In April 2022, Wonderzine was banned by the Russian government primarily because of its support for the LGBTQIA+ community. This ban led to the immediate loss of half its readership in Russia as well as significant advertising revenue, dealing a severe blow to the magazine’s sustainability.

Wonderzine: Continuing to Amplify Marginalized Voices in Russian-language media

Despite these challenges, with new funding, Wonderzine remains committed to covering critical yet often neglected topics such as gender politics, health, education, and environmental issues. Their focus is especially on women and vulnerable or marginalized groups in the post-Soviet region, whose stories are frequently ignored by mainstream media. Particularly during the ongoing war in Ukraine.

In 2025, Wonderzine will raise awareness of femicide: the killing of women, often by partners. It It will share survivor stories and detailed reports on perpetrators. The goal: to highlight this urgent issue and build understanding so that signals can be picked up earlier.