Rappler's latest stories on russia
Russia battles wildfires amid record warm weather
Russia's Aerial Forest Protection Service says firefighters are using explosives to contain the fires, and cloud seeding with silver iodide to encourage rain
Netherlands takes Russia to European court over MH17 downing
The Dutch government's move is designed to support cases brought by the relatives of dozens of victims to the European Court of Human Rights
Russia charges governor over murders, sparking party fury
More than 30,000 people sign a petition supporting him after his arrest
Russia tells U.S. to 'mind own business' over media freedom
The spokeswoman for the US embassy in Moscow tweets: 'Watching arrest after arrest of Russian journalists – it's starting to look like a concerted campaign against #MediaFreedom'
Russia detains ex-defense reporter for treason
'The case against Ivan Safronov is an absolutely new level of repression against journalism in the country,' says security analyst Andrei Soldatov
Russia will impose counter-sanctions on UK – Kremlin
'We can only regret such unfriendly measures,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says after London blacklisted Russian officials for their alleged involvement in the death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky
Russians, Saudis top UK 'independent' sanctions list for rights violators
'These sanctions are a forensic tool, they allow us to target perpetrators without punishing the wider people of a country that may be affected,' says Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab
Russian journalist avoids jail but given huge fine in 'terror' case
'The biggest success is that I was not forbidden from working in my profession,' the journalist tells the crowd, sporting a T-shirt that says 'We will not shut up'
Russia announces virus deaths exceed 10,000
The country's death toll is much lower than in other countries with large outbreaks, raising questions over possible underreporting of deaths
Supreme Court to decide on release of secret Mueller evidence, after election
The House panel continues to investigate Trump for impeachment in relation to alleged collusion with Russia and obstruction of justice in that case
Putin triumphant as critics slam vote extending his rule
(UPDATED) Authorities claim that only the autonomous Nenets region in the Russian Arctic came out against the reforms, with 55.25% of voters opposing the changes
Iran, Russia, Turkey agree to work together to ease Syria tensions
The conference comes at a time when Russia-Turkey relations are tense not just over Syria but also Libya, another theater of war where Moscow and Ankara support opposing fighters
Russian voters back reforms allowing Putin to stay until 2036
(UPDATED) Top Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny slams the results as a 'huge lie' that did not reflect real public opinion
White House says Trump 'does read' intel briefs
'The president is the most informed person on planet Earth when it comes to the threats that we face,' says White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany
Putin urges Russians to vote for security, prosperity
President Vladimir Putin says Russians should vote for the country 'we want to pass on to our children' but makes no mention of a controversial amendment that would allow him to potentially stay in power until 2036
U.N. rights chief slams virus response in China, Russia, U.S.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet says it is vital for leaders to maintain 'consistent, credible, and fact-based communication' with citizens
Trump briefed on Russian bounties in February – report
Trump is under increasing pressure to explain mounting reports saying he was informed Russian military intelligence had offered and paid cash to Taliban-linked militants for US soldiers' deaths – and did nothing in response
Exit poll shows Russians strongly backing constitutional reforms
The poll shows that 76% of Russians are in favor of amending the constitution into a version that could possibly allow President Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036
Trump says spies deemed Russia-Taliban intel not 'credible'
US President Donald Trump criticizes the New York Times report on Russian activity in Afghanistan as 'probably just another phony Times hit job, just like their failed Russia Hoax'
Russian mining giant admits waste 'violations' at Arctic plant
Independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta claims the factory deliberately funneled the wastewater into wildlife areas and hastily removed their pipes when investigators and emergency services arrived on the scene
Trump denies he was briefed on Russia-Taliban bounty intelligence
United States President Donald Trump slams the New York Times report, calling it 'another phony Times hit job'
Taliban reject claims Russia aided fighters in attacks on U.S. troops
Taliban also denies that its weapons were given by Russia
U.S. thinks Russia spies aided Taliban attacks – report
The purported bounties give incentives to the guerrillas to target US forces, just as President Donald Trump tries to withdraw troops and end America's longest war
Russians cast early votes in ballot to extend Putin's rule
Election officials open polling stations in the lead-up to the official voting day on July 1 to reduce the risk of overcrowding that could spread coronavirus infections
Russia stages grand WWII parade ahead of vote on Putin reforms
The parade is held despite a ban on mass gatherings remaining in place. Russia has the third largest coronavirus caseload in the world after the United States and Brazil.
