Support The Moscow Times!
Contribute today
My account
Signout
×
Sections
Home
Ukraine War
News
Opinion
Business
Arts and Life
Podcasts
Galleries
Newsletters
TMT Lecture Series
Archive
Multimedia projects
Mothers & Daughters
Generation P
News
Ukraine War
Business
Opinion
Arts and Life
Podcasts
Newsletters
Archive
RU
My account
Signout
Support The Moscow Times!
Contribute today
Articles by Leyla Latypova
In depth
Assimilate or Flee: Wartime Pressures Weigh on Russia’s Ukrainian Diaspora
There are hundreds of thousands of ethnic Ukrainians in Russia whose lives have been affected by the 15-month invasion.
4 Min read
In depth
Russia’s Arrest of Evan Gershkovich Echoes Soviet Spy Scandal
Nicholas Daniloff was working as a journalist in the Soviet Union when he was detained in 1986 and accused of espionage.
4 Min read
over the border
Russian Border Region Says Ukrainian 'Sabotage' Unit Carried Out Incursion
Local authorities have introduced a “counterterrorism regime” throughout the entire region.
4 Min read
tatar diaspora
Ravaged By Fires, a Tatar Village in West Siberia Calls on Tatarstan to Fund Reconstruction
“There are tears, but [there is] also hope that we will rebuild everything.”
3 Min read
In depth
Russia Set for Muted Victory Day as Ukrainian Counteroffensive Looms
This year’s events will be marked by cancellations, enhanced security and little interest in attending from foreign leaders.
5 Min read
In depth
The Torture of Isolation: Inside the Russian Prison Housing U.S. Journalist Evan Gershkovich
Its impenetrable walls once muffled the cries of Soviet-era political prisoners tortured and executed by security officers during Stalin’s purges.
5 Min read
In depth
From Gershkovich to Gadzhiev: 9 Journalists Jailed in Russia
At least 22 journalists are currently imprisoned in Russia for their work, according to Reporters Without Borders.
5 Min read
new law in action
Russia Begins Issuing Digital Military Summons – Reports
The use of digital summons have fueled fears the Kremlin may be preparing to mobilize more men to aid its military efforts in Ukraine.
3 Min read
In depth
Russia’s Local Activists Find Room for Protest – Just Don’t Mention the War
While the political significance of such protests is close to nil, some experts believe they are helping nurture Russia’s battered civil society.
4 Min read
News Analysis
As Xi Visits Putin, Allies Trumpet 'New Era' But Offer Little Substance
Xi’s reunion with Putin is unlikely to catalyze a major shift in bilateral cooperation — or in efforts to end the war in Ukraine, experts say.
4 Min read
In depth
Languages in Russia Disappearing Faster than Data Suggests, Activists Warn
While Russia's 2021 census might help identify linguistic trends, experts argue it fails to capture the real number of active language users.
5 Min read
‘Here to Help’
Russia's Grateful Diaspora Joins Earthquake Relief Efforts in Turkey
As Turkey struggled amid the worst disaster in its modern history, recent Russian arrivals in the country were determined to help.
4 Min read
In depth
Russia’s Religious Leaders Who Criticized the Ukraine War
Orthodox priest Maxim Nagibin has been an outcast in his village in southern Russia since the sermon he gave at his local church, St. Michael the Archangel...
4 Min read
In depth
The Desperate Chechen Lawyer Offering Kadyrov a Human Swap
Human rights lawyer Abubakar Yangulbaev is no novice when it comes to standing up to Ramzan Kadyrov, the strongman leader of Russia’s republic of...
In depth
'Final Nail in the Coffin': Activists Lament Moscow Helsinki Group Closure
Russian and international human rights activists on Thursday condemned the dissolution of the Moscow Helsinki Group (MHG), Russia's oldest independent...
In depth
Russian Emigres Rally Worldwide in Support of Jailed Navalny
Thousands of Russian emigres in more than 60 cities, from Seoul and London to Yerevan, Vilnius and Belgrade, took part in solidarity rallies Saturday in...
In depth
Russia’s Local Journalists Struggle to Keep News Flowing – From Home and Abroad
Russian independent media outlet Zvezda in the city of Perm consistently uses the word “war” in its coverage of the fighting in Ukraine &mdash...
In depth
What Really Happened With Russia’s Economy in 2022?
