Russia’s ‘Doomsday Drone’ Prepares for Testing

Russia plans to test its unmanned “doomsday nuke” in its Arctic waters this fall, one year after a fatal nuclear-powered missile accident led to a radiation spike in a nearby city and grabbed international headlines. The nuclear-powered Poseidon underwater drone will be test-launched from the Belgorod submarine, an unnamed defense industry source told the state-run RIA…

Russia Begins Building First Stealth Bomber – Report

Russia has begun manufacturing the prototype of its first strategic stealth bomber, the state-run TASS news agency reported Tuesday, as the country presses ahead with the modernization of its military. Quoting defense industry sources, TASS said the state-controlled United Aircraft Corporation was overseeing the project. It said material was being shipped for the project and that…

Families of Ex-Chechen Separatist Fighters Blast Russian Paper for ‘Lies’

Hundreds of relatives of former Chechen separatist fighters have signed an open letter accusing the investigative Novaya Gazeta newspaper of lying about their alienation from society. State television in Russia’s republic of Chechnya on Monday published the scathing reaction to research into the lives of separatists’ widows and children across the North Caucasus. The research,…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 26

There have been 362,342 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 3,807 deaths. May 26: 3 things you need to know today Russia confirmed 8,915 new coronavirus infections Tuesday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 362,342. President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian military to hold its landmark parade marking the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory…

4 Dead as Russian Helicopter Crashes at Airport

A military helicopter crashed Tuesday at an airport in Russia’s remote eastern Chukotka region, killing all four people on board, the governor said. The helicopter of the Russian Defense Ministry went down in the main airport in Chukotka near Anadyr, which has mixed military and civilian use. “There were three crew members and one technician on…

Libya Unity Govt Says Russian Mercenaries Evacuating

Forces backing Libya’s unity government said Monday that hundreds of Russian mercenaries fighting for their rival, military commander Khalifa Haftar, had been evacuated from combat zones south of the capital Tripoli. The claim comes after a series of setbacks for Haftar’s year-long offensive to seize the capital from the UN-recognized Government of National Accord. “An…

Russian Police to Probe Siberia Street Party

Authorities in Russia have opened an investigation into a street party that saw dozens gather in the center of Novosibirsk despite an anti-coronavirus lockdown in the Siberian city. The local investigative committee said it was launching the probe after photos and videos were posted online of young Russians dancing as music played from loudspeakers in…

Siberia in Midst of Freak Heat Wave

Western Siberia is experiencing abnormally high May temperatures, with some areas above the Arctic Circle breaking record-highs, The Siberian Times and The Washington Post reported last week. Weather experts say temperatures in the region have been between 3 degrees Celsius and 6 degrees Celsius above average since January. The trend picks up from 2019, which…

Russia Surpasses 350k Coronavirus Cases

The strongman leader of Russia’s southern Chechnya region, Ramzan Kadyrov, was receiving treatment for a suspected coronavirus infection, news agencies reported Thursday citing sources, though his aides did not confirm it. One of Russia’s most high-profile virus cases, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, returned to work this week after receiving treatment for the illness in hospital. Overall, 118,798…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 25

There have been 353,427 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 3,633 deaths. May 25: 3 things you need to know today Putin congratulated Muslims across Russia on the Eid al-Fitr holiday, a feast marking the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan, calling for charitable donations “under current conditions of a spreading dangerous disease.” Authorities in Moscow…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 24

As the deadly coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, Russia has gradually become the world’s second most-infected country. There have been 335,882 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 3,388 deaths. May 24: 3 things you need to know today 1. Russia confirmed 8,599 new coronavirus infections Sunday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 344,481. Russia has…

Russia’s Confirms 8,599 New Coronavirus Cases as Curve Flattens

The strongman leader of Russia’s southern Chechnya region, Ramzan Kadyrov, was receiving treatment for a suspected coronavirus infection, news agencies reported Thursday citing sources, though his aides did not confirm it. One of Russia’s most high-profile virus cases, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, returned to work this week after receiving treatment for the illness in hospital. Overall, 107,936…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 23

As the deadly coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, Russia has gradually become the world’s second most-infected country. There have been 335,882 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 3,388 deaths. May 23: 3 things you need to know today 1. Russia confirmed 9,434 new coronavirus infections Friday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 335,882. Russia has the second-highest…

Russia’s Confirms 9,434 New Cases as Curve Flattens

The strongman leader of Russia’s southern Chechnya region, Ramzan Kadyrov, was receiving treatment for a suspected coronavirus infection, news agencies reported Thursday citing sources, though his aides did not confirm it. One of Russia’s most high-profile virus cases, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, returned to work this week after receiving treatment for the illness in hospital. Overall, 107,936…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 22

As the deadly coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, Russia has gradually become the world’s second most-infected country. There have been 326,448 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 3,249 deaths. May 22: 3 things you need to know today 1. Russia confirmed 8,894 new coronavirus infections Friday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 326,448. Russia has the…

