Meduza in English

Last week, we asked our readers in Russia how they’re living amid mobile Internet shutdowns and restrictions. Here’s what they said.
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/23/meduza-s-readers-in-russia-on-life-without-internet

A 20-year-old Russian soccer player murdered a woman in her Moscow apartment last week after phone scammers tricked him into robbing her — and tricked her daughter into letting him in.
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/16/a-russian-soccer-player-murdered-a-woman-after-phone-scammers-tricked-him-into-robbing-her-and-tricked-her-daughter-into-letting-him-in

Russia’s most popular messaging app, Telegram, has largely stopped working inside the country, according to outage-tracking websites.
https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/03/16/russia-s-long-anticipated-block-of-messenger-app-telegram-has-begun-experts-say

Russia created an elite hit squad to target its opponents abroad. According to a new investigation by The Insider, one officer exposed the entire group by using Google Translate. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/14/russia-created-an-elite-hit-squad-to-target-its-opponents-abroad-one-of-its-agents-was-compromised-by-using-google-translate

On March 10, the Russian city of Bryansk suffered its deadliest attack since the start of Moscow’s full-scale war against Ukraine. Locals complained about a lack of air-raid shelters and even warning sirens in some neighborhoods.
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/13/a-ukrainian-attack-on-a-russian-missile-plant-killed-at-least-seven-civilians-locals-say-they-had-nowhere-to-hide

The latest high-profile addition to Russia’s “foreign agent” list is scholar Nina Khrushcheva, the great-granddaughter of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/03/13/russia-declares-scholar-nina-khrushcheva-the-great-granddaughter-of-soviet-leader-nikita-khrushchev-a-foreign-agent

Meduza spoke to Pavel Talankin, the former teacher behind the Oscar-nominated documentary “Mr. Nobody Against Putin,” about Russian propaganda, the criticism he’s received, and his life in exile.
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/13/his-film-mr-nobody-against-putin-is-up-for-an-oscar-but-its-ethics-are-under-scrutiny-here-s-what-pavel-talankin-has-to-say

The U.S. has temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian oil in a bid to curb soaring prices amid the new war in the Middle East. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/03/13/u-s-temporarily-lifts-sanctions-on-russian-oil-as-middle-east-war-drives-up-energy-prices

The closed-door trial for the Crocus City Hall terrorist attack ended today, with 15 defendants sentenced to life in prison. Meduza examines the questions left unanswered after the verdict. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/12/punishing-the-crocus-perpetrators-the-closed-door-trial-over-russia-s-deadliest-terrorist-attack-in-decades-ends-with-15-life-sentences-and-lingering-questions

A Russian schoolteacher smuggled footage abroad and made a documentary about his country’s wartime propaganda. Now it’s up for an Oscar. How has his hometown reacted? https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/12/a-russian-schoolteacher-smuggled-footage-abroad-and-made-an-award-winning-documentary-about-wartime-propaganda-here-s-how-his-hometown-reacted

Russia’s return to the Venice Biennale is sparking controversy and threatening the event’s E.U. funding. But the national pavilions are platforms for soft power by design, writes Meduza’s Anton Khitrov. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/11/russia-s-return-to-the-venice-biennale-has-triggered-backlash-and-a-threat-to-pull-e-u-funding-meduza-explains-how-the-forum-was-designed-for-soft-power-from-the-start

Kazakhstan’s intelligence agency is pursuing a criminal case that human rights defenders say could be cover for a major deportation campaign coordinated with Moscow. Is anywhere safe for those fleeing Kremlin repressions anymore?
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/11/kazakhstan-is-reportedly-preparing-for-a-mass-deportation-of-anti-war-russians-is-anywhere-safe-for-those-fleeing-kremlin-repressions

Ukrainian forces carried out a missile strike on the Russian city of Bryansk on Tuesday evening, targeting a microelectronics plant linked to missile production. Here’s what we know about the attack.
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/11/what-we-know-about-ukraine-s-missile-attack-on-a-microchip-plant-in-southwestern-russia

After several days of intermittent mobile Internet troubles, Moscow residents told Meduza they’re resigning themselves to regular outages. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/10/the-kremlin-says-it-s-cutting-off-mobile-internet-access-for-security-reasons-muscovites-say-they-re-resigning-themselves-to-regular-blackouts

What does the U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran mean for Ukraine? Meduza spoke to top Zelensky advisor Mykhailo Podolyak for insight.
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/10/world-war-iii-is-already-underway-zelensky-advisor-mykhailo-podolyak-on-what-the-new-middle-east-war-means-for-ukraine

