Investigations
Over nearly 15 years in journalism, I have published dozens of investigative articles on state regulation of the internet, the activities of various hacker groups, efforts by major Russian IT companies to expand their businesses abroad despite sanctions, and criminal cases against prominent figures in Russia’s IT industry. Here are some of my most notable works.
Google has started refusing to exchange traffic with Russia
This investigation revealed that Google has disconnected from internet exchange points and some data centers in Russia. These changes, likely driven by sanctions and financial difficulties, may affect the overall quality and speed of access to Google services across the country.
Gem4me: How a Superapp Sold False Hopes
This investigation uncovers how the creators of the messenger app Gem4me built a large-scale financial pyramid, deceiving tens of thousands of investors with promises of massive profits. The report reveals how billions of rubles were funneled offshore through the sale of worthless “shares” disguised as investments.
Russia’s Most Profitable Company You Never Heard Of
An investigation exposed how Banknota, an obscure company, suddenly became one of Russia’s three most profitable firms, reporting 3.4 trillion rubles in earnings. Registered to a man convicted of petty theft, the company mysteriously disappeared almost immediately after announcing its profits.
RTVI uncovers Yandex’s secretive global venture Beyond ML
An exclusive investigation uncovers how Yandex discreetly launched Beyond ML, a venture studio based in Armenia and the U.S., to build innovative AI startups abroad amid growing geopolitical risks. The story reveals hidden ties to Yandex through shared staff, infrastructure, and advanced technologies.
Ex-Hacker magazine staff suspected of hacking top crypto exchange
An in-depth investigation uncovers a complex legal battle involving KuCoin, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, and Russian-founded cybersecurity firm Wallarm. The report reveals how a routine penetration test escalated into allegations of unauthorized access, data breaches, and potential links to a $285 million crypto theft.
Paper Trail to the Powder Room: A Corruption Case
This story uncovers a high-level corruption scheme in Russia’s Energy Ministry, where a government IT project became the center of a bribery scandal. With access to leaked recordings, internal files, and first-hand accounts, it reveals how state officials funneled money, covered their tracks, and left behind a paper trail—in a restroom trash bin.
Meduza uncovers Russia’s System for Tracking Voter Turnout
This exclusive investigation reveals how Russian officials built and deployed a digital tracking system to monitor public sector employees during the 2020 vote on constitutional amendments. Drawing on leaked documents and insider accounts, the investigation shows how QR codes and centralized databases were used to record turnout, allowing state-run institutions to oversee participation across the country.
How Hacker Flint24 Found a Friend in Parliament
An exposé delves into the double life of Aleksei Stroganov, known online as Flint24 -- one of Russia’s most prolific sellers of stolen credit card data. The story uncovers his surprising friendship with anti-cybercrime lawmaker Vadim Dengin, details his vast network of illicit carding shops, and reveals how he used legitimate businesses and even a cybercrime-fighting NGO as a front.
The Orthodox telecom official who invented the sovereign Runet
A revealing piece explores the quiet but strategic rise of Andrey Lipov, a little-known Kremlin insider who now leads Roskomnadzor, Russia’s powerful internet regulator. It uncovers his central role in shaping the “sovereign Runet,” his ties to Orthodox networks, and his influence over the country’s digital future.