Pavel Talankin was a school events coordinator and videographer. When Russia overhauled the curriculum to make students into patriotic soldiers, he kept his camera rolling. The footage became a film that is shortlisted for an Oscar.
Author: Valerie Hopkins
With Missile Strike on Ukraine, Putin Delivers a Warning to Europe
A nuclear-capable missile fired into Ukraine near Poland sent a message to Europe days after its leaders agreed to postwar security guarantees, Russian analysts said.
Freed From a Belarus Prison, a Nobel Peace Laureate Experiences ‘Oxygen Intoxication’
Ales Bialiatski, who shared the Nobel in 2022, described long hours of backbreaking work and stints in solitary confinement.
10-Year-Old Killed in Russia School Stabbing
The attack appeared to have been inspired by white supremacist ideology, Telegram channels close to intelligence agencies reported.
Russia Warns Poland Over Arrest of a Researcher Wanted by Ukraine
Poland detained a Russian archaeologist who works on an ancient site in Crimea, which Russia seized in 2014. Ukraine calls the work illegal.
Halloween Becomes Another Target of the Kremlin’s Culture Wars
The Russian authorities canceled a festival in St. Petersburg, branding it “Satanist,” as part of a larger assault on anything viewed as a Western influence.
He Stayed in Belarus for His Imprisoned Wife. Now He’s Locked Up, Too.
Two journalists, both in detention for their work, show how President Aleksandr Lukashenko’s repressive machine grinds on despite warming ties with the U.S.
Burevestnik Nuclear Missile Tests Successful, Russia Says
Because of its power source, the Burevestnik can remain airborne far longer than other nuclear-armed missiles.
A Repressive Russian Ally Feels a Mysterious Thaw From the U.S.
Analysts say they are unsure what the Trump administration hopes to get out of its gifts and concessions to Belarus’s autocratic leader.
Belarus Frees 52 Political Prisoners and Gets a Warm Thank-You From Trump
The release came as Aleksandr Lukashenko, the country’s authoritarian leader and an ally of President Vladimir Putin of Russia, seeks to normalize ties with the Trump administration.