Meduza in English

· 1w ago

Serbia's Aleksandar Vučić resigned as president 8 months early to run in the Oct. 25 parliamentary election and seek the prime minister's job. Barred from a third presidential term, he is trying to remain in power through a different office. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/09/28/aleksandar-vucic-resigns-as-serbia-s-president-eight-months-early-to-run-for-prime-minister-instead

Aleksandar Vučić resigns as Serbia’s president eight months early to run for prime minister instead — Meduza

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has announced his resignation. His opponents have demanded it for nearly two years, since 16 people died when a railway station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad in November 2024. But Vučić appears to be leaving the presidency to try to stay in power, rather than to give in to protesters. Meduza briefly explains how it came to this.

· 3w ago

Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, leaders of France’s far right, say no Russian threats or covert operations can push France to help Moscow achieve its war aims in Ukraine. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/09/20/french-far-right-leaders-marine-le-pen-and-jordan-bardella-say-they-will-not-tolerate-russia-trying-to-dictate-france-s-policies-through-threats-and-intimidation

French far-right leaders Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella say they will not tolerate Russia trying to dictate France’s policies through threats and intimidation — Meduza

The leaders of France’s far-right National Rally party, Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, said they would not tolerate Russia “thinking it could dictate our country’s policies directly or indirectly through intimidation, threats, destabilization or psychological pressure.”

· 1mo ago

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Russia has secretly been helping Iran develop advanced supersonic cruise missiles since 2023 under a program code-named C430L, the Financial Times reports. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/09/02/ft-russia-secretly-helped-iran-develop-supersonic-cruise-missiles

FT: Russia secretly helped Iran develop supersonic cruise missiles — Meduza

Russia has secretly been helping Iran develop advanced supersonic cruise missiles since 2023 under a program code-named C430L, the Financial Times reports.

· 3w ago

Nestlé says it is weighing its options and will take “all necessary steps” to protect its rights after Putin placed its Russian assets under temporary management. Auchan says its stores are operating as usual while it seeks clarification. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/09/18/nestle-is-committed-to-taking-all-necessary-steps-to-protect-its-rights-nestle-and-auchan-respond-to-putin-s-decree-placing-their-russian-assets-under-temporary-management

‘Nestlé is committed to taking all necessary steps to protect its rights’: Nestlé and Auchan respond to Putin’s decree placing their Russian assets under temporary management — Meduza

Nestle said it has “taken note” the Russian president’s decree introducing “temporary external administration” at Nestlé Russia.

· 2mo ago

Russia has 22.5% more funeral companies than it did a year ago. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/24/number-of-funeral-companies-in-russia-jumped-more-than-20-in-a-year

Number of funeral companies in Russia jumped more than 20% in a year — Meduza

Russia had 995 registered companies and individual entrepreneurs whose main line of business is funeral services as of mid-2026, the Russian business daily Kommersant reported, citing data from the Russian corporate database service Rusprofile. That’s up 22.5% from a year earlier: the fastest growth in the number of funeral companies in Russia over the past five years.

· 2mo ago

A young Russian actor posted a video telling Putin: "You are not my president." It hit a million views. Hours later, after his mother read the comments, he posted again, now saying he "loves the government" and respects Putin. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/07/29/a-russian-actor-got-up-at-4-30-a-m-to-tell-putin-on-instagram-you-are-not-my-president-hours-later-after-his-mother-read-him-the-comments-he-said-actually-he-loves-the-government

A Russian actor got up at 4:30 a.m. to tell Putin on Instagram: ‘You are not my president.’ Hours later, after his mother read him the comments, he said, actually, he loves the government. — Meduza

Alexei Yarmushchik, a 26-year-old actor who worked at the theater run by Sergei Bezrukov, posted a video on Instagram on the morning of July 28 in which he addressed Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said Putin was not “his president” and that Crimea was “not ours.” As of this article’s publication, the video had drawn more than a million views and over 30,000 likes. Here’s what we know.

