pay Georgia Nearly $300M Over Violations After 2008 War
The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday ordered Russia to pay Georgia more than 250 million euros ($289,000) for violations committed after the brief war between the two countries in August...
How Russia Tried to Con the U.S. Out of Money for Plutonium Disposal — and Why It Didn’t Work
Opinion | The headline that Russia has formally withdrawn from a plutonium disposal agreement with the United States sounds very serious, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.
Woman Killed in Ukrainian Drone Strike on Kursk Border Region
A woman was killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on a car in the southwestern Kursk region, local authorities said Tuesday.
Ousted Russian Supreme Court Judge Implicated in Child Prostitution Investigation
Former Russian Supreme Court Judge Viktor Momotov is facing new accusations of involvement in a child prostitution scheme, adding to charges that he illegally operated hotels while serving in...
Ukraine Accuses Russia of Attacking UN Aid Trucks
Ukrainian authorities on Tuesday accused the Russian military of firing on a UN aid convoy in the partially occupied southern Kherson region, adding that no one was killed in the attack.
A Teenage Boy’s Jailing Unites Chechens and Tests Kadyrov’s Influence
When a Moscow court sentenced a 16-year-old boy from the republic of Chechnya to nearly two years in a penal colony last month, it did so in defiance of Chechens across the political spectrum.
Soviet Legend Vysotsky’s Death Mask Cast to Be Sold at Auction
A bronze cast of a death mask of Soviet singer-songwriter and actor Vladimir Vysotsky will go up for auction in Monaco next week, according to the international auction house Hermitage Fine Art.
Why Is Central Asia Buying Trump’s Attention?
Opinion | For a region located far from the current major global crises, Central Asia has attracted an unusual amount of attention from the great powers in recent years.
FSB Accuses Ukraine of Plotting Bomb Attack With ISIS Against Senior Officer
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said Monday that it thwarted a planned bomb attack on a senior military officer that was allegedly organized by Ukrainian special services in coordination...
‘Could End Badly’: Medvedev Threatens Trump Over Tomahawks for Ukraine
Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev on Monday warned U.S.
Ukrainian Drone Strike Sets Fire at Crimean Oil Depot for Second Time in a Week
An overnight Ukrainian drone attack on annexed Crimea caused a fire to erupt at a major oil depot, Kremlin-installed authorities said early Monday.
Russian Navy Denies Technical Malfunction Forced Submarine to Surface Near France
Russia’s Navy on Monday denied claims that one of its submarines was forced to surface off the coast of France last week after reportedly encountering technical problems.
Ukrainian Drone Strike Sets Fire at Crimean Oil Depot
An overnight Ukrainian drone attack on annexed Crimea caused a fire to erupt at a major oil depot, Kremlin-installed authorities said early Monday.
Freed in Prisoner Swap, Kara-Murza Again Declared Wanted by Russia
Russia’s Interior Ministry has issued an arrest warrant for prominent Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, the exiled news website Mediazona reported on Monday, though the exact charges against him...
U.S. Intelligence Helps Ukraine Strike Russian Energy Infrastructure – FT
The United States has been providing Ukraine with intelligence to help plan long-range drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, including oil refineries, since this summer, the Financial...
Cuba Denies Participating in Ukraine War
Cuba on Saturday denied U.S. assertions that it is involved in the military conflict in Ukraine or had sent soldiers there.
Zelensky Warns Russia Exploiting Lack of 'Attention' on War
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lobbied his allies for more air defences on Sunday, warning that Russia was "taking advantage" of attention shifting away from the Ukraine war to intensify...
Zelensky Urges Trump to Broker Ukraine Peace
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Donald Trump to broker peace in Ukraine, as he did in the Middle East, during a phone call on Saturday, the Ukrainian leader said.
Russian Attack Cuts Power to Parts of Ukraine’s Odesa Region
An overnight Russian attack left parts of Ukraine's southern Odesa region without power early Saturday, the latest strike to target Ukraine's energy system ahead of winter, authorities said.
Opposition Politician Shlosberg Returned to House Arrest Pending ‘Discreditation’ Trial
A court in the northwestern Pskov region has ordered opposition politician Lev Shlosberg to be returned to house arrest three days after initially releasing him, the Yabloko party’s press service...
Russian Low-Cost Drones Are Changing the Face of Its War in Ukraine
KHERSON REGION, Ukraine — At 11:00 in the morning, our car pulls onto the M-14 highway linking Mykolaiv and Kherson. “We’re lucky today,” says my guide, local journalist Svitlana Horevaya,...
Putin Praises Trump’s ‘Real Efforts’ Toward Peace, Blasts Nobel Committee
President Vladimir Putin on Friday praised U.S.
Moscow Court Orders Seizure of Yabloko Deputy Head’s Assets Pending ‘Army Fakes’ Trial
A Moscow court on Friday ordered the seizure of assets belonging to the arrested deputy chairman of the liberal Yabloko party as part of a criminal case against him for spreading “fakes” about the...
Russian Air Attacks Batter Ukraine’s Energy Grid, Kill Young Boy
Russian drones and missiles pummelled Ukraine's struggling energy infrastructure early Friday, cutting power to thousands across the country and killing a seven-year-old boy.
Azerbaijan Frees Sputnik Editor After Putin Blames Deadly Plane Crash on Russian Missiles
Azerbaijan released the local bureau chief of Russia’s state-owned news outlet Sputnik following high-level negotiations with Moscow, the Kommersant business newspaper reported on Thursday, citing...
St. Petersburg Police Uncover Major Military Recruitment Scam
Russian police arrested four men accused of defrauding soldiers out of their military salaries and bonuses meant for deployment in Ukraine, the Interior Ministry said Friday.
Moscow Postpones Arab Summit Amid Reports of Low Interest
The Kremlin announced Thursday that it had postponed the planned Russia-Arab summit in Moscow after President Vladimir Putin and his Iraqi counterpart agreed that many Arab leaders would be unable...
