English-language Moscow newspaper reporting current events and politics with a global audience
U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have mediated two days of Russia–Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi focused on post‑war European security, prisoner swaps and ceasefire monitoring. Moscow and Kyiv have remained far apart on territorial demands. European governments are pressing to join future rounds; the Kremlin has not committed to their inclusion.
Russia and Ukraine are pursuing a new round of talks while the United States seeks postwar security guarantees. A trilateral effort involving the US and Europe is ratcheting up, with prisoner exchanges discussed and Moscow pressing for a broader security framework.
A blast in Sevastopol has killed a Russian Defense Ministry officer, with a Russian national detained on suspicion of carrying out the attack on behalf of Ukrainian intelligence. Authorities say the suspect acted on Kyiv’s instructions while the wider security picture remains murky, as Kyiv denies involvement.
A daytime Russian drone strike has hit a busy shopping mall in Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown, in two waves. Rescue teams have continued searching the rubble; authorities have reported at least 14 dead, about 121–130 wounded and several people missing, including children. Kyiv has renewed appeals for more air-defence support.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has visited Moscow after a U.S. C-17 transport landed at Vnukovo, flight-tracking data shows. Russian and U.S. officials have not detailed the meetings. U.S. sources told Axios that Washington asked Kyiv to pause strikes while the delegation travelled; Moscow later confirmed Ratcliffe met Russian security officials.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has flown to Moscow for undisclosed talks with Russian intelligence officials. The Kremlin has said President Vladimir Putin was briefed but did not meet Ratcliffe. U.S. officials and the CIA have declined to comment. Washington told Kyiv in advance and asked Ukraine to pause strikes on parts of Russia while the delegation was in the capital.
A fire at the Amur Gas Chemical Complex near Svobodny has injured 19 workers with severe injuries among 1 Chinese national and more. Authorities say primary equipment remains undamaged and air quality is within normal range as firefighting and controlled burning of residual gases continue. An investigation into the cause is underway and a commission has been formed.
A Russian military officer has been killed and his wife injured when their car exploded in the Pushkinsky suburb of St. Petersburg. Investigators have opened a criminal probe; Kyiv has denied involvement in the attack, while Moscow has blamed Ukraine for previous assassinations. The incident follows a series of high-profile blasts targeting Russian military figures.
Russia has held a three-day parliamentary election from Sept. 18–20 that is set to return a United Russia-dominated State Duma. Most anti-war candidates were barred, the liberal Yabloko party was disqualified from the nationwide list, voting is being held in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, and Moscow reported large drone attacks and a sustained cyberattack on electronic voting in the capital.
Russia has announced the closure of Goethe-Institut centers in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg, following Germany’s decision to shut a Russian cultural center in Berlin after a drone incident near Leipzig/Halle. Moscow says Berlin’s move ends their shared cultural presence and escalates tensions as the EU considers further sanctions.
Two cases of political imprisonment and alleged mistreatment have drawn international concern. A Russian-born critic detained in Israel and an Azerbaijani opposition figure detained pre-trial in Baku face scrutiny over rights abuses. Activists demand transparency, access to legal counsel, and humane treatment as trials loom.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek has leaders from China, Russia and India attending as partners discuss regional cooperation. Talks point to China and Russia strengthening ties and expanding influence, with India hedging its position amid competing regional interests. Turkiye seeks a more permanent role while maintaining ties with the West.
An avalanche on Mount Mizhirgi in Russia’s North Caucasus hits a group of climbers. Ten have descended safely; several others remain unaccounted for as rescue efforts continue amid treacherous terrain and ongoing avalanche risk. Reports from multiple outlets confirm ongoing recoveries and casualties as agencies coordinate search operations.
Russia has instructed Germany to cease operations at its consulate in St. Petersburg by Sept. 18 in retaliation for Berlin’s closure of Russian diplomatic sites. Moscow says Berlin provoked the escalation after an alleged drone attack on Leipzig–Halle Airport, while Germany accuses Moscow of aggression and planting evidence. The move widens a diplomatic rift between Moscow and Berlin.
