Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced Israel’s recent military operations against Iran, according to a statement from the Kremlin on Friday. This condemnation followed individual phone calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The Kremlin’s announcement indicated that Putin “emphasized Russia’s disapproval of Israel’s actions, which contravene the UN Charter […]
Category: World
Russias Rosaviatsia Imposes Airspace Ban in Middle East Amid Rising Tensions Following Israeli Strikes on Iran
Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, has prohibited the country’s airlines from flying over several Middle Eastern nations following recent Israeli airstrikes on Iran. “In light of the significant escalation in the Middle East, Rosaviatsia has issued a directive advising Russian airlines against conducting flights to or from airports in Israel and Iran,” the agency announced […]
Exiled Artist Leda Garina on Art as a Form of Radical Resistance Against Militarism and Imperialism
From St. Petersburg to Tbilisi, through the realms of art and exile, Leda Garina emerges as a feminist artist and activist who has transformed her escape from Russia into a powerful act of defiance. As the founder of the feminist cultural initiative Eve’s Ribs, she employs the body, language, and irony to confront authoritarian regimes, […]
Wagners Atrocities: Civilians Tortured at Ex-UN Bases in Mali, Investigative Report Reveals
A report released on Thursday by a consortium of journalists reveals that the Russian paramilitary organization Wagner abducted, imprisoned, and tortured numerous civilians during its over three-year presence in Mali. This took place at former United Nations bases and military installations shared with the Malian army. Survivors interviewed from a refugee camp in nearby Mauritania […]
Drought and Frost Force Agricultural Emergency in Southern Russias Grain Heartland
A number of significant grain-producing areas in southern Russia and the annexed Crimea have declared agricultural emergencies due to extreme drought and spring frosts. “Farmers are facing very challenging weather conditions this year,” stated Rostov region Governor Yury Slyusar in a Telegram post on Wednesday. According to his office, over 500,000 hectares (approximately 1.24 million […]
Russian Ruble Dips After EU Unveils New Sanctions on Energy and Banks Текст: The Russian ruble tumbled sharply on Wednesday, erasing part of its recent gains as investors reacted to fresh concerns over Western sanctions and weakening oil export revenues. The dollar surged nearly 3% in a few hours on the Moscow Exchange, climbing from 78.2 rubles in early trading to 80.49 by 1:45 p.m. local time. The euro jumped above 91 rubles, while the Chinese yuan rose almost 2% to 11.04 rubles. By late afternoon, the ruble had regained some ground, with the dollar retreating to 79.65 and the euro to 91.39. The ruble has been one of the world’s best-performing currencies in 2025, gaining roughly 40% since January. But analysts say the sharp pullback may signal a turning point. Its decline on Wednesday “may be tied to discussions in the EU about a new package of sanctions targeting Russian financial institutions and energy exports,” said Natalia Milchakova, a senior analyst at Freedom Finance Global. A proposed 18th round of EU sanctionsintroducedby the European Commission on Tuesday includes plans to disconnect 22 more Russian banks from the SWIFT global payment system, blacklist dozens of tankers involved in circumventing oil trade restrictions and ban transactions with the Nord Stream gas pipelines. The measures would also lower the price cap on Russian crude exports from $60 to $45 per barrel. Under the cap mechanism, oil sold above the limit would be ineligible for Western insurance and transport services — a move aimed at squeezing revenue from Russian energy exports. Experts warn that these measures, if adopted by the United States and G7 allies, could deliver the most serious blow to Russian oil exports since the European embargo imposed in late 2022. Sanctions have already sidelined much of the Kremlin’s “shadow fleet,” and if the price cap is lowered, Greek shipping firms — which have been instrumental in transporting Russian oil — may exit the market altogether, the Moscow-based Institute for Energy and Finance said. As a result, a noticeable reduction in seaborne oil exports from Russia is likely … and the Russian budget may face an even greater reduction in oil revenues in the second half of this year, the IEF wrote. The ruble is also under seasonal pressure, as exporters appear to have slowed their conversion of foreign currency earnings ahead of the Russia Day holiday weekend, Reuters reported. At the same time, Yevgeny Kogan, a Russian investment banker, said demand for foreign currency may have risen ahead of the long weekend. Adding to the pressure is a decline in oil revenues, which remain the backbone of Russia’s export economy. The average price of Urals crude fell to $52 per barrel in May compared to $66 in January, according to the Economic Development Ministry. That figure represents the lowest level in more than two years. Some analysts believe the ruble’s current weakness may be a harbinger of a more prolonged decline. Kogan predicted the currency could continue to weaken in June and July. Sofya Donets, chief economist at T-Investments,saidpressures could intensify into August, potentially pushing the exchange rate beyond 90 rubles to the dollar. The government-linked Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-Term Forecastingwarnedthat the ruble could experience an “overshoot” in the opposite direction, reversing its earlier gains with a potentially steep depreciation. “The more overvalued the ruble is now,” the group said, “the more vulnerable it is to a sharp correction.”
