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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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – May 20, 2020

By Matt Richard | Published: May 20, 2020

Today in Russia: 300,000 cases – “Those meant to die will die”; Rosneft sues RBC over reports on Venezuela asset sale; Oil price rises; Russia “joins global borrowing boom”; A year in, Zelensky caught between EU and Russia; Failed prison uprising; Russian economy suffering from “double slump”, but still enjoys “triple surplus”; Unemployment jumps 30%; […]

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – May 19, 2020

By Matt Richard | Published: May 19, 2020

Today in Russia: Mishustin restored to post; April GDP falls 28%; Saratov goes back into lockdown after spike; “How Russia’s Coronavirus Crisis Got So Bad”; Russia and EU support WHO amid US threats; Russia and Assad growing apart?; Russia’s Yamal field sends early shipment through Arctic; Nenets Autonomous Okrug residents not keen on merger; More new Russian citizens than ever

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – May 18, 2020

By Matt Richard | Published: May 18, 2020

Today in Russia: New COVID-19 cases under 10k per day for three days in a row; Siberian death reports not being updated; Vedomosti owner responds to investigation; Former Yukos shareholders seize vodka brand; How the US “intends to slow down” China and Russia; US to donate 200 ventilators to Russia; After Rostec ventilators outlawed, deepening shortage feared; Russia-Norway border closed until at least Aug 20, maybe end of year; NATO “facing up to Russia” in Arctic circle; Russian Navy to “bolster” Baltic fleet; China’s mask diplomacy challenges Russia in Belarus; Russian oil above $30 for first time since March; Fear over virus in Dagestan

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – May 15, 2020

By Matt Richard | Published: May 15, 2020

Today in Russia: Another day of over 10,000 new cases; Lavrov latest to blast allegations of miscounting COVID-19 deaths, communications watchdog wants FT report blocked; Lavrov says no proof Russian hackers behind Bundestag hack; Rosneft posts 156 billion ruble loss but Sechin gets big help from Putin; Challenges cutting oil output; Cyrpus a “petri dish of Western worries”; Doctors dying on the front lines; Russian Premier League to resume matches on June 21; Moscow government bought the largest mask manufacturer; Siberian ambulance crews vow hunger strike over unpaid virus bonuses; Vedomosti power struggle shows “Kremlin’s widening influence”; How Russians are extradited from London

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