Russia banned Deutsche Welle today, adding it to the ever-growing list of "undesirable agents." That means it's now illegal in Russia to share DW content, work for DW, or even comment to DW for a story. You can still read it, though, if you're able to circumvent the Internet censors.

AP News

Russia names German broadcaster Deutsche Welle as 'undesirable organization'

Russian authorities have named German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle as an “undesirable organization,” effectively outlawing its operation i...

Interesting framing here from Wapo on Putin's well-documented executive isolation and coterie of yes-men. This information diet (worse now than ever for Putin) is important context for Kremlin policy, but IMO it doesn't mean the yes-men are always wrong, eg "reassuring him that Russia is winning." https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/12/13/russia-putin-yes-men-trump-cabinet/

34 Euro leaders sign a convention to launch a claims commission for Ukraine war damages. Like with the EU initiative to use frozen Russian assets in a "reparations loan" to Kyiv, this challenges Trump's original peace plan, which would have grabbed those assets & amnestied war criminals. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/europe-launch-international-commission-ukraine-war-damages-2025-12-16/

While claiming that Western troops would "act against corresponding Russian incursions and attacks" in a theoretical peacekeeping deal, Germany's chancellor argues that economic pressures will eventually halt U.S. isolationist drift. Dialectical materialism never dies. https://www.reuters.com/world/under-ukraine-security-guarantees-western-troops-could-repel-russian-forces-post-2025-12-16/

Always interesting to see how public protests materialize in Russia today and how protesters navigate war politics and the Putin regime. Because these demonstrations ostensibly challenge neither, they generally (and wisely) slip below the global media's radar.

Meduza

This was Russia today Monday, December 15, 2025 — Meduza

For the latest Naked Pravda episode, I spoke to Nikolay Kononov about his new book on Pavel Durov and Telegram. Tech-bro feudalism, massive cryptocurrency schemes, free speechism, and a never-ending quest to evade regulatory oversight.

Meduza

Pavel Durov’s Russian biographer explains the tech-bro feudalism that drives Telegram — Meduza

Earlier this year, Telegram raised $1.7 billion from convertible bonds — funds earmarked to pay off debt due next year, leaving about $745 milli...

lol