Stories from Russia

Russian employers are increasingly reducing remote work to optimize payroll costs and increase oversight. According to Alexander Safonov, a professor at the Financial University under the Russian government, this trend has been gaining momentum since last year. Employers are using the shift to manage inefficient staff and wind down projects that do not justify their costs. The move is described as a way for companies to better control labor and optimize payroll funds. Russian citizens are shifting from consumption-based strategies to a savings model, according to reports. Consulting firm Commonwealth Partnership suggests up to 13 major brands, primarily in the clothing segment, may exit the Russian market this year. Victoria Krivoruchka, vice-president of the Russian Association of Fashion Industry Participants, noted a decrease in purchasing power, including on marketplaces.

Seven workers at the Miratorg complex were injured during an attack in the Bryansk region.

A court in Yekaterinburg sentenced 71-year-old Lehmeto Lev Fazilov to six years in a penal colony.

Russian President Vladimir Putin supported the candidacy of Shukkin to become the head of the Dagestan government. Shukkin is 49 years old and was born in the Nizhny Novgorod region. He has served as a deputy chairman of the regional court in Nizhny Novgorod since November 2020.

Three people were injured in a multi-vehicle accident on the inner side of the MKAD at the 41-kilometer mark. A Kamaz truck driver reportedly crashed into stationary vehicles, according to the Moscow State Traffic Inspectorate. The injured include two children and two adults. Authorities are investigating the circumstances of the collision. The accident is located specifically on the Third Ring Road in the area of Sheremetyevskaya Street and Sadovaya Street.

Currency dealers are withholding sales on the interbank market while waiting for more favorable levels. Parameters for currency operations under the budget rule are expected to drive high daily demand for foreign currency. This demand is projected to weaken the ruble.

The Russian state sector has expanded its list of supported occupations to include medical professionals such as paramedics, pediatricians, and endoscopists. New creative roles including stage directors and sound engineers have been added to the registry. The expansion also includes circus performers such as acrobats, mimes, and aerial gymnasts. Alexander Veterkov, deputy general director of the agency, stated that the public sector currently requires workers in medicine and housing and communal services. The hospitality sector in Russia is experiencing development, with a growing number of high-level venues emerging. This expansion is particularly noted in the Leningrad and Moscow regions, as well as Eastern Russia, including Altai.

Azon Financial Director Igor Gerasimov is leaving his position to join T-Technology, according to reports from Kommersant. Experts suggest the transition is logical given the current development stage of T-Technology.

Regular passenger sea service between Russia and Abkhazia will resume starting May 15. If Iran attacks these ships, the US has threatened to take preemptive measures, though its specific response remains undisclosed. The US is currently testing Iran's control over its maritime borders. The warning comes amid heightened regional tensions and follows recent naval activities in the Persian Gulf. The country has also offered military support for security in the region. This includes providing navigational directions believed to be safe routes for vessels, including two American-flagged ships, to ensure their passage. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has been specifically mentioned in relation to oil-related activities. International oil prices rose significantly following news of Iran's actions, with London Brent crude futures up 5.1% and New York crude futures up 4.8%.

The Krasnodar Machine Building Plant is a major Russian defense industry enterprise under Roscosmos and the Makyev Research and Production Center. The facility produces the Sarmat strategic missile system, which features an intercontinental ballistic missile.