Sota News

Independent Russian media covering politics, protests & human rights. Follow the truth!

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Novorossiysk Authorities Cite Terror Threat as Reason for Ban on Selling Gasoline in Jerry Cans

The city administration provided this explanation to the media outlet Podyom.

According to officials, the restrictions were introduced to ensure the safety of gas station employees and customers, as well as to protect fuel and energy infrastructure. The mayor's office cited the requirements of the national standard for fuel stations and the federal law "On Countering Terrorism."

Furthermore, the administration stated that a sharp spike in demand for gasoline was overloading gas station networks, leading to localized shortages and long lines. Consequently, the volume of fuel dispensed per purchase was limited so that stations could serve as many motorists as possible.

The authorities also noted that dedicated pumps have been allocated at gas stations for public transit vehicles, and farmers are being assisted with securing fuel and lubricants. According to the administration, as of the afternoon of July 9, fuel was available at 25 out of the city's 34 gas stations, with AI-95 gasoline sold at 12 of them.

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"He Was Very Busy": Kremlin Suggests Reason Why Trump Did Not Call Putin

Yesterday, the American television channel Fox News reported that following the NATO summit in Antalya, Donald Trump invited journalists to ask questions "for Putin," whom he intended to call later that day. Notably, the U.S. President had met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the event.

A day later, the Kremlin stated that they had not received a phone call from Trump.

"Mr. Trump was apparently very busy following all the contacts in Ankara, which is why no one called yesterday. President Putin is always happy to speak; they do have a constructive dialogue, despite certain disagreements that may arise. So far, no one has called. President Putin remains open to dialogue," Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Photo: SOTA

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Ukrainian Armed Forces Claim Strikes on 14 More Russian "Shadow Fleet" Vessels in Sea of Azov

This was announced by Robert Brovdi, the Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces of Ukraine. According to him, the targeted vessels include 12 tankers, one cargo ship, and one tugboat.

Brovdi also reported that 45 military targets were attacked overnight in Crimea and across the southern occupied territories, including the Saki Thermal Power Plant, fuel and lubricant depots, electronic warfare stations, and fuel bowsers.

According to the Ukrainian side, a total of 35 vessels—including tankers, cargo ships, a ferry, and a tugboat—have been hit over the past four days. Brovdi previously reported the destruction of two tankers on July 6, ten vessels on July 7, and nine vessels on July 8.

Video: "Madyar" Telegram channel

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Defendant in "First Urals Oligarch" Murder Case Deployed to War

The criminal case against Sergey Gorshunov, a former member of the "Tsentr" organized crime group accused of the 1992 murder of Yekaterinburg businessman Viktor Ternyak, has been suspended after he signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense. This was reported by https://t.co/hdeZS6seUM and https://t.co/94ZyY1kdLH, citing their sources; the case is also marked as suspended in the court registry.

According to investigators, on September 8, 1992, Gorshunov opened fire with a pistol at a Volvo carrying Viktor Ternyak, the president of the Euro-Asian Company, who was known as one of the first oligarchs in the Urals region. The businessman was killed, while his driver and bodyguard survived. Investigators believe the murder was committed over a redistribution of influence at Yekaterinburg's Central Market and a conflict between rival criminal groups.

Shortly before the information about Gorshunov heading to the front lines emerged, he had pled guilty and entered a pre-trial agreement, though it was subsequently canceled, https://t.co/hdeZS6seUM reports.

The case into Ternyak's murder remained unsolved for over 30 years. In the 1990s, Gorshunov had already been detained on suspicion of committing this crime but was released under a recognizance agreement, after which he left Russia. In 2025, he was detained upon returning to the country; later, according to https://t.co/3hB0T2H0rl, he ended up in Moscow, where he was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison in a large-scale fraud case before being transferred back to Yekaterinburg.

Photo: https://t.co/hdeZS6seUM

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Hello Kitty-Themed Interceptor Drone Showed at Kazan Exhibition

The "Malyutka" (Little One) interceptor drone, featuring a Hello Kitty image on its hull, was showcased at the Drone Expo 2026 exhibition in Kazan. The aircraft was presented by the Advanced Aviation Systems company, TASS reports.

