Articles

Tracking Putin’s most feared secret agency—from inside a Russian prison and beyond
Dec 12, 2024

Tracking Putin’s most feared secret agency—from inside a Russian prison and beyond

The spy unit that arrested a Wall Street Journal reporter is leading the biggest campaign of internal repression since the Stalin era

Putin’s war rhetoric rallies Russian border towns, but nerves fray
Mar 1, 2023

Putin’s war rhetoric rallies Russian border towns, but nerves fray

Casualties haven’t so far shaken Pskov, region that is home to elite paratrooper division that occupied Bucha

Russians mourn Ukrainians killed in war at statue to a Ukrainian poet in Moscow
Jan 25, 2023

Russians mourn Ukrainians killed in war at statue to a Ukrainian poet in Moscow

People have been laying flowers at the Lesya Ukrainka monument in central Moscow nearly every day since the Dnipro apartment strike

Putin, isolated and distrustful, leans on handful of hard-line advisers
Dec 23, 2022

Putin, isolated and distrustful, leans on handful of hard-line advisers

Russia’s president built a power structure designed to deliver him the information he wants to hear, feeding into his miscalculations on the Ukraine war

In Russian border city, pro-Kremlin Ukrainians, soldiers regroup after retreat from Ukraine
Sep 14, 2022

In Russian border city, pro-Kremlin Ukrainians, soldiers regroup after retreat from Ukraine

Belgorod is on edge after Moscow’s forces vacate northeastern Ukraine. ‘We ourselves don’t understand what happened.’

In Russia’s biggest cities, Ukraine war fades to background noise
Jul 1, 2022

In Russia’s biggest cities, Ukraine war fades to background noise

Bars are packed out, film and jazz festivals are sold out and Moscow’s police officers are busier handing out fines for public drinking than putting down dissent

As Coffins come home, Russians confront toll of Ukraine invasion
May 4, 2022

As Coffins come home, Russians confront toll of Ukraine invasion

Relatives of soldiers killed say they were defending both countries from fascists

He worked for Moscow’s police for nearly 20 years. Then he spoke up about the Ukraine war.
Apr 21, 2022

He worked for Moscow’s police for nearly 20 years. Then he spoke up about the Ukraine war.

Sergei Klokov, one of many Russian-Ukrainians, now faces 10 years in prison

Russia Evacuates Wounded Soldiers to Belarus as Its Casualties in Ukraine War Rise
Mar 2, 2022

Russia Evacuates Wounded Soldiers to Belarus as Its Casualties in Ukraine War Rise

Convoys of ambulances in border area; ‘There has been a constant flow’

Russian Vaccine Skeptics Rush to Buy Fake Covid Jab Certificates
Jun 25, 2021

Russian Vaccine Skeptics Rush to Buy Fake Covid Jab Certificates

Dozens of dealers are claiming to sell fake jab certificates and even falsified registration on the government's vaccination database.

The Kremlin has isolated Russia’s economy
Apr 23, 2021

The Kremlin has isolated Russia’s economy

It has protected the country from shocks but is choking any growth

In Russia, ‘there’s nothing to hide’: A phone call with one of Putin’s closest friends
Oct 26, 2020

In Russia, ‘there’s nothing to hide’: A phone call with one of Putin’s closest friends

Sergei Roldugin, the godfather of Putin’s first child, explains why — and how — he bought a $20 million Stradivarius violin.

The uneasy coexistence of Yandex and the Kremlin
Aug 19, 2020

The uneasy coexistence of Yandex and the Kremlin

Russia's biggest tech company is almost a Silicon Valley unto itself. But that comes at a price.

Kremlin critic Navalny’s front door has had a tough year
Dec 31, 2019

Kremlin critic Navalny’s front door has had a tough year

Frequent raids on the offices of the Anti-Corruption Foundation have taught the team coping and carpentry skills.

Estonia’s natural experiment in fighting right-wing populism
May 16, 2019

Estonia’s natural experiment in fighting right-wing populism

Two models have emerged for dealing with a new nationalist government—but it’s not clear which will prove more effective.

Estonia joins the far-right club
Apr 30, 2019

Estonia joins the far-right club

Nationalist party, inspired by Donald Trump, vows to keep out immigrants and protect ‘indigenous’ Estonians as part of new government.

Russia’s fast-growing ‘Youth Army’ aims to breed loyalty to the Fatherland
Apr 17, 2019

Russia’s fast-growing ‘Youth Army’ aims to breed loyalty to the Fatherland

The military-patriotic youth movement has almost half a million members.

For this green smoothie, the first ingredient is frog
May 20, 2016

For this green smoothie, the first ingredient is frog

An elixir popular in Peru and Bolivia relies not on leafy greens but on the endangered Titicaca water frog.