The invitation by Belarus came as its autocratic leader has been trying to improve relations with the Trump administration, which has been receptive.
Author: Valerie Hopkins and Nanna Heitmann
For Many Returning Russian Veterans, a Long Road of Recovery Awaits
A large number of soldiers return as amputees, and many suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Once home, they face stigma and a grueling course of rehabilitation.
Struggling to Stem Extremism, Tajikistan Targets Beards and Head Scarves
After Tajiks were charged with a deadly attack in Moscow, the country has cracked down on signs of Islam. But experts say it’s not addressing the causes of terrorism.
A Russian City Adapts to War: Blast Shelters and Drone Jamming
While in Moscow the fighting feels far away, residents of Belgorod, 25 miles from the border with Ukraine, have learned to duck for cover when the sirens wail.
Russia-Ukraine Border That Separates Families Is Now Also a Front Line
In northeastern Ukraine, and in the part of Russia it touches, the war strains the emotions of people with relatives, and family histories, that span both sides.
Putin Is Selling Victory, and Many Russians Are Buying It
Vladimir Putin’s message to his country appears to be taking hold: that Russia is fighting against the whole Western world — and winning.
A Russian Village Buries a Soldier, and Tries to Make Sense of the War
In Russia, the pain and loss of the war in Ukraine are felt most profoundly in small villages, where a soldier’s burial produces not just grief but a yearning to find meaning in his death.
One Man’s Mission to Give Soviet World War II Soldiers Decent Burials
Konstantin Dobrovolsky searches for the remains of soldiers left to rot on the battlefield almost 80 years ago. Then he had to bury his own son, who fought in a war he despises.
In Moscow, the War Is Background Noise, but Ever-Present
Muscovites go about their daily lives with little major disruption. But the war’s effects are evident — in the stores, at the movies and in the increasingly repressive environment.
In Belarus, the Protests Were Three Years Ago. The Crackdown Is Never-Ending.
Aleksandr G. Lukashenko brutally repressed those who opposed his claim of re-election as president. The crackdown on dissent has only deepened since.