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assassinations to Covid-19

9 Deaths That Shocked Russia in 2022

2022 was defined by Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine, with the resulting violence leading to the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians...

clandestine delivery

Is Russia Receiving Weapons From North Korea?

Washington claimed last month that Russia was buying weapons from North Korea and using those weapons in Ukraine. The allegations that the two heavily...

Explainer: Why is Russia Trying So Hard to Capture the Small Ukrainian City of Bakhmut?

Russian forces have been attempting to seize Bakhmut in Ukraine’s Donetsk region for at least seven months. But in recent weeks, the battle in and...

Scarred by War, Returning Russian Soldiers Struggle to Adapt to Civilian Life

After six months of combat with Russia’s 64th Motorized Rifle Brigade in Ukraine, Alexei Astashov quietly rejoiced when he was discharged from the...

As Winter Sets In, Ukrainian Battlefields Show Few Signs Of Freezing

As the first snow fell across Ukraine last week, the Ukrainian army launched an attack on Russian positions around Kreminna in a renewed — albeit...

Russia in retreat

‘The Happiest Day’: Joy in Kherson as Ukrainian Troops Re-Enter City

Russian troops withdrew from the right bank of the Dnipro River on Friday in a major military defeat for the Kremlin that led to scenes of jubilation in...

Kherson Museum Art Collection Looted Ahead of Russian Retreat

A collection of paintings from the Oleksii Shovkunenko Art Museum in the capital of the occupied Ukrainian region of Kherson have been removed and transferred...

humanitarian catastrophe

Explainer: Could Ukraine’s Kakhovka Dam Be Destroyed in Russia’s Kherson Retreat?

The Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine has become the focus of intense speculation as Kyiv’s forces have pushed forward with a counteroffensive in...

Russia Orders Retreat from Occupied City of Kherson

Updates with reaction and details. The Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday it was withdrawing its forces over the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine&rsquo...

‘It’s a Meat Grinder’: Fighting Rages in Eastern Ukraine as Russian Forces Eye Bakhmut

The battle for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut has intensified as Russian troops led by the murky Wagner mercenary group relentlessly exchange artillery...

Grief and Fear in Russia as Military Planes Crash Into Civilian Residences

On the night of Oct. 17, the Ischenko family reportedly sat down for dinner in their apartment on the seventh floor of an apartment block in the southern...

underwhelming display

Despite Modernization Drive, Russia's Air Force Struggles for Superiority in Ukraine

As the sun set in the Siberian city of Irkutsk on Sunday, an Su-30 Russian military fighter jet nose-dived into a two-story house, exploding on impact...

crossing the dnipro

Russia Begins Kherson 'Evacuations' as Ukrainian Forces Advance

State-run Russian television aired footage on Wednesday of long lines of people and their luggage on the banks of the Dnipro River in southern Ukraine&rsquo...

longstanding allies

Explainer: Is the Belarus-Russia ‘Joint Military Group’ a Threat to Ukraine?

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed Monday that Ukraine was readying an attack on Belarus and announced the formation of a “joint military...

Crowdfunding Spotlights Russian Military’s Supply Problems in Ukraine

Yevgenia Kuzevanova has been raising money to buy everything from first aid kits to instant noodles for Russian forces in Ukraine. Her online group...

military reversal

Large Russian Force Faces ‘Encirclement’ in Eastern Ukraine

Russian forces were on the verge of a major military defeat Friday as Kyiv’s Armed Forces closed in on the occupied Ukrainian city of Lyman and appeared...

mobilization underway

Russia to Send Conscripts to Ukraine With Little Training, Old Equipment

“We were officially told there would be no training before we are sent to the war zone,” a newly mobilized Russian soldier says in a short...

nationwide tensions

‘Ust-Ilimsk’s Che Guevara’: Violence Flares Across Russia Amid Mobilization

A shooting at an enlistment office in Siberia on Monday was the most violent episode of a spate of arson attacks and protests that have flared across Russia...

Explainer: What Does Russia’s ‘Partial Mobilization’ Mean?

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a “partial mobilization” early Wednesday after seven months of warfare in Ukraine that have taken...

nationalist expertise

Explainer: Who Are Russia’s Pro-War Bloggers And Why Are They Important?

These hawkish, patriotic commentators are outspoken supporters of Russia’s invasion.

on the back foot

Losses Around Kharkiv Stymie Russia’s Offensive Capabilities, Analysts Say

“Ukraine is becoming increasingly capable of repelling Russian forces back to February’s borders,” said one expert.

‘Coast Defense Flotilla’: Russia’s Black Sea Fleet Mauled in 200 Days of Ukraine War

In addition to at least 10 naval vessels, the Black Sea Fleet has also suffered manpower losses and seen a large part of its air wing destroyed.

Counteroffensive

Ukraine Retakes Ground Near Kharkiv as Russia’s Defense Wobbles

Ukrainian Brigadier General Oleksiy Gromov said Kyiv's forces had advanced 50 kilometers behind Russian lines.

armor destroyed

Russian Tank Losses in Ukraine Hit 1,000 – Open Source Analysis

Just under a third of Russian tanks destroyed, captured or abandoned in Ukraine were Soviet-built.

curriculum alterations

Russian Schoolchildren Return to Classrooms Changed by War

Every Russian school student will now have to attend a new, weekly lesson called “important conversations.”

Counteroffensive underway

‘We Forced Them Well Back’: Fighting Intensifies in Ukraine’s South

"If they want to survive, it's time for the Russian military to run away. Go home," Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky said.

focus on kherson

Ukrainian Southern Counteroffensive ‘Unlikely’ as Russia Bolsters Forces

Russia has transferred thousands of soldiers from eastern to southern Ukraine in recent weeks.

spreading violence

‘We Need to Get Out of Here’: Fear Grips Annexed Crimea After Airbase Attack

"Many vacationers were trying to find shelter — some people were hiding behind the trees, children were crying," said one eyewitness.

military maneuvering

Russia Braces as Kherson Bridge Strikes Hint at Imminent Ukrainian Offensive

All three major bridges near Kherson have been damaged by Ukrainian strikes in the past two weeks.

deflect and deny

As Civilian Deaths Mount in Ukraine, Russia Deploys Familiar Excuses

Whether by pinning the blame on Ukraine or attempting to paint civilian areas as military targets, Russia’s alibis have followed a pattern.

vulnerabilities exposed

Tank Losses in Ukraine Raise Strategic Questions for Russia

Russian military doctrine has traditionally been to build and maintain large numbers of tanks for offensive operations.

rain of missiles

Russia Steps Up Missile Attacks Amid ‘Operational Pause’ in Eastern Ukraine

“If Russia is going to seek a halt, it's likely they’re going to suddenly increase the level and scale of violence,” said one analyst.

incendiary munitions

Explainer: What is White Phosphorus and Is Russia Using it in Ukraine?

A pungent, wax-like substance, white phosphorus burns to the bone if it comes into contact with human skin.

Withdrawal from Snake Island Symbolic ‘Defeat’ for Russia in Ukraine

Just 48 kilometers from the shore, Snake Island was a key battleground between Ukrainian and Russian forces.

changing generals

Russia's Military 'Reshuffle' Hints at Frustration With Slow Ukraine Advance

Some analysts believe Gennady Zhidko is the new commander of Russian forces in Ukraine.

military milestone

Russia Eyes Full Donbas Control as Sievierodonetsk Set to Fall

Ukrainian pullback from the destroyed city brings Russia a step closer to capturing all of the Luhansk region.

Westerners Face Lengthy Interrogations at Russian Border Amid Ukraine War

"There were lots of... FSB, and different people coming in over the course of the five hours,” said a U.K. national.

Attack on Russian Gas Platform Exposes Moscow’s Black Sea Vulnerabilities

“So long as part of the [Black Sea] coast remains in Ukrainian hands, the sea remains a contested space," said one expert.

Panic Buying in Kaliningrad as Lithuania Bans Rail Cargo From Russia

A rail blockade imposed by neighboring Lithuania threatened to isolate Russia’s strategic Baltic exclave.

loss of leadership

Who Was Russian General Roman Kutuzov?

Kutuzov was reportedly killed on the frontlines of eastern Ukraine.

‘Are There Even Any Left?’ 100 Days of War in Ukraine For an Elite Russian Unit

“Russia’s elite forces were absolutely annihilated,” said an analyst of March battles near Kyiv involving the 31st Guards Air Assault Brigade.

military momentum

‘The Russian Army Won’t Stop at Donbas’: Pro-Kremlin Groups Hail Advances in Ukraine

Russian troops are reported to be attempting an encirclement of Ukrainian forces in the city of Severodonetsk.

Russia Scrambles for Soldiers Amid Ukraine War Manpower Shortage

"The Russian military is fighting this with a cobbled together force of unit fragments," said one analyst.