A study traces Scotland’s cultural and social shifts from the mid-1960s to the 1966 general election, highlighting changes in family planning, rebirth of media, housing redevelopment in Glasgow, and youth culture shaped by The Beatles and Dylan.
Energy ministers and key delegates from G20 nations, including Canada and Saudi Arabia, gather in Houston for discussions on energy security as gas storage in Europe strains ahead of winter. Russia’s attendance has stirred debate amid ongoing tensions over Ukraine and Iran, with US officials highlighting the need for affordable, reliable energy.
Congress has passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 and President Trump has signed it into law. The law expands sanctions on Russian officials, banks and a "shadow fleet" of tankers, and grants the president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
Prosecutors have opened a probe into criminal negligence as Russia’s brown bear population has more than doubled since 1990, now about 307,000. Fatal and non-fatal bear attacks are rising this year, with authorities reporting several deaths and residents near affected towns under siege by bears.
Russian presidential decrees have placed the Russian operations of several Western retailers and food companies under temporary administration, transferring control to newly registered or Kremlin‑linked firms. The moves follow earlier 2023 seizures and are taking place as Moscow and Berlin exchange diplomatic and security accusations, putting German firms such as Metro and Globus at risk.
EU countries reach a compromise to extend sanctions on nearly 3,000 individuals and entities for three years while delisting Russian-Uzbek tycoon Alisher Usmanov and Russian-Israeli Mikhail Fridman from the bloc’s sanctions list. Latvia abstains, prompting tensions with Kyiv; France and Luxembourg argued for delisting on national-security grounds linked to a prisoner-release context.
Russia has intensified strikes on Ukraine’s data centres and internet networks, disrupting connections for about 100,000 Kyiv-area households. Kyiv confirms outages, while Datagroup’s site is damaged and Ukraine says the impact extends to banks and public services. Poland reports an arson at a Starlink facility, linked to Moscow. Kyiv says the aim is to disrupt the flow of information.
The Tu-95 strategic bomber has crashed during a training flight in the Amur region near Krasnoyarovo. Officials say the aircraft was not carrying weapons and one crew member has survived and is hospitalized. Investigators are at the scene to determine the cause, with mixed reports from multiple agencies about possible factors.
A laboratory worker at the Irkutsk Anti‑Plague Institute has died after hospitalisation with severe pneumonia; regional officials have placed the hospital under quarantine and put nearly 200 contacts under medical observation. Authorities and Russia's consumer watchdog have said tests are negative so far; local leaders have cancelled public events.
Ukrainian drone strikes have targeted Moscow and nearby regions, aiming at energy and transport infrastructure. Authorities report interceptions of most drones with casualties and damage in several towns as officials caution about intensified attacks and winter pressures.
Latvia has declared a persona non grata a Russian commentator based on material from authorities, with officials citing national security reasons. The move follows prior expulsions of Russian cultural figures and signals intensifying scrutiny of Russia-linked voices in Latvia’s public sphere.
A Liberian-flagged Aframax Rio has been attacked off Sochi, triggering a fire and the evacuation of 23 Indian crew. Sochi and Sirius have closed beaches; authorities report no confirmed oil contamination and monitoring shows no oil slicks as of now. Investigations link the tanker to sanctions-evading routes; firefighting is ongoing and the vessel is drifting along the coast.
Across Ukraine and Russia, drone and missile attacks have escalated, killing civilians and damaging infrastructure. Crimea reports restrictions on electricity and water after a drone incident; multiple regional strikes in Bryansk and Kharkiv kill and wound people. NATO training exercises show allied readiness to defend against drone-enabled warfare. Starlink remains contested amid a broader information and security backdrop.
