IStories Media
@istories.bsky.social
Independent newsroom focused on Russia.
Investigating Russian war crimes in Ukraine, corruption, and life in the country.
Support our journalism: https://istories.media/en/donations/?utm_source=blsk
Investigating Russian war crimes in Ukraine, corruption, and life in the country.
Support our journalism: https://istories.media/en/donations/?utm_source=blsk
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IStories Media
@istories.bsky.social
· Aug 5
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Hi! We are IStories, an independent newsroom covering Russia, for the past 3,5 years – from exile.
We’ve specialized in investigations about corruption and data-driven stories about Russia. Now we investigate Russian war crimes as well.
istories.media/en/donations...
We’ve specialized in investigations about corruption and data-driven stories about Russia. Now we investigate Russian war crimes as well.
istories.media/en/donations...
Companies in Russia and the UAE are involved in secretive exports of oil products to North Korea — in violation of U.N. sanctions that Moscow itself supported.
New from @istories.bsky.social, @occrp.org and @osc-london.bsky.social
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New from @istories.bsky.social, @occrp.org and @osc-london.bsky.social
istories.media/en/stories/2...
Leaked Russian Records Reveal Obscure Firms Helping Bust North Korean Oil Sanctions
Companies in Russia and the United Arab Emirates are involved in secretive exports of oil products to North Korea — in violation of U.N. sanctions that Moscow itself supported.
istories.media
November 20, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Companies in Russia and the UAE are involved in secretive exports of oil products to North Korea — in violation of U.N. sanctions that Moscow itself supported.
New from @istories.bsky.social, @occrp.org and @osc-london.bsky.social
istories.media/en/stories/2...
New from @istories.bsky.social, @occrp.org and @osc-london.bsky.social
istories.media/en/stories/2...
Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov proposed to Vladimir Putin to approve the immediate start of preparations for full-scale nuclear tests on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in response to possible U.S. tests.
Putin has given his approval.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
Putin has given his approval.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
November 5, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov proposed to Vladimir Putin to approve the immediate start of preparations for full-scale nuclear tests on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago in response to possible U.S. tests.
Putin has given his approval.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
Putin has given his approval.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
According to the figures Russia provided to the UN, almost a thousand women were killed in acts of domestic violence in Russia last year.
This represents 47% of all women intentionally murdered in Russia, which is the highest ratio in the last 15 years.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
This represents 47% of all women intentionally murdered in Russia, which is the highest ratio in the last 15 years.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
October 31, 2025 at 4:38 PM
According to the figures Russia provided to the UN, almost a thousand women were killed in acts of domestic violence in Russia last year.
This represents 47% of all women intentionally murdered in Russia, which is the highest ratio in the last 15 years.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
This represents 47% of all women intentionally murdered in Russia, which is the highest ratio in the last 15 years.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
Russian cadets at military universities and academies are being deprived of the right to resign, as one of them told IStories. At the same time, their military contracts are now permanent under Putin’s 2022 mobilization decree.
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October 29, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Russian cadets at military universities and academies are being deprived of the right to resign, as one of them told IStories. At the same time, their military contracts are now permanent under Putin’s 2022 mobilization decree.
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IStories Media editor-in-chief Alesia Marokhovskaia was sentenced in absentia to 10 months of corrective labor.
She was convicted of evading “foreign agent” reporting obligations.
She was convicted of evading “foreign agent” reporting obligations.
October 27, 2025 at 4:35 PM
IStories Media editor-in-chief Alesia Marokhovskaia was sentenced in absentia to 10 months of corrective labor.
She was convicted of evading “foreign agent” reporting obligations.
She was convicted of evading “foreign agent” reporting obligations.
In Russia, the number of those sentenced for “treason” and “espionage” doubled, and 350 people avoided criminal punishment by taking part in the war.
