January 16, 2026: Sozvezdie Cruises: Save up to 22%! Seasonal discounts and additional savings on select cruises around Russia on Sozvezdie cruise line ships. Other promotions are also available!

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Infoflot Cruise Center – Infoflot Cruise Center –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Dear friends,

There's no such thing as too many holidays. Do you agree? From January 17 to February 19, 2026, you can take advantage of a special offer on cruises from our general partner, Sozvezdie Cruise Line.

This promotion applies to other discounts listed on the itinerary, including the "Kids Stay Free" promotion. Choose your next cruise with savings of up to 22%!

Please note; this information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate account of what the source claims, and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

January 16, 2026: Cruises on the Two Capitals motor ship with savings of up to 23%. Take advantage of additional discounts on select cruises and save money with early booking benefits until February 19.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Infoflot Cruise Center – Infoflot Cruise Center –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Dear friends,

Winter is a great time to consider a cruise. From January 17 to February 19, 2026, a special offer is available on select cruises from Moscow and Kazan on the ship "Two Capitals":

An additional 15% discount on all cabin categories on the cruise October 4 – October 9, 2026; additional 15% discount – on cabins of categories “Junior Suite”, “A2 (III)”, “A2 (II)”, “A2 (I)” on the cruise September 25 – October 4, 2026; additional 15% discount on Junior Suite cabins on the cruise April 25 – May 1, 20261% on top of the 7% seasonal discount – when paying in full for any cruise on the "Two Capitals" motor ship within 3 days of booking. Cruise prices are shown without the additional 1% discount; other discounts and promotions listed during the itinerary also apply! Only for new bookings from January 17 to February 19, 2026.

Your additional benefit:

To maintain the price with the current seasonal discount, simply make a 35% advance payment, with the remainder due no later than 30 days before the start of the cruise.

The prices for cruises on our website include the current early booking benefit.

Infoflot Cruise Center is the general sales agent for cruises on the ship "Two Capitals," and the shipowner provides the tour product and onboard service. Life on board is carefully designed to ensure you have only the most pleasant memories of your trip.

A professional art team prepares a daily entertainment program for children and adults, educational talks on Russian history are held on board, and short musical programs at cruise departures have become a signature feature of the ship.

The youngest cruise travelers can expect intellectual and active games, fun competitions, quests, children's drawing contests, handicrafts, and other surprises.

For the 2025 navigation season, the Narva Gate restaurant, the Irbis panoramic lounge, the Tri Stolitsy lounge bar, the Zaryadye master lounge, and the main hall with reception area were modernized on board.

We also offer cabins of various categories to comfortably accommodate 1 to 4 guests, including suites named after Yuri Dolgoruky, Peter I, and Catherine II.

To help you stay in shape, the ship offers morning exercises, yoga, and Pilates classes, and the sun deck is equipped with comfortable sunbathing areas with lounge chairs and tables.

Please note; this information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate account of what the source claims, and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

January 18 – Day of the Breaking of the Siege of Leningrad

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Eighty-three years ago, on January 18, 1943, the offensive operation "Iskra" came to a victorious conclusion. Troops from the Leningrad and Volkhov Fronts liberated the city of Shlisselburg and the southern shore of Lake Ladoga. The siege of Leningrad was broken, and land connections between the besieged city and the mainland were restored, saving hundreds of lives. The first food train arrived in Leningrad on February 7.

Although the city remained under siege for another year, the lifting of the siege gave millions of citizens hope of salvation and instilled confidence in the enemy's imminent defeat. The situation along the entire Leningrad Front significantly improved—the initiative in combat operations shifted completely to the Soviet troops, and by February 1943, Leningrad's food supplies had risen to the level of other Soviet cities.

Students and staff of the Polytechnic Institute dedicated their lives to defending their homeland from the first days of the Great Patriotic War. More than 3,000 Polytechnic students joined the active army, the people's militia, and partisan units.

The siege of Leningrad began on September 8, 1941, and famine set in. All the city's residents were saved by an ice road across Lake Ladoga. The construction of the Road of Life involved the participation of Polytechnicians. Sergei Golushkevich was one of the organizers of the ice road across the lake. He calculated the minimum permissible ice thickness and was the first to cross the Road of Life in the lead vehicle.

