Why a Russia-China currency swap agreement turned out to be a damp squib
One of the biggest hopes for a breakthrough in the Sino-Russian reapprochement after the 2014 Ukraine crisis and the first round of Western sanctions was a currency swap opened between the Central Bank...
View ArticleBreakaway Ukrainian territory turns to Russia as Kiev cuts electricity
The Lugansk People’s Republic (LNR), a breakaway territory of Ukraine, has reportedly managed to secure an electricity supply from Russia after being cut off from Ukraine’s gas distribution system. “We...
View ArticleAnnual budget loss from corruption in Russia is $1.3 billion
Russia’s General Prosecutor, Yuri Chaika, has revealed that in 2016 corruption was to blame for clawing away more than 78 billion rubles ($1.3 billion) of the country’s budget. “In 2016, 32,824...
View ArticleRussia ready to return to military technical cooperation with Ukraine
Ukraine’s decision to stop military technical cooperation with Moscow led to the creation of new industries in Russia, President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of the Military Industrial Commission...
View ArticleRussian captive makes ‘Rambo-style’ escape from Colombian guerillas
Russian frog-smuggler Arsen Voskanyan, who was captured by members of the Colombian insurgent group, National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberación Nacional or ELN), managed to free himself on April...
View ArticleWhy are Russian history enthusiasts ready to swim in a spring puddle?
Re-enactment, an activity focused on recreating historical events, is very popular in Russia. In April 2017 more than 1200 people took part in recreating the Battle of Berlin.
View ArticleHow to buy an old Soviet tank for the price of a fancy car
Whether it’s a legendary T-34 or T-72 tank or infantry vehicles of the Airborne Troops, many decommissioned Soviet military vehicles are on sale in Russia, former Soviet republics and Eastern Europe....
View ArticleWhy were authorities slow to admit the truth about Chernobyl?
Treating the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant site with a decontaminating solution. / Photo: Vitaliy Ankov/RIA Novosti Pripyat was considered an exemplary Soviet town, and was a prestigious place to live...
View ArticleFive Russian sailors released in Libya
Five Russian sailors from a freighter detained in Libya have been released and taken back home, Russian Special Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail...
View ArticleShoigu describes U.S. strike on Syria as a threat to Russian military
The Russian Defense Ministry is ready to support the United States’ efforts aimed at resolving the Syrian crisis at an early date, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said at the opening of the 6th...
View ArticleIllegal birds seized after flight from Vietnam to Siberia
A man has been detained at Tolmachevo airport in the Russian city of Novosibirsk after attempting to bring two dozen live birds illegally into the country from Cam Ranh (Vietnam) in his baggage. The...
View ArticleMiG-31 jet crashes near proving ground in Buryatia
A MiG-31 interceptor jet crashed near the Telemba proving ground in Buryatia during a training flight on April 26, the Defense Ministry said. Both pilots ejected themselves, TASS reports. "A MiG-31...
View ArticleZircon: the Russian missile that may render U.S. aircraft carriers obsolete
This month, Russia’s Zircon hypersonic maneuverable anti-ship missile reached the highest speed for any cruise missile in history. Citing sources close to the military, TASS said the missile, during...
View ArticleOver half of Russians don't want men looking after new-born babies
Over half of Russians (56 percent) consider it wrong for a man to be left looking after a new-born child while the mother goes to work. Sixty-one percent of men thought it was wrong, compared to 52...
View ArticleRussian design concepts from mosquito killers to self-driving busses
1. The MATRESHKA M2B8 self-driving bus The first self-driving passenger bus resembles a funicular cabin and is combined with advanced intelligence technology. Source: Kirill Zykov/Moskva Agency The...
View ArticleWhich Russian city is most popular among foreign tourists?
Red Square, Moscow. Source: Alexander Sukharev Moscow will be the Russian city visited most by foreign tourists this summer, reports Lenta.ru news website, citing a press release from the online...
View ArticleRussian Foreign Ministry warns Russians about how to behave abroad
Ahead of the holiday season, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has decided to remind Russians about how to behave when abroad, and has updated its recommendations. How not to offend the...
View ArticleTetyorki – spring cookies from Russia’s North
Draniki: Say goodbye to winter with these sunny potato pancakesTetyorki is a type of traditional Russian cookie that comes from the northwestern part of the country, and they’re distinguished by an...
View ArticleTrio of Russian start-ups get financial boost for innovation
The GenerationS Accelerator Finals, launched by the state RVC Foundation, took place in Moscow on April 25. Out of the eight projects that made it to the finals, the jury selected three winners, which...
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