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Articles by Matthew Bodner

Game On: Russia's Cyber Athletes Have Asian Rivals in Their Sights

In a dimly lit hotel room, a pack of 20-year-olds in sweatsuits stare into computer screens lining the wall. But this is much more than your average college...

Russia's Oil Bargain With Iran Has Political Overtones

When the news broke that Russia, the world’s largest oil producer, had brokered a deal to import oil from Iran, observers looked for ulterior motives...

Housing Demolition Protests in Moscow Are Spiralling

Authorities may soon struggle to quell protests against a controversial housing demolition program in Moscow

Moscow Mayor Declares Overwhelming Support, But Protests Suggest Otherwise

If you happened to find yourself in the State Duma on Tuesday, June 6, you might be forgiven for thinking Russia had finally found something more popular...

Hot Air, Cold War: How Russia Spooks Its Arctic Neighbors

Russia’s military build-up in the Arctic has polar countries on edge. But don’t worry — bullets aren’t flying yet.

U.S.-Russia Photo Scandal Highlights Mutually Assured Ineptitude

Russia's desire to brag about improving relations actually damaged those same ties.

Soviet Retro-Cool: A French Aristocrat's Crusade to Save Russian Fashion

French aristocrat Jacques von Polier wants to make Russia cool again.

A Foreigner’s Guide to Surviving Victory Day

Victory Day can be hard for a foreigner, especially when it comes to discussion matters of World War II history with Russians. This year, we've got you...

Keeping Afloat: Russia Worries Over Appreciating Ruble

Vladimir Putin says the government is watching the creeping appreciation of the ruble closely, but has ruled out the possibility of returning to a fixed...

Where Old Spooks Are Sent to Retire: Russia’s Institute of Strategic Studies

U.S. intelligence officials think they found the smoking gun behind Russia's alleged 2016 election interference. The reality is much more benign.

Russian TV to Trump: It’s Over. We’re With Kim Jong-un Now

State TV has executed an abrupt U-turn on Trump, and is now embracing North Korea. But it is too early to equate media posturing with official policy.

Russia’s Glare Turns to Home-Grown Threats

For a time, Russian authorities could claim to have managed the threat of domestic terrorism. But the St. Petersburg metro bombing on April 3 showed that...

Dear America, Russia Wants You to Know Its Bombs Are Bigger

The mother of all bombs goes head to head against the father.

12 Takeaways From Tillerson’s Moscow Visit

The expectations for Rex Tillerson’s visit to Moscow were high. Some hoped it would provide evidence that U.S. president Donald Trump’s administration...

Moscow Meets the New Boss

When U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson landed in Moscow on Tuesday, he was greeted with a raging trash dump fire. It was a fitting metaphor for the...

'Russia Is No Place for Dreamers:' Meet the Rocket Entrepreneurs Battling Bureaucracy to Conquer Space

Russian rocket scientists with a bold vision of the future struggle against bureaucratic red-tape and a conservative investment climate to build Russia's...

Karma: Russian Patriotic Space Film Bullies Competition, Flops Opening Weekend

The producers of The First Time successfully prevented the release of a domestic competitor, but failed to slow The Fast and The Furious 8. In the end...

Why Russia Tore Up the Syria Airspace Safety Agreement

In response to President Donald Trump's massive cruise missile strike on an airbase in Syria, Russia has suspended airspace safety cooperation with Washington...

Revealed: The Name and Face of the St. Petersburg Subway Bomber

Russia's Investigative Committee has confirmed the identity of the man behind Monday's fatal terror attack in St. Petersburg.

Russian Spies Were in Touch With Trump Advisor Carter Page (And They Didn't Think Much of Him)

A hard link between a Trump advisor and Russian spies finally uncovered. But it is hardly the most impactful thing Russian spies appear to have been working...

Defects Found in Almost Every Russian Proton Rocket Engine

Russia has 71 rocket engines stockpiled for its Proton space rockets. Almost all of them have been found to be defective.

Death of a Rocketman: Who Was Vladimir Evdokimov?

The death of a former space agency chief in a pre-trial detention cell may have been a contract killing, investigators say.

Russia’s Defense Budget — Down, But Not Out

Reports that Russia will cut 25 percent of its 2017 defense budget give the impression that Moscow has given up on military rearmament. That's not the...

Libya: Russia’s New Frontline

Western observers are concerned Moscow is preparing another regional power-play

How I Accidentally Destroyed $30M Worth of Russian Military Hardware

A Moscow Times reporter sat down in a full-immersion Sukhoi fighter jet simulator. It didn't exactly go well.

Corruption Hampers Russian Arctic Militarization Dreams

Russia's militarization of the Arctic is a hot topic in Transatlantic policymaking circles these days. But the Western narrative appears to have outpaced...