The institute's main building was converted into a hospital. 150 employees volunteered to take on the new duties. The second academic building housed the medical staff, and the student campus became an evacuation hospital.

The Polytechnic Institute's workshops began to fulfill military orders for the needs of the front, and scientists went to work at defense enterprises.

Even before the war, there was a gardening area between the Chemical and Hydrotechnical Buildings. Flowers were grown year-round in greenhouses there. During the siege of the city, it was converted into a subsidiary farm for growing vegetables. In April 1942, the Vyborg District allocated an additional plot of land to the institute for these needs. By July of that year, the first harvest had already arrived at the kindergarten and cafeteria. The established harvest quota was almost 25,000 kilograms of vegetables.

In February 1942, LPI students and staff were evacuated to Pyatigorsk, where they experienced the hardships of the German occupation. They then moved to Tashkent. There, the institute was able to begin its academic and research work in January 1943, and in August, the first year of studies was admitted. In November, classes resumed in Leningrad. In June 1943, the Polytechnic Institute, the only one in Leningrad, was authorized to accept dissertations for defense. Before the siege was completely lifted, the academic council reviewed 19 doctoral and candidate dissertations. In August 1944, 442 polytechnic students returned from Tashkent. The Leningrad Polytechnic Institute resumed classes at full capacity.

The Siege of Leningrad lasted 872 days. During this time, several hundred Polytechnic students died from exhaustion and shelling. And today, we remember all those who lived, worked, and fought in the besieged city, those who gave their lives to save Leningrad.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

The Polytechnic University awarded the winners of the competition for foreign postgraduate students.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University held an awards ceremony for the winners of the Best International Grant for PhD (BigPhD) competition, which is being held for the third year as part of the Priority 2030 program.

Dmitry Arsenyev, SPbPU Vice-Rector for International Affairs, delivered a welcoming speech. He congratulated the graduate students and emphasized the competition's importance for developing the university's scientific potential.

The BigPhD competition is our ambitious initiative, which we've been purposefully developing as part of the Priority 2030 program. "You are the cream of the Polytechnic University, the future not only of our university, but of our entire country and the world. How we drive progress and build communication will determine whether our society will be more peaceful, happy, and kind," noted Dmitry Arsenyev.

More than 30 graduate students from 14 countries participated in the competition. Following a rigorous evaluation, 15 laureates were selected, two of whom scored the maximum number of points and were awarded the title of "Overall Winner": Pham Van Vinh, a graduate student majoring in Solid Mechanics at the Graduate School of Mechanics and Control Processes (Vietnam), and Anna Rogova, a graduate student majoring in Biophysics at the Graduate School of Biomedical Systems and Technologies (Kazakhstan). All 15 laureates received grants, which will provide significant support for their future research.

Big PhD competition winners:

Alvardat Mohammad Yasin Abdelhamid, IMMIT Huc Thanh Bang, IEIT Gunasekara Utum Jayamal Sulakna, IE Babich Elena Viktorovna, PhysMech Shukuru Bitaisha Nakishuka, IS Dib Ali, ICS Elina Yesenia Igorevna, IMMIT Pham Thanh Quyet, IE Wang Keqi, IMMIT Pham Huu Duc, IEIT Xu Huawei, IBSB Rasool Bishro, IE Al-Dninawi Asra Hamid Taher, IE

"Winning the BIG PhD award isn't just a grant; it's important recognition by the university of our scientific achievements," shared winner Pham Van Vinh. "This support not only provides resources but also confidence, serving as a powerful incentive to move forward. It's a great honor for me to study and conduct research at the Polytechnic University, in an environment that values the pursuit of discovery."

Dmitry Arsenyev outlined long-term prospects for talented researchers at the Polytechnic University. He noted that the university is interested in the best graduates remaining at the university, and recalled that over 100 international research and teaching staff, many of whom are university graduates, are already successfully working at SPbPU. Competitions such as these demonstrate the Polytechnic University's commitment to developing an international scientific environment and supporting young scientists who are shaping the future of technology.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

A RUDN University law student is creating a psychological assistant for conflict resolution.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Daniil Busygin, a law student at RUDN University, developed the app Stressless, which uses artificial intelligence to analyze and help resolve conflicts in personal relationships. The project, which has been selected for the RUDN.VC accelerator, aims to serve as a bridge between self-help and professional psychological support.

"Relationship conflicts are one of the main causes of stress and divorce, especially among young couples who lack constructive dialogue skills. Seeking help from a psychologist is often delayed due to cost, stigma, or a lack of understanding of where to start. Meanwhile, psychologists waste precious session time on initial diagnosis, as clients can't always clearly articulate the essence of the problem," says Daniil Busygin.

The first step towards dialogue

Stressless offers an innovative approach. The app analyzes user-uploaded messages and audio recordings (with the consent of all parties) to:

Identify emotional triggers and communication styles; determine the type of conflict and create a "psychological map" of the relationship; offer personalized recommendations for resolution; and, if necessary, assess the dynamics and refer the user to a live specialist from among the platform's partners, providing them with a structured interaction history for rapid diagnosis.

"Stressless isn't just an app. It's a tool that helps people stay connected during conflict. Modern relationships require new solutions—and technology can become an ally, not a substitute, for human understanding," says Daniil Busygin.

Plans for the future

In its initial phase, the project focuses on helping couples and spouses. Its functionality could eventually be expanded to address family, adolescent, and even workplace conflicts, opening up opportunities for developing B2B HR solutions. The project's creator has already conducted expert interviews with psychologists and potential users and developed a product roadmap. The RUDN University accelerator played a key role in the development of the idea.

"The accelerator helped us systematize our hypotheses and identify a target audience, provided access to mentors in psychology and technology, supported us in building an ethical model for working with sensitive data, and facilitated the development of a sustainable business logic and understanding of monetization paths," says Daniil Busygin.

As part of the acceleration program, Daniil must present a working prototype of the application (MVP), hypothesis testing results, a financial model, a motivation strategy, and a plan for further project development within three months.

Stressless is a shining example of how interdisciplinary knowledge (law, psychology, and AI) at RUDN University is being transformed into socially significant technological solutions designed to improve quality of life and preserve what's most valuable—human relationships.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

We invite you to the first Open Day of 2026 at the State University of Management.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Official website of the State –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

On January 25, the State University of Management will host an Open Day, where everyone can get a closer look at the life of the first managerial university.

Representatives from the rector's office will tell the audience about the history and achievements of SUM, admissions staff will highlight changes to the admissions process, and student groups will present creative performances.

From 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, everyone will be able to receive consultations from representatives of institutes and departments, get acquainted with student clubs, learn about pre-university training, the career guidance system, and the SUM infrastructure, participate in activities, and join a campus tour.

Pre-registration is required to participate in the Open Day, and a passport is required to enter the premises.

The meeting program is available at this link, and current news can be found in a special Telegram channel for applicants.

Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 01/25/2026

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

RUDN University medical students completed a training program at a Chinese university

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Students from the RUDN University School of Medicine completed a short-term study and exchange program at Shandong Second Medical University in Weifan, China. The students were fully immersed in the clinical environment and learned about healthcare in China, where cutting-edge technology and the centuries-old traditions of Eastern medicine harmoniously blend.

Composition of the delegation:

Elena Valeryevna Kaverina — Associate Professor, Department of Public Health, Healthcare and Hygiene; Varvara Mamontova — 4th-year student, General Medicine program; Alexander Ovchinnikov — 4th-year student, General Medicine program; Nina Osipyan — 4th-year student, General Medicine program; Serafima Koroleva — 4th-year student, General Medicine program; Mokhinabonu Rakhimova — 4th-year student, General Medicine program; Anna Litvinova — 4th-year student, General Medicine program; Anastasia Levdonskaya — 4th-year student, General Medicine program; Natalia Skurikhina — 4th-year student, General Medicine program; Valery Komarov — Master's student, Healthcare Management program.

Immersion in practice

The student exchange program was opened by RUDN University Vice-Rector for International Affairs Li Shibao and Vice-President Wang Chenggao, who emphasized the importance of global cooperation for the development of medicine. Elena Kaverina, Associate Professor of the Department of Public Health, Healthcare, and Hygiene, delivered a speech on behalf of RUDN University, expressing hope for the development of partnerships.

"This was our first visit to China. It was a wonderful, enriching trip, during which we not only learned about the medical care system but also learned a great deal about the country's culture and traditions. Our students had a unique opportunity for intensive practical work," said Elena Kaverina.

The training course was comprehensive and covered key areas of medicine. At the ophthalmology center, students learned about VR technologies in education and the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) methods to treat eye diseases. At the oncology center, they explored modern treatment methods, including deep hyperthermia for tumors.

At the TCM center, the students visited a museum where they learned about the foundations, history, and methods of traditional medicine. They then not only saw how these methods are applied in practice but also tried acupuncture, massage, ear acupuncture with magnetic balls, and other procedures. The delegation also visited a pharmacy to observe its operations and the dispensing process.

At the university hospital, the students visited various departments. They examined patients with doctors, learned about the clinic's operations, and attended lectures. At the dental center, they observed procedures and attended a master class on proper teeth cleaning using several techniques.

The delegates learned a wealth of useful information in the diagnostic and trauma departments. In the obstetrics and gynecology department, they witnessed a birth and saw how TCM techniques (herbal infusions and steam applied to various parts of the body) are used to relieve patients' pain. They also attended a master class on cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the simulation center. The students also visited a medical device manufacturer whose gloves are exported in large quantities to Russia.

Cultural Bridge

In addition to the intensive curriculum, the students enjoyed a deep immersion in Chinese culture. They visited the University History Museum, temples, traditional villages, and the Zhinzhou Museum with its ancient artifacts. The highlight was a master class at the cultural center, where RUDN students, together with Chinese preschoolers, created paintings using ancient pyrography and woodcut techniques. The students returned with a wealth of impressions and new knowledge.

"I remember absolutely every day because each one was filled with unforgettable emotions! Lectures in hospitals, hands-on training on medical equipment, Chinese massages, excursions. And even the free days, which felt like a week-long vacation," says Varvara Mamontova.

"The trip was wonderful. We visited various medical institutions, where we learned about Chinese medicine. The local students and teachers were very friendly and eager to share their knowledge," says Nina Osipyan.

"What impressed me most was the scale and equipment of the clinics, as well as the integration of traditional approaches into modern treatment. It's a unique experience that expands horizons," said Alexander Ovchinnikov.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Anastasia Maikova: "Every stage of my life is connected with the Polytechnic University."

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Every year in early July, the Polytechnic University honors its gold medalists—graduates who not only graduated with honors, but also consistently earned straight A's throughout their studies and distinguished themselves in academic and social activities. This summer, among the honorees was Anastasia Maikova, a graduate of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics, and Trade—the latest subject of our "Persona" column.

How can kindergarten influence your choice of university, what kind of student do you need to be to receive government and presidential scholarships, why Anastasia loves Soviet cinema, and why she travels the Golden Ring every summer—all this and much more. Read the interview with the now Polytechnic graduate student.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Happy birthday to Pavel Pavlovsky!

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Official website of the State –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

This Friday is doubly wonderful, because today not only marks the end of the first working week of the year, but also the birthday of the most youthful and resourceful vice-rector, president of the SUM Alumni Association, and senior lecturer in the Project Management Department, Pavel Pavlovsky.

Every student knows him, hears him even without a microphone, recites his poems, and makes stickers. And this love is absolutely deserved: GUU hosts up to a thousand events annually where students can showcase their talents, earn volunteer hours, develop their skills, meet famous people, and get answers to their questions.

Under Pavel Vladimirovich's supervision, our university team took second place among 590 Russian universities in the "Best Practices for Implementing the Service-Learning Program" category in 2025. A Methodological Center for the Development of the KVN Movement in Higher Education Institutions was established at the State University of Management.

Happy birthday to a true patriot of the university, city, and country! We wish him strong vocal cords, nerves of steel, unquenchable enthusiasm, and extra hours in the day to organize even more events!

Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: January 16, 2026.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Financial news: 01/15/2026, 12:51 (Moscow time) the values of the upper limit of the price corridor and the range of market risk assessment for the RU000A100VG7 (SUEK-F1P3R) security were changed.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

January 15, 2026, 12:51 PM

In accordance with the Methodology for determining the risk parameters of the stock market and deposit market of PJSC Moscow Exchange by the National Credit Center (JSC) on January 15, 2026, 12:51 (Moscow time), the values of the upper limit of the price corridor (up to 101.41) and the range of market risk assessment (up to 1049.79 rubles, equivalent to a rate of 7.5%) for security RU000A100VG7 (SUEK-F1P3R) were changed.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.