The Moscow Times
@themoscowtimes.com
Independent news from Russia since 1992.
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Photo: Yaroslav Chingayev / Moskva News Agency
https://linktr.ee/moscowtimes
Photo: Yaroslav Chingayev / Moskva News Agency
Russia’s Ural Airlines said it will launch a domestic program to extend the service life of Airbus A320 family aircraft beyond 96,000 flight hours, as the aviation sector grapples with Western sanctions and a shortage of spare parts.
Russia’s Ural Airlines to Extend Airbus A320 Lifespan Amid Parts Shortages - The Moscow Times
Russia’s Ural Airlines said it will launch what it described as a first-of-its-kind domestic program to extend the service life of Airbus A320 family aircraft beyond 96,000 flight hours, as the countr...
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Russia’s Ural Airlines said it will launch a domestic program to extend the service life of Airbus A320 family aircraft beyond 96,000 flight hours, as the aviation sector grapples with Western sanctions and a shortage of spare parts.
Pro-Kremlin social media accounts are using the latest Jeffrey Epstein files to bolster efforts to spread baseless claims that Russia has saved Ukrainian children from sex trafficking, research by AFP and a London-based think-tank showed.
Pro-Kremlin Accounts Using Epstein Files to Push Conspiracy Theories – Research - The Moscow Times
Pro-Kremlin social media accounts are using the latest Jeffrey Epstein files to bolster efforts to spread baseless claims that Russia has saved Ukrainian children from sex trafficking, research by AFP...
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Pro-Kremlin social media accounts are using the latest Jeffrey Epstein files to bolster efforts to spread baseless claims that Russia has saved Ukrainian children from sex trafficking, research by AFP and a London-based think-tank showed.
A record number of Russians visited Japan in 2025, as travelers look for alternatives to Europe and other Western destinations.
Japan Opens New Visa Centers in Moscow and St. Petersburg - The Moscow Times
Japan opened two new specialized visa centers in Moscow and St.
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:22 PM
A record number of Russians visited Japan in 2025, as travelers look for alternatives to Europe and other Western destinations.
Used by over 90 million Russians, Telegram serves many functions — from a news platform to a tool for small businesses to reach clients.
As Kremlin Throttles Telegram, Russians Stand to Lose More Than Just Messaging - The Moscow Times
Russian state media regulator Roskomnadzor has tightened its restrictions on popular messaging app Telegram for allegedly failing to combat fraud and protect user data. For its 93.6 million users in ...
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Used by over 90 million Russians, Telegram serves many functions — from a news platform to a tool for small businesses to reach clients.
The man, identified as Andrei Zhuravlyov, was allegedly supposed to be involved in preparations for a “hybrid attack.”
Estonia Deports Russian Man Accused of Planning to Spy for Moscow - The Moscow Times
Estonia deported a Russian man after he was accused of planning to gather intelligence on behalf of Moscow, authorities in the Baltic country said Thursday.
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:51 PM
The man, identified as Andrei Zhuravlyov, was allegedly supposed to be involved in preparations for a “hybrid attack.”
Deputy Governor Andrei Faleychik is alleged to have accepted a large bribe in exchange for transferring the ownership of a publicly owned children’s camp to a local businessman.
Police Arrest Chelyabinsk Deputy Governor Accused of Accepting Bribes - The Moscow Times
Authorities in the Chelyabinsk region said Thursday that law enforcement arrested a deputy governor following allegations that he accepted bribes during his time as mayor of the city of Kopeysk. “Depu...
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Deputy Governor Andrei Faleychik is alleged to have accepted a large bribe in exchange for transferring the ownership of a publicly owned children’s camp to a local businessman.
Russia is expected to supply Cuba with oil as part of a "humanitarian" effort, Moscow's Embassy in Havana said as U.S. throttling of Venezuelan oil supplies has plunged the Caribbean country into its worst energy crisis in years.
Russia Expected to Supply Cuba With Oil as 'Humanitarian Aid' - The Moscow Times
Russia is expected to supply Cuba with oil as part of a "humanitarian" effort, the pro-government Izvestia newspaper reported Thursday.
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Russia is expected to supply Cuba with oil as part of a "humanitarian" effort, Moscow's Embassy in Havana said as U.S. throttling of Venezuelan oil supplies has plunged the Caribbean country into its worst energy crisis in years.
Sport has long been a potent tool of Russian soft power. But at the Winter Olympics, its athletes are competing without a flag, national anthem or national team.
At Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, Russian Athletes a Diminished Presence - The Moscow Times
At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Russian athletes competed alongside their peers from around the world, albeit as neutrals because of past doping violations.
