How has Sergey Chemezov's role changed since the beginning of full-scale war? Why is Rostec allowed to openly lobby for the lifting of sanctions in the United States? Why does Chemezov oppose further rapprochement with China? Does Chemezov advocate for ending the war? www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOtI...

#Moldova is adapting a new security approach backed by EU and NATO. However Russia is spinning it to help convince Moldovan electorate that this approach is the opposite of what ruling party wants to achieve. ridl.io/neutral-in-n...

There is a new ideological and cultural phenomenon that is becoming increasingly visible in both Russia and the United States: the Dark Enlightenment movement. This movement represents a hybrid of illiberalism, techno-optimism, and Christian metaphysics ridl.io/the-dark-enl...

There is a new ideological and cultural phenomenon that is becoming increasingly visible in both Russia and the United States: the Dark Enlightenment movement. This movement represents a hybrid of illiberalism, techno-optimism, and Christian metaphysics ridl.io/the-dark-enl...

Highly recommend this Harry Halem piece for Riddle Russia on the evolution of war in Ukraine and how both parties are adapting to it ridl.io/can-the-russ...

"The contradiction of Russia’s economic policy apparatus is that its competence is its incompetence. Where it succeeds—it just as often creates more problems it cannot fix as it does «improve» things" @ruboyinthehood.bsky.social ridl.io/contradictio...

Putin spoke at the launch of «Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia» yet he spoke about unity around Russians and through the lenses of war in Ukraine. No ideas about other forms of unity have emerged ridl.io/military-uni...

Putin spoke at the launch of «Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia» yet he spoke about unity around Russians and through the lenses of war in Ukraine. No ideas about other forms of unity have emerged ridl.io/military-uni...

"The contradiction of Russia’s economic policy apparatus is that its competence is its incompetence. Where it succeeds—it just as often creates more problems it cannot fix as it does «improve» things" @ruboyinthehood.bsky.social ridl.io/contradictio...

Highly recommend this Harry Halem piece for Riddle Russia on the evolution of war in Ukraine and how both parties are adapting to it ridl.io/can-the-russ...

Instead of a deal on Ukraine, the UAE talks have led to the resumption of US - Russia dialogue that can be sustained regardless of Russia - Ukraine status

As crises of automotive and metallurgical industries are set to deepen in 2026—just as Russia’s federal legislative election is nearing—Moscow may very well be forced to pay more attention and perhaps fork out more money to these industries and regions @minczifra.bsky.social ridl.io/russia-s-ind...

My newest for Riddle - after discussing the fiscal troubles of the Irkutsk and Kemerovo Regions in December, I'm taking a look at Samara, Vologda and some additional regions and their issues with cash flow.

As crises of automotive and metallurgical industries are set to deepen in 2026—just as Russia’s federal legislative election is nearing—Moscow may very well be forced to pay more attention and perhaps fork out more money to these industries and regions @minczifra.bsky.social ridl.io/russia-s-ind...

Check out this Riddle Russia piece on how Trump's sanctions against Russia oil are making a significant difference ridl.io/striking-the...

"We are now seeing Russian industrial data that shows annualized declines, with underlying trends suggesting the economy can’t be pushed past current limits unless military production directly reallocates capacity or labor from other pursuits" @ruboyinthehood.bsky.social ridl.io/running-out-...

"There are no indications that either side is exhausted enough to accept peace. Unless a major strategic breakthrough occurs on either side, the fighting is on track to continue—or even intensify—into 2027" @erwoods.bsky.social ridl.io/attrition-no...

"As with much of the Russian military, the war against Ukraine has brutally exposed and greatly accelerated pre-existing weaknesses. Any increased naval spending will be unable to remedy those weaknesses through capital infusion alone" @jhawn.bsky.social ridl.io/russian-navy...

"There are no indications that either side is exhausted enough to accept peace. Unless a major strategic breakthrough occurs on either side, the fighting is on track to continue—or even intensify—into 2027" @erwoods.bsky.social ridl.io/attrition-no...

"We are now seeing Russian industrial data that shows annualized declines, with underlying trends suggesting the economy can’t be pushed past current limits unless military production directly reallocates capacity or labor from other pursuits" @ruboyinthehood.bsky.social ridl.io/running-out-...

"As with much of the Russian military, the war against Ukraine has brutally exposed and greatly accelerated pre-existing weaknesses. Any increased naval spending will be unable to remedy those weaknesses through capital infusion alone" @jhawn.bsky.social ridl.io/russian-navy...

Striking the Gray Zone: Why Sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil Could Prove Decisive ridl.io/striking-the... On the Cumulative Impact of Sanctions and the Shrinking Space for Russia’s Oil Rent.

RU technocracy lost control of macroeconomic stability in 2024. Last year they were lucky enough to muddle through with marginal interest-rate decreases. This year with a lower oil-price environment and growing uncertainty, they won’t be so lucky. @ruboyinthehood.bsky.social ridl.io/let-the-good...

RU technocracy lost control of macroeconomic stability in 2024. Last year they were lucky enough to muddle through with marginal interest-rate decreases. This year with a lower oil-price environment and growing uncertainty, they won’t be so lucky. @ruboyinthehood.bsky.social ridl.io/let-the-good...

What role does Israel assign to Russia in Middle East? What is the current level of relations between Israel and Russia? Could Russia act as a mediator in negotiations between Iran and Israel? Watch our latest Russia Talk with Vladimir Ze'ev Khanin www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mzL...