· 2mo ago

A Russian disinfo network already accused of meddling in U.S., German, and Hungarian elections has, for the first time, targeted a declared candidate for the French presidency, allegedly spreading fake rumors about Édouard Philippe’s health. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/24/russian-disinformation-network-storm-1516-accused-of-targeting-french-presidential-candidate-edouard-philippe-with-fake-health-claims

Russian disinformation network Storm-1516 accused of targeting French presidential candidate Édouard Philippe with fake health claims — Meduza

A French security source told AFP that the Russian disinformation network “Storm-1516” targeted former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, one of the declared candidates for the French presidency, as part of an effort to interfere in France’s presidential election.

· 2mo ago

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill has written a book “devoted to the metaphysics of war.” In it, he says that the Russian people bear “a great responsibility not to shirk their historical duty to be victors.” https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/29/russian-orthodox-patriarch-kirill-writes-book-on-redemptive-meaning-of-war

Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill writes book on ‘redemptive meaning of war’ — Meduza

The Moscow Patriarchate’s publishing house has released a new book by Patriarch Kirill titled War. Beyond Visible Causes and Consequences., the magazine Demagog reported.

· 2mo ago

Ukraine has launched another strike on a Wildberries warehouse in Russia, this time in Ryazan. See photos and videos from the attack. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/07/29/ukraine-resumes-strikes-on-wildberries-warehouses-in-russia-see-the-attack-on-ryazan

Ukraine resumes strikes on Wildberries warehouses in Russia. See the attack on Ryazan. — Meduza

Ukrainian drones attacked a Wildberries warehouse in Ryazan on the morning of July 29. Published photos and videos show a large-scale fire. Part of the building collapsed. Wildberries said the Ryazan warehouse “is temporarily not accepting deliveries” and that employees had been evacuated. Ukraine has been striking Wildberries logistics centers and warehouses since July 18. Since then, drone attacks have already hit 10 warehouses in Russian regions and occupied Crimea. Meduza shows the aftermath

· 2mo ago

Viktor Yanukovych has been living under a fake name in Russia for over a decade, a Ukrainian YouTube investigation says. Docs show Ukraine's fugitive ex-president uses "Oleg Leonov" — his mother's maiden name — since 2014, and now lives in a Sochi estate with his partner. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/27/viktor-yanukovych-fled-ukraine-in-disgrace-in-2014-a-new-investigation-says-he-now-lives-in-sochi-under-his-mother-s-maiden-name

Viktor Yanukovych fled Ukraine in disgrace in 2014. A new investigation says he now lives in Sochi — under his mother’s maiden name. — Meduza

Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is now living in Sochi and using documents in the name of “Oleg Nikolayevich Leonov,” according to an investigation by the Ukrainian YouTube channel “Telebachennya Toronto.”

· 2mo ago

Ukraine's top general, Oleksandr Syrsky, broke his public silence to answer critics blaming him for the ouster of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and the protests that followed. Syrsky denied any personal conflict with Fedorov. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/07/20/i-didn-t-know-we-had-a-conflict-sorry-if-i-caused-offense-ukraine-s-military-chief-syrsky-says

‘I didn’t know we had a conflict. Sorry if I caused offense,’ Ukraine’s military chief Syrsky says — Meduza

I’m at war. I have no interest in giving interviews or writing columns. But my silence has come to be read as agreement, so I decided to speak up. They say I have no strategy for victory — but announcing a strategy publicly would mean handing it to the enemy. They say I don’t want to fight with drones — but I’m the one who established the Unmanned Systems Forces as a separate branch of the military. They say I promote only loyalists — but the army’s most popular commanders rose from junior offic

· 2mo ago

A Ukrainian drone attack has halted operations at Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat, one of Russia's largest oil refineries. Industry sources say repairs could take weeks to months; the local governor says a few days. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/15/gazprom-neftekhim-salavat-handles-2-7-percent-of-russia-s-oil-refining-a-single-overnight-drone-attack-took-it-offline

Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat handles 2.7 percent of Russia’s oil refining. A single overnight drone attack took it offline. — Meduza

The Gazprom Neftekhim Salavat petrochemical complex has suspended operations after a Ukrainian drone attack, Reuters reported, citing two industry sources. The complex is one of the largest in Russia.

