Russian papers report the consequences of Moscow’s week-long mobile internet blackout. “Sales of walkie-talkies are up 27%, sales of pagers up 73%...sales of road atlases up 170%.” Meanwhile, high oil prices mean that Russia’s “export revenues are growing.” #ReadingRussia
* “Love for the Motherland.”
* New obligatory history exams.
* Messenger MAX in schools.
The Russian authorities’ approach to young people, as seen in today’s Russian newspapers. #ReadingRussia
From today’s Russian papers: Donald Trump “needs help extricating himself from the poisoned political web spun from his arrogance & recklessness. Putin’s political trump cards have multiplied due to the miscalculations of his US counterpart” #ReadingRussia
I’m deeply honoured to receive the Royal Television Society 2026 Special Award. Thank you RTS and many thanks to the great BBC team in Moscow.
For St David’s Day, Ciaran Jenkins of Channel 4 News and I play the Welsh song Ar Hyd y Nos (All Through The Night). #StDavidsDay
This week one Russian newspaper referred to “the machine of persecution & punishment” in Russia. “Everything that a few months ago was not just legal, but natural, is being criminalised.” Plus: “the bomb that destroyed the Stalin myth.” #ReadingRussia
Thank you.
“For Russia, the consequences of its war on Ukraine are now harder to ignore.” We drive 350km from Moscow to see how four years of war have changed Russia.
Thanks very much Meg.
Thank you very much.
350km from Moscow a giant mural of soldiers killed in Ukraine looms over a town, like the war itself hangs over Russia. In Lipetsk region I witness the consequences for Russia of four years of war on Ukraine. www.bbc.com/news/article...
What are today’s Russian papers reporting about the second anniversary of Alexei Navalny’s death & the joint statement by the UK, Sweden, France, Germany & The Netherlands that Mr Navalny was poisoned with a lethal toxin?
Nothing.
#ReadingRussia
After the Russian authorities restrict access to popular messaging app Telegram, one Russian MP calls the measure ’Defence of the information frontline…one of the components of the battle between Russia and Nato.’ The restrictions are widely reported in today’s Russian papers. #ReadingRussia
From today’s Russian papers: cucumber prices in Russia jump 42.85% in a month, number of loss-making companies rising, wage arrears growing, “…gap between pensions & wages increasing.” #ReadingRussia
Thank you, glad you like the format.
Glad you found it interesting Patricia.
I’m back with another Reading Russia Weekend Extra. In this edition: what the Russian papers have been saying about the talks in Abu Dhabi and the Olympics in Milan-Cortina, plus memories of a Nato chief visiting Moscow 25 years ago. #ReadingRussia
From today’s Russian papers: “You don’t have to be an economist to forecast a recession: Russia’s export revenue is falling, budget revenues are falling, taxes rising, consumer demand shrinking…” Another paper: “Oil & gas revenues fall…rise in bread prices.” #ReadingRussia
No hint of compromise from Moscow ahead of Abu Dhabi talks. Russian gov'nt paper: “We’ll continue strikes till Kyiv signs peace deal on our terms.” Other papers on the economy: “India cuts Russian oil imports 3 ½ times,” “systemic banking crisis”, “car sales down.” #ReadingRussia
Cheers Martin. Thanks for your kind words, and I hope you'll find the film informative.
Thanks very much Chris.
Thank you Richard.
Double-headed eagles, white parrots and “defecating squirrels”: my experiences reporting from Russia. Our film ‘Our Man In Moscow’ for BBC Panorama is available on the iPlayer
and will be shown on BBC One at 8pm tonight (Mon Feb 2).
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Thanks very much.
Don't blame squirrels. Not their fault.
Today one Russian paper reports that “Russians’ anxiety has increased due to uncertainty, a lack of money, the economic crisis and a decline in production.” Another writes about an increase in “depression, anxiety & stress disorders” in Russia. #ReadingRussia
In “Reading Russia Weekend Extra”: news about Russia’s economy, an interview with a newspaper chief, plus details of our film for BBC Panorama: ‘Our Man In Moscow’ is on BBC One
at 8pm on Feb 2nd. Also available on BBC iPlayer.
With the FSB set to secure broad powers to cut communications, one Russian paper criticises the idea: “It's impossible to imagine the functioning of a modern economy without a functioning Internet.” Another paper on prices in 2026: “Vodka up 17%, cucumbers 21.3%.” #ReadingRussia
Today’s Russian newspapers on the old world order unraveling: “Will Greenland become Nato’s cemetery? The transatlantic partnership has begun to crack & crumble.” Another paper: “The architecture of the world order is collapsing before our very eyes.” #ReadingRussia
Sad to learn of the death of former BBC foreign correspondent Sir Mark Tully. For so many years he was known as the ‘Voice of India.’ As a tribute I play one of the pieces Sir Mark selected on BBC Radio’s Desert Island Discs: Danny Boy.
