Kontur https://konturnovosti.com/en_GB Kontur is comprised of a team of editors based in the United States and dozens of freelance reporters and content creators who live around the world. The mission of Kontur is to investigate and amplify stories of major importance that are often overlooked by local and regional media outlets. en-gb images/2026/05/15/56164-childern-tizer-370_237.jpg Russia's neglected children: the social cost of war For the first time in five years, Russia's homeless and neglected child count is rising, and experts say the war in Ukraine is the thread running through it all. http://konturnovosti.com/r/1669q gc6/features/2026/05/15/feature-01 Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 images/2026/05/15/56167-afp__20230303__33af4rt__v1__highres__russiaukraineconflictborderfsb-370_237.jpg Russia's FSB got a new name, expanded powers and no oversight Dzerzhinsky is back at Russia's spy academy. So is Chekist-style authority. http://konturnovosti.com/r/166a8 gc6/features/2026/05/15/feature-02 Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 images/2026/05/14/56112-afp__20180627__16p45b__v1__highres__russiamonumentfeature-370_237.jpg Is Russia eyeing the deployment of nuclear weapons in Earth's orbit? US commanders are war-gaming the scenario. Russia may be building for it. One nuclear weapon in orbit could knock out satellites, crash banking systems and end precision warfare as we know it. http://konturnovosti.com/r/1661t gc6/features/2026/05/14/feature-01 Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 images/2026/05/14/56110-afp__20220315__porzycki-russiaan220314_nprqh__v1__highres__russiaandtechnologycompan-370_237.jpg Russia plans law forcing every major website to show state news Russia is moving to legally require every major website and app to embed a government-curated news feed -- the latest step in a years-long effort to transform the internet into a state-controlled information space. http://konturnovosti.com/r/1662b gc6/features/2026/05/14/feature-02 Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 images/2026/05/13/56100-afp__20260424__a7ng7rv__v1__highres__kyrgyzstanrussiaarchitectureculture-370_237.jpg Kyrgyzstan's de-Russification drive tests its balancing act between Moscow and the West Kyrgyzstan has pledged to replace every Russian-era place name by 2027 -- a sovereignty push unfolding alongside intensifying Western scrutiny of its ties to Moscow. http://konturnovosti.com/r/165sq gc6/features/2026/05/13/feature-01 Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 images/2026/05/13/56098-afp__20260509__b2bz9pn__v1__highres__russiawwiianniversaryparade-370_237.jpg Belarus border buildup: threat or theater? Satellite imagery, quiet mobilization, and a regime trapped between Moscow and its own people -- Belarus is edging toward a war it cannot afford to fight. http://konturnovosti.com/r/165t8 gc6/features/2026/05/13/feature-02 Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 images/2026/05/12/56079-afp__20230706__33mx49k__v2__highres__russiaukraineconflict-370_237.jpg Russia's Army is running out of capable soldiers Recruitment is down, losses are up, and the Kremlin is running out of options. http://konturnovosti.com/r/165jb gc6/features/2026/05/12/feature-01 Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 images/2026/05/12/56077-afp__20260422__a8nl2re__v1__highres__ukrainerussiaconflictwar-370_237.jpg Ukraine's drone interceptors are now shooting down 80% of Russian Shaheds A cheap, homegrown drone is neutralizing Russia's most used weapon and changing the math of air defense. http://konturnovosti.com/r/165jt gc6/features/2026/05/12/feature-02 Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 images/2026/05/11/56052-afp__20260312__a2xk6p2__v3__highres__russiacrocusattacktrial-370_237.jpg Russia's Supreme Court deleted 20 years of crime data Surging political prosecutions, military murders and a wartime repression spike -- all scrubbed from public view. http://konturnovosti.com/r/165a2 gc6/features/2026/05/11/feature-01 Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 images/2026/05/08/56016-st81_tizer-final_2-370_237.jpg Russia leaves dying Crimean prisoners behind bars Russian courts grant medical releases to seriously ill Crimean political prisoners -- then take them back. http://konturnovosti.com/r/164zk gc6/features/2026/05/08/feature-01 Fri, 8 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 images/2026/05/08/56015-afp__20260505__a9vd39e__v2__highres__topshotrussiahistorywwiivdaysecurity-370_237.jpg No tanks at Russia's Victory Day parade for first time since 2007 Russia's showpiece military parade will have no military equipment this year -- a reflection of four years of war eating through its arsenal. http://konturnovosti.com/r/16502 gc6/features/2026/05/08/feature-02 Fri, 8 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000 images/2026/05/07/55989-afp__20260318__a3nf39e__v2__highres__russiaukraineconflictinternetsecurity-370_237.jpg Kremlin moves to ban VPNs for citizens, spends $4 million on VPNs for itself Russian regional authorities quietly stockpile VPN services while the Kremlin shuts off the same tools for ordinary citizens. http://konturnovosti.com/r/164s2 gc6/features/2026/05/07/feature-01 Thu, 7 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000