Holy war games. State Duma lawmaker accuses exiled anti-war priests of assaulting Russia’s ‘spiritual shield’
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/14/holy-war-games
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/14/holy-war-games
Meduza
Holy war games
Western schemes to unravel Russia’s spiritual fabric have reached new depths, according to lawmaker Yana Lantratova, chair of the State Duma’s Public and Religious Associations Committee. At a plenary session on Tuesday, Lantratova described religion as Russia’s…
Zelensky says any meeting with Putin must result in ‘political victory' such as prisoner swap or ceasefire, not just talk
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/14/zelensky-says-any-meeting-with-putin-must-result-in-political-victory-not-just-talk
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/14/zelensky-says-any-meeting-with-putin-must-result-in-political-victory-not-just-talk
Meduza
Zelensky says any meeting with Putin must result in ‘political victory' such as prisoner swap or ceasefire, not just talk — Meduza
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday that he plans to meet in person with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Istanbul in an effort to “find a framework to end the war.”
Germany has approved just 349 of over 6,000 asylum requests from Russian men since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/14/germany-has-approved-just-349-of-over-6-000-asylum-requests-from-russian-men-since-the-start-of-the-full-scale-war-in-ukraine
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/14/germany-has-approved-just-349-of-over-6-000-asylum-requests-from-russian-men-since-the-start-of-the-full-scale-war-in-ukraine
Meduza
Germany has approved just 349 of over 6,000 asylum requests from Russian men since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine —…
Between early 2022 and April 2025, a total of 6,274 Russian men aged 18 to 45 with Russian citizenship applied for asylum in Germany. Of these, only 349 were granted refugee status, subsidiary protection, or protection under a deportation ban, Berliner Morgenpost…
E.U. set to end tariff-free regime for Ukrainian products in early June — Financial Times
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/14/e-u-set-to-end-tariff-free-regime-for-ukrainian-products-in-early-june-financial-times
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/14/e-u-set-to-end-tariff-free-regime-for-ukrainian-products-in-early-june-financial-times
Meduza
E.U. set to end tariff-free regime for Ukrainian products in early June — Financial Times — Meduza
The E.U. is getting ready to end tariff-free access for Ukrainian goods in the coming weeks, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing diplomatic sources.
Moscow court sentences Russian election monitor Grigory Melkonyants to five years in prison for running ‘undesirable’ organization
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/14/moscow-court-sentences-russian-election-monitor-grigory-melkonyants-to-five-years-in-prison-for-running-undesirable-organization
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/14/moscow-court-sentences-russian-election-monitor-grigory-melkonyants-to-five-years-in-prison-for-running-undesirable-organization
Meduza
Moscow court sentences Russian election monitor Grigory Melkonyants to five years in prison for running ‘undesirable’ organization
A Moscow court has sentenced Grigory Melkonyants, co-chair of the independent election-monitoring group Golos, to five years in prison on charges of organizing the activities of an “undesirable” organization, Mediazona reported.
In southern Russia, mass killings of stray dogs spark outrage — and highlight a growing crisis
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/14/in-southern-russia-mass-killings-of-stray-dogs-spark-outrage-and-highlight-a-growing-crisis
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/14/in-southern-russia-mass-killings-of-stray-dogs-spark-outrage-and-highlight-a-growing-crisis
Meduza
Dogs, death, and disorder
The question of how to handle Russia’s growing stray dog population has become a source of heated debate. Lawmakers recently shelved a bill that would have allowed shelters to euthanize homeless animals, following widespread backlash across the country. But…
Germany arrests three Ukrainian nationals suspected of Russian-orchestrated bomb plot
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/14/germany-arrests-three-ukrainian-nationals-suspected-of-russian-orchestrated-bomb-plot
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/14/germany-arrests-three-ukrainian-nationals-suspected-of-russian-orchestrated-bomb-plot
Meduza
Germany arrests three Ukrainian nationals suspected of Russian-orchestrated bomb plot
Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office has arrested three Ukrainian nationals on suspicion of plotting bomb attacks, allegedly at the direction of Russian authorities, the agency said in a statement.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov won’t attend May 15 Istanbul talks with Ukraine — Kommersant
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/14/russian-foreign-minister-lavrov-won-t-attend-may-15-istanbul-talks-with-ukraine-kommersant
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/14/russian-foreign-minister-lavrov-won-t-attend-may-15-istanbul-talks-with-ukraine-kommersant
Meduza
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov won’t attend May 15 Istanbul talks with Ukraine — Kommersant
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will not participate in the Russian–Ukrainian negotiations scheduled for Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul, the newspaper Kommersant reported, without disclosing its source or providing further details. It remains unclear…
Moscow's wartime porn crackdown. How the full-scale invasion of Ukraine has impacted Russia's adult content industry
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/14/moscow-s-wartime-porn-crackdown
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/14/moscow-s-wartime-porn-crackdown
Meduza
Moscow's wartime porn crackdown How the full-scale invasion of Ukraine has impacted Russia's adult content industry — Meduza
Since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it's become nearly impossible to “stay out of politics” in Russia. Militarization has permeated every corner of society — even the most intimate spheres, like the porn industry. Just three years ago…
Rewriting Bucha. Russian governor promotes paratrooper’s story that flips the narrative of one of the invasion’s most documented atrocities
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/14/rewriting-bucha
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/14/rewriting-bucha
Meduza
Rewriting Bucha
In December 2022, the U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine concluded that Russian forces “summarily executed or carried out attacks on individuals” in the early weeks of their full-scale invasion, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians…
Putin confirms members of Russian delegation for May 15 talks with Ukraine (spoiler: he’s not on the list)
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/14/putin-confirms-members-of-russian-delegation-for-may-15-talks-with-ukraine-spoiler-he-s-not-on-the-list
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/14/putin-confirms-members-of-russian-delegation-for-may-15-talks-with-ukraine-spoiler-he-s-not-on-the-list
Meduza
Putin confirms members of Russian delegation for May 15 talks with Ukraine (spoiler: he’s not on the list)
President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree confirming the members of the Russian delegation for the talks with Ukraine scheduled for Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul.
