Could Russia go nuclear as Moscow hit and Crimea in crisis? PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we analyze why some Russians — including those with ties at the Kremlin — are again talking about launching a tactical nuclear strike on Ukraine, as Moscow comes under barrage and Kyiv’s army cuts off Crimea. Moscow attacked, Crimea cut-off Ukraine’s drone raid on Moscow and its
Rusagro case a worrying omen for Russia’s richest PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at how Russia went about its most significant nationalization so far amid the war in Ukraine — and why the process could set off yet more alarm bells for some of the country’s richest men. Top agricultural firm seized in latest nationalization shock The Russian
Putin weighs into internet restrictions debate PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we unpack the biggest issue in Russian politics right now — the power struggle over the future of online restrictions amid bubbling elite and public discontent. Kremlin on PR manoeuvres as internet backlash bites The imposition of restrictions on the internet has triggered so much discontent among Russia’
What the Galitsky case reveals about Russia’s political system PRO Members Public
Hello! This week The Bell looks into the nationalization case against businessman Alexander Galitsky — labelled “extremist” after a divorce saga — and why in Moscow there is speculation that it could spell trouble for Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. A nationalization saga with a political backdrop The biggest nationalization case of the
Russia approaching end-game of digital repression PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at how Russia’s assault on foreign internet platforms is reaching its final stage, with new threats against WhatsApp, the blocking of FaceTime and Snapchat, and increasingly sophisticated tools to stamp out VPNs. Before we start, The Bell is pleased to announce our upcoming webinar
Exiled Russians hit by EU sanctions PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we cover the exiled Russians being locked out of their bank accounts, and why it could fuel hostility towards the West among the liberal, anti-war, anti-Kremlin crowd. Anti-Putin Russians in Europe caught up by latest sanctions Since the EU introduced its latest packet of sanctions on Moscow
What could Putin and Trump agree on in Budapest? PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we cover the surprise announcement of a second summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, asking why now and what kind of agreement they might reach. Putin-Trump 2.0: Hungary calling The saga of the Putin-Trump talks is entering its second cycle. After yet another round of
Russia’s digital Gulag PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at Russia’s plans to significantly tighten control and surveillance on the internet through a spate of new laws, restrictions and punishments. Online crackdown looms Russia’s parliament has spent all summer passing a raft of prohibitive legislation to give the authorities more control and
Russia mulls fiscal belt-tightening PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexandra Prokopenko and Alexander Kolyandr and brought to you by The Bell. This week, our top story is a look at a suggestion by Finance Minister Anton Siluanov that there could be a change to fiscal rules that
Russia legalizes the Taliban PRO Members Public
The Taliban, banned as a “terrorist organization” in Russia for more than 20 years, has been legalized and had the label expunged by Russia’s Supreme Court, in another sign of warming ties between Russia and the Islamist group. The development is not surprising. Over recent years, the Russian authorities
We are working for you
The Bell was founded in 2017 by journalists Elizaveta Osetinskaya, Irina Malkova and Peter Mironenko as a news outlet independent from the Russian authorities, after its founders have been sacked as top editors at the largest Russian news website RBC because of pressure from the Kremlin.
Read about us
