Russia boosts army sign-up bonuses amid escalating frontline losses PRO Members Public
After the unpleasant experience with forcibly calling up army reservists in the 2022 “partial mobilization” drive, the Kremlin has since gone into overdrive to convince people to sign-up as contract soldiers for the invasion of Ukraine. The recruitment of “volunteers” (those who sign-up specifically to take part in the war
THE BELL WEEKLY: The mounting costs of Russia’s army recruitment PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at Russia ramping up spending to lure soldiers for its war on Ukraine. We also highlight calls for a tax on couples who choose not to have children. Russia boosts army sign-up bonuses amid escalating frontline losses After the unpleasant experience with forcibly calling up
Russian opposition figure killed fighting for Ukraine PRO Members Public
Russian opposition activist Ildar Dadin was killed fighting for the Ukrainian army. Dadin achieved widespread notoriety after being convicted of unlawful behavior at rallies. After becoming disillusioned with non-violent protest, he joined the Ukrainian Army in 2023 to fight against Russia. * Dadin was the first Russian to be convicted under
Mass layoff of Russian IT staff spooks emigrants PRO Members Public
A round of mass layoffs at ABBYY, the IT company founded by David Yang, a businessman with Russian roots, was one of the big stories in the Russian business world last week. The firings affected only the offices in Cyprus, Serbia and Hungary. Russian citizens were featured heavily among those
‘Reputation whitewashing’ scandal rocks Russian opposition PRO Members Public
Yet another scandal is tearing the Russian opposition apart. This time, the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), set up by the late Alexei Navalny, is under fire. Maxim Katz, a former municipal deputy turned popular YouTuber, released an investigation that accuses the foundation of close ties with fugitive Russian bankers and alleged
THE BELL WEEKLY: Navalny aides accused of legitimizing fraudsters PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at another scandal that has thrown yet more divisions into Russia’s fraught opposition. We also look at a round of tech layoffs that has spooked Russians working abroad and a Russian opposition figure killed while fighting for Ukraine. ‘Reputation whitewashing’ scandal rocks Russian opposition
Russia vs Darwin PRO Members Public
School education in Russia remains a key area for reform among the authorities and legislators, seeking to embed a deeper nationalistic and conservative identity among the next generation. Recent proposals include introducing“chastity” lessons and removing English language classes from the curriculum. Now the Russian authorities, encouraged by the Russian
Shootout at Wildberries: Who’s who in the battle for Russia’s Amazon PRO Members Public
The saga of the Bakalchuks, the co-founders of Wildberries, Russia’s leading online marketplace, escalated dramatically last week, entering a new and dangerous phase. A brazen attempt by Vladislav Bakalchuk to storm the company’s Moscow headquarters turned into a shootout which killed two people and saw more than 30
THE BELL WEEKLY: Battle for Russia’s Amazon turns deadly PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at the deal that led to a deadly shootout at Russia’s top online retailer. We also pick apart proposals on banning the teaching of evolution in Russian schools. Shootout at Wildberries: Who’s who in the battle for Russia’s Amazon The saga of
New US sanctions hit mid-tier online providers PRO Members Public
New US sanctions on the use of American software in Russia — agreed in June — have been in place since Sep. 12. The measures were designed to deprive Russian companies of access to business management, design and production tools. There were some exceptions in place to prevent undue disruption, but this
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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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