A Moscow court has sentenced Meduza military analyst Dmitry Kuznets to 2.5 years in prison in absentia on charges of working with an “undesirable organization.”
https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/03/10/russia-sentences-meduza-journalist-dmitry-kuznets-to-2-5-years-in-prison-in-absentia

The U.S. has delayed peace talks with Kyiv and Moscow, shifting its focus to the war in the Middle East. Meanwhile, surging oil prices have the Trump admin weighing plans to lift sanctions on Russia. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/10/middle-east-war-delays-ukraine-russia-peace-talks-as-trump-administration-weighs-lifting-oil-sanctions

Putin and Trump held an hour-long phone call on Monday. According to the Kremlin, the conversation focused on the war in the Middle East and ongoing negotiations with Ukraine. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/03/10/putin-and-trump-discuss-middle-east-war-and-ukraine-negotiations-in-first-phone-call-of-2026

Russia has arrested Ruslan Tsalikov, the fourth deputy of ex-Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu to face corruption charges. Pro-war bloggers are thrilled. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/10/pro-war-bloggers-welcome-arrest-of-sergey-shoigu-s-top-deputy-as-russia-s-defense-ministry-purge-continues

Ukraine has sent interceptor drones and a team of experts to U.S. military bases in Jordan to counter Iranian attack drones, President Volodymyr Zelensky told The New York Times. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/03/09/ukraine-sends-drone-experts-to-protect-u-s-military-bases-in-jordan

Putin has sent his congratulations to Mojtaba Khamenei on his selection as Iran’s new supreme leader, reaffirming the Kremlin’s “unwavering support” for Tehran. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/03/09/putin-congratulates-iran-s-new-supreme-leader-and-reaffirms-russia-s-unwavering-support-for-tehran

In Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan, the Alabuga Special Economic Zone and its Alabuga Polytechnic vocational school have launched an ad campaign featuring teenagers who describe how they earn money assembling Shahed kamikaze drones.
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/05/a-drone-factory-in-russia-is-running-ads-featuring-teens-who-say-they-earn-thousands-assembling-shahed-drones

The U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran has left hundreds of Russian tourists stuck in Dubai. They aren’t happy about it.
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/04/the-middle-east-war-has-left-hundreds-of-russian-tourists-stuck-in-dubai-they-aren-t-happy-about-it

As Iran targets energy infrastructure and threatens to attack ships if they enter the Strait of Hormuz, oil and gas prices have surged. The turmoil in global energy markets could ultimately play into Moscow’s hands.
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/04/iran-s-attacks-on-energy-infrastructure-are-driving-up-oil-and-gas-prices-the-chaos-may-end-up-benefiting-russia

The Russian Antiwar Committee seeks to unite those who oppose the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Now, it’s officially considered a “terrorist organization” in Russia. https://meduza.io/en/cards/the-kremlin-has-declared-the-russian-antiwar-committee-a-terrorist-organization-here-s-what-that-means-for-its-members-and-supporters

Russia’s state nuclear energy corporation says it has lost contact with the leadership of Iran’s nuclear industry and has suspended work at the joint Bushehr nuclear facility.
https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/03/03/rosatom-says-it-has-lost-contact-with-iran-s-nuclear-leadership-suspends-work-on-bushehr-power-plant

The escalating conflict in the Middle East has cast doubt on the time and place of planned peace talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, President Zelensky said on Monday. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/02/upcoming-u-s-russia-ukraine-talks-face-uncertainty-as-middle-east-conflict-escalates-and-moscow-demands-territorial-concessions

Last year, the Russian authorities passed a slew of new laws set to come into force on March 1, 2026. Here’s how these rules, now in effect, will change everyday life in the country.
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/02/russia-redefines-drug-propaganda-and-enforces-traditional-values-as-new-wave-of-laws-come-into-effect

Ukrainian counterattacks have regained ground on one stretch of the front. But Russian troops are still pushing toward key cities in Donbas.
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/03/02/as-the-full-scale-war-enters-year-five-ukraine-pushes-back-on-a-crucial-front-and-russia-s-donbas-offensive-continues-meduza-analyzes-the-latest-battlefield-developments

What happened to a billion rubles earmarked for Russian military drones? Federal investigators say the founder of one of the country's biggest pro-war Telegram channels stole it. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/02/27/the-founder-of-readovka-one-of-russia-s-biggest-pro-war-telegram-channels-is-jailed-on-charges-of-stealing-13-million-meant-for-military-drones

