Fires, Festivals and Free Speech Crackdown: Russia's August in Photos
Russia marked several grim milestones in August. Wildfires in Siberia and other regions hit new records while excess deaths soared due to the coronavirus.
The country also continued its crackdown on independent media ahead of key legislative elections, branding the Dozhd broadcaster and iStories investigative outlet as “foreign agents.”
At the same time, the country marked traditions like the Apple Feast of the Savior, an annual military orchestra festival and its showcase military technological forum.
Here’s a look back at the month’s highlights:
The country also continued its crackdown on independent media ahead of key legislative elections, branding the Dozhd broadcaster and iStories investigative outlet as “foreign agents.”
At the same time, the country marked traditions like the Apple Feast of the Savior, an annual military orchestra festival and its showcase military technological forum.
Here’s a look back at the month’s highlights:
Getting caught in a late summer downpour in central Moscow.
Gavriil Grigorov / TASS
Volunteer firefighters line up near the village of Kuereleelh in the Siberian republic of Sakha.
This year's unprecedented wildfires have devastated the northeastern Russian region all summer and are now the largest in the country's recorded history.
This year's unprecedented wildfires have devastated the northeastern Russian region all summer and are now the largest in the country's recorded history.
Ivan Nikiforov / TASS
In the town of Suzdal east of Moscow, apples and other fruits are seen in the Transfiguration of the Savior Cathedral at the Spaso-Yevfimiyev Monastery on the day of the Feast of the Transfiguration.
Orthodox Christians traditionally bring apples from the new harvest to church for blessing during the Feast of the Transfiguration, which is unofficially known as the Apple Feast of the Savior (Yablochny Spas).
Orthodox Christians traditionally bring apples from the new harvest to church for blessing during the Feast of the Transfiguration, which is unofficially known as the Apple Feast of the Savior (Yablochny Spas).
Vladimir Smirnov / TASS
Police detain a journalist holding a placard that reads "You are afraid of the truth" during a solo picket in solidarity with colleagues added to the "foreign agent" registry near the FSB headquarters in Moscow on Aug. 21.
The previous day, Russia added the independent Dozhd broadcaster and investigative site iStories to its list of "foreign agent" media outlets amid a widening clampdown on press freedom and opposition activism.
The previous day, Russia added the independent Dozhd broadcaster and investigative site iStories to its list of "foreign agent" media outlets amid a widening clampdown on press freedom and opposition activism.
Natalia Kolesnikova / AFP
A couple wearing face masks shares a tender moment on a Moscow Metro escalator on Aug. 24.
Natalia Kolesnikova / AFP
Moscow City's skyscrapers serve as the backdrop for a TikTok dance, Aug. 25.
Natalia Kolesnikova / AFP
A T-72B3M tank fires during the Army-2021 International Military and Technical Forum — Russia's premier military showcase — at the Sverdlovsky shooting range in Yekaterinburg.
Donat Sorokin / TASS
Military musicians perform in the Spasskaya Tower International Music Festival opening ceremony on Red Square, Aug. 27.
This year's festival features 22 military bands and groups from across the globe.
This year's festival features 22 military bands and groups from across the globe.
Kirill Kudryavtsev / AFP
A man walks past a poster promoting the ruling United Russia party in Moscow on Aug. 30.
Russia's elections to the State Duma will be held from Sept. 17-19.
Russia's elections to the State Duma will be held from Sept. 17-19.
Natalia Kolesnikova / AFP