Putin Adds Patriotism, War History to School Curriculum

President Vladimir Putin submitted legislation Thursday adding patriotism and war history to Russia’s education law. Putin’s amendments seek to add “a sense of patriotism and citizenship, respect for the memory of the defenders of the Fatherland and the achievements of the Fatherland’s heroes” to the law’s current definition of upbringing. His proposals, which need votes…

Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories Flourish in Russia’s Republic of North Ossetia

On April 20, around 2,000 protesters gathered in Freedom Square in the heart of Vladikavkaz, the sleepy capital of Russia’s mountainous North Caucasus republic of North Ossetia.  Flouting the self-isolation regime imposed weeks before to combat the tiny autonomous region’s escalating coronavirus outbreak, demonstrators reeled off their demands: an end to lockdown, emergency financial support,…

Developers Hail Self-Administered Russian Vaccine’s Success

The Russian developers of a coronavirus vaccine have developed immunity to the infection after self-administering it, Interfax reported Friday. Scientists at the Gamalei Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology “aren’t so much testing as protecting themselves to continue working,” its head Alexander Ginzburg told the news agency. “Everyone’s alive, healthy and happy,” Ginzburg said when…

Ramzan Kadyrov: Putin’s Feared Chechen Strongman

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who was on Thursday reportedly being treated for coronavirus in Moscow, went from rebel fighter to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s fearsome enforcer, bringing his war-scarred region to heel with an iron-fisted rule. He has taken a characteristically high-handed approach to the coronavirus, calling doctors in the region who complained of a…

Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Surpass 325K as Curve Flattens

The strongman leader of Russia’s southern Chechnya region, Ramzan Kadyrov, was receiving treatment for a suspected coronavirus infection, news agencies reported Thursday citing sources, though his aides did not confirm it. One of Russia’s most high-profile virus cases, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, returned to work this week after receiving treatment for the illness in hospital. Overall, 99,825…

Chechen Leader Kadyrov Hospitalized With Coronavirus in Moscow – Reports

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has been hospitalized in Moscow with a suspected coronavirus infection, Interfax reported Thursday, citing an anonymous source in Moscow’s medical services. Kadyrov, 43, was reportedly flown to the Russian capital Wednesday, a few days after reporting flu-like symptoms, the Baza Telegram channel reported earlier Thursday. Chechen doctors recommended that Kadyrov seek treatment…

Putin Bestows Birthday Medal on Loyal Defense Chief

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday bestowed a 65th birthday honor on Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, his loyal ally in the Syria conflict and companion on wilderness trips. Putin sent Shoigu birthday greetings and signed a decree awarding him one of Russia’s highest decorations, the “For Merit to the Fatherland” medal in the first degree. Previous…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 21

As the deadly coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, Russia has gradually become the world’s second most-infected country. There have been 317,554 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 3,099 deaths. May 21: 3 things you need to know today 1. Russia confirmed 8,849 new coronavirus infections Thursday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 317,554. Russia now has…

HBO Airs Trailer for Oscar-Nominated Director’s Chechnya Gay Purge Doc

HBO has aired a trailer for its upcoming documentary on the anti-gay crackdown in Russia’s republic of Chechnya that was produced using groundbreaking face-swapping technology to protect the safety of its subjects. Oscar-nominated American director David France’s documentary “Welcome to Chechnya” traces attempts by a Moscow-based LGBT association to exfiltrate gay Chechens to safety. Russian…

Moscow to Quarantine People With Coronavirus Immunity: Kommersant

Update: The Moscow health department has denied plans to quarantine Muscovites with positive antibody test results. The proposal has been rejected and appeared online by mistake, an unnamed participant at the May 12 clinical council told the Business FM radio station. Moscow authorities could place people who test positive for coronavirus antibodies into a two-week quarantine as part…

$50M in Fabergé Antiquities Shipped to Panama After Oligarch Hit With Sanctions: Reports

A Russian Culture Ministry-linked organization sent a $47 million package labeled “Fabergé Russia” to Panama three weeks after the United States placed sanctions on known Fabergé enthusiast Viktor Vekselberg, the investigative outlet The Intercept reported Wednesday. Russia’s State Museum and Exhibition Center ROSIZO shipped the package on April 28, 2018, to a Vekselberg-owned company in…

Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | May 20

As the deadly coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, Russia has gradually become the world’s second most-infected country. There have been 308,705 cases of coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far and 2,972 deaths. May 20: 3 things you need to know today 1. Russia confirmed 8,764 new coronavirus infections Wednesday, bringing the country’s official number of cases to 308,705 and marking…

Russia Cordons Virus-Hit Gold Mine in Siberia

Authorities have cordoned off Russia’s largest gold mine after nearly 900 workers there became infected with coronavirus, miners have told the Sibir.Realii news outlet. The Olimpiada mine in Siberia with nearly 6,000 employees has emerged among the biggest incubators of Russia’s Covid-19 outbreak since early May. Its owner Polyus said the outbreak has not affected…