Around RUB 5 million in personal funds collected by employees of parent company of Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Group for St. Petersburg’s Hospital for Veterans of Wars

Background The Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Group is comprehensively responding to the current situation regarding the spread of the new coronavirus in the Russian Federation. For instance, employees of Saratovgaz and Gazprom Gazoraspredeleniye Saratov Region donated the collected funds for the construction of a new infectious diseases center in Saratov. The future center will have 400 beds, including 250 beds for children and 150 beds…

Russian Priest Hospitalized With Coronavirus After Calling it ‘Extremely Useful’

A senior Russian priest notorious for his controversial remarks about women and family life has been hospitalized with coronavirus after he extolled the infection’s positive impact on humanity, the RBC news website reported Friday. Archpriest Dmitry Smirnov earned the dubious title of “Sexist of the Year” this spring for comparing common-law wives to prostitutes, urging…

Enhanced safety measures to be imposed during changeovers of shift workers at Gazprom Transgaz Surgut

News from projects and regions May 8, 2020, 15:10 Enhanced safety measures for the changeovers of shift personnel have been introduced at Gazprom Transgaz Surgut. Before arriving at production facilities, new shift workers will spend two weeks in isolation. To this end, 13 buffer zones with 644 beds were created in the local hostels and hotels. The quarantine measure is aimed at preventing persons…

Venezuelan Opposition Plotted Russian Ally Maduro’s ‘Capture’ With U.S. Mercenaries: WP

Members of Venezuela’s U.S.-backed opposition negotiated a $212.9 million deal to “capture” President Nicolas Maduro with a U.S. security firm, The Washington Post reported Thursday. Venezuela announced Monday that it had killed eight and arrested 17, including two former U.S. Green Berets, on suspicion of trying to topple Maduro in an operation supported by the…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 8

As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 270,000 people worldwide continues to spread, Russia has stepped up its measures to slow the pandemic’s spread within its borders. There have been 187,859 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 1,723 deaths. May 8: 3 things you need to know today Russia confirmed 10,699 new coronavirus infections…

Gazprom gives name of 75 Years of Victory to new large field on Yamal shelf

Background In 2019, Gazprom drilled prospecting and appraisal well No. 1 within the Skuratovskaya prospect in the Kara Sea, which had been discovered earlier through seismic exploration. In the course of well testing, commercial gas inflow of 746,000 cubic meters per day was obtained. Based on well construction results, a hydrocarbon reserves estimate was promptly prepared. In March 2020, the relevant report was submitted…

Russian Billionaire Bosov Dies by Suicide

Russian billionaire and coal baron Dmitry Bosov has died by suicide at his home in a Moscow suburb, authorities said Wednesday. Relatives discovered Bosov’s body with gunshot wounds at his home in the luxury village of Usovo in Moscow’s elite suburb of Rublyovka, the country’s Investigative Committee said in a statement. A Glock pistol was…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 7

As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 265,000 people worldwide continues to spread, Russia has stepped up its measures to slow the pandemic’s spread within its borders. There have been 177,160 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 1,625 deaths. May 7: 3 things you need to know today Russia confirmed 11,231 new coronavirus infections…

Order in a Korean Dinner This Weekend

Expatniki and Muscovites! This is #quarantinecuisine and #quarantineculture tip for you. Our friends and neighbors at the Hyatt Regency Petrovsky Park have begun to offer a weekend set menu for delivery. Last week it was Indian food. This week it’s Korean. Since the reviews have been raves, we wanted to share. The Korean street food…

Belarus Expels Russian Journalist Over ‘Fake’ Coronavirus Report: Media

A Russian journalist has been expelled from Belarus over a report that described the neighboring allied country’s dire coronavirus situation, according to the Russian state-run television channel where his report aired. Wednesday’s report on Channel One alleged that Belarussians mistrust their country’s official Covid-19 infection numbers (19,255) and death count (112). In the video report,…

Russian Culture Minister Contracts Coronavirus

Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova has tested positive for the coronavirus, the RBC news website reported Wednesday, citing Lyubimova’s spokeswoman. Lyubimova’s diagnosis makes her the third Russian cabinet official to become infected with the virus after construction minister Vladimir Yakushev and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. All three have confirmed their infections in the past week…

