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Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | June 30

There have been 647,849 cases of coronavirus infection reported in Russia so far and 9,320 deaths. June 30: 3 things you need to know today Russia is not among the 15 countries whose citizens can enter the European Union when it re-opens its borders Wednesday due to Russia’s coronavirus response. Russia could be added later to the EU’s list…

‘100% Bullsh*t’: Russia Blasts Reports of Taliban Bounties for Killed U.S. Troops

Russian officials have blasted a New York Times report on alleged Russian bounties offered to Taliban-linked militants in exchange for killing American troops in Afghanistan. Since the story first broke Friday, several American and British media outlets have reported on the U.S. intelligence conclusion that Russia offered cash incentives for dead U.S. troops in Afghanistan.…

Putin Urges Russians to Back ‘Stability, Security, Prosperity’ in Vote

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday urged Russians to take part in a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms to ensure “stability, security and prosperity.” In a televised address before the week-long ballot ends on Wednesday, Putin said Russians should vote for the country “we want to pass on to our children” but made no mention of…

American Teacher Jailed in Russia for Cleaning Product Purchase Returns to U.S.

An American teacher who spent almost two years in a Russian jail for buying a cleaning product containing a banned chemical has flown back to the United States, ABC News has reported. Gaylen Grandstaff, 55, who with his Russian wife had taught English in Russia since 2011, was arrested in June 2017 in Moscow on…

Moscow Oil Spill Triggers 1,000-Fold Pollution Surge

An oil spill north of Moscow has caused a 1,000-fold increase in pollution levels at a reservoir that supplies water to Russia’s capital, the Federal Water Resources Agency said Monday. The agency, Rosvodoresursy, said it first discovered petroleum products on June 25 in a river that flows into the Khimki Reservoir 15 kilometers northwest of…

Moscow’s Tour Guides Pray for Miracle as Summer Season Ebbs Away

As countries across Europe gradually ease their coronavirus restrictions, photos of near empty city centers usually awash with tourists at this time of year have flashed across social media.  While not as prone to summer influxes as the likes of Rome, Prague or Barcelona, Moscow is still being affected by the global travel crash. Russia’s…

Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Approach 650K as Country Votes on Putin Reforms

Moscow lifted restrictions including compulsory travel passes on June 8, a move welcomed by residents who rushed out to enjoy the streets and parks. Many other regions are lifting lockdown restrictions as Russia prepares to hold a July 1 national vote despite the pandemic.    President Vladimir Putin is seeking public backing for constitutional amendments that would…

Serbian Defense Chief Tests Positive for Virus After Moscow Visit

Serbia’s defense chief who was scheduled to attend Russia’s massive World War II parade in Moscow last week has been diagnosed with coronavirus, the Serbian government has said. Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin went into self-isolation after testing positive for Covid-19, Serbia’s defense ministry said in a statement Saturday. He visited Serbian troops in Moscow last…

Russia to Offer Simplified E-Visas to Tourists From 53 Countries in 2021

Russian lawmakers have passed legislation that will allow foreign tourists from 53 countries to visit Russia with an electronic visa starting next year, the Kommersant business daily reported Monday. Russia has previously introduced simplified e-visas for visitors to St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad and the Far East. While Russia closed its borders and stopped issuing visas to…

Explainer: Russia’s Arctic Environmental Disasters

Russia’s Arctic has been hit by three separate environmental disasters linked to mining giant Norilsk Nickel in the span of a month. The company, headed by metals tycoon Vladimir Potanin, has been accused of attempting to cover up the scale of the damage. Here’s an overview of what has happened: Diesel spill, May 29  More…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | June 29

There have been 641,156 cases of coronavirus infection reported in Russia so far and 9,166 deaths. June 29: 3 things you need to know today A second wave of coronavirus could hit major cities in European Russia as soon as two weeks from now, Mikhail Shchelkanov, who heads the Far Eastern Federal University’s school of biomedicine, told Ura.ru. The virus could…

Scandinavian Radiation Spike Linked to Russian Nuclear Plant Malfunction

A slight increase in radioactivity over Scandinavia this month may have spread from the direction of western Russia, Dutch authorities said, but later stressed that they have not identified a country of origin. The Associated Press cited the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) as saying Friday that the spike could be traced to Russia.…

Exit Poll Shows Russians Strongly Backing Constitution Reforms

Russian state pollster VTsIOM on Monday published an exit poll showing a vast majority of Russians backing proposed constitutional reforms, days before the end of voting. Some 76% of respondents voted for the package of amendments, which range from better pensions and minimum wages to a reset of term limits that would allow President Vladimir…

