Paranoia in the Kremlin as elections approach;

Russia's sly nuclear build-up

Kadyrov gets a stay of political execution;

The dollars and cents of Russia's Syria intervention

Duma backpedals on press restrictions;

Militarizing the Kurils

Crimea languishes under Russian rule;

Savchenko trial heads toward predetermined outcome

Russia withdraws from Syria... somewhat;

The Obama administration holds the sanctions line