Russia

Russia’s banks’ enjoy their best month this year as profits top RUB2 trillion

Ben Aris in Berlin August 22, 2023

In July, the collective net profit of Russian banks surged by 4.1%, reaching RUB327 billion ($3.5bn), their best month so far this year, the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) reported on August 21.

Russian branch of Domino’s pizza files for bankruptcy

Ben Aris in Berlin August 22, 2023

DP Eurasia, the Dutch company responsible for the Domino's Pizza master franchise in Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, says its Russian subsidiary DP Russia has gone bust and is filing for bankruptcy.

BRICS Summit: South Africa's president says his country will not take sides in a 'fractured' world

Thulani Mpofu August 22, 2023

In an address to his nation ahead of the BRICS summit (at which his Russian counterpart is conspicuously absent), President Cyril Ramaphosa said South Africa had resisted pressure to align with any one of the global powers.

STOLYPIN: The limits of Russian mobilisation

Mark Galeotti August 21, 2023

One of the recurring critiques of Western support for Ukraine is always that it’s too little, too late. Setting aside how fair or sensible this is, the striking thing is the degree to which there is a comparable strand of argument in Russia.

Moscow unlikely to give up Niger toehold as threat of ECOWAS military action looms

bne IntelliNews August 21, 2023

While the situation in Niger and the war in Ukraine are not directly linked, both are part of a broader global confrontation between East and West, and Russia is not ready to cede ground or influence.

Turkmenistan signals major change in energy-export stance

David O'Byrne for Eurasianet August 21, 2023

Ashgabat’s shifting position opens the way for expansion of natural gas supplies to Europe.

RIDDLE: Pavlov’s stimulus – understanding ‘military Keynesianism’ in Russia

Nick Trickett in London August 21, 2023

‘Military Keynesianism’ is said to be giving the Russian economy a bump, but how big and effective is the effect?

Russian investors launch action after being stung in $100mn crypto heist

Jason Corcoran in Dublin August 21, 2023

A group of about 50 Russian and CIS high-net worth clients are launching a class action against the crypto platform Atomic Wallet after their money was caught up in a $100mn heist, bne IntelliNews can reveal.

Ukraine war erodes Russia’s economic clout in Western Balkans

bne IntelliNews August 21, 2023

Russia still plays a spoiler role in Bosnia, Montenegro and Serbia but its economic role is far outstripped by the EU's, says a new report from the Clingendael Institute.

Netherlands, Denmark to supply Ukraine with F-16 jet fighters

Ben Aris in Berlin August 20, 2023

After months of procrastinating, the Netherlands has promised to send Ukraine 42 of its F-16 jet fighters and Denmark another 19.

Ortega reportedly allowing Russian military to establish bases, cruise missile batteries in Nicaragua

bnl editorial staff August 20, 2023

Daniel Ortega, the president of Nicaragua, has signed a decree giving Russia permission to station troops and establish military bases in his country, according to a report from Sprinter.

Indian prepares to land its Chandrayaan-3 probe on the moon days after Russia's Luna 25 crashes

bne IntelliNews August 20, 2023

Indian space agency has started preparations for the landing of the Chandrayaan-3 station on the moon on August 23 just days after a similar Russian probe crashed into the lunar surface.

Russia’s Luna 25 robo-probe crashed into the moon

Ben Aris in Berlin August 20, 2023

Crash is a huge embarrassment to the Kremlin, which was using the launch to remind Russians of the country's former superpower status.

Ukraine war fatigue is growing

Ben Aris in Berlin August 20, 2023

Growing fatigue with the war in Ukraine is growing louder as the war in Ukraine drags on with no end in sight.

MCFAUL: Western pundits’ “give peace a chance” with no strategy is not realism

Michael McFaul August 19, 2023

With Ukraine’s counteroffensive moving slower than many desire or expected, a new explosion of op-eds from American and European commentators has called for negotiations to end the war.

Military tension in the Black Sea is similar to the Iran-Iraq war threats to oil trade

bne IntelliNews August 19, 2023

Tensions in the Black Sea between Russia and Ukraine have escalated rapidly in the last few weeks, drawing comparisons with the 'tanker war' of the 1980s.

bneGreen: Carbon capture is only a way to make people feel good about continuing emissions

bne IntelliNews August 18, 2023

In recent weeks, the United States has witnessed a surge in carbon capture investment, with major players in the energy sector making significant moves. However, as a technology it remains ineffective.

Ukraine to target Africa for diplomatic push in bid to counter Russian influence, foreign minister says

bne IntelliNews August 18, 2023

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has compared the move to a diplomatic “counteroffensive,” underlining that Ukraine aims to “free Africa from Russia’s grip”, not replace it.

KABANOVSKY: Is Ukraine worth the trouble? The West’s resolve may be fraying

Alexander Kabanovsky in Berlin August 18, 2023

Ukraine’s counteroffensive is progressing more slowly than everyone hoped, but it is progressing and yielding results. Nevertheless, the mood in the West on the war is shifting.

Exports from the West to Central Asia boom as sanctions on Russia remake global trade routes

bne IntelliNews August 18, 2023

Extreme sanctions on Russia have dramatically remade global trade flows Russia turns to its friends to act as transit countries for banned goods. And most have cooperated, both because of pressure placed on them by Moscow and the money they can make.

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