Yurii Marchenko

Severely wounded and taken captive, a Ukrainian soldier, call sign “Positive,” found himself in the most negative of circumstances. Yet, not only did he survive, but he also ultimately convinced his Russian captors to surrender.

After Russia seized Crimea, the peninsula has been transformed from a tourist haven into a tightly controlled military zone. Repression has deepened, dissent is criminalized, and daily life unfolds under surveillance.

What do time travel, nuclear weapons, and world domination have in common? In Russia’s bestselling science fiction novels, they serve as tools for rewriting the past and advancing a vision of national strength.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) disqualified Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych on February 12. The reason was his intention to compete in a special helmet honoring athletes who were killed as a result of Russia’s war.

He left Nigeria for Russia in search of work. Weeks later, he was standing in a frozen trench in eastern Ukraine.

Russia is banned from the Olympics—but its athletes are still competing. Labeled “neutral,” their presence and affiliations raise questions about accountability.