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Russia Risks Arctic Environmental Disaster in Pursuit of Profit and Power

As climate change opens up trade routes in Russia's north, governments should avoid enabling Moscow's destructive exploitation.

Prioritizing Veterans and Widows in University Admissions Is About Control, Not Social Mobility

What looks like an attempt to reward people for their sacrifice will install voices loyal to the Kremlin to pacify potentially restive institutions.

Trump's Diplomacy Won't Stop Russia's Expansionism

The most influential causes of Russia’s war on Ukraine are internal. Improving relations with the West will not fix them. Only action matters.

Inna Bondarenko

Trump and Putin Speak the Same Diplomatic Language. Zelensky Adapts, But Europe Struggles.

The businessman, spy and actor all understand the role of showmanship. Europe's earnest approach risks assigning them to irrelevancy.

Welcome to Russia in 2025. Wave Your Comfortable Modern Life Goodbye.

Cut off from the free internet, suffering from power cuts and even turning to bartering and cash payments — Russia's future looks like its past.

Why Is Russia Still Bombarding Ukrainian Civilians?

Vladimir Putin's campaign against Ukrainian civilians won’t end the war any faster and is more likely to harden national resolve against Russia.

Ukraine Needs Security Guarantees Moscow Will Take Seriously. The West Isn’t Up to the Task.

By spending years drip-feeding military aid to Ukraine and prevaricating over sending troops, Kyiv's allies have wasted their credibility.

Elena Davlikanova

Why Is It So Hard for Putin to End the War in Ukraine?

Not only is Russia's economy dependent on the war, but it is learning valuable lessons about modern warfare for future aggression.

Don't Cry Wolf Over Russia-Belarus Military Exercise

Zapad 2025 is certainly provocative. But acting like it is a sign of military escalation hands the Kremlin an easy political win.

Trump Is Doing Putin a Favor — And Abandoning His Allies

Hosting the Russian president on American soil is a clear sign of Washington's pivot way from Europe to the strongman in the Kremlin.

We Must Cut Off the Labor Sources of Russia’s War Machine

Russia actively recruits people from the Global South to work in military manufacturing. Institutions that facilitate this should be sanctioned.

Andrei Pivovarov

Germany Must Resume Humanitarian Assistance for Russians and Belarusians

Berlin's program was a vital route for Russians fleeing political oppression. There is still a chance we can bring it back through our campaign.

It Looks Like Trump Will Sell Ukraine Out

For a brief moment, it appeared that Trump was waking up to the Russian threat and would punish Moscow. Now we are plunged into uncertainty.

Medvedev Doesn’t Matter. Stop Acting Like He Does.

Medvedev's aggressive social media ramblings are born of self-interest and self-preservation. He isn’t the “voice of Putin” of popular Western imagination...

The 1990s Created the Russia of Today. The Moscow Times Captured that Transformation.

Charles Hecker pays tribute to The Moscow Times’ coverage of Russia’s transformation in the 1990s and Derk Sauer’s role leading it.

Sarkis Darbinyan

How Russia’s New Internet Restrictions Work and How to Get Around Them

Here are some methods Russians can use to get around the Kremlin's move to criminalize viewing banned content online.

Putin Is Aging and Nobody Wants to Do Anything About It

Kremlin officials appear to be acting according to an old playbook: do what the tsar wants, and try not to anger him.

Trump’s Break-Up With Putin Is a Slap on the Wrist, Not a Knock-Out Punch

This week, Trump will sanction Russia if there is no progress toward peace. Will he chicken out? And will it make a difference if he doesn't?

Alexander Gubsky

'Inform and Inspire': In Memory of Derk Sauer

The flame of independent journalism Derk lit 30 years ago has not been extinguished. And we will bring it back to Russia.

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