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As Kremlin Cuts Off the Internet, VPNs Become a Way of Life

Moscow has ramped up efforts to block VPNs as they have become more popular — but the number of users continues to grow.

‘A Lot of War in Society’: Violent Student Attacks Rock Russian Schools

A rash of stabbings, shootings and other violent incidents involving students in Russian schools has spread across the country. What is going on?

He Researched Public Health in the Arctic. Russia Says It Was Treason.

What really led to the imprisonment of a respected scientist?

‘Are You All Cowards?’: Russian Universities Pressure Students to Fight in Ukraine

Russia has increasingly turned to universities as a fresh source of recruits as enlistment numbers dwindle and war casualties soar.

Pavel Talankin Was a ‘Nobody Against Putin.’ Now He Has an Oscar.

Speaking after the Academy Awards, Talankin said he believes the debate around the film is already changing Russian society.

‘Putin, Come Out!’: Why Artist Pavel Krisevich Challenged the Russian Leader to a Duel

The provocative performance artist and activist speaks to MT about how he stays engaged with Russia's domestic discourse from exile.

‘Tomorrow They Might Come for Others’: In Russia’s Arctic, a Lone Lawmaker Defies the System

Alexander Ivanov’s candor about Sakha’s diminishing political autonomy, economic agency and Indigenous rights have made him a target.

‘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.

Laurent Vinatier Studied Russia. Then the Country Imprisoned Him.

“I could disappear,” the French researcher and conflict mediator, who was freed last month, thought during his first night in prison.

Russia’s Exiled Anti-War Movements Are Learning to Play the Long Game

While grassroots anti-war groups were energized and driven to resist the war at its outset, a litany of challenges has reshaped their work.

‘Systemic Degradation’: How 4 Years of Occupation Have Devastated the Economy of Eastern Ukraine

In a region already torn apart by war, the lack of means to put food on the table only heightens day-to-day hardship, experts and locals say.

After 80 Years, Russia and Japan Still Can’t Agree on Who These Islands Belong To

Tokyo is “patiently urging” Moscow to come back to the negotiating table, but Kremlin officials appear uninterested.

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.

‘The Motherland Is Catching Up’: Russians in Kazakhstan Feel Moscow’s Reach in String of Expulsions

Kazakhstan's reputation as a safe haven for Russian exiles has been upended by a string of planned expulsions of dissidents.

As Everyday Prices Creep Upwards, Russians Feel the Pinch

Russian shoppers have flooded social media with videos complaining about rising prices. What is driving the surge?

‘Crunching Ice Under My Feet’: In Russia’s Sakha, a Still-Unbuilt Bridge Is a Matter of Life and Death

Unmet promises for a bridge over the Lena River have left many in Yakutsk effectively cut off from the rest of Russia for much of the year.

Yury Ushakov: The Quiet Power Broker in Russia’s Talks With Team Trump

Those who knew Yury Ushakov say he’s become one of Russia’s most powerful foreign policy officials. Who is he?

‘Completely Cut Off’: Kamchatka Calls for Moscow’s Help as Record Snowfall Paralyzes Region

Locals said entire neighborhoods have been buried and unplowed roads have impeded everything from ambulances to food shipments.

As Visa-Free Chinese Tourism Begins, Russians Reluctantly Welcome the Influx

The return of tourists from China is being welcomed by Russia’s struggling tourism industry even as it revives familiar frictions with locals.

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