News about Russia

The Russian government has extended quotas on mineral fertilizer exports outside the Eurasian Economic Union. The decision was taken to ensure a sufficient level of fertilizers on the domestic market and uninterrupted operation of agricultural producers and feed manufacturers.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Damascus on his first visit since the fall of the Assad regime.

The revived Volga automobile brand continues to expand its lineup and has officially unveiled the new C50 sedan. The model became the second in the brand’s range after the previously announced crossover K50. According to the company, both new products are planned to be launched in the summer of 2026.

In the first quarter of 2026, the number of Russian companies that defaulted on debt securities doubled compared to the same reporting period in 2025. This includes a 30% increase in the number of companies that defaulted on their obligations to bondholders for the first time.

Russian pipeline gas exports to Europe rose 22% year-on-year in March amid the crisis in the Middle East.

Russian natural gas supplies to Serbia will be carried out on the basis of the extended former contract for another three months. The price of fuel will remain at $320 per thousand cubic meters, although gas costs $645 on the market.

Exactly 20 years ago, Russia first imposed an embargo on Moldovan wines. Direct losses of winemakers are estimated at $300 to $500 million.

Famous Moldovan journalist Vladimir Solovyov has been put on the wanted list by the Russian Interior Ministry.

The Isaccea-Vulcanesti transmission line is currently the main source of electricity supply to Moldova from the European grid via Romania. The failure of this line is almost guaranteed to lead Moldova to an energy blackout.

The European Commission (EC) has postponed the presentation of a plan to ban Russian oil imports to the EU. The issue was to be discussed at the European Commission meeting on April 15.

Bureau 1440, a private Russian aerospace company, made the first batch launch of 16 spacecraft on March 23 evening. This is the first step towards the creation of the company’s low-orbit constellation to provide communications with global coverage – analogous to Russia’s Starlink.

In Novy Urengoy, Algoritm has started construction of a mining hub based on gas-fired generation. The cluster will have a total capacity of 440 MW. Financing of the project is estimated at 50 billion rubles, and it will become the largest infrastructure facility in the field of industrial mining in Russia and the CIS.

Brussels has urged EU states to lower their gas storage fill targets and begin gradual replenishment of reserves amid a surge in energy prices due to the war in the Middle East.

Russia is preparing to cut military spending for the first time since the start of the war against Ukraine. But this reduction does not mean a weakening of war funding: the government is looking for ways to spend more efficiently.

Russian oil company Lukoil has completely devalued its investments in foreign assets amid US sanctions.

The Board of Directors of the Bank of Russia at a meeting on March 20 reduced the key rate by 50 basis points, down to 15%. This is reported by RBC with reference to the regulator. This is the seventh consecutive rate cut in the current cycle of monetary policy easing, which started in June 2025.

Volga cars were once a measure of success and belonging to the “upper caste” in the former Soviet Union. And this summer, the revived Volga brand announced its first new model – the K50 crossover.

Asian countries are seen as major buyers of Russian oil as exports are being redirected and supplies cut through familiar routes. CNBC reports that countries are lining up for resources from Russia.

Russian law enforcement authorities have uncovered a large-scale fraudulent scheme for illegal VAT refunds used when importing Moldovan apples into the Russian Federation.

The Moldovan government has voted in favor of approving bills on the denunciation of the Agreement on the Establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States.