Rosneft Launches Contactless Payment Service at Floating Filling Stations for the First Time in Russia
Rosneft has become the first Russian company to launch a contactless fuel payment at floating filling stations.
Data Scientist Claims ‘Staggering’ Fraud at Russia’s Constitution Vote
An unprecedented amount of fraud may have occurred during Russia’s weeklong vote to change the Constitution and give President Vladimir Putin the option to extend his rule until 2036, researchers and election observers say. About 78% of voters cast ballots in favor of the package of amendments with a 68% turnout, a result the Kremlin…
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Moscow’s Best Swimming Holes
Moscow has a surprising number of beaches for swimming in lakes, canals and streams, which are just opening up after the long period of self-isolation and cool, rainy weather. In Moscow city, the swimming zones are not officially open: the city is still on high alert mode in response to the coronavirus pandemic. So wait…
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Moscow Honors Delivery Workers With a Monument
Moscow got a new monument this morning — one that may be the first of its kind. The monument is in honor of the more than 60,000 couriers whose work made it possible for Muscovites to self-isolate during the pandemic. The monument was commissioned by some of the companies most reliant on delivery workers: Ozon,…
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As Russians Went to the Polls to Extend Putin’s Rule, Yekaterinburg’s Hospitals Were Overflowing
On June 26, the day after the start of a week-long vote on constitutional reforms that have since passed and will allow President Vladimir Putin to rule until 2036, Russia’s fourth largest city of Yekaterinburg lifted most of its coronavirus lockdown restrictions. Over the previous week, the Sverdlovsk region, of which the city is the…
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Crusading Ex-Cop’s Arrest Sparks Police Pushback in Russia
When police moved in to arrest Vladimir Vorontsov in May, they didn’t bother to knock. Instead, two commando teams stormed the former policeman’s top-floor apartment in southeast Moscow at around 7:00 a.m., one abseiling down the high-rise while the other broke down the door. “Our daughter thinks that bandits came and took daddy away,” Aleksandra…
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Russia Expects Expedited Fighter Jet Deal With India – Interfax
Russia and India could sign contracts for the sale of 33 fighter jets soon as New Delhi deals with heightened tensions with China and Pakistan, Interfax reported Thursday. India’s defense ministry said it has approved procurement of 21 Mig-29 for nearly $1 billion and 12 Su-30MKI for $1.4 billion. It has also approved an upgrade…
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Putin’s WWII and Referendum Holidays Cost Russian Economy More Than $5Bln
Extra public holidays introduced by the Russian government for the delayed Victory Day parade and the constitutional referendum could have cost the Russian economy more than $5 billion, analysts told The Moscow Times. The additional hit from the Kremlin-backed shutdowns comes as Russia’s economy is already set for a sharp recession and two years of…
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Putin Thanks Russians for ‘Support and Trust’ After Vote
President Vladimir Putin on Thursday thanked Russians after a nationwide vote approved controversial constitutional reforms that allow him to extend his rule until 2036. “Thank you very much for your support and trust,” Putin said in televised remarks after an announcement from Russia’s election commission that nearly 78% of voters had supported the amendments to the…
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Russia Halts Early Release of Jehovah’s Witness Dennis Christensen
The early release of the first Jehovah’s Witness to be jailed for extremism in Russia has been put on hold after prosecutors appealed the court ruling, the religious organization said Wednesday. Danish national Dennis Christensen was granted early release last week when a district court ordered him to pay a fine of 400,000 rubles ($5,800)…
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Russia Extends International Flight Ban Due to Coronavirus
Russia’s aviation authority has extended its ban on international flights until Aug. 1 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the RBC news website reported and a Vnukovo Airport source confirmed to The Moscow Times on condition of anonymity. The country closed its borders and grounded most international flights in late March to slow the spread of…
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Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | July 2
Russia has confirmed 661,165 cases of coronavirus and 9,683 deaths. July 2: 3 things you need to know today Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, has extended Russia’s ban on international flights until Aug. 1 due to the coronavirus, the RBC news website reported and a source at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport confirmed to The Moscow Times. Russia is not…
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Feast on Moroccan Cuisine This Weekend
MOROCCAN CUISINE WEEKEND This weekend stay home and have Morocco delivered to your door. The Hyatt Regency Petrovsky Park is offering a full Moroccan dinner for two (or more) Jult 4 and 5. Enjoy the fresh blend of Arabic, Berber and European culinary traditions! This dinner has a lot of dishes for vegetarians. The set…
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Putin Triumphant as Critics Slam Vote Extending His Rule
President Vladimir Putin thanked Russians on Thursday for voting in favour of controversial amendments to the constitution that could extend his grip on power, as the opposition and Western leaders voiced criticism over suspected poll violations. Russia’s Central Elections Commission announced early Thursday that nearly 78% of voters had cast their ballot in favor of…
DetailsRosneft Commences Study of Red-Listed Ivory Gull in the Arctic
The Arctic Research Centre, a part of the Rosneft Oil Company Corporate Research Complex, and the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute have commenced a comprehensive study of the ivory gull, included in the Red List of Threatened Species.
