The russian government Approves Bill to Restrict Admissions to Paid Higher Education ▫️ru-propaganda frames the decision as a move to “protect the youth,” claiming that many are currently pursuing degrees for which there is “no demand in the labor market.” However, the kremlin’s true goal is to restrict access to higher education for ordinary russians,…
Despite strong pressure from russia, former USSR countries are increasingly refusing to participate in pro-russian ideological events related to the celebration of Victory Day. Kazakhstan has banned the “Immortal Regiment” march on May 9 — an event that russia sees as one of the tools for creating a unified ideological space of “victory descendants” around…
russia has begun large-scale purchases of potatoes from China to fill the domestic market and curb the rapid rise in prices for this vegetable. In the first quarter of 2025, potato imports from China to russia reached almost $11 million — 25 times more than a year earlier. ▫️ The potato shortage in russia arose…
russian authorities are trying to prepare the population for a decrease in budget revenues and, as a result, a drop in living standards. ▫️ At an expanded meeting of the russian ministry of finance, the head of the ministry, Anton siluanov, had to admit that the “stressful situation in the oil market” is forcing them…
With the war against Ukraine as a backdrop, the Russian authorities continue their campaign to nationalise large businesses. ▫️ The day before, 12 companies of the Vector Rail group, one of the largest owners of railway cars in russia, were nationalised. The value of these assets is approximately $3 billion. The owner of the group…
russian gas monopoly “gazprom,” which recently threatened to “freeze Europe,” is now asking the state to lower taxes. Just last year, the company accumulated over one trillion rubles (approximately 12 billion USD) in net losses, so it is now calling on the government to “make certain adjustments” to the mineral extraction tax. ▫️ Due to…
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, russians have sharply increased the number of microloans. Last year, the volume of loans from microfinance organizations reached 1.5 trillion rubles, which is 217% more than in 2021 ($18.4 billion), and this year, an additional 60% growth is expected. The reason for this is that bank…
This year, the militarized state-run youth organization “Yunarmiya” will receive a record amount of funding from the budget — 1 billion rubles (over $112 million). That’s twice as much as in 2024. “Yunarmiya” calls itself a “military-patriotic movement” and is systematically engaged in promoting war propaganda among children and teenagers. It is especially active in…
By the end of 2024, the share of foreign-made equipment in Russia exceeded 98%. The most critical situation is among electronics manufacturers, where it’s nearly impossible to find russian-made components. Despite all efforts to boost the production of domestic equipment needed by Russia for arms manufacturing under sanctions, by the end of 2024, such equipment…
The number of serious crimes in russia has sharply increased. According to official data from the ministry of internal affairs, the first quarter of 2025 saw a record number of serious and especially serious crimes since the beginning of the so-called “special military operation” — 170,800 cases. Compared to the same period last year, this…
The crisis in russia’s construction sector has become so obvious that putin was forced to respond. The kremlin dictator had to publicly admit that there are “risks of slowdown” in national housing construction projects in russia. These “risks” refer to a nearly 25% decline in construction activity compared to last year, and apartment sales falling…
In russian universities, students facing expulsion are being forced to sign contracts with the ministry of defense. In fact, universities in the sverdlovsk region openly admit that these measures are aimed at fulfilling putin’s “assignment” to recruit contract soldiers. Students who sign contracts are promised an academic leave instead of expulsion, clearance of academic debts,…
