A new national-priority project announced by President Vladimir Putin in January aims to develop new medical technologies to counter aging. Sources tell Systema and Meduza the project is the brainchild of Mikhail Kovalchuk, a Putin insider known for his outlandish scientific theories.
Many Russians and Central Asians with Russian passports are desperate to escape Russia to avoid having to fight in the Ukraine war. They often go to an EU country and apply for a humanitarian visa, crossing the border illegally and asking for asylum. Their success varies.
