https://www.themoscowtimes.com/news The Moscow Times offers everything you need to know about Russia: Breaking news, top stories, business, analysis, opinion, multimedia en-us Sun, 31 May 2026 06:01:59 +0300 600 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/30/russia-pulls-ambassador-from-armenia-after-putin-warns-against-eu-alignment-a92883 At a summit in Kazakhstan on Friday, Putin invoked what he called the "Ukrainian scenario" to warn Armenia against pursuing closer ties with the European Union. Sat, 30 May 2026 12:24:39 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/30/russia-pulls-ambassador-from-armenia-after-putin-warns-against-eu-alignment-a92883 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/29/putin-rejects-blame-for-drone-crash-in-romania-demands-evidence-it-came-from-russia-a92877 Bucharest said the downed drone was a Russian Geran-2 and slammed the incident as a “serious and irresponsible escalation” by Moscow. Fri, 29 May 2026 19:32:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/29/putin-rejects-blame-for-drone-crash-in-romania-demands-evidence-it-came-from-russia-a92877 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/29/political-prisoners-are-dying-in-russian-jails-these-people-are-keeping-their-memory-alive-a92850 At least six Russian political prisoners have died in custody so far this year, according to rights advocates. Fri, 29 May 2026 19:06:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/29/political-prisoners-are-dying-in-russian-jails-these-people-are-keeping-their-memory-alive-a92850 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/29/parts-of-western-siberia-and-the-ural-mountains-issue-first-missile-alert-since-2022-invasion-a92882 All six regions of the Ural Federal District issued a missile alert on Friday afternoon, regional officials said. Fri, 29 May 2026 17:45:33 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/29/parts-of-western-siberia-and-the-ural-mountains-issue-first-missile-alert-since-2022-invasion-a92882 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/29/moscow-court-jails-walt-disney-manager-25-years-on-drug-charges-a92881 Customs officers detained Jugal Daterao in January during a routine baggage inspection after discovering THC-infused gummy candies in his luggage. Fri, 29 May 2026 14:33:03 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/29/moscow-court-jails-walt-disney-manager-25-years-on-drug-charges-a92881 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/29/russia-targets-mineral-water-in-latest-trade-restriction-against-armenia-a92880 Rospotrebnadzor said it suspended all new sales of Jermuk, a popular Armenian mineral water brand. Fri, 29 May 2026 14:07:38 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/29/russia-targets-mineral-water-in-latest-trade-restriction-against-armenia-a92880 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/29/ukraine-seals-the-deal-for-gripens-but-how-much-difference-will-it-make-in-the-war-a92879 Zelensky hopes the new aircraft will protect Ukraine by intercepting missiles and even putting Russian jets in the crosshairs. Fri, 29 May 2026 13:59:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/29/ukraine-seals-the-deal-for-gripens-but-how-much-difference-will-it-make-in-the-war-a92879 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/29/ukrainian-drone-strikes-in-volgograd-and-bryansk-kill-3-a92878 Reports and videos on social media suggested that a Lukoil-operated oil refinery in Volgograd also caught fire during the overnight attacks. Fri, 29 May 2026 11:31:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/29/ukrainian-drone-strikes-in-volgograd-and-bryansk-kill-3-a92878 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/28/regions-calling-inside-errol-musks-regional-ambitions-a92869 The father of the world’s richest man hopes to open a Musk Institute and Tesla factory — and resettle Afrikaner “refugees” — in the regions. Thu, 28 May 2026 20:14:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/28/regions-calling-inside-errol-musks-regional-ambitions-a92869 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/28/russia-lets-private-firms-buy-heavy-weapons-to-defend-sites-from-drone-attacks-rbc-a92876 The new system will allow companies to procure anti-aircraft artillery systems, turrets, radar equipment, specialized vehicles and electronic warfare systems. Thu, 28 May 2026 19:59:14 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/28/russia-lets-private-firms-buy-heavy-weapons-to-defend-sites-from-drone-attacks-rbc-a92876 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/28/moscow-signs-military-partnership-with-the-taliban-a92875 Some analysts downplayed the immediate impact of the agreement, describing it as a symbolic effort by Moscow to formalize its relationship with Kabul. Thu, 28 May 2026 18:05:13 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/28/moscow-signs-military-partnership-with-the-taliban-a92875 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/28/russian-philosopher-reportedly-charged-with-embezzling-public-funds-intended-for-aristotle-translations-a92873 Svetlana Mesyats was detained and placed under house arrest last week following police raids at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Philosophy and the homes of several of its employees. Thu, 28 May 2026 17:15:09 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/28/russian-philosopher-reportedly-charged-with-embezzling-public-funds-intended-for-aristotle-translations-a92873 