Changes to Russia’s disability regulations during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine have made it harder for people with serious medical conditions to obtain or retain disability status, Systema found. The authorities "chose to make the statistics look better -- and save money,” an expert said.
Russia is conducting “neuroprofiling” tests on 10,000 children and teenagers to identify leaders and “anti-leaders,” part of an effort to promote patriotism amid the war against Ukraine. An independent educator calls it an “attempt by the authorities to control people and influence their decisions.”
A new national-priority project announced by President Vladimir Putin in January aims to develop new medical technologies to counter aging. Sources tell Systema and Meduza the project is the brainchild of Mikhail Kovalchuk, a Putin insider known for his outlandish scientific theories.
Many Russians and Central Asians with Russian passports are desperate to escape Russia to avoid having to fight in the Ukraine war. They often go to an EU country and apply for a humanitarian visa, crossing the border illegally and asking for asylum. Their success varies.
