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The Moscow Times

@themoscowtimes.com
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Independent news from Russia since 1992. linktr.ee/moscowtimes Photo: Alexander Avilov / Moskva News Agency

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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 48s
At least 19 people have been killed in brown bear attacks across the country since April. What is going on? We look into the spate of fatal encounters in the latest Regions Calling newsletter:
themoscowtimes.com
Regions Calling: Russia’s Got a Bear Problem - The Moscow Times
Hello and welcome to Regions Calling, your guide to developments from beyond the Russian capital by The Moscow Times.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 1h
Moscow accused the alliance of a "dangerous and reckless course" that entailed "high risks of the outbreak of a direct armed conflict."
themoscowtimes.com
Russia Sends Nuclear Warning to NATO as Tensions Rise in the Baltic - The Moscow Times
Russia has warned NATO that it is willing to resort to the use of nuclear weapons if the Western military alliance tries to enforce a blockade of the Kaliningrad region, a Russian exclave bordering th...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 2h
Ponomaryov declined to confirm or deny whether he had been tipped off, but said that the allegations mark “a new level of escalation” by Russia.
themoscowtimes.com
Garry Kasparov and Ilya Ponomaryov Targeted in Alleged Assassination Plot in U.S., Report Says - The Moscow Times
A Russian intelligence network planned to assassinate exiled opposition figures Garry Kasparov and Ilya Ponomaryov in the United States this summer, the Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported Tuesday.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 2h
Russia's budget deficit reached $68.4 billion, or 2.5% of gross domestic product, in the first eight months of 2026, exceeding the $44.8 billion planned for the entire year. Borrowing has been floated as one solution — but it will be an expensive one.
themoscowtimes.com
Russia Has a Budget Problem. Borrowing Its Way Out Won't Be So Simple. - The Moscow Times
Russia’s government debt stands at about 19% of gross domestic product, a figure President Vladimir Putin uses to reassure Russians as the country’s budget deficit widens.  The federal budget deficit ...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 3h
Opinion: The seizure of Auchan and Nestlé is an unmistakable signal that even playing by the rules won't protect foreign businesses from forced nationalization in Russia, warns Charles Hecker.
themoscowtimes.com
Moscow's Audacious Asset Grab Is a Warning to Western Companies - The Moscow Times
Opinion | Two more Western giants have fallen to the Kremlin.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 3h
Top spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow “categorically denies the existence of any political prisoners” in Russian jails.
themoscowtimes.com
Kremlin Denies Talks on Freeing Political Prisoners for U.S. Sanctions Relief - The Moscow Times
The Kremlin on Wednesday dismissed press reports that it was discussing the release of political prisoners in exchange for easing U.S. sanctions.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 4h
Melikov stepped down from his post in Dagestan in May after deadly floods devastated the mountainous region.
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Ex-Dagestan Head Sergei Melikov Appointed Senator From Bryansk Region - The Moscow Times
Sergei Melikov, the former head of the republic of Dagestan, has been appointed as a senator from the western Bryansk region in Russia’s upper-house Federation Council.  Melikov, a member of the rulin...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 5h
The government repeatedly imposed curbs on gasoline and diesel exports to rein in rising fuel prices and tackle shortages triggered by Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries.
themoscowtimes.com
Russia Extends Diesel Export Ban Until End of October - The Moscow Times
Russia has extended its ban on diesel exports for fuel producers until Oct. 31, the government said on Wednesday, adding further strain to a global energy market already rattled by the wars in Ukraine...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 6h
Ksenia Maximova was ranked among the world’s 50 most successful models in the 2000s. Today, she is better known as a prominent figure in the Russian anti-war movement in London — and as a rare Russian-born figure to have entered British politics.
themoscowtimes.com
Ksenia Maximova Went From Top Model to Anti-War Activist to London Councillor. Now She’s Wanted By Russia. - The Moscow Times
Ksenia Maximova was ranked among the world’s 50 most successful models in the 2000s, but today is better known as a prominent figure in Russia’s anti-war movement in London.  Since 2022, Maximova has ...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 6h
The fire erupted Friday evening while the vessel Triumf was sailing in the Pacific Ocean off the eastern coast of Kamchatka.
