Russia is the main power and, for many years, the main source of insecurity in the region monitored by Veridica journalists. News about Russia provides information about developments in real time and prominent leaders of Russia – from major decisions taken by president Vladimir Putin, to statements and actions of the main representatives of his regime, from Alexei Navalny’s case to the Wagner Group rebellion. Veridica is also monitoring Russia’s foreign policy, its relations with the collective West and with individual countries, as well as with client, allied or partner states across various fields of cooperation, such as China, Belarus, Iran or Turkey. Russia’s external operations, including the campaigns carried out by proxy organizations such as the Wagner Group, which is involved in theatres of operations Syria and several African countries, as well as the Kremlin’s energy policies, are equally followed by Veridica journalists. News about Russia also weighs in on narratives promoted by Russia, addressing both the public at home as well as external audiences, presented as part of fake news, disinformation or propaganda articles. Veridica’s newsroom staff, regional collaborators and Romanian experts are monitoring the impact of Russian policies and disinformation campaigns both in the region and beyond, in the main Western capitals. News about Russia provides a wide array of press articles, news, editorials, analyses, interviews and inquiries.
Russia’s most loyal ally, Belarus, is taking part in hybrid operations against the Baltic states, pushing migrants towards their borders, recruiting spies, and promoting propaganda narratives. Will Alexander Lukashenko be willing to drag his country in a Russian military operation in the region?
Russia could prepare an operation – hybrid, false flag, or even a limited attack – against a NATO country, to test the Alliance’s response. With major Western powers distracted (domestic political issues, the war in Iran, etc.) Moscow may feel that it has a window of oportunity, and the most likely targets are considered to be Poland and the Baltic states.
An add that suggested grilling “angry” Russians highlighted tensions regarding Estonia’s relations with its Russian minority. Many Estonians feel that the Russian community is loyal to and used by Moscow, while people within the community feel that their rights are being curtailed.
Romania has already gone to war with Russia or is on the verge of doing so, claims the pro-Russian blogger Dan Diaconu.
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Péter Szijjártó, until April the EU’s longest-serving foreign minister, is joining the Chinese carmaker BYD, after helping it – as a minister – to get a firm foothold in Hungary and thus avoid EU’s tariff wall.
Since it was sworn in, Rumen Radev’s government ceased Sofia’s aid for Ukraine, and distanced itself from plans to beef up Bulgaria’s defense industry. It also took steps to shield former collaborators of the Communist era secret police, embraced pro-family narratives, and expressed support for Russia’s Orthodox Church.
The stress, deprivations, and trauma suffered by Ukrainian civilians living in frontline, and occupied towns and cities, have been having a lasting impact on their health, with a yet unknown number meeting an untimely death, according to Inna Kubai, a Researcher at the Reckoning Project
Serbia’s longtime leader, Aleksandar Vučić, seems determined to extend his 12 years rule by borrowing from a playbook used by Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and some leaders from the Balkans: running for the Prime Minister office (again), as his second presidential term nears its end. There’s a strong chance the gamble will pay off but then again, it may turn against Vučić.
The Georgian government, whose eminence gris is controversial oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, is suspected of using espionage charges against its opponents. In power since 2012, the Georgian Dream has been criticized for Georgia’s democratic backsliding. Its policies caused a rift in Georgia’s relations with its Western partners, the European Union and the United States.
Volodymyr Zelensky’s absence from the Polish-hosted Ukraine Recovery Conference reflected the most serious political rupture between Warsaw and Kyiv since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Many argue that despite these frictions, driven by conflicting views on history, Poland and Ukraine are bound to stick together. However, for now Russia is leaning back and enjoying the show.
As symbolic embodiments of competing interpretations of history, Soviet monuments have sparked ethnic tensions and were at the center of the largest civil unrest since the restoration of independence.
Russia claims to be a global power and is trying to show it in Africa, where it seeks to revive USSR’s former influence and, at the same time, make money. Moscow's African policy, however, is limited to exporting grains, (cheap) weapons and mercenaries. Also, Russia wants to avoid stepping on China’s toes in Africa, given its dependency on Beijing since it invaded Ukraine.
