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Features

‘Tomorrow They Might Come for Others’: In Russia’s Arctic, a Lone Deputy 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.
4 Min read

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.
8 Min read

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.
5 Min read

‘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.
5 Min read

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.
7 Min read

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.
5 Min read

‘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.
6 Min read

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?
5 Min read

‘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.
6 Min read

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?
9 Min read

‘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.
4 Min read

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.
4 Min read

‘Heated Rivalry’ Catches Fire in Russia Despite Kremlin’s Anti-LGBTQ+ Repressions

For many Russian viewers, the series provides a rare portrayal of queer lives and relationships at a time when LGBTQ+ visibility has largely vanished.
4 Min read

For Russia’s Wartime Diaspora, New Year’s Traditions Become a Tether to Home

The Moscow Times spoke to Russian emigres who left after the invasion of Ukraine about how they celebrated the new year in their new homes.
7 Min read

‘Hoping for an End to the War’: Russians Share Their New Year’s Wishes for 2026

Russians who spoke to The Moscow Times said they are holding onto hope for peace and an end to political repressions in the year ahead.
5 Min read

2 Years On, a Journalist’s Imprisonment Offers a Grim Look Into the Kremlin’s Press Crackdown

In a Siberian penal colony, Nika Novak has experienced the Russian prison system’s harsh treatment of journalists firsthand.
6 Min read

These Women Fled Abuse in Russia's North Caucasus. Then They Were Found Dead.

The recent deaths of two women who fled abusive homes in Chechnya highlight the danger that victims still face outside Russia.
5 Min read

‘Dogs of War Go to Heaven’: The Russian Rappers Celebrating the Military

Rap Platoon is one of a handful of musical acts that have been producing patriotic, pro-war music. Experts say they're unlikely to make it big.
4 Min read
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