Russian Cafe Bomb Suspect Charged With Terrorism

Russian investigators on Tuesday charged Darya Trepova with terrorism over a bombing attack in St. Petersburg that killed a prominent military blogger and wounded dozens of people. Trepova, a 26-year-old woman, was detained after an explosion ripped through a cafe in Russia’s second city at the weekend, killing Vladlen Tatarsky, a high-profile blogger and supporter…

Belarusian Troops Begin Training on Russian Nuclear-Capable Missile System

Belarusian troops have begun training on a nuclear-capable Russian missile system following President Vladimir Putin’s recent decision to deploy tactical weapons on Belarusian territory, Moscow and Minsk said on Tuesday. Back in March Putin announced that Russia would station tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus, a move that drew sharp criticism from the West, while…

Russia’s Qiwi Posts Record 2022 Profit as ‘Sanctions Beneficiary’

Russian payment services provider Qiwi posted an all-time record profit in 2022 as Russians found themselves cut off from cross-border transactions and other payment services due to the war in Ukraine, the Vedomosti business daily reported Monday. Qiwi’s net revenue last year totaled 34.137 billion rubles ($436.5 million), up from 23.113 billion rubles ($295.5 million) in 2021.…

Russia Forms Drone, Microchip Investment Fund – Vedomosti

President Vladimir Putin’s technological advancement initiative has established a joint venture fund to invest in drones and microchips amid shortages exposed by the war in Ukraine, the Vedomosti business daily reported Monday. Putin created the National Technology Initiative (NTI) in 2014 to ensure Russia’s long-term technological leadership. According to Vedomosti, NTI’s project support fund has partnered…

Putin’s Limousine Maker Takes Over Nationalized Toyota Plant

The Russian company that made President Vladimir Putin’s limousine has taken over Japanese car maker Toyota’s St. Petersburg plant, the Russian Trade and Industry Ministry announced Friday. The former Toyota production facilities have been transferred to the Central Scientific Research Automobile and Automotive Engine Institute (NAMI), a subsidiary of the ministry. NAMI was responsible for…

Lukashenko Urges ‘Truce’ in Ukraine and Talks ‘Without Preconditions’

Belarusian strongman and close Kremlin ally Alexander Lukashenko called Friday for a “truce” in Ukraine and for talks “without preconditions” between Moscow and Kyiv. “We must stop now, before an escalation begins. I’ll take the risk of suggesting an end of hostilities … a declaration of a truce,” Lukashenko said during a televised state-of-the-nation address.…

Putin Promotes Donetsk Official to Be Omsk Region Governor

Russian President Vladimir Putin has for the second time appointed an official serving in one of the Russian-installed administrations in occupied Ukrainian territories to head one of Russia’s regions where gubernatorial elections are due to place later this year.  Putin named Vitaly Khotsenko, who was appointed prime minister of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic last year,…

Russia Arrests WSJ Journalist on Spying Allegations

Updated with details of arrest.  Russia on Thursday arrested Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges in a major escalation of the Kremlin’s wartime crackdown on independent journalism.  After being detained in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg, Gershkovich was formally arrested by a Moscow court in a hearing held behind closed doors. Russia’s…

Russian Prison Boss Offers Inmate Labor to Boost Military Production

Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service has offered the state-owned defense conglomerate Rostec the use of inmate labor to boost the production of military equipment for the country’s armed forces, the Russian daily newspaper Kommersant reported on Wednesday. Rostec head Sergei Chemezov, who is widely believed to be close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is said to have received a proposal from…

Kremlin Forecasts ‘Long War’ With ‘Unfriendly Countries’

The Kremlin’s spokesperson predicted a long-lasting hybrid war against Russia’s Western adversaries on Wednesday after a media report revealed he had urged colleagues to brace themselves for a “forever war” three months ago. According to the report published by The Guardian on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned members of Russia’s cultural and political elite at a New…

IOC Backs Return of Russian Athletes as Individuals, No Timeline for Paris Olympics

Olympic chiefs on Tuesday recommended the return to competition of Russian and Belarusian athletes as individual neutrals, but refused to give a timeline on their potential participation at next year’s Paris Olympics. IOC president Thomas Bach said the body’s Executive Board had recommended to international federations and international sports event organizers that “athletes with a…

Belarus Blames Western ‘Pressure’ for Decision to Accept Nuclear Weapons

Belarus said on Tuesday that it felt compelled to host Russian nuclear weapons after “unprecedented” Western pressure, insisting their deployment did not violate international agreements. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently announced plans to station tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus, its closest ally, which drew condemnation from the West. “Belarus is forced to…

Russian Demand for Online Mysticism Courses Jumps 20-Fold

Online mysticism courses have experienced a nearly 20-fold surge in popularity among the Russian public, the Vedemosti business daily reported Tuesday, citing data provided by telecommunications companies. Analysts attribute Russians’ growing interest in mysticism to the stress and uncertainty being caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Online schools offering lessons in fortune telling, astrology, and…