Background

NEWS

singleNews

russia’s Construction Market Is Rapidly Approaching Crisis

The reasons include expensive loans, staff shortages, unstable material prices, and the collapse of the mortgage market. To survive, developers are cutting back on contractors and reducing personnel costs. Investment in real estate in 2026 may fall by another 30%.
2/22/2026
singleNews

“kamaz” Celebrating a Jubilee on the Brink of Collapse

At the end of 2025, “kamaz”’s net loss exceeded 37 billion rubles, which is 11 times more than a year earlier, when the loss was only 3.8 billion rubles. Gross profit plummeted almost 32 times, from 24.2 billion to paltry 757 million rubles, while sales profit turned into a loss of 22.9 billion rubles.
2/22/2026
singleNews

Conscripts Instead of Firefighters and One District Police Officer Instead of Four: the War Has Devastated russia’s Labor Market

russia is experiencing a rapidly worsening personnel crisis, which has already affected law enforcement agencies, public utilities, and the civilian economy. Against the background of the war against Ukraine, the shortage of workers has become systemic, from firefighters and police officers to janitors and industrial workers.
2/22/2026
singleNews

We Continue Working Every Day Specifically So That the Next Round of Negotiations Can Deliver Results for Ukraine, for Peace – Address by the President

Many around the world support us, and often it is Ukrainian proposals that form the basis of partners’ sanctions. We very much count, in particular, that the next sanctions package of the European Union takes into account what is needed for real pressure on Russia over this war – for truly restricting Russia’s ability to wage it.
2/22/2026
singleNews

belarus’ Budget for 2026: Spending Growth Amid Industrial Collapse

The ministry of finance of belarus has published the parameters of the consolidated budget for 2026. Revenues will grow by 17% to 92.08 billion rubles, expenditures – by 15.8% to 97.19 billion. A deficit is expected.
2/21/2026
singleNews

moscow Uses Education and Employment to Draw Africans into the War Against Ukraine

russia is increasing its influence in African countries by combining humanitarian initiatives with covert military recruitment.
2/21/2026
singleNews

Private Delivery Services to Be Squeezed out in russia for the Sake of “russia’s post”

russia is preparing legislative changes that will hit private delivery services and marketplaces hard.
2/21/2026
singleNews

Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

Western partners will allocate more than EUR 600 million to support Ukraine’s energy sector.
2/21/2026
singleNews

Generous Cashback Offers Will End in russia in 2026

A significant change in trend has been observed in the russian market for bank loyalty programs: after several years of significant growth in the volume of payments to customers in the form of cashback and other incentives, credit organizations are forecasting a significant reduction in these expenses in 2026. This is due to the deterioration of the economic situation in russia against the background of the ongoing full-scale war against Ukraine.
2/20/2026
singleNews

Oil Bankruptcies, Debt Crisis, and Hidden Nationalization: How russia’s Economy Is Collapsing from Within

russian state bank VTB is initiating bankruptcy proceedings against the “First Oil” oil group, whose debt to the bank amounts to $78.3 million. The group produces up to 500,000 tons of oil per year in the komi and khanty-mansi autonomous district and has proven reserves of about 14 million tons. Now all these assets will come under the control of state structures.
2/20/2026
singleNews

As Long As the War Continues, Nothing Good Will Happen in russia’s Economy

russia’s economy entered the year 2026 with extremely negative indicators, and the record regional budget deficit of 1.538 trillion rubles was only the most noticeable symptom. According to the ministry of finance of the rf, the gap between regional revenues and expenditures increased fivefold compared to the previous year.
2/20/2026
singleNews

Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

The government of Sweden has approved the allocation of 21st military aid package to Ukraine worth SEK 12.9 billion (EUR 1.2 billion). Approximately EUR 400 million will be allocated for the purchase and transfer of Tridon Mk 2 air defense systems, EUR 524 million will go to Ukrainian production of long-range missiles and drones, and the rest – over EUR 280 million – will be used to purchase artillery shells, grenade launchers, spare parts, and to train Ukrainian military personnel.
2/20/2026
singleNews

We Must Use the Full Real Experience of Our Ukrainian Communities to Make Nationwide Decisions More Effective – Address by the President

Today, all members of our negotiating team will already be in Ukraine, and I have scheduled a special meeting with them for tomorrow regarding our next steps and decisions.
2/19/2026
singleNews

With Each Coming Year, Fewer and Fewer People Are Eager to Return to russia, the “motherland”

In 2025, the state program for the voluntary return of foreign compatriots to russia for permanent residence, which was a priority according to russian officials, set another anti-record: only 27,600 people moved back.
2/19/2026
singleNews

russia Has Become a Market for Counterfeit Goods: Sanctions and the Departure of Brands Made the Quality of the Consumer Market Fall

Not a single genuine pair. This was the conclusion drawn by experts from the bureau of expertise and evaluation after inspecting 1,300 pairs of Nike and Adidas shoes in brand stores in shopping centers in moscow, st. petersburg, kaliningrad, and chelyabinsk. 100% of the goods checked turned out to be counterfeit, with poor-quality materials, stitching, and fake markings.
2/19/2026
singleNews

The Lifeblood of russia’s Economy Is on the Verge of Collapse

The most significant downsizing was carried out by sberbank of russia, which closed more than 900 branches, twice as many as in 2024. These branches often remained key infrastructure hubs for the provinces, so their closure exacerbates the degradation of the local economy and access to financial services.
2/19/2026
singleNews

Ukraine and the World – Against russia’s Aggression. Sanctions in Action

The economic slowdown, falling profits, and high key rate of the central bank of russia have plunged the russian debt market into a crisis of non-payments. In January 2026, russian companies failed to meet their debt securities obligations 51 times, including coupons, redemptions, offers, and covenants.
2/19/2026
singleNews

It Is the Courage of Our Warriors That Ensures the Humanitarian Results and, Overall, Our Diplomatic Capacity, Our Strong Diplomatic Positions – Address by the President

As of today, we cannot say that the outcome is sufficient. The military representatives discussed certain issues seriously and substantively. However, sensitive political matters, issues of possible compromises, and the necessary meeting of leaders have not yet been sufficiently worked through.
2/19/2026
singleNews

Passports As Leverage: the kremlin Signals that Support for Occupied Regions Depends on the Obedience of Elites

moscow uses passportization as a flexible tool of political pressure on the temporarily occupied regions of Georgia, demonstrating that administrative preferences directly depend on the obedience of local elites.
2/18/2026
singleNews

Tightening Control over Mobile Communications, russia Has Introduced “Children’s” Numbers and SIM Card Linking to IMEI

These measures, developed by the ministry of digital development, effectively turn ordinary SIM cards into a tool for total surveillance, restricting citizens’ freedom to use gadgets and transfer data. Such innovations will not only complicate the daily lives of russians, they will open the door to abuse of power, adding to the atmosphere of mistrust and control in the country.
2/18/2026