New “Stratus” Coronavirus Strain Spreading in Russia
The new “Stratus” strain of coronavirus is reportedly highly contagious but generally causes mild symptoms, resembling a common acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI) without complications.
Russia is experiencing a rapid spread of the new “Stratus” coronavirus strain, according to Anna Popova, head of Rospotrebnadzor. Currently, 384 cases have been identified. While highly contagious, the disease typically manifests in a mild form. Common symptoms reported among those infected include: cough, sore throat, hoarseness, runny nose, headache, general weakness, fatigue, and muscle aches. The infection usually does not lead to complications.
Alexander Chepurnov, Chief Research Fellow at the Institute of Virology of the Federal Research Center for Fundamental and Translational Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences:
“This is another version of the same Omicron variant, which has been with us for a very long time and has produced a huge number of versions and variants. The new version is characterized by rather interesting substitutions and mutations. On the one hand, it is quite evident that these substitutions lead to greater resistance to existing immunity, whether acquired after illness or vaccination. On the other hand, it is believed to infect cells slightly less effectively due to this, but that doesn`t prevent its vigorous spread worldwide. As for the course of the disease, it does not significantly differ from other variants. Fortunately, all this has become significantly milder and easier. I`ll also add that it was first isolated and identified in Canada in January 2025, reaching Russia in April. It now confidently accounts for more than half of infection cases, but it does not pose an additional danger. We are not seeing it lead to a catastrophic increase in illness or the need to reopen COVID hospitals, and so on.”
New strains often allow for the infection of individuals with acquired immunity, but typically do not cause serious complications. Virologist Pavel Volchkov comments:
Pavel Volchkov, Virologist:
“This is the same COVID, just another modification of it. New strains primarily acquire mutations that allow them to reinfect individuals with previously acquired immunity. This usually does not lead to any serious complications; it presents as a classic ARVI, causing upper respiratory tract infection, runny nose, as expected, a rise in temperature, and this is the most regular form. In rare cases, it will lead to more significant systemic infections, such as aches, muscle pain, general severe weakness — this will occur less frequently, but nonetheless, it is possible, depending on the dose of the virus you received and how well your immunity initially managed the virus`s penetration. Normally, the current strain is safe for most people. For whom is it dangerous? Primarily children, especially those who have never encountered SARS-CoV-2, and people with underlying health conditions: this includes the elderly, whose immune system is, unfortunately, no longer as robust. The more social contacts you have in a day, the higher the probability of infection; it`s that simple. And in crowded places, you maximally expose yourself to the likelihood of viral infection, not just SARS-CoV-2, but any other respiratory viral infection.”
— Is it time to wear masks again?
— No, the need to wear masks was during the pandemic, when there was a large number of people, so to speak, `naive` individuals who had no immunity. People without immunity, accordingly, easily got infected and quickly transmitted the viral infection to other equally `naive` people without immunity. Now, there are practically no naive people, only children who haven`t encountered it, and individual adults who miraculously protected themselves from meeting the coronavirus. But overall, the level of population immunity in the Russian Federation, and especially in Moscow, is very high.”
The Moscow Health Department previously reported observing the “Stratus” coronavirus strain since May, noting its share in the structure of all viral diseases is 22%. They assert that “the new strain is under control: there are no grounds for concern.”
New Two-Stage Fraud Scheme Targeting Russians Reported by Interior Ministry
The Ministry of Internal Affairs reports a new two-stage fraud scheme: victims are first contacted by fake telecom operators, then by scammers posing as law enforcement or central bank employees, who claim the victim`s voice profile has been copied and demand all funds be transferred to a “safe” account.
The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has warned about a new two-stage scam targeting citizens. Initially, an unknown caller contacts a potential victim, posing as a telecommunications company operator. They then inform the victim that landline phones will be disconnected and offer to switch to another line without losing their number or altering tariff conditions. Once the client agrees, the caller promises to prepare the necessary documents and send them by mail.
In the second stage of the fraud, several days later, the victim is contacted by individuals posing as law enforcement officers or employees of the Bank of Russia. These unknown callers claim that the victim previously communicated with scammers who copied their voice, granting them full access to all existing bank accounts. They then recommend “declaring” all cash held at home and handing these savings over to their “employee” for deposit into a “safe account.”