Andrey Smirnov, the head of the BAS flight testing center, explained that the drone's design was chosen not only for exhibitions but also for combat application. The device is designed to intercept small aerial targets, primarily unmanned aerial vehicles.

According to the developers, the Malyutka can automatically lock onto a target at a distance of up to one kilometer and carry a payload weighing up to 300 grams.

Screenshot: TASS video

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Website Launches Featuring Full Database of Over 6,000 Alabuga Employees

In late June, a message from an organization calling itself "Chernaya Iskra" (Black Spark) was published on the website of Alabuga—the conglomerate manufacturing drones used in strikes against Ukraine—announcing a breach that had lasted several months: "We have been operating inside the system for several months. During this time, we downloaded the database of all employees, their relatives, residential addresses, supply chains, and more."

A website titled "Open Alabuga" has now appeared online, containing data on 6,112 individuals, including names, passport numbers, taxpayer identification numbers (INN), insurance numbers (SNILS), and in some cases, photographs and social media profiles.

The unidentified creators of the website are offering individuals listed in the database the option to contact them to have their information removed from the platform.

A Telegram channel linked to the website was created on July 8. Its initial post reads: "Our website hosts a database of people who are currently working or have previously worked on the modernization and assembly of Shahed drones. This includes even those who were interns or simply mopped the floors in the workshops—each and every one bears responsibility for launching these UAVs at civilians. You knew perfectly well what you were doing and where they would fly. <…>

Look over your shoulder when entering your apartment building, going to the store, or heading to work."

The channel subsequently published photographs of several apartment building entrances in Kazan where posters advertising the website had been put up, implying that Alabuga employees who may now be at risk reside in those buildings.

Photo: Open Alabuga

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FSB Claims to Prevent "Unprecedented" Series of Terrorist Attacks

The FSB claims that the targets of the planned attacks were military infrastructure facilities, a Russian defense industry enterprise, and several personnel from the Russian Ministry of Defense. In some instances, security forces allege that drones were intended to be used.

One of the episodes involves an alleged terrorist plot against a high-ranking Ministry of Defense officer in Moscow. A 25-year-old female Russian citizen was detained in connection with the case. According to the FSB, she was recruited in 2024.

Investigators claim that the woman rented an apartment in Moscow and installed surveillance cameras to monitor the serviceman’s home and vehicle, transmitting the video feed to Ukraine. She also allegedly gathered information on security cameras near the officer's residence.

According to the FSB, the apartment contained disguise materials, provisions for the intended perpetrator of the attack, surveillance equipment, and smartphones containing correspondence with a Ukrainian intelligence operative.

The FSB has classified this episode as part of an "unprecedented series" of attempted terrorist attacks targeting Russian military assets and personnel.

Video: FSB Public Relations Center/TASS

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Russian Opposition Outraged by Official Russia's Return to Olympic Games

Two Russian opposition structures at once have issued statements demanding that the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) be barred from reinstatement within the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

As a reminder, on Tuesday, the IOC Executive Board temporarily reinstated the ROC's rights and reversed its own recommendations that imposed restrictions on the participation of Russian athletes in international competitions. The decision was made after the ROC excluded regional sports organizations in the occupied territories from its membership. Recommendations requiring Russian athletes to compete in international events exclusively under a neutral status were also lifted.

These actions by the IOC sparked outrage from the Platform of the Russian Opposition at PACE and the Coalition of Democratic Forces, which was formed under the leadership of Olga Kurnosova following a split in Ilya Ponomarev's Congress of People's Deputies.

➡️ The Platform: "We call on the IOC to reconsider its decision and maintain the restrictions against the ROC until the root causes of its previous suspension are resolved, and until the Russian Federation ceases its aggression against Ukraine and begins to respect the norms of international law."

➡️ The Coalition: "We remember the true nature of Russian 'athletes' from Dynamo and CSKA. These are not athletes—they are dual-purpose agents seamlessly integrated into the state's repressive apparatus. <…> We call upon the International Olympic Committee, international sports federations, the European Union, the Council of Europe, and all democratic states to show resolve and refrain from taking any single step that could be perceived as the political rehabilitation of the aggressor. This must remain the case until the war is completely halted, all political prisoners are released, Ukraine's territorial integrity is restored, and Russia returns to compliance with international law."

Vasily Piskarev, a State Duma deputy responsible for combating "enemies of the people," commented on the statement by the PACE group (the Coalition's statement was obtained by SOTA and had not been previously published): "The statement by these runaway grant-grifters demonstrates their final loss of connection with their Motherland and their slavish submission to Russophobic political handlers and sponsors."

Platform at PACE. Photo: Denis Galitsyn / SOTA

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Authorities Simplify Military Supplies Between Russia and Belarus

Vladimir Putin has submitted a bill to the State Duma to ratify a protocol amending the military-technical cooperation agreement between Russia and Belarus. The protocol was signed last December.

Minsk ratified the document in June, stating that it "will allow a greater number of domestic organizations to promptly acquire military products in Russia."

The two countries are simplifying the exchange of all goods required for the military and security forces. Under the new rules, military shipments between Russia and Belarus can be bought and sold without individual import or export licenses, customs duties, or other fees. Instead of going through public procurement channels, transactions will be carried out via contracts between the designated authorities: the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation on the Russian side, and the State Authority for Military Industry on the Belarusian side.

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In Novosibirsk, an unidentified man pelted the Communist Party (KPRF) regional committee headquarters with buckwheat and smashed a window, Sibirsky Express reported.

According to the party, the man threw cooked buckwheat through open windows during the day and then shattered a windowpane in one of the basement rooms. The regional committee noted that the building is a registered cultural heritage site.

A staff member who was inside the room stated that the man acted aggressively, used profanity, and appeared to be intoxicated. After she shut the window, he struck an adjacent pane and fled the scene.

Anatoly Lokot, the first secretary of the Novosibirsk KPRF regional committee, called the incident a "politically motivated crime." He stated that the party is preparing to file a report with law enforcement. Lokot also noted that while Communists had previously faced vandalism of campaign materials and attacks on activists, this was the first time such an incident had occurred in broad daylight during working hours.

Photo: Anatoly Lokot

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Defendants in Belgorod "Dragon's Teeth" Embezzlement Case Request Deployment to War

In 2025, the Prosecutor General's Office demanded the recovery of nearly 1 billion rubles from officials and entrepreneurs implicated in embezzlement during the construction of defensive fortifications in the Belgorod region.

The regional capital construction department, headed by Alexey Soshnikov under the supervision of Deputy Governor Rustem Zaynullin, was designated as the general contractor for the project. According to the agency, they secured 26 deals worth nearly 1.14 billion rubles with the companies Region Sibir and Stroyinvestrezerv, whose owners paid kickbacks to the officials—amounting to up to 10% of the contract values.

RBC reports that during the first hearing of his case, Soshnikov asked the court to assist him in signing a contract with the Ministry of Defense, stating that he had "reflected on the situation" and considered it his duty to participate in the war. Judge Oksana Goryunova denied his request, noting that such matters fall under the jurisdiction of the military department.

Another defendant in the case, entrepreneur Konstantin Zimin, who is accused of mediation in bribery and embezzlement, made an identical request. He claims to have already signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense twice, but the investigation failed to suspend his criminal case afterward. The judge denied his request as well, citing a lack of relevant documentation from the military department, though she agreed to send an inquiry to verify his claims.

Alexey Soshnikov. Photo: Moscow Courts of General Jurisdiction

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Entire Russian-controlled Part of Kherson Oblast Without Power

The head of the region, Vladimir Saldo, stated that emergency services are already working to restore the electricity supply.

The last mass blackout in Kherson Oblast occurred on July 4, and a technological emergency regime was introduced in the territory on July 7 to speed up repairs and facilitate the procurement of machinery, equipment, and materials without "unnecessary procedures."

