The Latest Breaking News from Russia

Poland closed all border crossings with Belarus as the joint Russia-Belarus military exercises Zapad-2025 begin at NATO’s doorstep. Moscow and Minks claim the drills simulate repelling an attack against Russia and Belarus. But Zapad-2021 masked Russia’s preparations for its invasion of Ukraine.

Russian director Alexander Molochnikov’s play within a play raises vital questions about the cost and creativity of exile but is undone by its own cleverness

Russia's central bank on Friday cut its key interest rate, but warned inflation was still too high, amid growing concerns over an economic slowdown amid the Ukraine offensive.

Once a modest Central Asian security forum, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation now pits Beijing’s ambitions against Western dominance, with its August summit casting President Xi Jinping as a champion of a new multipolar order. But internal rifts raise doubts that it can rival NATO.