While many analysts and observers expected the Russian economy to collapse under the weight of the Ukraine war and a flood of Western sanctions, the country...
vocal resistance
Tatarstan Deputies Reject Kremlin Attempt to Bring Region to Heel
In a rare show of defiance toward the federal government in Moscow, regional politicians in Tatarstan on Thursday rejected a set of amendments to its constitution...
In depth
7 Unexpected Ways Western Sanctions Have Affected Life in Russia
Western sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine may not have resulted in the dramatic economic collapse some predicted — but they have still...
In depth
Ukraine War Fuels ‘Fear and Anxiety’ for Russia’s Trans Community
Transgender and non-binary people in Russia have faced rising harassment and physical abuse since the start of the war in Ukraine, activists say, as the...
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...
straight to the front
From Mobilization to Death in 10 Days: Russia’s Draftees Killed in Ukraine
St. Petersburg lawyer Andrei Nikiforov was drafted into the Russian army four days after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a “partial&rdquo...
talking tough
Russia Claims Front ‘Stabilized’ as Ukraine Pushes on With Counteroffensive
Russian officials sought to allay concerns Wednesday that Ukraine could achieve a major breakthrough in its ongoing counteroffensive amid reports that...
unlikely critics
‘We Cannot Win’: Russia’s Military Veterans Opposing The Ukraine War
After retiring from the Russian Air Force at the rank of lieutenant-colonel, Vitaly Votanovsky got involved in political activism in the southern Russian...
Disproportionate levies
Ethnic Minorities Hit Hardest By Russia’s Mobilization, Activists Say
Just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization for the war in Ukraine last week, a family in Russia’s majority-Buddhist...
to the front
‘We Just Started Crying’: Call-Up Gains Steam as Russians Receive Draft Papers
Thousands of men across Russia were handed draft papers and NGOs helping conscripts were flooded with requests for help Thursday amid the military mobilization...
staying orders
Russia’s Tatarstan Bans Reservists From Leaving as Mobilization Underway
Authorities in Russia’s republic of Tatarstan have prohibited all residents in the military reserves from leaving the region, according to a government...
regional races
‘Demoralized and Depressed’: Voting Begins in Russia’s First Wartime Elections
Moscow will see the most contested elections as over a hundred independent candidates seek to win municipal council seats.
new destination
Russians Flock to Belarus for Sanctions-Free Shopping Tourism
The demand for tours to Russia’s ex-Soviet ally has been unexpectedly high since the invasion, according to travel agents.
close ties
From Yandex to RT: Russia Expands Presence in Serbia Amid Ukraine War
The Kremlin is looking to use its Balkan ally to evade sanctions and “gaslight” the West, analysts say.
evidence of abuse
Russia’s ‘Filtration Camp’ System Detailed in Human Rights Watch Report
“The forcible transfer of civilians… can be prosecuted as a war crime and a crime against humanity,” the international watchdog said.
complex legacy
Praise and Blame: How Russia Reacted to the Death of Gorbachev
President Vladimir Putin said Gorbachev was a “statesman who made an enormous impact on the trajectory of world history.”
long read
'Collapse: The Fall of the Soviet Union'
It’s hard not to seek answers to questions of the present in Zubok’s work about the past.
navigating the maze
NGO Helps Women Fleeing Ukraine War, Political Repression
A global team of volunteers coordinated by a leading Russian expert is supporting women facing gender-based violence abroad.
Possible exchange
Explainer: What’s Next for U.S. Basketball Star Griner After Russia Conviction?
Brittney Griner’s defense is preparing to appeal the verdict, while prisoner swap talks between the U.S. and Russia could drag on for months.
end of an era
Russia’s Tatar Minority Mourns Loss of Regional Presidency
Vladimir Putin formalized the arrangement in July when referencing the local leader as “head” for the first time.
Local battalions
‘Explosive Cocktail’: The Russian Regions Recruiting Units for Ukraine War
It may alleviate Russia’s manpower shortages but is unlikely to change the course of the fighting, analysts said.
locked up
Russian Authorities Detain, Threaten Soldiers Refusing to Fight in Ukraine
Servicemen report that they are being prevented from resigning from the military.
going live
Russia's Liberal Dozhd TV Returns to the Air After Wartime Crackdown
“We hope that we won’t disappoint the viewers,” Dozhd’s editor-in-chief said.
professional duty
‘We Save Everyone’: The Lawyers Helping Russian Soldiers Evade Service in Ukraine
Thousands of Russian contract soldiers and National Guard employees have likely refused to be sent into battle since the start of the invasion.