themoscowtimes.com
Bodies of Missing Crew Members Found After Fishing Boat Fire Near Kamchatka - The Moscow Times
Police investigators said Wednesday that they recovered the remains of four missing crew members of a Russian fishing vessel that caught fire near the Far Eastern Kamchatka peninsula.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 23h
Opinion: Women all over the world are devouring romantic stories involving sexy, powerful, sometimes supernatural men. Russian women have developed an appetite for generals and commanders in particular, write Tatiana Tatarinova and Alexandra Nikolaevna.
themoscowtimes.com
Something Strange Is Happening With Russian Romantasy - The Moscow Times
Opinion | If the mysterious Russian soul is traditionally supposed to be understood by reading imperishable Russian literature, perhaps the best way to understand the feelings of Russian women in wart...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 23h
The shows, originally scheduled for Oct. 10 and 11 at Gazprom Arena, triggered immediate backlash from conservative Russian politicians due to Ye’s past public support of Nazism.
themoscowtimes.com
Ye Shows in St. Petersburg Officially Canceled After Weeks of Conflicting Reports - The Moscow Times
Two St.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 23h
Maximova spoke to MT about entering British politics as a Russian immigrant, her work supporting Ukraine and why she is considering running for Parliament.
themoscowtimes.com
Ksenia Maximova Went From Top Model to Anti-War Activist to London Councillor. Now She’s Wanted By Russia. - The Moscow Times
Ksenia Maximova was ranked among the world’s 50 most successful models in the 2000s, but today is better known as a prominent figure in Russia’s anti-war movement in London.  Since 2022, Maximova has ...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 29/09/2026
The Tu-95 strategic bomber went down in a remote area during a routine training exercise, the Defense Ministry said.
themoscowtimes.com
At Least 6 Crew Members Confirmed Dead After Russian Bomber Plane Crashes in Amur Region - The Moscow Times
Six crew members on board a Russian military aircraft that crashed in the Far Eastern Amur region were killed, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Tuesday.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 29/09/2026
Individuals are now prohibited from taking more than $11,900 in cash to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
themoscowtimes.com
Russia Tightens Cash Outflow Limits to Neighboring Countries - The Moscow Times
President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order on Tuesday tightening restrictions on taking cash from Russia to neighboring countries.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 29/09/2026
Since the 2022 "partial" mobilization, Russia has used pressure and coercion to keep recruits flowing to the front lines in Ukraine, allowing the Kremlin to avoid another nationwide call-up.
themoscowtimes.com
How Russia’s ‘Covert Mobilization’ Finds Manpower for the War in Ukraine - The Moscow Times
Russia is likely to keep banking on various coercion tactics to bolster its military manpower in Ukraine, experts say, a strategy that has proven effective at ensuring a continuous supply of fresh rec...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 29/09/2026
Rosaviatsia said airlines transported 39.5 million passengers between May and August, down 7% compared to last summer.
themoscowtimes.com
Russian Summer Air Travel Fell Amid Surge in Daily Drone Attacks - The Moscow Times
Russian airlines recorded a 7% drop in passenger traffic during the summer travel season, as a surge of daily Ukrainian drone attacks disrupted operations at dozens of airports across the country, the...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 29/09/2026
Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev held "constructive" talks with U.S. officials on ending the Ukraine war, including possible U.S.-Russia energy initiatives in the postwar period, a U.S. official said.
themoscowtimes.com
Putin Envoy, U.S. Officials Discussed Ukraine War and Energy Initiatives, U.S. Official Says - The Moscow Times
Russian President Vladimir Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev held "constructive" talks with U.S. officials on ending the Ukraine war, including possible U.S.-Russia energy initiatives in the postw...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 29/09/2026
Estonia claimed Russia was behind a fire that broke out at Milrem Robotics, which supplies unmanned ground vehicles to Ukraine.