Evgeny Tsarev, Managing Partner at RTM Group:
“I see many such stories across various age groups — young people, middle-aged individuals, and even pre-retirement age — they readily transfer money into this two-stage scam system. And in this case, one format of interaction is described, but there are others. For example, when someone is scared — perhaps an attempt is made to hack an account, and the person frequently receives SMS messages that a password is being picked, they start to fuss, and then everything quiets down. A few days later, they receive a call saying: `You know, your account was indeed hacked, and you subscribed to such-and-such terrorist Telegram accounts, you liked extremist communities,` and so on. After this, the person in a panic is ready to give up anything. The same thing happened with utility meters, when people are called and told that meters need to be installed, then a master calls, and so on — so two-step scenarios have appeared before. In that sense, I don`t see this as big news. But what`s striking is that people fall for this story; they hand over cash — and cash is usually accepted by `droppers,` typically drug addicts, meaning money is given to them, they put it in their bag or package and simply leave, passing it on to other people. A very important service has now appeared on `Gosuslugi` (the Russian public services portal), where you can check which SIM cards are registered to your name. And the first signs have emerged, where people check and are surprised to find hundreds of SIM cards registered to them. This means they are unwittingly participants in all these criminal schemes. So this should also be checked.”
Earlier, RBC, citing sources, reported that telecom operators and financial organizations have yet to reach an agreement on who will reimburse clients for losses incurred from fraud committed using communication means. This dispute arose during discussions of the second anti-fraud package aimed at combating scams. According to the current draft, banks are to reimburse funds stolen from bank accounts, while operators are responsible for funds stolen from mobile phone accounts.
St. Petersburg Faces Flight Delays and Mobile Internet Outage Amid Drone Threat
St. Petersburg`s Pulkovo Airport experienced dozens of flight delays, including international routes, and mobile internet was disrupted in several city districts, following warnings about drone activity in the Leningrad region.
Nearly 40 flights, both inbound and outbound, were delayed at Pulkovo Airport in St. Petersburg due to restrictions, the Northwestern Transport Prosecutor`s Office reported. Earlier on Saturday, Rosaviatsia (the Federal Air Transport Agency) imposed temporary restrictions at the St. Petersburg airport after authorities in the Leningrad region warned of drone danger. Dozens of flights at Pulkovo were delayed, including several international ones to Baku, Yerevan, and Batumi. Three flights were cancelled. The city`s Committee for Informatization and Communication stated that a deterioration in mobile internet and communication quality is possible in St. Petersburg.
Sergey Korunny, Editor of the Neva Today online newspaper:
“As of early afternoon, as I personally confirmed, access to mobile internet is absent in the city center; one can only get online via Wi-Fi. According to the Pulkovo Airport departure board, about fifty arriving flights and about thirty departing flights are delayed. In turn, the city`s transport committee reported that due to the lack of mobile internet access, paid parking in the city center can only be paid for using SMS and a parking account. I am in the Admiralty district of St. Petersburg, I am connected to Wi-Fi. If I disconnect from Wi-Fi, the phone shows, as they say, four or five bars, but there is simply no access to 4G or more powerful service in principle; you can only get online via Wi-Fi.”
Governor Drozdenko reported that a drone was shot down in the Tosnensky district of the Leningrad region, with no damage or casualties.
International Postal Services Disrupt Shipments to US Over New Customs Duties
Several international postal services have halted or restricted shipments to the US following the impending abolition of the $800 duty-free threshold for parcels, effective August 29th, requiring operators to pay duties before delivery to the US. This move, attributed to a Trump-era decision, threatens a global postal collapse.
A number of international postal services have ceased or limited parcel shipments to the United States, and even the transfer of goods to America, due to new duties. Among European operators, Finland, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, and Belgium specifically announced such measures. In Asia, the Korean and Singaporean postal services restricted their operations. Japan warned of potential delays or returns of parcels. The national postal service of France and several other operators explicitly stated that this is their response to Donald Trump`s decision.
Effective August 29th, the US is revoking the preferential regime under which parcels valued up to $800 were exempt from customs duties. The new rules mandate operators to pay duties before parcels are delivered to US territory.
The global press is commenting on a potential postal collapse:
- Bloomberg reports that postal services suspended operations due to confusion. Operators are uncertain how to process millions of inexpensive parcels that will be subject to duties starting next week. Previously, the duty-free regime covered over four million parcels daily, largely due to e-commerce.
