27 million lives lost. Meduza takes a closer look at the Soviet Union’s official death toll in World War II
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/09/27-million-lives-lost
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/09/27-million-lives-lost
Meduza
27 million lives lost
During talks with China’s Xi Jinping on the eve of Victory Day, Vladimir Putin once again underscored the scale of Soviet losses in World War II. “The Soviet Union gave 27 million lives,” he said. “It laid them at the altar of the fatherland and the altar…
Putin invites Ukraine to resume direct negotiations with Russia
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/11/putin-invites-ukraine-to-resume-direct-negotiations-with-russia
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/11/putin-invites-ukraine-to-resume-direct-negotiations-with-russia
Meduza
Putin invites Ukraine to resume direct negotiations with Russia — Meduza
Amid an accelerating push by Ukraine and its Western allies to secure a 30-day ceasefire with the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin has proposed that Kyiv resume direct negotiations with Moscow. Putin said the direct talks could begin “without delay or any preconditions”…
Zelensky to visit Istanbul for talks, even if Putin rejects ceasefire — Axios
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/12/zelensky-to-visit-istanbul-for-talks-even-if-putin-rejects-ceasefire-axios
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/12/zelensky-to-visit-istanbul-for-talks-even-if-putin-rejects-ceasefire-axios
Meduza
Zelensky to visit Istanbul for talks, even if Putin rejects ceasefire — Axios
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Turkey, where talks with Russia could take place on May 15 — even if Moscow refuses to agree to a ceasefire beforehand, Axios reported, citing a Ukrainian official.
Russia ignores calls for May 12 ceasefire, launches over 100 drones at Ukraine
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/12/russia-ignores-calls-for-may-12-ceasefire-launches-over-100-drones-at-ukraine
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/12/russia-ignores-calls-for-may-12-ceasefire-launches-over-100-drones-at-ukraine
Meduza
Russia ignores calls for May 12 ceasefire, launches over 100 drones at Ukraine
Russian forces launched 108 strike drones and decoy UAVs at Ukraine overnight on May 12, according to the Ukrainian Air Force Command.
New Russian bill would allow government to seize property of citizens abroad convicted of misdemeanor offenses
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/12/new-russian-bill-would-allow-government-to-seize-property-of-citizens-abroad-charged-with-misdemeanor-offenses
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/12/new-russian-bill-would-allow-government-to-seize-property-of-citizens-abroad-charged-with-misdemeanor-offenses
Meduza
New Russian bill would allow government to seize property of citizens abroad charged with misdemeanor offenses — Meduza
Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament, announced Sunday that the State Duma plans to begin reviewing a bill in mid-May that would “tighten administrative liability for those residing abroad.”
Russian propagandists spread cocaine rumor about Macron, claiming a tissue in a video from leaders' Kyiv trip is a 'little white bag'
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/12/russian-propagandists-spread-cocaine-rumor-about-macron-claiming-a-tissue-in-a-video-from-leaders-kyiv-trip-is-a-little-white-bag
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/12/russian-propagandists-spread-cocaine-rumor-about-macron-claiming-a-tissue-in-a-video-from-leaders-kyiv-trip-is-a-little-white-bag
Meduza
Russian propagandists spread cocaine rumor about Macron, claiming a tissue in a video from leaders' Kyiv trip is a 'little white…
Russian propagandists still haven't kicked their nasty habit of accusing foreign leaders of doing cocaine. Late last week, when a video of the French, British, and German leaders on a train to Kyiv appeared to show a small white bag, Internet users quickly…
‘She always cared about other people’s problems’. Remembering Russian investigative journalist Irina Pankratova
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/12/she-always-cared-about-other-people-s-problems
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/12/she-always-cared-about-other-people-s-problems
Meduza
‘She always cared about other people’s problems’
Russian journalist Irina Pankratova passed away after a prolonged illness on May 10. She was 39 years old.
