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In depth

Wagner Head Prigozhin’s Past Life as a Children’s Author and Illustrator

Almost 20 years ago, the Wagner leader penned a playful children’s story with his son and daughter.

Russia Lays Mines at 'Industrial Level' Ahead of Ukrainian Counteroffensive

Russian minefields will likely cause hundreds of civilian deaths and require billions of dollars to be safely removed in the coming years.
4 Min read

‘Almost Nothing Had Changed’: Anti-War Russians Risk First Trips Home Since Invasion

“Moscow bars were packed with visitors even on Monday evenings,” said a 25-year-old screenwriter who returned in April after months abroad. 
5 Min read

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

‘We F***ed Up’: Shock But No Panic in Belgorod as Border Incursion Brings War Home

Local residents told The Moscow Times that the attack was met with a mixture of shock, anger and indifference.
3 Min read

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

Hush Descends on St. Petersburg Party Zone as Nightclubs Shuttered

The venues likely fell victim to Russia’s encroaching conservatism and the state’s eagerness to take a greater role in day-to-day life. 
4 Min read

Russian Confectioner Fined for Anti-War Cakes Vows to Keep Baking

If convicted a second time under draconian wartime censorship laws, Anastasia Chernysheva could be sent to prison for up to seven years.
3 Min read

Tension and Worry as Russia’s Kursk Marks Downbeat Victory Day

Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, was one of 10 Russian regions to cancel traditional May 9 military parades. 
4 Min read

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

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

7 Known 'Wagner Cemeteries' in Russia and Occupied Ukraine

Most of the graves are identical, with each bearing a sign reading: "Blood. Honor. Motherland. Courage. PMC Wagner."
5 Min read

Russia Ramps Up Use of Glide Bombs Ahead of Ukraine Counteroffensive

Glide bombs can travel much further and are much more precise than unguided — or “dumb” — bombs. And they're relatively cheap.
4 Min read

Rebranded KFC Opens in Russia Following Chicken Chain’s Departure Over Ukraine

The rebranded restaurant chain’s flagship location was fully packed at its grand opening.
3 Min read

ICC Arrest Warrant for Putin Sparks Nervousness in Russian Elite

A special meeting was even convened in the Kremlin to discuss Russia’s domestic and international response a few days after the ICC announcement.
4 Min read

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

‘I Had Just Weeks or Even Days’: Lawyer of Jailed Kremlin Critic Kara-Murza Flees Russia

Vadim Prokhorov has defended a string of prominent Kremlin critics over the years, including Vladimir Kara-Murza, Ilya Yashin and Boris Nemtsov. 
3 Min read

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

‘Freedom Сannot Be Shut Down’: Defiance as Russia’s Sakharov Center Holds Last Public Event

The veteran human rights group has been evicted by the local authorities from its iconic headquarters in downtown Moscow.
3 Min read
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