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Train passenger fined for shouting ‘That’s what you deserve, Russians!’ during drone attack — Meduza A Russian court fined a train passenger 30,000 rubles (about $375) for shouting an anti-Russian slogan during a Ukrainian drone attack. According to local court records, “M.E. Reutt” was traveling…

It turns out that shouting "That’s what you deserve, Russians!” while aboard a passenger train during a Ukrainian drone strike is not especially wise, one Margarita Reutt learned recently. meduza.io/en/news/2025...

Former Russian Navy radio engineering chief imprisoned for bribery — Meduza A former Russian Navy radio engineering chief was sentenced to nine years in prison for accepting bribes worth more than 8 million rubles (about $100,000) from defense contractors. Captain 1st Rank…

An ex-Russian Navy radio engineering chief was sentenced to nine years in prison for accepting bribes worth more than 8 million rubles (about $100K) from defense contractors. Novaya Gazeta Europe recently reported that "a real purge of top officials" is underway in Russia. meduza.io/en/news/2025...

ISIS and a ‘Ukrainian connection’ Inside Russia’s closed-door trial over the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack — Meduza More than a year after gunmen stormed the Crocus City Hall concert venue outside Moscow, the trial of 19 people accused in the deadly terrorist attack has begun, with proceedings taking place behind…

More than a year after gunmen stormed the Crocus City Hall concert venue outside Moscow, the trial of 19 people accused in the deadly terrorist attack has begun, with proceedings taking place behind closed doors.
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Southern Kamchatka shifted nearly two meters (almost 7 feet) in July 30 quake — Meduza The southern Kamchatka Peninsula shifted nearly two meters (about 6.6 feet) southeast after a massive earthquake on July 30, Russian scientists reported. The 8.8-magnitude earthquake — among the 10…

Russia's southern Kamchatka Peninsula shifted nearly two meters (about 6.6 feet) southeast after a massive earthquake on July 30. The 8.8-magnitude earthquake was among the 10 strongest in recorded history and the largest worldwide since 2011. meduza.io/en/news/2025...

Off the rails Ukrainian drones are increasingly targeting Russia’s rail network, delaying hundreds of trains — Meduza A new pattern of Ukrainian drone strikes appears aimed at disrupting Russia’s rail network. In recent weeks, drones have hit stations, power systems, and trains, causing unprecedented delays. Since…

A new pattern of Ukrainian drone strikes appears aimed at disrupting Russia’s rail network. In recent weeks, drones have hit stations, power systems, and trains, causing unprecedented delays.
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Kadyrov’s son to supervise Gaza aid collections in Chechnya — Meduza Adam Kadyrov, the 17-year-old son of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, has been appointed to oversee the collection of humanitarian aid from the republic for residents of the Gaza Strip, the…

Adam Kadyrov, the 17-year-old son of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, has been appointed to oversee the collection of humanitarian aid from the republic for residents of the Gaza Strip.
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Under new anti-spam law, Russian mobile carriers also blocking bank alerts and verification codes — Meduza In Russia, mobile operators are blocking not only advertising messages for users who opt out of spam, but also all service text messages — including bank notifications and two-factor authentication…

Under a new anti-spam law in Russia, mobile operators are blocking not only advertising messages for users who opt out, but also all service text messages — including bank notifications and two-factor authentication codes.
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India defends Russian oil imports and calls out Western trade with Moscow — Meduza India criticized the United States and the European Union on Monday for continuing trade with Russia at the same time that U.S. President Donald Trump demands New Delhi stop buying Russian oil.

“It is revealing that the very nations criticizing India are themselves indulging in trade with Russia,” India said on Monday, responding to criticism from the U.S. and the E.U. over its purchase of Russian oil.
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Gasoline trading prices in Russia reach record high following Ukrainian drone attacks — Meduza The exchange price for AI-95 gasoline exceeded 77,000 rubles ($965) per metric ton for the first time on record on Monday, Kommersant reported, citing data from the St. Petersburg International…

Yesterday, the price of AI-95 gasoline reached a record 77,000 rubles ($965) per metric ton on the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange. A source told Kommersant the surge was tied to recent Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries.
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Boys and their crystal bathtubs Investigation uncovers Russian defense executives owning adjacent villas on Dubai’s artificial island — Meduza Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov owns a “dacha cooperative” in Dubai. According to findings by the investigative outlet Sistema, property belonging to the top Russian official sits next to two other villas…

You've heard of middle-aged men fashioning "caves" as a retreat? For top Russian officials, it's a "dacha cooperative" with all your best buds. Think waterfront views and crystal bathtubs. meduza.io/en/feature/2...

