News
- Russian Police Detain Rights Activist Over 2020 Post Backing Jailed Ex-GovernorPolice in Russia's Primorye region detained human rights activist Maxim Chikhunov over a 2020 social media post supporting former Khabarovsk governor Sergei Furgal, according to Russian media.
- Nearly half of foreign series on Amediateka censored, with 75 hours cutMediazona found signs of censorship in 200 of 472 foreign series available on the Russian streaming service Amediateka, with 75 hours of scenes removed.
- EU approves largest sanctions expansion since invasion, targeting 1,600 people and entitiesEuropean Union foreign ministers approved a new sanctions package against Russia that adds roughly 1,600 individuals and organizations, the bloc's largest list expansion since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Persecution
- Pavel Syutkin: Six Years in Prison Over a Post About Bucha
A Moscow court sentenced culinary historian Pavel Syutkin to six years in a penal colony over posts about Bucha. The case involved raids, a closed trial and a disputed expert report. His defense has appealed.
- Alexander Skobov: From Soviet Psychiatric Hospitals to a 16-Year Prison Sentence
A Soviet-era dissident twice subjected to compulsory psychiatric treatment, Alexander Skobov is now serving a 16-year sentence in Russia. His case spans decades of opposition activism, terrorism-related charges and renewed punishment behind bars.
- Pavel Syutkin: Six Years in Prison Over a Post About Bucha
- Russian Drones Hit Two Apartment Blocks in Kharkiv, at Least 15 InjuredRussian drone strikes on two multi-story residential buildings in Kharkiv's Kyivskyi district injured at least 15 people, according to Ukrainian officials.
- NATO says Russian army losses topped 50,000 in SeptemberA senior NATO military official told Bloomberg that Russia's army suffered more than 50,000 casualties in September, a sharp rise from the alliance's earlier monthly estimates.
- Vladislav Surkov: From Managed Politics to the Kremlin's Donbas LiaisonVladislav Surkov began his career in advertising and some of Russia's largest businesses before spending almost two decades helping shape the Kremlin's domestic political system. His name is associated with the emergence of the ruling party, pro-Kremlin youth movements and the doctrine of “sovereign democracy.” From 2013 onward, he became an important intermediary in Moscow's dealings with the conflict in Ukraine. FACTUM.press examined his career, political decisions, leaked office correspondence and intercepted conversations presented in the MH17 investigation, asking what these records establish—and what they do not—about his personal responsibility.
- Ella Pamfilova: From Democratic Reform to Elections Without OppositionElla Pamfilova entered Russian politics as a trade union organizer, challenged the privileges of the Soviet party elite, joined the democratic movement and later chaired the president's human rights council. Since 2016, she has led Russia's Central Election Commission, which has certified election results amid documented irregularities and restrictions on political competition. FACTUM.press examined her career, the commission's decisions and the questions of potential responsibility raised by Russian criminal law.
- Russian Guided Bombs and Drones Hit Kharkiv, Killing Four and Injuring 19Russian forces struck Kharkiv with guided aerial bombs and drones, killing four people and injuring 19, including children, according to Ukrainian officials.
Editor's Column
- When an Outage in Russia Disrupts Taxi Service in Kazakhstan
Drone strikes damaged three Yandex data centers in four days. The disruption reached Kazakhstan, where users' personal data is stored locally, according to officials. The episode exposed the difference between keeping data inside national borders and keeping a digital service running independently.
- Peskov Says Russia Has No Political Prisoners. What the Cases and Numbers Show
On September 30, Dmitry Peskov said Russia “categorically denies” that it holds political prisoners. FACTUM’s political persecution database listed 6,794 people at the latest count; 2,163 were imprisoned, while 1,404 had been recognized as political prisoners by human rights organizations. This column looks at what those figures mean and at several criminal cases behind them.
- When an Outage in Russia Disrupts Taxi Service in Kazakhstan
- Trump announces 'energy truce' between Russia and Ukraine as Kyiv denies knowledge of dealUS President Donald Trump said Russia and Ukraine have agreed to halt strikes on each other's energy infrastructure, a claim Kyiv says it cannot confirm.
- US offered Russia frozen assets and Lukoil stake sale for partial ceasefireAmerican negotiators discussed three economic incentives with Russia in exchange for a partial ceasefire, either in energy or at sea, The New York Times reported, citing officials familiar with the talks.
- Russian Hunger Strike Organizer Deported from US Immigration Jail in GeorgiaIdris Makhmudov, a Russian national who helped organize a mass hunger strike at a Georgia immigration detention center, has been deported from the United States, according to his representative.
