Vladimir Putin's press secretary just got married in the Russian resort, Sochi. And some opposition activists noticed one of the wedding photos showed him wearing a very expensive watch, estimated at more than $600,000. And it's not the first time that a Russian authority has gotten into some trouble for an expensive timepiece.
Russian President Vladimir Putin unveiled a seven-point peace plan with Ukraine, but only after his government helped cause the chaos and bloodshed.
Russia says its soldiers aren't fighting in Ukraine, but evidence keeps piling up that Russia has invaded — even in Russia itself. That's caused some protests in Russia and disappointment in Ukraine, where people are feeling abandoned by the outside world.
An unusual protest in took place 32 stories above Moscow on Wednesday. There, attached to the iconic Soviet star atop a famous apartment building, an unnamed protester unfurled the Ukrainian flag and gave a shot in the arm to Russians opposed to intervention in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has banned most food imports from any country that has imposed sanctions on his country. That's left Russians scrambling to buy products like French cheese before it's all gone — and maybe asking bigger questions as well.
Tension between Russia and Ukraine is rising, as each accuses the other of being responsible for the downing of the Malaysia Airlines passenger jet. Meanwhile, the Netherlands goes into mourning, saying this is their 9/11, since more than half the passengers on the flight were Dutch.
The crisis in Ukraine didn't prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin from holding his annual live phone-in today. Correspondent Charles Maynes says the Russian leader gave a vigorous defense of Moscow's role in Ukraine and entertained a call from former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.
Historian Anne Applebaum says Russia's plan for Ukraine might be to create an ungovernable space in Crimea — a problem the new government can't solve. Reporter Charles Maynes says pro-democracy activists are drawing parallels between Russia and Ukraine.
LGBT groups in Russia are hosting an international athletic event in Moscow, following the the end of the Sochi Olympics. But the “Open Games" are running into problems.
Russia is projecting a new image at these Olympics: a helpful, welcoming Russia. Suddenly police are friendlier, politicians meet with activists, people are recycling. It's a version of Russia a lot of people would like to have, but it may not last beyond the games.
"It's a little like watching history collapse in on itself," says one Moscow based journalist of the Olympic opening ceremonies in Russia.