In a stark indicator of Russia’s economic woes, Russian Railways (RZD) — the country’s largest employer with over 800,000 staff — has reported a net loss of ₽4.207 billion ($52.6 million) under Russian Accounting Standards (RAS) for January to September 2025. This marks a dramatic reversal from the ₽44.7 billion ($558.8 million) profit recorded in the same period last year.
A Russian Navy submarine suffering serious technical failures has surfaced off the coast of Brittany, France, prompting NATO surveillance and deepening embarrassment for Moscow’s deteriorating naval forces. The diesel-electric submarine Novorossiysk (B-261), part of the Black Sea Fleet, was forced to surface after a critical malfunction in its fuel system while on duty in the Mediterranean.
Desperate Russian Submarine in Need of Rescue off Coast of Europe Read Post »
In a rare act of defiance, hundreds of young Russians gathered along St. Petersburg’s Nevsky Prospect this week to sing a banned protest anthem by Noize MC, the exiled rapper whose music has become the voice of the small segment of Russian society that opposes the invasion of Ukraine. The crowd performed “Кооператив ‘Лебединое озеро’” (Cooperative “Swan Lake”) — a song so critical of President Vladimir Putin that a St.
Russian Police Make Arrests As St Petersburg Residents Gather To Chant Anti-Putin Songs Read Post »
Across northern Rostov region, fuel scarcity has brought daily life to a standstill. Residents of Bokovsky and Sovetsky districts say they have been struggling for weeks to find gasoline, with many unable to reach work or hospitals. According to 161.ru, the crisis began in late August when local filling stations stopped receiving regular shipments. In Bokovsky district — home to only two fuel stations —
Fuel Collapse Paralyzes Rostov’s Northern Districts Read Post »
For decades, Russia’s oil sector thrived on a simple advantage: cheap, abundant reserves that could be extracted at some of the lowest costs in the world. That era is over. New admissions from Moscow’s own energy officials confirm what analysts have long suspected: the majority of Russia’s oil is now either geologically difficult or economically unprofitable to extract.
Vladimir Putin has elevated members of his extended family to senior government posts, underscoring his reliance on personal loyalty as Russia’s war in Ukraine drags into its fourth year and sanctions tighten around the economy. Anna Tsivileva, the daughter of Putin’s cousin, was appointed deputy defense minister in June 2024 and promoted weeks later to the additional post of ministry state secretary —
Putin’s paranoia Escalates, placing family member in top Defense Position Read Post »
Russia unleashed one of its heaviest air assaults in weeks overnight on Sept. 20, firing more than 600 missiles and drones across Ukraine — even as Kyiv’s strikes on Russian oil infrastructure push the Kremlin’s war economy toward crisis. Ukraine’s Air Force said Moscow launched 579 drones, eight ballistic missiles, and 32 cruise missiles during the assault. Air defenses intercepted 552 drones, two ballistic missiles, and 29 cruise missiles, limiting the destruction but not preventing tragedy.
Russia Escalates Missile and Drone Barrages as Ukraine Further Cripples Its Oil Industry Read Post »
Ukraine’s deep-strike campaign against Russian oil infrastructure has shifted from symbolic raids to a systematic dismantling of one of the Kremlin’s most important industries. In just the past 45 days, Ukrainian drones have struck 12 refineries, pushing nearly a quarter of Russia’s total refining capacity offline. The scale and tempo suggest that Russia’s fuel production is not facing a slow erosion, but a rapid breakdown.
At Current Rate, Russia’s Entire Oil Refining Industry Faces Collapse Within a Year Read Post »