Claims of Coronavirus’ Manmade Origin Are Fake, Russia Says

Russian prosecutors have shot down online conspiracy theories about the coronavirus’ manmade origins as fake, the Prosecutor General’s Office said in a statement Wednesday.  Prosecutors ordered Russia’s media watchdog to delete videos claiming that Covid-19 “is a genetically modified bioweapon artificially created to implant microchips into the population and establish a global world order” from…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 6

As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 258,000 people worldwide continues to spread, Russia has stepped up its measures to slow the pandemic’s spread within its borders. There have been 155,370 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 1,451 deaths. May 6: 3 things you need to know today Russia confirmed 10,559 new coronavirus infections…

Russia’s Post-Soviet Neighbors Belarus and Turkmenistan Face Coronavirus as Leaders Deny Problem

Two of Russia’s post-Soviet neighbors, Belarus and Turkmenistan, have drawn criticism over their response to the coronavirus, with the two countries’ leaders largely denying the severity of the pandemic. Here’s a brief look at how these two countries in Russia’s backyard have been faring since the start of the outbreak: Belarus (17,489 cases, 103 deaths):…

Russia Slams NYT for ‘Russophobia’ Following Pulitzer Prize Win

Russian diplomats have slammed The New York Times’ Pulitzer Prize-winning series articles about Russia’s covert activities abroad as examples of “Russophobia.” The New York Times won the Pulitzer for international reporting Monday for six investigative articles and two videos that “expos[ed] the predations of Vladimir Putin’s regime” across Africa, the Middle East and Europe. Russia’s…

Medical Unit of Gazprom Dobycha Astrakhan gets converted into infectious diseases hospital

Background Gazprom Dobycha Astrakhan is a subsidiary of Gazprom focused on prospecting, exploration and development of hydrocarbon fields. The Levoberezhnaya part of the Astrakhanskoye gas and condensate field with an area of 1,360 square kilometers has been in operation since 1986. The field produces formation fluid with a high content of sulfur (25 per cent) and carbon dioxide (15 per cent). The company has around 300 wells of various use, hundreds…

Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Rise By Over 10K for Third Straight Day

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, the highest ranking official to contract the infection, is now “feeling normal,” spokesperson Boris Belyakov said Tuesday. He said Mishustin, who announced he tested positive last week, was continuing treatment under Health Ministry guidance, adding the prime minister is “actively talking with colleagues by phone.” The authorities say they have…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 5

As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 252,000 people worldwide continues to spread, Russia has stepped up its measures to slow the pandemic’s spread within its borders. There have been 155,370 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 1,451 deaths. May 5: 3 things you need to know today Russia confirmed 10,102 new coronavirus infections…

St. Petersburg Doctors Compensated Based on ‘Percentage of Guilt’ for Getting Coronavirus

Authorities in St. Petersburg have pledged to pay compensation to doctors who become infected with the coronavirus — but only after an investigation establishes their level of responsibility for getting it, according to newly adopted rules. The head of Russia’s second-largest city has promised hazard pay ranging from 300,000 rubles ($3,800) to 1 million rubles…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 4

As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 248,000 people worldwide continues to spread, Russia has stepped up its measures to slow the pandemic’s spread within its borders. There have been 145,268 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 1,356 deaths. May 4: 3 things you need to know today Russia confirmed 10,581 new coronavirus infections…

Gazprom donates 200,000 protective suits for St. Petersburg doctors

May 3, 2020, 18:10 Gazprom today donated to the Government of St. Petersburg 200,000 biological protection suits purchased for the doctors who are fighting against the spread of the new coronavirus. [embedded content] The suits were manufactured in China, where they demonstrated their effectiveness during contacts with COVID-19 carriers, and comply with the St. Petersburg Healthcare Committee’s requirements for…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 3

As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 244,000 people worldwide continues to spread, Russia has stepped up its measures to slow the pandemic’s spread within its borders. There have been 134,687 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 1,280 deaths. May 3: 3 things you need to know today Russia confirmed 10,633 new coronavirus infections…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 2

As the new coronavirus that has killed more than 239,000 people worldwide continues to spread, Russia has stepped up its measures to slow the pandemic’s spread within its borders. There have been 124,054 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 1,222 deaths. May 2: 3 things you need to know today Russia confirmed 9,623 new…

2% of Moscow Residents Have Coronavirus: Mayor

About 2% of Moscow residents — or more than 250,000 people — have the coronavirus, the mayor of the Russian capital said on Saturday, citing test results.  “According to screening tests of various population groups, the real number of the infected is around 2% of Moscow’s total population,” Sergei Sobyanin wrote on his blog. Russia has…