Russia

This extract from Martin Sixsmith’s new book explores how Putinism emerged from the country’s brutal history

The creator of the first totalitarian state died on January 24, 1924. His body was viewed by the faithful in temperatures of -35C

The Rajapaksa government may have gone, but Sri Lanka is still happy to welcome Moscow’s money

Putin will be pleased by developments in the middle east

It will be a year of political upheaval and war. If leaders can’t navigate a changing world order, the results could be disastrous

Attempting to steal children’s Christmas gifts from a kindly old man is only one item on the charge sheet of the cannibalistic witch

Putin’s Russia is a chaos engine and we are letting him get away with it

By hacking journalists, Russia is trying to stifle our democracy’s information flow

He’s fighting for freedom – and that’s what the Kremlin can’t stand

Recent FSB revelations are a reminder that our society is open to the Russian threat

The dictator in the Kremlin may not be popular, yet he rules unopposed. But once again he is going to the polls – why?

The US investor and prominent anti-Putin activist is gloomy about the likelihood of ousting the dictator

Just a small percentage have been able to shut down their operations in the country since it invaded Ukraine

Following in the footsteps of 20th-century exiles who ran from communism, four artists are fighting their own war, from Paris

Conflict in the Middle East may distract the west, which could be to Russia’s advantage in the Ukraine war

Putin’s regime has introduced ideologically driven cultural policies intended to shape a new, virtuous Russian citizen for the future

What’s bad for the west is good for the Kremlin – and the fringe elements in the current government proved this

How do you talk terms with someone like Vladimir Putin? The former head of GCHQ on how to create real peace from bloodshed

Eclipsed by contemporaries like Garbo and Dietrich, it’s difficult today to appreciate just what a presence Baclanova was in her heyday

The world, including myself, missed tell-tale signs that Putin was the murder machine and enemy of liberal democracies he’s proved to be

Russia’s recent failed attempt to land a space probe on the dark side of the moon should be a wake-up call for the west

Recent arrests may show that even as the invasion of Ukraine falters, Russia keeps sending its agents to the UK

But, there are ways to recoup the huge cost to taxpayers

The Icelandic photographer captures landscapes laid bare by receding ice caps.. and the haunted faces of locals who see their way of life ending

It’s unlikely that Russia will use a nuclear weapon in Europe – but not impossible

The likes of Osip Mandelstam, Marina Tsvetaeva, Anna Akhmatova and Joseph Brodsky were regarded by their contemporary readers with the awe now reserved for rock stars

Born into privilege she may have been, but Anastasia’s short life and awful death remain one of the great tragedies of the 20th century

According to the Harvard historian, there is one country in Europe where they fight – and die – under the EU flag

Putin’s previously ironclad reputation has sustained serious damage in recent times – how can he regain his mojo?

The West must help Ukraine to defeat Putin, but a total Russian collapse could spell disaster

Has Beijing learned the lessons of Putin’s failed invasion of Ukraine, and Prigozhin’s failed revolution?

The conflict remains the front line in the battle between democracy and autocracy