The Russian ruble tumbled sharply on Wednesday, erasing part of its recent gains as investors reacted to fresh concerns over Western sanctions and weakening oil export revenues. The dollar surged nearly 3% in a few hours on the Moscow Exchange, climbing from 78.2 rubles in early trading to 80.49 by 1:45 p.m. local time. The […]
Volograd Police Launch Manhunt for Ex-Convict Soldier Suspected of Shooting 2 – Reports Текст: Law enforcement authorities in the southern Volgograd region have launched a manhunt for a former prison inmate who joined the military and is now suspected of shooting two people, the local mediareportedMonday. Police are said to have circulated a mugshot and description of 34-year-old Maxim Valkovich, who is accused of shooting and wounding two people in the town of Petrov Val on Sunday. Law enforcement authorities have not publicly commented on either the shooting or the reported manhunt. Spokespeople from the Interior Ministry and Investigative Committee told local news outlet V1.ru that the reported manhunt was not under their jurisdiction, while military investigators declined to comment. The outletsharedeyewitness photographs of military police roaming the streets of Petrov Val. It also said it spoke with local residents who had witnessed “many” police cars arriving in the town. A former classmate of Valkovich told V1.ru that the shooting was sparked by a dispute over alleged infidelity. “He has a wife and child here. She started cheating on him with some guy, and he [Valkovich] called him for a meeting,” the classmate was quoted as saying. “He didn’t arrive, his friends were there, [Valkovich] shot them and went on the run.” The Moscow Times could not verify those claims. An unverified video published by the Telegram news channel Baza, which has ties to law enforcement authorities,showedthe shooting’s reported victims — two young and bloodied men who identified themselves by the first names Artyom and Shamil — lying on an open field. Valkovich had served more than nine years in prison on charges of manslaughter, extortion and robbery. He was released in 2020, according to local media, and then reportedly spent two years under administrative supervision. Valkovich signed a military contract as a volunteer soldier in 2023, the Telegram news channel Ostorozhno Novostireported, citing his family. It confirmed that Valkovich has a wife and a small child but did not address the claims of infidelity.
