Meduza in English
@meduza.io
Breaking news in Russia, investigative reports, interviews, and opinions. In English. You’re welcome. https://meduza.io/en
Venezuela looks like a defeat for Moscow, but is it actually a gift to Putin’s worldview? The Naked Pravda asked political scientist Seva Gunitsky and Russian oil-industry expert Craig Kennedy about "spheres of influence" and Moscow's money problems. meduza.io/en/episodes/...
Is Trump’s Venezuela operation a ‘gift to Putin,’ and what is the state of Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’? — Meduza
At first glance, the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro might look like an obvious disaster for Vladimir Putin. Russia has lost a key partner, and the prospect of Venezuelan oil…
meduza.io
January 9, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Venezuela looks like a defeat for Moscow, but is it actually a gift to Putin’s worldview? The Naked Pravda asked political scientist Seva Gunitsky and Russian oil-industry expert Craig Kennedy about "spheres of influence" and Moscow's money problems. meduza.io/en/episodes/...
Last month, Russia passed a law allowing clear-cut logging in the forests around Lake Baikal. Environmentalists warn that the consequences for the lake and its unique flora and fauna could be irreversible.
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‘Nothing is sacred for the authorities’ Russia is opening the forests around Lake Baikal to clearcutting. Environmentalists warn Meduza the damage could be irreversible. — Meduza
In December, Russia’s State Duma passed a law allowing clear-cut logging in Lake Baikal’s Central Ecological Zone, a move swiftly approved by the Federation Council and signed by Vladimir Putin.…
meduza.io
January 9, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Last month, Russia passed a law allowing clear-cut logging in the forests around Lake Baikal. Environmentalists warn that the consequences for the lake and its unique flora and fauna could be irreversible.
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How would the 20-point peace plan impact the millions of Ukrainians living under Russian occupation? Meduza asks analyst Karolina Hird from the Institute for the Study War. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Behind the contact line How would the 20-point peace plan impact the millions of Ukrainians living under Russian occupation? — Meduza
President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly called territorial control the “most difficult” of the 20 points in the new peace plan drafted by Ukraine and the United States. For the agreement to take…
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January 9, 2026 at 4:39 PM
How would the 20-point peace plan impact the millions of Ukrainians living under Russian occupation? Meduza asks analyst Karolina Hird from the Institute for the Study War. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Explosions reported outside Lviv after an apparent intermediate-range ballistic missile strike by Russia against the Stryi gas field and gas storage facility. Signs point to another Oreshnik missile attack — the weapon Putin compared to a "meteorite." meduza.io/en/news/2026...
Russia hits gas field near Lviv in suspected Oreshnik ballistic missile strike — Meduza
Shortly after Ukraine’s Air Force reported the threat of an intermediate-range ballistic missile launch from a Russian strategic nuclear testing site near the Caspian Sea, explosions rocked the…
meduza.io
January 9, 2026 at 5:31 AM
Explosions reported outside Lviv after an apparent intermediate-range ballistic missile strike by Russia against the Stryi gas field and gas storage facility. Signs point to another Oreshnik missile attack — the weapon Putin compared to a "meteorite." meduza.io/en/news/2026...
Pierre Thévenin explores the maritime law arguments surrounding the U.S. military’s seizure of tankers linked to Russia. We're dealing with a unique legal precedent: ships trying to change their national registration while under pursuit on the high seas. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
‘A new precedent’ In an interview with Meduza, expert Pierre Thévenin breaks down the maritime law behind Washington’s recent tanker seizures — Meduza
On January 7, U.S. military forces seized two tankers linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet,” ending a weeks-long pursuit of one vessel, the Bella 1. After the ship sought Russian sovereign protection…
meduza.io
January 8, 2026 at 11:11 PM
Pierre Thévenin explores the maritime law arguments surrounding the U.S. military’s seizure of tankers linked to Russia. We're dealing with a unique legal precedent: ships trying to change their national registration while under pursuit on the high seas. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
As Zelensky’s new chief of staff, Kyrylo Budanov is stepping in to lead Kyiv’s negotiating team in the middle of the Trump administration’s latest push to end the war. Meduza looks back on his military career and experience negotiating with Moscow.
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From master spy to lead negotiator What does Zelensky’s new chief of staff, Kyrylo Budanov, bring to the peace talks? — Meduza
Kyrylo Budanov’s predecessor as President Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, was known as the second-most powerful person in Ukraine. However, he was far less successful in the diplomatic…
meduza.io
January 8, 2026 at 10:11 AM
As Zelensky’s new chief of staff, Kyrylo Budanov is stepping in to lead Kyiv’s negotiating team in the middle of the Trump administration’s latest push to end the war. Meduza looks back on his military career and experience negotiating with Moscow.
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The U.S. has seized a sanctioned "dark fleet" tanker in the North Atlantic following a high-stakes pursuit that began in the Caribbean. The op involved a brief standoff with Russian naval vessels after the ship attempted to change its registry mid-chase to evade capture. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
O Bella, ciao! U.S. seizes sanctioned tanker after weeks-long Atlantic pursuit and brief standoff with Russian naval escort — Meduza
On October 7, the U.S. military seized two “dark fleet” tankers: the Bella 1 (also known as the Marinera) and the Sofia. Both vessels are on the U.S. Treasury Department’s sanctions list for…
meduza.io
January 7, 2026 at 7:11 PM
The U.S. has seized a sanctioned "dark fleet" tanker in the North Atlantic following a high-stakes pursuit that began in the Caribbean. The op involved a brief standoff with Russian naval vessels after the ship attempted to change its registry mid-chase to evade capture. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Across Russia, the cost of church rites has surged since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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Pay to pray How the Russian Orthodox Church is making faith more expensive — Meduza
Across Russia, the cost of church rites has surged since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. “Voluntary donations” for weddings, funerals, and baptisms are rising far faster than…
meduza.io
January 7, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Across Russia, the cost of church rites has surged since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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⚡ The U.S. military has seized a Russian-flagged tanker linked to Venezuelan oil exports that it had been pursuing since December.
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U.S. military seizes Russian-flagged tanker linked to Venezuelan oil — Meduza
The U.S. military’s European Command has detained a Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuelan oil exports in the northern Atlantic Ocean, it announced on Wednesday.
meduza.io
January 7, 2026 at 3:11 PM
⚡ The U.S. military has seized a Russian-flagged tanker linked to Venezuelan oil exports that it had been pursuing since December.
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Lithuania is investigating Leonid Volkov after he insulted Ukraine's leadership and celebrated neo-Nazi Denis Nikitin's (faked) death. The Russian opposition figure could lose his residence permit if his remarks are deemed a national security threat. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
He doesn’t get along with neo-Nazis Navalny strategist Leonid Volkov under fire in Lithuania for disparaging paramilitary leader ‘White Rex’ and top Ukrainian officials — Meduza
Lithuania’s Migration Department is investigating Leonid Volkov, head of political projects at the Anti-Corruption Foundation. The move follows comments Volkov made about the reported “death”…
meduza.io
January 6, 2026 at 10:11 PM
Lithuania is investigating Leonid Volkov after he insulted Ukraine's leadership and celebrated neo-Nazi Denis Nikitin's (faked) death. The Russian opposition figure could lose his residence permit if his remarks are deemed a national security threat. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Today’s summit in Paris has ended with the “Coalition of the Willing” signing a declaration on security guarantees for Kyiv. The U.K. and France also committed to deploying forces to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal. meduza.io/en/news/2026...
Kyiv’s allies sign declaration on security guarantees. U.K. and France commit to deploy troops to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal. — Meduza
The “Coalition of the Willing” summit in Paris has ended with Kyiv’s allies signing a declaration on security guarantees for Ukraine. This was announced by French President Emmanuel Macron at a press…
meduza.io
January 6, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Today’s summit in Paris has ended with the “Coalition of the Willing” signing a declaration on security guarantees for Kyiv. The U.K. and France also committed to deploying forces to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal. meduza.io/en/news/2026...
How do exiled pro-democracy activists continue to make inroads into Putin’s Russia? Meduza asks Free Russia Foundation president Natalia Arno. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Agents of change How does Russia’s pro-democracy movement make inroads in exile? Meduza asks Free Russia Foundation’s Natalia Arno. — Meduza
As Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine approaches its fourth anniversary, Vladimir Putin’s grip on power appears as strong as ever. But Natalia Arno maintains that change is imminent — and that…
meduza.io
January 6, 2026 at 7:11 PM
How do exiled pro-democracy activists continue to make inroads into Putin’s Russia? Meduza asks Free Russia Foundation president Natalia Arno. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
As part of its push to raise birth rates, Russia has intensified pressure on women and girls, confronting those seeking abortions with anatomically incorrect “embryo” dolls, priests, and warnings about so-called “post-abortion syndrome.”
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‘If the man decides, the woman will give birth’ How the Kremlin made women’s bodies part of its demographic strategy — Meduza
Russia’s campaign to raise birth rates has grown more aggressive over the past year. The state has expanded pressure on women and girls, making abortions harder to access and promoting pregnancy…
meduza.io
January 6, 2026 at 6:11 PM
As part of its push to raise birth rates, Russia has intensified pressure on women and girls, confronting those seeking abortions with anatomically incorrect “embryo” dolls, priests, and warnings about so-called “post-abortion syndrome.”
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President Zelensky has arrived in Paris for today’s “Coalition of the Willing” summit, where Kyiv’s allies will discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Zelensky arrives in Paris for ‘Coalition of the Willing’ summit on security guarantees for Ukraine — Meduza
President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Paris on Tuesday for a meeting of Kyiv’s allies to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia. Around 35 countries are…
meduza.io
January 6, 2026 at 5:20 PM
President Zelensky has arrived in Paris for today’s “Coalition of the Willing” summit, where Kyiv’s allies will discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Trump’s bid to take over Venezuela’s oil industry has already reshaped investors’ expectations — and not in favor of Beijing or Moscow.
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Putin’s and Xi’s sunk costs Why Trump’s Venezuela oil gambit could be bad news for Russia and China — Meduza
After U.S. President Donald Trump’s operation to seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro last Saturday, Washington quickly began demanding access to the country’s oil market for U.S. companies.…
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January 6, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Trump’s bid to take over Venezuela’s oil industry has already reshaped investors’ expectations — and not in favor of Beijing or Moscow.
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Zelensky has replaced Vasyl Malyuk, the mastermind behind Operation Spiderweb, as head Ukraine’s Security Service. Here’s what you need to know. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
‘The Kremlin will open the champagne’ Zelensky replaces SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk amid intelligence shake-up — Meduza
Vasyl Malyuk, the head of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), has submitted his resignation. After meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, Malyuk announced that he was stepping down from…
meduza.io
January 5, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Zelensky has replaced Vasyl Malyuk, the mastermind behind Operation Spiderweb, as head Ukraine’s Security Service. Here’s what you need to know. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
In 2025, Russia’s book industry faced raids, bans, and self-censorship. The year ahead could be even worse.
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A dark chapter In 2025, Russia’s book industry faced raids, bans, and self-censorship. The year ahead could be even worse. — Meduza
Last year was arguably the worst one yet for Russia’s publishing industry. Bookstores were raided; independent publishing houses were shuttered; publishers pulled beloved novels from sale; and…
meduza.io
January 5, 2026 at 7:11 PM
In 2025, Russia’s book industry faced raids, bans, and self-censorship. The year ahead could be even worse.
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Russia’s pro-war Z-bloggers are weighing in on the U.S. operation in Venezuela — from complaints about double standards to grudging admiration.
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‘Maybe it’s time we started hiring American generals?’ Russia’s pro-war bloggers on the U.S. operation in Venezuela — Meduza
On January 3, the United States carried out a military operation against Venezuela, Moscow’s closest ally in South America. The country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, was captured by U.S. special…
meduza.io
January 5, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Russia’s pro-war Z-bloggers are weighing in on the U.S. operation in Venezuela — from complaints about double standards to grudging admiration.
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After U.S. forces capture Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Moscow accuses Washington of “armed aggression,” while Kyiv and European officials say the Venezuelan leader lacks legitimacy. meduza.io/en/news/2026...
