https://www.themoscowtimes.com/news The Moscow Times offers everything you need to know about Russia: Breaking news, top stories, business, analysis, opinion, multimedia en-us Wed, 04 Nov 2026 21:29:50 +0300 600 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/04/moscow-summons-norwegian-diplomat-over-seizure-of-research-ship-and-state-property-a94180 Norwegian authorities seized the ship on Sept. 2 to enforce a court-ordered $4.2 billion arbitration award by Ukrainian state energy company Naftogaz. Wed, 04 Nov 2026 21:08:42 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/04/moscow-summons-norwegian-diplomat-over-seizure-of-research-ship-and-state-property-a94180 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/04/ukrainian-attacks-kill-3-in-belgorod-region-a94179 Four others were wounded in attacks across the region on Wednesday, local authorities said. Wed, 04 Nov 2026 17:50:26 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/04/ukrainian-attacks-kill-3-in-belgorod-region-a94179 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/04/kremlin-hopes-trump-will-continue-peacemaking-efforts-in-ukraine-as-democrats-win-control-of-congress-a94177 Officials in Moscow said they “sincerely count on” the U.S. president to hold fast to his committment to broker an end to the ongoing war. Wed, 04 Nov 2026 16:33:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/04/kremlin-hopes-trump-will-continue-peacemaking-efforts-in-ukraine-as-democrats-win-control-of-congress-a94177 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/04/turkish-police-detain-dozens-of-russian-women-in-ankara-nightclub-raids-a94176 The Russian Embassy in Turkey told state media that it was still trying to find out why Turkish law enforcement detained the 34 women late last month. Wed, 04 Nov 2026 14:53:09 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/04/turkish-police-detain-dozens-of-russian-women-in-ankara-nightclub-raids-a94176 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/04/russia-hikes-tariffs-on-spirits-from-unfriendly-countries-a94175 The 35% import duty applies to whiskey, rum, gin, liqueurs, brandies, tinctures and undenatured ethyl alcohol, with a minimum tariff of 5 euros. Wed, 04 Nov 2026 14:15:45 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/04/russia-hikes-tariffs-on-spirits-from-unfriendly-countries-a94175 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/04/russia-will-not-compete-at-world-junior-hockey-championship-in-canada-pm-carney-says-a94174 "While Russia and Belarus are supporting this illegal, unjustified, horrific war in Ukraine, as long as that's going on, there will be none of those athletes competing for their countries in Canada," Mark Carney said. Wed, 04 Nov 2026 13:12:56 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/04/russia-will-not-compete-at-world-junior-hockey-championship-in-canada-pm-carney-says-a94174 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/04/ukrainian-drone-assault-sparks-fire-at-ozon-warehouse-in-adygea-a94173 The e-commerce giant said it “promptly evacuated all workers” from the facility in the town of Adygeysk, adding that no one was hurt. Wed, 04 Nov 2026 12:25:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/04/ukrainian-drone-assault-sparks-fire-at-ozon-warehouse-in-adygea-a94173 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/04/us-will-drop-smuggling-charges-against-russian-born-harvard-medical-school-scientist-a94172 Prosecutors dropped the charges after a federal judge cleared the way for Kseniia Petrova to obtain evidence supporting her claim that she was being vindictively prosecuted. Wed, 04 Nov 2026 11:22:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/04/us-will-drop-smuggling-charges-against-russian-born-harvard-medical-school-scientist-a94172 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/if-youre-afraid-theyll-know-for-foreign-recruits-deserting-russias-army-is-a-fraught-gamble-a94166 Peter, a man from Pakistan, went to Russia for a better life. Instead, he says, he found only misery after being deceived into joining the army. Tue, 03 Nov 2026 20:04:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/if-youre-afraid-theyll-know-for-foreign-recruits-deserting-russias-army-is-a-fraught-gamble-a94166 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/norway-denmark-sweden-latvia-and-czech-republic-to-boycott-russia-at-2027-ice-hockey-world-championship-a94171 The CAS decision has also prompted several corporate sponsors to threaten to pull their support from future events. Tue, 03 Nov 2026 20:03:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/norway-denmark-sweden-latvia-and-czech-republic-to-boycott-russia-at-2027-ice-hockey-world-championship-a94171 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/american-billionaire-leads-swap-plan-to-buy-lukoils-overseas-assets-sources-say-a94170 Tue, 03 Nov 2026 19:38:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/american-billionaire-leads-swap-plan-to-buy-lukoils-overseas-assets-sources-say-a94170 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/poland-accuses-russia-of-flashlight-provocation-along-kaliningrad-border-a94167 Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Polish and NATO intelligence services received information in recent weeks about possible “acts of diversion or more serious provocations” that could occur near Poland’s border with Russia sometime in early November. Tue, 03 Nov 2026 19:10:36 