Consummate Diplomat or Intelligence Mastermind: The Russian at the Heart of Trump Scandals

Allegations that U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions failed to disclose contacts with the Russian ambassador to Washington have thrust the usually camera-shy...

The Secrets of Russia’s Propaganda War, Revealed

Russia has a new military propaganda force to wage information war. An unauthorized reprint of a military intelligence handbook gives insight into what...

Russia Riled by Trump's 'Disturbing' Nuclear Weapons Comments

Russian lawmakers lash out at Trump's comments on expanding the US nuclear arsenal.

Trump’s New National Security Adviser Is No Friend of Russia’s

Moscow knows little about General McMaster, but isn’t particularly happy with what it does know

Russians Learn to Love the Army

For the third straight year in a row, the majority of Russians support conscription

All Eyes On Munich As Russia Feels Out New U.S. Administration

10 years after Putin's controversial speech at the Munich Security Conference, Russia is playing it cool. No major Russian initiatives are expected this...

Russia’s Alleged Nuclear Missile Treaty Violation: Serious But Not Clear-Cut

Arms control compliance is a messy business. The Moscow Times explains the latest allegations that Russia has violated a landmark nuclear disarmament treaty...

Russia’s Syrian Naval Deployment: The Unofficial Post-Action Report

The Syria deployment gave the Russian navy much-needed practice in operating its Kuznetsov aircraft carrier. But it also exposed serious flaws in the ship's...

Better Call Chet: How a Guyanese Lawyer Became Jamaica's Man in Moscow

After 20 years without diplomatic representation in Russia, the Jamaican Foreign Ministry has appointed a native of Guyana as their Honorary Consul in...

Russia Set to Send 'Bull Terrier’ Ambassador to Washington

Russia appears to be falling back on Soviet-era policy of disarmament as the focal point for relations with the U.S.

Moscow’s $170-Million Syrian Cruise

The Russian military has spent about $168 million to deploy its only aircraft carrier to Syria. Was it worth it?

American Business Lobby In Moscow Sees Sympathetic Ally In President Trump

In December, a Trump surrogate was dispatched to talk with U.S. firms in Russia. The topic on everyone's minds: the damage caused by sanctions. But neither...

Putin and Trump Want to Team Up, but That's Not Going to Be Easy

Now that Donald Trump is in office, he will find lifting sanctions imposed on Russia is harder than it looked during the campaign.

Spy Games: How The Spectre of Surveillance Impacts Moscow’s Foreigners

High-profile allegations of Russian surveillance have Moscow’s foreign population asking themselves: am I being watched? Some are. But perceptions often...

The Voyage Home: What Russia's Withdrawal Means for Syria

Even with its naval battlegroup headed for home, Russia is not withdrawing from Syria. It is merely changing posture.

How Russia Became a Hacking Superpower

Moscow has finally got the geopolitical respect it demanded for years, but only after spooking Washington.

European University, Under Fire, Receives Temporary Reprieve From Closure

After authorities last year revoked European University in St. Petersburg's license, classes were halted and students feared the future. While the university...

NATO Pivots to Europe

As Secretary of State John Kerry flew to Brussels for his last NATO summit, the Western alliance signed a landmark agreement with the European Union as...

Russia Falls Behind U.S. and China In Annual Space Launches

The Soviet space program, at its height, could launch around 100 rockets per year - a feat that dwarfed all other competitors. In 2016, Russia has fallen...

Russia Emerges as Winner in Arms Race Between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Four days of fighting in April reminded the world that Nagorno-Karabakh remains a serious flashpoint. But efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict have...

Can Russia's Profound Anti-Americanism Be Overcome?

Judging by the euphoria that gripped Russia in the wake of Donald Trump's unexpected victory, one might be forgiven for thinking it had somehow played...

A Short-Lived Honeymoon: Russia Curbs Its Enthusiasm For Trump Presidency

Given Russia's well-documented affinity for the American president-elect, the celebration should be going strong only a day later. But it appears the honeymoon...

What Trump's Unexpected Victory Means For U.S.-Russia Relations

Donald Trump is the next president of the United States. He will be a president unlike any Russia has ever faced. The Moscow Times breaks down how relations...

In Arms Trade, China Is Taking Advantage of Russia's Desperation

Three years ago, Russia's cutting-edge aviation technology was a jealously guarded secret. Today, Moscow's aeronautical knowhow has become a competitive...

Putin’s Great White Fleet

Putin's attempt to channel Teddy Roosevelt's Great White Fleet moment fell flat. The press may have mocked the smoke billowing from Russia's Admiral Kuznetsov...

