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Articles by Moscow Times Reporter

Why Is the Leader of Separatist Abkhazia Stepping Down?

President Aslan Bzhania has resigned after an attempt to push through an investment agreement with Moscow sparked major protests.
3 Min read

How U.S. Approval of Long-Range Missiles Striking Russia Could Alter the Ukraine War

Experts explain how the Biden administration's move could affect the situation on the battlefield.
4 Min read

‘Russia Wants Family Violence to Persist’: Feminist Activist Zalina Marshenkulova

The prominent feminist blogger and activist speaks about activism in exile, the Kremlin’s repressive laws and the state of women’s rights in Russia...
6 Min read

Exiled Russian Opposition Leaders Urge Unity Against Putin, Ukraine War at Berlin Rally

Amid debates about the future of Russian opposition politics in exile, three leading figureheads insist that such demonstrations remain crucial. 
4 Min read

Kremlin and FSB Order Gulag Museum’s Closure in Latest Crackdown on Historical Memory

A Moscow official said the museum’s future now “remains unclear.”
2 Min read

Explainer: How Does Russia Loom Over Abkhazia’s Latest Protests?

The breakaway Georgian region was rocked by protests after activists opposing a controversial investment treaty with Russia were detained and held by security...
4 Min read

In Numbers: How Russia’s Regions Entice Ukraine War Recruits With Money

Regions are hiking their payouts to military recruits in a bid to outdo fellow regions in meeting Kremlin-allocated enlistment quotas.
4 Min read

No ‘Trump Rally’ for Russian Stocks, Tycoons

The Russian benchmark stock index gained following Trump’s victory, but it remains lower than it was this summer or before the Kremlin’s full-scale...
3 Min read

Film 'Anora' Opens to Rave Reviews Despite Controversy

The film surprised everyone at Cannes when it won the highest award, and now it's drawing crowds in movie theaters.
4 Min read

3 Ways Trump's Victory Will Impact the Russian Economy

At least from an economic point of view, there are no good omens for a second Trump administration.  
4 Min read

Will a Second Trump Presidency Reshape U.S.-Russia Ties? Experts Weigh In

While the president-elect's fondness for Putin could have a positive impact on bilateral ties, a full “reset” in relations is unlikely, analysts say...
4 Min read

Russian Officials Cautiously Welcome Donald Trump's Re-Election

While Putin has yet to comment on the election results, other officials expressed tentative hopes that Trump will cut aid to Kyiv and repair relations...
3 Min read

‘Alexander*a’: A Journey into the Life of Soviet Revolutionary Alexandra Kollontai

Created by exiled artists, producers and actors, the play seeks to raise questions about the role of women today and how they are affected by historical...
4 Min read

Punitive Psychiatry: An Increasingly Common Tool in Russia's Crackdown on Activists

Dozens of people are believed to have been sent to forced psychiatric treatment for political reasons.
3 Min read

‘My Government Doesn’t See Me as a Citizen’: Russian Ex-State Worker Reflects on Being Outed, Forced Into Exile

Denis Leontovich said he wished to share his story “to help others who remain in Russia and fear similar persecution.”
7 Min read

How Russia Courted the Global South at BRICS Summit

At the largest international event in Russia since it invaded Ukraine, the Kremlin sought to show that it is not as isolated as the West would like.
4 Min read

Is Russia’s Wartime Wage Boom Coming to an End?

Some say the period of rising wages, ushered in by rising demand for labor amid the war effort, is a new reality for the economy. For others, it is a bubble...
4 Min read
News Analysis

Russia to Host Landmark BRICS Summit in Ongoing Bid to Reshape World Order

At the three-day summit in Kazan, Moscow will be pulling out all the stops to project the alliance as a geopolitical counterweight to the West. 
4 Min read
Feature

Russia Takes Aim at 'Childfree' Ideology in Controversial Bid to Boost Birth Rates

Experts say that proposed legislation to ban “childfree propaganda” is “repressive” and fails to address the root causes of falling birth rates...
5 Min read

What Kadyrov’s ‘Blood Feud’ Declaration Really Means

Experts call the move a last-resort tactic in the Wildberries saga that could be a sign of Kadyrov's declining powers.
5 Min read

Last Window to Europe: What Happens After Ukraine Gas Transit Ends?

