Russian authorities have allocated at least $1.9 billion to establish a massive network of state-sponsored exhibition spaces. According to United24 Media, this Kremlin-backed initiative originally began as a temporary showcase ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

Despite setbacks, Putin still believes he is winning the war, said John Lough, a senior fellow at Nest. Russia continues to make gains on some of the most important sectors of the front, is inflicting greater economic damage on Ukraine than it is suffering itself, and Kyiv's recruitment problems are even graver than Moscow's.

Russian President Vladimir Putin broke cover to deliver an address at the United Russia Party meeting Sunday. The president has been in discussions with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko for two consecutive nights with no photos or media coverage.

Opposition politician Boris Nadezhdin, who criticized Russia’s war in Ukraine and tried to challenge President Vladimir Putin in the 2024 election, said Monday he has left Russia, a move that follows a crackdown that barred him from a race for parliament ...