Munitions issues

Explainer: Is Russia Running Low on Missiles?

Russia has reportedly fired 2,154 missiles at Ukraine since the start of the invasion.

looming stalemate

Russia Bogged Down in Ukraine Amid 'Long War' Warnings

Modest gains made by Russian forces have come at the cost of losing control over other areas.

Ukrainian targets

High Death Toll of Russian Generals in Ukraine a Blow to Military Capability

“Every death of a general makes the Russian Armed Forces less effective,” said one military analyst.

Uptick in Combat Missions Signals Changing Role for Russia’s Air Force in Ukraine

Russian air sorties are up over 150% since the military focus shifted to eastern Ukraine, according to an analyst.

western ambitions

‘They’d Probably All Die’: Analysts Doubt Russian Push Toward Separatist Transnistria

For the moment, Russia's forces are concentrated in eastern Ukraine and attempting to seize the Donbas region.

internet issues

‘Failing Technology Museum’: Uncertainty for Russian Telecoms as Foreign Firms Flee

With foreign firms unable to carry out upgrades, Russia faces the risk of being stuck with outdated equipment.

Fears Of A ‘New Kursk’ As Relatives Seek Missing Moskva Sailors

Relatives of sailors feared to have died on the missile cruiser have been speaking to journalists.

Losses, Morale and Counterattacks Stymie Russia’s Donbas Offensive

Russia appears to be planning to carry out a large pincer movement.

Sunk Missile Cruiser a Symbolic, Strategic Blow to Russia

The sinking could mean reduced options for the Russian military when planning operations in southern Ukraine.

Doubtful Future

Zhirinovsky’s Presence Missed as LDPR Scrabbles For Successor

“The LDPR is actually in a state of half-life. The most likely successor is failure,” said one political analyst.

Tightening Sanctions

Former SWIFT CEO Calls for Tighter Russia Sanctions

In an interview with The Moscow Times, former CEO of SWIFT called for tighter sanctions on Russia amid a worsening situation in Ukraine

'generation putin'

Born Under Putin, Dead Under Putin: Russia’s Teenage Soldiers Dying in Ukraine

Young contract soldiers lacking military expertise are being sent to the frontlines.

Avoiding Isolation

Russian FM Lavrov Touts ‘Eurasian Partnership’ in India Visit

"We will be ready to supply to India any goods which India wants to buy,” Lavrov told his Indian counterpart.

domestic critics

Russia’s Potential Drawdown from Kyiv Fractures Pro-War Voices at Home

Supporters of the “special military operation” accuse Russian negotiators of being too soft on Ukraine.

Mental Health Crisis Looms in Russia as Sanctions Fuel Drug Shortages, Job Losses

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, more Russians are reporting feelings of anxiety and depression, with sales of antidepressants sky-rocketing.

controversial technique

In Russia’s Pro-Military ‘Z’ Campaign, Children Are Placed Front and Center

Photos of children across the country with the symbol of support for Russia's army have flooded social media amid Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

communication gap

‘My Father Said I’m a Traitor Who Should Be Shot First’: War in Ukraine Splits Russian Families

The invasion has driven a wedge between friends and family members and exposed stark divides between generations.

looming unemployment

Western Companies' Exodus from Russia Leaves Thousands of Russians' Livelihoods on the Line

The business departures are expected to exacerbate what could become the country's worst economic crisis since the end of the Soviet Union.

Anti-Russian Sentiment

Russians Abroad: Blamed for a Regime They Sought to Escape

Since Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops over the Ukrainian border last week, Russian and Russian-speaking diasporas living abroad have seen an uptick...

‘We Don’t Need War’: Shock, Anger and Defiance on Moscow’s Streets as Russia Invades Ukraine

Weeks of intense diplomacy and the imposition of Western sanctions failed to avert the offensive.

Valieva Skating Scandal Casts Dark Cloud Over Beijing 2022

The controversy over 15-year-old Kamila Valieva's presence at the Winter Olympics had sharply divided onlookers even before she took to the ice.

‘We Are One People. Why Would We Fight Our Brothers?’ Russians React to Ukraine War Threat

People going about their daily business in the Russian capital told The Moscow Times they don’t believe a conflict is imminent.

‘Hacktivist’ Cyber Disruption Could Spread to Russia, Experts Believe

An attack on the Belarusian railway system shows cyberspace may have become the safest place for activists to reside.

Russian Football Fans Plan Boycott Over Controversial Fan ID System

The backlash has caught authorities off guard and prompted a response from the Kremlin itself.