Soviet Union
A Defunct Soviet Venus Probe Will Crash Into Earth After Decades in Orbit
Skywatchers say Kosmos 482, which was designed to withstand the harsh environment of Venus, will likely land on Earth intact.
The Strange, Brutal Connection Between Russian Prison Tats and Playing Cards
"Tea or cigarettes might be wagered, but also fingers, ears, eyes, or even the lives of other inmates—or the life of the player himself."
Road-Tripping to One of the Most Radioactive Places on Earth
VICE's Abdullah Saeed, Danielle Neftin, and Dina Rayzman venture through Russia and into Kazakhstan to visit the "Polygon," the Soviet Union's primary nuclear test site.
How Howard Hughes Helped the CIA Try to Steal a Russian Nuclear Sub
The expensive attempt was largely a mechanical failure, but it was still one of the stranger covert ops in US history.
Photos from Transnistria, the Country That Doesn't Exist
The United Nations may not formally recognize the country's independence, but 500,000 Transnistrians deserve to be seen.
What It Was Like to Work at a Russian Gulag
Ivan Chistyakov was living a modern life in the city, working as an engineer and checking out plays and movies. Then he got shipped off to Siberia.
30 Years Ago, Billy Joel Had a Meltdown in Moscow
In 1987, the piano man tried to bridge the gap between the US and the Soviet Union, and threw an onstage tantrum in the process.
A Visit to Europe’s Last Dictatorship
Ex-Soviet Belarus only began accepting visa-free tourists this year. I had to explore one of the hardest-drinking, most WWII-nostalgic countries on Earth.
Russia's radioactive past continues to haunt its citizens
VICE News reports from Russia’s radioactive hotspots, where residents continue to live amid radiation from Soviet-era nuclear activities.
This Cult 80s Film About the Nuclear Apocalypse Is Still Relevant, and That Sucks
Steve de Jarnatt’s ‘Miracle Mile’ offers a grim look at the world hours before nuclear apocalypse, kicked off by a pre-emptive strike by the US.