Simon Ostrovsky
Sochi 2014: Mountains of Money
The 2014 Winter Games have cost Russia about $50 billion, making them the most expensive in history. There's more money to be made than ever before—especially if you're a friend of President Putin.
Why the Sochi Olympics Are the Most Expensive in History
Here's what happens when you let Putin and his friends have the Olympics.
Pussy Riot Goes Back to Jail
With just two months of their sentence left, Pussy Riot was freed in a general amnesty by the Russian government. Simon Ostrovsky met up with the band members in Moscow just a couple weeks after they were released to find out what they're doing with...
Israel's Killer Robots
Israel is the world's biggest exporter of military drones, used around the world for everything from surveillance to precision rocket attacks on speeding cars in remote locales.
Israel Attacked Syria Yesterday, and Shit's Probably Going to Hit the Fan Now
Yesterday, Israel blew up a convoy of trucks in Syria. The attack, which killed at least two people, apparently was aimed at stopping weapons from falling into the hands of Israel’s enemies. Israeli officials are saying this attack is part of larger...
Open Season in the Holy Land
A billion-dollar defense system known as the “Iron Dome” has helped protect Israel from rocket attacks since its installment in 2011. Given the recent upsurge in the Israel-Hamas conflict, the demand for the Iron Dome as a powerful defensive weapon has...
Open Season in the Holy Land
Over Thanksgiving, Israel launched an attack on the Gaza Strip, killing Hamas’ second-in-command, Ahmed Jabari. In retaliation, Hamas began firing rockets that were some of the first missiles to hit parts of Israel in 20 years. VICE traveled to the...
Renegade Jewish Settlers
VICE correspondent Simon Ostrovsky travels from Tel Aviv to the remote West Bank outposts where young Israelis squat for the sake of their heritage.
Renegade Jewish Settlers
Simon travels to Asira al-Qibliya, a Palestinian town that is learning how to defend itself against repeated attacks from the Israeli settlers one hill away.
Renegade Jewish Settlers
Simon gets mixed up in the West Bank Land Day protests, where Palestinians annually clash with the Israeli army.
Renegade Jewish Settlers
Meet Simcha and Yosef, a pair of teenage settlers at the Havat Gilad outpost in the West Bank doing what Israeli settlers do best: building and re-building houses without a permit.
Renegade Jewish Settlers
Israeli settlers justify their expansion into the West Bank by digging up ancient artifacts that supposedly prove that they've occupied that patch of land for longer than the Palestinians.