‘It’s back to the Middle Ages’ A Russian village thousands of miles from Ukraine’s battlefront lost half its men but has a shiny new monument to fallen soldiers — Meduza Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov has proposed bestowing on a small village in his region the honorary title of “village of military glory” for its population’s service in the invasion of Ukraine.…

Situated in Russia's Far East, Sedanka is closer to Hawaii and Seattle than the battlefields in Ukraine, but it's lost half its men to the war. After promises of state aid, the village now has a shiny new statue. meduza.io/en/feature/2...

Russia ends unilateral moratorium on deploying intermediate- and shorter-range missiles — Meduza Russia is formally abandoning its unilateral moratorium on deploying intermediate- and shorter-range missiles. In an official statement from the Foreign Ministry, Moscow said it is reacting to the…

Citing a hostile buildup of “destabilizing missile capabilities” by the “collective West," Moscow has formally abandoned its unilateral moratorium on deploying intermediate- and shorter-range missiles. meduza.io/en/news/2025...

What’s in a name? Russian state media used the Armenian name for Karabakh’s capital. Azerbaijani outlets responded by renaming Russian cities. — Meduza Diplomatic tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan have been steadily escalating. In June, Russian authorities arrested members of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Yekaterinburg; two people died…

After Russia’s state news agency TASS referred to Nagorno-Karabakh’s capital using the name preferred by Armenia, Azerbaijani media responded by using historical names for Russian cities.
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Jewelry, medicine, books, oh my! Plenty of seemingly innocuous items have landed travelers in trouble at Russia’s border. Here’s how to avoid it. — Meduza No matter how normalized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its political arrests may have become, the country remains unsafe for tourism. Nevertheless, many people are still going: in 2024, more than…

The only foolproof way to avoid getting arrested at the Russian border is not to go. Still, over 20,000 people from E.U. countries have made the trip this year anyway. If you’re determined to join them, at least read this first.
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Kremlin spokesman says ‘everyone should be extremely cautious with nuclear rhetoric’ amid Trump–Medvedev exchange — Meduza Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a press briefing that Russia “does not wish to become involved” in an exchange with the United States over nuclear threats. His comments came after U.S.…

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia “does not wish to become involved” in the latest spat between U.S. President Donald Trump and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev over nuclear threats.
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A night of terror After Russia’s deadliest strike on Kyiv in over a year, the city picks up the pieces — Meduza Since the start of the summer, Russia has been launching increasingly intense missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. The latest strike took place during the night of July 30 into July…

A few days ago, Russia launched the second-deadliest attack on Kyiv since the start of the full-scale war, killing 31 people, including five children. Here are scenes from the Ukrainian capital in the aftermath of the strike.
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Russia has opened 76 criminal cases over donations to Navalny-founded Anti-Corruption Foundation in past three years — Meduza Since Russia designated the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) an “extremist organization,” investigators have opened at least 76 criminal cases over donations to the group, according to a new…

Since Russia designated the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) an “extremist organization,” investigators have opened at least 76 criminal cases over donations to the group, according to a new investigation by Mediazona.
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Russian police arrest three in Sochi for filming video in front of burning oil depot — Meduza Police in Russia’s Krasnodar region arrested two young women and a man over the weekend after they filmed themselves in front of a burning oil depot in the town of Adler, just south of Sochi.

Russian police arrested three people ages 19–21 in Sochi this weekend after they posted a video of themselves lip-syncing to a rap song in front of a burning oil depot hit by a Ukrainian drone attack.
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Estonia installs ‘massive’ metal gates on bridge between Narva and Russia’s Ivangorod — Meduza Authorities in Estonia have installed “massive metal gates” on the Friendship Bridge connecting the city of Narva to Russia’s Ivangorod, blocking the vehicle lane at the border crossing, Estonian…

Estonia has installed new metal gates on the bridge connecting the city of Narva to Russia’s Ivangorod to “help prevent unauthorized crossings,” according to the head of the border checkpoint there.
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Trump says U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Russia later this week, ahead of ceasefire deadline he imposed — Meduza U.S. President Donald Trump said his special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Russia ahead of the expiration of the 10-day deadline he gave Moscow to implement a ceasefire in Ukraine, AFP reports.