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/28/russia-ramps-up-pressure-on-armenia-with-produce-import-ban-a92871 The restrictions on fruit and vegetable imports come a day after Moscow threatened to rip up a natural gas agreement with Yerevan. Thu, 28 May 2026 16:09:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/28/russia-ramps-up-pressure-on-armenia-with-produce-import-ban-a92871 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/28/z-pop-star-shaman-just-dropped-his-latest-music-video-and-its-something-else-a92870 The new video uses AI-generated deepfakes to draft exiled “foreign agents” into Shaman’s personal backing choir. Thu, 28 May 2026 14:06:01 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/28/z-pop-star-shaman-just-dropped-his-latest-music-video-and-its-something-else-a92870 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/28/russia-signs-agreement-to-build-first-nuclear-power-plant-in-kazakhstan-a92868 Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met for high-level talks on the second day of the Russian leader’s visit to Astana. Thu, 28 May 2026 12:01:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/28/russia-signs-agreement-to-build-first-nuclear-power-plant-in-kazakhstan-a92868 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/28/pace-keeps-chechen-dissident-on-advisory-panel-after-lgbtq-and-honor-killing-comments-a92867 Ruslan Kutayev stirred controversy last month when he said that he had “no desire to look into” the issue of women and LGBTQ+ people fleeing violence in Chechnya. Thu, 28 May 2026 11:29:09 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/28/pace-keeps-chechen-dissident-on-advisory-panel-after-lgbtq-and-honor-killing-comments-a92867 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/27/pro-war-books-bomb-checks-and-z-poetry-reign-at-st-petersburgs-literary-fair-a92859 While this year’s St. Petersburg International Book Fair celebrated pro-war literature, Russia’s publishing industry is under mounting pressure. Wed, 27 May 2026 22:19:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/27/pro-war-books-bomb-checks-and-z-poetry-reign-at-st-petersburgs-literary-fair-a92859 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/27/russia-threatens-to-rip-up-natural-gas-deal-with-armenia-over-its-eu-ambitions-a92864 Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan later dismissed the threat, saying it is “illogical to frighten Armenia with high prices.” Wed, 27 May 2026 18:14:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/27/russia-threatens-to-rip-up-natural-gas-deal-with-armenia-over-its-eu-ambitions-a92864 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/27/russian-fuel-tanker-fails-to-reach-cuba-changes-course-after-weeks-at-sea-a92865 The Insider said this suggested U.S. authorities had not permitted the sanctioned tanker to proceed to Cuba. Wed, 27 May 2026 16:59:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/27/russian-fuel-tanker-fails-to-reach-cuba-changes-course-after-weeks-at-sea-a92865 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/27/russia-introduces-border-health-screenings-in-response-to-ebola-outbreak-a92863 Rospotrebnadzor said there have been no imported cases of the virus recorded in Russia since the outbreak began earlier this month. Wed, 27 May 2026 16:50:25 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/27/russia-introduces-border-health-screenings-in-response-to-ebola-outbreak-a92863 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/27/moscow-woman-jailed-3-years-for-easter-cake-hookah-video-a92861 Ksenia Belousova achieved viral fame in April for an Instagram video showing a hookah with a bowl shaped like a kulich, a traditional Russian Easter pastry. Wed, 27 May 2026 14:38:05 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/27/moscow-woman-jailed-3-years-for-easter-cake-hookah-video-a92861 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/27/russias-supreme-court-to-launch-first-comprehensive-review-of-ai-legal-cases-a92860 The nationwide assessment of lower court rulings seeks to establish unified guidance for AI-related cases in the country’s judicial system. Wed, 27 May 2026 13:47:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/27/russias-supreme-court-to-launch-first-comprehensive-review-of-ai-legal-cases-a92860 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/27/wildberries-and-vtb-bank-announce-strategic-partnership-a92858 VTB said it will acquire an initial 5% stake in RWB’s digital financial services provider, WB Bank, with an option to increase its stake over time. Wed, 27 May 2026 12:02:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/27/wildberries-and-vtb-bank-announce-strategic-partnership-a92858 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/putin-to-raise-armenias-eu-ambitions-at-kazakhstan-summit-kremlin-says-a92857 "Putin has repeatedly stressed that it is impossible to belong to" both the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union, Kremlin adviser Yury Ushakov said. Tue, 26 May 2026 19:41:24 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/putin-to-raise-armenias-eu-ambitions-at-kazakhstan-summit-kremlin-says-a92857 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/dozens-of-countries-at-un-condemn-moscows-threats-to-embassies-in-ukraine-a92854 Russia called on Washington to