Freed in a major prisoner swap, Aleksandra Skochilenko said “the values of freedom of speech, of peace, could be more important than spending even 10 years in jail.”
Author: Neil MacFarquhar and Milana Mazaeva
Understanding Post-Soviet Tyranny, in Order to Fight It
After winning the Nobel Prize for her searing portraits of the Soviet world unraveling, Svetlana Alexievich worries about the revival of its violent, anti-democratic ways.
She Studies the Russian ‘Red Man’ Whose Bloody War Evokes Soviet Tyranny
After winning the Nobel Prize for her searing portraits of the Soviet world unraveling, Svetlana Alexievich worries about the revival of its violent, anti-democratic ways.
Message From the Russian Military: ‘We Lost Your Son’
Russia lacks any formal, organized effort to account for legions of missing soldiers. That often leaves relatives in limbo, fending for themselves with scant government information.
Where Is Russia Finding New Soldiers? Wherever It Can.
From murder suspects to immigrants to a former Olympic gold medalist, Russia pressures those it thinks should fight in Ukraine.
Russia Showers Cash on Men Enlisting in Ukraine War, Bringing Prosperity to Some Towns
With fewer men willing to fight, Russia is focusing on cash incentives for those who sign up, seeking to avoid an unpopular draft while still increasing the ranks of soldiers.
Pavel Kushnir Dies in a Russian Prison
Among the hundreds of Russians jailed for criticizing the war in Ukraine, the death of Pavel Kushnir in detention has transformed him into an antiwar symbol.
Russia’s Youngest Conscripts Unexpectedly See Combat Against Ukraine’s Invasion
The long-sacrosanct practice of keeping young Russian army conscripts off the front lines is eroding as the lack of troops in Russia’s Kursk region indicates a manpower shortage.
Russia Opens Secret Trial of Evan Gershkovich of The Wall Street Journal
Evan Gershkovich of The Wall Street Journal has endured 15 months in prison by reading letters and Russian classics, while the authorities have not publicly offered any evidence that he was a spy.
Pardoned for Serving in Ukraine, They Return to Russia to Kill Again
Recruiting convicts for its army has given Russia a manpower advantage. But it is backfiring in tragic ways when former inmates are pardoned and return home to commit new crimes.