An open secret. Why Moscow and Pyongyang held off on acknowledging North Korean troops fighting against Ukraine
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/04/30/an-open-secret
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/04/30/an-open-secret
Meduza
An open secret
Last fall, reports surfaced that Pyongyang had sent soldiers to support Russia in its war against Ukraine. Even as the evidence kept piling up, official Russian and North Korean sources remained silent. That is, until a few days ago. In what was almost certainly…
Russia and North Korea break ground on construction of first highway bridge linking two nations
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/04/30/russia-and-north-korea-break-ground-on-construction-of-first-highway-bridge-linking-two-nations
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/04/30/russia-and-north-korea-break-ground-on-construction-of-first-highway-bridge-linking-two-nations
Meduza
Russia and North Korea break ground on construction of first highway bridge linking two nations
On Wednesday, Russia and North Korea marked the start of construction of the first highway bridge connecting the two nations. In a teleconference with North Korean Cabinet Premier Pak Thae Song, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin called the bridge “truly…
Russian soldier opens fire on family in Kursk border town after end of Ukrainian occupation
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/04/30/russian-soldier-opens-fire-on-family-in-kursk-border-town-after-end-of-ukrainian-occupation
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/04/30/russian-soldier-opens-fire-on-family-in-kursk-border-town-after-end-of-ukrainian-occupation
Meduza
Russian soldier opens fire on family in Kursk border town after end of Ukrainian occupation
Earlier this week, a tragedy unfolded in Giryi, a small border town in Russia’s Kursk region recently retaken from Ukrainian forces after months of occupation. According to the outlet Pepel Media, a Russian soldier forced his way into a family’s home and…
U.S. and Ukraine sign minerals deal
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/01/u-s-and-ukraine-sign-minerals-deal
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/01/u-s-and-ukraine-sign-minerals-deal
Meduza
U.S. and Ukraine sign minerals deal
Washington and Kyiv have signed a minerals deal granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s natural resources, Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed in a tweet on April 30, following reports of last-minute hurdles that delayed the agreement by several…
Occupied, with vacancy. Russia promised to rebuild Mariupol by now, but journalists estimate reconstruction will take another 18 years at its current pace
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/01/occupied-with-vacancy
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/01/occupied-with-vacancy
Meduza
Occupied, with vacancy
In 2022, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin presented Vladimir Putin with a plan to rebuild Mariupol, after Moscow’s armies leveled much of the city early in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Khusnullin envisioned Mariupol’s complete restoration…
‘There’s nothing to talk about’. A timeline of Zelensky and Trump contradicting each other over Crimea (and other politicians weighing in)
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/01/there-s-nothing-to-talk-about
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/01/there-s-nothing-to-talk-about
Meduza
‘There’s nothing to talk about’
Last week, several major American media outlets reported that the Trump administration had presented a peace plan to Ukrainian officials that would involve U.S. recognition of Russian sovereignty over Crimea. Up until that point, the United States, like Ukraine’s…
Overnight Russian attack on Ukraine's Odesa kills at least two and injures 15
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/01/overnight-russian-attack-on-ukraine-s-odesa-kills-at-least-two-and-injures-15
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/01/overnight-russian-attack-on-ukraine-s-odesa-kills-at-least-two-and-injures-15
Meduza
Overnight Russian attack on Ukraine's Odesa kills at least two and injures 15 — Meduza
On Wednesday night, Russian forces launched an attack on Ukrainian territory using five Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 170 drones of various types, according to Ukraine’s Air Force Command.
U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg says Ukraine agreed to 22 specific conditions for peace deal with Russia
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/01/u-s-envoy-keith-kellogg-says-ukraine-agreed-to-22-specific-conditions-for-peace-deal-with-russia
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/01/u-s-envoy-keith-kellogg-says-ukraine-agreed-to-22-specific-conditions-for-peace-deal-with-russia
Meduza
U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg says Ukraine agreed to 22 specific conditions for peace deal with Russia
During talks in London on April 23, Washington and Kyiv reached an agreement on 22 specific conditions for a peaceful settlement of Russia’s war in Ukraine, U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg said in an interview with Fox News on Wednesday.
'We can start digging'. U.S. and Ukraine sign long-awaited minerals deal, establishing joint reconstruction fund and splitting revenue 50/50
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/01/we-can-start-digging
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/01/we-can-start-digging
Meduza
'We can start digging' U.S. and Ukraine sign long-awaited minerals deal, establishing joint reconstruction fund and splitting revenue…
On Wednesday, the U.S. and Ukraine signed an economic partnership agreement granting the U.S. preferential access to new natural resource extraction projects in Ukraine, including ones focused on aluminum, graphite, oil, and natural gas, Bloomberg reports.…
Zelensky imposes sanctions on former advisor Oleksiy Arestovych
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/01/zelensky-sanctions-his-former-advisor-oleksiy-arestovych
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/01/zelensky-sanctions-his-former-advisor-oleksiy-arestovych
Meduza
Zelensky imposes sanctions on former advisor Oleksiy Arestovych
Volodymyr Zelensky imposed personal sanctions on Thursday against Oleksiy Arestovych, former advisor to the Ukrainian President's Office, who now lives outside of Ukraine.
