Inside the Russian Economy
Our weekly in-depth analysis of the Russian economy from Alexandra Prokopenko and Alexander Kolyandr, who have experience at the Russian Central Bank and financial sector more broadly. Filled with reliable data, insightful analysis and commentary from sources inside Russia.
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
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
Waging war with the poor 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 reveal our research into how regional poverty levels correlate with death rates in the Russian army, and explore what the slowing economy could
Six lessons for Russia from the Iran protests 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 explain what the Kremlin learned from the Iranian protests and how Moscow could strive to avoid a similar uprising. We also review the
Russia’s hidden economic weak points: What to watch in 2026 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 we run through ten potential signs of stress in the Russian economy, highlighting what to watch in 2026 as the war drags into its
The cost to Russia of losing Maduro PRO Members Public
Hello and Happy New Year! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexander Kolyandr and Alexandra Prokopenko and brought to you by The Bell. In our first newsletter of 2026, we look at how the US campaign against Venezuela is creating a painful headache for Russia.
How Russia’s economy changed in 2025 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 we bring you a state of the nation rundown, a look at the condition of Russia’s economy as it enters 2026. Thank you
Final battle for Russia’s frozen billions 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 look at the battle over whether the EU will channel Russia’s frozen assets to Ukraine — and how Moscow is already responding. Edited
EU puts Russia on financial blacklist 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 the EU’s decision to put Russia on its financial blacklist, and what Putin hopes to bring back from his trip to
Wartime debts drag Russian businesses down PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexander Kolyandr and Alexandra Prokopenko and and brought to you by The Bell. This week we look at how the Kremlin may have the upper hand on the battlefield, but at home its top companies are struggling with
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
