While the St. Petersburg prosecutor’s office is seeking to have the former deputy head of Gosstroynadzor Vyacheslav Zakharov considered dismissed “due to loss of trust,” the former official has found a new area of ​​application - occupied Mariupol and the Azov region. At first, the St. Petersburg authorities began to present him as the head of their representative office in the destroyed city.

In the spring of 2022, JuicyFields looked like a brash European startup: gold Lamborghinis with marijuana leaves, parties for investors, the promise of income from the “digital cultivation” of medical cannabis. A few months later the platform collapsed, and Europol called it one of the largest financial pyramids in Europe. Later, this story had a Russian military connection: one of the alleged organizers of JuicyFields, St.

The story of the “treasures of the last Chinese emperor” has been circulating among collectors, art historians and lovers of conspiracy legends for decades. But in recent years it has suddenly become an international story, with anonymous letters, Hermitage documents, Ukrainian intelligence services and estimates worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

The North-West of Russia remains one of the main regions of origin of Russian billionaires - from Vladimir Putin’s partners in the Ozero cooperative to the creators of global IT companies who have long lived outside the country. Some made their fortunes from government contracts, raw materials and infrastructure, others from games, instant messengers and the international market.

The construction of the Lavna coal port was conceived as one of the key elements of the Murmansk transport hub. The new deep-water and ice-free port was supposed to redirect Russian coal exports from the Baltic direction to northern routes and open up additional opportunities for supplies to Asia and India. “Arktida” and “Chronicles.Media” examined in detail who started the Murmansk “construction project of the century” and why.

While the authorities are looking for ways to plug budget holes and curb inflation, Russia's largest businessmen continue to increase their fortunes. “Chronicles.Media” once again talks about the richest entrepreneurs in Russia doing business in the North-West. “Chronicles.Media”, based on the annual ranking of Russian billionaires compiled by Forbes magazine, for the third time, talks about the ten richest entrepreneurs associated with the North-West of Russia.

On April 8, 2026, the St. Petersburg City Court handed down one of the harshest sentences in a political case in recent years. Six activists of the “Spring” movement were sentenced to terms ranging from 6 to 12 years in prison. The decision was made by Judge Irina Furmanova, a person who in recent years has become one of the key participants in the judicial machine in cases of “state security” in St. Petersburg. This sentence does not appear to be an accidental cruelty of the judge.

The Swedish TV channel SVT, with the participation of the Chronicle.Media publication, found out how the local technology company Avinode is used by the Russian elite to circumvent sanctions. The company recommended that Russian clients open branches in third countries. Avinode representatives declined to be interviewed, saying they had taken action.

With the participation of Chronicles.Media, Swedish broadcaster SVT has uncovered how the local tech company Avinode is being used by Russia’s elite to bypass sanctions. The company advised Russian clients to set up branches in third countries. Avinode representatives declined to give an interview, saying that measures had been taken.

Russian authorities have been hunting for “foreign influence” for years. But there is an institution that, by definition, works in the interests of foreign countries - honorary consuls of foreign countries. In the Northwestern District, these positions are occupied by people from the top league of Russian business and politics - from Putin’s friends to former officials. “Chronicles.Media” tells who from Putin’s entourage really represents foreign interests.

Russian regions have entered a phase of a systemic budget crisis: expenses are growing faster than income, revenues from the key income tax are falling, and debts are growing and becoming more expensive. This is especially clearly visible in a number of regions of the North-West, primarily in the Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Murmansk regions, Komi and Karelia.

Since 2026, the Kremlin has actually transferred governors to federal salaries: now their salaries are paid directly from the federal budget and are equal to the income of deputy prime ministers. But the promised relief for the regions did not materialize. In many regions, spending on governors not only remained the same, but also increased.

International Women's Day in Russia is perceived as a day of honoring, admiring and caring for women of all ages. Vladimir Putin also speaks about this. But initially, March 8 was not intended to be a holiday of mimosa and greeting cards. First of all, this day was supposed to become a symbol of the struggle for women's equality and a symbol of emancipation.

In 2025, the authorities began to save on assistance to small and medium-sized businesses: there were fewer subsidies, and some regions of the North-West, for example, St. Petersburg and Karelia, completely eliminated them. The main recipients of the remaining funding are agricultural companies whose owners are associated with United Russia or local authorities. “Chronicles.Media” annually calculates the amount of support for small and medium-sized businesses in the North-West of Russia.

The Kremlin calls the Northern Sea Route Russia's strategic breakthrough into the 21st century. But behind the loud statements about the development of the Arctic lies a network of private companies with criminal records of the owners, defense contracts and connections with the “shadow fleet”. Chronicles.Media, following Arctida , shows how key northern logistics operators are embedded in a system where government megaprojects, military bases and dubious schemes go hand in hand.