Steve Rosenberg: Surprising Criticism of Russian Authorities in Mainstream Russian Newspaper

Mar 23, 2026 | From a mainstream Russian tabloid, surprising criticism of the authorities: “Either they see us as kids too small & brainless to be trusted or have anything explained to us [or] the system has become so unbalanced one part no longer understands what the other is doing.”

Steve Rosenberg: In Russia "Restrictions Are Tightening, Self-censorship Increasing."

Mar 20, 2026 | Today’s Russian papers write about attempts to protest against internet censorship, & about growing depression and fatigue in Russian society. “Restrictions are tightening…self-censorship increasing. This doesn’t help our psychological wellbeing.”

Steve Rosenberg: “Iran Events Show that Russia Can’t Rely on Any Diplomatic Agreements with the US” - Russian Paper

Mar 18, 2026 | In today’s Russian papers: “Iran events show that Russia can’t rely on any diplomatic agreements with the US.” Plus, criticism of Hungary’s leaders in 1956 uprising: “You mustn’t cross red lines. A red line was you mustn’t threaten USSR geo-political interests.”

Steve Rosenberg: "Iran's Got Trump by the Throat" Declares Russian Newspaper

Mar 17, 2026 | How is the Iran war seen from Moscow? One Russian paper today: “Trump wanted to strangle Tehran, but he’s tightened the noose around his own neck.” Plus, reaction in the Russian press to Mr Nobody Against Putin winning an Oscar [spoiler alert: there isn’t much.]

Steve Rosenberg: Russian Media Continue to List Benefits for Moscow from Iran War

Mar 16, 2026 | The Russian newspapers continue to write about how Russia benefits from the Iran war. Writing about Donald Trump, one paper says the US president has "made a mistake as old as the world. It's a feature of personalistic regimes. He comes to believe in his own genius. Those around him say only what he wants to hear. He takes a decision in a narrow circle of one of two trusted persons…as a result the blitzkrieg scenario didn’t work." Plus, a Russian lawyer who believes "the USSR is alive, not only in our hearts."

Steve Rosenberg: Moscow's Mobile Internet Blackout Sends Sales of Walkie-talkies, Pagers & Paper Maps Spiralling

Mar 13, 2026 | Today Russian newspapers report the consequences of Moscow’s week-long mobile internet blackout. “Sales of walkie-talkies are up 27%, sales of pagers up 73%...sales of road atlases up 170%.” Meanwhile, high oil prices mean that Russia’s “export revenues are growing.”

Steve Rosenberg: Russian Schools Introduce Obligatory History Exams, Education Based on "Love for the Motherland"

March 12, 2026

Steve Rosenberg: In Russia, Who's Criticising Donald Trump...and Who Isn't?

Mar 11, 2026 | One of today's Russian papers writes that Donald Trump “needs help extricating himself from the poisoned political web spun from his arrogance & recklessness. Putin’s political trump cards have multiplied due to the miscalculations of his US counterpart”

Steve Rosenberg: Russian Paper on Donald Trump: "The 'Peace President' Has Lost His Mind."

March 10, 2026

Steve Rosenberg: Russian Newspaper Refers to “the Machine of Persecution & Punishment” in Today's Russia

Feb 27, 2026 | This week one Russian newspaper described “the machine of persecution & punishment” in Russia. “Everything that a few months ago was not just legal, but natural, is being criminalised.” Plus, the state of the Russian economy and how the Russian press reported on the 70th anniversary of Khrushchev's 'secret speech' denouncing Stalin's cult of personality.

Steve Rosenberg: "Russia Needs a Military Alliance" Says Russian Paper.

Feb 24, 2026 | An opinion piece in Moskovsky Komsomolets calls for Russia and allies to form a military alliance. Remembering the Warsaw Pact, the writer claims that Moscow was “restoring constitutional order in Hungary in 1956 & in Czechoslovakia in 1968,” a sign of how Russia in 2026 is reinterpreting history.

Steve Rosenberg: Russian Papers: No Mention of Alexei Navalny and Poison Claim.

February 16, 2026

Steve Rosenberg: Russia Restricts Telegram, Russian MP Claims It's for "The Defence of the Information Frontline.”

February 11, 2026

Steve Rosenberg: Reading Russia Weekend Extra: Memories of a NATO Visit to Moscow.

Feb 8, 2026 | I’m back with another Reading Russia Weekend Extra. In this edition: what the Russian papers have been saying about talks on Ukraine in Abu Dhabi and the Olympics in Milan-Cortina, plus memories of a NATO chief visiting Moscow 25 years ago.

Steve Rosenberg: “Several Think Tanks Warning of a Recession in Russia": Russian Paper

Feb 6, 2026 | From today’s Russian papers: “You don’t have to be an economist to forecast a recession: Russia’s export revenue is falling, budget revenues are falling, taxes rising, consumer demand shrinking…” Another paper: “Oil & gas revenues fall…rise in bread prices.” Also today, what the Russian papers are saying about the two days of peace talks in Abu Dhabi.

Steve Rodenberg: What Are the Russian Papers Saying about Peace Talks on Ukraine?

Feb 4, 2026 | No hint of compromise from Moscow ahead of peace talks in Abu Dhabi. The Russian government paper: “We’ll continue strikes until Kyiv signs a peace deal on our terms.” Other papers today focus on the economy: “India cuts Russian oil imports 3 ½ times,” “systemic banking crisis”, “car sales down.”

Steve Rosenberg: In Russia "Uncertainty, Lack of Money, Economic Crisis" Fuelling Anxiety: Russian Paper

Feb 2, 2026 | Today one Russian paper reports that “Russians’ anxiety has increased due to uncertainty, a lack of money, the economic crisis and a decline in production.” Another writes about an increase in “depression, anxiety & stress disorders” in Russia.

Steve Rosenberg: Reading Russia Weekend Extra

In “Reading Russia Weekend Extra”: what the Russian papers are saying about Russia’s economy, an interview with a newspaper chief, plus details of our film for BBC Panorama: ‘Our Man in Moscow’ is on @BBCOne at 8pm on Feb 2nd. Also on @BBCiPlayer

Steve Rosenberg: Russian Paper Concerned about "Off-switch for the Internet"

Jan 29, 2026 | With the FSB set to secure broad powers to cut communications, one Russian paper today criticises the idea: “It is impossible to imagine the functioning of a modern economy without a functioning Internet.”

Another paper looks at prices in 2026: “Vodka up 17%, cucumbers up 21.3%.”

Steve Rosenberg: “Trump Has Decided to Sink the EU": Russian Paper Writing about Greenland.

Jan 21, 2026 | “Trump has decided to sink the European Union,” declares one Russian paper today writing about Greenland. Lots about Greenland in the Russian press. But also domestic economic problems: “Prices ready to soar”, Moscow cafes closing & “Russia’s car industry completely dependent on China’s.”