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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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How It Works • News Website

Lenta.ru

Lenta.ru is a Russian-language online news website founded in 1999 and based in Moscow.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Lenta.ru is a Russian-language online news website founded in 1999 and based in Moscow. It is owned by Rambler&Co and operates as a 24/7 news outlet.

What it is

Lenta.ru is a major Russian online newspaper, launched in 1999 by Anton Nosik with help from the Foundation for Effective Politics. It publishes news in Russian only and is headquartered in Moscow. The site is separate from the unrelated Russian retail chain Lenta.

Why it matters

Lenta.ru is a key source for Russian-language news, but its editorial stance has been controversial. In 2014, its editor-in-chief was dismissed, leading to a major editorial shift. In 2025, the European Union revoked its broadcasting licence, citing permanent control by Russian leadership.

Key details

The site is owned by Rambler&Co (also called Rambler Media Group). It has no official English version. Canadian readers may encounter it in coverage of Russian politics or disinformation, so its ownership and editorial history are relevant when evaluating sources.

In short

  • Russian-language news site founded in 1999, based in Moscow.
  • Owned by Rambler&Co; underwent major editorial change in 2014.
  • EU revoked its licence in 2025 due to ties to Russian leadership.
  • No official English version; distinct from the Lenta retail chain.
Canadian angle

Canadian readers may encounter Lenta.ru in coverage of Russian politics, disinformation, and Russia-Ukraine war reporting; its ownership and editorial stance are relevant when evaluating sources.

Quick questions

What is Lenta.ru?
A Russian-language online news website and newspaper founded in 1999, based in Moscow, owned by Rambler&Co.
What happened to Lenta.ru?
The most cited event is the 2014 dismissal of editor-in-chief Galina Timchenko, which caused a major editorial shake-up.
Is Lenta.ru a reliable source?
It is a major Russian outlet, but reliability is contested due to ownership and editorial controversies; cross-check for political topics.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenta.ru
    Supports: English-language description of Lenta.ru as a Russian-language online newspaper, its Moscow base, language, and ownership.
  2. Wikipedia — https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenta.ru
    Supports: Russian-language description of Lenta.ru as a Russian news internet publication founded in 1999, with Moscow headquarters and ownership details.
  3. МОИФИНАНСЫ.РФ — https://xn--80apaohbc3aw9e.xn--p1ai/partners/lentaru/
    Supports: States that Lenta.ru is a Russian news website founded in 1999 by Anton Nosik and associated with Rambler-Afisha/SUP Media ownership history.
  4. Wikipedia — https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9B%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0.%D1%80%D1%83
    Supports: Notes the 2014 editorial dismissal and the outlet's later sanctions/blocks in Ukraine; also describes the site as Russian-language.
  5. Wikipedia — https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9B%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B0.ru
    Supports: Provides the 2025 EU action mentioned in the source set and additional factual context on the outlet.