Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has signed a decree that provides for an increase of up to 4 million rubles in payments not only to military personnel injured in the so-called “special military operation” zone, but also to members of the Russian National Guard, police, FSB, etc. On one hand, this is another “benefit” aimed at…
Zalibek Umayev is a colonel in the Russian occupation army and the head of the engineering service of the 58th Guards Combined Arms Army. A native of Dagestan, Umayev began his military service in 1997. In 2014, his unit participated in the occupation of Crimea. Later, Ukrainian intelligence identified him as one of the Russian…
The Center for Countering Disinformation is launching a series of reports about the participants of the “Time of Heroes” program for war veterans, initiated by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin portrays the finalists of this propaganda program as the “new elite of Russia” and promotes them to public office. Meanwhile, in Ukraine, several participants…
Russian media are widely reporting on Vladimir Putin personally presenting awards to participants of the “special military operation” and the relatives of those killed, on the occasion of the so-called “Heroes of the Fatherland Day”. ▫️ The Kremlin dictator is more amd more frequently participating in such events, repeating insincere propaganda clichés reminiscent of the…
Russia will face a tank shortage in 2025 due to significant losses and production challenges, according to The Washington Post. Key points from the article: ▫️ Moscow is struggling with long-term issues in producing enough artillery ammunition and durable barrels for tanks and howitzers. ▫️ Russia is compensating by salvaging parts from old Soviet-era tanks…
The State Duma of the Russian Federation plans to introduce a subsidized mortgage rate of 2% per annum for the so-called “smo” participants. Despite large budget allocations for those who voluntarily sign contracts to participate in the war, the Kremlin is facing a steady decline in the number of people willing to fight. Instead, the…
Russian propaganda continues to invent new stories about the so-called “atrocities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces” in the Kursk region. Let’s break down the methods used to create such fakes using a specific example. A Telegram channel published a message in which propagandists, on behalf of a supposed resident of the village of Korenevo named…
Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has once again escalated tensions with Putin’s security forces. ▫️ He openly criticized Alexander Bastrykin, head of Russia’s Investigative Committee, and Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Minister of Internal Affairs, accusing them of being “out of place” and failing to carry out Putin’s orders. Kadyrov also condemned government repression of Muslim migrants, referring to…
Russia’s oil revenues have fallen for the second consecutive month, according to Bloomberg. Key points from the article: ▫️ In November, Russian oil-related taxes generated 605.2 billion rubles ($5.8 billion) for the budget, down around 21% from the same period last year. ▫️ This decline follows a drop in oil prices due to concerns about…
Vladimir Putin used the forum “Russia Calling!” to try to personally convince Russians that the country’s economy is “doing well”. ▫️ In his speech, the Russian dictator emphasized the supposed success of the economy despite the attempts of “unfriendly countries” to deliver a strategic defeat to Russia on the economic front. With such rhetoric, Putin…
The Russian state history exam for high school graduates includes questions about the so-called “smo” heroes – 11 participants in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Their names are taken from a new ideologically aligned textbook on Russian history. By forcing students to study the biographies of these war participants and promoting them, the Russian authorities aim…
The Russian authorities are planning to allow teenagers as young as 16 to work at hazardous industrial workplaces. The Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation believes these changes will “allow enterprises to enter into agreements on paid internships with students from professional educational organizations.” In reality, the goal of these changes is…