By passing the law on unification, Romania has begun the process of annexing the Republic of Moldova, pro-Russian socialist Igor Dodon claims. In fact, the draft bill, introduced by Diana Șoșoacă's party, was advanced through a technical loophole rather than a vote, and it is highly unlikely to pass the Senate, where it lacks the necessary political backing.
Ukraine has hardened its stance towards Belarus' authoritarian leader, after years of trying not to irritate him too much, lest he drag his country into war. Now Kiev is tightening ties with the opposition led by Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya while warning Alexander Lukashenko that in the event of an escalation, Ukrainian drones are ready to strike.
European neo-fascists with sympathies for Russia – and even ties to it – have allied themselves with Serbia’s far right, with the discreet support of the government in Belgrade.
The Republic of Moldova is mortgaging its land to secure European loans and has been turned into a military training ground for NATO, the organisation that intends to open a second front against Russia on its territory, claims a Moscow MP affiliated with the fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor.
Armenians go to polls on Sunday for a high stakes elections that may decide whether the country will continue the pro-European path set by the current government, or it will once again tighten relations with its traditional ally, Russia. The run up to the elections was marked by a clash of opposing narratives, disinformation, and personal attacks.
As Russia moved past the economic turmoil of the 1990’s, the country saw the emergence of a so-called middle class, which was expected to push the country towards democracy. However, that middle class was dependent on the state, and that dependency kept it firmly in Putin’s camp.
According to sovereignist propaganda of Russian origin, the drone that crashed and exploded on a residential building in Galați on May 29 was deliberately launched by Ukraine to force Romania, and by extension, NATO to enter the war.
Péter Magyar's government is made up of a mix of independent experts, critics of Viktor Orbán, and former collaborators. The criterion that mattered most in choosing ministers seems to have been competence, which is a change from the Orbán era, when political connections and loyalty to the boss mattered.
Ukrainian combat drones have repeatedly entered the airspace of the Baltic states. The incidents have generated political tensions, but also suspicions that Russia is the one who jammed and diverted the drones, given that the region has seen numerous Russian provocations in recent years.
Poland’s largest cryptocurrency exchange collapsed into scandal amid allegations of fraud, money laundering, political influence, and links to the infamous Tambovskaya Bratva. This Russian criminal organization had been associated with St Petersburg’s political and business underworld during Putin’s rise to power.
According to an Armenian diplomat, joining the EU is actually tantamount to joining NATO, the organization she claims is behind the war in Ukraine. Her remarks essentially echo long-standing narratives pushed by Russia and pro-Russian factions across the former Soviet space. These narratives also target other nations with European aspirations, such as the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.
NIS is currently Russia’s most important tool of economic leverage over Serbia. Belgrade must force its sell in order to avoid US sanctions. It would be the most consequential energy transaction in the Balkans in two decades. However, there are lots of questions lingering over this story.
Russia’s struggle with the open proves that the Kremlin is trying to reorganize everyday life around the logic of security, control and dependence on state-approved infrastructure. The paradox is that this attack is directed against one of the few spheres where Russia had real modernizing potential: its digital economy.
According to a pro-Russian Telegram channel, Chisinau does not observe press freedom, as it banned the St. George’s ribbon. In fact, the ribbon was banned as a symbol of the Russian military aggression, and Moldova ranks very highly in Reporters Without Borders’ press freedom index.
Russia, like other oil-rich countries, saved some of its oil revenues for future generations and stability. After 2022, Moscow started to use the National Wealth Fund to finance a war that creates future instability.
Russia wanted to return the Treasure to Romania, but Mugur Isărescu refused, and the gold was sent to Amsterdam, according to a false narrative promoted by retired Colonel Mircea Dogaru, a self-proclaimed admirer of Dugin. Dogaru essentially repeated a narrative promoted by pro-Russian “sovereignists” and intended to polish Moscow’s image.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a national TV broadcast that Russia is preparing for a new mobilization that could be followed by an attack on the Baltic states. Contrary to the usual reaction, this statement triggered a strong negative response in Estonia.
Four years into the war, the EU - Russia trade relationship has been radically reshaped but not extinguished.
Kyiv is preparing a provocation against Belarus to open a new front and force the expansion of the war, pro-Kremlin media writes.
With his landslide victory, Radev ends a long period of political deadlock in Bulgaria. The danger now is that he will become the next Orban, and the EU will face another pro-Russian leader at the helm of an "illiberal" democracy.