· 2mo ago

20 years ago this week, Bush, Blair, Merkel, and Chirac flew to St. Petersburg for the only G-8 summit Russia ever hosted. Meduza revisits the three-day meeting in photos: golf carts at Peterhof, an informal dinner, Putin driving Bush around himself. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/07/15/the-only-g-8-summit-russia-ever-hosted-was-20-years-ago-this-week-the-photos-from-st-petersburg-look-unreal-today-in-the-fifth-year-of-the-full-scale-invasion-of-ukraine

· 2mo ago

A Russian couple on vacation in Istanbul stopped at Hagia Sophia — a sixth-century former cathedral that is now a mosque. The husband took out a Bible and began reading. They were detained, accused of inciting hatred, and sent to a deportation center. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/15/russian-couple-detained-in-istanbul-for-reading-the-bible-inside-hagia-sophia-now-a-mosque

· 2mo ago

The head of Russia’s central bank, Elvira Nabiullina, acknowledged that the country’s fuel crisis has driven up inflation. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/24/russia-s-central-bank-chief-nabiullina-acknowledges-fuel-crisis-has-driven-up-prices-for-a-wide-range-of-goods-and-services

Russia’s central bank chief Nabiullina acknowledges fuel crisis has driven up prices for ‘a wide range of goods and services’ — Meduza

The head of Russia’s central bank, Elvira Nabiullina, acknowledged that the country’s fuel crisis has driven up inflation.

· 2mo ago

Winning by too much has become a concern for the Kremlin. Facing falling support for Vladimir Putin and United Russia, officials have lowered the ruling party's State Duma election target from 55% of the vote to 45%, fearing a bigger victory could look implausible. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/07/23/as-support-for-putin-slips-the-kremlin-lowers-the-ruling-party-s-election-target-amid-fears-a-landslide-victory-would-look-suspicious

As support for Putin slips, the Kremlin lowers the ruling party’s election target amid fears a landslide victory would look suspicious — Meduza

Russia’s Presidential Administration announced in March 2026 that it expected United Russia, the country’s ruling party, to win 55% of the vote in September’s elections, with 50% turnout, according to a public statement.

· 2mo ago

US authorities fear Russia is weighing a nuclear detonation in orbit to knock out the satellites feeding Ukraine's army. It would take navigation, communications, and weather forecasting down with them. One physicist has a proposal for spotting the bomb first. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/07/16/the-u-s-says-russia-is-building-a-nuclear-weapon-for-space-but-how-would-you-prove-there-s-a-warhead-inside-a-satellite-1-200-miles-up

· 2mo ago

Wildberries has banned employees from bringing smartphones into its warehouses. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/08/03/wildberries-bans-employees-from-bringing-smartphones-into-warehouses

Wildberries bans employees from bringing smartphones into warehouses — Meduza

Wildberries has banned employees from bringing smartphones into its warehouses starting August 3, according to the Russian Telegram news channel Ostorozhno Novosti, which cited an internal company notice.

· 2mo ago

The Finnish energy company Fingrid has told Russian telecom operators it will stop maintaining the power line poles that carry fiber-optic communication lines starting in 2027, sources told Kommersant. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/29/finland-to-stop-maintaining-poles-carrying-communication-lines-with-russia-kommersant-reports

Finland to stop maintaining poles carrying communication lines with Russia, Kommersant reports — Meduza

· 2mo ago

Russia wants internet users to install govt-issued SSL certificates so local websites load normally in browsers like Chrome. The push comes as global certificate authorities keep revoking security credentials from Russian companies. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/23/it-s-safe-and-it-won-t-affect-your-device-russia-s-pitch-for-its-homegrown-internet-certificates

‘It’s safe, and it won’t affect your device’: Russia’s pitch for its homegrown internet certificates — Meduza

Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development is urging internet users to install domestically produced SSL certificates so that Russian websites will continue to load properly in foreign web browsers. The ministry said the move was safe and would not affect how devices function, according to the business daily RBC.

