Gazprom commencing preparations for 2020–2021 autumn/winter period

April 15, 2020, 16:45 The Gazprom Management Committee reviewed the operating results of the Company’s subsidiaries and organizations over the 2019–2020 autumn/winter period and discussed the measures to be taken for ensuring uninterrupted gas supplies to consumers in the upcoming 2020–2021 autumn/winter period. Gazprom fulfilled all of its obligations for providing domestic and foreign consumers with reliable gas supplies in the past winter, which…

Gazprom Transgaz Tomsk donates funds to purchase intensive care equipment for hospital in Tomsk

News from projects and regions April 15, 2020, 16:40 Gazprom Transgaz Tomsk has donated almost RUB 3.5 million to purchase medical equipment for Tomsk City Hospital No. 3. The funds have been used for the re-equipment of the intensive care unit and the critical care ward of the hospital. “We have long wanted to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for dosed supply of medications, as this…

In 4th Coronavirus Address, Putin Calls for Stronger Business Support

President Vladimir Putin announced a new package of measures to support Russia’s businesses hit by the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic Wednesday. In the Russian president’s fourth televised statement in as many weeks about the coronavirus pandemic, he promised direct financial support to businesses hit hardest by the nationwide lockdown, including small and medium-sized…

TV Doctor to Head Russia’s Coronavirus Information Center

Prominent Russian doctor and media personality Alexander Myasnikov will take charge of the national coronavirus information center, BBC Russia reported Wednesday. Myasnikov, who frequently appears as an expert on pro-Kremlin pundit Vladimir Solovyov’s program, has become known for his optimistic outlook toward the pandemic. He previously predicted that it would be “impossible” for the virus…

The large-scale tests of the reactor plant have been completed at start-up power unit No.1 of Belarus NPP

April 15, 2020 – The important and large-scale stage of the nuclear facility preparation program  for commissioning – hot run testing of the reactor plant (RP) – was successfully completed at the first power unit of Belarus NPP (the General Designer and the General Contractor – ROSATOM Engineering Division). During the hot run being held from…

Coronavirus Outbreak Hits Novatek’s Arctic LNG Construction Site

The Murmansk region’s coronavirus outbreak is largely concentrated at a construction site run by one of Russia’s biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) producers, the investigative Novaya Gazeta newspaper reported Wednesday. The region in Russia’s Arctic recorded 137 new infections on Wednesday, most of which were among employees at Novatek’s construction site in the village of…

Traffic Jams, Large Queues Mark First Day of Moscow’s Coronavirus Travel Passes

Muscovites complained of large queues outside metro stations and severe traffic jams on the first day of the city’s mandatory digital lockdown passes, prompting concern that the coronavirus could spread further. Moscow’s digital pass system, created to monitor and enforce residents’ movements around the city during its coronavirus lockdown, was first introduced on Monday and…

Management Committee proposes dividend amount of RUB 15.24 per share for 2019

Background The decisions on the profit distribution and dividend payout, dividend size, payout method and dates, as well as the date on which the list of persons entitled to receive dividends is drawn up, will be made by the annual General Shareholders Meeting of Gazprom as recommended by the Board of Directors. In December 2019, the Gazprom Board of Directors approved the new revision of the Company’s Dividend Policy. The target level of dividend payouts…

Ukraine Security Service Catches Alleged Russian Spy in Its Ranks

The Ukrainian security service said on Tuesday it has detained a high-ranking employee on suspicion of spying for Russia and planning terror attacks. The investigation has uncovered “indisputable evidence” including audio and video recordings which show that Major General Valery Shaytanov had planned terror attacks in Ukraine and collected intelligence for Russia’s FSB security service,…

Trump-Linked Contractor Offered Military Services to Russia’s Wagner in Africa – Intercept

Erik Prince, a security contractor with close ties to U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, offered military services to Russia’s Wagner mercenary group in Libya and Mozambique earlier this year, investigative website The Intercept reported Monday. The Wagner Group, a sanctioned outfit with links to the Kremlin through a sanctioned catering magnate, has been reported to…

