Kontur

Society | 2026-02-20

Neutrality isn't funny: Why Russia banned comedian Nurlan Saburov

A stand-up star tried to avoid taking sides on the war and found that in today's Russia, silence can be treated as defiance.

Society | 2026-02-20

Mariupol after the siege: One survivor's journey from ruins to exile

A performer who escaped the destruction of Mariupol rebuilds his life in Europe while grappling with the loss of the city he once called home.

Conflict & Security | 2026-02-19

From six months to forever: Russia's mobilized troops confront a war without end

Chat logs and interviews reveal soldiers who feel misled by recruiters, trapped by contracts and increasingly estranged from life back home.

Society | 2026-02-19

Russia sets a global internet shutdown anti-record

Systematic throttling, filtering and bans are reshaping how Russians access information and isolating the country online.

Society | 2026-02-18

Still enrolled, never met: Student life in wartime Ukraine

Ukrainian students never stopped enrolling in universities, but an entire generation has barely set foot in a classroom.

Conflict & Security | 2026-02-18

The hackers who tried to freeze Poland

A New Year's Eve cyberattack on Poland's power grid failed. What investigators found afterward alarmed the entire West.

Politics | 2026-02-17

Moscow eyes Ukraine's mineral riches as war economy strains

Officials in Moscow are reviving rare earth and lithium exploration in seized Ukrainian territory, as Kyiv warns the push is aimed at shoring up Russia's war finances.

Conflict & Security | 2026-02-17

Russian troops say they're funding their own war

As state logistics falter, Russian soldiers rely on dwindling civilian donations to buy food, drones and even body bags.

Society | 2026-02-13

Russia weighs turning homeroom teachers into full-time mentors

A State Duma proposal to recast homeroom teachers as psychological overseers has ignited backlash from educators who say the reform would deepen shortages and tighten state control in schools.

Politics | 2026-02-13

Russia's Duma shuts out cameras after lawmakers caught on their phones

After images of deputies gaming and shopping during session went viral, parliamentary leaders moved to control not behavior in the chamber, but what the public gets to see.

Conflict & Security | 2026-02-12

Russia targets Ukraine's rail lifeline to Europe

Moscow has been testing Europe's resolve by attacking the corridor that carries aid, weapons and passengers between Ukraine and the EU.

Society | 2026-02-12

Poland powers Kyiv through winter's darkest hours

As Russian strikes cripple Ukraine's grid, tens of thousands of Poles raise millions for generators to keep homes, schools and hospitals warm.

Society | 2026-02-11

Inside Kapustin Yar, where Russia's missile power meets everyday decay

Kapustin Yar helped build Russia's missile arsenal, while nearby communities struggle with decay, poverty and unanswered health risks.

Conflict & Security | 2026-02-11

SpaceX and Ukrainian Defense Ministry blind Russian drones

Evidence that Russia used satellite internet to control attack drones prompted emergency restrictions after a strike on a passenger train.

Politics | 2026-02-10

Russian propagandists question Central Asian sovereignty, stir regional alarm

Comments by Vladimir Solovyov and Aleksandr Dugin have fueled backlash in Uzbekistan and beyond, underscoring fears that Moscow's war rhetoric now extends past Ukraine.

Society | 2026-02-10

In Russia, economics is being rewritten for an authoritarian age

A new state-backed textbook challenges democratic myths, elevates Stalin's legacy and draws fire from citizens struggling with inflation and high mortgage rates.

Society | 2026-02-09

In wartime Russia, silence tops the charts

As the state promotes pro-war anthems, Russia's most-streamed artists are those who avoid the war -- or acknowledge it only obliquely.

Society | 2026-02-09

Emotional reunions, dashed hopes as Ukraine soldiers released

As buses carrying freed prisoners arrived at a Ukrainian hospital, joy, grief and unanswered hope converged in a rare moment of wartime reunion.

Conflict & Security | 2026-02-06

Moldova's border villages live under the shadow of a war they can't stop

Moldova's border villages brace for a war they cannot fight.

Politics | 2026-02-06

Authorities of war-hit Belgorod choose publicity over repairs

In Russia's Belgorod Region near the Ukrainian border, authorities invest millions of rubles in television coverage amid outages and destruction.

Conflict & Security | 2026-02-06

Germany sharpens hybrid defense as Russia's hidden war budget emerges

New intelligence on Moscow's undeclared defense outlays reinforces Berlin's push to protect critical infrastructure and prepare for long-term security threats.

Politics | 2026-02-05

Kadyrov's decline is forcing a reckoning over who controls Chechnya

As Chechnya's longtime strongman fades from public view, rival clans and the Kremlin are maneuvering to shape the republic's next chapter.

Justice | 2026-02-04

Poland sets up specialized prosecutors to target online hate

After years of dropped cases, justice officials say new units will pursue xenophobic abuse, disinformation and digital intimidation across Polish social media.