- Zelensky Offers to Halt Strikes on Russian Refineries If Moscow Stops Hitting Ukraine's Energy GridUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv is ready to stop striking Russian oil refineries if Moscow halts attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, insisting any de-escalation must be reciprocal.
- Republican congressman drafts bill to ban all Russian oil imports after Trump's diesel dealA bipartisan bill to prohibit all purchases of Russian oil is being drafted in the U.S. Congress, Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania announced.
- Yandex Adds Drone and Missile Attacks to Force Majeure Clause After Data Centre StrikesYandex has added military action, drone and missile strikes, shelling and explosions to the force majeure section of its user agreement, in an edition dated 10 October.
Analytics
- Yandex After the Drone Strikes: What Is Back Online, What Was Damaged and How Long Recovery Could Take
By October 16, Yandex had brought most everyday services back online, but cloud operations and advertising tools remained restricted. What is known about the three damaged data centers, the fate of its supercomputers and the competing timelines for a full recovery?
- Vladislav Surkov: From Managed Politics to the Kremlin's Donbas Liaison
Vladislav Surkov began his career in advertising and some of Russia's largest businesses before spending almost two decades helping shape the Kremlin's domestic political system. His name is associated with the emergence of the ruling party, pro-Kremlin youth movements and the doctrine of “sovereign democracy.” From 2013 onward, he became an important intermediary in Moscow's dealings with the conflict in Ukraine. FACTUM.press examined his career, political decisions, leaked office correspondence and intercepted conversations presented in the MH17 investigation, asking what these records establish—and what they do not—about his personal responsibility.
- Yandex After the Drone Strikes: What Is Back Online, What Was Damaged and How Long Recovery Could Take
- Ukrainian drones hit third Yandex data centre in four daysUkrainian drones struck a Yandex data centre in the Vladimir region overnight on 11 October, damaging infrastructure and halting operations at the site, the company said.
- Wife of Artist Pavel Krisevich Leaves Russia After Two Consecutive ArrestsYelena Morgunova, the wife of artist and activist Pavel Krisevich, has left Russia after being arrested twice in a row, her husband said.
- Kirov lawyer and blogger Anton Dolgikh detained outside railway stationLawyer and blogger Anton Dolgikh was detained by unidentified men outside Kirov's railway station on the evening of October 9, according to his lawyer Violetta Volkova.
- Russia Bans Georgian Wine, Beer, Coca-Cola and Nabeglavi WaterRussia's consumer watchdog has suspended the import and sale of drinks from several Georgian producers, including wine, beer, Coca-Cola and Nabeglavi mineral water.
- Kremlin Postpones Ukraine Talks Indefinitely, Washington Eases Sanctions for DieselVladimir Putin told Donald Trump in a phone call that Moscow is indefinitely postponing the resumption of trilateral talks with the United States and Ukraine, Putin aide Yuri Ushakov said at a briefing.
- Russian Defense Ministry forestry chief arrested in Moscow on bribery chargesSergei Zakamorny, head of the Russian Defense Ministry's forestry and natural resources department, has been detained in Moscow on suspicion of taking more than 10 million rubles in bribes.
- Ozon and Ingosstrakh to end seller goods insurance from October 13Ozon and Ingosstrakh will stop insuring sellers' goods from October 13, citing changes in the insurance market that took effect on October 1.
- Russia to make AI course mandatory for grades 5-11 from September 2027Russia's Education Ministry will make an artificial intelligence course compulsory for all schoolchildren in grades 5 through 11 starting in September 2027, with a pilot phase beginning earlier in 1,000 schools.
- Over 500 Drones Hit 16 Russian Regions; Rostov Bridge and Homes Damaged, Oil Terminal AblazeUkraine launched more than 500 drones at Russia overnight, damaging a railway bridge and apartment buildings in the Rostov region and setting an oil terminal on fire, according to Russian officials and independent outlets.
- Trump Says He and Putin Agreed on Russian Diesel Supplies to the USUS President Donald Trump said he held "extremely successful" talks with Vladimir Putin under which Russia will immediately supply more than 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the US and global markets.
- Russia Asks US to Lift Sanctions in Exchange for Energy Truce with UkraineMoscow has asked Washington to lift sanctions as part of talks on an energy truce with Ukraine, according to Ukrainian and US officials cited by The Kyiv Independent.
- Putin's Special Flight Squadron Planes Abort Moscow Landings as Drone Threat Shuts AirportsFive aircraft of the Rossiya special flight squadron, which carries Russia's top officials, failed to land in Moscow on their first attempt on the evening of October 9 as airports imposed restrictions over a drone threat.
