Rappler's latest stories on Russia
Russia unveils $72-billion virus recovery plan
Aimed at boosting employment, incomes, and economic growth, the Russian government's plan 'contains over 500 measures'
Latin America virus cases top 1 million as UK, Russia ease lockdowns
(UPDATED) Governments around the world are moving to ease restrictions that have wrecked their economies, even as the number of cases tops 6.1 million and virus deaths exceed 371,000
Putin sets July 1 for reform vote as Moscow lockdown eases
(UPDATED) Critics have warned authorities may be moving too quickly to open up, but President Vladimir Putin says it is time to plan again for the vote that was delayed from April
Russian small businesses reopen to uncertain future
A study shows about a third of Russian companies risk bankruptcy following a collapse in demand fueled by the coronavirus pandemic
Russia reports record toll of new virus deaths
Health officials report a total of 4,374 deaths and 387,623 cases as of May 29, the third-highest number of infections in the world after the United States and Brazil
Russia in talks with world leaders to attend June WWII parade
'This will be coordinated with each country individually,' says Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov
Russia virus peak 'passed,' Putin orders WWII parade in June
'According to experts, the peak can be considered passed,' says Russian President Vladimir Putin
Russia sent jets to Libya to back mercenaries, says U.S.
The Kremlin has always denied involvement in the conflict
4 dead as Russian helicopter crashes at airport
The helicopter of the Russian defense ministry goes down in the main airport in Chukotka near Anadyr, which has mixed military and civilian use
Russian prosecutors seek 18 years for ex-U.S. marine in spy trial
Paul Whelan reacted calmly to the prosecutor's 'very harsh' demand, says lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov
Lies and disinformation cover up environmental assault on the Baltic Sea
Pollution linked to animal farming in northwestern Russia contaminates rivers and kills large areas of seabed
Russia expecting sharp rise in May deaths due to virus
The expected rise in deaths comes after officials say that the coronavirus situation is gradually becoming less acute
Russia reports record number of new virus deaths
Health officials report a total of 3,249 deaths and 326,448 cases, the second-highest number of coronavirus infections in the world after the United States
Trump to withdraw U.S. from 'Open Skies' treaty
Donald Trump says Moscow did not stick to its commitments under the 18-year-old Open Skies Treaty, which is designed to improve military transparency and confidence between the superpowers
Russian economy seen to shrink 9.5% in Q2 2020
After sluggish growth in the 1st quarter of 2020, Russia expects its 2nd quarter gross domestic product to plummet as coronavirus restrictions bite
Russia Q1 2020 economic growth slows to 1.6%
This is lower than the Russian economy ministry's forecast of 1.8%. But the 2nd quarter figure is expected to be much worse as the full impact of the coronavirus lockdown is felt.
Russian PM recovers from virus as infection rates slow
(UPDATED Russian President Vladimir Putin signs a decree reinstating Mikhail Mishustin as the head of government, nearly 3 weeks after the prime minister announced on television he had tested positive for coronavirus
Russia says growth of new coronavirus cases stopped
Russia reports under 9,000 new coronavirus infections for the first time since the beginning of May
Russia records highest coronavirus death toll yet
Critics cast doubt on Russia's low mortality rate, accusing authorities of under-reporting deaths in order to play down the scale of the crisis
Moscow says no proof Russian hackers spied on Merkel
'Five years have passed. Not a single concrete fact has been provided,' says Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
Russia registers more than 10,000 new coronavirus cases
Russia says its high number of cases is due in part to a massive testing campaign with more than 6 million tests carried out. Critics, however, cast doubt on the figures, accusing authorities of under-counting.
