Russia is losing economic stability as the war in Ukraine continues, a report from the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) shows. According to the report's author, senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia Nigel Gould-Davies, within a year the Russian authorities will have to either radically increase pressure on society, switch to Soviet methods in the economy and, possibly, declare mobilization, or moderate military ambitions in Ukraine. Details .

Putin was met in China by a more important official than Trump Vladimir Putin arrived in China for a two-day visit. The ceremony to welcome him was similar to the one that was held for Donald Trump, who visited China last week - a guard of honor, extras with flags. However, I met... pic.twitter.com/Qk7viYtBD3 — Agency News (@agents_media) May 19, 2026 Vladimir Putin arrived in China for a two-day visit.

After Telegram was blocked at the end of March, the number of Russians who consider the messenger to be the main source of information decreased by about a third, according to an April survey by Levada Center. The main reason is blockages, but fatigue from the information flow also took its toll, a Russian sociologist who asked for anonymity told the Agency.

People without identification marks (probably security forces) broke into the Moskovsky Komsomolets building in Moscow, the newspaper reported. Their goal was not the newspaper, but the Medical Equipment consortium, said media financial director Ekaterina Chereshnikova. This consortium unites manufacturers of medical equipment and was created on the initiative of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Details .

Russians are increasingly writing statements to authorities against each other, and “the line between defending the Fatherland and a witch hunt is becoming thinner,” according to a Komsomolskaya Pravda article published on Monday. Sometimes, says the KP text, “under the guise of civic activity, petty vindictiveness, a desire to simply ‘get on your nerves’ and paranoia flourish.” Details. A publication entitled “Denunciation or Vigilance?

The Ministry of Defense on Tuesday announced the start of exercises “on the preparation and use of nuclear forces under the threat of aggression.” Judging by the figures Russia has announced, these exercises are larger than the 2019 exercises, which were called the largest in post-Soviet history. Details. According to the Ministry of Defense, the exercises will last three days - from May 19 to 21. Launches of ballistic and cruise missiles are planned at test sites in Russia.

The Russian economy will not withstand a long continuation of the SVO, and therefore “the speedy completion of the SVO is simply necessary,” said State Duma deputy from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation Renat Suleymanov. This is probably the first such statement made by a State Duma deputy. Suleymanov made his statement amid a noticeable change in political rhetoric ahead of the fall elections. Details.

In a video message released Tuesday morning on his visit to China, Vladimir Putin said that “Russian-Chinese relations have now reached a truly unprecedented level.” This level, however, was not enough to agree on prices for gas supplies through the Power of Siberia-2 pipeline, on which, despite last year’s statements by Gazprom head Alexei Miller, there has been no progress.