Stories from Russia

The death of scientist Mikhail Filipov, who was researching millimeter electromagnetic waves, is under investigation. Filipov had reportedly sent a letter to 'Sankt-Peterburgskie Vedomosti' detailing a discovery about transmitting explosion waves over distances. The circumstances surrounding his death and the nature of his research are being examined. Doubts have arisen regarding whether the scientist left a farewell note, though only the family has reportedly seen it. The exact circumstances of the death remain unconfirmed.

Complaints related to sleep disorders in Russia have increased by nearly 20%, with difficulties falling asleep and frequent awakenings being the most common issues. Most complications arise when required certificates or specific forms are missing from the application. Following Defense Minister Andrei Belousov's order in December 2025 to investigate missing persons cases, the number of court cases recognizing individuals as missing or deceased has significantly increased. Defense Minister Belousov stated that efforts have established the fate of half of those missing. If 90,000 cases are in court and 48% of missing persons' fates are determined, this implies approximately 180,000 individuals' situations have been resolved. Sergei Krivenko, head of the human rights group Citizen Army Law, noted that Ministry of Defense is not interested in understating these numbers.

Demand for melatonin-based products, including non-prescription remedies, has been growing in Russia. This persists despite adjustments to specific conditions, particularly regarding family mortgages. Demand for gardening tools in Russia has increased significantly, with Kazan recording a 12-fold rise. Moscow saw a 2.5-fold increase, while Novosibirsk and Chelyabinsk reported 2-fold increases. Analysts attribute this surge to record-warm weather in March, prompting Russians to prepare for the season early. Some consumers are purchasing shovels and rakes as basic sets for planting and regular land maintenance. Demand for domestic corporate messengers in Russia increased fivefold within one month, according to the Association of Professional Social Network Users. Approximately 30 Russian companies are already using a hybrid format for work correspondence.

Govorit Moskva featured Belarusian journalist Elena Nikolaevna, welcoming her to the program. The segment introduced her as a friend and colleague, highlighting her connection to Belarusian and Russian media.

A Russian hockey team conceded a late goal just before the end of the period, leading to a subsequent goal by the opposing team. This defensive lapse, described as uncharacteristic, resulted in a loss for the team, with commentators noting a potential moment of relaxation by the goaltender.

Russian organizations searching for missing soldiers are reportedly facing difficulties, with some posts about deceased soldiers being classified as prohibited information. This raises concerns about the transparency of casualty reporting and the handling of missing persons. The report claims the state uses propaganda to mask negative actions, presenting war as a special operation and darkness as light.

The Russian government has proposed a bill to launch a legal cryptocurrency market.

President Putin has signed a law exempting small and medium-sized catering businesses from VAT until the end of the year. Business owners have expressed concerns regarding their ability to restructure processes under new tax legislation to avoid collapse. The Russian President supported an initiative to postpone the deadline for regional governments to repay budget loan debts. The repayment deadline will be moved from the 26th to a later date. This decision follows a difficult economic situation and is intended to support regional authorities. Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly requested that oligarchs contribute funds to support the special military operation. The source noted that economic activity, demand, and tax collections are expected to decline if the war continues. There are currently no signs that the conflict is nearing an end.

A demo flight for the Soyuz-5 rocket is currently set for launch on April 26, 2026, at 11:00 UTC. The launch status is currently listed as 'To Be Confirmed'.

Cybercrime services on the Russian dark web are seeing a rise in availability, with phishing attacks starting at prices between $150 and $200.