IStories data department reports on the Russian court rulings data from the first half of 2025 🔽
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IStories data department reports on the Russian court rulings data from the first half of 2025 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
October 22, 2025 at 8:00 PM
In Russia, the number of those sentenced for “treason” and “espionage” doubled, and 350 people avoided criminal punishment by taking part in the war.
IStories data department reports on the Russian court rulings data from the first half of 2025 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
IStories data department reports on the Russian court rulings data from the first half of 2025 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
There are deserters who flee the war right from the frontlines. Some of them, like Russian army corporal Pavlov, manage to do so twice. He told us his story 🔽
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October 16, 2025 at 4:25 PM
There are deserters who flee the war right from the frontlines. Some of them, like Russian army corporal Pavlov, manage to do so twice. He told us his story 🔽
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in the occupied territories of Ukraine, people are kidnapped and tried as “spies” and “traitors” — with new sentences imposed every 3 days. Teenagers, pensioners, and entire families have fallen victim to the repression.
Here is what we have learned 🔽
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Here is what we have learned 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
October 14, 2025 at 9:41 AM
in the occupied territories of Ukraine, people are kidnapped and tried as “spies” and “traitors” — with new sentences imposed every 3 days. Teenagers, pensioners, and entire families have fallen victim to the repression.
Here is what we have learned 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
Here is what we have learned 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
Behind every investigation is not only data and proof, but also journalists.
Polina Uzhvak, one of the team members working on the data-driven investigation about mobilization in Russia, hosted #AskMeAnything on Reddit.
Here are a few highlights from the conversation.
Polina Uzhvak, one of the team members working on the data-driven investigation about mobilization in Russia, hosted #AskMeAnything on Reddit.
Here are a few highlights from the conversation.
October 8, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Behind every investigation is not only data and proof, but also journalists.
Polina Uzhvak, one of the team members working on the data-driven investigation about mobilization in Russia, hosted #AskMeAnything on Reddit.
Here are a few highlights from the conversation.
Polina Uzhvak, one of the team members working on the data-driven investigation about mobilization in Russia, hosted #AskMeAnything on Reddit.
Here are a few highlights from the conversation.
Putin’s wartime economy has reached its limit (this time for real). This is what we learned from 2026 draft federal budget data 🔽
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October 3, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Putin’s wartime economy has reached its limit (this time for real). This is what we learned from 2026 draft federal budget data 🔽
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istories.media/en/stories/2...
How Spanish wine exports to Russia are linked to chemical smuggling and Russian intelligence services — a new investigation by OCCRP, IStories, and partners 🔽
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Tapas and Toxins
An investigation by IStories, OCCRP, All Eyes On Wagner, Slidstvo.Info, and Belarusian Investigative Center
istories.media
September 30, 2025 at 8:39 AM
How Spanish wine exports to Russia are linked to chemical smuggling and Russian intelligence services — a new investigation by OCCRP, IStories, and partners 🔽
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istories.media/en/stories/2...
Sanctioned Russian Sovcombank co-owner Sergey Khotimsky and his now ex-wife owned real estate in the United States worth about $60 million, and it evaded sanctions — read about it in our investigation with The Post and Courier and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 🔽
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Sovcombank Co-owner Sergey Khotimsky Invested Millions of Dollars in U.S. Real Estate, and It Evaded Sanctions
An investigation by The Post and Courier, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and IStories
istories.media
September 28, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Sanctioned Russian Sovcombank co-owner Sergey Khotimsky and his now ex-wife owned real estate in the United States worth about $60 million, and it evaded sanctions — read about it in our investigation with The Post and Courier and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
istories.media/en/stories/2...
Three years of mobilization: what one region — and the whole Russia — has endured.
We analyzed the full list of those mobilized from Tomsk Oblast and found that one in four was killed, went missing, or was wounded, and at least 11% were killed 🔽
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We analyzed the full list of those mobilized from Tomsk Oblast and found that one in four was killed, went missing, or was wounded, and at least 11% were killed 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
September 19, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Three years of mobilization: what one region — and the whole Russia — has endured.
