Russia, Explained

Pyotr Mironenko, co-founder of The Bell, and Denis Kasyanchuk, our economics editor, take a closer look at the week's top Russia stories, and explain why they matter. An in-depth look at how Russia works, what is bothering the elite, how public opinion is changing, and how to read between the lines of state propaganda. From May 1, 2025, it went behind a paywall.

Iran-Israel war plays into Kremlin hands Members Public

Hello! This week we cover how Moscow could benefit from the conflict between Iran and Israel. We also unpack an investigation into Telegram and the FSB, examining what mobile data Russia’s security services can and cannot access. Moscow stands to benefit from all-out war between Israel and Iran Although

Denis Kasyanchuk Denis Kasyanchuk
Russia, Explained

Russia prepares for a war on WhatsApp Members Public

Hello! This week we look at Russia’s plans to create a domestic messenger platform – and why that spells trouble for the almost 100 million Russian WhatsApp users. Putin backs creation of ‘national messenger’ Russian authorities are moving towards blocking the last major foreign online service that had been – until

Pyotr Mironenko Pyotr Mironenko
Russia, Explained

Russia’s Pearl Harbor? Members Public

Hello! This week we look in depth at Ukraine’s attacks on Russian air bases housing its strategic bomber fleet — what it means for the war, could Russia go nuclear in response, and why state TV hasn’t been talking about it. Ukraine attacks Russian strategic bomber fleet in stunning

Denis Kasyanchuk Denis Kasyanchuk
Russia, Explained

Repression set to tighten Members Public

Hello! This week we analyze how Russia is preparing to tighten the screws on domestic critics and why a ceasefire in Ukraine would only lead to yet more repression on the home front. Russia steps up campaign against the ‘enemy within’ ahead of possible ceasefire Amid a thaw in relations

Pyotr Mironenko Pyotr Mironenko
Russia, Explained

Istanbul talks: Russia’s impossible demands Members Public

Hello! This week we look in detail at what Russia put on the table at the first direct peace talks with Ukraine in more than three years. We also talk a bit about our dear colleague Irina Pankratova, The Bell’s investigative correspondent who recently passed away. Russia comes to

Denis Kasyanchuk Denis Kasyanchuk Irina Malkova Irina Malkova Pyotr Mironenko Pyotr Mironenko
Russia, Explained

How Apple and Google enable Russian censorship Members Public

Hello! This week we take a detailed look into the removal of VPNs from the Russian app stores of Apple and Google, exploring how the US tech giants are effectively enabling Moscow’s sweeping internet censorship. US tech compliant in Russia’s VPN crackdown Russian authorities are waging a serious

The Bell
Russia, Explained

THE BELL WEEKLY: How May 9 became a symbol of the ongoing war Members Public

Hello! This week we look at Russia’s celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, and how they have been hijacked by Putin’s political agenda and inextricably tied to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s Victory Day celebrations tie WW2 to attack

Denis Kasyanchuk Denis Kasyanchuk
Russia, Explained

THE BELL WEEKLY: Can Trump bring peace to Ukraine? Members Public

This week we take a detailed look at Donald Trump’s attempts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, outline what each side wants, what we’ve learnt from the various plans on the table, and how likely an end to the war might be. This is the last free

Irina Malkova Irina Malkova Pyotr Mironenko Pyotr Mironenko
Russia, Explained

THE BELL WEEKLY: Russian Ruble surges under Trump Members Public

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Denis Kasyanchuk Denis Kasyanchuk Irina Malkova Irina Malkova
Russia, Explained

Kirill Dmitriev: Economic envoy, or political peace-maker? Members Public

Hello! This week we bring you a detailed look at Kirill Dmitriev — the Kremlin’s special envoy on economic talks with the United States who has been Moscow’s most high-profile negotiator with Donald Trump’s White House over restoring ties and ending the war in Ukraine. Before we begin,

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Russia, Explained
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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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RUSSIA IN GRAPHS

Understand the Russian economy and politics with a monthly infographic plus a selection of articles to add to your reading list, compiled by The Bell’s editors team.