The Moscow Times
@themoscowtimes.com
Independent news from Russia since 1992.
https://linktr.ee/moscowtimes
Photo: Yaroslav Chingayev / Moskva News Agency
https://linktr.ee/moscowtimes
Photo: Yaroslav Chingayev / Moskva News Agency
Pinned
Russia tried to silence us with bureaucratic language. So we engraved it on shot glasses: "For discrediting the decisions of the Russian leadership!"
Shots of Discredit, now available for the holidays.
Each purchase funds independent journalism: www.moscowtimes.world
Shots of Discredit, now available for the holidays.
Each purchase funds independent journalism: www.moscowtimes.world
Regional heads argued that New Year's celebrations would be inappropriate and even unethical given the ongoing war.
Russia’s Regions Scale Back New Year’s Celebrations, Citing War in Ukraine - The Moscow Times
Authorities in several Russian regions have again canceled or scaled back New Year’s celebrations, citing the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Vedomosti business daily reported Monday.
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Regional heads argued that New Year's celebrations would be inappropriate and even unethical given the ongoing war.
His remarks stand in stark contrast with warnings from European officials that Putin may be planning a war with Europe.
Russia Has No Intention of Attacking NATO, Estonian Spy Chief Says - The Moscow Times
There is no indication that President Vladimir Putin is planning to attack the Baltic states or NATO despite mounting warnings from European officials that a direct conflict between the West and Russi...
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:51 AM
His remarks stand in stark contrast with warnings from European officials that Putin may be planning a war with Europe.
The legislation sends a clear signal that Moscow does not plan to comply with any future rulings from a tribunal on the Ukraine war.
Putin Signs Law Allowing Russia to Ignore Criminal Rulings of Foreign and International Courts - The Moscow Times
President Vladimir Putin signed legislation Monday relieving Russia of any obligation to enforce criminal rulings issued by foreign courts or international judicial bodies to which it does not belong.
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM
The legislation sends a clear signal that Moscow does not plan to comply with any future rulings from a tribunal on the Ukraine war.
State TV showed a lavish reopening ceremony as Moscow continues to push its reconstruction narrative in occupied Ukraine.
Mariupol Theater Destroyed in Russian Siege Reopens After Reconstruction - The Moscow Times
A theater destroyed in one of the most notorious attacks of Russia’s siege of Mariupol in early 2022 has reopened following reconstruction, Russian authorities said Sunday, as the Kremlin continues ef...
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 9:06 AM
State TV showed a lavish reopening ceremony as Moscow continues to push its reconstruction narrative in occupied Ukraine.
Donald Trump said Kyiv and Moscow were getting "closer" to settling the status of the disputed Donbas region following his meeting with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.
"That's a very tough issue, but one that I think will get resolved," Trump said.
"That's a very tough issue, but one that I think will get resolved," Trump said.
Trump Says Ukraine and Russia Getting 'Closer' on Donbas Status After Zelensky Meeting - The Moscow Times
U.S.
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 28, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Donald Trump said Kyiv and Moscow were getting "closer" to settling the status of the disputed Donbas region following his meeting with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.
"That's a very tough issue, but one that I think will get resolved," Trump said.
"That's a very tough issue, but one that I think will get resolved," Trump said.
⚡ U.S. President Donald Trump said he had a "productive" telephone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin ahead of a planned meeting in Florida with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump Says Had 'Productive' Call With Putin Ahead of Zelensky Meeting - The Moscow Times
U.S.
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 28, 2025 at 5:16 PM
⚡ U.S. President Donald Trump said he had a "productive" telephone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin ahead of a planned meeting in Florida with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Rosneft-owned Syzran oil refinery and a nearby power substation were targeted in a Ukrainian drone attack overnight, Russian pro-war and Ukrainian monitoring channels reported.
Read more: www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/12/28/r...
Read more: www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/12/28/r...
December 28, 2025 at 10:46 AM
The Rosneft-owned Syzran oil refinery and a nearby power substation were targeted in a Ukrainian drone attack overnight, Russian pro-war and Ukrainian monitoring channels reported.
Read more: www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/12/28/r...
Read more: www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/12/28/r...
Kim said 2025 was a "really meaningful year" for the bilateral alliance that was consolidated by "sharing blood, life and death in the same trench." www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/12/27/n...
North Korea’s Kim Stresses Shared Bloodshed in New Year Message to Putin - The Moscow Times
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un highlighted on Saturday how his nation and Russia had shared "blood, life and death" in the Ukraine war, as he sent President Vladimir Putin New Year's greetings.
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Kim said 2025 was a "really meaningful year" for the bilateral alliance that was consolidated by "sharing blood, life and death in the same trench." www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/12/27/n...
