The war around Shostakovich A conversation with Solomon Volkov about the composer's memoirs. Replay of the broadcast from February 17, 2020.

Andrey Ostalsky On May 16, a minor civil war nearly broke out in London. Two marches took place in the city center at once, the participants of which passionately hate each other. Only extraordinary police efforts prevented clashes and violence. The most powerful - at least 60 thousand participants - was the march under the slogan Unite the Kingdom!

Smoke over Kyiv, Ukraine, May 24, 2026 On the night of May 24, Russian troops launched a massive attack on Ukraine. In total, according to the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the country was attacked by 549 drones and 55 missiles - among them Oreshnik. In Kiev, according to the latest data , two people died as a result of the attack, another 81 were injured, including three children. 31 people were hospitalized, three of them are in serious condition.

The European Gymnastics Union has lifted restrictions on athletes from Russia and Belarus. The order of the executive committee of the union was published on the organization’s website. The decision followed the admission of Russian gymnasts to international competitions with the flag and anthem, which was accepted by the World Gymnastics executive committee. The European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships will start in Bulgaria on May 27, where Russian gymnasts will be able to take part.

Circassia in the plans of the great powers The guest of the next program “Chronicle of the Caucasus with Mairbek Vachagaev” is historian Azamat Kumykov. Replay from October 21, 2022.

Philosopher Uldis Tirons on the meaning of life and the meaninglessness of war. Replay of the broadcast from January 26, 2024.

Collage Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, political scientist Margarita Zavadskaya Political scientist Margarita Zavadskaya sums up the results of Vladimir Putin’s trip to China This material (information) was produced, distributed and/or sent by a foreign agent Mumin Shakirovich Shakirov, or concerns the activities of a foreign agent Mumin Shakirovich Shakirov. 18+ With the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the cultural and political vector in Russia changed dramatically.

The program by Viktor Cheretsky is a story about an actor and director, a “Spanish child” who returned to his home in Spain in the 1970s. Scholar and collector Igor Gorsky explores the legacy of translator and writer Bernard Gurney, one of the pioneers of translating Russian classics into English.

Policeman at the scene of a shooting near the White House, Washington, USA, May 23, 2026 In Washington, near a White House security checkpoint, an armed man opened fire. The attacker was wounded by the US Secret Service and subsequently died in hospital. As a result of the incident, one passerby was injured. "It remains unclear whether the bystander was wounded by the suspect's initial shot or during the ensuing gunfire," the Secret Service said. No Secret Service employees were injured.

Russian President Vladimir Putin still maintains a tough position and does not intend to stop hostilities against Ukraine, believing that by the end of the year the Russian military is capable of taking control of the entire Donbass, and in the event of a breakthrough at the front, other regions. The British newspaper The Guardian writes about this, citing sources close to the Kremlin, in a large article devoted to the mood in the Russian elites.

Illustrative photo Seriously wounded Russian military personnel who have received category "G" (temporarily unfit) are put through a new military medical commission and sent back to war. Doctors recognize even the blind as fit. Complaints, appeals to the military prosecutor's office and the courts do not help. Lately, human rights activists say, seriously wounded people often don’t even make it to the hospital - they are sent to a new assault.

Train bombing in Pakistan, May 24, 2026 A train carrying Pakistani security forces and their families was blown up in Pakistan's Balochistan province. At least 24 people were killed and about 70 more were injured, Reuters reports , citing local authorities. The separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the explosion. A suicide bomber detonated a car bomb near the railway tracks as the train passed through the city of Quetta, the AP reported .

US President Donald Trump The draft agreement between the United States and Iran provides for a 60-day extension of the ceasefire, Axios reports , citing sources. According to the document, during this period Tehran will begin to clear the mines installed in the Strait of Hormuz, and the strait will also be open without charging fees for passage. In exchange, the United States will lift the blockade of Iranian ports and ease sanctions so that Iran can freely sell oil.

Aftermath of the Russian attack on Kyiv, Ukraine, May 24, 2026 The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that Russia's attack on Ukraine demonstrates the Kremlin's cruelty and its disregard for both human life and peace negotiations. “Terror against civilians is not a manifestation of force. It is a manifestation of desperation. We firmly support Ukraine and are preparing additional assistance to strengthen air defense systems,” she wrote on the social network X.

French President Emmanuel Macron called Belarusian authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Sunday. Lukashenko's press service reported this. The Elysee Palace has not yet commented on the message, but the fact of the conversation was confirmed by the French media. This is their first conversation since February 26, 2022.