'Feeding the world' — with stolen food. How Russian businesses in occupied Ukraine illegally export their products to foreign investors
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/01/feeding-the-world-with-stolen-food
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/01/feeding-the-world-with-stolen-food
Meduza
'Feeding the world' — with stolen food
Russian entrepreneurs who have taken over businesses in Ukraine’s occupied territories are exporting goods to Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, India, and China, according to a new investigation by Pryazovia News, a regional branch of RFE/RL’s Ukrainian…
The banjo never left Obninsk. How a Russian teacher is keeping American country music alive in a city outside Moscow
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/02/the-banjo-never-left-obninsk
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/02/the-banjo-never-left-obninsk
Meduza
The banjo never left Obninsk
In 2003, Alexey Gvozdev’s music students were nominated for a Grammy and appeared on the television show “60 Minutes.” The group lost the Best Country Instrumental Award to the Dixie Chicks, but Bering Strait remains the only Russian band ever nominated in…
‘Where the f—’s the cash?’. Russian occupation official in Ukraine’s Nova Kakhovka reportedly arrested over viral video of him swearing in front of war memorial
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/02/where-the-f-s-the-cash
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/02/where-the-f-s-the-cash
Meduza
‘Where the f—’s the cash?’
On April 30, pro-Kremlin outlets and self-styled “war correspondents” reported the arrest of Vitaliy Hura, the Russia-installed head of Nova Kakhovka, an occupied town in Ukraine’s Kherson region. Allegedly, Hura was jailed on criminal charges of “desecrating…
U.S. aims to bring Russia and Ukraine to the table in the next 100 days, says Vance
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/02/u-s-aims-to-bring-russia-and-ukraine-to-the-table-in-the-next-100-days-says-vance
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/02/u-s-aims-to-bring-russia-and-ukraine-to-the-table-in-the-next-100-days-says-vance
Meduza
U.S. aims to bring Russia and Ukraine to the table in the next 100 days, says Vance
There is a significant divide between Russia and Ukraine’s positions on ending the war, and the White House will work to narrow that gap, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance told Fox News in an interview about Donald Trump’s next 100 days in office.
State Department says U.S. will no longer ‘fly around the world’ to mediate Russia–Ukraine talks
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/02/state-department-says-u-s-will-no-longer-fly-around-the-world-to-mediate-russia-ukraine-talks
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/02/state-department-says-u-s-will-no-longer-fly-around-the-world-to-mediate-russia-ukraine-talks
Meduza
State Department says U.S. will no longer ‘fly around the world’ to mediate Russia–Ukraine talks
The United States will no longer “fly around the world” to act as a mediator between Russia and Ukraine as part of a shift in Washington’s approach to peace negotiations, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.
Putin shifting focus to short-term objectives in the war and consolidating control in occupied Ukraine, intelligence suggests — CNN
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/02/putin-shifting-focus-to-short-term-objectives-in-the-war-and-consolidating-control-in-occupied-ukraine-intelligence-suggests-cnn
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/02/putin-shifting-focus-to-short-term-objectives-in-the-war-and-consolidating-control-in-occupied-ukraine-intelligence-suggests-cnn
Meduza
Putin shifting focus to short-term objectives in the war and consolidating control in occupied Ukraine, intelligence suggests —…
New U.S. and Western intelligence assessments suggest that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be shifting his focus in the war toward shorter-term goals, including consolidating control over Russian-occupied territories, CNN reported, citing multiple sources…
‘Skaters know their history’. A Russian town turned a Lenin monument into a skateboard ramp. Not everyone is pleased.
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/02/skaters-know-their-history
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/02/skaters-know-their-history
Meduza
‘Skaters know their history’
In a Russian town not far from Yekaterinburg, officials transformed a public square featuring a monument to Vladimir Lenin into a skate park — with the statue’s pedestal repurposed as a ramp. The project was commissioned by the local government, but after…
‘When someone wants a vacation, they don’t care’. Occupied Crimea might be a war zone, but locals are gearing up for a flood of Russian vacationers
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/02/when-someone-wants-a-vacation-they-don-t-care
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/02/when-someone-wants-a-vacation-they-don-t-care
Meduza
‘When someone wants a vacation, they don’t care’
In April, Russia’s consumer watchdog declared the oil-polluted beaches of Krasnodar Krai unfit for recreation. With vacationers likely to seek out other coastal destinations, one of the most popular alternatives remains occupied Crimea. Drones still strike…
Russian foreign minister pens foreword to book challenging Lithuanian statehood
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/02/russian-foreign-minister-pens-foreword-to-book-challenging-lithuanian-statehood
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/02/russian-foreign-minister-pens-foreword-to-book-challenging-lithuanian-statehood
Meduza
Russian foreign minister pens foreword to book challenging Lithuanian statehood
A foreword written by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is raising concerns in Eastern Europe that Moscow is once again laying the groundwork to challenge a neighbor’s international borders. Lavrov’s preface appears in a monograph titled “The History…
‘I was intimidated, and then I fell in love’. A Ukrainian woman describes how a likely Russian agent duped her into an attempt on the life of former Right Sector activist Serhii Sternenko
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/02/i-was-intimidated-and-then-i-fell-in-love
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/02/i-was-intimidated-and-then-i-fell-in-love
Meduza
‘I was intimidated, and then I fell in love’
Ukrainian blogger and volunteer Serhii Sternenko, the former head of the Odesa branch of the nationalist group Right Sector, said on Thursday that someone tried to kill him. Sternenko, who’s been raising money for drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces since…