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/poland-accuses-russia-of-flashlight-provocation-along-kaliningrad-border-a94167 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/melania-trump-to-host-russian-and-ukrainian-delegations-at-white-house-a94165 The U.S. first lady is expected to deliver remarks on the recent ceasefire in the Ukrainian town of Oleshky on Thursday. Tue, 03 Nov 2026 17:25:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/melania-trump-to-host-russian-and-ukrainian-delegations-at-white-house-a94165 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/soft-power-in-a-cardboard-box-pro-kremlin-activist-calls-for-pizza-ban-a94164 Vitaly Borodin urged Russian schools and universities to remove pizza from their cafeteria menus due to Italy’s support for Ukraine. Tue, 03 Nov 2026 17:04:26 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/soft-power-in-a-cardboard-box-pro-kremlin-activist-calls-for-pizza-ban-a94164 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/russia-china-and-us-summit-under-discussion-kremlin-says-a94163 Moscow is hoping that plans for a meeting between Putin, Trump and Xi in China will be finalized in the coming days. Tue, 03 Nov 2026 14:50:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/russia-china-and-us-summit-under-discussion-kremlin-says-a94163 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/ukrainian-drones-hit-yaroslavl-oil-refinery-trigger-power-outages-in-crimea-a94162 Officials said two refinery workers were wounded in the attack, but did not provide details about the extent of the damage to the facility. Tue, 03 Nov 2026 12:57:07 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/ukrainian-drones-hit-yaroslavl-oil-refinery-trigger-power-outages-in-crimea-a94162 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/at-least-31-killed-in-russian-bomb-attack-in-zaporizhzhia-a94161 Ukrainian officials said Russia bombed a school being used as an aid distribution point in a village in the village of Komyshuvakha. Tue, 03 Nov 2026 12:06:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/at-least-31-killed-in-russian-bomb-attack-in-zaporizhzhia-a94161 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/us-mediated-ukraine-peace-talks-to-resume-in-abu-dhabi-next-week-a94160 White House officials said the U.S. will “mediate working-level negotiations” on Nov. 10 and 11 to advance “Trump's mission to end the war.” Tue, 03 Nov 2026 11:55:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/03/us-mediated-ukraine-peace-talks-to-resume-in-abu-dhabi-next-week-a94160 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/02/western-pharma-giants-paid-millions-to-russian-distributors-linked-to-fraud-whistleblower-report-says-a94158 The payments by Merck, Eli Lilly, Novartis and AstraZeneca allegedly helped fund a corruption scheme that kept drug prices high and limited competition across Russia’s public healthcare system. Mon, 02 Nov 2026 20:57:14 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/02/western-pharma-giants-paid-millions-to-russian-distributors-linked-to-fraud-whistleblower-report-says-a94158 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/02/putin-orders-private-data-centers-to-set-aside-10-of-capacity-to-support-it-infrastructure-a94159 Russian data centers have become targets of Ukrainian drone attacks in recent weeks. Mon, 02 Nov 2026 19:13:30 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/02/putin-orders-private-data-centers-to-set-aside-10-of-capacity-to-support-it-infrastructure-a94159 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/02/russia-officially-withdraws-from-europes-anti-torture-convention-a94156 Russia ratified the anti-torture treaty in 1998, two years after joining the Council of Europe. It announced its decision to withdraw in October 2025. Mon, 02 Nov 2026 18:50:09 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/02/russia-officially-withdraws-from-europes-anti-torture-convention-a94156 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/02/russian-discount-retailer-fix-price-exits-mongolia-a94155 Industry analysts said Mongolia’s small market size and logistical challenges in the country likely made it difficult for Fix Price to run a sustainable business there. Mon, 02 Nov 2026 17:48:03 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/02/russian-discount-retailer-fix-price-exits-mongolia-a94155 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/02/fsb-claims-ukraine-sent-drone-goggles-rigged-with-explosives-to-russian-volunteers-a94154 The devices were allegedly wired to detonate immediately upon being turned on, killing or injuring the operators, the FSB said. Mon, 02 Nov 2026 17:26:22 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/02/fsb-claims-ukraine-sent-drone-goggles-rigged-with-explosives-to-russian-volunteers-a94154 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/02/oleshky-ceasefire-and-aid-operation-end-without-any-violations-lantratova-says-a94152 The Kremlin called the humanitarian operation a success, praising the “level of coordination achieved among participants from all sides.” Mon, 02 Nov 2026 15:31:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/02/oleshky-ceasefire-and-aid-operation-end-without-any-violations-lantratova-says-a94152 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/02/kremlin-downplays-prospect-of-resuming-gas-shipments-to-europe-via-ukraine-a94151 U.S. officials reportedly suggested the idea during talks