Sanctions against Lukoil and Rosneft work quite well. We are seeing decreasing cash flows. If this persists, and it will, Russia would need to cut spending much faster to keep the war going ridl.io/ru/udar-po-s...

Kremlin is testing ideas on who will lead ruling United Russia party for 2026 Duma elections. Two key observations: 1. All of the names are affiliated with war in Ukraine. 2. Dmitry Medvedev is genuinely considered to be #1 ridl.io/duma-warm-up/

Belarussian hybrid warfare on EU borders should be seen as complementary, not separate, from Russian global strategy to empower «Make Europe Great Again» sovereigntists forces against the EU’s supranational elites @dioniscenusa.bsky.social ridl.io/migrants-and...

How did the position of Rostec and Sergei Chemezov "clan" change since 2022? His "clan" is known to groom at least three potential successor to Putin and he is an outspoken critic of Russian dependence on China ridl.io/rostec-s-pos...

How interested is China at all in “helping” Russia? How does Beijing view the future of the war in Ukraine? Is it beneficial for China for the fighting to continue as long as possible? Russia Talk with Alexei Chigadaev www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0Bq...

War in Ukraine collapse of Russia - EU ties and lingering hope of cutting some kind of deal with USA have left Moscow with limited room to maneuver. Those realities have kept RU officials from taking too harsh a public line toward US plans for #Greenland @anurlan.bsky.social ridl.io/how-moscow-s...

War in Ukraine collapse of Russia - EU ties and lingering hope of cutting some kind of deal with USA have left Moscow with limited room to maneuver. Those realities have kept RU officials from taking too harsh a public line toward US plans for #Greenland @anurlan.bsky.social ridl.io/how-moscow-s...

"The more Russian regime tries to engineer a great leap forward into the industrial future, the more active its interventions become into an economy it has mismanaged and underdeveloped" @ruboyinthehood.bsky.social ridl.io/the-great-le...

How did the position of Rostec and Sergei Chemezov "clan" change since 2022? His "clan" is known to groom at least three potential successor to Putin and he is an outspoken critic of Russian dependence on China ridl.io/rostec-s-pos...

"The more Russian regime tries to engineer a great leap forward into the industrial future, the more active its interventions become into an economy it has mismanaged and underdeveloped" @ruboyinthehood.bsky.social ridl.io/the-great-le...

Clocks are ticking yet Putin is saying nothing about Venezuela as if nothing is happening. On the one hand, he doesn't want to contradict Trump too much, on the other - what can he do, really? ridl.io/the-silence-...

One of the least discussed consequences of Russia's war in Ukraine is Russia's increased cooperation with Egypt. Nikita Smagin for Riddle Russia on the scale and limits of Moscow - Cairo friendship ridl.io/gateway-to-a...

One of the least discussed consequences of Russia's war in Ukraine is Russia's increased cooperation with Egypt. Nikita Smagin for Riddle Russia on the scale and limits of Moscow - Cairo friendship ridl.io/gateway-to-a...

Clocks are ticking yet Putin is saying nothing about Venezuela as if nothing is happening. On the one hand, he doesn't want to contradict Trump too much, on the other - what can he do, really? ridl.io/the-silence-...

More than any national-conservative ideology, Russia for twenty-five years and more has been governed in a way that protects privilege and unearned wealth ridl.io/inequality-i...

“Rearranging elites, including senior members, to redirect resources toward his children risks fracturing the key alliances that brought Kadyrov to power, potentially leading to elite defections if Ramzan is perceived as sufficiently weak” ridl.io/new-year-s-e...

“Rearranging elites, including senior members, to redirect resources toward his children risks fracturing the key alliances that brought Kadyrov to power, potentially leading to elite defections if Ramzan is perceived as sufficiently weak” ridl.io/new-year-s-e...

More than any national-conservative ideology, Russia for twenty-five years and more has been governed in a way that protects privilege and unearned wealth ridl.io/inequality-i...

Why does Kremlin like Trump's Monroe Doсtrine? First(among many), it implies that Washington's activity in the Caucasus and Central Asia is half-serious. Second, it almost invites Russia to stay in the Middle East. ridl.io/russia-and-t...

The cost of financing Russia's war in Ukraine for just one week now equals the entire annual budget of 75% of Russian regions combined @ruboyinthehood.bsky.social for Riddle Russia on how this is (un)sustainable ridl.io/marching-to-...

How do the new Trump sanctions differ from all previous rounds directed against Russian oil? How seriously could Russia's oil revenues shrink in 2026? Why has Russian auto industry been so badly hit by the sanctions? Russia Talk with Vakhtang Partsvania www.youtube.com/watch?v=euPv...

The cost of financing Russia's war in Ukraine for just one week now equals the entire annual budget of 75% of Russian regions combined @ruboyinthehood.bsky.social for Riddle Russia on how this is (un)sustainable ridl.io/marching-to-...

When Orthodox Christians around the world were celebrating Christmas, Russian patriarch addressing the Russian spoke of unique "Russian civilization", the West, national traitors and the need for self-sacrifice for the Russian state. No Jesus ridl.io/a-sermon-fro...

"The Central Asian five are forging a shared regional identity and aligned policies. This has transformed the region into «nobody’s backyard.» In the long run, this proves advantageous for all involved" ridl.io/living-in-th...

How many political prisoners are there in Russia now? How do the repressions in Russia differ from the repressions in the occupied territories of Ukraine? Russia Talk with Sergey Davidis youtube.com/watch?v=6bIMtjmwaR4&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY