The Insider

Kazakhstan in talks with Moscow to refine Russian crude and export fuel back to Russia amid gasoline shortage The talks are taking place against a backdrop of simultaneous disruptions in the oil sectors of both countries. theins.press/en/news/295540

Drone attack sparks 62,000 sq m fire at Wildberries warehouse in Penza, prompting evacuation of more than 200 staff On the same day, the company reported a fire following a drone attack on a Wildberries logistics facility in the Udmurt Republic. theins.press/en/news/295530

Russian geneticists may lose publications in leading international scientific journals due to new law, @t_invariant_eng reports Effective Sept. 1, 2026, the law restricts the transfer of human genetic data to foreign states and organizations. theins.press/en/news/295522

Ukraine claims Russian Kh-101 missile entered Polish airspace, сrater and debris found in Polish village According to the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, the latest violation of NATO airspace underscores the need to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses. theins.press/en/news/295520

Crimea unplugged: The Russian-occupied peninsula’s businesses are buckling under blackouts, fuel shortages and a failed tourist season Moscow’s subsidies are sustaining Crimea’s economy, but prolonged utility outages could trigger a humanitarian crisis. theins.press/en/economics/2…

Ukraine appeals to Court of Arbitration for Sport over lifting of restrictions on Russian Olympic Committee The central issue is the ROC’s activity in the occupied territories of Ukraine, which Russia continues to include in its sporting space. theins.press/en/news/295516

Russia fires 74 missiles and 284 drones at Ukraine, killing eight, including three children Zelensky linked the devastating consequences of the attack to delays in supplying Ukraine with defenses against Russian ballistic missiles. theins.press/en/news/295514

Letting the genie out of the bottleneck: Russia is ramping up mass production of drone motors The Insider and @nordsint traced the supply chain that could allow Russia to begin producing millions of FPV drones in the coming months. theins.press/en/inv/295510

De-crudeification: How Ukraine’s strike campaign on Russian oil refineries is changing the war If the strikes continue, Russia’s fuel crisis will become structural, creating problems both at the front and across the entire country. theins.press/en/politics/29…

No-holds-barred budget: With finances in “manual control” mode, the Kremlin is set to plunge the Russian market into uncertainty With the overall deficit for H1 2026 at a record high, the authorities are scrambling for money to fund the war effort. theins.press/en/economics/2…

Friends like these: How the Taliban came to be Moscow’s strategic ally in Central Asia While the partnership offers Moscow little direct benefit, the Kremlin sees Afghanistan as a gateway to expanding its influence in Central Asia. theins.press/en/politics/29…

Russian court hands science journalist Darya Shipacheva 12 years in treason case reportedly linked to Ukraine money transfer The court also ordered the confiscation of 1.558 million rubles ($19,500). She pleaded guilty as part of a deal with prosecutors. theins.press/en/news/295490

Former head of RT’s French division Ksenia Fedorova to be expelled from France France believes that Fedorova is taking part in “the disinformation campaigns led by the Russian authorities” with the aim of “destabilizing public order” in France. theins.press/en/news/295486

Activists Yulia Yemelyanova and Mansur Movlaev pen letters to Kazakhstan’s President Tokayev asking not to be extradited to Russia Yemelyanova is a former volunteer at Alexei Navalny's HQ in St. Petersburg. Movlaev is a vocal critic of Ramzan Kadyrov. theins.press/en/news/295485

Russia charges Telegram founder Pavel Durov with “aiding terrorism” after FSB claims the app was used by Ukraine to prepare attacks The FSB says Ukrainian intelligence officers recruited Russian men through “Daivinchik,” a Telegram dating bot. theins.press/en/news/295484

OSINT analysts say Russian military used AI to fake territorial gains in Ukraine According to @GeoConfirmed, a soldier holding a Russian flag may have been edited in to footage taken by a reconnaissance drone in the Kharkiv Region's Bilyi Kolodiaz. theins.press/en/news/295482

Russia’s largest publishing group Eksmo-AST fires employees unwilling to follow new book censorship rules The company's senior managers were arrested last year on charges of spreading “extremist” literature — meaning books that contained LGBTQ+ themes. theins.press/en/news/295481

European Commissioner Kubilius: EU’s Article 42.7 on collective defense may be even more effective than NATO’s Article 5 The Insider's exclusive interview with EU Commissioner for Defense and Space @KubiliusA. theins.press/en/politics/29…

Putin orders talks with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on updating mutual arms supply treaties The existing treaties govern mutual deliveries of defense products, including weapons and military vehicles, and provide for broader defense cooperation. theins.press/en/news/295443

New road bridge between Russia and North Korea could make military shipments harder to track, analysts say Railcars visible by satellite can reveal the type of goods being carried, while trucks usually look alike and can be unloaded almost anywhere. theins.press/en/news/295428