Russia calls U.S. military action in Venezuela ‘armed aggression,’ as Kyiv rejects Maduro’s legitimacy — Meduza
Following overnight U.S. strikes on Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, President Donald Trump said on January 3 that American special forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife,…
meduza.io
January 3, 2026 at 6:35 PM
After U.S. forces capture Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Moscow accuses Washington of “armed aggression,” while Kyiv and European officials say the Venezuelan leader lacks legitimacy. meduza.io/en/news/2026...
What does “motherland” mean after exile, war, and decades behind the camera? In an interview with Meduza, photographer Sergey Maximishin reflects on leaving Russia and guessing at what from his work will endure. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
If I could save time in a photo Meduza interviews photographer Sergey Maximishin about his two-volume farewell to Russia and a century of history captured in his work and amateur images — Meduza
In December 2025, the Russian photographer Sergey Maximishin released a two-volume album titled “Rodina” (Motherland). The first volume consists of amateur photographs from different years — images…
meduza.io
January 2, 2026 at 10:11 PM
What does “motherland” mean after exile, war, and decades behind the camera? In an interview with Meduza, photographer Sergey Maximishin reflects on leaving Russia and guessing at what from his work will endure. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
Under Orthodox Church canon law, a patriarch cannot be married and must be celibate. But according to a new Proekt investigation, Russian Orthodox Church head Patriarch Kirill has had a “secret common-law wife” for more than 50 years.
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New investigation reveals Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill’s ‘secret common-law wife’ of 50 years — Meduza
Under Orthodox Church canon law, a patriarch cannot be married and must be celibate. But according to a new Proekt investigation, Russian Orthodox Church head Patriarch Kirill has had a “secret…
meduza.io
January 2, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Under Orthodox Church canon law, a patriarch cannot be married and must be celibate. But according to a new Proekt investigation, Russian Orthodox Church head Patriarch Kirill has had a “secret common-law wife” for more than 50 years.
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Russian street singer Naoko sat down with YouTuber Yury Dud for her first big interview after her arrest for singing anti-war songs and her subsequent escape from Russia. Here’s what she had to say.
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‘I thought, what could they do to me?’ Russian street singer Diana Loginova, jailed for performing anti-war songs, gives first major interview in exile — Meduza
In 2025, three St. Petersburg street musicians did something seemingly impossible in wartime Russia: they repeatedly drew crowds of dozens of people to sing openly anti-war songs in public. The feat…
meduza.io
January 2, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Russian street singer Naoko sat down with YouTuber Yury Dud for her first big interview after her arrest for singing anti-war songs and her subsequent escape from Russia. Here’s what she had to say.
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Here are some of the changes coming to Russia this year. Spoiler: they’re not great for the average citizen.
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What’s changing in Russia in 2026? Year-round conscription, higher taxes, rising utility costs, and AI surveillance — Meduza
At the very end of 2025, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree mandating that Russian conscription offices operate year-round, rather than only during the country’s traditional spring and fall…
meduza.io
January 2, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Here are some of the changes coming to Russia this year. Spoiler: they’re not great for the average citizen.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered the post of head of the President’s Office to military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov. The position has been vacant since longtime chief of staff Andriy Yermak resigned in late November.
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Zelensky offers chief of staff position to military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov — Meduza
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered the post of head of the President’s Office to military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov.
meduza.io
January 2, 2026 at 12:35 PM
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered the post of head of the President’s Office to military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov. The position has been vacant since longtime chief of staff Andriy Yermak resigned in late November.
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Ukrainian intel says it ran a months-long deception operation that exposed an alleged Russian assassination plot against "White Rex," redirected the money behind it, and left Moscow believing it had succeeded. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
‘White Rex’ lives Ukrainian military intelligence says it faked killing of neo-Nazi militia commander to fool Russia — Meduza
Denis Kapustin, the commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps, was not killed in a Russian drone strike and is alive, Ukrainian military intelligence said Thursday. On January 1, 2026, the agency…
meduza.io
January 1, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Ukrainian intel says it ran a months-long deception operation that exposed an alleged Russian assassination plot against "White Rex," redirected the money behind it, and left Moscow believing it had succeeded. meduza.io/en/feature/2...