Russian Strikes Kill 26 Including 5 Children

Russian strikes battered cities across Ukraine on Friday, killing 26 people including five children, as Kyiv said preparations for a counteroffensive against Moscow’s forces were nearly complete. The deadly new attacks included a strike on a residential block in the historic city of Uman in central Ukraine, where AFP journalists saw rescue workers extracting victims’…

Putin Authorizes Deportations of Ukrainians From Occupied Areas

President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing the deportation of Ukrainian citizens in Moscow-occupied areas who refuse Russian passports. The move marks the latest chapter of the Kremlin’s Russification campaign in occupied Ukraine that rights experts have slammed as a war crime.  Starting July 1, 2024, Ukrainian nationals who opt out of Russian citizenship…

Russian Central Bank Holds Key Rate at 7.5%

Russia’s Central Bank decided Friday to hold its key interest rate at 7.5% for the fifth time in a row, noting that inflationary expectations remained high.  “Over the medium-term, the balance of risks has not changed significantly and is still biased towards pro-inflationary ones,” the Bank said in a statement.  Still, the Russian economy is…

The Cat Cried and Ran By

Мурзик: Murzik (popular cat name) We interrupt our usually scheduled serious topics for a public service column about the care of and conversation with a Russian-speaking cat. What should you name your кот (tom) or кошка (dam, molly or queen)? How should you address him or her? And how can you entertain your питомец (pet)…

Moscow Baker Fined Over Anti-War Cakes

Updated to add guilty verdict and fine. A Moscow baker has been fined for “discrediting” the Russian military’s actions in Ukraine with anti-war cakes, independent media reported Friday. Anastasia Chernysheva started posting photos of her confectionary creations decorated with anti-war slogans on her bakery’s Instagram in April 2022, two months into Russia’s invasion.  “F*ck war,” reads the…

Russian Strikes Kill 19, Kyiv Says Offensive Almost Ready

Russian strikes battered cities across Ukraine early Friday, killing at least 19 people as Kyiv said preparations for a highly anticipated offensive against Moscow’s forces were nearly complete. The barrage of almost two dozen missiles overnight ended a weeks-long pause following the repeated Russian strikes that had aimed to paralyze Ukraine’s energy grid during the…

Russian Anti-Torture Group Members’ Homes Raided

Law enforcement authorities raided the homes of a prominent Russian anti-torture NGO’s lawyers in the city of Nizhny Novgorod early Friday. The Committee Against Torture, which changed its name to The Crew Against Torture (CAT) in June 2022, said criminal investigators arrived at the homes of its lawyers at 7:00 a.m. local time. CAT posted…