The Final Countdown: Russia and Europe To Land On Mars

On Wednesday afternoon at 17:42 Moscow time, the European and Russian space agencies will attempt a harrowing Mars landing as part of their cooperative...

Russia Mulls Military Contracts for Mercenaries

The Russian military may begin recruiting soldiers for short, special, one-off military tasks around the globe.

Russian Scientists Throw Wet Blanket on U.S. Talk of Mars Colonization

Such a voyage will not be technologically possible for another 40 to 50 years, according to Igor Mitrofanov, the head of nuclear planetology at RAS's Institute...

Attack on Daughter of Kadyrov Critic Underscores Putin's Chechen Problem

Despite documented attacks on political opponents and unsympathetic journalists, Moscow has relied on Kadyrov to keep Chechnya under firm control. In recent...

Russia's S7 Takes a Giant Leap Into Space

Russia's largest private airline is entering the space race.

Ukrainian MMA Fighter Challenges ‘Chechen Lion’ Over Child-Bout Dispute

The stars are aligning for a brouhaha of epic proportions in the former Soviet Union. What began as a rhetorical spat between Russian mixed martial arts...

Jeff Monson: Moscow's American Muscle

Jeff Monson, a 45-year-old American mixed martial arts champion, denies that Russia invaded eastern Ukraine. Buff, bald, and covered in tattoos, he says...

Open-Source Activists Vindicated After Latest MH17 Report Blames Russia

It has been almost a year since the Dutch Safety Board (DSB) concluded a Russian-made Buk surface-to-air missile was responsible for the downing of Malaysia...

Ahead of Dutch MH17 Report, Russia Blames Ukraine (Again)

Just two days before the release of a new Dutch report on the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-17 over eastern Ukraine two years ago, the Russian...

No End In Sight for Russia's Baltic Tit-for-Tat

Over the past two years, the Russian military and the Western NATO military alliance have watched each other along the dividing lines of Eastern Europe...

Winner Takes All: United Russia Secures a Duma Super-Majority

The final result was overwhelming: United Russia took 343 out of the State Duma’s 450 seats, gaining a constitutional super-majority. Russia’s friendly...

Elections 2016: An Overwelming Victory for the Kremlin

With over 40 percent of the ballots counted, the outcome of Russia's 2016 Parliamentary elections is completely clear: President Vladimir Putin came out...

Can Vladimir Putin Bring Peace to the Middle East?

Part of asserting yourself as a great power is doing the things great powers do. And it is this line of thinking that informs much of Moscow’s foreign...

Political Arena: Russia's Costly Football World Cup Preparations

What St. Petersburg really needs are not schools and hospitals, but a new football stadium. Or such was the message sent to the city’s residents.

Made in China: How Russia Is Teaching Beijing to Play Hockey

With Beijing hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics, China is rushing to develop a competitive national hockey team. But China is not a hockey nation. In a sign...

How a Diamond Heist and Russian Gun Smuggling Lead to Donald Trump

Under normal circumstances, this might be an easy swap: thirteen of yours for just two of ours. But Russia is going for the top of the list: infamous international...

Upping the Ante: Putin Dismisses Diplomacy After Alleged Ukrainian Incursion

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Kiev on Wednesday of organizing a terrorist attack in Crimea, the southern Ukrainian region that Russia annexed...

Largely Unnoticed, Full-Scale War May Be Returning to Ukraine

July was the deadliest month in the Donbass for over a year.

Aleppo’s Last Stand

As Russian-backed regime troops encircle rebel forces in eastern Aleppo, a humanitarian catastrophe looms. Supplies are unlikely to last more than three...

What Russia's U.S. Experts Say About The 2016 Election

With the U.S. presidential election in its final stretch, The Moscow Times decided to poll some of Russia's top U.S. experts with a view to get the...

Putin and Erdogan: The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship

Just a few months ago, the situation between Russia and Turkey looked frightening enough. Now the two countries have gone from almost declaring war on...

Who Is Russia Secretly Supplying With MiGs?

After years languishing behind competitors at home and abroad, Russia's iconic MiG aircraft manufacturer has been thrown a lifeline. The company is now...

What Russia's New Draconian Data Laws Mean for Users

Despite the scores of dire warnings from leading Russian Internet and technology figures about the technological impracticality of the laws, Putin signed...

Chaos in Russia's Baltic Fleet

On June 29, the Russian Defense Ministry announced it was purging the entire senior and mid-level command of the Baltic Fleet. It was a dramatic move that...

Eastern Promises: Putin's Slow Pivot to China

As the Western world reeled from Brexit fallout, President Vladimir Putin flew to China to meet his counterpart, Xi Jinping. The goal, as ever, was to...

