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.
THE BELL WEEKLY: How Coca-Cola quit Russia, but stayed on the country's shelves PRO Members Public
Hello! This week, in our main story we explain how Coca-Cola remained the second most popular soda brand in Russia even after The Coca Cola Company has ceased operations in the country. We also look at the nationalization of the largest Western-owned consumer companies and witness the signs of inflation
THE BELL WEEKLY: Russian ruble woes PRO Members Public
Hello! This week, our main story is about the ruble's downturn amid Prigozhin’s mutiny. We also look at a new challenge for Russians in Germany, and we talk with demographer about whether Russia is dying out. Russian ruble plummets amid Prigozhin rebellion The Russian ruble has nose-dived
THE BELL WEEKLY: Prigozhin’s Patriot Media Group closes up shop PRO Members Public
Hello! This week, our main story is about the end of Yevgeny Prigozhin’s media empire. We also look into Bacardi’s ongoing business presence in Russia despite the company’s promise to halt all exports to Russia and freeze investments and advertising. Finally, we talk with political scientist Grigory
THE BELL WEEKLY: Prigozhin’s attempted mutiny exposes cracks in the Russian regime PRO Members Public
Hello! This week, our main story is the extraordinary attempted rebellion carried out by the Wagner mercenary group and its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, against Russia’s military leadership. We also look at what could come next and the economic consequences of this crisis. Saturday was an almost unbelievable day in
THE BELL WEEKLY: Russia sends ‘nuclear’ signals to the West PRO Members Public
Hello! This week, our main story is a look into the expansion of a budget Russian supermarket chain in Europe despite the war in Ukraine. We also look at the return of nuclear threats to Putin’s rhetoric and Russian lawmakers’ latest efforts to pass draconian anti-LGBT legislation. Russia sends
THE BELL WEEKLY: Russia’s response to the Kakhovka catastrophe PRO Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is Russia’s muted response to the catastrophe that has followed the Kakhovka dam’s destruction. We then break down the first week of Ukraine’s counteroffensive. Finally, we speak with experts on the Kremlin’s silence toward drone attacks on Moscow and raids
Ukraine’s counteroffensive and economic scenarios for Russia PRO Members Public
Hello! This is Alexandra Prokopenko with your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. This week we focus on Ukraine’s counteroffensive and what it could mean for the Russian economy. We also notica that Russian state spending is gradually slowing down. What could be
THE BELL WEEKLY: Belgorod left to fend PRO Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is about recent attacks on Russia’s Belgorod region and the federal authorities’ reluctance to comment on the increasingly chaotic situation there. Then we turn to recent infighting among Russia’s opposition over protests in support of jailed activist Alexei Navalny. And finally, we
The Potemkin village at this year’s SPIEF PRO Members Public
Hello! This is Alexandra Prokopenko with your weekly guide to the Russian economy — brought to you by The Bell. This week we focus on the atmosphere of enforced optimism at this year’s St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. We also look at why the Central Bank believes the economy might
THE BELL WEEKLY: Border troubles PRO Members Public
Hello! This week our top story is the armed incursion in the Belgorod region by anti-Kremlin Russian nationalist fighters. We then turn to Erdogan’s victory in the Turkish presidential election over the weekend and discuss what implications it might have for Russia. Finally, we look at the recent drop
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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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