The great Russian asset redistribution PRO Members Public
Hello! As the war hits the four-year mark, we look at how Russian officials have used the conflict to snatch up billions of dollars worth of assets for the state and friends of the Kremlin. State’s snapping up of assets leaves no business safe The war in Ukraine has
Russia’s economy after four years of war 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. Ahead of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion on February 24, we analyze the irreversible changes the Russian economy has gone through in the four years
GDP data — what it reveals, what it conceals PRO Members Public
Russia’s economy grew by 1% in 2025, the Rosstat federal statistics agency reported this week. At the same time, it revised up its figures for previous years, increasing its estimate for growth in 2024 to 4.9% and 2023 to 4.1%. After those numbers, an annual expansion of
How collapsible is Putin's Russia? (The Bell in Moscow's Shadows) PRO Members Public
Four years into the war with Ukraine, what have we learned about the Russian political, bureaucratic and economic system? Is Putin’s Russia running out of money, patience or flexibility? Is it ready for the challenges ahead? Alex Kolyandr discusses it with a renowned Russian scholar, Professor Mark Galeotti, whose
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,
EU tries to sink the shadow fleet PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexander Kolyandr and Alexandra Prokopenko and brought to you by The Bell. This week we analyze why the EU’s latest package of sanctions on Russia, targeting oil exports and the shadow fleet, could be one of its
Top construction firm asks state for help PRO Members Public
Russia’s construction sector has become the first victim of ongoing high interest rates. Samolet, the country’s biggest construction firm, has appealed to the government for cheap credit to help it out of its tough financial situation. * Samolet, the largest developer in terms of square footage under development (4.
Russia’s Shadow Fleet comes in from the dark PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we ask why is Russia increasingly bringing its fleet of sanctions-busting tankers in from the shadows, and is it an effective strategy to help ship its oil around the world. Russian flags for the shadow fleet Shadow fleet tankers have been rushing to re-register themselves under Russian
To cut or not? Central bank faces tough choice PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexander Kolyandr and Alexandra Prokopenko and brought to you by The Bell. This week we get behind the dilemma facing Russia’s central bank — whether to carry on cutting rates even as inflation creeps higher. Can the central
All eyes on inflation again PRO Members Public
Prices have already risen by almost 2% since the start of the year. Although data shows the pace of inflation on a weekly basis has slowed from the very high rate of 1.2% to 0.19% (Jan. 20-26), the economic authorities are still on high alert. * Prices are rising
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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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