The Russian Orthodox Church’s exarchate in Africa is involved in a scheme recruiting Kenyan citizens to fight in Ukraine.
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/02/27/the-russian-orthodox-church-is-helping-lure-kenyans-into-the-kremlin-s-war-against-ukraine

Russia’s State Duma is moving to criminalize denial of the “genocide of the Soviet people.” The term wasn’t even used in the USSR.
https://meduza.io/en/cards/russia-coined-the-term-genocide-of-the-soviet-people-now-it-wants-to-jail-deniers-a-move-unprecedented-even-in-the-ussr

Former Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko, the latest high-profile Ukrainian official ensnared in “Mindichgate,” was detained while attempting to leave the country. Here’s how he rose to power — and what he’s accused of.
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/02/27/the-long-story-behind-the-arrest-of-ex-minister-herman-halushchenko-the-latest-chapter-in-ukraine-s-wartime-energy-scandal

Putin has established a new presidential commission tasked with “neutralizing” key risks and threats arising from AI technologies. https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/02/26/putin-appoints-fsb-chief-defense-minister-and-his-ex-bodyguard-to-newly-created-ai-commission

The “leftover change” from building Putin’s infamous Black Sea “palace” was funneled to his longtime rumored partner Alina Kabaeva, according to a new investigation by the Anti-Corruption Foundation. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/02/26/putin-s-palace-pocket-change-how-billions-in-leftover-construction-funds-went-to-the-russian-president-s-rumored-romantic-partner

The Russian authorities reportedly plan to permanently block Telegram in early April. But not on the front lines, where Russian troops rely on the messaging app to coordinate their actions.
https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/02/26/russia-reportedly-plans-to-fully-block-telegram-in-april-except-for-on-the-front-lines

In the mid-1980s, a giant fiberglass sphere appeared deep in the forests of Russia’s Tver region. Over the next four decades, the abandoned dome became a pilgrimage site for off-road drivers, hikers, musicians, hippies, and conspiracy theorists.
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/02/26/a-mysterious-sphere-in-a-russian-forest-became-a-cult-landmark-years-after-its-collapse-locals-still-can-t-agree-on-where-it-came-from

Journalists have unearthed a scientific paper trail connecting the rare toxin used to kill Alexey Navalny to Russian labs implicated in the 2020 attempt on his life. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/02/25/scientific-paper-trail-links-the-neurotoxin-used-to-kill-alexey-navalny-to-the-same-russian-labs-implicated-in-2020-novichok-attack

In Russia, even death doesn’t mean you’re off the government’s terrorist watchlist. Among the more than 20,000 names on the government’s list of “terrorists and extremists,” we found around 100 people who have already died.
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/02/25/in-russia-even-death-isn-t-enough-to-get-you-off-the-terrorist-watchlist-around-100-dead-people-remain-on-the-registry-including-alexey-navalny

Russia and Ukraine have both quietly abandoned their original war aims. Yet neither is ready to stop. So now they’re each fighting for a symbolic foothold — and waiting for the other side to blink first.
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/02/25/what-the-fourth-year-of-russia-s-full-scale-invasion-of-ukraine-revealed-neither-side-can-win-the-war-and-neither-side-can-end-it

Is Russia really losing 50,000 soldiers a month? A close look at inheritance registries reveals a massive data distortion. Thousands of men missing since the war began are suddenly being declared dead all at once, meaning Western estimates may be way off. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/02/25/western-analysts-say-russia-is-losing-50-000-soldiers-a-month-a-meduza-investigation-suggests-those-estimates-are-based-on-manipulated-data

Ukraine's ambassador to the UK just publicly blamed his own president for botching the 2023 counteroffensive. An ousted general-turned-diplomat, Zaluzhnyi deflects when asked about his political ambitions. But he's polling ahead of Zelensky. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/02/18/ukraine-s-ousted-army-chief-told-the-associated-press-he-blames-zelensky-for-the-failed-2023-counteroffensive-and-described-a-previously-unreported-raid-on-his-office-in-2022

Is Russia readying an attack on NATO? A new security report from Estonia says no, not yet. But while Moscow’s economy spirals, the Kremlin is quietly building up the stockpiles it would need for a future war with the West. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/02/12/a-warning-from-estonia-russia-s-economy-is-spiraling-downward-but-moscow-is-still-stockpiling-for-the-next-war

First Starlink, now Telegram. Z-bloggers are melting down as Russia’s new restrictions on the app threaten to further sabotage its own military’s frontline communications. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/02/10/how-russia-s-new-telegram-restrictions-threaten-self-inflicted-damage-to-the-army-s-frontline-communications