Appeals court orders charges dropped against ex-Trump aide Flynn
The court endorses Attorney General Bill Barr's extraordinary decision to drop the criminal charges against Michael Flynn even after he had twice pleaded guilty to lying to FBI investigators
Russia to hike taxes on high earners after coronavirus
Russian President Vladimir Putin says extra revenues from higher taxes starting 2021 would be used for 'treating children with severe rare diseases'
U.S., Russia divided over Chinese role in nuclear talks
Observers fear New START could go the way of several other international agreements, which have fallen by the wayside during Donald Trump's tenure in line with his 'America First' foreign policy
U.S. ex-marine will not appeal Russian espionage verdict
'He hopes that in the near future he will be exchanged with Russians convicted in the United States,' says Paul Whelan's lawyer
Russian court hands down heavy sentences to leftists
Memorial, a top rights group, says there is a clear political motive behind the case, pointing to increasing 'repression against anarchists and anti-fascists' in Russia
U.S., Russia arms talks start with little hope of accord
The United States and Russia are meeting on June 22 in Vienna for talks on their last major nuclear weapons agreement against a backdrop of growing tensions over whether they see any value in arms control at all
Russia's central bank cuts key rate to historic low
The Russian central bank says the negative effect of the economic lockdown has been 'more extended' than previously assumed
Putin accuses West of 'insulting' Russia over WWII legacy
Putin has blamed the Western powers and Poland in particular for World War II, pointing to various treaties signed with Nazi Germany before the conflict began in 1939
Trump government sues to block ex-aide Bolton's book
The book is expected to provide a damning insider portrait of the White House
Australia accuses China of fueling 'infodemic' over virus
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne calls for nation's to bolster global bodies such as the World Health Organization to counter the 'infodemic'
Top Russia newspaper editors quit, denouncing censorship
While the daily newspaper focuses on business and industry news, its editorial section has become a vital space for dissenting voices and debate on political life in Russia
Moscow expels 2 Czech diplomats in tit-for-tat move – ministry
Russia retaliates after two of its own embassy workers were expelled over a poison plot hoax
UK asks for information 2 years after Salisbury poisoning
British counterterrorism police are still trying to piece together the full timeline of the spy attack
Russia sentences U.S. ex-marine to 16 years in spy trial
(UPDATED) The Moscow City Court finds former US marine Paul Whelan guilty of receiving classified information
Putin says Russia dealing better with virus than U.S.
Putin also criticizes anti-racism protests in the United States for sparking crowd violence, in his first comments on the issue
Putin condemns 'mayhem and rioting' at U.S. anti-racism protests
Russian President Vladimir Putin says 'if this fight for natural rights, legal rights, turns into mayhem and rioting, I see nothing good for the country'
Putin says 'majority' back plan to change Russian constitution
Russia readies for a vote on a constitution overhaul that could give President Vladimir Putin the option to run for two more terms
Russia says 'years' needed to clean up Arctic spill
The spill of over 21,000 tons of fuel takes place after a fuel reservoir collapsed last month at a power plant
EU accuses China, Russia of virus disinformation campaigns
The European Commission also accuses major online platforms of doing too little to help fact-checkers tackle the 'infodemic'
Russian historian goes on trial for chopping up lover
Oleg Sokolov was arrested last year after he was hauled out of the freezing Moika River in Saint Petersburg drunk with a backpack containing a woman's arms
Europe demands better pandemic plan, as Moscow exits lockdown
Russia has the third-highest number of confirmed infections in the world after the United States and Brazil
U.S. and Russia to resume nuclear talks, but China casts cloud
Russia warns that US insistence on including China could scuttle efforts for a major disarmament treaty
Moscow lockdown to end as Russia eases anti-virus measures
Russia is moving quickly to ease restrictions even as it registers nearly 9,000 new coronavirus cases and more than 100 deaths on a daily basis
Putin declares state of emergency over Siberian fuel spill
The accident is the second largest in modern Russian history in terms of volume, World Wildlife Fund expert Alexei Knizhnikov says
Anti-gay video backing Putin reforms causes stir
This latest video is reminiscent of another clip released in 2018 urging Russians to re-elect Putin or live in a 'nightmare' future in which they are forced to co-habitate with gay men