· 2mo ago

Ending the war between Russia and Ukraine will require “new ideas,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said after meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/23/rubio-says-ending-war-in-ukraine-needs-new-ideas-previous-proposals-unacceptable-to-kyiv

Rubio says ending war in Ukraine needs ‘new ideas,’ previous proposals unacceptable to Kyiv — Meduza

Ending the war between Russia and Ukraine will require “new ideas,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said after meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

· 2mo ago

Over the weekend, Ukraine attacked two warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia’s largest online marketplace. Early estimates show that the sellers’ losses are far greater than those of the marketplace. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/07/22/ukraine-s-strike-on-russian-retail-giant-wildberries-warehouses-may-have-cost-sellers-at-least-150-billion-rubles

Ukraine’s strike on Russian retail giant Wildberries’ warehouses may have cost sellers at least 150 billion rubles — Meduza

Overnight on July 18, Ukraine attacked two warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia’s largest online marketplace, citing the fact that drone components were stored there. Eight people were killed and more than 80 were injured. The total damage to the warehouses and the goods stored in them remains unknown. Tallying it will take at least a month. However, Forbes (and before that Kommersant and Vedomosti) tried, with the help of experts, to estimate how much Wildberries and its sellers may have

· 2mo ago

Boris Nadezhdin, a Russian opposition politician hoping to run for parliament, says he’s now barred from leaving the country. Already labeled a “foreign agent” and facing a criminal charge that would keep him off the ballot if convicted, he can neither run nor go. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/16/russia-won-t-let-opposition-politician-boris-nadezhdin-run-for-parliament-now-it-won-t-let-him-leave-the-country-either

Russia won’t let opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin run for parliament. Now it won’t let him leave the country, either. — Meduza

Russian politician Boris Nadezhdin says he has been barred from leaving the country. He learned of the restriction through Gosuslugi, Russia’s government services portal.

· 2mo ago

Demonstrations are underway across Ukraine in support of ousted Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. Crowds carried signs and chanted: “Bring back Fedorov.” His departure comes amid a wider shake-up of Zelensky's cabinet. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/16/protests-spread-across-ukraine-against-the-removal-of-defense-minister-mykhailo-fedorov

Protests spread across Ukraine against the removal of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov — Meduza

Rallies in support of Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov began in Kyiv and other cities on Thursday, a day after news outlets reported that he was leaving his post.

· 2mo ago

Ukrainian strikes killed civilians in two Russian regions overnight, officials there say: a 15-year-old girl and her grandmother in the border town of Suzemka, hit by Grad rockets, and one resident of the Yaroslavl region, hit by drones. Four other people were hurt in Yaroslavl. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/16/russian-officials-report-three-deaths-in-overnight-ukrainian-attacks

Russian officials report three deaths in overnight Ukrainian attacks — Meduza

A 15-year-old girl and her grandmother were killed in a Ukrainian strike on Russia’s Bryansk region, regional head Yegor Kovalchuk said. Another local woman was wounded.

· 2mo ago

Russian missiles hit Kyiv overnight into July 16, killing two people and wounding six others, including a 16-year-old, Ukrainian officials said. Fires broke out in two districts before crews put them out. It was the second Russian strike on the capital in a week. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/16/russia-strikes-kyiv-for-the-second-time-in-a-week-killing-two-and-wounding-six

Russia strikes Kyiv for the second time in a week, killing two and wounding six — Meduza

Russian forces struck Kyiv with missiles in the early hours of July 16, the head of the city’s military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, reported. The attack killed two people and wounded six others, including a 16-year-old, Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said.

· 2mo ago

The Russian streetwear brand Marcelo Miracles is near collapse, its founder says. In one month, three key staff got draft notices. Then came broken logistics, a 30% sales drop, and Russia's fuel crisis. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/07/16/russian-streetwear-founder-says-draft-notices-cost-him-his-key-staff-as-a-sales-slump-and-a-fuel-crisis-batter-marcelo-miracles

Russian streetwear founder says draft notices cost him his key staff as a sales slump and a fuel crisis batter ‘Marcelo Miracles’ — Meduza

The Russian streetwear brand Marcelo Miracles is on the verge of shutting down. Its founder, Mark Rodovsky, announced the news in a video that appeared on July 14 on his Instagram page and the company’s social media accounts.

· 2mo ago

Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries have cut the country's gasoline output to 65% of average seasonal demand. Pump prices are feeling it: gasoline rose 2.3% last week and is up 16.4% since January, according to Russia's state statistics agency. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/15/ukrainian-drone-strikes-have-cut-russia-s-gasoline-output-to-65-of-seasonal-demand-and-pump-prices-jumped-another-2-3-last-week

Ukrainian drone strikes have cut Russia’s gasoline output to 65% of seasonal demand — and pump prices jumped another 2.3% last week — Meduza

Russian consumer gasoline prices rose 2.3% in the week of July 7–13, while diesel climbed 3.2%, according to Rosstat.

