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.
Trump’s Ukraine Envoy Steve Witkoff Has Business Ties to Sanctioned Billionaire Len Blavatnik
Blavatnik holds both U.S. and U.K. citizenship and has generously funded election campaigns for both Democrats and Republicans.
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.
Stalin Returns: How Putin Uses the Legacy of the Dictator in a New Wave of Repression
As the war in Ukraine drags on, President Vladimir Putin is tightening domestic repression, increasingly drawing on Soviet-era methods.
Putin Tightens Control Over Foreign Ships Entering Russian Ports: FSB Gets Expanded Powers
Vladimir Putin has signed a new decree significantly tightening the rules for foreign vessels entering Russian ports.
India’s Nayara Tightens Payment Terms After EU Sanctions Against Rosneft
Clients are now required to make an advance payment or present a documentary letter of credit before a shipment of naphtha scheduled for next month.
Apples, Soldiers and Billions: How Russia and North Korea Are Building a New Anti-Western Alliance
North Korean apples are already being sold in Russian supermarkets, while producers of jam, sausages and even beer are registering trademarks in Russia.
EU Tightens Russia Sanctions — Pushing Europe Toward a Diesel Shortage
The European Union is deepening the fuel crisis in an already strained diesel market by introducing new sanctions against fuel produced from Russian crude.
Beijing as the New Yalta? Why Trump, Putin and Xi Could Meet on September 3
President Trump gave Putin 50 days. That window began in mid-July and is set to expire around September 1. On September 3, Beijing will host a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Russia Criminalizes Online Searches for “Extremist” Content in New Wave of Digital Censorship
The law introduces fines of around $65 for the “deliberate search for knowingly extremist materials,” including cases where users access such content via VPNs or other circumvention tools.
Russia’s Special Military Operation Reshapes Crime Landscape and Raises Risks of Veteran Reintegration
The war in Ukraine reshaped Russia’s crime landscape. Rising PTSD, arms circulation, and veteran isolation pose major risks after demobilization.
Inflation Slows Down in Russia: Central Bank May Opt for Sharper Rate Cuts
For the first time in many months, Russia’s economy is showing tangible signs of easing inflation — potentially marking a turning point in the central bank’s prolonged campaign of tight monetary policy.
The Ruble Replaces Foreign Currency: How Sanctions Reshaped Russian Trade and Slashed Currency Inflows
As Russia’s foreign trade increasingly shifts to ruble settlements, the inflow of foreign currency into the country is steadily drying up.
