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Articles by Moscow Times Reporter

Feature

Moscow's Plans to Build Atop Radioactive Waste Pipes Spark Alarm from Experts, Industry

Thirty-eight years after Chernobyl, careless urban development risks unleashing another radioactive hazard beneath Muscovites’ feet.
5 Min read
Feature

Russia's Epic Floods Expose Lack of Preparedness for Climate Crisis

Without the resources or political will to pursue a policy of climate adaptation, experts warn that this spring's disaster will become the new norm.
7 Min read
Feature

10 Years Later, Russian Volunteer Fighters Recall Fueling the War in Donbas

Thousands of Russian citizens joined the armed insurgency in eastern Ukraine that marked the initial phase of Russia's covert invasion.
8 Min read
Feature

'Dirty as Hell': Coal Dust Chokes Murmansk as Moscow Ramps Up Asia Exports

As the dust fuels public grievances and concerns for human health, the Murmansk Commercial Seaport is busy expanding its operations.
6 Min read
Feature

She Photographed Russian Political Prisoners. Now She's Charged With 'Extremism.'

Antonina Favorskaya and her colleagues consider the charges against her to be revenge for her journalism and political views.
4 Min read
Feature

'Devastating to See': Russia’s Orenburg Region Battles Historic Flood

Experts say the floods, which have caught the authorities off-guard and left many to fend for themselves, are just a preview of what is yet to come.
7 Min read
aerial offensive

Are Ukrainian Drone Attacks on Oil Refineries Hindering Russia’s War Machine?

Though the strikes' impact on the Russian economy is so far negligible, Russia's energy infrastructure is increasingly vulnerable to these attacks.
6 Min read
Feature

One of the First Russian Soldiers to Invade Ukraine Is Given a Funeral 2 Years Later

Kirill Chistyakov's mother spent two years desperately searching for her son after he went missing in action. He was finally identified last month.
5 Min read
News Analysis

War Escalation, Xenophobia, Death Penalty Talks: What’s Next for Russia After Moscow Concert Massacre?

Experts told The Moscow Times that the attack risks exacerbating already existing tensions.
5 Min read
Feature

A Toxic Invasive Plant Has Conquered Russia. Authorities Want to Fight It by Punishing Dacha Owners.

As hogweed takes over roadsides, fields and dachas, experts question how effective the new law will be without systemic solutions.
5 Min read
Feature

‘I’m Trying to Forget It’: Moscow Concert Attack Survivors Grapple With Trauma

Those who managed to escape the horror and chaos of Friday's attack that killed at least 140 people say they are still reeling from the tragedy.
4 Min read
art for the masses

Elena Skvortsova Hides Street Art in Plain Sight

Early in the morning a ceramics artist places tiny figures around the city.
3 Min read
Feature

‘We All Have the Same Face to Them’: Deadly Moscow Attack Magnifies Discrimination Against Central Asian Migrants

In the wake of last week’s deadly shooting at Crocus City Hall, life for many migrants in Russia could take a turn for the worse.
6 Min read
Feature

‘Endless Wave of Violence’: Leading Russian Anti-Torture Activist on Concert Attack Suspects’ Treatment

MT interviewed lawyer Olga Sadovskaya of The Crew Against Torture, a prominent human rights NGO, about what the suspects' treatment means for Russia.
5 Min read
Feature

‘It Could Have Been Me’: Russians Mourn Victims of Deadly Concert Hall Attack

People are laying flowers, toys and candles outside Crocus City Hall in memory of the victims as well as donating blood for the wounded.
4 Min read
historic event

When the LGBTQ+ Community Held a Kiss-In in Front of the Russian Duma

A new animated film is a reminder of how things have changed in Russia.
4 Min read
Feature

Fraud, Violations and Pressure: Election Observers Describe Russian 2024 Presidential Vote

Of the 17 election observers who spoke to MT, 11 said violations at their polling stations led them to question the vote-counting results. 
7 Min read
Feature

Russia Unprepared for 'Alarming' 2024 Wildfire Season, Experts Warn

Unsettling climate forecasts, human neglect, lack of resources and “zombie” fires risk turning Russia’s annual wildfire season into a crisis.
5 Min read
Feature

In Russian Border City, Election Must Go On Under Ukrainian Fire

Belgorod has faced regular deadly cross-border attacks over the past week. But the incidents only appear to have strengthened pro-Kremlin sentiment.
6 Min read
Feature

Defying the Odds, Thousands of Russians Protest Putin’s Rule on Election’s Final Day

At 12 p.m. local time, thousands across Russia went to voting stations to show their opposition to the election, which is believed to be rigged.
5 Min read
Feature

‘Loyalty Check’: Russia Holds Election in Occupied Ukrainian Territories

Voting is taking place despite ongoing fighting and the regions being internationally recognized as part of Ukraine, with no access given to independent...
4 Min read
Feature

Putin’s Election Win Is Almost Certain. What Can Anti-Kremlin Russians Do?

With the election under tight control and wartime repressions stronger than ever, opposition-minded Russians nonetheless have some options.
5 Min read
Feature

In Russia’s Western Caucasus, a New Luxury Ski Resort Threatens UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Western Caucasus is one of the few large mountain areas in Europe left relatively untouched by human activity.
5 Min read
Feature

‘We Are With You’: Thousands of Russians Gather for Navalny’s Funeral

Defying a heavy police presence and the threat of detention, thousands of Russians turned up to honor the late opposition figure's memory.
5 Min read
Feature

Black Sky, Gray Snow: Decades of Air Pollution Leave Siberia's Krasnoyarsk Struggling to Breathe

“I have been living in Krasnoyarsk since birth, and I am generally adapted to life here. But lately, even I cannot bear it,” one resident said.
7 Min read
step backward

5 Ways the Ukraine War Hindered Environmental Progress in Russia

While many of Russia’s environmental policies and agencies remain in place, sanctions and a crackdown on civil society have curtailed the state’s ability...
3 Min read
intersecting interests

How Navalny Helped Spotlight Climate and Environmental Issues in Russia

In addition to fighting corruption, Navalny and his team gave attention to environmental problems at a time when other political actors ignored them.
5 Min read
far north

In Photos: The Remote Arctic Settlement Where Alexei Navalny Spent His Final Weeks

The Moscow Times traveled to the town of Kharp, some 2,000 kilometers northeast of Moscow, where Navalny's prison colony is located.
1 Min read
Feature

Devoted Wife, ‘First Lady of the Opposition’ and Now Emerging Politician: Who Is Yulia Navalnaya?

Navalnaya's decision to enter politics has sparked hope for her late husband's supporters. Yet she faces a challenging road ahead.
5 Min read
explainer

Alexei Navalny Is Declared Dead. What Happens Next?

What we know about his death, where his body is currently located, and where he will be buried.
3 Min read
Feature

‘We Have Been Robbed of Hope’: Russians Lay Flowers at Monuments, Embassies for Navalny

Hundreds of Russians across the country and abroad are laying flowers and photos of the late opposition leader at makeshift memorials.
4 Min read
'THAT CHARACTER'

Putin Refused to Say Navalny's Name. Here’s What He Called Him Instead

The Kremlin insisted that Navalny, 47, did not represent a real threat. But President Vladimir Putin famously found other things to call him.
4 Min read
Feature

Russia Closes In on Avdiivka as Western Aid for Kyiv Falters, War of Attrition Grinds On

The Moscow Times spoke to military analysts for a look at the current situation in key frontline areas of the war.
7 Min read
Feature

In Russia’s Dagestan, a Landfill Upends Villagers’ Livelihoods as National Garbage Crisis Spirals

Dagestan’s troubles are a symptom of Russia’s far-flung waste crisis, with mounting garbage becoming a growing headache for officials nationwide.
6 Min read
repair or replace

