Real stories must be told at any cost — especially the ones powerful people want to silence.

Eighteen human skeletons found on Dagestan beach, where they may have been buried in 1930s

Source: RIA Novosti

Human remains were found on a Caspian Sea beach in Makhachkala, Dagestan, the Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti reported on Monday, citing local law enforcement.

The republic’s Investigative Committee told RFE/RL’s North Caucasus service, Kavkaz.Realii, that 18 human skeletons were found on the beach during the course of construction work. “Presumably, these are remains from the 1930s,” the agency said in a statement.

Local authorities have reportedly opened an investigation into the findings.

The local Telegram channel Online Dagestan published a photo of the skeletons and reported that some of the skulls had holes in them.

Развернуть
stories

‘A raging meat grinder’ How a riot in Krasnodar highlights the Russian army’s desertion problem

explainers

Mystics, meet Russia’s muzzle Lawmakers move forward with legislation to ban advertisements for ‘new age and magical services,’ from astrologists to witches

6 карточек
stories

A more joyous life Economist Will Pyle explains new research that shows satisfaction and economic optimism rising among Russians since the invasion of Ukraine

stories

'I lost control of my life' How one Russian region made abortions almost impossible to get — without passing any new laws

explainers

Trump’s plan for ending Russia’s war against Ukraine calls for freezing the front line and territorial exchanges. Here’s what that might look like, in four maps.

news

As Trump presses Ukraine to accept deal with Moscow, Russia pounds Kyiv with deadliest attack since children’s hospital strike

news

Despite Putin’s denials, Russia’s military has welcomed foreign mercenaries from at least 48 nations — iStories

news

Trump's 'final offer' Washington wants Ukraine to sign a minerals deal, give up NATO membership, and accept Russian occupation

stories

From showroom to warlord How a Tesla Cybertruck made its way from the U.S. to Ramzan Kadyrov’s driveway

news

The 'tribunal for Putin' is ready European officials have drafted a plan to prosecute Russia's top leadership — but there's still a long road ahead

stories

Breaking the ice As the U.S. and Russia tease Arctic cooperation, climate science could offer common ground — but neither side seems interested

stories

From webcams to handcuffs How Russia criminalized its live-stream porn industry

stories

‘Blackened feet and potential poisonings’ Russia’s oil-polluted Black Sea beaches haven’t stopped regional officials from welcoming vacationers

stories

'He kissed up well' Artyom Zhoga was supposed to embody Putin’s new model of veterans in high places. So far, his performance has fallen flat.

explainers

Russia wants airline sanctions lifted and U.S. flights restored. Washington may be listening — but Europe could stand in the way.

3 карточки
news

'Wiping out neighborhood after neighborhood' Russia pounds Ukraine's Pokrovsk, forcing civilians to flee under fire. For many, it's not the first time.

stories

‘Partisans should work with whoever they want’ Wealthy Russians have a history of funding the anti-Putin opposition. Here’s how they do it — and what’s in it for them.

news

‘No’: Meduza’s new art exhibition in Berlin A tribute to those who have the courage to resist

stories

‘A blueprint for building Putinism’ Kremlin official Alexander Kharichev pens new policy essay hailing Russians’ self-sacrifice and reverence for state authority

news

Imagined common enemies Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service dreams of an alliance with Washington against ‘Eurofascism’

stories

'I've done my job no worse than other deputies' This Russian municipal lawmaker has been working remotely for four years — from Dnipro, Ukraine

news

Russia has arrested the Kursk region's ex-governor. He oversaw the construction of anti-tank barriers — which later crumbled from rain and snow.

stories

‘The platform where bot farms are still effective’ How Russia is leveraging TikTok's algorithm to try to warp public opinion in Ukraine

stories

School discos, cafe vouchers, and car lotteries How to solve a population crisis, according to Russian officials

news

'I have always acted within the law' Who are the four Russian journalists jailed for their alleged work with Navalny's organization?

stories

My house is your house A new investigation suggests that Moscow’s political and economic favors fuel Serbia’s fast-tracked citizenship for well-connected Russians

meduza

Help us support Ukrainians affected by Russia’s war A new fundraising campaign from Helpdesk, TV Rain, and Meduza

meduza

New Meduza merch hits the shelves

meduza

Investigations, long reads, and open-data analysis A selection of Meduza’s best English-language reporting

The Beet

stories

Farewell to the Rohat Tajikistan’s most iconic teahouse falls victim to the capital’s redevelopment craze

stories

Radical crossroads Revolutionary Ireland and the fight against the Russian Empire

news

‘They tell us to work, but we already do’ Refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh face uncertain future as Armenia cuts back aid

stories

Dispatch from Perloja How the shattering of empires after WWI turned one tiny Lithuanian village into a ‘republic’

stories

Vanishing ice, rising risks As Central Asia’s glaciers disappear, a new generation of scientists works to track them

This is Meduza

stories

The million-dollar reporter How attackers hijacked the phone of Meduza co-founder Galina Timchenko, making her the first Russian journalist to be infected with Pegasus spyware

stories

For 10 years, we’ve fought censorship to bring you the truth about Russia To celebrate this milestone, we’re sharing 20 things you probably didn’t know about Meduza

Cyberattackers target Meduza with unprecedented DDoS campaign in effort to disable site

stories

‘So what’d you write?’ Ivan Golunov tells ‘Meduza’ about life as an investigative journalist in Russia today and being framed for drug dealing

stories

‘I want to live — and that’s why I’m writing’ Russian journalist Elena Kostyuchenko recounts surviving an apparent poisoning attempt in Germany

meduza

Meduza is granting open access to all coverage of the war in Ukraine under a Creative Commons license You can reprint our articles about the conflict in full — anywhere you like

meduza

Наші серця — з Україною An appeal from Meduzaʼs newsroom to Ukrainian readers

explainers

Life after ‘undesirability’ Now that Meduza has been outlawed, these are the risks involved in reading and sharing our work from inside Russia

12 карточек