Stories from Russia

Specialists in Dagestan have introduced enhanced laboratory controls for drinking water to prevent an epidemic following large-scale flooding. Anna Popova, head of the service, reported that emergency vaccinations against Hepatitis A were also conducted in flooded areas.

The Russian government plans to issue 25,000 special edition passports.

Moscow exchanged Alexander Butyagin and the wife of a Russian serviceman from Transnistria for two rings, according to the FSB. He expects to reach Saint Petersburg by Friday.

Russian prosecutors claim businessman Alexander Galitsky is actively involved in the military-political conflict in Ukraine. The prosecution alleges his fund has sent $50 million to Ukrainian companies operating in the defense sector since 2022.

A Russian shadow fleet tanker has sustained damage, resulting in a fuel leak near Anapa. Petroleum products are being cleared from beaches around Anapa nearly 24 hours a day. A Rosneft employee stated that the movement of fuel is insufficient to contain the leak, and fuel oil is seeping into the soil. Local residents are using social media to call for action from local authorities and emergency services. The incident occurred in a region where oil rain has been reported falling in both the sea and the city. The environmental situation in the Anapa area remains complex following the strike. The strike damaged a tanker from Russia's shadow fleet, causing an oil leak and 'oil rain' over the city. Cleanup efforts on Anapa beaches are occurring almost continuously.

Russian police raided the headquarters of Exmo, the country's primary trics house, on April 21. The general director and editorial director were arrested as part of an investigation into alleged violations of the 2013 LGBT propaganda law.

A blogger claims he was forcibly hospitalized on the evening of March 18 after criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with journalist Oleksandr Plusheve. The blogger mentioned previous work involving the presidential administration.

A Russian opposition portal reported that between 1,000 and 3,000 women were murdered in Russia due to gender-based violence. The report cited data from human rights activists. The source did not provide a specific timeframe for these figures.

Vladimir Putin called for ensuring the interests of domestic businesses are protected. The announcement was made during a broadcast in Moscow. Putin described the current period as a turning point in Russian history. He added that large companies are also being targeted by these measures. The statements address ongoing regional dynamics and diplomatic positioning. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed that businessmen make voluntary contributions to the state budget to fund the war in Ukraine. The proposal was made during a closed meeting with members of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs in late March. Severstal has already canceled dividend payments for the first quarter of 2026 due to negative free cash flow. Alexander Shokhin, head of the RSPP, noted that while mechanisms for a windfall tax exist, many companies are currently operating at a loss.

Vladimir Putin stated that a strike on Tuapse poses a threat of an ecological disaster. The head of the Krasnoyarsk Krai reported an absence of serious threats to Tuapse, but the impact of the strike remains a concern. Kyiv is reportedly increasing strikes against civilian infrastructure. The Governor of Krasnodar Krai previously reported to the President that there are no serious threats regarding the large-scale fire at the Tuapse oil refinery. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that military equipment will participate in a parade on May 9. The broadcast noted that the work of servicemen in the special military operation zone will be shown during the Victory Day parade. Local emergency services confirmed that oil products boiled out of containers and spilled onto roads.