Stories from moscow · Russia

Cybercriminals in Russia are using fraudulent QR codes placed over legitimate ones on electric scooter rental stations to steal banking data. Victims who scan the fake codes are redirected to phishing pages that capture credit card information for unauthorized transactions. Experts advise users to only use official rental applications to avoid these scams. Ksenia Erdman, head of the micro-mobility operators association, discussed the issue and how to identify counterfeit codes. The Moscow Department of Transport announced the addition of new electric scooters featuring smart electronics to the city's rental fleet. These scooters include an IoT module designed to automatically reduce speed. The rollout follows improvements in local weather conditions. Users have been urged to maintain road etiquette.

Meteorologists at the Fobos weather center predict that Moscow will experience record low atmospheric pressure on Monday. The pressure is expected to drop to approximately 725 mm Hg, approaching the previous record set in 1971. This significant meteorological shift is expected to impact the region through early next week. Moscow is forecasting temperatures to reach 4 degrees Celsius. Moscow recorded 16 mm of precipitation on April 27, the highest level in 146 years according to the Fobos Center. Atmospheric pressure reached its lowest point since 1971. Snow depth reached 12 cm, marking a record high since the same year. Heavy winds and wet snow caused hundreds of trees to fall across the capital and surrounding regions.

Russian manufacturers and importers of foreign electronics must pay a registration fee through the 'Chestny Znak' system. A list of approximately 400 prohibited topics has been established for media discussion in Russia. The restrictions include bans on discussing specific economic data, demographic information, and military casualties. The source noted that these directives are being implemented despite claims that censorship does not exist in the Soviet Union. The source stated that these measures were anticipated and worked on for 10 years. The Russian Ministry of Education announced that DNA studies will be introduced into the school curriculum. The subject will be taught to fifth-grade students starting in the second half of the 2026-27 academic year. Students will spend 17 hours on the subject during that period.

Mikhail Kovalchuk, president of the Kurchatov Institute, stated that Russia is one of only four nations capable of developing turbojet engines from start to finish. He emphasized that Russia has preserved its Soviet-era technical base while advancing to new levels of technological independence. This claim positions Russia as a major player in aerospace engineering alongside the US and France. The engines were previously tested on a flying laboratory. This flight occurred approximately three weeks after the initial test flight involving two PD-8 engines. The development is part of the MS-21 aircraft program.

The average cost for veterinary medical visits and vaccinations has increased due to rising drug and equipment prices. Experts suggest that cutting off from international traffic could lead to the degradation of development tools and internal systems. Inflation in Russia has reached double-digit levels, significantly exceeding rates in Germany and the rest of Europe. Some food prices in Moscow supermarkets have doubled, while others have increased by 20%. These price hikes have placed a heavy burden on people for the last two to three years. Maxim Rishkin, deputy head of the presidential administration, confirmed that Russia is experiencing a labor shortage. Sales of anxiolytics in Russia increased by 12% according to the Association of Independent Pharmacies. The number of psychostimulant packages sold decreased from 77 million to 74 million.

The independent project Charon reported over 147,000 Russian soldiers killed or missing as of February 2026. The initiative is driven by family members of those killed or missing in action. Russian prisoners of war face systematic screening by the FSB upon returning to the Russian Federation. The report notes that Russia is failing to adhere to international law regarding the rights of prisoners of war. Returning prisoners of war are subject to systematic FSB screening upon re-entering the Russian Federation. One instance involved a deserter suffering a broken leg during the FSB filtration process. Russian prisoners of war undergo rigorous filtration processes conducted by the Federal Security Service (FSB) upon their return. Following this screening, soldiers are returned to their military units.

A school in the Khamovniki district of Moscow, currently serving 400 students, faces potential demolition as part of urban redevelopment plans. The move has left a queue of approximately 1,000 students waiting for placements in a region already experiencing acute shortages in both private and state educational facilities. Local educators expressed uncertainty regarding the future of the teaching staff and the institution. The closure was not attributed to increased VAT, rising rent, or competition, according to the source. The business was launched using artificial intelligence technology.

A Russian financial entity has successfully transitioned to a fully domestic, import-substituted investment platform. The new system utilizes artificial intelligence to profile clients and investors, automatically generating tailored investment strategies and portfolios. This move is part of a broader trend of replacing foreign financial technology within the Russian market. The Russian Ministry of Construction reported that reconstruction and major repairs of nearly 600 communal utility infrastructure objects have been completed as of March 2026. Necessary funds for the continued modernization of all communal infrastructure have been allocated in the budget. A national program continues to collect applications from the public to support these infrastructure improvements. This development follows recent efforts to decouple from foreign aerospace supply chains.

Researchers at the Institute of Biology of Aging and Medicine in Russia have announced work on the world's first genetic drug to combat aging. It functions as a good thermal insulator, comparable to commercial insulation used in construction, and exhibits environmental friendliness. Further development could lead to its use as refractory insulation. The project was conducted by the Research Institute of Food Concentrate Industry and Special Food Technology in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense. The technology allows the bread to be stored in specialized storage facilities for long-term use. While originally intended for astronaut food supplies, the development is being presented as a way to create long-term food reserves. The development focuses on keratin and laminin, which are key components in skin tissue recovery.

The head of VTB has called for the acceleration of cryptocurrency market legalization in Russia. This comes as the Central Bank reportedly maintains its stance against using cryptocurrency for payments or reserves.