Siberian Wildfires Swell Amid Historic Heatwave

Forest fires in Siberia have grown at least threefold amid a record-breaking heatwave in the region, according to Russia’s agency for aerial forest fire management Aviales. The figures state that 1.37 million hectares (3.4 million acres) were burning in areas unreachable to firefighters as of midnight Monday.  This is mighty river Kolyma covered with smoke…

Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Surpass 640K

Moscow lifted restrictions including compulsory travel passes on June 8, a move welcomed by residents who rushed out to enjoy the streets and parks. Many other regions are lifting lockdown restrictions as Russia prepares to hold a July 1 national vote despite the pandemic.    President Vladimir Putin is seeking public backing for constitutional amendments that would…

Russian Mining Giant Admits Waste ‘Violations’ at Arctic Plant

A Russian mining giant behind an enormous Arctic fuel spill last month said Sunday it had suspended workers at a metals plant who were responsible for pumping wastewater into nearby tundra. Norilsk Nickel cited a “flagrant violation of operating rules” in a statement announcing it had suspended employees responsible for dumping wastewater from a dangerously…

Trump Denies He Was Briefed on Russia-Taliban Bounty Intelligence

U.S. President Donald Trump denied Sunday he had been briefed on intelligence that reportedly showed Russia had offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. In a pair of early morning tweets, Trump angrily slammed the report by The New York Times as “Probably just another phony Times hit job, just like their failed Russia Hoax.”…

Russia Mining Giant Reports Waste Spill at Arctic Plant

Russian mining giant Norilsk Nickel said on Sunday it had stopped the discharge of wastewater from one of its Arctic facilities, one month after an unprecedented fuel leak nearby sparked a state of emergency. The incident occurred at the Talnakh enrichment plant near the Arctic city of Norilsk, the company said, when liquids used to…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | June 28

There have been 634,437 cases of coronavirus infection reported in Russia so far and 9,073 deaths. June 28: 3 things you need to know today About 20% of Moscow residents have coronavirus immunity, deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova said Friday, citing a new study. Russia’s flagship carrier Aeroflot has been secretly flying passengers abroad for nearly a month despite state-mandated grounded flights…

Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Rise to 634K as Deaths Surpass 9K

Moscow lifted restrictions including compulsory travel passes on June 8, a move welcomed by residents who rushed out to enjoy the streets and parks. Many other regions are lifting lockdown restrictions as Russia is preparing to hold a July 1 national vote despite the pandemic.    President Vladimir Putin is seeking public backing for constitutional amendments that…

U.S. Intercepts Russian Warplanes off Alaska

U.S. warplanes intercepted four Russian reconnaissance aircraft near Alaska on Saturday, U.S. commanders said. The Russian Tu-142’s came within 65 nautical miles south of Alaska’s Aleutian island chain and “loitered” in the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) for eight hours. But they stayed in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian airspace,…

Russia Spies Aided Taliban Attacks, U.S. Intel Says – NYT

US intelligence has concluded that a Russian unit offered rewards to Taliban-linked militants to kill troops of the US-led coalition in Afghanistan, The New York Times reported Friday. The purported bounties gave incentives to the guerrillas to target US forces, just as President Donald Trump tries to withdraw troops and end America’s longest war. The…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | June 27

There have been 627,646 cases of coronavirus infection reported in Russia so far and 8,969 deaths. June 27: 3 things you need to know today About 20% of Moscow residents have coronavirus immunity, deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova said Friday, citing a new study. Russia’s flagship carrier Aeroflot has been secretly flying passengers abroad for nearly a month despite state-mandated grounded flights…

Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Rise to 627K

Moscow lifted restrictions including compulsory travel passes on June 8, a move welcomed by residents who rushed out to enjoy the streets and parks. Many other regions are lifting lockdown restrictions as Russia is preparing to hold a July 1 national vote despite the pandemic.    President Vladimir Putin is seeking public backing for constitutional amendments that…

Macron ‘Confident’ of Progress in Russia Ties

French President Emmanuel Macron is confident of progress in key areas with Russia, including notably the crisis in Libya, his office said on Friday after a video conference summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Macron is “confident that we can make progress with Russia on a number of subjects,” a senior French presidential official told reporters,…

Oil Firm Says Russian Mercenaries Enter Key Libya Field

Russian and other foreign mercenaries have entered a key oil field in southern Libya, the conflict-hit country’s National Oil Corporation said Friday. The mercenaries drove into Al-Sharara oilfield in a convoy of vehicles late Thursday, the NOC said in a statement on its website, expressing “great concern.” After a months-long suspension, Al-Sharara — under the…

Wanted Russian Cybercrime Group Resurfaces With Work-From-Home Attacks – NYT

A Russian cybercriminal group known as Evil Corp has resurfaced in the United States with attempts to hack into major corporations through employees who are working from home due to the coronavirus, The New York Times reported Thursday. U.S. authorities indicted Evil Corp leader Maxim Yakubets and his associate in December on suspicion of stealing…