Russia offers virus-hit airlines $316-million subsidy
The Russian government says airlines can use the emergency funds for salaries and the cost of leasing planes, among others
100-year-old Russian beats coronavirus
In the country's first reported case of a survivor that old, the woman, Pelageya Poyarkova, is discharged on her 100th birthday
Russia halts use of ventilators tied to deadly hospital fires
Russia's deputy prime minister overseeing healthcare, Tatiana Golikova, says investigators are looking into the circumstances of the fires
Merkel cites 'hard evidence' Russian hackers targeted her
'I can honestly say that it pains me. Every day I try to build a better relationship with Russia and on the other hand there is such hard evidence that Russian forces are doing this,' says German Chancellor Angela Merkel
U.S. judge stalls effort to drop case against ex-Trump aide Flynn
'The parallels and the contrasts between the Watergate affair and the present situation now before this Court are striking,' says a group dubbing itself the 'Watergate Prosecutors'
Russia, China boycott U.N. Security Council meeting on Syria
'Regrettably, our Western partners, and their allies, insisted on holding this meeting behind closed doors in an informal setting despite the slogans of openness and transparency of the Security Council,' says Russia's UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia
Russia moves to ease lockdown despite surge in virus cases
Daily figures released by health authorities show Russia reaching 232,243 confirmed infections, behind only the United States which has reported more than 1.3 million
Putin spokesman says he has coronavirus
Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov is the fourth senior government official to have fallen ill from the coronavirus
Car sales in Russia plummet 72% in April 2020
Car sales total just 38,922 units across Russia in April 2020, posting the biggest monthly drop since the Association of European Businesses started tracking in 2008
5 die in fire at Russian coronavirus hospital
A source in Russia's emergencies ministry says 5 patients had died and 150 had been evacuated after a fire broke out in the early morning on the sixth floor of Saint George hospital
Putin lifts Russia's stay-at-home orders as cases soar
Despite virus figures that suggest the pandemic in Russia shows no sign of slowing, President Vladimir Putin announces that the country's 'non-working' period to slow the pandemic will end on Tuesday, May 12
9 die in care home fire outside Moscow
(UPDATED) Investigators say the victims whose burnt bodies were recovered were aged between 66 and 90.
Obama calls Trump's handling of pandemic a 'chaotic disaster'
In a leaked web call, former US president Barack Obama also hits the dropping of charges against Michael Flynn then rallies support behind Democratic party presidential bet Joe Biden
New Russia virus cases top 10,000 for 6th day
A government tally shows 10,669 new cases over the last 24 hours, fewer than Thursday's record of 11,231 and bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 187,859
U.S. Justice Department drops case against ex-Trump aide Flynn
In a nearly unheard-of reversal, the department says that Flynn's December 2017 guilty plea was moot because the lies were insignificant
Russia reports more than 10,000 new virus cases
The number of new cases in Russia is significantly higher compared to other European countries, with the United Kingdom in second place
Coronavirus cases in Russia soar past 145,000
Russia is emerging as a new hotspot for the coronavirus as many countries in western Europe begin steps to ease lockdown measures
Russian PM has coronavirus as cases surge past 100,000
'I hope that you stay able to work,' Putin tells Mishustin, who is the highest Russian official to become infected
Coronavirus cases in Russia surge past 100,000
Russia records 106,498 cases and 1,073 deaths from the virus, the Russian government's coronavirus information site says in a daily update
Oil producers keep pumping despite price crash
Storage for excess crude is running out, but 'producers remain reluctant to cut production in the short term as there are costs and consequences'
Russia suspends grain exports until July 1
The Russian agriculture ministry says it already 'fully exhausted' export quotas for certain grains, prompting the suspension
Russian virus cases top 32,000, Putin warns of 'very high' risks
Moscow, Europe's largest city with some 12 million inhabitants, has been under lockdown since the end of March, but officials have complained that many residents are flouting confinement rules
Putin, Xi slam attempts to blame China for late coronavirus response
Xinhua reports that Putin had called 'attempts by some people to smear China' over the virus 'unacceptable'
Russia, U.S. should help each other during pandemic – Kremlin
Since late March, Trump and Putin have had a flurry of contacts, with the US leader saying that they 'get along very well,' even though bilateral relations have been at their lowest point since the Cold War
Saudi says total oil curbs could reach 19.5 million barrels
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies are cutting output to arrest the slump in oil prices
Russia's small businesses buckling under virus restrictions
For Russians whose purchasing power has already been hit over recent years, the economic situation looks set to become even more precarious
Putin warns Russia to prepare for 'extraordinary' virus crisis
In a video conference with officials on Monday, Putin says the next weeks would be 'decisive' for Russia's fight against the virus as the situation 'is changing practically every day, and unfortunately not for the better'
Moscow launches digital travel permits under lockdown
The permit system, which will be operational from April 15, may be expanded to monitor people going out even within their local neighborhood, if needed, authorities said
Top oil producers agree on 'historic' cuts due to coronavirus crisis
(UPDATED) In a compromise, major oil-producing countries agree to slash output by 9.7 million barrels per day starting May 1, down slightly from 10 million barrels per day envisioned earlier
