COGNICURRENT

Demand for travel to Sochi has significantly decreased due to ongoing drone attacks and increased airfares.

Sberbank has announced a record net profit of $22 billion for 2025, marking its third consecutive year of growth despite ongoing Western sanctions.

Moscow has issued a 'STOP list' prohibiting citizens from 43 countries, including key allies, from joining the Russian armed forces amid rising tensions.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow has not established any deadlines to conclude the conflict in Ukraine ahead of talks with Ukrainian and American envoys in Geneva.

The Chinese consulate in Russia has issued a notice informing its male nationals about a new Russian law that mandates military service for foreign men applying for long-term residency.

Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov admits locals feel resentment toward local authorities following recent power outages and a personal incident involving a refusal of assistance.

Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Moscow has not set any deadlines for ending the conflict in Ukraine, ahead of new talks in Geneva with Ukrainian and American representatives.

Russian regions reported a record budget deficit of 1.48 trillion rubles ($19.22 billion) in 2025, largely due to increasing expenditures outpacing revenue growth.

Russia has transferred the remains of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers to Kyiv in a body exchange that included the return of 35 Russian soldiers' bodies.

Russia is now entirely dependent on Chinese imports for optical fiber after a domestic plant was damaged in Ukrainian attacks and has been offline since May 2025.

Moscow has handed over 1,000 bodies of deceased Ukrainian soldiers to Ukraine, while receiving 35 bodies of Russian fighters in return.

Ukrainian drone strikes resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to six others in border regions of western Russia, as reported by local authorities.

Negotiations between Ukraine and the United States begin in Geneva regarding post-war reconstruction, alongside stalled peace talks with Russia and an exchange of prisoners.

A significant Russian strike on Ukraine involved the launch of 420 drones and 39 missiles, causing injuries and damage in multiple regions, including Kharkiv.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasizes that the U.S. is increasing pressure on Russia while maintaining support for Ukraine without imposing sanctions.

Madagascar's interim leader Michael Randrianirina meets with French President Emmanuel Macron to renew diplomatic ties following his discussions with Vladimir Putin in Moscow, amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the region.

Negotiations for peace in Ukraine continue bilaterally following a phone call between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, which preceded a planned meeting in Geneva.

The Dacha in Moscow, gifted by Stalin to Argentina, serves as a historical residence and a symbol of diplomatic ties established between Argentina and the Soviet Union post-World War II.

A new study reveals that the war in Ukraine has exacerbated economic disparities between Russian regions, with Moscow and St. Petersburg emerging as the main economic powerhouses.

President Vladimir Putin has granted the title of Hero of Russia to First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, as announced by various officials including Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

Russian exiled anti-war movements, particularly New Tuva, have been instrumental in helping conscripts evade the draft and escape the war in Ukraine over the past four years.

Over 3,000 tourists are stranded on Olkhon Island in Lake Baikal due to unsafe ice road conditions, with authorities working to ensure essential supplies are available.

The Russian government is contemplating sending fuel to Cuba, according to Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.

A man in Sverdlovsk has been sentenced to nearly 15 years in prison for the murders of eight people, including two children, in a brutal attack over 30 years ago.

A court in the Svedlovsk region has sentenced Viktor Petrichenko to 15 years in prison for the 1992 murder of seven people, including two children, in a long-unsolved case.

Heavy battlefield losses are hindering Russia's ability to initiate a new offensive in Ukraine, according to Western military analysts.

Ukraine's chief of staff Kirill Budanov calls for both Ukraine and Russia to refrain from striking each other's leadership centers, emphasizing the importance of peace negotiations.

According to the ISW, the fifth year of the war in Ukraine is beginning unfavorably for Russia, as recent Ukrainian successes on the battlefield challenge Moscow's narratives.

The former ambassador to Russia, Eitvydas Bajarūnas, reflects on the atmosphere in Moscow during the first day of the war.

Moscow has recorded over 80 centimeters of snow, surpassing a historical record set in 1994 due to recent heavy snowfalls.

A Moscow court has fined Telegram 7 million rubles for failing to remove content related to alcohol and LGBTQ+ issues, reflecting the Russian government's ongoing efforts to restrict the app's usage.

A drone attack by Ukraine on a fertilizer plant in the Smolensk region resulted in four fatalities and multiple injuries, prompting local authorities to consider evacuations due to potential chemical hazards.

A Ukrainian drone attack on a fertilizer plant in Smolensk, Russia, resulted in at least seven deaths and injured ten others, prompting evacuation considerations due to potential chemical leaks.

Andrei Lankov, a Russian expert on North Korea, reported being detained and expelled by Latvian authorities during a lecture, after being labeled as persona non grata.

The article discusses the historical context and implications of the Italian Communist Party's (Pci) corrupt practices during the Cold War era, as defended by prominent figures on television.

The founder of Dodo Pizza has issued an apology following backlash and calls for a boycott over the firing of an employee who sheltered a stray dog during freezing temperatures.

Russian attacks on Ukraine have resulted in civilian casualties, while Ukrainian drone strikes have hit Russian territory.

Russia has acquired sensitive properties near military and civilian sites in over a dozen Western European countries, potentially for launching a coordinated sabotage campaign.

The article discusses the ongoing devastation and heavy casualties in the Ukraine-Russia conflict as it approaches its fourth anniversary.

The article discusses the manipulation of narratives around the Ukraine conflict by Russian propaganda, highlighting an event in Italy that aims to expose these false narratives.

President Michaël Randrianirina of Madagascar met with Emmanuel Macron to establish a renewed partnership between Madagascar and France amid diplomatic tensions.

The Kremlin marks the fourth anniversary of the Ukraine offensive with little fanfare, focusing instead on a ballet performance and the Chinese New Year, as the conflict is downplayed as a mere 'special military operation.'

Russia has cautioned that plans by Western European nations to equip Ukraine with nuclear capabilities could lead to serious global repercussions.

Putin has demanded increased security measures following a series of deadly attacks on high-ranking military officials in Moscow.

Russia's Foreign Ministry warns that any transfer of nuclear capabilities to Ukraine would provoke a severe military response from Russia, escalating tensions between nuclear powers.

A suicide bombing in Moscow resulted in the death of a police officer and injuries to two others, with the attacker identified as a 22-year-old from Udmurt Republic.

Despite its claims of 'denazifying' Ukraine, Russia is utilizing far-right groups like the neo-Nazi Rusich paramilitary unit in its military operations.

The UK has exempted the Druzhba oil pipeline from its new sanctions against Russia, despite targeting the country's oil exports in its latest package against Moscow.

A researcher suggests that Kyiv and Moscow might reach a peace agreement without concrete security guarantees for Ukraine, although this is currently seen as unrealistic.

The article discusses the silence of Vladimir Putin regarding the anniversary of the war in Ukraine, reflecting on the general mood in Russia where a significant majority desires peace but have a skewed vision of how it should be achieved.