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'Chastity or Passion?': Orthodox Priests Bring ‘Chastity Lessons’ to Russian Schools

Amid Russia's demographic crisis, priests lead classes on abstinence before marriage, discourage abortion and reinforce "traditional family values."

'It's Like Winning at Roulette': War Quotas Squeeze Russian Students Out of Free University Spots

Students say university admissions quotas for soldiers and their families are making state-funded places harder to win on merit alone.

'Fedorova, Out!': Ex-RT Journalist Faces Increasing Scrutiny in France

Three years after RT France was shut down, its former chief remains a visible — and controversial — figure in French media.

Political Prisoners Are Dying in Russian Jails. These People Are Keeping Their Memory Alive.

At least six Russian political prisoners have died in custody so far this year, according to rights advocates.

‘Admission Is Now a One-Way Ticket’: Kremlin Escalates Crackdown on Western Universities

Thousands of Russian students are studying at foreign universities deemed “undesirable” by the authorities in Moscow.

‘When You Fly a Drone for the First Time, It’s Cool’: Drone Operation Enters Russia’s School Curriculum

Schoolchildren are being taught drone skills as Moscow deepens what analysts describe as the militarization of education.

On Russian TV, Family Feuds Over War Death Payouts Become Fodder for Primetime Drama

Disputes over state payments for fallen soldiers’ families are now unfolding on state television, turning private grief into spectacle.

‘Heated Rivalry’ Catches Fire in Russia Despite Kremlin’s Anti-LGBTQ+ Repressions

For many Russian viewers, the series provides a rare portrayal of queer lives and relationships at a time when LGBTQ+ visibility has largely vanished.

‘Dogs of War Go to Heaven’: The Russian Rappers Celebrating the Military

Rap Platoon is one of a handful of musical acts that have been producing patriotic, pro-war music. Experts say they're unlikely to make it big.

Online, Russia Invents Ukrainians Who Cheer On Its Occupation

Fake accounts routinely pose as Ukrainians to seed favorable narratives across VKontakte pages run by Kremlin-backed authorities.

Russian Soldiers Confront PTSD, Alcoholism and Suicidal Thoughts After Fighting in Ukraine

Russian researchers are starting to publish data that quantifies the scale of the military's mental health crisis.

Their Fathers Fighting in Ukraine, Some of Russia’s Military Children Fall Into a Broken Orphanage System

Local officials describe families left in poverty, children shuffled between relatives and institutions and widows navigating a complex bureaucracy.

In Russia, Soldiers’ Wives Are Urged to Give Birth to Children Who Might Never Meet Their Fathers

Initiatives across Russia are encouraging wives of soldiers to carry their pregnancies to term, even as the fathers might not return from the front.

Sun, Sea and the Russian Flag: Inside Vacation Season on the Beaches of Occupied Ukraine

Russia is promoting summer getaways to occupied seaside towns as part of a broader push to normalize control over territory it seized by force.

Mariupol Children Undergo Pro-Russian Indoctrination at St. Petersburg ‘Wellness Camps’

Billed as health and wellness retreats, the camps teach children to develop respect and love for the country that occupies their home city.

‘Blacklist’: The Groups Shaming Russian Women Who Marry Soldiers for Money

Women suspected of marrying a soldier for money rather than love can increasingly expect to become a target of widespread vitriol online.

‘Plush Troops’: The Pro-War Children’s Toys Taking Over Russia’s Online Marketplaces

Experts say these pro-war toys give children positive reinforcement of the media and propaganda messaging that they encounter daily.

In Occupied Ukraine, the Kremlin Is Grooming the Next Generation of Pro-Russian Bloggers

Russian authorities are launching media schools and promoting the neo-imperial ideology of the “Russian World” to teens in the occupied regions.

‘No One Will Bring My Husband Back’: Russian Military Widows Process Their Loss Through Social Media

After their husbands are killed in combat, military widows turn to social media as an outlet for their emotions and as a source of support.

opinion Angelina Trefilova

Press Freedom in Russia Is at an All-Time Low. So Is Its Journalism Education.

Press freedom is often framed as a struggle between journalists and the state. But the problem also lies with dishonest journalism professors.

‘A Lot of Devil in This’: Russians Use Tarot Cards to Predict Peace in Ukraine

In uncertain times, many Russians are turning to tarot cards as a way of seeking answers.

In Occupied Ukraine, Russia's Security Forces Target Schools for Recruitment

The recruitment drives come as Russia faces a growing shortage of law enforcement personnel.

After Losing Limbs to War, Russian Amputee Veterans Grapple With Officials’ Empty Promises

At least 54% of soldiers who have disabilities after fighting in Ukraine are amputees. They face a difficult path to rehabilitation.

‘Our Dreams Are Shattered’: Russian Soldiers’ Wives Learn of Infidelity on the Front

For some Russian military wives, their husbands' deployment to Ukraine has led to infidelity — throwing their marriages and their futures into disarray...

‘Together Forever’: Russian Schoolchildren Mark 11 Years Since Crimea Annexation With Patriotic Activities

Across Russia, schoolchildren of all ages are taking part in anniversary events that follow the Kremlin's version of the annexation.

Russian Authorities Glorify Military Wives and Mothers on Women’s Day

Ahead of International Women's Day, events across the country are upholding the image of soldiers' wives and mothers as the feminine ideal.

Training the ‘Warriors of Victory’: Russian Orthodox Church Marks 3 Years of War in Ukraine

On the war’s third anniversary, the Church commemorated the date with militarized worship and events across the country.

‘The Real Truth’: Schools Across Russia Open Ukraine War Museums

Museums dedicated to the war are appearing in Russian schools as the state seeks to indoctrinate all generations with its wartime narrative.

‘I’m a Real-Life Katyusha’: As Russia Hikes Payments for Soldiers, Their Wives Flaunt Newfound Affluence

Soldiers’ wives and girlfriends are taking to social media to show off their comfortable new lives, often while espousing their pro-Kremlin views.

For Russian Children, New Year’s Celebrations Transformed By War

This once-apolitical holiday has become another way to promote the Kremlin's wartime ideology to children as young as three years old.