Drawing permitted for distribution in the Russian Federation June 18, 2026. Acrylic and wax crayons. Author: Sergey Dnevalny, for Novaya Gazeta

Bulgaria opposed the inclusion of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Rus' in the 21st package of EU sanctions against Russia. Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova explained the government’s position by saying that sanctions against the head of the Russian Orthodox Church are “symbolic in nature” and are not capable of exerting real economic pressure on Moscow. According to her, such measures can only fuel Russian propaganda about European interference in church affairs.

Screenshot of the notification from Gosuslugs to residents of the Vladimir region Authorities in the Vladimir region called on residents to join “mobile groups to participate in activities to repel UAV attacks” in the region. The publication Dovod* drew attention to the advertisement sent out through the Gosuslugi portal. We are talking about a regional military unit, the publication clarifies.

Andrei Norkin suggests planting drugs “a little bit” on the Americans on the border with the Russian Federation... Screenshot of the broadcast On the air of the federal channel NTV on June 15, the host of the talk show “Meeting Place” Andrei Norkin invited guests to discuss the possibility of planting drugs on black Americans while they were undergoing customs inspection in the Russian Federation.

Is there a way out of the diplomatic impasse? We’ll discuss it with political scientist Andrei Kolesnikov* (18+) THIS MATERIAL (INFORMATION) IS PRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED AND (OR) SENT BY FOREIGN AGENT ANDREY VLADIMIROVICH KOLESNIKOV OR CONCERNES THE ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN AGENT ANDREY VLADIMIROVICH KOLESNIKOV. At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Vladimir Putin made the main political statement of recent months: no truce or freeze of hostilities should be expected.

The Basmanny Court of Moscow arrested two more people in the case of Ilya Traber - his business partner Vladimir Danilenko and Said Saladinov, TASS reports citing a court representative. Both were charged with the murder of two or more persons by an organized group for mercenary reasons (Part 2 of Article 105 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and illegal trafficking in weapons (Part 4 of Article 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

Organizer of the Berlin Bebelplatz book fair Olga Chesnokova: about the “generational revolution” in literature and the new language created thanks to prohibitions Photo: Mikhail Metzel / TASS The Berlin Bebelplatz book fair took place in Berlin at the beginning of May. This major event is being held for the second time and attracts great attention not only in the literary community.

The prosecutor's office demanded 8 years in prison for the deputy chairman of the Yabloko party, Maxim Kruglov, for “fakes.” But the case itself looks like a fake The trial of the deputy chairman of the Yabloko party Maxim Kruglov in Moscow.

Polish police have detained a suspect in the murder of Russian artist and opposition activist Semyon Skrepetsky (real name Robert Kuzovkov), who was shot dead on June 15 near his home in the city of Biała Podlaska in eastern Poland. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the arrest. According to him, the suspect used a Georgian passport.

The 2026 World Cup already has its heroes, but the media focuses on negative things Match Iraq - Norway. Photo: AP / TASS The week of the 23rd World Cup is already behind us. And the game itself fades into the background. Or rather, it is relegated to the background. On purpose. Gone are the days when people were only interested in the tricks of Pele and Maradona. Nowadays, even an atmospheric report about a match cannot be sold at a high price. This is how modern sport works.

The Podmoskovny Lyceum in the village of Korallovo, founded by YUKOS top managers Mikhail Khodorkovsky* and Platon Lebedev 30 years ago for children and troubled teenagers who lost loved ones in terrorist attacks, natural disasters and military operations, was nationalized by the state in November 2025. Now the media have reported that the state plans to convert it into a cadet corps with 800 seats, and soon construction will allegedly begin on the territory.

State Duma deputy Shamsail Saraliev, a member of the parliamentary group on military issues, confirmed the fact of a new exchange of bodies of dead servicemen. Russia handed over 522 bodies to Ukraine and took the remains of 33 Russian servicemen. Earlier, the Russian TASS agency reported about the exchange of bodies, citing VGTRK employee Evgeniy Poddubny.

The developer of anti-UAV protection was jailed for 13 years. The investigation considered that the device was not needed by anyone Lieutenant Colonel Efimov is escorted to the military courtroom. Photo: Evgeny Kurakin “Seven times smaller and cheaper” On June 18, a court in Moscow satisfied the request of the Prosecutor’s Office, found the scientist and developer of anti-drone defense systems Sergei Efimov guilty and sentenced him to 13 years in prison.

Revelations of the former editor-in-chief and “35 thousand couriers alone” AUDIO VERSION This material has an audio version on Youtube. Read by Irina Petrovskaya. Dmitry Skorobutov on the channel “And Graham Thundered”. Screenshot from video A little-known character appeared on the “And Graham Shot” channel - the former editor-in-chief of the “Vesti” program, and now (according to him) a political refugee in Switzerland, Dmitry Skorobutov.

How difficult it is for Russians to watch the World Cup in America! Photo: AP / TASS There is no day, although it is still the longest. The day is a break between the big North American football, which starts very late in the evening, continues into the night, and ends in the early morning. It is difficult and impossible to adapt, not only because of the incredible number of 104 matches. There is also another life besides football. Or not?