
Russians calm in the face of Ukraine’s counter-offensive PRO Members Public
It has been more than a month since Ukrainian forces crossed the border into the Kursk region, launching a surprise offensive into Russian territory. In that time they have captured hundreds of Russian prisoners of war and occupied more than 1,000 square kilometers of land in the first invasion

THE BELL WEEKLY: How Russian society ignores Ukraine’s Kursk incursion PRO Members Public
Hello. This week we talk to a top sociologist about why Ukraine’s surprise counter-offensive into the Kursk region has not shocked Russian society. We also cover the scandal surrounding a film about Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine, and how a Chinese carmaker became the largest foreign business in the

The value of a Russian life PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy — written by Denis Kasyanchuk and Alexander Kolyandr and brought to you by The Bell. This time our top story is an analysis of the value of a Russian life – both according to economists, as well as wartime compensation payments. We

‘Putin could fall if he loses the support of a few hundred people’ PRO Members Public
The Bell editor Viacheslav Dvornikov spoke to political scientist Marcel Dirsus, author of the acclaimed new book, "How Tyrants Fall," about what his study of dictatorships and autocrats suggests is in store for the Putin regime — and how his demise could come about. The full interview is available

Pavel Durov opposed strict moderation — it could cost him his freedom, and his company PRO Members Public
Telegram founder and Russian tech icon Pavel Durov spent just 96 hours in a French jail. Released on house arrest, the case is far from over, and will have repercussions way beyond him and his platform. The saga looks set to go a long way towards shaping the future relationship

THE BELL WEEKLY: How Telegram’s hands-off approach backfired PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we again look at the case against Telegram founder Pavel Durov — how the site’s lax approach to content moderation put the service at the heart of the online gray economy, and landed Durov in a French jail. We also spoke to an expert on autocratic regimes

“Putin's regime could fall if he loses the support of just a few hundred people." PRO Members Public
The author of the book "How Tyrants Fall" on the specifics of dictatorships and how they collapse. Despite their outward monolithic appearance, autocratic regimes have a number of weaknesses, says Marcel Dirsus, a political scientist and author of the book "How Tyrants Fall," released in July

Central bank forecasts suggest higher inflation for longer PRO Members Public
Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy — written by Alexandra Prokopenko and Alexander Kolyandr and brought to you by The Bell. This time our top story is an analysis of the Central Bank’s annual economic forecasts. We also look at the collapse in EU exports to

THE BELL WEEKLY: The arrest of Pavel Durov PRO Members Public
Hello! This week we bring you an extended look at the arrest of Pavel Durov in France — covering the Telegram founder’s history in Russia, what we know so far about his shock arrest and what it could mean for the platform. Durov’s French affair Late Saturday evening at

Summer reading list PRO Members Public
Hello! Our usual weekly newsletter is taking a short vacation until next week. But fear not: to ensure you don’t miss out, we’ve put together a summer reading list of some of the most interesting recent articles about the Russian economy, the situation on the frontline and Moscow’