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Oil Depots Catch Fire in Tver and Stavropol Krai Following Drone Attacks

In Tver, according to Governor Vitaly Korolev, a storage tank at the Tver oil depot is on fire. Korolev claims that the fire has been contained, and preliminary data indicates no casualties among local residents or facility employees. Ukrainian monitoring channels report that the strike hit the Tvernefteprodukt oil depot, a subsidiary of Surgutneftegaz that stores and distributes gasoline and diesel fuel to gas stations.

The head of Stavropol Krai, Vladimir Vladimirov, reported an attack on an "industrial facility" in the Shpakovsky District. According to him, the fire reached tanks containing "combustible materials," prompting a decision to move residents from nearby houses to safety.

According to Exilenova+, the "industrial facility" in question is the Lukoil-Yugnefteprodukt oil depot in Mikhaylovsk.

Video: Exilenova+

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"Alternative to Gay Prides" Held at VDNKh: "Family Parade" Launched

On July 8, the Day of Remembrance of Saints Peter and Fevronia, the All-Russian Family Parade 2026 kicked off at VDNKh in Moscow. The festive procession, held under the motto "Russia is a Family of Families!", brought together families from more than 200 Russian cities, according to the organizers.

On the eve of the event, July 6, a press conference dedicated to the parade's preparations was held at the MIA Rossiya Segodnya press center. Key speakers included regular participants of such events: Andrey Kormukhin, chairman of the organizing committee and leader of the Sorok Sorokov movement; Anna Kuznetsova, Vice Speaker of the State Duma; and Priest Fyodor Lukyanov, Chairman of the Patriarchal Commission on Family Issues.

During the press conference, Kormukhin explicitly stated that the event was conceived as an "alternative to gay prides," as people are "already rather tired of anti-family values." The program at VDNKh includes a ceremonial procession featuring brass bands, a concert program hosted by Anna Shafran, and an award ceremony for families with many children.

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Yashin's Party Branch Launched in Vilnius: Representatives Remain Unsure of Its Agenda

The Vilnius branch of Reforum—an organization designated as a "foreign agent"—hosted a meeting with members of the Peace Russia party's leadership currently residing in Lithuania. The event was attended by political council members Igor Kochetkov and Sergei Davidis, as well as the party's deputy chairperson, Elena Kotyonochkina.

The primary focus of the meeting was the presentation of the party's Lithuanian branch. According to party representatives, similar structures are planned for all countries with sizable Russian emigrant populations.

Throughout the meeting, the speakers repeatedly urged attendees to join Peace Russia. However, doing so is currently impossible, as an application form has yet to be created.

Furthermore, party representatives noted that active participation would be a mandatory condition for membership. When a SOTA journalist asked what specific activities this would entail, the speakers responded that party members would have to come up with ideas themselves. They explained that regional branches are granted "broad autonomy," meaning the central leadership does not assign them specific tasks.

Potential examples mentioned included protecting the rights of the Russian diaspora and liaising with municipal and state authorities.

In addition to diaspora-based branches, the party intends to establish structures based on members' regions of origin in order to engage with Russian regions, stated Sergei Davidis, a member of the political council and the Memorial human rights group.

Sergei Davidis, Elena Kotyonochkina, Igor Kochetkov. Photo: Ruslan Terekhov / SOTA

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Grozev Reports Release in UK of Two "Spies" Who Tracked Him and Dobrokhotov

After serving the mandatory half of their prison sentences, two individuals convicted in a Russian espionage case have been released in the United Kingdom. This was reported by investigative journalist Christo Grozev, whom a court previously identified as one of the group's targets alongside Roman Dobrokhotov, the editor-in-chief of The Insider.

According to Grozev, neither he nor Dobrokhotov was notified of the convicts' release.

In May 2025, a London court sentenced six Bulgarian nationals to prison terms ranging from five to ten years. The investigation established that the ring operated across several European countries, tracking Grozev and Dobrokhotov and discussing plans for their kidnapping or assassination.