Mongolia Quarantines Russian Border Region Over Bubonic Plague Suspicion
Mongolia has quarantined its western region near the border with Russia after identifying two suspected cases of the black plague linked to the consumption of marmot meat, health officials said Wednesday. Lab tests confirmed that two unidentified individuals had contracted the “marmot plague” in the region of Khovd, Mongolia’s National Center for Zoonotic Disease (NCZD)…
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Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Pass 660K
Moscow lifted restrictions including compulsory travel passes on June 8, a move welcomed by residents who rushed out to enjoy the streets and parks. Many other regions lifted lockdown restrictions ahead of a July 1 national vote despite the pandemic. Critics have cast doubt on Russia’s low official mortality rate and accused authorities of under-reporting…
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Final Vote Result Shows Big Majority for Putin Reforms
Russians have overwhelmingly backed constitutional reforms that will allow President Vladimir Putin to extend his rule, the Central Elections Commission said Thursday. With all votes counted, the CEC said 77.92% of voters had backed the reforms, with turnout of about 65%. Only one region, the Nenets autonomous district in Russia’s Arctic, registered a majority of…
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Russian Voters Back Reforms Allowing Putin to Stay Until 2036
Russians overwhelmingly approved a package of constitutional changes in a nationwide vote, partial results showed Wednesday, allowing President Vladimir Putin to potentially extend his two-decade rule until 2036. With almost 30% of polling stations reporting after the end of seven days of voting, 74% of voters had supported the reforms, the central election commission said.…
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‘All We Have Is Putin’: Russians Vote to Grant President Ability to Extend Rule Until 2036
The final day of Russia’s week-long vote on overhauling its Constitution is ending with no surprises. Vladimir Putin, who was first elected president in 2000, has been all but handed the opportunity to remain in office until 2036. If that happens, the former KGB officer will overtake Josef Stalin as the country’s longest-serving leader. In…
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Russians Celebrate LGBT Pride in Front of U.S. Embassy’s Rainbow Flag
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow hung a rainbow flag, the symbol of the LGBT community, from its front facade last week in honor of Pride month. The flag is not often displayed in public in Russia due to a controversial law that prohibits “homosexual propaganda toward minors” and persistent anti-LGBT attitudes across the country. Despite…
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Putin Slams New U.S. Sanctions Aimed at ‘Suffocating’ Syria
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday denounced the United States for imposing new sanctions on Syria’s regime during the coronavirus pandemic. “Despite the call from the UN secretary general for easing the pressure of sanctions under pandemic conditions, Washington like Brussels decided to prolong measures against Syria,” Putin said during a televised meeting with his…
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Russian Staycation: Kazan with Kids
This summer, travel and vacations are not going to be like usual. If you are wary of crowds or flying, forget the Black Sea coast and consider some vacation options closer to Moscow. How about Kazan? The Republic of Tatarstan does not require visitors from other regions to self-isolate, and the capital is full of…
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First Results Show Overwhelming Support for Russia’s Constitutional Reforms
Nearly three-quarters of Russian voters have backed constitutional changes that pave the way for extending President Vladimir Putin’s rule until 2036, according to the Russian election commission’s preliminary results released Wednesday afternoon. Polling stations have closed in the Russian Far East as the rest of the country continues voting for or against the package of…
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Russia Emerges From Coronavirus Quarantine, in Photos
As regions across Russia have ended their coronavirus lockdowns and reopened businesses, life is slowly returning to normal across much of the country. Although safety guidelines like masks and social distancing are still in place in many cities, Russians are ready to get out and enjoy the summer while it lasts. Here’s a look at…