themoscowtimes.com
Kremlin Denies Orchestrating Arson Attack at Estonian Robotics Plant - The Moscow Times
The Kremlin has denied accusations that it was behind a fire that broke out at a military robotics plant in Estonia last month.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 29/09/2026
The president has raised the number of military personnel several times since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
themoscowtimes.com
Putin Orders Russian Army to Increase Troop Size to 1.55M - The Moscow Times
President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order on Monday that raises the strength of the Russian military by 15,500 personnel, bringing the total number of active-duty servicemen to 1.55 million.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 29/09/2026
The brown bear has long been an integral part of Russia’s political and cultural identity. But these days, the animals are behind a spate of fatal attacks across Siberia and the Far East. We unpack why in the latest edition of Regions Calling:
themoscowtimes.com
Regions Calling: Russia’s Got a Bear Problem - The Moscow Times
Hello and welcome to Regions Calling, your guide to developments from beyond the Russian capital by The Moscow Times.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 29/09/2026
News analysis: As the federal budget deficit climbs, the rising cost of debt is helping push Moscow toward tax hikes and spending cuts that analysts say could weaken growth.
themoscowtimes.com
Russia Has a Budget Problem. Borrowing Its Way Out Won't Be So Simple. - The Moscow Times
Russia’s government debt stands at about 19% of gross domestic product, a figure President Vladimir Putin uses to reassure Russians as the country’s budget deficit widens.  The federal budget deficit ...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 29/09/2026
Law enforcement authorities launched a criminal investigation into possible industrial safety violations.
themoscowtimes.com
Fire at Pyrotechnics Factory in Yaroslavl Region Kills 14 - The Moscow Times
Fourteen people were killed in a fire at a pyrotechnics factory in the Yaroslavl region on Monday, state media reported, citing emergency services.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 28/09/2026
Russia plans to spend 17.1 trillion rubles ($202.58 billion) on defense in 2027, around 27% more than the amount originally budgeted and the highest figure since the start of the war in Ukraine, government documents seen by Reuters showed.
themoscowtimes.com
Russia Raises 2027 Military Spending by 27%, Budget Documents Show - The Moscow Times
Russia plans to spend 17.1 trillion rubles ($202.58 billion) on defense in 2027, around 27% more than the 13.5 trillion rubles originally budgeted and the highest figure since the start of the war in ...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 28/09/2026
Opinion: The seizure of Auchan and Nestlé is an unmistakable signal that even playing by the rules won't protect foreign businesses from forced nationalization in Russia, warns Charles Hecker.
themoscowtimes.com
Moscow's Audacious Asset Grab Is a Warning to Western Companies - The Moscow Times
Opinion | Two more Western giants have fallen to the Kremlin.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 28/09/2026
News analysis: As the federal budget deficit climbs, the rising cost of debt is helping push Moscow toward tax hikes and spending cuts that analysts say could weaken growth.
themoscowtimes.com
Russia Has a Budget Problem. Borrowing Its Way Out Won't Be So Simple. - The Moscow Times
Russia’s government debt stands at about 19% of gross domestic product, a figure President Vladimir Putin uses to reassure Russians as the country’s budget deficit widens.  The federal budget deficit ...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 28/09/2026
Metro’s Russian subsidiary said it continued to operate as usual but did not directly comment on Vladimir Putin’s order to seize its assets.
themoscowtimes.com
Kremlin Seizes Russian Subsidiary of German Retailer Metro - The Moscow Times
President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order on Monday that places the Russian subsidiary of German retailer Metro AG under “temporary management” of the state.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 28/09/2026
Individuum’s closure follows that of its former young-adult imprint Popcorn Books, which was shut down by Russia’s largest book publisher Eksmo in January.
themoscowtimes.com
Book Publisher Individuum Shuts Down After LGBTQ+ ‘Extremism’ Trials - The Moscow Times
The book publisher Individuum has announced its closure following the criminal prosecution of its senior managers on so-called LGBTQ+ “extremism” charges. “The publishing house Individuum, which was f...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 28/09/2026
Activists told The Moscow Times that the renewed speculation about another mobilization “echoes with pain” — and that a new call-up could be faster and harder to evade than the one in 2022.
themoscowtimes.com
As Fears of Post-Election Mobilization Swirl, Russian Activists Prepare for the Worst - The Moscow Times
Rumors that the Kremlin could order another mobilization to sustain its invasion of Ukraine after this month’s parliamentary elections have circulated in Russian media for months.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 28/09/2026
Among the targeted officials is a Russian Supreme Court judge who ruled last month to bar Yabloko’s federal party list from State Duma elections.
