Stories from moscow · Russia

The Russian government has approved bills to regulate cryptocurrencies. The proposal follows recent legislative activity in the State Duma. The Russian Cabinet approved a decree to establish agreements aimed at stabilizing the petroleum products market. The Ministry of Energy and the Federal Antimonopoly Service will sign these documents with 12 oil companies, including Rosneft, Lukoil, Gazpromneft, Surgutneftegas, Gazprom, and Tatneft. These agreements will regulate retail prices and the volume of motor fuel supply to the market. The move comes amid warnings that 45 million people face extreme hunger due to fertilizer shortages and reduced crop yields. The filing addresses criminal penalties for non-compliance with digital asset laws. A legislative proposal has been submitted to impose prison sentences for violations of cryptocurrency legislation.

Russian authorities have implemented tighter controls over the country's cyberspace, resulting in widespread disruptions and shutdowns of mobile messaging services. The move signals increasing state oversight of digital information flow. The Russian government has issued a ban on the import of certain operational equipment used for working with foreign satellites. The restriction targets terminals capable of transmitting or receiving signals from space-based communication objects. Exceptions will only be granted to devices where the importer has obtained a state commission decision regarding radio frequency bands. The ban also strictly limits the import of dual-use satellite components. Exceptions may be made for certain specific devices, according to the report. Russia has begun receiving a higher volume of potential dual-use goods from China, according to Bloomberg data.

Russian banks have seen an outflow of nearly 500 billion rubles, equivalent to approximately 5 billion euros, over the first three weeks of April. Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina faces constraints including a strained national budget and volatile oil revenues caused by Middle East conflict. The rate moved from 15% down to 14.5%. The rate cut is expected to make bank deposits slightly less profitable while credit remains expensive. Analysts cite a budget deficit and volatile oil revenues amid Middle East conflict as primary constraints. These factors prevent an active reduction of the key rate. The current economic situation is described as hitting a wall. The impact involves an estimated $80 billion loss or more. Major global energy companies like BP and others are mentioned in relation to shifting energy dynamics.

Russian authorities are implementing stricter restrictions on mobile internet and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) used to bypass state censorship. Approximately 330,000 bottles were in circulation before the block was implemented. The restriction is set to take effect on May 7 in Moscow. The blocking has led to a noticeable decline in marketplace sales, though exact statistical data remains unavailable due to non-transparent reporting. Denisov noted that while various sources exist, they are imprecise. According to the report, shelters have used police to bar inspectors from accessing facilities to check for violations. These inspectors previously held the right to visit shelters to document issues and report them to regulatory authorities. One-third of Russian companies now use hybrid formats for work correspondence.

The State Duma has passed the first reading of a bill aimed at legalizing and regulating cryptocurrency operations within Russia. Roskachestvo announced new standards that will include logistics infrastructure and digital intermediary platforms in their classifications. These new provisions are set to take effect on June 1 of next year. The announcement was made regarding the diversity of trading formats based on scale of activity. Russia has approved a new GOST standard to unify all retail trade formats into a single system. The document classifies trading objects based on floor area, product assortment, service format, and technological processes. Formats covered range from large hypermarkets and supermarkets to small kiosks and automated parcel lockers, according to Roskachestvo. New standards for logistics objects and digital platforms will take effect on June 1, 2027.

Russian authorities in Moscow have ordered schools and colleges to establish museums dedicated to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The directive aims to institutionalize the narrative of the conflict within the educational system. This move follows broader efforts to integrate military history into the national curriculum. The museum was founded by Anton Ovseenko, the son of a 1917 Russian Revolution participant. Ovseenko was a historian who wrote several books on Stalin during the 1980s. The museum's history includes a conflict between Ovseenko and future museum head Arseniy Roginsky. The move follows recent directives regarding historical education.

A successful launch of the Angara 1.2 rocket was recorded, carrying an unknown payload designated as Kosmos. The mission was completed during the early hours of April 23. The Soyuz 5 launch vehicle, described as the world's most powerful liquid-fueled rocket, successfully completed its first flight using a new engine.

According to Forbes Russia, the wealth of Russian billionaires increased by 11% in 2025. This significant growth occurred despite the ongoing war in Ukraine and heavy international sanctions. The trend suggests a high level of economic resilience among the country's elite during the conflict. Total revenue from the 20 largest hotel chains in Russia increased by 11 percent last year to reach 94 billion rubles. The growth is attributed to rising demand for domestic tourism and a shortage of quality room inventory. There are currently over 39,000 registered organizations in the sector, with 58 percent being individual entrepreneurs.

The total wealth of Russia's top five billionaires has surged to an estimated $696.5 billion. The Federal Tax Service is updating its approach regarding uncollectible amounts as part of these targeted changes. The adjustments are described as specific changes affecting particular groups of recipients. The payment for the first child is now nearly 729,000 rubles. For a second child, the amount has increased to approximately 963,000 rubles, provided the family did not receive a payment for the first child. Approximately 3 million families have already processed certificates for a first child out of 15 million families that received maternity capital during the program's duration. Vice-Premier Tatyana Golikova announced that maternity capital in Russia was indexed by 5.6 percent in February. Of these families, 3 million have already completed the necessary paperwork.

Russian authorities have detained dozens of Israeli citizens at a Moscow airport amid escalating geopolitical tensions involving Israel and Iran. The move comes as regional instability continues to impact international travel and diplomatic relations. The incident highlights the increasing risks for foreign nationals in the region. Her lawyer, Filipp Devel, stated she was imprisoned for displaying posters with messages such as "Russia is not our enemy" and "Remember Soviet soldiers." Novikova is the founder of the humanitarian organization SOZ Donbas. The lawyer described her actions as offenses from the perspective of the West.