CIA Director John Ratcliffe arrived in Moscow after the US received intelligence regarding potential Russian preparations for mobilization and provocations against NATO countries, according to The Wall Street Journal on August 25.

The unannounced trip follows heightened concern over Russian military planning and strategic maneuvers along the Alliance's borders.

Reports indicate that discussions during the visit may have focused on Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, potential ceasefire arrangements in Iran, and Russia’s ongoing support for the Iranian regime.

The last time a CIA director visited Moscow was in late 2021, when William Burns went to deliver a warning about the impending 2022 invasion.

Sad news for Russian fans of (apparently no longer) useful idiot Kanye West:

A planned concert by American rapper Ye, formarly Kanye West, in St. Petersburg will not take place after the venue said it had not signed a rental agreement with the event organizers, despite previously promoting the shows.

The Moscow Times reported on August 24 that the concerts had been scheduled for October 10 and 11 at Gazprom Arena, with Moscow-based Say Agency listed as the organizer. The stadium said, however, that it had not signed any venue rental agreements with the organizers and therefore could not host the event.

According to the outlet, citing Fontanka the decision to cancel the concert followed a call “from above” in Moscow.

Internationally famous useful idiot Kanye West will perform two concerts in St. Petersburg this October.

Shocking news:

Andrei Klepach, the chief economist at Russian state development corporation VEB.RF, was reportedly fired on Aug. 16, a day after Russian media widely circulated his warnings that Russia was losing its economic and technological competition with the West.

Former KGB colonel turned dictator and international war criminal...

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 4 signed a law imposing sweeping signed a law imposing sweeping financial, digital, and consular restrictions on Russian citizens living abroad who have been convicted in absentia, including under laws commonly used against Kremlin critics.

...

It covers convictions under any article of Russia's Criminal Code, as well as several administrative offenses frequently used against government critics. These include violating Russia's "foreign agents" law, participating in "undesirable" organizations, "discrediting" the Russian military, calling for sanctions against Russia, and challenging what Moscow considers Russia's territorial integrity.

However, don't think it's merely a draconian measure aimed at regime critics and those who flee Russia:

Those placed on the list will have their Russian bank accounts and other assets frozen. They will be barred from online banking and Gosuslugi, Russia's online government services portal, and prohibited from selling or transferring real estate and vehicles, obtaining loans, receiving certain state payments...

Just as Russia's budget needs it most, a brand new source of money.

Much of the content is not new if you've been paying attention, but there was this bit spelled out at the end:

Following Ukraine’s recent strikes, Russian investigative projects speculated that figures close to Putin were now cashing in most of the profits made by Wildberries. While the evidence is not conclusive, the conglomerate’s financial documents would show that structures linked to Russ received over 50 billion rubles ($600 million) of dividends in 2025 — at the same time, Wildberries was paid nothing.

"Tatiana Kim remains the owner of Wildberries, but it is pretty obvious that large stakes in the company are now owned by people in Putin’s administration," Sonin said.

I don't know if VVP was getting any of that money, but looks like maybe the Kadyrovs were.