President Vladimir Putin of Russia is about to institute a rare tax increase on corporations and high earners, a move that reflects both the burgeoning costs of his war in Ukraine and the firm control he has over the Russian elite as he embarks on a fifth term in office.

The Russian government is going to great lengths to convince society of the righteousness of its attack on Ukraine. Any expression of anti-war sentiment is quickly suppressed, and organisations advocating for the conflict's end are labelled as enemies of the state.

EXCLUSIVE: A political scientist warned that Vladimir Putin's continued war in Ukraine and clashes with NATO can end in "only two scenarios".

U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin probably didn’t directly order the killing of Alexei Navalny at a remote penal colony in February, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

Russian President Vladimir Putin likely didn’t order the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny when the 47-year-old collapsed and died in February at an Arctic penal colony, U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded, according to a report.

Contributor/Getty ImagesRussia has dismissed a report claiming Vladimir Putin did not order the killing of famed dissident Alexei Navalny, who died in an Arctic prison in February.Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman,