Steve Rosenberg: Russia's Barred from the FIFA World Cup. But What Are the Russian Papers Saying about It?

Jun 11, 2026 | In today’s Russian papers: how are the “fuel crisis, petrol sales restrictions, drone strikes, flight delays” affecting Russians’ holiday plans? What “victories” does Moscow think it has already gained?

Plus, reaction to the start of the FIFA World Cup, which Russia is banned from taking part in.)

Steve Rosenberg: Russian Holidaymakers Using Fortune-telling Cards to Predict When Airports Won't Be Shut by Drones

June 8, 2026 | With Ukrainian drone attacks continuing to force temporary shutdowns of Russian airports, one Russian paper today reports that “Russians have started to use fortune telling cards to tell them what date they should fly off on holiday.”

Steve Rosenberg: "Petrol Sales Restricted in Many Russian Regions" Russian Media Reports

Jun 8, 2026 | One Russian paper today reports that “In many Russian regions there are restrictions on the sale of petrol.” Another, reveals that, in Crimea, hotel bookings are “down 31%...& hotel cancellations double due to the fuel crisis.”

Steve Rosenberg: "Russian Regions & Big Business Arming Themselves to Defend against Drones" - Russian Paper

June 1, 2026 | Headline in one of today’s Russian papers: “Russian regions and big business are arming themselves to defend against attacks by Ukrainian drones.” Plus, the story of a newspaper article from last week that has disappeared.

Steve Rosenberg: “Unscheduled Repairs at Oil Refineries” Causing "Restrictions on Fuel Sales" in Some Russian Regions

May 28, 2026 | From today’s Russian papers: “The number of Russian regions with restrictions on the sale of fuel is multiplying.” The reason given? “Unscheduled repairs at oil refineries.”

Steve Rosenberg: Russians Who "Harm Russia" from Abroad May Have Their Property Seized

May 27, 2026 | In today’s Russian papers: “nuclear rhetoric” in the Duma. And a new law that allows the seizure of property from citizens who’ve left the country and who “continue to harm Russia” from abroad.

Steve Rosenberg: Russia: Reports of a "Split" on Whether or Not to End Russia's War on Ukraine

May 26, 2026 | Today’s Russian papers publish Moscow’s threat to launch a new wave of “systematic strikes” on Kyiv. But one paper reports on a “split [inside Russia] between those in favour of continuing the special military operation and those who believe it’s time to end it…”

Steve Rosenberg: Today’s Russian Papers: The Student Dorm Attack & One Article I Didn’t Expect

May 25, 2026 | Today’s Russian papers lead with the strike on the student dorm in Starobilsk. Also today, one newspaper suggests that through Russian history “major geopolitical losses were sometimes more useful than brilliant victories.”

Steve Rosenberg: "Russia and Belarus Flex Their Nuclear Muscles," Reports Russian Paper

May 22, 2026 | In today’s Russian papers: “nuclear muscle-flexing,” carrots and cabbages, “two scenarios” for Russia’s future and what a Russian singer said after getting an award from Vladimir Putin.

Steve Rosenberg: No Deal on Gas Pipeline at Putin-Xi Meeting

May 21, 2026 | Today one Russian paper says Russia is “on the verge of recession” & warns of “a large-scale bank liquidity crisis.” After Putin & Xi failed to reach a deal on the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, another paper points out: “Chinese media ignored the topic of the gas pipeline.”

Steve Rosenberg: Putin in China - What the Russian Papers Are Saying

May 20, 2026 | “Beijing welcomes Putin as an ally and reliable partner. It hosted Trump as a rival…” What the Russian papers are saying about Vladimir Putin’s visit to China.

Steve Rosenberg: Drone Attacks Adding to "Increased Anxiety" amongst Russians

May 19, 2026 | Today one Russian newspaper reports “increased anxiety” in Russian society. Another paper claims joint Russian-Belarusian nuclear drills “send a signal to Ukraine…to EU & NATO’s eastern flank”. Plus, stinging criticism of Donald Trump for his social media posts.

Steve Rosenberg: Russian Papers React to Massive Ukrainian Drone Attack

May 18, 2026 | What the Russian papers are saying about this weekend's massive Ukrainian drone strike: one paper calls it “audacious”, another says it is: “one of Ukraine’s largest aerial attacks.” “It’s increasingly difficult to cut the flow of weaponry to the Ukrainian army,” concedes another.

Russia: New Restrictions on Reporting Drone Attacks, New Rules for Expelling Foreigners

May 14, 2026 | In today’s Russian papers: new restrictions on reporting drone attacks, new rules for expelling foreigners, new local governors, new data shows financial situation worsens for ¾ of large Russian industrial companies. The joke at the end is about old lifts.

Steve Rosenberg: "Powerful Missiles" & "Downgraded Growth Forecasts" in Today's Russian Papers

May 13, 2026 | In today’s Russian papers: • “The world's most powerful missile”; • Russia downgrades economic growth forecast; • Russians turn to cash due to mobile internet shutdowns & “rumours” regarding bank deposits.

Putin Hints Ukraine War "Is Coming to an End." Do Today's Russian Papers Agree?

May 12, 2026 | On Saturday Vladimir Putin seemed to suggest the war in Ukraine was “coming to an end.” Today one Russia paper claims that “trying to interpret what he meant is like fortune-telling.” And will there, or won’t there, be talks with Europe...?

Steve Rosenberg: Russian Parade Warning, Economic Worries: I Read Today's Russian Papers

May 5, 2026 | In this morning’s Russian newspapers: Moscow warns Kyiv not to target the Red Square parade; problems with Russian bonds, with “almost 25% of the bond market at risk of default”; and what a newspaper joke section is saying about the state of the Russian economy.

Steve Rosenberg: Russia Steps Up VPN Crackdown

Apr 30, 2026 | In today’s Russian papers: Russia’s Digital Development Minister pledges to “fulfil the task of reducing VPN use” in Russia. One option: “the introduction of civil liability for VPN use. Plus, the Victory Day parade on Red Square to be scaled-back.

Steve Rosenberg: Stalin Rehabilitated, NATO 'Fragmented': What Today's Russian Papers Are Saying.

Apr 29, 2026 | In today’s Russian papers: Stalin rehabilitated, Soviet jeans remembered, Nato “fragmented” and Moscow wondering “will Nato’s foundation stone, the Article 5 principle of collective security, work?”

Steve Rosenberg: Reading Vladimir Putin.

Apr 28, 2026 | What should we read into Vladimir Putin’s latest comments to lawmakers that “fixating on prohibitions…is counterproductive”? Plus, today’s Russian papers report “Investment crisis becoming difficult to mask” and “Big pessimism of small business” in Russia.