Unconditional Support, Rising Pride: Russia’s National Identity Hardens
According to the latest Levada Center poll, feelings of national pride and identity have risen markedly in recent years.
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Ukraine Fortifies Itself Against a “Dictated Peace”: How Kyiv Is Building Its Own Security Guarantees
Even if President Donald Trump periodically signals a readiness to allow Kyiv to strike targets on Russian territory, Ukraine’s room for maneuver remains limited.
Germany: Uproar After Friedrich Merz’s Remarks on Possible Bundeswehr Participation in Ensuring Ukraine’s Security
As Le Monde notes, even a hypothetical mention of a potential role for the German army in security guarantees for Ukraine instantly split a country steeped in a pacifist political culture.
Bastrykin’s Path to the Supreme Court Meets Resistance
Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, should first pass the state examinations required for judicial status before seeking the post of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, a retired federal judge said.
Putin’s Buffer Plan: Ukraine as a Tool and a Game of Time
As Der Spiegel points out, the American leader does not fully grasp the essence of the conflict: the Kremlin is pursuing very different goals and continues to create brutal “facts on the ground” in Ukraine.
Crackdown on Russian University Leaders Intensifies Amid Corruption Cases and Political Control
According to data from the T-Invariant project, 97 cases against university rectors have been recorded since 2012.
Russia’s “Deflation” Narrative: Official Statistics vs. Everyday Reality
The Kremlin has been keen to promote a narrative of easing inflation and even deflation. Yet behind the official numbers, a different reality emerges—one of steadily rising prices, shrinking purchasing power, and growing public anxiety.
Strike on Cargo Ship in Port Olya: A Quiet Signal from Azerbaijan to Moscow After the Boeing Tragedy?
On Friday night, in the Russian port of Olya, located on the northern Caspian Sea, the cargo ship Port Olya-4 was attacked and seriously damaged.
Russian Authorities Struggle to Win Over Youth Amid Growing Discontent
At a meeting of the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov stated that 65% of those detained for terrorist-related crimes are young people.
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.
Breakthrough in Donbas: How Russia’s Advance Is Changing the Balance of Power Ahead of the Trump-Putin Meeting
The sudden advance of Russian forces on Ukraine’s eastern front has shocked Kyiv and sparked a wave of outrage among military personnel and volunteers.
What Vladimir Putin Wants From Donald Trump at the Alaska Summit
The first official trip of the Russian leader to the US in almost two decades coincides with the threat of new sanctions.
The Kursk Incursion: A Hidden Crisis at Russia’s Border
On August 6, 2024, Ukrainian forces broke through the border and entered Russia’s Kursk region. Units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine held parts of the border area for eight months. The episode became one of the most painful and consequential moments of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
