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.
Tax crackdown on Russia’s small businesses 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 discuss the government’s tax crackdown on small businesses, its possible effects and what could be motivating it. We also look at the
Russia’s budget at risk of economic reality 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 continue our analysis of next year’s budget, digging into how economic reality could upset its overly optimistic assumptions. Russia overlooks sanctions and
Russia’s budget: Paper tiger or invincible bear? 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 analyze Russia’s draft budget plans for 2026, which show neither the “paper tiger” economy portrayed by Donald Trump nor the invincible “bear”
Top businesses face debt crisis PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Denis Kasyanchuk and Alexander Kolyandr and brought to you by The Bell. This week we dig into Russia’s corporate debt crisis, highlighting the 13 businesses with massive debt piles that have the central bank worried. War, sanctions
Russia prepares tax hikes. Again. 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 report on the government’s plans to raise taxes and cut spending to keep the state’s finances on track and make sure
Does Russia’s economy have a China problem? 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. Our main story this week covers how Vladimir Putin’s trip to China laid bare Moscow’s reliance on Beijing. We also analyze growing calls for
Russia’s investment climate is still getting worse 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 our top story is a look at what Exxon Mobil’s possible return to Russia, and charges against a billionaire food manufacturing tycoon, tell
Could foreign investors flock back to Russia? 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 our main story is a look at whether foreign investors might return to Russia if Western sanctions were lifted. We also look at the
The state of Russia’s economy as Putin meets Trump 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. As Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump meet in Alaska, we take stock of how the Russian economy is faring after three-and-a-half years of war, and the
The Alaska summit: Will Trump lift sanctions on Russia? 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 preview the Putin-Trump summit, set for Friday in Alaska, and ask whether Russia could be on the brink of securing sanctions relief. We
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