Background

NEWS

singleNews

Cheap Fast Food Has Become Expensive for russians – They Are Saving on Everything

Profits for the major monopolists in russia’s fast-food market plummeted last year. While in 2024 sandwich chains were steadily increasing their profits, in 2025 the “import-substituted” chain “vkusno – i tochka” lost 15.1% of its net profit, rostic’s – 27.5%, “burger king” – 61%.
4/27/2026
singleNews

“Shops for the Poor” Taking Over russia’s Market

russia has seen significant changes in the structure of its retail market, indicating a gradual decline in consumer purchasing power. Despite the overall 5.8% increase in the number of retail outlets, discounters – shops offering goods at prices significantly below the market average – have become the main driver of growth.
4/26/2026
singleNews

Mass Layoffs Await russians As Early As This Summer

russia’s economy continues to show signs of a systemic downturn amid the protracted war against Ukraine, which is having an increasingly noticeable impact on the labor market. As early as this summer, a significant number of state-owned and private companies in the rf may begin large-scale staff reductions.
4/26/2026
singleNews

Profiting from Death: russia’s Funeral Market Catching up with Gold Mining

Demand for funeral services in russia is the only indicator that does not need government subsidies.
4/25/2026
singleNews

The End of Cheap Money: The kremlin Admits It Has Run Out of Resources to Support the Economy

The model, which for years relied on cheap state loans, no longer works.
4/25/2026
singleNews

Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

“We will keep upping the pressure until russia stops the war and returns to its borders,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Tsahkna.
4/24/2026
singleNews

The kremlin Has Declared a Hunt for russians’ Money

Three months into the year – and the rf has already “gobbled up” more than it had planned to spend in a whole year. The federal budget deficit for the first quarter of 2026 reached 4.6 trillion roubles – and this despite the fact that the total planned annual figure stands at 3.8 trillion.
4/24/2026
singleNews

The kremlin Won’t Let Go: Digital Restrictions Follow russians Even Abroad

The kremlin has taken such a liking to this digital “iron curtain” that it has decided to export it along with tourists, so that russians abroad do not relax and forget what “home-grown” restrictions on rights look like.
4/24/2026
singleNews

kirienko Has Lost Europe and Began to Lose Ground Domestically

sergei kirienko was a key operator of russia’s political system for a long time. His power was based not on public policy, but on the ability to ensure a controlled outcome through technology: rigged elections, administrative verticals, digital platforms, information networks, and engagement with regional elites.
4/24/2026
singleNews

Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

The European Union has finalized its decision to provide Ukraine with a EUR 90 billion loan and has adopted the 20th package of sanctions against russia. “The written procedures for amending the regulation on the multiannual financial framework, which forms the basis for the EUR 90 billion loan to Ukraine and the 20th package of sanctions against russia, have been successfully completed. Both documents were adopted unanimously,” said a Spokesperson for the EU Presidency, held by Cyprus.
4/23/2026
singleNews

The EU Is Systemically Developing a Collective Defense Mechanism

The European External Action Service (EEAS) is preparing to conduct a special tabletop exercise – a simulated crisis analysis without the actual deployment of forces – dedicated to the practical implementation of Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union.
4/23/2026
singleNews

No Shelters, but Perks for Officials: The Priorities of russia’s Authorities

67% of bomb shelters and other shelters are completely unusable in russia. Only 16% of protective structures meet requirements, while another 17% are partially usable. As a result, the responsibility for survival in russia falls on the russians themselves.
4/23/2026
singleNews

Ukrainian ssr mgb Agent “D-2”. Failed the Screening by the OUN Security Service

Throughout its history, the OUN Security Service made considerable efforts to prevent bolshevik agents from infiltrating the ranks of the Organization. Declassified documents from the archives of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine reveal how the former did that and what countermeasures were taken by the latter.
4/23/2026
singleNews

Killing, Spying, Poisoning: the Netherlands’ Intelligence Has Exposed the Full Arsenal of moscow’s Crimes

The kremlin is systemically undermining the stability of the democratic world on dozens of fronts simultaneously – cyberattacks, sabotage, espionage, disinformation, chemical weapons, and the expansion of nuclear arsenal.
4/23/2026
singleNews

Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

The EU Committee of Permanent Representatives has launched the process of adopting amendments to the EU’s long-term budget for 2021–2027 regarding the provision of a EUR 90 billion loan to Ukraine, as well as the 20th package of EU sanctions against russia, through a written procedure that will be concluded at 12:00 p.m. on April 23.
4/22/2026
singleNews

The kremlin Notes a Surge in Juvenile Crime and Looks to the Internet for Answers

Last year, minors committed over 22,000 crimes. sverdlovsk, chelyabinsk, and irkutsk regions are among the leaders. Even in moscow, which traditionally tries to live in a different reality, juvenile crime has risen by 150%.
4/22/2026
singleNews

belarus Is Rapidly Losing Its Population

As of January 1, 2026, belarus’ population stood at 9,056,080. Over the course of the year, the country lost more than 53,000 people. And this is only what the official statistics acknowledges – the massive exodus following the 2020 protests was never reflected in those figures.
4/22/2026
singleNews

Türkiye Is Reshaping Its Religious Influence in Europe

Türkiye’s Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı) has developed a long-term strategy aimed at preserving and expanding Ankara’s religious and humanitarian presence abroad, first of all in European countries.
4/22/2026
singleNews

It Is Essential That the European Support Package for Ukraine Be Unblocked; There Can Be No Grounds for Blocking It Anymore – Address by the President

We hope the EU will also deliver on the agreed commitments. There has also been no progress for a long time on new sanctions against Russia over this war, which is particularly unhelpful when the United States is easing restrictions. Pressure must be maintained so that the Russians do not feel they can wage war calmly and with impunity.
4/22/2026
singleNews

Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas expects “positive decisions” on April 22 regarding the EU’s EUR 90-billion loan to Ukraine. “Ukraine really needs this loan, and it is also a sign that russia will not be able to outlast Ukraine. This is extremely important at this moment,” she pointed out.
4/21/2026