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
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.
istories.media/en/stories/2...
istories.media/en/stories/2...
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.
istories.media/en/stories/2...
istories.media/en/stories/2...
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 🔽
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...
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 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
istories.media/en/stories/2...
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 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
istories.media/en/stories/2...
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...
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...
For the full AMA thread, go here
www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comme...
www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comme...
October 8, 2025 at 9:12 AM
For the full AMA thread, go here
www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comme...
www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comme...
While working on the story, we found a mobilized martial-arts instructor’s public diary — an illuminating record of one person’s shift from pacifism to support for the war.
istories.media/en/stories/2...
istories.media/en/stories/2...
October 8, 2025 at 9:10 AM
While working on the story, we found a mobilized martial-arts instructor’s public diary — an illuminating record of one person’s shift from pacifism to support for the war.
istories.media/en/stories/2...
istories.media/en/stories/2...
One in four mobilized soldiers died in the war during the first year
October 8, 2025 at 9:01 AM
One in four mobilized soldiers died in the war during the first year
The AMA was about our recent investigation of the outcomes of 3 years of Russian mobilization.
Here is the story itself:
istories.media/en/stories/2...
And here is the Charon Project Polina mentioned
istories.media/charon/?utm_...
Here is the story itself:
istories.media/en/stories/2...
And here is the Charon Project Polina mentioned
istories.media/charon/?utm_...
October 8, 2025 at 8:59 AM
The AMA was about our recent investigation of the outcomes of 3 years of Russian mobilization.
Here is the story itself:
istories.media/en/stories/2...
And here is the Charon Project Polina mentioned
istories.media/charon/?utm_...
Here is the story itself:
istories.media/en/stories/2...
And here is the Charon Project Polina mentioned
istories.media/charon/?utm_...
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 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
istories.media/en/stories/2...
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 🔽
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 🔽
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
💃 How the owner of a modeling agency joined the board of directors of VSMPO-Avisma — Russia’s largest titanium producer and a key supplier to the defense industry. An investigation by IStories 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
istories.media/en/stories/2...
August 20, 2025 at 11:25 AM
💃 How the owner of a modeling agency joined the board of directors of VSMPO-Avisma — Russia’s largest titanium producer and a key supplier to the defense industry. An investigation by IStories 🔽
istories.media/en/stories/2...
istories.media/en/stories/2...
In the second quarter of 2025, 37,900 Russians signed contracts with the Defense Ministry, which is 2.5 times fewer than a year ago, IStories calculated. The pace of contract recruitment has fallen to its lowest in two years.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
istories.media/en/news/2025...
August 18, 2025 at 1:57 PM
In the second quarter of 2025, 37,900 Russians signed contracts with the Defense Ministry, which is 2.5 times fewer than a year ago, IStories calculated. The pace of contract recruitment has fallen to its lowest in two years.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
istories.media/en/news/2025...
Putin ‘awarded’ CIA Deputy Director Gloss, Whose Son Michael Fought for Russia Against Ukraine, with Order of Lenin.
The Order is the highest state award of the USSR, and previously, it was given to foreigners who worked for the USSR intelligence.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
The Order is the highest state award of the USSR, and previously, it was given to foreigners who worked for the USSR intelligence.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
August 9, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Putin ‘awarded’ CIA Deputy Director Gloss, Whose Son Michael Fought for Russia Against Ukraine, with Order of Lenin.
The Order is the highest state award of the USSR, and previously, it was given to foreigners who worked for the USSR intelligence.
istories.media/en/news/2025...
The Order is the highest state award of the USSR, and previously, it was given to foreigners who worked for the USSR intelligence.
istories.media/en/news/2025...