· 2mo ago

Russia has a new paid app for messaging people in prison. It carries texts, voice and video notes, and photos, and for 99 rubles, it will subscribe an inmate to entertainment content: sports, music, humor, or news. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/15/want-to-message-someone-in-a-russian-prison-there-s-now-an-app-for-that-it-costs-about-three-rubles-per-text-once-the-censor-signs-off

Want to message someone in a Russian prison? There’s now an app for that. It costs about three rubles per text, once the censor signs off. — Meduza

An ad for a messaging app called “Tochka Kontakta” (“Point of Contact”), designed for communicating with prisoners, has appeared on the ZT service’s website. The human rights organization First Department flagged the ad. The ad links to a separate website laying out the new app’s features.

· 2mo ago

Russia's fuel crisis, triggered by Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries, has left drivers waiting hours for gasoline — long enough that traffic cameras fined them for stopping. The Interior Ministry now says those fines will be canceled. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/15/russia-to-cancel-parking-fines-issued-to-drivers-waiting-in-line-for-gasoline

Russia to cancel parking fines issued to drivers waiting in line for gasoline — Meduza

Fines issued to Russian drivers for parking and stopping violations while they waited in line for gasoline will be canceled, Interior Ministry spokeswoman Irina Volk said.

· 2mo ago

A driver in Chelyabinsk, Russia, shot another motorist with a rubber-bullet pistol after being told to wait his turn at a gas station instead of cutting in line. The wounded man was hospitalized; police detained a 26-year-old suspect. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/15/driver-shoots-motorist-in-dispute-over-gas-station-line-in-chelyabinsk-amid-russia-s-fuel-crisis

Driver shoots motorist in dispute over gas-station line in Chelyabinsk amid Russia’s fuel crisis — Meduza

A driver opened fire on another motorist with a rubber-bullet pistol during a dispute over a gas station line in Chelyabinsk, the Russian news outlet 74.ru reported. The wounded man was hospitalized.

· 2mo ago

Anapa’s beaches reopened this summer. Then Ukrainian drones struck the Tuapse oil refinery, sending tons of petroleum products into the Black Sea again. Reporters from Bereg found dead dolphins on the sand — and tourists swimming anyway. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/07/16/oil-on-the-beaches-drone-attacks-gasoline-shortages-russia-s-black-sea-coast-is-now-a-perilous-place-to-vacation-so-why-do-russians-keep-coming

Oil on the beaches, drone attacks, gasoline shortages: Russia’s Black Sea coast is now a perilous place to vacation. So why do Russians keep coming? — Meduza

The summer vacation season on Russia’s Black Sea coast is under threat for the second year running. In 2025, authorities in Anapa banned swimming and sunbathing on local beaches after two tankers carrying fuel oil were wrecked, triggering an environmental disaster along the coastline. In 2026, the restrictions in Anapa were lifted, but tons of petroleum products ended up in the sea again — this time from a Ukrainian drone strike on the Tuapse oil refinery. Reporters from Bereg, an independent jo

· 2mo ago

Ukraine’s defense minister is leaving his post after barely six months. Zelensky reportedly told his party that he removed Fedorov over a difference in vision for the war, as well as poor coordination of weapons procurement. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/15/zelensky-pushes-out-ukraine-s-defense-minister-after-six-months

· 2mo ago

Russia's FSB spent over a year trying to build an AI system to scan the news for signs of domestic dissent. The contractor wasn't up to it, and the project was shut down in the fall of 2025, according to an iStories investigation. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/07/15/the-russian-counterterrorism-unit-behind-alexei-navalny-s-poisoning-tried-to-automate-its-search-for-domestic-dissent-using-meta-s-llama-2-after-a-year-and-a-half-the-project-collapsed

· 2mo ago

Russia plans to require migrants to buy a mobile phone that the government can track, deputy interior minister Igor Zubov said. Each phone would carry an "electronic profile," and, in his words, "we will know the location of every migrant." https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/15/russia-plans-to-require-migrants-to-buy-trackable-mobile-phones-deputy-interior-minister-says