The founder and leader of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), a far-right paramilitary unit fighting alongside Kyiv’s army, has been killed in action on the front lines in Ukraine.
Leader of Russian Volunteer Corps Killed Fighting For Kyiv - The Moscow Times
The founder and leader of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), a far-right paramilitary unit fighting alongside Kyiv’s army, has been killed in action on the front lines in Ukraine, the group announced ...
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 11:00 AM
The founder and leader of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), a far-right paramilitary unit fighting alongside Kyiv’s army, has been killed in action on the front lines in Ukraine.
Reposted by The Moscow Times
Opinion: “The Other Side of the Coin,” a comedy series combining military propaganda with jokes, has upset Russians who feel it makes fun of their dead family members, writes Anton Starikov.
Not Even Pro-War Russians Find This Ukraine War Comedy Funny - The Moscow Times
Opinion | President Vladimir Putin and his propagandists have tried to portray the aggression in Ukraine as a people’s war since the beginning.
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Opinion: “The Other Side of the Coin,” a comedy series combining military propaganda with jokes, has upset Russians who feel it makes fun of their dead family members, writes Anton Starikov.
The attack came ahead of President Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday.
Russian Barrage on Kyiv Kills 1, Leaves Hundreds of Thousands Without Power - The Moscow Times
A Russian drone and missile barrage on Kyiv and its suburbs Saturday killed one person, wounded 24 and cut off heating and electricity for hundreds of thousands of people left in freezing temperatures...
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 10:04 AM
The attack came ahead of President Volodymyr Zelensky's meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday.
Work on the Krasnoselsk-Kalininskaya Line began in 2015 and is expected to continue through the end of the decade, with officials planning to complete the full line by 2030.
St. Petersburg Opens First 2 Stations on New Metro Line - The Moscow Times
The city of St.
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Work on the Krasnoselsk-Kalininskaya Line began in 2015 and is expected to continue through the end of the decade, with officials planning to complete the full line by 2030.
Opinion: History shows that most of Russia’s successful liberal reforms have come from within the state itself rather than from uprisings like the Decembrists, an anonymous writer in Russia argues.
The Lessons of the Decembrist Revolt Aren’t What Russia’s Opposition Want to Hear - The Moscow Times
Opinion | Dec. 26 marks 200 years since the Decembrist uprising in St.
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Opinion: History shows that most of Russia’s successful liberal reforms have come from within the state itself rather than from uprisings like the Decembrists, an anonymous writer in Russia argues.
Arseniy Konovalov was arrested in March 2024 on suspicion of providing classified information to American intelligence in exchange for money during his posting at Russia’s Consulate General in Houston between 2014 and 2017.
Moscow Court Jails Ex-Foreign Ministry Employee for Passing Classified Information to U.S. - The Moscow Times
A Moscow court on Friday sentenced a former Foreign Ministry employee who once worked at one of Russia’s consulates in the United States to 12 years in prison for passing information to U.S. intellige...
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Arseniy Konovalov was arrested in March 2024 on suspicion of providing classified information to American intelligence in exchange for money during his posting at Russia’s Consulate General in Houston between 2014 and 2017.
In 2025, signs have increasingly pointed to a slowdown in the war industry, raising questions about how long Moscow can sustain its current level of military output under sanctions and financial strain.
Did Russia’s Defense-Sector Boom Peak in 2025? - The Moscow Times
Commenting on the prospect of Russia’s war spreading beyond Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin said this month that his country was ready to take on Europe in a direct military conflict if needed.
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:50 PM
In 2025, signs have increasingly pointed to a slowdown in the war industry, raising questions about how long Moscow can sustain its current level of military output under sanctions and financial strain.
Vasilyev is among at least 11 officials and business executives implicated in related cases after Ukrainian forces captured large swaths of Kursk region territory in August 2024.
Ex-Kursk Lawmaker Jailed 5.5 Years Over Border Defense Embezzlement - The Moscow Times
A judge in the southwestern Kursk region on Friday sentenced former regional lawmaker Maxim Vasilyev to 5.5 years in prison on embezzlement charges stemming from border defense construction failures t...
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Vasilyev is among at least 11 officials and business executives implicated in related cases after Ukrainian forces captured large swaths of Kursk region territory in August 2024.
A firefighter was hospitalized with burn wounds in a separate drone attack on Friday, regional authorities said.
Ukrainian Drone Attack Kills Man in Kursk Region - The Moscow Times
Ukrainian drone strikes in the southwestern Kursk region killed one man and injured a firefighter, regional authorities said Friday afternoon.
