In 2024, the issuance of industrial mortgages—a program of subsidized loans to support businesses launched during the full-scale war against Ukraine—plummeted by 75% in russia. The sharp increase in the discount rate forced the program to be significantly scaled back. ▫️ Initially, the russian government aimed to provide businesses with a sense of security amidst…
The sharp hike in the discount rate by the central bank of russia and the reduction of subsidized mortgage programs have dealt a significant blow to “Samolet” group companies, russia’s largest construction firm. Amid mounting financial difficulties caused by these policies, the company’s owners are scrambling to protect their capital. According to russian media, the…
In the third year of its full-scale war against Ukraine, many russians still cling to the belief that putin’s so-called “special military operation” is distant and does not affect them personally. However, an analysis of regional budget expenditures in russia reveals that the ominous phrase, “the war has come to every home,” is no longer…
russian dictator vladimir putin spoke for over three hours at the annual “valdai discussion club,” repeating nearly all the standard clichés of russian propaganda. The core of putin’s speech revolved around shifting responsibility for the war in Ukraine onto the West, justifying the occupation of Ukrainian territories through his own distorted interpretations of international law,…
In sverdlovsk oblast, russia, the large novolyalinsky pulp and paper mill is on the brink of closure. Production has been drastically reduced, threatening the jobs of over 700 employees. The company’s staff has written a letter to the governor asking for assistance, but hopes of saving the mill are slim. The root of the problem,…
The russian government is reportedly considering freezing the bank deposits of russian citizens in an effort to stave off “rampant” inflation. This was announced by alexey zubets, director of the institute of socio-economic research at the financial university under the government of the russian federation. zubets noted that russians hold tens of trillions of rubles…
ussian propaganda is spreading the message: “A war veteran trained under the “Time of Heroes” program has become the head of a russian region for the first time.” This refers to yevgeny pervyshev, appointed by putin as the governor of the tambov region. This appointment highlights that putin’s much-publicized program is largely a propaganda effort….
russian exporters are turning to barter deals, reminiscent of the 90s, to counter payment delays caused by Western sanctions, as reported by the Financial Times. Key points from the article: ▫️ A russian agricultural trader struck a barter deal with Pakistani companies, exchanging chickpeas for tangerines. ▫️ The yekaterinburg customs department made a barter deal…
Reports are increasing in the russian information space about crimes committed by the russian military against civilians in the kursk region, directly contradicting kremlin propaganda, which tries to blame Ukrainian soldiers for mistreating local residents. ▫️ Recently, the kursk TV channel aired a story from residents in the glushkovsky district who reported incidents of robbery…
The second international conference on Eurasian security, held in minsk, served as yet another platform for russia to broadcast its propaganda narratives about the war against Ukraine to a foreign audience. ▫️ Most of the superficially “peaceful” narratives were voiced by belarusian leader alexander lukashenko. He repeatedly claimed that the West is allegedly ready to…
elvira nabiullina, head of the central bank of the russian federation, addressed the state duma in an attempt to reassure citizens following a record increase in the discount rate. However, her speech, heavily circulated by propaganda outlets, had the opposite effect. ▫️ nabiullina admitted that the economy faces an “unprecedented” situation, and stated that the…
