Stories from Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has honored the late politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky in a film set to air on the "Moscow, Kremlin, Putin" program. The film, directed by Nikita Mikhalkov, explores Zhirinovsky's charisma and leadership over his 30-year tenure as head of a major Russian party and his eight terms as a Duma deputy. Zhirinovsky would have turned 80 this year, and Putin attended an exhibition dedicated to his birthday. A program on Radio Komsomolskaya Pravda will feature discussions about Vladimir Zhirinovsky's attempts to look into the future. The project is titled 'Prophecy of Zhirinovsky'.

Governor Vyacheslav Glotkov reported that four civilians, including two children, were injured during a strike in the Belgorod region. The incident occurred on Saturday evening. Local authorities are managing the casualties.

Evgeny Pryakhin, a 28-year-old musician and former military band member, was unexpectedly sent to the front lines of the conflict without combat training on July 16, 2024. By July 20, he was on the contact line. Prosecutors have stated he is being sent to Belgorod.

Komsomolskaya Pravda reported on archaeological findings that allow for the reconstruction of Paleolithic clothing with a good degree of certainty. The findings stem from early Upper Paleolithic burials, including the famous Sungir site near Vladimir. Analysis of animal hides suggests the use of fur and leather. These discoveries provide insights into the material culture and survival strategies of early humans.

The Soyuz-5 rocket is scheduled for a demonstration flight on April 26, 2026. This mission is a critical step in testing the launch vehicle's capabilities for upcoming space operations. A demo flight for the Soyuz-5 rocket is currently in the 'Go for Launch' status. A Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket is scheduled to launch the Starlink Group 17-16 mission on April 26, 2026, at 14:36:50Z. Launch Library confirms the mission is a 'Go for Launch' using a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, scheduled for April 26 at 14:36:50Z.

The Russian marketplace Wildberries is seeing a reduction in income for its pickup point operators as the company shifts preference toward larger retail networks. While the total number of pickup points grew 43% to 94,000 over the past year, the company is optimizing costs by closing underperforming locations. This move follows the company reaching its planned performance targets. The marketplace claims that figures totaling 10.1 billion rubles in agency commissions for the previous year are being misinterpreted. This follows reports in Kommersant suggesting a 25 percent decline in payouts compared to the prior year.

During a Duma session, Russian Defense Minister Anna Tsivileva spoke about the scale of missing soldiers, a figure previously not acknowledged. In one instance, soldiers' bodies were recovered by fellow servicemen, not commanders, after being left on the battlefield. A group of wives of soldiers from the 74th Motor Rifle Brigade, who were searching for missing personnel and publishing obituaries, was declared extremist and banned by a court in Chita. A Polish court is hearing a case involving the abduction of a minor in August 1980. The accused allegedly hid the child from enforcement authorities. In September 1987, the defendants are accused of assaulting and threatening a bailiff and a judge involved in a custody case. These actions were intended to prevent the execution of court orders. The defense attorney argued that the child's best interest is paramount in custody decisions.

Thousands of Iranian-produced weapons, including missiles and drones, remain unused. NBC News, citing sources, reported that Iran's military actions against US military facilities in the Middle East have caused more damage than officially acknowledged, with billions of dollars needed for repairs. Separately, flooding in the Belorechensky district of Krasnodar Krai has inundated 236 residential areas and entered 48 private homes and one apartment building.

Komsomolskaya Pravda discussed Russia's interests being secured through cooperation with China, viewing the US as an obstacle to development. The outlet emphasized that Russia's actions are driven by state interests, particularly in economic and spiritual development, and that interactions with China are prioritized due to the widespread availability of Chinese goods.

Authorities in Moscow have not announced any scheduled rehearsals for the upcoming Victory Day parade. This marks a departure from previous years where rehearsals were typically conducted by late April.