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:29 PM
A firefighter was hospitalized with burn wounds in a separate drone attack on Friday, regional authorities said.
Zelensky wrote earlier on X that a meeting with Trump was imminent, saying that “a lot can be decided before the New Year.”
Zelensky to Meet Trump in Florida on Dec. 28 — Reports - The Moscow Times
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky will meet with U.S.
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Zelensky wrote earlier on X that a meeting with Trump was imminent, saying that “a lot can be decided before the New Year.”
The animated Putin is voiced by actor Dmitry Grachev, known for his parody of the Russian leader on the show Comedy Club.
Animated Putin Appears in Children’s Cartoon ‘Prostokvashino’ - The Moscow Times
Russian streaming platform Okko released a special New Year’s episode of the popular children’s cartoon series “Prostokvashino” on Friday featuring an animated portrayal of President Vladimir Putin.
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 11:36 AM
The animated Putin is voiced by actor Dmitry Grachev, known for his parody of the Russian leader on the show Comedy Club.
Resistance in Altai, environmental protests in Bashkortostan and the shadowy influence of an occult healer espousing reptilian conspiracy theories.
In the final Regions Calling newsletter of 2025, we wrap up the year in Russia's regions:
In the final Regions Calling newsletter of 2025, we wrap up the year in Russia's regions:
Regions Calling: 2025 Wrapped - The Moscow Times
Merry Christmas and welcome to Regions Calling, a newsletter by The Moscow Times shedding light on life beyond the Russian capital. For this final newsletter of the year, we asked our special corresp...
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Resistance in Altai, environmental protests in Bashkortostan and the shadowy influence of an occult healer espousing reptilian conspiracy theories.
In the final Regions Calling newsletter of 2025, we wrap up the year in Russia's regions:
In the final Regions Calling newsletter of 2025, we wrap up the year in Russia's regions:
The Bell suggested that Putin’s apparent affinity for online marketplaces may be influenced by his close ally Yury Kovalchuk, who is reportedly connected to several major e-commerce platforms through a series of acquisitions.
Putin Signals Support for Online Marketplaces in Dispute With Banks – The Bell - The Moscow Times
President Vladimir Putin has signaled support for online marketplaces in their dispute with major banks over discounts and loyalty programs, the exiled business news outlet The Bell reported Thursday,...
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 10:38 AM
The Bell suggested that Putin’s apparent affinity for online marketplaces may be influenced by his close ally Yury Kovalchuk, who is reportedly connected to several major e-commerce platforms through a series of acquisitions.
Udaltsov said he would appeal the ruling and announced a hunger strike after his sentence was read out.
Leftist Activist Sergei Udaltsov Jailed 6 Years for ‘Justifying Terrorism’ - The Moscow Times
A Moscow military court on Thursday sentenced leftist activist Sergei Udaltsov to six years in prison after finding him guilty of “justifying terrorism.” The verdict was handed down by Moscow’s Second...
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Udaltsov said he would appeal the ruling and announced a hunger strike after his sentence was read out.
Opinion: With today’s economic narratives beginning to closely echo those of the late 1980s, it’s hard not to start counting the years Russia’s economy has left, Tatyana Rybakova writes.
Russia's Economy in the Late 2020s Will Look a Lot Like the Late Soviet Economy - The Moscow Times
Opinion | Because of my work, I am obliged to read closely, watch attentively and listen carefully whenever Russian politicians and officials talk about the economy.
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 25, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Opinion: With today’s economic narratives beginning to closely echo those of the late 1980s, it’s hard not to start counting the years Russia’s economy has left, Tatyana Rybakova writes.
Timchenko is accused of organizing the activities of an “undesirable” organization, a status assigned to Meduza by Russia’s General Prosecutor’s Office in 2023.
Prosecutors Seek 5-Year Prison Sentence for Meduza Publisher Galina Timchenko - The Moscow Times
State prosecutors are seeking a five-year prison sentence for Galina Timchenko, the exiled founder and publisher of the Latvia-based news outlet Meduza, on charges related to the outlet’s designation ...
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 25, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Timchenko is accused of organizing the activities of an “undesirable” organization, a status assigned to Meduza by Russia’s General Prosecutor’s Office in 2023.
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow had made a “proposal” about the French national and that “the ball is now in France’s court.”
French and Russian Officials in Talks About Jailed Researcher Vinatier, Kremlin Confirms - The Moscow Times
The Kremlin said Thursday that it had made a “proposal” to France regarding Laurent Vinatier, a French researcher jailed in Russia and facing espionage charges that could carry a sentence of up to 20 ...
www.themoscowtimes.com
December 25, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow had made a “proposal” about the French national and that “the ball is now in France’s court.”