The prosecution asserted that the group's activities were coordinated by Orlin Roussev, who was linked to former Wirecard top executive Jan Marsalek, currently believed to be in Russia. The court also concluded that the defendants' actions posed a threat to press freedom.

Christo Grozev is a Bulgarian investigative journalist and the former executive director of Bellingcat. He is well known for his investigations into the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, the Sergei Skripal case, and the activities of Russian intelligence services. In recent years, Grozev has repeatedly stated that he considers himself a primary target for Russian intelligence and "Putin's enemy No. 1." In 2025, a documentary about him titled "Antidote" was released.

Photo: SOTA

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Germany to Produce Drones for Ukraine

Ukraine and Germany have agreed on the joint production of BARS drones under the Build with Ukraine defense initiative, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced.

The agreement was signed by Sybiha and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. According to the head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, the document was prepared by the defense departments of both countries.

The first phase of production will be funded by the German side. All manufactured drones will be delivered to the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

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Attorney Berman Fails to Answer Question Regarding Collaboration with Foreign Agents and Extremists

During Danil Berman's livestream on a National Bolshevik channel, a user named Mikhail B. asked whether it was true that the lawyer had collaborated with OVD-Info (recognized as a foreign agent and an extremist organization), First Department (foreign agent, undesirable organization), and its founder Ivan Pavlov (foreign agent, wanted list).

Berman, who is known for his pro-government stance, chose not to read the question aloud, much like the stream's host. Instead, he offered a generalized response:

"I don't quite understand the question. Yes, I have collaborated with various organizations, but the goal was always the same—to protect the legally guarded rights and interests of citizens of the Russian Federation. Therefore, the question isn't who you cooperate with, but how you do it. From my perspective, I have never once betrayed the interests of the Russian Federation and my Motherland. <…>

As for the organizations mentioned in the question [Editor's note: they were never actually named on air], I currently have no connection to them. After I defended Darya Trepova, <…> I <…> automatically stopped collaborating with the mentioned organizations. It became clear to me that it is better to be with just about anyone rather than with the people involved in committing such crimes [the bombing that killed Vladlen Tatarsky]. So, whatever kind of traitors they may or may not be, history will judge who is a traitor and who is not. I was simply performing my duty as a defense attorney."

As a reminder, in the spring of 2024, lawyer Mikhail Benyash asked Berman a similar question regarding his cooperation with foreign agents: "My God, you flip-flop so fast it makes my head spin. Slow down somewhere at least."

Back then, instead of answering, Berman launched a channel called "NeBenyash" (NotBenyash), where he promised to explain the difference "between pacifist, anti-war views" and terrorism or extremism. However, the channel was soon deleted, and Berman never clarified the distinction between those viewpoints.

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Hungarian State TV Apologizes to Viewers for "Years of Lies"

The Hungarian television channel M1 interrupted its broadcast to display an apology for "years of lies." Simultaneously, an identical text appeared on the https://t.co/EtQJfneqtW website, while the radio station Kossuth Radio temporarily halted its news bulletins, broadcasting only music.

The statement noted that public media must not spread false information and that their operations would be reformed to ensure they become independent and trustworthy in the future.

M1 later resumed broadcasting without news programs, opening its airtime with a movie. According to the MTI news agency, news programming will return in phases once a new management team is formed.

Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar called the event historic. Following his party's victory in the parliamentary elections, the government announced a reform of public media, which had been under the control of the Fidesz party for 16 years.

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Yandex Starts Showing Fuel Availability and Lines at Gas Stations

Users of the Yandex Go and Yandex Zapravki (Yandex Fuel) services can now access real-time information about fuel availability and queues at gas stations. Previously, this data was only available to taxi drivers.

The feature is currently being tested in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The company announced that it will roll out to other Russian cities in the coming weeks.

To generate this information, Yandex utilizes data from its Yandex Maps and Yandex Zapravki services, along with crowdsourced reports from drivers who have recently visited or driven past the stations.

The new feature arrives amid ongoing fuel shortages in several Russian regions, where local authorities have introduced gasoline rationing and long queues have been forming at filling stations.