Poland to close Russian consulate in Kraków over Moscow's alleged involvement in shopping mall arson attack
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/12/poland-to-close-russian-consulate-in-krakow-over-moscow-s-alleged-involvement-in-shopping-mall-arson-attack
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/12/poland-to-close-russian-consulate-in-krakow-over-moscow-s-alleged-involvement-in-shopping-mall-arson-attack
Meduza
Poland to close Russian consulate in Kraków over Moscow's alleged involvement in shopping mall arson attack — Meduza
Poland has decided to close the Russian consulate in Kraków, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski announced on Monday.
‘All that’s missing is an enlistment office’. Inside the ‘SVO Museum’ — Moscow’s new exhibition linking World War II to Russia’s war against Ukraine
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/12/all-that-s-missing-is-an-enlistment-office
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/12/all-that-s-missing-is-an-enlistment-office
Meduza
‘All that’s missing is an enlistment office’
In 2025, the Kremlin is marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany with particular fanfare. One of the centerpiece projects is the “SVO Museum,” a new exhibition in Moscow dedicated to Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine.…
Grigory’s Ode to Joy. Facing six years in prison, Russian election monitor Grigory Melkonyants delivers closing statement in court
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/13/grigory-s-ode-to-joy
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/13/grigory-s-ode-to-joy
Meduza
Grigory’s Ode to Joy
On Monday, a Moscow court heard closing arguments in the criminal case against Grigory Melkonyants, co-chair of the independent election-monitoring group Golos. He faces up to six years in prison for allegedly organizing the activities of an “undesirable”…
London court imprisons six Bulgarian nationals for spying for Russia and plotting attacks on journalists Roman Dobrokhotov and Christo Grozev
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/13/london-court-imprisons-six-bulgarian-nationals-for-spying-for-russia-and-plotting-attacks-on-journalists-roman-dobrokhotov-and-christo-grozev
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/13/london-court-imprisons-six-bulgarian-nationals-for-spying-for-russia-and-plotting-attacks-on-journalists-roman-dobrokhotov-and-christo-grozev
Meduza
London court imprisons six Bulgarian nationals for spying for Russia and plotting attacks on journalists Roman Dobrokhotov and…
On Monday, a London court sentenced six Bulgarian nationals to prison on charges of spying for Russia, the BBC reports. Orlin Rusev, the group’s leader, got the longest sentence: 10 years and eight months. The others received prison terms ranging from five…
Russian police chief with gold-plated toilet sentenced to 20 years for trucker extortion
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/13/russian-police-chief-with-gold-plated-toilet-sentenced-to-20-years-for-trucker-extortion
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/13/russian-police-chief-with-gold-plated-toilet-sentenced-to-20-years-for-trucker-extortion
Meduza
Russian police chief with gold-plated toilet sentenced to 20 years for trucker extortion
In the city of Cherkessk, in Russia’s North Caucasus, near the border with Georgia, a court has sentenced Alexey Safonov, the former traffic police chief of Stavropol Krai, to 20 years in prison for running an organized criminal group, accepting bribes, and…
Europe to press U.S. for tougher sanctions on Russia if Putin refuses to meet Zelensky in Istanbul — Bloomberg
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/13/europe-to-press-u-s-for-tougher-sanctions-on-russia-if-putin-refuses-to-meet-zelensky-in-istanbul-bloomberg
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/13/europe-to-press-u-s-for-tougher-sanctions-on-russia-if-putin-refuses-to-meet-zelensky-in-istanbul-bloomberg
Meduza
Europe to press U.S. for tougher sanctions on Russia if Putin refuses to meet Zelensky in Istanbul — Bloomberg
European leaders plan to press U.S. President Donald Trump to make good on his threat of new sanctions against Russia if Vladimir Putin refuses to meet with Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul on May 15 or fails to agree to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire…
U.S. envoy says Trump has threatened to leave peace negotiations if direct talks between Russia and Ukraine don't occur soon
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/13/u-s-envoy-says-trump-has-threatened-to-leave-peace-negotiations-if-direct-talks-between-russia-and-ukraine-don-t-occur-soon
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/13/u-s-envoy-says-trump-has-threatened-to-leave-peace-negotiations-if-direct-talks-between-russia-and-ukraine-don-t-occur-soon
Meduza
U.S. envoy says Trump has threatened to leave peace negotiations if direct talks between Russia and Ukraine don't occur soon —…
Donald Trump has “issued an ultimatum” to Russia and Ukraine, saying that Washington will leave the negotiating table if they don’t engage in direct talks soon, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff told Breitbart in an interview published Monday.