If this gas route is lost, it may intensify Europe's battle with Asia for liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies and create new headaches for cash-strapped...
6 Min read

As Ukraine’s Kursk Incursion Rages for a Third Month, What Is Happening on the Ground?

With much of the territory captured by Kyiv still under Ukrainian control, residents continue to express dissatisfaction and fear for their safety.
3 Min read

Shoigu Grows Increasingly Vulnerable as Putin’s Favor Wanes

Five months after his dismissal as defense minister, Shoigu’s position is increasingly precarious, sources in the Russian government said.
4 Min read
Feature

Persecuted En Masse, Russia’s Jehovah’s Witnesses ‘Expect to Outlast’ Putin’s Regime

As many as 833 members of the religious group have faced persecution for their beliefs since Russia banned them as "extremist" in 2017.
5 Min read
Feature

In Russia’s Republic of Sakha, a Fatal Stray Dog Attack Underscores Country-Wide Problem

Sakha is one of many regions grappling with a stray dog crisis that endangers the people who live near them — but an effective solution appears far-off...
4 Min read

Nausea, Headaches and Coughing: Locals Complain Amid Crimean Oil Refinery Fire Caused By Ukrainian Strike

A major fire at an offshore oil terminal near the Black Sea port of Feodosia caused by a Ukrainian strike burned for a fourth day on Thursday.
2 Min read
Feature

An Ark for Russian Emigres: The Project Helping Anti-War Russians Find Their Footing Abroad

Kovcheg has helped at least 150,000 Russians who fled because of the war adjust to life in exile. Its work is far from over.
4 Min read
Feature

Despite Fears of Wider Middle East War, Russian Emigres in Israel Say They Are Unlikely to Leave

Russians who fled to Israel following the invasion of Ukraine told The Moscow Times they have little interest in returning to their homeland.
4 Min read
Feature

In Russia’s Caucasus, a Tentative Border Redraw Edges Republics Closer to Instability

For many in Ingushetia, learning that parts of their republic could be handed over to neighboring North Ossetia was like rubbing salt in the wound.
4 Min read

In Russia, International Safe Abortion Day Is a Reminder of Reproductive Rights Backsliding

Russia has backtracked on its once-liberal abortion policies, leaving thousands of women with increasingly limited access to abortion care. 
3 Min read
News Analysis

With Presidential Internships, Kremlin Seeks to Paint Ukraine Veterans as Russia's 'New Elites'

Despite Putin's proclamations, experts say that hardly any veterans of the war will actually be allowed to advance into top official positions.
4 Min read

Russia Could Capture Ukrainian Stronghold of Vuhledar ‘In Days,’ Analyst Says

Russian troops edged closer to Vuhledar on Monday, according to the Ukrainian crowd-sourced tracking site DeepState.
3 Min read

‘He Was Right All Along’: 5 Years Since Arrest, Support for Anti-Putin Shaman Is Stronger Than Ever

Once dismissed by some as “a lunatic,” many now view Alexander Gabyshev’s quest against the Kremlin as prophetic in light of the war in Ukraine.
4 Min read

Is Russia Running Out of Time to Save the Caspian Seal From Extinction?

If authorities fail to take decisive action to protect the seals, scientists estimate that the species could go extinct within two decades.
4 Min read

Should the West Sanction Russia’s Neighbors in Central Asia?

Western governments face the dilemma of cracking down on sanctions evasion without severing ties with the economies of Central Asia.
6 Min read

Kremlin Revives Soviet-Style Youth Indoctrination as It Eyes ‘Forever War’ With Ukraine and the West

According to a source close to the Kremlin, the presidential administration is dusting off old Soviet practices and studying them closely.
3 Min read

What Is Quadrobics, Russia’s Viral But Divisive Youth Subculture?

Quadrobics centers around impersonating animals by running on all fours. Not everyone is a fan.
3 Min read

Who Is Leonid Nevzlin, the Controversial Exiled Kremlin Critic Accused of Ordering Attacks on Navalny Allies?

The Russian-Israeli businessman and outspoken Kremlin critic is at the center of a scandal between his former business partner Mikhail Khodorkovsky and...
2 Min read
News Analysis

How Are Ukrainian Drones Targeting Russia's Far North?

Ukrainian drones have targeted Russia's Murmansk region at least twice over the past month, marking the deepest strikes inside Russia since the start of...
3 Min read

Filmmaker Zara Jian Celebrates the Spirit of Sergei Parajanov in Venice

In “I Will Revenge This World With Love," Parajanov's resilience in the face of repression inspires today's exiles.
4 Min read
Feature

‘My Hands Are Stained with Blood’: The Russian Soldiers Fleeing the War in Ukraine

Activists who help Russian men desert told The Moscow Times that the number of deserters is on the rise.
5 Min read

What to Make of Russian Drones in NATO Airspace

The reported breaches have stirred concern over heightened confrontation between NATO and Russia.
4 Min read

The Biggest Surprises and Non-Surprises of Russia’s Regional and Municipal Elections

The ruling, pro-Kremlin United Russia party solidified its control in over 4,000 races nationwide, including in occupied Ukrainian territories.
3 Min read

‘Russians at War’: Documentary About Russian Troops in Ukraine Criticized at Venice Film Fest

Director Anastasia Trofimova defended her film against a barrage of negative critiques.
3 Min read

The Roadmap to Russia’s 2024 Regional Elections

Residents of 81 federal subjects of Russia will vote in regional and municipal elections starting Friday. Here's what you need to know.
4 Min read

'The West, Like Russia, Is Trying to Pressure Him': What Do Russians Think About Pavel Durov’s Legal Battle in France?

For Telegram's Russian users, the case against Durov has heightened concerns over digital privacy and in some cases deepened distrust of the West.
2 Min read

In Russia’s Ethnic Republics, Pro-Kremlin Heads Run for Reelection — Popular Support Optional

Russia’s third wartime elections are expected to yield few surprises. But in three ethnic republics, the incumbents' victories will be hard-fought.
4 Min read

67% of Russians Say Officials Did Everything to Save Beslan Hostages Despite Relatives' Criticisms

The share of Russians who believe that authorities did everything possible to save the hostages during the Beslan school siege is at its highest level...
3 Min read

What We Trade in the Shadows: Just How Much Do We Know About the Russian Economy?

Analysts have been struggling to shed light on how Russia gets its money, where it keeps it and what it does with it.
8 Min read
News Analysis

Mongolia’s Reluctance to Arrest Putin a ‘Major Setback’ for International Law, Experts Say

While bolstering Putin's defiance of the West, the visit carries wider implications for international law.
4 Min read

Chulpan Khamatova and the 'Quiet Life' at the Venice Film Fest

Alexandros Avranas' film about a Russian family traumatized by forced exile hits very close to home.
5 Min read

In the ‘Urals Switzerland,’ a Village Boycotts Vote for Pro-Kremlin Governor Over Neglected Road

Residents of the village of Tyulyuk say they have been cut off from the outside world by authorities’ negligence.
3 Min read

Beslan Remembers Victims of Russia’s Deadliest Terror Attack 20 Years On 

School bells rang at 9:15 a.m. local time, marking the start of the siege 20 years ago, while mourners laid flowers and lit candles.
3 Min read

How the World Reacted to Telegram Boss Pavel Durov’s Detention

The Moscow Times has collected reactions from Russian and Western officials and public figures to Durov’s detention in France.
4 Min read

What We Know About the Prison Hostage Crisis in Russia's Volgograd

Security forces have reportedly regained control over the prison, with at least four attackers killed.
3 Min read
Feature

‘Everyone Is On Their Own’: In Battlefield Kursk Region, Civilians Feel Forgotten By Their Own Country

Kursk residents expressed frustration with what they see as government inaction and voiced fears about the war now at their doorstep.
4 Min read

What We Know About Russia’s Advances in Ukraine’s Donetsk Region

Russia is pushing toward the strategic city of Pokrovsk despite Kyiv's offensive in the Kursk region. What does it mean for the war?
4 Min read

Counting the Economic Costs of Ukraine’s Kursk Assault

Ukraine's assault on Russia's Kursk region has so far had limited economic impact, but leaves ample room for escalation.
3 Min read

‘I Never Believed I Could Get on That Plane’: Freed Political Prisoner Sasha Skochilenko

The Moscow Times spoke with Skochilenko and her girlfriend, Sofia Subbotina, about this month's prisoner exchange and their future plans.
5 Min read

'I Still Can't Imagine Life Outside Russia': Oleg Orlov on Prisoner Exchange and Rights Work in Exile

The veteran human rights defender was one of 16 prisoners freed by Russia on Aug. 1 in a historic exchange between Russia and the West.
5 Min read

Russia’s Use of Inexperienced Conscripts for Kursk Defense Raises Questions

Reports of young men on their compulsory military service being drawn into combat have prompted their families to appeal to the authorities.
5 Min read

Kadyrov’s Troops Draw Pro-War Bloggers’ Ire for Kursk Border Defense Failures

Pro-war bloggers have accused Akhmat units of enabling the Ukrainian incursion by deserting their positions in border areas.
4 Min read

Is the Western Quest to Strangle Russia’s ‘Shadow Fleet’ Doomed to Fail?