The Quiet Battle to Save Moscow's Historical Architecture

A building with protected status might be preserved, or it might be torn down.
4 Min read
Feature

A New Church for War Veterans Has Muscovites Struggling to Save Their Park

The powerful Russian Orthodox Church's new memorial cathedral is part of an ambitious expansion plan. Despite the odds, locals are uniting against it.
6 Min read
formal step

Pro-Peace Presidential Hopeful Nadezhdin Submits Signatures to Register as Candidate

The CEC must now approve or reject Nadezhdin's signatures in a test of how far the Kremlin will allow him to take his campaign.
2 Min read
Feature

How Will Russia's Regions Bear the Brunt of Climate Crisis?

A new study examines which of Russia's regions will suffer the heaviest economic toll from heat waves, water stress, wildfires and permafrost melting.
6 Min read
Feature

Ex-Rebel Leader Girkin Sentenced to 4 Years for Extremism After Criticizing War

Igor Girkin, who once led pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk, fell foul of the Kremlin with his criticism of Russia’s war strategy in Ukraine.
3 Min read
Feature

‘Hope for Change’ or ‘Kremlin Spoiler’: Who Is Boris Nadezhdin, the Presidential Hopeful Uniting Pro-Peace Russians?

He openly calls for ending the war against Ukraine and freeing political prisoners. How far can Boris Nadezhdin take his campaign?
6 Min read
Feature

‘I Was Sent to My Death’: Daria Trepova, Facing 28 Years for Pro-War Blogger's Killing, Maintains Innocence

When her verdict is announced this week, Trepova is widely expected to receive a lengthy prison term in what observers have called disproportionate.
5 Min read
wave of support

Russians Line Up to Sign Papers for Pro-Peace Presidential Hopeful Nadezhdin

Boris Nadezhdin, who is running on a platform of peace with Ukraine, needs 100,000 signatures in order to continue his campaign.
3 Min read
exclusive

Perm City Lawmaker Flees Russia After Criticizing Putin, Ukraine Invasion

"I did everything that a citizen has to do," Sergei Medvedev told MT, adding that he "couldn’t remain silent.”
2 Min read
Feature

White Scarves and Flowers: Wives and Mothers of Mobilized Soldiers Take Resentment to the Kremlin

In one of Putin's biggest domestic political challenges, women relatives of men who were mobilized for the war in Ukraine are demanding their return.
5 Min read
Feature

Plans to Fell Forest for Mega-Prison in Siberia’s Ulan-Ude Roil Public

Experts warn the prison, which will see 80 hectares of forest cut down in what locals call "the lungs of the city," will harm residents' well-being.
6 Min read
at-risk animals

Activists Evacuate Dogs From Russia’s Buryatia Over Euthanization Law

In the republic of Buryatia, stray dogs in shelters may be euthanized if they are not adopted or claimed by their owners within a set period of time.
2 Min read
Feature

‘Total Disgrace’: Anger, Frustration as Mass Heating Failures Across Russia Leave Thousands in the Cold

Suffering from subzero temperatures, residents of several regions are pointing the finger at local authorities and utility services.
4 Min read
'state of mourning'

Unprecedented Cross-Border Strikes Rattle Russia’s Belgorod

Dozens have been killed and scores more injured in the near-daily strikes, sending the border city into shock and anxiety after months of relative calm...
6 Min read
Feature

Alienated From West, Russia's Scientists Grapple With Working in Isolation

The isolation of Russian science has raised concerns over global cooperation on the world’s deepening climate and environmental crises. 
6 Min read
Feature

In 2023, the Kremlin Worked To Dismantle Russia’s Environmental Movement. Some of It Survived.

Russia labeled global NGOs such as Bellona, Greenpeace and the WWF “undesirable.” Experts agree that advocacy remains possible at a grassroots level...
6 Min read
remote colony

IK-3: What We Know About Navalny's New Prison Facility in the Arctic

Accounts from current and former IK-3 prisoners describe a particularly harsh and isolated environment.
3 Min read
jail shuffle

Navalny's Whereabouts Unknown After Possible Prison Transfer

The jailed Kremlin critic's spokeswoman told The Moscow Times there was currently “no information” as to where he may have been transferred.
2 Min read
Feature

'Urban Madmen': Russia’s Environmental Activists Targeted With Soviet-Style Punitive Psychiatry

Beyond its traumatic impact on individuals, punitive psychiatry can be used to tarnish the reputation of environmental movements, experts say.
6 Min read
lack of clarity

‘No One Knows Anything’: St. Petersburg’s Queer Community Grapples With ‘Extremist’ LGBT Ban

In one of the country’s most LGBT-tolerant cities, the queer community has been thrown into unprecedented uncertainty and fear.
5 Min read
Feature

As COP28 Kicks Off, Russia Seeks to Assert Its Role in Global Climate Fight

The UN's climate conference will test whether Russia's voice can still be heard in the global climate dialogue as it continues to be one of the world's...
6 Min read
Feature

The Soviets Conducted Dozens of 'Peaceful' Nuclear Explosions. Their Radioactive Contamination Lingers On.

Questions remain to this day over who should be responsible for monitoring these long-abandoned sites and how they impact human health.
6 Min read
Feature

As Russia’s Permafrost Thaws, Ancient Pathogens Risk Re-Awakening

Pathogens that are tens or even hundreds of thousands of years old may still be infectious once thawed, putting humanity at risk of never-before-seen diseases...
6 Min read
Feature

Sakhalin Region Aims to Chart Russia's Climate Neutrality Course With Carbon Quotas

The Far East region has emerged as a testing ground for mechanisms that could pave the way for a carbon-neutral economy — first locally and eventually...
6 Min read
Feature

Climate Skeptics Muddy Russians' Understanding of Warming Planet

Russia is warming 2.5 times as fast as the rest of the planet. Yet some of its scientists, researchers and public figures regularly deny climate science...
6 Min read
Feature

Russia Grapples with Long-Abandoned Toxic Waste Sites

Thousands of leftovers from Soviet and modern Russian industry continue to leak pollution into the environment, putting the health of millions at risk...
5 Min read
Feature

In Historic First, Russian Activists Appeal to European Rights Court for Climate Justice

After the Russian Supreme Court rejected a case challenging Russia's climate policy, activists have taken the case to the European Court of Human Rights...
6 Min read
Feature

Russians Pay Final Tribute to Prigozhin 40 Days After Mercenary Chief's Death

According to Orthodox Christian tradition, the souls of the deceased remain on Earth for 40 days before finding their eternal resting place.
4 Min read
Feature

Moscow Mayor’s Urban Forest 'Improvement' Sparks Grassroots Resistance

Activists risk beatings, police detention and potential criminal charges as they fight an everyday battle to stop forest clearing in their communities...
6 Min read
Feature

UNESCO Plans to Add Volcanoes of Kamchatka to ‘World Heritage in Danger’ List

The construction of a $407 million tourism development project is putting the Kamchatka peninsula's pristine environment in jeopardy.
5 Min read
Feature

Pro-Kremlin Pop Star’s Concert a Microcosm of Russia’s Wartime ‘Patriotism’

Shaman brought his songs, which are filled with pro-invasion messaging, to St. Petersburg's Gazprom Arena, where local authorities reportedly bought up...
5 Min read
Feature

Exiled Experts Lament Dashed Hopes for Russia’s Green Energy Transition

The departures of dozens of experts and advocates could stall the expansion of renewables in Russia, the world's fourth-largest greenhouse gas emitter...
6 Min read
Feature

Toxic Moscow Region Waste Facility Sparks Grassroots Resistance

Regional officials boast of the Yug waste processing complex as an environmentally friendly alternative to landfills. In reality, it is poisoning those...
5 Min read