Changing of the Guard: NATO Brings In Army General to Deter Russia

Curtis Scaparrotti, a U.S. Army General, is no stranger to tension. For the past three years, he has been the Pentagon's senior officer on the Korean...

The Devil in the Details: Bellingcat Report Links Russian Buk to MH17 Crash

A new report by Bellingcat has presented new claims about the anti-aircraft missile launcher supposedly responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines...

Russia Braces Itself as Syrian Cease-fire Falters

Not two months have passed since President Vladimir Putin declared mission accomplished in Syria, and again the war-ravaged nation is on the brink...

Russians, Their Guns And the State

U.S. gun enthusiasts live in constant fear of the federal government confiscating their weapons. For Russian gun owners, such a fear may be about to become...

NATO and Russia Reaffirm Mutual Loathing

The first Russia-NATO Council meeting since relations were ruptured two years ago by Russia's actions in Ukraine produced only recriminations.

Russia vs. Elon Musk: U.S. Startup Threatens Moscow's Role in Space

Over the past decade, tech billionaire Elon Musk has been fond of telling people that he wants to die on Mars.

How Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict Could Spark Major International Crisis

Springtime in the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh is predictable enough. As sure as the plane trees begin to flower, skirmishes break out between...

Little Green Men: A Look at the Official Soviet X-Files Investigation

It was 4:05 a.m. on Sept. 20, 1977. Something serious was happening over the skies of Petrozavodsk in northwest Russia.

Putin the Liberator: The Retaking of Palmyra

Two weeks after Putin declared the "majority" of Russia's goals in Syria have been accomplished, Moscow and Assad turned their attention to dislodging...

Russia Arming Up in Disputed Kuril Islands

The Russian Defense Ministry on Friday decided it will begin deploying new military hardware to the Kuril Islands — a disputed territory that the Soviet...

Grounded: Economic Crisis Hobbles Russian Space Program

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev tried to put a positive spin on it, but the numbers were hard to ignore. Just two years ago, Russia's 10-year space...

Black Sea Rising: Rebirth of a Russian Fleet

From a military point of view, Russia's operation to annex Crimea was an exceptionally clean affair, and gave an opportunity to demonstrate the fruits...

Iran Seeks Russian Fire Power

After decades of isolation from the international arms market, Iran is gearing up for a military shopping spree. It has turned to Russia to help even...

Russia Sends Medvedev to Munich Seeking Sanctions Relief

Russia's official delegation will be led by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev — the message seems to be that Russia is ready to talk about sanctions relief...

Putin vs. Erdogan — This Time It's Personal

Another airspace violation raises the spectre of conflict between Russia and Turkey.

Inside Russia's Would-Be Foreign Legion

Four years ago, 18-year-old Vitaly Danilenko was conscripted into the Russian military after his family returned to Siberia from Alaska.

Russia Pushing for An Endgame in Ukraine

The appearance of Vladislav Surkov at a meeting with Victoria Nuland has sparked speculation that Moscow and Washington are approaching an endgame...

Putin's Pivot: Out of Ukraine, Into Syria

Russia's war plan worked better than envisioned. But it has yet to achieve the main goal: End Western sanctions.

No End in Sight for Russia's Syria Escapade

Moscow is increasing military support for Assad regime. The military has deployed new aircraft and is reportedly moving into two unused Syrian airbases...

UN Approves Russia-led Proposal To Limit Militarization of Space

The UN General Assembly has approved a Russian-led resolution calling for nations to refrain from being the first to deploy weapons into outer space, in...

U.S.-Russian Relations on the High Frontier

Born in competition during the Cold War, today the U.S. and Russian space agencies preside together over the largest peacetime project in human history...

Downing of Russian Sukhoi Bomber Was Predictable

The downing of a Russian Su-24 bomber on Tuesday marks the first serious clash between Russian forces and an external coalition involved in Syria's civil...

Putin Instructs Roscosmos To Defend Russia's Position in Space Market

President Vladimir Putin has instructed space industry officials to take measures to ensure Russia remains a major player in the commercial space launch...

Images of Russian Nuclear Kamikaze Submarine Leaked in State TV Broadcast

Something strange popped up on Russian state television on Tuesday: a Russian military document depicting plans for a robotic submarine packed with radioactive...

After the Crash: What Are Russia's Options in Syria?

If the investigation concludes a bomb destroyed the plane, the Kremlin will have to react — but its choices are limited.

An American in Moscow's Craft Beer Revolution

Expat Dan Madden has turned his passion into a new profession with the help of a Russian friend.

U.S. Rejects Russia-Led UN Proposal to Limit Militarization of Space

The United States has rejected a Russia-led proposal in the United Nations to ban the first deployment of space-based weapons, pointing to what the U.S...

