France again boards a tanker linked to Russian oil trade
According to Bloomberg, the tanker in question is the Tagor, which departed from Russia’s Murmansk and is subject to international restrictions.
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Russian banks allowed to defend themselves against drones
According to Reuters, Russia has passed a law allowing the Central Bank, Sberbank and other financial organizations to operate anti-drone systems independently and to arm staff in order to protect facilities without the mandatory involvement of special forces.
Russians Are Paying Less Attention to the War as Fatigue Starts to Show, Levada Poll Finds
In April 2026, 43% of respondents said they were closely following developments around the war in Ukraine, the lowest reading recorded by the pollster.
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.
Mounting Pressure on VEB.RF: Shuvalov Faces Putin’s Criticism, Corruption Scandals, and Loss of Strategic Autonomy
President Putin signals dissatisfaction with VEB.RF’s performance amid corruption scandals, failed tech investments, and growing scrutiny from the Central Bank — while Shuvalov loses control over setting national innovation priorities.
