Stories from Russia

Spilit Air Company is facing a financial crisis due to soaring aviation fuel prices, which have risen to approximately $4.51 per gallon by late April. The company's 2026 operational plan was based on an aviation fuel price prediction of $2.24 per gallon.

Rospotrebnadzor reported today that water and air quality testing in Tuapse complies with hygienic standards following the liquidation of recent fires. The agency noted that water sources used to supply the city are located at a distance from the incident site.

Several internal game development studios were closed in January, resulting in the layoff of 1,500 employees. Top managers from these studios have transitioned into consultancy roles.

Emergency responders assisted a Chinese driver, identified as Li Yang, who became stuck in a snowdrift in the Moscow region.

Rospotrebnadzor has developed a project for a mandatory product labeling system. The mechanism is designed to detect when a seller provides a buyer with goods that have expired. The labeling system is capable of reading and identifying when a seller is providing a consumer with a product that has an expired shelf life. Askar Rakhimberdiyev, CEO of the SEO-ERP service Moy Sklad, noted that while the system is well-established, external oversight of violations remains insufficient. He stated that market participants have learned to work with the system, but violations could potentially exceed 99% due to intentional actions rather than errors. New regulations effective May 1 require construction materials to carry 'Chestny Znak' marking in Russia. Experts warned that this mandatory labeling could lead to increased costs for these materials.

One unmanned aerial vehicle flying toward Moscow was shot down, according to reports. Moscow Mayor Sobyanin confirmed one drone flying toward the city was intercepted. Ukrainian drones were neutralized while approaching Moscow, according to reports from German broadcasters. No specific casualties or damage were reported in the available information. The interception occurred as the drones were in flight toward the city. The incident involved drones attempting to fly toward the city. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin stated that 26 drones flying toward the Russian capital were repelled over a seven-hour period. The report follows the start of a ceasefire. The source noted uncertainty regarding whether the drones were launched prior to the ceasefire agreement.

Vladimir Putin has instructed the government to reduce the workload for schoolchildren. The directive includes managing the volume of homework and ensuring thorough checking of assignments.

Approximately 70% of municipal service employees in Russia are women, according to a report on the country's demographic and power structures. The source noted that women in Russia tend to live longer than men, contributing to a demographic gap.

Russia is limiting the parallel import of certain computer hardware, according to media reports from May 27. The restrictions will affect laptops, personal computers, and storage devices from brands including Asus and HP. This follows reports that alliance countries agreed to increase oil production quotas, though much of the supply through the Armsk Strait remains blocked. The list of goods eligible for parallel import in Russia will be significantly restricted starting May 27. Russia has expanded its list of tracked diseases to 30, up from a previous count of 23. The ban follows recent discussions regarding the strength of the current economy and digital development. The measure is set to take effect in three weeks. The announcement was discussed following a segment featuring German Klemenko from the Digital Economy Development Fund Council.

A Moscow court reported via Telegram that journalist Roldogin is accused of illegally collecting and publishing information alongside unknown individuals. The investigation focuses on whether these actions warrant a trial for Roldogin.