Eastern Europe
'Evil Corps' Hackers Are Stealing Millions From Internet Users Worldwide
The creators of the Dridex malware reportedly call themselves the "Evil Corp." A spokesman for the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) told VICE News the figure of 20 million was an "educated estimate."
Romania Is Starting to Freak Out About Russian Designs on Transnistria
Romania, a NATO member, is reversing years of military neglect, spurred by fears that it could end up with front-row seats for a Transnistrian replay of last year's events in Ukraine and Crimea.
Could One of the World's Biggest Bank Scandals Be Good for Russia?
Following the disappearance of a billion dollars from three Moldovan banks, protests have spiralled in the country's capital. Russian media is eager to paint the unrest as a Maidan-style revolution.
The Eastern European Gay Rights Movement Is Struggling to Be More Than a Western Cause
The region has lagged behind Western Europe when it comes to gay rights thanks to its reactionary nationalist movements and Russia's outwardly homophobic regime.
Ex-US Ambassador Calls American Military Commitment to Baltics a 'Joke'
VICE News spoke to analyst and former diplomat John Herbst, who thinks former Soviet states with Russian-speaking populations are right to be nervous — and NATO needs to do more.
There's a Second Made-Up Country in Eastern Europe and It Runs on Dogecoin
But not everyone is convinced that the founders of Enclava are serious about their new country.
As Its Profits Tank, the EU Is Going After Russia’s Money Making Energy Behemoth
The European Commission launched an anti-trust case that claimed Gazprom, Russia’s state-controlled energy giant, has been putting the squeeze on Eastern European countries.
Five Hundred Soldiers Fought Against One AK-47 Wielding Bride in Moldova
The military exercise also included threats such as a band of hooligans armed with sticks and drunk wedding guests engaging in local folk dance.
Pollution, Prisons, Sickness, and Raves: Inside Russia's 'City of the Colorful Sky'
VICE News traveled to Nizhni Tagil, one of the most polluted places in Europe, with 606 factories. The city has the highest rate of stomach and lung cancer in Russia and mafia overshadows everyday life here.
The Contest for Hungary's Allegiance Steps Up With Putin Visit
Hungarian leader Viktor Orbán has declared he wants to create an "illiberal" democracy like Russia's, and is signing gas deals that pull his country closer to Moscow at a time when the rest of Europe is pulling away.
Slovakia Is Holding a Referendum to Ban Same Sex Marriage
Pope Francis has endorsed Saturday's vote, a pre-emptive attempt to block gay marriage, gay adoption, and gay sex education in schools.
Drug Addicts Are Dying in Crimea Because They Can't Get Therapy
Russian drug laws mean addicts in Crimea can no longer receive opioid substitution therapy, driving patients onto the streets and adding to a growing HIV epidemic in Eastern Europe.