Analysis
The Hidden Costs of Energy Transition: Sovereignty Through Innovation
How historical decisions created Indonesia's coal dependency and why floating nuclear power plants and Russian VVER-1200 reactors could become a path to energy independence. An analysis of institutional barriers to energy transition.
Viryanta Muljono, Sri Setiyavati22 min read
Opinion
The Billion-Dollar Smile: How Russia Can Win the Technology Race
The 'emoji economy' concept from a WEF expert as a roadmap for Russia's technological sovereignty. Why a country in the top 10 for science lags behind in innovation, and what to do about it: 5 concrete steps from venture reform to diaspora engagement.
7 min read
AnalysisWeddings Are Becoming a Luxury
The average wedding budget in Russia has jumped from 1-1.5 million to 6-8 million rubles. We break down what's driving up the cost of wedding services, how couples are spending their money, and the latest trends shaping the wedding market in 2026.
Yulia Ignatova7 min read
Opinion
Unit 8200: How Military Signals Intelligence Became the Driving Force Behind a Nation's Cybersecurity Industry
The story of how Israel's Unit 8200 transformed from a signals intelligence operation into the world's largest incubator of cybersecurity startups. How its alumni built companies worth over $200 billion—and why this model can't be replicated.
52 min read
AnalysisEmpty Box: Who's Really Swapping Products on Marketplaces
A customer opens their order only to find a counterfeit item—or nothing at all. Is the seller always to blame, or are there other points in the delivery chain where the risk of substitution is higher?
Kirill Netkachev12 min read
«Nothing ever gets cheaper, which means weddings will keep getting more expensive too
Opinion
Russia and Brazil: Two Paths to Energy Transition
An analysis of Brazil's and Russia's energy strategies amid declining oil prices. Key takeaways from the Rio de Janeiro summit, the state's role in renewable energy development, and the contrasting approaches to energy transition in two of the world's largest emerging economies.
13 min read
AnalysisGovernment Contracts Gain Room to Maneuver
The State Duma is considering a bill to simplify government procurement: the threshold for SMEs is being raised to 30 million rubles, and opportunities to modify contracts are being expanded. An analysis of the risks and prospects for reforming the public procurement system.
Yulia Ignatova9 min read
AnalysisMedical Overwork as a Systemic Problem
An analysis of the staffing crisis in Russian healthcare: a shortage of 23,000 doctors and 63,000 mid-level medical workers, overtime reaching 40% above the norm, hidden personnel deficits, and potential solutions.
Yulia Ignatova14 min read
AnalysisRussian Capital Abroad
An analysis of how Russian investment is pivoting toward EAEU countries and Asia. A review of major projects in Kazakhstan ($53 billion), Belarus, Uzbekistan, India, and China. The new geography of industrial cooperation and production chains.
Yulia Ignatova9 min read
AnalysisBankruptcy Changes Course
The State Duma has passed a law reforming bankruptcy procedures with a focus on corporate rehabilitation. New debt restructuring mechanisms, pre-trial rehabilitation, swing auctions, and requirements for insolvency administrators—what will change for businesses and creditors.
Yulia Ignatova9 min read
Analysis
Post-Soviet Yeast: The Economies of the Near Abroad
In the first quarter of 2026, Kyrgyzstan's economy grew by 10.1%—more than any other country in the near abroad. During those same three months, prices there rose by 11%. In other words, every percentage point of growth has already been eaten up by inflation, and this is the main story of post-Soviet Asia this year: growing doesn't mean getting richer.
Kirill Netkachev14 min read