Small Russian Airlines Under Pressure After Egypt Plane Crash

Russia's small charter airlines are taking a beating from lawmakers and frightened tourists, as anxious travelers cancel vacation packages.

Russians Increasingly Polarized by Syria Intervention – Poll

Russian society is increasingly polarized by President Vladimir Putin's ongoing military intervention in Syria's 4 1/2-year-old civil war, according to...

Roscosmos Sends 6 Russian Women on Fake Moon Flight

Russia's federal space agency sent six intrepid women on a simulated flight to the moon as part of a repeat of previous experiments designed to shed light...

Rogozin Promises Delayed Space Policy Will Be Completed 'In Near Future'

After multiple rewrites over the past year in the wake of the collapse of the ruble, Russia's proposed decade-long vision for space exploration and utilization...

Russian Military Spending to Increase by Less Than 1% Next Year

Russia's defense spending is set to increase by a modest 0.8 percent next year, falling far short of the estimated 10 percent increases required to hit...

Health Minister Warns Russia's HIV Epidemic Could Spiral Out of Control

Russia's HIV epidemic could spiral out of control by the end of the decade if treatment for the life-threatening virus is not expanded, the nation's health...

Syria's Assad Makes Surprise Visit to Moscow

In his first known foreign trip since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, President Bashar Assad made a surprise appearance in Moscow on Tuesday night...

One-Third of Russians Think Russian Military Is World's Best

Almost one-third of Russians think their nation's military is the most powerful in the world, according to a new poll published by the Russian Public Opinion...

Night Wolves Biker Gang Flag Flown In Russian Segment of Space Station

President Vladimir Putin's favorite nationalist biker gang, the Night Wolves, flew their flag aboard the International Space Station — a $150 billion...

Russia to Build Unified Military Base in Syria, Says General

Russia's Defense Ministry is planning to create a single unified military base in Syria, a member of the General Staff said Friday.

Putin Delays First Launch From Russia's Troubled Vostochny Cosmodrome

President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday officially postponed the date of Russia's first space launch from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, a $3 billion construction...

Infowar Continues as Russian, MH17 Investigations Reach Different Conclusions

The Dutch Safety Board and Russian Almaz-Antey told a similar story about what caused the downing of flight MH17, but had a politically charged crucial...

Russian Defense Ministry Plans Archive Unit to Counter 'WWII Lies'

Russia's Defense Ministry will deploy a special scholarly unit to its central archive to defend against “falsifications” in accounts of the Soviet...

Russia Says Preparing Rocket Engine Deal With China

Russia is preparing a deal to sell its highly capable rocket engines to Beijing in return for access to Chinese electronic components used in spacecraft...

NATO Meeting Dominated by Russia

A week after Russia's surprise intervention in the ongoing Syrian civil war, the NATO military alliance finds itself in an awkward position, struggling...

Russian Warships Could Strike Inside Syria

Russian warships could blockade the coast of Syria and conduct naval artillery strikes on rebel and terrorist positions in the country, the head of the...

Russia's New Rocket Won't Fit in Its New Cosmodrome

Work at  Russia's new $ 3 billion spaceport in  the Far East has ground to  a halt after a  critical piece of  infrastructure was discovered to  have...

Russia Begins Air Strikes in Syria

The Russian air force began to launch air strikes in Syria against the Islamic State and other opposition groups on Wednesday, in a move that President...

Putin’s Use of Force In Syria Unlikely to Go Beyond Airstrikes

By providing Syrian President Bashar Assad's military with material and logistical support, Moscow has committed itself to protecting his embattled...

Russian Lawmaker Accuses NASA of Timing Mars Announcement to Upstage Putin

> NASA's Mars announcement was timed in a concerted attempt to draw attention away from Russian President Vladimir Putin's much-hyped address before...

Kremlin Threatens Response to U.S. Nuclear Bomb Deployment in Germany

You The Kremlin lashed out at U.S. plans to modernize 20 nuclear weapons stationed at a German airbase, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov characterizing...

Why Russia Is Expanding Its Naval Base in Syria

The Russian military is expanding its tiny naval facility at Tartus on the Syrian coast to handle bigger warships amid a general buildup of Russian forces...

Russia's New Armata Battle Tank Dramatically Cheaper Than Expected

Russia's new Armata T-14 tank will cost a mere 250 million rubles ($3.75 million) when it enters serial production, the head of the vehicle's manufacturer...

American Head of Russia's Silicon Valley University Quits

After four years at the helm of one of Russia's most high-profile applied research universities, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor...

Russia Launches Largest Military Maneuvers of 2015

The Russian military launched its largest scheduled military exercise of the year on Monday, featuring around 95,000 military personnel, 7,000 pieces of...

