Newsletter
Trump sanctions Russian oil: What does it mean? 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 possible impact of Donald Trump’s sanctions on Russian oil majors, Rosneft and Lukoil. We also cover the central bank’s
What could Putin and Trump agree on in Budapest? PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we cover the surprise announcement of a second summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, asking why now and what kind of agreement they might reach. Putin-Trump 2.0: Hungary calling The saga of the Putin-Trump talks is entering its second cycle. After yet another round of
Interest rates set to stay higher for longer 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. Our focus this week is on how the Central Bank will have to keep higher interest rates in place for longer, raising the prospects of stagflation.
Havana Syndrome: Could Russia’s roads go full Cuban? PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at how a hike in car import fees is becoming one of the government’s most unpopular domestic policies in years, and prompted predictions that decades-old Western cars could soon be lining Russian roads. Planned hike in cost of foreign cars triggers rare public backlash
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
How Putin’s allies benefit from internet shutdowns PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we report on how businesses loyal to the Kremlin are winning out as mass internet blackouts become a feature of daily life for millions of Russians. On again, off again: How the authorities keep their friends online after switching off the internet With Russia having got used
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
Western firms face Russian asset risks — Italy shows the scale PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at how Russia could retaliate if Europe moves ahead with plans to more boldly use Russia’s frozen assets to fund Ukraine. With Western companies sure to be in the firing line, we calculate how much firms from just one country, Italy, stand to lose.
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”
Russia's Eurovision rival PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we look at Intervision, the revived Soviet-era song contest designed to rival Eurovision that was light on the camp and heavy on the propaganda. Intervision, Moscow’s propaganda-filled song contest Russia staged the Intervision music contest over the weekend, a Vladimir Putin-ordered Eurovision clone, designed to show
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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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