Meduza is an independent Russian-language news outlet founded in Riga after pressure on journalism inside Russia. It reports on Russian politics, the war against Ukraine, the economy and dissent from outside the country's formal media system. Its exile location lets it cover subjects constrained by Russian censorship and criminal law.

The outlet works with Mediazona on Russian military casualty estimates. Mediazona maintains a list of deaths confirmed by name, while their joint statistical work uses probate records to estimate deaths missing from public notices. Meduza also reports from officials and sources inside government on mobilisation and economic policy.

This mix of published records, statistical analysis and source reporting gives the outlet several ways to examine a state that restricts wartime information. Each method carries its own level of attribution and uncertainty, especially where the Russian government withholds casualty and military data.

Key Issues

Casualty evidence

Meduza models Russia's hidden losses

On 9 May, Meduza and Mediazona published a statistical estimate of 352,000 Russian military deaths by the end of 2025. They used probate records to estimate losses that do not appear in public military notices.

For Meduza, the probate method extends casualty reporting beyond individual names without replacing name-by-name work. Mediazona, BBC Russian and volunteers maintain the separate public list. The two measures answer different questions: one estimates the likely total, while the other documents people whose deaths can be confirmed from public records.

Common Questions

Reference

Where is Meduza based and why did it leave Russia?

Meduza is based in Riga, Latvia, where it relocated in 2014 after facing increasing legal and editorial pressure inside Russia. Its Latvian base provides legal protection that would be unavailable inside Russia.Source: event

Is Meduza blocked in Russia?

Yes. Russia designated Meduza a 'foreign agent' in April 2021, blocked its website after the 2022 invasion, and escalated to 'undesirable organisation' status in January 2023, the most severe legal category, making support for its work a criminal offence in Russia.Source: event

Who founded Meduza and why did they leave Russia?

Editor Galina Timchenko founded Meduza in 2014 in Riga, Latvia, together with much of the former Lenta.ru newsroom, after she was dismissed at the Kremlin's demand during the annexation of Crimea.

Why does Meduza interview Russian government officials?

Despite being classified as 'undesirable' by the Russian government, Meduza has obtained interviews with serving officials — notably with Economic Development Minister Reshetnikov in April 2026 — because some officials are willing to speak candidly to a credible outlet with wide Russian-speaking reach, even one that is formally banned.Source: https://lowdown.today/entities/meduza

What is Meduza?

Meduza is Russia's most prominent Independent news outlet, operating from Riga, Latvia after being forced out of Russia in 2014. It publishes in Russian and English, targeting Russian-speaking audiences inside Russia (who access it via VPN despite government blocks) and the international community.Source: https://lowdown.today/entities/meduza

Where is Meduza based?

Meduza is headquartered in Riga, Latvia, where it relocated in 2014 after Russian authorities moved against its predecessor publication. Latvia's EU membership provides legal protection for its journalists that would not be available inside Russia.Source: https://lowdown.today/entities/meduza

How did Meduza estimate 352,000 Russian soldiers killed?

Meduza and Mediazona used Probate Registry excess male mortality data, published on 9 May 2026, to produce a statistical upper-bound estimate of 352,000 Russian soldiers killed by end-2025. This runs alongside Mediazona's separate named-and-verified list of 202,000 confirmed deaths.Source: event

Source Material

Meduza, Wikipedia Meduza, English edition