- Financial Times notes that in recent years, the duty-free regime became a genuine gift for online commerce, which delivers directly to consumers, such as Chinese platforms like Shein and Temu. With his decision, Trump initially targeted cheap Chinese imports. However, this now threatens problems extending far beyond those parameters.
- France24 believes European postal services have very little time to prepare. For instance, the French service sends approximately 1.5 million parcels to the US annually.
- Korea Times writes that from next week, the Korean Postal Service will only handle documents and letters. Parcels to the US will only be available through a premium service that charges the recipient.
- BBC states that the UK postal operator Royal Mail is working on a new delivery system and hopes to launch it within a few days to comply with the new rules before they come into force.
Trump`s decision creates confusion regarding import taxes, which are to be collected at the end of the month. According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, after the abolition of benefits, duties on parcels will be calculated based on the tariff rate of the country of manufacture. The duty-free regime will remain only for gifts valued under $100. Thus, goods produced in the EU will be subject to a 15% duty, while goods from China will face a 30% duty, but only until November 9th, while the trade truce between China and the US is in effect.
Russia Requests UN Security Council Meeting Following Nord Stream Sabotage Suspect Arrest
Moscow has requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting following new information regarding the arrest of a suspect in the Nord Stream pipeline explosions – a Ukrainian citizen, former military captain and SBU officer, named Sergey Kuznetsov.
Russia has requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting for Tuesday regarding the Nord Stream pipeline explosions, in light of new information about the arrest of a suspect in organizing the attacks. This was stated by Russia`s First Deputy Permanent Representative, Dmitry Polyansky.
On August 21, the German Prosecutor General`s Office announced the arrest in Italy of a Ukrainian citizen suspected of involvement in the pipeline sabotage. The arrested individual is a former captain of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and an ex-employee of the SBU (Security Service of Ukraine). According to the German Prosecutor General`s Office, he was part of a group that planted explosive devices on the Nord Stream pipelines near the island of Bornholm in September 2022.
Italy`s Corriere della Sera names the detained man as Sergey Kuznetsov, 49. According to the newspaper, German investigators believe he led a sabotage group that included both civilians and military personnel. A yacht, “Andromeda,” was rented for the operation, and onboard were five experienced divers, possibly including a woman, hired to create the impression of a friendly picnic and avoid suspicion.
Sergey Kuznetsov, according to the German prosecutor`s office, commanded the 15-meter vessel to transport the divers to the target location. The team was equipped with diving gear, a portable sonar, and maps to locate the pipeline. It is presumed they conducted dives in pairs in extremely cold water, each lasting 20 minutes, which would require a three-hour decompression and 24 hours of rest for surfacing. However, it is also possible that the dives were shorter, with four-to-five-hour intervals.
During the night dives, the divers installed at least four explosive devices, each weighing between 14 and 27 kilograms. The explosives were made of hexogen and octogen and fitted with timer detonators.
The publication emphasizes that at his arrest hearing, Sergey Kuznetsov, “with an icy gaze, in a tight black T-shirt, muscular build, and freshly shaven head, smiled several times while speaking with the Ukrainian interpreter specially called in due to his refusal to speak English with the magistrates.” Before entering the courthouse, he raised three fingers, which the newspaper interpreted as a sign of the trident, one of Ukraine`s symbols.
The hearing for Kuznetsov`s extradition from Italy to Germany was scheduled for September 3. The German Prosecutor`s Office previously stated that the investigation into the Nord Stream explosions is of the highest priority for the German government.
Warm Weather and Indian Summer Expected for Moscow After Cold Spell
Following a cold and rainy week, Moscow is expected to see warmer, sunnier weather by late August, with a favorable forecast for a warm September and an “Indian summer.”
Warm weather is set to return to Moscow by the end of August, with temperatures potentially rising to 20 degrees Celsius. Some meteorologists attribute this to remnants of Hurricane Erin, which could form a cyclone heading towards Europe and possibly passing slightly north of Moscow. An “Indian summer” is also anticipated in September.
Alexander Ilyin, Forecaster at Meteo Prognostic Center:
“If we bypass the period of significant cooling at the beginning of the next work week, then we expect warming in the last days of August. That is, by August 29th, there`s a high probability that the air in the Moscow region will warm up to 20 degrees, and later, in the 30s, the thermometer could rise slightly above 20 degrees. I`m not considering the direct influence of the hurricane, but all our weather-forming currents come from the North Atlantic; it`s possible that this hurricane from the North Atlantic will bring a portion of warm air that will subsequently reach us. Furthermore, it`s possible that with the passage of an atmospheric, albeit brief, front, the temperature will drop, but nevertheless, the maximum values on the 30th and 31st are expected to be above 20 degrees. It`s still too far out to precisely name the temperature value, but a 20+ probability is very high.”
— What about the next few days?
— They promised, yes, it will be cold. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, +12…+17 °C.
— With rain?
— Yes, rain is present in the forecasts almost every day. Perhaps mid-week, on Thursday, there will be clearings in the clouds, on Friday heavy rain again, on Tuesday rain. Also, a strong wind in the first half of the week. We expect the wind to weaken from Thursday to two to seven meters per second. Such periods of temperature increase to 20 degrees will also occur in September; how they will be distributed, I cannot say right now. We will not leave our women without an Indian summer.”
Today`s forecast indicates cloudy weather without significant precipitation, with air temperatures up to +19 °C.
Putin Discusses US Relations, Remains Silent on Trump`s Ukraine Stance
During a meeting with nuclear industry employees in Sarov, Vladimir Putin expressed optimism about restoring relations with the United States, citing his “very good” meeting with Donald Trump in Alaska, but made no direct comment on Trump`s recent statements regarding security guarantees for Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin described his meeting with Donald Trump in Alaska as “very good,” but did not comment on the American president`s recent statements regarding security guarantees for Ukraine.
At a meeting in Sarov with nuclear industry employees, Putin said that with Trump`s arrival in the White House, a “light at the end of the tunnel” appeared in Russia-US relations. Russian and US agencies continue contacts following the summit. Specifically, Moscow is discussing with Washington the possibility of joint work in Alaska.
Georgy Bovt, Political Scientist:
“There is contact and some mutual understanding between Putin and Trump, which, of course, should be maintained to support the negotiation process itself. Therefore, it is not at all necessary for Putin to voice all inconvenient, sharp things; this can be entrusted to Lavrov or someone else for various clarifications of the Russian position. In public, one can maintain the most benevolent and constructive tone, and this can bring some benefit to the negotiation process, as Trump is a rather self-absorbed and touchy person, and certain psychological aspects need to be considered with him. As for the formats of security guarantees, the discussion has not yet ended; it is ongoing. Various versions are being put forward about who will support whom from the air, from the ground, and so on, so the process is not yet resolved, and perhaps it should not be exacerbated unnecessarily during the resolution process.”
— Trump did not rule out inviting Vladimir Putin to the World Cup next year, which will be held in the USA.
— This should not be taken literally; it`s a diplomatic game. The Russian national team is not going to the World Cup, so what would Putin do there without the Russian team? So, it’s nothing more than such public exchanges of pleasantries.
— First Deputy Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry Kislytsya said that Zelensky is ready to discuss territorial issues at a possible meeting with Putin based on the current line of contact.
— I do not believe in the possibility of a meeting between Putin and Zelensky in the foreseeable future, as the negotiating positions of Moscow and Kyiv do not coincide. Why organize a meeting where nothing will be agreed upon in advance? Well, suppose they met, Zelensky says: I will not give up an inch of land, I will not make any territorial concessions, and the most I am ready for is a freeze along the front line. But for Moscow, this position is currently unequivocally unacceptable; why meet just to hear that personally?”
Politico, citing an unnamed senior White House source, writes that Trump is convinced Kyiv will have to make a deal to resolve the conflict predominantly on Moscow`s terms. Trump himself stated that the fate of negotiations on Ukraine would become clear in the next two weeks. During this time, the US president wants to learn about Russia`s and Ukraine`s “approaches” to resolving the conflict.
He then plans to make “a very important decision.” It “may include sanctions and duties or nothing,” Trump said. According to him, he wanted to personally participate in a potential meeting between Vladimir Putin and Zelensky, but “many believe it will lead nowhere.”
As Foreign Minister Lavrov stated earlier on NBC News, Putin is ready for a meeting with Zelensky, but a detailed agenda needs to be prepared, which is currently absent.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth