An illustrated history that draws parallels between a potential invasion of Ukraine today and Catherine the Great’s occupation and annexation of Crimea in the late 1700s.
 

In which we unpack what Putin had to say about Ukraine while in France and what it's got to do with a punk band and a folk ditty.

Russia has an ultranationalist, pro-Putin motorcycle gang. Because of course it does.

Newly declassified documents show that the British government intended to save the last Romanov.

Fiscal sanctions may be devastating for an economy, but food sanctions are a punch to the gut.

Six films in Russian cinema with foreign characters as their heroes.

The history of Russia since 2008 has been to repeatedly lop off appendages – nose, ears, digits – to spite itself. Obsessed by erroneous threats, it has invaded its neighbors, quashed all democratic activity, rigged votes, interfered in foreign elections, harbored and/or enabled international cybercrime… and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Florence, Italy, is joining in on the Dostoyevsky anniversary fun.

In this week's Odder News, next year will be better, St. Petersburg's mayor should move to Africa, and bunkers are hip.

The world's youngest female pilot to circumnavigate the globe recently stopped in Russia's Far East.

In this week's Odder News, gigolos must be stopped in Russia, Yappy might take over TikTok, and "Timothée Chalamet" promotes Russian pastries.

"Any region [of the Russian Federation], a Russian citizen, a Russian person – these are our people. We have never split. Can we help with something in agriculture – please. We will give the last grain, super-elite [grain], so all is well."

–  From the website of Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus, on December 2.