Digital Rights NGO Roskomsvoboda Shuts Down
The independent digital rights group Roskomsvoboda said on Thursday that it would shut down after 13 years of advocating against and monitoring government restrictions on the internet.
Kremlin Adviser Says U.S.-Russia Peace Talks Still Alive, Contradicting Deputy Foreign Minister
Kremlin foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov said Thursday that efforts by Russia and the United States to reach a peace deal in Ukraine were still alive, directly contradicting comments from a...
Russia’s Metals Industry Faces Layoffs, Shortened Workweeks – Reuters
Russia’s metals industry is facing a wave of layoffs and reduced working hours as demand slumps and financial pressures mount, Reuters reported Thursday, citing industry sources.
Ukraine Orders Evacuation of Children Around Frontline City of Kramatorsk
Ukraine announced on Thursday it was ordering the evacuation of children and their guardians from towns and villages in and around the frontline city of Kramatorsk, citing an uptick in Russian...
Government Launches Airline Safety Inspections After Aviation Accidents Double
Russian authorities will launch thorough inspections of regional airlines amid a growing number of aviation accidents and fatalities in recent years, the pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia reported on...
Russian Missiles Exploded Near Azerbaijani Plane That Crashed Last Year, Putin Admits
President Vladimir Putin told Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev on Thursday that two Russian anti-aircraft missiles had exploded several meters away from an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet that crashed...
Anti-War Activist Held in Armenia Over a Month After Russian Extradition Request
A Russian anti-war activist sentenced to prison in her home country has been held in custody in Armenia for more than a month following an extradition request from Moscow, media reported on Wednesday.
How the Kremlin Decided to Sacrifice Small Business to Pay for War
Opinion | Last week, the Kremlin rolled out the message: “VAT saves the budget — everyone must become a savior.” By making the easiest tax to collect the main revenue source — raising value-added...
Russians Repatriate Record Sums From Foreign Banks – Central Bank
Russians are continuing to move savings from foreign banks back home, with net transfers to domestic accounts reaching 58.5 billion rubles ($720 million) in August, according to preliminary...
Ukrainian Drone Attack Sparks Fires at Energy Sites in Volgograd Region
Fires broke out at energy sites in the southern Volgograd region overnight Thursday, following what officials described as a “large-scale” Ukrainian drone attack.
Russian Missiles Exploded Near Azerbaijani Plane That Crashed Last Year, Putin Says
President Vladimir Putin told Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev on Thursday that two Russian anti-aircraft missiles had exploded several meters from an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet that crashed last...
Far East Court Upholds Detention of French Cyclist
A court in the Far East Primorye region on Thursday upheld the detention of Sofiane Sehili, a French endurance cyclist arrested last month while attempting to set a world record for cycling across Eurasia.
Putin Arrives in Tajikistan as Russia Seeks to Reassert Influence in Central Asia
President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tajikistan on Wednesday night for a three-day visit aimed at shoring up Russia's influence in Central Asia, a region where Moscow's longstanding dominance has...
Ukrainian Rocket Attack on Belgorod Fitness Center Kills 3
Three people were killed in a Ukrainian rocket strike on the southwestern Belgorod region, authorities said early Wednesday, the second deadly attack on the border region this week.
Prominent Russian Culinary Historian Hit With Criminal Charges for ‘Army Fakes’
Russian law enforcement authorities on Wednesday pressed criminal charges against culinary historian Pavel Syutkin for allegedly spreading “false information” about the Russian military.
Danone’s Former Russian Business Renamed as ‘Milk Logic’
Russia’s leading dairy and baby food producer, formerly owned by the French food giant Danone, announced on Wednesday a full rebrand to mark what the company called its final stage of localization.
Have Ukrainian Drones Really Knocked Out 38% of Russia’s Oil Refining Capacity?
Opinion | There has been a lot of speculation in recent days about how much damage Ukrainian drone attacks have done to Russia’s oil refineries, with some news outlets claiming Russia has lost 38%...
Russia Moves to Formally Exit Landmark U.S. Plutonium Disposal Pact
Russia’s lower-house State Duma voted Wednesday to fully withdraw from a long-suspended bilateral agreement with the United States on the disposal of weapons-grade plutonium.
Renowned Architect Gunned Down in St. Petersburg in Suspected Murder by Ukraine War Veteran
Russian police have launched a murder investigation after a renowned architect was shot and killed in front of his 10-year-old daughter in St.
Russia Boosts Fuel Imports From Belarus as Refinery Strikes Deepen Domestic Shortages
Russia has ramped up imports of gasoline from Belarus to ease mounting fuel shortages caused by Ukrainian attacks on its oil refineries, Reuters reported Tuesday, citing industry sources.
Russia Says ‘Momentum’ for Ukraine Peace Deal Has Faded, Blames U.S. for Worsening Ties
Russia's deputy foreign minister said on Wednesday that progress toward a potential peace deal to end the war in Ukraine had largely stalled, blaming Kyiv's European allies for undermining earlier...
Russia Has Started Blocking Foreign SIM Cards for 24 Hours, Belarus Says
Russia has begun enforcing a 24-hour blackout on mobile data and text messaging for all foreign SIM cards that connect to its networks, authorities in neighboring Belarus said this week.
FSB Arrests Man Accused of Blowing Up Soldier’s Car
Russian law enforcement authorities said Wednesday that they arrested a 24-year-old man accused of blowing up a soldier’s car on instructions from Ukraine.
World Bank Cuts Russia's Growth Outlook, Warns of Long-Term Stagnation
Russia’s economy is heading toward stagnation rather than a “managed slowdown,” the World Bank said in its latest forecast, cutting its growth outlook and warning that output is unlikely to rise...
Bill Browder: It’s Time to Make Putin Pay for His War
Once a leading investor in Russian markets, U.S.-born British financier Bill Browder has been an outspoken critic of the Kremlin since the death of his lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, in a Russian...
Russian Stocks Suffer Sharpest Single-Day Drop in 3 Years
Russia’s stock market suffered its steepest single-day decline in three years on Wednesday after a senior diplomat said that progress toward a potential peace deal to end the war in Ukraine had...
Sobchak Deletes Interview With Gay Singer After Roskomnadzor Flags ‘LGBT Propaganda’
Media personality Ksenia Sobchak said Wednesday that she deleted a recent interview on her popular YouTube channel after Russia’s state media regulator warned her that it contained signs of “LGBT...
Russia’s Farm Sector Losing 150K Workers a Year, Agriculture Minister Warns
Russia’s agriculture sector is losing about 150,000 workers every year, hampering efforts to boost food production, Agriculture Minister Oksana Lut said Wednesday. “There is a personnel shortage...
Russian Nuclear Engineer Sentenced to 18 Years on Treason, Terrorism Charges
A Russian nuclear engineer has been sentenced to 18 years in a maximum-security prison for donating to Ukraine-based paramilitary units of Russian citizens, the Kommersant business daily reported...
EU Moves to Restrict Travel of Russian Diplomats Amid Espionage Fears – FT
European Union member states have agreed to restrict the movements of Russian diplomats traveling within the bloc amid growing concerns over suspected Russian espionage and sabotage operations,...
Ukraine Mounts Second Straight Night of Mass Drone Strikes on Russia
Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Tuesday that its air defense systems destroyed nearly 200 Ukrainian drones in a second consecutive night of large-scale air attacks, with regional authorities...
Russia Holds First Official Talks With Taliban After Terrorist List Removal
Russia held its first official meeting with Afghanistan on Tuesday after recognizing the Taliban government earlier this year, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov using the occasion to...
Putin Spends Subdued 73rd Birthday at Work
President Vladimir Putin is spending his 73rd birthday working and taking calls with foreign leaders, the Kremlin said Tuesday.
How Russia Is Turning a Captured Nuclear Power Plant into a Propaganda Piece
The tenth blackout at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant — now lasting more than ten days — has stirred deep concern and debate among experts, policymakers and the public alike.
Opposition Politician Shlosberg Released From House Arrest Pending ‘Discreditation’ Trial
A court in the northwestern Pskov region released opposition politician Lev Shlosberg from house arrest pending trial for his criticism of the invasion of Ukraine, the Yabloko party’s press...
Kremlin Backs Merkel’s Claim That Poland and Baltics Blocked Talks With Putin
The Kremlin on Tuesday endorsed former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s recent claim that Poland and the Baltic states had thwarted efforts to hold EU-Russia talks before the full-scale invasion...
Drones Target Oil Refinery in Western Siberia’s Tyumen Region in What May Be Ukraine’s Farthest Strike Yet
Authorities in Western Siberia’s Tyumen region said they downed three drones near an industrial site on Monday evening in what may be the furthest Ukrainian drone incursion reported inside Russian...
Russia's Power of Siberia 2 Deal With China Would Take a Decade to Boost Gas Exports – Reuters
Russia will need at least a decade to significantly increase its gas exports to China via the planned Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, Reuters reported Tuesday.
More Taxes for More War: Unpacking Russia’s 2026 Budget
Russia’s Finance Ministry has unveiled a draft federal budget for 2026 that includes new tax hikes aimed at sustaining steady wartime spending.
Ukrainian Drone Attack in Occupied Kherson Kills 4, Kremlin-Backed Governor Says
A Ukrainian drone strike in an occupied area of southern Ukraine's Kherson region killed four people, Kremlin-installed authorities said Tuesday.
Ukrainian Rocket Attack on Belgorod Kills 2 After Drone Strikes Knock Out Power
At least two people were killed in a Ukrainian rocket attack on the southwestern Belgorod region on Monday afternoon after thousands of residents were left without power due to an earlier drone barrage.
Number of New Moscow Housing Projects Falls to 12-Year Low – Vedomosti
The number of new housing projects launched in Moscow has fallen to its lowest level in 12 years after the end of subsidized mortgage programs and record-high market rates hit demand, the...
Russian Soldier Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison After Giving Interviews to Ukrainian Blogger
A Russian soldier freed in a prisoner swap with Ukraine has been sentenced to four years in a penal colony after he gave interviews to a Ukrainian blogger, the exiled news outlet Mediazona...
Russia’s New Border Rules Could Cut Off Key Trade Routes, Kazakh Lawmaker Warns
Russia’s new border restrictions risk costing Kazakhstan vital trade access through Russia and Belarus by forcing truck drivers from the country into technical violations of Russian law, a Kazakh...
Russia’s Planned VAT Hike Expected to Push Inflation Higher, Finance Ministry Says
Russia’s plan to raise its value-added tax, or VAT, to fund soaring defense and security spending is expected to drive consumer prices up by around 1% next year, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov...
Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tankers Linked to Oil Leaks in European Waters – Politico
At least five tankers from Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” — vessels used to evade Western sanctions — have leaked oil into European waters over the past year, an investigation by Politico and...
Energy Worker Killed in Ukrainian Rocket Attack on Belgorod After Drone Strikes Knock Out Power
At least one person was killed in a Ukrainian rocket attack on the southwestern Belgorod region, Russian authorities said Monday afternoon, after thousands of residents were left without power due...
Kremlin Dismisses Merz’s ‘Baseless’ Claim That Russia Is Behind Drone Flights in Germany
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s claim that Russia was behind a series of drone sightings in the skies above Germany last week is “baseless,” the Kremlin said Monday.
FSB Says It Foiled Planned Attack on Synagogue Ahead of Oct. 7 Anniversary
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said Monday that it had thwarted planned attacks on Jewish religious sites in the Krasnoyarsk and Stavropol regions.
Is Russia’s Justice System Reshuffle an Attempt to Rein in the Security Forces?
Opinion | On Sept. 24, Igor Krasnov, who had been prosecutor general, was officially appointed head of Russia’s Supreme Court.
Thousands Without Power in Belgorod After Ukraine Launches Major Drone Attack on Russia
Russia’s Defense Ministry said early Monday that its air defense systems destroyed 251 Ukrainian drones overnight in one of Ukraine’s largest retaliatory attacks on Russia this year.
Trump Suggests Willing To Extend Arms Control Deal With Russia
United States President Donald Trump said Sunday he was prepared to maintain a nuclear arms treaty between Washington and Moscow, after his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin proposed a one-year extension.
Russian Strikes Kill Five in Ukraine, Cause Power Outages
Intense Russian strikes on Sunday against Ukraine killed five people in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and Lviv in the west and badly damaged energy infrastructure, severing power supplies to...
Russian Strikes Kill 5 in Ukraine, Cause Power Outages
Intense Russian strikes on Sunday against Ukraine killed five people in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and Lviv in the west and badly damaged energy infrastructure, severing power supplies to...
Georgia Ruling Party Wins Local Polls as Mass Protests Flare
Georgia's ruling party won local elections Saturday and police fired tear gas and water cannons at anti-government protesters who tried to enter the presidential palace, as tens of thousands of...
'A Bit Unusual': Russia's Sochi Resort Grapples With Ukrainian Drones
Internet blackouts have become a fact of daily life in the Russian city of Sochi, which is coming under increasing threat of retaliatory Ukrainian drone strikes.
Russian Rail Strikes Kill One, Wound Dozens as Attacks Intensify Near Ukraine’s Front
The head of Ukraine's railways said Saturday that Russia was intensifying a campaign of air strikes on the network in an attempt to isolate frontline communities ahead of winter.
Russian Rail Strikes Kill 1, Wound Dozens as Attacks Intensify Near Ukraine’s Front
The head of Ukraine's railways said Saturday that Russia was intensifying a campaign of air strikes on the network in an attempt to isolate frontline communities ahead of winter.
Macron Blames Russia as Drone Kills French Photojournalist in Ukraine
A drone killed a French photojournalist on assignment in eastern Ukraine on Friday and wounded a Ukrainian reporter, officials and media groups said.
Russian Strike on Ukraine Train Station Wounds at Least 30, Zelensky Says
A Russian drone strike on a railway station in the northeastern Ukrainian region of Sumy wounded at least 30 people, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday.
Kyiv Says Russia Launches Largest-Ever Attack on Gas Sites
Russia overnight carried out its largest attack on Ukraine's gas network since Moscow first invaded in 2022, Kyiv's state-owned gas operator said Friday.
Russia’s Auto Industry Faces Labor Shortages as 4-Day Work Week Forces Employees Out – Reports
The GAZ group, one of Russia’s leading auto makers, is facing mounting labor shortages as a reduced work week drives down wages and push skilled workers to quit, the Mash Telegram channel reported.
Moscow Businessman Arrested Over Decades-Old Contract Killings
Moscow police have arrested businessman Ibragim Suleimanov on suspicion of involvement in two contract killings over two decades ago, state media reported Friday.
Citibank to Stop Servicing Client Accounts in Russia – Reuters
Citibank, the Russian subsidiary of U.S. banking group Citigroup, will wind down its remaining operations in Russia from Nov. 1, Reuters reported Friday.
Both Pilots Dead After Small Aircraft Crashes in Remote Siberian Region
A small utility plane crashed in a remote area of Siberia’s Krasnoyarsk region on Friday, killing both pilots on board, Russian authorities said.
Russia’s Private Sector Activity Hits 3-Year Low
Business activity in Russia’s private sector shrank sharply in September to its lowest level in three years, according to a new survey by S&P Global.
EU Weighs Handing Raiffeisen $2Bln in Deripaska-Linked Strabag Shares – FT
The European Union is considering unfreezing 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) worth of shares in Austrian construction group Strabag once linked to sanctioned Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska and...
Death Toll in Leningrad Region Bootleg Alcohol Poisoning Rises to 41
At least 41 people have died in northwestern Russia’s Leningrad region after consuming bootleg alcohol containing lethal amounts of methanol, the RBC news website reported Friday, citing law...
Munich Airport Closure 'Wake-Up Call' Over Drone Danger – Govt
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Friday that the temporary closure of Munich airport after drone sightings was a "wake-up call" about the threat from drones, which have caused a...
Ukrainian Drones Hit Major Russian Oil Refinery, Chemical Plant
Ukrainian drones attacked a major Russian oil refinery in the Orenburg region and one of its largest chemical producers in the Perm region overnight, officials in both regions said Friday.
Moscow Businessman Arrested Over Unsolved 2000s Murder of Ex-Russian Official
Moscow police have arrested businessman Ibragim Suleimanov on suspicion of involvement in the 2004 murder of the former head of Russia’s now-defunct government bankruptcy body, state media reported Friday.
Russia-Linked Tanker Stopped by France Resumes Voyage – Vessel Trackers
A tanker from Russia's "shadow fleet" detained by the French navy was heading towards the Suez Canal Friday with its captain back on board, according to data from maritime websites and a source...
Daughter of Late Russian Journalist Irina Slavina Detained While Laying Flowers in Her Memory
Nizhny Novgorod police detained the late journalist Irina Slavina's daughter as she tried to lay flowers outside the regional police headquarters in memory of her mother, human rights watchdog...
Finland Dismisses Case Over Baltic Cable Cuts
A Helsinki court on Friday dismissed a case against three members of a ship from Russia's "shadow fleet" suspected of cutting Baltic Sea cables, saying it was beyond its jurisdiction.
Ukrainian Drones Hit Major Russian Chemical Plant in Perm Region – Governor
Ukrainian drones struck one of Russia’s largest chemical producers in Russia’s Perm region overnight, regional Governor Dmitry Makhonin said.
Munich Airport Resumes Flights After Drone Sightings Trigger Closure
Germany's Munich airport restarted flights on Friday after several drone sightings forced its closure overnight, the latest in a string of similar aviation disruptions across Europe.
Putin Says Responsibility for Peace Lies With EU, Vows Response to Europe’s ‘Militarization’
Responsibility for ending the war in Ukraine rests with European countries, President Vladimir Putin said at the Valdai Discussion Club on Thursday.
Power Flowing to Chernobyl Nuclear Plant After Outage – Officials
The defunct Chernobyl nuclear plant was being supplied with power as normal on Thursday, Ukrainian officials told AFP, a day after President Volodymyr Zelensky sounded the alarm over a temporary...
Regions Calling: Altai Protests, Kamchatka Bear Attacks and More
Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of Regions Calling, your guide to developments beyond the Russian capital from The Moscow Times.
Europe’s Top Rights Body to Create ‘Platform for Dialogue’ With Exiled Russian Opposition
Europe’s top human rights body has approved the creation of a Platform for Dialogue with Russian democratic forces in exile, it reported Thursday.
How Putin's Spiritual Adviser Uses Charlie Kirk to Court U.S. Conservatives
Opinion | Just hours before the memorial service for slain American activist Charlie Kirk began at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, Pravoslavie.ru and its English counterpart...
France to Try Chinese Captain of Russian 'Shadow Fleet' Vessel
A French court is to try the Chinese captain of a tanker from Russia's "shadow fleet" early next year after it was intercepted off France, prosecutors said Thursday, in a move seen as a message to...
Russia Says Exchanged Captured Soldiers, Civilians With Ukraine in New Swap
Russia and Ukraine on Thursday exchanged 185 captured soldiers each in the latest prisoner swap agreed during bilateral talks in Istanbul in July, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on social...
Russia Cut Power to Defunct Chernobyl Nuclear Plant, Ukraine Says
The site of Ukraine's defunct Chernobyl nuclear plant, which was partially destroyed in a 1986 meltdown, lost power on Wednesday after Russia shelled a nearby substation, Kyiv said.
Russia Upgrades Missiles to Evade Ukraine’s Patriot Defenses – FT
Russia has modified its ballistic missiles to maneuver in flight and evade Ukrainian air defense systems including U.S.-supplied Patriots, the Financial Times reported Thursday, citing Ukrainian...
Russia Arrests Yabloko Deputy Head Over ‘Army Fakes’
Russian investigators have arrested the deputy chairman of the liberal Yabloko party on criminal charges of spreading “false information” about the military, law enforcement authorities said Wednesday.
Thousands of Trucks Stuck at Kazakhstan-Russia Border Amid Customs Crackdown
Thousands of trucks carrying goods from China are backed up at the Kazakhstan-Russia border due to tightened customs checks, the Kommersant business daily reported Thursday, citing cargo companies.
Russia Claims Fresh Push Into Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk Region
Russia's army on Wednesday claimed to have captured another village in Ukraine's eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, accelerating its advance into an area that had previously been largely spared...
Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 Ramps Up Output to Record Levels – Bloomberg
Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project has boosted production to a record high since its launch in December 2023, helped by exports to China, even as looming winter ice will soon halt shipments along the...
Russian-Installed Official Killed in Occupied Ukraine
A Kremlin-installed official was killed by a Ukrainian drone strike in southern Ukraine’s frontline Kherson region, pro-Russian authorities said Wednesday.
‘Not a Drone Attack’: Major Oil Refinery Catches Fire in Russia’s Yaroslavl Region
A fire broke out at one of Russia’s largest oil refineries in the Yaroslavl region north of Moscow on Wednesday morning in what authorities described as a “man-made” incident unrelated to...
China's Visa-Free Policy for Russians Isn't the Win Moscow Says It Is
Opinion | On the eve of a parade in Beijing celebrating 80 years since the end of World War II, the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that short-stay entry requirements for Russian citizens would...
Russia Agrees With Hegseth's 'Prepare for War to Ensure Peace' Message, Kremlin Says
The Kremlin said Wednesday that Russia, like the United States, is committed to strengthening its military while also seeking peace, following U.S.
Russia Says Situation at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant Under Control
The situation at the Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine is "under control," the Moscow-installed operator said Wednesday, a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky...
French Navy Boards Russian 'Shadow Fleet' Ship, Arrests 2
France has detained two senior crew members of a tanker linked to Russia, which data showed was off the Danish coast last month during mysterious drone flights, prosecutors said on Wednesday.
Telegram Founder Durov Says He Survived 2018 Poisoning Attempt
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has claimed that he survived a poisoning attempt in the spring of 2018, but chose not to reveal the incident until now to focus on business priorities.
Denmark Warns EU Over Russian 'Hybrid War' as Leaders Talk Defense
Danish premier Mette Frederiksen on Wednesday urged Europe to step up its response to Russia's "hybrid war," as she hosted EU leaders for defense talks held under tight security following mystery...
France Probing Russia-Linked Tanker for 'Serious Offenses' – Macron
France is probing an EU-sanctioned, Russian-linked oil tanker for "serious offenses," President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday — stopping short of confirming reports of a connection to mysterious...
'No Immediate Danger' at Ukraine Nuclear Plant After Power Loss – IAEA
The Russia-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine, which has been without power for more than a week, faces no imminent danger as long as backup generators are working, the UN nuclear...
Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank Fails Again to Exit Russia as Authorities Block Sale – Reuters
Austria’s Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI), the largest Western lender still operating in Russia, has failed once again to sell its Russian business and withdraw from the country, Reuters...
Russian Children Form Human ‘89’ to Mark Anniversary of Unrecognized Annexation of Ukraine
Russia marked the third anniversary of its annexation of four partially occupied Ukrainian regions with patriotic events involving schoolchildren, kindergartners and public employees, the state...
Russia Intensified Drone, Missile Strikes on Ukraine in September – AFP Analysis
Russia intensified its long-range missile and drone strikes on Ukraine in September, an AFP analysis of data from Kyiv's Air Force showed, attacks that came amid a spate of alleged Russian...
Russia to Scrap Gasoline Import Tariffs, Additive Ban in Bid to Stabilize Fuel Market
The Russian government seeks to scrap tariffs on gasoline imports and temporarily allow a banned chemical additive to stabilize the domestic fuel market, the Kommersant business daily reported Wednesday.
Russia to Test Students’ ‘Traditional Values’ With New App
Russia plans to roll out an app to measure how strongly university students embrace “traditional values,” the Vedomosti business newspaper reported Tuesday, citing a government procurement notice.
Putin Can't Hide Russia's Gasoline Crisis
Opinion | Gasoline in Russia is being rationed from its western Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad to Vladivostok in the Far East. The nation that parades as an energy superpower cannot keep its own...
Russia’s Largest Chip Maker Tops List of Most Unprofitable Companies
Russian state-owned microchip maker Angstrem has been ranked the country’s most loss-making company in 2024, with a net loss of 236.3 billion rubles ($2.86 billion), Forbes reported in its latest...
Russia Plans Steeper Utility Tariff Hikes in 2026-2028, Outpacing Inflation
Russia’s government plans sharper increases in household utility tariffs over the next three years than previously expected, according to an updated forecast underpinning the draft federal budget.
Czech Republic Curbs Russian Diplomats' Entry
The Czech Republic announced Tuesday it is restricting the holders of Russian diplomatic and business passports from entering the country in what it said was an EU first, citing security concerns.
Russia Privatizes Iconic Soviet Animation Studio Soyuzmultfilm
The Russian government has sold its stake in the iconic Soviet-era animation studio Soyuzmultfilm to an unnamed buyer after a 16-year delay, the RBC news website reported Tuesday, citing a note...
Russia Extends Gasoline Export Ban, Restricts Diesel Shipments
Russia has extended its ban on gasoline exports and introduced new restrictions on diesel shipments until the end of 2025 in a bid to stabilize domestic fuel supplies, the government said Tuesday.
Russian Drone Strike Kills Family of 4 in Ukrainian Village
A Russian drone strike crashed on a village in Ukraine overnight, killing two small boys and their parents, including the mother pregnant with twins, Ukrainian authorities said.
St. Petersburg Crematorium to Become 'Europe's Largest' in Major Expansion
Authorities in St.
Finnish Defense Minister Says ’No Drones Can Rattle’ Country
Finland will not be intimidated by attempts to destabilize it and the rest of Europe with drones and other so-called “hybrid” attacks, Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen told AFP on Tuesday.
Russia’s First Children’s Drone School Opens in Krasnodar as Founder Rejects Militarization Claims
Authorities in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar have unveiled what they call the country’s first school for children dedicated to assembling and operating drones.
FSB Says It Arrested Mordovia Teen for Railway Sabotage
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said Tuesday that it had arrested a teenager in the republic of Mordovia on suspicion of organizing railway arson attacks with the help of minors.
As Kremlin Boasts of Arctic Riches, Indigenous Peoples Struggle to Survive
For months, Kseniia Bolshakova’s sister has struggled to put food on the table in Khatanga, a village of 2,500 people and one of Russia’s northernmost settlements. “She said they haven’t been able...
Russia Extends Jailing of French Cyclist
A Russian court on Tuesday ordered a French cyclist who was detained during a record-breaking cross-continental trip to be held in jail until at least November 3, state media reported.
Russia's Billionaires Are Losing the Global Wealth Race
Opinion | However abstract market capitalization may be, and however far it may diverge from companies’ real assets, stock market trends still shape the fortunes of the world’s wealthiest people.
‘I’d Never Make it Home Alive’: Russia’s War in Ukraine Turns Conscripts Into Deserters
When Vitaly Vasilyev, a 23-year-old from a rural village in the republic of Chuvashia, was drafted into the Russian army in 2021, he had no intention of becoming a contract soldier, much less...
Russia’s Tax Service Seeks Bankruptcy of Tyumen’s Largest Timber Firm
Russia’s Federal Tax Service has filed a bankruptcy petition against the Tobol Timber Company, the largest timber firm in Siberia’s Tyumen region, over unpaid taxes exceeding 14.6 million rubles...
Russia’s High Rates Pose Bigger Threat to Companies Than Past Crises, Think Tank Warns
Prolonged high interest rates may inflict more damage on Russia’s corporate sector than the economic shocks of 2020 and 2022, a Kremlin-linked think tank said in a new report, warning that a...
Russian Scheme to Draw Foreign Investment Sees No Uptake, Official Says
Russian authorities’ hopes of attracting Western capital to the domestic stock market have so far failed to materialize, as investors from “unfriendly” countries have shown little interest in new...
Russia's Eurovision Rip-Off Exposes Kremlin's Delusions of Cultural Grandeur
Opinion | Late in the evening on Sept. 20, Russia staged the Intervision contest, which Moscow proudly declared to be the heir to the musical events held irregularly since 1965 in the countries of...
Luxury Firm Cucinelli Chided by Italian Regulators Over Russia Claims
Shares in Italian luxury group Brunello Cucinelli were temporarily suspended Thursday after allegations it "misled shareholders" over its operations in Russia in violation of EU sanctions.
Russia Moves to Raise VAT by 2% as Budget Deficit Swells
Russia’s Finance Ministry on Wednesday proposed raising the country’s value-added tax (VAT) from 20% to 22% starting next year, as part of a new three-year budget plan aimed at covering surging...
Russian Regions Ration Gasoline as Drone Strikes Cripple Refineries
Gas stations across Russia have started rationing fuel sales as drone strikes on oil refineries by Ukraine deepen a supply crisis, the pro-Kremlin daily Izvestia reported Wednesday.
Can Russia’s Militarized Economy Ever Return to a Civilian Model?
Opinion | Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine has lasted almost as long as the Soviet involvement in World War II and seems endless.
Their Fathers Fighting in Ukraine, Some of Russia’s Military Children Fall Into a Broken Orphanage System
As part of the Kremlin’s campaign to reduce orphanhood, Russia’s children’s rights commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova said she has given “particular attention” to families of men fighting in...
Urals Businessman Arrested as Prosecutors Move to Seize Utility Companies
Russian police arrested Urals businessman Alexei Bobrov in Moscow and transferred him to the city of Yekaterinburg for questioning, Russian media reported Tuesday, citing law enforcement sources.
In First, Chinese Cargo Ship Docks in Sanctioned Crimean Port – FT
A Chinese-owned cargo vessel has docked in the port of Sevastopol for the first time since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, the Financial Times reported Tuesday, citing satellite...
Russians Cut Bank Debt as Lending Slows After Credit Boom
Russian households reduced their debt burden in August, with outstanding bank claims on the population down 1.2% year-on-year, the Central Bank said.
Explained: War Hits Home by Thwarting Russians’ Air Travel
More than 200 flights were delayed or canceled in Moscow on Tuesday following a mass drone attack on the Russian capital. As drone attacks between Russia and Ukraine have intensified in recent...
The Quiet Exit of Putin’s Iron Chancellor
Opinion | In the quarter-century that Vladimir Putin has been in power, Kremlinologists have come to know his political and bureaucratic style down to the smallest details.
Russia Calls On UN Aviation Body to Lift Sanctions – Reuters
Russia has asked the UN’s aviation body to ease sanctions on spare parts and overflights that were imposed over the invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported Monday, citing documents it had seen and a...
Russia’s Taxi Industry Hits a Breaking Point as Prices Soar, Migrants Shut Out and Options Shrink
Luxury taxi service Wheely vanished from Moscow’s streets this month after a court ordered its blocking for refusing to share passenger data with the security services. Days later, St.
Catherine Merridale Digs Into Stalin-Era History With Detective Novel ‘Moscow Underground’
Catherine Merridale, a historian of Russia and the former Soviet world and an award-winning writer of nonfiction, has published “Moscow Underground,” a detective novel set in Moscow in 1934. She...
The Rapprochement Between Russia and Syria Is a Temporary Necessity
Opinion | Clashes between Syria’s new Islamist authorities and the Druze minority in the southern Sweida province, coupled with Israeli strikes against Syrian government forces, have forced...
Russia’s Answer to Eurovision Hits a Flat Note
It was a night designed to showcase the Kremlin’s vision of cultural independence from the West and show Russian viewers that efforts to isolate their nation over the invasion of Ukraine had failed.
Russia Faces a Fraught Homecoming for Hundreds of Thousands of Ukraine War Veterans
When President Vladimir Putin praised veterans of the war in Ukraine this year as “the elite who defend the Motherland,” he cast them as a generation of men ready to lead Russia into the future....
For Russians Like Me, Silencing Jimmy Kimmel Looks Dangerously Familiar
Opinion | The removal from the air of a second American comedian since President Donald Trump was elected in the United States should send chills down the spine of every journalist who worked in...
Regions Calling: Russia’s Tourism Reshuffle, Nationwide Elections and More
Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of Regions Calling, your guide to developments beyond the Russian capital from The Moscow Times.
Russia Is Testing NATO With Drones and Disinformation. Here’s How the West Should Respond.
Opinion | The violation of Polish airspace with Russian drones on the night of Sept. 9-10 is one of the most straightforward examples of how the West is already experiencing direct Russian aggression.
How Russian Parents Can Protect Their Children From Indoctrination in Schools
Opinion | Starting on Sept. 1, trial runs of “Important Conversations” began in kindergartens — targeting children as young as three to seven in over 100 kindergartens across Russia and occupied...
Australian-Born Singer Vassy to Represent U.S. at Intervision Contest in Last-Minute Switch
Australian-born singer Vassy will represent the United States at Russia’s answer to Eurovision after American R&B artist B.
Russia Inflates Battlefield Gains After a Costly Summer Offensive
The chief of Russia’s General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, declared in late August that his forces had achieved major victories across eastern and southern Ukraine in their summer offensive.
Trump’s Sanctions Playbook: Impossible Demands, Guaranteed Delays
Opinion | United States President Donald Trump’s latest wheeze for imposing further sanctions on Russia comes with a jaw-dropping catch: NATO must first impose tariffs of 50% to 100% on China. On...
Why Is the Kremlin Insisting on Ukraine Holding Elections?
Opinion | The Kremlin has been signaling that Russia will not sign a peace agreement with Ukraine while President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom it considers to be an illegitimate ruler, remains in power.
Putin’s Musings on Immortality Highlight His Glaring Succession Dilemma
The aging autocrats walked side by side, leading a procession of foreign leaders to watch a military parade in Beijing.
Orthodox Faith with Soviet Aesthetics: What a Rare Moscow Parade Says About Power in Russia
Opinion | The September 7 religious procession from Christ the Savior Cathedral to Novodevichy Convent, led by Patriarch Kirill, deserves scrutiny not for what it revealed about Orthodox faith,...
Western Sanctions Have Unintended Climate Consequences in Russia
Opinion | The warning signs are clear in the Far North, where Russian and Alaskan towns are literally sinking into the ground.
Beyond Putin and Xi’s Bromance, Chinese Culture Creeps Into Daily Life in Russia
When President Vladimir Putin and his counterpart Chinese Xi Jinping met this month in Beijing, the Russian leader hailed relations between the two countries as being at an “unprecedented level.” ...
Trump’s Inaction Hands Putin a Lifeline Through China
Opinion | Since Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and plunged the world into an economic war alongside it, the Russian president has had three asks of his Chinese...
Russian Political Prisoner Dies in Belarusian Jail
A Russian man serving a prison sentence in Belarus on what government critics call politically motivated charges has died, the rights group Viasna said Monday.
Russia Faces Declining Numbers of Schoolchildren. What Did the Kremlin Expect?
Opinion | The most horrifying story I have ever heard is that of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, who first lured all the rats out of the city by playing his magic pipe.
Putin’s Supreme Court Pick Heralds Further State Appropriation of Assets
Opinion | President Vladimir Putin looks set to appoint Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov as head of Russia’s Supreme Court following the death of Chief Justice Irina Podnosova on July 22. As is...
For Russian Asylum Seekers, the United States Is Not the Land of the Free
Opinion | Leonid Melekhin, a political activist from Perm, Russia, applied for asylum in the United States in August 2024. In December, his application was rejected due to a lack of “well-founded...
Putin’s Shanghai Bond Bonanza Is a Pipe Dream
Opinion | Russian President Vladimir Putin strutted into this week’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit vowing to free the world from “financial neo-colonialism.” His remedy?
In the Donbas ‘Fortress,’ Ukraine’s Soldiers Refuse to Yield
DONETSK REGION, Ukraine — On the salty shore of Sloviansk, Sasha, a 22-year-old soldier from Kherson, sips a beer and drags on a cigarette.
Russia Sees Milder Wildfire Season So Far in 2025, but Experts Warn Against Complacency
Russia’s wildfire season has been less intense this year, with blazes so far burning significantly less land than in 2024, though experts warn that the apparent improvement could foster dangerous...
Everything You Need to Know About Max, Russia’s State-Backed Answer to WhatsApp
Russia's latest attempt to build a sovereign digital ecosystem is moving into high gear.
Russia Risks Arctic Environmental Disaster in Pursuit of Profit and Power
Opinion | As climate change accelerates, the once distant and frozen Arctic is transforming into a controversial industrial frontier.
From War Surge to Slump: Is the Russian Economy Heading Toward Recession?
The Russian economy has been teetering on the brink of recession for months as financial authorities take actions to slow growth in a bid to avoid runaway inflation.
Russia Has 1,500 Political Prisoners. Their Art Is Now on Display in Europe.
At least 1,500 people are imprisoned in Russia for political reasons.
Krasnodar Drought Inflicts Nearly $600M in Crop Losses, Agribusiness Group Says
An ongoing drought in southern Russia’s Krasnodar region has caused around 46 billion rubles ($572 million) in agricultural losses so far this summer, the head of a local agribusiness lobby said...
Rising Costs and Tighter Rules Push Russians Out of Turkey – Izvestia
The number of Russians living in Turkey has nearly halved over the past two years, falling from 154,000 in 2023 to about 85,000 in 2025, the pro-Kremlin daily Izvestia reported Monday, citing...
Babel Books: The Berlin Bookstore Building Community for Russian Speakers
Natalia Smirnova, the founder of the Russian-language bookstore Babel in Berlin, has been connected to literature since she started working in publishing in the early 2000s.
A Letter to Those Who Can Save Political Prisoners in Russia
Opinion | Today, on the eve of the anniversary of our release on August 1, when I, along with other Russian political prisoners and foreign nationals, was freed from prison, I want to say THANK YOU!
‘My Homeland Is a Country Within a Country’: Avar Activist Zarema Gasanova
Zarema Gasanova, an Indigenous Avar from the republic of Dagestan, was working as a nurse in a St.
Russia Targets Emigres in Kazakhstan With Back Tax Demands
Russia has started requiring its citizens living in Kazakhstan to pay back taxes as it grapples with a steep budget deficit and shrinking tax revenues, the Vedomosti business daily reported Monday.
Russians Report Nighttime Police Raids in Azerbaijan as Tensions Flare
Russian citizens living in Azerbaijan have reported violent nighttime police raids amid a growing diplomatic rift between Moscow and Baku, according to Kovcheg, an exiled nonprofit that provides...
Fatima Suleymanova: 'Europeans Have Far More in Common With Chechens Than With Russians'
Activist Fatima Suleymanova is one of the most visible millennial Chechen women in modern-day politics. As a representative of the Chechen national independence movement United Force, Suleymanova...
‘We Need to Recognize Russia’s Colonial Violence’: Buryat Illustrator Seseg Jigjitova
Seseg Jigjitova, a Berlin-based illustrator from the Siberian republic of Buryatia, has emerged as a prominent critic of Russian colonialism and advocate for the rights of Buryats amid Russia’s...
The Pro-War Russians and Ukrainian Defectors Killed Amid Moscow’s Invasion
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, both sides’ special services have been waging war on each other. Ukraine has managed to assassinate several Russian officials,...
Kirill Dmitriev: The Putin Investment Envoy Navigating Peace Talks and Backchannel Diplomacy
Kirill Dmitriev has been called everything from one of Russia’s most prominent investment figures and President Vladimir Putin’s personal envoy to even a “shadow foreign minister.” The head of...
‘Unusually Public Crisis’: How a Plane Crash Is Driving Russia and Azerbaijan Apart
Relations between Russia and Azerbaijan, whose leaders once showcased their exceptionally friendly relationship, have been deteriorating since the Dec. 25 crash of an Azerbaijani plane headed for...
My Friend Seda Suleimanova, Kidnapped by Her Chechen Family, Could Still Be Alive. Please Help Her
Opinion | I am a friend of Seda Suleimanova, who was abducted from St.
New Bill Puts Russia’s Lake Baikal at Risk of Deforestation, Harmful Urbanization
A controversial new bill seeking to ease logging restrictions along the shores of Lake Baikal could deal irreversible damage to the Siberian lake’s unique ecosystem, experts and activists have...