Russia

Russia reportedly struck with a drone the protective shield built over reactor number 4 of the former Chernobyl power plant, exploded in 1986 causing the worst nuclear disaster in history, now still dangerously radioactive

Russian students celebrate a national Students’ Day on January 25; it is often referred to as Tatiana Day because it's the day of Saint Tatiana, the patron saint of students, in the Eastern Orthodox Church; the history of the feast goes back to 1755

The first prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine in 2025 took place: 25 Ukrainian civilians and military personnel and 25 Russian soldiers were freed

Andrei Kotov, director of 'Men Travel' agency and arrested for "organizing extremist activity and participating in it" was found dead in custody in Moscow amid a crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights, says organization OVD-Info, which tracks political arrests

President Putin, when asked if he would change his decision to invade Ukraine in any way, replied that he would have to decide 'before' doing so

Vladimir Putin said that 'this year, on average, over a thousand people a day are enlisting' under contract in the Russian armed forces; the government has increased payments for those who enlist, with highest payment being set by the Moscow City Council

Journalist Anatoly Kurmanaev wrote in NYT on 2 December that while the Russian economy is experiencing a slowdown, “the economic strains are still far from provoking the kind of crisis that might compel Mr. Putin to curtail his ambitions in Ukraine.”

President Putin decleared that "Russia has the right to strike at countries that have supplied arms to Ukraine"

A Russian court has sentenced Google to pay a fine of $20.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000, a sum higher than the GDP of the entire planet, which amounts to $110.000 billion according to the IMF

Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, President Putin's main political opponent before his death in prison last February, had written in his memoir that he would "die in prison"

The country celebrated on Monday 30 September the second anniversary of the illegal annexation of four Ukrainian territories, two of which were self-declared People's Republics at war with the central government