Declining fast
Russian Ruble Drops 17% Amid Falling Exports, Rumored Intervention
The ruble is currently at its lowest level in six weeks.
far away
Russia’s Remote Communities Feel Fallout From Ukraine Invasion
Residents of distant towns and villages are facing the loss and grief of a “big land” conflict.
'business trip'
Russia Recruits Teachers, Construction Workers and Politicians to ‘Rebuild’ Occupied Ukraine
Potential hires are promised salaries up to nine times higher than the Russian average.
showcase event
Taliban, Separatists and Lukashenko: Russia Kicks Off Diminished St. Petersburg Forum
There will be no delegations from “unfriendly” countries, according to Russian officials.
looming recession
Explainer: What Does Russia’s ‘Zero-Inflation’ Mean?
“Things are a lot worse than they are saying,” said one economist.
online war
Amid Official Silence, Russian Soldiers’ Families Get Answers From the Enemy
Ukraine’s “IT Army” spreads information and photos of deceased Russian military personnel on social media to raise awareness of losses.
under pressure
Russia Places Top Investigative Journalist on Federal Wanted List
Andrei Soldatov, a leading expert on Russia's security services, learned of the case against him after his bank accounts were frozen.
A Future Federation
For Russia’s Exiled Ethnic Activists, Ukraine War a ‘Window of Opportunity’
“We believe that the Russian invasion of Ukraine will bring about the fall of the empire,” said one ethnic rights activist.
big day
Z-symbols, Fewer Tanks and No Guests: Russia Prepares to Mark Victory Day as Ukraine War Rages
There will be 129 military vehicles and about 10,000 personnel taking part in the military parade in Moscow on Monday.
CRITICAL JUNCTURE
Explainer: Where Things Stand With Navalny
A look at the state of play in the impasse between President Vladimir Putin’s most vocal domestic critic and the Kremlin.
New Release
Guzel Yakhina Lays Bare the Soviet Past in 'Train to Samarkand'
Yakhina’s new novel gives voice to the children of 1920s famine.
women's day
Of Borscht and Protests: The Female Future of Russia’s Opposition
Women in Russia’s opposition have been drivers of change long before entering the spotlight in the wake of Alexei Navalny's jailing.
Live, love, laugh!
South African Comedian Goes for Laughs in Moscow
Mum-z speaks about comedy, love and living in Russia as a black man.
bilateral bonding
Iranian Speaker’s Moscow Visit Signals Closer Ties to Come, Experts Say
Mohammad-Bager Galibaf’s Russia trip was more than a routine visit, experts told The Moscow Times.
proof of immunity
Russian Region Becomes First to Introduce Covid-19 'Passports'
Passport holders will be exempt from certain pandemic restrictions and eligible for discounts, sparking debate over "immunity discrimination."
2020 IN REVIEW
7 Protests That Defined the Year in Russia and Former Soviet Republics
Anger in Khabarovsk, historic demonstrations in Belarus and revolution in Kyrgyzstan.
2020 IN REVIEW
Russia’s Response to the Coronavirus: The 2020 Timeline
How the pandemic unfolded in Russia in 2020, from border closures to mass vaccination rollout.
STRONGER TOGETHER
New Alliance Hopes to Raise Awareness of Arctic Environmental Crisis
BRIES will unite scientists and journalists from five northern nations to sound the alarm.
Arctic Open
The Arctic Open Film Festival Goes Online
Some of the festival's avant-garde films are already available to the wider audience.
TECH-SAVVY TEACHING
‘Geek Teachers’ Innovate Russian Classrooms
A project founded by two young teachers has supported remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic.
regional player
What Does the Nagorno-Karabakh Deal Mean for Russia?
Regional analysts disagree on whether the latest ceasefire should be treated as a Russian geopolitical victory.
CLIMATE CRISIS
Scientists Fear Arctic Sea That Didn’t Freeze Heralds Trend
A Russian expert told The Moscow Times that sea-ice coverage is shrinking 10% each decade.
ALONE TOGETHER
Binational Couples Separated by Russia's Coronavirus Travel Bans Push for Change
Complicated visa rules and the lack of legal recognition for non-married couples make reuniting in Russia almost impossible.