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Sport has long been a potent tool of Russian soft power. But at the Winter Olympics, its athletes are competing without a flag, national anthem or national team.
Russia has been tightening the screws on WhatsApp and Telegram in hopes of pushing Russians to state-backed messenger Max.
We delved into Max's functionality, its vulnerabilities and the government's turbo-charged effort to promote it.
We delved into Max's functionality, its vulnerabilities and the government's turbo-charged effort to promote it.
Everything You Need to Know About Max, Russia’s State-Backed Answer to WhatsApp - The Moscow Times
Russia's latest attempt to build a sovereign digital ecosystem is moving into high gear.
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Russia has been tightening the screws on WhatsApp and Telegram in hopes of pushing Russians to state-backed messenger Max.
We delved into Max's functionality, its vulnerabilities and the government's turbo-charged effort to promote it.
We delved into Max's functionality, its vulnerabilities and the government's turbo-charged effort to promote it.
The strike took place at a refinery in the remote town of Ukhta, located around 2,000 kilometers from the front line in eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian Drone Attack Sparks Fire at Lukoil Refinery in Republic of Komi - The Moscow Times
A Ukrainian drone smashed into a Lukoil refinery in northwestern Russia’s republic of Komi on Thursday and sparked a fire, local authorities said, marking the second such attack on one of the oil prod...
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:59 AM
The strike took place at a refinery in the remote town of Ukhta, located around 2,000 kilometers from the front line in eastern Ukraine.
Two of Russia’s largest airlines will suspend flights to Cuba after they evacuate Russian tourists from the island nation amid a fuel shortage caused by growing pressure from the United States.
Russian Airlines Suspend Flights to Cuba, Evacuate Tourists Amid Fuel Crisis - The Moscow Times
Two of Russia’s largest airlines will suspend flights to Cuba after they evacuate Russian tourists from the island nation amid a fuel shortage caused by growing pressure from the United States.
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:45 AM
Two of Russia’s largest airlines will suspend flights to Cuba after they evacuate Russian tourists from the island nation amid a fuel shortage caused by growing pressure from the United States.
The American tech company claimed the restrictions were part of an effort to force Russians to switch to the state-backed app Max.
WhatsApp Accuses Russian Government of Trying to ‘Fully Block’ Platform - The Moscow Times
WhatsApp said Thursday that the Russian government was attempting to “fully block” the messaging app as authorities intensify pressure on citizens to switch to a state-backed alternative that critics ...
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:09 AM
The American tech company claimed the restrictions were part of an effort to force Russians to switch to the state-backed app Max.
Daria Yegereva, an Indigenous Selkup woman from the city of Tomsk, was arrested on Dec. 17 after police searched her home.
World Indigenous Groups Urge Putin to Free Siberian Climate Advocate Facing Terrorism Charges - The Moscow Times
Dozens of entities representing Indigenous peoples around the world have called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to release a Siberian Indigenous climate advocate who is awaiting trial on terrorism...
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Daria Yegereva, an Indigenous Selkup woman from the city of Tomsk, was arrested on Dec. 17 after police searched her home.
#OpEd Having taken part in such discussions over 30 years, Kevin Ryans predicts that military-to-military discussions between Russia and the United States will not be as helpful as we hope but will be better than not talking.
The U.S. and Russian Militaries Are Talking Again. Will it Make a Difference? - The Moscow Times
Opinion | According to a February 5 announcement by the United States European Command (EUCOM) in Germany, the U.S. and Russia have agreed to re-establish high-level military-to-military dialogue.
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:42 PM
#OpEd Having taken part in such discussions over 30 years, Kevin Ryans predicts that military-to-military discussions between Russia and the United States will not be as helpful as we hope but will be better than not talking.
Cuba warned airlines this weekend that jet fuel would remain unavailable for at least one month starting Tuesday as Havana imposed emergency measures to address its energy crisis.
Russian Airlines Suspend Flights to Cuba, Evacuate Tourists Amid Fuel Crisis - The Moscow Times
Two of Russia’s largest airlines will suspend flights to Cuba after they evacuate Russian tourists from the island nation amid a fuel shortage caused by growing pressure from the United States.
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Cuba warned airlines this weekend that jet fuel would remain unavailable for at least one month starting Tuesday as Havana imposed emergency measures to address its energy crisis.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told The Moscow Times that each European country must decide for itself whether to resume dialogue with the Kremlin.
Read more: www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/02/11/u...
Read more: www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/02/11/u...
February 11, 2026 at 3:49 PM
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told The Moscow Times that each European country must decide for itself whether to resume dialogue with the Kremlin.
Read more: www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/02/11/u...
Read more: www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/02/11/u...