Russian authorities have arrested a Japanese reporter identified as Yuki Imai of the Hokkaido Shimbun on Sakhalin and flown him to Moscow on suspicion of gathering information on Russia's defence capabilities for Japanese intelligence. Tokyo has demanded consular access, summoned Russia's ambassador and called for the reporter's fair treatment; Moscow says the case is not isolated.
Foreign nationals have been detained by Russia’s FSB on mercenary or espionage charges amid a string of arrests linked to Ukraine conflicts. A German veteran says he joined Ukraine in 2025, claiming pay issues led to desertion. Other cases include a Swedish national and a Japanese journalist; Washington and Moscow discuss prisoner exchanges.
Japan has repeatedly demanded consular access and the journalist’s immediate release after a Japanese national working for Hokkaido Shimbun was detained on Sakhalin Island on espionage suspicions. Tokyo cites a consular-right protocol and a long-running Kuril dispute as context for Moscow's handling.
Russia and Ukraine have engaged in renewed talks mediated by the United States, with a new round possible as early as next month. The exchange of fallen soldiers at the Belarus border adds urgency to discussions on a post-conflict security framework.
Security researchers have found two critical vulnerabilities in the PHP programming language, labelled PHP2Shell, and PHP maintainers have released emergency patches. Governments and major tech firms have urged operators to update immediately or temporarily take sites offline after AI-assisted research and an early public leak triggered millions of exploitation attempts between 21–27 October 2026.
A localized ceasefire brokered by Melania Trump has enabled humanitarian aid deliveries and civilian evacuations from Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town on the Dnipro opposite Kherson. The ceasefire is set to run through the weekend as residents face shortages of food, water and medicine.
Multiple cases in October 2026 show Russia’s treason prosecutions expanding, with a former regional official in Murmansk and a businessman linked to Ukrainian fundraising facing lengthy prison terms after cryptocurrency transfers and other alleged support to Kyiv’s armed forces.
Temporary clearance has allowed ships to leave Temryuk and Kavkaz, with at least one vessel passing the Kerch Strait into the Black Sea. Permits through November 15 indicate a shift in maritime access amid a localized ceasefire for humanitarian aid in Kherson. The moves follow ongoing tensions over Black Sea shipping and the collapsed grain deal.
Novaya Gazeta has announced it will cease operations and vacate its Moscow office on Nov. 9 after authorities revoked its licence, blocked its platforms, disabled its donation system and ordered eviction. The paper says Russian security services and state agencies have forced the shutdown after years of prosecutions, raids and designation as a "foreign agent."
Japan-Tokyo is confronting Moscow over Russia’s order placing four JTI subsidiaries under temporary administration. Tokyo has protested and is evaluating options as Russia ties asset seizures to its foreign policy leverage. The moves come amid Japan-Russia tensions over Ukraine, the Kuril Islands dispute, and a Japanese journalist’s detention in Russia.
The IAEA has informed that a plant worker has been killed in a drone attack at Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest nuclear facility, as fighting and strikes continue around the site. Another worker at Zaporizhzhia’s nearby thermal plant was also killed, underscoring ongoing dangers to nuclear safety amid the war. The IAEA has called for immediate cessation of such attacks and for personnel to operate without fear.
Belarusian Cyber Partisans and Ukraine’s Silent Crow have released data from Rosstat showing far higher Russian casualties than official figures, with tens of thousands killed since 2022 and a notable concentration of deaths in Donetsk and the Volga region. The leak underscores the war’s rising human cost and political pressure on Moscow.
Poland-linked individuals have been charged with espionage in Russia’s Baltic exclave, with the FSB accusing them of gathering information on Russian military facilities and the region’s socio-economic situation. Moscow says several citizens have been warned or barred from entry, while Poland rejects the claims as provocation.
Russia has confirmed the sudden death of its ambassador to the United States, a veteran diplomat who headed Moscow’s North America Department and served as ambassador to Canada. The ministry has provided brief remarks, offering little detail on the cause of death, as tributes pour in from colleagues.