We analyzed the full list of those mobilized from Tomsk Oblast and found that one in four was killed, went missing, or was wounded, and at least 11% were killed 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
We analyzed the full list of those mobilized from Tomsk Oblast and found that one in four was killed, went missing, or was wounded, and at least 11% were killed 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
The Russian Armed Forces have once again carried out an operation inside a gas pipeline. Why take such risks for an unclear outcome? IStories asked military experts about it 🔽
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Russian Troops Once Again Used an Underground Pipe. Is This Tactic Really Effective?
Passages through pipes have little impact on the course of combat operations, according to military experts
istories.media
September 18, 2025 at 1:18 PM
The Russian Armed Forces have once again carried out an operation inside a gas pipeline. Why take such risks for an unclear outcome? IStories asked military experts about it 🔽
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istories.media/en/stories/2...
“We are investing in Spain.” Here are the details of the interrogation of Dmitry Artyakov, son of state corporation Rostec’s first deputy, who in the fourth year of the “war with the West” was detained at a villa in Spain in a money laundering case 🔽
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“My Father is a Highly Respected Person”
On the fourth year of Russian “war against the West” the son of the first deputy director of Rostec state corporation was detained in his villa in Spain in a money laundering probe. IStories got the v...
istories.media
September 17, 2025 at 7:05 PM
“We are investing in Spain.” Here are the details of the interrogation of Dmitry Artyakov, son of state corporation Rostec’s first deputy, who in the fourth year of the “war with the West” was detained at a villa in Spain in a money laundering case 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
istories.media/en/stories/2...
Russia continues to increase spending on programs for foreign influencers, IStories found out. Rossotrudnichestvo, which promotes Kremlin interests abroad and is considered a front for the FSB and SVR, has spent a record sum on this in 2025 🔽
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September 16, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Russia continues to increase spending on programs for foreign influencers, IStories found out. Rossotrudnichestvo, which promotes Kremlin interests abroad and is considered a front for the FSB and SVR, has spent a record sum on this in 2025 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
istories.media/en/stories/2...
For the first time in Russia, a foreign travel ban was enforced due to the military register — at Moscow’s airport, a man was barred from going on vacation just days after receiving a draft notice.
The draft notice register was launched in August 2025.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
The draft notice register was launched in August 2025.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
Russia Implements First Travel Ban Due to Military Register
A man was barred from going on vacation just days after receiving a draft notice
istories.media
September 12, 2025 at 12:56 PM
For the first time in Russia, a foreign travel ban was enforced due to the military register — at Moscow’s airport, a man was barred from going on vacation just days after receiving a draft notice.
The draft notice register was launched in August 2025.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
The draft notice register was launched in August 2025.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
Ivan Tkachev, head of FSB’s Directorate K, has been appointed the new chief of military counterintelligence, @istories_eng found out. In wartime, this position is considered doomed.
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istories.media/en/news/2025...
September 11, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Ivan Tkachev, head of FSB’s Directorate K, has been appointed the new chief of military counterintelligence, @istories_eng found out. In wartime, this position is considered doomed.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
istories.media/en/news/2025...
Kursk Oblast faces a gubernatorial election. The previous governor is under arrest, his predecessor shot himself, and acting governor Aleksandr Khinshtein has no real achievements — just a “pretty picture.” Here’s how he runs the region and why he was sent there 🔽
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“If You Can Handle It — You Can Handle It, If Not — We’ll Bury You.” How Alexander Khinshtein is Calming Kursk Oblast
Kursk Oblast will soon hold another gubernatorial election, the second in just over a year — the previous governor, Alexey Smirnov, was arrested on suspicion of fraud. Khinshtein has no real competito...
istories.media
September 10, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Kursk Oblast faces a gubernatorial election. The previous governor is under arrest, his predecessor shot himself, and acting governor Aleksandr Khinshtein has no real achievements — just a “pretty picture.” Here’s how he runs the region and why he was sent there 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
istories.media/en/stories/2...