in September as an incentive for Russia to halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid. Mon, 02 Nov 2026 14:17:44 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/02/kremlin-downplays-prospect-of-resuming-gas-shipments-to-europe-via-ukraine-a94151 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/02/ukrainian-drones-hit-major-oil-transport-hub-in-samara-region-a94149 The Transneft-owned facility, which moves crude toward refineries and pipelines in western Russia, has been repeatedly attacked this month. Mon, 02 Nov 2026 12:24:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/02/ukrainian-drones-hit-major-oil-transport-hub-in-samara-region-a94149 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/01/fsb-arrests-minor-over-moscow-park-attack-threat-after-us-tip-off-a94148 The U.S. Embassy in Moscow had issued an urgent security alert warning of a credible threat of a mass casualty event. Sun, 01 Nov 2026 17:18:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/01/fsb-arrests-minor-over-moscow-park-attack-threat-after-us-tip-off-a94148 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/01/cyberattack-hits-rosstat-as-hackers-claim-huge-data-theft-a94146 Hackers claimed to have stolen 23 terabytes of data, including information on Russian losses in the war in Ukraine. Sun, 01 Nov 2026 17:06:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/01/cyberattack-hits-rosstat-as-hackers-claim-huge-data-theft-a94146 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/01/russias-independent-journalism-will-survive-in-exile-gershkovich-says-at-inaugural-derk-sauer-lecture-a94145 The event was both a tribute to Sauer’s legacy and a discussion of Gershkovich’s work and imprisonment in Russia. Sun, 01 Nov 2026 15:04:57 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/11/01/russias-independent-journalism-will-survive-in-exile-gershkovich-says-at-inaugural-derk-sauer-lecture-a94145 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/31/us-embassy-warns-of-potential-mass-casualty-event-in-moscow-2-a94144 Russia's FSB said it had received the report and was "taking appropriate action." Sat, 31 Oct 2026 20:25:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/31/us-embassy-warns-of-potential-mass-casualty-event-in-moscow-2-a94144 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/31/oleshky-evacuees-arrive-in-belarus-before-heading-to-ukraine-a94142 To reach Ukrainian-held territory, residents had to take a complicated route via occupied Crimea, Anapa and Belarus. Sat, 31 Oct 2026 16:05:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/31/oleshky-evacuees-arrive-in-belarus-before-heading-to-ukraine-a94142 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/31/japan-demands-release-of-detained-journalist-at-g20-meeting-a94140 The case adds to long-running tensions between Russia and Japan. Sat, 31 Oct 2026 12:19:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/31/japan-demands-release-of-detained-journalist-at-g20-meeting-a94140 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/30/at-the-third-russia-africa-summit-moscow-talked-big-but-who-was-listening-a94136 The picture of how the Ukraine war is reverberating across Africa is much clearer than it was in 2023 — and it doesn’t look reassuring for Moscow. Fri, 30 Oct 2026 19:10:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/30/at-the-third-russia-africa-summit-moscow-talked-big-but-who-was-listening-a94136 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/30/russia-designates-opposition-delegation-at-pace-as-undesirable-a94137 The delegation of Russian exiles was set up earlier this year to represent the anti-Kremlin opposition at Europe’s leading human rights body. Fri, 30 Oct 2026 18:25:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/30/russia-designates-opposition-delegation-at-pace-as-undesirable-a94137 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/30/the-right-to-be-named-russians-in-amsterdam-remember-victims-of-political-repression-a94135 Established to remember people killed during Stalin’s Great Terror, Remembering the Names has since become an occasion to reflect on the relationship between Soviet violence and political repression in present-day Russia. Fri, 30 Oct 2026 18:16:50 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/30/the-right-to-be-named-russians-in-amsterdam-remember-victims-of-political-repression-a94135 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/30/3-killed-as-ukraine-renews-drone-strikes-against-oil-refineries-a94134 Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak confirmed that Ukrainian drones targeted three oil refineries and one gas chemical complex overnight. Fri, 30 Oct 2026 17:43:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/30/3-killed-as-ukraine-renews-drone-strikes-against-oil-refineries-a94134 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/30/ex-communist-party-lawmaker-in-murmansk-accused-of-passing-sensitive-information-to-ukraine-a94133 Police arrested 76-year-old Gennady Stepakhno on Oct. 9, after which a judge ruled that he be placed in pre-trial detention for two months. Fri, 30 Oct 2026 15:50:47 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/30/ex-communist-party-lawmaker-in-murmansk-accused-of-passing-sensitive-information-to-ukraine-a94133 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/30/international-sports-court-overturns-ban-on-russian-ice-hockey-teams-a94132 The International Ice Hockey Federation had banned Russia and Belarus from its competitions in response to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Fri, 30 Oct 2026 14:39:24 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/30/international-sports-court-overturns-ban-on-russian-ice-hockey-teams-a94132 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/30/russias-oldest-independent-newspaper-novaya-gazeta-announces-closure-a94130 After more than 30 years in operation, the newspaper said it could no longer function amid mounting pressure from law enforcement authorities. Fri, 30 Oct 2026 12:43:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/30/russias-oldest-independent-newspaper-novaya-gazeta-announces-closure-a94130 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/30/aid-deliveries-and-evacuations-in-oleshky-begin-after-demining-operation-wraps-up-a94131 Ukrainian and Russian officials said a humanitarian convoy is ready to depart for the besieged town in occupied southern Ukraine. Fri, 30 Oct 2026 11:49:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/30/aid-deliveries-and-evacuations-in-oleshky-begin-after-demining-operation-wraps-up-a94131 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/russia-to-extend-diesel-export-ban-use-quotas-to-fulfill-us-deal-sources-say-a94128 The current ban on diesel exports is due to expire on Oct. 31. Thu, 29 Oct 2026 19:21:05 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/russia-to-extend-diesel-export-ban-use-quotas-to-fulfill-us-deal-sources-say-a94128 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/state-duma-passes-record-defense-spending-budget-in-first-reading-a94126 The proposed record defense spending comes alongside a new wave of tax hikes designed to fund the rising costs of the war in Ukraine. Thu, 29 Oct 2026 19:16:22 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/state-duma-passes-record-defense-spending-budget-in-first-reading-a94126 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/moscow-judge-sentences-exiled-libertarian-mikhail-svetov-to-one-year-in-prison-a94125 Svetov, who left Russia in 2021, was found guilty in absentia of violating the country’s “foreign agent” law. Thu, 29 Oct 2026 18:44:45 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/moscow-judge-sentences-exiled-libertarian-mikhail-svetov-to-one-year-in-prison-a94125 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/rights-group-uncovers-north-korean-forced-labor-network-in-russia-a94124 Global Rights Compliance said that North Korea reaps funds from the operation, taking much of the wages earned by its workers who are sent to Russia and made to stay under threat of retribution. Thu, 29 Oct 2026 18:28:29 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/rights-group-uncovers-north-korean-forced-labor-network-in-russia-a94124 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/with-europes-doors-closed-russians-are-flocking-to-vyborg-for-a-taste-of-the-west-a94118 Vyborg, a city with centuries of Swedish and Finnish heritage, is experiencing a tourism boom. But reminders of the war in Ukraine are never far away. Thu, 29 Oct 2026 18:27:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/with-europes-doors-closed-russians-are-flocking-to-vyborg-for-a-taste-of-the-west-a94118 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/putin-claims-russian-firms-looking-to-expand-manufacturing-across-africa-a94123 The president did not say which Russian companies were looking to set up shop in Africa, but boasted that they have “sufficiently high” investment potential. Thu, 29 Oct 2026 17:15:53 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/putin-claims-russian-firms-looking-to-expand-manufacturing-across-africa-a94123 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/estonia-plans-150-bunkers-along-border-with-russia-a94122 The installations will form the so-called Baltic Defense Line, an agreement that Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania announced in 2024 to build a series of bunkers along their borders with Russia and Belarus to defend against potential attacks. Thu, 29 Oct 2026 15:56:30 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/estonia-plans-150-bunkers-along-border-with-russia-a94122 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/russian-military-intercepts-record-12k-ukrainian-drones-overnight-a94117 Authorities in Ukraine, meanwhile, said a Russian drone attack killed at least 14 people on a train platform in the southeastern part of the country. Thu, 29 Oct 2026 14:41:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/russian-military-intercepts-record-12k-ukrainian-drones-overnight-a94117 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/nearly-30-ugandan-citizens-killed-or-presumed-dead-fighting-in-ukraine-a94121 A diplomatic letter seen by Reuters listed the names of 11 Ugandans confirmed dead and another 16 whose bodies could not be located. Thu, 29 Oct 2026 14:39:19 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/nearly-30-ugandan-citizens-killed-or-presumed-dead-fighting-in-ukraine-a94121 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/yandex-suspends-2026-guidance-after-data-centers-come-under-fire-a94120 The decision to withdraw 2026 financial guidance caused the tech company’s stock to fall slightly in afternoon trading. Thu, 29 Oct 2026 14:06:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/29/yandex-suspends-2026-guidance-after-data-centers-come-under-fire-a94120