Steve Rosenberg: "Hole in Russia's State Budget" Bigger Than Expected

Sep 10, 2026 | In today’s Russian papers: “hole in the state budget” bigger than expected; “growing demand in Russia for insurance cover for drone attacks”. And a senior official claims: “Russia can survive only as a great power. We’re either a great power, or nothing.”

Steve Rosenberg: What Are Today's Russian Papers Saying about Russia's Economic Problems?

September 8, 2026

Steve Rosenberg: Diplomacy of the Doomed": What the Russian Papers Are Saying about US Talks with Putin

Sep 7, 2026 | "Diplomacy of the Doomed" is how one of today's Russian papers sums up Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner's talks with Vladimir Putin, adding "Their mission was doomed to underachievement from the outset."

Steve Rosenberg: Russia: Change, Apples and a National Idea

September 6, 2026 | What has been changing in Russia? What were the Russian papers writing about last week? Plus, memories of Soviet TV.

Steve Rosenberg: Modi Calls on Putin to Move towards Peace. How Should We Interpret the Response?

Sep 1, 2026 | Yesterday Prime Minister Modi of India urged Vladimir Putin to move towards peace in Ukraine. What are today’s Russian newspapers saying about that? And how should we interpret the Kremlin leader’s response?

Steve Rosenberg: “The Destruction of the World Order Can No Longer Be Stopped,” Warns Russian Paper

Aug 31, 2026 | Today’s Russian papers report on Russia’s economic problems: “Stagnation in industry” & “Investment downturn significantly worse than expected.” But it's not just Russia that has problems, thinks one paper: “The destruction of the world order can't be stopped.”

Steve Rosenberg: Russia’s Anti-drone Cages for Buildings: What Are They Like?

Aug 28, 2026 | The Russian press continues to discuss John Ratcliffe’s surprise trip to Moscow. One paper: “The visit of a CIA chief is not a sign of peace & not a sign of war. It’s a sign normal channels are no longer effective and that the heavy artillery is required.” Plus, Russian cages for protecting buildings from drone attack.

Steve Rosenberg: What Are the Russian Papers Saying about the CIA Director's Trip to Moscow?

August 27, 2026

Steve Rosenberg: Russians "Withdrew More Cash Than They Deposited"

Aug 25, 2026 | In today’s Russian papers: a Putin decree, Russians “withdrew more cash than they deposited, praise for Marine Le Pen and a message for Andy Burnham: “He won’t see Moscow in his dreams. He should…in his nightmares.”

Steve Rosenberg: Russian Paper: Fuel Crisis Won't End If Russia Can't Protect Its Refineries from Drone Attacks

Aug 24, 2026 | Two very different headlines in Russia today. The army paper declares: “Victory will be ours!” Nezavisimaya Gazeta: “Is there a way out of the petrol crisis if infrastructure isn’t protected?”

Amid Fuel Crisis, Russia Now Importing Petrol from India

August 23, 2026

Steve Rosenberg: Swan Lake and a Coup: Russian Papers Remember August 1991

Aug 19, 2026 | 35 years ago today there was unscheduled Swan Lake on Soviet TV…and a coup by hardliners in the USSR. How are today’s Russian papers remembering the August 1991 coup?

Steve Rosenberg: Russia: “Tense Situation with Fuel Supply" Russian Newspapers Report

August 18, 2026

Steve Rosenberg: Russia Selling "Anti-crisis Petrol" to Counter Fuel Shortages

Aug 7, 2026 | Today’s Russian papers report on Russia’s “Anti-crisis petrol” – lower grade fuel now being sold “to prevent a petrol shortage.” One paper warns: “regular use of lower grade petrol” causes problems for modern cars. Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil facilities have sparked summer supply problems.

Steve Rosenberg: The Language of War: How Moscow Describes Its War on Ukraine

August 6, 2026 | In today’s Reading Russia: a look at the language Moscow uses to describe the war on Ukraine. Plus, more on the consequences of Ukrainian drone attacks. And a Hollywood blockbuster (unofficially) hits Russian cinema screens.

Steve Rosenberg: "The Spirit of Anchorage Is Over" - Russian Paper on the Failure of the Alaska Summit

Aug 5, 2026 | What will be the consequences of Ukrainian drone strikes on Wildberries warehouses? One Russian paper today: “Russian enterprises will face a deterioration in financial performance due to rising logistics costs & damage to warehouse infrastructure.” Plus, "The spirit of Anchorage is over", one paper concludes as it recalls last year's Trump-Putin summit in Alaska.

Steve Rosenberg: What Are the Russian Papers Saying about the Moscow Restaurant Bombing?

August 3, 2026 | What are this morning’s Russian papers saying about Saturday’s restaurant bombing in Moscow?

Steve Rosenberg: "Agriculture in Crisis": Russian Newspapers Write about Russia's Economic Problems

July 31, 2026 | Today one Russian paper claims Ukrainian strikes “haven’t yet caused Russia damage that could be regarded by the authorities as a reason to compromise.” Meanwhile, Russian “agriculture is plunging into crisis…construction already deep in the red.”

Steve Rosenberg: Some Russian Regions Experiencing "Fuel Discomfort" - One Russian Paper on the Fuel Shortage

July 28, 2026 | One of today’s Russian papers notes that yesterday the Duma speaker “repeated five times ‘Russia. Putin. Victory.” He was later awarded a medal (by the president). Meanwhile, some Russian regions are still experiencing “noticeable fuel discomfort”.

Steve Rosenberg: "Back to Square One": Russian Newspaper Downbeat on Ukraine War Diplomacy

July 27, 2026 | “We’re back to square one,” declares one Russian newspaper this morning on “efforts to settle the Russia-Ukraine conflict.” Another paper quotes Vladimir Putin as saying “We didn’t start a war”, nearly 4 ½ years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.