The Russian army is losing way less equipment now. What’s the reason?
There is little equipment left, and it is too vulnerable. Russian army may be stockpiling it for a major offensive, experts say 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
There is little equipment left, and it is too vulnerable. Russian army may be stockpiling it for a major offensive, experts say 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
September 9, 2025 at 2:12 PM
The Russian army is losing way less equipment now. What’s the reason?
There is little equipment left, and it is too vulnerable. Russian army may be stockpiling it for a major offensive, experts say 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
There is little equipment left, and it is too vulnerable. Russian army may be stockpiling it for a major offensive, experts say 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
We’ve found dozens of job postings for people with HIV and hepatitis, offering them contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense — previously, there was no known targeted recruitment of those. Moreover, the current order prohibits this altogether.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
istories.media/en/news/2025...
“A Hero Without Limits”
IStories has found dozens of job postings for people with HIV and hepatitis, offering them official contracts with the Ministry of Defense
istories.media
September 5, 2025 at 3:57 PM
We’ve found dozens of job postings for people with HIV and hepatitis, offering them contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense — previously, there was no known targeted recruitment of those. Moreover, the current order prohibits this altogether.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
istories.media/en/news/2025...
Reposted by IStories Media
Putin's Russia cannot attract new contract soldiers in the same numbers as before.
istories.media/news/2025/08...
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August 25, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Putin's Russia cannot attract new contract soldiers in the same numbers as before.
istories.media/news/2025/08...
istories.media/news/2025/08...
On September 1, many new laws and regulations will come into force in Russia, potentially affecting everyone’s life. IStories has compiled the main changes 🔽
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Patriotic Talks in Kindergartens, National Messenger on Every Phone, Paramedics Instead of Doctors
How life in Russia will change from September 2025
istories.media
August 28, 2025 at 3:10 PM
On September 1, many new laws and regulations will come into force in Russia, potentially affecting everyone’s life. IStories has compiled the main changes 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
istories.media/en/stories/2...
In Moscow and Moscow Oblast, migrants will be required to install an app transmitting their geolocation to the Russian Interior Ministry starting September 1.
As IStories has discovered, users complain that the app does not work 🔽
istories.media/en/news/2025...
As IStories has discovered, users complain that the app does not work 🔽
istories.media/en/news/2025...
In Moscow and Moscow Oblast, Migrants Will Be Required to Install an App Transmitting Their Geolocation to the Interior Ministry Starting September 1
As IStories has discovered, users complain that the app does not work
istories.media
August 27, 2025 at 2:41 PM
In Moscow and Moscow Oblast, migrants will be required to install an app transmitting their geolocation to the Russian Interior Ministry starting September 1.
As IStories has discovered, users complain that the app does not work 🔽
istories.media/en/news/2025...
As IStories has discovered, users complain that the app does not work 🔽
istories.media/en/news/2025...
Reposted by IStories Media
💥💰Important add-on to the Hungary–Ukraine spat over Russian oil and the Druzhba pipeline. "A secretive oil trader that supplies Russian crude to Central Europe is linked to Kremlin insiders and allies of Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, according to an investigation by @istories.bsky.social." @occrp.org
Shadowy Oil Trader With Kremlin, Orbán Ties Supplied Billions in Russian Crude to Europe
A secretive oil trader that supplies Russian crude to Central Europe is linked to Kremlin insiders and allies of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, according to an investigation by iStories
www.occrp.org
August 24, 2025 at 7:03 PM
💥💰Important add-on to the Hungary–Ukraine spat over Russian oil and the Druzhba pipeline. "A secretive oil trader that supplies Russian crude to Central Europe is linked to Kremlin insiders and allies of Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán, according to an investigation by @istories.bsky.social." @occrp.org