themoscowtimes.com
EU Sanctions Russian Officials Involved in Crackdown Against Yabloko - The Moscow Times
The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions against 10 Russian officials over the exclusion of the liberal Yabloko party from this month’s parliamentary elections and the recent criminal prosecutio...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 28/09/2026
Colonel General Alexander Lapin was dismissed from military service last year following battlefield setbacks in Ukraine.
themoscowtimes.com
Sacked Army General Appointed Tatarstan’s Deputy PM - The Moscow Times
Colonel General Alexander Lapin, a controversial Russian military commander dismissed from service last year following battlefield setbacks in Ukraine, has been appointed deputy prime minister of the ...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 28/09/2026
Emergency officials said an equipment failure at a power substation caused the outage.
themoscowtimes.com
Over Half a Million People in Russia’s Far East Left Without Water - The Moscow Times
A major utility outage has cut off running water to more than 650,000 people in the Far Eastern Primorsky region, local emergency officials said Monday.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 28/09/2026
Opinion: The official data from the State Duma and regional elections shows how the results were manipulated — and the lack of imagination of the people doing the manipulating, Ivan Shukshin writes.
themoscowtimes.com
Here's How We Know Russia's Elections Were Fixed - The Moscow Times
Opinion | When I was approached to write this article, I was asked to demonstrate the evidence that Russia’s elections were falsified in favour of the ruling United Russia party.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 28/09/2026
Officials described the temporary measure as a way to reduce bureaucratic red tape for businesses during recovery efforts.
themoscowtimes.com
Russian Government Suspends Audits for Companies Targeted in Ukrainian Attacks - The Moscow Times
Russia’s government is suspending routine state inspections of companies whose property has been damaged in Ukrainian attacks, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko said Monday, describing the tempo...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 28/09/2026
Sophie Pinkham’s “The Oak and the Larch: A Forest History of Russia and its Empires” has won the Pushkin House Book Prize 2026. In an interview, she spoke about the forest’s hold on the Russian imagination and its links to colonialism:
themoscowtimes.com
‘The Forest Shaped Russian Life’: Sophie Pinkham on the Woodlands That Built an Empire - The Moscow Times
Forests have served as both refuge and resource throughout Russian history.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 27/09/2026
Russia hit the headquarters of Kyivstar, Ukraine's largest mobile service provider, on Sunday, the company told local media.
themoscowtimes.com
Russia Hits Ukraine’s Largest Mobile Provider, Strikes Data Centers - The Moscow Times
Russia hit the headquarters of Kyivstar, Ukraine's largest mobile service provider, on Sunday, the company told local media, as Moscow continued a bombardment of Ukrainian data centers and communicati...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 25/09/2026
Opinion: The official data shows how the results of this year's election were manipulated — and the lack of imagination of the people doing the manipulating, explains electoral analyst Ivan Shukshin.
themoscowtimes.com
Here's How We Know Russia's Elections Were Fixed - The Moscow Times
Opinion | When I was approached to write this article, I was asked to demonstrate the evidence that Russia’s elections were falsified in favour of the ruling United Russia party.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 25/09/2026
At least 19 people have been killed in brown bear attacks across Russia since April. What is going on? We look into the surge in bear attacks in this week's Regions Calling newsletter.
themoscowtimes.com
Regions Calling: Russia’s Got a Bear Problem - The Moscow Times
Hello and welcome to Regions Calling, your guide to developments from beyond the Russian capital by The Moscow Times.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 25/09/2026
U.S. reporter and former Moscow Times journalist Evan Gershkovich, in his first detailed published account of his arrest in Russia in 2023, says he was the victim of an elaborate sting operation by the FSB.
themoscowtimes.com
Evan Gershkovich Says His Arrest in Russia Was Carefully Planned FSB Sting - The Moscow Times
U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich, in his first detailed published account of his arrest in Russia in 2023, says he was the victim of an elaborate sting operation by the FSB security service.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 25/09/2026
Russia could quickly restart up to 80% of its grain terminal capacity in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov if diplomatic efforts to halt mutual attacks by Russia and Ukraine result in a ceasefire, a Reuters analysis of industry data showed.
themoscowtimes.com
Russia Can Restart 80% of Black Sea Grain Export Terminals if Attacks Stop – Analysis - The Moscow Times
Russia could quickly restart up to 80% of its grain terminal capacity in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov if diplomatic efforts to halt mutual attacks by Russia and Ukraine result in a ceasefire, a Reute...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 25/09/2026
Similar evacuations were reported at more than a dozen universities throughout Moscow on Thursday, Russian media reported.
themoscowtimes.com
St. Petersburg Courts and Moscow Universities Evacuate Following Bomb Threats - The Moscow Times
Several courthouses in St.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 25/09/2026
Zelensky held talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly earlier in the week.
themoscowtimes.com
U.S. Proposed New Round of Ukraine Peace Talks in UAE, Zelensky Says - The Moscow Times
The United States has proposed that the United Arab Emirates host a trilateral meeting with Ukraine and Russia to discuss efforts to end the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 25/09/2026
Kynev is a veteran political consultant and independent elections expert who used to teach at the Higher School of Economics.
themoscowtimes.com
Moscow Police Arrest Political Expert Alexander Kynev on Drug Charges - The Moscow Times
Political consultant and elections expert Alexander Kynev has been arrested in Moscow on drug charges, the exiled news outlet Mediazona reported Friday.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 25/09/2026
The outcome was all but predetermined in Russia’s tightly controlled political system, where true opposition had been barred from the ballot.
themoscowtimes.com
United Russia Wins Record Majority in State Duma Elections Dubbed as the ‘Most Uncompetitive’ in Modern History - The Moscow Times
Russia’s ruling party, United Russia, won a record number of seats in the lower-house State Duma, election officials announced Friday in confirming the final results of the country’s first wartime par...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 25/09/2026
The Pushkin House-shortlisted author speaks about the forest’s hold on the Russian imagination and its links to colonialism — and why environmental activism retains some room to operate under Putin.
themoscowtimes.com
‘The Forest Shaped Russian Life’: Sophie Pinkham on the Woodlands That Built an Empire - The Moscow Times
Forests have served as both refuge and resource throughout Russian history.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 25/09/2026
Russian authorities and independent media reported that at least two oil refineries were damaged during the overnight drone barrage.
themoscowtimes.com
Perm Region Man Killed as Ukraine Strikes Industrial Sites Across Russia - The Moscow Times
At least one person was killed as Ukraine launched another nightly round of drone strikes across Russia, regional authorities said early Friday, as two oil refineries were reported to have been hit du...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 24/09/2026
At least 19 people have been killed in brown bear attacks across Russia since April. What is going on? We look into the surge in bear attacks in this week's Regions Calling newsletter.
themoscowtimes.com
Regions Calling: Russia’s Got a Bear Problem - The Moscow Times
Hello and welcome to Regions Calling, your guide to developments from beyond the Russian capital by The Moscow Times.
152
The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 24/09/2026
Opinion: An anonymous Russian considers whether their compatriots are to blame for enabling Moscow's military actions through the taxes they pay into the budget.
themoscowtimes.com
I Just Bought a Loaf of Bread. Am I Complicit In the Kremlin's Actions? - The Moscow Times
Opinion | This article was adapted from a post made by the anonymous Telegram channel t-ya. Because The Moscow Times is an "undesirable" organization under Russian law, Russian citizens are banned fro...
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 24/09/2026
Former President Dmitry Medvedev announced the creation of the Committee on Digital Development and Artificial Intelligence.
themoscowtimes.com
State Duma Creates New AI Oversight Committee - The Moscow Times
Russia’s lower-house State Duma is creating a new committee to oversee artificial intelligence, e-commerce and drone development, officials announced Thursday.
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The Moscow Times @themoscowtimes.com · 24/09/2026
The proposed tax hikes come just weeks after the Kremlin insisted that officials were not discussing any further increases.
themoscowtimes.com
Finance Ministry Unveils 2027 Budget Draft With Fresh Tax Hikes to Fund War Deficit - The Moscow Times
Russia’s Finance Ministry submitted its draft budget proposal for 2027 on Thursday, introducing a fresh round of tax increases on passive income, e-commerce and corporate windfalls as Moscow struggles...
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