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opinion Nick Trickett

The Russian Economy: Failing To Plan, Planning to Fail

"Technological sovereignty" is word salad for partial state planning — and too little, too late.

Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan

Prison Swaps, Putin Style

More Westerners may be arrested as Putin forms a “bank” of people for future prisoner exchanges.

Sergey Radchenko

Collective Responsibility and the Slide into the Totalitarian Past

It's convenient to blame "the Russians" for failing to stop the war. But what have you done to stop it?

The Fear Behind Vladimir Putin's Jokes

The more he jokes, and the more obscene his jokes, the more he shows what he fears.

Michele A. Berdy

All the World in One Russian Word

When the first step is the hardest — also evil, clever, daring, wild, turbulent, smart, artistic, and jaunty.

War in Ukraine Has Sparked a New Race to Succeed Putin

Possible candidates are either making big bellicose statements or totally silent on the war.

Michele A. Berdy

Warning: Do Not Say This in Russian

When language changes, we don't like it. But language doesn't care.

The Ukrainian First Lady in Vogue

What was the reaction in Ukraine to Olena Zelenska's photo shoot? Not what you'd expect.

Explainer: What Was the 1654 Treaty of Pereyaslav?

All about the 368-year-old treaty that is so important to modern Russia's revisionist history.

Andrei Kolesnikov

Russia’s Prison Brand of Economic Self-Sufficiency

Prison labor may prove to be one of the mainstays of Russia's economic development.

Michele A. Berdy

Chowing Down the Russian Way

Judging by the language, eating the Russian way means really digging in.

Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan

The Good Engineer Zima

The Russian regime rewards engineers who keep the regime afloat, but it is a Faustian bargain.

William Alberque

Will Russia Send Nuclear Arms to Belarus?

The new missiles would extend the Russian-Belarusian range from Moldova to the Baltics.

The Unlearned Lessons of 'Masyanya,' Episode 162

Did Oleg Kuraev's animated lesson in empathy make any difference?

Michele A. Berdy

The Russian Sedentary Diet

Losing weight the Russian way involves sitting - what could be better?

Russian Special Services: From Political to Mass Repressions

The Russian special services are using tried and true methods of intimidation and repression.

People of Post-Colonial Lands Should Show Solidarity with Ukraine

Why don't once-colonized nations recognize Russia and the U.S.S.R's colonial past and present?

Alexander Etkind

Beat Your Enemy, But Read His Poets

Are Russia's writers responsible for the country's imperialism and colonialism?

Michele A. Berdy

The Art of Russian Mumbling, Grumbling, and Babbling

Everyone needs to know how to grumble, lisp, burble, gurgle, growl and bellyache.

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