Russia Morning Memo

Latest — 17 Sep 2025

0650GMT//Putin wears military uniform to watch wargames; Russia is in a recession, says Academy of Sciences; Kremlin snooping apps spurs old smartphone sales

PUTIN WATCHES WARGAMES: Vladimir Putin dressed in a military uniform for only the second time since the start of his invasion of Ukraine to watch the Zapad-2025 wargames in Belarus. He gave a short videoed speech at his seat in the command centre, saying the wargames were designed to protect

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0655GMT//Putin's United Russia party wins (most) regional elections in Russia; Communist Party causes upset in Siberian city; India sends military unit to Russia-Belarus wargames

REGIONAL ELECTIONS: Final results on Monday from Russia's regional elections secured wins for 19 United Russia governor candidates. United Russia is the party of Vladimir Putin. The only non-United Russia candidate to win a governor's position was Oleg Nikolaev, a member of the pro-Kremlin A Just

0642GMT//Two railway sabotages in Russia kill four people; Ukrainian drones hit Russia's fifth largest oil refinery; interest rate cut disappoints business

OIL REFINERY STRIKE: Ukrainian drones struck the oil refinery in Kirishi in Leningrad oblast, north Russia, on Sunday. The refinery is the fifth-largest in Russia. The extent of the damage is unclear, but officials reported that a fire had broken out. (COMMENT: There is no doubt that Ukraine's

0657GMT//The Kremlin denies hitting Poland with drones; North Korea art goes on display in Moscow

DRONE STRIKE ON POLAND: Russian officials denied that the Kremlin deliberately targeted Poland with drones on Wednesday. Poland said that it shot down four Russian drones in "the most serious breach of Nato security" since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Feb. 2022. (COMMENT: The drone strikes

0657GMT//Poland shoots down Russian drones; Putin the 'workaholic'

POLAND SHOOTS DOWN RUSSIAN DRONES: Poland said on Wednesday that it had shot down several Russian drones that had entered its airspace. Donald Tusk, the Polish PM, convened an emergency government meeting and said that he was in "constant contact" with Nato. (COMMENT: Russia has been "testing&

0554GMT//Argentina accuses Russia of plot to destabilise; Putin gives top soldier 'order of courage' award

ARGENTINA ACCUSES RUSSIA OF MEDDLING: Russia's foreign ministry summoned Argentina's ambassador to Moscow to complain about comments made by Argentine National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich, who accused the Kremlin of trying to destabilise Argentina. Bullrich said Russian agents had wiretapped the Presidential Palace in Argentina. (COMMENT:

0615GMT//Putin will only talk to Zelensky in Moscow; Russian Orthodox Church parades through Moscow in show of strength

RUSSIAN MISSILES/DRONES HIT UKRAINE GOVERNMENT: A massive Russian missile and drone attack on Sunday morning hit Ukrainian government offices in the centre of Kyiv for the first time. Ukrainian officials said that this was an escalation of the war. Elsewhere in Kyiv at least four people were killed in

0702GMT//Putin's cousin brags that Russia is now a 'world leader' in prosthetics; Russia's road repair fund is cut to pay for war in Ukraine

PUTIN WARNS AGAINST INTEREST RATE CUT: Vladimir Putin used his keynote speech at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok to warn against a sharp drop in interest rates, claiming it will spur inflation. (COMMENT: Interest rates are a contentious issue in Russia. Business has been pushing for the Central Bank

0700GMT//Russian disappointment over talks with China for gas pipeline; Xi and Putin discuss living to 150; Gref sees Russian interest rates at 14%

PUTIN WRAPS UP 'SUCCESSFUL' CHINA TRIP: Vladimir Putin once again invited Volodymyr Zelensky to Moscow for talks during a 50-minute press conference in Beijing. Putin was essentially asking the Ukrainian president to present himself at his court to surrender. The offer has been ignored by Ukraine. (COMMENT: The

0652GMT//Xi , Putin and Kim meet for first time; Slovakian PM meets with Putin; Germany launches campaign to stop Russia recruiting low grade saboteurs

XI, KIM AND PUTIN: Chinese Pres. Xi Jinping hosted Vladimir Putin, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and several other leaders at a massive military parade in central Beijing. Video showed Xi, flanked by Putin and Kim, leading the courtege into a stand to watch the parade. (COMMENT: This was a

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