Oil at $100, economy in the red: how strong is Putin really? The Bell Webinar — May 26, 2026 PRO Members Public
The war in Iran has distracted the West from Ukraine and pushed oil above $100 a barrel — a major boost for the Kremlin. But Russia’s budget windfall is falling short of expectations, the economy has slipped into the red for the first time in three years, Russians are increasingly
The Bell Is Hiring: Social Media Manager PRO Members Public
The Bell is a leading independent media outlet based in Europe delivering in-depth coverage of Russia’s economy and politics. We're looking for a Social Media Manager to grow our social media presence and build a community around our English-language edition (en.thebell.io). To apply, email us
Can Telegram challenge the Putin regime? PRO Members Public
Hello! As Russia prepares to initiate a full block on Telegram, the country’s most important messenger and social media platform, The Bell goes inside the blitz campaign that sealed its fate, and why skirting the restrictions is far from a given. Telegram vs. the Kremlin: Round Two Telegram’s
Russia nukes its main messenger PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we cover how Russians are responding to the state throttling Telegram, the country’s most important messenger and social media app. How collapsible is Putin's Russia? The Bell on In Moscow's Shadows podcast with Mark Galeotti Four years into the war with Ukraine,
Revolut founder Storonsky Raises His Stake to 29%. The Holding Is Worth Nearly $25bn PRO Members Public
Nikolay Storonsky’s stake in Revolut — Europe’s most valuable startup — has grown from 25% to around 29% since last year, Storonsky told journalist Elizaveta Osetinskaya in an interview. The increase came through a long-term incentive plan similar to Elon Musk’s compensation package at Tesla, tied to the company’
Russia’s economy hit the brakes — is a full stop coming? The Bell Webinar — December 10, 2025 PRO Members Public
What a difference a year makes. The Russian economy lurched from spectacular growth to near-stagnation, from consumer spending sprees to belt-tightening. The contradictions that officials papered over for months finally caught up with them—and the true costs of the war are now impossible to ignore. Join the authors of
How Putin’s allies benefit from internet shutdowns PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we report on how businesses loyal to the Kremlin are winning out as mass internet blackouts become a feature of daily life for millions of Russians. On again, off again: How the authorities keep their friends online after switching off the internet With Russia having got used
When Will Russia Run out of Money? The Bell Webinar — September 30, 2025 PRO Members Public
As Russia is drafting its budget for the next year, and the Central Bank is trying to balance inflation and growth, we examine the current state of Putinomics and discuss its future. Join us for a timely discussion as our experts dive into the details of Russia’s 2026 budget
Derk Sauer, founder of Vedomosti and The Moscow Times, dies PRO Members Public
Derk Sauer, the Dutch media manager, who spearheaded independent media in Russia, has died at the age of 72. Sauer arrived in Russia in the dying days of the Soviet Union, and in the 1990s became renowned as one of the founding fathers of the post-Soviet media market. He created
The fate of YouTube in Russia PRO Members Public
Hello! Our main story this week is how YouTube has fared in Russia in the year since authorities started blocking it — and what its future could be. We also pay tribute to Derk Sauer, one of the founding fathers of Russian independent media, who died last week, aged 72. Russia
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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.
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