U.N. aviation authority rules Russia responsible for 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/13/u-n-aviation-authority-rules-russia-responsible-for-2014-downing-of-malaysia-airlines-flight-mh17
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/13/u-n-aviation-authority-rules-russia-responsible-for-2014-downing-of-malaysia-airlines-flight-mh17
Meduza
U.N. aviation authority rules Russia responsible for 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17
The Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has formally found Russia responsible for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine in 2014, the Dutch Foreign Ministry announced.
Sergey Surovikin, former commander of Russia's forces in Ukraine who faded from view after Prigozhin rebellion, resurfaces in Algeria
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/13/sergey-surovikin-russia-s-top-commander-in-ukraine-until-2023-prigozhin-rebellion-resurfaces-in-algeria
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/13/sergey-surovikin-russia-s-top-commander-in-ukraine-until-2023-prigozhin-rebellion-resurfaces-in-algeria
Meduza
Sergey Surovikin, former commander of Russia's forces in Ukraine who faded from view after Prigozhin rebellion, resurfaces in Algeria
Russian General Sergey Surovikin, the ex-commander of Russia's invasion forces in Ukraine who disappeared from the public eye in 2023, is now working in Algeria, according to pro-war Telegram channels.
Top Zelensky adviser says Ukrainian president will meet only with Putin in Istanbul
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/13/top-zelensky-adviser-says-ukrainian-president-will-meet-only-with-putin-in-istanbul
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/13/top-zelensky-adviser-says-ukrainian-president-will-meet-only-with-putin-in-istanbul
Meduza
Top Zelensky adviser says Ukrainian president will meet only with Putin in Istanbul
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will not meet with any Russian representatives in Istanbul except President Vladimir Putin, senior Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said in an interview on The Breakfast Show.
'I asked myself whether I was a psychopath'. Confessions of a Meduza journalist who continues to report anonymously from Putin's Russia
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/13/i-asked-myself-whether-i-was-a-psychopath
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/13/i-asked-myself-whether-i-was-a-psychopath
Meduza
'I asked myself whether I was a psychopath'
Meduza’s 10th anniversary exhibition, “No,” is currently open to the public at Berlin’s Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien gallery. The show, which is dedicated to everyone to dares to resist, brings together artists and journalists alike to reflect on themes…
Ten ex-convicts who signed Russian army contracts escape from training ground just before scheduled deployment
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/13/ten-ex-convicts-who-signed-russian-army-contracts-escape-from-military-training-ground-just-before-deployment-date
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/13/ten-ex-convicts-who-signed-russian-army-contracts-escape-from-military-training-ground-just-before-deployment-date
Meduza
Ten ex-convicts who signed Russian army contracts escape from training ground just before scheduled deployment
Ten former convicts who had signed contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry and were due to be sent to fight in Ukraine have escaped from a military training ground near Rostov, according to the news site DonDay and the local outlet 161.ru.
Trump's attendance at Russia–Ukraine talks in Istanbul will depend largely on whether Putin joins — CNN
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/13/trump-s-attendance-at-russia-ukraine-talks-in-istanbul-will-depend-largely-on-whether-putin-joins-cnn
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/13/trump-s-attendance-at-russia-ukraine-talks-in-istanbul-will-depend-largely-on-whether-putin-joins-cnn
Meduza
Trump's attendance at Russia–Ukraine talks in Istanbul will depend largely on whether Putin joins — CNN — Meduza
Whether Donald Trump travels to Istanbul to join the May 15 talks between Russia and Ukraine will depend largely on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the meeting, CNN reports, citing a White House official.