Over two years into the invasion of Ukraine, sanctioning Russia's energy sector — the Kremlin's main cash cow — remains an elusive task for the Western...
5 Min read

‘Why Did Our State Allow This?’: Russians in Border Region Slam Officials’ Inaction as Ukrainian Forces Attack

Local officials reported at least five people killed and 24 injured in the apparent attack by Ukraine's military.
3 Min read

Freed Political Prisoner Pivovarov Talks Exchange, Future Plans

The former head of the pro-democracy group Open Russia was one of the 16 prisoners freed from Russia in last week's major prisoner exchange.
4 Min read

‘If You Talk, You’ll Go in a Bag’: Freed Russian Political Prisoners Recount Harrowing, Surprising Prison Swap

Prisoners’ friends and relatives have recounted the uncertain, frightening time before their release in one of the largest and most complex prisoner...
4 Min read

Russia Frees Political Prisoners, Journalists in Landmark Exchange With West

Evan Gershkovich, a former Moscow Times reporter, is among over a dozen journalists and political prisoners released from Russian prison.
6 Min read

What We Know About the Prisoner Exchange Between Russia and the West

The unprecedented exchange is expected to involve dozens of prisoners.
4 Min read

Russian Regions Hike Military Sign-Up Payments in Bid to Boost Manpower for Ukraine War

From TV marathons promoting war recruitment to raising payments, Russian regions are looking for ways to address the need for fresh troops.
4 Min read

What We Know About Russian Mercenary Losses in Mali

Experts say the battles resulted in one of the largest losses suffered by Russian mercenaries in overseas operations, excluding their involvement in Ukraine...
4 Min read

Fashion Police: Russia Cracks Down on Pop Stars’ Revealing Costumes

Performers are coming under fire for performing in leotards and bodysuits seen as clashing with the state's vision of "traditional values."
3 Min read

Raging Wildfires Devastate Russia’s Far East Sakha Republic

At least 2 million hectares of forest have been destroyed in Sakha this summer — and local residents are lamenting the authorities’ lax response.
3 Min read
Feature

Rejecting Kremlin Propaganda's ‘Russophobia’ Claims, Russian Exiles in Warsaw Hope for a Bright Future

Russian officials and propaganda speak of Poles being “ready to devote their lives to hating Russians.” Russians in Poland tell a different story.
4 Min read

‘We Are Still Fighting for Justice’: MH17 Victims’ Families Solemn on 10th Anniversary of Tragedy

Ten years since flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine, the relatives of those who lost their lives are still seeking answers.
3 Min read

‘Do You Still Need This War?’: The Anti-War Russian Teenagers Facing Long Prison Sentences

Several teenagers in Russia have been sentenced for their anti-war views.
4 Min read

Director Kirill Serebrennikov on Eduard Limonov, Russia, Fascism and Violence

MT spoke with theater and film director about his film, the real Limonov and Russia.
6 Min read

Artist Artiom Loskutov: ‘The Totalitarian Game Became Reality’

The exiled artist discusses the challenges of addressing war in one’s art, commenting on other countries' conflicts as a Russian and more.
7 Min read
Feature

More Russians Favor Peace Talks With Ukraine Than Ever – But It’s Complicated

The director of the Levada Center, Russia's last major independent pollster, explains how respondents can support both peace talks and the war itself.
5 Min read

Reflections on the Russian Controversy at the Cannes Film Festival

MT film critic discusses the scandal at Cannes, where a American film mostly about Russians won the top award.
4 Min read

A Viral Telegram Game Promises Crypto Coins for Clicks. What’s the Catch?