U.S. President Donald Trump said his special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Russia on August 6 or 7. The 10-day deadline he gave Moscow to implement a ceasefire in Ukraine expires on August 8.
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‘It’s slow because he cares’ Belarusian president claims Putin’s humanitarian restraint in Ukraine limits Russia’s advance — Meduza On Friday, Vladimir Putin met with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, at a remote monastery in Russia’s northern Karelia region. After a religious service, the two presidents sat down…

Sitting on a bench outside a monastery today, Putin and Lukashenko discussed the current challenges facing Russia and Belarus, focusing largely on Ukraine. He spares because he cares, Lukashenko said of his Russian counterpart. meduza.io/en/feature/2...

Trump orders two nuclear submarines to ‘appropriate regions’ after Russian Security Council deputy chairman’s ‘foolish and inflammatory statements’ — Meduza U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines to “the appropriate regions” following what he denounced as “foolish and inflammatory statements” by Russian Security…

The ongoing war of words between Donald Trump and Dmitry Medvedev now involves two nuclear submarines.

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Even when the Internet works in Russia, something on it doesn’t. Here’s what’s broken over the past month. — Meduza In Russia, Internet outages have become routine. Website crashes and service disruptions are nothing new, either. But the most serious incident came on July 28, when Ukrainian and Belarusian hackers…

In Russia, Internet outages, website crashes, and service disruptions have become routine. Meduza takes a look back at all of the services that broke across the Russian Internet over the past month.
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Former political prisoner Kevin Lik, freed in prisoner swap one year ago, publicly tears up his Russian passport — Meduza Former political prisoner Kevin Lik, who was freed from a Russian prison in the historic prisoner swap between Moscow and multiple Western countries one year ago, tore up his Russian passport…

Kevin Lik, who was freed from a Russian prison in the historic prisoner swap between Moscow and the West one year ago, tore up his Russian passport on Friday.
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Be a lifeline One year after Russia’s landmark prisoner swap with the West, over 1,500 people remain jailed on political charges. Here’s how you can reach them. — Meduza Exactly one year ago, multiple Western countries came together to carry out the biggest prisoner swap with Russia since the Cold War. Eight suspected Russian intelligence agents were returned…

One year ago, Moscow released 16 prisoners in a major swap with the West. Unfortunately, more than 1,500 people are still behind bars in Russia on politically motivated charges. Here’s how you can let them know they’re not forgotten (it’s easy and free):
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The Kremlin’s grain spin Russia’s ‘compact harvest’ is the latest entry in its expanding euphemism playbook — Meduza There’s a new addition to Russia’s expanding dictionary of euphemisms — officials have started to describe the country’s below-average grain yield as a “compact harvest.” Instead of reassuring the…

There’s a new addition to Russia’s expanding dictionary of euphemisms — officials have started to describe the country’s below-average grain yield as a “compact harvest.”

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A city destroyed Russia says it controls Ukraine’s Chasiv Yar after 16 months of fighting. But the battle grinds on, and only ruins remain. — Meduza On July 31, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that its forces had taken control of the Ukrainian city of Chasiv Yar, near Bakhmut. The Ukrainian Armed Forces denied Russia’s claim. However, while…

It’s been 16 months since Russia’s assault on Chasiv Yar began, and the Ukrainian city has been reduced to near-total ruin. Meduza shares photos of what remains.
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Russian defense contractor charged with embezzling billions of rubles by supplying makeshift body armor to the military — Meduza Russia’s Investigative Committee has launched a criminal case into the alleged embezzlement of 2.4 billion rubles (about $29.8 million) from the Defense Ministry linked to the supply of substandard…

Russian investigators allege that a contractor sold improvised “bulletproof” vests to the military without Kevlar inserts.
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Trump says U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Russia soon — Meduza U.S. President Donald Trump said his special envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Russia after completing his current trip to Israel and Gaza.

Trump said his special envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Russia after completing his current trip to Israel and Gaza.
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Kyiv death toll hits 28 as rescue workers recover 10 more bodies from apartment building struck by Russian missile — Meduza Ukrainian rescue workers recovered 10 more bodies overnight and into the morning on Friday from the rubble of a nine-story apartment building in Kyiv hit by a Russian missile, according to…

Ukrainian rescue workers have recovered 10 more bodies from the rubble of a nine-story apartment building in Kyiv that was struck by a Russian missile yesterday. A two-year-old child is among the dead.
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