Skoltech Strives to Repatriate Russia's Lost Scientific Talent

Four years after the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) was founded, the startup university has finally moved into its own purpose-built...

4 Years of Innovation: An Interview With Skoltech President Edward Crawley

Launched under the leadership of then-President Dmitry Medvedev in 2011, the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) was intended to be...

Russian Defense Ministry Signs Contract for Modern Multi-Role Fighter Jets

The Russian Defense Ministry signed a contract Monday with aircraft manufacturer Irkut for the delivery of eight Su-30SM multi-role fighter jets, and teed...

No, There Is Not a Planet Named Tajikistan

The former Soviet republic of Tajikistan was finally recognized for its vast contributions when an international body of space scientists renamed...

U.S. Sanctions Russian Arms Export Agency for Non-Proliferation Violation

The United States imposed sanctions on Russia's state arms export agency and four defense industry enterprises for alleged violations of international...

Aeroflot to Buy 75 Percent of Competitor Transaero

Russia's flagship airline, Aeroflot, will buy one of its largest competitors, Transaero, after the deal was approved by Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov...

Russian Military Launches Cybertraining Program for Youth

The Russian military launched a new cybersecurity training program for young military cadets at a St. Petersburg military academy on Tuesday, the Defense...

Russia's Most Anachronistic Warship Is Getting an Overhaul

The flagship of Russia's Northern Fleet, the Pyotr Veliky battlecruiser, is on its way into a Murmansk shipyard for renovations as part of a larger program...

Top Deals and Announcements From MAKS 2015 Air Show

Russia's largest air show, the International Aviation and Space Salon (MAKS) wrapped up its business program on Thursday, and is now shifting into gear...

The Five Coolest Russian Planes To See at MAKS Air Show

Russia's biennial International Air and Space Salon launches on Tuesday. Its first three days are considered to be business days for defense industry...

Russia, China Launch Largest Joint Naval Exercise In History

Russia and China on Thursday launched the second phase of their largest joint naval exercise to date against the backdrop of increasingly frequent military...

Top Three Arms Deals Expected At Upcoming MAKS Air Show

Russia next week will host the biennial Moscow Aviation and Space Salon, one of the world's largest air shows and a hub of business activity for Russian...

U.S.-Russian Paper Startup Sees Massive Success Despite Political Tensions

One of the largest office supply retailers in the U.S. has offered a group of young entrepreneurs a distribution deal for a new sticky note developed by...

U.S. Asks Europe To Seize $1 Billion in Russian Telecoms Bribery Case

The U.S. Justice Department has requested that European authorities in several countries seize approximately $1 billion in assets linked to the daughter...

Large Percentage of Russians Support Foreign Condom Ban – Poll

Russians are generally open to a recent government proposal to restrict imports of foreign-made condoms, according to a poll released by an independent...

Russia's Iskander Missile Could Have First Foreign Buyer in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia may become the first foreign buyer of Russia's deadly Iskander-E missile system, Kommersant reported Wednesday in the wake of a meeting between...

Russia's T-50 Aircraft Struggling to Take Flight, But Older Su-35 Surging

The Indian Air Force has halved its demand for a new Russian-built advanced stealth fighter jet in a move to cut costs and reduce imports, India's...

Russia, U.S. Bicker Over Missile Defense Shield After Iran Agreement

Russia is pushing the U.S. to honor an alleged 2009 promise by President Barack Obama to scrap plans to deploy a missile defense system in Europe...

Abandoned Mistral Deal Still Divides Russian Officials, Analysts

France has agreed to reimburse Russia for the two Mistral-class helicopter carriers, ending a months-long dispute over the fate of Russia's largest...

NATO to Halve Baltic Air Patrols Despite Rise in Russian Intercepts

The NATO military alliance will reduce in September the number of planes patrolling Baltic skies on the lookout for Russian bombers by 50 percent.

Russia's New Armata Tank 'Invisible,' Says Manufacturer

Russia's new Armata tank is not only the best in the world, it is also invisible to radars, the deputy director of its manufacturer, UralVagonZavod, said...

Russian Military Merges Air Force and Space Command

Russian Defense Minister announced the creation of a new branch of armed forces: the Aerospace Forces, which brings the air force and the recently created...

Russian Defense Industry Revenues Soar Despite Western Sanctions

Russia's major defense industry enterprises shrugged off Western sanctions and a Russian economic slowdown to grow their revenues rapidly in 2014, according...

New Russian Naval Doctrine Enshrines Confrontation With NATO

President Vladimir Putin on Sunday approved amendments to Russia’s naval doctrine that prioritize the development of Russian positions in strategic seas...

Russia Launches Cutting-Edge Spy Ship to Track U.S. Missile Defense

Russia inducted a new-generation spy ship into the Northern Fleet on Sunday during navy day celebrations. The new vessel will be tasked with monitoring...