Chechen Leader Threatens Journalist Who Investigated Region’s Harsh Virus Quarantine

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has threatened an investigative journalist Monday for a “provocative” story on the Russian region’s strict anti-coronavirus measures, the independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper reported. The story, authored by Novaya Gazeta journalist Yelena Milashina, cited quarantined Chechens as saying Sunday that they stopped reporting coronavirus symptoms for fear of being labeled “terrorists.” Kadyrov…

‘There Will Be Mass Starvation,’ Moscow Opposition Warns Mayor as Coronavirus Slams Economy

A lack of aid for Moscow’s small and medium businesses hit by the coronavirus lockdown will lead to mass starvation and widespread protests, opposition lawmakers have reportedly warned Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. Moscow and its 12.7 million residents have been under lockdown since March 30, with all nonessential businesses and activities suspended until at least May…

Italians Offered Cash to Film ‘Thank You Russia’ Videos for Coronavirus Aid – Reports

Russian nationals in Italy are offering Italians money to film themselves thanking Russia and President Vladimir Putin for recent coronavirus aid, Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper reported Sunday. Russia dispatched army medics in March to help disinfect hospitals and care facilities in a northern Italian region that has been hit hardest by the country’s coronavirus outbreak.…

Coronavirus Hits Moscow’s Bolshoi Theater

Dozens of employees at Moscow’s famous Bolshoi Theater have tested positive for coronavirus and have been quarantined at home, the theater’s director Vladimir Urin said Monday. The 34 infected Bolshoi staffers were asymptomatic but were banned from working on a star-studded live concert in an empty theater that aired on state television Saturday, Urin said.…

China Tightens Security at Russian Border, Fearing New Coronavirus Wave

China’s northernmost province has tightened its border controls to prevent new coronavirus infections from neighboring Russia, Bloomberg reported Monday.  A growing number of Chinese nationals have returned from Russia with the virus, threatening a second wave after the country where the pandemic originated has largely brought its domestic outbreak under control. The estimated 250 coronavirus…

ROSATOM facility awarded to design the new Russian megascience installation that would be used for anti-virus research

The Central Design and Technological Institute, an enterprise of ROSATOM’s TVEL Fuel Company, has signed the government awarded contract for design of the Center of Common Use – the Siberian Circular Photon Source (the SKIF project). SKIF, a megascience class project, refers to the latest generation of synchrotron radiation sources 4+ with an energy of…

Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Rise By 2,558 in New Record Increase, Bringing Total to 18,328

As the only remaining independent, English-language news source reporting from Russia, The Moscow Times plays a critical role in connecting Russia to the world. Editorial decisions are made entirely by journalists in our newsroom, who adhere to the highest ethical standards. We fearlessly cover issues that are often considered off-limits or taboo in Russia, from…

Putin, Trump Hail OPEC+ Oil Deal: Kremlin

As the only remaining independent, English-language news source reporting from Russia, The Moscow Times plays a critical role in connecting Russia to the world. Editorial decisions are made entirely by journalists in our newsroom, who adhere to the highest ethical standards. We fearlessly cover issues that are often considered off-limits or taboo in Russia, from…

Riot, Fire Break Out at Siberian Prison

A prison in Siberia reported disturbances at a high-security penal colony Friday, while local campaigners called the incident a full-blown riot and posted images of fire on the premises. Russia’s penal service said inmates at the No 15 penal colony in Angarsk “attacked a guard” while others cut themselves with glass from broken surveillance cameras.…

Putin Speaks With Trump on Coronavirus, Oil

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on Friday spoke with U.S. counterpart Donald Trump for the third time in two weeks, discussing the coronavirus pandemic and global oil prices. Putin earlier told the U.S.-Russian crew aboard the International Space Station that the ISS is “an example of an effective partnership of our countries” as the world fights…