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Make Putin President for Life, Chechnya’s Kadyrov Says
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has called for the election of Vladimir Putin as Russia’s president for life ahead of a nationwide vote that could allow Putin to stay in power for another 12 years. Millions of Russians are voting on more than 200 constitutional amendments, one of which clears the term limits of sitting or…
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Russians Set to Back Reforms Allowing Putin to Extend Rule
Russians are set to approve constitutional reforms on Wednesday denounced by critics as a maneuver to allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in the Kremlin for life. The changes were passed weeks ago by Russia’s parliament and copies of the new Constitution are already on sale in bookshops, but Putin says a nationwide vote ending Wednesday…
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Bank Transfers Bolstered U.S. Suspicions of Russia-Taliban Bounty – NYT
U.S. officials have intercepted data showing financial transfers between a Russian military spy unit and Taliban-linked accounts, The New York Times reported Tuesday, citing three unnamed officials familiar with the intelligence. The alleged intercepts bolstered U.S. intelligence conclusions, also reported by the NYT, that Russia offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill American troops in…
DetailsSecond Tier of Internal Containment Installed at Power Unit 1 of Akkuyu NPP (Turkey)
July 1, 2020, Büyükeceli, Mersin Province, Turkey. – The installation of the second tier of the reactor building’s internal containment has been completed at the Power Unit 1 of Akkuyu NPP. Internal containment is one of the critical components of power unit’s safety systems, which prevent release of radioactive materials to the environment. “The installation…
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Where Can I Travel in Russia This Summer?
Russia opened its domestic tourist season Wednesday as it continues to grapple with the deadly coronavirus pandemic that has seen it record the world’s third-highest number of infections. The country closed its borders and grounded most international flights in late March to slow the spread of the outbreak, allowing only special evacuations of its own…
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Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | July 1
Russia has confirmed 654,405 cases of coronavirus and 9,536 deaths. July 1: 3 things you need to know today Russia is holding a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms despite the coronavirus. If passed, the amendments would allow President Vladimir Putin to extend his rule until 2036 by resetting his term limits. Russia is not among the 15 countries whose citizens…
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Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Pass 650K as Country Votes on Putin Reforms
Moscow lifted restrictions including compulsory travel passes on June 8, a move welcomed by residents who rushed out to enjoy the streets and parks. Many other regions are lifting lockdown restrictions as Russia prepares to hold a July 1 national vote despite the pandemic. President Vladimir Putin is seeking public backing for constitutional amendments that would…
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Latvia Bans Russia’s RT ‘Propaganda’ Channels
Latvia on Tuesday banned a number of Russia’s RT television channels from being distributed in the Baltic state because of international sanctions against the head of the Russian state television network. Latvia’s media watchdog, the National Electronic Media Council (NEPLP), notably banned RT’s main English-language broadcast service, its Spanish and Arabic counterparts, the RT Documentary channel,…
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Russian Cosmonaut Votes on Putin’s Reforms From ISS
Russian cosmonaut Anatoly Ivanishin became the first person to vote online from the International Space Station on Tuesday, the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos announced. The 51-year-old cosmonaut, who came aboard the ISS in April, cast his ballot as part of a weeklong vote to approve constitutional reforms that could extend President Vladimir Putin’s rule, Roscosmos…
DetailsRosneft Presents Updated Public Commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Rosneft Oil Company has presented its updated public statement – “Rosneft: Contributing to Implementation of UN Sustainable Development Goals”.