Russia's New Angara Rocket Launches on Global Market

Russia's Angara rocket will make its debut in 2017, with the company responsible for selling it announcing that it is marketing the rocket in the...

Russia Could Make U.S. Astronauts Train in Crimea

Russia's space agency is planning to move training for space missions to the International Space Station (ISS) to abandoned facilities in Crimea, a senior...

Putin Warns Russian Defense Industry Not to Fall Behind

Russia's military modernization drive is stalling this year under the weight of Western sanctions and the decay of the domestic defense industry, a deputy...

Russian and U.S. Space Legends Meet 40 Years After 'Handshake in Space' (Video)

Friday marks 40 years since the first docking of two spacecraft designed and built by two different nations as part of the Apollo-Soyuz mission.

6th Russian Air Force Crash Raises Concerns Over Aircraft Safety

Six Russian military aircraft of different designs have crashed since the start of June as the country's air force buckles under the strain of the...

Russia Makes Bid for Arctic Shipping Lane Even as Oil Prices Slip

Long-discussed Russian plans to develop an Arctic passage rivaling the Suez Canal are finally coming closer to reality, even as low oil prices threaten...

Russia's Once-Mighty Fighter Jet Firm MiG Struggling as Rivals Make Gains

Once one of the world's most famous aircraft designers, Russia's MiG aircraft company has fallen on hard times.

Russia Eyes Weapons Deals, Low Oil Prices as Iran Deal Grows Closer

As negotiations over the future of Iran's nuclear weapons program draw to an expected end, the economic and political landscape of the Middle East...

NATO Drastically Increasing Presence in Eastern Europe

As tensions between Russia and the West continue to flare over Ukraine, defense ministers representing NATO's 28 member states met in Brussels to agree...

New Military Equipment or Saber-Rattling? Russia Must Choose

Russia's economic crisis is forcing the government to trim its prized defense budget, and if the situation worsens, President Vladimir Putin may have to...

Kadyrov: Elders Say Chechnya Has as Much Oil as Saudi Arabia

The Russian republic of Chechnya has as much oil as Saudi Arabia, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said in an interview published Thursday, adding that the...

France Gave Advanced Shipbuilding Techniques to Russia Before Mistral Deal Frozen

France transferred several pieces of advanced technology and know-how to Russian shipbuilders before the Mistral warship deal was put on ice following...

Russian Firm Designs New Warship to Replace Sanctions-Slain Model

A Russian naval design bureau is creating a new class of military vessels, news agency TASS reported Tuesday, in effect replacing a design that was...

Roscosmos Misses Deadline to Submit New Budget Request

Roscosmos has missed its deadline to submit its revised decade-long budget proposal as the federal space agency battles through Russia's economic crisis...

Russia Starts Building Warship Similar to France's Mistral as Paris Stalls Delivery

Russia has begun work on a helicopter carrier similar to a previously ordered, French-built warship whose delivery has been stalled due to Paris's concerns...

How the Soviet Union Wrecked Russia's Military-Industrial Complex

While Russia's tussle with Ukraine may seem an unfair match, Ukraine does have one simple advantage — it makes a number of important vehicles and components...

Russia Plans Bigger, Badder Version of Tu-160 Supersonic Bomber

Russia will relaunch assembly of the massive Soviet-designed Tu-160 supersonic strategic bomber after 2023, a Russian defense official said, raising...

Ukraine Crisis Torpedoes Russia's Naval Expansion

Moscow's breakup with Ukraine has forced the Russian navy to suspend construction of a variety of next-generation warships, throwing the future of Russia's...

MH17 Was Not Shot Down by Russian Missile – Russian Defense Firm

The Russian maker of an anti-aircraft missile thought to be behind the MH17 disaster presented evidence Tuesday that suggested that Ukrainian forces...

Report: Russia's Defense Ministry Doctored MH17 Satellite Images

Images used by the Russian Defense Ministry to accuse Ukraine of downing a Malaysia Airlines jet last year were edited using Photoshop, claimed  the...

Q&A: The Hardest Job in Russia – Being NATO's Envoy (Video)

In 2010, Robert Pszczel arrived in Moscow to head up NATO's Information Office with the charge of promoting the 28-member transatlantic military...

Audit Reveals $1.8 Billion Financial Violations at Russia's Space Agency

Russian auditors have uncovered 92 billion rubles ($1.8 billion) in financial violations committed by federal space agency Roscosmos last year, the head...

Russians Outraged by Polish Video Game of Kursk Submarine Disaster

Russian Internet users reacted with outrage to the unveiling this week of a new Polish video game based on one of the worst disasters in Russian naval...

How Ukraine Should Spend $200 Million in U.S. Military Aid

Buried over 600 pages deep into the 2016 U.S. military budget is a small section authorizing $200 million in military aid to Ukraine's beleaguered...

After Latest Rocket Crash, Has Russia Lost its Way in Space?

The long-brewing crisis in Russia's space industry is getting worse. After numerous investigations, rockets that had performed for decades without incident...

Russia Closes NATO’s Transport Corridor to Afghanistan

The pathway through Russia had been a symbol of Russia-U.S. cooperation amid otherwise frosty relations between the two former Cold War rivals.

Russia to Unveil Aircraft Supercarrier Design Amid Navy Buildup

A Russian naval design bureau will unveil a new design for a massive aircraft carrier at an upcoming maritime defense industry show in St. Petersburg amid...

Russia Wants Over $1 Billion Redress From France for Mistral Warships

Russia and France are wrangling over a compensation package for Moscow after Paris suspended delivery of two Mistral-class warships to the Russian navy...

India Blesses Major Russian Helicopter Deal After Putin Charm Offensive

After years of delays, the Indian Defense Ministry has finally approved a major $471 million deal with Russian Helicopters to establish localized production...

4 Things France Can Do With Its Russian-Ordered Mistral Warships

What do you do with two 600 million euro ($680 million) warships when you can't give them to the buyer, but don't need them yourself?

Victory Day Parade: A Glimpse of Russia's Future Military Might (Video)

Russian President Vladimir Putin treated scores of foreign dignitaries, political elites and minor celebrities to a snapshot of Moscow's future military...

How to Spot Russia's New Tanks at the May 9 Victory Day Parade

The early fruits of Russia's massive military buildup will be proudly displayed on May 9 as the centerpieces of the Victory Day parade, which this...

Is Russia's New Armata Tank the Best in the World?

Russia's new battle tank, the Armata T-14, will surely steal the show on Saturday during Moscow's celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Soviet...
opinion The Moscow Times and Matthew Bodner

The Moscow Times Remembers: Nathan and Marsha Bodner

In the run-up to Victory Day on May 9, when Russia commemorates 70 years since the Allied victory over Nazi Germany, staff members at The Moscow...

Will Russia's S-300 Missile Defense Systems Really Empower Iran?

Moscow's decision to lift its unilateral ban on exporting advanced S-300 air defense system to Iran will boost the Islamic republic's air defense capabilities...

Why Russia Ended its Ban on Selling Advanced Air Defense Systems to Iran

Russia's decision to lift a  embargo on selling S-300 anti-aircraft systems to Iran is likely an attempt to turn the Middle Eastern country into a...

Despite Recession, Russians' Support for Space Program High as Ever

Popular support for Russia's space program is as strong as ever, even as an economic crisis pushes greater numbers of Russians into poverty, according...

Fight Over Ukraine Darkens Future of Russia-U.S. Nuclear Arms Control

Five years after the United States and Russia signed the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty, the spirit in which it was signed is dead.

Bear, Blackjack and Backfire: A Look at the Russian Bombers Alarming Europe

Russia's bomber fleet is a Soviet legacy force, but the planes can still pack a punch if used intelligently and efficiently. The Moscow Times looked at...

Russia's Bombers Over Europe are Scary, But Not in the Way You Think

Russia is using increased strategic bomber flights along Europe's airspace to project the image of power, but are the Soviet-built aircraft really a military...

NASA Gets Sucked Into Russian Space Agency's Fight for Funds


NASA may have been drawn into a political battle taking place within Roscosmos to protect the Russian space agency's funding streams amid an economic...

Russia Wants an Aircraft Supercarrier, But Can It Build One?

Russia wants to join the global club of naval powers wielding large and powerful aircraft carriers, but such a project would require major expansion...

Russia's Strategic Bomber Fleet on Global Intimidation Drive

Russia is expanding strategic bomber flights around the globe in a bid to intimidate other nations and assert its geopolitical influence.

Russia Struggling to Finish Putin-Backed Spaceport On Time

Russia's mega project of the moment, a new cosmodrome in the farthest reaches of the Far East, is at a crossroads, with critical deadlines fast approaching...

Mission Impossible: Ukraine's 3-Step Plan to Join NATO and Upset Russia

Even without the confrontation with Russia, Ukraine is nowhere near being compatible with the alliance. Its security services are riven with Russian...

Russians Could Be Offered Draft Deferments for Defense Industry Work

The Russian government is considering doubling wages and issuing draft deferments for promising young workers to take jobs in the military-industrial...

Cheap Oil Threatens to Shrink Record Russian Arms Sales

Russian arms export deliveries reached a record $10 billion last year, but declining oil prices and Western sanctions threaten to derail the country's...