‘The memory can haunt them for life’. Ukrainian psychologist Elina Bytyuk explains how war affects children
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/15/the-memory-can-haunt-them-for-life
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/15/the-memory-can-haunt-them-for-life
Meduza
‘The memory can haunt them for life’
On April 4, 2025, a Russian missile strike on the city of Krivyi Rih killed nine children, most of whom were playing in a park. The U.N. Human Rights Office said the attack, which killed 20 people in total, was the deadliest single strike to claim children’s…
Russia launches more than 100 drones at Ukraine ahead of Istanbul talks
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/15/russia-launches-more-than-100-drones-at-ukraine-ahead-of-istanbul-talks
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/15/russia-launches-more-than-100-drones-at-ukraine-ahead-of-istanbul-talks
Meduza
Russia launches more than 100 drones at Ukraine ahead of Istanbul talks
Russia launched an overnight wave of drone attacks across Ukraine, damaging homes and sparking fires, according to Ukrainian officials.
Restored sculpture of Stalin unveiled in Moscow metro station
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/15/restored-sculpture-of-stalin-unveiled-in-moscow-metro-station
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/15/restored-sculpture-of-stalin-unveiled-in-moscow-metro-station
Meduza
Restored sculpture of Stalin unveiled in Moscow metro station — Meduza
A sculpture of Soviet leader Joseph Stalin has been unveiled in a passageway at the Taganskaya Metro Station in Moscow, architecture researcher Alexander Zinoviev reported on Thursday.
Harvard scientist from Russia charged with smuggling frog embryos into U.S., sent to federal prison
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/15/harvard-scientist-from-russia-charged-with-smuggling-frog-embryos-into-u-s-sent-to-federal-prison
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/15/harvard-scientist-from-russia-charged-with-smuggling-frog-embryos-into-u-s-sent-to-federal-prison
Meduza
Harvard scientist from Russia charged with smuggling frog embryos into U.S., sent to federal prison
Kseniia Petrova, a Harvard Medical School researcher from Russia, has been charged with smuggling for attempting to bring frog embryos into the United States, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts said.
‘Why would he go if I’m not going?’ Trump says of Putin skipping Istanbul talks
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/15/why-would-he-go-if-i-m-not-going-trump-says-of-putin-skipping-istanbul-talks
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/15/why-would-he-go-if-i-m-not-going-trump-says-of-putin-skipping-istanbul-talks
Meduza
‘Why would he go if I’m not going?’ Trump says of Putin skipping Istanbul talks
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin chose not to attend talks in Istanbul because Trump himself did not go.
Zelensky arrives in Ankara ahead of Ukraine–Russia talks, accuses Moscow of sending 'prop' delegation
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/15/zelensky-arrives-in-ankara-ahead-of-ukraine-russia-talks-accuses-moscow-of-sending-prop-delegation
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/15/zelensky-arrives-in-ankara-ahead-of-ukraine-russia-talks-accuses-moscow-of-sending-prop-delegation
Meduza
Zelensky arrives in Ankara ahead of Ukraine–Russia talks, accuses Moscow of sending 'prop' delegation — Meduza
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Ankara, where he plans to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ahead of possible Ukraine–Russia negotiations in Istanbul.
Russian authorities arrest employees of largest publishing house over alleged ‘LGBT propaganda’ in books
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/15/russian-authorities-arrest-employees-of-largest-publishing-house-over-alleged-lgbt-propaganda-in-books
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2025/05/15/russian-authorities-arrest-employees-of-largest-publishing-house-over-alleged-lgbt-propaganda-in-books
Meduza
Russian authorities arrest employees of largest publishing house over alleged ‘LGBT propaganda’ in books
On May 14, in the Kremlin’s latest crackdown on the publishing industry, Russian security forces questioned staff of Eksmo, the country’s largest publishing house, and arrested about 10 employees. State media reported that the case is part of a criminal investigation…
Russian court fines Meduza nearly $5,000 for violating ‘foreign agent’ law
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/15/moscow-court-fines-meduza-nearly-5-000-for-violating-foreign-agent-law
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/15/moscow-court-fines-meduza-nearly-5-000-for-violating-foreign-agent-law
Meduza
Russian court fines Meduza nearly $5,000 for violating ‘foreign agent’ law
A Moscow court has fined Medusa Project SIA 400,000 rubles (almost $5,000) for “violating the procedure for the activities of a foreign agent.” The Telegram channel of Moscow’s courts of general jurisdiction, which reported the ruling, did not disclose the…
Zelensky to send delegation led by Ukrainian defense minister to talks with Russia in Istanbul
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/15/zelensky-to-send-delegation-led-by-ukraine-s-defense-minister-to-talks-with-russia-in-istanbul
https://meduza.io/en/news/2025/05/15/zelensky-to-send-delegation-led-by-ukraine-s-defense-minister-to-talks-with-russia-in-istanbul
Meduza
Zelensky to send delegation led by Ukrainian defense minister to talks with Russia in Istanbul
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he will send a delegation led by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to meet with Russian representatives in Istanbul. He made the statement at a press conference following his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip…