Week-ending 13 March 2026
Russia’s War against Ukraine
Georgy Kochkin thought he would be sent to Africa when he volunteered to join the Russian military’s Africa Corps. When he learned he was being sent to Ukraine, he deserted. (RFE/RL, 7/3/26)
US officials said Russia is providing Iran with targeting information to attack US troops and military assets in the Middle East, confirming a Washington Post report. (RFE/RL, 7/3/26)
Residents of a remote village in Komi Republic say dozens have left to fight in Ukraine, leaving behind grieving families and labour shortages. (The Guardian, 8/3/26)
The number of young Russians choosing to do Alternative civil service over military service has increased 180% since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when 1,140 young people performed alternative civil service. (The Moscow Times, 9/3/26)
Russian hackers have targeted messaging apps used by Dutch officials, intelligence services in the Netherlands said, as part of a “large-scale global cyber campaign.” (The Moscow Times, 9/3/26)
President Putin signed a law prohibiting the extradition of foreign nationals and stateless persons who serve or served in the Russian army in combat operations. (The Moscow Times, 9/3/26)
Russia’s deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children is a crime against humanity, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine said. (The Moscow Times, 10/3/26)
Russian prosecutors are requesting that a judge in Moscow ban tech entrepreneur Alexander Galitsky’s venture capital fund over “extremist activity” and allow the government to seize his assets. Galitsky holds Dutch citizenship allegedly for ‘supporting Ukraine’.Last month Galitsky’s ex-wife, Aliya Galitskaya, died by suicide after being arrested for extortion. (The Moscow Times, 11/3/26)
The Kremlin said ongoing disruptions to mobile internet services in Moscow and other regions are lawful and necessary for ensuring security. (The Moscow Times, 10/3/26; The Guardian, 12/3/26)
Other news
A judge in Moscow sentenced manosphere blogger Arsen Markaryan to 4.5 years in prison on Thursday after he was found guilty of “rehabilitating” nazism. (The Moscow Times, 5/3/26)
A court in Samara region fined Artyom Fokin, head of a small LGBTQ+ activist group, 450,000 rubles ($5,700) on charges of “extremism.” (The Moscow Times, 9/3/26)
Close allies of the late opposition figure Alexei Navalny have expressed outrage over an investigative media outlet’s decision to publish his unredacted autopsy photos. (The Moscow Times, 9/3/26)
A Moscow court sentenced Meduza military analyst Dmitry Kuznets to 2.5 years in prison in absentia on charges of participating in the activities of an “undesirable organization.” (Meduza, 10/3/26)
Russia’s Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS) said advertising on restricted online platforms like Telegram, YouTube and Instagram is illegal. (The Moscow Times, 10/3/26)
The Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by Dmitry Kamenshchik, one of the ex-owners of Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport, challenging its nationalization. (The Moscow Times, 10/3/26)
The Kremlin has approved a plan to support Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party through a covert social media campaign ahead of Hungary’s elections next month, the Financial Times reported Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. (The Moscow Times, 11/3/26)
An unexpected failure of a Russian telecoms satellite last week has left millions of households without television service and forced major providers to seek emergency help from foreign operators.
The state-owned Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) said its Express-AT1 satellite abruptly stopped functioning on March 4 for unknown reasons. (The Moscow Times, 11/3/26)
Alexei Moskalyov who spent more than a year in prison over an anti-war drawing that his daughter made in school has fled to France. (The Moscow Times, 12/3/26)
A Russian military court has sentenced four Tajik nationals and 11 alleged accomplices to life imprisonment for carrying out the terror attack on the Crocus City Hall. (RFE/RL, 12/3/26)
The Justice Ministry designated government official Alexander Ivanov, a member of the regional parliament in the republic of Sakha (Yakutia), a “foreign agent.” (The Moscow Times, 13/3/26)
Russia’s prison service is grappling with a deepening staffing shortage, with tens of thousands of positions unfilled last year. (The Moscow Times, 13/3/26)
