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, 18 Oct 2026 22:27:03 +0300 600 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/18/one-killed-five-injured-in-ukrainian-drone-attack-on-st-petersburg-governor-says-a94015 Russian air defense units downed 1,015 Ukrainian drones overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Sun, 18 Oct 2026 12:53:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/18/one-killed-five-injured-in-ukrainian-drone-attack-on-st-petersburg-governor-says-a94015 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/18/rubio-says-trump-to-take-up-to-60-days-to-weigh-russia-sanctions-a94014 "A lot of you don't know what my decision is yet, but we'll figure it out, and you'll figure it out," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club. Sun, 18 Oct 2026 11:19:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/18/rubio-says-trump-to-take-up-to-60-days-to-weigh-russia-sanctions-a94014 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/17/ukraine-dismisses-russias-latest-claimed-territorial-advances-as-an-illusion-a94013 The Russian army claimed it captured over 1,800 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory and nearly 100 settlements since the beginning of September. Sat, 17 Oct 2026 17:07:24 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/17/ukraine-dismisses-russias-latest-claimed-territorial-advances-as-an-illusion-a94013 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/17/trump-signs-order-exempting-russia-from-new-sanctions-legislation-a94012 In his executive order, Donald Trump said exempting Russia from the sanctions legislation was in the “national interest” of the United States. Sat, 17 Oct 2026 10:54:01 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/17/trump-signs-order-exempting-russia-from-new-sanctions-legislation-a94012 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/russian-firms-stand-to-gain-most-from-trumps-diesel-deal-analysts-say-a94010 While Russian firms stand to benefit from looser export restrictions, the promised shipments may do little to bring down U.S. fuel prices. Fri, 16 Oct 2026 18:39:12 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/russian-firms-stand-to-gain-most-from-trumps-diesel-deal-analysts-say-a94010 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/russian-courts-paralyzed-by-yandex-cloud-outages-after-drone-attacks-vyorstka-a94009 Key Yandex services did not appear to be fully restored as of Friday evening, as the Kremlin sought to play down the attacks’ effects. Fri, 16 Oct 2026 18:23:42 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/russian-courts-paralyzed-by-yandex-cloud-outages-after-drone-attacks-vyorstka-a94009 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/st-petersburg-bans-migrant-workers-from-gym-hair-salon-and-retail-work-a94006 The decree expands on existing restrictions, which last year banned migrant patent holders — a temporary low-skilled work visa — from driving taxis and delivering food.  Fri, 16 Oct 2026 18:12:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/st-petersburg-bans-migrant-workers-from-gym-hair-salon-and-retail-work-a94006 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/putin-vows-retribution-for-attacks-on-russian-data-centers-while-downplaying-damage-to-refineries-a94002 Putin also admitted that Russian security services failed to anticipate attacks targeting commercial logistics hubs like Wildberries and Ozon. Fri, 16 Oct 2026 17:37:22 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/putin-vows-retribution-for-attacks-on-russian-data-centers-while-downplaying-damage-to-refineries-a94002 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/ukrainian-drones-strike-energy-plant-in-russias-largest-oil-producing-region-a94008 The plant in Surgut lies around 2,500 kilometers (1,550 miles) from the Ukrainian border. Fri, 16 Oct 2026 17:01:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/ukrainian-drones-strike-energy-plant-in-russias-largest-oil-producing-region-a94008 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/jailed-election-expert-kynev-denied-crutches-after-leg-broken-during-arrest-journalist-says-a94005 “He writes that he is still in a cast and has about three more weeks to ‘walk’ around in it. Except he can’t walk,” journalist Gleb Yarovoy said. Fri, 16 Oct 2026 16:26:55 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/jailed-election-expert-kynev-denied-crutches-after-leg-broken-during-arrest-journalist-says-a94005 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/novaya-gazeta-editor-in-chief-detained-in-moscow-a93986 The raid on Sokolov’s apartment was reportedly conducted as part of an ongoing criminal investigation opened earlier this spring. Fri, 16 Oct 2026 16:04:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/novaya-gazeta-editor-in-chief-detained-in-moscow-a93986 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/kremlin-fully-agrees-with-trumps-zelensky-criticism-a94000 Putin continues to demand that Kyiv cede full control of the Donetsk region as a prerequisite for any ceasefire agreement, a condition Ukraine rejects. Fri, 16 Oct 2026 14:14:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/kremlin-fully-agrees-with-trumps-zelensky-criticism-a94000 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/putin-hands-control-of-5-western-firms-to-ukraine-war-veteran-a93998 The Kremlin says the latest transfers represent a continued policy “trend” targeting countries that froze Russian reserves in Europe. Fri, 16 Oct 2026 13:33:30 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/putin-hands-control-of-5-western-firms-to-ukraine-war-veteran-a93998 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/russia-repels-644-ukrainian-drones-as-trump-calls-attacks-on-russian-refineries-disgrace-a93997 Russian strikes also left 370,000 residents in Ukraine’s northwestern Volyn region without electricity. Fri, 16 Oct 2026 11:45:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/russia-repels-644-ukrainian-drones-as-trump-calls-attacks-on-russian-refineries-disgrace-a93997 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/eu-weighs-schengen-visa-restrictions-for-russians-amid-sabotage-fears-a93995 The bloc is considering limiting Russian visa holders’ travel to the country that issued their visa rather than allowing them to move freely across the Schengen zone. Thu, 15 Oct 2026 18:06:43 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/eu-weighs-schengen-visa-restrictions-for-russians-amid-sabotage-fears-a93995 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/russia-to-ban-direct-person-to-person-crypto-trades-in-july-2027-a93989 However, media outlets have noted that individuals may attempt to bypass the ban by disguising direct crypto sales as personal gifts or debt repayments. Thu, 15 Oct 2026 17:53:49 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/russia-to-ban-direct-person-to-person-crypto-trades-in-july-2027-a93989 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/russia-builds-major-new-drone-attack-base-in-6-weeks-satellite-images-show-a93994 The construction coincides with a surge in the use of Russian jet-powered attack drones against Ukraine. Thu, 15 Oct 2026 17:04:44 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/russia-builds-major-new-drone-attack-base-in-6-weeks-satellite-images-show-a93994 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/russian-activist-fined-over-party-of-crooks-and-thieves-t-shirt-a93996 The slogan was deemed extremist on the grounds that it was attributed to the late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:29:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/russian-activist-fined-over-party-of-crooks-and-thieves-t-shirt-a93996 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/japan-denies-spying-claims-after-russia-arrests-journalist-a93993 Russia has accused Imai of acting on behalf of Japanese intelligence. Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:25:37 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/japan-denies-spying-claims-after-russia-arrests-journalist-a93993 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/ukraine-says-missile-strike-destroyed-6-russian-warplanes-at-voronezh-airfield-a93991 Residents of Borisoglebsk reported explosions and a large fire, with smoke visible from several parts of the city. Thu, 15 Oct 2026 14:59:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/ukraine-says-missile-strike-destroyed-6-russian-warplanes-at-voronezh-airfield-a93991 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/kazakhstan-arrests-russian-rapper-navai-on-drug-smuggling-charges-a93984 Bakirov’s legal trouble in Central Asia comes nearly a month after he resolved a separate civil dispute in Moscow related to crashing his Ferrari in central Moscow in May. Thu, 15 Oct 2026 14:09:26 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/kazakhstan-arrests-russian-rapper-navai-on-drug-smuggling-charges-a93984 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/starlink-functionality-restored-fully-for-ukrainian-military-source-says-a93985 Zelensky dismissed the idea that the issue might have been caused by a fault, saying, “It was not a technical problem, it was the will." Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:56:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/starlink-functionality-restored-fully-for-ukrainian-military-source-says-a93985 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/kremlin-says-russia-restarts-diesel-exports-after-deal-with-trump-a93977 Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the exports would have a positive impact on global markets, but would not fully stabilize them. Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:15:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/kremlin-says-russia-restarts-diesel-exports-after-deal-with-trump-a93977 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/moscow-court-places-prominent-economist-under-house-arrest-in-bribery-case-a93983 This is Sinelniov-Murylev’s second criminal prosecution in recent years. In March 2025, he was convicted of large-scale embezzlement and abuse of power. Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:08:39 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/moscow-court-places-prominent-economist-under-house-arrest-in-bribery-case-a93983 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/fsb-arrests-swede-in-pskov-region-over-border-crossing-and-sabotage-allegations-a93982 The man allegedly crossed into Russian territory under the guise of enlisting in the Russian military. Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:54:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/fsb-arrests-swede-in-pskov-region-over-border-crossing-and-sabotage-allegations-a93982 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/ukrainian-drones-spark-fire-at-ryazan-refinery-as-zelensky-vows-to-resume-attacks-a93981 “The block [on attacking refineries] is out. We’re done,” Zelensky told the FT, accusing Russia of refusing to follow the Trump-announced deal. Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:37:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/15/ukrainian-drones-spark-fire-at-ryazan-refinery-as-zelensky-vows-to-resume-attacks-a93981 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/government-says-it-helped-yandex-migrate-systems-after-data-center-attacks-a93979 A Rostelecom executive also called on the company to construct so-called "doomsday" backup sites. Wed, 14 Oct 2026 18:23:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/government-says-it-helped-yandex-migrate-systems-after-data-center-attacks-a93979 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/nord-stream-may-have-been-lawful-target-argue-lawyers-for-ukrainian-accused-of-bombing-a93972 The secret operation that blew up the Nord Stream pipelines severed western Europe from the biggest source of Russian natural gas. Wed, 14 Oct 2026 17:09:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/nord-stream-may-have-been-lawful-target-argue-lawyers-for-ukrainian-accused-of-bombing-a93972 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/fire-spreads-at-rostov-oil-terminal-after-drone-attack-a93978 The blaze at the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery’s terminal has spread to eight of its 12 storage tanks, the independent news outlet Astra reported. Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:59:02 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/fire-spreads-at-rostov-oil-terminal-after-drone-attack-a93978 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/russia-announces-visas-for-citizens-of-montenegro-in-reciprocal-move-a93974 Montenegro announced in July that it would end visa-free access for citizens of Russia, Belarus, China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to align with EU standards. Wed, 14 Oct 2026 15:08:32 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/russia-announces-visas-for-citizens-of-montenegro-in-reciprocal-move-a93974 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/putin-convenes-top-russian-officials-to-discuss-cybersecurity-a93975 The Kremlin said the meeting was not connected with Ukrainian drone strikes in the past week on four Russian data centers. Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:54:39 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/putin-convenes-top-russian-officials-to-discuss-cybersecurity-a93975 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/russian-supreme-court-bans-ingush-sufi-muslim-order-as-extremist-a93973 Prosecutors had accused the once-powerful order from Ingushetia of “providing material support for bandit insurgents of the North Caucasus.”  Wed, 14 Oct 2026 14:41:09 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/russian-supreme-court-bans-ingush-sufi-muslim-order-as-extremist-a93973 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/latvia-formally-blacklists-russian-journalist-leonid-ragozin-a93971 Ragozin drew public ire for comments arguing that the Kremlin felt compelled to use “brute force” in response to Western encroachment on its sphere of influence.  Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:44:41 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/latvia-formally-blacklists-russian-journalist-leonid-ragozin-a93971 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/russia-fumes-as-top-gymnasts-blocked-from-world-championships-in-netherlands-a93968 The three denied athletes have faced scrutiny over their ties to the Russian military and public support of the war in Ukraine. Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:49:16 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/russia-fumes-as-top-gymnasts-blocked-from-world-championships-in-netherlands-a93968 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/russia-arrests-japanese-journalist-on-suspicion-of-spying-a93966 The FSB claimed that the journalist had been gathering information on Russia's defense capabilities. Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:25:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/russia-arrests-japanese-journalist-on-suspicion-of-spying-a93966 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/ukraine-accuses-spacex-of-crippling-drone-missions-as-ties-with-us-worsen-a93970 Starlink has been the lifeblood of Ukrainian battlefield communications since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:17:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/ukraine-accuses-spacex-of-crippling-drone-missions-as-ties-with-us-worsen-a93970 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/russias-krasnodar-region-raises-alert-as-oil-washes-ashore-on-black-sea-coast-a93969 Governor Veniamin Kondratyev attributed the spill to “accidents” involving vessels targeted by Ukrainian naval drones on Oct. 6. Wed, 14 Oct 2026 11:36:09 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/russias-krasnodar-region-raises-alert-as-oil-washes-ashore-on-black-sea-coast-a93969 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/ukrainian-drones-hit-sberbank-data-center-after-yandex-attacks-a93967 The 55,000-square-meter facility was expected to be one of Europe's largest data centers, with construction set to finish in 2030. Wed, 14 Oct 2026 11:30:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/14/ukrainian-drones-hit-sberbank-data-center-after-yandex-attacks-a93967 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/lukashenko-denies-belarus-breached-latvian-border-as-experts-claim-intelligence-operation-a93964 Exiled Belarusian military journalist Dmitry Khalko described Black Rus as a “proxy” akin to the masked Russian soldiers who seized control of Ukraine’s Crimea in 2014. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 18:57:21 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/lukashenko-denies-belarus-breached-latvian-border-as-experts-claim-intelligence-operation-a93964 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/forced-underground-russias-feminists-find-new-ways-to-keep-working-a93962 As the Kremlin clamps down on women’s rights, activists are working out of public view to provide practical support and build new alliances. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 17:48:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/forced-underground-russias-feminists-find-new-ways-to-keep-working-a93962 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/russian-court-hands-exiled-youtuber-michael-nacke-combined-14-year-sentence-a93965 Nacke is a prominent critic of the Kremlin whose Russian-language YouTube channel covers Russia’s war against Ukraine. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 17:17:36 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/russian-court-hands-exiled-youtuber-michael-nacke-combined-14-year-sentence-a93965 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/bulgaria-summons-russian-ambassador-after-drone-attack-sinks-ship-leaving-11-missing-a93963 While Sofia has stopped short of blaming Moscow, Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the drone strikes' outcome "benefits the Russian Federation." Tue, 13 Oct 2026 16:09:48 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/bulgaria-summons-russian-ambassador-after-drone-attack-sinks-ship-leaving-11-missing-a93963 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/oil-covered-birds-found-along-russias-black-sea-coast-after-tanker-fire-a93960 A wildlife rehabilitation center has appealed for additional volunteers to help treat and feed the birds. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 15:56:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/oil-covered-birds-found-along-russias-black-sea-coast-after-tanker-fire-a93960 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/germany-detains-fourth-person-over-starlink-fire-that-poland-blames-on-moscow-a93961 Warsaw has said it believed the fire was an act of sabotage aimed at disrupting internet services, including for Ukraine's military. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 14:44:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/germany-detains-fourth-person-over-starlink-fire-that-poland-blames-on-moscow-a93961 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/yandex-waives-cloud-and-software-fees-after-ukrainian-drone-attacks-on-data-centers-a93958 Yandex stock dropped 77 billion rubles ($918.5 million) over two days of trading on the Moscow Exchange, marking a 5.4% fall in market capitalization. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 14:36:10 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/yandex-waives-cloud-and-software-fees-after-ukrainian-drone-attacks-on-data-centers-a93958 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/ukraine-holds-off-refinery-attacks-for-second-day-after-trump-ceasefire-claim-a93957 While U.S. President Donald Trump made the surprise announcement Sunday, the Kremlin has said that talks are ongoing. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:57:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/ukraine-holds-off-refinery-attacks-for-second-day-after-trump-ceasefire-claim-a93957 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/french-navy-boards-russia-linked-tanker-in-indian-ocean-a93956 The ship is at least the sixth shadow-fleet tanker French authorities have detained over the past year. Tue, 13 Oct 2026 11:21:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/13/french-navy-boards-russia-linked-tanker-in-indian-ocean-a93956 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/12/rostov-oil-terminal-burns-for-third-day-after-reported-ukrainian-drone-attack-a93955 The terminal transfers petroleum products onto sea and river tankers for export and has reportedly been used to supply fuel to the Russian military. Mon, 12 Oct 2026 17:40:24 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/12/rostov-oil-terminal-burns-for-third-day-after-reported-ukrainian-drone-attack-a93955 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/12/tulas-model-police-officer-arrested-over-2k-bribe-reports-a93954 Regional authorities had previously praised the officer as a model police officer and a trusted figure in her community. Mon, 12 Oct 2026 17:35:52 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/12/tulas-model-police-officer-arrested-over-2k-bribe-reports-a93954 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/12/ukraines-strikes-on-yandex-data-centers-explained-a93953 Drone strikes on Yandex data centers are disrupting services from taxis to digital payments across Russia. Mon, 12 Oct 2026 16:56:00 +0300 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/12/ukraines-strikes-on-yandex-data-centers-explained-a93953