Journalist Assaulted at Polling Station During Vote on Putin’s Rule
Russian journalist and photographer David Frenkel was injured in an attack at a St. Petersburg polling station during Russia’s vote on controversial constitutional reforms, the Mediazona news website where he works reported Tuesday. Video footage showed Frenkel screaming in pain as two police officers knocked him to the ground in a crowded hallway after a…
DetailsThe full package of documents for obtaining a license for the construction of Paks-2 NPP has been submitted to the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority
In line with the schedule, on 30 June 2020 the customer of the Paks II Nuclear Power Plant, Paks II. Ltd. submitted the implementation license application for the two new VVER-1200 3+ generation nuclear power plant units in Paks to the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA). “Submission of the 283 000 pages license documentation is…
DetailsHeat from a Floating NPP was first delivered to the City Heating Network in Pevek
June 30, 2020 – Today the first heat from the floating nuclear power plant (FNPP, the plant of JSC “Concern Rosenergoatom”, ROSATOM’s energy division) was supplied to the 5th microdistrict of Pevek (Chukotka). “So far, the floating nuclear power plant has only produced electricity. From now on, it produces two products: in addition to electricity,…
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Russian Arctic Sets ‘Fantastical’ Heat Records: Weather Chief
The Russian Arctic set record temperatures in June that sparked abnormal tundra fires, the head of Russia’s weather service said Tuesday, blaming climate change for the “fantastical” anomalies. Russia’s northern territories, including parts of the republic of Sakha which borders the Arctic Ocean, have faced a heat wave in recent weeks, and villages in the…
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Gazprom Dobycha Urengoy buys required medical equipment for Novy Urengoy’s infectious diseases hospital
Background Gazprom Dobycha Urengoy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gazprom, was set up to develop the Urengoyskoye oil, gas and condensate field. Its production infrastructure consists of 22 comprehensive gas treatment units, two oil production sites, 20 booster compressor stations, five gas cooling stations, more than 2,800 production wells, two compressor stations for the utilization of associated petroleum gas, and a pump station for condensate delivery.…
DetailsFirst Russian Offshore Project Sakhalin-1 Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary
25 years ago the Sakhalin-1 Production Sharing Agreement was signed between the Government of the Russian Federation, Sakhalin Regional Administration and international consortium.
Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | June 30
There have been 647,849 cases of coronavirus infection reported in Russia so far and 9,320 deaths. June 30: 3 things you need to know today Russia is not among the 15 countries whose citizens can enter the European Union when it re-opens its borders Wednesday due to Russia’s coronavirus response. Russia could be added later to the EU’s list…
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Companies of Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Group in Ulyanovsk strengthen measures to prevent coronavirus spread
News from projects and regions June 30, 2020, 15:45 The specialists of Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Ulyanovsk and Gazprom Gazoraspredeleniye Ulyanovsk have increased the preventive measures aimed at combating the coronavirus infection. In the three months of 2020 since the introduction of restrictive measures, over 400 employees of the gas companies in the region have been tested for COVID-19. These are mainly the specialists…
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‘100% Bullsh*t’: Russia Blasts Reports of Taliban Bounties for Killed U.S. Troops
Russian officials have blasted a New York Times report on alleged Russian bounties offered to Taliban-linked militants in exchange for killing American troops in Afghanistan. Since the story first broke Friday, several American and British media outlets have reported on the U.S. intelligence conclusion that Russia offered cash incentives for dead U.S. troops in Afghanistan.…
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Putin Urges Russians to Back ‘Stability, Security, Prosperity’ in Vote
President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday urged Russians to take part in a nationwide vote on constitutional reforms to ensure “stability, security and prosperity.” In a televised address before the week-long ballot ends on Wednesday, Putin said Russians should vote for the country “we want to pass on to our children” but made no mention of…
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American Teacher Jailed in Russia for Cleaning Product Purchase Returns to U.S.
An American teacher who spent almost two years in a Russian jail for buying a cleaning product containing a banned chemical has flown back to the United States, ABC News has reported. Gaylen Grandstaff, 55, who with his Russian wife had taught English in Russia since 2011, was arrested in June 2017 in Moscow on…
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Moscow Oil Spill Triggers 1,000-Fold Pollution Surge
An oil spill north of Moscow has caused a 1,000-fold increase in pollution levels at a reservoir that supplies water to Russia’s capital, the Federal Water Resources Agency said Monday. The agency, Rosvodoresursy, said it first discovered petroleum products on June 25 in a river that flows into the Khimki Reservoir 15 kilometers northwest of…
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Moscow’s Tour Guides Pray for Miracle as Summer Season Ebbs Away
As countries across Europe gradually ease their coronavirus restrictions, photos of near empty city centers usually awash with tourists at this time of year have flashed across social media. While not as prone to summer influxes as the likes of Rome, Prague or Barcelona, Moscow is still being affected by the global travel crash. Russia’s…
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Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Approach 650K as Country Votes on Putin Reforms
Moscow lifted restrictions including compulsory travel passes on June 8, a move welcomed by residents who rushed out to enjoy the streets and parks. Many other regions are lifting lockdown restrictions as Russia prepares to hold a July 1 national vote despite the pandemic. President Vladimir Putin is seeking public backing for constitutional amendments that would…
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Serbian Defense Chief Tests Positive for Virus After Moscow Visit
Serbia’s defense chief who was scheduled to attend Russia’s massive World War II parade in Moscow last week has been diagnosed with coronavirus, the Serbian government has said. Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin went into self-isolation after testing positive for Covid-19, Serbia’s defense ministry said in a statement Saturday. He visited Serbian troops in Moscow last…
DetailsRosneft introduces an inclusive approach to combat coronavirus infection
Rosneft is taking all necessary measures to prevent the occurrence of coronavirus infection at its administrative and production facilities, providing support to doctors and medical institutions.
