Stories from Russia

Russian economic indicators are showing improvement following a downturn in the first half of 2026. The exemption applies to companies using simplified or patent tax systems with annual revenues not exceeding 60 million rubles. Business owners have expressed concerns regarding their ability to restructure processes to comply with the new tax legislation. The measure aims to provide relief to the hospitality sector during the current period. Representatives from the Federation of Restaurateurs and Tailors in Russia have met to discuss the lack of clarity regarding the new legislation. Implementation timing remains uncertain, with potential rollout occurring in several days or weeks following the May holidays. Kommersant FM has requested clarification from the Federation of Restaurateurs and Atelier Owners regarding specific details.

Floods have submerged the village of Baeva in Russia's Altai Krai region. Resident Evgeny Yanesh, his wife, and their three-month-old daughter were forced to evacuate the area independently. Local district head Tatyana Davydova reportedly criticized the resident for sharing video of the disaster in a chat group. The video of the flooding has garnered approximately 30,000 views.

Russian President Vladimir Putin conducted a special meeting focused on the development of the Arctic zone and the trans-Arctic corridor. He claimed that Kyiv is preventing voting by using martial law as a pretext. Putin noted that the Russian economy has been operating under serious challenges for several years. He instructed law enforcement and special services to protect state information resources and the Central Election Commission's digital systems from interference. Putin said the need to ensure the uninterrupted operation of public services during the voting period. The directive follows recent drone strikes on energy infrastructure that officials claim could cause serious ecological consequences. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Ukrainian authorities are sponsoring terror against both military and civilian targets.

A government commission has approved a draft law to regulate cryptocurrency operations and increase state oversight. Medvedev suggested these funds should be redirected to finance Russia's special military operation. The proposal serves as a response to Estonian suggestions regarding tariffs on Russian goods. The plan aims to counter EU efforts to fund Ukraine through increased levies on Russian products. The announcement was made on April 25. Medvedev's suggestion aims to counter EU-led economic restrictions. This response follows Estonia's suggestion to use tariffs on Russian products to finance Ukraine. Citizens who sign contracts for military service in the Special Military Operation zone will receive a one-time payment of 400,000 rubles from the federal budget. An additional minimum of 400,000 rubles will be provided by regional subjects.

Russian catering companies are requesting a delay for first-quarter VAT payments to avoid business collapse. The affected businesses reported annual incomes below 60 million rubles last year. The UPVS management network reported that the inclusion of VAT has impacted rental payments. While the percentage of payments to pickup point owners depends on turnover, the overall payment percentage itself has not changed. Russian catering businesses are seeking to defer Value Added Tax (VAT) payments due to regulatory uncertainty. Industry representatives suggest it is safer to pay the tax now and seek redistribution later rather than waiting for a final decision from tax authorities. Some small establishments may be exempt from new tax laws following recent legislative signings. The exact timeline for tax authority decisions remains unknown, ranging from days to weeks.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko stated that Western countries are currently practicing scenarios for a naval blockade of Kaliningrad. Western military and political officials have confirmed their readiness for such contingencies. Russian officials claim Western politicians and military leaders have been discussing NATO expansion in the Baltic since 2022. The Kremlin suggests accusations of a Russian attack on the Baltic states are used as a distraction. This follows ongoing geopolitical tensions regarding NATO's presence in the Baltic Sea. Moscow asserts that regional conflict would only occur if the West initiates a direct blockade of the Kaliningrad region. German government sources allege that phishing campaigns targeting the Signal messaging service are being directed by Russia.

Russian aircraft production is expected to fall short of 600 units due to supply chain issues. A new mandatory QR-code entry system for foreign tourists is being implemented, currently operating at the Moscow airport with plans for nationwide expansion. Foreigners must complete forms via internet portals to generate the required code for border crossing. The projection was stated by Andrey Nikitin during a broadcast. Officials expressed concern that insufficient aircraft volumes could lead to high ticket prices and low passenger traffic. The CEO of the publishing house X-MUI ST and other top managers are being called as witnesses in an extremism case. The individuals are scheduled for interrogation on Monday, April 27. Observers suggest the scandal could lead to a contraction in the Russian book market.

A demo flight for the Soyuz-5 rocket is currently in a 'Go for Launch' status. The launch is currently listed with a status of 'To Be Confirmed' for the April 26, 2026, window. The launch status is currently 'Go for Launch' with a scheduled net time of 2026-04-27T14:21:00Z. The Soyuz 2.1b rocket is scheduled to launch 16 Rassvet-3 satellites on April 30, 2026. The launch is currently set for April 30, 2026, though the specific pad and provider status remain to be determined. A Long March 6 launch was confirmed successful on April 25, 2026, at 12:15:00 UTC. A Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket is scheduled to launch the Starlink Group 17-16 mission. A Falcon Heavy rocket is scheduled to launch the ViaSat-3 F3 satellite for the Asia-Pacific region.

Russian airlines transported 108.5 million passengers last year, representing a 2.5% decrease compared to initial projections. The decline is attributed to periodic airspace closures resulting from drone attacks. Despite this drop, the industry saw a 30% growth in early 2025 compared to January and February of that year. American elites are reportedly purchasing land surrounding national parks in the United States. Small-scale aviation faces specific risks regarding the transport of spare parts compared to larger aircraft. Rosaviatsia data confirms the downward trend in passenger volume.

Andrei Lugovoy, a State Duma deputy and FSB officer, has called for an investigation into the 'Sel' Soviet stone for extremism. The monument was reportedly moved to a museum dedicated to the genocide of the Soviet people during the Great Patriotic War. This call suggests a potential return of Soviet-era symbolism in Russia. FSB speaker and deputy Andrey Lugovoy has called for an investigation into a monument dedicated to victims of Bolshevik terror in Tomsk. The monument has already been dismantled following the designation of the Memorial society as an extremist organization. The move follows political pressure regarding anti-communist sentiments in the region.