Russia’s war cheerleaders wield limited influence within the country’s elite Paid Members Public
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the loudest pro-war voices in the Russian elite have not been those of President Vladimir Putin and his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, but those of a disparate elite group including former president Dmitry Medvedev, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov and Yevgeny Prigozhin,
Pro-war paper tigers Paid Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is a look about to what extent top pro-war voices in the Russian elite are becoming more powerful. We also look at some of the arguments at a controversial gathering of anti-war Russians in Poland and review a colorful interview given by anti-war Russian
What does Russia’s withdrawal from the Ukraine grain deal mean? Paid Members Public
A large drone attack Saturday on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet was cited by Russia the same day as its reason for withdrawing from a UN-brokered deal to export grain from Ukraine. Putin had spoken about the possibility of Russia backing out of the agreement at the start of September.
Stooge or Dissident? Ex-presidential candidate Sobchak flees Russia Paid Members Public
Police detained Kirill Sukhanov, the commercial director of Sobchak’s media company, and Ariana Romanovskaya, the editor of one of Sobchak’s Telegram channels, on Tuesday. The following morning, they searched Sobchak’s home outside Moscow, although by that time she was already on her way to the border. State
Sobchak Out Paid Members Public
Hello! Our top story this week is about former presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak who has fled the country amid the threat of criminal prosecution. While sometimes portrayed as a principled dissident, many others see Sobchak as a Kremlin stooge — the real story is more nuanced. We also look at the
Russian deputies want expand the law on “gay propaganda” — and increase discrimination against LGBT people Paid Members Public
In Russia, which already condemned by human rights activists for its anti-LGBT policies, tough new laws for promoting “non-traditional” relationships are on the way. Previously, “gay propaganda” had to be kept away from children and teenagers; now, legislators intend to apply the restrictions to content aimed at all ages. LGBT
Russia officially moves to a war economy Paid Members Public
Despite statements in Moscow and promises from President Vladimir Putin that mobilization will end soon, it will keep going for a long time. This week, Putin declared martial law in the occupied regions of Ukraine and placed Russia’s regions on heightened alert. This gives the authorities in those regions
Russian statements raise fears of catastrophic false-flag attacks Paid Members Public
Over the past week, tensions have escalated over the possibility of a Russian retreat from southern Ukraine. The pro-Moscow authorities of Kherson announced a mass evacuation of civilians to the opposite side of the Dnipro, and tens of thousands of people have already been moved. At the same time, the