Russia to Offer Simplified E-Visas to Tourists From 53 Countries in 2021
Russian lawmakers have passed legislation that will allow foreign tourists from 53 countries to visit Russia with an electronic visa starting next year, the Kommersant business daily reported Monday. Russia has previously introduced simplified e-visas for visitors to St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad and the Far East. While Russia closed its borders and stopped issuing visas to…
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Explainer: Russia’s Arctic Environmental Disasters
Russia’s Arctic has been hit by three separate environmental disasters linked to mining giant Norilsk Nickel in the span of a month. The company, headed by metals tycoon Vladimir Potanin, has been accused of attempting to cover up the scale of the damage. Here’s an overview of what has happened: Diesel spill, May 29 More…
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Coronavirus in Russia: The Latest News | June 29
There have been 641,156 cases of coronavirus infection reported in Russia so far and 9,166 deaths. June 29: 3 things you need to know today A second wave of coronavirus could hit major cities in European Russia as soon as two weeks from now, Mikhail Shchelkanov, who heads the Far Eastern Federal University’s school of biomedicine, told Ura.ru. The virus could…
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Scandinavian Radiation Spike Linked to Russian Nuclear Plant Malfunction
A slight increase in radioactivity over Scandinavia this month may have spread from the direction of western Russia, Dutch authorities said, but later stressed that they have not identified a country of origin. The Associated Press cited the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) as saying Friday that the spike could be traced to Russia.…
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Exit Poll Shows Russians Strongly Backing Constitution Reforms
Russian state pollster VTsIOM on Monday published an exit poll showing a vast majority of Russians backing proposed constitutional reforms, days before the end of voting. Some 76% of respondents voted for the package of amendments, which range from better pensions and minimum wages to a reset of term limits that would allow President Vladimir…
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On and Off the Trans-Siberian: The General’s Wife
Last summer journalist Marina Dmukhovskaya and photographer Georg Wallner took a trip on the Trans-Siberian from Moscow to Vladivostok. For 28 days and almost 10,000 kilometers, they talked to dozens of people in “Seat 47” (Mesto 47) riding next to them. When they returned, they turned 38 conversations into first-person stories. My husband was a…
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Siberian Wildfires Swell Amid Historic Heatwave
Forest fires in Siberia have grown at least threefold amid a record-breaking heatwave in the region, according to Russia’s agency for aerial forest fire management Aviales. The figures state that 1.37 million hectares (3.4 million acres) were burning in areas unreachable to firefighters as of midnight Monday. This is mighty river Kolyma covered with smoke…
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Russia’s Coronavirus Cases Surpass 640K
Moscow lifted restrictions including compulsory travel passes on June 8, a move welcomed by residents who rushed out to enjoy the streets and parks. Many other regions are lifting lockdown restrictions as Russia prepares to hold a July 1 national vote despite the pandemic. President Vladimir Putin is seeking public backing for constitutional amendments that would…
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Russian Mining Giant Admits Waste ‘Violations’ at Arctic Plant
A Russian mining giant behind an enormous Arctic fuel spill last month said Sunday it had suspended workers at a metals plant who were responsible for pumping wastewater into nearby tundra. Norilsk Nickel cited a “flagrant violation of operating rules” in a statement announcing it had suspended employees responsible for dumping wastewater from a dangerously…
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