Law enforcement authorities in the southern Volgograd region have launched a manhunt for a former prison inmate who joined the military and is now suspected of shooting two people, the local mediareportedMonday. Police are said to have circulated a mugshot and description of 34-year-old Maxim Valkovich, who is accused of shooting and wounding two people […]
Uzbekistan Urges Russia to Respect Its Citizens Amid Migrant Crackdown Текст: Uzbekistans Foreign Ministry on Wednesday urged Russia to treat its citizens with respect as authorities in Moscow tighten migration laws and carry out mass inspections targeting foreign workers Over the past year, Russia has introduced tighter migration rules, including new laws to locate and expel migrants more easily. The changes have sparked protests from several Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan. Roughly 4 million migrants from the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia — Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan — currently live in Russia, according to government data. Many work in low-wage sectors and send home remittances critical to their domestic economies. Uzbekistans Foreign Ministry said it had received reports of unauthorized inspections and cases of disrespectful and rude treatment of its citizens in Russia. It called on Moscow to treat Uzbek citizens with respect and to prevent actions that humiliate their honor and dignity, according to a statement published by state media. Tashkent also submitted a formal protest note to Russia requesting clarification about the reports. Russias Foreign Ministry said it was studying the note and described Uzbekistan as a strategic partner, the state-run news agency TASS reported. In recent months, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have issued similar protests, denouncing mass detentions of their citizens in Russia. The crackdown follows the deadly 2024 terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall, which Russian officials blame on gunmen from Central Asia. Since then, Moscow has stepped up its efforts to police and repatriate foreign nationals. The war in Ukraine has further complicated matters for Central Asian migrants, with Russian authorities accused of pressuring some to enlist in the military. Russias Investigative Committee said last year that 10,000 foreign nationals with Russian citizenship had been sent to the front lines. Ukraines military estimates that around 3,000 Central Asians are fighting for Russia. Local media report that several dozen have been killed or imprisoned upon returning home. Despite a decline in migration, remittances remain vital to Central Asian economies. According to the World Bank, they account for 45% of GDP in Tajikistan, 24% in Kyrgyzstan and 14% in Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday urged Russia to treat its citizens with “respect” as authorities in Moscow tighten migration laws and carry out mass inspections targeting foreign workers Over the past year, Russia has introduced tighter migration rules, including new laws to locate and expel migrants more easily. The changes have sparked protests from several Central […]
Shlosberg Placed Under House Arrest Pending Trial Текст: A court in the northwestern city of Pskov has placed opposition politician Lev Shlosberg under house arrest pending trial on charges of “discrediting” the Russian military, independent media reported Wednesday. Shlosberg, a senior member of the liberal party Yabloko, wasarrested and chargedwith Russia’s wartime censorship offense on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Pskov City CourtorderedShlosberg to be placed under house arrest until Aug. 8, according to independent outlets RusNews and Sotavision. The hearing was held behindclosed doorsat the plaintiffs’ request. Yablokosaidparty chairman Nikolai Rybakov was present to support Shlosberg. Authorities accuse Shlosberg, who has remained in Russia despite his opposition to the war, of calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine during a debate with historian Yury Pivovarov in January. A video of that debate was published on the Russian social media website Odnoklassniki. In January, law enforcement authorities pressed criminalchargesagainst Shlosberg for failing to comply with Russia’s “foreign agent” law. He could face up to two years in prison if convicted of those charges. Shlosberg, who used to head Yabloko’s Pskov region branch, regularly condemns Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, having called it a “tragedy” on social media. Some exiled opposition figures have criticized Shlosberg for not taking a harder line against the war. Russia’s Justice Ministrylabeledthe opposition politician a “foreign agent” in June 2023. Under the “foreign agent” law, individuals must include a lengthy disclaimer on all of their public statements, including social media posts.
A court in the northwestern city of Pskov has placed opposition politician Lev Shlosberg under house arrest pending trial on charges of “discrediting” the Russian military, independent media reported Wednesday. Shlosberg, a senior member of the liberal party Yabloko, wasarrested and chargedwith Russia’s wartime censorship offense on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Pskov City CourtorderedShlosberg to […]
‘Plush Troops’: The Pro-War Children’s Toys Taking Over Russia’s Online Marketplaces Текст: “In this strategy game, you lead a battalion aiming to liberate Ukraine from Nazi rule,” reads the description of Russia’s first board game about the war in Ukraine. The game,called“Special Operation on the Outskirts,” sells for about 1,600 rubles ($20) on Russian online marketplaces. Inspired by Monopoly and designed for two to six players, the game challenges participants to occupy as many Ukrainian cities as possible. Instead of Monopoly money, players use a fictional currency featuring the faces of President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and former General Sergei Surovikin. In the fourth year of the full-scale invasion, toys and merchandise featuring the pro-war Z symbol have become increasingly common on Russian marketplaces and social media. Listings include everything from car dashboard decorations to toy soldiers for children. “The plot grabs you from the first minutes. It’s great that part of the proceeds go to support participants of the special military operation. The perfect gift for patriots!”writesYekaterina, a recent buyer. Other reviewers share that they gave the game to their sons on Defenders of the Fatherland Day. Another board game, “Couch Expert,” promises to educate players about the invasion. Players have 30 seconds to answer questions about the progress of the “special operation.” Questions range from the late ultranationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s position on the war to the roles of figures like Elon Musk and propagandist Olga Skabeyeva in shaping сoverage of the invasion. “I ordered 11 of them for school as gifts for the boys. But I got lucky — the boxes came wrapped in film, so it’s not embarrassing to give them. Thanks,”writesa woman named Natalia in a review. These toys span all price ranges, from an acrylic Z-minionto aroly-polytoy bearing the pro-war slogan “You can’t knock us down.” The latter sells for about 500 rubles ($6). “The idea to create a patriotic roly-poly toy came five years ago, when the Russian team was banned from competing under the national flag at the Olympics in Korea,”saysDmitry Zavidov, director of the Kotovsky Roly-Polies company. On VKontakte, Yulia from Moscowsells“knitted fighters” shaped like a tiger, mouse or dog. Each animal, stitched with a Z or V,costs1,500 rubles ($18). For an extra 250 rubles, Yulia offers to embroider a soldier’s callsign on the toy’s flak vest. “Any other inscription of your choice is also possible (price depends on the size),”readsthe product description. On some marketplaces, similar toys arepricedat around 1,100 rubles ($14). Another item on the market is a stuffedraccoonmarked with the Z symbol, a reference to the raccoon that Russian troops infamously stole from a zoo during their retreat from the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson. Sellers alsoofferstuffed bears in military uniforms with Z and V insignia. In some cases, the toys arehandmadeby widows of Russian soldiers. For younger children, “patriotic”coloring bookssell for about 300 rubles ($3.73). “My child is four. He liked it,” says one mother in a review. Some parents post videos of their children coloring tanks and other Russian military equipment. For about the same price, sellers alsooffera set of toy soldiers called the “Special Operation Recon Soldiers Set.” “Toy figures of the Russian Armed Forces will delight children with their quality and design. They’re perfect for role-playing games and help develop creativity and imagination,” the manufacturer claims. War-related games and toys may hold particular appeal for children,explainspsychologist Michael Brandl, a member of the German toy evaluation group Spiel Gut. One reason for their appeal, he says, is that they offer positive reinforcement of the media and propaganda messaging that children encounter daily. “From these sources, children form an image of a person they then try to imitate and act out in roleplay. Weapons and how to use them become part of the child’s perceived reality and a key attribute of the supposed image of the ‘ideal’ man,” Brandlwrote. A child psychologist from Russia, whose name has been withheld for safety reasons, voiced a similar view. “This is a protracted war, so the state and Vladimir Putin need boys, even from kindergarten, to already be preparing for the future battlefield,” the psychologist told The Moscow Times. “First, the state turns poor women into mothers who buy these toy soldiers. Then this Z-patriotism is nurtured with a mother’s milk. They’ll buy it without even noticing the Z, especially if it’s on sale.” Marketplaces also offer stuffed cat car decorations in camouflage colors that cost about 500 rubles ($6.20). In addition to a toy with the Russian tricolor and the letter Z, the manufacturer alsooffersa version bearing the Wagner mercenary group’s skull emblem. “You sent me a female cat, apparently — no male features and no Z. I specifically needed a male cat with a Z on it! I refused the order at pickup,”complainsa buyer named Elena. Other buyers note that the toy’s tail fell off quickly. Even toy robots are marked with the Z symbol. A set of these toys costing 784 rubles ($9.70) includes a robot with a Russian flag and weapons. For an extra 200 rubles, itcomeswith a glow-in-the-dark Z. “Satisfied with the purchase. Russia will win! Russia always wins!”saysMaria, who bought the Z-robot for her son, in her review.
“In this strategy game, you lead a battalion aiming to liberate Ukraine from Nazi rule,” reads the description of Russia’s first board game about the war in Ukraine. The game,called“Special Operation on the Outskirts,” sells for about 1,600 rubles ($20) on Russian online marketplaces. Inspired by Monopoly and designed for two to six players, the […]