evacuate its Kyiv embassy, threatening "systematic strikes" on the Ukrainian capital amid similar warnings to other diplomatic missions. Tue, 26 May 2026 19:33:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/dozens-of-countries-at-un-condemn-moscows-threats-to-embassies-in-ukraine-a92854 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/britain-imposes-new-sanctions-on-russian-crypto-infrastructure-a92856 Britain said the sanctions targeted the A7 crypto network, which authorities described as a tool used to support Russia’s wartime economy and facilitate payments linked to Russian oil exports. Tue, 26 May 2026 19:12:58 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/britain-imposes-new-sanctions-on-russian-crypto-infrastructure-a92856 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/finland-to-deport-anti-war-russian-who-donated-to-navalnys-banned-political-group-a92804 Roman Golikov’s lawyer has filed a final appeal with the Finnish Supreme Court alongside an injunction request to suspend the expulsion. Tue, 26 May 2026 18:33:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/finland-to-deport-anti-war-russian-who-donated-to-navalnys-banned-political-group-a92804 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/moscow-court-jails-hse-professor-35-years-for-navalny-donations-a92853 Andrei Dymov was accused of “financing extremist activities” after he donated less than $49 to the banned Anti-Corruption Foundation. Tue, 26 May 2026 18:14:18 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/moscow-court-jails-hse-professor-35-years-for-navalny-donations-a92853 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/moscow-court-upholds-extremist-label-for-galitskys-venture-capital-fund-a92852 Almaz Capital was alleged to have sent $50 million to Ukrainian companies that produce weapons, ammunition and drones. Tue, 26 May 2026 17:13:04 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/moscow-court-upholds-extremist-label-for-galitskys-venture-capital-fund-a92852 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/russian-government-again-fails-to-sell-stake-in-gold-miner-a92851 The only would-be bidder in the second auction attempt, the Moscow-based company Russkiye Ugli, was disqualified from the bidding process, Russian business media reported. Tue, 26 May 2026 16:44:53 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/russian-government-again-fails-to-sell-stake-in-gold-miner-a92851 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/president-of-russias-biggest-lobby-group-tapped-as-putins-next-business-tsar-a92849 Alexander Shokhin will oversee a revamped version of the country’s business ombudsman office, the Kremlin said. Tue, 26 May 2026 16:04:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/president-of-russias-biggest-lobby-group-tapped-as-putins-next-business-tsar-a92849 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/putin-signs-law-forgiving-up-to-140k-in-debt-for-new-military-recruits-a92846 The law applies to any Russian who signs a minimum one-year contract with the military to serve in Ukraine after May 1, 2026. Tue, 26 May 2026 15:16:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/putin-signs-law-forgiving-up-to-140k-in-debt-for-new-military-recruits-a92846 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/foreign-ministry-summons-czech-diplomat-over-detention-of-orthodox-church-cleric-a92848 Metropolitan Hilarion, born Grigory Alfeyev, was detained on Sunday after Czech police found four containers of a “white substance” in the trunk of his car. Tue, 26 May 2026 14:29:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/foreign-ministry-summons-czech-diplomat-over-detention-of-orthodox-church-cleric-a92848 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/russia-and-india-in-talks-for-additional-s-400-missile-system-deliveries-a92845 In March, India’s defense ministry said it had approved $25 billion in proposals to buy five more S-400 systems. Tue, 26 May 2026 13:09:47 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/russia-and-india-in-talks-for-additional-s-400-missile-system-deliveries-a92845 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/house-fire-near-border-with-kazakhstan-kills-6-a92844 Four of the victims were children, ranging in age from 12 months to 14 years old. Tue, 26 May 2026 11:14:26 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/26/house-fire-near-border-with-kazakhstan-kills-6-a92844 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/france-hands-over-russian-businessman-to-lithuania-a92843 Vladimir Antonov was convicted by a court in Lithuania in 2024 and sentenced to 10.5 years in prison. Mon, 25 May 2026 19:26:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/france-hands-over-russian-businessman-to-lithuania-a92843 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/everything-we-know-about-the-deadly-ukrainian-strike-in-occupied-luhansk-a92834 Russia said at least 21 people were killed in the overnight strike on a college dormitory, while Ukraine denied targeting civilians. Mon, 25 May 2026 18:42:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/everything-we-know-about-the-deadly-ukrainian-strike-in-occupied-luhansk-a92834 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/russian-foreign-ministry-issues-fresh-warning-of-retaliatory-strikes-on-kyiv-a92840 The warning comes after Russia launched a devastating weekend attack on Kyiv and the