In a quiet neighborhood of Kharkiv, a city that has seen more than its share of destruction, 16-year-old Nastya remembers the day war came to her doorstep. It was February 2022, and Russian forces tried to take the city in a single push. The battle at School No. 134 lasted half a day, turning the ar
Alex Browder is a 17‑year‑old student who was surprised when his name appeared on a Russian sanctions list. He discovered this while browsing news about cryptocurrency in his economics class. The Kremlin had banned him for writing a report that criticized Russian money laundering practices. The rep
Diana Shnaider is a young tennis player who has quickly moved up the world rankings. She was born on April 2, 2004, in Zhigulevsk, Russia. She plays left‑handed and is known for powerful shots. Her hard work has earned her a career high of number 11 in the world. She grew up in Russia but spent som
Joining the fighting in Ukraine offers few young Russian men a real future. Many get sent to battle with barely any training and outdated equipment. Some never make it out alive. For those who do survive, injuries often go untreated, leaving them disabled or stranded without help. The idea of becomi
Every year since 2019, Russia hosts its own version of Davos in St. Petersburg. This time the timing is terrible. Hours before the doors opened, missiles slammed into Kyiv in retaliation for a dormitory strike in Luhansk. The official schedule never says “Ukraine, ” but the shadow of war is everywhe
Ukraine's president recently stated that the country's armed forces have gained the ability to disrupt Russian military supply routes deep inside occupied Ukrainian territories. This means that Russian forces now face significant challenges in moving troops, weapons, and fuel safely across southern
Crimea’s roads feel the strain of fuel cuts. Drivers in the region are forced to use rationing coupons after Ukrainian drone strikes hit fuel trucks and block key highways. The governor of the peninsula says sales of common gasoline, Ai‑95, are limited and people must present coupons to buy an
Russia is scrambling to get its hands on advanced technology from the West, not just to keep its military running but to stay relevant in the long run. With sanctions squeezing its economy and years of war draining resources, Moscow is turning to spies, fake companies, and cyberattacks to steal what
Denis Pushilin, the head of Russia‑installed Donetsk region, shared news on Telegram that a Ukrainian drone attack claimed three lives and injured another in the town of Vuhlehirsk, north of Donetsk. The victims were part of a water‑repair crew traveling in a car when the drones struck. Pushilin al
Moldova’s leaders have loudly opposed a new Russian plan that would let residents of the breakaway region Transdniestria get Russian passports more easily. The move, announced by President Vladimir Putin, applies to about 350, 000 people in the enclave and removes many of the usual requirements for
