RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – June 4, 2020

By Matt Richard | Published: June 4, 2020

Today in Russia: Russia to begin testing COVID-19 vaccine with paid participants; Europe nears tipping point with Russia while Russia continues to deny Bundestag hack; Norilsk environmental disaster continues, was “avoidable”; Russia sends more fighter jets to Syria; State pollster says 61 percent of those planning to vote will support referendum; Sberbank to buy online retailer Ozon; Sobyanin says most COVID-19 restrictions to be lifted by July 1

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – June 3, 2020

By Matt Richard | Published: June 3, 2020

Today in Russia: How Russian TV is covering US protests; Oil prides slide over fears of OPEC+ deal collapse; Moscow Exchange to extend trading hours to midnight; Norilsk fuel spill leads to declaration of emergency; Trump wants nuclear pact with Russia; Government sees no coronavirus risk in holding constitutional referendum; Ban on any campaigns opposing constitutional amendment; “There’s nothing the Kremlin hasn’t tried” to ensure referendum victory; Trump: “common sense” to invite Putin to G7; Has the United States abandoned arms control?; Polish regulator threatens to sue Gazprom

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – June 2, 2020

By Matt Richard | Published: June 2, 2020

Today in Russia: Only “coronavirus immune” troops to march at Victory Day parade; Russian officials furious at accusations of involvement in USA protests; Kadyrov condemns police violence in USA; UK and Canada not keen on seeing Russia at G7; US Senate to push for Nord Stream 2 sanctions; $72.7 billion in economic recovery spending; US commander suggests sending trainers to Tunisia after Russia ramps up efforts in Libya; Yandex and Sberbank planning “divorce”; Russia will not conduct major exercises near NATO border, condemns NATO for doing so

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – June 1, 2020

By Matt Richard | Published: June 1, 2020

Today in Russia: Constitutional amendment set for July 1; Claims of Russian involvement in US protests “dirty manipulation”; SpaceX historic launch could cost Russia, Musk taunts Russia; Vedomosti new owner will not remove controversial editor; Trump plans expanded G7 meeting including Russia in September; The Ruble is “saturated with oil”; OPEC and Russia in talks of continuing cuts as oil prices fall again; Russia and Turkey risk a “new Syria” in Libya; Russian stimulus falling short; A ranking of Russian allies

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – May 29, 2020

By Matt Richard | Published: May 29, 2020

Today in Russia: Moscow death count doubled amid scrutiny; Satellite and social media images seem to confirm Russian airpower sent to Libya; Vedomosti sale complete; 20 more arrested protesting arrest of journalist; Russia trying to keep up in vaccine race; “Freak heat wave” in Siberia; Ship travels through Arctic without icebreaker assistance Russian jets scrambled over Black Sea; Can Russia spark a domestic tourism boom with borders shut?; Drop in outflow of tourists to help Ruble

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – May 28, 2020

By Matt Richard | Published: May 28, 2020

Today in Russia: Journalists arrested for protesting the arrest of a journalist who protested the jailing of a whistleblower; Russia finds new way to lower cases – stop counting asymptomatic; US Military: Russia sent 14 MiG 29s and Su-24s to Libya; Russia could face 7.5 percent drop in GDP; Moscow Mayor says restrictions to stay in place until vaccine; Libya to fall under “spheres of influence?”; Roscosmos chief believes SpaceX and Musk are up to no good on Mars; New Nordstream 2 sanctions from US possible, Russia says no affect on plans

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – May 27, 2020

By Matt Richard | Published: May 27, 2020

Today in Russia: Moscow self-isolation regime extended to June 14; COVID-19 information chief: “It’s All Bullsh*t”; Sen. Rubio zeroed in on Russian disinformation; Russia cutting or ramping up oil production?; Illegal European cheese seized; Russian fighters make “unsafe” maneuvers on US spy plane over Mediterranean after accusations fly in Libya; US can’t “win” arms race against Russia and China; Unemployment up 2.5 times since before pandemic; Kadyrov declares himself “absolutely healthy”

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – May 26, 2020

By Matt Richard | Published: May 26, 2020

Today in Russia: Victory Day on June 24; US accuses Russia of sending fighter jets to Libya; Poll: Confidence in government virus management down; Russian gas flows to Europe plunge along with prices; Physical crude prices recovering; Kremlin says OPEC+ taking wait-and-see approach on continued cuts; Russia overtakes Saudi Arabia as largest oil supplier to China; Kadyrov reappears post-COVID infection – maybe?; Russians told not to holiday overseas; Roscosmos and NASA; Small businesses “left out in the cold”; Suspiciously enormous grain exports to Belarus; Lavrov piles onto Open Skies debate

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – May 22, 2020

By Matt Richard | Published: May 22, 2020

Today in Russia: 8,894 new cases; Significant increase” in deaths in May expected; Putin fears second wave of COVID-19; US coronavirus aid totals $5.6 million from banned USAID; Lab says 14% of Russians have antibodies; “Trump is right” to ditch Open Skies; Medvedev blasts US for Open Skies pull-out; Putin “presses plan to extend rule”; 5 more years for Sechin; Russia “Grabs Mideast Peace Initiative”; “Liberalized” visa system coming 2021; COVID-19 voting changes could be “very bad”

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – May 21, 2020

By Matt Richard | Published: May 21, 2020

Today in Russia: US military plane arrives in Moscow with ventilators in tow; Kadyrov catches COVID-19; Rosneft’s $610m suit against RBC; Dagestan’s fudged numbers; US to withdraw from Open Skies Treaty, Russia prepares “Plan B”; Navalny warns “rage is brewing”; Russia floats summit between US and Palestinians; COVID-19 and Russia’s Asian energy ambition; Moscow quarantining antibody-positive patients; Putin wants things to get back to normal – not so fast; Budget rule will not be abolished; “Oil soaring almost everywhere”; Russia-Japan bickering over islands reignites

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