How Russia’s Military Operation Has Impacted Ordinary Citizens, According to a New Survey
The findings reveal a nation facing economic strain, emotional toll, and shifting views—while many feel unaffected.
And a whole world in BRIEFLY.
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Russian Railways Faces Mounting Debt Amid Suspicions of Engineered Financial Crisis
Amid a new multi-billion-ruble bond issue, analysts suspect Russian Railways’ deepening financial troubles may be part of a calculated strategy to trigger a covert ownership change.
Russia’s Unmanned Systems Troops: Grand Plans, Slipping Deadlines
The effort to establish a dedicated Unmanned Systems branch within Russia’s Armed Forces is sputtering. The deadline Defense Minister Andrei Belousov set for standing up an independent service by the third quarter of 2025 now appears likely to slip.
Are Welders and Seamstresses Really Russia’s “Professions of the Future”?
A skeptical look at Deputy Prime Minister Golikova’s statement
Belarus Confirms Deployment of Russian “Oreshnik” Missile System
A new strategic threat looms over Europe
Russia Launches Major Reform of Local Self-Government to Create a Unified System of Urban Agglomerations
Russia is reforming local governance to build a single-tier system centered on major urban agglomerations, concentrating resources while sidelining small towns.
How the Kremlin Rewrote Russia’s Past: The Politics Behind Unity Day
Russia’s Unity Day replaced the legacy of the October Revolution with a nationalist narrative — a symbol of the Kremlin’s evolving ideology.
Lavrov Under Fire: How Russia’s Top Diplomat Ended Up at the Center of the Putin–Trump Summit Fallout
After being blamed for derailing the Putin–Trump summit, Lavrov faces waning influence and mounting Kremlin intrigue.
Russia Faces a Deepening Crisis in Its Patrol Police: Staff Shortages, Rising Workload, and Growing Threats to Public Safety
Russia’s once-overstaffed police force is now facing an unprecedented personnel crisis. Amid the war in Ukraine, tens of thousands of patrol officers have left for the army or defense industry, leaving regions understaffed, crime rates rising, and public trust in law enforcement eroding.
Russia’s Marketplaces Reshape SME Financing and Challenge Traditional Banking
Russia’s evolving digital economy is reshaping SME financing as marketplaces outpace traditional banks with AI-driven lending models and internal financial ecosystems, prompting lawmakers to call for stronger competition and fairer access to credit.
Russia Enters a “Phase of Deep Disappointment”: Anxiety Rises as Love Loses Meaning
A new FOM poll shows Russians have lost faith in a brighter future, with “anxiety” named the word of the year and “love” falling to last place — a reflection of deep disappointment and fading optimism across the country.
Black Recruiters: How the Trade in Soldiers Turns People Into Commodities for the Front
An investigation by journalist Anastasia Kashevarova reveals a vast shadow network of “black recruiters” in Russia — corrupt intermediaries who forge documents, exploit vulnerable people, and trade soldiers between regions and units for profit.
The Kremlin Did Not Expect Trump’s Rapid Sanctions Against Rosneft and Lukoil
According to several interlocutors, the Kremlin is somewhat shocked by the White House’s actions.
