Steve Rosenberg: Russian Papers Silent on the 20th Anniversary of Journalist's Murder

Oct 7, 2026 | 20 years ago today Anna Politkovskaya, one of Russia’s most prominent investigative journalists, was murdered in the stairwell of her apartment block. In today’s Russian newspapers I found no mention of this anniversary.

Steve Rosenberg: What Are Russian Newspapers Saying about Reports of a Potentially "Dangerous Infection" in Irkutsk?

Oct 5, 2026 | Today one Russian paper claims “Russia’s military has been given political blank cheque to carry out full demilitarisation & deindustrialisation of Ukraine.” But there's nothing in the papers from Irkutsk, where in recent days there have been reports of a potentially “dangerous infection.” I quote local TV, though.

Steve Rosenberg: Russian Paper: “The Election’s Over. It’s Time for Unpopular Measures.”

Sep 28, 2026 | Today one Russian newspaper writes: “The parliamentary elections are over. The time has come for unpopular measures.” Another reports on contacts between the Kremlin and the far-right AfD.

Steve Rosenberg: "What Should I Do If I Need My Motherland, But She Doesn’t Need Me?”

Sep 27, 2026 | “What should I do if I need my motherland, but she doesn’t need me?” Superheroes, special operations and “shaping the mindset of children.”

Steve Rosenberg: Ahead, Russia Has Not Peace, But War": Today's Russian Newspapers

Sep 25, 2026 | Today one Russian newspaper doubts that Vladimir Putin will attend the G20 summit in Miami and predicts “an even tougher and bloodier phase of the Ukraine conflict this winter.” Its headline: “Ahead Russia has not peace, but war.”

Steve Rosenberg: Russian Newspaper Warns of the "Deterioration of the Economic Situation" in Russia

Sep 14, 2026 | Today’s Russian papers write about “the deterioration of the economic situation in Russia”, where “housing construction is deep in the red” & “increasingly expensive groceries & petrol are making people worry more about inflation.”

Steve Rosenberg: Russia: a 'Holy War', a Subway Station and the Mood on the Street

Sep 13, 2026 | In Moscow I visit a new Metro station that references the war in Ukraine, a museum that heroises Russian & North Korean soldiers and I try to gauge the mood on the streets.

Steve Rosenberg: "Hole in Russia's State Budget" Bigger Than Expected

Sep 10, 2026 | In today’s Russian papers: “hole in the state budget” bigger than expected; “growing demand in Russia for insurance cover for drone attacks”. And a senior official claims: “Russia can survive only as a great power. We’re either a great power, or nothing.”

Steve Rosenberg: What Are Today's Russian Papers Saying about Russia's Economic Problems?

September 8, 2026

Steve Rosenberg: Diplomacy of the Doomed": What the Russian Papers Are Saying about US Talks with Putin

Sep 7, 2026 | "Diplomacy of the Doomed" is how one of today's Russian papers sums up Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner's talks with Vladimir Putin, adding "Their mission was doomed to underachievement from the outset."

Steve Rosenberg: Russia: Change, Apples and a National Idea

September 6, 2026 | What has been changing in Russia? What were the Russian papers writing about last week? Plus, memories of Soviet TV.

Steve Rosenberg: Modi Calls on Putin to Move towards Peace. How Should We Interpret the Response?

Sep 1, 2026 | Yesterday Prime Minister Modi of India urged Vladimir Putin to move towards peace in Ukraine. What are today’s Russian newspapers saying about that? And how should we interpret the Kremlin leader’s response?

Steve Rosenberg: “The Destruction of the World Order Can No Longer Be Stopped,” Warns Russian Paper

Aug 31, 2026 | Today’s Russian papers report on Russia’s economic problems: “Stagnation in industry” & “Investment downturn significantly worse than expected.” But it's not just Russia that has problems, thinks one paper: “The destruction of the world order can't be stopped.”

Steve Rosenberg: Russia’s Anti-drone Cages for Buildings: What Are They Like?

Aug 28, 2026 | The Russian press continues to discuss John Ratcliffe’s surprise trip to Moscow. One paper: “The visit of a CIA chief is not a sign of peace & not a sign of war. It’s a sign normal channels are no longer effective and that the heavy artillery is required.” Plus, Russian cages for protecting buildings from drone attack.

Steve Rosenberg: What Are the Russian Papers Saying about the CIA Director's Trip to Moscow?

August 27, 2026

Steve Rosenberg: Russians "Withdrew More Cash Than They Deposited"

Aug 25, 2026 | In today’s Russian papers: a Putin decree, Russians “withdrew more cash than they deposited, praise for Marine Le Pen and a message for Andy Burnham: “He won’t see Moscow in his dreams. He should…in his nightmares.”

Steve Rosenberg: Russian Paper: Fuel Crisis Won't End If Russia Can't Protect Its Refineries from Drone Attacks

Aug 24, 2026 | Two very different headlines in Russia today. The army paper declares: “Victory will be ours!” Nezavisimaya Gazeta: “Is there a way out of the petrol crisis if infrastructure isn’t protected?”

Amid Fuel Crisis, Russia Now Importing Petrol from India

August 23, 2026

Steve Rosenberg: Swan Lake and a Coup: Russian Papers Remember August 1991

Aug 19, 2026 | 35 years ago today there was unscheduled Swan Lake on Soviet TV…and a coup by hardliners in the USSR. How are today’s Russian papers remembering the August 1991 coup?

Steve Rosenberg: Russia: “Tense Situation with Fuel Supply" Russian Newspapers Report

August 18, 2026