· 2mo ago

The chief engineer of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, Alexander Yakovlev, was killed in a Ukrainian drone strike on his car, according to the head of Rosatom. Yakovlev's driver was also reportedly killed. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/15/chief-engineer-of-russian-occupied-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-power-plant-killed-in-ukrainian-drone-strike-rosatom-says

· 2mo ago

Ukrainian strikes on Crimea's power grid have cut electricity to pumping stations and left towns in the peninsula's north without water. Volunteers, businesses, and a Crimean Tatar group are now stepping in to help. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/15/ukrainian-strikes-on-crimea-s-energy-facilities-have-left-towns-without-water-and-volunteers-are-stepping-up

· 2mo ago

Montenegro will require Russians to obtain visas starting November 1, its government announced, ending visa-free entry. Citizens of Belarus, China, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia will also now need visas — changes officials say bring the country's policy in line with EU rules. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/27/montenegro-will-require-visas-for-russians-belarusians-and-three-other-nationalities-starting-november-1

Montenegro will require visas for Russians, Belarusians, and three other nationalities, starting November 1 — Meduza

Montenegro will introduce a visa requirement for Russian citizens, the government announced in a press release published on its website July 27.

· 2mo ago

After telling Volodymyr Zelensky the U.S. would grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot missiles, Donald Trump now says he hasn't decided after all. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/31/i-m-not-sure-trump-casts-doubt-on-his-offer-to-let-ukraine-produce-patriot-missiles

‘I’m not sure’: Trump casts doubt on his offer to let Ukraine produce Patriot missiles — Meduza

President Donald Trump has not decided whether he will let Ukraine produce Patriot interceptor missiles, he told the Financial Times, despite agreements Washington and Kyiv had previously announced.

· 2d ago

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Montenegro has detained Mikhail Zvinchuk, founder of the pro-war Telegram channel Rybar, along with his wife and three staff members. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/10/09/montenegro-detains-founder-of-rybar-one-of-russia-s-most-popular-pro-war-telegram-channels-here-s-what-we-know

Montenegro detains founder of Rybar, one of Russia’s most popular pro-war Telegram channels. Here’s what we know. — Meduza

Montenegrin authorities detained the creator of the Telegram channel Rybar. Mikhail Zvinchuk, his wife, and three other Rybar staffers were detained in the town of Risan on the morning of October 9. According to reporting by the local outlet Vijesti, they found “sophisticated digital equipment,” drones, and “electronic devices” on them. Montenegrin security services had been monitoring Zvinchuk and his team for several days. Media reports said the operation was aimed at “suppressing the hybrid a

· 2mo ago

Russia’s largest publishing group has fired employees who refused to work under its new censorship rules, president Oleg Novikov said. Eksmo-AST tightened them under Russia’s new laws after three Popcorn Books staff were prosecuted over queer lit. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/28/russia-s-largest-publishing-group-fires-employees-who-refused-to-censor-queer-literature

Russia’s largest publishing group fires employees who refused to censor queer literature — Meduza

The Eksmo-AST publishing group has fired employees who refused to work under the censorship rules it introduced in response to Russia’s new laws, and others who objected resigned, the group’s president, Oleg Novikov, said in an interview on the program Vesti. The independent Russian investigative outlet Agentstvo flagged the interview.

· 2mo ago

When a schoolgirl from Russia’s Tula region made an anti-war picture in art class, the police turned their attention to her family. Her father was later sentenced to two years for “discrediting” the army. Now both have been granted asylum in France. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/17/france-grants-asylum-to-alexei-moskalev-the-russian-father-jailed-over-his-daughter-s-antiwar-drawing-and-his-daughter-masha

France grants asylum to Alexei Moskalev, the Russian father jailed over his daughter’s antiwar drawing, and his daughter, Masha — Meduza

France has granted political asylum to Alexei Moskalev and his daughter, Masha, according to inTransit, the human rights group that assisted the family.

· 2mo ago

A Ukrainian drone hit an upper floor of an apartment block in Engels, Russia, Telegram channels reported, citing eyewitness videos. The building is 1.2 miles from the Engels-2 air base, where a fire also broke out. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/16/ukrainian-drones-strike-russia-s-saratov-region-hitting-a-residential-building-and-sparking-a-fire-at-a-military-airfield-in-engels

Ukrainian drones strike Russia’s Saratov region, hitting a residential building and sparking a fire at a military airfield in Engels — Meduza

A Ukrainian drone attack damaged civilian infrastructure in Engels, according to Roman Busargin, the governor of Russia’s Saratov region. He said there were no casualties and gave no further details about the damage.

· 2mo ago

Zelensky has begun studying candidates to replace armed forces commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Bloomberg counts 11 names on the list; UP reports most of its army sources are betting on Joint Forces commander Mykhailo Drapatyi to get the job. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/21/zelensky-reviews-11-candidates-to-replace-ukraine-s-commander-in-chief-oleksandr-syrsky-bloomberg-reports

Zelensky reviews 11 candidates to replace Ukraine’s commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky, Bloomberg reports — Meduza

Volodymyr Zelensky is reviewing a list of 11 candidates to replace Oleksandr Syrsky as commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces, Bloomberg sources reported.

· 1w ago

Boosted by @kcarruthers@infosec.exchange

Latvia’s public TV and radio already stopped broadcasting in Russian this year. Now parliament has passed a law that will also end LSM’s regular Russian-language web and social-media content starting Jan. 1, 2027, with only narrow exceptions. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/10/01/latvia-bans-its-public-broadcaster-from-producing-regular-russian-language-content-except-during-emergencies

Latvia bans its public broadcaster from producing regular Russian-language content (except during emergencies) — Meduza

Latvia’s parliament, the Saeima, has passed a law that effectively bans the public broadcaster LSM from producing content in Russian.

· 2mo ago

Wildberries will offer sellers insurance against damage or loss caused by terrorist attacks, sabotage, and drone strikes. The coverage applies to delivery, pickup-point storage, and returns — but not warehouse storage. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/08/07/russian-e-commerce-giant-wildberries-introduces-drone-attack-insurance

Russian e-commerce giant Wildberries introduces drone-attack insurance — Meduza

Wildberries will let sellers on its marketplace insure goods against damage or loss from terrorist attacks, sabotage, and drone strikes — along with their aftermath — starting August 7, 2026.

· 2mo ago

The U.S. will begin licensed production of Ukraine's Magura sea drones — the first time Washington has manufactured a Ukrainian weapon under license, WSJ reports. ReconCraft will produce hundreds of the drones a year, scaling to thousands. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/22/u-s-company-reconcraft-to-build-ukraine-s-magura-sea-drones-under-first-of-its-kind-license

U.S. company ReconCraft to build Ukraine’s Magura sea drones under first-of-its-kind license — Meduza

The United States will begin licensed production of Ukraine’s Magura sea drones — the first agreement of its kind — The Wall Street Journal reported.

· 1mo ago

United Russia’s falling ratings had prompted the Kremlin to lower its election targets. Then Putin joined the campaign, and suddenly officials were told to deliver more votes. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/09/08/united-russia-s-ratings-are-falling-so-why-is-the-kremlin-demanding-better-election-results-putin-joined-the-campaign

United Russia’s ratings are falling, so why is the Kremlin demanding better election results? Putin joined the campaign. — Meduza

Russia’s Presidential Administration has raised the KPI targets set for regional officials based on how the ruling party, United Russia, performs. In regions that are neither prone to protest nor overly loyal — where the party’s ratings run average — the new target is 47%.

· 2mo ago

Gulagu-net, one of the most prominent groups documenting torture and abuse inside Russia's prison system, has shut down. The reason isn't only Kremlin pressure — its founder cites harassment and infighting within the Russian opposition itself. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/07/20/gulagu-net-the-russian-prisoner-rights-group-announces-it-is-shutting-down

Gulagu.net, the Russian prisoner rights group, announces it is shutting down — Meduza

Gulagu.net, a project that helps prisoners, announced on Monday that it was shutting down.

· 2mo ago

Days after anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin announced he had left Russia, Russian authorities opened an administrative case against him over an interview with Meduza. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/08/04/russia-opens-administrative-case-against-anti-war-politician-boris-nadezhdin-over-a-meduza-interview