In russia, enterprises in the forestry industry are massively cutting production and suffering losses. The sector has seen a 13% drop in logging, an 11% decline in lumber production, and a 23% decrease in plywood output compared to 2021. After losing access to the European market due to sanctions, the industry has been left without…
Kazakhstan has begun construction of a thermal power plant (TPP) in Kokshetau without the involvement of russian partners. According to Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, the country decided not to wait for the promised russian funding and took the project into its own hands. ▫️ This decision is symbolic, as until recently moscow — through the…
higher school of economics in moscow is launching russia’s first master’s program that effectively teaches how to circumvent international sanctions. Officially, the course focuses on “international corporate compliance,” but its core aim is to train specialists in identifying and overcoming sanctions-related risks for companies. ▫️ This program directly contradicts kremlin propaganda, which for years has…
russia’s ministry of energy has officially confirmed a deep crisis in the coal industry. In just the past few months, the number of suspended or closed coal enterprises has risen to 51 — compared to 27 in April. ▫️ For example, in early June, the spiridonovskaya mine in kuzbass, which employed around 900 people, halted…
russian ministry of digital development is discussing the introduction of rules for mass mobile internet shutdowns. According to media reports, this involves a centralized legal framework that will allow for quick and lawful blocking of mobile networks across large areas of the country. ▫️ In recent months, restrictions or even complete mobile internet shutdowns have…
Since the start of the full-scale war, the level of business activity in russia’s manufacturing industry has plummeted to record lows. In response, putin instructed the government and central bank to “prevent” a decline in production in 2025. Measures typical for the russian economy are being proposed, including “cluster platforms,” “industrial mortgages,” and support for…
russian prosecutor general’s office proposes sending teenagers caught bullying to temporary detention centers for juvenile offenders. These are special institutions where children are held in semi-prison conditions and undergo “individual preventive work.” ▫️ Despite the declared goal of combating bullying, such punitive measures could serve the function of filtering and re-educating teenagers prone to violence,…
In russia’s voronezh region, officials have devised a way to formally fulfill the kremlin’s directive to employ “smo heroes” in government without giving up any real power. ▫️The regional government is introducing new positions for “assistants (advisors)” to the heads of executive bodies, to be filled exclusively by participants in the war against Ukraine. These…
Huge payments are no longer so effective in motivating russians to go to war against Ukraine, so the russian authorities are inventing new ways to recruit soldiers. In particular, due to the introduction of payments to police officers who force marginalized citizens to sign a contract with the ministry of defense of the russian federation….
Amid declining oil and gas revenues in the first half of 2025, russia’s real VAT income fell by 2.1%, despite a nominal increase of 7.3%. As a result, the collected 6.999 trillion rubles ($89,7 billion) do not cover the inflation rate, which stands at 9.4%. ▫️ According to russia’s ministry of finance, the government plans…
russia and belarus have started talking about creating a “traditional” artificial intelligence. At a conference in vitebsk held within the framework of the “slavianski bazaar,” plans were announced to develop a joint AI system for russia and belarus — one “based on traditional values” and “understandable to citizens.” In reality, this is not about technological…
russia has officially acknowledged the collapse of the main symbol of its mythical “naval greatness.” The country’s only aircraft carrier, admiral kuznetsov, is being prepared for decommissioning. According to media reports, the russian ministry of defense has halted the modernization of the “morally and physically obsolete” ship and plans to send it for scrapping. ▫️…