Soldiers and pro-war military bloggers have accused Roskomnadzor of undermining vital coordination between military personnel on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Kremlin Downplays Impact of Telegram Restrictions on Frontline Communications - The Moscow Times
The Kremlin on Wednesday expressed skepticism toward reports that Russian forces fighting in the war against Ukraine are facing disruptions to critical communications as a result of new government eff...
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Soldiers and pro-war military bloggers have accused Roskomnadzor of undermining vital coordination between military personnel on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Russian units’ loss of access to Starlink has allowed Kyiv to push back on Moscow’s advances and make gains in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region, a senior NATO official said.
Ukraine Advances in Zaporizhzhia After Russian Troops Lose Starlink Access – NATO Official - The Moscow Times
BRUSSELS — Russian units’ loss of access to Starlink has allowed Kyiv to push back on Moscow’s advances and make gains in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region, a senior NATO official said.
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 1:39 PM
Russian units’ loss of access to Starlink has allowed Kyiv to push back on Moscow’s advances and make gains in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region, a senior NATO official said.
Authorities said a security guard was shot and killed as he tried to stop the gunman from entering the technical college.
Shooting at Technical College in Krasnodar Leaves 1 Dead - The Moscow Times
A shooting at a technical college in the southern Krasnodar region has left one person dead, while at least two others were injured, the local governor said Wednesday.
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 12:05 PM
Authorities said a security guard was shot and killed as he tried to stop the gunman from entering the technical college.
The children’s mother, who is eight months pregnant, survived but was hospitalized with multiple injuries.
Russian Drone Strike Kills 3 Children and Their Father in Ukraine’s Kharkiv Region - The Moscow Times
A Russian drone strike on a house in northeastern Ukraine's Kharkiv region killed a father and his three children, officials said Wednesday, while their pregnant mother and grandmother were hospitaliz...
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:53 AM
The children’s mother, who is eight months pregnant, survived but was hospitalized with multiple injuries.
Opinion: Some economists think the Kremlin's obsession with reducing inflation is an ideological decision that harms the war effort, Sergei Shelin writes.
Putin Is Battling Inflation – But Sacrificing Russia’s Economy - The Moscow Times
Opinion | This publication was adapted from the original at the Sakharov Review’s “The Country and the World” project and is part of the series “Four Years of War: The Results.”The Kremlin has turned ...
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:29 AM
Opinion: Some economists think the Kremlin's obsession with reducing inflation is an ideological decision that harms the war effort, Sergei Shelin writes.
Yulia Yemelyanova was detained in August at the request of Russia, which accuses her of stealing a mobile phone from a taxi driver in 2021.
Kazakhstan Moves to Extradite Ex-Navalny Volunteer to Russia, Anti-War Group Says - The Moscow Times
For at least the fourth time this year, prosecutors in Kazakhstan have granted Russia’s request to extradite a Russian citizen facing criminal charges at home, a group of exiled anti-war activists sai...
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:22 AM
Yulia Yemelyanova was detained in August at the request of Russia, which accuses her of stealing a mobile phone from a taxi driver in 2021.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow would abide by limits on its nuclear weapons set out in the lapsed New START agreement, so long as Washington did the same.
Lavrov Says Russia Will Stick to Nuclear Weapons Limits if U.S. Does - The Moscow Times
Russia said Wednesday it would abide by limits on its nuclear weapons set out in a lapsed arms control treaty with the United States, so long as Washington did the same.
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow would abide by limits on its nuclear weapons set out in the lapsed New START agreement, so long as Washington did the same.
Calls to the Federal Security Service (FSB)’s public tip-off hotline surged in 2025, the agency said amid what Russian officials say is an ongoing campaign of sabotage during the nearly four-year war on Ukraine.
Russia’s FSB Says Tip-Offs Climbed to Almost 150K in 2025 - The Moscow Times
Calls to the Federal Security Service (FSB)’s public tip-off hotline surged in 2025, the agency said Tuesday amid what Russian officials say is an ongoing campaign of sabotage during the nearly four-y...
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Calls to the Federal Security Service (FSB)’s public tip-off hotline surged in 2025, the agency said amid what Russian officials say is an ongoing campaign of sabotage during the nearly four-year war on Ukraine.
Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi said he plans to travel to Moscow in a bid to prevent the further recruitment of Kenyans to fight for Russia in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Kenya’s FM to Visit Russia to Protest Recruitment of Citizens for Ukraine War - The Moscow Times
Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi said Tuesday he planned to travel to Moscow in a bid to prevent the further recruitment of Kenyans to fight for Russia in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. ...
www.themoscowtimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Kenya’s Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi said he plans to travel to Moscow in a bid to prevent the further recruitment of Kenyans to fight for Russia in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.