- Russian government proposes raising women's military service age to 50The Russian government has submitted a bill to the State Duma that would raise the maximum age for women's military service from 45 to 50, with women officers eligible for call-up until 55.
- Mediazona names 20 Russian officers killed in Donetsk strikeMediazona and BBC Russian have identified 20 Russian officers killed in a strike on Donetsk on August 26, the largest single-day loss of Russian officers since the war began, according to the outlets.
- Moscow Airports Halt Flights as Drones and Balloons Attack; 300+ Flights Delayed or CanceledAll four Moscow-region airports suspended operations and more than 300 flights were delayed or canceled after air defenses repelled a drone and balloon attack on the capital and surrounding region, Russian authorities said.
- Ukrainian drones hit Yandex data centers for second day, knocking modules offlineUkrainian drones struck a Yandex data center in Kaluga, the second attack on the Russian IT giant's facilities in two days, disabling several modules and disrupting services.
- Anti-war candidate Sergei Uglyanitsa sent to pre-trial detention in IrkutskThe Kirovsky District Court of Irkutsk ordered Sergei Uglyanitsa, an entrepreneur from Usolye-Sibirskoye who ran for office on an anti-war platform, held in pre-trial detention on charges of publicly justifying terrorism online.
- Nearly half of Russian companies scrap annual employee bonusesA survey of 1,076 Russian companies found that 46.9% do not plan to pay year-end bonuses, with more than a third dropping them for the first time.
- Yabloko leader Rybakov fined 1,000 rubles for writing 'For Peace' on ballotsA St. Petersburg court fined Yabloko party chairman Nikolai Rybakov 1,000 rubles on a petty hooliganism charge for writing anti-war slogans on his ballots on election day.
- Russian airports delayed more than 51,000 flights in nine months of 2026, exceeding all of 2025More than 51,000 passenger flights left Russian airports at least three hours late between January and September 2026, according to an analysis by The Insider, surpassing the roughly 30,500 such flights recorded in all of 2025.
- Jewellery Worth 14.4 Million Rubles Vanishes From Police Custody as Investigator Faces ChargesRussian police have opened a criminal case against an investigator over the disappearance of jewellery seized from blogger Valeria Chekalina, with the missing items valued at 14.4 million rubles.
- Ex-Cofounder of Lenta and Ulmart Retail Chains Placed Under House Arrest in MoscowA Moscow court placed Dmitry Kostygin, former co-owner of the Lenta, Riv Gosh and Ulmart retail chains, under house arrest on fraud charges, RBC reported, citing two sources.
- Drones strike Lukoil refinery in Ukhta as Komi officials deny damageUkraine-linked monitoring channels and Astra reported a fire at Lukoil's Ukhta refinery after a drone attack on October 9, while the head of the Komi Republic said the plant was undamaged.
- Montenegro Detains Rybar Founder Mikhail ZvinchukMontenegrin police and the National Security Agency detained Mikhail Zvinchuk, creator of the pro-Kremlin Rybar Telegram channel, along with his wife and three others in the coastal town of Risan.
- Ukrainian Woman Rozhanskaya Released from Astana Detention Center and Leaves KazakhstanUkrainian citizen Rozhanskaya, detained in Astana at Russia's request, has been released from a detention center and left Kazakhstan, her lawyer said.
- Russian Guided Bombs Hit Zaporizhzhia as Drones Strike Kyiv Region, Killing at Least OneRussian forces struck residential areas of Zaporizhzhia with guided aerial bombs and hit warehouse facilities in the Kyiv region with drones, killing at least one person and wounding several others, Ukrainian officials said.
- Ukrainian journalist detained in Vienna while seeking ex-prosecutor general KravchenkoAustrian authorities detained Mykhailo Tkach, head of investigative reporting at Ukrainska Pravda, while he was on an editorial assignment to locate former Ukrainian prosecutor general Ruslan Kravchenko, who left the country.
- Drones hit chemical plant in Tver region and oil depot near BelgorodUkrainian drones struck multiple Russian regions overnight, setting fire to a chemical plant in the Tver region and hitting an oil depot near Belgorod, where two people were killed.
- Zelensky Sends Negotiators to US to Discuss 'Comprehensive' Plan to End WarUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dispatched a delegation to the United States for talks on a new "comprehensive" plan to end the war, the first such negotiations with Washington since early September.
- Greenpeace Satellite Images Show 25 sq km Oil Slick Trailing Tanker Off Sochi After Drone AttackGreenpeace says satellite imagery shows an oil product slick covering about 25 square kilometers trailing the Aframax Rio tanker, which caught fire off Sochi on October 6 following a drone attack.
