News
Vologda’s governor said his people were ‘dying out.’ In one year, he cut abortions by 82 percent, sending women fleeing to neighboring regions for a procedure that remains legal in Russia. — Meduza
2+ hour ago (737+ words) Abortion remains legal in'Russia, but access to'the procedure has become almost impossible for women in'at'least one region: Vologda. Governor Georgy Filimonov treats this fact as'his administration's crowning achievement " a'feat he'has managed through financial incentives, administrative pressure, and deliberate obstruction. The…...
Russia’s schools are introducing a grade for behavior — obedience and ideological conformity included — Meduza
4+ week, 15+ hour ago (264+ words) In'mid-January, Russia's Education Ministry announced that schools will begin issuing mandatory behavior grades starting September 1, 2026. The grades will apply to'all students, from first grade through the end of'high school. The idea of'bringing back behavior grades surfaced publicly in'December 2024, during a'meeting…...
As Russia conceals HIV data, report finds rising infection rates among pregnant women — Meduza
2+ mon, 2+ week ago (209+ words) December 1 is'World AIDS Day. Last week, the project To'Be'Precise published two reports about how HIV is'transmitted in'contemporary Russia and what living with the illness looks like. Meduza summarizes the group's findings. It's no'longer clear how many people in'Russia have died…...
Studying abroad in occupied territory Russian-accredited universities in Ukraine’s Donbas are admitting foreign students. Will their diplomas be recognized anywhere else? — Meduza
3+ mon, 2+ week ago (399+ words) In'October 2025, the'St. Luke Luhansk State Medical University (LSMU), the only medical university in'the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic in'occupied Ukraine, admitted a'group of'Indian students to'its general medicine program. According to'the university, this was its first foreign enrollment in'more than a'decade, since…...
‘I appeal to our beloved women’ Russia says it wants more babies. So why is it closing maternity wards? — Meduza
4+ mon, 6+ day ago (412+ words) In2024, the only maternity ward inthe remote town ofBodaybo, inRussia's Irkutsk region, was shut down. Just 9,000 people live inBodaybo, which can only bereached byplane orbycar along arough road that takes atleast two days totraverse. The town's birth rate has been steadily…...
Russia’s vanishing act Sociologist Salavat Abylkalikov on how migration shifts and underinvestment in motherhood drive a looming population crisis in Russia — Meduza
4+ mon, 2+ week ago (942+ words) Russia is'no'stranger to'radical population shifts, and today's demographic crisis belongs as'much to'the nation's history as'the global decline in'birth rates. The conflict in'Ukraine has contributed to'high male mortality, but the war's broader demographic impact isn't yet clear. Rising life expectancy, higher…...
‘My body didn’t belong to me’ In Russia’s North Caucasus, women who can’t conceive are shamed and silenced — Meduza
4+ mon, 3+ week ago (672+ words) Sintem was one of'the first social and psychological organizations in'the Caucasus. At'first, we'supported expectant mothers, but soon women who couldn't conceive began coming to'us'as'well. These were married women struggling with infertility. Some had an'official diagnosis, others didn't. We'referred them to'good…...
No heat, collapsing roofs, and buckets for toilets While Russian spends billions on the war in Ukraine, its schools are literally falling apart — Meduza
4+ mon, 3+ week ago (349+ words) In'the last two years, according to'media reports reviewed by'77, at'least 31 schools in'Russia have had a'wall, roof, or'ceiling collapse during the academic year. All of'these buildings had undergone annual safety inspections. According to'the data journalism project To'Be'Exact, almost one quarter of'schools…...
Till debt do us part How poverty is driving families in Chechnya to sham divorces — Meduza
5+ mon, 3+ day ago (405+ words) For many Chechen families, benefits are a'lifeline. The region has one of'the highest unemployment rates in'Russia, and the economic situation leaves households scrambling to'make ends meet. The state approves benefits only for households below a'strict income threshold. If'even one spouse…...
‘Important Conversations for Preschoolers’ Moscow brings its pro-war lesson series to kindergartens across Russia and occupied Ukraine — Meduza
5+ mon, 2+ week ago (884+ words) A'new school year is'underway in'Russia, bringing with it'a'fresh round of'the Kremlin's'patriotic" lesson series, Important Conversations. This year, the Education Ministry is'introducing a'newly designed version of'the program specifically for kindergarten and preschool students, rolling it'out in'nearly 20 regions across Russia as'well as'in'Russian-occupied…...