In just a few weeks, Hamster Kombat claims to have amassed 200 million users — sparking concerns from both Russian and Ukrainian authorities.
5 Min read

As Power of Siberia 2 Pipeline Stagnates, So Do Russia's Hopes for Pivoting Gas Exports Eastward

Are there any other options left for Gazprom to boost its foreign sales after its main export direction — to Europe — has nearly been severed?
5 Min read

Laur Vallikivi's "Words and Silences" is Shortlisted for the Pushkin House Book Prize

A remarkable book that follows Nenets reindeer herders and evangelical Christian missionaries in the post-Soviet Arctic.
9 Min read
Feature

On a Train in Southern Russia, Fatigued Soldiers See No End in Sight to War

Soldiers on their way to the front lines or home for a short leave expressed a fatalistic view of their country’s war.
4 Min read

Despite Putin’s Boasts, U.S. Sanctions Threat Cuts Vital Chinese Exports to Russia

Under the threat of secondary sanctions, China's exports to Russia have fallen for the first time since the invasion of Ukraine.
5 Min read

‘We Will Go Underground’: Russia’s Drag Artists Forced Into the Shadows

In an interview with MT, a former member of Moscow’s drag collectives describes life and drag under Russia’s intensifying anti-LGBTQ+ restrictions...
6 Min read

In Photos: Russia's Massive Patriotic Expo Draws Millions of Visitors to VDNKh

The expo, whose organizers include Russian ministries and state corporations, comes as the Kremlin pushes to increase public patriotism amid the invasion...
1 Min read
Feature

In Annexed Crimea, War Looms Over Victory Day Celebrations

“If we hear the sirens, we run to the shelter and wait,” said Yana, a small business owner in Sevastopol. “Everyone’s gotten used to it.” 
5 Min read

‘Day of Unity’ or ‘Day of Sorrow’? Russians Celebrate Third Victory Day Since Invasion

Although moods were high in Moscow, dozens of regions across Russia scaled back or canceled Victory Day celebrations due to safety concerns.
4 Min read
Feature

10 Years Later, Russian Volunteer Fighters Recall Fueling the War in Donbas

Thousands of Russian citizens joined the armed insurgency in eastern Ukraine that marked the initial phase of Russia's covert invasion.
8 Min read
Feature

She Photographed Russian Political Prisoners. Now She's Charged With 'Extremism.'

Antonina Favorskaya and her colleagues consider the charges against her to be revenge for her journalism and political views.
4 Min read
Feature

'Devastating to See': Russia’s Orenburg Region Battles Historic Flood

Experts say the floods, which have caught the authorities off-guard and left many to fend for themselves, are just a preview of what is yet to come.
7 Min read

Are Ukrainian Drone Attacks on Oil Refineries Hindering Russia’s War Machine?

Though the strikes' impact on the Russian economy is so far negligible, Russia's energy infrastructure is increasingly vulnerable to these attacks.
6 Min read
Feature

One of the First Russian Soldiers to Invade Ukraine Is Given a Funeral 2 Years Later

Kirill Chistyakov's mother spent two years desperately searching for her son after he went missing in action. He was finally identified last month.
5 Min read
News Analysis

War Escalation, Xenophobia, Death Penalty Talks: What’s Next for Russia After Moscow Concert Massacre?

Experts told The Moscow Times that the attack risks exacerbating already existing tensions.
5 Min read
Feature

‘I’m Trying to Forget It’: Moscow Concert Attack Survivors Grapple With Trauma

Those who managed to escape the horror and chaos of Friday's attack that killed at least 140 people say they are still reeling from the tragedy.
4 Min read

Elena Skvortsova Hides Street Art in Plain Sight

Early in the morning a ceramics artist places tiny figures around the city.
3 Min read
Feature

‘We All Have the Same Face to Them’: Deadly Moscow Attack Magnifies Discrimination Against Central Asian Migrants

In the wake of last week’s deadly shooting at Crocus City Hall, life for many migrants in Russia could take a turn for the worse.
6 Min read
Feature

‘Endless Wave of Violence’: Leading Russian Anti-Torture Activist on Concert Attack Suspects’ Treatment

MT interviewed lawyer Olga Sadovskaya of The Crew Against Torture, a prominent human rights NGO, about what the suspects' treatment means for Russia.
5 Min read
Feature

‘It Could Have Been Me’: Russians Mourn Victims of Deadly Concert Hall Attack

People are laying flowers, toys and candles outside Crocus City Hall in memory of the victims as well as donating blood for the wounded.
4 Min read

When the LGBTQ+ Community Held a Kiss-In in Front of the Russian Duma

A new animated film is a reminder of how things have changed in Russia.
4 Min read