- Russian Strikes on Kyiv Kill Four as Drone Hits 12-Story BuildingRussian strikes on Kyiv, Odesa and Rivne regions killed at least four people and injured 19, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said, as a drone hit a 12-story apartment building in the capital's Desnianskyi district.
- Kyiv metro halts, water cut as Russian strikes hit power gridAll three Kyiv metro lines stopped during the evening rush hour and water pressure dropped across five districts after Russian strikes hit a key energy facility, officials said.
- Yandex Data Center Hit by Drones: Two Supercomputers and the Cost of ReplacementAn October 8 drone strike shut down Yandex's data center in Sasovo, Russia. The company has identified two supercomputers at the site, together containing 2,688 NVIDIA A100 GPUs. Their condition remains undisclosed. We examine the potential cost of replacing the computing systems and what a prolonged outage could mean for Russian AI development.
- Saxophonist Shabanov beaten twice in Samara prison colonyAndrei Shabanov, a saxophonist serving six years in a Samara region penal colony, was beaten twice after refusing cleaning duties assigned to him despite his disability, according to his mother, Olga Medvedeva.
- Irkutsk Lifts Quarantine After Plague Lab Worker's Death as Accounts of Cause DivergeIrkutsk region governor Igor Kobzev announced the end of quarantine measures after the death of a 28-year-old laboratory assistant at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute, saying all contacts have been cleared and no health violations recorded.
- Refugees from Donbas and Kursk Region Ask Putin to Halt Their Eviction from Temporary Housing in Tula RegionDisplaced people from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv and Kursk regions have recorded a video appeal to Vladimir Putin asking him to stop their eviction from temporary accommodation centers in the Tula region.
- Plague in Russia: Natural Foci, Past Epidemics and the Irkutsk InvestigationPlague bacteria still circulate among wild animals in Russia, but this does not mean an epidemic is spreading among people. The death of a researcher at an anti-plague institute near Irkutsk in October 2026 prompted an investigation and questions from the WHO; plague had not been confirmed as of October 8. We examine the evidence, historical epidemics, natural plague foci and today's surveillance system.
- Russia Bans Olga Ptitseva's Dystology About the 'Party of Cold'Roskomnadzor has banned the distribution of Olga Ptitseva's dystology, the novels 'The Two Hundred Third Day of Winter' and 'The Spring of Water,' according to the publisher Polyandria No Age.
- Moscow Court Hands 60-Year-Old Yabloko Supporter Four Years for Donations to Navalny's FoundationA Moscow court sentenced a 60-year-old member of the Yabloko party to four years in a penal colony for donating 3,500 rubles to Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation.
- European Parliament Declares Russian Duma Elections a 'Farce,' Calls for New SanctionsThe European Parliament voted 482-41 with 39 abstentions to reject Russia's September Duma elections as a "farce" and refuse to recognize the new Duma as a legitimate legislative body.
- Drones Hit Russia's Largest Refinery in Omsk for Second TimeUkrainian drones struck the Omsk refinery, Russia's largest, with one reaching the northern industrial hub, Omsk Region Governor Vitaly Khotsenko said.
- Russia's Emergency Ministry Drafts Bill to Mobilize Reservists for Firefighting After AttacksThe Russian Emergency Ministry has prepared a draft law to mobilize reservists for firefighting, citing blazes "arising as a result of armed aggression against the Russian Federation."
- Britain Sanctions Rostec, 23 Entities and 12 Oil Tankers in New Russia PackageThe British government added 23 organizations, three individuals and 12 oil tankers to its Russia sanctions list, including state conglomerate Rostec, according to the Foreign Office.
- Political prisoner Igor Yakovenko dies in Krasnodar pre-trial detention after brain tumor left untreatedIgor Yakovenko, a 52-year-old political prisoner convicted over a legion recruitment form, has died in a Krasnodar pre-trial detention center after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, the Support for Political Prisoners Memorial project reported.
- EU lifts Belarus sanctions on billionaire Gutseriev after court defeatsEU ambassadors removed billionaire Mikhail Gutseriev from the bloc's Belarus sanctions list on October 7, after courts found Brussels lacked current evidence tying him to Alexander Lukashenko's regime.
- Kadyrov receives 'Honorary Architect of Russia' badge, adding to a decade of industry awardsChechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has been awarded the 'Honorary Architect of Russia' badge by Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, the latest in a series of industry honors that includes medals for science, cement and nuclear safety.