surrounding region using a combination of drones and missiles. Mon, 25 May 2026 18:04:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/russian-foreign-ministry-issues-fresh-warning-of-retaliatory-strikes-on-kyiv-a92840 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/anapa-to-reopen-beaches-for-swimming-on-june-1-following-oil-spill-cleanup-a92839 Swimming has been banned around the resort city of Anapa in the Krasnodar region since thousands of metric tons of heavy fuel oil, known as mazut, washed ashore after two tankers were damaged in a winter storm in the nearby Kerch Strait. Mon, 25 May 2026 17:27:20 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/anapa-to-reopen-beaches-for-swimming-on-june-1-following-oil-spill-cleanup-a92839 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/kremlin-rejects-film-director-zvyagintsevs-anti-war-appeal-to-putin-a92837 Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Zvyagintsev did "not have the right" to issue anti-war statements since he apparently has not condemned Ukrainian attacks on the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. Mon, 25 May 2026 16:33:15 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/kremlin-rejects-film-director-zvyagintsevs-anti-war-appeal-to-putin-a92837 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/explosives-found-on-lpg-tanker-docked-at-ust-luga-port-fsb-says-a92838 Investigators claimed that the devices found on the hull of the ship were “factory-made naval magnetic mines manufactured in a NATO country.” Mon, 25 May 2026 15:32:58 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/explosives-found-on-lpg-tanker-docked-at-ust-luga-port-fsb-says-a92838 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/kazakhstan-will-not-enforce-14bln-naftogaz-arbitration-award-against-gazprom-justice-minister-says-a92835 Justice Minister Erlan Sarsembayev said a ruling by a court at the Astana International Financial Centre falls outside of the country’s legal jurisdiction. Mon, 25 May 2026 13:27:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/kazakhstan-will-not-enforce-14bln-naftogaz-arbitration-award-against-gazprom-justice-minister-says-a92835 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/russia-targets-armenian-cognac-and-wine-in-latest-trade-curbs-on-yerevan-a92833 The measure is the latest in a series of restrictions on Armenian goods introduced as relations between Moscow and Yerevan deteriorate. Mon, 25 May 2026 11:51:15 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/russia-targets-armenian-cognac-and-wine-in-latest-trade-curbs-on-yerevan-a92833 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/police-colonel-general-replaces-russian-deputy-defense-minister-reports-say-a92832 Oleg Savelyev vacated his post “due to a transfer to another position,” sources familiar with the matter told Kommersant and RBC. Mon, 25 May 2026 11:40:15 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/police-colonel-general-replaces-russian-deputy-defense-minister-reports-say-a92832 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/ukrainian-strikes-on-russian-border-regions-leave-2-dead-a92831 Authorities in the Belgorod and Bryansk regions reported the separate deaths after a night of cross-border attacks. Mon, 25 May 2026 10:42:58 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/25/ukrainian-strikes-on-russian-border-regions-leave-2-dead-a92831 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/24/russian-director-zvyagintsev-denounces-ukraine-war-carnage-at-cannes-awards-a92830 Zvyagintsev's “Minotaur” was among the frontrunners for the Palme d'Or top prize for best film in Cannes, finishing with the second-place Grand Prix award. Sun, 24 May 2026 10:40:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/24/russian-director-zvyagintsev-denounces-ukraine-war-carnage-at-cannes-awards-a92830 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/24/russia-kills-4-in-massive-ukraine-attack-using-nuclear-capable-missile-a92829 Russia confirmed it had launched Oreshnik, Iskander, Kinzhal and Tsirkon missiles at Ukraine early on Sunday. Sun, 24 May 2026 10:13:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/24/russia-kills-4-in-massive-ukraine-attack-using-nuclear-capable-missile-a92829 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/23/ukraine-us-embassy-warn-of-possible-major-russian-airstrike-a92828 President Volodymyr Zelensky and the United States embassy urged their citizens to seek shelter in the event of an air raid alert. Sat, 23 May 2026 23:37:43 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/23/ukraine-us-embassy-warn-of-possible-major-russian-airstrike-a92828 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/23/ukrainian-drone-attack-sparks-fire-at-russian-oil-depot-a92826 Two people were wounded in an attack on Russia's fifth largest oil export hub in Novorossiysk, the local mayor said. Sat, 23 May 2026 10:58:14 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/23/ukrainian-drone-attack-sparks-fire-at-russian-oil-depot-a92826 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/22/russia-and-chinas-no-limits-trade-partnership-is-losing-steam-a91794 Analysts say the two countries may be approaching the limits of what their partnership can deliver economically. Fri, 22 May 2026 18:49:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/05/22/russia-and-chinas-no-limits-trade-partnership-is-losing-steam-a91794