1 in 5 Moscow Residents Have Coronavirus Antibodies – Official

One in five healthy Moscow residents has coronavirus antibodies, suggesting they have been infected and could be immune for a period of time, the Russian capital’s deputy mayor said Friday. Anastasia Rakova said that more than 90,000 Muscovites had been tested from June 5-18 as part of the citywide testing program’s third stage. “We can…

Investor Breathes New Life Into Major Arctic Coal Project

Roman Trotsenko, one of Russia’s richest businessmen, plans to invest 33 billion rubles ($476 million) into a major Arctic coal extraction project, Forbes Russia reported. Trotsenko on June 18 formalized the acquisition of 75% of shares in the Arctic Mining Company and intends to forge ahead with big plans for coal production on the tundra. Troubled project The…

Russia to Speed Up S-400 Delivery to India Amid China Standoff

Russia will accelerate S-400 air defense system deliveries to India by a year following tense standoffs with China and Pakistan in contested border regions, the Kommersant business daily reported Friday. New Delhi and Beijing have blamed each other for a June 15 battle in the Ladakh region in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed while…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | June 26

There have been 620,794 cases of coronavirus infection reported in Russia so far and 8,781 deaths. June 26: 3 things you need to know today About 20% of Moscow residents have coronavirus immunity, deputy mayor Anastasia Rakova said Friday, citing a new study. Russia’s flagship carrier Aeroflot has been secretly flying passengers abroad for nearly a month despite state-mandated grounded flights…

Orenburg Become Fourth Russian Football Club With Positive Virus Tests

Russian football club Orenburg became the fourth team hit by coronavirus cases since the Russian league resumed last weekend, announcing on Thursday that eight staff had tested positive. Orenburg, who are scheduled to play high-flying Krasnodar on Saturday, said six players and two backroom staff returned positive tests. Coach Konstantin Paramonov said Thursday’s training had…

Russia Passes 620K Coronavirus Cases

Moscow lifted restrictions including compulsory travel passes on June 8, a move welcomed by residents who rushed out to enjoy the streets and parks. Many other regions are lifting lockdown restrictions as Russia is preparing to hold a July 1 national vote despite the pandemic.    President Vladimir Putin is seeking public backing for constitutional amendments that…

Anti-Putin Shaman Recognized as Political Prisoner

A self-described Siberian shaman critical of President Vladimir Putin is a political prisoner being persecuted for his beliefs, the Memorial human rights organization said Thursday. Authorities committed Alexander Gabyshev to a mental asylum earlier in June following his three attempts to trek 8,000 kilometers from his hometown of Yakutsk to “banish” Putin from the Kremlin.…

Russia Plans Tourist Space Walks in 2023

Russia’s Energia space corporation said Thursday it will take the first tourist on a space walk in 2023, under the terms of a new contract with a U.S. partner. Energia has inked a contract with Space Adventures, which promises to take two space tourists to the International Space Station that year.  “We plan that one…

Russian Artists Call for Justice in “Theater Trial”

A verdict will be reached on June 26 in the so-called “theater trial.”

Four people, including director Kirill Serebrennikov, have been accused of embezzlement.

The case has drawn controversy as critics say the case is a political set-up.

Several prominent Russian cultural figures have released videos criticizing the case and defending those accused.

Activists Allege Cover-Up as Toxic Siberian Fuel Spill Reaches Arctic Ocean

Toxic fuel from a massive leak in Siberia may have already reached the Arctic Ocean despite officials’ claims of successful cleanup efforts, a Russian environmental activist said as he called on the international community to declare the accident a global disaster. More than 21,000 metric tons of diesel leaked into soil and rivers near the…

Russians Rushing Back to Work as Pre-Virus Life Returns

The majority of Russians have stopped working from home and almost immediately returned to offices and workplaces across the country following the relaxation of quarantine measures. Three in four workers who had switched to working from home have now returned, a survey by Work.Ru, cited by business daily RBC, reported Thursday. Some 68% are back…

Belarus President Accuses Russia, Poland of Election Interference

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday accused Russia and Poland of interfering in the upcoming presidential election, claims that were quickly denied by the Kremlin. The interference is coming from “those who live in Poland and those who incite from Russia,” Lukashenko said at a meeting with newly appointed government officials. Lukashenko said he would…

Russian Communist Unveils Stalin Statue on WWII Anniversary

A Russian communist businessman has unveiled a monument of Josef Stalin that local authorities dubbed illegal on the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War II. The statue is being unveiled as Russia grapples with how to treat the Soviet leader’s legacy and amid a contentious worldwide debate over which historical figures deserve to…